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15 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World

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Snow White Disney

The latest installment in Susan Veness' "Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" series will definitely test you. Even if you're a Disney freak, chances are you'll learn a thing or two from Vaness, who has been writing Disney guidebooks since 2009. 

Her trivia book asks multiple choice questions like, "What was the original nickname given to Walt Disney World?" Answer: The Vacation Kingdom of the World. 

Here are some more little-known facts from the book about Walt Disney World (Yes, that's the one in Florida):

1. A military veteran takes part in a flag-lowering ceremony every day at 5 p.m. on Main Street, U.S.A. in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

main street USA disney world

2. The Prince Charming Regal Carousel was first installed in Detroit, Mich., in 1917, then moved to Maplewood, N.J., before finding a permanent home in the Magic Kingdom.

3. If you hang out in the library for a few minutes after the Enchanted Tales with Belle show ends, the crew will explain some of their technical tricks, like bringing the character of Lumiere to life.

4. Fantasyland's concert hall assigns music performances based on puns; i.e. Genie sings the blues because he's blue and Ariel has a choral group as a play on coral under the sea.

5. Guests often throw coins into the water along the walkway of the It's A Small World attraction. Disney donates that money to Give Kids the World, an organization that makes wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.

6. Abraham Lincoln was Walt Disney's favorite president. To accurately represent him in the Hall of Presidents, the park made Lincoln's face from a copy of a life mask created by the sculptor Leonard Volk  in 1860.

Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom

7. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride almost wasn't built because Disney thought guests wouldn't be interested in a fantasy recreation of a place that was a short cruise away from where they already were in Florida.

8. The image of Jasmine's tiger Rajah is hidden in the front and back sections of the flying carpet in the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction.

9. In The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion, Nigel, the pelican hero from Finding Nemo, is the only main character not depicted.

10. Disney developed a signature scent for Norway in Epcot. It's called Laila and smells like airy mountains. The perfume is sprayed throughout the day in the pavilion. 

11. Sometimes in the red phone booth across from the Hotel du Canada in Epcot, the phone rings and it's a Disney character calling that you can have a conversation with. 

12. The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was supposed to feature music by the Rolling Stones, but the band proved too expensive for Disney's tastes. Instead, the park paid Aerosmith to use their music on the roller coaster.

rock'n'roller coaster disney world

13. In The Voyage of the Little Mermaid ride, Disney adds helium to the bubble makers to create bubbles that float up instead of down.

14. Some Spoonbills in the Oasis section of Animal Kingdom are given fake eggs to sit on. This helps prevent over population because it tricks the birds into thinking they've fulfilled their reproductive obligation.

15. Even though they're talked about in Animal Kingdom, there are no actual hyenas in the park. They're considered too vicious to be kept safely in Animal Kingdom.

You can pick up your own copy of "The Hidden Magic Of Disney World" here.

SEE ALSO: A Former 'Snow White' Dishes About Life As A Disney Park Princess

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider On Pinterest

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Meet The Free-Spirits, Drifters, And Vagrants Who Live On The Road In America [PHOTOS]

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AW_BusinessInsider_Boondock 7

One day, photographer Andrew Waits’s aunt and uncle dropped everything, bought an RV, and headed out to live on the road. Four years later, they haven’t once looked back.

Intrigued by what drove them to seek such an unconventional life, Waits began meeting and photographing people in his hometown of Seattle and later all along the West coast who had made the decision to turn their vehicle — vans, trucks, RVs, and compact cars — into their home. 

Waits shared some of the photos and stories here (and you can see many more at his website).

When Waits went out to meet RV and van dwellers in Seattle, he found a huge diverse group of people made up of a few communities.



After months of meeting with locals, he set out on the road to meet more people.



There were those who went out on the road because they had no choice.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HOUSE OF THE DAY: Chipotle CEO Sells His West Village Townhouse To A Music Mogul For $11.4 Million

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steve ells townhouse

Steve Ells, the founder of America's most popular Mexican fast-casual chain, just sold his townhouse on Jane Street in New York City's West Village to the music mogul who'd been renting the place for the past year, according to Zillow.

The 4,400-square foot Greek Revival first hit the market in September 2012 at $16.5 million, then was reduced to $14.5 million before Lyor Cohen, recently retired from Warner Music Group, scooped it up for $11.4 million.    

The 24-foot wide building dates back to 1858, with a modernized interior including four bedrooms, three family rooms, a wine cellar and a library. 

The Greek Revival townhouse has a facade that dates back to 1858.



Inside, it features a modern library with built-in shelves along two walls.



The building is 24 feet wide with five stories.



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Here's Everything Inside The $85,000 Oscar Nominee Swag Bag

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oscar gift bag 2014

Don't feel sorry for the Oscar nominees who go home without a gold statuette Sunday night.

All the nominees head home with more than $85,000 worth of goodies after the ceremony. 

For the past 12 years, Distinctive Assets has been putting together the "Everyone Wins at the Oscars Nominee Gift Bag." 

This year's basket costs nearly double the price of last year's with more than 50 gifts ranging in price from $6.50 to $16,000. 

A spokesperson for Distinctive Assets tells Business Insider they saw a spike in companies interested in participating after gaining popularity among celebrities and in the press.

"This year we had so many vendors approach the team at Distinctive Assets wanting to be a part of the gift bag. There are also several luxury items included which really boost up the value."

Two of those items include a $15,000 walking tour of Japan and a $16,000 laser hair removal offer. 

We've organzied everything the nominees will take home from designer lollipops to luxurious trips to Las Vegas and Hawaii.

A $6.49 DrainWig that prevents hair clogs in your shower drain.

Learn more about it here.

 



$23 in reuseable 3-in-1 dry-cleaning bags from Green Garmento.

The bag goes from hamper, to duffle bag, to garment bag. And, yes, this was on "Shark Tank." 



A $35 six-pack of herbal tea-based lollipops from Dosha Pops.

Flavors include Chai Me Up (chai tea), Head Over Hibiscus (hibiscus), Inner Glow (lemon & turmeric), Mytea Pomegranate (pomegranate & rooibos), Velvet Rope (chicory), and Wishful Pinking (pink rose).

Check them out here.



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THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING: 2014 [SLIDE DECK]

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IoE

The age of Internet ubiquity has arrived.

The world is moving beyond standalone devices into a new era where everything is connected.

We've created a slideshow highlighting the key trends and forecasts for the entire Internet-connected ecosystem, including connected TVs, connected cars, wearable computing devices, and all of the consumer and business tools that will soon be connected to the "Internet Of Things."

BI Intelligence is a new research and analysis service focused on mobile computing, digital media, payments, and e-commerce. Only subscribers can download the individual charts and datasets in Excel, along with the PowerPoint and PDF versions of this deck. Please sign up for a free trial here.







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100 Trips Everyone Should Take In Their Lifetime

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Santorini sunset

With spring tantalizingly close, our minds are starting to drift towards vacation.

And if you're stuck in front of a computer all day, then yours probably is, too.

We've updated our bucket list of travel destinations to include reader suggestions and 2014's travel hotspots.

From eating pizza in Naples to skiing in Japan, these are 100 trips everyone should take in their lifetime.

Did we miss your dream destination? Let us know in the comments. And check our Wanderlust board on Pinterest for more beautiful travel photos.

Walk along the Walls of Dubrovnik, which have protected the Croatian city since the 7th century.



Drive a classic car around Havana, Cuba.



Cruise the Las Vegas Strip.



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You Can Use This New LinkedIn Feature To Highlight Your Work And Make Your Profile Pop

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LinkedIn and digital publishing platform Issuu just launched a new partnership that will let you amp up your profile by embedding your portfolio or publication directly onto your page.

Before the new feature rolled out this week, LinkedIn users could link to any magazines, catalogues, newspapers, or published articles that they uploaded to Issuu, but now the viewing feature is baked-in. This new embed capability can not only enhance the look of your profile, but makes it easier for recruiters to quickly scan through your work. 

Here's an example of what it would look like to embed a magazine that you had worked on into your summary section:

Issuu LinkedIn

When someone clicks on one of the embedded publications, they can scroll through it page-by-page.

Hover over Profile at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and enter edit mode by selecting Edit Profile.



Scroll down to the section you want to add a sample to (you can add your Issuu publication to the Summary, Experience, and Education sections of your profile) and move your cursor over the add media icon (this looks like a square with a plus sign). Some users can also place the cursor directly into the input bar.



Type or paste the URL of your Issuu publication in the input bar field. LinkedIn will automatically load the cover image with the title and description of the publication. Edit the text in these fields by clicking inside the title and description fields.



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Before The Oscars Red Carpet Is Set Up, It's Just A Gross Street In Hollywood [Photos]

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Tina Fey Oscar red carpet

On Sunday, millions of people will be watching as celebrities descend upon Hollywood Boulevard to walk the red carpet before heading into the Dolby Theater for the 86th annual Academy Awards.

Last year, we stopped by the Dolby Theater to get a better look at what exactly it takes to prepare for the most-watched red carpet event of the year.

While workmen are quickly trying to transform Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard into a red carpet area, the street is anything but glamorous before the Oscar's take it over.

This is what the red carpet looks like during arrivals for the Academy Awards.



But before Sunday's big show, the glamorous red carpet area is just a blocked off, busy street in the middle of a touristy area in Hollywood.



To the right of the carpet, there is a Forever 21 clothing store and Johnny Depp look-a-like from "Pirates of the Caribbean."



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10 Apps That Could Supercharge Your Career

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camcard

No one said that it was easy out there.

We’re talking about the job market, of course. And in this competitive environment, even small advantages can have a big impact on whether you land the gig.

Small advantages like these eight low-cost (and, in many cases, free) apps, which can help you climb the career ladder in countless ways—whether it’s streamlining your job search, prepping you for the big interview and even schooling you on the best way to tender your resignation.

Hidden Jobs searches for open positions before they hit job boards.

Hidden Jobs (.99) 

Why search for just one gig when you could be trolling for hundreds? This app scours news articles, company press releases and online media daily to get a sneak peek at companies that have announced expansions and new locations — thus ensuring you get a jump start on upcoming positions before they hit the career sites. (Fact: Up to 80% of job openings aren’t advertised.)

The app’s simple drop-down menu allows you to choose a state, and then lists company names, town locations and the number of positions expected to be created, along with a link to the original news source. Here’s to the adult version of Hide and Seek — career-style!



Vizualize.me uses your LinkedIn profile to craft a customized graphic resume.

Visualize.me (free) 

The nineties called and they want their résumé back. Translation: It’s time to give that tired Word doc (you know the one, with default fonts and formatting) a major upgrade. One of the most eye-catching ways to do so? Dressing up your résumé with smart designs from Visualize.me.

The graph-happy app culls your LinkedIn profile to create clean, easy-to-read graphics that convey your work history and skills at a glance—converting bulleted text into graphics, as well as weighing your career history, education, interests and skills with your level of expertise. Those “weights” are then used to fashion a colorful infographic of your professional experience through timelines, bar charts, word clouds and more for an attention-grabbing résumé that’s off the charts.



Glassdoor reveals inside info about companies from current and previous employees.

Glassdoor (free) Think of it as the Yelp for work. This comprehensive career community gives you an insider’s look at job openings through user-generated content—company reviews, C.E.O. approval ratings, company-specific salary reports (including stock options and bonuses) and even office photos—supplied by in-the-know current and former employees.

Once you’ve set up your feed, indicating your desired location and interests, you’ll receive push notifications. See one you like? Read reviews about the work culture and environment there, pros and cons on senior management, and even the scoop on the interview process—as experienced by former applicants—to obtain an accurate snapshot of what it’s like to walk through those, ahem, glass doors on a daily basis.

RELATED: 8 Signs You Might Not Want to Take the Job



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Yelp Reviewers Say These Are The 100 Best Restaurants In America

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da poke shack meal

Yelp has just released a list of this year's top-rated restaurant in America, as chosen by its users.

The team at Yelp said they used a technique based on the Wilson Score to compile this year's ranking, taking into account both the restaurant's star rating as well as number of reviews to see which places were really the post popular in the Yelp community.

The number one restaurant in America this year is, surprisingly, a roadside joint in Hawaii named Da Poke Shack, which has a solid 5 stars with 614 reviews. The tiny establishment only has two tables inside, but it's the fresh seafood that customers on Yelp rave about.

Rounding out the top 5 were Caribbean restaurant Paseo in Seattle, Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue in Kansas City, vegan food truck The Cinnamon Snail in New York City, and Porto's Bakery in Burbank, CA.

Here's the full list of restaurants below. It's an interesting mix of high- and low-end:

1. Da Poke Shack, Kailua-Kona, HI

2. Paseo, Seattle, WA

3. Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue, Kansas City, KS

4. The Cinnamon Snail, New York, NY

5. Porto's Bakery, Burbank, CA

6. Dametra Cafe, Carmel by the Sea, CA

7. Alinea, Chicago, IL

8. Franklin Barbecue, Austin, TX

9. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA

10. Joe’s Falafel, Los Angeles, CA

11. Sushi Izakaya Gaku, Honolulu, HI

12. Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Denver, CO

13. Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, San Diego, CA

14. Coop’s West Texas Barbeque, Lemon Grove, CA

15. Tacos El Gordo, Chula Vista, CA

16. Cheese Board Pizza, Berkeley, CA

17. Ricky’s Fish Tacos, Los Angeles, CA

18. Ono Seafood, Honolulu, HI

19. Bogart’s Smoke House, Saint Louis, MO

20. Bakery Nouveau, Seattle, WA

21. Baguette Cafe, Las Vegas, NV

22. Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY

23. T-Deli, San Diego, CA

24. Built to Grill, Portland, OR

25. Alforon, San Diego, CA

26. Daniel, New York, NY

27. Hot Doug’s, Chicago, IL

28. Sal, Kris, & Charlie’s Deli, Astoria, NY

29. Blues City Deli, Saint Louis, MO

30. The Kitchen Restaurant, Sacramento, CA

31. Cream Pan, Tustin, CA

32. Dave’s Fresh Pasta, Somerville, MA

33. Café Besalu, Seattle, WA

34. The French Laundry, Yountville, CA

35. Turf N' Surf Po Boy, Austin, TX

36. Café Rolle, Sacramento, CA

37. Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse, Downers Grove, IL

38. Yoshino Japanese Deli, Carlsbad, CA

39. Opal Thai Food, Haleiwa, HI

40. Lou’s Cafe, San Francisco, CA

41. Marukame Udon, Honolulu, HI

42. Monell’s Dining & Catering, Nashville, TN

43. Roxie Food Center, San Francisco, CA

44. Graham Avenue Meats And Deli, Brooklyn, NY

45. Le Bernardin, New York, NY

46. El Chato Taco Truck, Los Angeles, CA

47. Mr. Gyros, Seattle, WA

48. The Waffle Window, Portland, OR

49. Per Se, New York, NY

50. Geste Shrimp Truck, Kahului, HI

51. Frostbites Crepes & Frozen Delights, Cypress, CA

52. Sushi Ota, San Diego, CA

53. Arizmendi Bakery, San Francisco, CA

54. Sweet Potato Stall, Santa Clara, CA

55. Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY

56. Peter’s Kettle Corn, Oakland, CA

57. Johnny Pacific, Winnetka, CA

58. El Chilango, Arlington, VA

59. Ike’s Place, San Francisco, CA

60. Fishermen’s Grill, Portland, ME

61. Sabroso! Mexican Grill, Garden Grove, CA

62. District Wine, Long Beach, CA

63. Chama Gaúcha Brazilian Steakhouse, Houston, TX

64. Bludso’s BBQ, Compton, CA

65. Tiki Juice Bar, Anaheim, CA

66. Wally’s Cafe, Emeryville, CA

67. Vinh Loi Tofu, Reseda, CA

68. Mama D’s Italian Kitchen, Newport Beach, CA

69. Los Andes Restaurant, Providence, RI

70. Little Luca Sandwich Shop & Deli, South San Francisco, CA

71. Pho 95, Denver, CO

72. Garbo’s Grill, Key West, FL

73. Ono Tacos, Lahaina, HI

74. Mattern Sausage & Deli, Orange, CA

75. The Market Grill, Monrovia, CA

76. Urasawa, Beverly Hills, CA

77. Dat Cajun Guy, Haleiwa, HI

78. Los Agaves, Santa Barbara, CA

79. Outlaws Cafe, Van Nuys, CA

80. Gus’s World Famous Hot & Spicy Chicken, Memphis, TN

81. Short Leash Dogs Food Truck, Phoenix, AZ

82. Pono Market, Kapaa, HI

83. Wafels & Dinges, New York, NY

84. Bell Street Farm, Los Alamos, CA

85. Uchiko, Austin, TX

86. Little Deli & Pizzeria, Austin, TX

87. Kokkari Estiatorio, San Francisco, CA

88. Kang Hodong Baekjeong, Los Angeles, CA

89. Komi, Washington, DC

90. Stuff I Eat, Inglewood, CA

91. Taste of Ethiopia, Pflugerville, TX

92. Hy Mart Sandwiches, North Hollywood, CA

93. The Codmother Fish and Chips, San Francisco, CA

94. Mastro’s Steakhouse, Beverly Hills, CA

95. Sushi Sasabune, Honolulu, HI

96. Bern’s Steak House, Tampa, FL

97. Postino Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

98. Pappy’s Smokehouse, Saint Louis, MO

99. Uchi, Austin, TX

100. Zia Gourmet Pizza, San Diego, CA

SEE ALSO: 20 Restaurants With Breathtaking Views Of The World

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How The Bush Family Dynasty Became America's First Family Of Finance

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bush family portrait

America doesn't have many political dynasties as powerful and well known as the Bush Family. Their success is an effort that takes money, power, and all of the right connections — some of which comes from a history on Wall Street.

Bushes have served in both the executive and legislative branches of our federal government. The family provided a pair of Presidents — the 41st and 43rd — and have held two state governorships.

And because of George W. Bush’s close ties to Texas and connections with the oil industry, the Bush family is often perceived as a bunch of oil tycoons.

In reality, however, the oil industry is just one of many in which the Bush family displayed their financial expertise. The family tradition, which continues to this day, was founded upon the pursuit of riches through investment banking and wartime business ventures.

This is why the family has had a hand in businesses from Halliburton to Merrill Lynch, and also has a history of owning major league sports teams.

Linette Lopez also contributed to this story.

Samuel P. Bush, one of the two patriarchs of the dynasty, had extensive experience as a banking executive.

Samuel served on the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and helped found the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. During WWI, he served as Chief of the Ordnance, Small Arms and Ammunition division on the War Industries Board, where wartime business ventures coupled with his connections to the Rockefeller family laid the foundation for the family's fortune.

Source: A Hoover Vignette



George Herbert Walker, the other patriarch, founded the investment bank G.H. Walker & Co. in 1900.

This was the first of Walker's forays into finance. The firm, located on 1 Wall Street, employed various members of the Bush family until it became a part of Merrill Lynch in 1978.

Source: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush



Walker became President of the investment firm W.A. Harriman & Co. in 1920.

The company's owner, Averell Harriman, is seen pictured with President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the firm, Walker used his network of international banking contacts to develop profitable investment opportunities, especially in Germany and Russia.

Source: Britannica



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RANKED: The 13 Coolest Buildings By Starchitect Frank Gehry

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Frank Gehry, one of the most prolific and famous architects on earth, turns 85 years old today.

Chances are you've seen one of his undulating and mind-bending architectural marvels even if you didn't know it was a Gehry building.

The internationally acclaimed American artist has been making us question how we perceive buildings ever since his billowing designs splashed onto the scene.

Here are his 13 best works, ranked, based on aesthetic appeal and critical acclaim. See more of our favorite buildings on our Cool Architecture board on Pinterest.

13. Neuer Zollhof, Düsseldorf, Germany

Neuer Zollhof12. The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve11. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California, USA

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California10. DZ Bank Building (Atrium), Berlin, Germany

DZ Bank Building (Atrium) berlin9. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA8. Vitra Design Museum, Rhein, Germany

Vitra Design Museum7. MIT's Strata Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

MIT Strata Center6. The Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic

The Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic5. Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington, USA

Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington4. Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas3. Marqués de Riscal Winery, Rioja, Spain

Marqués de Riscal Winery, Rioja, Spain2. 8 Spruce Street (Beekman Tower), New York, New York, USA

$60,000 a month penthouse gehry building new york1. Guggenheim Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Bilbao, SpainBONUS: Gehry's (uncompleted) Facebook Campus

Facebook West Campus

SEE ALSO: The Otherworldly Architecture Of Zaha Hadid

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Step Inside The Startup Kitchen Where Two Top Chefs Cook A Gourmet Lunch Every Day

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stack exchange chefs

We've heard a lot about the crazy perks tech startups offer their employees. 

But at Stack Exchange, a Financial District-based startup that hosts a network of question-and-answer sites, chefs Phil Sireci and Shanna Sobel serve up some amazing meals that top them all. 

From company favorite "breakfast for lunch" to gourmet duck l'orange, Sireci and Sobel make sure that no Stacker is ever left hungry or unsatisfied. 

"The good thing about this place is that it's not really lunch. We cook dinner that just happens to be at lunchtime," Sireci said to Business Insider. "I look at this as a special every day."

We took a lunchtime trip to Stack Exchange to meet Sireci and Sobel. We were blown away by what they're doing in this startup's kitchen. 

Welcome to the Stack Exchange kitchen, in New York's Financial District.



Meet Phil Sireci and Shanna Sobel. The Stack Exchange chefs are not usually this intimidating.



Shanna's a huge Dave Matthews Band fan, hence the fire dancer stickers. She played their music in the kitchen so much that now Phil likes them, too.



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These Heartbreaking Photos Show How Slavery Isn't A Thing Of The Past

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Lisa_Kristine_com InfernoStratum, Nepal

Photographer Lisa Kristine has spent her entire career traveling to the most distant corners of the world, 100 countries in total, to capture vulnerable indigenous communities. Yet, until 2009, she was totally ignorant of the thriving modern slavery trade.

She was showing an exhibition at the Vancouver Peace Summit when an abolitionist with Free The Slaves, a global advocacy group, told her that 27 million people were currently enslaved worldwide.

I almost fell over,” Kristine told the San Francisco Chronicle last year. “It blew me away …”

Kristine immediately connected with the advocacy group and embarked on a project to document and help expose the trade. 

“The biggest shock to me was that something I thought was eliminated in the 1850s is running stronger than ever,” Kristine told Business Insider.

Kristine shared some of the photos with us, but you can check out more at her website or at her new exhibition, Enslaved, which will begin touring this year. 

There are currently 27 million people enslaved or in forced labor. That's more than double the number of people trafficked during the entire Transatlantic Slave Trade.



Often, entire communities are enslaved. Free The Slaves works to liberate them.



The abolitionists often work undercover, posing as slaves.



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21 Cars We Can't Wait To See At The Geneva Motor Show

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430

The Geneva Motor Show kicks off on Tuesday, and all the world's major automakers are trekking to Switzerland to show off their latest goods.

While the highlights of the Detroit Auto Show in January were the new Ford F-150 pickup truck and Toyota FT-1 concept, in Geneva it's all about luxury rides, sporty hatchbacks, and over-the-top supercars.

Before things get started, here's a look at the 21 cars we can't wait to see, including the very best from Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, and Sweden's Koenigsegg.

McLaren's 650S Coupe can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat, and to 124 mph in just 8.4 seconds — a full second quicker than the McLaren F1, once the world's fastest production car.



A sign that Ferrari is focusing on efficiency as well as performance, the new California T will be the first prancing horse-stamped car with a turbocharged engine since the 1980s. That gives it 49% more torque and uses about 15% less fuel.

[Source: Motor Authority]



Fit for a reveal in Switzerland, Citroen's oddly-named C1 Swiss & Me is a special edition that features the Swiss flag and "adopts a playful approach to the constraints of city driving."



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22 Photos That Prove The Oscars Were Ridiculously Fun In The '70s

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oscars 70s protest

In a golden decade for American film, the Oscars encompassed the gritty, unadulterated fun of the 1970s.

The red carpet fashion, the political statements, and the backstage romances stole the spotlight away from the actual Best Picture winners.

C-3PO worked the paparazzi like no other protocol droid could; Marlon Brando rejected a best actor award; and porn star Linda Lovelace walked among Hollywood's top starlets.

As we gear up for the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, let's take a moment to reminisce about a time when black tie attire was incomplete without a mustache.

The red carpet fashion was absurdly hip. The late "Charlie's Angels" actress Farrah Fawcett wore a slinky gold dress and her trademark, feathered "Farrah Fawcett hair." She was a presenter at the 50th Academy Awards.

April 3, 1978



Jack Nicholson, nominated for best actor for "The Last Detail" in '74, arrived at the Los Angeles Music Center rocking a pair of aviators. The following year he wore a beret.

April 2, 1974



In terms of Who Wore It Best, C-3PO blew away the Oscar statue. In '78, "Star Wars" swept the technical categories, snagging six out of its 10 nominations and a Special Achievement for sound effects editing.

April 3, 1978



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The Fabulous Life Of Tech Billionaire Marc Benioff (CRM)

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Marc Benioff

Next week, Marc Benioff's company, Salesforce.com, turns 15 years old.

He helped invent a a whole new category of tech called "software-as-a-service," where companies rent their software over the Internet, instead of install it on computers.

The concept almost died at birth. Shortly after Salesforce.com launched, the Internet bubble burst.

Benioff persisted, however, and today every major software company is chasing him.

Along the way, Benioff has become one of the most flamboyant, generous, larger-than-life personalities in the tech industry.

He's a self-made billionaire

He's worth about $2.71 billion, according to Forbes. Most of that wealth comes from the company he founded, Salesforce.com, where he is CEO.

But his initial wealth came from running sales and marketing during Oracle's early days, from 1986-1999. He was making $300,000 a year at Oracle by age 26, according to CNN Money.

 



He owns a 5-acre estate in Hawaii

Benioff famously built a huge compound on the island of Hawaii, the state's largest island. It has six bedrooms, seven full and two half bathrooms, and 9,821 square feet of interior space, according to Honolulu Magazine.

He reportedly bought the land for $12.5 million in 2000 and spent years designing it, even launching his own construction company to build it, reported the Wall Street Journal back in 2006.

He loves Hawaii so much, he used to wear Hawaiian shirts to work. He signs his emails and annual report "aloha," and named his golden retriever "Koa" after a type of Hawaiian tree. Koa has a job title at Salesforce, too: the CLO (chief love officer).



His friends include everyone from Deepak Chopra to Stevie Wonder

Benioff is a new-age guy who loves yoga and meditation. But he also lives the life of a rock star.

He's been known to hang with: MC Hammer, Richard Branson, David Bowie, Uma Thurman, Colin Powell, Billy Graham, the Dalai Lama, and Zen monks in Kyoto.

When he threw a fund-raiser for President Obama at his San Francisco home, his friend Steve Wonder wrote a special song and sang it at the party, USA Today reported at the time.

Benioff was also invited to Deepak Chopra's daughter's wedding.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside The Brutal And Dangerous World Of Cock Fighting [PHOTOS]

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TonyChirinos14_Cocks

Photographer Tony Chirinos’s father used to tell him stories over the dinner table about his youth in Cuba. They usually included cock fighting, a popular entertainment in Cuba and other areas of Latin America. 

When Chirinos found out that the sport was still legal and popular on the small Colombian island of San Andrès, he decided to see for himself.

After his first trip to the island in 2000, Chirinos found himself captivated by the sport, the culture, and the trainers and gamblers who love it. Over the next seven years, Chirinos continued to make periodic trips to expand the project. 

Chirinos shared some of the photos here (check out more recent work at his website).

When Chirinos first arrived, he simply walked into the cock fights with no introduction. This was a dangerous move for an outsider.



Gambling is a huge part of the cock fighting culture. In a country where most people's wages average around $200 a month, Chirinos said he frequently saw people putting down bets of $1,000 or more.



Chirinos said that spectators and trainers use a special slang and hand signals to indicate how the fight is going and if a rooster is near death.



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Tons Of Women Are Using Lulu, An App That Rates Men, And Guys Are Going Nuts

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Alexandra Chong LuLu founder

Lulu is an app that has officially gone mainstream: one in four college students use it according to its founder Alexandra Chong.

On Lulu, women are rating the men they know and giving them scores. There's nothing the men can do to keep from getting rated (although Lulu deletes any pre-loaded profile at a man's request).

How does it work?

Since guys aren't allowed in, we thought we'd bring the app to you.

Lulu is a free app that's available on iOS and Android.



Welcome to Lulu.



If you're a guy, Lulu will know (you have to login with Facebook) and turn you away. It even has ways to catch men who change their sex status on Facebook.



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The 28 Most Expensive Homes In Sports

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Michael Jordan Chicago Home for SaleThe titans of the sports world rake in millions each year from team contracts, prize money, endorsements, and appearance fees.

And they sure do know how to treat themselves.

From Kobe Bryant's Orange County mansion, complete with a hair salon and a shark tank, to the Floridian palace Anna Kournikova shares with beau Enrique Iglesias, these over-the-top homes define luxury.

To estimate the approximate current value of the houses, we looked at recent sales and public assessors' records, and we spoke to expert realtors and appraisers in these homes' markets.

#28 Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s Las Vegas getaway

Boxer

Estimated value: $3.4 million

Mayweather's hideout mansion in the middle of the Las Vegas desert has 24-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers, walls covered in red silk and textured glass, and every luxury imaginable. Its two-story movie theater, touch-screen video games affixed to the kitchen counter, golf course, and wet bar make it the perfect place to rejuvenate between fights.

He listed the "half Bellagio and half Caesar's Palace"-style home for $3.45 million last summer — the highest list price ever placed on it — but withdrew it in February, according to Las Vegas real estate expert Joe Herrera, co-founder of The Joe Taylor Group. With a 600 square-foot walk-in closet and space for his fleet of sports cars, we can't imagine why he'd ever want to leave.

To estimate the approximate current value of the homes, we looked at recent sales and public assessors' records, and we spoke to expert realtors and appraisers in these homes' markets.



#27 Maria Sharapova's Manhattan Beach abode

Tennis player

Estimated value:$4.1 million

Little is known about the place the No. 5 world ranked women's tennis player calls home.

Last year she swapped out her Manhattan Beach mansion with a quaint, $4.1 million oceanview property in the Hill section. She's a pillar of the MB community, having trained there for years and been awarded the key to the city in 2012.

Her other home, a Mediterranean-style home in Longboat Key, Fl. — valued at $1.2 million— offers four bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a boat dock. She reportedly bought it with her winnings just before her 20th birthday. And although she's listed as the property's grantor in the public assessor's records, there are no reports of her selling it.

To estimate the approximate current value of the homes, we looked at recent sales and public assessors' records, and we spoke to expert realtors and appraisers in these homes' markets.



#26 Jorge Posada's Miami home

Retired catcher for the New York Yankees

Estimated value: $5.1 million

The 17-season Major League baseball player moved his family to Coral Gables, Fl., in 2010 so that his children would experience Latin culture all around them. He and his wife Laura decorated the three-story, waterfront beauty themselves, picking up interior design tips over the years from working with professionals.

It has six bedrooms, a movie theater, a display case to house Posada's memorabilia, and a custom bed built to look like Jennifer Anniston's, which they saw in an issue of Architectural Digest.

To estimate the approximate current value of the homes, we looked at recent sales and public assessors' records, and we spoke to expert realtors and appraisers in these homes' markets.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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