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Here's Everything Microsoft Predicted Correctly About Today's Technology Back In 1999 (MSFT)

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microsoft smart homeToday, Microsoft is trying to keep up with other tech giants, but fifteen years ago, the company was regarded as a leader in technology.

In 1999, Microsoft released a video segment about the connected home of the future. While the bulky 90s products, like a cell phone that looks more like a Game Boy, have since rendered themselves obsolete, the tech featured in the video — voice recognition, biometric identification, and more — is pretty spot-on.

The six-minute video depicts a family interacting with futuristic technology integrated into their homes.  What the company got wrong in the video is creating most of its products around the PC, and ignoring mobile. That said, most of what Microsoft predicted we'd be using in our homes tech-wise today is actually pretty accurate.

Location-based apps.

In the video, Robin pulls up a map on the desktop PC in the kitchen. She can see where her husband's car is on the map, and then calls to ask him to stop at a nearby grocery store on the way home. Today, people rely on location-based services and apps — from Google Maps to Uber — regularly.



Voice recognition.

Today, we have Siri, Cortana, or Google Now. Back in 1999, Microsoft's virtual personal assistant was named Astro. Robin gives Astro voice commands to add food to a shopping list, make phone calls, and more.

 



Internet TV.

In Microsoft's smart home, you can watch TV and choose from cable, DVD, or Internet channels in one interface. It's not unlike Roku, the Amazon Fire Stick, Netflix, Hulu, or any of the other streaming options we have today.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

16 Awesome Career Choices That Most College Kids Have Never Heard Of

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Nurse anesteticist

For many students, a college degree puts you on the direct path to a certain career, such as a doctor, teacher, or journalist. 

But for many others, the future isn't as clear cut.

Maybe you want to go to med school, but don't necessarily want to be a doctor. Maybe you love maps, but aren't sure how to incorporate that passion into a career. Or perhaps you just haven't found anything that sounds appealing yet. 

Luckily, there are tons of great career options out there that many college kids have no idea even exist. In this helpful thread, Reddit users shared some of these under-the-radar occupations that most students probably haven't heard of. A fun bonus: most of them are pretty lucrative as well. 

Here are 16 of our favorites, including salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for those who need some inspiration finding their dream job.

Did we forget any awesome, lesser-known jobs? Let us know in the comments.

Air traffic controller

Median annual salary: $122,530

"After school and training it pays an average of 100k a year, but there is an age limit to get accepted."—Kate1320

"My father is an ATC at Pearson. 200k a year with brilliant benefits. He provided a great quality of life for my family."—1stOnRT1



Court stenographer

Median annual salary: $48,160

"It's a three-year program (on average — took me four to finish), but if you're proficient in grammar, have strong language skills, have solid finger dexterity from playing an instrument or video games, and are able to work independently, it's an incredible career.

"You work from home most of the time, lawyers very rarely schedule depositions before 10:00 am, you can make your own schedule, and the pay is great. Your pay reflects how hard you want to work and the jobs you're getting, but I made 65k my first year and nearly 80k my second."—Bad_Karma21



Industrial design

Median annual salary: $59,610

"As a career, industrial design is a great fusion of art and engineering. The problems are challenging, the work is varied and creative, and design consultancies have some of the best work environments and cultures you could ask for. And at the core of it all, you're tasked with answering the question, 'What sort of future do we want to live in?' Design is so much more than making things shiny."—Grizzleyt



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Max Levchin: Photos Reveal The Beauty And Intensity Of Star Entrepreneur's Passion For Cycling

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Max Levchin cyclist cofounder PayPal Slide Glow Affirm CEO entrepreneur Silicon Valley

You may know Max Levchin best as one of the cofounders of PayPal, or the entrepreneur who sold one of his startups, Slide, to Google for millions of dollars. Or you might know him as the mastermind behind the potentially revolutionary companies Glow and Affirm. Perhaps you know that he sits on the board of directors at Yahoo and Yelp

You might not know he’s a fast cyclist.

I learned this firsthand when I traveled to California to write a profile of him, share my passion for pedaling with a fellow obsessive, and, yes, test my mettle against his. As he probably has his whole life, Levchin won, and with grace. 

Up And At 'Em

Levchin brings a sharp focus and a high level of intensity to his business life and his cycling. He often wakes up early to go out for a ride, then it’s into the office for a busy day. If he's pressed for time, he'll ride his indoor trainer for an hour. "I try to touch my bike at least once every day," he says.



Style Is The Man

Levchin’s penchant for the stealth look borders on obsessive, but then again, obsessive is what roadies are. He avoids loud colors and showy brand logos whenever possible. Note the reflective tabs on his Swiss-made Assos apparel, on the back of his thighs and calves. On his left leg he wears a Road ID, which has his name and emergency contacts.



Preride Logistics

Before we roll out, Levchin tells me about the ride we're doing, Paradise Loop, one of the most popular routes in the Bay Area. He has ridden it more than a hundred times, so he knows each rise, downhill, and turn. He likes that he can test himself repeatedly over certain sections and compare his performance data over time.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Audi's Incredible S3 Is The High-End German Mini-Rocket We've All Been Waiting For

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Audi S3

Audi's S3 sports sedan is stylish, modern, and exhilarating reminder of the automaker's performance heritage.

In recent years, Audi has reclaimed its place in the pantheon of automotive luxury greatness, alongside Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus. So it's easy to forget Audi's rally-racing heritage. During the early 1980s, the company and its revolutionary Quattro all-wheel-drive system barnstormed the world of off-road speed contests. 

With the S3, Audi has returned to the formula that made the company so successful executing power slides on courses carved from dirt while also appealing to upscale customers. To succeed with the non-racing public, you take a small but powerful engine, add the grip of Quattro all-wheel-drive, and then wrap the whole thing up in a stylish, lightweight package.

Recently, Business Insider spent a weekend behind the wheel of an S3 adorned with a resplendent Misano Red paint job. Here's what we thought.

As a child of the PlayStation Generation, I grew up in awe of the Gran Turismo video game.



I grew up dreaming of owning — one day — a star of the game: a Subaru Impreza WRX STi or ...



... the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What It's Like Inside One Of Amazon's Massive Warehouses

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jeff bezos amazon

Tis the season for holiday shopping.

Black Friday followed by Cyber Monday and then several more weeks of last minute holiday shopping make for the most lucrative time of year for online retailers like Amazon. 

Already, Amazon's Thanksgiving sales were up more than 25% year-over-year, according to ChannelAdvisor

Amazon's magic happens inside its more than 90 fulfillment and sortation centers located all around the world. There are 50 in the US alone, with 15 more sortation centers completed by the end of 2014 (the company spends billions of dollars on its infrastructure). 

Amazon calls its warehouses "fulfillment centers" or FCs. It also has sortation centers, where prepped packages are sorted before being shipped to individual post offices. Note all the loading docks in the FC below:



Amazon's "Peak Season" happens around the holidays.

Source: Amazon.



During Peak (November through December), employees sometimes work 12 hour days.

Source: Amazon. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Luxurious Ski Chalet In The French Alps Has Its Own Nightclub — And Rents For $300,000 A Week

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chalet le petit palais house 9

The world’s billionaires are flocking to the French Alps this ski season, where deluxe “super chalets” are renting for over $40,000 a day.

These vacation homes rent for such extraordinary prices because they offer luxurious amenities such as personal chefs, butlers, nightclubs, and more.

Of course, the mega-wealthy clientele love it.

One such home is Le Petit Palais chalet in the Three Valleys area of the Alps — a stunning, modern chalet that was only just completed back in 2012. The owner, Dennis Crema, told the Wall Street Journal he values the chalet at over $60 million.

But instead of selling the home, Crema rents it out on a week-by-week basis for anywhere from €100,000 ($125,000) to €240,000 ($300,000) at the height of ski season. That averages to over $40,000 a day, and the reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.

The six-floor, ski-in/ski-out home has its own chef, pool, wine cellar, cigar room, nightclub spectacular views, and over 18,000 square feet of space.

There are seven bedrooms and it can fit between 12 to 15 guests. If that’s not enough, Le Petit Palais also connects to its sister villa, Le Petit Château, via a large underground parking area.

Le Petit Palais is a part of the Courchevel 1850 ski resort and is closest to the Bellecôte slope, perhaps the most popular slope due to its connection to a nearby village with lots of shopping and restaurants.

You can see prices for Le Petit Palais and other super chalets at Alpinel.com.

Welcome to Le Petit Palais chalet at the French Alps ski resort Courchevel 1850.



The stunning chalet has over 18,000 square feet of space.



It is spread over six floors and was renovated in 2012.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THE DRONE GIFT GUIDE: Drones For Every Budget [Up To 55% Off]

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pantherdrone-2.jpgThis year is going to be dominated by personal drones. Why? Because they’re incredibly fun to fly, and becoming increasingly affordable.

Black Friday is bringing prices down even further — here’s a roundup of deals not to miss. We and our friends at Stack Commerce put together the ultimate guide for getting a drone, and we've got one for every budget. 

Don't forget to use the code HAPPYBF10 for an extra 10% off. 

UNDER $75: Extreme Microdrone 2.0 [46% Off]

Despite weighing just over an ounce, the Extreme Micro Drone 2.0 (46% off) is impressively equipped with gyro-based stabilization and a camera — in fact, this is the only micro drone in the world with a swiveling lens.

Being so compact means it can fly indoors and out, and it can pull 360º flips. A really nice all-rounder that is forgiving on newbies and ships globally for free.

Get 46% off the Extreme Micro Drone 2.0 ($74.99 incl. global shipping)

Don't forget to use the code HAPPYBF10 for an extra 10% off. 



UNDER $100: Code Black Drone [55% Off]

The Code Black (55% off pre-orders) looks like it emerged from the Batcave, and it has the kind of features the Dark Knight would demand. It is a great out-of-the-box flyer, with a HD camera on board, and it is small enough to fly anywhere.

Plus, it can perform the all-important flips. If you order by Dec. 1, the Code Black will ship in time for Christmas, but the price will rise come mid December.

Get 55% off the Limited Edition Code Black drone + HD Camera ($89 incl. shipping; pre-order)

Don't forget to use the code HAPPYBF10 for an extra 10% off. 



UNDER $125: Panther Spy Drone [55% Off]

At the other end of the scale is the giant Panther Spy drone (55% off), which uses its size for durability. The rotors are surrounded by protective foam, but given that it has gyro stabilization, those guards shouldn’t be needed all that often. It also has a 720p camera, 2.4GHz transmission for good range, and 360º flips in its tricks locker.

Get 55% off the Panther Spy drone with HD camera ($110 incl. shipping)

Don't forget to use the code HAPPYBF10 for an extra 10% off. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Highest-Paying Jobs At Apple [RANKED] (AAPL)

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Tim Cook Apple Store

Who gets paid more at Apple: designers or engineers? 

We've assembled a list of some of the top-paid jobs at Apple, based on data gathered from Glassdoor.

Salary data on Glassdoor is based on anonymous salary reports that were voluntarily shared by both current and recent employees.

Start printing your resume if you see your role on here.

22. Mac Genius

Salary: $44,070

Mac Geniuses are super important to the shopping experience at Apple's stores. But they don't receive a lot of love from Apple, it seems (at least in terms of salary). 



21. Lead Mac Genius

Salary: $55,626

After you've spent a little bit of time at an Apple Store as a Genius, you'll get paid a little bit more.

Lead Mac Geniuses get paid about half what a good software engineer at Apple gets paid.



20. Assistant Apple Store manager

Salary: $56,046

Apple needs some people to help run its stores. Assistant store managers get paid better than the rank-and-file Mac Geniuses and sales representatives.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Working Flying Car Prototype Is Absolutely Stunning

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aero mobile

Flying cars might not be science fiction for long.

Stefan Klein and Juraj Vaculik, cofounders of a company Slovakian startup called AeroMobil, have created a beautiful prototype that has already been on several successful test flights

We touched base with Klein and Vaculik to hear more about their amazing vehicle.

AeroMobil cofounder Stefan Klein first started dreaming up designs more than 20 years ago. Here's one of his sketches from the early 90s.



Fast forward almost 25 years, and here's the team with the AeroMobil 3.0.



"To marry the car and the airplane is an interesting engineering and design challenge," Klein told Business Insider via email.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything You Need To Know About The Giant New Sewer That London Is Building Under The River Thames

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Thames Tideway Tunnel

London's Victorian-era sewer system is at its breaking point.

Structurally, there's nothing wrong. The web of underground pipes is holding together well more than 150 years after it was first constructed.

But every time it pours, the system overflows. The result: Millions of tons of raw sewage empties into London's Thames River each year, with at least one spillover every week.

To address the problem, London is building a new £4.2 billion "super sewer," which will keep waste out of the riverbank by directing it to other treatment plants.

The project is controversial. Most are concerned about the exorbitant cost, which will be funded largely by the private sector. There are some environmental worries, too. 

But the Thames Tideway Tunnel is forging ahead regardless. In September, Britain's largest water utility, Thames Water, received the green light from the government. Construction is expected to start in 2016 and take seven years to complete.

London's 160 kilometers of intersecting sewers were introduced in the second half the 19th Century. At that time, the project was hailed as an engineering feat.



Before that, the Thames was a disease-ridden dumping ground for cesspools, dead animals, garbage, and raw sewage.



This practice went on for hundreds of years, until the summer of 1858 when an unusually intense heatwave resulted in a horrendous smell. The river waste was roasting.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here Are All The Gadgets You Should Buy People For The Holidays This Year

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Here's this week's episode of the "Jay and Farhad Show." As usual, it's New York Times tech columnist Farhad Manjoo and I running through some of the biggest stories in tech this week. 

Since there aren't many big stories this week in tech, we did our own tech buyer's guide. We ran through ideas for people looking for presents. And we talk about how to think about gift giving. 

You can see our ideas here >

We record this podcast on a weekly basis. You can subscribe to it in iTunes here. You should definitely subscribe. Here's an RSS link to the show. We use SoundCloud as a host, so you can listen to the show over there, too.

iPhone cords!

Why? Because you can never have enough of them. And most people don't want to spend the money to buy one. It's not the sexiest gift ever, but it's low-cost, and it's useful. 



Spotify gift card!

Spotify is a great way to listen to all the music in the world (other than Taylor Swift, the Beatles, and a few others). It costs $10 per month, which might not be worth it for some people. Give those people a treat by getting them a gift card to Spotify.



Google cloud storage

This is admittedly a very boring idea. But it's practical!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside The Strange And Wonderful World Of Micronations

Inside The Glamorous Lives Of Anna Wintour's 3 Vogue Assistants

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vogue assist

The role of Anna Wintour's assistant was made famous after allegedly being the subject of the 2006 film "The Devil Wears Prada."

While the job of assisting Vogue magazine's editor-in-chief can be tense at times, it also has its perks  like attending the star-studded Met Ball or meeting President Obama.

The Daily Front Row recently revealed the identities of Wintour's three current assistants, and they're just as fabulous as you imagined.

Rey-Hanna Vakili, Lily Stav Gildor, and Lili Goksenin are the lucky three also known as #TeamAW. 

Behind Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour...



Are three young and fabulous assistants.

#tbt that time i became instafamous #worldsmosttalkedaboutoffice #jk @voguemagazine

A photo posted by Lily Gildor (@lilystav) on Apr 4, 2014 at 7:06am PDT



Meet Rey-Hanna Vakili, a 23-year-old Australian socialite.

Good morning lovely Paris! 🇫🇷

A photo posted by Rey-Hanna Vakili (@reyvakili) on Nov 11, 2013 at 2:20pm PST



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 Surprising Things That Can Make You Successful

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Warren Buffett

Sure, we all know that an Ivy League education, stint at a blue-chip firm, and stellar sales skills can help us get ahead. But it may surprise you just how many lesser known, seemingly random variables contribute to your professional success. 

From the month you were born to your comedic timing, the weirdest quirks can affect how successful you'll ultimately be.

We combed through research on success to identify 12 surprising things that can influence your career trajectory. While some factors can be sought out, others are beyond your control.

This is an update of an article written by Alison Griswold.

For starters, your birth month is hugely important in determining success.

There's a ton of research on what's variously called the "relative-age effect,""month of birth bias," or "birth-date effect." The basic principle is that kids born right before an annual cutoff date for starting school or sports are at a disadvantage because they're essentially a full year younger than other members of the group. That makes a big difference in physical, emotional, and intellectual maturity. On the other hand, just missing the date means you will be more developed than your peers.

Malcolm Gladwell popularized this idea in "Outliers," which explored how more professional hockey players from Canada were born in January, February, and March than any other months. The reason? Canada's cutoff date for hockey programs is Jan. 1. Similar research has shown that the number of CEOs with June and July birthdays is far below the expected normal distribution. That's because kids born in June and July are usually the youngest in school, putting them at an early intellectual disadvantage.



Your birth order influences your personality and development.

Research shows that first-borns are highly ambitious and competitive. They tend to excel academically and, according to CareerBuilder, are the most likely to earn six figures and hold a C-level position.

Middle children are considered strong team players and negotiators. Career-wise, they're the most likely to work in entry-level jobs and earn less than $35,000.

The youngest siblings are usually the most creative and entertaining in their families. Because of this, they often end up in creative roles or mid-level management.

Finally, only children are most likely to be self-centered and success-seeking, and can also be unusually mature because they spend so much one-on-one time with their parents. Like first-borns, they often end up in C-level or six-figure positions, but can be less satisfied with their jobs than people who have siblings.



Public or private school? It turns out that more expensive isn't always best.

That's right, the latest data says that public schools actually outperform their costlier private peer institutions. University of Illinois professors Christopher and Sarah Lubienski published that surprising finding in their book, "The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools."

According to their research, students at private schools generally do well because they come from wealthy backgrounds and families with more advantages. But public schools are actually better when it comes to teaching math and keeping their teachers trained in the latest instructional methods.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 Most Dominant College Sports Programs

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UConn and Barack Obama

When it comes to college sports, there are powerhouses and then there's everyone else.

Business Insider has compiled a list of the schools that run the most dominating sports programs from top to bottom

To create the ranking we used data compiled by Niche for its college rankings as well as athletic department revenues compiled by USA Today.

A number of factors go into the rankings with the most weight given to athletics revenue, Niche's NCAA championship score (with more weight given to bigger sports), average home football attendance, average home men's basketball attendance, as well as Niche's student survey responses.

#20 University of Arizona

2013 athletic department revenue: $68.5 million

Average Home Football Attendance: 47,619

Average Home Men's Basketball Attendance: 14,157

NCAA Championship Score1: 15

Student Surveys on Athletics: 3.9 out of 5

"Football is really big at the University of Arizona and our student section gets pretty huge for games to the point that they have to turn people away at the doors because of overcrowding. Basketball is an even bigger deal because how great the team is. Everyone here at this school and even in Tucson support the basketball team and is known as one of the favorite seasons of the year."

Visit Niche for more on the University of Arizona

1 Number of NCAA Championships won since 2000 across Division I, II, and III. Eight sports are measured, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, and hockey. Championships were weighted by division and sport, with Division I getting a 3x multiplier and Division II getting a 2x multiplier. Football and men's basketball received a 3x multiplier, and baseball and hockey received a 2x multiplier. FCS Football was also included but did not receive a multiplier.


#19 Syracuse University

2013 athletic department revenue: unavailable (private institution)

Average Home Football Attendance: 38,277

Average Home Men's Basketball Attendance: 22,439

NCAA Championship Score1: 9

Student Surveys on Athletics: 4.0 out of 5

"The Carrier Dome is probably the best collegiate arena in the country. Syracuse loves its sports, and you can really tell on campus. We pride ourselves on sports (especially basketball) and it is really a bonding experience for everyone. There is a huge variety of intramural sports (even Quidditch!) and people love to get involved."

Visit Niche for more on Syracuse University

1 Number of NCAA Championships won since 2000 across Division I, II, and III. Eight sports are measured, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, and hockey. Championships were weighted by division and sport, with Division I getting a 3x multiplier and Division II getting a 2x multiplier. Football and men's basketball received a 3x multiplier, and baseball and hockey received a 2x multiplier. FCS Football was also included but did not receive a multiplier.


#18 Florida State University

2013 athletic department revenue: $91.4 million

Average Home Football Attendance: 75,421

Average Home Men's Basketball Attendance: 7,537

NCAA Championship Score1: 9

Student Surveys on Athletics: 4.1 out of 5

"Students love going to football games, a lot of fan support. A LOT of school spirit , many kids have FSU stickers on cars, bikes, etc. The athletic facilities are great , very big and a big part of the school."

Visit Niche for more on Florida State University

1 Number of NCAA Championships won since 2000 across Division I, II, and III. Eight sports are measured, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, and hockey. Championships were weighted by division and sport, with Division I getting a 3x multiplier and Division II getting a 2x multiplier. Football and men's basketball received a 3x multiplier, and baseball and hockey received a 2x multiplier. FCS Football was also included but did not receive a multiplier.


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 Highly Successful People Share Their Biggest Financial Regrets

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tony robbins

We all do things we aren't proud of with our money.

Whether that's selling stock in a company right before its value skyrockets, shrinking away from negotiating our salary, or simply dragging our heels on opening a retirement savings account, even the best of us are prone to mistakes.

Successful people are no exception.

We spoke with seven CEOs, executives, and multimillionaires to find out exactly which of their financial choices over the years made them cringe.

Read on to find out how these highly successful people answered the question, "What's your biggest financial regret?"

Jacquelyn Smith, Jenna Goudreau, and Richard Feloni contributed reporting to this story.

Letting other people talk you out of great investments.

Tony Robbins, multimillionaire life coach:

"I have a resort in Fiji, and there was a little company that bottled water. The bottle looked cool, and the water tasted really incredible — you could tell the difference. I hired a guy to give me research [on the business]. He was a so-called 'expert.' And I said, 'I think I can make an investment in this. I think I can get 30% of the company for half a million dollars.'

"He came back to me and said they don't have the resources or capacity to make it. And I accepted that. I look back on Fiji Water and anytime I grab one I say, 'Holy shit!' So use your experts as coaches and do your own homework and dig deep."



Buying stock in a bank that 'couldn't' go under.

Ken Lin, CEO and founder of Credit Karma, which recently reached a $1 billion valuation:

"In 2008, I bought shares of WaMu two days before they collapsed. At that time, I thought that it was panicked selling and that a bank like WaMu wouldn’t or couldn’t go under.

"Clearly, I was wrong. It did teach me a valuable lesson about how fast things can change in business."



Overthinking investing.

Jon Stein, founder and CEO of Betterment:

"I wasted so much time and money by overthinking investing. Whether it was opening a dozen brokerage accounts, getting too concentrated in individual securities (thanks Enron), and attempting to do overly complicated transactions — it was a waste.

"I should have just taken the index route in my younger years. I'd be in a better place for retirement now, and I would have been able to spend more time with friends and family.

"The money is one thing, but I'll especially never get back the hundreds of hours I poured into trying to beat the market."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

17 Tricks Stores Use To Make You Spend More Money

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checkout value

This year, 140 million Americans are expected to shop on Thanksgiving and the days immediately following it, according to the National Retail Federation.

But in hoping to take advantage of Black Friday sales, will stores take advantage of shoppers?

From supermarkets to department stores, retailers are carefully engineered to get you to spend the most money possible.

If you want to beat retailers at their own game, then you'd better learn how they think.

This is an update of an article written by Alison Griswold.

A big, bold "SALE" sign helps get people in the store, where they are likely to buy non-sale items.



Once you enter, there's the shopping cart. This invention was designed in the late 1930s to help customers make larger purchases more easily.

Source: Idea Finder



In supermarkets, high margin departments like floral and fresh baked goods are placed near the front door, so you encounter them when your cart is empty and your spirits are high.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Financier With A Pirate Fetish Is Auctioning Off His Insane Caribbean Mansion

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Virgin Islands Villa Whydah

Financier Tom Hudson, founder of investment firm Pirate Capital, is auctioning off his pirate-themed villa on the island of St. Thomas.

Previously on sale for $35 million back in 2012, the island couldn’t find a buyer so it will now be auctioned off to the highest bidder, starting at the low, low price of $6 million.

"The owner has selected the luxury auction process because he is ready to start another real estate project, and wants to first know this property is off his books,” Platinum Luxury Auctions President Trayor Lesnock told Business Insider. “The date-certainty provided by the auction was very attractive to him in this regard, as opposed to continuing the traditional listing process, which can be quite lengthy for higher-priced island properties.”

Known as Villa Whydah, it's been described by Hudson as "the retirement home of a pirate who surrounds himself with the bounty of his exploits with his wife at his side."

Named after a pirate ship that sank in 1717, Whydah sits on the western tip of St. Thomas with views of Botany Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. Not only does the 19,000-square-foot home have helipad access, two guest homes, and a caretaker house, but it's fully-outfitted with every bell and whistle someone could dream up.

It comes with six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a custom-tiled pool and spa. The mansion is also outfitted with top-notch security and a Crestron System that allows you to control every aspect of the home's electronics, lighting, and temperature from anywhere in the world on your smart phone.

According to the Wall Street Journal, it cost Hudson almost $20 million to renovate the compound.

Lee Steiner at Sotheby's International Realty will be sharing the sale with auction house Platinum Luxury Auctions.

This is Villa Whydah in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Virgin Islands.

 



It's located on the western tip of St. Thomas, and has incredible views of Botany Bay.

 



It's a part of a 397-acre gated community known as The Preserve.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A South African Architect Created A Stunning House In Just 183 Square Feet Of Space

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where Every Team Stands Going Into Week 13

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russell wilson

Let's start at the bottom.

The four teams from the historically bad NFC South are in the bottom four spots of our NFL power rankings this week.

The Saints, Falcons, Buccaneers, and Panthers have a combined record of 6-23-1 against the rest of the NFL. That works out to a .200 winning percentage. In most NFL seasons, a team with a .200 winning percentage would get a top-3 pick in the draft.

This year, one of those teams is going to make the playoffs.

1. New England Patriots (previously: 1st)

Record: 9-2

Week 12 result: 34-9 win over Detroit

One thing to know: Bill Belichick has no time for your heartwarming stories.



2. Green Bay Packers (previously: 2nd)

Record: 8-3

Week 12 result: 24-21 win over Minnesota

One thing to know: Green Bay is 2-2 against teams that currently have winning records. They can get a signature win Sunday against the Patriots.



3. Denver Broncos (previously: 4th)

Record: 8-3

Week 12 result: 39-36 win over Miami

One thing to know: Despite a bunch of injuries in the backfield, Denver had its best rushing game of the year in Week 12, dropping 200 yards on a really good Dolphins defense.



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