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The 10 Best Restaurants In The Hamptons

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restaurant

Every new summer brings  fresh stores, clubs, and restaurants to the Hamptons — but some things never change on the Long Island shore.

Zagat has ranked the top restaurants in the Hamptons for this year, and unsurprisingly all of the old faithfuls are still there.

All ten scored over 26 in the food category of the survey's 30-point scale, which according to Zagat means the meal was considered "extraordinary to perfection."

From North Fork Table to the Plaza Café, here are the places you'll need to book a table in advance this summer.

10. The Palm

94 Main St., East Hampton

Food:  26
Decor:  20
Service:  23
Cost: $71

The Palm is located in a 300-year-old building on East Hampton's Main Street with a dark, old-school ambiance.

Part of an upscale steakhouse chain, The Palm is also well-known for its impeccable lobsters and huge cocktails.



9. Harvest on Fort Pond

11 S. Emery St., Montauk

Food:  26
Decor:  22
Service:  22
Cost: $53

Located (where else?) on Fort Pond, this Tuscan restaurant has its own herb, vegetable, and flower garden.

The entrées at Harvest on Ford Pond are so big that two people can share one, and it's ideal for a summer evening while watching the sun set.



8. Noah's

136 Front St., Greenport

Food:  26
Decor:  18
Service:  21
Cost: $50

This small plates-style restaurant features fresh seafood in the dining room and at the raw bar.

Noah's can get a bit noisy, but once everyone digs in, you'll forget everything but the fabulous food.



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13 Of The Ugliest Celebrity Bankruptcies In History

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mike tysonThere’s nothing quite like America’s obsession with celebrities …  unless, of course, you consider our obsession with celebrity failures.

After all, the shine of a rising star is always eclipsed by the blazing fire caused by a big bank account going up in smoke.

Some high-profile bankruptcy news of late includes:

But these recent headlines are nothing compared with some of the ugliest celebrity bankruptcy stories in history.

Elton John (Bankrupt in 2002)

Sir Elton was living high on the hog with a 37-acre estate in Windsor, among other properties in the U.K., America, and France, and a fleet of 20 luxury cars to ferry him around.

Too bad he couldn’t afford it. The BBC reported that prior to bankruptcy, his credit card bills were rumored to top $400,000 every month and he spent a staggering $55 million in the span of 20 months!

He took legal action against a money manager …  but c’mon, Elton.

In the court case it was revealed he spent $450,000 on flowers alone during the 20-month binge.



Randy Quaid (Bankrupt in 2000)

Oh the irony. After making a film called The Debtors, starring himself and directed by his rather talent-deprived wife Evi, Quaid went broke.

The decade ended with Randy Quaid banned from stage acting and the Quaids arrested for allegedly defrauding an innkeeper.



Vince and Linda McMahon (Bankrupt in 1976)

The brains behind World Wrestling Entertainment clearly didn’t have a head for finance in the beginning.

The couple was in the hole $1 million as the wrestling empire started to blossom.

That included footing the bill for such crazy schemes as a failed Evel Knieval attempt to jump Snake River Canyon and a fight between Muhammad Ali and Japanese wrestler/martial arts star Antonio Inoki.

Oh yeah, and they didn’t like the IRS too much — racking up $142,763 in unpaid income taxes over five straight years.



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The 16 Most Terrifying Roller Coasters On The Planet

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Alton Towers Oblivion roller coaster

Summer is almost here, which means that millions of American will be flocking to amusement parks around the country.

And the one major requirement for any park worth its salt is a stomach-turning, death-defying roller coaster.

Part of the fun for thrill seekers is that each one is a little different. Will it have a steep drop? Could it hang you upside down? Or maybe it just causes your heart to race because it feels too rickety to handle that next loop?

From the sharpest drops to the fastest rides, these coasters are an adrenaline junkie's dream.

WICKED TWISTER: Riders face epic 450-degree spirals at more than 70 mph on this Cedar Point ride in Ohio.

Source: Cedar Point



COLOSSOS: This gigantic wooden coaster in Germany lives up to its name as the tallest in the world at 197 feet, and is said to be a "smooth as steel" ride.

Source: Heide Park



KINGDA KA: The ultimate for thrill seekers, this coaster stands 456 feet tall at New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure, and is the tallest in the world.

Source: Six Flags



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See What Tennis Legends From The Past Look Like Today

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martina hingis past and present

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters have dominated tennis in the last decade.

But not too long ago the world was obsessed with another crop of leading men and women that set unrivaled Grand Slam records and left a lasting impression with their style and determination.

Jennifer Capriati, Steffi Graf, Ivan Lendl, Monica Seles, Stefan Edberg, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova were some of the fresh-faced players that reigned in the 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s.

Pete Sampras, 41, won 14 Grand Slam singles titles (1988-2002).



Andre Agassi, 43, won eight Grand Slam championships and an Olympic gold medal during his career (1986-2006).



Steffi Graf, 43, of Germany, has 22 Grand Slam singles titles (1982-1999). She is the only player to achieve a Calendar Grand Slam, winning all majors on four different types of tennis court (1993-1994). Graf has an Olympic gold medal as well. She has a son and a daughter with husband Andre Agassi.



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13 Secret Features Hidden In Your iPhone (AAPL)

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iphone ad

If you want to become an iPhone power user, it's best to know about some of the hidden features Apple put in its operating system.

Here are a few of our favorites.

You can teach your iPhone to turn phrases or acronyms into anything you want. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Add New Shortcut to give it a try.



If you want to save an image from a website to your phone, tap and hold it until this menu pops up. Tap "Save Image" to store the photo on your phone. You can retrieve it later from your phone's Photos app.



Under Settings, you can switch on the iPhone's Do Not Disturb feature. That means you won't get notifications or calls while your phone is locked. It's best to switch this on while you're sleeping.



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16 Hot Cocktail Destinations Around America

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The Hawthorne barThis week we're shouting out all things liquid with the results of our 2013 Mixology Survey.

While we're on the topic, here's a list of 16 of the hottest joints for top-notch tipples around the U.S. - two from each of our blog cities.

Pour yourself a drink while you scope them in the slide show, and let us know your local faves in the comments.

LA: The Varnish

118 E. Sixth St.

Atmosphere: 24
Decor: 22
Service: 23

“Service is incredible” at this “beautiful”, “too-cool-for-school” Downtown speakeasy hidden behind a “secret door” at the back of Cole’s restaurant; the bartenders will “let you sample tons of liquor” then “make a drink depending on your poison”, and though the craft cocktails “aren’t cheap”, they’re “worth every penny”, especially because of the “giant ice cubes” – a sure sign you’re in a temple of mixology.




NYC: Raines Law Room

48 W. 17th St.

Atmosphere: 27
Decor: 26
Service: 26

“Intimate and civilized”, this “lesser-known” Flatiron “speakeasy” is a “class act all the way” with a semi-“secret” entrance, “plush” “Orient-Express” decor, “chains on the wall” to summon the staff and “masterful cocktails” concocted by “true mixologists”; maybe the “prices aren’t for the faint of heart”, but it “doesn’t disappoint” for a “sexy date.”




Chicago: Violet Hour

1520 N. Damen Ave.

Atmosphere: 28
Decor: 27
Service: 24

“Don’t order a vodka cranberry” at this “swanky” Wicker Park sib to Blackbird where “cocktail cognoscenti” and other “adventurous” imbibers savor “exceptional” drinks – “perfectly executed, right down to the style of ice in your glass”; “exaggerated” furnishings and drapery enhance the “seductive” “speakeasy” feel (and “keep the noise level to a hush”), and while a few reviewers are ruffled by “long” weekend waits and “house rules”, most find the “unique” experience “justifies” the trouble; P.S. consider going during “off-hours” to beat the line.




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35 Scientific Concepts That Will Make You Smarter

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Uniqlo rainbow staircase

In order to sharpen our reasoning skills, we must have a good grasp of our own cognitive biases, as well as the basic laws of the universe.

But in a dynamic world, those laws are constantly changing. 

The editors over at Edge.org asked some of the most influential thinkers in the world — including neuroscientists, physicists and mathematicians — what they believe are the most important scientific concepts of the modern era.

The result is "This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts To Improve Your Thinking," a compilation of nearly 200 essays exploring concepts such as the "shifting baseline syndrome" and a scientific view of "randomness."

We've highlighted 35 of the concepts here, crediting the author whose essay highlights the theory.

Cognitive humility

Decades of cognitive research shows that "our minds are finite and far from noble. Knowing their limits can help us become better reasoners. ... Perhaps the most dire consequence is that human beings tend to be better at remembering evidence consistent with their beliefs." 

Gary Marcus, director, New York University, Center for Child Language. Author, Kluge: The Haphazard Evolution of the Human Mind from This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking



Cognitive load

Our brains can only hold so much information at once. When there's too much "information overload," we tend to get distracted easily and not retain what we're learning.

"Working memory is what brain scientists call the short-term store of information where we hold the contents of our consciousness at any given moment — all the impressions and thoughts that flow into our mind as we go through the day."

Nicholas Carr, author, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing To Our Brains, from This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking.



Constraint satisfaction

When presented with too many choices — no matter how beautiful or beneficial — it can be overwhelming, and we are paralyzed by indecision.

That's why having constraints, or any sort of limits, is beneficial and leads to solutions. 

In fact, "much creativity emerges from constraint satisfaction. ... Einstein had one of his major breakthroughs when he realized that time need not pass at a constant rate."

Stephen M. Kosslyn, director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, from This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking.



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12 Solemn And Heartbreaking Memorials For Fallen Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan

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Dogtags Marine memorial

President Ronald Reagan once said about remembering fallen veterans, "the dead had spoken more eloquently for themselves, than the living ever could."

America's most recent wars — Iraq and Afghanistan — started more than a decade ago. Iraq may have ended, but Afghanistan still rages on today.

“More than 60,000 of our fellow Americans still serve far from home in Afghanistan — they’re still going out on patrol, still living in spartan forward operating bases, still risking their lives to carry out their mission,” President Barack Obama said today.

There have been 4,486 killed in action in Iraq and 2,134 killed in action in Afghanistan.

Here, Business Insider remembers a few of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment left 33 souls in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.



Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler was killed in action May 4, 2006.



Cpl. Michael Wiles, of Willingboro, N.J., presents a flag to Famata Kar, mother of fellow U.S. Marine and best friend, Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, at a memorial service in Flehla, Liberia, May 17, 2012.



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23 Thought-Provoking Enterprise Tech Execs That Smart People Are Following On Twitter

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Alison Gianotto, Noise Marketing

There are lots of enterprise tech execs on Twitter. 

Not all of them are interesting to follow, though.

Some tech execs are clearly working at companies with strict social media policies. They're not allowed to really let loose. (And frankly, who could blame them?)

Other tech execs see Twitter only as a place to talk about how great their companies and products are.

Yet there are some enterprise tech execs out there who've carved out names for themselves on Twitter with brainy, opinionated, funny and provocative tweets.

These are folks who grasp the conversational aspects of Twitter. And they know how to package their tweets in entertaining ways. And they know how to keep people coming back for more.

Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM

Title: IBM Master Inventor, Distinguished Engineer, CTO of Smarter Energy and Smart Grid technologies

Twitter: @andysc

# Of Followers: 3,420

Recent Funny Tweet: “In case anyone was wondering, that was the awesome idea I had in the shower this morning! :)”

Why You Should Follow: He's one of about 20 IBM Master Inventors worldwide. These are elite employees who not only create new tech, but also help other employees patent the the tech they develop. They're one reason why IBM has received more patents than any other US company for 20 years running. 

 




Christofer Hoff, Juniper Networks

Title: VP of strategic planning in Juniper's security business unit

Twitter: @beaker

# Of Followers: 11,759

Recent Funny Tweet: "Dear _work, please stop sending me emails. I’m 3 margaritas in and I keep answering without any damned filters."

Why You Should Follow: He's one of the most entertaining enterprise tech execs on Twitter. You never really know he's going to tweet about: He's just as likely to talk about IT security as he is to expound on the virtues of fitness, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shiraz, and bourbon. 




Padmasree Warrior, Cisco

Title: CTO and strategy officer

Twitter: @padmasree

# Of Followers: 1,446,196

Interesting Recent Tweet: "I came to the US with a $100 and a one way air ticket on a F1 visa as a graduate student more than two decades ago."

Why You Should Follow: She's responsible for keeping Cisco ahead of the curve in tech and leads its strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions. Bright and articulate, she has worked up the ranks through the engineering side since joining Cisco in 2007.




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20 Disabled Characters Played By Able-Bodied Actors

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Blair Underwood Ironside"Ironside" star Blair Underwood isn't the first able-bodied actor to portray a disabled character on television or on film. Take a look at 20 other roles, like original "Ironside" actor Raymond Burr, played by non-disabled actors.

Also read: Hollywood's Disabled React to NBC's 'Ironside' Casting: Give Us a Chance, Too

Raymond Burr as Detective Robert T. Ironside on NBC's "Ironside" (1967-1975).



Jon Voight won an Academy Award as paraplegic Vietnam War veteran Luke Martin in Hal Ashby's 1978 drama "Coming Home."



Tom Cruise received his first Oscar nomination for playing paralyzed Vietnam vet Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone's 1989 drama "Born on the Fourth of July."



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A Redditor Says His Samsung Smartphone Just Exploded While He Was Sleeping – Here's What It Looks Like (GOOG)

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Reddit user Vizionx1208 posted pictures of a destroyed Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone, claiming that it exploded while he was sleeping.

He writes that he had plugged the phone in to charge and gone to bed when he was "awoken by a loud noise and a weird squeaking sound."

His phone was catching fire, filling the room with smoke and a foul smell. He was able to put it out by dumping a glass of water on it, but not before the phone allegedly grew hot enough to burn his mattress cover. The Redditor also writes that he got a small burn on his finger.

We have reached out to Samsung for comment but haven't heard anything back yet. But take a look at these pictures showing what a phone allegedly looks like after blowing up.

Immediately following the fire being put out.



The phone allegedly burned this hole into a mattress cover.



A bag filled with burned phone parts.



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Why Y Combinator Is The Hottest Startup School In Silicon Valley

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Paul GrahamY Combinator is one of the most prestigious startup accelerators in Silicon Valley. 

It has an acceptance rate similar to that of an Ivy League school, and a track a record for producing billion-dollar-valuation startups, like Dropbox and Airbnb.

Over the weekend, YC founder Paul Graham tweeted that 37 companies out of the program's 511 startups are either worth at least $40 million, or have sold for that amount. 

We first saw the news over on TechCrunch.

The most surprising success story for Graham: Rap Genius, the startup that annotates rap lyrics, literature, and poetry. 

But what is it actually like once you get accepted into Silicon Valley's most prestigious accelerator? 

Last year, we compiled thoughts from several Y Combinator founders about the incubator.

Tikhon Bernstam, cofounder of Parse, says you have to get a year's worth of work done in 10 weeks.

The best parts are, one, the YC founders support each other. They help with recommendations and suggestions for lawyers, fundraising, testing your product, help through the inevitable ups and downs of startup life, help with setting up payroll, hiring, leads on hires (like engineers), partnerships and deals.  Intros to whoever you need—you could ask for an intro almost anyone and someone in the group would have it (or one of the partners would).

The Y Combinator partners are top-notch. Their help was critical to almost everyone. They helped with fundraising, constantly pushing you to launch early ("if you're not embarrassed when you launch, you've waited too long").  

We demoed Parse (and Scribd the last time around) every week at dinner to our classmates, and that really helped push us every week to have something new to show.  The deadline of Demo Day forces you to get a years worth of work done in 10 weeks, and is a great motivator in general.



Ryan Mickle, cofounder of Yardsale, said the finish line is already in sight as soon as you join.

One of big advantages to being part of Y Combinator was the unfiltered advice. The partners and alums are exceptionally candid in helping founders navigate around easily avoidable mistakes that could waste time or come back to bite you later. Stuff like financing documents are standardized (and founder friendly) so you don't waste cycles and can focus on building your company. 

That's not to say that you won't make mistakes—you will—but at least you dodge many of the avoidable ones, without needing to build a network of trusted advisors from scratch. The Y Combinator experience itself is a pressure cooker, as the countdown to Demo Day begins the moment you get in. So you're forced to stay focused and work as hard as you can with the time you have. It seems to work to effectively "reset" your work/social life. At least it seemed like the case for us, since we were one of many who moved down to Mountain View for the summer, leaving many of the things that would have distracted us in the City [San Francisco], so we could work hard to get into the groove of being productive.

Finally, the support of alums was invaluable. They always seemed to make time when you needed help and the network is large enough that the problems you face are rarely if ever unique. And there definitely seems to be a spirit of indebtedness toward Y Combinator itself, so past founders look forward to helping future founders, because it wasn't that long ago when someone, perhaps an alum or YC partner, did the same for them.



James Beshara, cofounder of Crowdtilt, says Paul Graham has turned Y Combinator into a "flight control center."

During the program, I would say that the constraints of 90 days and weekly conversations about your product and growth are invaluable for focus and productivity.

And since the more recent your batch, the larger the network you graduate into—the network of other founders and companies has become the single biggest factor in why I tell every tech entrepreneur I know that they should apply to Y Combinator.

In their own words, PG et al. have almost turned into more of a flight control center ... "Oh you're having this problem, talk to these founders. Oh you're selling this solution, these guys need that." It's pretty incredible.



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Step Inside The Connecticut Gun Factory That Is Leaving The State In Protest

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PTR Industries, gun

CEO Josh Fiorini and his gun manufacturing company PTR Industries, are right in the center of the national gun control debate.

PTR makes clones of the HK-91 semi-automatic rifle and is located in Bristol, CT. Bristol is about 45 minutes north of Newtown, where 20 children and six of their teachers were shot to death last December.

The debate grew more heated recently, when Connecticut passed the strictest gun control law in the nation on April 4th. As a response to that law, on April 9th, PTR announced its plan to leave Connecticut in an open letter to the state.

When we asked Fiorini how he felt after learning about the shootings in Newtown, he told us, while the tragedy left him and his employees devastated, he ultimately feels manufacturers are not the problem.

"I probably feel the same way an engineer at GM feels when he drives by a car accident," he said.

We visited PTR Industries to get a firsthand look at the company, their operation, and employees living on the front lines of the gun control debate.

As soon as you enter the PTR factory, gun parts are everywhere.



These parts are being assembled by PTR's 42 employees. This is the 1st phase assembly area.



Most of PTR's employees are guys in their twenties and thirties who grew up in the area and have known each other for years.



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The X-47B Drone Ushered In A Brave, Scary New World [PHOTOS]

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X 47B Carrier Takeoff and Landing May 2013

The Navy's X-47B autonomous drone reached a major milestone when it flew in 2011, and then last week when it took off and landed from a U.S. aircraft carrier.

It's impossible to overestimate the impact this aircraft will have on drone use, its ethics, and the future of manned fighters.

But what is the X-47B and why is it so earth-shattering? Here's a rundown on the bird and some shots of its groundbreaking achievement.

X-47B is a computer-controlled drone that takes off, flies a pre-programmed mission, then returns to base. All in response to mouse clicks from its mission operator.



The mission operator monitors the X-47B air vehicle’s operation ...



... but does not actively “fly” it via remote control as is the case for other unmanned systems currently in operation.



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How I Survived A 78-Mile Bike Ride With Bankers Without Even Training

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We convened at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the start of the race.  The temperature was in the high 40s so I had to dress in layers.

On Saturday, I biked in the Xtreme Biker's Association's 14th annual "Xtreme Bike to the Shore"— a 78-mile charity ride from Philadelphia to Avalon, New Jersey.

The Memorial Day weekend Saturday ride is popular among the financial services crowd, too.

I met a bunch of cyclists from private equity firms, hedge funds, and investment banking.  There were a couple who could probably give Dan Loeb and Bill Ackman a run for their money on their bikes. 

I've never been on a road bike in my life. I can't even remember the last time I was on a bike before this ride.  

But the ride was for a great cause: It helped raise funds for Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a brand new, independent, Catholic college prep school for students of all faiths who cannot otherwise afford a private education.

I've included highlights from my trip in the slides that follow, as well as some tips.  

We convened at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the start of the race. The temperature was in the high 40s so I had to dress in layers. I'm really glad I did, too.



These were the only 'bike shorts' I had. I liked that they were bright so the traffic could see me, but I made the huge mistake of not having padding. Padding is crucial for long-distance rides. Period.



Before the start, everyone gathered around this van for directions. The van trailed the pack of cyclists to help out anyone in need.



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The Feds Are Selling Peter Madoff's Long Island Mansion For $4.5 Million

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Peter Madoff Mansion

The story of the Madoff's fall from grace continues — this time, you can buy a huge piece of it, says the NYT.

Bernie Madoff's brother, Peter, was the compliance officer at the family investment firm and last year pleaded guilty to accusations that he falsified documents and lied to regulators for years in order to continue his brother's infamous Ponzi scheme.

Now his assets must be liquidated along with Bernie's.

This 7,992 sq ft Long Island mansion boasts five bedrooms, a tennis court, pool (with two bedroom pool house) and carefully planted gardens. U.S. Marshall's took over the house back in January.

What's more, you can buy just about everything in this house. According to the NYT, the books, knick-knacks etc. all over the house were given the full U.S. Marshall treatment and all have white price tags attached.

Shawn Elliott of Shawn Elliot Luxury Homes and Estates has the listing.

 







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7 Places That Are Challenging The Traditional Approach To Retirement

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ShantiNiketan

Golf courses and ocean views are no longer the only things that draw people to retirement communities.

Niche retirement communities now cater to groups of senior citizens who share interests and cultures, ranging from Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to those who desire to go back to college.

"Both current retirees and those just arriving, the baby boomers, are seeking more choices and less of the cookie-cutter options of a community located either on a golf course or in an isolated rural location," says Andrew Carle, founding director of George Mason University's Senior Housing Administration.

 

Go Feng Shui at Aegis Gardens in Fremont, Calif.

Aegis Gardens is an Asian-inspired retirement community in Fremont, Calif., which caters to people who speak Mandarin and Cantonese.

"An interesting trend is for communities catering to growing immigrant populations and cultures," Carle says.

Feng shui consultants contributed to the building's design and avoided the use of the number four, which symbolizes death. Signs are printed in Chinese characters as well as English, and popular activities include tai chi, Chinese calligraphy and Mahjong.

[See: The 10 Sunniest Places to Retire.]



Take your hot rod to Lake Weir Living in Florida.

In some retirement communities, a loud motorcycle or RV parked on your lawn might be met with complaints from the neighbors.

Lake Weir Living, near The Villages in Florida, encourages baby boomers to bring their campers, boats and classic cars, and will even customize your home to fit them, perhaps to include a three-car garage or an area designed to house an RV.

The homes generally range in price from $105,000 to $169,000, but could be more if you add special features. "We specialize in custom homes that feature unique garages," says Adriana Rosas, a spokesperson for Lake Weir Living. "We embrace RVs, motorcycles, boats and ATVs."

[Read: Best Places to Retire for Under $40,000.]



Immerse yourself in Indian culture at ShantiNiketan in Tavares, Fla.

At ShantiNiketan in Tavares, Fla., Indian-American retirees age 55 and older can immerse themselves in Indian culture.

"Translated to 'abode of peace' in Sanskrit, it's a gated condo community for Indian-Americans," says Jan Cullinane, author of "The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement." There's plenty of Indian food on offer, including a number of vegetarian options.

There's also a prayer room where bhajans are held each evening and an auditorium that plays Bollywood and other foreign language movies every night after dinner. The first 54 condos, completed in 2011, sold for between $130,000 and $160,000.

A second development is under construction with an expected completion date of 2014, and the condos are estimated to sell for between $160,000 and $185,000. "It's a place where one comes for their soul," says Iggy Ignatius, founder of ShantiNiketan. "Pure vegetarian food, yoga and meditation is the lifestyle here."



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Check Out The New 'Snapchat For Work' App That Let's You Gossip With Your Coworkers

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attached image

Here's a new app that wants to do for coworkers what Snapchat did for sexting.

It's called O.T.R., which stands for Off The Record, and it lets you send private photos and messages to your coworkers.

The app lets you view the message or picture for a few seconds and then deletes it.

One big difference with O.T.R. versus Snapchat is that O.T.R. is not a mobile app. It's currently available as a browser add-on for Google Chrome, with IE and Firefox extensions coming soon and an app for Yammer. The idea is that most people are still using PCs while at work, not their smartphones.

The app was created last year at the TechCrunch Hackathon by the team from Lamplighter Games, a three-person New York startup best known for the iPad game Trivia Party.

The hack won a top prize from Yammer and now the app is available to everyone.

You can download it for your Chrome Browser here.

Download/install the app from the Chrome Extensions Web store and then look for the O.T.R. button after it's installed.



Sign up with your email or ...



... with your Yammer account.



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How To Remove A Four-Pound Hairball From A 400-Pound Tiger

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Ty the tiger

Ty the tiger had a tummy problem. His caregivers couldn't figure out why he wasn't eating.

Ty is 17 years old and lives in Florida at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole, Fla. — a non-profit that cares for animals that have been seized by law enforcement.

When he stopped eating, he was taken to veterinarian Brian Luria, who took a look down his throat with a camera and took X-rays and ultrasounds of the big cat's belly.

The tests showed a huge hairball, and Luria knew he had to call in the big guns — veterinary surgeon Mike Reems of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. He worked with Dr. Don Woodman of Animal Hospital of Northwood.

Before the surgery, Ty was having trouble eating. The hairball blocking his stomach was so large the veterinarians said he needed surgery.



Dr. Mike Reems scrubs in to remove Ty's hairball.



Ty the tiger on the operating table. He was put out and shaved before the doctors cut him open.



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25 Psychological Traps That Lead 'Good' People To Commit Fraud

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Jeffrey SkillingMany white collar crimes aren't committed by hardened criminals. It's often normally moral people under financial strain, those under severe pressure from their bosses or shareholders, or people who get away with something minor then try to to test their limits. 

So what exactly leads otherwise normal and hardworking people to cross the line? That's the subject of a paper by Dr. Muel Kaptein of the Rotterdam School Of Management. 

We've collected some of the key insights and cognitive biases as a guide of what to look out for in a workplace. 

Thanks to Dr. Kaptein for letting us feature his work. 

Tunnel vision

Setting and achieving goals is important, but single-minded focus on them can blind people to ethical concerns. 

When Enron offered large bonuses to employees for bringing in sales, they became so focused on that goal that they forgot to make sure they were profitable or moral. We all know how that ended.

Source: Muel Kaptein 



The power of names

When bribery becomes "greasing the wheels" or accounting fraud becomes "financial engineering," unethical behavior can seem less bad.

The use of nicknames and euphemisms for questionable practices can free them of their moral connotations, making them seem more acceptable.

Source: Muel Kaptein



Social bond theory

In large organizations, employees can begin to feel more like numbers or cogs in a machine than individuals.

When people feel detached from the goals and leadership of their workplace, they are more likely to commit fraud, steal, or hurt the company via neglect.

Source: Muel Kaptein

 



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