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19 Of The Most Expensive Substances In The World

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Painite

Gold is an incredibly expensive substance.

But many things are worth more than their weight in gold.

Ranging from foods to creams to gems to things the average person can't fathom, we pulled together a list of 19 of the most expensive items in the world.

Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments.

19. White Truffles

Cost: Up to $5 per gram or $2,000 per pound

What you do with it: This seasonal mushroom can be shaved over pasta, steak, eggs, and rice and infused in oil to sprinkle on almost anything.



18. Saffron

Cost: $11.13 per gram or $5,040 per pound

What you do with it: Saffron is a flowering plant that can be used in natural remedies for everything from depression to menstrual cycles.



17. Iranian Beluga Caviar

Cost: $35 per gram or $1,000 per ounce

What you do with it: Also known as "almas," these costly fish eggs are eaten cold and in small bites as an appetizer and on unsalted crackers or bread.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's The Deck On 'Winners And Losers' Hedge Fund Managers Are Begging To See

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8405407094_7c5ebf4dbd_o

Back in May, NYU business school professor Scott Galloway gave a presentation at a conference in New York called DLD.

It was called “Zero or One: Winners & Losers in a Digital Age.”

A senior industry source who saw the presentation told us we absolutely had to track it down and share it with readers.

It turns out we weren’t the only ones hot after “Zero or One.”

On the phone yesterday, Galloway told us that of all the presentations and reports he’s ever put together for his consulting firm L2 (“Business Intelligence for Digital”), “Zero to One” has by far gotten the most attention.

People like the report because it’s blunt. It calls out stinkers.

Galloway told us he’s heard from about 50 hedge fund managers who wanted a copy. A few of them wanted to see which companies Galloway believes will be “winners" in the "digital age," so they could go long on them in trading.

More of the hedge fund managers wanted to see which companies Galloway thinks are “losers” — so they could go short and bet against them.

Galloway also heard from all of the “losers” he mentions in the report; each wanted to update him on their progress.

It’s probably best to just dive into the presentation, but Galloway’s basic premise is this: Everyone thinks the “digital age” is a rising tide that will lift all boats. But really, it’s a shift in tides that favors a few super yachts and will leave everyone else stuck in the sand or worse.

With this perspective, he examines the players in three arenas: Social media, retail, and the world economy.

Galloway believes the media focuses too much on winners of the digital age. There are also losers. His presentation first examines each in online.



Galloway says that online, winners are image-oriented. People interpret imagery 50X faster than text.



Companies like Google…



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 Quotes By Jeff Bezos That Reveal How He Grew The Amazon Empire

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Jeff Bezos Launches Bezos Center For Innovation In Seattle

After founding the company in July 1994, Jeff Bezos has grown Amazon into a web-enabled behemoth.

The Everything Store has 88,400 employees around the world, a reported 244 million customer base, and a market cap of $150 billion.

Along the way, he's become a billionaire.

Bezos has an understanding of contemporary business like few other people. To better understand his genius, we rounded up quotes from interviews, shareholder letters, and other sources.

On starting Amazon

"This is Day 1 for the Internet and, if we execute well, for Amazon.com. Today, online commerce saves customers money and precious time.

"Tomorrow, through personalization, online commerce will accelerate the very process of discovery. Amazon.com uses the Internet to create real value for its customers and, by doing so, hopes to create an enduring franchise, even in established and large markets."

[Shareholder letter, 1997]



On margins

"Your margin is my opportunity."

[Inc., May 2014]



On complacency

"A company shouldn't get addicted to being shiny, because shiny doesn't last."

[Wired, November 2011]



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Mercedes' Latest High-Powered AMG Sedan Is 100% Attitude

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Mercedes C63 AMG

Mercedes-AMG's answer to BMW's latest M3 sedan has arrived in the form of the C63 — and it's pure, menacing attitude.

This week, the Affalterbach-based Mercedes performance division released the first pictures of the all-new C63 sports sedan. The company plans to formally introduce the model in a ceremony next month at the Paris Auto Show. In addition to the standard C63, the company will also offer a more powerful version called the C63 S. 

The latest C-Class AMG pulls heavily from the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car introduced earlier this month and will adopt AMG's new nomenclature.

"We are also marking the beginning of a new era with the new nomenclature. The successor to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, will now be called the Mercedes-AMG C63," said Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers.

Official pricing for the C63 and C63 S has yet to be released, but the current C63 starts at around $62,000. The duo is expected to hit dealerships in March of 2015.

The all-new C63 will continue to adopt the style cues first seen in Mercedes' flagship S-Class sedan.



The C63's styling is dominated by a massive 3-pointed star emblem and an aggressive aero package. In fact, the new C-Class looks pretty much like a baby S-Class that's spent some time in the gym.



Here's the S-Class. See the resemblance?



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NYU Professor: The Digital Age Is Destroying The US Middle Class And There's Little Hope For Reversing The Cycle

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NYU business school professor and consultant Scott Galloway believes US society is telling itself a lie: That technology is good for everyone.

He believes that the "digital age" has clear winners and clear losers.

The winners are the global middle class, the abject poor, and the über-rich.

Galloway says one of the biggest losers is the American middle class.

Galloway says the Digital Age is actually good for the very poor. Poverty rates are declining worldwide.



Another winner is the global "consuming class," which is growing very quickly.



But, he says, the global middle class is growing mainly because of developing countries.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 Surprising Things That Affect Whether You Get Hired

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interview

Hiring managers typically use your résumé to determine whether you're qualified for the job, and the interview to decide if you're the perfect fit. 

Knowing that, most people take the process very seriously. They arrive to the interview on time, dress impeccably, and answer each question intelligently.

But as it turns out, there's more to it than just showing up and doing your best — there are dozens of small details that overtly or subconsciously affect the way you're perceived.

1. The time of your interview.

Apparently, 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday is the best time for you to schedule an interview, reports Glassdoor. People are shown to be most productive on Tuesdays and won't feel rushed by the time they meet you. It's also late enough in the day that your interviewer has had time to check their email, have a cup of coffee, and get ready for your arrival.

You also don't want to be someone's last meeting of the workday, because there's a good chance the interviewer's attention might not solely be on you. They could be thinking about priorities that they have after work, for example, such as dinner plans, kids' homework, etc.

Also, avoid interviewing pre or post-lunch because your time with them will either be cut short or you'll be left waiting for a long time.



2. The weather on the day of your interview.

University of Toronto researchers Donald Redelmeier and Simon D. Baxter found that medical school applicants fared worse if they interviewed on a rainy day compared to their sunny day interviewees.  

They say: "Overall, those interviewed on rainy days received about a 1% lower score than those interviewed on sunny days. This pattern was consistent for both senior interviewers and junior interviewers. We next used logistic regression to analyze subsequent admission decisions. The difference in scores was equivalent to about a 10% lower total mark on the Medical College Admission Test." 

The data included nearly 3,000 applicants over a six-year period. 



3. How early you arrive.

You may think it'll look good if you arrive early — but if you're excessively early, you could be hurting your chances.

"Of course arriving a few minutes early is a good idea, and is certainly better than arriving late — but don't show up a half hour before your interview," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job." "It can make you appear too anxious or put pressure on the interviewer. If you have extra time, gather your thoughts in your car or take a brief walk to get your energy up."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

31 Fantastic Pieces Of Advice For Surviving Your First Year On Wall Street

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Lloyd Blankfein

You've sat through recruiting sessions, and you've networked with bankers.

But you're still completely unprepared for what it's actually like to work on the street.

Business Insider is here to help.

We've put together a list of great advice from Wall Street legends, seasoned professionals and young analysts in order to prepare you for your first year on the street.

Maybe take notes if you want to.

You're going to be a burden during your first three months. Try to be a small one.

"For your first 3 months you will be a burden - just try to be a small burden. Don't spin your wheels, ever - Associates hate when their analyst is sitting there fumbling and stymied. Don't ask questions that you haven't at least tried to think through yourself - but once you've thought them through, don't be afraid to ask. Write down everything so you remember what you learned and don't have to ask again."

Former analyst as boutique investment bank

Source: Business Insider



When you're networking with senior co-workers, direct the questions to them.

"When you're networking with senior people, always direct the questions to them. People in this industry are egotistical and they love talking about themselves. It'll be a solid start to your networking."

Male, 53, Hedge fund



If you want to acquire and keep your clients, don't only talk about the markets.

"I found other topics to discuss. And I found that when I ceased being a business bore -- and quit pushing my views about the market on everyone -- that people came to be more interested in any advice that I might have to give. At the time I was a broker starting out, and it helped me acquire clients. I think the same thing is true as a parent with your kids. If you give advice, it's not nearly as well received as when it's asked for."

Julian Robertson, Founder of Tiger Management (a now defunct hedge fund)

Source: Fortune 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 Best 'Shark Tank' Pitches Of All Time

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Robert Herjavec Lori Greiner Daymond John Kevin O'Leary shark tank hosts judges

Over the past five seasons of the hit ABC reality show "Shark Tank," countless entrepreneurs have pitched their products to some of the world's most influential investors.

Not only do contestants have a shot to convince billionaire investor Mark Cuban or real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran to fork over a few hundred grand, but they do so in front of a national audience of about seven million viewers.

Some aspiring entrepreneurs have risen to the challenge and shown how to give a pitch that's so concise and effective that the investors feel like they'd be missing out on some major cash if they didn't gain a stake in the company.

In anticipation of the sixth season's two-hour premiere on Friday, Sept. 26, and with the help of Andrew Figgins, a Chicago-based entrepreneur and owner of the fan site InTheSharkTank.com, we look back at some of the greatest pitches we've seen so far on "Shark Tank."

Vivian Giang contributed to this article.

PITCH: Charles Michael Yim has a breathalyzer that plugs into your smartphone.

In the fifth season, Yim galvanizes all five Sharks around Breathometer, a startup that makes a breathalyzer that plugs into your smartphone. He already has $1 million in venture backing, $100,000 in sales the previous month, and readily answers the Sharks' questions. He initially asks the Sharks for $250,000 for a 10% equity stake in his business. 



RESULT: All five Sharks invest for a total of $1 million.

Yim ends up with all of the episode's investors — Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec — in his corner and a whopping $1 million investment for 30% of his company.



PITCH: Bruno François has an app that will let you take panoramic video without using your hands.

If you place your phone vertically on a solid surface and use the Cycloramic iPhone app, it will vibrate your phone in a circle as it records video.

François boldly tells the Sharks he expects to have one million users after one year and requests $90,000 for 5% of his company.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Every Entrepreneur Should Read This Guide From A Facebook Co-Founder

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dustin moskovitz startup entrepreneurship launch advice deck

Dustin Moskovitz co-founded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg and it made him a billionaire. Now he's working on another company, Asana.

Moskovitz created a startup deck that's full of advice about how to launch a successful company and explains what it takes to be an entrepreneur. It's not as glamorous as Hollywood and the media make it look.

"It's important to know [why you want to start a company]," Moskovitz explained to a Stanford class. "You may have been mislead by the way that Hollywood or the press likes to romanticize entrepreneurship."



"The 4 common reasons people want to start companies are: It's glamorous, you'll get to be the boss, you'll have flexibility, especially over your schedule, and you'll have the chance to have bigger impact and make more money."



"The reality is just not quite so glamorous, there's an ugly side to being an entrepreneur, and more importantly, what you're actually spending your time on is just a lot of hard work."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's The Revolutionary Management Philosophy That Prompted Richard Branson To Give Virgin Employees Unlimited Vacation...

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Branson in parisRichard Branson just announced that Virgin is eliminating the concept of "vacation days."

Henceforth, Virgin employees will be able to take as much vacation as they want.

In adopting this policy, Virgin is following in the footsteps of Netflix, which pioneered this concept about a decade ago. The policy was initially met with incredulity and trepidation at other companies. People thought it would lead to one of two extremes — either workplaces in which no one ever came to work... or workplaces in which no one ever took vacation, because of concerns that their bosses and colleagues would consider them slackers if they didn't voluntarily work 365 days a year.

Over time, however, the policy—which is really more of a culture and management philosophy—gained traction in the tech industry. At our company, Business Insider, we had some concerns about it. But, on balance, we liked it. So, we tried it. And, despite some issues and questions, it has been a big success.

Given that a major company outside the tech industry is now adopting the policy, it's worth reviewing the revolutionary management presentation that spawned it.







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How Tory Burch Built A $3.5 Billion Company In Less Than A Decade

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tory burch

Tory Burch is wildly successful. 

Her eponymous fashion line, which includes high-end handbags and Reva ballet flats, is ubiquitous.

The designer's bags, sunglasses and shoes are flying off the shelves at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Saks. She's competing with more established brands like Coach, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade — and winning.

Burch's company is now valued at more than $3.5 billion. 

Burch started her career a fashion copywriter. After her ex-husband, retail tycoon Christopher Burch, gave her $2 million, she began designing clothes in her kitchen. Before long, she had an important celebrity endorsement and soaring sales figures. 

She's one of the most formidable CEOs in fashion— and she's also one of the sexiest.

We mapped out how Burch became a fashion billionaire. 

Tory Burch grew up in Philadelphia. Her mother is a former actress, while her father was an investor. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Pennsylvania.



Burch had a series of writing jobs before starting her fashion line. She worked for Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Harper's Bazaar.



In 2004, she launched her New York City flagship boutique. It's located in the retail mecca of NoLita.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meet Ricky Dillon, The Charming 22-Year Old YouTube Star With Millions Of Fans

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Ricky DillonRicky Dillon is not your average 22-year-old. 

Four years ago, he started uploading the music videos he was making with his friends to YouTube.

Now as a member of YouTube sensation Our2ndLife, Ricky has accumulated a fan base of millions. The group — made up of five guys who met at a YouTube convention — traveled the country on a 19-city tour this summer, and thousands of screaming girls turned out to see them perform. 

But Ricky has his own fans, too. He's represented by YouTube network Fullscreen, and his personal YouTube channel has more than 1.7 million subscribers and 75.6 million views. 

Ricky Dillon is a 22-year-old originally from Hoover, Alabama.



Ricky is one-fifth of Our2ndLife, a group of YouTube creators who each post their own videos to a shared channel. They created the group in August of 2012, though they didn't meet each other in real life until later. "We became friends because we saw each other's videos and started talking," Ricky told Business Insider.

 



This summer, O2L went on a 19-city tour across the US. Screaming hordes of teens greeted them in each city. O2L has more than 2.5 million subscribers and some pretty serious fans.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Is The MINI We've All Been Waiting For

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MINI Superleggera Vision

One of the most tantalizing cars at this year's Paris Auto Show will be the MINI Superleggera Vision.

In an age where cars are growing in size and weight, MINI has decided to move in the opposite direction. The Anglo-German brand teamed with Italian coachbuilders Touring Superleggera to create the sporty Vision concept. Although I haven't been overly fond of MINI's current trend of making bigger, bulkier vehicles, new car looks impressive to me. 

At this point, the pint-sized two-seat roadster is just a design study. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that at least some of the Vision's features will make it into future MINI production cars.  This thing is cool, so let's hope MINI's overlords at BMW do the right thing and put the Vision concept into production.

With the newest MINIs not all that mini anymore...



...it's truly refreshing to see MINI churn out a tiny 2-seat roadster. It blends...



...a Mazda MX-5 Miata and...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 Stunning Images That Show How Much Natural Resources Are Mined Each Year

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gold franceThe market for precious metals is not as big as you might think.

One year's worth of mined platinum is only the size of a car. But it's worth about $8 billion.

Visual Capitalist took one year's production of eight commodities, lumped each of them into a three-dimensional cubes, and put them next to landmarks around the world.

They also calculated the value of each cube.

Gold



Uranium



Copper



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 Enterprise Startups Founded By Ex-Salesforce Employees (CRM)

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Salesforce.com CEO Marc BenioffSalesforce.com is arguably one of the most influential enterprise tech companies in the world.

Founded in 1999 by Marc Benioff, Salesforce.com is best known for its customer relationship management (CRM) software.

It posted a little over $4 billion in revenue last year, and has a market cap of $34.6 billion. With roughly 10,000 employees, it’s the largest tech employer in San Francisco. Salesforce.com was also named #1 on Forbes’ “Most Innovative Companies” list for four consecutive years. 

But for all of its success over the years, Salesforce.com employees have only founded a handful of startups. We're not sure why this is the case, but it might be because not many employees leave there, as it's repeatedly ranked one of the best companies to work for.

We’ve put together 8 of the more interesting startups launched by ex-Salesforce.com employees through the years. 

Okta - Todd McKinnon

Company: Okta

Founded: 2008

What it does: Cloud/mobile identity management software

Funding so far:$155 million

Role at Salesforce.com: As senior VP of engineering, McKinnon grew his his team from 15 to 250 engineers. McKinnon said he loved his job at Salesforce, but saw a huge opportunity in cloud password management that he couldn't pass up. Benioff wasn't too happy and turned down an offer to invest early in Okta.



Zuora - Tien Tzou

Company: Zuora

Founded: 2007

What it does: Cloud billing and invoicing for recurring revenue businesses

Funding so far:$127.5 million

Role at Salesforce.com: Tzou was Salesforce.com’s employee #11 and its first Chief Marketing Officer. Benioff did invest in Zuora when Tzou left Salesforce.com in 2008. 



Heresay Social - Clara Shih

Company: Heresay Social

Founded: 2009

What it does: Provides software for financial services teams to better-use social media to boost sales and productivity

Funding so far:$51 million

Role at Salesforce.com: Shih was the first product marketer of AppExchange, the business app store from salesforce.com. She was the product line manager overseeing product marketing and data analytics. She’s also the author of NY Times best seller, “The Facebook Era.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Urban Outfitters Is About To Supersize Its Stores — Here's What They'll Look Like

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Urban Outfitters Herald Square 35Urban Outfitters is planning to supersize its stores.

The company will open up to 50 Anthropolgie stores that are three times the size of its current stores, and also test the larger store size with its namesake and Free People brands, Bloomberg reports.

The larger stores are meant to serve as "lifestyle centers," offering a wider array of merchandise than traditional stores as well as cafes and bookstores where customers can hang out.

The company's research suggests that customers will spend an average two to three hours in the new store formats, as opposed to about one hour in the smaller stores, according to Bloomberg.

One of the company's first "lifestyle centers" was opened recently under its namesake brand in New York City's Herald Square. 

The 57,000-square-foot store features a coffee shop, a hair salon, hundreds of vinyl records, and a Sephora-sized makeup shop, as well as fun gadgets like a "lensometer" that can scan a customer's glasses and read their prescription.

Check out the new location to get an idea of what the larger format stores will look like.

The main entrance faces Macy's on the corner of Broadway and 34th Street.



At first glance, the store looks like any other Urban Outfitters, just a lot bigger.



But unlike most Urban Outfitters locations, here you can grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat without ever having to leave the store.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

DAY IN THE LIFE: A Bravo Reality Star Launches Her Clothing Line During Fashion Week

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Lilly Ghalichi

Bravo reality star Lilly Ghalichi is most well known for the two years she appeared as "the Persian Barbie" on "Shahs of Sunset."

But what many don't know about the 31-year-old Texas native is that she holds degrees in both law and business, and even passed the bar exam.

But instead of practicing law, Lilly started a bikini line.

Today, Lilly's multi-million dollar brand includes swimwear, beauty, fashion, fine jewelry, champagne, and How-To seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs  all of which she promotes to her over 1 million Instagram followers.

Most recently, the designer launched a new line of women's apparel earlier this month for WantMyLook.com during New York Fashion Week.

Lilly shared her behind-the-scenes photos from Fashion Week with Business Insider.

It's the day of the fashion show, so I go straight into fittings and prep.

I'm in New York City for my first-ever Fashion Week as a designer. I'm presenting The Lilly Ghalichi Collection for WantMyLook.com and I'm so excited to share this passion project with the world.

The first step today is to do final fittings with all the models to catch any last minute changes that need to be made. I'm a perfectionist with everything I do, so this is a very important part of the process for me. 



The stage is already set, it's the calm before the storm.

Next up, I'm doing a final walk through of the venue to check lighting, music, seating arrangements, and everything else in between.

My favorite fashionistas will be filling this room in just a couple hours!



I do a last check to make sure models are ready for the show.

While the models are getting ready for showtime, I'm making my rounds in the glam room to make sure all the looks are coming together as planned.

It's extremely important to me for all the models have their own unique styles on the runway while maintaining The Lilly Ghalichi Collection vision — which is edgy, feminine, and fabulous. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

27 Successful People Reveal The Things They Can't Live Without

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Betty Liu

You can learn a lot about someone depending on what's in their bag, or what they leave out.

A huge chunk of successful executives' lives is spent traveling, in meetings, and trying to keep track of a massive list of priorities, so they have refined what they carry and how they work into an art.

LinkedIn asked 50+ of its influencers to name the "secret weapons" that they simply can't work without. 

Richard Branson would be lost without his personal assistant, Helen. Asana co-founder Justin Rosenstein relies on pen and paper for big ideas and the satisfaction of physically ripping up discarded plans. And the Samsung vs. Apple battle rages all the way at the top, with devotees of both the Galaxy Note, iPad, and everything in between. 

Richard Branson's assistant is his 'extra memory.'

"I couldn’t get through the workday without my assistant, Helen. While gadgets like smartphones and tablets certainly do have a huge positive impact upon my working life, it is the people around me who really make the difference.

"Helen is my memory. She travels the world with me, is delightful to have around, and is extremely adaptable and sociable wherever we find ourselves. With so much going on with my mind, having an extra memory is important. Before I ask her to do something, she can read my mind and know what it is I am thinking before I ask."

Source: LinkedIn



HP CEO Meg Whitman can't live without her country music playlist.

"While I’m accustomed to frequent travel and moving at a fast pace, there are a few things I always try to carry and can’t go without. These help me stay focused, tune out the noise and provide the flexibility I need whether I’m at home or on the road."

Here are her essentials:

  • Her phone, loaded with country music. "Favorites include George Strait, Brooks & Dunn and Shania Twain," she writes.
  • A swimsuit, so she can get in a morning swim regardless of her time zone.
  • HP's latest laptop hybrid, the HP Envy which she uses to work on a plane, and to watch movies when she wants to decompress.

Source: LinkedIn



Buddy Media Co-Founder Michael Lazerow keeps 'wonder drug' Tylenol PM on him whenever he travels.

"I’m a morning person. It’s when I function my best. I love going to sleep early. I love getting up before everyone else. It’s when I work out, write and focus my brain on tasks at hand. I sometimes find myself sitting in a hotel bed not able to fall asleep late at night. More often than not, it’s because I have a headache from exhaustion, dehydration or other abuses of my body while I’m on the road. Tylenol PM gets rid of any headaches while helping me fall asleep. It’s the wonder drug. And it doesn’t even require a prescription."

Source: LinkedIn



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Climate Change Isn't All Death And Destruction — These 7 Animals Will Prosper

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It's a bleak time for most species on the planet.

Scientists believe the earth is entering a mass extinction — the sixth one in the planet's history — and human-caused climate change is soon to be the number one killer of organisms on planet Earth.

With shrinking polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events all predicted for a world in which global warming is allowed to proceed unchecked, it's a grim time indeed for life on the third rock from the sun.

But some species, it seems, are getting off the hook.

These organisms actually show signs of adapting to climate change, and some are even experiencing benefits like range expansion and increased population — meaning while everyone else is going extinct, these are the guys who will still be thriving.

The brown anole is one of the newest contenders in the game.

In a recent study, scientists moved a population of anoles from a cooler environment to a warmer one to simulate rapid climate change. They found that anoles who moved faster and were more active during the day were better at snatching up food and out-competing their rivals, giving them a higher chance of surviving.

Anoles reproduce fast enough that scientists think the hardiest ones could have a shot at passing on these superior genetic qualities and raising up a population better adapted to the heat — one that might make it in a warming world.



This tiny bird is all about the warm weather.

In a study published earlier this year, scientists found that long-tailed tits were much likelier to survive another year if they experience a warm, dry breeding season. Raising chicks in cold, wet weather can be hard on the little birds, upping their chances of dying before the next breeding season. As global temperatures rise, the birds may see experience warmer springs and longer lives as a result.



Here's a pesky insect that may be reaping the benefits of warmer temperatures.

A study published last year suggested that climate change could enable Asian tiger mosquitoes to significantly expand their North American range. An invasive species originally introduced from Southeast Asia, the insect has already spread throughout the southern half of the United States.

Asian tiger mosquitos are vectors for a number of nasty diseases, including West Nile virus and Dengue fever, making them a significant public health concern. At the very least, its continued expansion could mean much itchier summers are coming soon for northern residents.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Is What 11 Of The Earliest YouTube Stars Are Doing Today

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tay zonday

What do you do once you gain internet stardom and your video has received millions of views?

We decided to find out.

Some viral YouTube sensations are still making videos in an attempt to cash in on their newfound stardom.

Others have moved on from the entertainment sphere and are attempting to live quiet lives. One just started the eighth grade, while another has become a motivational speaker. 

Antoine Dodson has become a Hebrew Israelite.

Antoine Dodson became an unintentional internet sensation back in 2010. The Gregory Brothers, a comedy group, autotuned a local TV news broadcast featuring Antoine Dodson, who spoke passionately about a home invasion that happened to his sister at the family's home in the Lincoln Park housing project in Huntsville, Alabama. His catchphrase "Hide your kids, hide your wife" is just one of many soundbites that made it into the Gregory Brothers' autotuned version of the interview, called "The Bed Intruder Song." The song sold thousands of copies on iTunes and even hit the Billboard Hot 100 list.

Since becoming a viral star, Dodson was reportedly working on a reality TV show, but that seems to be dormant. Dodson has also endorsed the sales of "Bed Intruder" costumes and the Sex Offender Tracker app for iPhone and Android. In 2013, Gawker reported that Dodson claimed to have become a Hebrew Israelite, renouncing his homosexuality because he wants a wife and a family.



Melissa Sander has given up grape stomping — and possibly reporting.

Melissa Sander was a live feature reporter for WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, in the late 1990s. In one segment, she reported from a local winery, and participated live in a grape-stomping contest. Sander fell off the stage, and the video was uploaded to YouTube years later, in 2007.

Sander went from Atlanta to Albany, becoming a weekend meteorologist for the city's News10. However, her bio page at News10's website doesn't exist anymore. It seems Sander has moved on, and there's no trace of her on the internet today — she's presumably trying to keep a low profile in the wake of the nightmarish grape stomping fail.



Tay Zonday is still cashing in on his "Chocolate Rain" fame.

In 2007, Tay Zonday's song "Chocolate Rain" went viral. The keyboard-driven song and Zonday's deep vocals rocketed "Chocolate Rain" to YouTube viral stardom. He's racked up almost 100 million views on the original video since it was originally uploaded, and he's appeared on late night TV shows. He's also provided voiceovers for the Adult Swim show "Robot Chicken," and he even had an appearance on America's Got Talent.

Today, the 32-year-old is still making YouTube videos. he's also done commercial work for companies like Dr. Pepper and Comedy Central. He appeared in the 2009 video for Weezer's song "Pork and Beans," too.



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