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5 Important Lessons Learned In 20 Years As An Entrepreneur

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Seattle-based entrepreneur Ian Lurie started online marketing firm Portent, Inc. in 1995, when dial-up was king. Today his firm has led digital strategies for major companies like Lucky Brand and Kate Spade.

Lurie collected the most important lessons he's learned over the past two decades about starting and running a business into a presentation that SlideShare named one of the best of 2014.

Here, we've published Lurie's presentation, "5 Lessons Learned In 20 Years As An Entrepreneur," with his permission.







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The 22 Websites Every Modern Gentleman Should Bookmark

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man in suit relaxing on bench

The internet holds the key to learning anything these days, including tips and tricks for the modern man who wants to stay a cut above the rest.

Unfortunately, just searching "gentleman" isn't going to get you very far. You need to know where to look to get solid information.

So we've compiled a list of websites that every gentleman should bookmark and use, including the web versions of men's magazines, style blogs, and e-commerce sites.

We guarantee these sites will are going to make your life easier and make you look more polished.

InsideHook

InsideHook offers a daily recommendation relating to all the finer things in life – travel, food & drink, style, and more. They run an editorial site filled with men's interest articles on lifestyle news and tips. The goal is to give you what you need to know, without taking up your valuable time.

InsideHook



GQ

GQ Magazine's website is full of culture and style articles specifically made for men. You can find everything from serious political articles (we recommend this fascinating profile on Bob Dole) to "exclusive sketches" of the 2015 Ford Mustang to the best sunglasses under $50

GQ



Men In Cities

Based in NYC, Men In Cities is a site dedicated to bringing the best lifestyle accessories to the modern gentleman.

What makes the site different is that everything — from cashmere hats to notebooks and gloves — is $40. That makes it easy to buy, gift, return and exchange. Every month 9 new items are added to the site and you get an e-mail about it. It's that simple.

Men In Cities



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The 10 Biggest Risks The World Faces In 2015

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Just two years ago, Ian Bremmer, the head of Eurasia Group, said political risk in the developed world was "overstated."

Today, things are a bit different.

"Geopolitics is back,"Bremmer and Cliff Kupchan write in Eurasia Group's annual list of the top risks. "As 2015 begins, political conflict among the world's great powers is in play more than at any time since the end of the Cold War."

Russia, China, the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL), and the emerging markets are major risks in the coming year, but the biggest one is Europe because of increased political instability, according to Bremmer and Kupchan.

We've put together Bremmer and Kupchan's top 10 risks for 2015, along with key explanations and — bonus — a list of red herrings.

1. The politics of Europe

"Anxiety is again on the rise over Europe's economics, but there is no sense of crisis to force political leaders to work together," Bremmer writes.

Additionally, anti-EU political parties are becoming more popular, while some governments are increasingly growing to resent Germany's dominant influence.

On top of all that, "Russia and ISIS will add to Europe's security worries," Bremmer writes.

Source: Eurasia Group



2. Russia

Although sanctions and lower oil prices have hurt Russia, they haven't pushed Russian President Vladimir Putin to change course in Ukraine. 

As Russia's economy worsens, Putin's popularity will depend on his willingness to confront the West — which makes Western companies and investors "likely targets — on the ground and in cyberspace," Bremmer says.

Source: Eurasia Group



3. The effects of China slowdown

China's President Xi Jinping is shifting the country into a consumer-driven economy, which requires a shift toward lower levels of growth.

The continuing slowdown will most likely "have little impact inside the country," Bremmer writes, but "that's cold comfort for the expanding list of economics that depend on booming trade with a commodity-hungry China."

Source: Eurasia Group



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25 Movies To See In 2015

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cute droid star wars episode vii trailer

2015 could easily be the biggest year at the box office in years. It will definitely be one of the most exciting. 

Not only are we getting new films in the "Star Wars" and "Avengers" franchises — two films that could easily top $1 billion at theaters — but there are plenty of sequels to films made popular in the '90s and earlier.

It will feel as if we're stepping into a giant time machine.

From comedies to sequels and spy thrillers, these are the movies we can't wait to see.

"Taken 3"

Release date: Friday

Why to see it: Just when you thought they couldn't take anyone else, Liam Neeson returns one last time as retired CIA agent Bryan Mills to show off his particular set of skills. Instead of taking down baddies this time, Mills will be on the run trying to clear his name for a murder he didn't commit.

Watch the trailer.



"American Sniper"

Wide release date: Jan. 16

Why to see it:Clint Eastwood's latest film stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history. Originally debuting last year, the movie received good reviews for Cooper's portrayal of the Navy Seal.

Watch the trailer.



"Red Army"

Release date: Jan. 23

Why to see it: Even if you're not into hockey or sports, it's hard to not be drawn into the documentary about the Soviet Union's Red Army hockey team. The film tells the story behind the politically driven team. So far, the film has received extremely positive reviews.

Watch the trailer.



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14 Big Fashion Mistakes That Men Make

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On every man's road to dressing better, there are quite a few things he learns about style.

In a recent thread on Reddit's male fashion subreddit, /r/malefashionadvice, men shared the worst misconceptions they had about fashion and style.

Keep reading to make sure you don't make the same mistakes.

1. "Skinny guys should wear boot cut [pants] to make their legs look wider." -macadocious

This could not be further from the truth. Boot cut is the most unflattering of all pant cuts for skinnier dudes. It won't make your legs look any bigger, but the flare in the bottom of the leg will make you look sloppier than a straight or skinny cut pant.

stylish man jeans blazer sunglasses

2. "Shirts were supposed to be baggy in the shoulders and chest." -utilitym0nster

Shirts aren't supposed to be baggy. They're supposed to fit! A good rule of thumb is to get a shirt that fits as close to your body as you can while you retain free range of movement in your arms.

SHIRT FIT GUIDE JADENLAM

3. "I thought that wearing the right clothes would automatically mean that I'd dress better." - Poizar

A common misconception is that dressing up is the equivalent to dressing better. In fact, the two are completely unrelated and a man in sharp casualwear will look better than a man in a sloppy suit every time.

Additionally, you should always be mindful to dress appropriately for the situation at hand.

man in suit on the phone business man

4. "I thought showing off you have money to buy "high fashion" mall brands meant I was fashionable and looked good." -PSIKevin

Many "prestigious" mall brands are perceived as "quality," while they actually sell completely overpriced poor-quality garments covered with gaudy branding. Labels like Abercrombie and Fitch and Armani Exchange are two of the biggest offenders.

Learning which brands to avoid and which brands are worth their price is a crucial step on the road to dressing better.

abercrombie & fitch shirts store

5. "Shorts are dumb and should only be worn by boys under the age of 12 or sportsmen." -themanifoldcuriosity

Most men are now aware that shorts are perfectly fine to wear in the warmer months, and even acceptable in some more casual office environments.

Just avoid the dreaded cargo short.

shorts

6. "Cargo shorts were cool because of everything you could fit in the pockets." -Adjustify 

Again, cargo shorts are generally looked upon today as extremely passé and dated. Avoid these at all costs.

Instead, try a slim chino for a more modern look.

cargo shorts

7. "Only construction workers and goths wear boots." -GDDesu

There is a wide variety of boots available, from brouged dress boots to vintage reproduction work books. There's a boot for every kind of man: not just black Dr. Martens and Timberlands.

boots

8. "I thought boat shoes were the most fashionable shoes." -UnbiasedOnionRing

Boat shoes are still a great choice for summer footwear, but they are far from the most fashionable shoe available.

boatshoes

9. "I thought square-toed shoes were cool." -TummyDrums

Square-toed shoes haven't been acceptable for a while now, and men are urged to stay away from them. They are clunky, awkward, and distracting, with a completely unflattering profile.

Stick with your classic wing tips.

square toed shoes

10. "I used to color coordinate my shoes with my shirt to make sure they were the same color." -Yeaga

While it can be a strategic style decision to make your shoes and shirt match, it is pretty much completely unnecessary.

In fact for most outfits, this would look pretty ridiculous. It can work well for some street style outfits based around specific kinds of sneakers, however, but maybe wait to try this look until you get your fashion sea legs.

matchingshoesandshirt

11. "I always thought the belt had to match shoes no matter what you were wearing." -WhoopItIsThere

Matching your belt and shoes is a good rule of thumb for the dressiest of occasions, but that's really the only time. It's not necessary for business suits or any level of dress lower than that.

jeans scarf shoes style

12. "Black shoes went with everything." -KlausFenrir

Black shoes don't go with everything. For many colors of suits and other outfits, it would be very "fashion forward" to opt for black footwear.

If you want a shoe that goes with everything, buy a nice medium brown brogue.

man tying shoes suit

13. "Pocket squares have to match your tie." -vim_all_day

Contrary to what you see news and sports anchors wearing on TV, pocket squares do not have to match your tie. In fact, they probably shouldn't.

If anything, your pocket square can match the color of your shirt, but even then it's not necessary. Feel free to branch out with your pocket square.

Purple Pocket Square

14. "I believed black suits to be the most versatile and best color of suit to buy." -Rerrgon

Actually, the most versatile color of suit is navy or charcoal. These are the first two colors men should buy suits in when they're starting to build their wardrobe.

Black suits are only suitable on occasions like weddings and funerals, and sometimes for the office. Use your black suit sparingly.

Suit

SEE ALSO: 10 Things Guys Think About Suits That Are Totally Wrong

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JPMorgan's Ultimate Guide To The Markets And The Economy

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The US economy is entering 2015 with a nice tailwind: last quarter saw growth in the gross domestic product rocket to an 11-year high as the US dollar strengthened and the S&P 500 surged to an all-time high.

But international markets are in rougher shape as Europe battles sluggish growth, Japan struggles with low inflation, and emerging markets face major deceleration.

JPMorgan Asset Management's David Kelly and team have published their Q1 presentation on the state of the markets and the economy.

Through 64 slides, packed with charts and graphics, they provide snapshots of stocks, bonds, and the economy both in the US and abroad.

Enjoy!

Thanks to JPMorgan Asset Management for giving us permission to feature this presentation.

JPMorgan's Q1 Guide To The Markets



JPMorgan's Q1 Guide To The Markets



JPMorgan's Q1 Guide To The Markets



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Gorgeous Photos Show Spaniards Ditching Cities For The Abandoned Countryside

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In 2011, photographer Juan Aballe’s closest friends began moving from their homes in Madrid, Spain’s capital city, to the nearby countryside. Some left in search of a quieter, simpler life and some because of a lack of opportunities due to the ongoing economic crisis. The move shocked Aballe, who began contemplating whether he too should leave the city and its comforts for a long deserted rural Spain.

It seems Aballe's friends were not alone. After decades of Spaniards abandoning the countryside for better opportunities in the cities, the population flow has reversed. With no jobs in the cities and a cheaper cost of living, the countryside has become attractive. According to Spain’s census, the number of people living in population centers with less than 100 people has increased 13 percent in the last ten years and more people have relocated from cities to towns in the past fifteen years than the other way around.

Aballe began photographing rural areas of the country, sometimes while visiting relocated friends and other times exploring the many alternate communities of young Spaniards that have cropped up. His goal was less to document a historical moment and more to capture the idealized rural lifestyle that his friends wanted to believe in. 

Aballe shared some photos from his project, aptly titled "Country Fictions", with us here, but the work is now available in a book, which is available at Fuego Books.

Aballe began the project by visiting his friends for several days at a time. Many of Aballe's friends moved into the Pyrenees, a mountain range in the north of Spain that forms the border with France. It is one of the least populated areas in Spain.Juan_Aballe_07

Eventually, he was introduced to a small settlement of about ten people, where he stayed for ten days. To get to the settlement, Aballe had to drive on a country road for thirty minutes before getting onto an unpaved path. The settlement is only accessibly by four-wheel-drive vehicles.Juan_Aballe_15

When Aballe arrived, he found a settlement made up of many make-shift living arrangements.Juan_Aballe_08

Aballe had a few friends in the settlement and quickly made more. A Swiss man Aballe met named Ur let him photograph inside his cabin. Below, you can see his bedroom.Juan_Aballe_04

Because many of the people Aballe's photographed are his friends or people he was introduced to by friends, Aballe sees the project as very personal.Juan_Aballe_06Juan_Aballe_10

Part of what Aballe was trying to capture was the hard-working, simple life that he believes we all imagine when we think of rural locations.Juan_Aballe_12Juan_Aballe_14

Part of that vision is an idealization of agriculture and nature triumphing over technology. Here, you can see olive trees and a crushed industrial tank in La Mancha, a traditional agriculture region in central Spain.Juan_Aballe_13

Juan_Aballe_02

This is in Castillejo de Robledo in the northwestern province of Castile and León, another area of rural Spain that is seeing a resurgence.Juan_Aballe_03

Even with an increase in population, these areas can still be desolate and sparse. The empty nature of the countryside and its limited options for food or human contact was a main point of concern for Aballe. Here, you can see a lone restaurant in La Mancha.

Juan_Aballe_05

The tiny town of Collado Hermoso is also in Castile and León and has seen an influx of people from urban areas. There are 154 residents in the town, as well as a few horses like the one below.

Juan_Aballe_09

This is in the Sierra Norte Nature Park in Andalucia in southern Spain. In the end, Aballe opted not to follow his friends in moving to the country, less because of the physical isolation than the difficulty in being in close quarters with so few people. 

Juan_Aballe_11

SEE ALSO: Stunning Photos Of Contemporary Nomads Who Live As Hunter-Gatherers

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19 Castle Homes You Can Actually Buy

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15.Chateau esque home in Dallas, TX designed by the architectural team of Lloyd Lumpkins, Jeff Salmon and Harold Leidner

Ever wanted to live like royalty? 

Well, turns out you can — for a price. 

Our friends at property search site Estately.com, rounded up some of the best castle-like homes in the US. 

Complete with secret wine cellars, custom indoor lap pools, rose gardens, multi-floor libraries, and stone walls, these 19 castle homes are available for purchase right now. 

This 240-room castle in Connecticut comes with 75 acres of land and a moat.

Built by Christopher Mark, the great-grandson of Chicago steel tycoon Clayton Mark Senior, this impressive gothic structure took seven years to complete.

Known as Chrismark Castle, the home has eight bedrooms, a moat, and once housed exotic animals including a zebra, emus, and camels

Address: 450 Brickyard RD, Woodstock, CT

Price: $45,000,000



A 28,000-square-foot castle in Virginia has an indoor lap pool.

This castle in McLean, VA looks more like a university library than it does a private home. 

The 28,000-square-foot estate has eight bedrooms and 12 baths. The home also has an indoor lap pool, a sophisticated library complete with spiral staircase, and is filled with exquisite chandeliers. 

Address:7201 Dulany Drive, McLean, VA 

Price: $28,800,000



This stunning French Chateau in Napa Valley has its own conservatory.

This elegant French Chateau sits on over 46 acres of picturesque land in the Napa Valley. 

The Chateau has an incredible mosaic tile floored foyer, an elevator which takes you up to the conservatory, a state-of-the-art entrainment pavilion, and an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven.

Address: 256 N Fork Crystal Springs Rd, St. Helena, CA

Price: $16,996,000

 



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14 Overrated Tourist Attractions Around The World — And Where To Go Instead

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English writer G.K. Chesterton said that the traveler sees what he sees, while a tourist only sees what he came to see.

And sometimes, those tourist attractions aren’t worth seeing at all.

Inspired by this Reddit list of overrated tourist destinations, we wanted to round up some of the biggest tourist letdowns in the world, and suggest some alternative places to go instead.

We're not saying you should never visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo or view the art in the Louvre Museum. We're just saying that you should also get off the beaten path — it may lead you to something even better.  

Instead of seeing New York City from the top of the Empire State Building, go to Top of the Rock.

TOP OF THE ROCK not empire stateWaiting to get to the top of the Empire State Building is a pain. It’s expensive, there are long lines, and the views of New York City are only so-so.

A better option is to go to Top of the Rock in Midtown. Sure it’s just as expensive, but your view will include the iconic Empire State Building (which you miss by going to the Empire State Building itself) as well as views of Central Park. 

Instead of touring the ruins of Pompeii, visit the lesser-known ancient Roman city Herculaneum.

herculaneum not pompeiiBecause Pompeii has become so massively well known, it's always crowded with tourists and many of its frescoes have been removed to be housed in museums around the world.

Herculaneum was also buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, but unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum retained many of its wooded objects like building beams, beds, doors, and even food. It was also a wealthier town than Pompeii, so there are more lavish homes and frescoes to view.

Instead of seeing the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, spot the real celebs where they actually hang out.

runyan park not hollywood walk of fameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame is a rude awakening for tourists — the street is dirty, littered, and not at all glamorous.

A better option (if you can afford it) is to go to the real locations where celebrities hang out. Beacher’s Madhouse, the restaurant Nobu, and the Staples Center are all good options.

If you’re on a budget, go hiking at Runyan Canyon, where many celebs go to walk their pets and burn off some calories.

Instead of taking a tourist shot of the Great Pyramids, drive to the Pyramid Fields of Dahshur.

dahshur red pyramidThe Great Pyramids of Giza may be the most well-known pyramids in the world, but that doesn't mean they're the best. In fact, they can be so overrun with tourists and the views from them are so marred by modern Cairo that many travelers say they're not even worth visiting.

If you love history but hate the crowds, head to the Pyramid Fields at Dahshur. It's not a far drive from Cairo, but far enough that not many tourists venture out. Plus, the pyramids there are just as awe-inspiring as those in Giza — perhaps more so.

Instead of braving the heat in Athens, take a trip to one of Greece’s gorgeous islands.

rhodes not athensAfter you visit the Acropolis in Athens, give yourself a palate cleanser from the heat and scaffolding by exploring the beautiful and exotic Greek islands. 

We especially recommend Rhodes, which has gorgeous beaches as well as its medieval Old Town, the Temple of Apollo, the Acropolis of Lindos, the Governor’s Palace, and more. For history buffs, it's unmissable.

Instead of walking around Stonehenge with all the tourists, go out of your way to see the Callanish Standing Stones.

callanish standing stones not stonehengeStonehenge has long been described as a tourist must-see, but the endless crowds and designated walkway can make it seem less than extraordinary.

For a dramatic alternative, Scotland’s Isle of Lewis has its own standing stones that are just as breathtaking, but less heavily trafficked. Plus, you can get a lot closer to the Callanish Standing Stones than Stonehenge. 

Instead of battling crowds ogling the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, see the impressionist works at the Musée d’Orsay.

musee dorsay paris not mona lisaThe Louvre is spectacular yet overwhelming, and the same can be said for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The famous but tiny work of art is constantly surrounded by tourists trying to snap a picture.

Instead, head to the train-station-turned-museum Musée d’Orsay. It has gorgeous impressionist works and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. Fans of Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh will love this museum.

Instead of making a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, meander over to the Piazza Navona.

piazza navona not trevi fountainWhile the Trevi Fountain may be beautiful, it’s overrun with people, which makes it nearly impossible to appreciate its grandeur.

When you’re sick of trying to take a picture there, go to the Piazza Navona, which is not only less crowded, but also has a pretty fountain with sculptures by famed Italian sculptor Bernini.

Instead of downing a pint at the Guinness Factory in Dublin, spend an evening in a genuine Dublin pub.

the brazen head pub not guinnessThe Guinness Factory tour may sound like a good idea, but for all your trouble you’re rewarded with a single pint of Guinness and a subpar view of Dublin.

Skip the tour and get directly to the Guinness at a nearby Dublin pub. A historic option like The Brazen Head (Dublin’s oldest pub) will not only give you a more genuine Irish experience, it’ll also get you buzzed a lot faster.

Instead of wandering through Times Square, head uptown to Museum Mile.

museum mile not times squareWhile most tourists come to New York City and head directly for Times Square, it’s incredibly disappointing. Times Square is dirty, crowded, expensive, and overwhelming — walk through it once and you’ll never want to go back.

A much lovelier walk can be had on New York’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. It stretches from 82nd to 104th Street, with well-known museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. You'll also get gorgeous views of Central Park.

Instead of staying at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas like everyone else, check out a resort in the Exumas.

bay of pigs not atlantis resortEveryone stays at Atlantis Resort, but hardly anyone seems to actually enjoy it. The rooms need updating, the food is expensive, and the attractions are only so-so.

Honestly, anywhere else in the Bahamas is better. Try a resort on a smaller island in the low-key Exumas, which boast pristine coastlines and cool attractions like the "domesticated" swimming pigs that live on Big Major's Spot.

Instead of staring up at Mount Rushmore from a tiny viewing platform, take a drive through South Dakota's Badlands National Park.

badlands not mount rushmoreMount Rushmore is an American cultural icon, but standing on a viewing platform and looking up at the real thing may make the presidents' heads look rather tiny — and disappointing.

Instead, go to South Dakota's Badlands National Park. With nearly 243,000 acres of protected land, visitors can view incredible rock formations and wildlife they won't see anywhere else in the world, including mountain goats, rabbits, bobcats, antelope, and even bison. 

Instead of seeing the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, walk over to the nearby Gefion Fountain.

gefion fountain not little mermaidThe Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen is a major tourist attraction on the Langelinie waterfront, despite its diminutive size.

There's a more interesting attraction nearby, however — the Gefion Fountain. Sculptor Anders Bungdaard designed the fountain showing Norse Goddess Gefion, who was offered as much land in Sweden as she could plow. According to the legend, she turned her sons into oxen and plowed enough land to create Zealand, the island where Copenhagen is located. Gefion was pretty badass and her fountain is, too.

Instead of going to a wax museum, go literally anywhere else.

earth from space not madame tussaudsThe world is a huge place with plenty to see and experience. Why would you waste your time looking at wax replicas of famous people?

If you don’t believe me, go once and you’ll never want to go again.

 

NOW WATCH: Here's One Of The Easiest Bourbon Cocktails You Can Make At Home

 

SEE ALSO: The 14 Worst Tourist Traps In New York City — And Where To Go Instead

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THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL [SLIDE DECK]

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We're at Business Insider's Ignition event to hear from business leaders and notable folks in the tech space, who are sharing their thoughts on where the future of digital business is heading.

To kick off today's events, Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget delivered the following presentation put together with the help of the BI Intelligence team.

BI Intelligence is a new research and analysis service focused on mobile computing and the Internet. Only subscribers can download the individual charts and datasets in Excel, along with the PowerPoint and PDF versions of this deck. Please sign up for a trial membership here.

 







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15 Cars That Need To Make A Comeback

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TOYOTA FT1

In the car business, models, brands, and even whole automakers come and go. As standard as this has become, it doesn't mean American consumers don't pine for cars have been discontinued or simply no longer sold in the US.

A new year brings new hope. Honda's Acura division announced the return of its mercurial NSX super car in 2015, and Land Rover is reportedly working on a replacement for its soon-to-discontinued Defender SUV. Here are 15 more cars that we would love to see hit American roads once again.

For nearly two decades, the Acura Integra proved to be one of the most popular small luxury cars sold in the US. Produced in sedan and hatchback form, the Integra proved to be fun, peppy, reliable, and luxurious without making a huge dent in your wallet.



The final version of the Integra (sold in the US as the RSX) was discontinued in 2006. Since then, it has been replaced by the compact ILX sedan. While not a poor vehicle, the ILX has not resonated with buyers in the same way its predecessors have. Perhaps it's time for Acura to return to its roots and bring back the Integra hatchback.



Until it was discontinued in 2011, the Ford Ranger was one of the best selling small pickups in the US.



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Here's What Makes NYC's The Dead Rabbit The Best Bar In America

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dead rabbit bar, brooke bartender

In 2014, Business Insider named The Dead Rabbit the Best Bar In America, calling it "the place to be after work." 

The Irish-American tavern is a well-kept secret of businessfolk working in the Financial District, although it draws a regular crowd of Irish tourists.

Owners Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry emigrated from Belfast, Northern Ireland, four years ago with dreams of opening a pub that reminded them of home. You won't find a neon Guinness sign in the window, nor are there shamrock lanyards around bartenders' necks.

The Dead Rabbit serves 145 varieties of Irish whiskey and 100% authenticity.

Buried in the sea of skyscrapers that makes up New York's Financial District, a four-floor brick building on Water Street is home to the best bar in America: The Dead Rabbit.

 



It's an Irish tavern like few others. In New York, "a sports bar with a Guinness sign in the window calls itself Irish," one bubbly bartender tells me.

 



Dead Rabbit, which opened its doors just after Hurricane Sandy struck, tells the story of how the Irish integrated into New York in the 1800s. Its no-BS vibe radiates authenticity, from the sawdust on the floor to the stiff Irish-whiskey punch ...

 



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These 12 Young Models Are The Future Of Victoria's Secret

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elsa hosk getty images

The Victoria's Secret Angels help the brand sell billions

The young models who work for Victoria's Secret teen line PINK are likely to become the future spokeswomen for the business.

PINK is Victoria's Secret clothing, sleepwear, and intimates line that is targeted toward teenagers and college students. The merchandise offers a fun, fresh, and flirty take on VS's signature sexy apparel.  

Sara Sampaio, 23, serves as PINK's spokesmodel. This Portuguese model has been the voice and face of PINK since 2013, and she appeared in the 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.



Elsa Hosk, 26, has been walking the Victoria's Secret runway since 2011, but the Swedish model has been critical to PINK this year. She appeared with Rachel Hilbert and Iggy Azalea at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for the PINK Nation Crazy for Campus Bash, and she separately promoted the PINK Wear Everywhere Bra.



Rachel Hilbert, 19, might already be a well-known Victoria's Secret model, but given her status as one of the faces of PINK, she's likely to become even bigger. This year, she teamed up with fellow Victoria's Secret model Elsa Hosk and Iggy Azalea for the PINK Nation Crazy for Campus Bash.



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An Internet Entrepreneur Sold This San Francisco Apartment For $6 Million — And He's Giving It All Away To Charity

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lokey house

Lorry Lokey, founder of media-relations site Business Wire, has sold his stunning San Francisco apartment for $6 million, Curbed SF reports. 

Lokey bought the home for $4.6 million in 2006, but he isn't looking to turn a profit on the sale. A signer of the Giving Pledge, Lokey pledged to donate the money the apartment fetches in an effort to get closer to his goal of donating $1 billion. 

He first listed the home for $6.25 million in October 2014.

The 2,200-square-foot apartment is gorgeous, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and downtown San Francisco.

Located in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood, the apartment has incredible views of the Bay.



Lokey makes his primary residence in Atherton, but he often used this space for entertaining guests. He told the Wall Street Journal that he'll miss seeing his guests' reactions to the view.

Source: Wall Street Journal



You can't really blame them for having that kind of reaction — the view is amazing.



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NASA Just Released These Amazing Pictures Of The 'Pillars Of Creation'

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One of the most iconic pictures of space, the “Pillars of Creation”, has been given an incredible update.

Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers Jeff Hester and Paul Scowen took this original picture of gas and dust formations in the Eagle Nebula, 7000 light years from Earth:

Pillars4

That was on April 1, 1995. They used Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, which has a field of view of about 1600 x 1600 pixels, or similar to a 2.5 megapixel digital camera.

There’s actually four separate cameras in the WFPC2, and Hester and Scowen’s image was stitched together from 32 different images.

Now, to celebrate 20 years since their achievement, NASA has released a high-definition version of the image.

The technicals say because the new image was taken in near-infrared light, which penetrates further into the gas and dust, we get an incredibly in-depth view which even shows newborn stars inside the pillars not seen before.

It’s also just breathtakingly beautiful:

Pillars3

The new images are being unveiled at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle. Scowen, of Arizona State University in Tempe, says you can see the pillars “actively being ablated away before our very eyes”.

A theory proposed in 2011 by a student working for NASA claimed the pillars were actually destroyed 6000 years ago by a nearby supernova, meaning they will disappear from our sight in roughly 1000 years.

While it remains just a theory, the pillars are certainly eroding.

“The ghostly bluish haze around the dense edges of the pillars is material getting heated up and evaporating away into space,” Scowen said.

“We have caught these pillars at a very unique and short-lived moment in their evolution.”

Pillars2

Another comparison with the 1995 photo shows a jet-like feature which astronomers think may be streaming away from a newly formed star.

In the 20 years since the original photo, it is estimated to have stretched nearly 100 billion kilometres at a speed of 720,000 km/h.

“I called Jeff Hester on his phone and said, ‘You need to get here now,’” Scowen said. “We laid the pictures out on the table, and we were just gushing because of all the incredible detail that we were seeing for the very first time.”

To understand how incredible it is, it helps to know just how big these things are. The largest pillar on the left is widely accepted to be an estimated four light years tall. That puts it 37,842,113,600,000 kilometres tall.

And here’s where all of that fits inside the Eagle Nebula:

Pillars1

Nice spot, Hubble.

Click here to see the original hi-def image.

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17 Mind-Blowing Facts About Warren Buffett And His Wealth

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warren buffett

Warren Buffett has been incredibly successful, and he's extremely wealthy. Warren Buffett's wealth jumped by around $12.7 billion in 2013 alone. But how much is $12.7 billion anyway?

And how good an investor is Warren Buffett really? We've put together some facts that really put him in perspective.

99% of Buffett's wealth was earned after his 50th birthday.

Buffett made $62.7 billion of his $63.3 billion net worth after his 50th birthday.

$60 billion — nearly 95% — is from after his 60th birthday.

Talk about long-term investment strategies.

Source: Fool



Berkshire's Book Value beat the S&P 500 in 43 out of 44 years on a five-year rolling average basis.

From 2008 to 2013, the S&P 500 returned 128%, while Berkshire (based on book value per Class A share) returned 80%

Source: Berkshire Hathaway, Business Insider



Among legends, Buffett has the longest track record for beating the market.

That chart compares investors with the S&P 500 over time. You can see the longevity of Buffett's outperformance is greater than that of other great investors.

Source: Business Insider



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Audi Drove This Auto-Pilot Luxury Car From San Francisco To Vegas

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Auto Pilot Map

The German automaker Audi has taken its piloted-driving concept car on its first long-distance test drive. The Audi A7 drove from California's Silicon Valley to Las Vegas, a distance of about 550 miles (900 kilometers). 

The car arrived in Las Vegas on Monday night, just in time for the International CES 2015, one of the world's biggest events for electronics and technology. 

The autopilot system allows the car to change lanes and speed ahead of other vehicles but works only up to a speed of 70 mph (110 km/h). 

To navigate, the car used in the test, called "Jack," uses a combination of radar sensors in different positions of the car, two laser scanners, a 3D camera in the front of the vehicle, and four more cameras on the side.

A team of journalists and car experts were invited to take part in the test, with each journalist traveling about 100 miles (180 km) while sitting in the driver's seat. A professional test driver sat in the passenger seat for added safety, as required by California state law.

The car left Stanford, California, on Sunday morning:

Audi Auto Drive

It soon entered the fast motorways of California:

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The car can change lanes and overtake other vehicles, like the truck in this picture:

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You can see this driver had no problem taking his hands off the wheel:

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Night driving has been tested as well:

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Behind the wheel is a screen that shows all the information the driver needs when the car is running on autopilot:

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The engineering team said the results were "very encouraging":

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Here is the car in Las Vegas, just behind three police vehicles:

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It is party time at the finish line:

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Also, check out this video of a previous test of an autopilot system with an Audi RS7 in the signature environment of the Hockenheim racing circuit in Germany:

SEE ALSO: The Traditional Auto Show Is Over

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21 Things 'Back To The Future 2' Got Wrong About 2015

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hover board back to the future 2If there's one movie you should rewatch this year, it's "Back to the Future 2."

Director Robert Zemeckis' 1989 film sends Marty McFly and Doc Brown to the year 2015.

Did the film get it right? Not exactly.

While it predicted Skype calls and virtual-reality headsets, the film got plenty wrong — including hoverboards.

However, Zemeckis mentions in a featurette for the film he didn't plan to get the future right, explaining he was not a fan of seeing it depicted in movies. 

We may have electric cars, but we're still a little while away from ones that fly.

We're getting there, though.



2015 may be fond of superheroes on the big screen, but we're not dressing like them just yet.



We've come close, but we're still waiting around for an actual working model of a hoverboard. It didn't help that Zemeckis tricked fans into thinking the toy was real in a behind-the-scenes featurette for the film.

(Sources: "Back to the Future 2" featurette / Nerdist)



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25 Mountains Everyone Should Ski In Their Lifetime

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ski jump at Lake Louise Ski Resort in Canada

Ski bums and boarders follow the powder around the world to shred the slopes at the world's best ski resorts.

From ritzy Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado, to the steep terrain of Cerro Catedral in Argentina, here are 25 mountains that all skiers and boarders should visit in their lifetime.

Julie Zeveloff contributed to this story.

Ski or snowboard in the shadow of the Matterhorn at Zermatt, Switzerland's iconic ski town.



With a vertical drop of 4,105 ft. and 116 trails for expert, intermediate, and beginners skiers, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has something for all skill levels. The Wyoming mountain was ranked the #1 overall resort by SKI Magazine in 2013.



Conquer the Andes Mountains at Valle Nevado, a ski resort just outside Santiago, Chile. After a day of skiing, don't forget to have a Pisco Sour on the outdoor deck.



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A Luxury Condo In India Will Have A Private Swimming Pool On Every Balcony

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Bandra Ohm The Bandra Ohm, a residential high-rise in Mumbai, is offering the latest extravagance in luxury condos: a private balcony swimming pool in every unit. 

The 30-story tower will have about 100 units that will all have their very own crescent-shaped balcony pools enclosed in acrylic (the material used in large aquariums), the Wall Street Journal reports

James Law Cybertecture, the Hong Kong based firm building the Bandra Ohm, is designing the building with private swimming pools in order to offer a whole new approach to the living environment of high-rise buildings. 

Bandra Ohm In fact, the entire building takes its inspiration from water. “The design concept of the tower is inspired by the ripple effect generated by water droplets, which is also known as the capillary wave,” according James Law Cybertecture.

The ripple pattern creates an empty space in the center of the building, where the developers have built a specially designed clubhouse. 

Bandra Ohm This is not the first development that is planning to have a private swimming pool in every balcony. A 35 story building in Kuala Lumpur has a tagline that says: “94 Apartments, 95 Swimming Pools,” according to the WSJ. In the Bahamas, a 34 unit Honeycomb building will have a private pool in every apartment. 

But many are questioning if the private pools are worth it since they are usually quite small, and have a high possibility of spilling over. Plus, there's always the potential disaster of a leak.

The hassles of adding private pools to buildings also significantly increases the price — the Honeycomb’s condos that are 5,800 square feet and priced at $15 million.

“If you’re trying for a differentiator, that’s a reason to do it,” Dolly Lenz, a luxury real-estate agent in New York, told the WSJ. “But personally I wouldn’t recommend the idea to a developer.” 

SEE ALSO: Here Are The Astounding Views From The Top Of New York City's Tallest Apartment Building

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