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These 11 Gut-Wrenching Photos Show America's Devastating Legacy In Vietnam

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During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides across 5.5 million acres of Vietnamese jungle and countryside, an area roughly the size of New Jersey, according to The New York Times. U.S. soldiers sprayed these herbicides to flush out Vietcong soldiers, who used the foliage for cover.

The main herbicide, nicknamed Agent Orange, consisted of two herbicides, one of which had been tainted with a toxic strain of dioxin, according to The Times. Dioxins are a group of chemical compounds that have similar structures; the World Health Organization has called these compounds "highly toxic." The EPA characterizes dioxins as likely human carcinogens, and it notes they've been linked to birth defects and a serious skin condition called chlorachne.

Nearly 40 years after the Vietnam War, a particularly harmful strain of dioxin still saturates Vietnamese lands, wildlife, and groundwater — ensuring Vietnamese villagers will feel its effects for generations more. The Vietnam Red Cross estimates that Agent Orange caused at least 150,000 birth defects since the end of the Vietnam War.

Getty photographer Paula Bronstein traveled to Vietnam in 2011 to document the third generation of Vietnamese to suffer the effects of Agent Orange. The impoverished villagers continue to have health problems, and orphanages often care for children disabled by Agent Orange. 

In recent years, the U.S. has made efforts to clean up dioxin sites and has provided $46 million in general aid for disabled Vietnamese. Still, some lawmakers have argued the U.S. hasn't done enough to accept culpability for the harmful effects of Agent Orange. 

Bronstein traveled to villages in the north of Vietnam near Cam Lộ, Ba Vì, and Da Nang. vietnammapThe U.S. sprayed Agent Orange mostly in the south but also spread the herbicide in many areas in the north. This is a U.S. Army map of spray missions conducted during the war. herbicide 

During the war, the U.S. said Agent Orange was harmless, according to the Chicago Tribune. While the U.S. now offers benefits to veterans who suffer certain Agent Orange-related illnesses, it still refuses to acknowledge Agent Orange caused health problems in Vietnam, according to the Aspen Institute. The Vietnam Red Cross estimates Agent Orange affected as many as 3 million Vietnamese.ao11Children in areas where Agent Orange was used have been affected with hydrocephalus (brain swelling), cleft palates, mental disabilities, hernias, extra fingers and toes, spina bifida, and various genetic diseases. Still, it's tough to prove Agent Orange caused these problems due to some studies finding inconsistent results, according to a 2006 study by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.Dioxin exposure is linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, type-2 diabetes, and several types of cancer, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.ao10The 2006 Garvan study, which conducted a review of 22 Agent Orange studies, concluded parental exposure to Agent Orange unequivocally increased the risk of birth defects.ao9In order to receive aid from the Vietnamese government, affected Vietnamese must prove Agent Orange caused their ailments or birth defects, according to Bronstein. Since it's tough for poor villagers to pay for tests to provide this proof, she says they often don't get the aid to help them pay for their children's medical care.

ao7Since many Vietnamese can barely eek out a living as farmers, some leave their children at orphanages run by charities and aid organizations. AO6The problem is so bad that many orphanages are overcrowded, with new children arriving every day. At 17, the disabled children move to an adult-care home. It's unlikely they will ever live independently.ao4Those who don't give up their children must care for them through their adult years. It's a stressful proposition. Few completely understand why they have the issues that they do, says Bronstein. They only know it's the U.S. government's fault. ao8Da Nang is one of the areas most affected by Agent Orange. The U.S. military used the airport there as a major military base and storage site for Agent Orange. In 2011, the U.S. began an operation to decontaminate the soil in dioxin "hot spots." Da Nang was the first site of the operation. AO1The program, costing $43 million and to be completed in four years, will render the dioxins in the soil harmless, according to The New York Times. It does nothing to help those already affected by Agent Orange.danang

SEE ALSO: These Photos Show The Harsh Reality Of War In Iraq And Afghanistan

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11 Weird Investments That Are Making a Killing Right Now

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Pigs

Wall Street is always coming up with new complex instruments to trade and invest in.

But some surprisingly simple investments are still capable of making a killing. They just aren't the traditional investments.

In a report released Tuesday by Bloomberg Markets Magazine,Devin Banerjee outlines some of the strange but highest-performing investments in the past couple of years. Ranging from fine wine to lean hogs, these commodities have gained exceptional returns. One such investment even went up 465% in only a year.

Check out some of the weirdest investments that are making a fortune in the market.

Chateau Pavie Wine

Although wine has seen dismal returns over the past three years, at an annualized return of -9.6%, one vintage wine is doing exceptionally well.

Chateau Pavie, from the Bordeaux region of France, has seen high returns, especially on its 2004, 2001, 1999, and 1998 bottles. A 2004 Chateau Pavie bottle had a one-year return of 14.3% and a three-year annualized return of 24.1%.

Another high performer from Bordeaux was the 1982 Chateau Latour, with an annualized return of 10.1%.

Source: Bloomberg Markets Magazine



A Grand Prix Race Car

Classic cars were a huge earner for investors, with a three-year annualized return of 21.0% and a one-year return of 40.7%.

The 1954 Mercedes Benz W196 Grand Prix race car fetched a record $29.5 million at a British auction to an unidentified private buyer. The car was used by Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

Source: Bloomberg Markets Magazine



Vintage Ferraris

In the same category of classic cars, Ferraris from the 1950s and '60s saw high returns.

A 1967 Ferrari GTB NART Spyder went for $27.5 million, and several more went for prices between $10 million and $20 million.

Source: Bloomberg Markets Magazine



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20 Surprisingly Beautiful Tiny Homes Around The World

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MILLERTINYHOUSE 048 EDIT


Small spaces are the next big thing in real estate.

Thanks to problems like rising housing costs, overpopulation, and environmental damage, it seems the solution is to think smaller. Much smaller.

Here are 20 of the smallest homes we could find around the world. They're on roofs, on wheels, and in backyards; they have bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.

But just because they're small doesn't mean that they can't be livable—or beautiful, for that matter. Architects and designers have taken to the tiny home movement, creating beautiful designs that make the tiny spaces as efficient and livable as possible.

A Brooklyn couple bought smaller furniture to make their 350 square-foot apartment feel more spacious.

Size:350 sq. ft.

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Homeowners Tiffany and Allan use small furniture instead of full-size pieces to make the most of their 350 square-foot studio in Brooklyn. The space was formerly the parlor of a ship captain's home from the 1800s, and still features the original crown molding and large, light-bearing windows.

Their home was the U.S. overall winner of Apartment Therapy's 2014 Small Cool contest.



This 330 square-foot apartment in Hong Kong transforms into 24 different room combinations.

Size: 330 sq. ft.

Location: Hong Kong

Gary Chang, an architect in Hong Kong, turned his family's tiny 330 square-foot tenement apartment into a sleek and efficient living space with 24 different room combinations, including bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and even a guest bedroom area.

So, how does he do it? Chang installed a number of sliding panels which he can move around the space to reveal hidden areas and storage. It's a system he calls the "Domestic Transformer."



This 258 square-foot home in Barcelona was once an old pigeon loft.

Size: 258 sq. ft.

Location: Barcelona, Spain

When photographer Christian Schallert moved to Barcelona in 2003, he went searching for the perfect, affordable home. He found it in an old pigeon loft on top of a building, about 100 steps up.

When Schallert arrived, the 258 square-foot space was dirty and had not been maintained, but he designed and remodeled it into a warm, open, "Lego-style" apartment. The walls slide to reveal different room set ups. Moving panels hide his kitchen, closet, bathroom, dining room and living room, and the bed is stored under the terrace balcony that overlooks the city of Barcelona.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How Erin Andrews Became The Most Famous Broadcaster In Sports

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erin andrews smilingThis feature is a part of our Most Influential People Behind The Scenes In Sports series.

Erin Andrews has managed to do what only a handful of broadcasters have ever done — leave ESPN and became more popular than ever.

She's one of the faces of Fox Sports 1. She's on air during the biggest sporting events of the year. And she continues to expand her list of broadcasting duties beyond sideline reporting.

Everyone, ESPN especially, is trying to find the next Erin Andrews.

When you look back at her career arc, though, you see she had to put it a lot of hard work before she exploded in popularity.

Andrews majored in communications at the University of Florida and was a member of the Dazzlers dance team.

Source: ESPN



She started at the bottom of the journalism totem pole after graduating in 2000.

Source: ESPN



The Sunshine Network hired her to report on the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2001. After a stint covering Atlanta sports for Turner, she was hired by ESPN as an NHL reporter in 2004.

Source: ESPN



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Inside The Office Where San Francisco Startup Hampton Creek Is Making Eggs Obsolete

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Hampton Creek Office 19

The office of Hampton Creek, a startup that's working on making eggs obsolete, is unlike any other we've visited. 

When we stepped into it, the place was buzzing. Music playing in the background. Employees were crowded around a communal table up front, and in the distance it looks like a science lab. 

It's a small space — just 2,500 square feet. The company is planning a move to bigger, 90,000 square foot space in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. In its current office, there was a good mix of music being pumped out of speakers, giving the place a lively feel.

Hampton Creek is a food startup that's trying to make low-cost, tasty alternatives to egg-based products. Right now it has Mayo, and cookie dough. Its big project in development is a scrambled eggs alternative.

Here's a look at the space when you step in the front door. The head you see in the front of this picture is Hampton Creek co-founder Josh Balk.



This is Jake Tetrick, the "son" of Hampton Creek's CEO. His title is "Director of Happiness." (Nepotism at play here, clearly.)



At the front of the lower level of the office is this big table where everyone was working.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's Everything We Know About The iPhone 6 (AAPL)

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iphone 6 concept

The next iPhone is most likely only a few weeks away, now that reports say Apple will hold its iPhone 6 event on Sept. 9. Still, rumors about the new device are spreading like crazy.

We've combed the web for leaked photos, rumors, and gossip and rounded them all up here in one place.

The iPhone 6 will be unveiled on Sept. 9

Apple will hold its press event to introduce the iPhone 6 on Sept. 9, according to Re/code, which has a strong track record when it comes to reporting accurate Apple news. 



The iPhone 6 will probably have a larger screen.

The most prominent rumor surrounding the iPhone 6 is that Apple will bump the screen size up to 4.7 inches. It all started exactly one year ago when Reuters reported that Apple was testing 4.7-inch smartphone displays. Since then, other reports have been consistent. 

There have also been reports Apple will release a 5.5-inch model of the phone.



The display may be made of scratch-resistant sapphire.

Your next iPhone may be less prone to damage. Earlier this year, Gurman also reported that Apple had purchased enough equipment to make hundreds of millions of sapphire glass screens for iPhones. Next to diamonds, sapphire is the second-strongest glassy material. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Fabulous Life Of Twitter Cofounder Jack Dorsey

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Jack Dorsey Twitter Square Portrait Illustration

You know that platform called Twitter? Well Jack Dorsey is the man behind the world's first tweet.

He cofounded Twitter with Biz Stone and Evan Williams back in 2006, but Dorsey has since moved on to work on a new venture, payments startup Square.

Dorsey first became a billionaire in 2012, and he is currently worth $1.9 billion. While he may not be the most lavish techie out there, Dorsey definitely manages to enjoy his wealth.

Jack Dorsey was born in St. Louis on Nov. 19, 1976.

Source: Bio.



As a kid, Dorsey had a speech impediment and spent most of his time at home on the computer and listening to his parents' police scanner. His fascination with policemen's short bursts of talking later served as inspiration for the creation of Twitter.

Source: CNET



Dorsey began programming while attending Bishop DuBourg High School. At age 15, Dorsey wrote dispatch software that is still used by some taxi companies.

Source: Bio.



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Here Are The Best Things To Buy In Every Month

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Sometimes, knowing when a particular item will go on sale is just common sense: Chances are you would spend a lot more on a winter jacket in November than you would in April.

But it's more difficult to know when to shop for other products, like wedding dresses, champagne, and used cars.

We came up with a definitive calendar for the best things to buy in every month of the year, based on expert advice from websites like DealNews, DailyFinance, and Cheap Flights, among others.

Check out our infographic below to see what you should buy in August, and during every month the rest of the year.What To Buy Every Month of the year infographic

SEE ALSO: 12 Hilarious Photos Of Men Who Hate Shopping

Join the conversation about this story »


12 Ways To Make Your Mac Run Faster (AAPL)

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Macbook Air Apple Store

No matter how much you loved your Mac when you bought it, chances are it doesn't perform the same way it once did.

A few years can take a noticeable toll on any computer, but luckily there are some tips and trips that can help bring it back up to speed.

Here are a few things to look out for that can make your overall Mac experience more smooth and efficient. 

Check for software updates.

Often, software updates fix bugs and glitches that could be slowing your computer down. Check for any software updates that may be available for the version of OS X your computer is running on. You can do this by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left hand side and selecting Software Update from the dropdown menu. In most cases, your Mac will probably issue a desktop notification to alert you when an update is available. 



Try restarting your computer.

It sounds obvious, but sometimes your laptop or desktop just needs a good restart to get back up to speed. Try restarting your computer before jumping ahead to other options. 



Close unused tabs in your web browser.

Open tabs in web browsers do take up memory, even if it is a small amount. This can build up if you're the type of person that opens, say, 15 tabs on a daily basis and never closes them. Try to get into the habit of closing out tabs once you're finished using them. 



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A Guy From Long Island Wants To Change The Way New Yorkers Eat Ramen Noodles

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ivan ramen diners diner stools

Chef Ivan Orkin was the underdog of the ramen scene.

A self-described "Jewish guy from Long Island," he set out to open a ramen restaurant in Japan, where the dish has a cult following. He soon earned the distinction of being the only American to run a noodle joint in Tokyo, and a hugely successful one at that.

In 2012, he left his two Ivan Ramen locations in Tokyo for the U.S., with a dream of exposing New Yorkers to a ramen unlike any Cup Noodles they'd ever had. Earlier this year, we toured the pop-up location, Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop in Gotham West Market, and were blown away. (And grateful to his team for teaching us the right way to eat ramen.)

We recently got to spend several hours in the kitchens, offices, and dining rooms of Chef Ivan's brand new, flagship U.S. location on the Lower East Side, speaking with everyone from the waitstaff to the line cooks about their roles in the restaurant. It takes a lot to run the little-ramen-shop-that-could.

This is the entrance to Ivan Ramen, at 25 Clinton St. on the Lower East Side. It's Chef Ivan Orkin's flagship noodle joint in the U.S.



The restaurant is laid out railroad-style, with a long row of tables for two and larger tables toward the kitchen.



A couple diners nosh on ramen bowls at the counter. It's near the end of lunch hour, so theirs is the last table to clear out.



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Jarring Photos Show How New York's Bustling Meatpacking District Has Transformed In 30 Years

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New York in the 1980s was a far cry from the city it is today. At the time, Manhattan was crime-ridden and full of burned-out buildings and unresolved tensions. For photographer Brian Rose, who lived through that era, the present-day city can be startling.

“New York was at a precarious point in time. The city could easily have gone the way of Detroit. We didn’t know,” Rose told Business Insider. "Lower Manhattan was a post-apocalyptic landscape of crumbling buildings and abandoned streets. You couldn't tell things were going to get better until the late '80s."

Rose recently completed a photographic study of one of Manhattan’s most-changed neighborhoods, the Meatpacking District, which has transformed over the last 20 years from an open-air industrial meat market to a glittering hub of nightlife and restaurants. Rose originally photographed the area in 1985 and returned in 2013 to document the same street corners.  

Rose has collected his photos from both 1985 and 2013 in a book, "Metamorphoses," which you can purchase here. He has shared some photos with us, but you can check out the rest in the book or on his website.

The Meatpacking District in the 1980s was a derelict scene. In the early morning hours, trucks rolled in and workers got started on the meat trade. By midday, the streets were "semi-abandoned," according to Rose.

 

 



Today, the area is bustling day and night with tourists, diners, shoppers, and nightclub attendees.



The area used to be blue-collar.



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11 Hot New Apps You May Have Missed Recently

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80 Days appWith thousands of apps being released every month, it can be tough to keep up.

Luckily, we've collected all the best apps from last month, with a nice mix of games, entertainment, and productivity.

From a time management app that learns to think for you to a thrilling choose-your-own-adventure game based on a classic novel, there's bound to be something for everyone.

Delete your conversations from other people's phones with Wiper.

Wiper (Free, iOS and Android) is a fully featured messaging app with a unique kill switch called the "Wipe" button, which deletes your entire conversation from both your phone and the recipient's phone.



Travel around the world in choose-your-own-adventure game 80 Days.

"80 Days" ($4.99, iOS) is an adventure game based on Jules Verne’s timeless book "Around the World in Eighty Days." Every choice counts, and a well-written storyline will keep you interested as you choose how to travel the globe. (Choose from an airship, submarine, steam train, or even mechanical camel.)



Explore the history of jazz music with Blue Note 75.

Blue Note 75 (Free, iPad only) features curated music and a historic weekly look at the albums, videos, and stories of Blue Note Records' last 75 years. If you have a Spotify Premium or Rdio, you can sign right into the app.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THE FUTURE OF PAYMENTS: 2014 [SLIDE DECK]

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E commerce

A wave of innovation is driving a dramatic shift in the way we make payments.

In this presentation, we highlight the most important trends fueling the changes: the rise of payment apps, mobile registers, e-commerce, and the decline of cash and checks. We also show where the payments industry is headed. Many of the slides are based on charts exclusive to BI Intelligence. 

BI Intelligence is a 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.

This deck is downloadable as a PPT for BI Intelligence members. Click below for a free trial.

Please sign up for your free 14-day trial by clicking here.







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A Startup That Wants You To Ditch Waiting Rooms Forever Just Raised $21 Million

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doctors

Doctor On Demand, a startup that lets users video chat with U.S.-certified doctors, just raised $21 million and announced its first major corporate deal. 

The idea is that next time you think you might have a sinus infection, you can avoid spending an hour or two in the waiting room for a last-minute appointment, and opt instead for a hassle-free video chat with a doctor. 

You pay a flat fee of $40 for each 15 minutes spent chatting with a physician, who can diagnose your issue, prescribe you simple medication, advise your next actions, or simply ease your fears.

No crowded office visit required.

Since Doctor on Demand launched in late 2013, it has signed on more than 1,400 doctors and just inked a deal with Comcast to integrate its services with the company's benefits plan. 

Co-founder Adam Jackson told Business Insider that Doctor On Demand plans to use the fresh funding partially to expand its enterprise sales team. He thinks its secret sauce is that it doesn't charge companies that it partners with a per-employee per-month fee, unlike other startups in the space. 

"Employers love Doctor On Demand, because it reduces sick days, and makes their employees happier and gets them better sooner," Jackson says, "Because we can give them direct access to medical care instantly."

Although 15 minutes may not sound like a long time to chat with a doctor, Jackson said that most calls only take between nine or ten minutes to resolve. He says that the most common reaction he gets from patients is, "Wow, I can't believe that actually worked." 

The interesting backstory of the startup?

Jackson's co-founder, Jay McGraw, knows the medical profession from the entertainment side. He's the executive producer of TV show The Doctors and his dad is Dr. Phil.

Venrock led Doctor On Demand's $21 million round, joined by Shasta Ventures and angel investor Sir Richard Branson. The company has raised $23 million to-date.

SEE ALSO: These Ex-Googlers Got Their First Customers Milliseconds After Launching Their New Business

Doctor On Demand is available for iPhone or Android.



"If you have a broken leg or you're bleeding out, don't use Doctor on Demand," Jackson says.



Before you connect with a doctor, you're asked to enter your symptoms, any allergies, and what medication you're already on.



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14 People Who Are Changing The Face Of Detroit

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detroit vs everybody tommey walker game changer

Headlines don't paint a pretty picture of the Motor City. Last month marked the one-year anniversary of Detroit becoming the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy. Unemployment and crime rates remain unencouraging, and there appears to be a mass exodus of residents from the once prosperous metropolis.

Still, many Detroiters are toughing it out, pouring their resources and their talents into rebuilding the city.

We wanted to shine a spotlight on the people in Detroit who are making remarkable contributions to the city. We asked our readers, who are the folks across industries — from finance and automotive to entertainment and retail — who are dedicated to the revitalization. The nominations came pouring in.

These are the people making their city proud.

Alicia Marion George opened the only coffee shop for miles.

Owner of Motor City Java & Tea House

When Detroit native Alicia Marion George moved to the Brightmoor area in the late 1990s, she described the neighborhood as "being in a coma." The devastation of financial resources had touched every facet of life: businesses wasted away, homes were abandoned, and crime surged.

"People didn't think the light went past the end of their block," George says. An executive assistant at the time, she wanted to give residents hope that someone was paying attention to them.

She began visiting coffee shops across the region and touring roasting plants, and she even got a nine-month gig as a barista at Starbucks. It took 10 years to find a location and gather the funds, but in 2010, she opened Motor City Java & Tea House in a foreclosed house.

Inside, George takes customers behind the bar to teach them how to use the cappuccino machines and to explain how she paid for them. Local festivals, art galleries, youth groups, and block clubs host gatherings there. And since launching, half a dozen businesses have opened in Brightmoor.



Andy Didorosi created a bus line to mobilize Detroiters.

Founder of The Detroit Bus Company

Detroit is not in a good place when it comes to infrastructure. Forty percent of its street lights are broken, and $7 million was cut from the city's transportation budget.

When the city abandoned its proposal for an M-1 light rail on Woodward Avenue — the Broadway of Detroit — 20-something serial entrepreneur Andy Didorosi bought up half a dozen old school buses, hired local artists to paint them and drivers to drive them, and installed a GPS tracking app so passengers could track their ride. All of a sudden he was running The Detroit Bus Company.

Buses are biodiesel-fueled and can be hailed by the tracking app during slow times. The bus is a godsend for the 11,000 students who use the buses each month as their primary means of getting to after-school programs around the city, and the buses can also be rented out for private functions. Didorosi uses them to give city tours and bar crawls as well. Next he's working on creating a public service to and from the airport.



Dan Gilbert has started a chain reaction of new growth in his hometown.

Founder and chairman of Quicken Loans

About three and a half years ago, billionaire Dan Gilbert began "picking up" properties in downtown Detroit, with the intent to bring commerce back to the Motor City.

The architectural relics he bought sometimes sold for as little as $8 a square foot. Gradually, over 120 companies opened shop in his nine-million-square-foot spread of prime real estate — including Chrysler and Twitter. To date, Gilbert has invested about $1.3 billion in the downtown area alone.

"[Gilbert] has helped rebuild Detroit one day at a time," one reader tells Business Insider. "He truly cares about making Detroit a better place to live."

Gilbert also walks the walk. Until fairly recently, Quicken Loans was headquartered out in the 'burbs. In 2012, Gilbert moved the company to a new HQ downtown, where he and more than 12,000 employees can work in the heart of the action.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 18 Most Innovative Cities On Earth

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Cape Town, South Africa

Cities might be humanity's greatest invention — if you listen to Harvard economist Ed Glaeser, author of  "Triumph of the City."

"So much of what humankind has achieved over the past three millennia has come out of the remarkable collaborative creations that come out of cities,"he said in an interview."We are a social species. We come out of the womb with the ability to sop up information from people around us. It's almost our defining characteristic as creatures. And cities play to that strength." 

Indeed, many modern metros are pushing the limits of industry, design, and urban planning, while rethinking the way people live and work. 

With that in mind, we assembled a list of the 18 most innovative cities in the world, using a range of metrics from patents per capita to skyscraper height.  

Singapore has the best infrastructure in the world, including an airport complete with a butterfly garden, pool, movie theaters, hotels, spas, showers, and of course a four-story slide.

[Business Insider



Amsterdam is the most bike-friendly city in the world, with a full 38% of all trips in the city made by bicycle.

[Amsterdamize]



Bangalore, India, is known as the Silicon Valley of India, with a tech sector that brings in $17 billion in revenue a year. Venture capital has noticed, investing $300 million in venture funding in 2012.

[BBC]



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The Fabulous Life Of Formula One Billionaire Bernie Ecclestone

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bernie ecclestoneBernard "Bernie" Ecclestone is credited with bringing Formula One racing the fame and clout that it has today. 

These days, the 83-year-old Formula One president and CEO is as likely to appear in the news for his personal life as his professional one; he's been married three times, has three children (including two daughters whom the tabloids love), and a 198-foot yacht.

On Tuesday, Ecclestone paid $100 million to settle a long-running trial in Germany over allegations that he bribed a banker as part of the sale of a stake in the motor sport business.

It was a small price to pay for the racing tycoon, who is worth $4.2 billion (up $4 million from last year). Ecclestone said the settlement would allow him to "do what I do best, which is running F1," after more than three years of litigation.

Let's take a look at Ecclestone's awesome life.

Bernard "Bernie" Charles Ecclestone was the son of a fisherman, born in a hamlet of Suffolk, England, in 1930. As a kid, he would complete two paper routes before school every day, spend the money on bakery buns, and then sell the buns at a profit to his classmates.

Source: The Guardian and The Telegraph



He left school at the age of 16 to work at a local gas station and pursue his hobby of building motorcycles. He eventually started selling parts and opened his own motorcycle dealership.

Source: ESPN



After a mediocre run at becoming a Formula One race car driver himself, Ecclestone managed drivers and then bought a team in 1972. He began to broker contracts and TV deals for other F1 teams, and by 1997 he had successfully turned F1 into a profitable global franchise.

Source: ESPN



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Here's Why Madeira Was Just Named The Best Island In Europe [PHOTOS]

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shutterstock_126741929

Madeira Island was just named the best island in Europe for the second year in a row by the World Travel Awards.

Madeira, which is part of Portugal, is an archipelago of small islands located in the Atlantic Ocean about 350 miles from Morocco. It is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas.

With incredible natural pools carved out of lava rocks, gorgeous cliffs overlooking the ocean, and charming towns, it's no wonder that Madeira is considered the top European island.

Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is a series of Portuguese islands that are about 250 miles north of the Canary Islands and about 350 miles from Morocco. You can get there by plane or ferry.



The islands have gorgeous cliffs that jut out into the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is spectacular.



The average temperature in Madeira ranges from about 72 degrees F in the summer to 61 degrees F in the winter. In other words, it always feels like a balmy spring day.



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The 20 Most Fun Colleges In America

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Most Fun Colleges In America 2014

Higher education is certainly an opportunity to study and learn, but college can also be the most fun four years in someone's life. There's good reason for this — college is a time of seemingly endless parties, a constant supply of alcohol, and cherished sports teams to cheer on with fellow students.

To find the most fun colleges in the country, we looked at 12 categories from The Princeton Review's 2015 college rankings, combining the rankings to determine the most overall fun schools in the country.

Click here to read our complete methodology.

Many of the schools that made our list share common traits. The typical "fun" school, based on our results, is a large public university with a strong Greek life and competitive athletics.

This is not to say that these colleges are all play and no work. Many of these schools were nationally ranked for their academics as well.

Clemson University was our No. 1 most fun college, but it appeared on just five of the 12 Princeton Review lists we considered. However, while not the No. 1 school in any category, Clemson placed in the top three on every list on which it appeared, including Students Love These Colleges, Happiest Students, and Students Pack The Stadiums.

#20 Miami University

Oxford, Ohio

One of The Princeton Review's top Party Schools, Miami houses the founding chapters of several now-national fraternities and still maintains a large and active Greek life.

Miami students always have somewhere to party, either at a frat house or a local bar.



#19 Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama

The home football games for Auburn, the Princeton Review's top Jock School, are packed with students shouting "War Eagle"— the school's battle cry — especially during the annual Iron Bowl against the rival University of Alabama.

The most recent matchup between the two SEC powerhouses was named "Game of the Year" by ESPN following an unbelievable last-minute upset by Auburn.



#18 Bucknell University

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

A small school with a large Greek scene, more than half of Bucknell's students are in a fraternity or sorority.

With not much else to do in the surrounding area, students have social lives that are pretty much restricted to campus — where there is always a lot of alcohol and someone throwing a party.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Heidi Klum Sells Her Gorgeous Los Angeles Estate For $24 Million

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heidi klum brentwood mansion

Supermodel Heidi Klum's gorgeous Brentwood estate has sold for $24 million, slightly less than the $25 million it was listed for last month, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Klum reportedly hired a team that spent 6 months restoring the 8-bedroom, 10-bathroom home, which was originally built in 1999 and left empty for some time. The team replaced every window, re-stained the home's woodwork, upgraded all appliances, expanded the garden, and built a master bath.

Now, the home is more luxurious than ever. Set on 8.5 acres, the estate has an infinity-edge pool, a spa, a rose garden, hiking trails, and a koi pond.

Lynn Teschner of The Agency, Beverly Hills, was the listing agent for this property.

The 12,300-square-foot home has 8 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.



It sits on 8.5 acres of land, which includes flat lawns, gardens, and hiking trails.



The home's foyer is simple yet elegant.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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