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16 Billionaires Who Were Once Dirt Poor

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larry ellisonSome of the world's wealthiest people started out dirt poor.

Here are 16 rags-to-riches stories that remind us through determination, grit, and a bit of luck anyone can overcome their circumstances and achieve extraordinary success. 

This is an update of a story originally written by Vivian Giang.

Kenny Troutt, the founder of Excel Communications, paid his way through college by selling life insurance.

Net worth: $1.5 billion 

Troutt grew up with a bartender dad and paid for his own tuition at Southern Illinois University by selling life insurance. He made most of his money from phone company Excel Communications, which he founded in 1988 and took public in 1996. Two years later, Troutt merged his company with Teleglobe in a $3.5 billion deal.

He's now retired and invests heavily in racehorses.



Starbucks' Howard Schultz grew up in a housing complex for the poor.

Net worth: $2.3 billion 

In an interview with British tabloid Mirror, Schultz says: "Growing up I always felt like I was living on the other side of the tracks. I knew the people on the other side had more resources, more money, happier families. And for some reason, I don't know why or how, I wanted to climb over that fence and achieve something beyond what people were saying was possible. I may have a suit and tie on now but I know where I'm from and I know what it's like."

Schultz ended up winning a football scholarship to the University of Northern Michigan and went to work for Xerox after graduation. Shortly after, he took over a coffee shop called Starbucks, which at the time had only 60 shops. Schultz became the company's CEO in 1987 and grew the coffee chain to more than 16,000 outlets worldwide.



Investor Ken Langone's parents worked as a plumber and cafeteria worker.

Net worth: $2.6 billion 

To help pay for Langone's school at Bucknell University, he worked odd jobs and his parents mortgaged their home.

In 1968, Langone worked with Ross Perot to take Electronic Data Systems public. (It was later acquired by HP.) Just two years later, he partnered with Bernard Marcus to start Home Depot, which also went public in 1981.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How Much To Tip Your Trash Collector, Dog Groomer, And Mail Carrier This Holiday Season

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Everyone knows you should tip your child's caregivers, your hair stylist, and your doorman.

But there are some people who we don't normally think to tip, but who still deserve a thank you this holiday season.

We spoke with etiquette expert Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick of The Etiquette School of New York to find out more about holiday tipping and gifting

Here's how much to tip your trash collector, dog groomer, mail carrier, and more. Just remember to base these tips on how often you used their services in the past year.

Holiday Tipping Guide misecellaneous

SEE ALSO: How To Tip Everyone In Your Life This Holiday Season

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These Are The Best Fitness Trackers You Can Buy Today

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fitbit flex jawbone up wrist

Buying a fitness tracker can be difficult.

On the surface, it seems like they all do the exact same thing: count your calories, measure how far you've run, and monitor your sleep. But there are a few areas where some fitness bands succeed over others.

Here's a look at some of the best ones you can buy today and how they compare. 

The Basis Peak is the best fitness band for monitoring your sleep.

The Basis Peak offers some functionality you'd get with a smartwatch, such as caller ID and text messages, but it's prominently a fitness tracker.

The Peak can count your calories, how many steps you've taken, and measure your heart rate, but where it really shines is the sleep tracking department. The Basis Peak can tell you how much time you spent in REM sleep, deep sleep, and light sleep in addition to showing you how long you slept, when you woke up, and how many times you tossed and turned. That's more data about your sleep cycle than you'd get with most competitors. 

Read our full review of the Basis Peak>>

Price:$199



The Jawbone UP24 is the sleekest band you can buy, and its app is fantastic.

Jawbone's UP24 is slimmer and sleeker than all of its competitors. However, you'll have to sacrifice the ability to glance down at your wrist to view how many calories you've burned or the time since it doesn't have a screen. Jawbone's fitness band collects a lot of the same data as it's competitors (i.e. sleep tracking, calories burned, distance run), but it's food logging system makes it stand out.

Jawbone includes a large database of local restaurants so you can just tap the meal you ate to log it. It also includes common pairings (i.e. bacon and eggs) so that you don't have to log foods separately. 

Price:$79.99



The Fitbit Charge is an excellent fitness tracker with a screen.

If you're looking for a good fitness tracker with a screen that's more affordable than the Peak, try the Fitbit Charge. It's comfortable to wear throughout the day, and its app is easy to use since most of the information you need is visible from the dashboard.

The one metric you can get through the Fitbit that you can't with other fitness trackers is how many flights of stairs you've climbed. The Charge also has a caller ID function that shows you when you're getting an incoming call. But, it's food logging system isn't as seamless as Jawbone's and it can't measure your heart rate like the Basis Peak. Basis' tracker also gives you more information about your sleep cycle than the Charge.

Price:$129.95



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A Rare Look Inside The Abandoned Factory That Caused The Worst Industrial Disaster In History

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Bhopal Union Carbide salil shetty_DSC04205

On the evening of December 2nd, 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, spread from the factory to surrounding residential neighborhoods, killing thousands and affecting the area for the next thirty years.

It's known as the the worst industrial disaster in history, with an estimated death toll of 25,000. The factory's chemicals have caused various long-lasting medical problems in citizens in Bhopal as well, with the rates of cancer in the area doubling in women and tripling in men in the years after the tragedy.

Yet the factory itself still stands, dilapidated and overgrown, a constant reminder of the past.

While the site is generally off-limits to visitors, Getty Reportage photographer and regular Business Insider contributor Giles Clarke was recently allowed access to the site and given a tour by Sanjay Verma, a man who survived the tragedy, losing seven family members in the process.

He shared the following images with us.

Built in the 1970s, the pesticide factory in Bhopal was expected to bring Union Carbide great revenue, as the company banked on the untapped market for their products with local farmers.



However, officials at the company greatly overestimated the demand for their pesticides. Local farmers, struggling to simply get by, did not have the financial resources to purchase the relatively expensive chemicals.



After Union Carbide deemed the factory a lost cause and stopped production in the early 1980s, the factory fell into dereliction. The skilled workers who had labored there left, leaving an inexperienced and small workforce to manage what was left.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Miami Penthouse With Two Jeff Koons Sculptures Lists For $29.5 Million

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HOTD: Miami Penthouse With Jeff Koons

A new ultra-luxury condo building under construction in Miami comes with a fractional ownership of two original works by the world’s most expensive living artist: Jeff Koons. 

The gorgeous top-floor penthouse that is asking for $29.5 million comes with a 1/240th stake in the Koons’s, according to the Wall Street Journal

The 19,321-square-foot Miami penthouse will also have five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a sauna, an exercise area, two dens, and a massage room.

Plus, the condo is just a few steps away from the beach. 

The building is expected to be completed in 2016. 

Welcome to Oceana Bal Harbour in Miami’s Bal Harbour. The once-famous Bal Harbour Club is being redesigned to become the new Oceana Bal Harbour.



The new 240-unit ultra luxury condos will be home to two world-class works of art by Jeff Koons.



The five-bedroom penthouse on the top floor of the 28-story building will have a grand total of 9,950 square feet of outdoor space.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 Ridiculous Gifts For The Millionaire Who Has Everything

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Millionaire_Gift Guide

Even the person who seems to have everything has something on their holiday wish list. But what could they possibly want?

We found 10 incredibly lavish over-the-top gifts for the millionaire in your life.

Ordered from least to most expensive, we give you everything from living art to space travel. 

Have lunch with the Dalai Lama in his home.

The company Remote Lands arranges a trip for you to meet and lunch with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his own private residence in Tibet.

Your millionaire's trip includes a meeting with the monks of the Namgyal Monastery, touring the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, meeting with an oracle, and dining with a senior Lama.

Price: $15,000



Go off-roading and jet-skiing with his and hers Vilebrequin Quadskis.

The Quadskis are sold exclusively through Neiman Marcus and morph from jet-skis to ATVs in under five seconds.

This gift is perfect for the adventurous millionaire couple.  

Price: $50,000 each



Take home decor to a new level.

Event planner to the stars Preston Bailey uses silk flowers and plants for his elaborately designed animal fixtures.

Choose the indoor three-foot-tall or outdoor six-foot-tall peacock sculpture to add glamour and distinction to your favorite millionaire's home.  

Price: $25,000-$65,000



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10 Secret Features Hidden In Your Mac (AAPL)

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macbookpro, macbook, macbook pro, mac, apple, computer, laptop, bi, dng

Let's face it, you probably don't know as much about your Mac as you should.

But there's hope!

We've put together some great tips and tricks that can save you time and show you how to save time using your Mac, from taking advantage of its hidden calculator, to discovering the tiny icon that's been right in front of your face the entire time.

Take a trimmed screenshot

Tired of taking screenshots that capture much more of your screen than you'd like? Hold down Command + Shift + 4, which will change your cursor into a cross hair. After you've outlined what you want to be in the screenshot, press the Spacebar to capture.



Hide your dock in a flash

If your dock is getting in the way, pressing Command + Option + D will hide your dock. Want it back? Just repeat.



Invert the colors of your screen

For users running Mac OS X Lion or earlier, you can easily invert and revert the colors of you Mac display by holding down Command + Option + Control + 8. The feature is originally designed to help the visually impaired.



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The Best Startup Offices We Saw This Year

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Office Tour Pinterest29

Perks like free food and unlimited soda are great, but nothing compares to working in a great office.

We toured tons of startup offices this year from New York to San Francisco to Seattle.

Here are the the ones that stood out most in our minds. 

Lyft's San Francisco office is covered in pink and has has a secret library where you can kick back and admire the best mustaches in history.

Click here for a full tour »



Pinterest's office is a DIY daydream. The walls are covered in crafts and the lobby features yarn-bombed pipes.

Click here for a full tour »



Jessica Alba's startup Honest, which makes household products with a conscience, has a gorgeous new Los Angeles office that looks like Pinterest come to life.

Click here for a full tour »



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These 7 Cities Are The New 'Urban Wonders' Of The World

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Petronas Twin Towers

A global campaign has just announced the seven urban wonders of the world. 

The New7Wonders project was created by Bernard Weber in order to highlight some of the greatest natural and man-made wonders of the world. The cities project is the third in Weber's installments — in 2007, more than 100 million people voted on his new seven wonders of the world competition

Weber’s latest campaign to find the best cities on Earth aimed to showcase the "cities that best represent the achievements and aspirations of our global urban civilization,"according to the New7Wonders website

The global competition began with more than 1,200 nominees from 220 countries. That list was reduced to 77, since there was a limit of one city per country. Then the 77 remaining cities were narrowed down by a panel of experts headed by Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, to 28 suggestions. 

Following the announcement of the 28 finalist, the winning seven cities were chosen by hundreds of millions of voters from around the world. 

The seven winning cities beat out other finalists such as Istanbul, London, St. Petersburg, Seoul, Reykjavik, and Chicago. None of the world’s seven winning cities are in Europe or the US. 

Below are the seven cities that have been named the new urban wonders of the world (in alphabetical order): 

1. Beirut, Lebanon

The capital city of Lebanon has been rebuilt several times due to unrest. Beirut's architecture is a stunning mix of modern right next to the Ottoman and colonial French buildings. 

The Middle Eastern hub is often referred to as ‘The Paris of the Mediterranean.’ 

Beirut

2. Doha, Qatar

Qatar’s capital, Doha, first gained prominence when it began tapping into its expansive natural gas reserves. Doha’s wealth of natural gas and oil have helped make Qatar one of the richest nations in the world — and Doha one of its most beautiful cities.

Doha, Qatar

3. Durban, South Africa

The beach city of Durban in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal is the busiest port in Africa, but better known for its incredible beaches and surfing. 

Durban, South Africa

4. Havana, Cuba

Havana is an ancient city that is covered in vibrant colors.  The historic center of Havana has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason.

Havana, Cuba

5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The cultural hub of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is known for its towering skyscrapers. The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6. La Paz, Bolivia

Perched atop the Andres Mountains, La Paz is a city that is 11,975 feet above sea level. It is the highest capital city in the world. 

La Paz, Bolivia

7. Vigan, Philippines

The City of Vigan is one of the few Hispanic towns lefts intact in the Philippines. Known for its cobblestone covered streets and unique architecture, the city of Vigan is a World Heritage Site. 

Vigan, Philippines

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Cities In The World For Students

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

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30 Stunning Photos Of Everyday Life In Havana

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Car on the street in Havana Centro

President Barack Obama announced a normalization of relations with Cuba on Wednesday afternoon.

This is a huge deal, because the two countries have had virtually no trade or travel relations since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power. 

Havana, Cuba's capital city, is a mystery to most people — especially Americans. But it is a beautiful hub full of welcoming people.

Before World War II, Havana was seen as "the rich man's playground," the biggest sugar producer, and an escape from prohibition.

Source: Havana Before Castro



When Fidel Castro and Che Guevara marched into Cuba in 1959, the communist revolution turned the country upside down. Here a man reads Granma, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, where the year reads "año de la revolución 53" (53rd year of the revolution).

Source: "A Day in the Life of Havana"



Habana Vieja, or Old Havana, is the oldest part of the city and is central to tourists. Unlike other areas of the city, the buildings are restored and the streets cleaned.

Source: "A Day in the Life of Havana"



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How To Tip Your Barber, Manicurist, And Personal Trainer This Holiday Season

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Though less mandatory than your building's superintendent or your child's nanny, the people who make us look and feel our best all year round deserve a holiday tip, too.

We spoke with etiquette expert Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick of The Etiquette School of New York to find out more about holiday tipping and gifting

She told us that since we typically tip these people all year, there's no reason to go overboard. Most of them would appreciate simply the cost of one service.

Here's how much to tip your hair stylist, manicurist, personal trainer, and massage therapist this season.

 

Holiday Tipping Guide stylist BI graphics

SEE ALSO: How To Tip Everyone In Your Life This Holiday Season

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

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55 Amazing Moments From 2014

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tim cook

2014 gave us lots of reasons to smile, from the infamous Oscar selfie to the inescapable Ice Bucket Challenge.

It was a year for standing up for what you believe in, setting records, and making a meme of everything.

Before we "Let It Go," let's take a look at the year's highlights in entertainment, tech, business, science, and world news.

Gay marriage became legal in 18 more US states.

Nevada State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson (left) and Sherwood Howard tie the knot, becoming the first same-sex couple married in Las Vegas.

READ MORE: Court Ruling On Gay Marriage Causes Euphoria And Dismay »



Dennis Rodman struck up an unlikely friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

In February 2013, Dennis Rodman traveled to North Korea with the Harlem Globetrotters for a documentary for media company Vice. He returned this year for a goodwill game with former NBA players.

READ MORE: Dennis Rodman Talks About His Controversial Trips To North Korea And Hanging Out With Kim Jong-Un »



American Eagle stopped Photoshopping images of its lingerie models.

READ MORE: American Eagle Stopped Airbrushing Lingerie Models And Sales Are Soaring »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

16 Reasons Your Budget Isn't Working

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quicksand help

If you've ever started a budget, you've most likely started with good intentions.

Sometimes your budget gets the job done, but other times, it's a serious crash and burn that can leave you in worse shape than when you started.

Every time I've tried to budget in the past, I would always start with a pad and paper.

Unfortunately, by the time I got done trying to do my budget the sheet a paper looked more like a hardcore tournament of tic-tac-toe just took place.

Why? Because I HATE budgeting and even though I suck at tic-tac-toe, it's a whole lot more fun than budgeting.

#budgetingtruthbomb

As much as I hate it, I recognize that it's a must if you have any hope of taking charge of your financial life.

That's where I got lucky. VERY lucky.

My amazing wife is the Queen B in our household with "B." standing for "budgeting." She loves to budget and she does so like a rockstar.

Because of her, our budget doesn't suck.

There are reasons that your budget sucks, and until you get that worked out, it'll never help you reach your financial goals.

Here are 16 reasons that your budget sucks, and how you can fix it.

1. Your budget doesn't match your personality.

In order for a budget to work, it has to fit your personality and lifestyle, and not just yours, but also your family's. Setting up a budget and simply requiring yourself and every member of your household to adhere to it won't make it happen.

For example, if you have a more casual attitude about money, completely denying yourself any cash for free-spending purposes could doom your budget. You may have to accept that at least a small percentage of the budget will have to allow for discretionary spending.

This doesn't mean that you can spend whatever you want. This is a budget, after all, and the goal is to reform your spending habits, not give you a license to mow through every cent you've saved. However, if you know that you will be unable to stick to something that is very rigid, build a little bit of financial flexibility into the budget, and set yourself up for success.

Without going too far with it, you have to at least partially construct your budget around preferences — yours, your spouse's, and even your children's.



2. You're a yo-yo budgeter.

Perhaps you've heard of the term yo-yo dieter.

That's a person who has a long history of on-again, off-again dieting (I'm the perfect example of this since I go from being strict paleo one week to chowing down six doughnuts the next week.) Though they have a desire to lose weight, they lack the will or the discipline to stick to any diet for any length of time.

What makes this even worse is the fact that yo-yo dieting can actually cause the dieter to gain more weight than they lose over the long-term.

The same could be true of you when it comes to budgeting your money. You have  a strong desire to get control of your finances, but you lack the discipline and/or the commitment to implement a budget and stick with it for more than a few months, or even a few weeks. And, much like a yo-yo dieter, a yo-yo budget can leave you in worse financial shape than when you started.

Here's the deal: in order for a budget to work, it has to create permanent changes in the way you manage your finances.

Though you may be able to lighten your budget after a year or so, when you first begin you'll have to be very strict — something like a Budget Boot Camp — that will force you to make radical changes in your life. But even if you get past the Boot Camp phase, you still have to retain the basic elements of your budget for the foreseeable future. No backsliding is allowed!



3. Your budget isn't flexible.

Since expenses tend to rise and fall from one month to the next, your budget will not work if there isn't a certain amount of flexibility built into it. That will mean that during the months when there is a surplus in your budget, you'll have to bank it and have it available to shore up the months when your expenses are higher than normal.

You can count on there being a  certain amount of inconsistency in your budget from one month to the next, which is why you absolutely must have a plan to even out those ups and downs. Some months simply have more expenses than others, and they seem to come out of nowhere.

In other months you can actually fall off the wagon — you spend more than you should, and it puts you in a bit of a hole. That's actually normal, and as long as it doesn't happen too often, and as long as your budget has enough flexibility to work around it, you'll be fine.

Just make sure you aren't constantly relying on the flexibility of your budget to continue those bad spending habits.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 Former Porn Stars Who Now Lead Boring, Normal Lives

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asia carrera, former porn starEver wonder what porn stars do when they retire from "the business"?

They become real estate agents, authors, activists, private investigators, and your next door neighbor in the 'burbs.

The 2010 documentary "After Porn Ends" caught up with 12 former adult film performers to see where life had taken them. We've tracked down a majority of the film's stars for more recent updates.

Asia Carrera was the first half-Asian female to become an A-list porn star, appearing in 389 videos.



The Mensa International member walked away from a full academic scholarship to college to pursue a career in porn. She enjoyed learning all the crew members' jobs in between scenes.



Today, Asia lives with her two children in Mormon country, Utah, where porn is illegal. She recently made headlines for wearing a colander in her driver's license photo, as a religious statement.

Source: The Spectrum



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Here's What It's Like To Live With A $316,000 Ferrari F12berlinetta

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Ferrari F12berlinetta engine hood

The Ferrari F12berlinetta has been around since 2012, but now that the LaFerrari — the brand's fastest and most expensive production car ever — has completely sold out, it's once again the best car with the prancing horse logo money can buy.

Which is why we were pumped, earlier this year, to spend the better part of a week with the beautiful F12, which starts for a whopping $315,888.

What do you get for that not so small fortune? Two seats, a top speed over 210 mph, a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.1 seconds, and a huge amount of fun.

And a few headaches as well.

It's very important to remember that owning a Ferrari is a responsibility. An exhilarating responsibility, but a responsibility nonetheless. It isn't all glorious speed runs and impeccable cornering, not to mention those magnificent Ferrari looks — you know, the ones that stop traffic.

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

Ferrari let us take the F12berlinetta wherever we wanted — but begged us to keep it away from potholes. It's not meant for the mean streets of New York.



So we fled Manhattan for a more fitting locale.



Connecticut.



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Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Lamborghini Huracán Supercar

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lamborghini huracan geneva motor show (small)The all-new Lamborghini Huracán supplants the Gallardo, the most popular Lamborghini model ever.

The Huracán was introduced this March at the Geneva Motor Show.

Powered by a 5.2 liter V10 engine that generates over 600 horsepower, it does 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds, and has a top speed of 201 mph.

Here's everything you need and want to know about the latest and maybe greatest Lamborghini supercar.

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

The Huracán succeeds the Gallardo, the most popular Lamborghini ever. Half of the cars Lamborghini has built in its 50-year history are Gallardos. Pictured is the last one ever built.



Lamborghini first told us about the Huracán in December 2013, soon after the last Gallardo was built.



Its official reveal opened up the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.



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17 Bottles Of Liquor That Make Amazing Gifts

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Liquor_Gift Guide

Sometimes you want to give your loved ones something you know they're really going to use. Holidays aren't just about ornaments, or the ornamental.

That's when you get someone a bottle of liquor, and not just any bottle of any liquor — one that will surprise and delight them.

Business Insider reached out to our friends in the booze business — Robert Haynes Peterson, a writer and liquor expert; Pam Wiznitzer, bartender at NYC cocktail standout The Dead Rabbit, and Jessie Dure of American Whiskey — and they told us which bottles are special enough to give.

And if these bottles are special to them, they'll be special to you.

Ultimat Vodka

Ultimat Vodka, crafted in Poland from potatoes, wheat, and rye, is a smooth, creamy spirit bottled in a beautiful midnight blue bottle.

Plus, Ultimat has partnered up with 1-877-SPIRITS to create a small gift box featuring not only the vodka, but the first-ever Reidel tasting glass that's specifically designed for vodka. (Order it separately; it comes free with a bottle of vodka.)

Price: $45



Facundo Elevated Holiday Gift Set

If you really love someone, here's the gift to get them. The Facundo Elevated Holiday comes with four rare sipping rums: Neo (aged up to eight years), Eximo (aged 10 to 12 years), Exquisito (a blend aged seven to 23 years), and Paraiso (aged up to 23 years).

Additionally, the set includes two Baccarat "Harmonie" tumblers, two bottles of Bitterman's bitters, a Brizard & Co. Cigar Humidor, Colibri Cigar Cutter, and a barware collection including a bar spoon, mixing glass, jigger, ice bucket (wrapped in leather), a leather-bound journal, a Powermat charger, a lighter, and an ashtray.

Enjoy.

Price: $5,000



Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014 Amontillado Edition

Every year, the Islay-based single malt producer Laphroaig creates a special one-off expression for its Friends of Laphroaig — and then the rest of us finally get a chance to try it out. The seven-year whiskey is finished off for a year in Amontillado sherry hogsheads, which gives the liquor a deep, rich sweetness that marries impeccably with the brand's traditional in-your-face smokiness.

Price: $80



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The 20 Most Homicidal Countries In The World

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mexico drug violence

The United Nations and the World Health Organization have released their 2014 Global Status Report on Violence Prevention, which paints a bleak and detailed picture of murder and violence around the world.

Worldwide in 2012, there were 475,000 murder victims, 60% of whom were males between 15 and 44 years old. Half of all homicide victims are killed by a firearm, and Latin America is the world's most murderous region.

The global homicide rate for 2012 stood at 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants — slightly lower than the 2011 rate of 6.9.

20. Zimbabwe

15.1 murders per 100,000 people

33% killed by firearms

Political violence has become a fact of life in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe has ruled with a heavy hand for over 30 years.

Mugabe ordered the takeover of white-owned farms in 2000, causing an economic collapse that still has lingering effects. Unemployment hit 90% by 2008.



19. Iraq

18.6 murders per 100,000 people

45% killed by firearms

Close to 8,000 civilians were killed in the first two months of the Iraq war, according to Iraq Body Count. Since 2003, the number of civilians killed every month has lowered significantly, but this war-torn nation remains one of the most homicidal on earth. 

The civilian death rate remained relatively low from 2008 through 2012 but has crept back up since 2013 and the rise of the Islamic State. Roughly 1,351 Iraqi civilians were killed every month in 2014.



18. Panama

19.3 murders per 100,000 people

80% killed by firearms

Panama's gangs and drug traffickers are responsible for roughly 23% of its homicides each year, according to a 2013 Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Crime and Safety report. The country is still safer than some other central American countries, like Honduras and Guatemala. 

 



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Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Nearly Doubled His Wealth This Year — Here's His Inspiring Life Story

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alibaba jack ma

Fresh off the biggest IPO in history, Alibaba founder and chairman Jack Ma is now the richest person in China.

Ma made more money that anyone else in the world this year. His wealth grew by $18.5 billion between December 2013 and December 2014, a whopping 173% increase.

He's now worth an estimated $29.2 billion, which includes his 7.8% stake in Alibaba and a nearly 50% stake in payment processing service Alipay. 

Ma's is a true rags-to-riches story. He grew up poor in communist China, failed his college entrance exam twice, and was rejected from dozens of jobs, including one at KFC, before finding success with his third internet company, Alibaba. 

Jack Ma (a.k.a. Ma Yun) was born on October 15, 1964, in Hangzhou, located in the southeastern part of China. He has an older brother and a younger sister. He and his siblings grew up at a time when communist China was increasingly isolated from the West, and his family didn't have much money when they were young.

 Source: 60 Minutes, USA Today

 



Ma was scrawny and often got into fights with classmates. "I was never afraid of opponents who were bigger than I," he recalls in "Alibaba," a book by Liu Shiying and Martha Avery. Still, Ma had hobbies just like any other kid. He liked collecting crickets and making them fight, and was able to distinguish the size and type of cricket just by the sound it made.

Source: USA Today, Business Insider



After then-US president Richard Nixon visited Hangzhou in 1972, Ma's hometown became a tourist mecca. As a teenager, Ma started waking up early to visit the city's main hotel, offering visitors tours of the city in exchange for English lessons. The nickname "Jack" was given to him by a tourist he befriended.

Source: 60 Minutes

 



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What It's Like To Fly Into Cuba's Retro Airport

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havana cuba José Martí airport

As a resident of Miami (sometime called Havana North), an aficionado of Cuban culture, a global wanderer and well, let me just say it, “A Wandering Jew,” I had always had a fascination to visit the off-limits island of Cuba.

When my synagogue Temple Beth Shalom in Miami Beach organized a humanitarian and cultural exchange trip, my wife and I leapt at the chance. The story of our 6-day trip to Cuba is one left to another post, and one difficult to put concisely into words.

It is a bittersweet experience of paradoxes and contradictions. On one hand, it is fascinating and beautiful. On the other hand, it’s tragic, sad, and desperate. Two things stood out the most: Traveling to Cuba is indeed stepping back in time and not just because half the cars on the road are pre-1959 “Detroit Steel”.

Second, the people in spite of all they have endured remain warm, and full of passion. We never once felt unsafe or unwelcome, except by two aggressive customs officer on the way out of the country. Sixty minute private interrogations even if eventually communicated to me as “routine” are never fun, especially in a country that’s still a police state.

But back to the positives, as an affirmed AvGeek, the experience of flying to Cuba nonstop from Miami and a visit to José Martí International Airport were of almost equal attraction in anticipation and in hindsight.

You can read the full story at Airchive.com >

The ticket counter at Miami International Airport for our flight to Havana was bustling, even at 5 a.m. on a Sunday.



Miami-based Sky King operates 3 ex-Alaska Boeing 737-400s on charter flights for numerous touring agencies with flights into Cuba. Currently, flights to Cuba originate from Miami, Tampa, and New York.



One flight attendant told us this was her first flight, and was excited for it to be Havana even though U.S. flight crew aren’t allowed in the terminal, don’t lay-over, and immediately turn-around. In fact, no fuel, water, or service provisions are taken on in Havana for the MIA-HAV flights.



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