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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Serene Villa In Sardinia Is On Sale For $16.6 Million


Take A Look At The $4.2 Billion Transit Center That Will Make Getting Around San Francisco A Breeze

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san francisco transbay transit center

Come 2017, getting around San Francisco will get a lot easier and more pleasant. The city is in the process of building an enormous transportation terminal in the heart of its downtown.

Designed by architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli, the "Transbay Transit Center," which broke ground in 2010, has a $4.2 billion price tag. According to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), it will create 125,000 jobs and generate $140 billion in gross regional product and personal income through 2030.

The first phase of the project, to build the terminal, is fully funded and underway. So far, it is on schedule and on budget, and set for completion in 2017. The second phase will extend the commuter rail line, Caltrain, by about a mile, to connect it with the terminal and bring travelers into the heart of downtown San Francisco.

Once completed, the Transbay Transit Center will serve tens of thousands of people every day, and connect 11 different transit systems, including bus, subway, and commuter rail. Eventually, it will serve as the northern terminus for California's high-speed rail network, which is under construction.

The TJPA and Pelli Clarke Pelli call it the "Grand Central Terminal of the West."



It's in the heart of downtown San Francisco, near the Bay Bridge.



The grand entrance is "in the spirit" of NYC's Grand Central and London's Victoria Station.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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11 Bizarre Fashion And Beauty Trends From Around The World

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mexican pointy boots

If you just don’t get the Oliver Twist-esque street urchin look that defines hipster fashion, or the weird, two-tone hair (it’s called ombre!) that so many celebrities have, you’ll be downright mystified by these trends from around the globe.

Shippo, The Brain-Controlled Tail

All humans have tails. At least we do early on, about 3 to 4 weeks into our embryonic development.

But they evolve no further than that … until now. Japanese company Neurowear has recently unveiled the body-controlled Shippo (translation: tail). This fuzzy little backside duster tells the world if you’re happy or sad, bored or frisky. It does this via an EEG headset and a clip-on heart monitor that are wired to the fluffy appendage.

Shippo also features geotagging and smart phone sharing capability, which allows devotees to find each other and engage in mutual tail wagging.



Bagel-Shaped Forehead Injections

Though it looks like Botox gone wild, it’s saline, not botulinum toxin, that’s being injected into the foreheads of willing subjects.

Part of a Japanese “body modification” art scene, the procedure takes about 2 hours and 400cc of saline, injected via a crochet-sized needle. The resulting forehead-sized blob is then manipulated with the fingers into a bagel-like shape, with an indentation pressed in the middle (the effect brings to mind Worf from Star Trek: TNG) .

Fortunately, these injections aren’t permanent. They’re gone in about 16 hours, after the body absorbs the saline.



Yaeba Teeth

Maybe we’ve taken the ideal of perfectly straight, white teeth as far as it can go. That seems to be the message behind the trend of Yaeba, which means “double tooth” in Japanese.

Many women are choosing dental crowns that elongate their canine teeth and give the effect of dental overcrowding (not to mention a vaguely vampire-ish vibe). Why? Because in Japanese culture, young women with these kind of crooked teeth are considered cute and innocent. One does have to wonder if it makes flossing more difficult.



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The Weird Similarities Between Humans And Animals

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cuddling hugging monkeys

We humans like to think of ourselves as a special bunch, but it turns out we have plenty in common with other animals.

Math? A monkey can do it.

Tool use? Hey, even birds have mastered that. Culture?

Sorry, folks — chimps have it, too.

Here's a list of some of the top parallels between humans and our animal kin.

You may be surprised at how similar we are to even our distant relations.

Ears Like a Katydid

Humans have complex ears to translate sound waves into mechanical vibrations our brains can process. So, as it turns out, do katydids.

According to research published Nov. 16, 2012 in the journal Science, katydid ears are arranged very similarly to human ears, with eardrums, lever systems to amplify vibrations, and a fluid-filled vesicle where sensory cells wait to convey information to the nervous system.

Katydid ears are a bit simpler than ours, but they can also hear far above the human range.



Worlds Like an Elephant

Humans do reign supreme in the arena of language (as far as we know), but even elephants can figure out how to make the same sounds we do.

According to researchers, an Asian elephant living in a South Korean zoo has learned to use its trunk and throat to mimic human words.

The elephant can say "hello,""good,""no,""sit down" and "lie down," all in Korean, of course.

The elephant doesn't appear to know what these words mean.

Scientists think he may have picked up the sounds because he was the only elephant at the zoo from when he was 5 to when he turned 12, leaving him to bond with humans instead.



The Facial Expressions of a Mouse

Do you make weird faces when you're in pain? So do mice.

In 2010, researchers at McGill University and the University of British Columbia in Canada found that mice subjected to moderate pain "grimace," just like humans.

The researchers said the results could be used to eliminate unnecessary suffering for lab animals by letting researchers know when something hurts the rodents.



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How Alessandra Ambrosio Went From Small Town Brazil To One Of The Wealthiest Models In The World

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Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Ambrosio was born in the small Brazilian town Erechim, to gas station-owning parents.

At the age of 11, Ambrosio fixed her biggest insecurity and had her ears pinned back.

After that, it wasn't long before the Brazlian beauty landed a modeling contract with one of the largest agencies in the world.

One of the first Victoria's Secret models, Ambrosio is still strutting her stuff at age 31 during the retailer's annual holiday show, with her two young children cheering her on from the front row.

Earlier this month, the model donned a $2.5 million bra to strut her stuff down the famed runway.

After being a Victoria's Secret spokeswoman for the past ten years and appearing on over 70 international magazine covers, Ambrosio has earned a spot as the sixth wealthiest model in the world.

April 11, 1981: Alessandra Corine Ambrosio was born in Erechim, Brazil. Her parents, who are of Italian and Polish Brazilian descent, owned a gas station.




1992: Alessandra, who was always insecure about her large ears, had cosmetic surgery at agee 11 to get her ars pinned back.



1993: At age 12, she enrolled in modeling class and by age 14, she was one of 20 finalists for an Elite modeling competition in Brazil.



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See What Mother Nature Looks Like At Her Coolest

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Fire Tornado

Nature works in mysterious ways. 

It can be can be dangerous,beautiful, and sometimes really weird

From electric blue ocean waves to spiraling columns of fire, here are some of the planet's most amazing — and terrifying — products of Earth.  

Fire Devils

These menacing spirals of flame, also known as fire tornadoes, happen when intense heat brought on by drought combines with rotating air.

Though typically only lasting a few minutes, the whirls of fire can grow to be more than 150 feet tall, spewing embers and debris into the air and aiding the spread of wildfires. 



Maelstroms

A maelstrom, or massive whirlpool, is a giant, rotating body of water that forms when conflicting tidal flows meet.

Although a malestrom's swirling vortex can be powerful enough to pull down a swimmer, stories of tidal whirlpools sinking container ships and fishing trawlers are completely false. A malestrom has never been reported strong enough for this to occur.  

The strongest malestrom in the world is the Saltstraumen located outside Bodø, Norway near the Arctic Circle. 



Bioluminescent Red Tide

The unusual phenomena that causes ocean waters in Southern California to glow neon blue at night is created by single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates.

The organism forms algae blooms, or red tides, that emit electric blue light when disrupted. All it takes is the breaking of wave or a surfer paddling for the chemical reaction to happen. 

Although many forms of red tide are toxic, this particular form is harmless to humans. 



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Take A Tour Of The Office Warren Buffet's Been Working In For 50 Years

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Warren Buffett

This week, investment firms filed their 13F forms and disclosed their long positions in stocks.

And as usual, one of the most anticipated 13F belonged to the Oracle of Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett.

Since everyone has been focusing on what Warren's been doing, we though we'd add something to the conversation and show you where he was doing it.

So what follows is a guided tour of the office Buffett's been in for 50 years.

You can just feel the magic.

Buffett's famed holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, has been based in this Omaha building for 50 years.



Nebraska, so there's got to be football memorabilia.



A University of Nebraska at Lincoln football helmet signed by former coach Tom Osborne. Plus, a mini Buffett.



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Where 16 Of The Strangest Company Names Came From

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mark pincus zynga

Google. Yahoo. Yandex. Some of today's biggest companies are named the strangest things.

Sometimes, it's not the company's fault. There's a running joke that vowels are too expensive in Silicon Valley and founders can't afford normal-sounding domain names.

Others strive to come up with something a little different. "I wanted a nonsense word because I wanted to build the brand from scratch," one founder said.

One Kings Lane is a made-up address

One Kings Lane is a big home decor shopping site run by Doug Mack, Susan Feldman and Ali Pincus.

The name is a made up address. "It's meant to reflect a blend of Old and New World sensibilities," Fortune writes.



Etsy means "And if" in Latin and "Oh, yes!" in Italian

Robert Kalin sought a meaningless word that he could turn into a brand.

He listened to foreign movies, wrote down what he heard, and turned it into the company's name.

Kalin explains to Reader's Digest, "I was watching Fellini's 8 ½ and writing down what I was hearing. In Italian, you say 'etsi' a lot. It means 'oh, yes.' And in Latin, it means 'and if.'"



Yandex has a double meaning, "Yet Another iNDEXer,' and the Russian word "Я" (Ya") Sounds like "I" In English (Ya-ndex).

The Russian search engine's name is both an acronym and a pun.

According to Wikipedia, ""The name initially stood for "Yet Another iNDEXer." The Russian word "Я" ("Ya") corresponds to English personal pronoun "I", making "Яndex" a bilingual pun on "index"; another pun is based on yin and yang contrast."



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In Russia, Advertising Is Often Very Sexist — And Very Weird

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sexist russian

Russia has come a long way since the the Iron Curtain fell in 1991, and capitalism — or an oligarchic version thereof — blossomed.

But Russian attitudes toward women often remain antediluvian. As recently as twenty years ago, for instance, it was rare to see a woman driving a car, according to Radio Free Europe. Under communism, the image of the Russian woman in a propaganda poster was a dowdy worker in denim and a headscarf.

Not so today. In modern Russian advertising, women have taken on a new role: sex object.

Ads being made in modern Russia look like the kind of thing we used to see in the U.S. in the early 1970s — "sexy," but in the most sexist way possible. None of the ads in this gallery would fly in the U.S. this century.

This was one of very few safe-for-work months in the 2011 promotional calendar for Aeroflot, the Russian airline.



This is a brand of Russian candy flavored-cigarettes targeting teenage girls.



This is anti-alcohol public health campaign from M&C Saatchi in Moscow. (The copy is in English because ad agencies post translations of their work on AdsoftheWorld.com for international clients to see.)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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PHOTOS: Giant Basketball Players Making Normal People Look Like Ants

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shaquille oneal

We all remember this picture of Shaq with his wife Hoopz. He looks huge.

But Shaq isn't even the tallest basketball player out there.

On the court, NBA players don't look that big, but put them with the regular people and they look like giants.

Manute Bol was 7'7"



Gheorghe Muresan is 7'7"



Yao Ming is 7'6"



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7 Technologies That Changed The Way We Think About Sex

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sexy blonde, model, blonde, gen y

Technology has a runaway-train inevitability. It keeps crashing into our lives, and there's just no stopping it.

Even at the bedroom door.

Here are seven technologies from past to present that are changing the way we think about sex.

VHS tapes, for filmed sexiness

Ever wonder why VHS beat Betamax, even though the picture wasn't as good? The consensus seems to be that Sony wouldn't allow porn on Beta tapes. There was no issue with this in the VHS world, and it's what stuck around. The ready availability of porn at home presaged the Internet smut explosion.



Email for sexy messages

Long before the immediacy and mobility of text messages, lovers turned to email for a far faster thrill. And it's still a primary way to swap naughty thoughts.



Instant messaging for sexy chats

IM, with its real-time nature and indicator of when people were online, took text-based cybersex to the next level.



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The 10 Most Diverse Zip Codes In America

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diversityCan a neighborhood's racial diversity actually mean a healthier housing market?

When Trulia real estate expert Jed Kolko examined the most diverse zip codes in the U.S., he found they not only saw faster population growth in the last year but also saw housing values rise more than others. 

It's becoming more clear that "Americans are moving toward diverse neighborhoods," Kolko writes in "Finding Diversity in America."

There's just one big caveat to consider.

"Growth in those neighborhoods could affect their diversity," he adds. "If prices in diverse neighborhoods rise, lower-income residents may get priced out over time."

Using 2010 Census data and Trulia's results, we've highlighted the top places.

95834: South Natomas, Sacramento

In Trulia's study, California metros nab four spots in the top 10 most diverse large metro areas. That includes Sacramento, home to the South Natomas neighborhood.

The area has seen substantial residential growth since the 1990s.

Racial makeup: 

Hispanic: 27.4%
White: 29.2%
Asian: 20.4%
Black: 15.8%
Multi-racial: 5.2%



96707: Kapolei, Honolulu

Two neighborhoods in tropical Hawaii make the list, including sunny Kapolei. Its population size more than doubled from 1990 to 2010, while residential listings tripled, according to Kapolei.com.

Racial makeup: 

Asian: 29.2%
Multi-racial: 25.7%
White: 19.7%
Hispanic: 12.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 10.5% 



02125: Dorchester, Boston

Despite Dorchester's location within big city Boston, it's not exactly one of the better-known, or even more populous neighborhoods.

Still, it is largely more diverse than the city as a whole, which is 69% white. Black and White residents are pretty much evenly split in Dorchester, followed closely by Hispanics. 

Racial makeup: 

White: 29.1%
Black: 27.5%
Hispanic: 19%
Asian: 11.2%
Multi-racial: 4.7% 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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10 Items No One Should Buy On Black Friday

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With all the Black Friday ad leaks and sneak peeks we've unearthed in the past few weeks, this season's shopping extravaganza is looking ripe with deals and discounts for all.

But even though many product categories will see new all-time low prices, not everything will be a good purchase on Black Friday.

In some cases, you would be better off skipping certain deals and waiting for a better offer later on in the coming year.

Game consoles without a bundled item

Speaking of toys, if you're looking to buy any of the major video game consoles this holiday, you're likely to get more bang for your buck by opting for one that comes with a few extras.

While we've already seen a few choice Xbox deals in the leaked Black Friday ads, in years past, the vast majority of Editors' Choice console deals went to holiday bundles that included premium accessories and two or three game titles.

These were frequently discounted 30% to 40% off their retail prices.



Brand name HDTVs

Black Friday is an excellent time to invest in a new HDTV, as we predict a variety of size categories will hit their lowest price points.

But don't expect the best deals to be tagged with name brands. Typically, the rock-bottom prices will mostly apply to third-tier manufacturers.

Instead, brand name TVs tend to see their best price of the year in January and February as manufacturers look to clear stock in preparation for new models in the spring.



The latest digital cameras

There's no shortage of digital camera deals around Black Friday, but keep in mind that the premium current-generation models are just a few months away from being replaced by a new line of 2013 options.

If you're eyeing a brand new digital SLR, we recommend waiting until February or later when it becomes an "old model," resulting in more aggressive discounts from retailers.



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10 Celebrities Who Spend Less Than You'd Expect On Vacation

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Jessica Alba

Justin and Jessica in Italy! Gwyneth in Spain! The Kardashians in Bora Bora!

It seems impossible to open up a magazine or pull up an entertainment website without being bombarded with pictures of celebrities enjoying luxurious vacations.

It’s enough to give you a major case of travel envy.

Here at Hopper we wanted to dig deeper into celebrity vacation statistics to find out just how big a dent these mega-trips make in celebrities bank accounts.

According to a recent American Express survey, American households planned to spend about $1,200 per person on summer vacations this year.

That translates to an estimated five to seven percent of income dedicated to vacationing.

How do A-list celebrities’ compare to the average American family when it comes to their trips?

The Kardashians

Where: Dominican Republic
Hotel: Casa De Campo
How Much: $22,575 (estimated)
Income: $65 million
% of Annual Income: 0.03%

The Kardashians know how to vacation, descending en masse on luxury resorts from Bora Bora to Mexico. This year they hoofed it to the Dominican Republic, enjoying a few days at Casa De Campo, a 7,000 acre resort with stunning tropical vistas and interior design by none other than Oscar De La Renta. Villas here don’t come cheap, but a standard room can start at around $250 dollars a night.



Jessica Alba

Where: Amalfi, Italy
Hotel: Hotel Santa Caterina
How Much: $57,770 (estimated)
Income in 2011: $9 million
% of Annual Income: 0.64%

Jessica Alba and her family enjoyed the Mediterranean beauty and architecture of Amalfi, Italy this summer. The picturesque Italian town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its distinctive medieval architecture with strong  Byzantine influences. Alba, Honor and Haven luxuriated in style at the Hotel Santa Catarina, a 19th century seaside palazzo turned into a 5 star hotel.



Britney Spears

Where: Maui, Hawaii
Hotel: Grand Wailea
How Much: $28, 750 (estimated)
Income: $10 million
% of Annual Income: 0.29%

Britney Spears, her two sons and fiance jetted to Maui, Hawaii for the 4th of July. There they relaxed poolside at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria resort on 40 acres of beachfront property. The grounds here are impeccable (and kid friendly!) with activity pools boasting water slides, rapids, and the world’s first water elevator.



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15 Hotels For The Trip Of A Lifetime

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Jade Mountain, luxury hotel, couple in pool

A phenomenal hotel can turn a vacation into an extraordinary experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Fodor's recently revealed its 2012 Hotel Awards, which looked at the best hotels for the Trip of a Lifetime. They also issued awards for hotels in several other categories, like New & Noteworthy, Global Icons, and Trendsetters.

From Siem Reap to the Maldives, most of these locations are remote and exotic, but some are closer to home, in the Caribbean or Alaska. Besides the requisite luxury amenities and facilities, these hotels offer unique experiences that take advantage of their natural surroundings, from elephant trekking in northern Thailand to swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives.

Amanruya

Location: Bodrum, Turkey

Rates: Doubles from $1,000 per night

Amanruya resort exudes Turkish culture and architecture, with its stone cottages equipped with traditional fireplaces, its Mediterranean-inspired gardens, and its incredible Turkish meals.

Though guests can tour the nearby ancient ruins, many choose to relax in their rooms—each cottage has its own pool—and enjoy the views of the Aegean sea.



Amansara

Location:Siem Reap, Cambodia

Rates: Doubles from $950 per night

Owned by luxe hotel chain Aman Resorts, Amansara is a modern and sleek resort that was once the guesthouse of a Cambodian king.

After exploring the famed Angkor temples nearby, guests can return to the hotel by private tuk tuk and cool off in the hotel's pool.



Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Location:The Maldives

Rates: Doubles from $1,150 per night

One of the best things about this Four Seasons resort are its above-water Asian-style private villas—and the fact that the hotel is on its own private island.

Guests can snorkel with whale sharks and dolphins or just relax on the beach. This remote spot is a favorite with honeymooners.



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The 15 Most Fascinating Accidental Inventions

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splenda equal sweet n low artificial sugar

Most inventors strive for weeks, months, or years to perfect their products. (Thomas Edison tried thousands of different light bulb filaments before arriving at the ideal mixture of tungsten.)

But sometimes, brilliance strikes by accident.

Here's a salute to the scientists, chefs, and everyday folk who stumbled upon greatness—and, more important, shared their mistakes with the world.

Let's roll through the 15 best accidental inventions.

15. The Potato Chip

The first potato chips were meant as an insult.

Hotel chef George Crum enjoyed a wonderful knack for cooking. From his kitchen at Moon's Lake House near Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Mr. Crum could "take anything edible and transform it into a dish fit for a king." That skill came in handy—the upscale Lake House attracted customers who were used to being treated like kings.

In 1853, a cranky guest complained about Crum's fried potatoes. They were too thick, he said. Too soggy and bland. The patron demanded a new batch.

Crum did not take this well. He decided to play a trick on the diner. The chef sliced a potato paper-thin, fried it until a fork could shatter the thing, and then purposefully over-salted his new creation. The persnickety guest will hate this, he thought. But the plan backfired. The guy loved it! He ordered a second serving.

Word of this new snack spread quickly. "Saratoga Chips" became a hit across New England, and Crum went on to open his own restaurant. Today, that accidental invention has ballooned into a massive snack industry.



14. X-Rays

In the late 1800s, the world became a seemingly magical place. Scientists discovered radiation, radio waves, and other invisible forces of nature. For a while there, many serious researchers joined seances and believed in ghosts. Science had discovered so many mysterious phenomena – things that the eye could not see but were definitely there – that many people wondered, what else might be out there?

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered one of these invisible powers by accident. 

Röntgen experimented with cathode-ray tubes, basically glass tubes with the air sucked out and a special gas pumped in. They work kinda like modern-day fluorescent light bulbs. When Röntgen ran electricity through the gas, the tube would glow. But something strange happened after he surrounded the tube with black cardboard. When he turned on the machine, a chemical a few feet away started to glow. The cardboard should have prevented any light from escaping, so what caused this distant glow? 

Little did he know that the cathode-ray tube had been sending out more than just light. It shot out invisible rays that could pass right through paper, wood, and even skin. The lab chemical that lit up – the one that tipped off Röntgen – reacted to these rays. He called the phenomenon X-rays. The X stood for "unknown."  

Röntgen went on to capture the first X-ray images, including a shot of his wife's hand (pictured, above). Upon seeing this skeletal image, she exclaimed, "I have seen my own death!"



13. Saccharin

Saccharin came as a sweet surprise—and a scary one.

Before Sweet’N Low and diet sodas, there was a plucky researcher studying something completely different: coal tar. 

In the 1870s, Russian chemist Constantin Fahlberg worked in the lab of Ira Remsen at Johns Hopkins University. Remsen's team experimented with coal-tar derivates, seeing how they react to phosphorus, chloride, ammonia, and other chemicals. (Not exactly the most appetizing profession.)

One night, Fahlberg returned home and started to chow down on dinner rolls. Something was off. The rolls tasted curiously sweet. The recipe hadn't changed, so what was going on here? He soon realized that it wasn't the rolls. It was him. His hands were covered with a mystery chemical that made everything sweet.

"Fahlberg had literally brought his work home with him, having spilled an experimental compound over his hands earlier that day,"writes the Chemical Heritage Foundation in its history of saccharin. "He ran back to Remsen’s laboratory, where he tasted everything on his worktable—all the vials, beakers, and dishes he used for his experiments. Finally he found the source: an overboiled beaker."

Fahlberg had actually created saccharin before, but since he never bothered to taste-test his concoctions, the chemist had no idea. In fact, a modern chemist probably would have never discovered saccharin. Nowadays, people thoroughly wash their hands before leaving the lab. If Fahlberg had followed the normal rules of cleanliness, the world would be without this zero-calorie artificial sweetener.



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This Classic Richard Koo Presentation Will Help You Understand The Real Reason The Fiscal Cliff Is Such A Huge Deal

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richard koo

The buzz in the media is non-stop: Fiscal Cliff, fiscal cliff, fiscal cliff.

Unfortunately, a lot of people have no idea what it means, or why it's significant. A lot of people think it has something to do with our huge deficit or national debt. In fact it's just the opposite: The goal right now is avoiding deficit reduction, by preventing spending cuts and tax hikes that could be economically crippling.

To understand the significance of this event, a Richard Koo presentation from this spring given at the Institute For New Economic Thinking in Berlin is a great jumping off point to get a framework for thinking about this economy.

Koo, an economist at Nomura, is an expert on the great lost decades of Japan, and he's broken new ground in understanding the unique nature of balance sheet recessions. A balance sheet recession is one that's characterized by the private sector aggressively paying down debt. Monetary policy has very little effect in this type of a recession, and instead what's required is aggressive fiscal stimulus, so that government debt counteracts the private sector debt reduction. In Japan's downturn, it's been the periods of premature fiscal tightening that have resulted in the most lost ground.

This presentation took a look at the state of the global economy, what's been tried to jump start things, what's worked, and what hasn't. A few of the economic datapoints are a tad old now, but the themes are very relevant.

Let's get started ...



US housing has mostly looked Japanese (although lately it's looked better)



Commercial real estate tells a similar story.



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36 Incredible Hours On The Aircraft Carrier USS Eisenhower [PHOTOS]

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USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) ("Ike")

The U.S. currently has 11 aircraft carriers that hold about 5,600 sailors and aviators apiece. While not all of them are deployed at the same time, the ones at home are training, undergoing maintenance, and still filling their crews' days with inordinate demands.

Aircraft carriers have three acres of flattop and are 1,000 feet long. It's common to hear them referred to as floating cities, but they're more than that.

Click here to see life on the Ike >

The carriers projecting America's military power abroad are more exposed than most any other U.S. command in the world. Aside from working and sailing into dicey locations, these big ships are dangerous and the flight deck alone requires just one wrong move to bring an end to the distracted.

There's no room to be anything less than focused, almost all the time and the jobs on board are just as varied as the people who fill them.

From pilots, to navigators, to recruits that wash the deck, everyone works together and supports the overall mission. No bitterness or condescension that I saw, and that would be a tough environment to hide it.

Sixty-one thousand men and women, doing things most people have no idea, in places most others can't imagine. It's like someone took the entire Ohio University student body, and a chunk of the faculty, and sent them off to parts unknown. 61,000 people is a lot, and that's just serving on carriers.

When we went to the Persian Gulf in September we spent about 36 hours on the USS EISENHOWER — or the "Ike" as her crew calls her. There's no way to show everything that goes on, but the following pictures should offer a feeling for what the mad paced, ear crushing scene is really like.

Among the handful of ways to reach an underway carrier, this rickety old COD is far and away the least glamorous



To board we put on cranial units and inflatable life vests —we felt prepared for anything — and it never did feel like something might NOT happen



A flatbed truck of a plane that's hot, loud, and cramped we wedge ourselves into riveted metal-backed seats and strap in beneath 4-point harnesses



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10 Charming Stories About Steve Jobs Being A Regular Guy (AAPL)

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Laurene Powell Jobs Steve Jobs

Most of us remember Steve Jobs as the man in the mock turtleneck on a magazine cover or as an impresario on stage promising "one more thing."

In our memory, he has an epic stature.

And that's why stories of Steve Jobs being a normal guy, someone you might bump into or trade an email or two with are so charming and fun to read.

We've collected 10 of them here, picked from a thread on question and answer site Quora.

"I guess you're Steve Jobs. I'm Ryan, I work at Facebook."

Read Quote of Ryan McGeehan's answer to Steve Jobs: What are the best stories about people randomly meeting Steve Jobs? on Quora



"You are talking with Steve’s absolutely lovely and down to earth wife. Steve is in the car, with his kid, trying to crank it."

Read Quote of Tim Smith's answer to Steve Jobs: What are the best stories about people randomly meeting Steve Jobs? on Quora



"You may be right. But if I succeed, remember to look in the mirror and call yourself an asshole for me."

Read Quote of Michell Smith's answer to Steve Jobs: What are the best stories about people randomly meeting Steve Jobs? on Quora



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Meet The 25 Most Influential PR People Behind The Scenes Of Corporate America

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The most powerful PR professionals are the ones you never hear about -- they're working behind the scenes, advising CEOs and presidents. Often they would prefer to stay out of the limelight.

Many factors went into our ranking of the nation's top spinmasters: from size of their PR company's global revenue to the creativity of the campaign they produce.

We also looked at clients and overall influence among peers and on the media.

Lastly, for each exec we've included fun facts from first jobs to early brushes with fame.

No. 25: Meredith O'Sullivan, head of west coast talent department at 42 West

O'Sullivan was deemed BI's second most important publicist in Hollywood this year.

Representing A-list talent including Reese Witherspoon, Will Smith, Rachel McAdams, and Halle Berry, it's easy to see why. O'Sullivan oversees all of 42 West's West Coast staff.

Fun fact: Client Jessica Biel made headlines when she attended O'Sullivan's wedding.



No. 24: Brandee Barker, Freelance

Barker was named one of BI's most effective PR people in tech, and it's for good reason.

The now freelancer worked as the director of global communications at Facebook for more than four years, and she has now taken her knowledge to her clients as a private consultant. 

With over 15 years of experience, she led communications for startups that have blown up, including Square, Spotify, AirBnB, and Quora.



No. 23: Eric Dezenhall of Dezenhall Resources

Dezenhall is a crisis management specialist -- the man corporate America hires after everything has gone completely wrong. His client list includes: ExxonMobil, former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, Michael Jackson, and Eli Lilly. He is known for his belief that traditional crisis relations -- in which companies admit wrongdoing and try to "get ahead" of the problem -- is wrong.

Rather, he believes, companies should fight fire with fire.

Fun fact: He almost always declines to reveal who his clients are.



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