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These Breathtaking Photos Show Insects Up-Close In Morning Dew

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bugs, close-up, amazing, Mirosław Swietek

Polish photographer Mirosław Świętek takes extremely close-up photos of insects, impossible until a few years ago.

Using a macro lens — which has evolved to capture the smallest details at the highest quality — Świętek shows magnified bugs that look like creatures from another planet.

Now, we use the word "bug" loosely. All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. To feed, true bugs suck, using a special mouth part called a proboscis, instead of bite. They also undergo an "incomplete metamorphosis," hatching as nymphs instead of larvae. 

Water beads on this blue dragon fly because of the liquid's surface tension. The water molecules are more attracted to each other than to the insect's exoskeleton, so they ball up.

 Source:University of Arkansas



Moths' wings, like butterflies', contain "dust," or tiny scales made from modified hairs. They help with flight.

 Source: Science Focus



Some moths smell through their antennae.

 Source: Ask Nature



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 Best Jobs Of The Future

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Software Engineer

Want a job that pays well and will have plenty of openings in the next decade? Consider one of these occupations.

Business Insider compiled a ranking of the best jobs of the future based on how well they pay and how much they are projected to grow in the coming years.

We took the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' projections for the number of new jobs created between 2012 and 2022 and the 2012 median annual wage for each occupation and ranked them based on a combination (the geometric mean) of the two figures.

To focus this list on higher-quality jobs, we ranked only occupations with median wages higher than the 2012 median wage for all workers, which is $34,750. We used the total number of new jobs projected by 2022 rather than the percent rate of growth for the occupations, since some specialized occupations are expected to see steep growth but will provide a relatively tiny amount of job openings.

20. Construction Managers

78,200 predicted job openings by 2022

$82,790 median annual wage in 2012

What they do: Organize, plan, and supervise construction projects.

Typical Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree

Why they're thriving: Managers of all kinds tend to have higher wages than those they supervise, and the BLS notes that managers make the highest median salary of any of the large occupational groups it studies. The construction sector was hit especially hard in the Great Recession. However, the BLS projects that over the next decade, construction employment will finally begin to return to pre-recession levels, allowing for impressive growth in the coming years.



19. Medical and Health Services Managers

73,300 predicted job openings by 2022

$88,580 median annual wage in 2012

What They DoPlan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Typical Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree

Why They're Thriving: As with construction managers, managerial positions tend to do well financially. The BLS projects that, as Baby Boomers get older, and as Obamacare's reforms dramatically change the health insurance market, employment in the health-care sector is primed to take off in the near future.



18. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing

132,000 predicted job openings by 2022

$54,230 median annual wage in 2012

What They DoSell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals.

Typical Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree

Why They're Thriving: Salespeople are needed in almost every industry. Any company that makes or sells something will need sales representatives, meaning this already large occupation will continue to grow.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

$10,000 AND UP: The Most Expensive Hotel Rooms In NYC

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Presidential Suite Mandarin Oriental New York

New York City is one of the most expensive places to live, but it can also cost a pretty penny just to visit. 

According to NewYorkHotels.org, guests would have to shell out a whopping $40,000 to book the city's priciest suite for just one night.

The hotel booking site recently released a list of the 10 most expensive hotel rooms in Manhattan, created by comparing the average rate throughout September 2013 (when the city's tourism was at its peak).

#10 A two-bedroom penthouse in the Trump SoHo hotel will run guests $10,000 a night. With open layouts and modern furnishings by Fendi Casa, the rooms offer views of the Hudson River or East River Bridges.

Source: NewYorkHotels



#9 The Royal Suite at The Ritz-Carlton's Central Park location feels like a private home with marble embellishments and seven different types of pillows. It costs $14,000 per night, which also includes complimentary access to the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge.

Source: NewYorkHotels



#8 The Art Deco-inspired Empire Suite at The Carlyle is a spacious three-bedroom duplex located on floors 28 and 29. It costs $15,000 each night, and has gorgeous views of Central Park.

Source: NewYorkHotels



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HOUSE OF THE DAY: Roman Abramovich's $75 Million Dream Mansion Hits A Roadblock

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Roman Abramovich fifth avenue new york city penthouse $75 millionLast October, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was in contract to buy three apartments in a gorgeous Fifth Avenue mansion for $75 million.

But a new report in The New York Post says that the deal may be in jeopardy since the seller supposedly wants even more money.

Abramovich originally wanted to purchase three of the five apartments in the building at 828 Fifth Avenue from the family of late British real estate developer Howard Ronson, which included the penthouse, a triplex, and a duplex apartment.

But Ronson's widow — heiress Angelika Ivanc — is reportedly holding out because she believes she can get more money from the mogul.

According to the Post:

Ivanc is challenging the executors’ approval of the co-op sale in court in the English Channel island of Guernsey, where Ronson’s company had offices.

While a European court ruling would not bar the sale in New York, legal experts say that the controversy would likely be enough to force the parties to hold off on the transaction until the court case is resolved.

Even if the deal closes at the current price of $75 million, it would still be the most expensive co-op ever bought in the city beating out the previous record of $54 million, according to The Real Deal.

Abramovich has reportedly bought another apartment in the building, and is trying to purchase the final unit so he can restore the mansion to its former glory, the Post reports.

The eight-bedroom co-op is an interesting mix of classic and modern with tall ceilings and eight bedrooms. There's even a rooftop terrace that looks out over Central Park.

The Manhattan townhouse sits directly across from Central Park Zoo.



It's currently divided up into five units. Abramovich has made an offer to buy three.



He's hoping to buy the other two and create a single-family mansion.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Check Out This News App Made By The Former Owners Of The Washington Post

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Trove Walkthrough

Trove is a news app made by Graham Holdings, the company that used to own The Washington Post. Essentially, the app is a social network for news junkies.

After logging in through Facebook or Twitter, the app helps build "troves" of news that is geared toward your interests. For example, fans of the New York Jets would automatically have a trove dedicated to news about the team based on information provided in your Facebook profile.

You'll be able to follow other topics that matter to you, pick the best articles and then share them with your friends. Currently, Trove is only available for the iPhone. Interested in finding out how it works?

Once you download the app, you'll be taken to the welcome screen. You can log in with Facebook or Twitter.



Type in your email address to confirm your account.



After finishing that part of the setup process, Trove gives you a brief introduction on how it works.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Best Cheap Hotels In The Caribbean

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True or false: Peak season in the sunny Caribbean, with its wonderfully warm waters and frangipani-scented breezes, always means a hefty price tag. 

Despite what you may have heard, the truth is there are dozens of reasonably priced hotels (those $250 or under in peak season). We’ve vetted them all and then narrowed the list to our favorites.

The best of the bunch earned big points for going the extra mile (complimentary surfboards or free breakfast by the pool, for example) and for designing interiors that reflect the island’s personality. Regardless, each hotel on the Cheap and Chic list is so comfortable and welcoming that you may find yourself unable to leave your cabana’s hammock.

All the better, because at these prices, you can afford to stay a couple extra nights.

1. Anacaona in Meads Bay, Anguilla

1 Anacaona Meads Bay Anguilla

Anguilla typically isn’t an island that is shortlisted by the budget-conscious. Esteemed resorts set on pearly sands, like Cap Juluca ($1,000 per night), attract an A-list clientele.

Yet, the owners of that aforementioned resort also opened the more affordable 27-room Anacaona. Fluffed up in Med-bbean style — white stucco, pink roof tiles, casual breeziness — rates at Anacaona start at $160.

With Meads Bay a 5-minute walk away, the two pools may go ignored. Peak-season rooms are $265; but with minimum-night packages, the rate falls to $228 during January and March.

Insider Tip: Earn $25 per day in room credits by taking the detox challenge: Just turn in your electronic devices at check-in.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Anguilla Guide

2. Admiral's Inn in English Harbour, Antigua

2 Admirals Inn

For European ambiance with tropical weather, the blue-shuttered Admiral’s Inn is your ticket to paradise.

A 1788 brick, timber, and stone structure, it was from here that Admiral Horatio Nelson readied ships for battle. Hundreds of years later, it remains an active hub for sailors who drop anchor in English Harbour.

The boatless enjoy the vibe, too, enticed by new suites, an infinity pool, and a spa (set to open in January)—all while peak-season starting rates are kept at an attractive $175.  

Insider Tip: The inn will boat you to nearby beaches that are great for swimming, like Pigeon Beach. 

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Antigua Guide

3. Staniel Cay Yacht Club in the Bahamas' Exuma Cays

3 Staniel Cay Yacht Club Exuma Cays BahamasIf Don Draper went AWOL in the Caribbean, we’d look for him lounging on the patio of one of the pastel bungalows on Staniel Cay with a rum punch in hand.

After all, Staniel Cay Yacht Club, which opened in 1956, has hosted many mid-century icons, including Sean Connery and Sammy Davis, Jr. The club was also the backdrop for two James Bond movies.

Most days here are filled with boating, beach bumming, and pirating: Johnny Depp has been seen loitering in the screened-in bar.

Insider Tip: All-inclusive rates of $390 per room are a better bargain than $215 for a room-only stay. You not only get three meals but also a 13-foot skiff to enjoy.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Exumas Guide

4. Sea-U Guest House in Tent Bay, Barbados

4 Sea U Guest HouseBarbados’ Platinum Coast is allegedly named for the silvery glints of sands that dust its shores. But the West Coast’s moniker could also come from the high-tiered price tags of the resorts.

On the much quieter East side, though, time slows, crowds thin, and prices roll back. The clapboard studios at Sea-U Guest House, hidden in a forest of palms, are decorated with mahogany furniture and have decks with comfy hammocks.

Expect solitude with only the sound of breaking waves to disrupt you. Even more enticing than the privacy? Rooms starting at just $184.  

Insider Tip: Stick to beach walks or surfing here. Should you want a swim, Crane Beach, a 20-minute taxi ride away, is world class.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Barbados Guide

5. Sugar Reef Bequia on St. Vincent and the Grenadines

5 Sugar Reef Bequia St Vincent the GrenadinesVacationing on Bequia is like entering a time warp: no big chain stores, no stoplights and transportation is often by water taxi.

Hotels here are charming, but until last year, none were so stylish and sweetly priced (rooms from $190) as Sugar Reef Bequia.

Located on the grounds of a former coconut plantation, the resort's stone building houses three airy beachside rooms as well as the lobby/restaurant, with its driftwood chandelier, eclectic textiles and a fabulous shell buffet.

There are also five hillside rooms in a Great House with a pool.  

Insider Tip: The roti here, presented more upscale than usual, is not to be missed.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Bequia Guide

Check out more cheap Caribbean hotels at Fodor's >

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Kiev Has Become A War Zone [PHOTOS]

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uk18

Late last November, more than 100,000 Ukrainians filed into the streets of Kiev in response to President Viktor Yanukovych’s rejection of trade agreements with the European Union. The protestors marched into Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square, brandishing signs reading “Ukraine is Europe” and European Union flags, and refused to leave until the regime changed its tune. 

Ukraine hasn’t exactly been quiet over the last decade —in 2004, more than 500,000 Ukrainians gathered in Kiev to protest a disputed presidential election in what has since become known as the Orange Revolution.

The root of the current situation lies not in corruption but policy, as the president has moved toward a deal with Putin and Russia, in place of the European Union agreement. The protesters want Ukraine to be a part of the European Union. The Russia deal moves them further away from that.

Since the protests began in November, the number of protesters has swelled at times up to 800,000 people and occasionally turned violent. Over the last several days, the protests have exploded into a full blown riot, with at least two people shot dead.

Below are some pictures of what’s happening in Kiev right now:

While protests continued through the New Year, they reached a heightened frenzy on Sunday, when the Ukrainian Parliament passed anti-protest laws. The laws were aimed at stamping out the anti-government protests. They had the opposite effect.Uk11More than 200,000 people gathered in central Kiev in defiance of the "dictatorship laws," as they are now being called by the people. The opposition leaders, such as Vitaly Klitschko (pictured) joined the protests. "Today, Ukrainian parliamentarianism is dead," Opposition leaders declared in response to the laws. uk16Rioters descended on the parliament building to protest the laws. uk7Riot police and a blockade of military cars, mini-vans and buses greeted the rioters. A loudspeaker blared, "Dear citizens, your actions are illegal and are against the state."uk15The police blocked streets to keep rioters contained. The rioters retaliated by breaking up city streets and using the bricks and stones to throw at the police. UK4The rioters in front of the government buildings quickly began to clash with riot police. uk9Protestors began to set off fireworks and burn tires in protest. uk14This man carries a burning tire on a stick to throw toward the police. uk13One of the provisions of the new anti-protest laws is a ban on masks and other "face concealments." Rioters specifically wore masks in protest. Uk3Some rioters tossed Molotov cocktails and gas bombs at the police.ukraineThey also commandeered or overturned buses and police vehicles. Some were burned.uk8In response to the gas bombs and fire, police directed water cannons at protestors. In sub-zero temperatures, this qualified as an "illegal use of force."Uk2Later, police used rubber bullets.uk21The response scared off some of the protestors, but, by the night of Jan. 19, 10,000 rioters remained.uk12The violence is still ongoing after three days. Yesterday, President Yanukovych ordered a "bloody crackdown," authorizing the use of physical force and firearms. uk5Police have responded by brutally attacking protesters.Ukraine ProtestsPolice have begun throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, and flash grenades at protestors. UK1Two protestors have been shot and killed by police over the last several days, in addition to another protester who fell from a building, while being confronted by the police.  Many others are injured.Ukraine ProtestsOpposition leaders met with President Yanukovych today, but the government is still initiating the crackdown. They've sent in military vehicles like this one.uk19As of yet, there is no end in sight.Ukraine Protests

 

 

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Take A Look Inside The Beautiful And Powerful Lexus RC F Coupe

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2015 Lexus RC F Coupe

We were introduced to a lot of terrific cars at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. Among them was the latest and greatest effort from Lexus, Toyota's luxury arm.

Along with design cues borrowed from the Lexus LFA supercar (which "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson called "senbleedingsational") the new RC F coupe promises a ton of power, and even decent fuel economy. 

It's got two doors and four seats, but all the fun is reserved for the driver, who gets to control a brand new 5.0-liter V8 engine with rear-wheel drive.

Between the RC F and the RC350, which debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, Lexus expects to sell 1,400 cars each month.

Under the hood is an all-new 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. It pumps out 450 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.



It's the first Lexus engine to combine two technologies, the Atkinson and Otto cycles, to reap the advantages of each.



Atkinson gives better fuel economy at cruising speeds; Otto delivers improved performance at higher rpm.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Best New Travel Gadgets Of 2014

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train earbuds

From wearable computers and cloud-connected cars to design-forward chargers—not to mention enough noise-canceling headphones and Bluetooth wireless speakers that’d make even the most ardent audiophile hit the mute button—the gadgets making their debuts at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas promise to add extra levels of convenience and enjoyment to travelers in the coming months.

Like the ability for consumers to remotely view digital content as they travel—or at least easily bring it with them. Be it beamed from a Dish Network DVR or LaCie’s slick wireless Fuel drive, Samsung’s oversize new tablet offers a gorgeous way to watch. And thanks to a double-whammy product from Mophie, iPhone owners also have one less scourge of the information age to contend with: storage space. Curating playlists before a plane ride is 2013’s problem.

Travelers will also have even more vivid ways to document their next adventures, thanks to Sony, whether that’s with a near-21-megapixel smartphone that goes underwater or a handheld camcorder that shoots in extreme high-def (Ultra HD being another top trend this year). To show it all off, Korea’s Sekonix has a projector that fits on a key chain.

This year’s CES featured a record 3,500 exhibitors and 2 million square feet of convention space. After a week of scouring, we found the most promising new devices and technologies to take on your next trip.

sony camcorder

Sony FDR-AX100 4K Handycam Camcorder

What’s better than a smartphone that shoots in full 1080p HD video? The world’s first handheld consumer camcorder that shoots in 4K, the current top-of-the-line standard in televisions. That means even more realistic detail in those lavish panorama shots—four times the resolution of HD—whether viewed on Vimeo or a 50-inch-plus TV. Available March. $2,000; store.sony.com

Mophie Space Pack

Mophie’s latest essential addition to your travel arsenal not only doubles the battery life of your iPhone, it doubles the data storage—up to 32 gigabytes worth—creating enough space for all your media, be it movies and tunes for a 19-hour flight to Sydney or tons of vacation snaps. A companion app integrates seamlessly with iTunes and photo gallery, allowing you to access and manage any file you may have downloaded from an email, from text documents to movies. Available March. $150; mophie.com

Samsung galaxy noteproSamsung Galaxy NotePro 12.2-inch Tablet

With a massive 12.2-inch screen—bigger than even the iPad Air’s 9.7-inch screen—the Galaxy NotePro is the ideal tablet for avid in-flight movie watchers and road warriors who can’t unplug while on vacation. (Indeed, it’s getting into laptop-size territory.) The bigger screen offers other benefits: more space for doodling, note-taking, and comment making on the included S Pen; and Multi Window, which lets you work in four different apps at the same time.Available late January. Price to be announced; samsung.com

LaCie Fuel

Syncing enough—or the right—movies to your iPad, laptop, or iPhone before you head out on vacation is always a challenge, since even the 120 GB of space on the biggest iPad Air is still measly when you have a whole season of The Good Wife to burn through (not to mention all those Arthurepisodes, in HD no less, that you want to bring along for the kids). With its 1TB of storage, the sandwich-size LaCie Fuel takes the planning guesswork out, streaming more than 500 movies (or 160,000 images or 190,000 photos) to up to five devices simultaneously. $200; lacie.com

Canon n100Canon N100

Feeling left out of photos? The N100’s nifty Dual Camera mode cribs from the smartphone playbook (see: Samsung Galaxy S4, iOS Frontback app) to shoot images using the front and rear cameras simultaneously, then sticks your selfie into the main portrait. A Story Highlights Mode also automatically compiles a chronological collection of your images and video, so you don’t have to. Better than a smartphone, a bigger sensor means higher-quality images, and a pivoting screen allows overhead and underhand shooting with precision and ease.Available May. $350; shop.usa.canon.com

Able Planet Linx Fusion Noise-Canceling Headphones

By using the same kind of haptic technology found in cell phone touchscreens—the kind that makes it feel as though you’re actually pressing buttons—Able Planet’s next-gen noise-canceling headphones transmit audio via your ear, skin, and bone, resulting in clear sound regardless of outside noise, and at a volume that’s 70 decibels lower than standard headphones, minimizing the risk of ear damage. They’re also good for anyone hard of hearing, since they don’t transmit entirely via traditional sound waves.Available February. $350; ableplanet.com

Sekonix DLP Pico Keychain Projector

The world’s smallest projector is no bigger than a tea sandwich and can fit unobtrusively into almost any pocket or handbag, yet it’s still able to project movies or vacation videos onto any flat surface in DVD-quality resolution (no HD at this size—yet). Just plug the projector into your smartphone, tablet, or PC via USB, and,presto, it’s movie time. Available first half of 2014. $199; dlp.com 

Keep reading at T+L to see the rest of the gadgets >

More from Travel + Leisure:

World's Weirdest Travel Gadgets

T+L Cruise Finder

Social Media Tips For Travel

Best Travel Gadgets

Best Apps and Websites for Travelers

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This Is The Coolest Paper Airplane You'll Ever See

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model paper airplane

This is no ordinary paper airplane.

Since May 2008, Luca Iaconi-Stewart, 22, has been building this 1:60 scale model of the Air India Boeing 777-300ER, made entirely out of manila folders. 

It's incredibly detailed, from the ultra-smooth nose down to the miniature seats he installed inside. Amazingly, Iaconi-Stewart isn't an architect, though his project was inspired in part by a class he took in high school. 

"We made 'massing models' from manila folders, which are rough 3D sketches of building ideas," he said to Business Insider. "I took that concept one step further and started this crazy plane project. I wanted to see how far I could push the limits of the material (and the concept, I suppose)."

It's still a work in progress. Though he took some time off during college, it's been an incredibly time-consuming project: For one, it took an entire summer just to build the seats.

He just started work on the final components — the wings — and hopes to complete them over the summer. 

Here's what the plane looks like head-on, with the two front cabin doors open.



With the door open, we get a peek inside.



Every single detail, down to the pilots' chairs and control panels, was meticulously recreated.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I Flew Economy Class To Europe, And I Don’t Understand Why People Blow $5,000 To Fly Business Class

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Lufthansa Economy Class 18

Last weekend, my boss flew business class to Germany.

He posted a slideshow about it.

The funny thing was that I also flew to Germany last week. For the same conference, even. DLD bought both of our tickets.

The only difference was, on my flight, I was stuck in economy class.

What the heck, right?

Last Friday night, I had a flight from Newark to Munich.



My ticket was Economy class, not Business Class. That meant no shorter lines…



…no fancy lounge with free drinks…



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 Places To Party Before You Die

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party nightclub ibiza

When Matador Network, an online travel magazine, was first approached by publishing house Macmillan to write the new book "101 Places to Get F----- Up Before You Die," they were concerned.

"Our website is not about exploiting destinations," David S. Miller, a senior editor at Matador Network, told Business Insider. "Matador and our brand has always been about traveling in a respectful way and trying to connect with local people."

Which is why when they decided to take on the project, it wasn't just the obvious destinations and festivals — Burning Man, Oktoberfest, and New York nightclubs — that made it into the book (though those are in there, too). It was also about finding places that were off-the-beaten track: Locales that were not only fun to visit culturally, but that also knew how to have a good time.

"In the end, I felt like we were able to tread a really nice line between showing the exuberance and partying, and connecting with people," Miller said. "We also had natural humor with it without being fully salacious."

Matador Network shared some of their editors' top places to visit — keep reading to see where you need to get trashed with the locals.

Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

Known for its young population and unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird," Austin is a diverse mix of college students, musicians, tech, and business people.

For those who want to party in this Texas town, Matador editors say to "Start at Sixth Street, at the far eastern end of the street, and work your way west, drinking in as many places as you can and seeing how far you make it."



Barcelona, Spain

Filled with gorgeous beaches and teeming with nightlife, Barcelona even has a bar that's dedicated to producing hundreds of different types of shots for only 2 euros.

As Matador's writer Sarah Briggs put it, “Throughout the year, multi-generational party-seekers travel to Barcelona or BCN as cool people abbreviate it, many remaining to embrace the Mediterranean and the opportunity to nap on a daily basis without tan lines or scorn.” Enough said.



Berlin, Germany

Matador writer Josh Heller says of Berlin: “Everyone has their own version of where to go totally bonkers in Berlin, and each one of these prescriptions is 100% right."

And clubs never seem to close, either. "No matter how early you arrive in town, you’ll hear the thumping bassline of a familiar track," Heller says. "You’ll soon realize that it’s 8:00 A.M. and they’re playing an extended remix of the theme song from Ferris Bueller. This is Berlin.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THEN & NOW: The Cast Of 'Mean Girls' 10 Years Later

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Mean Girls

This April marks a decade since The Plastics ruled the halls of North Shore High School, taking new student Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) along for the crazy, Burn Book-filled ride.

Aside from giving us many memorable quotes (see: "She doesn't even go here!"), the film, written by Tina Fey, boosted the careers of many in its cast.

While some actresses, like Rachel McAdams (Regina) and Lizzy Caplan (Janis) continued to have successful careers in Hollywood, other actors such as Rajiv Surendra (Kevin) and Daniel Franzese (Damian) went on to pursue more artistic ventures.

It's almost the 10-year anniversary of "Mean Girls"— let's see what our favorite high school students and teachers are up to now.

THEN: Lindsay Lohan played Cady Heron, a high school student who is forced to navigate manipulative friendships, dating, and gossip after moving to a new school.



NOW: Lohan, 27, is making a comeback after several stints in rehab and legal troubles.

The former child star, known for her leading roles in "Parent Trap" and "Life-Size," announced at the Sundance Film Festival this week that she will produce and star in a new film titled "Inconceivable."

The announcement follows Lohan's continued comeback from five years of rehab stints and run-ins with the law.

She's filming a docu-series for the Oprah Winfrey Network after a failed turn in the 2013 erotic thriller "The Canyons."

Since "Mean Girls," Lohan has also appeared on "That '70s Show" and "Ugly Betty" and has even released two music albums between 2004 and 2005.



THEN: Rachel McAdams played Regina George, the leader of the mean-girl pack.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

14 Surprising Negotiating Tricks To Boost Your Salary

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Professors negotiation

Negotiating your salary at a new job or with your current employer can be incredibly nerve-wracking, particularly for people who haven't done it before.

It's a necessary activity, however, since avoiding it can cost as much as $1 million over the course of your career, according to an analysis by Salary.com. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier.

At the same time, a lot of the advice on how to negotiate effectively can be contradictory or cliché. That's why we've looked at the research and collected some of the surprising strategies and techniques that can lead to a higher salary. 

Think of the negotiation as a competition.

At the end of the day, in most salary negotiations, you're going after something the other party doesn't want to give. That makes it a competition, and viewing it that way leads to better results, according to research from George Mason Professor Michelle Marks and Temple Professor Crystal Harold.

People who use a competitive strategy, by identifying their goals and being willing to push for them, end up with significantly higher salaries than those who are accommodative or compromising. 



Always use precise numbers in offers and counter-offers.

Most people are familiar with the advice to start with a high number, but new research from Columbia Business School suggests that a precise number makes a more powerful anchor in negotiations. That means replacing at least a few of the zeros in a round offer like $100,000 and going for $104,500. 

According to Malia Mason, the author of the study, a precise number leads the other party to think that you've done research to arrive at a very particular number, which makes them think you're likely correct. 



Open with something personal, and your negotiating partner will respond in kind.

In an experiment where Kellogg and Stanford students negotiated by email, those who shared unrelated personal details over the course of the negotiation ended up getting significantly better results than those who kept things to name, e-mail, and the dry monetary details.

Opening up a bit sends a signal that you're trustworthy, according to Wharton professor Adam Grant, and makes it more likely that they'll reciprocate. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Most Expensive Apartment Buildings In New York City

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New York City is without a doubt one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in.

New Construction Manhattan, a luxury real estate company, put together a list of 2013's most expensive buildings based on closed sales and average price per square foot.

The most expensive building in 2013 was 15 Central Park West, at an average of $5,636 per square foot. The luxury building has stunning views of Central Park and is home to a laundry list of NYC's powerful bankers, celebrities, and big shots.

Still-under-construction One57, where a penthouse sold for a record-breaking $90 million in 2012, barely made the cut at $3,548 per square foot. Lincoln Square's Millennium Tower also made the list at $3,671 per square foot.

Here's the full list of buildings with square footage.

  1. 15 Central Park West $5,636/sq. ft.

  2. The South Tower of Time Warner Center $4,166/sq. ft.

  3. Residences at Mandarin Oriental $4,044/sq. ft.

  4. 18 Gramercy Park South $4,042/sq. ft.

  5. Superior Ink $3,901/sq. ft.

  6. The Hudson $3,714/sq. ft.

  7. Millennium Tower $3,671/sq. ft.

  8. The Mayfair $3,637/sq. ft.

  9. 200 Eleventh Avenue $3,565/sq. ft.

  10. One57 $3,548/sq. ft.

SEE ALSO: Meet The Big Shots Who Live At 15 Central Park West

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An 88-Year-Old Man Has Spent 50 Years Building This Cathedral Out Of Recycled Materials

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Spanish monk cathedral

For the past 50 years, a cathedral made of trash has steadily risen above the small town of Mejorada del Campo, just outside Madrid, Spain. 

One man is behind it all: a former Trappist monk named Justo Gallego, or Don Justo.

He started building the church in 1961, after a bout with tuberculosis forced him to leave the monastery where he lived. He sold some of his inherited land to raise enough money to start construction, using salvaged materials like donated bricks and oil drums to build it.  

Incredibly, Justo has no architectural or construction experience. Occasionally, volunteers will help him with the work, but most of it he does himself. He doesn't even have any formal design plans — he told the BBC in 2010 that all of the details for the 24,000-square-foot church are "in my head." 

Critics call him a madman and his cathedral trash, and the town seems to have turned a blind eye to how neither his materials nor the building itself meets construction codes. 

Still, the building shows a remarkable beauty and attention to detail. 

"If I lived my life again, I'd build this church again, only bigger. Twice the size,"he said to the BBC"Because for me, this is an act of faith."

The cathedral's towers reach a height of 130 feet.



The incomplete dome, modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, was made from cut-up plastic food tubs. It took 20 years just to erect the structure.



There's still quite a bit of work to be done up here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 Apocalyptic Pictures From The Protests In Ukraine

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Since last November, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have gathered and marched through the streets of Kiev to protest President Viktor Yanukovych's rejection of trade agreements with the European Union, and a subsequent move towards a deal with Russia.

The protests, known now as the Euromaidan protests, exploded into a full blown riot over the past several days, after new anti-protest laws were signed into effect by the president. The "dictatorship laws" have spurred more than 10,000 Ukrainians to protest violently around Parliament and Dynamo Stadium, burning buses and tires and launching projectiles at authorities. The police have responded in kind. 

Ukrainian police forces have begun firing rubber bullets at protesters, beating them with batons, and throwing Molotov cocktails. So far, four people are reportedly dead. One was shot four times and another once in the heart by the police. 

Rioters agreed to a truce earlier today, so that the opposition could negotiate with President Yanukovych. The pictures below show the wild, almost apocalyptic conflict that has erupted in the Ukrainian capital. These are just a few scenes of the terror:  

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And here is a bit of what's been going viral on Twitter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally this one, which sums up the battle in the most absurd of ways — cops want memories.

 

SEE ALSO: Kiev Has Become A War Zone [PHOTOS]

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The Incredible 30-Year Evolution Of The Mac (01232014, 2101)

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Happy birthday, Mac! 

It has been 30 years since Apple launched the first Macintosh computer on January 24, 1984. The new computer debuted after the company's iconic "1984" ad aired at that year's Super Bowl. 

Since that first personal computer was released, Macs have come a long way. 

This beauty is the original Apple Macintosh personal computer, released in 1984. It cost $2,495.



The Macintosh 512K, released in September 1984, was identical to the previous Mac, but with quadrupled built-in memory, earning it the nickname "Fat Mac."



Apple released the Macintosh Plus in January 1986 with a $2,599 price tag. This model was the longest-produced in Mac history and included an SCSI port so that users could plug in external devices like hard disks, tape drives, or printers.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What 19 Olympic Athletes Do For A Living

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Many Winter Olympic sports generate little revenue or sponsorship interest.

As a result, a lot of the athletes you'll see in Sochi have day jobs.

Some athletes take odd jobs to get by, while others have full-blown careers.

They are lawyers, teachers, handymen, and restaurant managers ... as well as world-class athletes.

Vanessa-Mae (alpine skiing) is an acclaimed violinist.

Source: Telegraph



Elana Meyers (bobsled) is a substitute teacher.

Source: BuzzFeed



John Shuster (curling) manages a Pickwick restaurant in Minnesota.

Source: Facebook



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The World's Most Overrated Travel Destinations (And Where To Go Instead)

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Travelers often find themselves on the path most traveled because – amid the brush and bramble of advertisements, trend pieces, and travel magazine features – it's the only passage they can imagine.

And that's fine: Popular destinations tend to be popular for a reason. That said, there is a singular joy in trying something different.

To encourage travelers looking to take a chance, we've compiled a list of places they can skip in 2014 and found the places they ought to go instead. Going to Vail, for example, is not (and never will be) a mistake, but there are other adventures out there.

Don't go to Montreal.Quebec City

North Americans in search of a French fix tend to default to Montréal. Though there is a lot  to do in Canada's second largest city, travelers looking for a more Gallic experience would be wise to set their sights on Québec City, the capital of Québec province and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Québec City is more than 400 years old and the architecture in Vieux-Québec is far more French than anything in Montréal. But it's the cuisine that's really turning heads here lately.

Dine on foie gras, Quebec cheeses (the province produces over 300 varieties), and lobster with truffles in the cozy "winter garden" at Le Saint-Amour or opt for something easier on the wallet at the retro-inspired La Cuisine, a restaurant that morphs into a dance bar at night. Order the bouilli (beef stew à la pot roast), an unpretentious comfort food that, like Québec City, is the ultimate in all things Québecois.

Don't go to Vail.Trois Vallees France

Vail's sick back bowls make for legendary powder carves, but when it comes to sheer mass of terrain paired with that certain je ne sais quoi of a European ski vacation (sauna culture, bier gardens), it's impossible to trump Trois Vallées.

Located in France's Savoie département – a roughly two-hour drive from the airports in Geneva and Lyon – Trois Vallées is French for "three valleys." And the sprawling interconnected terrain in the world's largest ski area spreads over three valleys and eight different resorts with more than 370 miles of ski slopes. 

Méribel resort is the party town in these parts, but the place to hobnob with Austrian counts, French movie stars, and the like is Courchevel 1850, where the chalet-style apartments at the ski-in/ski-out hotel La Sivolière are well worth the splurge.

Don't go to the Bahamas.Grenada

It requires a considerably longer flight over the Caribbean – about three and a half hours from Miami – but the spice island of Grenada, just north of Venezuela, is everything Nassau is not.

Where cruise ship-crowded Nassau occupies what's basically a limestone rock, Grenada's rich soil grows everything from coffee and cocoa to nutmeg and ginger. There are rushing rivers to go tubing down, jungles teeming with monkeys and sweeps of long white beach that beat anything on Nassau's built-up shores.

Visit Grenada's River Antoine Rum Distillery to see the oldest waterwheel-powered rum producer in the Caribbean, after scuba diving around the 600-foot-long Bianca C, an Italian cruise ship that sank here in 1961.

And snag a room at the beachfront Flamboyant Hotel & Villas on the sublime beach of Grand Anse for a fraction of what a similar suite would cost on "Paradise Island."

Don't go to Thailand.El Nido Palawan Philippines

The latest political tensions in Bangkok aside notwithstanding, Thailand is a less exciting destination than the Philippines. The dramatic karst formations of El Nido on the island of Palawan would have made a more striking backdrop for Leonardo DiCaprio's escapades in "The Beach" than Thailand's Ko Phi Phi.

Palawan, it seems, sits pretty much smack dab at the epicenter of marine biodiversity. The underwater life is downright flamboyant. Dive safaris of six days or longer on the S/Y Philippine Siren take you to explore sunken Japanese wrecks, deepwater pinnacles, the critter hot spot of Anilao, and Apo Reef, the second largest contiguous reef system in the world.

The other option: Opt for a more sedentary vacation along the lines of sipping a San Miguel beer on a spectacular beach like Sipalay on the island of Negros, where bungalows rent for next to nothing.

Don't go to New Zealand.Norway northern lights

New Zealand is a magical – and very well marketed – place. But next time, think out of the box and take your own magical mystery tour to a land of similar delights on the world's flip side: Norway.

Once you have fished for cod in the Norwegian fjords of Lofoten and golfed under the midnight sun, have ogled the aurora borealis ("northern lights") and dived around Narvik's WWII wrecks, you'll be left to wonder what on Earth the Southern Hemisphere could possibly have to rival northern Norway's plenty. 

And while Norway is far from inexpensive, there's an exceptional national law that allows campers to stay for free. Thanks to allemansrätten (literally "every man's right"), access to public lands is free for both Norwegians and anyone lucky enough to visit their chilly but beautiful home.

Don't go to Portland, Ore.Asheville North Carolina

Portland, Oregon, is far from played out, but that "Portlandia" bit can be a little much. Take the overtly hip factor down a few notches, without sacrificing any of the artistic vibe and restaurant-microbrew hedonism, with a visit instead to Asheville, North Carolina.

Like Portland, there's a lot going on here in the craft beer department. But, even more exciting, is the recent rise in local cideries. The best of the bunch is Urban Orchard Cider Co., which opened in late 2013 in West Asheville.

Have a few drinks, then rent a bike to check out the galleries in the revitalized River Arts District. And remember to fill your tank along the way at Wedge Brewing Company, where pints are paired with bands, and White Duck Taco Shop, where fusion meets finger food.

Add to all that, standup paddle boarding on the French Broad River and hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway and you've got a very long, satisfying weekend.

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SEE ALSO: This Fantastic Grooming Kit For Men Makes Life On The Road Much Easier

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