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The Amazing Process That Enabled Paralyzed Rats To Run Again

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ratsResearchers recently completed a scientific trial that  enabled paralyzed rats to run again.

Through a combination of chemical, electrical, and physical stimulation, they found that the paralyzed rats who underwent treatment could walk again — some could even run.

This could have incredible implications for paralyzed humans, but much more research is needed before these techniques can be tested in humans.

Here is a breakdown of the step-by-step process these scientists used to reactivate parts of the spinal cords and get these rats walking again.

See how they got the rats to walk again >

Read more about The Groundbreaking Combination of Scientific Treatments That Could Mean A Cure For Paralysis >

See our list of Game Changers: 30 Innovations That Will Change The World >

The study succeeds in restoring voluntary and adaptive movement in paralyzed rats.



Which is amazing since the rats begin with partially severed spinal cords.



First the researchers inject a cocktail of chemicals designed to mimic the body’s signals that coordinate lower body movement.



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POP QUIZ: Can You Figure Out What These Brands Are By Looking At Colored Circles?

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unevolved brandsLogo designer Graham Smith has put together a series called Unevolved Brands which use only colored circles to create iconic brand logos.

"Logos and brands that have strong and unique colors, as well as strong positional aspects, are usually recognizable when Unevolved to just circles," writes Smith on Flickr.

Mostly, each circle represents a single letter, or a single part of the logo. 

We've put together a quiz with Smith's redone logos — how will you fare?

The answer is on the following slide

unevolved brands



Ferrari





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Curiosity Rover's Latest Images Show Sandy Dunes And Hills On Mars

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Curiosity

A week after NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory landed the Curiosity rover on Mars we've already seen some amazing images.

As a testament to the great team of scientists and engineers on the Curiosity's Crew, so far, everything's been going without a hitch. Here are the latest from the team.

They are still in the process of checking everything out on the rover, and are planning to take it for a test spin in about a week. Stay tuned!

The terrain around the rover's landing site within Gale Crater on Mars.

This huge image was taken from above the surface of Mars using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image is color-enhanced to make it easier to see subtle differences on the surface. In reality, the blue colors are more gray.

At the top of the image, you can see Curiosity's landing spot, and the area where the landing stage rockets kicked up dust made the surface look more blue/gray than the area around it. Near the bottom are the foothills of Mount Sharp, which is out of the image frame.

Curioisty



The blast from Curiosity's landing.

Here's a closer up view of that same Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image in the region around Curiosity. This one is also color-enhanced, making the gray look more blue. The differences in color mean that different types of materials are shown, most likely the basalt hidden under dust that the rover kicked up while landing.

These images are helping the team decide what route to take to visit Mount Sharp and figure out what might be the best areas to visit to do some science along the way.

Curiosity



Where Curiosity landed within Gale Crater.

This combined image was created with data from each of the Mars orbiters, updated with new information to show where in Gale crater Curiosity touched down. Gale crater is about the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Mount Sharp is in the center, rising 3.4 miles above the crater floor.

Toward the lower middle of the image you can see the green dot locating Curiosity, and the blue-outlined "landing ellipse" where the team was aiming.

Curiosity



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9 More Cool Tricks You Should Try With Apple's New Mac Operating System (AAPL)

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mountain lion squinting

We're still learning more and more tricks and tweaks in Apple's latest operating system for Macs. 

Here are our favorites from this list by Addictive Tips and some of our own.

Instantly look up a word in the dictionary

If you tap a word with three fingers inside of any app, Mountain Lion will pop open a Dictionary window and define that word.



Quickly switch between full screen apps

Swipe side-to-side with three fingers to toggle between full screen apps.



Play chess over Game Center

The Mac's timeless Chess app has been updated to support online play over Game Center. While logged in to Game Center, start a new game and select "Game Center Match" from the Players menu.



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CREDIT SUISSE: These 7 Stocks Will Rise With The Machines

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Factory automation

One of the major long term trends in the global economy will be increasing automation of industry.

Credit Suisse is out with a detailed analysis of the near and long term implications of the ongoing switchover.

Interestingly, they think one of the principal drivers will be China. With a decreasing supply of low cost rural labor and an effort to push up wages, the country should see an increasing rate of automation.

Right now, their pace of robot adaptation is 8 percent of Japan's, meaning there's a great deal of room to grow. 

In the report, Credit Suisse analysts pick their seven favorite stocks in the sector. They think the current macro environment offers an attractive entry point for the long term, and expect industry momentum to ramp up in coming quarters. 

Siemens AG

Market Cap: $83.7 billion

Ticker: NYSE: SI

P/E: 10.4x 

Siemens is the world leader in factory automation, from which it derives 31 percent of its profits. It has recently announced cost cutting measures and a $3 billion dollar share buyback, and trades at an attractive valuation. 

Source: Credit Suisse



Rockwell Automation

Market Cap: $10 billion

Ticker: NYSE: ROK

P/E: 13.5x

Rockwell is a somewhat more cyclical pick than the other more self sufficient names on this list, however its valuation multiple is cheap, its discrete automation business is growing. and it is a possible acquisition target.  
 
Source: Credit Suisse


FANUC

Market Cap: $30.8 billion

Ticker: TYO: 6954 PINK: FANUY

P/E: 15.7x

FANUC has about a 20 percent global share in the robot market, and is poised to benefit from increased adoption in China and Japan.

One prospect for significant growth would be increasing application of robots to machine tools. Credit Suisse estimates that if one third of new machine tools were outfitted with a single robot, market demand would double.   

Source: Credit Suisse



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Look How Gorgeous Microsoft's Dropbox Alternative Is (MSFT)

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skydrive for android

Today Microsoft revealed a brand new site for it's personal cloud storage storage service, SkyDrive.

For those not familiar, SkyDrive allows you to store your files, photos, and documents in the cloud. It's very similar to other popular services like Dropbox, SugarSync, and Google Drive. Microsoft will give you 7 GB of storage to start off with, but you can pay for more.

The new site borrows from the tile-based Windows 8 and Windows Phone operating system design, which ties the products together nicely. Microsoft has also updated the SkyDrive apps for iPhone and Windows Phone and launched a new one for Android.

We took the new SkyDrive for a spin today. Keep reading to see what's new.

The new SkyDrive.com will be available within the next 24 hours. You'll need a Windows Live account to set your SkyDrive up.



SkyDrive 's new icons will resemble the Windows 8 'tile' theme.



Here is what the old SkyDrive site looked like. Pretty similar to Hotmail.



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Chef Eric Ripert Is Teaching The World How To Open A Scallop On Twitter Right Now

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eric ripert scallops twitter

Eric Ripert, the executive chef of famous seafood restaurant Le Bernardin in New York, gave a lesson on how to open a scallop on his Twitter feed today.

He makes it look pretty easy. But then again he is a professional chef.

Follow Ripert at @EricRipert.

Note: We left the tweets as-is so excuse the typos, please.

He first tweeted: "Scallops @LeBernardinNY arrived live & in the shell We show you how to open them...in few tweets"

Source: @EricRipert via Twitter



"With a knive follow the top of the shell Until..."

Source: @EricRipert via Twitter



You separate the 2 sides...

Source: @EricRipert via Twitter



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After Paying With Square, You'll Want To Ditch Your Credit Card Forever

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pay with square tour 1

We finally got an opportunity to try out Pay With Square, a new app that lets you pay for things without taking out a credit card.

Or your wallet. Or your phone. Or anything.

It's a new app from Square, a $3.2 billion startup in San Francisco led by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey that's redesigning the way we pay for things.

Here's how it works: you link a credit card or debit card to your Square account and open "tabs" at places you'd like to buy things. Your phone automatically detects when you're close to that shop, and will show your name up at the register, along with your picture.

When you're ready to buy something, just tell the cashier your name. They'll double check your name with the photo you have on file with Square, and then it's tap, tap, and you're done. You don't even have to take out your phone, or your wallet.

It's the most seamless paying process we've ever experienced — and it's going to make you want to leave your wallet in your pocket from here on out.

Lunch time! Let's see what's open.



Senor Sisig is one of the best food trucks in San Francisco...



...and it looks like they're close! Second and Minna is right around the block from Business Insider West.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: This Ultra-Modern $15 Million Hollywood Home Is Absolutely Fantastic

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west hollywood mansion $15 million

A stunning super modern home is on sale for $15 million in West Hollywood, California.

The gigantic house spans 10,000 square feet and has seven bedrooms and seven and a half bathrooms.

The home is considered green and is equipped with solar panels on the roof and in the pool.

It's also high-tech: you can control the lights, sound, air, electricity, doors and alarms from anywhere through an iPhone or iPad.

Welcome to Sierra Alta Way.



The home is known as the Milan Residence.



The water is illuminated at night with LED lights.



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The 5 Best Bars In Barcelona

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dnu

Barcelona is a partygoer’s paradise, with more travelers seeing the Spanish sunrise than the sunset (we need our pre-party evening siesta), and is an absolute can’t-miss destination for any visitor serious about their nightlife.

With beach cerveserias, concerts, countless tapas bars, rowdy pubs, and clubs packed till 6am, there’s something going on day and night. 

Check out the Barcelona hotspots here >

We at Party Earth advise that you reserve Barcelona’s history and colorful architecture from about noon to three – or better yet plan your drinking destinations so that you can see things along the way.

You could spend a lifetime discovering the bars and clubs in Barcelona, but we want to show you a tiny taste of the immense diversity of fun that the city offers. So below are a few of our favorite venues in Catalonia that will keep you happy all night long. And take solace in knowing you won’t be the first to stumble off the subway at dawn to see La Sagrada Familia. 

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

Dry Martini Bar

Start the night off with class at the Dry Martini Bar, which serves up what could possibly be the best martinis in the country. Framed art deco paintings, leather sofas, and a glossy wood finish give off a ritzy 1920’s décor, complemented by bartenders in white tuxedos who specialize in the art of mixing vermouths, bitters, and dashes. It’s the perfect place to join in on a conversation with the sophisticated clientele, sip your handcrafted chef-d'oeuvre, and get the properness out of your system before a wild night out. 



Jamboree

Located just off the bustling nightlife strip of La Rambla, Jamboree is a popular music venue that transforms into a late-night club after the live bands leave the stage. Having hosted some of the century’s most legendary players, the brick cellar of Jamboree holds a spot in jazz history, and provides patrons with intimate jazz shows with big name artists that are usually hard to find. After the music ends, the cellar combines with its upstairs sister establishment, Tarantos, and becomes one of the city’s busiest clubs for tourists and locals looking to dance for little to no cover. Head to Jamboree for an authentic music experience and stay for the dancing where you are free to climb the stage for your own performance – ideally a duet.



La Champaneria (Can Paixano)

After you’re finished tanning on the beach and have gotten your afternoon siesta in, it’s time for some mouthwatering tapas and authentic champagne at La Champaneria (Can Paixano), one of the best tapas bars in Barcelona. To find the place, just head to Port Olympic and look for the masses of people spilling out onto the sidewalk from the open wood door. With cheap Spanish champagnes and delicious tapas, the narrow space is packed to the brim on almost any night, but the fight to the front of the bar can be half the fun. Once you elbow your way there, order a bottle of bubbly and make friends with the half-dozen people butting up against you.



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A Guide To Paul Ryan's Crazy Workout Regimen

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paul-ryan-gym-2

Whether he's spending time with his family in Janesville or with his colleagues on Capitol Hill, Paul Ryan makes it a point to exercise every day.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post says that "his colleagues report that the (workout) routine has left Ryan with ripped abs."

Pretty impressive for a politician who just might become the nation's next Vice President.

One motivation for living a healthy lifestyle: Paul Ryan's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all died of heart attacks before turning 60 years old

Source: Daily Mail



As a kid, Paul Ryan and his friends would lift plastic weights filled with concrete

Source: Local Vision TV



One of Paul Ryan's first jobs coming out of college was as a fitness trainer at Washington Sport and Health Club

Source: Fox News



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13 Mugshots Of Business Leaders Who Landed On The Wrong Side Of The Law

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bill gates mugshot

Crocs founder George Boedecker made headlines today when it was reported he yelled at police officers and claimed he was dating Taylor Swift.

His mugshot was pretty great as well.

So we decided to take a look at other business titans who have found themselves on the wrong end of the police camera.

All mugshots came from The Smoking Gun.

Former McKinsey & Co. executive Rajat Gupta was convicted in June of passing tips to the infamous Raj Rajaratnam.

Mugshot via The Smoking Gun

Click here for more about Gupta's life and crimes >



Raj Rajaratnam was sentenced in 2011 to 11 years behind bars for insider trading.

Mugshot via The Smoking Gun

Check out the rise and fall of Rajaratnam >



Allen Stanford was sentenced in January to 110 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of a $7 billion investment fraud scheme.

Mugshot via The Smoking Gun

Check out the spectacular rise and fall of Allen Stanford >



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The Largest-Ever Corporate Payouts To The US Over Foreign Bribery Charges

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bribe business sheep

On Tuesday, global tech company NCR Corp. revealed it was probing internal allegations that it was violating federal anti-bribery law, the Wall Street Journal reported.

NCR's revelation comes as the U.S. government has been cracking down on violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Last week, Pfizer agreed to pay $60 million to settle allegations it bribed officials in Bulgaria, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and Russia to persuade them to use the drug giant's products.

And Avon, the door-to-door cosmetics giant, has been negotiating with federal regulators to settle an FCPA probe that spurred some executives to leave the company, Bloomberg reported Aug. 1.

The Pfizer deal didn't quite make the list of top 10 largest-ever settlements with the federal government, but Business Insider decided to take a look at which companies did make the list, courtesy of the FCPA Blog. The settlements cover both civil and criminal penalties.

Many of these companies are foreign, but they can't escape the FCPA—the law applies to companies that trade securities on U.S. exchanges.

A Switzerland-based logistics company admitted to paying $27 million in bribes.

Company: Panalpina 

Settlement: $81.5 million

Year: 2010

The conduct or allegations: The company admitted paying $27 million in bribes to officials in Angola, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Russia, and Turkmenistan. It was trying to make customs clearance easier for its customers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.



A Hungarian telecom and its German owner paid out over claims the telecom entered into a secret deal to halt new laws in Macedonia.

Company: Magyar Telekom Plc and its majority owner Deutsche Telekom AG

Settlement: $95 million

Year: 2011

The conduct or allegations: Magyar was accused of entering into a secret deal with Macedonian government officials to thwart impending regulations, according to the DOJ.



A French company accused of paying big bucks to do business in Asian and Latin American Countries.

Company: Alcatel-Lucent S.A.

Settlement: $137 million

Year: 2010

The conduct or violations: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission claimed three of Alcatel-Lucent's subsidiaries illicitly paid millions of dollars to foreign officials through sham consultants so they could get business in Costa Rica, Honduras, Malaysia, and Taiwan.



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These 10 Incredible Private Safaris Will Help You And Your Friends Get Away From It All

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private safaris walking tour

The perfect safari should involve plenty of up-close-and-personal encounters—ideally involving wild animals and not the strangers in the tent next door.

Many high-end safari companies are responding to the yearning for even more exclusivity in what is already one of the world’s most elite travel experiences, offering private excursions that allow guests to choose their travel companions, customize their itineraries and witness plenty of once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Andy Cluver, CEO of South Africa–based airline Civair, has organized private travel for scores of celebrities, royals and politicians. High-profile travelers including Bono, Richard Branson, Michael Jackson and Princess Diana have entrusted Civair with their vacation plans. And while some boldfaced names like Bill Gates have been low maintenance (the Microsoft founder opted to travel with just his wife, Melinda), others have asked for a little more. Privacy, security and a support network are key for many private-safari clients.

Adventure outfitters are increasingly catering to guests who want to book an entire camp, boat, balloon or helicopter for themselves and their group. 

Experiential travel is hot the world over, and a host of destinations are getting in on the act, which was pioneered—and perfected—in Africa. Safari companies today offer the chance to encounter a whole ark’s worth of animals, from kangaroos and blue-footed boobies to mountain gorillas and crocodiles.

A river safari down the Amazon with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions offers a look at mythic river monsters like piranhas (without a swarm of camera-happy passengers snapping at your heels). At Anantara in Thailand’s Golden Triangle, guests learn to handle elephants in utterly tranquil surrounds. And at Wildman Lodge in Australia’s Northern Territory, kangaroo safaris through the bush encounter a variety of marsupials. Whichever you choose, the experience is truly like nothing else.

More From Departures:


 
 
 
 

Private Safari: Singita Sweni Lodge, South Africa

Located within a private concession of Kruger National Park, the six suites at Singita Sweni Lodge are elevated on stilts to provide a secluded game-viewing platform reminiscent of an eagle’s nest (if eagles had WiFi, outdoor showers and daybeds, that is).

Guests plan their own game-drive schedule and can fully expect to see the big five—lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, Cape buffalo—along with rarer, more brag-worthy animals like black rhinos, sable antelopes and a trio of the world’s most unusual big cats: the serval (with the body of a cheetah and the ears of a bat), the caracal (a bobcat-like feline once used as a hunting companion) and the African wildcat. From $10,150 a night (including meals and drinks); 12-person capacity; 27-21/683-3424; singita.com.



Private Helicopter Safari: Uncharted Africa Safari Co., Ethiopia

For a bird’s-eye view of some of the most inaccessible and untouched wonders of Ethiopia, sign up with Uncharted Africa Safari Co., whose owner, Ralph Bousfield, leads guests on a ten-day odyssey, working off an itinerary that is easily customizable according to weather and whim.

Typically, Bousfield searches for game over the Omo River Delta and soars to dizzying heights over the jagged Simien Mountains (home to the Walia ibex and Simien fox) before plummeting into the surreal volcanic wasteland of the Danakil Depression, Africa’s lowest point. The heli-safari uses three main base camps near the eerily quiet Makgadikgadi Pans, the remnants of a vast lake that once covered much of Ethiopia and Botswana. $130,000 (all-inclusive); 2-person capacity; 27-11/447-1605; unchartedafrica.com.



Balloon Safari: Abercrombie & Kent, the Serengeti

Experience the Serengeti from the perspective of an African white-backed vulture via an hour-long balloon ride at dawn (available as an extension to any Abercrombie & Kent Serengeti itinerary). It is a magical way to experience this vast floodplain. While ordinary balloon flights soar high above the Oloololo Escarpment, A & K’s specially trained safari balloon pilots maneuver just a few feet above the grassland and treetops, even rotating the basket so all passengers get the chance to face forward.

Thanks to the stealthy approach, you’ll spot unsuspecting leopards lazing in tree boughs, alligators and hippos wallowing in creek beds and antelope and Burchell’s zebras on the vast plains. The toast-worthy safari ends, fittingly enough, with a Champagne breakfast on the Serengeti. $4,000 (including breakfast); 8-person capacity; 800-554-7016; abercrombiekent.com.



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The State Of America's Wind Energy Industry

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Moon Wind Turbine Green Energy Industrial Production

Today, Aug 14, the Energy Department and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a new report on America's wind energy market in 2011.

The report shows that the US is a leading producer of wind energy, and shows the strong growth of the industry.

The findings of the report underscore the importance of continued policy support and clean energy tax credits to ensure that the U.S. remains a leading producer and manufacturer in this booming global industry.

US is #2.

In the United States, domestic clean energy production and manufacturing competitiveness work hand-in-hand. The report finds total U.S. wind power capacity grew to 47,000 megawatts by the end of 2011 and has since grown to 50,000 megawatts, enough to power 12 million homes annually — as many homes as in the entire state of California.



Wind is on the rise.

And as wind energy capacity has grown, more and more wind turbines and components like towers, blades, gears, and generators are "Made in America." Nearly 70 percent of all of the equipment installed at U.S. wind farms last year came from domestic manufacturers, doubling from 35 percent in 2005.



Innovative industry.

Technological innovations are helping make longer and lighter wind turbine blades, while improving turbine performance and increasing the efficiency of power generation. At the same time, wind project capital and maintenance costs have continued to decline.



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How Casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson Went From Rags To Riches To Become The Republican Party's Biggest Donor

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Sheldon AdelsonSheldon Adelson's entire family once slept all in one room. He used to contribute mainly to Democrats.

But this year, Adelson has become a megadonor to the Republican Party in a furious one-man quest to oust President Barack Obama from the White House. 

Romney's new running mate, Paul Ryan, is scheduled to meet with Adelson on Tuesday in Las Vegas

At 78, Adelson is taking advantage of his ability to contribute an unlimited amount of money to so-called "super PACs," which don't directly affiliate with candidates or parties.

He's also become a somewhat controversial figure in the race, most recently for a scandal in Macau involving a "frontman" on several of Adelson's largest projects.

Primarily, Adelson is using his money and growing influence to advocate for a free Jewish state in Israel, something he staunchly supports. The casino mogul even popped up in Israel a couple weekends ago to aid the candidacy of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who he has pledged to support with a possibly "unlimited" amount of money.  

Outside of the Romney campaign, Adelson has spent upwards of $20 million in donations to Republican candidates this election cycle, and almost single-handedly bankrolled Newt Gingrich's rollercoaster primary campaign. CBS pegs him as the biggest super PAC donor of this election cycle.

Adelson mostly avoids the media spotlight, but his rags-to-riches tale reveals some of the reasons as to why he made huge ideological and personal changes through his life. 

Adelson grew up in a working class Boston neighborhood.

His father, who emigrated from Lithuania, worked as a cabdriver, while his mother ran a knitting shop from their home. He, his parents and three siblings slept in one room.

Source: The New Yorker



Adelson's computer trade show, Comdex, became one of the world's largest in the world in the 1980s.

Adelson went on to buy the historic Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, adding a convention center for the thriving Comdex. Adelson later cashed in on Comdex for $862 million, using the profits to tear down the hotel and rebuild a lavish, Venice-inspired complex.

Source: The New York Times



The Sands Macau is where Adelson made his billions.

Since the Sands Macau, located in Macau Peninsula, Macau, opened its doors, Adelson's personal wealth has "multiplied more than fourteen times," and "earning roughly a million dollars an hour" after the company went public, The New Yorker reported.

Source: The New Yorker



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13 American Gangs Keeping The FBI Up At Night

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juggalo barbequeWe looked at the 2011 FBI gang report last year and not much has changed as we wait for the 2012 report to come out.

More than 1.4 million Americans are still wearing the colors of more than 33,000 gangs across the country, according to the report.

Based on evidence from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, the FBI says gangs commit 48% of violent crime, and are only becoming more dangerous. Some even source weapons from the military.

What has changed is the legal position of one of these gangs who is suing the FBI for being on the list at all. Check out the following slides to see which one it is.

The 18th Street Gang is considered the largest street gang in California

One of the most well-known of the "Sureño" gangs in Southern California, the 18th Street Gang is said to be responsible for at least one robbery or assault a day in Los Angeles County. The gang is one of the most rapidly expanding criminal groups in the country, with a reach that extends across 32 states, from Maryland to Hawaii.

Though loosely connected, the gang is thought to be the largest street gang in California, with roughly 15,000 members.

18th Street gangsters have been linked to homicide, extortion, alien smuggling, drug smuggling, and auto theft,. They have also infiltrated the U.S. military.




Florencia 13 members have been caught buying weapons from U.S. military personnel

Another rapidly expanding Sureño gang, Florencia 13, works closely with the Mexican Mafia and is a rival of the 18th Street set. Based out of South Los Angeles, Florencia 13 is part of a terrifying gang war scene that has turned L.A. into one of the most dangerous counties in the country.

It also has members and influence in states like Virginia and Iowa.

The gang has racked up charges ranging from piracy to conspiracy to sell drugs and murder over the last few years. They also have been cited as another gang infiltrating the U.S. military. In 2010, six members were given life sentences out of the 94 that pleaded guilty to their crimes.



Barrio Azteca has ties to several major Mexican drug trafficking organizations

Originally based out of El Paso, Texas, Los Aztecas have become a powerful paramilitary force on both sides of the Mexico border. Now many of the gang's members are recruited from Texas prisons, and some of its work takes place inside prison walls, such as heroin production.

Los Aztecas work with the Juarez cartel and Los Zetas running drugs, smuggling illegal aliens and murdering consulate officials.The gang has a military structure that has helped keep order.

In March 2011, 35 members of the gang were charged with a variety of crimes, including 10 gangsters involved in the murder of the U.S. Consulate employee and several family members.



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Here's How Much Money The World's Biggest Brands Spent Designing Their Logos

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Coke Santa

One of the most important parts of a company's branding strategy is choosing the right logo. The process takes a lot of time, vision, talent ... and sometimes money.

Stock Logos—a site that offers, well, stock logos—has compiled a list that reveals how much Coca-Cola, Nike, BP, and other companies spent creating their logos.

But you'll be surprised which companies spent millions and which spent the cost of a movie ticket on their iconic images.

Coca-Cola: $0

Coke's famous logo was created by its founder's partner and bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, in 1886. According to the soft drink's website, Robinson "suggested the name Coca‑Cola, thinking that ‘the two Cs would look well in advertising’. He wanted to create a unique logo to go with it, and experimented writing the company’s name in elaborate Spencerian script, a form of penmanship characteristic of the time."

The best things in life are free.



Google: $0

Although Google's famous, rainbow logo has gone through minor alterations over the years, the original design was created in 1998 by Google co-founder Sergey Brin on the free graphics program called GIMP. Then Ruth Kedar, a mutual friend of Brin and Larry Page from Stanford, got to work on other logo prototypes.



Twitter: $15

Twitter bought rights to the now-famous Twitter bird for $15 on iStockphoto. Artist Simon Oxley, a British citizen living in Japan, might have only received $6 for his work—without a credit. However, the bird has undergone a recent makeover.



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36 Weird Economic Indicators That You've Never Heard Of

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Hooters

Every day, public and private data gathering agencies publish economic reports that are widely reported on by the business media.

However, many economists have come to favor the indicators that are less employed — turning to things like garbage, bike fatalities, and hemlines to develop their point of view.

This morning, we learned that makeup sales were way up, which scientists believe is a bad sign for the economy.

What are some of the other weird indicators?

Buttered Popcorn Index

The Concept: To escape the doldrums of reality, consumers flock to cinemas to see Jason Bourne and Harry Potter, regardless of the movie's quality.

The Proof: The box office posted one of its biggest years during the 2009 recession, before plateauing as markets eased. If there's a double-dip, expect popcorn sales to be up again.



Unclaimed Corpse Indicator

The Concept: Because of high funeral costs, family members never claim the bodies of the deceased so the state will pay for costs. 

The Proof: In 2009, at the height of the financial crisis when non-farm payrolls were falling by more than half a million a month, Detroit logged a massive increase in the number of unclaimed bodies at its morgue. State payouts for burials nearly doubled over a two month period compared to just a year earlier. 



Drudge Headline Correlations

The Concept: The greater the Drudge Report focuses on business stories, the more likely the stock market is to have hit a bottom.

The Proof: Bespoke Investment Group recently tracked the number of financial headlines on the Drudge Report front page and compared them to the S&P 500. Turns out bottoms in the S&P 500 correlated to the number of business headlines on Drudge.



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Here Are 14 Companies Getting Crushed By Pension Costs

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caregiving, seniors, elderly woman

Low interest rates on bonds and weak returns on stocks have made managing pension funds a real pain for many companies who offer defined-benefit plans.

Deutsche Bank's David Bianco compiled a list of 100 S&P 500 companies that are the most underfunded (as measured by pension deficits to market capitalization).

We pulled the 14 companies where the underfunding represents more than 25 percent of market cap.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber

Ticker: GT

Funding Status Percentage of Market Cap: -107.1%

Total Amount Under Funded: -$3,097 million

Source: Deutsche Bank



United States Steel

Ticker: X

Funding Status Percentage of Market Cap: -73.3%

Total Amount Under Funded: -$2,417 million

Source: Deutsche Bank



R.R. Donnelley & Sons

Ticker: RRD

Funding Stats Percentage of Market Cap: -46.8%

Total Amount Under Funded: -$1,074 million

Source: Deutsche Bank



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