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9 things you may not know you can do with Facebook Messenger

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Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular apps in the world — more than 700 million people use it each month.

Facebook separated Messenger from the main Facebook app last year, and since then the company has updated it with several features that make it more than a typical messaging app.

For instance, did you know that you can send people money in Messenger and also use it to make video calls?

Here are nine features Facebook Messenger has that you may not know about.

Make voice and video calls for free over the internet.

Messenger isn't just for sending text. The app supports voice and video calls over the internet, which means you don't need a traditional phone plan to speak to someone or have a video chat with them.

To call someone who has the Messenger app installed on their phone, tap the video or phone icon in the top right of the message window next to their name.



Send people money.

Facebook lets you transfer money from your bank account to anyone on Messenger. It's easy to set up:

  1. Tap the little icon with three dots next to the thumb icon and then "Payments."
  2. Enter the amount you want to send.
  3. Add your Visa or MasterCard debit card.

Each transaction can take up to a few business days to send depending on your bank, but Facebook doesn't charge any fee for providing the service. You can also add or manage your debit cards in the Messenger app under "Payments" in the settings tab.



Talk to brands.

Facebook has partnered with several retailers as well as Zendesk, a customer-service platform, to let you talk with companies like you would in a normal message thread.

When you buy something from Everlane, for example, and have your Facebook account tied into the order, your order details get sent to you in Messenger. You can request shipping status updates and get customer support directly in the app.

Facebook is starting to integrate more businesses into Messenger, but for now, this experience only works with Everlane and Zulily for retail.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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45 free online classes you can take this year that will make you more successful

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laptop coffee shop

No matter where you're at in your career, learning something new can only help you.

Looking for a new job? A unique skill could easily set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants.

Worked in the same position for a long time? Expertise in a new field could be the factor that gets you the promotion.

And, even if you're a senior-level manager who's totally content, getting experience in an unfamiliar area shows your team how much you value growing your skill set.

Like most other things, though, learning a new skill is easier said than done. Unless, of course, all the resources are handed to you.

Today, we're doing exactly that. To make sure that you don't spend hours searching for what to learn and where to learn it, we curated a list of 45 online classes from awesome resources across the web.

Whether you're interested in programming, graphic design, speech writing, or conflict resolution, there's bound to be a class for you.

All of these classes are free, and none of them take more than 10 weeks to complete, so be ready to add new skills to your resume before the end of the year!

SEE ALSO: I took Harvard Business School's new pre-MBA course online — and it is definitely worth the 150 hours and $1,500

Programming

1. An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1), Coursera

Anyone with a knowledge of high school mathematics is welcome to take this class taught at Rice University. To make learning Python easy, instructors of this course built a new browser-based programming environment. You'll learn to build simple, interactive games like Pong, Blackjack, and Asteroids.

Duration: 50 Hours / 5 Lessons

2. JavaScript, Codecademy

Join more than five million students in learning JavaScript — the programming language of the web. You'll develop everything from a simple "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game to an address book and even a cash register.

Duration: 10 Hours / 16 Lessons

3. Java Tutorial for Complete Beginners, Udemy

Just like the courses title says, this class is designed for anyone with no prior programming knowledge. As long as you have a desire to learn to code, you're fit to take the class. And don't get intimidated by the large number of lessons. Although 75 lectures are taught, most of them are under 20 minutes long, and the time commitment is perfectly manageable if distributed well across a few weeks.

Duration: 17 Hours / 75 Lessons

4. Intro to Java Programming, Udacity

Java is the core language used in developing Android apps and is commonly used in back-end web development. If you've never programmed before but are interested in entering either of these fields, then this course is a perfect spot for you to start.

Duration: 24 Hours / 9 Lessons

5. Make a Website, Codecademy

Take this short, three-hour course to learn how to build a website from scratch using HTML and CSS. You'll be asked to create a recent version of Airbnb's home page and learn the fundamentals of web development in the process.

Duration: 3 Hours / 5 Lessons

6. Diploma in C Programming, ALISON

One of the most popular and widely used programming languages, C is commonly used to program operating systems such as Unix. Upon completing this course, you'll learn everything from functions, methods, and routines to variables, arrays, and pointers.

Duration: 15 Hours / 17 Lessons

7. HTML, CSS, and Javascript, Coursera

Taught by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, this course teaches you the essential elements of web development. Although no previous experience in HTML, CSS, and Javascript is necessary, the instructors note that it would be helpful to have some type of prior programming knowledge. By the end of the course, you'll be able to create a website using HTML elements, apply CSS to parts of a website, and program interactive Javascript in a website.

Duration: 12 Hours / 3 Lessons

8. HTML5 Part 1: HTML5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices, edX

Anyone with a basic knowledge of HTML and familiarity with CSS is encouraged to take this course taught by the World Wide Web Consortium (also known as W3C). You'll learn to use the new simplified HTML5 tags, animate fun web graphics, and practice coding techniques through multiple interactive exercises.

Duration: 48 hours / 6 Lessons



Design

9. Beginner's Guide to Image Editing in Photoshop, Digital Tutors

This series of step-by-step videos will teach you Photoshop terms and definitions and get you started with using basic tools and techniques. You'll start off by re-sizing and re-sampling images, then move on to correcting the colors of an image and removing unwanted information. You'd be surprised by how much you can learn in 90 minutes!

Duration: 1.5 Hours / 10 Lessons

10. Getting Started With Photoshop CC, Udemy

Udemy's introduction course covers the basics so you can get started using Photoshop CC as soon as possible. Want to learn to use the marquee tool in detail, feather a selection, or refine edge command? You've come to the right place.

Duration: 2 Hours / 23 Lessons

11. Adobe After Effects, ALISON

Adobe After Effects is a popular software program used to create motion effects and visual graphics for video. In this course, you'll be introduced to the After Effects GUI and workspace and learn everything from importing and organizing files to understanding composition and video standards.

Duration: 3 Hours / 1 Lesson

12. How to Get Started With Adobe Illustrator CS6—10 Things Beginners Want to Know How to Do, Adobe TV

In this 40-minute tutorial, Adobe Creative Suite Podcast's Terry White will show you the basics that'll help you get started using Adobe Illustrator CS6.

Duration: 40 Minutes / 1 Lesson

13. Beginner's Guide to Concept Sketching, Digital Tutors

Concept sketching takes a number of different forms—from logos and layouts to characters and environment design. In this course, you'll learn the fundamentals of each of these forms using Adobe Photoshop. These step-by-step videos move at an easy-to-follow pace to make sure that you understand the basic tools and techniques.

Duration: 1.5 Hours / 10 Lessons

14. Adobe InDesign Made Easy, Udemy

We know that 105 lessons seem like a lot—but the majority of these lessons are under 10 minutes. Designed by Infinite Skills, this course is a resource for anyone wanting to learn the powerful, often-intimidating page layout and design program. By the end of the class, you'll be well versed in creating print and digital-ready documents in InDesign.

Duration: 12 Hours / 105 Lessons



Online Marketing

15. Online Advertising, OPEN2STUDY

Want to find out more about major digital platforms, social and mobile search, and how online ads are priced and delivered? If so, then OPEN2STUDY's Online Advertising course is perfect for you. Be prepared to learn how to set realistic and measurable campaign objectives, identify the steps involved in digital campaign planning, and understand the process of selling an online ad program.

Duration: 16 Hours / 33 Lessons

16. Google Analytics, ALISON

One of the premier tools for analyzing web traffic, Google Analytics is useful whether you're running a major international commercial website or managing a personal blog. At the end of this course, some of the skills you'll have mastered include knowing how to see how well your paid keywords perform, determining the keywords that bring high value visits, and identifying problem areas in your campaigns.

Duration: 2 Hours / 1 Lesson

17. Social Media 101, Social Media Quickstarter

Email marketing provider Constant Contact created this online tutorial to get you started on building your social media presence across all of the top social networks—from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.

Duration: 1.5 Hours / 1 Lesson

18. SEO for SEO Beginners, Udemy

Heard of SEO, but never got the chance to understand what it actually is? This is the course for you. Upon completing the class, you'll become an expert on the three pillars of powerful SEO, resulting in you knowing how to get to the top of the search results.

Duration: 1 Hour / 15 Lessons

19. Diploma in E-Business, ALISON

This course will help all business owners increase their knowledge of what online marketing is and how to go about implementing a successful online marketing strategy. Concrete skills you'll have by the end of the course include using AdSense and AdWords, analyzing revenue metrics and custom reporting, and navigating Google Analytics reports.

Duration: 10 Hours / 15 Lessons

20. Getting Started With Email Marketing, Skillshare

In this class, MailChimp's Allyson Van Houten teaches you how to craft an email marketing strategy that will help you achieve your business goals. Whether you're a small business owner, a freelancer, or a part of a startup team, you'll be able to learn from the bite-sized lessons packed with core email marketing concepts, guiding questions, and practical resources.

Duration: 1.5 Hours / 14 Lessons

21. How to Get a Job Using Social Media, The Muse

The Muse partnered with digital powerhouse Mashable to create this class that will teach you how to integrate social media into your job search strategy. Apart from learning to establish your personal brand and network with people online, you'll identify job opportunities via social media and turn leads into real-life job opportunities.

Duration: 5 Lessons



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Here's the prison Mark Zuckerberg visited that teaches inmates how to code

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Just last week, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, visited San Quentin, a prison near Silicon Valley that teaches some of its inmates how to code. 

This visit comes after he read Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow," which details the relationship between the "war on drugs," racism, and mass incarceration in the US. Zuckerberg went to San Quentin to see what "prison conditions are like for people," he wrote in Facebook post

Through a San Francisco-based bootcamp called Code.7370, inmates are selected to learn how to program. It was created by venture capitalist Chris Redlitz who gave entrepreneurship talks at the facility via the nonprofit he founded, The Last Mile, made to help reduce recidivism rate and former inmates re-enter the workforce.

According to prison officials, programs like the ones San Quentin prison leads have a 7.1% recidivism rate in comparison to a whopping 61% for the general prison population, USA Today reported. 

This is San Quentin Prison, located about 20 miles from South of Market, home to many of San Francisco's startups.



After one of his talks at the prison, Redlitz was "so impressed by the men's level of business knowledge and desire to learn" that he began to work on making a "technology accelerator."

The Last Mile



The Last Mile was then founded as a 6-month program to help men turn their passions into business ideas. Upon completion, guests were invited to hear inmates pitch ideas.

The Last Mile



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THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL LENDING: 2015 [SLIDE DECK]

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The lending industry is undergoing a major transformation driven by digital. A new class of companies called peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders are creating online marketplaces that are pulling both borrowers and investors away from traditional banks.

BI Intelligence has created a slide deck highlighting the biggest trends in the new digital lending industry. Access the full deck now for free by clicking here.

Here are some of the topics we cover in the deck:  

  • A brief history of P2P lending, including the factors that led to its rise.
  • An explanation of how P2P lending works.
  • The size of the P2P lending industry in the US, UK, Continental Europe, and China.
  • How banks are responding.
  • The risk factors that could derail the industry. 

The companies mentioned in this year's presentation include Lending Club, Prosper, Zopa, and China Rapid Finance.

Below are 5 sample slides from the 46-page deck.  Want the full deck? Access it Here.

 Want the full 46-page deck?

Access it Here.



 





See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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21 bizarre sports that people play around the world

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Bavarian finger pulling

Baseball may be America's pastime, but citizens of other countries are entertaining themselves in altogether different ways. 

Cultural tradition has informed a whole range of strangely fascinating sports around the world — balancing on bamboos, for example, or wrestling on horses. 

While some games are unique to a particular country, others can be found in several nations in a given region. 

From cheese-rolling in New Zealand to wife-carrying in Finland, here are some of the world's wackiest games. 

SEE ALSO: 11 jobs that exist only in their own countries

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

In Guatemala City, performers are seen taking part in an exhibition game of the Mayan Ball (or Maya Ball) game, which involves getting a solid rubber ball through a set of rings without using one's hands.



Musangwe boxing is an age-old tradition in northern South Africa. Men and boys display their fighting skills in an all-out battle with only three rules: the struggle continues until blood is shed, someone is knocked out, or a fighter surrenders by raising his hand.

Source: BBC



The annual Shrovetide football match in Ashbourne, central England, consists of teams — the Up'ards and the Down’ards — trying to score by tapping the ball on stone goal plinths three times.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The 5 traits finance professionals need to be effective business partners

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business meeting

Business partnering is not new. However, as today’s business world becomes more uncertain and more volatile, the imperative for business partnering is greater than ever.

The Chartered Institute Of Management Accountants (CIMA) defines business partnering as a finance professional who works alongside other business areas, supporting and advising their strategic and operational decision-making through insights that drive better business.

The speed and quality of decision-making is becoming increasingly essential to a business’ success, and may actually be that competitive edge they need.

New research with senior executives from around the world identified a common need for faster, better decision-making — businesses are expecting more from the finance function.

Real business value is created through knowledge, intellectual property, collaboration and partnerships throughout the company.

Now more than ever, financial leadership has an opportunity to contribute tangibly to the success and future of the business.

But they can only do this successfully if they are effective business partners, which requires a special set of both technical and behavioral skills: an understanding of the business and what is actually driving the numbers, as well as good people and leadership skills.

Here are the five traits CFOs need for effective business partnering — all of which can be learned and honed:

SEE ALSO: CFOs use these 4 interview techniques to hire top-performing employees

1. Have the courage to speak up, challenge managers, and hold a mirror up to the business.

To be a valuable partner, you’ll need to be able to challenge the recommendations and beliefs of others in the business.

This requires a finance professional to be grounded in technical competencies as well as business skills, confidence, and credibility.

It is essential to have mastery over finance skills and best practices within the finance function before you can move beyond finance and into other business discussions with credibility and a valuable point of view.

If, however, you’re still trying to improve financial processes or financial reports, in all likelihood you will be dismissed when you try to speak up and challenge popular thought.



2. Be able to influence people, build relationships, and communicate effectively.

As you move beyond the finance realm, you’ll need to remember to communicate actively in the context of business.

This doesn’t simply mean having the ability to speak well or the “gift of gab”; it means being able to get your message across and initiate a real discussion with those outside of finance.

By leaving financial jargon behind and speaking in the context of the business, you’ll be able to lay the foundation for strong business relationships.

Once you’ve built those relationships and can communicate strong insights, you’ll be in a better position to influence decision-making.



3. Have the willingness to collaborate in new ways.

Remember, you’re collaborating with new functions of the business, which requires new traits.

Your message might not get through on the first try. Persistence is critical, and persistence requires patience. However, relationship-building also requires patience as you find the balance of give and take.

When being persistent, it’s important to keep in mind the goals of the business and the needs and priorities of those you are collaborating with. 

If the person you’re speaking with doesn’t understand you, you may need to pull back and recalibrate the message you’re communicating. Ask yourself if there’s another way you can “speak their language,” or try another mechanism, channel, or example to get your point across.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 tips to get the most out of every paycheck

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It’s a great feeling, having a paycheck burning a hole in your pocket.

But that sensation can quickly turn to anxiety when you’re unsure what to do with the money or you aren’t wise with your financial decisions. A solid income stream and decent financial IQ might not be enough without a good financial plan in motion; you could still be living paycheck to paycheck, a problem that 38 million Americans struggle with every day, according to research from the Brookings Institution.

Whether you just started your first job or you’re a veteran in the field, there’s no better time than now to start being productive with your paycheck.

Learn: 10 Ways You’re Blowing Your Paycheck

SEE ALSO: 12 things no one should ever do with their money

1. Create a budget.

If your paycheck is used to randomly pay for various expenses, bills and purchases, but you’re not keeping track of what’s spent where, you definitely need to create a budget. This first step can be as easy as writing down your monthly expenses in descending order of cost and determining how much of your net pay should go to each.

You can use a flowchart, budgeting calculator or one of several money budgeting sites, tools and apps — like Mint.com, which can automatically break down what you’re spending your money on and how you can modify your financial habits.

One way to start setting up your paycheck for better use is the strategy of paying yourself first. Prioritize your savings, then bills and discretionary expenses, in that order. The best thing about making a budget is that it can be adjusted according to how your needs and income change over time.



2. Adjust your income tax withholding.

A nice, big tax refund is always one of the financial highlights of the year, but it would serve you better dispersed throughout the year as part of your paycheck. A large tax return means too much income is being taken from your check each pay period, hence why it’s given back after tax-filing season.

By increasing your withholding adjustment on your W-4, you’ll have less money taken out and more money available to allocate month to month toward saving, investing and other necessities.



3. Pay down debt.

Paying off any existing debt you might have before allotting money to your savings is one of the best ways to pay down your debt. Are you making only minimum payments on your loans or credit cards, or have you missed some here and there? Either way, the penalty interest can prevent your paycheck from going as far as you might like.

There are a few schools of thought on paying debt, but the Debt Snowball Method, popularized by Dave Ramsey, recommends starting with the smallest balance and working your way up. Another perspective is to pay off the most expensive debt — the one with the highest interest rate — first.

Ultimately, everyone’s financial situation is different, so you’ll have to determine which approach works best for you and what you can afford.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A startup came to my home and promised to cure my hangover

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the iv doc

As plenty of studies have shown, the only cure for a hangover is time. And the only way to prevent one is not to drink in the first place.

But drinking is fun, so we do it anyway.

And then we get hungover.

It's my firm belief that I, personally, get especially hungover. Any time I have more than a drink or two, I usually feel panicky, exhausted, and generally awful the next day, and nothing seems to help ease the pain other than waiting it out.

So when I got a chance to try The IV Doc, a fancy service available in New York, L.A., and now Las Vegas, that sends a nurse to hook you up to an IV drip in order to "cure" your hangover, I had to figure out once and for all if this was the hangover cure I'd been searching for.

Services like The IV Doc have been around for a few years — our colleague at Business Insider tried one earlier this year — but they're prohibitively pricey for most people, starting at around $150. But if it actually did work, I'd seriously consider forking over $150 on my worst hangover days — they're that severe. So I decided to find out if this would work for me.

The theory behind businesses like The IV Doc is that a mix of hydration and certain vitamins can cure hangover symptoms like headaches, nausea, and dehydration. Although the CEO of The IV Doc is a doctor, others in the medical field doubt whether on-demand IVs are effective.

"None of those [health claims] have been FDA approved or validated by any kind of controlled scientific studies," a doctor named Jon LaPook told CBS News in a story on IV hangover cures. He added that IV vitamin drips don't have much effect on otherwise healthy people.

So even though the science doesn't back up this or any hangover cure, it sounded like it was worth a shot. I went for it.

First, I arranged the appointment. The IV Doc texted me on Friday afternoon to confirm, then called to see what services I'd want. I opted for the Hangover Cure.

You can make an appointment here.



Then, I had to make myself hungover. So I went out with my friends and knocked back a few more drinks than usual. For work! Here I am at about 2 a.m. the night before my appointment.



The next morning, as I expected, I wasn't feeling so hot. An actual doctor called to see what kind of treatment he should send over — The IV Doc's nurses can only administer the IV drips if a doctor signs off. He sent over Detox with some "beauty-enhancing" elements added on.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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These are the 10 best colleges for women looking to create their own companies — and get them funded

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University Pennsylvania UPenn Students Graduation Commencement

Life is not easy for women startup founders. 

Studies show that it is likely harder for them to get venture capital funding, and that once they do, they still have to deal with the casual sexism that seems to pervade the tech industry

But despite that, there is also evidence that their companies succeed — even though they make up only around 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs. Venture heavyweight First Round Capital analyzed its entire portfolio going back a decade and saw that companies with at least one female founder have performed 63% better than all-male teams

But to get into that "funded" club, it's helpful to start with the right university network — the kind that has connections to prominent venture capitalists. And there are colleges that are much better at helping women entrepreneurs than others.

PitchBook tracked college graduates over the last five years and found which schools were helping launch women founders and their companies, as well churning out entrepreneurs who actually attracted funding.

The list is similar between the genders, but there are some notable differences. Both Yale and University of Pennsylvania appear to provide greater benefits to women founders than their male counterparts.

Read on for the top 10 colleges for women entrepreneurs.

SEE ALSO: Startups founded by women are doing way better than ones founded by men, says top firm First Round Capital

10. University of Texas

Number of women entrepreneurs: 31

Number of female-founded companies: 31

Amount of capital raised (in millions): $80



9. Cornell

Number of women entrepreneurs: 32

Number of female-founded companies: 31

Amount of capital raised (in millions): $226



8. Yale

Number of women entrepreneurs: 34

Number of female-founded companies: 34

Amount of capital raised (in millions): $219



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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5 investing rules rich people swear by

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wealthy man

 

Building wealth over time isn’t something that’s exclusive to the super-rich.

Even if you can’t afford a luxurious lifestyle, it’s still possible to accumulate some decent assets if you’re smart about what you do with your money.

Taking a page out of the investing playbooks of the 1% is a step in the right direction and there are some basic rules the wealthiest investors swear by.

Check out our investment calculator.

SEE ALSO: 10 US cities where you need to be a millionaire to retire

Rule #1: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Investing always comes with a certain degree of risk and one of the best ways to hedge your bets is to mix things up in your portfolio. One-percenters know that sinking all of their money into a single type of investment exposes them to the highest level of risk. So they often make sure to keep their portfolios balanced at all times.

Diversifying doesn’t mean you have to totally revamp your investing strategy. If you’re partial to mutual funds, for example, it can be as simple as choosing funds in different asset classes. The bottom line: The more diverse your portfolio is, the more your investments will balance each other out in terms of risk.



Rule #2: Know thyself.

For the wealthiest investors, success doesn’t come from getting lucky in the market or jumping on a deal at the right time. Instead, it’s all about knowing what kind of risk they can tolerate and what their long-term goals are. Because netting bigger rewards often means taking more of a gamble with your investments, it’s important to be aware of the degree of risk you’re comfortable taking on.

Try out our free asset allocation calculator.



Rule #3: Put a cap on fees.

Raking in huge returns won’t do you any good if you’re handing them back over in the form of fees. High net worth investors don’t jump into an investment without first considering how much it could cost them in terms of management fees and taxes.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: The 10 most important Ferraris of all time (RACE)

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Ferrari

With Ferrari's IPO just around the corner, fans of the prancing horse will finally have a chance to own their piece of the legendary sports car maker without having to pony up a few hundred thousand dollars. 

But for many, there's no substitute to the raw power and emotion of a living, breathing Ferrari. Since the company launched its road car business in 1947, it's reputation has grown from that of a respected racing team to a creator of automotive legends. 

In fact, the company has managed to maintain a waiting list for many of its models without engaging in any forms of traditional advertising. 

Ferrari's parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is offering more than 17 million shares of stock with the value of the Maranello, Italy-based automaker expected to approach $10 billion. 

Other the years, Ferrari has been responsible for a long line of fast, powerful, and evocative sports cars and supercars. Anyone who has ever encountered a Ferrari has his or her personal favorite. However, there certain select group of cars from the company's past and present that hold a special place in Ferrari's history books. Which is why Business Insider compiled a list of the 10 most important Ferrari's in company history.

These are the Ferraris that made a difference.

SEE ALSO: The McLaren 650S is taking aim at the Ferrari 488 and the Lamborghini Huracan

10. LaFerrari: The prancing horse stepped into the 21st century with the $1 million LaFerrari hybrid hypercar. Just 499 examples of the car will ever be built, and all are spoken for. Thus far, the LaFerrari is the first and only hybrid in company history.



Powered by a 6.3-liter, 789-horsepower V-12 boosted by a 161-horsepower electric motor, the hybrid stallion can reach 60 mph in under 3 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 217 mph, according to Ferrari.



9. 308 GTS: The Ferrari 308 GTS debuted in 1977 to great fanfare. The Pininfarina-designed, targa-top sports car was the car of choice on the '80s TV show "Magnum P.I." As a result, the 308 is one of the more recognizable Ferraris ever built.



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11 weird products that you probably didn't know Microsoft made (MSFT)

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steve ballmer

Microsoft, as a company, is vast: With over 40 years of heritage and 118,000 employees across every continent — not to mention almost $100 billion (£64 billion) in revenue during 2015 — it's regarded as a pioneer of the computing world. 

Almost everyone is familiar with Windows or Office, collectively two of the most widely used pieces of software ever, and will come into contact with them on a day-to-day basis.

Microsoft's domination of the PC world is part of the reason that the Windows XP default background is said to be the most viewed photo of our age and Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft along with Paul Allen, is the richest man in the world, even after giving away over $27 billion (£17.4 billion). 

While these products are well known, Microsoft has also produced some obscure hardware over the past years. Here are nine of the best. 

Microsoft broadband networking.

For a brief period between 2002 and 2004, Microsoft manufactured a broadband router that, at one point, even became the second most popular US retail Wi-Fi product. 

The router worked like every other on the market, offering USB support and a 802.11b connection (also known as Wi-Fi). 

In May 2004 the market share of the product slipped and manufacturing ceased, putting an end to Microsoft's broadband dreams. 



A cordless phone system.

Way before Lumia, Microsoft was involved in the phone market, albeit without the "smart" part. 

The Microsoft Cordless Phone System was impressive for its time — which was around 1998 —offering PC integration, speech recognition (for things like "Call John Smith"), caller ID, and more. 

The project was shelved, however, and Microsoft didn't make a phone-based product again until Windows Mobile, the company's first attempt at a smartphone operating system. The system wasn't compatible with Windows NT and Macintosh for an unknown reason

There is a YouTube video of the phone in action. 



The Microsoft Digital Sound System 80.

Microsoft and Phillips teamed up in 1998 to product the Digital Sound System 80, the only speaker system ever manufactured by Microsoft. 

The system, unveiled during the 1998 Electronic Entertainment Expo, was one of the first to have integrated sound hardware, meaning the PC didn't need a dedicated sound card. Additionally, the Sound 80 had a 3.5mm line-in as well as a USB port. 

The Sound 80 came with an interesting glitch: tapping either the + or - buttons could increase the volume to maximum or minimum respectively with no way to stop it beyond hitting mute. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The 30 most powerful women in mobile advertising (FB, GOOG, TWTR)

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lindsay nelson

Men tend to dominate the mobile advertising world.

So each year we ask readers and companies to nominate who they think are the most influential women in the business. We also asked that they nominate at least one other competitor to ensure the list wasn't self-serving. In addition, we also consulted with Erin "Mack" McKelvey, CEO of SalientMG, whose knowledge of the mobile ad business far exceeds our own.

This is, by no means, a complete list of all the influential women in the mobile advertising business. It is, however, a representation of some of the most powerful women out there, who are running big businesses, with large client bases, and sizeable revenues to report.

If you're interested in previous lists, here's last year's rankings for comparison.

SEE ALSO: The 30 most creative people in advertising 2015

30. Liz Valentine, CEO at Swift

Swift is the digital agency behind the award-winning Real PSL mobile/social work for Starbucks, to promote its Pumpkin Spice Latte. Other recent work includes a project for Google which saw the agency create an LED dress that encouraged girls to code a little black dress for the digital age.

"Mobile-first" Swift claims to have achieved 100% revenue growth every year since its inception in 2007 and last year it was acquired by WPP's POSSIBLE agency. In 2014 it was targeted to generated $13 million in revenue.



29. Kyoko Matsushita, managing director of APAC for Essence

Essence is a global digital agency that has a client listing including Google, Tesco Mobile, and the Financial Times.

Matsushita serves clients in the growing Asia-Pacific where, in her first year on the job she grew revenue by 107%, opened the agency's Tokyo office, and is expected to grow the region's headcount again by the end of 2015.

Before joining Essence, Matsushita was VP of global product and business at GREE, a Japan-oriented global mobile gaming and social network service company.



28. Alia Lamborghini, senior vice president of sales at Millennial Media

Lamborghini leads a team of more than 70 employees at Millennial Media, which was acquired by AOL in a deal valued at around $238 million in September. In the second quarter, ahead of the acquisition, Millennial Media reported revenues of $65.8 million and said it expected total non-GAAP revenue to reach $344 million to $360 million for the full year.

She also sponsors an in-house group called the "Future CROs of America." 

Outside of Millennial Media, Lamborghini is an active member of the mentoring groups within the Advertising Women of New York and the Year Up program, plus she is also a founding member of Digital Divas Atlanta.



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The way United Airlines chooses your in-flight meal is far more intricate than you'd think

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United Airlines Food 7671Just in time for those grueling holiday flights, United Airlines is unveiling a new onboard menu that you might actually want to eat. 

According to the company, the fall menu is all about customer satisfaction. 

Not only did the airline have four chefs collaborate on the new menu (rolling out November 1), frequent fliers were invited to its Newark Liberty International Airport facilities to taste the food and give their input.

With plenty of regional specialties and seasonal ingredients, the new premium-cabin and United Economy meal and snack options will feature chef-inspired dishes on flights throughout North and Latin America. 

Keep scrolling for a look at what's to come. 

SEE ALSO: A top sommelier rates the airlines with the best wine lists

United Airlines invited a handful of frequent fliers to its Chelsea Food Services center at Newark Liberty International Airport to test the new menu.



Four renowned chefs contributed to the menu.



Meals are only tested at sea level for now. But since altitude can affect the way we taste food, United plans to take a plane out of service and turn it into a flying test kitchen of sorts.



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Meet the woman who invented the world's fastest motorcycle

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eva and her husband

In 2014, Eva Håkansson set a world record for being the fastest female motorcycle rider, with a speed of 270.224 mph. 

She also happened to build the very motorcycle she set the record with — KillaJoule, the world's fastest electric motorcycle and the fastest sidecar motorcycle of any kind. 

Håkansson, who comes from an engineering background, spent five years building KillaJoule in her garage with the help of her husband. The vehicle made waves thanks to both its speed and its battery technology, which Håkansson credits to clever engineering.

We spoke to Håkansson to learn about the story, inspiration, and process behind her incredible creation.

SEE ALSO: Meet the woman who makes the food you see in commercials look irresistible

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Originally from Sweden, Håkansson moved to the US seven years ago. She enrolled in a PhD program for mechanical engineering at the University of Denver.



She comes from a family of engineers — her father was a racer in Sweden in the '60s, and he would build motorcycles in the time he had off from his job as an engineer. She decided to do the same, beginning the building of KillaJoule with her husband, Bill Dube, a research engineer at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the two-car garage of their home in Denver, Colorado.



KillaJoule was essentially a hobby for Håkansson while she worked towards her degree, and it took her and her husband a total of five years to build. Her engineering background helped her to imagine and construct the vehicle, even though some people assumed her husband had taken the lead. "People are always directing the technical questions about the motorcycle to my husband," Håkansson told Business Insider.

 

 

 



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7 futuristic solar-powered cars will travel 1,900 miles through Australia’s outback

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Stella Lux solar powered carTeams from all over the world are revving up to compete in a contest to see who has the most energy efficient car.

The 46 teams from 25 countries will drive almost 1,900 miles across Australia’s Outback in solar powered cars as part of their participation in the World Solar Challenge.

The biannual competition requires participants to travel from Darwin, which is in North Australia, to Adelaide, in the southern part of the continent. To make the trek through the torrid desert, teams must design their vehicles to use advanced technologies like solar power conversion and energy storage devices.

There are three classes of vehicles participating in the race: the Challenger Class, the Cruiser Class, and the Adventure Class. But most teams are participating in the first two categories.

The Challenger Class consists of smaller vehicles that carry only the driver and are timed in a single stage between the two destinations. They must travel the full length of the race with just one charge of their battery. Solar power provides the rest of the energy needed to power the vehicle's trip. 

The Cruiser Class is for vehicles carrying a driver and passenger. However, the contestants in this class are timed in two stages, from start line in Darwin to Alice Springs (the half-way point) and then again from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Once contestants in this class reach the midway point they can recharge their batteries from the grid. But all extra energy need to power the second half of their 932 mile journey must come from the sun. 

While the competition has been going on since 1987, there are key changes in design requirements and charging rules every year forcing the teams to rethink their previous models.

Here’s a look at some of the most impressive vehicles competing this year that have a record of placing in the competition.

Stanford’s Arctan is a sleek, more compact car than its last model

At the last World Solar competition in 2013, Stanford’s team took home the fourth spot in the Challenger Class and was named the “Best Undergraduate Team in the World.”

This year, the team aims to top that with its newly designed Arctan, which has improved solar technology and a much smaller design. 

The vehicle is much thinner than its predecessor and has a flatter top, helping reduce drag by 12%. It's solar array is also 50% lighter than the team's previous model. 

The driver’s compartment was also shrunk and the car’s chassis is composed of carbon fiber also help making it extremely light. 

 

 



The team behind the Nuna 8 used 3D printing for their car

Also competing in the Challenger Class is the Nuon Solar team from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Last year, the school’s team won the competition with their car the Nuna 7 and are aiming to do the same again this year with the Nuna 8. 

Part of their strategy to improve their vehicle included 3D printing.

To keep the weight down of the Nuna 8 and improve its speed, the team used 3D printing to make a completely transparent, hollow spoiler that weighs only 250 grams.



Tokai University won the contest in 2009 and in 2011

Tokai University took home second place in 2013, but has made some improvements on its Tokai Challenger that could give it an edge.

For one, it’s body is a lot thinner than the school’s previous vehicle. The Tokai Challenger is only 7.64-inches thick, while the 2013 model was about 12-inches thick.

The team also improved its solar array for better power generation. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where all 32 teams stand going into Week 7

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peyton manning

Hey, pretty nice week, NFL!

Following a few weeks without any marquee matchups, Week 6 provided fans with something a little more to look forward to.

The Colts-Patriots rematch generally lived up to the hype, as the Colts looked perhaps a step closer to competing with their bigger, better conference rivals. While the Eagles-Giants Monday night matchup was a bit of a flop, there were some surprisingly tight finishes in ugly, yet entertaining games between the Lions and Bears and the Broncos and Browns.

In a strange season, five teams remain undefeated, and the NFL world seems to only believe in three of them. Conversely, only six teams have 4-2 or 3-3 records, meaning there's a top-heavy grouping and a lot of teams below .500.

Check out the rankings after six weeks below.

1. New England Patriots

Record: 5-0

Week 7 opponent: vs. New York Jets

Week 6 MVP: LeGarrette Blount loves facing the Colts. Blount ran for 98 yards and a touchdown and added his first career receiving touchdown, too.

One thing to know: Tom Brady gets credit for turning water into wine, but between Blount, Dion Lewis, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman, it feels like the Patriots have a refrigerator full of options each week.



2. Green Bay Packers

Record: 6-0

Week 7 opponent: BYE

Week 6 MVP: Damarious Randle, who knocked away Philip Rivers' pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal to preserve the Packers' perfect season.

One thing to know: Running back Eddie Lacy is "beat up" and will be resting during the bye week.



3. Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 6-0

Week 7 opponent: Bye

Week 6 MVP: Andy Dalton continues to impress, this time with an efficient 22-33 outing for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

One thing to know: When the Bengals come out of their bye, they face a big division game against the likely healthy Steelers that will say a lot about the AFC North race.



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12 healthy habits to get a better night's sleep

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woman sleeping sleep mask

The endless opportunities that technology offers come with an unexpected side effect: There never seem to be enough hours in the day to get things done and rest, too.

And our bodies might be suffering for it.

Whether it is because we're staying up late watching the latest show or lying awake in bed, unable to sleep, about 20% of Americans are sleep deprived, experts estimate.

Rather than suffer through the day feeling groggy, here are 12 science-backed habits that can help you get a good night's sleep — tonight.

CHECK OUT: 15 healthy eating habits that work according to scientists

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Avoid 'social jet-lag' by keeping consistent sleeping hours.

As much fun as sleeping in on the weekends is, it’s not doing your body any favors. You can blame something called "social jet-lag."

Unlike regular old jet-lag, this one only happens when our body clocks get thrown off by the gap between our weekend and weekday sleep schedules. You can avoid it by waking up at the same time each day.



Steer clear of screens right before bed.

You might think scrolling through your Instagram feed before bed might be a good way to wind down, but it's not helping you fall asleep. Studies suggest that the light from cell phones and other electronic devices may interfere with our brain's production of melatonin, the chemical that tells our bodies it’s time to sleep.

To combat this, researchers suggest powering down your devices an hour before heading to bed. Plus, you'll also have more time to read that book you keep neglecting.



Exercise regularly.

The relationship between sleep and exercise is a little complicated. A small study of women with insomnia found a connection between better sleep and exercise: The better night’s sleep you get, the more likely you’ll work out. But it’s a beneficial cycle: The study found that four months down the road of exercising consistently, the women were sleeping at least 45 minutes more a night.

Sleep well. Work out well. Repeat.



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What those 'Dermatologist Recommended' and 'Clinically Proven' labels on your lotions and soap actually mean

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shampoo

All of the soaps, scrubs, and shampoos that hang out in your bathroom are littered with statements like "doctor recommended" and a whole list of alleged advantages that separate it from the competing product you left behind at the store.

But, in the not-so-highly-regulated world of cosmetics, it's tough to sort through all that jargon and really get to the bottom of what you're actually putting on your skin.

Here's how to decode all the statements on the products you use every day.

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'Clinically proven'

What it sounds like: The product has gone through strict clinical trial testing on large sample sizes of human volunteers. 

What it means: Anywhere from one person to a million people have tested out the product in an experimental setting. Robert Lochhead, a polymer science professor at the University of Southern Mississippi told Business Insider, "Clinically approved means somewhere, a doctor has put it on someone and said it’s OK." And it matters what the word "clinically" is followed by. If it's say, "clinically proven to heal wounds," that would make the cosmetic now a drug, since it's altering the body, which would require much more oversight by the FDA.



'Active ingredient'

What it sounds like: Something in this product is alive!

What it means: The FDA defines an active ingredient as something that seeks to change your body in some way, whether it be preventing an illness or clearing up your skin. Active ingredients are what differentiate cosmetics from drugs: Cosmetics can skirt through with far less regulation than drugs, which the FDA has a lot more oversight on.



'SPF' in non-sunscreen products

What it sounds like: Your skin will be substantially protected from the sun's rays.

What it means: Many cosmetics companies use small amounts of SPF to keep their products themselves safe from the sun, said Lochhead. So if your foundation has "sunscreen" listed as the third or fourth ingredient down, don't rely on it as your first line of defense against sun damage.



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3 simple ways to instantly appear successful

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David BeckhamPeople decide if you're successful within five seconds of meeting you.

It's called "thin slicing," or the psychological tendency for people to make almost instantaneous assumptions about you.

It happens all the time, including at work. Research suggests that colleagues and would-be clients make snap assessments about your earning potential, chance of getting promoted, and level of success. 

For example, in a 2011 Canadian study, 87 university students were shown photos of a man in professional or casual dress, and were asked what they expected his workplace outcomes to be.

The differences were obvious. Not only were the well-dressed men expected to make more money, they were expected to be promoted more rapidly. Meanwhile, the sloppily dressed guys were expected to receive more verbal harassment at work. 

What can we do to sidestep negative judgments and instantly appear successful? Scroll down to see what the experts advise.

SEE ALSO: Science says people decide these 9 things within seconds of meeting you

Look like you care about how you look.

"Carelessness seems to signal that you don't respect your coworkers or yourself," says Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author of "Executive Presence." "You certainly don't respect the client if you show up with soup on your tie or bitten nails, anything to make you look unkempt." 



Tailor your look to the situation.

"If it's Microsoft, it's one outfit; in the US Army, it's another," says longtime executive recruiter Russell Reynolds. "You have to look like you belong to the group, [and] you have to look a little better than the group." To do that, Hewlett says to "pattern yourself" after someone who's particularly good at dressing a bit better than the rest of the group. 



Stay away from the suggestive.

"For women, a major blunder is sexually provocative clothing,"Hewlett says. "It's tremendously undermining of your gravitas, because it's either distracting or threatening. No matter your projection of your capabilities, if your skirt is too short or your neckline too plunging, you get struck off the list for a big client meeting or a promotion." 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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