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12 Rules Of Etiquette For Your Office Holiday Party

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holiday party christmas sweaters beer shame sad

It's office holiday party season, but that doesn't mean you can cut loose with your co-workers like you do with your college buddies.

"The holiday party is very challenging for people in the business world," said Barbara Pachter, a business etiquette expert and president of Pachter & Associates. "Part of the reason is that people forget it's a business activity, and they let it all hang out when they are drinking," she said.

She shared some pro tips for surviving your office holiday party without making a fool of yourself.

Ask about the dress code — and stick to it.

If the party is at someone's home, call ahead and ask about the dress code.

But dress is important no matter where the party is being held. "You don't want people talking about what you wore the day or night after the party," Pachter said.

And for women, the holiday party is not the time to start showing cleavage. "You don't want to dress seductively; it's still a business event," she said.



Have a snack before the party.

"Eat a little before you go to a business social event," Pachter said. "If you drink, you'll have something in your stomach, and if the food is delayed, you won't be hungry."



Don't forget to show up.

It's not really optional, said Pachter. And if you're invited to more than one office party, you should try to show up at all of them.

"People will expect you to be there," she said. "It's an opportunity for you to meet people, and the person you talk to may wind up being the person who interviews you for your next job in three months."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Inside All Of This Weekend's Star-Studded Art Basel Parties In Miami

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Kim Kardashian Kanye West Vera Wang Art BaselArt Basel Miami is an international contemporary art fair held each year in Miami Beach.

Since it began in 2002 as an offshoot of the annual art fair in BaselSwitzerland, Art Basel Miami Beach has become as much about the parties celebrating art and artists as the art itself.

This year's fair brought out the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore and countless other bold-faced names.

See how Hollywood's A-list partied in style during this weekend's Art Basel.

The week's festivities kicked off Wednesday night with a beachside barbecue for Art.sy at the Soho Beach House hosted by Carter Cleveland, Larry Gagosian, Wendi Murdoch, Peter Thiel & Dasha Zhukova.



Before the party, hosts Wendi Murdoch and Dasha Zhukova posed with model Karlie Kloss and Demi Moore during a private dinner.



Host and Art.sy founder Carter Cleveland surveyed the scene solo.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Where To Find The Best Latkes In New York City

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Latkes, potato pancakes

It's the third night of Hannukah, which means lighting a menorah, playing dreidel, and feasting on latkes.

Latkes, or fried potato pancakes, are a delicious, oily indulgence generally reserved only for this time of year.

We've found the restaurants that serve the best latkes in New York City.

Of course there are kosher delis that make latkes just like your grandma used to, but there are also some interesting twists on the classic latke, from a peppery Ukrainian potato pancake to a Mexican version that's topped with jalapeños and tomatillo apple salsa. 

Top with some apple sauce or sour cream, and nosh away!

Katz's Delicatessen

205 E. Houston St.

Katz's is most famous for its pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and its role in the film "When Harry Met Sally," as the site where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm.

But the classic Jewish deli in Manhattan's Lower East Side also makes a fantastic latke year-round served with apple sauce or sour cream.



Kutsher's Tribeca

186 Franklin St.

Kutsher's Tribeca is a modern Jewish American bistro that opened last year. 

Named after the beloved Catskills resort, the restaurant serves latkes that are small but flavorful, and topped with local apple compote and sour cream or sour cream and three types of caviar.

The restaurant is also offering "Eight Nights of Latkes," serving up a different take on the traditional potato pancake each night of Hannukah.



The 2nd Ave Deli

162 East 33rd St.

The 2nd Avenue Deli is a New York institution that's been serving up kosher deli cuisine, like matzo ball soup, salami sandwiches and blintzes, since the 1950s.

Order the latkes—a hefty portion alone—or, if you're feeling particularly glutinous try the Instant Heart Attack, a sandwich that consists of two large potato pancakes stuffed with corned beef, pastrami, turkey, or salami.



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10 Holiday Gifts That Give Back

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red cross emergency shelter

I recently covered 10 Holiday Gifts for $10 or Less, but since the season of giving is upon and and ’tis better to give than to receive, why not consider giving a gift that gives back, too?

Check out 10 feel-good gift ideas >

As consumers reel from an uncertain economy, job losses, and natural disasters, it can be difficult to embrace the concept of holiday shopping when so many members of our communities and others around the world are struggling with basic, everyday needs.

There is a way to clear your conscious from the holiday shopping-induced guilt: Focus on giving gifts that give back. Not only will you feel good about supporting a cause you care about, but the recipient will appreciate the thoughtful and unique gesture.

Not to mention the charity you select benefits as well.

And just so you know, giving back is actually good for you.

According to Naomi Eisenberger, a UCLA assistant professor of psychology, “When people talk about the ways in which social support is good for our health, they typically assume that the benefits of social support come from the support we receive from others, but it now seems likely that some of the health benefits of social support actually come from the support we provide to others.”

Imagine if every gift on your holiday shopping list also gave back to a charity. That sure would result in a lot of feel-good feelings floating around — talk about embracing the holiday spirit!

If you are ready to make your dollars count and spread some extra holiday cheer, here are 10 holiday gifts that give back.

Endangered Animals

WWF Species Adoption – $50 to $250

Give a gift that will help protect the future of nature.

Your symbolic adoption supports WWF’s global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats.



Military Families

ONEHOPE Wine - $18.99 (for the Zinfandel for military families)

ONEHOPE Wine donates an astounding 50% of its profits to partner charities benefiting a variety of causes.

Their Zinfandel is paired with helping families of fallen troops attend Snowball Express to enhance the quality of life for post 9/11 service members.



Disaster Victims

Emergency Shelter from the American Red Cross – $50

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, this gift is the perfect way to honor those affected by the storm.

Disaster victims often have to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Just $50 gift provides urgently needed essentials for one disaster victim, including three meals, two blankets, one cot and personal supplies.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The Best Classic Eateries On New York's Lower East Side

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katz's

A century ago, New York City's Lower East side was a thriving community for Jews immigrating to the United States.

Today, it's better known as a hipster enclave than for its immigrant past.

But some culinary havens have managed to survive the ebb and flow of New York life, and many have even experienced something of a rebirth, giving the neighborhood a dose of nostalgia and kitsch.

We've rounded up some of our favorite classic eateries for a historical walking-and-dining tour of the neighborhood. They're a throwback to the old world, and might offer some inspiration for a Hannukah gift or dinner.

RUSS AND DAUGHTERS: A quick walk down East Houston Street from the Second Avenue stop on the F train, this appetizing store, which opened in the early 1900s, has been in the same spot, owned by the same family, for four generations.



Choose from a variety of smoked fish, including salmon, herring, white fish, sable, sturgeon, and peppered mackerel. If you're feeling a particular yen for luxury, have a worker help you pick out a tin of fine caviar (500 grams of the coveted Siberian Baerii sell for $1,140).



There are dried fruits, too: peaches, pears, plums, papaya, and other varieties.



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Meggings Are Real, And You Can Buy Them Today

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Conan O'Brien in jeggings

When Business Insiderreported the existence of "meggings"—tights, worn by men, as leggings—the primary reaction was disbelief.

Meggings can't possibly be a real thing, can they?

Intensive research, which consisted primarily of a search on Google Shopping, revealed that meggings are in fact real, and you can buy them today. The primary vendor is a site called The Stylish Fox, which carries several varieties of meggings from a European brand, Adrian, which manufactures them in Poland.

The Stylish Fox reported on Twitter in September that it had very small quantities in stock but would try to expand supply.

These things are harder to get than a white iPad Mini with LTE, people.

City Men's Tights

"May look more sheer than one would expect."

Price: $11.30



Grating Argyle Men's Tights

Despite the possibly-too-accurate name, this model seems to be selling fast.

Price: $16.99



Hunter Men's Footless Tights

The definitive "meggings," with a "male front panel."

Price: $12.60



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Tracking Jay-Z And Beyoncé At Art Basel, One Instagram At A Time

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Beyonce Art Basel

Celebrities flocked to Miami Beach for this weekend's annual Art Basel contemporary art fair.

It was rumored Beyoncé and Jay-Z would be making an appearance, but it proved reality as the power couple  touched down in the sunshine state to hit a few parties and pose with some art pieces.

While Blue Ivy was clearly with a babysitter, Beyoncé instagrammed and tumbled her way through the weekend, posing with art at the convention center or showing off her killer updo.

Be sure not to miss cameos by Beyoncé's mom, Tina, and former Destiny's Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland.

Upon touchdown in Miami, Beyoncé Instagrammed this picture of herself with a wristband reading "bElieve 52." Almost 90K of her nearly 800K followers liked the photo.



Jay-Z and Beyoncé's first stop was a private dinner celebrating singer Rico Love's 30th birthday at the SLS Hotel South Beach.



Then, Beyoncé Instagrammed this photo of her sister Solange performing at a private party in Miami. It got 50K likes.



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The Best Places To Ride Out The Mayan Apocalypse

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etna volcano eruption sicily end of the world

So the apocalypse is nigh, according to some.

With the end of the world approaching, as predicted by the Mayan calendar, there has been panic candle buying in Sichuan, China, reassurances issued from Sydney to Moscow, and plenty of tourist dollars made in Mayan parts of Central America as visitors gather for a front row seat of the cataclysm.

Here we round up other apocalypse-themed places and trips around the world...

Bugarach, France

Of course if you really want to scare yourself, then head to this French village in the Pyrenean foothills, which the apocalypse will somehow bypass, internet rumour-mongers would have you believe.

The problem is, it will apparently be closed on December 21, when the alleged end of the world is scheduled to occur.

The flat top mount that is supposed to be the only place left standing will be out of bounds, if the village authorities have their way...



Copan, Honduras

Those going to the nearby Copan on the Guatemala and Honduras border will realise apocalyptic endings are nothing new to Central America, at least when it comes to this beautiful expanse of abandoned temples, once the biggest city state in all of the Americas.

At its busiest and most thriving, the city is thought to have been over farmed and been hit by disease, suffering a rapid demise during the ninth century AD.



Luzon, the Philippines

Apart from its title, the film Apocalypse Now was fraught with a sense of doom.

It was shot on a Philippine island, which doubled as Vietnam.

It was hit by typhoons, and the stars did their best to create an apocalyptic atmosphere, with some of the lead actors strung out on drugs.

The stress of the shoot even led to Martin Sheen having a heart attack.

“The horror, the horror,” as Kurtz says.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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WALL STREET: Here's Where The Stock Market Is Heading In 2013

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Barry Knapp

It's that time of year again when Wall Street's top equity strategists publish their 2013 targets for the S&P 500.

The Reformed Broker Josh Brown likes to call it "silly season" as the success of these stock market calls seem to come down to luck.

Regardless, clients demand it and it gives the rest of us a sense of who the most bullish and bearish strategists are.

Click Here To See What They're Forecasting >

Barclay's Barry Knapp is the latest strategist to submit his target, calling for the S&P 500 to end 2013 at 1,525.

"We are entering the fifth year post ‘The Great Contraction’ with considerable progress made in deleveraging the financial and household sectors; however, the most complex stage – stabilizing public sector debt – remains a formidable challenge," writes Knapp.  "There are some significant competitive advantages that should begin to accrue to the U.S. economy in the years to come – energy, manufacturing competitiveness and demographics – though the savings required to fund investment could be redirected to the public sector if policymakers do not slow the growth of mandatory spending."

Richard Bernstein, the former top strategist at Merrill Lynch, also spoke about 2013.  "According to our models, the US equity market is presently discounting 5%-6% inflation for the next 12 months, which seems very extreme to us," he wrote.  "We continue to believe that US equities are in the midst of a major bull market that could ultimately rival 1982's bull market."

As far as we can tell, 14 top strategists have made their 2013 calls, which range from 1,390 to 1615.

Wells Fargo Securities - 1,390

2013 EPS: $103

Strategist: Gina Martin Adams

Comments: "The U.S. economy will likely continue to struggle with the ongoing impacts of debt deleveraging in 2013, suggesting policy is likely to be the dominant driver of market sentiment for the fifth year running. However, there is evidence that global deleveraging is progressing along to a new phase in its evolution. The first four years of the process were characterized by private sector debt reduction, the vast majority of which was absorbed by public coffers. Now, as the private sector unwind of debt nears completion, the onus is shifting to the public sector to address bloated debt balances in the year ahead."

Source: UBS



UBS - 1,425

2013 EPS: $108

Strategist: Jonathan Golub

Comments: "Our cautious stance is predicated upon a belief that a number of macro uncertainties — the most important of which stem from long-term U.S. fiscal imbalances — will hamper earnings growth and constrain valuations in 2013. ... [O]ur sense is that the most important structural issues will be pushed off into the future, leaving significant uncertainty about the long-term direction of the economy and corporate profits."

Source: UBS



Morgan Stanley - 1,434

2013 EPS: $98.71

Strategist: Adam Parker

Comments: "We recommend increasing China exposure, as China-centric US equities have lagged and are cheap vs. US-centric equities"

Source: Morgan Stanley



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Gorgeous Behind-The-Scenes Photos Of Barack Obama's Historic November

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obama kids

White House photographer Pete Souza has posted a new crop of incredible pictures to the White House Flickr account, offering another intimate look at what was going on behind-the-scenes in the West Wing — and on the road — with President Barack Obama last month. 

As Souza's photos show, November was a historic month for the president. After closing out the 2012 campaign with a decisive re-election win, Obama wasted no time returning to a jam-packed schedule, which included everything from a foreign policy trip to Southeast Asia, to pardoning a turkey and dealing with Hurricane Sandy and the fiscal cliff.

As usual, Souza has captured the best moments on camera. 

Obama kisses a baby on the tarmac at the Denver International Airport Nov. 1, during one of his last campaign stops in Colorado.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)



Obama takes a break from campaigning to lead a briefing on the response to Hurricane Sandy at FEMA headquarters on Nov. 3.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)



Obama signs the Wall of Freedom at Mentor High School after a campaign stop in Mentor, Ohio on Nov. 3.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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How Google Changed Through The Years (GOOG)

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Larry Page

Google's original premise was to be a super simple, stripped down search engine.

It became famous for delivering 10 highly accurate blue links on a white screen. It also had a playful "I'm Feeling Lucky" option that would take you straight to a web page.

As the company has grown in ambition, so too have its search results.

While it's possible to get just 10 links, it's rare. Google's search results have gotten more and more bloated over time.

As Google has decided to take on the world in just about everything — social networking, mobile phones, mapping, TV/video — its search results have gotten more and more loaded.

We're walking you through all the changes here.

(A special thanks to Danny Sullivan, who took screenshots of some Google search changes in 2007 for Search Engine Land and posted the images to Flickr under a Creative Commons license.)

Here's the orginal Google search page from 1998. Pretty adorably retro.



These are the early search results. Just a list of links with some ads on the sides and the top.



On September 11, 2001, Google put links right on Google.com to news stories. At the time this was controversial inside the company.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where Every Team Stands Going Into Week 15

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tom brady 2012 new england patriots

It was the most upset-filled week of the NFL season.

Four of our top-five teams from last week lost, and our rankings were turned upside down as a result.

We have a brand new top three, led by the New England Patriots, and two hot NFC teams are threatening to break into the top 10.

Click here to see the rankings >

Once again, here's how we came up with them.

We took our rankings from last week and moved teams up and down based on the following criteria:

  • A win: up 2 spots
  • A loss: down 1 spot
  • A loss by 10+ points: down 2 spots
  • A win against a top-5 team from the week before: up 2 spots
  • A win against a top-12 team from the week before (aka, a playoff team): up 1 spot
  • Covering the point spread: up 1 spot
  • A winning record: up 1 spot
  • A losing record: down 1 spot
  • No team with a winning record can be outside the top 16

1. New England Patriots (#3 last week): Beat the Texans

Record: 10-3

Biggest thing we learned this week: The pass defense — the team's one glaring weakness — has improved dramatically in the last month.



2. Denver Broncos (#5 last week): Beat the Raiders

Record: 10-3

Biggest thing we learned this week: They can beat bad teams without their "A" game. Denver only scored TDs on two of their seven red-zone possessions, but still handled Oakland on the road.



3. San Francisco 49ers (#7 last week): Beat the Dolphins

Record: 9-3-1

Biggest thing we learned this week: Colin Kaepernick is basically doing the same thing Alex Smith did as a passer (protecting the ball, completing a high percentage of his passes). But he's making big plays as a runner — Kaepernick has 50-yard runs in two-straight weeks.



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Meet The Spouses Of The Sexiest Athletes Alive

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irina shayk

The spouses of the sexiest athletes alive include models, actresses, construction workers, reality stars, plumbers, and world-famous golfers.

We typically think of these men and women as the luckiest people in the world. They are, after all, married to rich, famous sports icons.

But once you meet some of these spouses, you'll realized that maybe we have it all backwards. Maybe it's the athletes who are the lucky ones.

Thirty of the the 50 athletes on our list of the Sexiest Athletes Alive are married, engaged, or in a known relationship.

Let's meet them.

Tom Brady (#1) is married to world-famous supermodel Gisele



David Beckham (#3) is married to singer and model Victoria Beckham



Cristiano Ronaldo (#5) is dating Russian model Irina Shayk



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These Incredible Hand-Drawn Maps Of New York City Took Months To Create

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DNU Hand Drawn NYC Map

When online art vendor Evermade.com commissioned Jenni Sparks to draw a detailed map of New York City including its subway lines and famous landmarks, it was nothing new for the London-based artist.

Sparks had already hand-drawn a similar map of London for Harry Hayes, Evermade's owner.

Much like the Map of London project, the Map of New York took three months for Sparks to complete. Each building had to be researched, neighborhoods toured, and subway lines mapped out before the intense, hand-cramping work had even begun.

The finished print includes Lower Manhattan, Midtown, parts of the Upper West and Upper East Sides, Williamsburg, Long Island City, Central Park, and a bit of Brooklyn and Queens. Sadly, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the remainder of Brooklyn is missing, but perhaps that's another map for another day.

Both the New York and London maps are for sale on the design store's website.

Here's the Google Maps satellite image of the neighborhoods Jenni Sparks illustrated.



And a reminder of what the subway lines look like via the New York City MTA.



And now for the hand-drawn map of NYC by Jenni Sparks.



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Doug Kass Predicted 15 Big Surprises For 2012 — Here's How They Did

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Doug Kass

Every year, Doug Kass releases a comprehensive and ambitious list of surprises for the upcoming year.

As in previous yearshis 2012 calls covered everything from politics to global macroeconomics to market technicals.

We went through and scored each of his predictions.

This year they were challenging for him, but that's only because he's so creative in calling out long shots that are intriguing.

PREDICTION: "The U.S. stock market approaches its all-time high in 2012"

Half Right

Directionally, Kass's call has been correct.  The S&P 500 surged to a high of 1,474.  But it's still well below the all-time high of 1,527.

Score: 0.5/15



PREDICTION: "The growth in the U.S. economy accelerates as the year progresses"

Half Right

Real GDP growth decelerated to +1.3% in Q2 from Q1’s upwardly revised 2.0%. Q3 GDP has picked up to 2.7%. 

However, economists are now expecting deceleration in Q4 as global economic and political uncertainty drags on growth.

Score: 1.0/15



PREDICTION: "Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush form a bipartisan coalition that persuades both parties to unite in addressing our fiscal imbalances"

Wrong

This seems like a good idea, but it has not come to fruition. President Obama has taken on a much more involved role in negotiating a resolution to the fiscal cliff.

Score: 1.0/15



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The Most Outrageous Works We Saw At Art Basel Miami Beach

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Art BAsel Miami

This year's Art Basel Miami Beach brought the world's best artists and galleries to the sunshine state for a five-day art fair showcasing established and upcoming talent.

While the convention center was home to large galleries such as Gagosian and White Cube, the surrounding satellite art fairs featured works from well-known and unknown artists alike.

No matter the level of fame, it seemed like each gallery booth had plenty of interesting art to offer.

From stickers to skulls to gold-plated statues, see the most outrageous artworks featured at this year's Art Basel Miami Beach.

Welcome to Art Basel Miami Beach 2012.



Where all types of people come out to view the art.



One of the most head-turning pieces was this "Armed Freedom Lying On A Sunbed" by Allora & Calzadilla.



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The 8 Most Talked-About Business Moves Of 2012

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mark pincus

It seems like this year some businesses fell out of favor with the entrepreneurial gods, while others basked in their glory.

Golden children Facebook and Zynga got their silver spoons yanked away, while SpaceX, Airbnb, and Kickstarter were blessed beyond measure.

See who came out of 2012 on top.

Check out the decisions we couldn't stop talking about >

More From Inc.:

SpaceX Carries Out Its Historic Mission

Don't Put Your Customers At Risk

When Politics And Free Speech Don't Mix

The Facebook IPO blunder.

For investors and the tech industry, there wasn’t much to like about Facebook’s feverishly anticipated IPO in May.

The offering experienced technical, tactical, and ultimately, legal problems: by August the company’s stock had lost more than half its value. (More recently, the price has risen, reflecting—among other things—Facebook’s improved prospects for mobile.) That debacle gave other IPO-eager companies the jitters and prompted the SEC to review some of its rules.



Space X's stake in the space travel game as a private company.

The touchdown of the Atlantis in 2011 marked the end of NASA’s adventures in manned space travel. But the end of an era doesn’t necessarily mean the end.

In May, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule became the first private craft to visit the International Space Station, part of a $1.6 billion NASA contract. SpaceX’s first manned flight is expected in 2015; and NASA has contracted with two other private companies for “space taxis” to keep us boldly going, etc.



Zynga's dying breaths.

You know what they say: it’s all fun and games until somebody loses $53 million in one quarter.

At Zynga—until recently a favored Facebook friend—the stock is down. Advertising is down. Innovation is down. (EA, which sued Zynga for copyright infringement, is just the largest firm complaining that Farmville’s parent doesn’t grow its own.)

Last month, the company shed 5% of its workforce; more than a dozen key executives had already beat a retreat. For investors who bought into the lackluster IPO last December, it’s been a long year of disillusionment. To non-gamers, the decline of a business selling virtual objects for real cash might seem like the restoration of sanity.



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And Now... Another Bubble

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bubble grass

We reached out to Societe Generale's top FX strategist, Kit Juckes, to ask for his thoughts on a few of the charts that have defined the past year.

Juckes sent us back an entire slide deck that captures what he sees as the most important underlying theme: unprecedented central bank balance sheet expansion is now giving rise to new asset bubbles, not unlike excessively easy monetary policy has done in the past.

Juckes even cites the recent sale of a Monet painting, "Nymphets," which sold this year for $43.8 million. He writes, "White truffle prices are up (again), wine prices have continued to ignore the recession, and any other number of asset markets are booming."







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Finally: The Answers To 7 Awkward Money Questions

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networking, girl, awkward, staring, drinking

Recently, I made lunch plans with a woman whose son is the same age as mine.

We picked a restaurant with a large outdoor area the kids could play in without bugging other customers. Coincidentally, I had a PTA discount card that gives me 10 percent off food and drinks at the place.

Saving 10 percent for doing nothing other than pulling a card out of my wallet seemed like a no-brainer, except I was worried I would look cheap for busting out my savings card in front of a woman I barely knew.

Sticking to a budget and having a social life isn’t always easy, so I asked etiquette experts to weigh in on seven tricky money situations.

Is it OK to use a coupon on a date?

When a similar topic was discussed at Budgets Are Sexy, commenters were really divided, from people who thought it was off-putting to others who appreciated the idea of a budget-savvy date.

Kate Forest, a relationship counselor and coach at Master Matchmakers, says flat-out no to using a coupon. “Money, like religion and politics, is one of those topics best avoided when you are first getting to know someone, whether that’s a someone you might have a romantic relationship with or even a new friend,” Forest says. “You shouldn’t have to act like you don’t care about money, but neither should you act like you care too much.”

She says using a two-for-one blooming onion coupon will make you seem too money-focused. Keep the deal in your pocket until you’re out with a dear old friend who couldn’t care less whether you use it or not (and may in fact like a big plate of greasy, delicious, fried onion-ness, too!).

Dating on a budget? Forest suggests planning inexpensive outings like eating at a fun restaurant that won’t be too pricey (dim sum, anyone?), bringing coffee and taking your dogs to a dog park or touring a local winery where the tasting is free and then having lunch afterward. “I think the other person is more impressed by the thought and planning that goes into a date rather than the check at the end,” Forest says.



It’s date number two, and you’ve ordered too much. Can you ask for a doggie bag?

Nope, says Forest. “The biggest reason to not ask for a doggie bag is that you should have your hands free on a date. Even on an early date, there is opportunity for holding hands or lightly touching the other person,” which won’t happen if you’re toting a Styrofoam container around with you.

Vicky Oliver, author of The Millionaire’s Handbookdisagrees, saying she’s started taking leftover food from restaurants because she hates the idea of wasting so much. “It’s just so much better food than anything I could make at home, and the portions are ginormous!” Oliver says. She adds that as long as you’re polite to the waiter, cute about your request or make a joke with your companion like, “I wish I were a chef, but I’m definitely not,” there shouldn’t be an issue with it. “We need to get out of our shame and embarrassment. Frugal is in fashion, and it can be all in the way you try to make it fun.”

Both experts agree: You cannot take other people’s food home (which, bizarrely, happened to one of Forest’s clients on a first date.)



What if your co-workers eat out every Friday and start asking why you won’t join them?

Brown bagging it is cheaper, but outside-work excursions “are sometimes the glue that holds these relationships together,” Oliver explains.

Skipping after-work drinks or the weekly pizza lunch makes you seem as if “you’re not fun and not friendly.”

Go, says Oliver. “If it gets to be prohibitively expensive, maybe you can suggest a cheaper venue, but you don’t want to be standoffish.”

Consider it an investment in your career.



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16 Ways To Find Out If You're A Genius

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Mach IQ Test

A few months ago we published a list of the 16 smartest people in the world

The list ranked people by IQ and was culled from an online ranking called The World Genius Directory. The directory, created by Dr. Jason Betts, is compiled from certified high-range intelligence tests sent in by listees.

See the IQ tests > 

Unlike IQ tests designed by psychologists, high-range IQ tests are crafted by amateurs and enthusiasts around the world who have a high IQ themselves (An IQ of at least 160, which is considered genius, is recommended).  

Ivan Ivec, a Croatian mathematician who ranks 25th on the genius directory with an IQ of 169, has written more than 15 IQ tests, which are available at ultimaiq.net

"Intelligence tests designed by psychologists are limited in time that does not suit everyone," Ivec tells us. "Specifically, there are intelligent people, capable of performing complex actions and resolving complex tasks, although their speed of solving is low."

High range IQ tests are usually not timed, but most can take 20 hours or more to complete. They generally come in four flavors: Verbal, numerical, spatial, and logical. Any single test can include all or one of these categories. 

Ivec has published a list of his favorite high-range IQ tests from a range of authors on his website. Test-takers vote for their favorite via email and he shifts the ranking accordingly. 

"For a complete insight into their own abilities, people are encouraged to take more tests of different types and preferably from different authors," Ivec explains. 

With help from Ivec, a list of those tests, including their strengths and weaknesses are listed in the following slides. Check them out and hit up Ivec's website to give the tests a whirl to see if you are a genius.

16. Simplex

Type: Spatial (draw the missing figure)

Strengths: Includes a variety of original ideas, difficulty equally distributed, no cultural bias

Weaknesses: Two items presented an alternative answer of low quality

Creator: Paul Laurent of Spain

Take the test



15. Nydegger Intelligence Test – Form I

Type: Mixed item type (Numerical, Verbal, Spatial, Logical)

Strengths: Uses multiples abilities which is more appropriate to measure intelligence, items are based on a revision of a previous test and on the experience of other test creators, no fee, no time limit

Weaknesses: The test was designed by only one person (young and male) so biases may exist and it's only available in English

Creator: Marc-André Nydegger of Switzerland

Take the test



14. Numerus Classic

Type: Numerical

Strengths: Based on good statistical data

Creator: Ivan Ivec

Take the test



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