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☆ Some Taliban fighters are sick of the 9 to 5 grind, complaining they've been sucked into urban life by working desk jobs to run Afghanistan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Five young Taliban fighters described how their lives are now consumed by work and Twitter. In this picture taken on November 23, 2021, Taliban fighters ride on bumper cars. Last year, it was tolerable but in the last few months, it's become more and more congested," he told Samim. Now, if we complain, or don't come to work, or disobey the rules, they cut our salary," he told Samim. Salam, along with several other Taliban fighters interviewed, felt the public had also stopped respecting them.

☆ The House Ethics Committee may not go after 'loyal soldier' George Santos, ethics experts warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The House Ethics Committee could investigate George Santos over his alleged malfeasance. But ethics experts warn that the evenly-divided committee — composed of five Republicans and five Democrats — is unlikely to move swiftly or even take significant action on Santos. That's where the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) — a separate investigative entity run by a non-partisan staff — could step in. And the Department of Justice could simply ask both the Ethics Committee and OCE to stand down, as they've already reportedly done with the Federal Election Commission. The office frequently makes preliminary investigations of complaints against members of Congress, making a referral to the House Ethics Committee if they determine the offense to warrant further inquiry.

☆ I ended my career as a flight attendant after 5 years. It felt like my personal life would always be second fiddle to protecting the schedule.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Betty Ma became a flight attendant at 21. But I knew I wanted to see the world, and being a flight attendant seemed to offer a way to make that happen. When "schedule day" comes every month, everyone goes through the same panic. As a flight attendant, the most important thing is making sure flights stay on schedule. But when someone asks me if I'd never go back to being a flight attendant, I always say 100% no.

☆ I tried 25 of Trader Joe's award-winning foods, and would buy at least 21 of them again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

I hit up my local Trader Joe's and bought as many award-winning foods as I could to see which ones deserved their hype. In other words, I agree with the many customers who have dubbed this their favorite Trader Joe's snack. As long as I live within reasonable driving distance of a Trader Joe's, I will continue to buy this loaf. Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice is a satisfyingly spicy comfort meal for oneTrader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice had a delicious sauce. Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions offers a memorable balance of savory, salty, and sweetThe cheddar smelled like caramelized onions.

Persons: —, Monterey Jack, burrito, Savanna, Wilson, didn't, I've, It's, Joe's, I'm, they're, chorizo, I'd, Butter, they'd, Joe's cashiers, who's, fryer, Swain Wilson Organizations: Service, of Fame, Business, I'd, Wilson, panini Locations: Monterey, Monterey Jack, skillet, Savanna, Peru, treacly, San Francisco

☆ DeSantis echoes Trump in latest offense against the media after taunting the former president during live TV roundtable
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ron DeSantis won't be the Republican to give the party's response to President Joe Biden's forthcoming State of the Union Address. The broadcast echoed the media ire former President Donald Trump frequently has on display. "To assassinate someone's character with anonymous sources would have been a total no-no," DeSantis said of past media practice. Like Trump, DeSantis often bemoans his media coverage and excoriates what he calls the "corporate press." Despite raising his tussles with the press, DeSantis insisted non-politicians would be the focus of new libel laws.

☆ George Santos has been accused of lying constantly. This is what experts say about the psychology of compulsive liars.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Experts said pathological lying could exist on its own or be a feature of a personality disorder. What drives compulsive liars, and is George Santos one? Many psychologists say compulsive lying is often a feature of a personality disorder, such as antisocial-personality disorder or narcissistic-personality disorder. Curtis explained that it is important to distinguish people who are just pathological liars, and those that engage in pathological lying as part of a personality disorder — a key difference being that pathological liars do typically exhibit some remorse about lying. "That is unusual for him and unusual for many of the cases that we've explored of pathological liars," Hart said.

☆ A New York man got a package from a funeral home in the mail. Inside were the cremated remains of a man he'd never met.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A New York musician found the cremated remains of a man he'd never met in his mailbox. The New York Post later tracked down the man's son, after the ashes were returned to a funeral home. Leithauser told The New York Post. Insider contacted the funeral home for comment, but a representative said he had never heard of a package containing ashes sent to Leithauser. The New York Post on Thursday identified the deceased as Dwight Walter, and tracked down his son, Lamant Hall,"Shame on them," Hall told the Post.

☆ Low-income renters are frustrated by Biden's new plan to make housing more affordable because they don't think it does enough to combat surging rents
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The White House outlined actions it's taking to protect tenants amid rising rents and evictions. Tenants' groups told Insider that they wanted decisive legal and financial action from the president. In addition to that, the White House also published a "Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights," endorsing fair housing practices and a tenants' right to organize. "On the one hand, we are encouraged that the White House has released this Blueprint as a statement of values," Martin said. "As a blueprint, the document's statements don't do anything to materially help improve conditions for renters," he said.

☆ A couple went on a months-long hunt for their lost luggage. They found out that it had been donated to a charity.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Our luggage was donated to a charity on behalf of Air Canada." Over four months, Rees documented the hunt in a series of videos. "The only reason we got it back is because it became high profile," Rees told Insider in an interview this week. "And then it sat there — for a month, two months, three months," Rees said in the video. "If it takes me and my husband to hold them accountable — that's exactly what we plan on doing," Rees told Insider.

[1/3] Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group poses for a picture during an interview in Oslo, Norway February 1, 2023. Andrei Medvedev, who fled by crossing the Russian-Norwegian border on Jan. 13, says he witnessed the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner. Medvedev said he wanted to speak out about his experiences in the war so "the perpetrators are punished" for their crimes in Ukraine. A special report published by Reuters last week found a graveyard in southern Russia buried with men who were convicts who had been recruited by Wagner to fight in Ukraine. Kripos, Norway's national criminal police service, which has responsibility for investigating war crimes, has begun questioning Medvedev about his experiences in Ukraine.

☆ I asked ChatGPT for online and in-person dating advice, here's what relationship coaches think of its answers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Insider asked dating coaches what they think of ChatGPT's advice for online and in-person dating. Some of ChatGPT's advice was impressive to the coaches, but they all think their jobs are safe. Screenshot of ChatGPT response to "How should I (a woman) reach out to a man I'm interested in on Hinge?" Screenshot of ChatGPT response to "What are some things I should have on my online dating profile to be attractive?" Screenshot of ChatGPT response to "What photos should I include on my online dating profile to attract the most matches?"

☆ I'm a leg-lengthening surgeon. Most of my clients are men with confidence issues — here's what the procedure's like
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Natalie Rahhal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Shahab Mahboubian performs 30 to 40 cosmetic limb-lengthening surgeries a year. The only field in medicine that uses all of these tools is orthopedic surgery, so it seemed like the right fit. I specialized in limb-lengthening surgery specifically because I wanted to do something that was different from everybody else. People that undergo limb-lengthening surgery are from all walks of life, and many used COVID lockdowns to recover post-surgery. I would say 80% to 85% of my cosmetic limb-lengthening patients are men, and 15% to 20% are women.

☆ The secret to having successful relationships and being a superstar manager comes down to 2 words
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Psychologists Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, who studied 40,000 couples, found those simple words were the No. For starters, saying "thank you" is good for your health — no matter the context. In his 2022 book "Say Thank You for Everything: The Secrets of Being a Great Manager," Edwards outlines 19 things every new manager needs to learn — and saying "thank you" is the kicker. Two out of every three workers surveyed said their manager could improve at giving in-the-moment, positive feedback. Managers can start by saying "thank you" for small, everyday tasks.

Box office receipts can rise as much as 75% in the weeks following a best picture nomination, according to Comscore data. The distributor, United Artists Releasing, planned the release strategy to coincide with this week's Oscar nominations, with the hope the movie would benefit from a box-office bounce. "Tar," a best picture contender starring Cate Blanchett as a manipulative orchestra conductor, will expand to 535 theaters from 100. 'NOT LOOKING GREAT'Even legendary director Steven Spielberg has had trouble drawing crowds to best picture nominee "The Fabelmans," his autobiographical story about family strife and anti-Semitism he faced as a teenager. Warner Bros is re-releasing the film in movie houses this weekend after it landed eight Oscar nominations including best picture and best actor.

☆ Ketamine is being sold as a depression wonder drug. For some, it's making everything worse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

The infusions at the ketamine clinic in his West Texas hometown were a Christmas gift from his grandmother. About five years ago, more and more of my friends started using ketamine recreationally. IV ketamine treatment centers charging $400 to $2,000 an infusion popped up all over the country. "Ketamine used as directed in an appropriate clinical setting very rarely leads to any dependence," Mindbloom says on its website. Like Nadia, most of the people I interviewed said when they started using ketamine, they didn't think it was possible to become dependent on it.

☆ 4 great unexpected job interview questions—and how to answer them, says HR expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Canva fielded more than 220,000 job applications last year, ultimately hiring just over 1,000 of those applicants, Rogerson says. If you're a manager, take note: Unconventional interview questions help fend off trite, pre-written answers. This approach to interviewing is gaining steam, especially as more and more companies drop educational requirements for job openings. Here are four questions every manager should bring into rotation, Rogerson says — and how to start preparing for them. They're more about learning who the candidate is, how good they'd be at the job and whether they'd thrive in your workplace.

☆ MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes on his plans to relaunch the service (for real) and bring back an unlimited option
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Stacy Spikes told Insider he plans to put MoviePass out of beta and make it available for all by the summer. You would think Spikes would want to run as far away as possible from the movie-ticket-subscription startup. Before Stacy Spikes created MoviePass he created the Urbanworld Film Festival. I wanted to put that down because I see so many times people approach me and think MoviePass was my first business. MoviePassThe MoviePass beta version is focused on the credits system, e-ticketing, and fixing bugsWhat have been the biggest challenges in getting this beta version of MoviePass off the ground?

☆ I quit the big city to become a virtual assistant in the Spanish mountains. Here's how I work fewer hours and got started without personal-assistant experience.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Helen Taylor, a 40-year-old virtual assistant living in the Asturias province of Spain. But from my research, I realized that "virtual assistant" is an umbrella term for a lot of different work. Associates work for a lead virtual assistant who hands over the tasks they may not have the time or ability to complete. I started by offering clients tasks I knew I could do. I start work early so my clients in London can start at 9 a.m. with a clean inbox.

☆ Kamala Harris swipes at DeSantis using his 'vanguard of freedom' quote, on the governor's home turf, as she announces new moves on abortion pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

said Harris, who didn't use DeSantis' name but was quoting directly from his 2022 State of the State address. The vice president, who has been at the forefront voice for the administration's on abortion rights, announced that President Joe Biden would be signing a memorandum to make abortion pills easier to access. Sunday would have marked the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed a national right to abortion. Wilfredo Lee/AP PhotoFlorida has other ways of expanding abortion rightsAbortion rights proved to be a liability for Republicans in the November midterms. Reproductive rights groups are working to put the issue of abortion before Florida voters through a 2024 ballot measure.

☆ Kamala Harris swipes at DeSantis using his 'vanguard of freedom' inauguration quote, on the governor's home turf, as she announces new moves on abortion pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

said Harris, who didn't use DeSantis' name but was quoting directly from his January 3 inauguration speech. The vice president, who has been at the forefront voice for the administration's on abortion rights, announced that President Joe Biden would be signing a memorandum to make abortion pills easier to access. Sunday would have marked the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed a national right to abortion. Wilfredo Lee/AP PhotoFlorida has other ways of expanding abortion rightsAbortion rights proved to be a liability for Republicans in the November midterms. Reproductive rights groups are working to put the issue of abortion before Florida voters through a 2024 ballot measure.

☆ This CEO cut the working week, but not pay, at his factory – and says workers are now more productive and stick around for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

DiamondBack Covers reduced its 40-hour week to 35 without cutting pay for workers. He thinks that blue-collar workers and their employers can both benefit from a shorter working week. The idea of cutting workers' hours without cutting pay, sometimes called the "four-day week", is gaining traction, but it's a movement that's often associated primarily with desk jobs. DiamondBack Covers, which makes heavy-duty covers for pickup trucks, employs about 115 workers at its factory in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. The shorter week also appears to help attracting new staff at a time when many factories have struggled to find workers.

☆ Can an AI 'angel' help find thousands in Mexico who were forcibly disappeared?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Marina E. Franco | Noticias Telemundo | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

The software is able to process thousands of documents and databases and find connections and patterns that elude the human eye. Relatives of people who were forcibly disappeared during the counterinsurgency period in Mexico between 1964 and 1985, at a march in 2001. Jorge Uzon/AFP via Getty ImagesAngelus is currently focused on reviewing facts about people who were forcibly disappeared between 1964 and 1985. He noted that when it comes to cases of missing persons as part of government repression, it's never about just one person missing. Angelus' reach is widening now that prosecutors are beginning to show interest in it to help them solve their cases, Yankelevich said, visibly frustrated for the delay.

☆ Yale research: Highly successful people argue differently
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

One group was instructed to adopt a competitive mentality in order to "win" the argument, while the other group was told to "argue to learn." An "arguing to learn" mentality rests in viewing contentious conversations as collaborative exchanges that can deepen your understanding of a given topic, rather than battles to be won. That mentality can hold the key to success: Research shows open-minded people perceive the world around them differently, leading to an increase in happiness and creativity. One of his key takeaways from the study is that approaching hot-button issues from an "arguing to learn" mentality can help shift your own thinking. You're getting the right answer more often," he explains.

☆ Rosalia performs in Louis Vuitton catwalk show at Paris Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/7] Singer Rosalia performs during Louis Vuitton Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection show as part of Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierPARIS, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Louis Vuitton switched up the traditional fashion runway format with a performance from Spanish singer Rosalia taking centre stage at the label's menswear show in Paris on Thursday. Rosalia opened the live event for the LVMH-owned (LVMH.PA) fashion house, emerging from a darkened set wrapped in a puffy white jacket and loose jogging pants, sunglasses wrapped around her face. Models filed past, wearing long jackets with crisp lapels, clutching shiny bags, their looks topped off with curved bucket hats and baseball caps. The world's largest fashion label last week named Pietro Beccari CEO, replacing industry veteran Michael Burke.

To know if someone blocked you on iPhone, try sending both an iMessage and SMS message. It's hard to know for sure if you're blocked, as it could also be Do Not Disturb or Airplane Mode. Knowing your phone number is blocked is, if nothing else, a good way to know where you stand with someone. How to know if someone blocked you on iPhoneFinding out if you've been blocked on an iPhone (or Android, for that matter) isn't a clean cut-and-dried process. If it rings through normally with this masked phone number (or if the person answers), then that almost definitely means your number was blocked.

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