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10 beaches that are better in the off-season

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Montauk lighthouseAfter Labor Day, people across the country pack up their towels, stash their unfinished beach reading, and stow their beach chairs for the winter ahead. But what they don't realize is that fall and winter are actually the best times of year to visit many beaches around the country.

Smaller crowds, empty swaths of sand, and lower prices on lodging make beach vacations even more appealing in September and beyond.

These 10 beaches are some of the best to visit in the off-season.

SEE ALSO: 30 incredible beaches every surfer should visit in their lifetime

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Cannon Beach, Oregon

The sea stacks at Cannon Beach distinguish it as quintessential Oregon coastline (yes, you probably recognize it from The Goonies). In calm weather, you can walk right up to the famed Haystack Rock and explore its tide pools with colorful sea stars and green anemone. Bring blankets and a bottle of wine so you can cozy up into the evening with a twilight bonfire and watch some of the year's most incredible sunsets (there's no rule against alcohol along the Oregon coastline).

It's a year-round bird-watching location, but the wildlife really comes out when the crowds disperse. Visit neighboring Ecola State Park and watch for elk and migrating grey whales off-shore. Plus, Dungeness Crab season begins in mid-December, so you'll reap the benefits at local eateries.

Storm chasers will love the unpredictable weather that can bring crashing waves, best enjoyed from an oceanfront hotel with dramatically reduced rates.

Related:10 Most Romantic Coastal Destinations



Ditch Plains Beach, New York

Wealthy New Yorkers and celebrities flock to the eastern end of Long Island, past the Hamptons, for a little R&R. But post-Labor Day in Montauk is when the real R&R begins. After all, the point is to get away from Manhattan's traffic jams, right?

Surfers come to Ditch Plains for its consistent reef break that's ideal for long-boarders. You'll need a wetsuit, but then again, many surfers here wear a wetsuit year-round. Nearby Montauk Point Lighthouse is a worthy photo-op, particularly at sunset. While many of the town's seasonal shops and restaurants may be closed, the ones that are still open won't have long lines or require a reservation.



Moshup Beach, Massachusetts

Anywhere on Cape Cod and the islands is quieter in the off-season (thank goodness for less Route 6 traffic). But the best part about going to Martha's Vineyard in the fall is you actually have a shot of getting your car on the ferry without reserving a year in advance. And with less cars congesting the island (and out-of-towners driving like maniacs around the narrow roads), it's a bicyclist's paradise.

Whether you're cycling or driving, Moshup Beach (also known as Aquinnah Public Beach) is the island's best. You won't have to fight for parking or pay fees in the off-season, and the empty beach is the perfect spot for strolling, picnicking, or (if you're lucky) spotting seals. Plus, the nudists that tend to stake claim to the beach along the dramatic, multi-colored cliffs are bundled up for the winter.

Related:10 Secret American Islands You'll Have All to Yourself



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11 things to do when you find out your employees secretly hate you

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boss

There are tons of subtle (and not to subtle) signs your employees dislike you.

If you've noticed that they avoid you at all costs, can't maintain eye contact, or stop smiling the minute you enter the room, you may want to evaluate what you're doing wrong. 

Of course, sometimes personalities simply clash and it's nobody's fault. But if more than one employee seems to despise you, you'll probably want to take a good look in the mirror and do everything you can to turn the situation around.

Why? For starters, being a disliked boss is bad for everyone: you, your employees, and your company. It can hurt your reputation; slow down productivity; impede employees' creativity; impact happiness levels among staffers; and hurt business overall.

If you're fairly certain your employees hate you, here's what you can do:

SEE ALSO: 2 common things bosses do that make great employees quit

Openly address issues with the person or team.

Take the time to sit down in a relaxed, neutral setting (your office is definitely off limits!) and openly address any personality conflicts head on to identify and hopefully resolve any issues, says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage."

"Or at least schedule time to get to know the employee at a more personal level," he adds. "Sharing personal information about yourself and learning about their lives, families, hopes and dreams is a key way to build trust, break down barriers and 'thaw out' any relationship." 

Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," agrees. "The onus lies more so with you, the manager, to approach the person or team and correct misunderstandings," she explains. 



Start praising employees for their great work more frequently.

According to a recent Gallup study of 7,200 adults, about half of all US employees have left a job at some point to get away from their boss. But a 2013 CareerBuilder study found that 50% of respondents would be enticed to stay with a company if they received more recognition. 

"Take the time to both privately and publicly praise your employees and recognize their efforts — when it's sincerely warranted," says Kerr. "This is just good practice anyways for any boss, but being extra intentional about employees that might be uncomfortable around you, is critical. Just make sure the praise is warranted or it will come across as a desperate or cloying strategy to win over favors."



Be empathetic.

Having emotional intelligence is not just about being nice. It's good business, explains Taylor. "Common courtesy, such as saying 'Good morning,' or 'How are you today?,' or 'Thank you,'  and taking a genuine interest in your staff, goes a long way in making you more approachable and likable," she says.

It may seem old fashioned, but the golden rule: — "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself"— is a powerful first step in being a better manager. "This is not to say that you want to win a popularity test, but it's often said that you are only as good as your team," she adds.

  

 



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The most affordable small town in every state

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Clear Lake, South DakotaCost of living makes a big difference when choosing where to move — and not all places were created equal. 

We found the most affordable small town in every state.

To do this we looked at towns with populations between 1,000 and 10,000 whose households spend no more than 30% of their annual income on housing costs. We looked at the average cost of three types of housing — owned houses with a mortgage, owned houses without a mortgage, and rentals — and took a weighted average of these by the proportion of each type of home in the town.

Click here to read more about our methodology.

ALABAMA: Fayetteville

93% of homes are affordable.

An hour south of Birmingham, Fayetteville is actually named after a town in Tennessee from which early residents migrated. Employing over 33% of residents, retail is the most popular industry here, followed by manufacturing, which employs 15% of residents. 



ALASKA: Healy

91.5% of homes are affordable.

Only 11 miles from the Denali National Park and Preserve, Healy offers several lodging and dining options for park visitors, creating a strong tourism industry in the town. However, more than tourism, coal mining in nearby Usibelli Coal Mine makes up most of Healy's livelihood. 



ARIZONA: Quartzsite

93.2% of homes are affordable.

Just 18 miles east of the Colorado River, Quartzsite is best known for its beautiful assortment of rocks and minerals— as evidenced by its name. On first glance it might not sound like the most exciting industry, but the town's gem trade entices thousands of visitors per year. There is even a two-month-long gem show that starts in January. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I went to the 'My Little Pony' fashion show during New York Fashion Week — here's what I saw

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degen fashion show

Each year, thousands of people flock to New York City to see the cutting-edge designs being shown at Fashion Week. From established designers like Givenchy and Betsey Johnson, to shows inspired by Tumblr and The Fat Jew, there was no shortage of creativity in this fall's lineup. 

When Tech Insider heard there was going to be a fashion show based entirely on the children's TV show "My Little Pony," we jumped at the chance to check out what would surely be a show to remember. 

In case you're not familiar, the "My Little Pony" brand has been around since the 1980s. The plastic rainbow ponies, complete with flowing manes, are sold as toys and have even starred in their own television shows. The latest iteration, "Friendship is Magic," airs Saturdays on the Discovery Family channel, if you're looking to tune in. 

"My Little Pony" isn't just for kids anymore, though. The ponies have garnered a cult following among millennials, who love the whimsy and nostalgia they provide. There's even a special term for young men who are obsessed with them: "bronies."

Produced by designer Lindsay Degen, the collection featured 15 vibrant looks inspired by everyone's favorite magical ponies. 

Keep reading to find out what it's like to attend a My Little Pony-themed fashion show. 

Walking into New York City's Pier 59 Studios, I had no idea what to expect.



I only knew the title of the show was called "Friendship Is Magic," and the invitation had promised there would be cake.



Inside, I was accosted by rainbows. There were 15 models in colorful ensembles posing in front of a backdrop of clouds and giant, smiling flowers.



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This new iPhone app can tell you in seconds which presidential candidate you actually agree with the most

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Republican debate

Picking a political candidate can be an exhausting exercise.

It's hard enough to cut through all the spin and grandstanding so you can figure out where different candidates truly stand on the issues. But once you've done that, you'd still need a detailed spreadsheet to know what percentage of your own political leanings overlap with each presidential hopeful. 

That's probably why lots of people just end up voting for the candidate with the most name recognition from their party. 

But a new app called Voter is targeting the busy citizen by bringing Tinder-style swiping to the political process. It aims to make understanding the stances of the candidates as easy as answering a few quick questions on a dating app.

Here's how it works.

Voter presents you with a series of issues, which you choose "yes" or "no" on by swiping right or left. When you're done it checks your answers against data points of the candidates — like voting records, speeches, public stances, and finances. Then it tells you how much you agree with each candidate.

I tried it out and here's what it looked like:

 

SEE ALSO: 11 apps that every political junkie should have on their phone

First you log in using Facebook.



You get to swipe right...



...or left.



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Why the Fed matters to mom, pop, and average Joe

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American Gothic

If you've ever borrowed money or collected interest on something, then the Federal Reserve matters to you.

The Fed regularly meets to discuss its plans for the Fed funds rate. And in one way or another, the Fed funds rate serves as the benchmark for basically every interest rate on the planet. Government borrowing rates, mortgage rates, credit card rates, savings account yields, etc.

The Fed funds rate target is currently in a range of 0 to 0.25%. This so-called zero-interest rate policy (ZIRP) was introduced by the Fed in December 2008 in its effort to stimulate growth and inflation in the wake of the financial crisis.

Seven years later, it seems pretty clear that the economy is out of crisis. And it's becoming increasingly likely that the Fed will hike rates sooner rather than later.

Even if you're not a titan of finance, the Fed's interest rate decision could still affect you if you're planning to buy a house or save for retirement. Here are some of the major ways the Fed can impact the lives of everyday Americans.

SEE ALSO: 28 charts that show how America changed since the Fed gave us 0% rates

The Fed's main monetary policy tool is the Federal Funds Rate.

This is the interest rate banks charge each other for short term lending to maintain reserve requirements. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decides on a target rate, and the Fed buys and sells securities like US government debt to maintain that rate. In the wake of the financial crisis, the Fed lowered the target rate to 0%, where it has stayed for nearly 7 years.

More on the Fed Funds Rate.



Prime loan rates are established by private banks as a baseline rate for loans to businesses and consumers.

Prime rates tend to closely track the fed funds rate. As we will see, that baseline rate affects interest rates for several other forms of borrowing and saving. Since December 2008, when the Fed dropped the target funds rate to zero, the prime rate among the 25 largest banks has remained steady at 3.25%.

More on prime loan rate.



Interest rates for major consumer loans tend to move along with the prime rate, and thus the Fed funds rate.

Interest rates for two year auto loans are usually slightly higher than the prime lending rate.



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Take a tour of the Guinness brewery in Dublin, which was named the best tourist attraction in Europe

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Guinness Storehouse Cooperage InteriorThe Guinness Storehouse, located in Dublin, Ireland, was recently named Europe's best tourist attraction by the World Travel Awards. 

According to Paul Carty, Managing Director of the Storehouse, one in every two visitors to Dublin visits the Guinness Storehouse, making it an extremely popular choice for tourists. 

Scroll down to see what it's like inside the famous storehouse known for producing one of the world's top beers.

 

 

SEE ALSO: 23 pictures that show why travelers voted St. Petersburg the best destination in Europe

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The Guinness Storehouse has seven massive floors for visitors to explore.



On the ground floor, visitors learn about the history and process of Guinness. Here's where there's a copy of the famous lease Arthur Guinness signed on December 1759.



On the first floor, a Master Brewer explains the step-by-step process of brewing Guinness beer. Visitors will learn how the barley is malted, roasted, milled, mixed with hot water, and mashed, before it turns into beer.



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Tory Burch has a new answer to Lululemon

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Tory Burch Sport 7

Athleisure is a very popular sector right now, and Lululemon has a stronghold on the competition — for now.

Many brands, from Under Armour to New Balance to Victoria's Secret to even Dick's Sporting Goods, are scrambling to catch up to the wildly popular retailer.

The latest brand to try its hand at the trend? Preppy designer Tory Burch.

Tory Burch has released its answer to Lululemon: Tory Sport.

Burch's empire is a match for Lululemon's cultish following. Burch has proven to be incredibly successful; she built a multibillion dollar company in under a decade.

We visited the new pop-up store to see how Tory Sport stacks up to the competition.

 

 

SEE ALSO: How Tory Burch built A $3.5 billion company in less than a decade.

The pop-up store is in downtown Manhattan, in place of where a former Tory Burch store existed. No traditional Tory Burch items are sold at this athletic apparel store; it's all Tory Sport. A permanent store will open up in the Flatiron district eventually.



Welcome to the shopping country club! Lululemon is known for its emphasis on yoga — stores even offer complimentary classes. Tory Sport throws tennis and golf into the mix.



Burch let New Yorkers shop and see her new activewear line during New York Fashion Week — a time when everyone has style on his or her mind.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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11 ways to make extra cash while having fun

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happy smiling

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article entitled "40 Free (or Extremely Low-Cost) Things I Genuinely Enjoy Doing — and You Might, Too!

I received several pieces of feedback on the article, mostly positive, but one in particular stuck out at me. Alex writes:

Your list of free things to do was cool, but I am more interested in hobbies I can take up that could actually earn a little. Do you have a list of "things you enjoy doing that earn money?"

Well, let's do just that!

First of all, I excluded things that require significant training in order to be able to pull off.

Almost anyone can make a passing attempt at any of these things almost any time. Sure, they might not be very good, but you can actually do them and you will get better with practice.

There are a lot of things you can do if you have specialized skills: record music videos and put them on YouTube, write smartphone apps, get change from the bank and look for rare coins, and so on. For the most part, I'm excluding these things and sticking with stuff you can start doing pretty quickly with only an online guide or two to help you when you're starting.

Second, I excluded things that require a lot of equipment that you may not have.You might be able to make some money if you have a 3D printer, for example, but many people do not. I have a friend, for example, who has made some money printing off miniatures from a 3D printer, but that's not accessible to most people. If you have an airplane, for instance, you could take people on airplane rides to make money — but who has an airplane? Some of the things below do require a few pieces of equipment, but they're either really inexpensive or they're things that people already have.

Third, I also excluded location-specific things. For example, in the area where I grew up, people used to hunt for geodes to earn some extra money. They also used to hunt for morel mushrooms — something I still dabble in. Those things really require you to be in specific areas to be able to pull them off, so I'm not including them, either.

Ready to pick up a new hobby and make a few bucks along the way? Let's do it!

SEE ALSO: 5 crazy ways to earn extra cash on the side

1. Make homemade movies.

All you really need to make a cool and memorable movie that’s perfect for becoming a YouTube sensation is a camera and a cute idea. You don’t need props. You don’t need a perfect script. You just need a camera and a good idea, nothing else.

Trust me, anything flies. There are videos out there depicting people’s cats being cute. There are videos out there of some guy dressed up as Batman doing ordinary dad stuff. There are infinite videos out there of clever hidden camera situations. There are videos out there of water balloon pranks. All of those have been hits in the past.

In the end, all you really need is a cute idea and a rough vision of how to turn it into a video. Turn on the camera, make it happen, upload it to Youtube, and share it with your friends. It probably won’t go anywhere… but it might.

You’ll never know, though, until you spend an afternoon with a camera making a video.



2. Record a podcast series.

Podcasts can be incredibly enjoyable, both for the person listening and the person recording. I’ve been on both ends of the equation many times and both are enjoyable.

All you really need to record your own podcast is a computer and a microphone. You can even record one using just your smartphone if it’s a simple solo show without much editing.

You can host your podcast for free using BuzzSprout as you’re getting started, then upgrade to other plans if your podcast becomes popular. Of course, when it becomes popular, you can actually start making money with it.

Making money from a podcast is a bit tricky, but once you start raising an audience on your own, you can look into the possibility of joining a podcast network, which often serves as a collective for finding and negotiating with advertisers for the purposes of raising money.

Not only that, podcasting is a great way to get involved with the online community of whatever topic you’re into.



3. Raise a garden.

Raising a vegetable garden is a really enjoyable and engrossing hobby. It's wonderful to take a plot of ground, plant some seeds in it, care for that ground by removing weeds and adding nutrients, and seeing the plants grow and produce fruits and vegetables. Not only that, if you're using heirloom varieties, you can save the seeds and plant them again next season.

So, how does this make money? For one, you can take the food and eat it yourself, eliminating the cost of meals or meal ingredients and keeping that money in your pocket. You can also take the extras and sell them. Post what you have for sale on Facebook or take them to a farmers market. Put them on a table in front of your house with a jar and a "take what you need, pay what you can" card. Look into selling the extras to local grocers. You get the idea.

Obviously, the bigger the garden, the more food you produce, and the more food you produce, the greater the proceeds. It's all about how much you enjoy the hobby and how much time and energy you're willing to invest.

 



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This gorgeous 18-year-old is driving sales at Brandy Melville, the obscure brand taking over teen retail

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scarlett leithold

Meet Scarlett Leithold.

The 18-year-old model is known for modeling for Brandy Melville, an Italian teen brand that's popular with teens.

The brand has come under fire for only offering one size — which fits "most" (read: small) — but that hasn't stopped Leithold from attracting a massive following.

Leithold actively engages with her fans on social media on Instagram, Twitter, and Ask.fm, where she regularly checks in and answers questions.

Get to know the teen model taking teen retail by storm.

SEE ALSO: An obscure Italian brand is suddenly the hottest name in teen retail

Leithold was born in Los Angeles. She has an older sister, 26, and a younger brother, 16.

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 Source: Ask.fm



She was scouted at an airport at 14 by modeling agency Wilhelmina. She signed at 15. She is now with Next Models.

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 Source: Ask.fm



She became well known when she started modeling for Brandy Melville.

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A team of artists created modern fairy tales based on the dreams of kids with cancer

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Jonathan Diaz Caimbre the Mermaid 2

Jonathan Diaz had a simple idea: photograph children acting out their dreams. But his subjects are no ordinary kids — they're all cancer patients, too.

Diaz takes snapshots of the children and photoshops them into fantastical settings. The project, called Anything Can Be, has now been turned into an anthology of modern fairy tales called "True Heroes." Teaming up with several authors, the book takes each child's dream and turns it into a mini story. 

Scroll through to see the inspirational tributes to these children and their wildest dreams. 

 

Diaz traveled to Candlestick Park for this football-themed image of a boy named Tristan.

"I needed a background image for Tristan the football player," Diaz said in a press release. "I wish we had the funds at the time to take him there and shoot on location. He is a huge 49ers fan and it was really cool to visit that famed stadium right before they tore it down."



For Jordan's "Wonderland" photoshoot, Diaz brought a real bunny to her house.

On his blog, Diaz describes the day he photographed Jordan.

"Despite the pain that racked her body, Jordan insisted on standing up for her photo shoot. It took three people to hold her steady. It took her a half hour to get dressed. But she insisted on standing up. About 2 weeks after this image was taken, Jordan passed away…"

Diaz posted video of Jordan's mother earlier this year. Jordan's mother describes recieving the photo from Diaz: "I burst into tears. It didn't look like she was in pain or suffering. It looks like she was relaxed and happy and joyful and at peace."



Cami dreamed of being a forest fairy.



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Why Ireland's version of football is better than the NFL

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GAA All Ireland Gaelic Football Final

The NFL season is well underway in the US, but Ireland's football season is nearly over, with its equivalent of the Super Bowl taking place this Sunday in Dublin at a sold-out Croke Park.

Some 82,000 fans will see home team Dublin face Kerry in the All-Ireland football final, and countless members of the Irish diaspora around the world will tune in to watch the match live.

And in pretty much every way it'll be better than any NFL game.

Gaelic football is faster and more exciting than American football, and the players are not paid to play, so, unlike the NFL, it's not so much about money, egos, and scandals as it is about passion, heart, and pride.

Here's why attending a football match in Ireland should be on every sports fan's bucket list:

SEE ALSO: HERE COME CYCLING'S ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gaelic footballers are more interesting to watch.

This fast game combines elements of several sports, including soccer, rugby, and even basketball, just to name a few.



For every four steps, players must bounce the ball off their foot and alternate that with bouncing it off the ground.

RAW Embed



Players have more freedom when it comes to playmaking.

There's more variety and action on the ball, and drives to the goal create a certain suspense that you just don't get in the NFL. It's much more lively, and the players have more freedom when it comes to playmaking. (And yes, players can tackle each other — it's something between a soccer tackle and a rugby tackle.)



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The 9 worst housing markets in the world

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dubai

Overall, property prices around the world continue to rise.

However, not everyone's doing so well.

Perhaps the most obvious example is the once hot Chinese housing market, but others are seeing red flags as well.

The Global Property Guide has compiled and analyzed the property-price performance of the world's big economies.

We've put together a list of the nine worst markets based on year-over-year, inflation-adjusted price performance as of Q2.

9. Puerto Rico

Home prices in Puerto Rico fell 2.27% year-over-year, following 2014's fall of 7.75%.

Prices fell 6.07% during Q2 2015.

Source: Global Property Guide



8. Croatia — Zagreb

Home prices in Croatia fell 2.42% year-over-year, following 2014's increase of 1.25%.

Prices fell 0.60% during Q2 2015.

Source: Global Property Guide



7. Cyprus

Home prices in Cyprus fell 3.18% year-over-year, which following 2014's fall of 4.06%.

Prices fell 0.07% during Q2 2015.

Source: Global Property Guide



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Meet the stars of Netflix's superhero show 'Luke Cage'

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mike colter sdcc 2014

Netflix's next superhero show, "Jessica Jones," hasn't even premiered and we're already hearing more about its followup series, "Luke Cage."

Thursday, Marvel announced more cast members who will join the new show about Carl Lucas who becomes endowed with superhuman abilities. 

"Luke Cage" will be the third series in Netflix's lineup of interconnected Marvel shows.

Meet the cast below!

Mike Colter will play the titular Luke Cage.

After being wrongfully imprisoned, an experimental lab procedure behind bars gave him superhuman strength. 

We'll be introduced to Cage this November in Marvel's upcoming "Jessica Jones" series.



Where's a hero without his villain? Mahershala Ali ("House of Cards") will play Cornell Stokes aka Cottonmouth.



Alfre Woodard will star as Mariah Dillard, a Harlem politician related to Cottonmouth.

Her relation to Cottonmouth means she's probably not a fan of Cage either. 

(Source: Marvel)​



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The best beer gardens for celebrating Oktoberfest in 16 US cities

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Oktoberfest entrance, Munich, Germany

The world's biggest folk and beer festival kicks off in Munich, Germany on Saturday. 

Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of German tradition that's defined by camaraderiehearty Bavarian cuisine, and lots and lots of beer. 

But you don't have to go all the way to Munich to get in the Oktoberfest spirit. 

Foursquare analyzed its user ratings to come up with a list of the best beer gardens in the US for celebrating Oktoberfest.

From a brewery in Seattle to a waterfront bar in New York, here's a list of the top places in the country to celebrate Oktoberfest the American way. 

SEE ALSO: 17 breweries to visit in your lifetime

SEE ALSO: Experts say these are the 20 best beers in the world

Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This microbrewery on the Milwaukee River serves its very own Oktoberfest beer– a traditional Marzen-style lager made with Munich malt. The menu also includes a selection of Bavarian pretzels and beer-slathered bratwurst. 



Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan

As one of the top-rated breweries in the world, Founders Brewing Co. has plenty to offer in terms of beer and atmosphere. The brewery is throwing their 12th annual Harvest party to celebrate the season and launch their wet-hopped Harvest Ale. 



Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California

Lagunitas Brewing Company's Petaluma location (there's one in Chicago, too) is a Foursquare favorite. With dozens of craft brews, ample outdoor space, and live music five nights a week, it's the perfect place to get rowdy in the spirit of Oktoberfest.



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THE AMERICAN SMART HOME MARKET: 2015 [SLIDE DECK]

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BII Smart HomeSmart home devices – like the Nest Thermostat, Canary, and Amazon Echo – are becoming more prevalent throughout the US. However, mass adoption of smart home devices will likely be slow; smart home devices' current high prices and long lifespans (which prolong the time an installed device needs to be replaced), as well as technological hurdles of the installation process, make fast widespread adoption unlikely.

BI Intelligence has developed a slide deck analyzing the US smart home market. Some of the topics in the deck include:

  • Survey results on what Americans want most in the smart home, provided to us by Icontrol Networks.
  • A breakdown of the American housing market and how many devices there could be per household.
  • A look at the tech adoption curve of the US smart home market.
  • Which smart home players are currently leading the market.
  • Forecasts of the US residential connected lighting market.

The companies mentioned include:

August, Nest, Belkin, Honeywell, Insteon, TCP Connected, GE, Xfinity, AT&T ADT, Time Warner Cable, Lowe's Phillips, Staples, Vivint, Total Connect, Smartthings, Dropcam, Alarm.com, Apple, Wemo, Canary, Icontrol Networks, Revolv, Piper and Peq. 


BI Intelligence is a research and analysis service focused on mobile computing, digital media, payments, and e-commerce. Only subscribers can download the individual charts and datasets in Excel, along with the PowerPoint and PDF versions of this deck. Please sign up here. 







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5 reasons other people are getting rich — and you aren't

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wealthy hamptons vineyard selfie

Have you ever sat back and asked yourself why other people keep getting ahead while you seem to be treading water?

On one hand, it’s futile to compare ourselves to others. There will always be people with more and we have and there will always be people with less. But on the other hand, what’s wrong from learning from the success of others? Nothing.

In a non-judgmental way, let’s consider the top five reasons why people succeed. Your goal is to learn without beating yourself up and then to implement as much of the following as possible.

Let’s get going. Here are the top five reasons why people become wealthy:

 

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5. They consider their potential earnings.

How much you earn is not the most important wealth producer because many high wage earners spend everything that comes in and more. That said, a healthy cash flow is extremely helpful because it sets up the possibility for you to sock money away and invest. Without enough income, you’ll find it very difficult to ever put money aside for your future.

The key here is earning potential. You may not be pulling down big numbers now but what does the future look like? If the future is bright, it might make a lot of sense to stick with a job even if it isn’t that lucrative now.

Are there good opportunities ahead and are they realistic? How long will it take you to reach the sweet spot in your profession?

If your current job is a dead end, do everything you can to make a change. If you can’t jump into a different line of work, create your own new job by launching a side business or encourage your spouse to do so. Don’t worry about immediate results. Make decisions and take action today so that you’ll have the future income you need to save, invest and build your net worth in a serious way.



4. They're patient.

One big problem people have — especially younger people — is that many want immediate results. This is a huge wealth waster. If you are impatient and demand immediate results you are setting yourself up for a bleak future; here’s why.

Investments, jobs and businesses that “promise” immediate and high returns are usually costly pipe dreams and lies. It’s a law of nature; the higher and faster the return, the higher the risk. My experience is that these super quick return schemes usually lead to big losses.

Wealthy people understand that success takes time to build. And here’s a bonus tip for young Pilgrims; you have tons of time — so use it.

You may want quick results, but what you need is long-term success. You can build a very secure future by going slowly just like the rich people do.



3. They're focused.

My experience with well-heeled people is that they tend to focus on what they know best and what creates the most value. Then, they outsource what they can to trustworthy experts. If you have a job or business with great potential, put all your professional attention there and don’t get sidetracked.

Of course it’s important to have balance in your life as well — we don’t live on bread alone. But be mindful of your time and energy —don’t waste any.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 cities around the world where a 'cheap date' costs a fortune

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paris kiss

If you're taking someone out "on the cheap" in Paris, expect to drop a little over $100.

That's according to Deutsche Bank's "Cheap Date Index," which compares the cost of a simple date — cab fare, McDonald's burgers, soft drinks, a pair of movie tickets, and a round of beers — across 32 major global cities.

Deutsche Bank priced out the cost in US dollars — it turns out a truly cheap date is hard to come by in some cities.

Here's how much it'll cost you for a night of fast food, movies, and beer in the 11 most expensive global cities for daters:

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11. New York City, USA: $93



10. Auckland, New Zealand: $96



9. Melbourne, Australia: $97



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These are the winners of the Nobel Prize's goofy parody awards

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Dog peeing

The Nobel Prizes are given for the scientific breakthroughs that revolutionize their fields.

But some studies are more comical than revolutionary.

That's where the "Ig Nobel" Prizes come in. These awards recognize studies that make people giggle (and then take a second to think about their implications).

Here are the winners of the 25th annual Ig Nobel Prizes, which were announced Thursday night.

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The medicine prize was awarded to two groups who studied the science of smooching.

Two groups of scientists achieved this dubious honor for studying the health benefits and consequences of intense kissing (and other intimate activities). Locking lips with a lover imparts more than passion, they found. Kissing also transferred millions of microbes, which made people less likely to have allergies — as well as a partner's DNA.



The biology prize winner used chickens to figure out how dinosaurs walked.

Chickens are a close relative to the T. Rex, which researchers thought made them a good option for studying how dinosaurs may have roamed the Earth millions of years ago. So, scientists in Chile attached a wooden stick to the tails of chickens to see how the added weight might change how the animals walked. The birds with their centers of gravity shifted toward their rears walked in a similar way to how the researchers think two-legged dinosaurs like T. Rex may have walked.



The physiology and entomology prize went to studies of how badly insect stings hurt in different body parts.

Two brave souls allowed themselves to be stung by insects, for science. Researcher Justin Schmidt developed a pain index for how badly different insect stings hurt ranging from 0 (no pain) to 4 (excruciating pain). And scientist Michael Smith allowed bees to sting him on 25 different parts of his body to find the most painful (nostril, upper lip, and penis shaft) — yikes!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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28 items that are cheaper at Whole Foods

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whole foods millennialsWhole Foods has started cutting prices to better compete with traditional supermarkets.

The grocery chain hasn't provided many details on the price cuts, so the product review site Cheapism.com checked a Long Island, New York store for the best deals. 

Cheapism compared the prices of hundreds of items at the store to prices for similar items at a nearby Shoprite. Some of the biggest differences in price were noted in almond butter, thin crust pizzas and potted flowers.

Note: Cheapism's findings were for Long Island only. Prices may vary elsewhere.

1. Tofu. Fourteen ounces of organic tofu costs $1 dollar less at Whole foods, compared to the same amount of tofu at ShopRite.



2. Almond milk. Every brand of almond milk is cheaper at Whole Foods, including the store brand, which is 10 cents cheaper than ShopRite's at $3.69 a gallon, according to Cheapism.



3. Shredded cheese. Organic shredded cheeses start at $5.19 for an 8-ounce pack at Whole Foods, compared to $5.99 for the same amount at ShopRite.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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