Where is the best place to make a living?

In today's tough economy, it's an especially relevant question.

A recent CareerBuilder survey found that 44 percent of workers said they'd be willing to relocate for a job opportunity.

Check out the states >

For the second year in a row, MoneyRates.com sought to answer this question through a state-by-state look at four things:

• Average income
• Cost of living, based on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index
• State income tax rate (based on the bracket for the state's average income)
• Unemployment rate

To determine rankings, this study uses an adjusted average income figure based on these factors.

This figure is intended to provide insight into the earning environment of each state, and determine which places fare best — and worst — when all four variables are taken into account.

The 2012 winners

When compared to the 2011 results, the 2012 rankings reveal a high degree of consistency in the top 10 states. Seven states from last year's top 10 repeated that feat this year.

However, the analysis did yield a new champion: Virginia jumped from fourth place in 2011 to first place this year, while last year's number one, Illinois, swapped places with Virginia, falling to number four.

10. Massachusetts

Adjusted average income: $38,793

Another state that benefits from high incomes but is also experiencing a rapid rise in cost of living, Massachusetts slipped from the sixth position in last year's standings.

9. Delaware

Adjusted average income: $38,802

Ranked fifth last year, Delaware slipped a bit this year, but still hung onto a top 10 position.

Delaware benefits from a high average income, though over the past year the state's cost of living grew faster than the national average.

8. Utah

Adjusted average income: $39,250

Another newcomer to the top 10 this year is Utah, which climbed 13 places from last year.

Utah benefits from having cost of living and unemployment figures that are well below the national averages.

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A new study published Thursday in the journal Science provides the most definitive — and accurate — evidence yet that polar ice caps on Greenland and Antarctica are melting. 

Shrinking ice is not the only telltale sign that climate change is real. From rising air and ocean temperatures to stronger storms to record droughts, evidence of a changing global climate is all around us. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (also known as the IPCC) has linked many of these changes in climate to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, which was documented in a 2007 assessment report compiled by thousands of scientists over decades of research and debate.

Regardless of their causes – whether you believe in anthropogenic drivers, like fossil fuels from power plants and cars or not — the observed changes in climate are scientific facts that have grave implications for the future of natural and human systems.

Global temperature trends estimated by four different research groups all show a warming of the Earth over the past century, with particularly rapid increases through the past few decades.

Source: EDF

Since 1901, global average surface temperatures have risen at an average rate of 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit per decade. The United States has warmed at nearly twice the global rate since the 1970s.

Source: EPA

Average temperatures in January-October of 2012 were the highest in the continental U.S. (1.04 degrees Fahrenheit above normal) and the ninth highest worldwide, since records began in 1850.

Source: Business Insider

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With less than a month of holiday shopping left, shoppers will be in a mad rush to snatch up last-minute gifts for friends and family.

If you decided to cut your losses and skip the Black Friday/Cyber Monday frenzy this year, there's some good news: There are plenty of great gifts out there to choose from.

In fact, you'd be amazed at what $50 can buy.

Click here for the full list >

Or, find the right section for you: 

For everyone on your list > 

For gadget lovers >

For the ladies > 

For the guys > 

GREAT GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST....

Show off your photos in 3-D with the Image 3-D View-Master

Kick back and enjoy photos like it's 1989. Image 3-D is making customizable View-Masters online. 

Each set costs $24.95 and comes with a reel of your photos, a viewer (in red, black, blue or white), and a gift box.

Price: $24.95

Keep credit card scammers at bay with the ID Sronghold Wallet

It's disturbing to think how simple it is for thieves to walk off with our credit and debit card information without them ever leaving our wallets.

They use tools called RFID scanners, which anyone can pick up on Ebay, that scan credit cards through purses, wallets, etc. and store them without the card's owner ever realizing it. 

Unless your credit card is equipped with an encrypted EMV chip (they can't be scanned by these tools), then a specialty wallet made to block RFID scanners is an excellent idea. 

Price: $40

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It's no secret that print media's seen better days.

But the magazine industry has its own secret history of innovation and reinvention.

In 1953, for example, Life magazine chartered a jet plane and put a photographic darkroom in it to cover the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. A team of 34 reporters, editors, and photo technicians produced a special issue in the air, flying it straight to a printing plant in Chicago.

When Wired magazine launched in 1993, it used a then-new six-color printing process to tell the story of the digital revolution in fluorescent colors.

Now technology is pushing beyond paper itself, with tablet magazines as the latest frontier. This isn't a good or bad thing. It's just the times, and they are a-changin'.

And some magazines are really nailing it in the iPad format.

Wired

Wired remains a mainstay of the tech scene, a monthly snapshot at what's happening in culture and technology. And its iPad app takes full advantage of the device's capabilities, offering video and animation inside of articles, as well as bonus content not available in the print version.

Check it out here >

The New Yorker

If you dig highbrow humor and thoughtful editorial, then you might already have a subscription to The New Yorker. The digital version is completely free for print subscribers. You even get access to an extensive web archive of back issues dating all the way to 1925.

Check it out here >

National Geographic

National Geographic has offered unique looks at the weird and wonderful parts of the planet. Its beautiful photo and video content translate perfectly to the tablet experience.

Check it out here >

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Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz released photos and specs for the SLS AMG Black Series, the incredibly powerful production spinoff of the SLS AMG GT3 race car.

At the LA Auto Show on Wednesday, the Black Series made its first public debut during the Mercedes-Benz press conference. First, the crowd of auto journalists heard the 6.3-liter V8 engine (which produces 622 horsepower). Then, it drove onto the stage.

Everyone stayed back while Steve Cannon, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, heralded the car's 196 mph top speed and 0 to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and went over the different packages available.

Then he stepped out of the way, and the car was surrounded by excited reporters.

During the press conference, the crowd waited eagerly to see the Black Series.

Everyone jostled to get a good view as the car rolled into view.

Then Steve Cannon and Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, showed it off in all its glory.

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Teal: It's not the manliest color.

Still, the Ghadir class submarines Iran recently put into the water have some scary little attributes. It also isn't the only vessel Iran has under construction.

Their Naval Show Nov. 28 celebrated the completion of two of those Teal Ghadirs and another two of their killer-cool hovercrafts. They also noted the completion of one stage of their guided missile frigate the "Jamaran," which was built organically within Iran.

The Ghadir class midget sub is torpedo equipped, diesel fueled and considered 'sonar silent.' It's also small enough to maneuver in shallow water.

The 'Tondar' or Thunder hovercraft is missile ready as well as capable of launching surveillance drones.

This 'Jamaran' guided missile destroyer reached a new stage of construction. It will be the first organically built frigate in Iran's Navy.

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Sports paraphernalia like jerseys and signed balls are fine for holiday gifts — but you're better than that.

This year, get the sports-obsessed person on your list something they'll actually use and thank you for.

We have the perfect gift ideas for the sports fans in your life. 

So stop searching on eBay for a signed Manning jersey (you won't find a real one anyways), and take a look at our list instead. You're welcome.

The fan-gamer will love EA Sports Games.

Sometimes watching your favorite sport isn't enough. EA Sports has Madden NFL, NCAA Football, FIFA Soccer, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, NHL, NBA Live, and even more.

There's something for every game- and sports-lover here.

Price: Varies by game ($39.99-$79.99), see more details at the company website.

Get them access to premium online sports content with ESPN Insider.

If your friend is constantly on ESPN and checking player stats, consider buying him or her an ESPN Insider membership.

It gives the sports fan access to insider-exclusive expert analysis, predictive tools, and much, much more.

Price:Monthly $7.95; 1-year $39.95; 2-year $59.95

The sports historical buff will love the 'In the Moment' photography book.

This coffee table book is a collection of works by Tom Jenkins, an award-winning British sports photographer who has been making headlines since 1990.

Jenkins has taken incredible sports photos from Wimbledon, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the World Cup Finals. 

Price:$34.50

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As the Batmobile goes up for sale, we look at 30 great cars in films and TV, from 007 to Laurel And Hardy.

The Batmobile

The Batmobile was a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car adapted by George Barris.

It featured the Batphone, a Bat Eye Switch and Bat Smoke and was used in the television series starring Adam West.

Ghostbusters

The Ectombile, or Ecto-1 was used in the 1984 comedy Ghostbusters.

The paranormal exterminator service Ghostbusters used this converted 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance to drive to places in New York that were overrun by evil spirits.

Genevieve

Genevieve is a 1904 Darracq that regularly takes part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

It was the star of the 1953 romantic comedy starring John Gregson and Dinah Sheridan.

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Bill McBride recently told us he'd visited Temecula, CA and discovered a economy in full recovery mode.

We wanted to see what he was talking about, and now we have some evidence.

Jim Klinge, a realtor based down the road from Temecula in Carlsbad, sent us a video of a gaggle of bidders for a 1,500-square-foot home in San Marcos going for $399,999.

We screengrabbed the most dramatic, competitive moments of the process.

Watch as the bids keep rising.

Some hungry eyes here: 

Watch this woman — you'll see why later. She's actually representing a client, who's at a kid's birthday party. She opens with a bid of $405,000

This couple — their agent is on the left — decides not to bid.

This couple goes $406,000

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Snapchat, a photo-sharing app, has seen massive growth since launching last year in September.

We are convinced that that runaway growth has a lot to do with features that make it ideal for sexting, or sharing risqué photos of yourself with friends.

Or "friends," we should say, who might suddenly turn around and share those photos with others or post them online.

At least in theory, Snapchat makes it impossible for your "friends" to do that.

(In reality, there are ways around the controls, so be careful. Those nude, drunk photos you thought it would be fun to share might find their way to Facebook even if you use Snapchat).

Snapchat is pretty simple to use. You take a photo, send it to a friend, and decide how long they can see it for, anywhere between one and ten seconds. After that, it's gone.

Click here to see how to use it >

Sounds like a pretty good way to send naughty photos, right?

Wrong.

There's no such thing as safe sexting.

While Snapchat tries to deter users from taking screenshots of your photos, it's definitely still possible to do it.

Snapchat requires you to keep your finger on the photo the entire time you're looking at it, so mobility is limited. But anyone with two hands can easily figure out a way to take a screenshot of your photo before it disappears.

Snapchat will let you know if someone took a screenshot of your photo, but at that point, it's too late because now that person has their own copy of the picture to share with who knows how many people.

At least you've been warned.

We've asked Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel about all the sexting-friendly features he built into the app. After all, why worry about people sharing your photo if it's an innocent snapshot?

He hasn't responded to our questions, asking instead if we've used the app.

We have. It is possible to keep it clean while using Snapchat, as we're doing in this walkthrough. But it also gave us a clear picture of how teens might use the app in the real world.

Locate the app on your home screen to launch Snapchat

Click the button on the right-hand side to add friends to share photos with.

You can pull in friends from Facebook or your address book.

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We finally made it to http://dealnews.com/features/The-Best-and-Worst-Things-to-Buy-in-November/513376.html, one of the happiest months for budget-conscious shopping.

Many categories hit their lowest points during this month, usually around Black Friday (not surprisingly). But let's not forget that the month is made up of 30 full days, not to mention the fact that daylight savings ends. (That gives us one more hour to shop!) That means there are deals to be had all month long, not just around the major shopping event.

Contrary to popular belief, however, November isn't the best time to buy everything. That said, many product categories will see great deals — there are just a few caveats.

Home Furniture Surprises with Strong Deals:

Many other media outlets will tell you that January is the best time to buy furniture, since manufacturers begin introducing new styles in February.

Our archives reflect that January is indeed a good month for bargains on home furniture, but November may be even stronger. Two years of data show that November featured the greatest volume of Editors' Choice offerings, as well as the most furniture deals in general. In fact, last year, we saw 39% more home furniture deals in November than we did in January 2011.

Expect to see discounted pieces from Walmart, Target, Kohl's, JCPenney, Sears, Amazon, Overstock, and more. One caveat: January did offer a few more general furniture sales of note (like from Pier 1 Imports) than November.

Current Season Apparel, the Good and the Bad:

Last month we noted that winter season apparel items will likely see their greatest sales beginning in January.

However, last year, a number of apparel stores offered their best online coupons of the year in the weeks leading up to (and around) Black Friday, and most stacked with existing sales and markdowns.

Expect to see an abundance of "best of the year" coupons that take 20% to 40% off, with some reaching even higher discounts. (In fact, 57% of last year's Editors' Choice apparel coupons available during the week of Black Friday took a full 30% off or more.)

Tis Not Yet the Season for Toys:

With all the holiday shopping you'll likely be doing at the end of this month, you may start to get overly confident and think, "I can save on toys for the kids too!"

As we reported a few weeks ago, however, the best time to get the greatest discounts on toys for the holidays is during the 14 days leading up to Christmas.

Moreover, if you're considering buying a new game console for your kid, keep in mind that there are rumored new releases — finally! — from both Wii and Xbox next year, which should push down the retail prices of today's "current" systems (which are actually several years old

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Fast food restaurants have a somewhat unsavory reputation for being bland and predictable. The decor and architecture usually fail to impress and fall somewhere along the lines of boring and boxy.

But some fast food giants are breaking the mold. Unusually-designed fast food restaurants have become a worldwide trend. 

A Starbucks in Tukwila, Washington, sports a drive-thru built entirely from recycled shipping containers while a McDonald's nestled in the mountains of Yangshuo, China hosts one of the world's most splendid natural backdrops.

We've compiled a list of the 10 most impressive places to enjoy your burgers and fries.

As part of a growing "green" initiative in retail, a Starbucks in Tukwila, Washington constructed its drive-thru entirely from used shipping supplies

Source: FlavorWire

A McDonald’s in Yangshuo, China sits in a mountain valley and overlooks a lake, guaranteeing diners an impeccable view of the natural landscape

Source: FlavorWire

Built in the early 70s, this Taco Bell in Pacifica, California overlooks the ocean and is a hotspot for the local surf crowd

Source: FlavorWire

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If you could start your career all over again, what would you do differently?

On LinkedIn's group Connect: Professional Women's Network, women shared what they wish they could've known at the beginning of their careers. 

From failure to dress for success to negotiating their salaries, these professional women have a lot of advice for younger workers. 

We reached out to LinkedIn's Jacky Carter, who gave us permission to share her slideshow.

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Fashion heiress Patricia Gucci is selling her 23-acre Mountain Center, Calif. estate for $9 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

She's the daughter of Italian fashion mogul Aldo Gucci, whose father, Guccio Gucci, launched the eponymous fashion house.

The home has 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and spans 10,885 square feet.

The property features a guest house, tennis courts, a media room, pool, spa, and oddly, a large kennel.

The home is called "Casa Azzurra."

Gucci now lives in Switzerland, and told The WSJ she is selling the home because she and her family live too far from the house.

Gucci bought the house in trust in 1993 for $950,000. She added on acres to her estate over the years.

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There's no better way to enjoy the south of France than on a luxury yacht, so it's a good thing 'La Dea' is at port in Monaco.

The yacht, named the Italian word for "goddess," was built in 2004 by Azimut Yachts and retrofitted in 2008. There is room for 12 guests and a crew of seven.

She is loaded with toys, included a 5-meter Novorania tender boat with a 160 horsepower engine, and everything you need to enjoy the Mediterranean waters.

Of course, there's lots of room to relax onboard as well.

'La Dea' is listed for sale by International Yacht Collection, with a €5.5 million ($7.14 million) asking price.

The yacht is more than 116 feet from bow to stern.

It cruises at 18 knots (20.7 mph), and can hit 22 knots (25.3 mph) at top speed.

'La Dea' comes with a jet ski, two kayaks, water skis, a wake board, and diving and snorkeling equipment.

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The latest round of United Nations climate change talks kicked off in the oil-rich Middle East nation of Qatar earlier this week. 

The decision to host the annual summit in the Qatari capital of Doha is ironic since the city has the the largest carbon footprint per person in the world. 

Even though Qatar has been described as a "country in transition" (the Persian Gulf emirate has only been independent since 1971, and it has been governed by Amir Hamad since 1995, when he deposed his father in a bloodless coup) it is still the world's richest nation by Gross Domestic Product per capita, home to countless luxury hotels, a five-star airline, and the third-largest reserves of natural gas in the world.  

So what can the 17,000 people from almost 200 countries flying in to Doha for the two-week conference expect? 

The world's third largest natural gas reserves in the world are sitting under a country smaller than Connecticut.

Being rich has become a birthright for native Qataris. The government redistributes money from its resources to citizens, resulting in the record $88,221 GDP per capita.

Source: The New York Times

Qatari citizens also get other perks like free electricity and water, which offers little incentive to cut back on usage.

Source: The Telegraph

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Tim Ferriss' new book, "The 4-Hour Chef" is definitely about learning to cook rapidly. But it's also about learning just about any skill.

He writes:

"Whether you want to learn how to speak a new language in three months, how to shoot a three-pointer in one weekend, or how to memorize a deck of cards in less than a minute, the true recipe of this book is exactly that: a process for acquiring any skill. The vehicle I chose is cooking." 

Along with the recipes, there are great insights into learning, and some great tricks you can use every day. We've broken out a few of the best tips. 

Source: The 4-Hour Chef

There's a basic, four-part framework you can apply to any skill.

Deconstruct

"What are the minimum learnable units, the LEGO blocks, I should be starting with?"

Selection

"Which 20% of the blocks should I focus on for 80% or more of the outcome I want?"

Sequencing

"In what order should I learn the blocks?"

Stakes 

"How do I set up stakes to create real consequences and guarantee I follow the program?"

Source: The 4-Hour Chef

First, deconstruct the task. People often give up on tasks because the amount of information is overwhelming.

The key is to find something defined to focus on, and to break it into smaller, more manageable parts.

Source: The 4-Hour Chef

Start with tools you can use quickly.

Learning to conjugate verbs is awful. It's boring, and there's no immediate impact. But by learning a few helping verbs (to be, to have, to want, etc.) not only do you learn conjugation, you unlock a large, functional chunk of the language. Small, useful victories keep you on track and accelerate learning. 

Source: The 4-Hour Chef

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From a black hole bonanza to the devastating hurricane Sandy,  November's been full of amazing stories — take a glace through our favorite stories and images from the month to see what you missed.

Combining 20 years of research and multiple techniques researchers found the most accurate measurements of ice sheet loss in Greenland and Antarctica.

FACT: Antarctica And Greenland Are Melting

Cassini caught this massive swirling storm on the pole of Saturn.

This Stunning Picture Of Saturn's Pole Shows Its Swirling Storm In Exquisite Detail

Hurricane Sandy caused massive damage along its path.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Aerial Pictures Show Sandy's Catastrophic Damage

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November was another crazy month for auctions.

The dress Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" fetched $480,000, and several paintings sold for $40 million or more.

Edward Hopper's "October on Cape Cod" sold for a record $9.6 million.

The most expensive auction item ever sold online

An online bidder purchased Edward Hopper’s "October on Cape Cod" for $9.6 million from Christie's this week.

The painting was the most expensive item ever sold online by an international auction house.

The previous record was set at $3.3 million for a Shang dynasty bronze wine vessel.

A rare prototype production camera sold for $2.57 million.

The most expensive production camera ever sold

A rare prototype Leica M3D camera owned by photojournalist David Douglas Duncan sold at auction for $2.57 million.

Only 31 models of the camera were ever made. The item earns the title of the world's most expensive production camera ever sold.

A rare menu from the Titanic fetched $160,000.

One of the rarest menus ever sold

A menu of the first meal served to first-class passengers aboard the RMS Titanic sold for $160,000 at auction in Britain.

It features menu items such as lobster, hodge podge, and roast beef.

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As 2012 draws to a close, we can now get a clearer idea of just how much celebrities made over the past 12 months. 

Forbes compiled a list of the 25 highest paid musicians of 2012, and we've narrowed down the list to feature the top ten highest earners.

But while Justin Bieber and Katy Perry dominated the year's headlines, it was the tried and true musicians who had the best year earnings-wise.

See who made Forbes' list of the top ten highest-paid musicians of 2012, it will surprise you.

10. Toby Keith: $50 Million

Toby Keith released his 16 studio album this year, titled "Hope on the Rocks," with his breakout song of the year being "Red Solo Cup."

In addition to album sales, Keith also gets paid through a Ford endorsement deal and the profits from his restaurants.

9. Dave Matthews Band: $51 Million

DMB released their eighth studio album this year, titled "Away from the World."

According to Forbes, the group has grossed over $1 million per night over the course of 68 shows in the past year.

8. Justin Bieber: $53 Million

18-year-old Justin Bieber earned money from his "Believe" album and tour, in addition to his perfume line, which retails for $49.00.

He won the American Music Award for Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, and Favorite Album.

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