With employment for recent law school graduates at just 85.6 percent, the lowest since 1994, you can't be blamed for failing to complete law school.

These 10 individuals started but never finished.

Not all of them dropped out. One brilliant individual was expelled for poor grades. And some simply moved on to other studies.

Among them—in addition to the dark mark on this list, Bundy—there are writers, philosophers, and musicians.

Diane Sawyer

Law school: University of Louisville

Dropped out after: 1 semester

After getting her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, the ABC News anchor attended one semester of law school in Louisville. She dropped out to study journalism. 

Source: Yahoo TV

Paul Simon

Law school: Brooklyn Law School

Dropped out after: a few months

The New Jersey native, more famous for his musical talent, did a stint at Brooklyn Law, but "in his heart it was not what he wanted." Simon decided his future was in music, and the rest was history. 

Source: Laura Jackson, "Paul Simon: The Definitive Bio," page 50.

Karl Marx

Law School: Bonn University and Berlin University

Dropped out after: about 2 years 

The German philosopher abandoned the law after becoming consumed by the idea of alienation.

Source: Francis Wheen, "Karl Marx: A Life," pages 17, 27.

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A TriBeCa penthouse towering 30 stories high is on sale for $16.5 million.

This unique property is in the prestigious PH200 building on Chambers Street.

The apartment has four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and spans 4,700 square feet.

The condo has three exposures; to the west there are views of the Hudson River, to the east the owners will have views of lower Manhattan, and to the north views there are views of Midtown.

Welcome to the penthouse on Chambers Street.

The apartment is selling for $3,510 per square foot.

The living room showcases the custom milled dark Oak flooring.

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For a real luxury cruise, you need a lot of space. The 'Harbour Island' provides it, and more.

At 180 feet long, it features three decks and five levels, with room for 14 guests, including two master suites and two VIP suites.

There's also a skylounge, a split level sun deck, a large living room, and space for a crew of 14 to keep everything running.

The yacht, to be displayed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show later this month, is on sale by Ocean Independence for $54.9 million.

The yacht has five levels.

A split level sundeck features an infinity pool.

The 180-foot yacht has room for 14 guests in six staterooms.

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Manipulating a picture is pretty easy to do nowadays.

A sepia filter is just a push of a button away on Instagram. Scores of iPhone apps let you do things like make people look old, get rid of red eye, and add a handful of effects.

But in a dark room? That's a whole different animal. 

Yesterday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York opened its newest exhibit, Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop.

The images are a testament to what is photography is capable of, even without 21st century technology. Its pretty incredible — some of the effects that these photographers labored over in the darkroom are way beyond the capabilities of the average Photoshop user.

A postcard shows a German soldier crushing members of the Triple Entente together during World War I.

Unidentified German artist

A Powerful Collision, 1914

Gelatin silver print

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Twentieth-century Photography Fund,

2010 2010.296,193

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

This double portrait shows a man as both artist and model, each regarding the other with cool irony.

Maurice Guibert, French, 1856–1913

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec as Artist and Model, ca. 1900

Gelatin silver print

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

The photographer managed to put a woman in place of the stem of a lamp.

Grete Stern, Argentinian, born Germany, 1904-1999

Dream No. 1: Electrical Appliances for the Home, 1948

Gelatin silver print

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Twentieth-Century Photography Fund, 

2012 2012.10

Courtesy of Galería Jorge Mara - La Ruche, Buenos Aires

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

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One of the speakers at this week's Big Picture Conference was David Rosenberg, the famously bearish chief economist of Canadian wealth management firm Gluskin-Sheff.

Rosenberg is often labeled a perma-bear, which is something he denied vehemently, but he definitely presented a glass-half-full view of the economy, using charts to argue that the U.S. will be facing demographic and debt-related headwinds for years to come.

According to Rosenberg — who jokingly put on a pair of rose-tinted glasses at the start of his presentation — the U.S. is at best halfway through the deleveraging. The stock market, he says, is only up by dint of Fed intervention, and that there are already signs that the latest bout of QE-Open Ended is not having the same effect as last time.

Regardless of what you think of him as an investor (he has clearly been too negative on equities since the bottom of the crisis) he is an extremely impressive economist, with a wealth of charts and historical datapoints to draw on.

His presentation was definitely a highlight of the conference, and everyone was blown away (not just by the presentation but also his stagemanship).

Big thanks to Gluskin-Sheff for giving us permission to run the entire feature.

Alfred E. Newman used to ask "What, me worry?" but it was never clear what he had to worry about.

On the other hand, Bernanke clearly worries about a lot. He has a lot on his mind.

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Earnings season kicked off this week.  But overall it was a pretty quiet.

Spain was downgraded by S&P to BBB-, which is one notch above junk status.

Some U.S. economic data pleasantly surprised to the upside: initial jobless claims plunged, consumer sentiment surged, and inflation expectations dropped to a multi-year low.

Meanwhile, the best economists and analysts guided us through these persistently uncertain markets.

Jim Bianco Has A Surprising Theory For How Mitt Romney Is Tanking The Market

The most interesting comment came at the end, when he talked about the fact that the markets have been falling ever since Romney started surging in the polls after the debate.

Our assumption was that this was a spurious coincidence, and that the market doesn't have anything to do with Romney. The most interesting thing, we figured, was that it at least flied in the face of the idea that a Romney win would be much better for the market, and that thus the Romney debate win should have been bullish.

But Bianco was insistent that there was an explanation. A Romney win would mean Bernanke out, and a likely much more hawkish Fed, perhaps helmed by monetary economist John Taylor, who has been a big opponent of QE.

Read more here >

Dylan Grice Is Watching Three Developments Very Closely Right Now

Inflation expectations – Grice is concerned about the monetary easing being conducted by the world's largest central banks right now. His fear is that they could lose control of inflation – and if they do, Grice said inflation expectations are the first place he thinks we will see signs of that happening.
The fragile social situation in Greece – Grice cited the rise of the right-wing extremist Golden Dawn political party and its harassment of immigrants as especially worrying. "What's chilling," Grice said, "is that the police are turning a blind eye."
Rising tensions in Iran – Iranians are becoming frustrated with the loss of purchasing power they faceas Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad pushes inflationary, easy-money policies. Grice said those policies are always the result of desperation on the government's part.

Read more here >

JP Morgan's Tom Lee: The Bankruptcy Purge Of 2012 Is Mega Bullish For US Banks And Housing

"But a tailwind is building in 2013, in our view, which is the resetting of the credit scores for millions of Americans. The peak year of personal bankruptcies was 2005 and those records are removed from credit reports after 2012. Thus, beginning in 2013, we should see rapid improvements in the credit quality of millions of Americans."

Read more here >

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The Marine Corps sent two female Lieutenants to Marine Corps Infantry Officers Course in Quantico on Sept. 24 for the first time ever.

Click here to see what they face >

These women are in for quite a challenge, as none of the training has been changed, or altered — In enlisted boot camp, as well as in the fleet Marine Corps, women have different physical fitness standards than men.

So we talked a few Marine Corps Infantry Officers to get a feel for what these Marines are in for. The consensus was, not so much that they didn't want females fighting beside them — more often than not, we heard, "as long as they don't change the training, more power to them" — but that the course was "one of the most rigorous the Marine Corps has to offer."

Finally, the Marine Corps Training And Education Command has decided that these two ladies are essentially just a "test." If they pass, the will not earn the Infantry Officer designation.

They're going through the training for no other reason than to do it, to prove what they're made of.

Communication — The first challenge is breaking through into a man's world

Women have never served in an infantry training unit.

The Marines world is totally dominated by men. Yes, women have a foot in the door, but the first obstacle they have is to break through socially with the men.

"Shoot, move, communicate," as Marines say. Communication is key.

The obstacles will not be altered in any way

In enlisted boot camp, most of the obstacles are different for women — bars are a little lower, walls a little shorter.

The female IOC Marines will have to surmount the exact same obstacles as the men.

Everyone will go through the early morning indoctrination test

"They drop you off in the woods, zero five in the morning, hand you a envelope, and say 'Go!" One officer tells me.

This is the indoctrination test.

Day 2, initial test, just to see if you have what it takes to do the training. The test consists of about 15 to 20 miles of land navigation, carrying a rifle and military "deuce gear," which is what carries ammunition and water.

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When one thinks of the Rhone-Alps region of France, the vision of snow-capped mountains and exceptional skiing come to mind. It’s a true assessment—the 

Check out the best places to treat yourself in the Rhone-Alps >

But the second-largest region in France is also one of the country’s best year-round destinations, home of Cote de Rhone and Beaujolais wine, Evian water, and more than 65 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Known as the country’s top area for spas and wellness, the region is ideal for an add-on to a Paris trip, a combination journey from Switzerland, or a stopping point on the way to Provence, St. Tropez, or even Monaco.  

Here are our suggestions for a week-long luxury itinerary in the summer, spring or fall, combining all the best the area has to offer – spas, wine and food.

Begin: Lyon

Start your journey in the city of Lyon, a city of vibrant arts, culture, and of course, food. Shop for Hermes (their scarf factory is in Lyon), stroll the winding streets, and walk the scenic Rhone riverside.

Have an early dinner at famed bistro Daniel et Denise, where you can enjoy a traditional Bouchon and a cozy ambiance – think red checked tablecloths and vintage posters on the wall – as well as a lively, local-filled atmosphere.

Spend the night at the Hotel Sofitel Lyon Bellecour, which boasts a fashionable bar, spa, and Michelin-starred restaurant as well as a central location.

If you’d prefer something a bit more intimate, try the Le Royal Hotel Lyon, a 72-room guesthouse and home of the famed Institut Paul Bocuse cooking school.

You’ll be up early the next morning, so rest up.

Day Two: Wine, Wine, and more Wine

It could easily take a week to explore the Beaujolais vineyards of the area. Taste your way through the Beaujolais vineyards with the help of the Beaujolais wine app – free in the Apple app store, but also available in paper format for those who prefer something a bit more tangible. You can search by vineyard and city name.

Day Two: Chateau de la Chaize

If you only have a day, we’d suggest a visit to the Chateau de la Chaize in Odenas and the Chateau de Montmelas in Montmelas, both of which boast friendly staff and beautiful vineyards. The Chateau de Montlemas can arrange group tours for 20 or more, and is often dubbed “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle” for its picturesque views. The home is open for tours, and if you’d like to indulge in a castle stay, the home has apartments available for rent by the week.

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It seems strange, but before they took their seats on the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices played sports, went to school, and maybe even got into trouble like the rest of us. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a cheerleader. Stephen Breyer was on the debate team.

And Samuel Alito had "great and ineffable thoughts." 

But the school days are gone, and you might not even recognize some of the justices in their younger days.

So, what did the justices look like before having to rule on health care, affirmative action, and surveillance laws?

Clarence Thomas

Left: Thomas in his undergraduate years at The College of the Holy Cross. He graduated in 1971.

Anthony Kennedy

Left: Kennedy, dressed in his Cub Scout uniform, poses with his little brother Tim, circa 1946.

Sonia Sotomayor

Left: Sotomayor as a young girl, age six or seven.

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Hedge fund managers and hedge fund industry professional rocked out Thursday night at the Hedge Fund Rocktoberfest, an annual fundraiser benefiting children’s charity A Leg To Stand On (ALTSO).

ALTSO, which provides prosthetic limbs and corrective surgeries to children with limb disabilities in developing countries, was co-founded by hedge fund manager C. Mead Welles, the CEO of Octagon Asset Management, back in 2002.  

The Rocktoberfest event began in 2004 and we were told by several people that in recent years it has really grown into a must-attend Wall Street event.  

What's truly remarkable is ALTSO now has 13 programs worldwide and has been able to provide more than 8,000 children with treatment. 

"It has been an unbelievable journey. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped, and so proud of all the children we have been able to help," Welles said in a statement.  

It was definitely a fun evening and for a great cause.  We checked it out and have included highlights. 

Hundreds of people filled the ballroom at 583 Park Avenue. Tickets were $250 -$300 and all of the proceeds went to ALTSO’s global programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

There was also a live and silent auction to raise funds.

Coco and rapper-actor Ice-T were there. They thanked everyone for coming out and showing support.

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I have a confession: I don’t compost. I don't always recycle plastic bags, and I probably take longer showers than I should. In fact, two weeks ago, I didn’t know what, exactly, a hybrid car really was.

Check out the myths >

That all changed when I got to test drive the first of Toyota’s all-new, all-electric RAV4 EV and got schooled on the entire Prius family -- the original Prius that made hybrids famous, the Prius C, V and even the Plug-In.

My time with Toyota made me think twice about traditional gas-powered cars. All the fears I'd always had about non-gas motored engines fell away as I learned about all the precautions and technology that went into these hybrids.

Which made me realize: Clearing up misconceptions about hybrids is crucial to getting people to realize, like I did, that there are plenty of ways to save energy in parts of your life where you won’t even notice the change. So, in an attempt to dispel any myths holding you back from going green, here are the 10 biggest misconceptions about hybrids.

More Women Than Men Drive Hybrids

Actually, the stats say that for the regular Prius, it's exactly 50/50. "If anything, it’s a little heavier on the men [drivers] because of the technology side. There’s a strong tech allure to the Prius," says Erica Gartsbeyn, Prius product manager at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

Even more surprisingly, the Prius Plug-In has a 67% male driver base, while the Prius C is 56% male-driven. The Prius C and V are more popular with women, however, most likely due to the feminine styling and colors.

Hybrids Aren't Fun To Drive

This just blatantly isn't true. Anyone who's been behind the wheel of a hybrid knows that the number of technology systems (from the premium seven-inch display audio with navigation and eco-drive monitor in the Prius to the EV's eight-inch touchscreen that supplies navigation and telematics showing exactly how much power you’re using) make these cars pretty fun to drive.

"People have begun to 'gamify' their driving habits," says Gartsbeyn. "The Prius has provided them with a number of different technology systems, and all of that becomes sort of a game to Prius drivers. They have tricks they talk about online. It’s become a little community-discussion board." Interested? Visit Prius Chat for a taste.

Hybrids Are Only For A Niche Buyer

Considering that Toyota has sold over 1.2 million Priuses in the U.S -- and globally over four million hybrids -- this myth seems to be on the decline. Furthermore, for Prius C buyers, 84% of them are buying their first hybrid. And for Prius V, 70% are first-time buyers. "It’s not only about loyalty anymore," says Gartsbeyn. "EVs and plug-ins may be niche, but hybrids have moved more toward the mainstream."

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In an era of sports reporting dominated by former players and coaches, it's becoming harder and harder for the non-athlete to break through into the sports media field. 

However, there are several cases where people have worked extremely hard to make a household name for themselves without ever competing at sport's highest level.

These reporters had to encounter numerous pit stops along the way to build up their reputations and prove their worth.

We've outlined the career paths of several well-established sports personalities to give you a sense of what it took for each to reach their current position.

Sage Steele, SportsCenter Anchor

Steele graduated from Indiana University in 1995 before getting her start in television as a producer and reporter in South Bend, Ind. at WSBT-TV and a Indianapolis Colts reporter for WISH-TV until 1997, before covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1998 to 2001.

She later became a debut anchor for Comcast SportsNet in Washington D.C., working on SportsNite and covering the Baltimore Ravens up until 2005.

Steele joined ESPN in 2007, and made her debut as a SportsCenter anchor in 2008.

(Source: ESPN Media Zone)

Bill Simmons, ESPN Columnist/Grantland Editor-In-Chief

Simmons graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1992, and earned a master's degree in journalism from Boston University a year later. He began at The Boston Herald covering high school sports and moved on to the Boston Phoenix for a few years.

But Simmons' career launched skyward when he prodded AOL's Digital City Boston website to bring him on as "The Boston Sports Guy" in 1997. His edgy style came to ESPN in 2001, when the network introduced Page 2. He served as lead columnist for ESPN the Magazine from 2002-09.

Now, Simmons' several noteworthy ventures include "The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy," his podcast, The B.S. Report, and his role as Editor-In-Chief of Grantland.

(Sources: ESPN Media Zone, The New York Times)

Erin Andrews, Fox Sports Reporter

Andrews earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 2000. She began her career at FOX Sports Florida that same year. Between 2001 and 2002, Andrews covered the Tampa Bay Lightning reporter for the Sunshine Network.

She moved on to Turner Sports in 2002, where she began reporting on college football and covered all major Atlanta sports franchises, with the exception of the Falcons, as a reporter and studio host. She spent eight years at ESPN, beginning in 2004 working mostly in college football and basketball as a sideline reporter.

She joined Fox Sports earlier this year, and is making major contributions in the network's NFL, MLB and college football coverage.

(Source: Fox Sports)

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Scientists recently recorded footage of a never-before-seen defense mechanism deployed by a small species of deep-sea squid: When threatened, the squid attacks its predator and then pulls away, breaking off the tip of its own arm and leaving it behind as a distraction.

The arm continues to glow and twitch, creating a diversion and enabling the squid to escape.

But this squid isn’t the only creature with a bizarre way of defending itself. Here are several other ways animals try to save their own lives, or the lives of their comrades.

1. The Lizard That Shoots Blood From Its Eyes

The Texas Horned Lizard is a scary-looking creature. Brown, plump and perfectly camouflaged in its native sandy environment, its first line of defense is its spiky demeanor. If the sharp spikes and horns don’t ward off predators, the lizard steps it up a notch and squirts a well-aimed stream of blood out of its eyes. The stream of blood, which can go as far as 5 feet, is mixed with a foul-tasting chemical that wards off predators. But this odd weapon comes at a cost: The lizard may release a third of its total blood supply this way, amounting to two percent of its body mass.

2. The Hairy Frog That Breaks Its Own Bones

What if every time you felt threatened, your first and only method of defense was to break your own bones and use them for weapons? Meet the hairy frog, a Central African species that, despite its name and fuzzy appearance, isn’t hairy at all. When breeding, the male frogs develop thin strands of skin along the sides of their bodies that resemble hair. These strands also, in theory, allow the frogs to take in more oxygen while they watch over their eggs. But what’s really compelling about this frog is its ability to crack its own toe bones and push them through their skin to form sharp claws, great for warding off would-be attackers.

While it’s not completely clear what happens to the bones after the threat of attack subsides, researchers believe the bones slide back under the skin when the frog’s muscles relax.

3. The Newt That Turns Its Ribs Into Spikes

The hairy frog isn’t the only amphibian that uses its bones for weapons. When attacked, the Spanish ribbed newt shifts its ribs forward at an angle and pushes them through its stretched skin. The resulting effect is a row of spikes on either side of its body. Like the hairy frog, the newt has to force the bones through its skin every time it is attacked, but the mechanism seems to cause little or no harm to the creature. “Newts, and amphibians in general, are known to have an extraordinary ability to repair their skin,” says zoologist Egon Heiss of the University of Vienna in Austria.

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What do actors, musicians, and writers say before they die?

From enlightenment to humor, see what these 11 famous men said before they passed away.

Our friends at mental_floss consulted the reference Last Words of Notable People by Bill Brahms to collect eleven examples.

Read on, and get a hanky ready.

Bob Hope (1903-2003)

Last words: “Surprise me.”

The story: “Bob” Hope’s full name was Leslie Townes Hope. As an actor and radio personality, he became best known in his later years for entertaining American troops stationed overseas. He died at Toluca Lake, California at the ripe old age of 100. His wife Dolores asked Bob where he wanted to be buried, prompting his last words.

Reports of Hope’s death were greatly exaggerated in 1998, when the Associated Press accidentally released a prepared obituary. The incorrect news spread so rapidly that it was announced on the floor of the US House. Representative Bob Stump, R-Arizona, Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, broke the “news.”

Glenn Miller (1904-1944)

Last words: “Where the hell are the parachutes?”

The story: Glenn Miller was a big band leader and US Army Major during WWII. Miller boarded a plane bound from England to Paris, where he planned to perform concerts for troops on leave in Europe. His last recorded words as he boarded the plane (above) were spoken to Colonel Don Baesell, who replied: “What’s the matter Miller, don’t you want to live forever?” The plane was lost over the English Channel.

Eugene O’Neill, Senior (1888-1953)

Last words: “I knew it! I knew it! Born in a hotel room and, goddamn it, dying in a hotel room.”

The story: O’Neill was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, best known for Long Day’s Journey into Night and The Iceman Cometh. He was born in a room at the Broadway hotel on what is now Times Square. He died at age 65 in a Boston hotel after suffering neurological disease. The hotel was later turned into the Shelton Hall dorm at Boston University.

O’Neill had an alcoholic son, Eugene O’Neill Jr., who committed suicide in 1950 at the age of 40. The Junior O’Neill wrote in his note, “Never let it be said of O’Neill that he failed to empty a bottle. Ave atque vale.” (The last phrase is Latin for “Hail and farewell.”)

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Thursday, October 11, was National Coming-Out Day. The holiday celebrates the first coming-out day, back in 1988, when 500,000 people participated in a march on Washington, D.C. for gay rights. Participants marched for legal recognition of their relationships, an end to discrimination, and reproductive freedom.

We decided to investigate how advertisers have featured LGBT people in their ads over the years. How do ads illustrate a shift in society's perspective over time?

Go straight to the ads >

Well, there were some shockers. Like the 1950's ad warning children of the sick homosexuals wondering the streets, or the classy Guinness ad from 1995 that was never aired because it was considered too shocking at the time.

But, we have come a long way since those days. Ads today are both inclusive and respectful, and often boldly targeting the LGBT community directly. And, as Adweek reported, the LGBT community is currently estimated to represent a $743 billion market. That makes it is a seriously important market for advertisers to watch.

1940's: Jester Wools, "I've robbed the rainbow." At the time, the word "gay" solely acted as a substitution for "happy."

Homosexuality wasn't a part of mainstream media, so potentially homoerotic scenes were published in entirely innocent contexts.

1961: The Inglewood, California Police Department and School District's "Boys Beware" ad.

Homosexuality was only referred to in the context of anti-gay public service announcements. This PSA warned, "be careful when you meet a stranger, one never knows when the homosexual is about." Gay men were said to be sick, and stereotyped wit creepy facial hair.

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In 1985, two young British climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, became the first to ascend the west face of Siula Grande, a 21,000-foot peak in the Peruvian Andes.

What happened next has become the stuff of mountaineering legend.

The saga of the five days that followed is one of the most remarkable and inspiring survival stories ever. It's also an extraordinary example of self-reliance, decision-making under extreme duress, and force of will.

One of the climbers, Joe Simpson, wrote a book about the experience called Touching The Void. In 2003, the story was made into a docu-drama directed by Kevin Macdonald. The movie was narrated by Simpson and Yates, with actors re-enacting the events in Peru and the Alps.

Both the book and movie are extraordinary.

Using still shots from the movie, I've told a very abridged version of the story below. If you don't like spoilers, you can buy the book or movie here, or watch the movie on Netflix.

The saga began with a two-day hike from the nearest road.

The climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, established a camp about 4-5 miles from Siula Grande.

DAY ONE: The route to the mountain passed a glacial lake, followed by a long hike up a valley and the glacier itself.

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Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner aborted his plan to break the sound barrier earlier this week due to strong winds.  

The 43-year-old wll make a second attempt to complete his 23-mile parachute jump tomorrow morning.  

But safety still comes first.  

As these skydiving fails will show you, parachuting can be a dangerous sport. Especially without the proper training and precautions.   

Everyone in these videos survived and lived to tell their tale. But not all divers are as fortunate. 

An 80-year-old grandmother nearly falls out of her harness during a tandem jump from 10,000 feet. The instructor manages to hold on her to legs before landing to safety.

A parachute breaks away from the diver while falling 125 miles per hour. His reserve chute opens, but his bad luck continues when he lands on power lines suffering third degree burns.

A skydiver survives a 5,000 foot fall by landing on blackberry bushes.

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Companies that make it on the best places to work lists usually have one thing in common: killer perks for their workers.

Google even has its own culture czar whose goal is to ensure happiness among the company's employees.

“Sometimes simply receiving a paycheck is not enough of an incentive to keep employees dedicated and focused,” says Amelia Jenkinsin an article on Chron Small Business. 

From bocce courts to bowling alleys, these companies know the value of rewarding their employees, and they do it in some of the coolest ways possible.

Chesapeake Energy

Chesapeake Energy Corp., one of the nation's biggest natural gas producers, offers free SCUBA certification to all its employees. And the on-site 72,000-square-foot fitness center includes an Olympic-sized pool, a sand volleyball court, rock climbing wall, and a quarter-mile walking track.

Boston Consulting Group

BCG invests “100-plus hours and thousands of dollars to recruit each consultant,” says the company’s site, and it also claims to pay 100 percent of its employees’ health care premiums.

“Attracting top talent and maintaining an environment in which employees can rapidly develop have been key to our success and our ability to deliver enormous value to clients. Recognitions like this are a nice acknowledgment that our efforts are highly unusual and, based on our growth and client retention, effective,” says Rich Lesser, BCG’s chairman of North and South America.

SAS Institute

SAS has ranked in Fortune's Top 100 for 14 consecutive years, according to the company’s web site.

The company says that “if you treat employees as if they make a difference, they will make a difference.” SAS employee rewards includes subsidized Montessori child care, unlimited sick days, a free health care center, and intramural sports teams.

CEO Jim Goodnight says that “[we create] a culture that rewards innovation, encourages employees to try new things and yet doesn’t penalize them for taking chances, and a culture that cares about employees’ personal and professional growth.”

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An European-inspired home on the North Shore of Chicago is on sale for $4.2 million.

The 10,000-square-foot home exudes elegance and is truly unlike any other mansion we've seen before.

The home, in Glencoe, has five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and three half bathrooms.

The home was custom-built, and has a limestone exterior, and imported and domestic stone and wood inside.

The double-story entrance is truly grand.

The home has 25 rooms in total.

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Mitt Romney keeps saying that President Obama can't run on his record.

That's ridiculous.

Obama's record, at least with respect to the economy, has been strong--especially relative to the economy of the prior adminstration (whose policies Romney wants to return to).

Before Obama took office, you will recall, the economy was in freefall, obliterated by tax cuts, runaway government spending, massive consumer debts, and regulation-be-damned culture of the prior administration.

As the attached charts show, the moment Obama arrived and implemented the stimulus, the economy began to improve. And it has gotten much, much better in the past four years.

Yes, it's true that economic growth has not been stellar and that unemployment is much too high. That's why we keep publishing "the chart that might get Obama fired," which shows the unemployment rate relative to his administration's early projections. But relative to the economy that Obama inherited, one that featured temporary debt-fueled "sugar-high" growth that ended in catastrophe, Obama's economic record has been good.

This summer, Mike Norman, Chief Economist of John Thomas Financial, built a chartbook that shows 21 major market and economic indicators before and after President Obama was elected.

Obama rolled out his stimulus just after taking office. And as these charts clearly show, it worked.

We still have a long way to go to fix the problems that have developed in the economy over the past 30 years--namely, massive debt overhangs, extreme inequality, high unemployment, lousy schools, idiotic immigration policies, and so forth. But we're certainly better off than we were four years ago.

NOTE: Thanks to Mike Norman for allowing us to feature his chartbook.

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