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15 Style Tips That Wall Street Interns Have To Know

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men talking networking business suit

It's that time of the year.  Wall Street summer internships have begun.  

Congratulations on scoring the position.  Now it's time make sure you impress your peers and superiors with an appropriate internship wardrobe. 

Don't worry. We're here to help!

Our thanks go out to The Fine Young Gentleman, one of our very favorite men's fashion bloggers, whom we consulted for tips and suggestions.

"As an intern the whole idea is to not rock the boat. With many of the internships the whole idea is to kick ass, take names, get a job and not rock the boat. Key phrase being ‘not rock the boat,’" says the Fine Young Gentleman, "It is not that you want to blend in with all of the others, it is just that you don’t want to stick out like a three legged dog."

"I think it is pretty simple, err on the conservative side of things and realize there may be more do’s than don’ts at your company. You need to look and act professional and you need to act in a manner consistent with the firm which you are interning at." 

Know your audience.

"As an intern you are dressing for your peers, superiors and clients more than for yourself," says The Fine Young Gentleman, adding, "They want to see that you are capable of looking professional at all times."

According to The Fine Young Gentleman, the rules — both spoken and unspoken — may vary from firm to firm. 

"And even within firms different desks may have different rules, opinions and expectations. Whereas others may have minimal restrictions. It is important to learn these early on so as to not make errors."

Source: The Fine Young Gentleman



Stick to the basics.

"For suits go with solid navy and gray, perhaps a pinstripe or two, but keep it conservative. Some firms may have unspoken rules on pinstripes so observe those above you and figure out what is acceptable," says The FYG.

"So what if solids are boring, they go with any pattern shirt or tie and are simple and indiscreet enough that you can wear the same solid navy or gray suit twice a week; three if you want to push it."

The Fine Young Gentleman advises that interns avoid plaids because they will likely be "too loud for an intern."

What's more is he says to make sure your suit fits really, really well.

"Use the fit to distinguish yourself from your peers."

Source: The Fine Young Gentleman



Remember not all offices require suits.

"If you are working in a business casual office the need for suits is obviously minimal, but make sure you have at least a suit and a blazer on stand-by in case you need them for an event or client meeting," according to The Fine Young Gentleman.

Source: The Fine Young Gentleman



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The Most Scandalous Gowns At The Star-Studded CFDA Fashion Awards

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Karlie Kloss cfda 2013Supermodels, socialites, actresses, style mavens and fashion designers all gathered Monday night to celebrate the 2013 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards in New York City.

Karlie Kloss, Sofia Vergara, Nicole Richie, Miranda Kerr and dozens of other fashionable folk all walked the red carpet.

Some wore especially scandalous gowns, while others kept it uncharacteristically covered.

The event, hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen, honors outstanding achievement in fashion design.

RISQUÉ: Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima showed off her long, lean legs in a sheer dress by Givenchy, designed by the evening's International Award recipient, Riccardo Tisci.



COVERED: "Scandal" actress Kerry Washington was anything but in this conservative yellow gown by Jason Wu.



RISQUÉ: Nicole Richie was taped in place in her metallic slip dress from Marc Jacobs's fall 2013 collection.



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The Military Helicopters That Scoop Up Obama In His Front Yard Have An Incredible History

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Obama shaking hands MarineA recent viral video showed President Barack Obama walking past the Marine standing outside his helicopter, before turning around and walking back to salute him.

It inspired us to look into the elite military unit that handles this work.

Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 does it with complex precision, flying decoy helicopters and support aircraft in addition to the high-tech custom bird that holds the president.

HMX-1 has been doing it for more than 50 years with zero mishaps.

National Geographic took a rare behind-the-scenes look at the unit in 2008. We've broken out the highlights.

Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 was founded in 1947, initially to develop helicopter tactics in warfare



Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to fly in a helicopter, during this ride to Camp David in July 1957



Just a few months later, Eisenhower was vacationing in Rhode Island when he was needed at the White House. Rather than make the 45 minute drive to Air Force One, he took an HMX-1 helicopter that was on standby nearby in case of emergencies. The trip took just seven minutes



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MOVE OVER, CRONUTS: 'Doissants' Have Arrived At Bakeries Everywhere

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Pillsbury crescent doughnut

The "cronut" frenzy has hit an all time high.

The half-doughnut, half-croissant delicacy from Dominique Ansel's bakery in SoHo has now appeared on ABC's The Chew, the TODAY show, and even on Craigslist by opportunistic scalpers.

So it was only a matter of time before cronut knock-offs began to appear on the market.

The term "cronut" has already been trademarked by Ansel, but that hasn't slowed the spread of copycat "doissants" around the country.

New York Magazine's food blog Grubstreet has a good rundown of cronut wannabes, including a treat from DC's Chocolate Crust made with with hazelnut cream and pistachio topping, and a bargain $2 doissant from Circle City Sweets in Indianapolis

There's also a "Doughsánt" from Oakmont Bakery Pennsylvania, and Atlanta's The Cake Hag's own cronut-inspired hybrid.

The head chef at LA's Cooks County says she is still trying to master the art of the pastry  no surprise, given it took Ansel 10 tries to come up with his secret recipe.

Even big-name baking brand Pillsbury has gotten in on the action: The company released its own DIY version, aptly named "Crescent Doughnuts," using Pillsbury crescent dinner rolls.

With National Doughnut Day this Friday, bakers across the country are likely scrambling to create their own versions of the cronut in time to cash in on the craze.

Sorry Dominique Ansel — it was only a matter of time.

SEE ALSO: The 25 Best Restaurants On The Planet

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31 Stocks That Traders Would Love To See Collapse

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chainsaw fire lumberjack

This bull market has been an absolute nightmare for traders shorting, or betting against, the market.

Still, the shorts are holding on to their positions in hopes of a pullback.

We screened the S&P 500 for the most heavily shorted stocks.

The list includes a lot of tech and electronics firms struggling to adapt out of outdated business models.

But some old standbys remain, including a large clothing retailer as well as a videogame seller. And a major for-profit education company is seeing renewed doubts about its marquee product.

We ranked the stock by short interest as a percentage of floating shares.

Quest Diagnostics

Ticker: DGX

Sector: Health care

Short interest: 9.16%

YTD Performance: +6.6%

Comment: Quest most recent quarterly sales were down -7.7% YOY.

Source: Bloomberg, Fool.com



Gannett

Ticker: GCI

Sector: Newspapers

Short interest: 9.76%

YTD Performance: +12.49%

Comment: Gannett remains heavily reliant on print ads. 

Source: Bloomberg, Fool.com



Verisign

Ticker: VRSN

Sector: Tech

Short interest: 9.78%

YTD Performance: +17.19%

Comment: Verisign is fighting ICANN, the international web custodian, over new rules. 

Source: Bloomberg, Domain Name Wire



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31 Crazy Fast Food Menu Items You Can Only Get In Japan

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ebiMcDonald's recently made headlines for the Japanese Mega-Potato.

The Mega-Potato (say that out loud, it sounds awesome, "MEGA-POTATO!") is a huge container of fries that also holds the distinction as the highest-calorie McDonald's menu item ever. 

McDonald's isn't the only chain working to make more interesting fast food  at least to Wesern taste buds in Japan.

We tracked down some of the most bizarre menu items Japanese fast food chains have on offer. 

Kim Bhasin contributed to this story. 

Wendy's Foie Gras Burger

This $16 burger consists of a classic Wendy's beef patty loaded up with all the regular fixings plus a healthy dose of fatty duck liver. 



McDonald's Mega McMuffin

The Mega McMuffin consists of two breakfast sausage patties, cheese, egg, bacon, and ketchup all between a classic McDonald's English muffin.



McDonald's Mega Potato

The Mega-Potato holds the honor of being the highest-calorie McDonald's menu item of all time. Its nearly a pound of the brand's french fries. 



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8 Foods That Are Cheaper To Grow Than To Buy

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vegetables tomatoes beans Once upon a time, vegetable gardens were all but ubiquitous.

Whether they tended a small container garden in the city or a backyard plot in the country, many -- if not most -- families had at least a few food-producing plants.

In World War II, "Victory Gardens," maintained by ordinary families, contributed to the war effort by growing 40 percent of the country's produce.

Since then, community gardens, city farms, and even green roofs have been part of the fabric of America's food production.

But for all that, the idea that every family should have at least a small garden has faded. It's not hard to see why: In many ways, America has become a produce wonderland.

Whether the month is January or June, whether the place is San Francisco or St. Louis, most of us are rarely more than a short drive away from a reasonably ripe tomato, a crispy head of lettuce and a fairly fresh onion.

Click here to see the foods > 

And, given our economies of scale, this embarrassment of riches isn't all that expensive; even out-of-season, a red bell pepper rarely runs more than a few dollars, and a red (well, pinkish) tomato doesn't cost much more than a can of Coke.

Or, to put it another way, when Grandma can easily afford to buy beans and fresh basil at the local grocery store, she doesn't really need to grow her own anymore.

But while fresh fruits and veggies are easy to find, high quality ones, grown with minimal pesticides and maximum taste, are rarer -- and a whole lot more expensive. And while modern cultivation and transportation has made fresh veggies available to almost everyone, the cost has been huge.

Whether the issue is e Coli contamination, a lack of nutrition, an excess of pesticides, or the environmental impact of monocultures, it's clear that even a $1 tomato can carry a huge price tag.

With that in mind, you might want to consider taking a cue from Gram and growing a couple of plants this summer. Chances are that your produce will be tastier and healthier than the stuff you buy in the store -- and it might even be less expensive.

While some vegetables, particularly potatoes, carrots, celery, asparagus and wheat, are not cost-effective, many fruits and vegetables pay for themselves, particularly after you cover the initial startup costs of constructing a garden bed or window box.

With that in mind, here are nine of the best -- and most profitable -- vegetables that you can produce in your backyard (or on your fire escape!).

Leafy Greens

Sure, you can buy lettuce in any grocery store, but if you want something a little more exotic than iceberg lettuce -- aka "the astroturf of greens" -- you're likely to pay quite a bit more.

Not surprisingly, premium greens, like cilantro, chard and arugula, are among the most profitable things you can grow: according to some estimates, they can save you up to $20 per square foot!



Tomatoes

If you like tomatoes, you're in luck -- they're incredibly profitable. The small and medium-sized varieties, which mature quickly and grow in considerable profusion, can save an estimated $16.50 for every square foot you plant. Best of all, their flavor will leave your grocery store's sickly offerings in the dust.



Herbs

When it comes to saving money and making a big impact on your cooking, it's hard to beat herbs. Depending on the plant, they can save you up to $18 per square foot -- while supercharging the flavor of your cooking.

As an added bonus, many popular herbs, including sage, rosemary, thyme, and mint, are perennials, which means that your initial planting cost will pay you back with a rich harvest every year.



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A Michigan Couple Is Fighting To Keep Their Beloved Pet Deer

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michigan domesticated deer WNEM

A Michigan couple is fighting to keep their pet deer.

According to local news station WNEM's Erik Horn, whose story is now going viral, the family adopted the deer five years ago after her mother was killed by a car.

The anonymous Genesee County couple decided to take the baby fawn into their home, and nursed her back to health with goat's milk, according to The Daily Mail.

After two weeks, the fawn was healthy again. But instead of releasing her back into the wild, the couple kept her and named her Lilly.

Lilly has been a part of the family ever since, sleeping on a futon, playing in the backyard, and napping with the couple's three cats and two dogs.

The neighbors have reportedly never had a problem with Lilly. But recently, a neighbor's guest saw the doe in the backyard, and reported her to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who are now threatening to take Lilly away since it is illegal in Michigan to raise a fawn as a pet.

The DNR says Lilly can be rehabilitated back into the wild, or put down for good, according to WNEM. For a domesticated deer who has only known life in a human home, neither is a great option.

The couple has hired an attorney to help them either try to keep Lilly or give her to a local petting zoo where they can still visit her.

"She’s going to be heartbroken,"one of Lilly's owners told MailOnline. "We’re all she’s ever known."

You can see the local news report here:

WNEM TV 5

SEE ALSO: 10 Real Estate Listings That Got Photobombed By Dogs

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23 Iconic Pictures Of Global Unrest From The Last Three Years

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attached image

It started in Greece, with violent austerity protests.

Then the global unrest really took off when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia on December 17, 2011.

Then the protests spread like a fire through the Arab world. Journalists called it the "Arab Spring," but it seemed even larger than that.

It was.

Austerity measures from Western governments prompted a similar response: widespread unrest and, in some places, complete upheaval.

If it seems like clashes with cops and/or government troops has been a global phenomenon over the last three years, that's because it has.

Former conservative minister Kostis Hatzidakis is covered with blood after about 200 leftists attacked him with stones and sticks, shouting: "Thieves! Shame on you!" in central Athens, December 15, 2010.



A riot cop faces down an angry protester in Tunisia, January 2011.



Egyptian protestors retreat from the violence in January 2011.



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Look At The Fantastical Set Built For Sean Parker's $10 Million Wedding

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Parker Wedding4

New government documents show just how over-the-top Sean Parker's extravagant $10 million wedding in the  Big Sur forest really was.

The state of California actually fined the Facebook billionaire $2.5 million over it.

That's because he built a cottage, fake ruins, waterfalls, staircases and a huge dance floor in an ecologically sensitive area near ancient redwoods and a stream with endangered steelhead trout.

He also built a gateway and arch, an artificial pond, a stone bridge, multiple event platforms with elevated floors, rock walls and fake ruined castle walls. And although he was building all of this in a forest, he also planted 125 trees and other plants and flowers, too. The sets and gowns were created by a designer for the "Lord of the Rings" films.

Parker even created an LLC company, Neraida, to run his wedding, reports The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal.

But he didn't get permission from the Coastal Commission, which regulates the area. The commission got wind of it all before his unauthorized construction caused too much damage.

Parker married singer-songwriter Alexandra Lenas as scheduled on Saturday. A happy ending.

This is what the area looked like before construction began.



Then Parker's wedding company brought in bulldozers.



Here's the fake stone pond and stone bridge under construction



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Here's What 9,000-Year-Old Beers Taste Like

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Sam Calagione cheers to science

Ever wonder what the first beers tasted like?

We got a chance to taste some re-created ancient brews at The Bell House thanks to the World Science Festival. The event "Cheers to science! A drinkable feast of beer, biotechnology, and archaeology" was held Thursday, May 30.

Sam Calagione, brewmaster of Dogfish Head brewery teamed up with Dr. Patrick E. McGovern, the Scientific Director of the Bio-molecular Archaeology Laboratory for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia. 

They recreate ancient beers based on molecular analysis of containers found at archaeological sites. By studying the chemicals in ancient pitchers, they can determine what went into brewing the fermented ales.

They also supplied cheeses matched with the ancient beers, from Murray's Cheese Shop, another Brooklyn staple.

The event was held at the Bell House, a great venue in Goawnus Brooklyn.



Dogfishhead's brewmaster Sam Calagione and biomolecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern took the stage together.



Everyone was given four cheeses to taste with the beers, which were brought out one at a time.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The 10 Fitness Apps That Could Make Gyms Obsolete

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workout, work out, exercise, physical fitnessIf you’ve been slow to start your New Year’s resolution to get fit in 2013, it may be because you’re having a hard time getting to the gym — or can’t afford a membership.

The good news is if you have a smartphone you may not need the gym at all!

Owning a smartphone gives you access to thousands of amazing apps, but there are also a wide variety of fitness apps available that can help you get in shape, while saving money on an expensive fitness membership.

With thousands of apps ready to be downloaded, there’s no excuse for not getting a good fitness routine started from the comfort of your home.

Here are some top fitness apps that can be found on Apple and Android devices.

1. Couch-to-5k ($2.99)

Couch-to-5k, developed by the Active Network, Inc., is among the best workout apps for Apple and Android out there.

The winner of the 2012 Appy Award for best Healthcare and Fitness App, Couch-to-5k helps people get fit enough to run a 5k in as little as three weeks. The app comes with a training plan, virtual coaches, calculations for distance and pace, audio cues to guide through workouts and an option to workout to your own music.



2. Fitness Buddy (Free/$1.99):

Fitness Buddy is an extremely popular fitness app that offers more than 300 exercises (gain access to 1,700+ exercises plus 1,000+ HD videos with paid version) with a focus on exercise categorization (core, lower body, chest, shoulders, back, arms, cardio).

Fitness Buddy is one of the best fitness apps for Android and iPhone and comes highly recommended by ESPN Magazine.



3. Fleetly (Free)

If you need a little peer encouragement to kick-start a workout then you might enjoy Fleetly, which is a free iPhone app.

It brings a bit of friendly competition to your active lifestyle, allowing you to earn points, join virtual teams and compete in challenges. You also have the opportunity to track your fitness progress.



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10 Pictures Of Fashion Models Eating Backstage

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What models eat

Despite their seemingly perfect exteriors, fashion models are — gasp!— human beings who have to eat just like the rest of us.

Sometimes, they even eat backstage before stomping down the runway.

Their choices are not always diet-conscious, but these models even manage to make snacking look good.

A model for Dennis Basso chows down on fruit at New York Fashion Week.

Source: Reuters




A redheaded model enjoys an apple as her hair is styled backstage at Antonio Perna's Madrid show.

Source: Reuters



Male models eat, too! This D&G looker enjoyed a hearty salad during Milan's Fashion Week.

Source: Reuters



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24 Outrageous Outfits From NBA Players That Put Justin Bieber To Shame

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russell westbrook omg shirt

Justin Bieber's outfit at last night's Heat game sent people into a tizzy.

It was intentionally outrageous.

But it wasn't as outrageous as what NBA players like LeBron, Wade, and Westbrook wear every night.

The ridiculousness of NBA fashion is miles ahead of Bieber right now.

Here's what Beiber wore. Step it up, Bieber.



Russell Westbrook's leather button-up

Source: @cjzero



Westbrook's sleeveless sweater with a gold chain

Source: @cjzero



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Justin Bieber's Most Ridiculous Outfits Of All Time [Photos]

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justin bieber at miami heat indiana pacers game

On Monday, Justin Bieber raised eyebrows when he attended Game 7 of the Heat-Pacers series wearing sunglasses indoors, oversized Heat hat with a snakeskin brim, a leather baseball jersey, and gold chains.

But these days, that's just the norm for Bieber's personal style.

From a Chanel mask to pants so sagged he has to hold them up, the 19-year-old has come a long way since his days as a clean cut YouTube star-turned-teen idol.

When Justin Bieber first hit the music scene in 2009, no one was talking about his clothes — the buzz was all about the 15-year-old's luscious, side-swiped hair.



But he quickly went from dressing like a normal teenager ...



To white-on-white denim concert attire.



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WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? Jeff Gundlach Answers This In His Fantastic New Presentation

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Jeffrey Gundlach's Presentation

"Something happened in the middle of May," said investing god Jeff Gundlach as he began his latest webcast on the state of the global markets and the economy.

He was referring to how global interest rates quietly rallied and how the Japanese stock market fell spectacularly.

He notes that the magnitude of the interest rate rally isn't unusual.  Having said that, Gundlach believes rates will stay low thanks to a "put" by the Federal Reserve. Should rates rise, Gundlach believes the Fed would actually expand quantitative easing. This is because high interest rates would put too much pressure on the economy, and it would cause Federal interest expenses to become too onerous.

"I certainly think the Fed is going to reduce quantitative easing," he said. But he attributes the reduction to the shrinking Federal deficit.

"I'm starting to like long-term Treasuries," said Gundlach as he predicted the 10-year Treasury yield would end the year at 1.7%.

All of Gundlach's theses are based on the fact that the global economy remains weak, GDP growth forecasts continue to come down, and unemployment remains high and lop-sided.

He communicates all of this in his eye-opening, hand-picked collection of charts on growth, employment, inflation, stocks, bonds, and other critical global macro indicators.

Anyone who is serious about investing must consider his charts. And for anyone who's just curious, these charts will give you a peek into how Gundlach thinks.







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These Are The Best States To Be Unemployed In America

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Utah trail hikers

There are a few states that are not very nice to their unemployed.

Reasons including high unemployment rates, wealth disparities, and low unemployment benefits are among the factors cited for warranting these states their dismal distinction.

But what are the eight best states for the unemployed? Using the same three criteria  — income replacement, or average unemployment benefits (as of 4Q 2012) as a percentage of average state income per capita; unemployment rate (as of March 2013); and wealth disparity, the ratio of households with incomes of at least $200,000 to those with incomes of less than $10,000 (as of 2011 Census ACS) — each state’s rank was averaged.

See if you recognize any geographic pattern among these eight best states.

8. Iowa

And that’s not America’s Heartland’s only redeeming quality.

The state’s $328 average in weekly unemployment benefits far surpasses those of the two states that flank it on the list — Montana at $275 and Oklahoma at $281. Iowa’s unemployment benefits as a percentage of income also subsequently post a high number of 40.5 percent.



7. Oklahoma

Oklahoma and Iowa actually tie in ranking, both #44 on “Worst Places To Be Unemployed,” thus making them both the #7 best states to be unemployed. While Iowa bears an ever so slightly better unemployment rate than Oklahoma, the latter redeems itself with a better rank on income replacement. Unfortunately, the state also has the 7th most miserable residents, which is probably not a status it likes to broadcast.



6. Kentucky

The state suffers an employment rate significantly higher than the states that envelope it, but it maintains its top-6 distinction with its impressive rank on income replacement, sitting at #47. To put it in perspective, remember that the place who holds #1 in this criteria, the District of Columbia, is also the worst place to be unemployed on our list. Benefits as a percentage of income for Kentucky are also high at 43.8 percent, but the state still holds the 7th greatest concentration of senior poverty.



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The 7 Best Vacation Spots For Nature Lovers

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SedonaSummer is the time to get outdoors and get active.

And even though it can get your blood pumpin’, there is nothing more relaxing than some quality time with Mother Nature, whether you’re hiking, fishing, or whitewater rafting — or simply kicking back and taking in the views after a day filled with activity.

Our seven favorite spots in the U.S. for an outdoorsy getaway this summer were chosen for their combination of natural beauty and breadth of outdoor activities.

To make planning easier, we’ve also recommended a cabin, lodge, or ranch in each place that brings you closer to the outdoors with great views or settings.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is most famous for its stunning red rocks, which are particularly beautiful in the glow of sunrise and sunset, and have formed the backdrop for many a western film.

The temperatures here are cooler than other Arizona destinations, thanks to the higher elevation, and Ponderosa Pines surround the city.

It’s a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, with excellent biking, horseback riding, and a particular focus on hiking.

Some of the most popular hiking spots include Cathedral Rock, Bear Mountain, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Rock.

Where to Stay: L’Auberge de Sedona, with 87 luxurious and woodsy cottages spread across 11 acres



Yosemite National Park, California

Known for its stunning sites, breathtaking beauty, and protected nature, Yosemite National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best hiking and camping destinations in the country.

Travelers from all over the world visit Yosemite to get a glimpse of the granite cliffs, clean steams, giant sequoia forests, and waterfalls.

Where to Stay: The Ahwahnee, built in 1927 and offering views of the Half Dome and El Captain summits



San Juan Islands, Washington

The San Juan Islands are a popular summer getaway for Washingtonians, and have a relaxed, back-to-nature vibe; expect farmlands, evergreen forests, nature trails, whale-watching, and mom-and-pop shops.

Popular activities include hiking, wildlife spotting (whale-watching in particular is common, and the Shark Reef trail on Lopez Island leads to a harbor seal hangout), sailing, and kayaking.

For those days when it does rain, the islands have several wineries, farms, and museums worth a visit.

Where to Stay: Lakedale Resort at the Three Lakes, an 82-acre lakefront property with picnic spots and accommodations ranging from canvas cabins to lodge rooms



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The 9 Most Influential Hip Hop Artists In Tech

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MC HammerWe've noticed a growing interest in rap music among the tech elite in the last couple of years.

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, MC Hammer, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, and SV Angel partner Ron Conway famously remixed MC Hammer's "Too Legit To Quit"song in support of the tech-friendly, then San Francisco interim Mayor Ed Lee back in 2011. 

Then there's Rap Genius, a site that annotates rap lyrics, literature, and poetry. In 2012, prominent Silicon Valley firm Andreessen Horowitz invested in $15 million in the site

A growing number of artists have created their own startups, invested in tech companies, and sometimes both. They're working on startup staples like search, imaging, and wireless charging, as well as more esoteric projects like 3D concert apps and electronic cigarettes.

We ranked them by their Klout score, whch measures influence in social media.

Nas has an e-commerce startup that offers celebrity-endorsed goods.

Nas co-founded lifestyle brand 12Society along with basketball star Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Michael Strahan, Nick Cannon, and Tim Lincecum last year.

For $39 per month, you'll receive a box full of anything ranging from headphones to clothing to accessories. Every item is hand-picked by 12Society's team of celebrity founders. 

"I truly believe we are at an incredible inflection point in the consumer retail experience: Just how Amazon and eBay opened the railways to a new universe of available products, and Groupon allowed for the discovery of local activities to become accessible and affordable, new resources are changing the entire game once again,"Nas wrote in a guest post on TechCrunch last September

Klout score: 82



Dr. Dre is making sure you experience the best quality sound while listening to music.

Dr. Dre is the mastermind behind those sleek, color headphones you've undoubtedly seen before. In August 2011, Dr. Dre sold a majority stake in Beats Electronics to HTC. 

Klout score: 87

Note, Dr. Dre apparently doesn't tweet.



T-Pain is bringing auto-tune to the masses.

T-Pain has been involved in a couple of apps over the years. Last month, the rapper attended and supported the launch event for Gig It, a new Facebook game that lets people created virtual, 3D concerts.

There's also the I Am T-Pain app by Smule that lets you create songs using auto-tune. 

Fun fact: He has a pretty cool tattoo of Facebook's "Like" symbol.

Klout score: 87



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14 Big Data Startups You're Going To Be Hearing A Lot More About

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Paula Long DataGravity

For all the hype around "big data"—or tech that crunches through massive amounts of emails, tweets, video and other files to find useful information—some startups aren't yet making tons of noise. 

That's probably not going to be the case for much longer.

Startups that got funding a couple of years ago are starting to get some serious momentum. Others are still in stealth mode, busily putting the finishing touches on potentially game changing tech. 

Google, Facebook, Amazon and other web giants have harnessed big data to solve some of their biggest tech challenges. Now many of these engineers are setting out on their own with startups.

Some are focused on analytics. Some are working on in-memory databases, which do all their work on data stored in memory instead of hard drives.

Others are casting their lot with NoSQL, a new kind of database that spreads processing and storage across multiple servers and storage systems. 

And VCs are eagerly backing their efforts. 

"What's interesting about big data is that it's going to be a formidable investment area for many years to come. It's not like in 18-24 months I'll say hey, the big data wave is over," Ping Li, general partner at VC firm Accel Partners, told us last February.

WibiData

Founded: 2010

Headquarters: San Francisco

What They Do: Sells tools that let retail and finance customers built their own big data apps, including mobile and Software-as-service apps. 

Star Talent: Co-founder Christophe Bisciglia previously co-founded Cloudera, a well known Hadoop startup. Aaron Kimball, also a co-founder, was the first engineer hired at Cloudera. 

Who's Backing Them: Has raised more than $20 million from NEA, Canaan Partners, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Cloudera CEO Michael Olson, and angel investors Ron Conway and David Lee. 



Hadapt

Founded: 2011

Headquarters: Cambridge, Mass. 

What They Do: Hadapt's Adaptive Analytical Platform combines SQL, the tech that traditional databases use, with Hadoop, a new tech that crunches that can analyzes massive amounts of data. The idea is to let customers use one system for their database and analytics work. 

Star Talent: Daniel Abadi, chief scientist and co-founder, wrote a dissertation on column-store databases (a new type of database that performs better than traditional ones) while at MIT that led to the creation of Vertica, which HP acquired in 2011. Kamil Bajda–Pawlikowski, chief software architect, is also a co-founder. 

Who's Backing Them: Has raised $17 million from Atlas Venture, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Norwest Venture Partners. 



Sqrrl

Founded: 2012

Headquarters: Cambridge, Mass.

What They Do: Building a business around Apache Accumulo, an powerful open source NoSQL database developed by the National Security Agency with sophisticated security tech built in. Accumulo was derived from BigTable, a data storage tech that Google invented.

Star Talent: Adam Fuchs, co-founder and CTO, also co-founded Apache Accumulo.

Who's Backing Them: Raised $2 million from Atlas Venture and Matrix Partners.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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