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The unicorns of China: 11 Chinese startups you need to know

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Xiaomi

Uber might be the most valuable private company in the world, but a slew of Chinese companies are right behind it. 

The Chinese startup space is largely dominated by investments from two behemoths: Amazon equivalent Alibaba and internet giant Tencent. The two have driven up valuations of Chinese companies, many of which are similar to startups on the list of American unicorns. 

Here are some of the most valuable and powerful startups in China:

 

SEE ALSO: Larry Page says Google's China plans are no longer his decision

Xiaomi: valued at $46 billion, raised $2.45 billion

 

China's largest smartphone maker is the second most-valuable private tech company in the world, trailing only behind Uber. Xiaomi, which means "little rice," has a fervent fan base although its competitor Huawei Technologies has been gaining on the tech startup. Xiaomi is now expanding its cell phone sales outside of China and into emerging markets like Africa, India, and Brazil.

Source: PitchBook



Meituan-Dianping: valuation rumored at $20 billion, funding of at least $2.51 billion

In a mega-merger in October, Groupon-like startup Meituan merged with Yelp clone Dianping. Meituan had raised about $1 billion, while Dianping raised $1.51 billion.

Chinese startups are fighting over who will control the online to offline experience, and the two companies are going to be working in tandem to help Chinese users book restaurants or local deals.

In November, the WSJ reported that Chinese internet giant Tencent is rumored to be investing $1 billion into the newly merged company, valuing it at $20B.

Source: WSJ



Didi Kuaidi: valuation $16.5 billion, total funding of $4 million

Valuation: $16.5B

Total funding: $4B

In another merger, Uber's largest Chinese competitor was created in February after two competing apps, Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache, united in their fight against Uber China. Didi Kuaidi has since made subsequent investments and partnerships in Uber's US rival, Lyft, bringing the fight to two continents.

Source: PitchBook



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This teen Instagram model is blowing up on social media for ... quitting social media

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essena

After she spent years amassing hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, one Australian social media model is calling it quits so she can search for what's "real."

But not everyone is buying it.

Thanks to copious media reports and a conversation surrounding her actions online, her follower account is only growing by the thousands.

Keep reading for the full story (and her photos — at least until she deletes them).

Essena O'Neill, 19, says she dreamed for years of being famous online. She started obsessing over famous models' body measurements and massive followings at age 12, and gradually turned herself into one of the beautiful women she'd admired.

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But she recently realized that the clothes, adoration, and modeling gigs aren't making her happy. After spending two weeks in L.A. without using her mobile phone at all, she realized she'd been relying too much on the validation that comes from an Instagram like.

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"I realized I didn't know myself without social media and without my physical appearance," she said.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I had a 5-hour layover at the No. 2 airport in the world, and it was an absolute joy

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Incheon

On a recent vacation in Vietnam, I was dreading the flight back to New York — mainly because I wanted to spend more time hiking in the mountain villages and sipping killer iced coffee, but also because I had a five-hour layover on my 22-hour return trip.

Lucky for me, I had a fantastic economy class experience on Korean Air, and my early morning layover was scheduled for Incheon International Airport in South Korea.

Located 30 miles west of the country's capital city of Seoul, Incheon ranks second on Business Insider's 2015 list of the best airports in the world. However, I'd done zero research ahead of my arrival in South Korea, so I was unaware of Incheon International's stellar ranking. 

Determined to stretch my legs before the 13-hour flight to New York, I spent my layover walking around and checking out all the airport had to offer for weary travelers like myself. 

5:30 a.m. — Welcome to Korea!

I landed in South Korea after a four-hour flight from Hanoi. The overnight flight combined with the time difference between cities left me awfully drowsy.

After connecting to the airport's free WiFi, I emailed my parents to let them know I was still alive and then groggily followed these super helpful screens through a security check to the international transfer section. 



5:50 a.m. — I arrive at the nicest airport gate I've ever seen.

At this early, quiet hour, a few signs and directories told me that things would start to come alive at 7:00 a.m, so I headed to the gate for my 10:05 a.m. flight to JFK. 

Once there, I was stunned. 

Where was the ratty, blue-gray carpet specked with pastry crumbs? Who had replaced the ambiguously stained, maximized-for-lower-back-pain plastic seating with these sleek, comfortable chairs? Why do these hardwood floors looks so clean and spanking new? 



I had an hour to kill so I decided to charge up at the gate.

These charging stations were great for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they had a few different wattage and plug options, which is really helpful for international travelers. And the outlets were spaced to allow for bulky converters, because there's nothing more frustrating than a perfectly available outlet being covered by the corner of someone else's plug. 

Lastly, the stations are conveniently located in the seating areas, eliminating the need to sit on the floor next to a wall outlet while your kindle charges. Being able to sit at the main gate and keep eyes on your valuables in the charging station (as well as your luggage) is key.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Take a look inside a Virgin Atlantic clubhouse, where first-class passengers are spoiled rotten before they even leave the ground

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Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse 29

Flying can be a real pain. For most, the first-class flying experience is a storied and coveted fantasy far from the cramped seats of coach.

But for the envied few who get the chance to stretch out their legs and cradle a flute of champagne 35,000 feet in the air, the experience begins even before boarding.

Virgin Atlantic, the airline brand owned by British billionaire and bon vivant Richard Branson, is known for its flair and flash, and the first-class clubhouses it maintains in various airports across the globe are no different.

Need a haircut before your flight? A gourmet meal to tide you over? Or perhaps a quick cocktail to take the edge off?

Several of Virgin Atlantic's lounges house full spas, as well as extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus to fully pamper their guests. The experience is reserved exclusively for passengers who have bought "Upper Class" tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights. 

Business Insider got a look inside Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Here's what it's like to relax in the lap of luxury. 

SEE ALSO: Take a tour of the 'city of the future' being built in a Middle Eastern desert

The clubhouse at JFK Terminal 4 is a luxurious experience from the moment you're greeted by its friendly and attentive staff.



As soon as you walk in, you're swept away by the lush retro-inspired decor. In the center of the clubhouse is the bar, surrounded by a curving and gorgeous open wall.



The bar seating is ample, with small tables and chairs as well as long, comfy booths.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 times company makeovers totally flopped

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mcdonalds

Most of the time, re-branding (changing your logo or tag phrase) is a waste of time and money.

Customers usually don't care about that stuff and or the marketing gibberish (like "distinctive typographic treatment") used to justify it.

Furthermore, rebranding can be hugely expensive. It's not unusual for a large company to spend manny millions of dollars on a rebrand effort.

As I said, usually a rebrand is just how marketers navel-gaze, but some rebrands are so egregiously bad that they drive customers away or make them angry.

Recently, the company MadeByOomph sent me a list of disastrous rebrands, which I used as inputs to my top 10 list below.

SEE ALSO: Did you notice that these 20 companies changed their logos this year?

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BP

BP redesigned its logo so that the company might appear more eco-friendly. Naturally, nobody noticed until BP was responsible for the largest oil spill of all time. At that point, the new logo suddenly became woefully ironic.



Esurance

Esurance's "Erin" character was a viral sensation with Allstate bought the company. Allstate's "brand nazis" trashed all that to create brand consistency (the hobgoblin of little minds), thereby allowing their competitor Progressive capture the limelight.



McDonalds

This was a tossup between the ill-fated "Lovin' Beats Hatin'" campaign and the fast food giants new "hamburglar" character. I wonder who thought it was a good idea to turn a kid-friendly nostalgic icon into what looks like a creepy, grade-B super-villain.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 places you have to visit in Nepal

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annapurna

Nepal is a small country but when it comes to humongous mountain ranges to see, a day won’t be enough for you to see them all. Moreover, going to Nepal just to see the Mt. Everest is just a jigsaw piece of the whole picture of this amazing country. There are more natural attractions to see and here are 10 of them that you should jot down in your list.

SEE ALSO: 20 breathtaking photos of palaces in India

Annapurna Mountain Range

Declared as one of the most dangerous mountains, the Annapurna Mountain Range is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalayas by the Kali Gandaki River. This series of peaks in the Himalayas stretches for 55 kilometers with Annapurna I as its highest point, standing at 8091 meters. The Annapurna massif contains six major peaks over 7,200 meters, making it a tough hiking spot where the climber’s fitness and patience are at stake. Moreover, avalanches pose a great threat to those who want to venture through the summit for the natural occurrence has been known to have taken a lot of lives who dared to reach its highest point.



Sarangkot

If you’re curious enough to see the breathtaking Annapurna Mountain Range, you better head to Sarangkot. Be aware that the place is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal so expect to join crowds. However, if you want a peaceful resting stop, you can head to Sarangkot’s grassy helicopter pad. From here, you can see the best Himalayan sunrise and sunset, dipping in and out of the peaks while changing the sky’s hues. If you had enough of the views of Pokhara and mountain peaks, you can do more and try paragliding for the best sceneries over temples, lakes, jungles, and villages.



Gosainkunda

Located north of Kathmandu, Gosainkunda is a glacier lake that is mostly visited compared to the other glacier lakes connected to it. Hindu pilgrims visit the lake during an August full moon festival for they believe the lakes were created by the god Mahadev (Shiva) and his image can be seen in the middle surface of the water. Through the journey, you will encounter the stunning views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Annapurna massif. This is a sacred site for Buddhists too.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where all 32 teams stand going into Week 9

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Tom Brady

We're at about the halfway point of the NFL season, and already it appears that all but two divisions are wrapped up.

Don't believe us? Let's take a closer look. In the AFC, the undefeated New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos are cruising to division titles. Nobody is going to catch them.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers are also well on their way to winning their divisions. The 6-2 Arizona Cardinals have a solid lead on the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

The only close divisions at the moment also happen to feature the worst teams. In the AFC South, a 3-5 record is good enough for a share of the division lead, and in the NFC East, the 4-4 New York Giants are atop the standings.

Luckily, there's plenty to keep tuning in for each week, even if the divisional races aren't that interesting. For the first time in NFL history, four teams remain undefeated through eight weeks. Can anybody beat New England? Will Seattle rally for a playoff spot, or will the upstart Rams and Minnesota Vikings take it from them?

A lot can change in half a football season. Here are your weekly power rankings, heading into Week 9:

1. New England Patriots

Record: 7-0

Week 9 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 8 MVP: Tom Brady, who is ageless and the clear favorite for MVP at this point in the season. Against the Dolphins he had a decent day: 356 yards passing and four TDs.

One thing to know: This team just doesn't turn the ball over. Through their first seven games, New England has turned the ball over just three times, the fewest in the league.



2. Denver Broncos

Record: 7-0

Week 9 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 8 MVP: Can we just give it to this defense every week? Limiting Aaron Rodgers to 77 yards and no TDs is MVP-worthy, all right.

One thing to know: The Broncos traded for veteran TE Vernon Davis Monday. Will Manning revitalize Davis? Will Davis revitalize Manning? Neither? Both?



3. Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 7-0

Week 9 opponent: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 8 MVP: AJ Green, who went off for 118 yards and a game-winning TD late in the fourth quarter.

One thing to know: The Bengals could improve to 9-0 as their next two games come at home against the Browns and Texans.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Scientists finally think they know what killed 211,000 of these antelope in May

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saiga antelope mother calf usfws

An increasingly rare species of antelope called the saiga may be roaming its last days in the wild.

Native to the grassy steppes of Kazakhstan and nearby regions, populations of the critically endangered species have suffered one catastrophic loss after the next over the past 15 years.

And now, a mass die-off in the spring of 2015 seems to have killed off about half the species, according to The New York Times.

"I’ve worked in wildlife disease all my life, and I thought I’d seen some pretty grim things," Richard A. Kock, of the Royal Veterinary College in London, told the Times' Carl Zimmer. "But this takes the biscuit."

Scientists have narrowed down the possible causes of the die-off. And, according to Zimmer, unusual rain conditions caused by climate change turned a normal bacteria that lives in the Saiga's stomachs deadly.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the majestic animals — and what might be causing their imminent extinction.

Saiga are grass-eating antelope that have an unusual, humped nose that drapes over their mouths.



Their cartoon-like appearance is sometimes compared to the popular TV sitcom character ALF.



More than 90% of saiga live as a subspecies in the grassy steppes of Kazakhstan and parts of Russia. Another subspecies lives in Mongolia.

Sources: WWF, Saiga Conservation Alliance



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Use your leftover Halloween candy to make these 14 amazing recipes

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halloween candy

Now that Halloween is over, chances are many of us have leftover candy sitting around our house.

And while I wouldn't fault you for eating it the old fashioned way (out of the wrapper and constantly), Pinterest is filled with better ways to use your leftover sweets and get that candy fix.

From a cookie pizza to home-made chocolate croissants, keep scrolling to see our favorite candy-oriented recipes.

 

Let's start simple: Replace chocolate chips with chopped up candy bars in your next cookie recipe. Ruffles and Truffles used Baby Ruth and Crunch bars.

See the full Ruffles and Truffles recipe here



A tasty and unhealthy way to start your morning, these Almond Joy crescent rolls by Crazy For Crust are hard to refuse. This might be a weekend-only type of breakfast.

See the full Crazy For Crust recipe here



A dessert pizza is made even more delicious when the toppings are extra Halloween candies. The blogger for DelightfulEMade.com came up with this recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes.

See the full DelightfulEMade.com recipe here



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 12 dumbest things to do with your money in your 30s

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boring conversation diner couple break up

Time is still on your side in your 30s. If you manage your money well, it can mean huge financial gains in the future.

That's easier said than done. Plus, many of us tend to assume that we'll have more money in our 40s and have plenty of time to tune up our finances, which can lead to some poor money decisions.

Here are 12 of the worst, and how to combat them.

SEE ALSO: 12 things everyone should know before investing

1. Not taking advantage of work benefits

If you're not taking full advantage of your employee benefits, you're leaving money on the table. Some of the more overlooked, yet incredibly advantageous, benefits include:

Healthcare flexible spending account: This type of account is a pre-tax benefit account you can use to cover a variety of healthcare products and services, from acupuncture and physical therapy to vaccines and over-the-counter medicine. You can put up to $2,550 of tax-free money into this account in 2015, and save about 30% on healthcare expenses with the tax break, WageWorks reports.

Dependent-care flexible spending account: If you have young children, dependent-care FSAs are worth considering. This account works similarly to the healthcare FSA, in that you can contribute pre-tax money, but is specific for dependent care services, such as preschool, summer camp, daycare, or before- and after-school programs.

Commuter benefits: These are often overlooked, but they can save you over $600 each year, WageWorks tells The Wall Street Journal. The concept is simple: Employees can use pre-tax money from their paychecks to cover mass-transit passes — including the train, subway, bus, ferry, and parking.

It's worth it to research and talk to your human-resources department to understand the scope of what's available to you, as these benefits could save you thousands of dollars each year.



2. Not increasing your 401(k) contributions

In your 30s, one of the greatest things you have going for you is time, and the more money you can save at an early age, the greater the dividends will be down the road. You should already be contributing to your employer's 401(k) retirement account and taking full advantage of any available company match program, but if you get a pay raise or bonus, increase that contribution.

Also, get in the habit of upping your contribution at the end of each year, even if it's just 1%. Check online to see if you can set up "auto-increase," which will automatically increase your contributions every year.



3. Only putting money toward a 401(k)

By the time you're in your 30s, you should be considering other investment vehicles beyond your 401(k) plan. A good next step is to put money toward a Roth IRA, another retirement-savings vehicle that offers tax benefits and is particularly well-suited to younger people who earn less than the income cap — $116,000 a year or less for individuals, $183,000 or less for married couples filing jointly.

Contributions to this type of fund are taxed when they're made, so you can withdraw the contributions and earnings tax-free once you reach 59 1/2.

If you still have money left over, you can research low-cost index funds, which legendary investors Warren Buffett and Jack Bogle recommend, and look into the online investment platforms known as "robo-advisers."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I was pleasantly surprised with my experience shopping at Microsoft's new mega store in New York (MSFT)

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When you think of 5th Avenue shopping in New York, Microsoft probably isn't the first brand that comes to mind. 

But the company recently opened a huge flagship store in the middle of one of the priciest shopping districts in the country.

I went to the new Microsoft Store on 5th Avenue in New York Wednesday, and the experience was nearly nearly identical to what it's like shopping at the Apple Store. There are no lines. Most products except for accessories are held in a store room. And the entire floor is dedicated to product demos.

Overall, it was a great experience. And if you like Windows devices, you'll probably like visiting the Microsoft Store better than Best Buy or other third-party retailer.

Here's what it was like when I visited.

This is 5th Avenue in New York City. It's packed with a bunch of high-end shops.



Here's Versace.



And Salvatore Ferragamo.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The largest consumer drone maker in the world has a wild vision for its future

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DJI Phantom X conceptThe largest consumer drone maker in the world has a wild vision for the future of drones.

The Chinese drone company DJI released a video on Tuesday that showcases its Phantom X Concept drone, a flying robot that is loaded with all kinds of impressive innovations.

The Phantom X Concept is still very much a concept, but the video shows the company’s vision for where it plans to take drone technology in the future.

"This video is a good answer to both and a look at how we think: We are always looking into the future to find new and creative ways to use technology," Adam Najberg, DJI's global director of communications, told Tech Insider. 

Here’s a look at some of the most impressive features DJI shows off with its Phantom X Concept and where it sees drone technology going in the future. 

The drone of the future will easily avoid all obstacles.

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Consumer drones are getting more reliable, but they still have a tendency to crash and run into objects. 

In the video, though, DJI shows its Phantom X Concept cruising through the air, easily avoiding all obstacles in its way. While a flying autonomous drone capable of obstacle avoidance may see far-fetched, recent research shows it could become a reality sooner than expected. 

Earlier this week, MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) revealed that it had developed technology that enables drones to fly autonomously at 30 miles per hour without crashing into obstacles. 

 



Drones will also be able to track objects while in air so they can follow a subject.

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Currently, some consumer drones can follow users autonomously if the person being tracked has their smartphone linked to the drone. But in the future drones will use recognition technology to track objects. 



To launch drones, a user will simply toss it up in the air.

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These days, most consumer drones take off from the ground, but DJI predicts that eventually users will be able to toss a drone in the air like a boomerang and the device will just take off.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what it takes to be an astronaut

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NASA Astronaut

It takes a huge amount of preparation and training to secure a room aboard the International Space Station, but NASA's basic requirements for being an astronaut candidate may surprise you.

If you don't want to be a commander or a pilot, all you need is a bachelor's degree in a relevant field plus three years of professional experience, according to NASA.

If you meet those requirements, NASA is wants your application for its astronaut corps starting on December 14.

Of course, the process of actually being selected gets... intense. Between 4,000 and 8,000 people apply each round, but NASA usually only picks eight.

Keep scrolling to find out what it takes to become a NASA astronaut.

For starters, you need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field like biology, engineering, or pretty much any STEM branch.



You also need at least 3 years of experience on the job.



While NASA doesn't require anything beyond a bachelor's degree, more advanced degrees are helpful. No job? No problem: A graduate degree can supersede the 3-year experience requirement.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Check out James Bond's greatest cars

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Aston Martin DB10

Daniel Craig's James Bond will once again find himself behind the wheel of an Aston Martin in the upcoming "Spectre."

The world's greatest spy will manhandle the seductive DB10. Specially commissioned for the latest and 24th film of the wildly popular franchise, the DB10 was designed with the input of the movie's director, Sam Mendes

The DB10 joins the long list of eyecatching and beloved cars to have appeared in the films over the past 50 years. Some of them Q would like to have seen returned in "pristine order," while others were better off destroyed by Bond.

But for most of them, their brief appearance in a Bond flick solidified their status as pop culture icons. 

SEE ALSO: Let's wish the minivan a happy 32nd birthday

These days Aston Martin and James Bond form what is arguably the most successful movie/car tie-up in film history. These two brands are forever intertwined with one another.



For Bond's latest adventure, Aston Martin even designed a car just for 007. However, the relationship between the car company and filmmakers were not always so chummy. In fact, Bond actually drove a Bentley in Ian Fleming's novels.



Although it took a lot of convincing on the part of the filmmakers to get access to the cars, the Aston Martin DB5's appearance in 1964's "Goldfinger" made it an overnight sensation. It is the greatest and most famous of the Bond cars to grace the silver screen.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I just used Facebook Messenger to buy some shirts and it was pretty awesome

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Conversing with costumer service reps doesn't have to be a miserable, excruciating process. Turns out, it can be kind of fun. 

Earlier this year, Facebook teamed up with online retailers Everlane and Zulily to experiment with using Messenger (Facebook's messaging app) as a customer service platform. I was first introduced to this innovation in October when I bought a raincoat on Everlane, an e-commerce startup that has no physical stores. Soon after placing my order, I got a text via Messenger:

 everlane confirmation

A few days later I got a follow-up when the order shipped, complete with shipping details and a delivery date. The whole process was pretty seamless, but the messages didn't tell me anything an email couldn't have.

When the item was delivered, however, they sent me a nice message thanking me for my purchase. It also said: "Please let us know if there's anything else we can do."

That got me thinking: What else could this customer service rep help me do?

So, a few weeks later, when I realized my wardrobe needed some refreshing, I whipped out Messenger to see what Everlane, which is know for its stylish staples sold at reasonable prices, could do for me. 

I sent Everlane a message at 8:19 a.m. By 8:20 a.m. a customer service rep had responded.

The sizing chart was somewhat helpful, but I knew what size I was based on previous orders.



Next, I got specific about what I was looking for. It started to become clear I was talking to a real, live human. Not a robot.



The next text informed me that one of the tops I might like was about to sell out, which was helpful.

I was mid-commute, so I held off on placing the order until I could look it over.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Look inside a new photography book that recreates 50 iconic meals from literature

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Fictitious Dishes

Though she may call it one, Dinah Fried's amusing new book, "Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature's Most Memorable Meals," is like no other photo album we've seen. 

From "Alice in Wonderland" to "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," the designer and photographer chose a variety of famous literary meals, whipped them up in her kitchen, and photographed them. 

In an interview with Bon Appétit magazine, Fried said she scavenged thrift stores and friends' kitchens to find "the perfect fork, water glass, doily, pepper grinder, or what have you” for each meal. 

Keep scrolling to see some of the meals she recreated, along with the excerpts that inspired them. 

SEE ALSO: 20 photos of artwork painted entirely with coffee

FOLLOW US: BI Life is on Twitter

The book emerged from a series of five photographs taken by Fried in her college years. She interpreted meals from both contemporary and classic literature and created table spreads for each.



In "Fictitious Dishes," Fried combines photographs of 50 place settings with the literary passages that inspired them. She has shared five of those photographs with Business Insider, beginning with...



"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," by Hunter S. Thompson

Hardly a meal, the above setup was inspired by this excerpt:

"By this time he’d opened a new bottle of tequila and was quaffing it down…He sliced the grapefruit into quarters...then into eighths...then sixteenths...then he began slashing aimlessly at the residue." 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 best states for entrepreneurs

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gbr best and worst states for entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the American economy, and it has reached record heights in recent years. Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream for many Americans; two in five employees hope to someday strike out on their own, according to a survey from the University of Phoenix Business School.

But starting a business is a serious undertaking, and part of launching a company means getting an idea of how well your state fosters new businesses and startups.

To find out which states are the best for entrepreneurs, GOBankingRates conducted a study that looked at the startup opportunities, existing small businesses, business tax climate and other factors in each state. 

Based on the study's findings, GOBankingRates generated this ranking of the best states for entrepreneurs.

Click through to see how smart it would be to start a business in your state:

SEE ALSO: 7 things successful people never pay for

10 Best States for Entrepreneurs

When it comes to starting a business, location is a major factor of success. 

The 10 best states for business owners have a strong culture of entrepreneurship and high numbers of existing small businesses, as well as a high rate of survival for these companies. They also help new businesses keep up with operating expenses thanks to lower costs of living, fewer taxes and accessible small business lending.

Overall, these 10 best states for businesses provide the right environment for a startup to thrive. Click through to see if you already live in one of these prime spots for entrepreneurs.



Missouri 

Missouri has the fourth-highest business survival rate in the nation, with twice as many small businesses founded in 2013 as failed that same year.

For entrepreneurs in Missouri, this is a positive sign that the odds of success are in their favor. Missouri also offers small businesses a low cost of living and business-friendly taxes.

The state has a lower gross domestic product per capita, however, which could signal a slower local economy. Missouri also has below-average rates of small business loans, indicating that financing could be harder to come by in this state.

Despite these drawbacks, Missouri entrepreneurs still have a number of factors working in their favor, including an average employee availability score, making it the No. 10 best state to start a business.



Montana

Montana has the highest number of startups per capita, at 195.7 per 100,000 residents. Businesses are also created at the highest rate in Montana, with 0.54 percent of residents entering entrepreneurship each month.

Montana is small-business friendly with a high number of small businesses and employees of small businesses in the state, and it has a favorable business tax climate.

There are a few obstacles small businesses might have to contend with in Montana, like the low availability of qualified employees due to a low college graduation rate.

The state's below-average GDP also indicates a slow-growing economy, but Montana has a solid base of existing small businesses and conditions that could pave the way for more in the near future.

Related: The Best and Worst States for Income Tax



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

16 otherworldly images of a Parisian community you probably didn't know existed

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Parisian Suburb High-RisesIf you ever find yourself traveling outside of Paris, you may be surprised to encounter a series of high-rise buildings looming in the distance.  

These large housing projects, known as the "Grand Ensembles," were constructed by the French government from the 1950s through the 1980s to help ease the housing problems that were prevalent throughout the country. Many of these high-rise buildings and communities still exist today.

Still, many Parisians are not aware of what these communities are really like for those who live there. The local media tends to marginalize these constructions, depicting them as low-income homes that are simply crumbling away outside the city.

"Today, the deteriorating buildings are largely considered failed experiments — catalysts for the alienation of their populations and a slew of accompanying social issues," Jordan G. Teicher writes in The Washington Post. 

Over the past few years, photographer Laurent Kronental has sought to document the housing projects and the people within them. Instead of just looking at the neighborhoods as a relic of the past, Kronental aims to show that there is still a promising future in store for these housing projects.  

And despite how it may seem in his images, the buildings are not abandoned. Kronental intentionally took photos of the districts empty of their inhabitants in order to add a deeper, more poetic look, as well as a sense of mystery. 

The series of photographs, "Souvenir d'un Futur," provides a closer and more investigative look into the housing projects that don't get as much attention — from the media, tourists, and French citizens themselves — as the rest of Paris gets. 

SEE ALSO: This Instagram shows a side of Paris you probably haven't seen before

Even though the buildings were constructed as long as half a century ago, their fantastic architecture still has a futuristic feel, and it's still considered progressive to this day.



After WWII was over, increased urban migration and an influx of foreign migrants led to a need for more public housing.



Today, some buildings show signs of deterioration (and some locations are now due for either renovation or demolition), but some are still habitable.



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7 things we want to see in the iPhone 7 (AAPL)

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The iPhone 6S may have just launched, but we're already hearing whispers about Apple's plans for the next iPhone. So far, there aren't too many details.

But if we had it our way, here are seven things Apple would add to the next iPhone.

Better battery life

For years, Apple has kept the iPhone battery life pretty much the same: "all day" is the term the company regularly uses. It seems like Apple prefers to make its devices thinner, instead of leaving room for a larger battery. But we'd rather have a slightly thicker phone if it means we can get more battery life.



Wireless charging

How great would it be to just plop your iPhone down on a charging pad and get a little extra juice? Other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6 offer wireless charging, but we have yet to see it in the iPhone. It'd be especially useful now that more public places like Starbucks are installing wireless chargers.



Quick charging

What if you're pressed for time, but still need to charge your iPhone? Unlike other smartphones, the current iPhone doesn't have a "quick charge" feature that can give you a lot more battery life in a short amount of time. It'd be a great feature for the iPhone 7.

 



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This is the best way to prepare for 'Fallout 4,' which finally arrives next week

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fallout 4

"Fallout 4" is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and it's finally arriving next Tuesday.

Thankfully, Bethesda Game Studios, the game's developer, offers several helpful video guides to prepare for your adventure in "The Wasteland"— the term for the ruins of society after the nuclear war of 2077, which your character was able to escape.

You see, there's a progression system in "Fallout 4" that most "Fallout" fans are familiar with: You get experience from discovering areas, killing bad guys, and more — but once you get enough experience to "level up," you get special points you can put towards changing your character's traits.

In "Fallout 4," your character has seven defining attributes: strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck. You can easily remember these with the "S.P.E.C.I.A.L." acronym — but before you jump into the game, it's best to understand how it all works.

Here's a brief guide to each of these character perks, which includes fun video breakdowns from Bethesda Game Studios on how these "S.P.E.C.I.A.L." attributes affect gameplay in "Fallout 4."

1. Strength

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Strength affects your raw physical power in the game. It affects the damage of your melee attacks and how many things (items, weapons, apparel, first aid, etc.) you can carry on your character.



2. Perception

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Perception affects your environmental awareness in "Fallout 4." By adding more Perception points, you can get better at picking locks, pickpocketing characters, creating explosives, and attacking enemies with better accuracy.



2. Endurance

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Your Endurance stat affects your overall wellness in the game, particularly with regards to keeping radiation and all its negative effects at bay. You'll be able to swim in contaminated water, and take less radiation when you eat or drink from sources around the Wasteland. 



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