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Pixar's 22 Rules For Telling A Great Story

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pixar brave

Ever since Pixar made its first feature-length film "Toy Story" in 1995, it has been capturing the world's imagination with hit movies like "Monsters, Inc.,""WALL•E," and "Up."

It has won 27 Oscars and brought in more than $8 billion in gross revenues. And while Pixar is known for establishing the CGI animated feature and pushing graphical boundaries, it is as much known for its brilliant storytelling that appeals to people of all ages.

Last year, former Pixar story artist Emma Coats took to Twitter to share some of the wisdom she gained working on the films "Brave" and "Monsters University."

Gavin McMahon, cofounder of New York-based communications consulting firm fassforward, collected these insights into a presentation he thinks managers and entrepreneurs can benefit from, whether they're selling an idea or a product. He tells us that effective storytelling is an essential leadership skill. "It's an antidote to increasing complexity, the day to day grind of meetings, email jail, and death by PowerPoint," he says.

We've published the presentation here with fassforward's permission.







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 Best Hotels In Europe

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Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace

After releasing our lists for the Best Hotels in the World and the Best Hotels in America, we thought it necessary to give you the Best Hotels in Europe.

To find the best of the best we aggregated rankings among reputable travel sources, including Travel + Leisure's World's Best Hotel Awards, Condé Nast Traveler's Top 100 Hotels & Resorts (part of its annual Reader's Choice Awards), TripAdvisor's Top 25 Hotels In The World (part of its annual Travelers' Choice Awards), and the Fodor's 100 Hotel AwardsClick here to see our methodology.

The best hotels in Europe take us from the rolling hills of Scotland all the way to the ancient ruins of Istanbul.

25. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Istanbul, Turkey

The Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus lies on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. Take in the beautiful indigo waters and mountain views in this former Ottoman palace. 

Rooms from $429 per night

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Photo: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus



24 (TIE). La Sirenuse, Positano

Positano, Italy

This Amalfi Coast hotel features accommodations with hand-painted tile floors and balconies overlooking the bay. Enjoy gourmet Mediterranean cuisine and unparalleled ambiance at the hotel's restaurant, La Sponda (it's lit with over 400 candles), or spend the day on the hotel's boat exploring the Amalfi Coast. 

Rooms from $500 per night

Le Sirenuse

Photo: Le Sirenuse



24 (TIE). Hotel Villa Magna

Madrid, Spain

The historic Hotel Villa Magna's prime location allows guests to explore all that Madrid has to offer. Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Jackman, and Cameron Diaz have all stayed at the hotel. 

Rooms from $404 per night 

Villa Magna

Photo: Hotel Villa Magna



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The 17 Best Games For iOS And Android

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Broken Age app

It can be tough to sift through the thousands of games out there.

Luckily, we've collected the best games for your iPhone, iPad, and Android device, chosen for their stunning design, fun gameplay, and overall polish.

From fast-paced arcade games like "Timberman" to gorgeous and sprawling epics like "Broken Age," you're bound to find something that's to your liking.

"Broken Age" is stunning fantasy story from legendary game developer Tim Schafer.

"Broken Age" is a hand-painted adventure game that features voice acting from Elijah Wood and Jack Black. There's a full orchestral soundtrack, gorgeous graphics, and a lovely coming-of-age story that tells the story of teenagers Vella and Shay who live in different worlds. As you follow their stories, you can switch between their worlds and characters.

Price: $9.99 (iOSiPad only)



"Timberman" is a fast-paced arcade game where timing is everything.

"Timberman" asks you to chop as fast as you can through four different levels. The faster you chop, the longer you stay alive, just make sure to swap sides to avoid the descending branches.

Price: Free (iOSAndroid)



"Badland" is a sidescroller game with haunting and beautiful graphics.

"Badland" is an award-winning action adventure game with 80 unique single-player levels, and the game's gorgeous graphics might be the best we've ever seen. Your objective is to guide a creature through creepy environments and beat objectives and challenges, and a multiplayer mode lets up to four players play with he same device.

Price: $3.99 (iOS), Free (Android)



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Take A Ride On A New Luxury Train From Hungary To Iran Where A Ticket Costs Up To $40,000

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Budapest13

A new luxury train that runs from Hungary's capital of Budapest to Iran's capital of Tehran made its first trip on Wednesday, Reuters reports. 

The first branch of the route, connecting Budapest to Istanbul, follows the path of the world famous Orient Express, the early-20th century trip that used to carry Europe's aristocracy to Turkey. 

The new luxury train cars ride on existing railways, leaving from Budapest, heading east toward Turkish Kurdistan and dumping passengers in Iran. A ticket for the two-week trip costs more than $14,000, according to Reuters. 

The route is operated by the private travel agency Golden Eagle, a British company that offers trips on luxury trains across Europe, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. The first train left on Oct. 15, the next one is scheduled for March next year.

The trip covers a total of 4,350 miles across five countries.



The train left Budapest on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Everything from staffs' uniforms to the design of the cars harkens back to the beginning of the 20th century.



When the first convoy left Budapest, there was even a marching band to salute it.



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Here's Why Wasted Food Doesn’t Get To Poor People

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foodbank4Every year, the US throws away one-third of all the food it produces — wasting 133 billion pounds of food. And 10% of that food is lost at the grocery stores, restaurants, and vendors that sell it.

Last week, we headed to major grocery retailers in the New York City area with a couple of “dumpster divers” and saw the food waste first-hand. Many wondered why that food doesn't get to those who need it, namely the 49 million Americans who don't have access to enough food to be healthy.

Patty Larson, the executive director of the "food rescue" group Food Finders explained to us why good food doesn't get to the hungry.

The first reason is liability. Many vendors mistakenly believe they'll get sued for providing food that gets somebody sick, even if they think that food is safe. The vendors may decide giving away their leftovers isn't worth the legal risk.

What these vendors may not know (or fully understand) is that in 1996, Congress passed the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, thus protecting good faith food donors from civil and criminal liability. The law specifically protects individuals, corporations, wholesalers, caterers, farmers, restaurateurs, and others from liability for donating food in good faith.

“People are always so worried about someone getting sick, but its never been an issue for us,” said Larson. 

The second issue is logistics. Stores often don’t have the space to store leftover food while they are waiting for agencies to pick it up. And food banks may not have the capacity to transport or properly store the food if it's highly perishable. Even worse, many stores don’t even know they should be donating their leftover food or where to donate it.

Organizations like Feeding America and Food Finders try to make it easier for vendors to donate food by acting as middlemen between food vendors like grocery stores, produce markets, restaurants, and hotels and food providers like food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. 

Feeding America alone feeds 37 million Americans every year through its associated food banks and other organizations. Feeding America is the largest network of food banks of its kind. Food Finders, on the other hand, works locally in Los Angeles and Orange County, California to provide food to 270 agencies in the area.

Both Food Finders and Feeding America have partnerships with major grocery chains like Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.foodbank3The amount of food going to waste has started to change in recent years thanks to the efforts of Feeding America, Food Finders, and others. Both organizations have extensive outreach efforts to educate vendors on what is still safe to eat (and therefore safe to give away) and what opportunities they have to give food to those that need it.

These outreach efforts have been working. In just the past 10 years, Feeding America has doubled the amount of food it receives from vendors from 1.9 billion pounds of food per year to 4 billion pounds.foodbank2

The types of donations have changed, as well. In the past, donations were almost exclusively canned goods or bakery items. Now grocery stores are increasingly donating perishables like produce, meat, and dairy that are still safe to eat even though they're no longer at "peak freshness."

Feeding America’s network of food banks have responded to the change in donations by increasing freezer and refrigeration space. The organization has spent millions of dollars on refrigerated trucks to transport the new donations safely, says Ross Fraser, director of media relations for Feeding America.

There is still more work to be done to educate retailers. Larson says she receives the most resistance from hotels and restaurants, many of which are misinformed on liability issues and have trouble implementing a regular system to save their wasted food.

And if our adventures in “dumpster-diving” were any indication, there is a lot of good food that major retailers let through the cracks.DD1 (25 of 33)

SEE ALSO: There's An Insane Amount Of Good Food In Dumpsters Outside Trader Joe's, Starbucks, And Other Major Brands

DON'T MISS: Why Grocery Stores Like Trader Joe's Throw Out So Much Perfectly Good Food

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A Kickstarter Project Claims To Age Whiskey By Three Years In Just 24 Hours

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Whiskey Elements

What is the difference between top shelf whiskey and well-whiskey? Time and oak.

A few whiskey enthusiasts from Portland, Oregon asked what is seemingly a very simple question, and came up with a product that they claim will allow customers to customize their whiskey experience in a mere 24 hours. 

Their Kickstarter campaign, which has already raised $100,000 more than the original goal, is for a product called Whiskey Elements, which is basically a wooden laser etched stick that replicates the effects of aging whiskey for three years in just 24 hours. 

The thing that makes top shelf whiskey have that smooth delicious taste is the process — high quality whiskey is aged in wooden barrels for ten to twenty years, and this aging method allows the whiskey to filter in and out of the wood while removing toxins, adding flavor, and coloring. 

Bottom shelf whiskey, on the other hand, is usually aged for less than three years and has a bunch of artificial flavors and food coloring added. 

The idea is that you put the wooden stick into a decanter of whiskey and through a complicated process that Time and Oak calls “accelerated transpiration through capillary action,” you can rapidly age your whiskey in just 24 hours and have a much smoother drink the next day. 

Whiskey Elements

Whiskey Elements says it can work with any and all whiskey, and you can even customize which flavor you want, including oaky, vanilla, maple, smokey, or peaty. 

Bonus: This all natural process filters out the toxin acetaldehyde, which is responsible for those particularly nasty hangovers that greet you the morning after a regretful night spent drinking bottom shelf whiskey. 

But not everyone is excited about this new product. “If people want to buy a bottle of unambitious whiskey and much around with it, that is obviously their right,” Diageo’s Nick Morgan told The Spirits Business. “But isn’t the danger that you will still end up with a young, one-dimensional drink but one that now just tastes of wood?”

Well, the Kickstarter campaign already has 3,163 backers who are willing to give it a shot.   

Whiskey Elements

For more information check out the Kickstarter page here

SEE ALSO: An Aerospace Engineer Has Completely Reinvented The Ice Cream Scoop

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25 Vintage Photos From Iconic American Tourist Spots Show How Odd Sightseers Can Be

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Family at Grand Tetons National Park WY 1980 e1336769750879

In 1976, Roger Minick was teaching young photographers at the Ansel Adams Workshops in Yosemite National Park when he first encountered a species of people he lovingly refers to as "Sightseer Americanus." 

He recalls wave after wave of tourists coming to Inspiration Point in Yosemite to take snapshots in front of the site to prove that they were there. While he had often viewed tourists as a nuisance, he now saw that they were perhaps the most interesting subject, a representation of a uniquely American phenomenon.

He and his wife headed out on a road trip, not to photograph scenic spots as Ansel Adams would have done, but instead to turn the camera on tourists at top American destinations. Over the decades, he has taken many trips for that specific purpose.

These photos, between 15 and 30 years old, have taken on a time-capsule quality, documenting Americans across generations who make the pilgrimage to have their photo taken in front of the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and other iconic sites.

Minick shared some of his photos with us here. You can see more at his website or purchase the book here

Minick and his wife's first road trip in 1979 sent them through the western United States in a Volkswagen camper.

Family at Lower Falls Overlook Yellowstone National Park WY 19801roger minick sightseer american tourists picroger minick sightseer american tourists pic

The photographs during that trip were shot in black and white. Minick says that a lot of the humor intended in his photos was lost in black and white, so he and his wife retraced their steps in 1980. That time he shot in color.At Statue of Liberty NY 20001Family Taking Rubbing at Vietnam Memorial on The Mall Washington DC 20001roger minick sightseer american tourists pic

Minick used a medium-format camera with a flash. Using the flash had the effect of flattening the background of the image so that it almost looks like a backdrop.Women with Red Sweater at Glacier Point Yosemite National Park CA 19811Group Photograph at United States Capitol Washington DC 20001roger minick sightseer american tourists pic

Minick would often wait for hours at each tourist attraction looking for a person or group that had that "elusive 'something'" that made the photograph particularly compelling.

Flag Man at The Mall Washington DC 19992 (1)Uncle Nephew at Sunset Point Bryce Canyon National Park UT 19811roger minick sightseer american tourists pic

Sometimes it was their mode of travel or possessions that attracted him. Other times, like here, it was a clothing item.Family Wearing Hawaiian Shirts Mt. Rushmore SD 19981Photographing Old Faithful Geyser Yellowstone National Park WY 19802roger minick sightseer american tourists pic

Over the years, Minick developed theories about tourists based on his observations. His favorite theory was that families that had matching outfits got along the best.

Twins with Matching Outfits at Lower Falls Overlook Yellowstone National Park WY 19802Girls in Matching Pink at Sunset Point Bryce Canyon National Park UT 19801

To get people to agree to have their photos taken, Minick would explain his project and then offer to take a professional portrait of them with a Polaroid camera that they could keep.

Man with Dog at Sunset Point Bryce Canyon National Park UT 19801Woman with Binoculars at South Rim Grand Canyon National Park AZ 1980 e1336769644857roger minick sightseer american tourists pic

After road-trips in 1979, 1980, and 1981, Minick did not return to the project until the late 1990s, when he started to visit sites in the Midwest and East coast.roger minick sightseer american tourists picroger minick sightseer american tourists pic

His last road-trip for the project was in 2000. Even those photos have a dated look to them at this point.Family at Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral FL 20001Two Women on Brooklyn Bridge NYC 20001 e1336084841758

SEE ALSO: Here's Why You Shouldn't Trust The Photos On Hotel Websites

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The Most Popular DIY Halloween Costumes This Year, According To Pinterest

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pinterest costumes gumball machine

Halloween season is officially here, and some of the craftier people among us are turning to Pinterest for costume ideas you can make at home. 

According to Pinterest, there have been 176 million pins dedicated to Halloween so far this year. The Pinterest team has created a board dedicated to the Halloween costumes that have been pinned the most. 

There's even a board with tips for turning yourself into a zombie, one of the most popular Halloween costumes for 2014. 

We've rounded up some of the top costumes that you can find on Pinterest.

Superheroes and villains are big once again this year. Here's a tutorial on how to do your makeup to look just like Gamora from "Guardians of the Galaxy."

Source: Pinterest



But if you'd rather use makeup to a scarier effect, there's this creepy zombie look.

Source: Pinterest



A bunch of rainbow loofahs makes for an adorable group costume. It's extremely popular, too — this DIY idea has been re-pinned more than 1,100 times.

Source: Pinterest



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Report Claims Over 90% Of Female Restaurant Workers Have Been Sexually Harassed

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waitress entering in order at kiosk restaurantA study published last week called "The Glass Floor" revealed that nearly all female restaurant workers — an astounding 90% — have been sexually harassed while on the job.

More than half of the women surveyed reported experiencing sexual harassment every single week, according to the study by The Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC)

“When you live off your tips you must tolerate whatever the customer might do to you — however they may touch you, or treat you, or talk to you — because the customer is always right." Saru Jayaraman, co-founder and co-director of ROC United, said yesterday in the New York City’s ‘Not On The Menu’ rally for One Fair Wage. "The customer pays your bills, not your employer."

ROC United organized the rally that was held in various cities across the US on Tuesday. The New York City rally was held in the midst of public hearings held by the New York Wage Board, which is responsible for determining the future of the state’s minimum wage legislation.

ROC United is hoping to increase the federal tipped minimum wage, which hasn’t changed since 1991 and is a meager $2.31. New York is one of 43 states with a sub minimum wage for tipped workers. 

A minimum wage increase would obviously benefit all hourly workers, but especially women. Of the 11 million employees working in the restaurant industry, more than 70% are women, and because these women are making their living almost entirely off of tips, it makes them incredibly susceptible to sexual harassment, according to the study by ROC United.

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Saru Jayaraman, founder of ROC United, speaking at #notonthemenu rally

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Most of the restaurant workers who experience sexual harassment are too afraid to report the assault out of fear of negative consequences and job termination. This can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety as many workers feel forced to accept sexual harassment as ‘just part of the job,' the report said. 

“We will no longer tolerate that the price of a paycheck for women in the restaurant industry is getting groped, catcalled, or degraded,” said Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates.

One Fair Wage is working towards"the financial insecurity and pressures that perpetuate sexual harassment in the restaurant industry."

“I was a waitress almost 30 years ago for nine years. And here is the tragic story: absolutely nothing has changed,” said Eve Ensler, founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, said to the rally. “We cannot end sexual violence against women unless we understand the role of economic violence — which is perpetuated by a sub-minimum wage for tipped, and overwhelmingly female, workers." 

 For more information about One Fair Wage check out the ROC website here. 

SEE ALSO: Restaurant Owner Has The Perfect Response To Reviewer Who Told Waitresses To Show More Skin

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The Best Secret Bars In New York City

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entrance to little branch speakeasy nycSick of meeting friends at crowded bars blasting top 20 hits every weekend? We definitely were.

That's why we searched for the best places to indulge in hand crafted cocktails, listen to an eclectic mix of music, and enjoy intimate conversations.

We've compiled this list of the best speakeasies and hidden lounges in NYC and we're sharing it with you! Click through to find where you'll be heading this weekend.

Click here to see the best hidden bars in NYC right now >

PDT

It's a classic that keeps earning its spot on our list year after year. PDT, or Please Don't Tell (oops..), definitely makes you work for your entrance, which is through the phone booth at Crif Dogs.

Once inside, you can enjoy cocktails created with hand crafted syrups and bitters in a cozy atmosphere away from the NYC hustle.

PDT, 113 St. Mark's Pl.



Angel's Share

Although this speakeasy only allows groups to be up to 4 people, it's definitely still worth the trip. The cocktails are innovative (tea infused gin- what?), beautiful, and delicious.

So head to the back of Village Yokocho and see what awaits you behind that back door.

Angel's Share, 8 Stuyvesant St.



Jacques 1534

Below the restaurant, there is a lounge perfect for a date night.

With its intimate atmosphere, quiet music, and knowledgeable bartenders, your date is sure to be impressed.

Jacques 1534, 20 Prince St.



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11 Beautiful Mansions You Can Buy For Cheap

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Jackson Rd

Turns out you don't necessarily need to be a millionaire to live in a mansion.

Low real estate prices in older industrial cities like Cleveland and Baltimore can result in some great deals for a whole lot of space and not a lot of money.

"Typically built during manufacturing boom times, many of these properties fell into disrepair as local economies faltered, giving today’s buyers an opportunity to pick up a palatial abode on the cheap,"The Wall Street Journal's Adam Bonislawski recently wrote.

The experts at the real estate listing site Estately helped us find 11 grand homes on the market for less than $1 million.

Many of the houses feature classic touches and various iterations of Victorian architecture, which make these bargain buildings truly one-of-a-kind.

A $1 million Georgian-style mansion in Maryland sits on three acres of land.

9900 Timberknoll Ln, Ellicott City, MD

This Maryland estate features a stone facade outside and 18th century charm inside. The fully restored house was built in 1765, and has hardwood floors and spacious rooms.

It's located in the historic town of Ellicott City, which has been ranked as one of the best places to live in the US.



This $999,000 Victorian Romantic mansion in Vermont still features many original 1840s touches.

224 Wheeler Road, Brandon, VT

Sitting on a plot of nearly 40 acres, this huge Victorian Romantic-style mansion was built in 1840 and sports 11 rooms, a European sauna, and stained glass windows.

Its secluded Vermont location is still close enough to the rural charms of the historic town of Brandon so home owners don't feel too cut off.



Southern charm oozes from this giant turn of the century Texas farmhouse on the market for $995,900.

313 Jackson Rd N, Kerrville, TX

Though still a country house at heart, both the exterior and interior of this Texas farmhouse have been completely restored with modern touches.

It has a huge master suite, gourmet kitchen, and ginormous front porch. It's also firmly nestled in Texas Hill Country with beautiful scenery and state parks nearby.



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Big, Beautiful Photos Of Apple’s New iPad Air 2 And iPad Mini 3 (AAPL)

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ipad mini 3

Apple introduced two additions to its tablet line Thursday, the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3.

Both iPads will be available for preorder this Friday and will officially launch next week.

The iPad Air 2, heralded as the best display on a tablet ever, is even thinner than the original iPad Air. It will now be available in gold. It starts at $499.  

The iPad Mini 3, which will also be available in gold, will start at $399.

Both tablets will offer Touch ID for the first time, similar to the newer models of the iPhone.

Introducing: the iPad Air 2.



Compared to the 1.5-pound, 13.4mm iPad, the iPad Air 2 weighs just 0.96 pounds and is 6.1mm thin.



The iPad Air 2 has an antireflective display that reduces glare by 56%. It also has a 9.7-inch display, a 2048 x 1536 resolution, and 3.1 million pixels.

 

 



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This Incredible Film From The 1950s Shows What Iraq Was Like Before Its Decades Of Chaos

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Screen Shot 2014 10 15 at 12.19.30 PM

In April, 20th century film house British Pathé digitized more than 80,000 of its films and put them on YouTube.

"Ageless Iraq" is one of them, shot in the '50s to introduce "a new country" to the world, "one that hasn't forgotten the glories of its history."

Since this movie was made, Iraq has been the site of repeated conflict and atrocities — chemical warfare, sectarian violence, a US-led invasion, and now ISIS's blitz across the country. Many observers wonder whether Iraq will even be able to survive as a single, coherent political unit.

The movie is a jarring reminder that nothing in history is inevitable — and that there was once a time when even one of the world's most problematic countries seemed like it was on a promising trajectory. 

You can watch the entire film here and here.

"Ageless Iraq is no longer a remote, isolated country," the narrator states. "Today she is a main junction linking the east and west"— as these European tourists are meant to prove.



"Ageless Iraq" emphasizes the country's budding modernity, which is presented as a straightforward boon imported from a more advanced western world.



A disciplined police force is credited with keeping Baghdad running safely ...



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Here's A Closer Look At Apple's Incredibly Thin iPad Air 2 (AAPL)

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ipad air 2

Apple released two new iPads on Thursday: the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.

Both have the same Touch ID fingerprint sensor found on the iPhone. But the iPad Air 2 is the biggest upgrade with a much thinner design. Check out the gallery below to see what's new.

Before we get to the iPad 2, here's the iPad Mini 3. It's the same design as last year's model, but it now comes in a gold color option.



The iPad Mini 3 now has the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It lets you unlock the iPad without a passcode and buy stuff in shopping apps using Apple Pay.



Here's the iPad Mini 3 (left) next to the new iPad Air 2.



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Apple's New Mac Software Includes Little Changes That Make A Big Difference (AAPL)

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Mac OS X Yosemite

Apple's new operating system for Macs, called OS X Yosemite, is now available to download from the Mac App Store.

Yosemite represents a bold visual redesign, but one that still feels rooted in the familiar simplicity that Mac users have grown to love.

The result is a cleaner, more vibrant operating system that takes a few design cues from Apple's mobile operating system, iOS.

Here's how Yosemite looks when you boot up.



The redesigned dock and icons are bold and colorful. Apple's taken some design cues from iOS here, and the icons do appear slightly flatter, with fewer shadows.



Spotlight is Apple's search tool for easily opening or finding things in Yosemite, and it now shows up right in the center of your screen.



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Brilliant Suitcase Doubles As A Scooter So You Never Miss Another Flight

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Olaf Business

We've all been there: sprinting through hordes of people at the airport as you carry your over-packed suitcase in one hand and cling for dear life onto your passport in the other. 

Now imagine that instead of frantically running through the terminal, you can simply glide past everyone on a scooter. 

A Slovenian designer, Bostjan Zagar, has come up with the "Olaf Business," a carry-on approved suitcase that holds up to 220 pounds and doubles as a scooter and trolley. The "smart curving based steering system" makes the scooter able to take extremely sharp turns and easily maneuver crowds. 

Olaf Business

It is available for preorder on Kickstarterand for $316, you can have your very own Olaf Business with a customized aluminum board. 

The Olaf Business is designed for the travelers who are "always on the move." 

Olaf

They also have the "Olaf Urban" which is geared towards younger customers.

The Olaf Urban is designed with a removable ergonomically shaped backpack, a trolley, a steerable kick scooter, and a skateboard. 

Urban Olaf

These could be huge for the millennial frequent flyers out there.

For more information about the Olaf Business and the Olaf Urban, check out the Kickstarter project here

SEE ALSO: A New Dress Shirt Solves The Annoyance Of A Floppy Collar

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Explore An Abandoned Amusement Park Decaying On The Outskirts Of Berlin

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Spreepark

Spreepark opened on the banks of the Spree River in 1969, in what was then East Germany. The amusement park featured rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, water rides, and multiple dinosaurs. It stayed open, in different incarnations, through reunification, until 2001, when it shut its gates for good. 

Today, the park lays in ruins, its dinosaurs toppled and its Ferris wheel tilting slightly to one side, creaking in the breeze. This August, a set of fires, widely considered to have been arson, further destroyed the park.

But what is one person's wasteland is another's adventure. When urban explorer and photographer, Beto Ruiz Alonso, moved to Berlin two years ago, and heard rumors of an abandoned, GDR-era theme park right near they  city, he knew he had to go. He shared these pictures with us from his explorations.

Alonso says it wasn't very hard to get into the park, as there is plenty of information online about how to enter. "I'm pretty sure that's about to change as the park gets more attention ... people are discovering it," he tells Business Insider.Spreepark

The park certainly has a lurid history. After closing the park in 2001, the owner attempted to open a new park in Lima, Peru, which failed as well. Later, he was arrested for attempting to smuggle 400 pounds of cocaine back into Germany, tucked into an amusement park ride. Spreepark

Rumor has it that after spending time in jail for the offense, the owner now lives in a trailer on the Spreepark property.Spreepark

For awhile, the owner's wife gave guided tours of the park, explaining its history and allowing visitors to enter the park without trespassing.Spreepark

But where's the fun in that? Alonso tells us that when he snuck into the park, "I was lucky and didn't run into security but I've heard other stories involving angry guards and violent dogs."Spreepark

Alonso photographed inside the park in 2013 and early 2014, prior to the fires, which destroyed this faux-English town, among many other structures.Spreepark

Alonso says his favorite part of the park is the giant Ferris Wheel, which moves slowly in the wind, making a creaking sound. "It's the creepiest sound, like distant screams," he says.Spreepark

Alonso fears that what remains of Spreepark may not be there for long. The city of Berlin bought the land in March (prior to which, it was for sale on E-Bay). No solid plans for the space have been announced, but Alonso says that "it's only a matter of time before the whole thing disappears for good."Spreepark

"It's an amazing piece of history and it's such a delight to be in there with the mutilated dinosaurs and the abandoned rides," he says.Spreepark

SEE ALSO: Go Aboard A Fleet Of Military Ghost Ships Decaying Off The Coast Of San Francisco

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China And The US Have Very Different Stereotypes For The Same Cars

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cadillac flowers

The Chinese auto market is a young one, but it is already the world's biggest, and a key region for the global auto industry. 

But to sell cars there, it's more than a question of translating manuals and opening a few dealerships.

Over the last 30 years, according to the New York Times, the Chinese public has also formed some very strong opinions as to who drives a particular make and model and why — and those views are often at odds with how brands are perceived in the U.S.

For non-Chinese automakers, understanding those perceptions is key to putting more cars on the road.

[An earlier version of this article was written by Alex Davies and Travis Okulski.]

Audi in America: The new luxury.

While other luxury makers carry a stigma of old money and old age, Audi is quietly becoming synonymous with younger age and "new luxury." 

Fast fact: In England, the perception is quite different. Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson told 60 Minutes he believes Audi drivers are "psychologically unfit to drive anything more powerful than an electric razor."



Audi in China: For the government elite.

In China, Audi's are seen as the car of the government and elite.

They are the choice of the power class, Beijing taxi driver Wang Zhi told the New York Times: “It’s always best to yield to an Audi — you never know who you’re messing with, but chances are it’s someone self-important.”

Fast fact: Audi gained access to the Chinese market nearly 15 years before BMW, thanks to a shrewd partnership parent company VW made with Chinese automaker Yiqi.



BMW in America: The cars are great, their drivers are aggressive.

In America, BMWs are known for driving excellence. However, the buyers have often been seen as pretentious people as well as overly aggressive drivers.

Fast fact: BMW opened their first U.S. manufacturing facility in 1994 in Spartanburg, SC, to build the X5 and Z3.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Spectacular 9-Bedroom Estate Is Now Miami's Priciest Home At $65 Million

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Miami most expensive home La Brisa for $65 million

Miami’s new most expensive mansion is a gorgeous historical property selling for $65 million.

Known as La Brisa, the home is in the heart of Coconut Grove, aka “the original Miami,” with a 13,800-square-foot residence, two-bedroom guest house, and 6.9 acres of land.

The nine-bedroom residence also has picturesque views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, over 3,000 square feet of outdoor living space, a pool, a spa, and a private port constructed by the current (anonymous) owner that can accommodate a 70-foot yacht.

Coconut Grove has long attracted famous inhabitants, and is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami. The La Brisa mansion in particular has been owned in the past by Kirk Munroe, an author of children’s novels and books about Florida, and Henry Field, a grand-nephew of the founder of the Marshall Field’s department store chain.

William P.D. Pierce with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate’s Miami Beach office has the listing.

Welcome to La Brisa, Miami's new most expensive mansion at $65 million.



The home is in the heart of Coconut Grove, aka “the original Miami."



It sits on 6.9 acres of meticulously landscaped property.



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MORGAN STANLEY: Here Are 42 Stocks That'll Thrive Even If The Economy Gets Worse

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Catbells_Northern_Ascent,_Lake_District_ _June_2009

Morgan Stanley has released a new report on secular growth stocks.

The 42 stocks are companies they believe will grow irrespective of fluctuations in the business cycle.

Tech companies like Facebook and Google dominate the list. There are also a lot of healthcare companies, which are benefiting from the aging population.

"We believe that the names selected for this report can grow strongly even if the global economy grows more slowly than our current GDP forecasts," the report states. "Indeed, growth stocks on the whole tend to be less impacted by cyclical forces, one of the reasons that, over time, they’re more likely to meet or beat estimates than their value counterparts."

Note: The EPS growth is the projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2013-2016, the PE estimates are based on 2014 Morgan Stanley research expectations, and the PEG ratio refers to the price-earnings to growth ratio which is an indicator of the stock's valuation. Growth stocks with lower PEGs are generally considered cheaper.

Albany Molecular Research, Inc.

Ticker: AMRI

EPS growth: 25%

PE 2014: 24.6

PEG ratio: 0.7

As a "provider of outsourced contracted manufacturing and discovery research services to the Biopharma industry," Albany Molecular research is "well positioned to benefit from secular trend of increased outsourcing," according to Morgan Stanley's Ricky Goldwasser.

Source: Morgan Stanley



Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: ALXN

EPS growth: 42%

PE 2014: 33.6

PEG ratio: 0.6

"Alexion’s key drug Soliris continues to expand into additional indications," according to Morgan Stanley's Matthew Harrison. "We look to indications for transplant support to drive additional growth over the next few years." 

Source: Morgan Stanley



American Tower Corp.

Ticker: ALXN

EPS growth: 14%

PE 2014: 43.9

PEG ratio: 1.0

The company will see "strong secular growth trends driven by the demand for mobile data in the US and emerging markets," according to Morgan Stanley's Simon Flannery.

Source: Morgan Stanley



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