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The 14 best French restaurants in the US

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Bouchon Bistro

If you're in the mood for French food, you don't have to travel to Paris for an outstanding meal. 

In fact, several French restaurants appeared on our recent list of the best restaurants in America, so we decided to pull out the top ones serving delicious French cuisine. 

We compiled the list of the best restaurants using a combination of five noteworthy lists from food critics, experts, and diners. You can read the full methodology here.

14. Bouley — New York, New York

Chef: David Bouley
Bouley



13. Chez Panisse — Berkeley, California

Chef: Alice Waters
Chez Panisse



12. La Belle Vie — Minneapolis, Minnesota

Chef: Tim McKee
La Belle Vie



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The wildest outfits at last night's Billboard Music Awards

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Taylor Swift Billboard Music Awards

The 2015 Billboard Music Awards took place Sunday night in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Model Chrissy Teigen hosted the show, while Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea, and many more stars were in attendance.

But it was an especially big night for Taylor Swift, who won the most Billboard awards of any artist in the show's history and also premiered her star-studded new music video.

The awards show drew its biggest viewership in 14 years, with 11.1 million total viewers. The stars' scandalous outfits may have helped.

Jennifer Lopez rocked the red carpet in a super-revealing Charbel Zoe dress.

 

 



Taylor Swift, wearing a Balmain jumpsuit, took home the most Billboard awards of any artist in the show's history (8) and also premiered her star-studded new music video.



Britney Spears, wearing a Yousef Al-Jasmi gown, walked the red carpet for the first time with boyfriend Charlie Ebersol. The singer later performed her new single "Pretty Girls" with Iggy Azaela.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is what it's like to be a member of New York's amazing Classic Car Club

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classic car club manhattan membership drive

More than 300 drivers have joined the Classic Car Club, a private, luxury club in New York that offers the chance to drive an amazing stable of more than 40 classic cruisers and modern supercars.

Business Insider spent some time behind the wheel of rides that are used by the likes of Robert Downey, Jr., Tumblr CEO David Karp, and more.

There's no better way to get your driving fix than becoming a member if you can afford it.

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

The sign on the front door lays out what the club is all about.



The club has 40 to 45 cars at any given point. They regularly buy and sell vehicles to keep the selection fresh.



When a member comes to pick up a car, it's lined up at the entrance by a staff member.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

19 pictures that prove that summer was better in the 1950s

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SummerTravel1950sThe 1950s!

It was that golden era of rock and roll and Marilyn.

A time of lavish cars, colorful clothes, and shiny appliances that made life easier.

It also happened to be a swell time for travel.

Just take a look at these gems from the past and gather a little inspiration for your upcoming summer trips.

Hanging out at the “ultra modern” Beach Waves Motel in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.



The Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel; before it became infamous and was simply famous.



The original gossip girls at the Homowack Motel in Spring Glen, New York.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Cute and scary robots we saw at San Francisco's big annual gathering of tech tinkerers

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Maker Faire Robots

Not all robots are here to take over the world (or our jobs).

Some of them are just cute play toys, dressed up in suits. Others are towering monsters who throw cans of paint at cars.

We saw both at the 10th Annual Maker Faire in San Mateo, California on Saturday.  Built by companies and by hobbyists, these robots are some of the cutest and the scariest robots around.

This is Vincent. He's a Meccanoid G15 personal robot from Meccano, the same people who made the erector set.



He normally doesn't come with a suit though. He and his buddy stand about 2 feet tall.



Their bigger brothers are the Meccanoid G15KS. They're about 4-feet tall, or about the size of most of the kids who played with them. Verdict: Cute.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The perfect Father's Day gift for every type of dad

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Indoor smoker, Smoking Gun

Admit it: Your dad is Superman. He may be the family handyman, chef, chauffeur, and unofficial bug-killer.

He does a lot for you, so why not tell him how much you appreciate it?

Father's Day falls on June 21st this year, and it's never too early or too late to start planning for dad's special day. Whether he's into beer, golf, traveling, or movies, we've got you covered.

For the golfer: A pair of ball-finding sunglasses

The worst part about golfing is locating a lost ball. Hammacher Schlemmer makes a stylish pair of glasses that use a blue pigment to filter light as it passes through, making white golf balls easier to see against dark backgrounds like shadows and roughage. Dad will thank you for the glasses and for improving his game.

Price: $39.95



For the beer lover: An easy-to-make homebrew kit

The only thing better than enjoying a beer is enjoying a beer that you made. Get started homebrewing with Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Kit, which contains everything you need to make a gallon of beer. All you need are the bottles.

Kits vary by style, and run the gamut from Everyday IPA to Bruxelles Blonde, Chocolate Maple Porter, Jalapeño Saison, and the limited edition Brewdog Punk IPA.

Price: $40



For the speed demon: A cool and protective motorcycle jacket

You want him to enjoy his favorite hobby — whether that's cars, motorcycles, or dirt bike racing — but you also want him to be safe while doing it. The Milano Sport Gamma motorcycle jacket is padded to protect the wearer, but is also waterproof and comes with a thermal lining for comfort in all kinds of weather.

The reflective stripes will also keep dad visible on the road.

Price:$139.99



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin playing sports

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Vladimir Putin

Last weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin scored 8 goals in a ice hockey game.

Though it may seem strange to audiences outside of Russia, the 62 year-old's macho posturing is all part of the image that he has carefully cultivated through state propaganda since taking over the presidency from Boris Yeltsin at the turn of the new millennium.

So far, it has proven a successful way of presenting his tough-guy image at home and earned him his own fan club (including his very own pop song). 

Putin having fun during his team's 18-6 victory in the gala match of the National Amateur Ice Hockey Teams' Festival organised by the Night Ice Hockey League in Sochi, Russia.



But that's not what he's best known for. Vladimir Putin holds a black belt in both judo and karate, as is happy to demonstrate his skills when requested.



Not all his chosen sports are of the extreme variety. Putin can be seen enjoying a spot of bowling with First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov in 2007.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A brief history of Steve Ballmer's epic freak-outs

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Steve BallmerFormer Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is famous for being full of energy. During his 14-year tenure, he often jumped around on stage at events, did crazy dances, and yelled his lungs out.

Ballmer has brought the same intensity to his new role as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. He bought the basketball team for a record $2 billion last year. 

"I want them to be hardcore," he told Bloomberg in August, before the season began.

The Clippers were eliminated by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the playoffs Sunday.

To honor the end of Ballmer's first season as team owner, we've taken a look back at some of his greatest moments over the years.

In what was arguably Ballmer's most memorable moment, the then-Microsoft CEO jumped up on a stage, yelling and dancing, before beginning a presentation at an early 2000s Microsoft event. Many people refer to the moment as Ballmer's "monkey boy dance."

Watch it on YouTube »



At another event, he got really sweaty while chanting "developers, developers" over and over.

Watch it on YouTube »



At a conference in 2008, an attendee asked Ballmer to get up and show his love for web developers. He happily obliged.

Watch it on YouTube»



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Go underground with the workers who dig NYC's subterranean tunnels

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sandhog intro

If you live in New York City and took the subway recently, or used one of the underwater highway tunnels, or even turned on a faucet, you have a group of men (and a few women) to thank.

Since 1872, Union 147 — or the Sandhogs, as they're popularly known — has worked underground to excavate and construct most subterranean infrastructure projects for the city, clearing and blasting million-year old bedrock and creating tunnels for various uses.

Beginning with the foundations for the Brooklyn Bridge, they have worked on New York's subways and sewers, most of the foundations for the city's other bridges, the tunnels that make Manhattan accessible by car, and the tunnels that carry water into the five boroughs.

These blue-collar workers are truly unsung heroes of the city, mostly because they labor below ground, where their work is hidden from the public eye. Most people never get a chance to see just how hard and important a job "sandhogging" is. Luckily, some Sandhogs have started posting to Instagram, and their photos give us a first-hand look into this relatively unknown, yet essential, craft.

Sandhogs have a long and rich history and tradition in New York City. Often a career that is passed down generation to generation, you will regularly find fathers and sons working side by side, 60 stories below the street.

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Sandhogs also have a strong contingent of Irish as well as East Indian descent. However, these divisions don't seem to play a role underground. Sandhogs are famous for fierce brotherhood.

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To get below the surface, a group of six or so Sandhogs, wearing hardhats and construction gear, are lowered down deep and dimly lit holes in steel cages.

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18 recipes that will help you march confidently into adulthood

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roast chicken

You know what this year's batch of new graduates won't miss? The College Student's Diet: dining hall food on good days, vegetables on great days, take-out on bad ones, and Hot Cheetos washed down with espresso on the worst.  

Browse these 18 recipes for some basic foods you can make and customize now that you're free from meal plans and midterms.

For a fiber-rich lunch...

How to Make a Grain Bowl Without a Recipe by Leslie Stephens



For comfort food...

How to Make Macaroni and Cheese Without a Recipe by Catherine Lamb



For a healthy snack...

How to Make Guacamole Without Recipe by Leesa Frey Freeman



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Billionaire hedge funder Howard Marks just listed his 'Versailles in the Sky' NYC condo for $50 million – again

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Oaktree Capital chairman Howard Marks has listed his 8-bedroom, 4,536-square-foot Central Park South apartment for $50 million.

It's the second time he's listed the full-floor unit, located at 50 Central Park South and designed by Michael Smith, who also designed the 2010 Oval Office makeover.

Marks, who reportedly paid close to $19 million for the apartment back in 2007, originally listed it in July 2012 and asked for $50 million at that time too.

The luxury condo, dubbed "Versailles in the Sky," has a 92-foot expanse – spanning 5 separate rooms – overlooking the park, according to the listing.

It's one of only 12 large condos located above the Ritz-Carlton, and includes a private residential lobby and an on-site gym and spa.

The apartment is listed with Roberta Golubock at Sotheby's International Reality.

First, here's the floor plan.



The living room has "stucco veneziano" walls and "parquet de Versailles-patterned" German silver floors.



Each room boasts 10-foot ceilings.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

An entrepreneur has sold San Francisco's most expensive home for $31 million

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klein house

A home that has been the most expensive listing in San Francisco for the last seven months has finally sold for $31 million, Curbed SF reports.

The home belongs to chef Roxanne Klein and serial entrepreneur Michael Klein, who founded and sold three telecommunications companies before starting a guitar manufacturer called Modulus Guitars.

The home had previously been listed for $39 million, but the $31 million sale is still the biggest in the city so far this year.

The Kleins' mansion may be pricey, but it is very chic. There's beautiful molding, lots of antique fireplaces, and plenty of space situated over five floors. 

The home is located on Broadway, in San Francisco's ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood.



Enter the home through a door in an ivy-covered wall.



Built in 1910, the home was restored in 2002 and has lots of beautiful, traditional places to sit.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 most-purchased brands in the world (KO, ULVR, PG, NSRGY, PEP)

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pepsi super bowl katy perry

Every year, research company Kantar Worldpanel launches its annual Brand Footprint study, revealing the most-chosen and fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands in the world.

The study analyzes 11,000 brands in 35 countries and ranks them based on Consumer Reach Points: A metric based on how many households around the world are buying a brand, and how often.

Kantar Worldpanel also provides data on the most-bought brand in each of the countries it looks at. Some you may never have come across before.

10. Tide — owned by P&G. The detergent brand is also known as Alo, Vizir, or Ace in some countries.

Consumer Reach Points: 1.44 million.



9. Dove — owned by Unilever. The toiletries brand has moved up three positions in the rankings since last year's report.

Consumer Reach Points: 1.46 million.



8. Knorr — owned by Unilever. Knorr's stock cubes, flavor pots, and powder mixes are popular the world over, but the brand's ranking has fallen one place since last year's study.

Consumer Reach Points: 1.65 million. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: The hottest pre-IPO ad tech startups of 2015

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Tomer Bar Zeev IronSourceThe majority of ad tech companies on the public markets may have fared badly in recent months, but behind the scenes there are some seriously interesting pre-IPO ad tech startups 

This ranking looks at the hotter companies subject to IPO (or at least big exit deal) rumors right now. Our data comes from CrunchBase, LinkedIn, our own reporting, and that of other business publications. We've tried to rank them by revenues, but have also taken into account headcounts, venture funding, and recent news and whispers.

See our methodology at the end.

27. Sharethrough: The largest "native" ad exchange

CEO: Dan Greenberg

Employees: 160

Estimated revenues: We believe around $30-$40 million, net. 

Total venture funding: $28 million 

Comment: The company operates a "native" ad exchange and is targeting annual revenue of $100 million by the end of the year. It is profitable.



26. Taykey: Supported by Google's Eric Schmidt

CEO: Amit Avner

Employees: 90

Estimated revenues: We estimate around $30 million

Total funding to date: $32 million

Comment: Taykey's latest funding round was led by Eric Schmidt's venture arm Innovation Endeavors. The company, which plugs its software into more than 50,000 social sources — such as YouTube, DailyMotion, and BuzzFeed — to provide insights to marketers on what is trending now for their desired audiences says it has grown revenue by 600% since January 2013. Avner told us he expects this triple digit growth to continue into 2015.



25. Socialbakers: A well-respected young CEO and huge client base

CEO: Jan Rezab

Employees: 330

Estimated revenues: Greater than $30 million.

Total venture funding: $34 million

Comment: Rezab was named one of Forbes' "30 under 30" in marketing and advertising earlier this year. His social media management and analytics company has more than 2,700 clients, and is considering the possibility of going public. Rezab says the Prague-based company has doubled in size every year "for a while now," and this year it is concentrating its efforts on US expansion.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Queen Elizabeth II owns every dolphin in Britain and doesn't need a driving license — here are the incredible powers you didn't know the monarchy has

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Queen Elizabeth II is not like you and me.

Did you know she is immune from prosecution? That she has her own personal poet, paid in Sherry wine? Or that she holds dominion over British swans and can fire the entire Australian government?

It's true that her role as the British head of state is largely ceremonial, and the Monarch no longer holds any serious power from day to day. The historic "prerogative powers" of the Sovereign have been devolved largely to government ministers. But this still means that when the British government declares war, or regulates the civil service, or signs a treaty, it is doing so only on her authority.

And she still wields some of these prerogative powers herself — as well as numerous other unique powers, ranging from the surprising to the utterly bizarre.

Most famously, she owns all swans in the River Thames.

queen elizabeth ii swan upping cygnetTechnically, all unmarked swans in open water belong to the Queen, though the Crown "exercises her ownership" only "on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries,"according to the official website of the Royal Family.

Today this tradition is observed during the annual "Swan Upping," in which swans in the River Thames are caught, ringed, and set free again as part of census of the swan population.

It's a highly ceremonial affair, taking place over five days. "Swan uppers" wear traditional uniforms and row upriver in six skiffs accompanied by the Queen's Swan Marker.

"The swans are also given a health check and ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen's Swan Warden, a Professor of Ornithology at the University of Oxford's Department of Zoology," according to the Royal Family website.

The Sovereign also has dominion over all dolphins in British waters.

"Rule, Britannia, Britannia rules the waves," goes a classic British song — and this rule extends beneath the waves, too. The sovereign has dominion over a variety of aquatic animals in British waters.

The Queen still technically owns all the sturgeons, whales, and dolphins in the waters around the UK, in a rule that dates back to a statute from 1324, during the reign of King Edward II, according to Time.

According to the article: "This statute is still valid today, and sturgeons, porpoises, whales, and dolphins are recognised as 'fishes royal': when they are captured within 3 miles (about 5 km) of UK shores or wash ashore, they may be claimed on behalf of the Crown. Generally, when brought into port, a sturgeon is sold in the usual way, and the purchaser, as a gesture of loyalty, requests the honour of its being accepted by Elizabeth."

The law is still observed: In 2004, a Welsh fisherman was investigated by the police after catching a 10-foot sturgeon, the BBC reported at the time. The Scottish government also issued guidance on the law in 2007, writing that "the right to claim Royal Fish in Scotland allows the Scottish Government (on behalf of the Crown) to claim stranded whales which are too large to be drawn to land by a 'wain pulled by six oxen.'"

queen elizabeth ii driving range rover

The Queen can drive without a licence.

Driving licenses are issued in the Queen's name, yet she is the only person in the United Kingdom who doesn't legally need a license to drive or a number plate on her cars, according to Time.

Despite not being required to have a license, the Queen is comfortable behind the wheel, having learned to drive during World War II when she operated a first-aid truck for the Women's Auxillary Territorial Service. (As a result of the Queen's training, she can also change a spark plug, Time notes).

Queen Elizabeth II isn't afraid to show off her driving skills, either. In 1998, she surprised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (then still a prince) by driving him around in her country seat of Balmoral.

Former British Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles recounted the meeting in the Sunday Times:"As instructed, the crown prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, with his interpreter in the seat behind. To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen."

Cowper-Coles continued: "His nervousness only increased as the Queen, an army driver in wartime, accelerated the Land Rover along the narrow Scottish estate roads, talking all the time. Through his interpreter, the crown prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead."

The Queen doesn't need a passport, either.

Unlike other members of the Royal family, the Queen does not require a passport, as they are issued in her name. Despite this lack of travel documents, she has been abroad many times.

She has two birthdays.

queen elizabeth ii birthday trooping the colourWhen you're the British head of state, one birthday just isn't enough. The Queen's official birthday is celebrated on a Saturday in June, though her actual birthday is on April 21.

"Official celebrations to mark a sovereign's birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer," according to the Royal Mint.

Both birthdays are celebrated in suitable style, too. Her actual birthday "is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday,"according to the official website of the British Monarchy. This includes "a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park, and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London. In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in 2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle to meet well-wishers."

For her "official" birthday celebrations, meanwhile, she "is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade, which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall, and Horseguards' Parade."

She has her own private cash machine.

Less a "power" and more a perk of the job, a private cash machine for use by the royal family is installed in the basement of Buckingham Palace. It's provided by Coutts, one of Britain's most prestigious — and exclusive — banks.

The Queen has her own personal poet.

The poet laureate is an honorary position in British society appointed by the Monarch to a poet "whose work is of national significance," according to the official website of the British Monarchy. When first the role was introduced, the appointee was paid £200 per year plus a butt of canary wine. Today the poet laureate is given a barrel of Sherry.

Carol Ann Duffy will hold the position until 2019.

She has to sign laws.

The Queen's consent is necessary to turn any bill into an actual law. Once a proposed law has passed both houses of Parliament, it makes its way to the Palace for approval, which is called "Royal Assent." The most recent British Monarch to refuse to provide Royal Assent was Queen Anne, back in 1708.

queen elizabeth ii parliament house of lords speechRoyal Assent is different than "Queen's consent," in which the Queen must consent to any law being debated in Parliament that affects the Monarchy's interests (such as reforming the prerogative or tax laws that might affect the Duchy of Cornwall, for example). Without consent, the bill cannot be debated in Parliament.

Queen's consent is exercised only on the advice of ministers, but its existence provides the government with a tool for blocking debate on certain subjects if bills are tabled by backbench rebels or the opposition.

It has been exercised at least 39 times, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information act, including "one instance [in which] the Queen completely vetoed the Military Actions Against Iraq Bill in 1999, a private member's bill that sought to transfer the power to authorise military strikes against Iraq from the monarch to parliament,"The Guardian reported in 2013.

She can create Lords.

The Queen has the power to appoint Lords, who can then sit in Parliament, the upper house in Britain's legislative system. Like many other powers, this is exercised only "on the advice of" elected government ministers.

She doesn't have to pay tax (but she does anyway).

The Queen does not have to pay tax, but she has been voluntarily paying income tax and capital gains tax since 1992.

The Queen has the power to form governments.

david cameron iron throne conservatives win tory ge2015ps genelec2015

The Queen previously wielded the power to dissolve Parliament and call a general election, but the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act put an end to that in 2011. Now a two-thirds vote in the commons is required to dissolve Parliament before a five-year fixed-term is up.

She does still play a part after an election, however, when she calls on the MP most able to form a government to do so.

This caused some worry ahead of this year's General Election. It once looked as if the Conservatives might not have a majority (but would be the largest party) and would try to form a government. Meanwhile, it was feasible that Labour could form a majority, despite having fewer seats, by entering into a coalition with multiple other parties.

In this situation, the Queen would have been stuck between a rock and a hard place. Every year, she opens Parliament with the Queen's speech, which lays out the government's plans. But to give David Cameron's speech would arguably be to tacitly endorse his government — while staying away would send the opposite message.

At one point, The Times was told by sources that she planned to "stay away" if Cameron failed to secure enough MPs, but the Palace later had an about-face. "Royal sources confirmed she would lead proceedings, even if there was a risk the speech would be overthrown the following week because the Tories had failed to muster enough backing from smaller parties,"The Times subsequently reported.

She has knights.

knights horseback jousting swords

Sure, they no longer ride around on horseback wooing maidens with their tales of valour, but Britain still retains knights. Like Lords, they are appointed by the Queen — and she knights them personally.

Knighthoods are typically given to figures who have made a particular contribution to British society — whether in business, the arts, the military, or elsewhere. After Terry Pratchett was knighted, the legendary fantasy author forged himself a special sword using pieces of a meteorite.

The individuals knighted are decided by ministers, the BBC reports, "who present her with a list of nominees each year for her approval."

She is exempt from Freedom Of Information requests.

All information about the royal family is exempt from Freedom of Information requests. The exemption was made after a legal battle between The Guardian and the government to have letters from Prince Charles sent to Whitehall ministers made public. The so-called black spider memos were recently released, but the change means the same can't happen in the future.

She can ignore or overrule ministerial advice in "grave constitutional crisis."

While the overwhelming majority of the Queen's prerogative powers are devolved to her ministers, there is one exception that allows her to wield power herself. Only "in grave constitutional crisis," the Sovereign can "act contrary to or without Ministerial advice." With no precedent in modern times, it's not clear what would actually constitute this, but the possibility remains.

The Queen holds the ability to fire the entire Australian government.

As the head of state in Australia, the Queen has certain powers over the government. In 1975, for example, the Queen's representative in the country at the time, Gov. Gen. Sir John Kerr, fired the prime minister in response to a government shutdown.

"[Kerr] appointed a replacement, who immediately passed the spending bill to fund the government, Max Fisher wrote in The Washington Post. "Three hours later, Kerr dismissed the rest of Parliament. Then Australia held elections to restart from scratch. And they haven't had another shutdown since."

In addition to the UK and Australia, the Queen is also the head of state in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

All the above are Commonwealth Realms, or former British colonies. The British sovereign retains the position she holds in the United Kingdom, that of head of state. As in Britain, this is largely a ceremonial role from day to day.

She's the head of a religion.

queen elizabeth ii canterbury cathedral kent

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Church of England, Britain's state religion first established after King Henry VIII split away from the Catholic Church in Rome in the 16th century.

Her formal title is defender of the faith and supreme governor of the Church of England, and she also has the power to appoint Bishops and Archbishops. As with many of her other powers, however, this is exercised only on the advice of the prime minister, who himself takes advice from a Church Commission.

An interesting side effect of this is that the Sovereign must be a confirmed member of Church of England. Catholics and those of other religions may not ascend to the British throne. If Prince Charles converted to Islam, for example, he would be unable to become king after Queen Elizabeth II dies.

She gets to give away special money to the elderly.

Maundy money is a special kind of silver coin the Queen gives away to pensioners every year at a UK cathedral every Easter in a special ceremony. The number of recipients corresponds with the Sovereign's age. This year, for example, she will be 89 when Easter rolls around, so she will give maundy money away to 89 pensioners.

The coins are technically legal tender, despite coming in unconventional 3-pence and 4-pence denominations. But given the coins' rare status, they tend not to enter general circulation.

She's also immune from prosecution.

All prosecutions are carried out in the name of the Sovereign, and she is both immune from prosecution and cannot be compelled to give evidence in court.

In theory, the Sovereign "is incapable of thinking or doing wrong," legal scholar John Kirkhope told Business Insider. However, barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy QC told the BBC in 2002 that"nowadays, that immunity is questionable."

"Although civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under UK law, the Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law,"according to official site of the Monarchy.

If the monarch did commit a grievance offence, he or she would almost certainly be forced to abdicate. There is at least one precedent of the Courts' prosecuting the Sovereign. In the 17th Century, King Charles I was tried for treason following the English Civil War. He said "no earthly power can justly call me (who am your King) in question as a delinquent." The Court disagreed and had him executed.

The Queen has the right to be consulted, to encourage, and to warn her ministers.

Assuming no "grave constitutional crisis,"the Queen's input into the legislative process is supposed to be limited in real terms to the right"to be consulted, to encourage, and to warn" her ministers — advice delivered via meetings with the prime minister.

queen elizabeth ii prince philip house of lords queen's speech

The Queen also has certain historic rights and privileges. John Kirkhope, a lawyer who successfully campaigned to have details of "Queen's consent" made public, provided Business Insider with a list of some of the stranger rights the Queen still holds.

  • Hungerford has to present a red rose to the Sovereign in exchange for its fishing and grazing rights.
  • The Duke of Atholl must pay by way of a rose whenever the Sovereign calls. This most recently happened during the reign of Queen Victoria, so it's unclear whether the rose has to be any particular colour.
  • If the Sovereign passes near Kidwelly Castle in Wales, the tenant has to provide a bodyguard in full armour. This is complicated slightly by the fact the castle is a ruin.
  • The Marquis of Ailesbury owns Savernake Forest and is required to produce a blast on a hunting horn should the Sovereign pass through the Forest. This last happened in 1943.
  • Similarly, the owner of Dunlambert Castle in Northern Ireland has to produce a blast on an ancient bugle.

giant snowball winter kids

And lastly, many landowners must also pay a "quit-rent"— a kind of tax on their property paid to the Monarch. Some are pretty unusual.

  • The owner of Sauchlemuir Castle must set out three glasses of port on New Year's Eve for the grandmother of James IV of Scotland. (For reference, James IV served from 1474 to 1513.)
  • The owner of Fowlis must deliver — when required — a snowball in mid-summer.
  • The City of Gloucester pays for its holdings of Crown Lands by providing an enormous eel pie.
  • Great Yarmouth must provide a hundred herrings baked in 24 pasties to the Sheriff, who then sends them to the Lord of the Manor — who then sends them to the Sovereign.
  • The Duke of Marlborough has to present a small satin flag with a Fleur de Lys on August 13, the anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim.
  • The Duke of Wellington has to present a French Tricolour flag before noon on June 19 — the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

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These are the 13 hottest startups that have launched so far this year

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So far, 2015 has been a great year for consumer tech. So we decided to take a look at the best startups that have launched so far this year.

To determine the best startups, we took into account factors like funding, revenue, growth, and investor interest.

Did we miss a great startup that launched this year? Let us know in the comments!

Hungryroot turns vegetables into bright and delicious pasta dishes.

What it is: Former Groupon exec Ben McKean launched Hungryroot to turn veggies into amazing pasta dishes. When you order from Hungryroot, you get a packaged meal the next day that consists of 70 to 80% vegetables and 20% protein. The base ingredient is vegetable noodles — made from sweet potatoes, radishes, beets, zucchinis, and more — paired with a creative sauce, and served with an optional protein side. In its first month, Hungryroot sold 10,000 meals.

Funding: $2 million from Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, and KarpReilly

Website: https://www.hungryroot.com/



Periscope is the video livestreaming app Twitter bought before it even launched.

What it is: In March, Twitter launched Periscope, a livestreaming app it acquired back in February before Periscope even launched. Periscope lets users easily stream footage from their devices to followers. Viewers can comment and send "hearts" to the streamer. The footage can be then replayed later, which sets it apart from rival app Meerkat, where the footage is gone once the stream is over.

Funding: None announced.

Website: http://periscopeapp.tv/



The League is a dating app for the elite.

What it is: The League — a selective dating app for elite, successful individuals — launched in San Francisco earlier this year, and it just launched in New York City. Stanford graduate Amanda Bradford founded The League to match up highly motivated and interesting single professionals. Its users often have advanced degrees.

Funding: $2.1 million seed round from Jon Vlassopulos, IDG Ventures USA, Roman Feola, Naomi Gleit, Cowboy Ventures, XSeed Capital, Peter Kelly, Russ Siegelman, Mark Leslie, Allen DeBevoise, SherpaVentures, Structure Capital

Website: http://www.theleague.com/



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11 tips to start earning money doing what you love, from people who have done it

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What if you could chuck it all and support yourself on your own terms, doing something you truly care about?

It's possible, and we can prove it.

Here, 11 entrepreneurs share their best advice for veering off the beaten path and building an income doing something you love.

Commit yourself completely to your business.

Felicia Spahr quit her job in 2012 and became a leadership and charisma coach, teaching others to develop the skills she comes by naturally. Her business typically earns $8,000 to $10,000 a month.

She advises:

The most important aspect is committing to the idea that you want to do something like this, and seeking out the help you'd need in order to do it. In my mind, it was 'I'm going to succeed or I'm going to die,' and I think that contributed quite a bit to my success.

Read her full story.



Start small.

Danny Margulies had always dreamed of being a writer. In his second year as a freelance copy writer, despite having no experience in the field, he earned over $100,000.

He advises:

Start small. Go after simple jobs that can be done in a few hours or less, and build from there.

Read his full story.



Don't be derailed by failure.

Chandler Bolt dropped out of college in 2013 to start an online business providing guidance and resources for authors who want to self-publish. This year, he expects the business will bring in over $1 million in revenue.

He advises:

Don't be afraid to jump into it. Don't be afraid of failing. That's something I have to work on right now — being OK with failing more often. Every time you fail it's a sign you're on to something. People who are more successful than anyone else have just failed more times than anyone else.

Read his full story.



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The 10 best gifts for new high school graduates

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Graduating from high school is one of life's great milestones.

So why not show the new grad in your life how proud you are of them with a gift that tells them so? We rounded up the best gifts for this momentous occasion.

After four years of hard work (we hope), they deserve it.

Give them a place to keep their cards.

The Kate Spade Cedar Street Marietta card case is perfect for any kind of card, whether that's business, credit, or student ID. It's slim and doesn't take up a lot of space, meaning it's perfect for when your grad goes out and doesn't want to be bogged down.

Price:$68



A good, classic watch never goes out of style.

A decent watch is the classic graduation gift, and the Helvetica No1 Light by Mondaine is a perfect just-starting-out watch for the recent high school graduate. Sleek and stylish, the Swiss-made watch comes in a variety of unisex designs and is water-resistant up to 30 meters.

Price:$395



Help them make a good impression with professional, personalized note cards.

Even in the age of technology, there's no replacement for a good, old-fashioned hand-written note. Give your grad a great way to make a mark with a personalized set of note cards from Crane. The styles range from funky and fun to simple and professional.

It's also a great way to ensure you get a thank-you note for the gift!

Price:Varies by style



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30 books everyone should read before turning 30

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Your 20s are a time for figuring out who you are and what you want from life.

While the only way to learn is to survive the inevitable cycle of successes and failures, it is always useful to have some guidance along the way.

To help you out, we've selected some of our favorite books that likely never made your high school or college reading lists.

It's an eclectic selection that focuses on topics like identity, how you see the world, and laying the foundation for a fulfilling career.

Here's what we think you should read before you turn 30.

'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius

As you become an adult, you realize that there will never be a time in your life where everything is just as you hoped it would be.

"Meditations" is a collection of personal writings on maintaining mental toughness from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180 AD and became remembered as one of the great "philosopher kings."

As Gregory Hays notes in the introduction to his excellent translation, Marcus wrote his musings on resilience and leadership in a "dark and stressful period" in the last decade of his life.

The emperor's version of Stoic philosophy has remained relevant for 1,800 years because it offers timeless advice for gaining control of one's emotions and progressing past all obstacles in one's path.

Buy it here >>



'The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays' by Albert Camus

We all have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and we start to question that reason after entering the real world.

As "The Stranger" author Albert Camus sees it, all people find themselves in an irrational world struggling to find meaning for their lives where there is none.

His main message, however, is that just as the legend of Sisyphus tells of a god who was eternally punished by having to push a rock up a hill only to have it fall down each time he reached the peak, we should embrace the drive for meaning and lead happy, fulfilling lives with a clear-eyed view of the world.

Buy it here >>



'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Regardless of your personal philosophy, there will be times when the world pushes against you and you wonder why it's worth trying to better yourself and help others.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel is not only a gripping story, it's an argument against the nihilism that was popular among Russian intellectual circles in his time.

"Crime and Punishment" is the tale of a 23-year-old man named Raskolnikov who, acting on a nagging urge, murders two old women and then struggles with processing the act.

Dostoyevsky argues that rationalism taken to its extreme ignores the powerful bonds that connect humanity and give us responsibility over each other.

Buy it here >>



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The 25 best restaurants in Paris

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Dignified temples of haute cuisine, new bistros guaranteed to stand the test of time, out-of-the-way boîtes where you’re unlikely to lay eyes on another tourist—our experts pick the best places to dine all around Paris (and even reach consensus on a prized few).

Click through our guide, organized by arrondissement.

More from Condé Nast Traveler:

1. Le Grand Véfour

1st arrondissement

"Chef Guy Martin has led the oldest restaurant in Paris—Le Grand Véfour, founded in 1784—into the 21st century."— "Why the Classic French Restaurant Will Always Be in Vogue"

Restaurant Info: Le Grand Véfour



2. La Tour de Montlhéry-Chez Denise

1st arrondissement

"You’ll find this meat-centric institution in the bustling Les Halles neighborhood. Here, Loire wines are poured from giant casks."

—David Lebovitz, Paris resident and former cook at Chez Panisse, in his roundup of beloved Paris restaurants.

Restaurant Info: La Tour de Montlhéry-Chez Denise



3. Restaurant Le Meurice

1st arrondissement

"At lunch, amid the high splendor of Le Meurice’s dining room—accompanied by a grande dame from a faded aristocratic family—I ate roast poulet de Bresse with medallions of black truffle tucked under its skin."

—Kevin West (journalist, author, and former European fashion editor at Wmagazine) in"Why the Classic French Restaurant Will Always Be in Vogue"

Restaurant Info: Restaurant Le Meurice



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