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Why Dogs Kick When You Scratch Their Bellies

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dogIt’s called the sweet spot. That perfect place on your dog’s belly or sides that, when scratched, causes your pet’s foot to go into crazy automatic kicking mode. Every dog owner knows where to find this magical region on his or her canine, as it usually offers up unmitigated joy.

As delightful as this puppy kicking is to watch, this reaction is actually a means of self-protection for your pet. It’s called the scratch reflex, and it’s an involuntary response that exists to keep your dog safe from dangerous bugs or irritants.

dog

Underneath certain portions of your dog’s skin, there are collections of neural pathways that are connected to the spinal cord. When these nerves are activated – either by a scratch or a tickle – they quickly send messages to the spinal cord, which then instructs the dog’s leg to kick. For some dogs, the kicking can be more pronounced depending on how much scratching they feel.

“Dogs that have allergies in particular, it tends to be really easy to illicit that scratch reflex, because the dogs are borderline itchy anyway,” says Lore Haug, a veterinarian and animal behavior expert for Texas Veterinary Behavior Services. “But when you rub their skin more, it accentuates the scratching.”

According to Haug, the scratch reflex came about as way for animals to protect themselves against irritants on their bodies, especially invading bugs that could carry diseases. For example, if a dog has fleas running around on its skin, the insects’ itchiness will cause the scratch reflex to activate. Then, perhaps the kicking will knock some of the fleas off, alleviating the source of the itch.

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It’s similar to the reflexes seen in humans, which usually exist to protect us in some way. “Let’s say you touch a hot stove, and before your brain recognizes it’s painful, the spinal cord recognizes the pain, and you involuntarily jerk your hand back,” Haug says. “If you had to wait until your conscious brain recognized something was in danger, your delay in reaction time could cause an injury or even death in some cases.”

The scratch reflex can be useful for your veterinarian to determine if your pet is suffering from any nerve damage, kind of like when your doctor tests your knee reflexes during checkups. Also, since the reflex is more for swatting away pesky bugs, it doesn’t necessarily mean your dog likes being scratched in that particular area. But of course, some dogs do enjoy a good rub on the belly. You’ll just have to pick up on cues from your pet to figure that out.

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SEE ALSO: 25 Dogs Whose Halloween Costume Is Better Than Yours

READ MORE: Why Allowing Dogs At Work Will Make Employees More Productive

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Stunning Photos Show The Transformation Of Hong Kong Over 50 Years

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Author and writer Susan Blumberg-Kason has been interested in Hong Kong since an early age, when she dreamed of the the neon streets and double-decker buses. She soon moved there to study and married a Chinese man. The memoir about her experiences, "Good Chinese Wife," came out this year.

While in Hong Kong, Blumberg-Kason took photographs to document her surroundings. Later, when sifting through her many shots, she realized how closely they mirrored photographs taken in Hong Kong by her parents 50 years before.

Blumberg-Kason had shared both her own photographs, taken in 2012, and her parents' photographs from 1962, which give parallel views of a city that has grown exponentially. In those 50 years, Hong Kong Island and the surrounding areas saw tons of new construction and a massive influx in population.

Here's a photograph by Blumberg-Kason's mother took from Victoria Peak in 1962:Hong Kong 1962 32

In 2014, the same view looked like this:hong kong 2012

Here's the view from Hong Kong Harbor, looking upwards, in 1962:Hong Kong1

This is the view from the Harbor now.hong kon 2012

The Hong Kong Sheraton, a popular hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, has been in the area for decades. It looked like this in 1962:Sheraton 1974 HK

In 2012, it looks like this.hk 2012

Similarly, the New Territories peninsula area has seen much growth over the years. This is how it looked in 1962:Along the KCR 1974

And this is how it looks now. The areas population now constitutes more than 52% of Hong Kong's population overall.hk 2102

Central Hong Kong, now the heart of massive protests, was quite a fancy and glamorous place in 1962.

Hong Kong traffic police 1962 

Here's how it looked in 2012. The building in the center is the Hong Kong Supreme Court Building.hk 2012

And for reference, here's what the area looked like earlier this month when it was filled with protesters.hk protests

Some things haven't changed, though. For example, the outdoor markets from 1965...Market 1965

...look pretty similar in many respects to the ones you can still go today in Hong Kong.HK 2012

And, if you're lucky, you might see a Junk ship. 

1962:HK JUNK

2012:HK JUNK

SEE ALSO: See What Hong Kong Looked Like 42 Years Ago

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The 25 Best Resorts in Hawaii

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8. St. Regis Princeville Resort, Kauai

Condé Nast Traveler readers rate their favorite resorts in Hawaii. 

Click here to see the resorts >

Read more on Condé Nast Traveler:

25. Travaasa, Maui

Readers' Rating: 81.378

You won’t find a radio, a TV, or a clock in the open-air cottages at this "breathtaking resort" with a perfect design score. Some have private lanai hot tubs, and all have ocean views and cathedral ceilings. Perfect-scoring service "makes your visit unforgettable."

Beach lovers be warned: The hotel is not on the water—that’s a five-minute shuttle ride away. Still, this boutique hotel offers "old Hawaii at its best." Winding paths connect rooms to pools, tennis courts, and a croquet lawn. Take advantage of the spa treatments by the "very knowledgeable staff." The menu at Ka'uiki, overlooking the ocean and the grounds, changes every three days; chefs always use Maui-grown produce and fish from local waters.



24. Makena Beach & Gold Resort, Maui

Readers' Rating: 81.391

Makena means “place of abundance,” and there is plenty to be found at this resort, built in the shadow of the largest dormant volcano in Maui. Facing the sea on the island’s southwestern shore, the hotel has 290 rooms and 20 suites, decked out in soothing, beachy colors with cherry-wood furniture and private lanais.

Guests can rent bikes free of charge, and there’s also a gratis shuttle to Wailea Maui Golf Courses. Treat yourself to an ocean-side massage at Makena Kai Spa, and dine in style at Molokini Bar & Grille, which boasts fresh local seafood and sunset views.



23. Outrigger Reef on the beach, Honolulu, Oahu

Readers' Rating: 81.635

Following a $110 million renovation, this Waikiki resort has spanking-new rooms, three new restaurants, an expanded spa, and a rebuilt pool and deck. The revamped lobby is adorned with Polynesian canoe art, handpicked by historian Herb Kane.

Rooms and suites face onto the ocean or toward Honolulu, and come equipped with flat-screens and Nintendo systems for easily-distracted kids. All of which frees you up to go to the spa for a couple’s Lomi Lomi massage or catch live music with a tropical drink in your hand at the Kani Ka Pila Grille.



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An African Restaurant In Minnesota Has Been Forced To Change Its Menu Over Ebola Fears

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Mama Ti's African Kitchen

 Since the Ebola panic began in the US, the Liberian themed restaurant MaMa Ti’s African Kitchen in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota has seen a drastic 50% loss in sales, according to KMSP-TV Fox 9 News.

Customers are staying away from the three-year-old business out of fear of contracting the disease that is spreading rapidly throughout West Africa. 

The African name that once brought people in is now causing ridicule and stigmatization, with one customer even flat out asking if MaMa Ti's had Ebola, the restaurant's owner Kellita Whisnant told Fox 9 News.

Whisnant said that it has gotten so bad that people refuse to even shake her hand. 

Fed up with the stigma, she finally gave up and blocked out the word “African” on the restaurant’s sign this past weekend.

“Just putting that tape up there triggered emotions that I keep down, but that really hurt,” Whisnant told KSTP 5 Eyewitness News.

Even though Whisnant is covering her restaurant in fliers with facts about Ebola from the Department of Health, she predicts that her business will not last another three months if things don’t change. 

5 Eyewitness News reports she is even considering changing the entire concept of her restaurant, moving away from her homeland recipes and adding Philly Cheesesteaks to the menu.

Although it has been explicitly stated by the Center for Disease control that you can’t catch the virus through food legally grown or purchased in the US, many still have their worries. 

The Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, took his wife and health commissioner out to lunch at the Meatball Shop where Ebola patient Craig Spencer ate last week to dispel such concerns. Blasio wanted to prove that everything was safe and sanitary and tried several items on the menu. 

After the meal, de Blasio told reporters that, "this is a city that does not fall into a pattern of looking at fears. Everyone is going about their business as normal,"according to GrubStreet

SEE ALSO: Researchers At Harvard Discovered A New Potential Treatment For Ebola

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Wall Street Tycoon And Milwaukee Bucks Owner Has Listed His NYC Duplex For $17 Million

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271 Central Park West

Wesley Edens, founder of the equity firm Fortress Investment Group and owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has just put his home of 20 years on the market for $17 million, according to the New York Daily News.

With over 6,000 square feet of space, the pre-war classic Upper West Side duplex has six-bedrooms, four-bathrooms, and incredible views of Central Park. 

As you can expect, it's quite the exclusive home.

"This is a very discreet building," Jay Glazer, one of the listing agents with Urban Compass, told the NY Daily News. "It's not your 15 Central Park West. There are only two apartments per floor so it's extremely private."

Glazer and Landis Hosterman of Urban Compass are sharing the listing

Welcome to 271 Central Park West on New York's Upper West Side.



The entryway looks directly into the formal dining room, which has a stunning chandelier and seating for 12.



The spacious living room has high ceilings and large windows that look right out onto Central Park (which is only one block away).



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The 11 Hottest Video Games You Can Buy Right Now

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bayonetta-2

#GamerGate aside, it is a splendid time for video games.

November will mark a full year on the market for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. The Wii U, meanwhile, is coming up on its second birthday.

While the PlayStation 4 is edging out the Xbox in terms of sales, both consoles are still very young, and there are plenty of exciting games coming to these platforms. Nintendo’s more mature console is also starting to release some real heavy-hitters. 

There are plenty of other game platforms — mobile, PC, and portables like the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS — but these are the best games you can buy for all the latest-gen living room consoles, namely the PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U.

11. "Pikmin 3"

Consoles: Wii U

Buy it here

Summary:Players control three alien captains who explore the surface of a planet known as ‘PNF-404’ in search of cultivable fruit seeds to save their home planet, Koppai, from famine. They meet and befriend the Pikmin, who assist them." 

Notable review:When playing a Nintendo game, such as 'Pikmin 3,' it’s hard to wrap your finger around what exactly it is, or how the company made it that way, but it’s there. What is it? Magic, secret sauce, whatever you want to call it — that feeling of pure fun and excitement in your belly. Nintendo knows how to make it, and with 'Pikmin 3,' the wonder, excitement, fun, uniqueness, and a variety of other adjectives come together in full force to make a truly magical experience that you can only find on a Nintendo system. The presentation, from the cutscenes, the engaging banter between the three characters, the cinematic camera angles and bosses, and the beautifully intricate end-of-day segments all work together to make you realize that better graphics aren’t the only thing that comes with an HD Nintendo system, but a more polished, better game experience as well.” - Dustin Grissom, Nintendojo

 



10. "NBA 2K15"

Consoles: PS4, Xbox One

Buy it here

Summary: "'NBA 2K15' features approximately 5,000 new animations, new defensive AI, shooting systems, new team-specific play sets, and more control over rebounding, steals, and blocks. Ernie Johnson and Shaq O'Neal delivers commentary and analysis to the action.”

Notable review:The overhauled control scheme and helpful shot meter are the types of improvements basketball fans have been waiting for. Battling for space and effectively using a screen to set up a wide-open jumper is superbly satisfying, and while it can be a struggle to keep up on defense, the interaction between all 10 men on the court at any time has never looked or felt this real.” - Josiah Renaudin, GameSpot



9. "Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition"

Consoles: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360

Buy it here

Summary:Take on the role of one of six powerful character classes — Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor, Wizard, or the all-new Crusader — and embark on a dark journey through Acts I-V to save the world of Sanctuary from ancient and sinister forces.”

Notable review:This is the third time I've reviewed some version of 'Diablo 3,' and each time I've been met by a better, more refined experience. 'Ultimate Evil Edition' collects the entirety of that experience in a slick new wrapper, giving console owners a complete, and uncompromised version of 'Diablo 3.' Finally, 'Ultimate Evil' serves up a few social-minded twists like an in-game mail system to gift loot to friends, and a new nemesis system which allows a monster that slays someone on your friend's list to grow in power and come into your game to give you a chance to avenge your fallen comrade. It's a cute trick, but not a game-changer in any way. The real star is still the ability to play on the couch with up to three friends, tearing through the angry hordes that await you in adventure mode, where the wildly randomized dungeons form the backbone of 'Diablo 3's' endgame.” - Vince Ingenito, IGN



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What Some Of Google's Most Elite, Entrepreneurial Employees Are Doing Now (GOOG)

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Jess Lee headshot

Since Marissa Mayer started Google's associate product manager program — APM for short — more than a decade ago, it has swelled into one of the company's most elite entry-level positions. 

Mayer started the two-year rotational training program to home-grow managers who would be "Googley." The program has since become rather legendary, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Steven Levy that he expects an APM alumni to run the company someday.

When you pick people who are leaders and show the sort of entrepreneurial zeal that makes them a great fit at Google, you also pick people who are confident enough to leave Google to build their own companies. 

And a lot have. 

"We get two to four good years, and if 20 percent stay with the company, that's a good rate," Mayer told Newsweek in 2007. "Even if they leave it's still good for us. I'm sure that someone in this group is going to start a company that I will buy some day."

Brian Rakowski was Google's very first APM.

Rakowski is now Google's VP of product management focusing on Android. Suitably, Rakowski also now runs the APM program.

What's changed since Mayer left the program? Not much, according to Rakowski. 

"One of the best things about the APM program is that so many incredible people have gone through the program over the last 11 years and want stay involved,"he writes on Quora. "In the spirit of tapping into the alumni network, we've also started a APM speaker series where APM alumni who have gone on to do interesting things (at Google or outside) give a talk to the current APMs."



Jeff Bartelma left Google to join Dropbox.

Bartelma studied engineering at MIT before joining the APM program, where he worked on product search. He eventually left Google to be the director of product at Dropbox in 2010. 



Si Shen cofounded Papaya Mobile in 2008.

Shen spent four years at Google working on Android development and marketing and then Maps before founding Beijing-based mobile gaming company Papaya Mobile in 2008. Papaya Mobile created over 13 games, and then shifted to start making its mobile game engine available to other social game developers. According to its website, the company has over 1,000 titles connecting to its network. 

Interestingly, Shen also appeared on a popular Chinese dating reality show in 2012, which helped her company become more widely recognized, according to Women of China



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12 Mind-Blowing Facts About Apple That Show Just How Massive The Company Really Is (AAPL)

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Tim Cooke

Apple is the largest publically traded company in the US by market capitalization (the value of its shares).

But it's hard to wrap your head around that fact.

Can you picture the value of Apple's shares, $626 billion?

The iPhone's popularity has catapulted Apple from an underdog fighting IBM to arguably the most successful consumer electronics companies out there.

To underscore how big Apple has become, we've put together some mind-blowing facts about the business.

Last quarter Apple's revenue was $42.1 billion. That's larger than the entire economy of Turkmenistan.



Apple has $155 billion in cash on hand. Split equally among the US population (316 million), that's $490 per person.



That's enough cash to buy 2,384 Gulfstream G650s, with a little left over for fuel.



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A Presentation Guru Shares His Top 10 Speeches

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drew banks

Engaging people during a business meeting can be difficult so it essential you grab your audiences attention from the get go.

Thanks to our increased dependence on computer screens and devices, visual communication fast becoming the universal way to converse.

In fact, people remember 80% of what they see compared to 10% of what they hear, according to psychologist Jerome Bruner of New York University.

With this in mind we reached out to Drew Banks, the head of International at Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software, to find out his favourite presentations ever used.

Banks says: “Great speakers entertain us. They persuade us and above all, they inspire us.”

Visual Storytelling

Winston Churchill: "We Shall Fight on the Beaches"

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Winston gave this speech in the House of Commons on 4 June 1940. In an era void of presentation software or computer visualization, Churchill painted a visual landscape with his words. He showed his listeners the beaches, the fields, the streets and the hills on which they were impelled to fight for their island and their empire beyond the seas. 



The Build

Barack Obama: "The Audacity of Hope"

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In 2004, Barack Obama was a veritable unknown senatorial candidate from Illinois. All that changed with his riveting keynote at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In this speech, Barack employs a tried-and-true technique used by political and religious leaders alike. It involves an orchestrated sequence of emotionally charged statements that builds to a rousing crescendo. Note how Barack underscores his cadence with diction, volume and body language.



Anti-establishmentarianism

Steve Jobs: "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish"

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 Steve Jobs captivated his audiences with an archetypal persona: the quintessential outsider rising up against the status quo to ignite the fire of revolution. In his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address, he was the college dropout rallying the next generation of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Steve’s revolutionary sentiment became a hallmark of Apple’s brand as he incorporated it in many of his public communications from product launches to marketing campaigns.



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The 25 Best Players In The NBA Right Now

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stephen curry warriors

Back in February, we put together a list of the 25 best players in the NBA at the time. And looking at it today, there are at least one or two guys on that list who don't belong anywhere near a collection of the best players in the NBA right now.

For example, Roy Hibbert, who landed at No. 25? After what we saw from him in the NBA Playoffs last season, no. Just no. There are also a few players like Anthony Davis, who landed at No. 11 in February, who have clearly improved a lot in the offseason and deserve to be ranked even higher this time around. And of course, there are a couple other players, including Derrick Rose, who were left off the list last season due to injuries. But they deserve to be on it today.

Isn't that one of the things that's so great about the NBA? In a matter of just months, players can shoot up "best player" lists or fall off of them completely due to poor play (or in some cases, injuries, which why you unfortunately won't find Paul George, who was No. 3 on the list in February, on the list now). It leads to endless amounts of debate amongst NBA fans and makes it important for people to stay up on what's going on within the league at all times.

As we prepare to tip off the 2014-15 NBA season later this week, here's our list of The 25 Best Players in the NBA Right Now

Click here to see the top 25 players >

More from Complex:

25. Kobe Bryant

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2013-14 Stats: 13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.2 SPG (only played six games due to injury)

At 36, Kobe clearly isn't the player that he used to be at the start of his career. Hell, he's probably not even the player he was two years ago before a series of leg injuries sidelined him and forced everyone to wonder whether or not he'd ever be able to play at a high level again. But if nothing else, Kobe is determined right now. Determined to show NBA fans that he can play for between 30 and 40 minutes every night. Determined to prove that he's still got a little bit of gas left in the tank. And determined to score 593 points to pass Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Kobe's not going to lead the Lakers to a championship this season. And he probably won't even lead them to the playoffs. But he will give us a reason to watch the Lakers again, which is something that we avoided at all costs last season. Kobe is back, and the NBA is better for it.



24. Kawhi Leonard

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2013-14 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 SPG

When the Spurs swingman first came into the league, he was known primarily for his defense and his ability to rebound the basketball. His offensive skills were an afterthought and there weren't many people who thought he would develop into a reliable scorer for San Antonio. But after a pretty solid showing in the 2013 NBA Finals, Leonard proved his doubters wrong by shooting 61.8 percent from the field during the 2014 NBA Finals and winning the Finals MVP award while leading the Spurs to a 4-1 series win over the Heat.

At just 22, Leonard is only going to get better, too. He'll be relied upon to score more this season and, once he beats the lingering eye infection that has kept him out of most of the preseason this year, we fully expect him to pick up where he left off last season with the Spurs.



23. Dirk Nowitzki

Team: Dallas Mavericks
2013-14 Stats: 21.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG

Now that he's 36, Nowitzki is finding that he's unable to do some of the things that he used to do on the court. He has struggled with injuries in recent years and can't play as many minutes as he did a few seasons ago. But that doesn't mean that he can't be an effective player anymore. He has reportedly worked on making his shot release even quicker than it already was, which will make it difficult for opponents to defend him. He is trying to incorporate a sky hook into his arsenal, which would just be unfair to the opposition. And thanks to the offseason addition of Chandler Parsons to the Mavericks roster, Nowitzki won't have to worry about shouldering the load for Dallas anymore. So he should continue to produce for Dallas, even though he's clearly entering the twilight of his career.



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How To Manage Every Personality Type

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bi graphics river

Experienced managers know that there's not a single management style that works on every type of employee. An approach that motivates one may have the opposite effect on another.

That's why we turned to Paul Tieger, CEO of SpeedReading People and coauthor of "Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type," which has sold more than 1 million copies over five editions.

Tieger has spent 30 years advising companies and individuals on how to manage according to personality type to maximize team effectiveness.

Tieger uses a system that is based on the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types — which were themselves based on the work of pioneering psychotherapist Carl Jung — but is unaffiliated with the official Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test.

He's used his experience to develop a system called TeamWorks that identifies each personality type's strengths and weaknesses and offers insight into how to motivate, provide feedback, and retain employees of every type.

You can have your employees determine which personality type best characterizes them, and then develop a management style suited to their needs.

Tieger has collected the main points for each type to help you get started.

First, determine where your employees fit in to each of the four categories.



Stay strictly logical with ESTJs.



Reward ISTJs with more challenges.



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20 Photos Of Overcrowded Places That Will Make You Appreciate Your Space

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Overcrowded Cities

In seeing a scrambling horde of travelers desperately trying to board a train, or a sea of colorful umbrellas blurring the line where sand meets sea, we are reminded of just how lucky we are to find room to maneuver.  

The current world population of over 7 billion is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to the UN. 

These startling images of global landscapes capture the world's vast population already at its most squeezed — from train stations to tower blocks to sunny beaches.

If you're after a sunbed in Qingdao, east China, you'll be queuing for some time.



You might not even get to swim at all at this artificial wave pool in Sichuan province.



And if you find yourself in Liaoning province, close to North Korea, you'd be lucky to find room to do anything at all.



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The President Of Beats Electronics Bought This Stunning Hilltop Mansion For $8.5 Million

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luke wood house

Luke Wood, president of Beats Electronics, has purchased this gorgeous historic home in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, Curbed LA reports. It was originally listed for $7.5 million, but sold for $8.55 million after a fierce competition among several potential buyers. 

Built by noted architect John Lautner in the 1960s, the home is nicknamed "Silvertop" for its sloping concrete roof and dramatic appearance. The home has a number of interesting features, including retractable glass walls and a hydraulic dining room table that can be lowered when needed. 

Wood reportedly will complete a historic restoration of the home and hopes to move in with his family by next summer.

The home is located on the top of a hill in Los Angeles' hip Silver Lake neighborhood.



The home is nicknamed "Silvertop" for its domed roof and futuristic look. Movie buffs may recognize it from the 1987 film "Less Than Zero," which starred Robert Downey Jr. and James Spader.



Silvertop was first commissioned for industrialist Kenneth Reiner in 1956, but he went bankrupt before the house was completed. It was then sold to the Burchill family, who have sold it to Wood after nearly 40 years of living on the stunning property.



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Check Out The New Boeing Dreamliner Richard Branson Just Launched With A Gospel Choir

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Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner VA_ATLANTA_B072.JPG

Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Richard Branson introduced the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to the flying public recently in a ceremony at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

The adventurous entrepreneur not only showed off the Dreamliner, but also unveiled brand-new daily service between the airline's home base in London and the Georgia state capital. Atlanta is home to Delta Airlines, which purchased 49% of Virgin Atlantic Airways in 2013 for $360 million.

Christened "Birthday Girl" by Virgin Atlantic in honor of the 30th anniversary of the airline's first flight from London Gatwick Airport to Newark Liberty in June of 1984, the 787 entered service this week, flying between London Heathrow and Boston. 

Virgin's Boeing 787-9 fleet will carry up to 264 passengers in 3 separate classes — Upper Class, Premium Economy, and Economy.  The Dreamliner is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent turbofan engines and will have a maximum range of 8,500 nautical miles. 

Virgin's debut Dreamliner will be the first stretched 787-9 to fly with a European Airline and will be one of 15 to enter the airline's fleet by 2018. So far, the only other airlines to operate the larger Dreamliner are All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, and United Airlines.

As part of increased cooperation with with Delta, Virgin Atlantic will assume one of Delta's daily flights from Atlanta to London this fall. The airline expects to expand service in Atlanta with additional flight to other destinations in the UK.



'I've always loved visiting Atlanta,' Branson said to local news. 'Now I get to visit in style on Virgin Atlantic.'



Virgin's new 787-9 Dreamliner will be able to fly up to an altitude of 40,000 ft. and should be as much as 21% more fuel efficient than the older and larger Airbus A340-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft it will replace.



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How Retailers Got American Kids An Extra Hour To Trick-Or-Treat On Halloween

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Daylight saving time 2014

Before 2007, kids had to turn in early on Halloween night because the streets were dark by 5 PM. But after President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act into law, extending Daylight Savings Time (DST) by a week, kids got more time to grab all the candy they could get.

This year, America will roll its clocks an hour back on November 2nd at 2 AM, a couple of days after Halloween.

The law was the end result of intense lobbying. In "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," author Michael Downing describes how the retail industry makes hundreds of millions of dollars off DST each year and is largely the reason we still change our clocks.

“When we have an hour of sunlight after work, Americans tend to go shopping,” Downing explained to NPR.

The Chamber of Commerce, the golf industry, and the BBQ industry urged Congress to extend DST. As USA Today reported in July 2005, retailers testified during the congressional debate that an extension "would boost business, as people shop more.” 

According to their own testimony, the golf industry told Congress that an additional month of DST was worth $200 million, while the BBQ industry said it was worth $100 million in extra sales of grills and charcoal briquettes.

candy pumpkins

But no one lobbied harder for the extension than the candy industry. According to Downing, it had been trying to extend DST into November since the 1980s just so there would an extra hour of daylight for children to collect even more candy while trick-or-treating, thus forcing people to purchase more sweets to meet demand. 

Candy retailers wanted this so badly that in 1986 they lobbied to extend DST into the beginning of November by putting candy pumpkins on the seat of every senator, according to a press release from the Department of Transportation: 

“Mindful of Halloween trick-or-treating, the National Confectioner’s Association was among those that lobbied Congress unsuccessfully in 1986 to have it extended into November. According to ‘mother time’ Joanne Petrie, an attorney with the Department of Transportation, the confectioners made a valiant attempt and even put little pumpkins with candy on the chairs of the committee members!”

The candy industry, however, disputes this account. The president of the National Confectioners Association Lawrence T. Graham told the New York Times in 2007: “For us to spend time on Capitol Hill and have meetings to get Daylight Saving Time changed — we’re not even sure it would be good for our industry,” he said. “It’s never been a major issue for us, and it’s certainly not now.”

Tiny candy pumpkins or no, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act into law in 2005 and the law went into effect in 2007. This year will be the eighth time DST has fallen after Halloween.

So the next time you’re grumbling about turning back your clocks, remember not to blame farmers (who actually universally oppose DST) but Big Business and the candy industry. 

SEE ALSO: The Most Iconic Halloween Costumes Of The Last 20 Years

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Life on Facebook!

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Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Finally Sells DC Mansion For $2.8 Million After Removing A Giant Shark Tank

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Gilbert Arenas hasn't played for the Washington Wizards since 2010, but he just sold his house in D.C. for $2.5 million, according to Curbed.com.

Arenas put the house on the market two years ago for $3.5 million, and the home would just not sell. Since the house first went on sale, it has seen some renovations, like the removal of a giant built-in shark tank in one of the rooms.

The house has 7 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms, a gym, and a movie theater. Perhaps the best part of the property is the backyard which has a pool with a slide and a grotto with a full wet bar. 

The before and after picture of the fish tank. It must not have been a big selling point...



The outdoor space is gorgeous.



A full view of the pool.



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Big, Beautiful Photos Of Google's Gigantic New Phone, The Nexus 6 (GOOG)

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Google recently unveiled its newest smartphone, the Nexus 6, and it's the company's largest phone yet. It comes with a massive display that's even larger than the iPhone 6 Plus'.

But the Nexus 6 isn't just Google's biggest phone; in fact, it marks a few important firsts for the Nexus line. It's the only Nexus phone that will be released widely across all major US carriers rather than just the Google Play Store.

The Nexus 6 will be available next month, and here's a look at what to expect.

Here's what the box for the Nexus 6 looks like.



The box is sealed shut with two red stickers that tell you which configuration you bought.



And this is the Nexus 6.



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The 20 Most Popular TED Talks Of All Time

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Nonprofit organization TED launched in 1984 with a mission to present ideas worth sharing.

It has since become a cultural phenomenon, bringing together thought leaders from around the globe to give short, 18-minute talks about ideas that could change the world.

Of the more than 1,800 TED Talks, which have been viewed a total of 2.5 billion times across all platforms, a few have risen to the top. The following 20 talks are the most popular ever on Ted.com.

This is an update of an article written by Samuel Blackstone and Aimee Groth.

20. Keith Barry hacks the most complex thing in nature, the human brain.

Views: 8 million

Keith Barry is well known in Europe for his mind-blowing (literally) stunts. Some call him a magician, others call him a brain hacker. Whatever the name, Barry entertains with "brain magic," composing routines that exploit the human mind's loopholes and bugs. The effect is a revealing look into the complex software between our ears. 

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19. David Blaine explains how he held his breath underwater for 17 minutes.

Views: 8.5 million

Magician David Blaine reveals how he hit this world record and why he chooses to put his life on the line to entertain audiences. When he decided to see how long he could hold his breath, for example, a surgeon told him anything longer than six minutes would risk serious brain damage. "So, I took that as a challenge," Blaine says.

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18. Cameron Russell describes what it's really like to be a supermodel.

Views: 8.5 million

The Victoria Secret underwear model knows that she "won a genetic lottery," but she also admits that she is insecure, since she has to think about what she looks like every day. "If you ever are wondering, 'If I have thinner thighs and shinier hair, will I be happier?' you just need to meet a group of models, because they have the thinnest thighs and the shiniest hair and the coolest clothes, and they're the most physically insecure women probably on the planet."

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The Director Of The Viral Catcalling Video Explains Why It Was Street Harassment

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Rob Bliss of Rob Bliss Creative filmed New York-based actress Shoshana B. Roberts walking around New York City for 10 hours and getting harassed by men on the street.

The video quickly went viral. He posted it on YouTube on Tuesday, and at the time of this story, it already has been viewed almost 6 million times in less than 24 hours.

“Things are very, very overwhelming,” Bliss told Business Insider. “This is the most social viral video I’ve ever done.”

Bliss says the response to the video has been incredibly varied. “People are sharing their personal experiences, they’re saying how it’s changed how they look at the issue,” Bliss told us. “[But Shoshana] is also receiving threats which is the really frustrating part.”

But many commenters — most of them men — were confused why this was even harassment at all. Bliss says without a doubt that it is. 

“In New York City, you don’t just say hi to random strangers,” he said. “If a guy is asking you how you’re doing, there are motives there outside of just wondering about a complete stranger’s day. Who cares about that? It’s because they have other motives and everyone involved in this situation knows it.”

And for those who still disagree, Bliss says to imagine yourself in this situation.

“Imagine that you are that girl — or, better yet, imagine that you are you,” he said. “And you’re walking down the street and every guy you saw in that video said those exact same things to you. How would you feel? And not only that, add in the fear that you have because you are vulnerable because these men are stronger than you and have the ability to overpower you. That is the real world. So imagine that you feel that vulnerability that these people could overpower you if they wanted to and most of the time you would lose that fight. Ask yourself how you would feel about that.”

Bliss approached Hollaback!, a nonprofit dedicated to ending street harassment, about his idea to film the catcalls that women have to deal with on a daily basis. He said he’d never seen anything like it done before, and that it was something people needed to see.  

“For men, I wanted to show them what street harassment looks like because I don’t think they’ve ever really seen it or been able to experience it,” Bliss explained to us. “And for women, I wanted to empower them and give them the ability to look at it from the safety of their home or their phone and to be able to better understand this issue without being so close to it.”

Bliss filmed Roberts with a hidden GoPro camera strapped to his chest and hidden under his t-shirt for 10 hours total, walking around all areas of Manhattan over the course of a few days for two to three hour shifts at a time. They started in lower Manhattan and walked all the way up to Harlem — anywhere there was a heavy pedestrian presence.

The video captured men saying a variety of things to Roberts, from “have a good day” to “smile” to people shouting “sexy” at her. In addition to the hundreds of instances of verbal harassment, she had men winking, staring, and whistling at her.

This is all while she’s walking down the street, minding her own business, and not saying anything.

One man in the video even followed her for almost six minutes. “That was especially bad,” Bliss said. “What was sad was that I had no idea it was happening until it was over. I can’t imagine how helpless she may have felt especially since I asked her not to respond or react in any way.”

street harassment Hollaback! video rob blissIn a world where it’s not unheard of for women to be stabbed, choked, shot, or brutalized for not responding to a man’s advances, it’s important to remember that street harassment is real, and that it happens every day.

Check out the work of Robert Bliss Creative here >

And follow the Hollaback! campaign >

SEE ALSO: No One Should Have To 'Deal' With Catcallers — Here's How To Handle Street Harassment

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A Day In The Life Of Dynamic Morgan Stanley Exec Gary Kaminsky

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Gary Kaminsky

Early mornings, high-powered meetings, and and peanut butter oatmeal, it's all par for the course in the life of Gary Kaminsky, Morgan Stanley's vice chairman of wealth management and former capital markets editor at CNBC.

Kaminsky left CNBC for Morgan Stanley last year, joining the ranks of one of the hottest teams on The Street.

It's an increasingly demanding business — wealth management has become one of finance's most profitable sectors — but Kaminsky remains energetic as ever, preparing for his sixth New York City Marathon and putting in those long hours with style.

If you would like to participate in our "Day In The Life" on Wall Street series, feel free to send an email and a brief description of why you would be a great candidate to jlaroche@businessinsider.com or llopez@businessinsider.com. 

I always set this baby for 5 a.m., but honestly I can't remember the last time I didn't wake up before then.



Stopped drinking coffee late last year ... This is my magic energy potion.



Vanilla almond milk, banana, ice and blueberries... Everyday no matter where I wake up in the world.



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