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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Pair Of Units At Famed 15 Central Park West Are Selling For $44 Million

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$44 million 15 central park west apartment

Another property is on the market at tycoon mecca 15 Central Park West, and it's asking a whopping $44 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The apartment is absolutely massive, spanning nearly 4,000 square feet. It's technically two separate units that still need to be combined, so any prospective owner should expect to do some construction. As it stands, the apartments have five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

15 Central Park West has made countless headlines during the past year, with Sandy Weill's penthouse selling for $88 million, and a $95 million listing from a steel tycoon.

Welcome to 15 Central Park West.



Robert A.M. Stern designed the building.



The apartment is two adjacent units that were combined, on the 24th floor.



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This Weekend At The Box Office—Bradley Cooper & Zoe Saldana Hope to Wow With 'Words'

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bradley cooper zoe saldana the words

This may be the worst box-office weekend for 2012.

Two new films hit theaters; however, neither is expected to gross more than $10 million. 

Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana star in "The Words" about a man who plagiarizes a novel, while a long-awaited Bruce Willis action-thriller from Summit finally makes its way on screen.

Highlights among new trailers this week include a new online exclusive from "Taken 2" and a trailer for a sequel to a box-office bomb.

Out this week: "The Words" with Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana is expected to lead the otherwise dull weekend.

Cooper's new film isn't expected to gross more than $10 million this weekend. This won't be a big loss for CBS films since it's a low-budget production estimated at $6 million



Out this week: The other big release this week is the long-awaited "The Cold Light of Day" featuring Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver, and Henry Cavill.

The Summit film has already earned $13 million overseas

Even if "Cold Light" performs weak, they have the final installment of the "Twilight" series due out later this fall.



Based on the story by Ayn Rand, the first trailer for "Atlas Shrugged Part II" debuted last weekend.

Release Date: October 12

The first film had an estimated production budget of $6.5 million according to IMDB and bombed at theaters grossing little more than $4.6 million at theaters.

Despite its box-office numbers, the sequel has a bigger budget estimated at $10 million. 



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If You Think Mars Pictures Are Cool, Check Out These Stunning Images Of The Universe

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Hubble

As NASA's Curiosity rover continues to beam back unprecedented images of the Martian landscape, we are reminded of the countless celestial discoveries made by the space agency's longest-running mission: the Hubble Telescope.  

The Hubble has been whipping around Earth at a speed of five miles per second since its launch in 1990.  

During its 22-year run, the school-bus-sized telescope has sent hundreds of thousands of images back to Earth that have given scientists a glimpse of the most distance stars and galaxies and helped to determine the age of the universe.  

The telescope has changed our understanding of the universe forever.  

A view of “Mystic Mountain" captures a three-light-year tall pillar of gas being eaten away by the radiation of nearby bright stars.

Source: HubbleSite



Light from a stellar explosion three years earlier illuminates surrounding dust. This is called a light echo.

Source: HubbleSite



A tower of gas and dust rises within a cluster of stars known as the Eagle Nebula.

Source: HubbleSite



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The 10 Highest Paying Jobs Of The Future

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The U.S. unemployment rate peaked at 10% in October 2009 and has since slowly improved, flirting with 8% earlier this month.

Despite the downward trend, the rate is still more than double prerecession levels.

As the economy continues to recover and more people return to the workforce, many are trying to find the right career—one that is hiring and pays well.

See the best paying jobs of the future >

Knowing which jobs will be in high demand and pay the most is a good place to start. To serve as a guide, 24/7 Wall St. identified the best paying jobs of the future. These jobs will grow the most in the next decade, some as much as 60% by 2020. They also have median salaries that are close to double the national average of $34,450, and in some cases more.

Many of these occupations will be in highest demand because of changes in the nation’s population and in the way the country’s businesses operate. Last year, the first baby boomers turned 65. As this generation gets older, increasing medical needs will require more health care professionals. Of the 10 high-paying, high-growth occupations we reviewed, six are in the medical field.

Because most of these positions are in the medical field, many require at least a master’s degree, and in many cases a doctoral degree. However, four have less demanding educational requirements, including the three that are growing the most. A career as a sonographer, projected to grow 43.5% with a median salary of $64,380, typically just requires an associate’s degree.

24/7 Wall St. identified the best paying jobs that also will have the highest demand for new workers in the future based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Employment Matrix, which forecasts job growth between 2010 and 2020 for the bureau’s more-than 1,000 listed jobs.

The Matrix was used to identify the professions that are going to grow the most as a percentage of 2010 employment figures by 2020. Of those, we then narrowed the list to jobs that also had a median annual income of at least $60,000 in 2010, 75% higher than the $34,450 national median average, and at least 5,000 positions. Using the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. also identified the states with the highest concentration of jobs as of May 2011.

These are the best paying jobs of the future.

Optometrists

Pct. increase: 33.1%
Total new jobs (2010-2020): 11,300
Median income: $94,990
States with the most jobs per capita:Hawaii, North Dakota, Montana

Optometrists specialize in the care of eyes and vision. Their responsibilities include diagnosing eye injuries and diseases, as well as prescribing glasses and contact lenses. In order to practice, they are required to have a Doctor of Optometry degree, presently awarded by just 20 accredited programs, and must be licensed by the National Boards in Optometry.

Those who meet these qualifications are often extremely well-compensated: the top 10% of optometrists earned in excess of $166,400. With vision problems becoming more frequent as people grow older, the number of optometrists is expected to rise by 33.1% between 2010 and 2020.



Occupational Therapists

Pct. increase: 33.5%
Total new jobs (2010-2020): 36,400
Median income: $72,320
States with the most jobs per capita:Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

“Occupational therapists treat patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working,” according to the BLS. Becoming an occupational therapist requires a master’s degree, which generally takes two years to complete.

The number of occupational therapists is expected to reach 145,200 by 2020, as an aging baby-boomer generation looks to maintain its independence and stay active.



Veterinarians

Pct. increase: 35.9%
Total new jobs (2010-2020): 22,000
Median income: $82,040
States with the most jobs per capita:Montana, Colorado, Iowa

In addition to pets, veterinarians tend to sick livestock, laboratory animals and other critters. The BLS projects that the number of veterinarians will increase by 22,000, or 35.9%, between 2010 and 2020. A rising national pet population, as well as the need for additional food supply inspection as the U.S. population grows, are among the reasons for the strong job growth.

To practice, veterinarians must obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, currently awarded by just 28 colleges nationwide, as well as a state license.



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10 Amazing Wine Resorts Around The World

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Loisium Wine & Spa Resort, Suedsteiermark, Austria

Late summer and early autumn, when most wine producers begin harvesting the season’s vintage, are some of the most exciting weeks of the year for oenophiles.

It is a crucial time—grape ripeness and quality are determined and wineries are at their busiest.

See the world's best wine resorts >

For vino enthusiasts eager to witness the action, vineyard estates offer luxury accommodations that allow guests to soak up the sights and smells of a vineyard running at full speed. (And, blissfully, a glass of wine is never far away.)

The styles are varied. L’And Vineyards, located in Portugal’s Alentejo region, opened last spring right around the time its very first vintage (a 2009 Reserve) hit the market. Situated just 15 minutes from the ancient Roman city of Évora (and less than an hour from Lisbon), the vineyard’s stylish digs and simple, warmly appointed suites capitalize on the area’s serenity.

Retractable over-the-bed roofs offer stunning nighttime views of star-lit skies, and outdoor fireplace-equipped patios look out over greenery and patches of farmland. “Wine is our anchor, but it works best when paired with everything else on the property,” says Duarte Cunha, L’And’s general manager.

In Temecula, California, longtime small producer Ponte Winery takes a similar approach. It utilizes the vineyard´s natural surroundings to create a scenic, wine-driven space for guests to take advantage of wine tastings and see firsthand how the winemaking process works. The folks behind Ponte realized that their most ardent clients—the same people who pushed for the opening of the hotel—would appreciate a place to unwind from their busy city lives and indulge in their passion for wine right at the source.

For the uninitiated, staying at a wine-focused resort can be the perfect opportunity to learn more. The months-old Loisium Wine & Spa Resort in Suedsteiermark, Austria, offers traveling revelers a glimpse into a burgeoning vino destination that is just beginning to gain international repute.

The property doesn’t make its own wine, but its proximity to some of the country’s most exciting, undiscovered producers makes it an invaluable resource for those seeking future industry stars.

Cheers to that.

More From Departures:

World's Most Bikeable Wine Regions

The Top Villas In Tuscany

Secret European Summer Getaways

Great Golf Courses In California Wine Country

Argos in Cappadocia, Uçhisar, Turkey

With its dramatic, cave-like architecture and hillside location, Argos in Cappadocia is the perfect perch from which to discover the country’s central region, which teems with tales of centuries-old civilizations (the hotel itself is built into an ancient monastery).

Guests here can also learn about Turkey’s lesser-known winemaking efforts. In its nearby vineyard, Argos harvests Syrah and Kalecik Karasi (a local Pinot Noir–like varietal) grapes, and small Muscat grape patches on terraces around the property are visible from public spaces like the lounge balcony. Rooms, from $200; Uçhisar; 90-384/219-3130; argosincappadocia.com.



L’And Vineyards, Évora, Portugal

At L’And Vineyards, it is nearly impossible to have anything but an all-wine-all-the-time experience. The vineyard is home to one of Portugal’s two Caudalie Vinothérapie spas, navigating the property requires walking past planted grapevines (even the infinity pool is surrounded by them), wine classes are held in the cellar and guests can choose their own grapes to eat or use for spa treatments.

The staff is also happy to arrange other non-wine activities, such as a trip to Alqueva Lake—the largest in Europe—or a guided tour of historic Évora, so the only time contact is made with the nectar of the gods is when drinking it. Rooms, from $245; Estrada Nacional 4, Herdade das Valadas; 351-266/242-400; l-andvineyards.com.



Babylonstoren, Stellenbosch, South Africa

If you are craving New World wines from the southern hemisphere, remember that the growing season is the opposite of up north: You will need to wait until March to experience a harvest in wine capitals like Argentina or Australia. The same goes for Babylonstoren in South Africa’s Drakenstein Valley.

The well-preserved 320-year-old werf, or farmyard, is ideal for all-encompassing rural adventures, including walks amid chickens, scenic hikes or canoe trips across the farm’s dam. The year-old property harvested its first grapes last year and is now in the process of bottling its first wines, so guests here are able to taste what is not yet available anywhere else, like winemaker Charl Coetzee’s Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay. Rooms, from $350; Drakenstein Valley; 27-21/863-3852; babylonstoren.com.



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How The US Reaches Targets On The Other Side Of The World

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B-2 stealth bomber

A report by the Center For Strategic And International Studies released Thursday points out that there can be no effective strike on Iran's nuclear facilities without over half the US B-2 fleet making the long flight to Tehran.

With 19 B-2s scattered about only a handful of US bases from Missouri to Ohio, the trip to the Mid-East won't be made without a constant supply of mid-air refueling.

This is how that elaborate and technical process would occur.

Think of the plane that enables the military to respond anywhere in the world on short notice. It’s not a fighter jet — it's the tanker

Source: Lexington Institute



The KC-10 Extender, just one tanker aircraft used for aerial refueling, can carry 356,000 pounds of fuel — jets don't have to land to gas up




Aerial refueling tankers and their crew are the quiet enablers of air power




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The 30 Most Famous Oxford Students of All Time

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Kate Beckinsale

The prestigious Oxford University has been teaching students since 1096—and it's produced some of the greatest minds and successful people in the world.

You've seen the famous alumni from Yale, Harvard, Stanford and Princeton. But even these prestigious schools don't come close to the pedigree of England's top school.

 

Robert Hooke received his M.A. in 1662 or 1663

While at Oxford, Robert Hooke was an assistant to the famed philosopher Robert Boyle.

In 1665, he published his famous book "Micrographia" based on his studies of plant tissue. He is also responsible for coining the term “cell” when he discovered the existence of microorganisms.

While he is most known for his contributions to cell theory, Hook was also an accomplished and versatile scientist who developed the combustion theory and invented the reflecting telescope.



Edmund Halley attended Oxford at the age of 16, but left in 1676 without graduating

Edmund Halley was a mathematician and astronomer who first calculated the orbit of the comet later named after him. 

Halley’s work in the field of astronomy was greatly influenced by John Flamsteed, the Astronomer Royal, whom he met while at Oxford.



William Penn was expelled from the university at 17 for protesting mandatory church attendance

William Penn identified himself as a Quaker, a largely persecuted group at the time.  

Under the belief that religious tolerance would not be achieved in England, Penn was granted permission from the King to establish a colony in America. When Penn arrived in 1682, the King named the colony Pennsylvania, meaning “forests of Penn.”



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The Phones Of Greek Real Estate Brokers Are Ringing Off The Hook, As The Mad Rush To Buy Cheap Villas Has Begun

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It's a constant joke: People talk about wanting to snap up Greek villas and islands if Greece leaves the Eurozone and the currency collapses.

Well we've got bad news. The rush to buy cheap Greek property has already begun.

German newspaper Der Tagessspiegel reports (via Google Translate) that luxury real estate brokers are seeing MUCH more activity now than they were a year ago. (Via @sebastiengaly)

George Petras is back in business. The real estate broker and head of Engel & Völkers office on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes this year has sold twice as many lots and houses as last year. In the crisis months of May and June 2012, when the country was without a government, there was no indication for a strong sales year. On the contrary.

At that time, the phone of the German Greeks had often stood for hours still. "Only with the pro-European election results in late June have the buyer back inspire confidence in the housing market," said Petras. Since then, there is the office of the broker who grew up in Stuttgart bustle: 50 percent more inquiries than in the first half of 2011, he noted.

We checked out the listings for luxury properties on Greek islands on the website for Engel & Völkers and it's not hard to see why there's a huge rush to buy them up. They're stunning. And cheap.

We're talking real architecture, right off the glistening water, for less than the cost of an average condo in Manhattan or London.

This specimen of classis Greek architecture costs less than $1 million



The house has 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and is 3,056.95 square feet



The whole propert has 4,347.31 square feet



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Here's The Pitch AR Startup Dekko Used To Snag $1.9 Million From Justin Timberlake And Others

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dekko

Over a year ago, we reported that a stealthy startup named Dekko received an investment from Justin Timberlake and others to work in the augmented reality space.

Founded by Matt and Silka Miesnieks (husband and wife), Dekko finally launched on Friday and announced its $1.9 million financing. JT isn't mentioned as one of the investors, but we have it on good authority from someone involved that he is in the mix.

Dekko's other investors include Echo Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Venture 51, Blumberg apical, Launch Capital, Eniac Ventures, Zig Capital, Thornvest and angel investors like Raymond Tonsing and Howard Lindzon.

Dekko wants to become a platform for really good looking augmented reality apps. Right now most are makeshift and don't really make the user feel like their surroundings are coming to life. Dekko has three pending patents and it's already partnering with more than 40 people and companies, from toy manufacturers to game developers.

Currently Dekko utlizes a programming language, UNITY 3-D. TechCrunch further explains Dekko's product:

"It allows developers to create augmented reality experiences that take a user’s current environment into context, as well as those that build whole new experiences around imaginary characters that can operate in those surroundings. It can also be used to create digital copies of real-world objects and allow users to interact with them on their devices."

Its first game, Dekko Monkey, is available in the App Store now.

For more information on Dekko, we dug up Miesnieks' old pitch deck. We think he used it, or something very similar, to attract investors like Venture51 and Justin Timberlake.







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Here's What The Supreme Court Justices Did On Their Fabulous Summer Vacation

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Supreme court justices

It's September, and while most people are going back to work after a three-day weekend, the Supreme Court justices are still enjoying their summer.

The three-month recess gave justices the time to lecture in Europe to make a few extra dollars—on top of their annual salary of $213,000, Slate has pointed out. Others either went to Maui, appeared on FOX News or promoted a book.

* It's unclear exactly how Elena Kagan spent her break, so she wasn't included in the slide show.

Sonia Sotomayor

Justice Sotomayor, long known to be a Yankees fan, in August joined the team's fervent supporters, the "Bleacher Creatures."

She sat next to a "Bald Vinny" Milano, and a few pictures ended up on Instagram.

 



Antonin Scalia

Scalia spent most of his summer teaching in Innsbruck, Austria at St. Mary's School of Law's Institute on World Legal Problems.

The current longest-serving member of the Supreme Court still had time to appear on FOX News to talk about his method of judging.

Source: St. Mary's University, FOX News



Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Justice Ginsburg traveled to Vienna and Venice for a couple of lectures at the Wake Forest School of Law's study abroad program.

Source: Wake Forest University School of Law



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Experts Told Us These Were The 5 Most Reliable Chinese Economic Indicators

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china electricity transmission tower

China has long been accused of manipulating its economic data. Chinese vice premiere Li Keqiang, who is expected to take over from premiere Wen Jiabao, even said according to a Wikileaks report that the nation's GDP numbers were made up.

Recently, New York Times reporter Keith Bradsher wrote an extensive feature on just how much Chinese "local and provincial officials are falsifying economic statistics to disguise the true depth of the troubles."

So how are we supposed to know what's really going on in the Chinese economy?

We reached out to top China economists who pointed us to five Chinese economic indicators that were unlikely to be manipulated.

Export and import data can be verified by cross-checking with data from its trading partners

Many analysts point to the reliability of export and import data because it can be independently verified by comparing it with trade numbers reported by other countries.

Societe Generale's Wei Yao has previously argued that, "another advantage of import data is that they are subject to less statistical and ad hoc adjustments than industrial production and GDP, since their consistency can be cross checked relatively easily with the data from China’s major trading partners".



The official and HSBC PMI numbers generally match the true growth numbers

Chinese HSBC purchasing manager's index (PMI) and official PMI are said to be fairly reliable. The relative weakness in the HSBC PMI number has been attributed to the fact that it is more exposed to small-and-medium enterprises.

Moody's analyst Alaistair Chan writes that they are "based on surveys and generally match other indicators of activity, such as industrial production and GDP" and therefore are more reliable.



Rail freight traffic may be prone to error, but not manipulation

Li Keqiang, China's future premier, who was revealed to have said that the GDP number is "man-made" in a Wikileaks report has said that rail cargo data which is less closely watched is a far more reliable indicator.

"Rail freight is useful because it is a measure of actual goods moving across the country, which is a proxy for industrial activity," according to Chan. "It is not weighted (like industrial production), which can introduce error because it measures gross weight of freight, with no distinction between say coal and cars. But it is fairly accurate and not prone to manipulation."



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How My Polaroids Of The Sept. 11 Attacks Led Me Into America's Secret Court System For Terrorist Suspects

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World Trade Center Sept. 11

This year will be the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

On the day of the attacks, I lived directly across the Hudson River from the twin towers, in downtown Jersey City, N.J. As the buildings burned and then collapsed, police shut down the entire Jersey City waterfront except for one small area, Morris Canal Park. The park had an unobstructed view, and I took a set of Polaroid shots of the disaster.

Later, as a senior writer for the New Jersey Law Journal, I investigated the cases of the 762 Muslim men who were randomly rounded up by the FBI after the attack, cleared of being terrorists, but secretly deported anyway to the countries of their birth. Some of them were tortured by local authorities when they arrived.

This is the story of how, after taking these Polaroids, I discovered that the U.S. set up an invisible court system outside the control of the federal judiciary to deal with Muslim immigrants post-Sept.11.

No one except for a couple of close friends has seen these photos before.

This is a postcard of downtown Manhattan that I bought on the day of the attacks. People forget that the twin towers were more than twice as tall as the other buildings downtown.



On the day of the attack I was a freelance business journalist. The collapse of the towers brought work to a halt, so I went outside with my old-fashioned Polaroid camera to take some pictures. They're not great quality, but the Polaroid was the only camera I owned in the era before cellphones.



Thinking that there would be thousands of wounded people, I approached this police officer to ask if I could donate blood. He said there was no need: People in the buildings either died or survived. Relatively few were wounded. You can see the smoke in the background at the end of the street.



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This Is How Facebook Is Tracking Your Internet Activity (FB)

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Mark Zuckerberg eyes

Facebook really is watching your every move online.

In testing out a new diagnostic tool called Abine DNT+, we noticed that Facebook has more than 200 "trackers" watching our internet activity.

Skip directly to see our findings >

Abine defines trackers as "a request that a webpage tries to make your browser perform that will share information intended to record, profile, or share your online activity." The trackers come in the shape of cookies, Javascript, 1-pixel beacons, and Iframes.

Cookies are tiny bits of software that web pages drop onto your device that identify you anonymously but nonetheless signal useful behavior about your background interests to advertisers who might want to target you.

Critics call this spying. Advertisers call it targeting.

In an email to Business Insider, Abine privacy analyst Sarah Downey explained why users should pay more attention to trackers, and block them:

In addition to invading your privacy, these tracking requests can consume large amounts of data.  And transferring lots of data takes time. Generally, the more tracking requests on a website, the slower that website loads. That's why DNT+ gets you surfing at 125% of the normal speed and with 90% of the bandwidth, compared to a browser without DNT+ running.

Equipped with this insight, an inquisitive Facebook user might be wondering why they wouldn't block all trackers and cookies alike. With a slightly harsh tone, the Facebook page cautions:

Technologies like cookies, pixel tags ("pixels"), and local storage are used to deliver, secure, and understand products, services, and ads, on and off Facebook. Your browser or device may allow you to block these technologies, but you may not be able to use some features on Facebook if you block them.

There is certainly truth to this statement, not all cookies are used for tracking. Many are simply placed in order to store information for later use. But it is the broader scope of "requests" that present the larger issue. In simple terms, Downey explained that when you navigate to a website, your browser constructs that site by communicating back and forth with the server where the site information is stored. These communications are the “requests.”  

But it isn't just the website you are visiting that makes requests for information: online trackers from other companies hidden on the site do it, too. They act as third parties on your computer: you can't see them without privacy software, you probably wouldn't expect them to be present, and you probably don't intend to share your information with them.

They request information like your geographic location, which other sites you’ve visited, what you click, and your Facebook username.

In terms of what the "requests" represent, Facebook noted that they could not comment because the requests do not mean a whole lot unless you can see exactly what they are and how they are used. Facebook's entire site is run off of JavaScript and other such tags that have an array of purposes.

So, we set out to see just how much Facebook is watching our internet browsing activity. Using the Abine software, we tracked to what extent Facebook trackers increased for each new click. We started by cleaning out the browser cache and search history, and then went about using the browser like it was the start of a typical work day ...

It started off as just a normal day...

The first thing I do when I sit down at my computer in the morning is open up Facebook. Just by logging in, I could see that Facebook had 228 trackers watching my web activity.

So when DNT+ says it's blocked Facebook from tracking you 200 times, that means it's blocked 200 requests from Facebook that attempt to use the information in the request to collect information about you. Those 200 requests could have been a mix of Javascript, iframes, images, and cookies, and they could have spawned even more requests.

Note: we ran the test on various browsers, and two different machines to ensure the results were consistent.



Opening up Business Insider on a new tab.

By opening Business Insider and posting a story on Facebook there was an increase of 8 trackers. So, now Facebook had 236 trackers on my browsing activity.

Downey explained why this happens: When you visit Business Insider, and there's a Facebook button on the page, Facebook will send a request, that request comes back from Facebook with a button, which contains Javascript code that allows tracking. That piece of code then allows third parties (Facebook in this case) to run code on your machine. That code can write cookies and even make more tracking requests. 



Then I opened up Bloomingdale's.com

Admittedly one of my favorite sites, I am sure to check it daily -- and, surprisingly there was no uptick in Facebook trackers.



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Five Weird Ways To Earn A Free Ride To College

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Dr. Seuss

College is expensive.

Scholarships can help to relieve some of that financial burden, and we’re here to clue you in to a few that are available to students who aren’t star athletes or in the upper reaches of their class’ grade point percentile.

More From Mental_Floss:

6 Students Who Lost Their Diplomas Over Controversial Graduation Speeches

12 College Courses We Wish Our Schools Had Offered

How Every School in the AP Top 25 Got Its Nickname

Stop People From Texting While Driving

Texting while driving is bad. If you help to spread the word about the dangers of texting behind the wheel, you could be entered in a drawing for a $10,000 scholarship to the school of your choice. The deadline has passed for 2012, but there’s already information available on how to get involved in the contest for 2013. (Hint: it involves wearing tiny socks on your thumbs, taking a picture, and getting five like-minded friends to do the same.)



Channel Your Inner Dr. Seuss

Two years ago Random House hosted a contest celebrating the 20th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’ classic Oh, The Places You’ll Go! book in which the prize was a $10,000 scholarship. Thanks to the enthusiastic response, they quickly made it an annual event, with a different twist each year. In 2010 it was an essay contest, in 2011 contestants had to submit original artwork. The criteria for the 2012 competition (prize to be awarded in 2013) have not yet been announced, but you can send an email to info@drseussart.com and request the details. Or “like” their Facebook page and be automatically kept abreast of the particulars.



Preteens: Make A Sandwich

This scholarship is for kids who are planning way ahead when it comes to higher education—it is restricted to children aged six to 12. Of course, this means that a parent or guardian must fill out the application to enter their budding chef in Jif Peanut Butter’s annual Most Creative Sandwich contest. There are several prize levels to shoot for, with a grand prize of a $25,000 college fund up for grabs.



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9 Ex-Assistants Who Have Revealed Horror Stories About Their Famous Bosses

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courtney love store hom

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency recently stripped Lance Armstrong of seven Tour de France titles and wiped his record going back 14 years.

The last thing that Armstrong needed, in his free fall from grace, was a personal assistant to bust out of the woodwork and portray him to the world as a truly despicable guy.

See the ex-assistants' stories >

In a brutal expose for Outside magazine, Mike Anderson explains how he became Armstrong's assistant in late 2002. He paints an unflattering picture of his former boss as: leaving his wife in an "abrupt and cruel" fashion; returning from Europe with "money stuffed into his pants" from post-Tour races that Armstrong did for under-the-table cash; avoiding a surprise visit from World Anti-Doping Agency testers; muttering under his breath at a Livestrong event, "I hate these f***ing things"; and releasing a world of hate on any person who dared challenge him.

Anderson follows a great tradition of boss-skewering by assistants. For a powerful person, nothing is more scorching than a tell-all by an ex-PA, except perhaps one by an ex-lover (see: Mia Farrow on Woody Allen, Bobby Brown on Whitney Houston). Assistants bear witness to all their boss's daily quirks after all—updating their schedules and hearing their secrets.

And if they feel spurned, they can easily leverage their overlord's fame into their own with a juicy tell-all. Here are nine of the most famous cases of celebrities who were exposed by those once trusted with their most intimate assistance.

Anna Wintour's assistant wrote 'The Devil Wears Prada' after slaving away for the Vogue EIC.

Shortly after college, Lauren Weisberger landed a job as the assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour. She worked for approximately 11 months, and then wrote a novel about a girl who after college lands a job as the assistant to a similarly British, infamously cutthroat editor-in-chief of a major fashion magazine, who also has a passion for tennis, two children, and marital issues that end in divorce.

"The Devil Wears Prada" created a monsoon-size stir. After all, a young upstart was giving one of the most formidable figures in one of the most formidable industries a vicious dressing down. But Wintour took the roman a clef fairly well (other than allegedly redecorating her office, which bore an uncomfortable resemblance to Miranda Priestly's), and even attended a pre-screening of the movie in New York.

"Anything that makes fashion entertaining and glamorous and interesting is wonderful for our industry," she told Barbara Walters. "So, I was 100 percent behind it."

The book and movie may have even helped Wintour, upping her name recognition and mystique. And it certainly helped Weisberger, launching the 26-year-old's career as a novelist. According to EW.com, Weisberger is currently working on a sequel to her book. "Revenge Wears Prada" is due out next year.



John Edwards' former aide Andrew Young wrote a tell-all about the politician's affair after things between them turned sour.

Andrew Young was so devoted to his boss, presidential wannabe John Edwards, that he claimed paternity of Edwards' love child during the 2008 campaign.

The former aide admitted in Edwards' recent trial that he fell in love with the man, and Politico reported staffers as claiming that that the bromance burned so deep that Young was "intensely 'jealous" of others who got close to the former senator.

But things turned sour when Edwards tried to keep the paternity lie going for years longer than he'd promised. In early 2010, Young published a tell-all book—an ugly, uncensored portrait of the man who could have been the Democratic nominee for president. Edwards slept with videographer Reille Hunter in his wife's bed, Young claims, made a sex tape with Hunter, called her a "crazy slut," and pressured her to abort their child. A month before it hit bookshelves, Edwards admitted that he fathered Hunter's child.

"He was the man who promised me a bright future," Young told Oprah, "and then abandoned me to national disgrace."



Many of Scott Rudin's ex-assistants have gone to the press with their horror stories—and he doesn't deny any of them.

He holds the "unofficial crown of Hollywood's most feared boss," according to The Wall Street Journal. Gawker featured him in their series "New York's Worst Bosses."The book "Monster" referred to him as "a jovial Mephistopheles."

Scott Rudin, legendary producer of "The Truman Show," "The Hours," "Zoolander," "Closer" and many others, is also famed for the abuse that he heaps on his revolving entourage of assistants. WSJ reported that he had as many as 250 lackeys between 2000 and 2005. One was allegedly fired for bringing Rudin a bad breakfast muffin.

Many ex-assistants of the power producer have shared their experience with the press, and Rudin doesn't deny his unforgiving management style, describing it as "a cross between Attila the Hun and Miss Jean Brodie." If anything, the stories have helped whip up a mythology around the man, and turned the $75,000 to $150,000 year gig as his 24/7 peon into a coveted entry point for the aspiring moviemaker. 



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The Most Beautiful College Campuses In America

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“If you ask freshmen why they chose their colleges, they usually say one of two things,” says Baltimore architect Adam Gross, who’s worked on projects at the University of Virginia and Swarthmore. “Either they got a good financial aid package or they thought the campus was beautiful.”

Check out the college campuses >

America’s most beautiful college campuses have the power not only to sway indecisive high school students, of course, but also to attract tourists. Their appeal comes through varying combinations of awe-inspiring architecture, landscaping, and surroundings. To choose among more than 2,600 four-year American colleges, we considered these three key factors as well as architects’ expert opinions.

“The most important thing to realize is that how landscaping and buildings interconnect is as important as the buildings themselves,” explains Boston-based architect Mark deShong. At Princeton University, for example, “It’s really about landscape,” he says. The campus connects its ivy-covered gray stone buildings with footpaths, idyllic small greens, and courtyards that create an intimate village-like scale.

Architectural coherence also plays a role in making a campus beautiful. Take the University of San Diego, which sticks to one architectural style: the Spanish Renaissance, with its elaborate façades, delicate ironwork, and carved wood. Ocean views and palm-tree-lined courtyards are extra selling points.

Yale can’t compete when it comes to location, but it has embraced one architectural movement after another. As Robert A. M. Stern, dean of Yale’s School of Architecture, puts it: “Our campus is a living history of the architecture and urbanism of its three centuries in New Haven.” Whatever your taste, you’ll find a structure to your liking on a campus stroll, perhaps dorms designed by 1960s starchitect Eero Saarinen or James Gamble Rogers’s imposing Gothic bell tower.

But no assessment of America’s campuses would be complete without the University of Virginia. “You might think it looks like all these other campuses, but it’s the first to look like that,” says deShong. He cites founder and architect Thomas Jefferson’s then-novel concept of flanking a lawn with pavilions linked by colonnades and a grand library at its head. New York-based architect Alexander Cooper concurs: “UVA remains the masterpiece of American campus planning.”

So plan your own trip to check out these campus masterpieces. Think we missed a beautiful campus? Tell us why it should make the grade by posting a comment below. —Ratha Tep

More from Travel + Leisure:

America's Top College Hotels

World's Most Beautiful Buildings

America's Coolest College Towns

Scenic Views From Airplane Windows

University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, OH

A decades-long renewal topping $1 billion is paying dividends for Cincy, which has cultivated a strikingly modern look—and proven that “it doesn’t need ivy-covered brick walls” to be beautiful, as UC Magazine put it. Notable architects Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, Frank Gehry, and Peter Eisenman have each made their mark on the campus, whose Main Street leads to the prow-shaped Steger Student Life Center and the Tangeman University Center, which, in 2005, dramatically repositioned the original clock tower atop a skylight in a 90-foot atrium. —Kate Appleton



University of San Diego: San Diego

Some campuses are an amalgam of styles; the University of San Diego sticks to just one, and what a glorious one it has chosen—the Spanish Renaissance, with its elaborate façades, delicate ironwork, and carved woodwork. Ocean views and palm-tree-lined courtyards only add to the paradise-on-campus appeal.

Photo-op: The Immaculata Chapel, with its piercingly blue dome, visible from much of the city.

To-Do List: A walk around the Garden of the Sea, behind the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, and its serene reflecting pool and gardens overlooking Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. —Ratha Tep



Berry College: Mount Berry, GA

This rural college holds a lofty record: it’s the world’s largest contiguous college campus in the world, with more than 26,000 acres of fields, lakes, forests, and mountains. Berry makes prime use of its setting too, with numerous reflecting pools and fountains situated nearby its beautiful English Gothic–inspired buildings like the Ford Dining Hall, Ford Auditorium, and Mary Hall, made possible by the school’s largest benefactor—Henry Ford. —Ratha Tep



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The Most Lavish Hotel Suites Around The World

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Corinthia Hotel London Royal Penthouse Suite

No matter the destination, and no matter the reason for being there, the allure of a hotel suite knows no bounds.

A suite is a hotel’s first-class seat, often the most desired room and the epitome of hospitality done right.

Be it palatial or cozy, high-design or low-key, it offers a place to eat, sleep, dress, entertain, observe or just plain lounge. The overall effect can be irresistible.

Click here to see the hotel suites >

Many hotels have taken their suite offerings to (literally) new heights. London’s Corinthia Hotel, for instance, houses the 5,000-square-foot Royal Penthouse, which contains its own spa-treatment pod and a striking spiral staircase (among other luxe touches) and is the largest two-bedroom hotel residence in that city. The chic Arts Suite at the design-driven Hotel Arts Barcelona offers guests special extras, such as helicopter transport to lunch at one of Spain’s Michelin-starred restaurants, or electric Smart cars to drive around town.

While size is often a major selling point, it isn’t the only measure of success. Taking cues from the outside environment can turn an already spectacular setting into something extraordinary. The Girijaala Suite at Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah, takes full advantage of its superb desert locale, incorporating natural elements into its design and maximizing views of the Entrada Sandstone mesas. And in Marrakech, the Atlas Deluxe Suite at Selman is perched on 15 acres of parkland and offers unprecedented views of the Atlas Mountains, as well as the hotel’s 16 Arabian horses.

Award-winning actress Vivien Leigh once said, “I need something truly beautiful to look at in hotel rooms.” These suites have beautiful views of all kinds covered, but they also create an experience that conforms to every need, making for a truly unforgettable stay.

More articles from Departures:

This story was originally published by Departures.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong: The Ritz Carlton Suite

This 4,460-square-foot escape has all the necessities: butler service, access to the hotel’s Club Lounge, a dreamy bathroom with Acqua di Parma bath amenities, a sizable dining and living area, monogrammed robes, pillowcases, and towels. But its location on the 117th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong—which makes it the hotel’s loftiest room—really seals the deal. Spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and the island of Hong Kong itself are thrilling. They are in fact so breathtaking, you might not even notice other in-room highlights, such as the sauna and the shower, which is big enough for eight people.

From $15,472

International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Rd. W., Kowloon

852-2263-2263

ritzcarlton.com



Amangiri, Canyon Point, Utah: Girijaala Suite

Natural wonders highlight this suite in the desert. Amangiri, which opened in 2009, positions it to take full advantage of the gorgeous landscape, the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the Entrada Sandstone mesas. (“Girijaala” means “mountain ridge”; the resort is located on 600 acres in a valley.) Guests enter the suite via a private courtyard that continues up to a sky lounge with an outdoor bed. There is a 46-by-12-foot pool and terrace. Stone floors and concrete walls add to the natural feel, and a bench carved out of one of the outer concrete walls emphasizes the oneness with the surrounding land. Whether marveling at the constellation-filled night sky, watching the sunset amid the mountains or contemplating a visit to the spa (just steps away), it is difficult to make a bad choice here.

From $3,300

1 Kayenta Rd.

435-675-3999

amanresorts.com



Hotel Arts Barcelona: Arts Suite

This 1,600-square-foot, one-bedroom suite at this design-forward hotel in Barcelona offers special touches and singular experiences in equal measure. Minimalist and furnished with pieces by the likes of designer Antonio Citterio and B&B Italia, the suite features wide views of the Mediterranean Sea and famed La Sagrada Família church. For a real treat, the hotel’s helicopter will transport guests to one of three Michelin-starred restaurants, including El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (a 45-minute flight away). Electric Smart cars are also available, and a fragrance concierge can help formulate a custom scent to mark the visit.

From $8,775; helicopter lunch, additional $5,014 a couple

Marina 19–21

34-93/221-1000

hotelartsbarcelona.com



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NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: The Hottest Looks From The Nautica Men's And Rebecca Minkoff Shows

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rebecca minkoff, fashion week 2012, fw2012, bi, dng

It may only be early fall, but the fashion world is already gearing up for Spring 2013 at New York Fashion Week. Once the warm weather rolls around, floral patterns, pastels, and lots of funky accessories will be in for women.

This year at Lincoln Center, Olympians are stealing the stage. We spotted Ryan Lochte next to the former reality TV star Lauren Conrad at the Rebecca Minkoff show.

Dive in and check out what else is happening this week at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

The Nautica men's line showed on the roof of the Empire Hotel, just steps away from busy Lincoln Center.



For guys, the spring looks were a combination of light suits and beachwear.



No worries about post-Labor Day white here.. This model is playing it cool in the sun.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Modern Condo On The Upper East Side For Just Under $20 Million

10 Frightening Ways Doctors Used To Treat Mental Disorders

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trepanation, skull

Nobody ever claimed a visit to the doctor was a pleasant way to pass the time.

But if you’re timid about diving onto a psychiatrist’s couch or paranoid about popping pills, remember: It could be worse.

Like getting-a-hole-drilled-into-your-skull worse.

In 1927, a Viennese doctor used insulin overdoses to put patients in a coma and "cure" their drug addictions.

The coma-therapy trend began in 1927. Viennese physician Manfred Sakel accidentally gave one of his diabetic patients an insulin overdose, and it sent her into a coma. But what could have been a major medical faux pas turned into a triumph. The woman, a drug addict, woke up and declared her morphine craving gone. Then Sakel (who really isn’t earning our trust here) made the same mistake with another patient, who also woke up claiming to be cured.

Before long, Sakel was intentionally testing the therapy with other patients and reporting a 90 percent recovery rate, particularly among schizophrenics. Strangely, however, Sakel’s treatment successes remain a mystery. Presumably, a big dose of insulin causes blood sugar levels to plummet, which starves the brain of food and sends the patient into a coma. But why this unconscious state would help psychiatric patients is anyone’s guess.

Regardless, the popularity of insulin therapy faded, mainly because it was dangerous. Slipping into a coma is no walk in the park, and between one and two percent of treated patients died as a result.



Ancient cultures used to drill holes in peoples' skulls to get rid of "demons lurking inside." Some people still use this therapy today.

Ancient life was not without its hazards. Between wars, drunken duels, and the occasional run-in with an inadequately domesticated pig, it’s no surprise that archaic skulls tend to have big holes in them.

But not all holes are created with equal abandon. Through the years, archaeologists have uncovered skulls marked by a carefully cut circular gap, which shows signs of being made long before the owner of the head passed away. These fractures were no accident; they were the result of one of the earliest forms of psychiatric treatment called trepanation. The basic theory behind this “therapy” holds that insanity is caused by demons lurking inside the skull. Boring a hole in the patient’s head creates a door through which the demons can escape, and—voila—out goes the crazy.

Despite the peculiarity of the theory and lack of major-league anesthetics, trepanation was by no means a limited phenomenon. From the Neolithic era to the early 20th century, cultures all over the world used it as a way to cure patients of their ills. Doctors eventually phased out the practice as less, er, invasive procedures were developed. Average Joes, on the other hand, didn’t all follow suit. Trepanation patrons still exist. In fact, they even have their very own organizations … and Web sites! Check out the International Trepanation Advocacy Group at www.trepan.com if you’re still curious.

CHECK OUT: 10 Peculiar Things Public Schools Have Banned >



Erasmus Darwin, Charles Darwin's grandfather, tried to spin the crazy out of his patients using "rotational therapy."

Charles Darwin’s grandfather Erasmus Darwin was a physician, philosopher, and scientist, but he wasn’t particularly adept at any of the three. Consequently, his ideas weren’t always taken seriously. Of course, this could be because he liked to record them in bad poetic verse (sample: “By immutable immortal laws / Impress’d in Nature by the great first cause, / Say, Muse! How rose from elemental strife / Organic forms, and kindled into life”).

It could also be because his theories were a bit far-fetched, such as his spinning-couch treatment. Darwin’s logic was that sleep could cure disease and that spinning around really fast was a great way to induce the slumber.

Nobody paid much attention to it at first, but later, American physician Benjamin Rush adapted the treatment for psychiatric purposes. He believed that spinning would reduce brain congestion and, in turn, cure mental illness. He was wrong. Instead, Rush just ended up with dizzy patients who were still crazy. These days, rotating chairs are limited to the study of vertigo and space sickness.



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