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The best Black Friday tech deals

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It's the week of Thanksgiving, which means that millions of people are not only going to be stuffing themselves with turkey, pie, and mashed potatoes, but also hunting for the best deals.

Look no further, because here are the best Black Friday tech deals.

We'll be updating this throughout the week as more deals come out, so be sure to check back often.

 

Best Buy is selling the MacBook Pro for $200 off

What it is: The 13.3" MacBook Pro

Black Friday Price: $899.99

Normal Price: $1,099.99

Timing: Nov. 26-28

Where to buy: Best Buy Stores

 

 



Best Buy is selling the iPad Air 2 at a $100-$125 discount

What it is: The iPad Air 2, Apple's latest (regular-sized) tablet. Best Buy is offering discounts of $100 on the 16 and 64GB models, and $125 discounts on the 128GB model.

Black Friday Price: Starts at $399.99 for 16GB.

Normal Price: Starts at $499.99 for 16GB

Timing: Nov. 26-28

Where to buy: Best Buy Stores



Best Buy is selling the 21.5" iMac for $899.

What it is: Apple 21.5"iMac with Intel Core i5 and 8GB of memory.

Black Friday Price: $899.99

Normal Price: $1,099.99

Timing: November 26-28

Where to buy: Best Buy stores.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 worst corporate logo fails

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Kostelecké uzeniny

An organization's logo is the first thing a prospective customer sees.

And when it's bad, it can scare people away for good.

We've gathered some of the worst logo fails of all time. These unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) reminded consumers of sex acts, lewd behavior, and other things that make 13 year olds hysterical.

Many were pulled, and all will go down in internet infamy.

This is an update of previously published article by Aaron Taube and Laura Stampler.

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

The English press had some fun with the London 2012 Summer Olympics logo, saying it resembled both Lisa Simpson performing a sex act and a 'punk' swastika. The Iranian government even claimed the stylized '2012' spelled out 'Zion' and entertained boycotting the event in protest. The logo ended up looking better in action in its various stylings, but the damage was done.

Via the Guardian >>



Brazil's Federal University of Santa Catarina's Institute of Oriental Studies was going for a Japanese temple against the Japanese rising sun. As soon as someone saw the uh, roof, in a butt, the logo achieved meme status in 2005 and the school took it down.

Via the Telegraph >>



Kostelecké uzeniny is a popular Czech sausage company that has been around since 1917. It's easy to see why non-Czechs find it so amusing, but it's been on all the company's products since the '20s.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is how Jeff Bezos' reusable rocket could revolutionize space travel

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blue origin new shephard rocket landing test 2

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, has been working on a rocket system for 15 years to make spaceflight routine and affordable to paying customers.

On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Bezos' company Blue Origin made history by launching its New Shepard rocket 62 miles above the Earth and then gently landing it back on the ground.

Take a close-up look at how reusable rocket systems like New Shepard could revolutionize space travel.

Jeff Bezos has quietly worked on a reusable rocket system in the West Texas desert for more than a decade.



On November 24, his spaceflight company Blue Origin test-launched that system — the New Shepard — once again.



But unlike during other tests, New Shepard reached a speed of about 2,800 mph...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I spent 5 years studying rich people, and here are 5 myths I uncovered about money

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offices working late night

I spent five years studying the daily activities of wealthy individuals.

I learned so many things that I’ve spent the better part of seven years sharing that information to help those struggling financially pull themselves out of the abyss that is poverty.

One of the many things I learned is that self-made millionaires have a very different understanding about money than everyone else. I’d like to share some of the myths about money I uncovered in my research.

SEE ALSO: I spent 5 years studying rich people, and here's the best piece of advice I can give you about money

1. Investing is just gambling.

Thirty-six percent of the self-made millionaires in my study were what I like to call Home Depot Investors.

These individuals made most of their wealth by investing in stocks in individual companies. Before they purchased any stock, they would pore over the financials of each potential investment looking for strengths and weaknesses. Then they would confer with a financial adviser to make sure their financial due diligence was correct.

They did their homework. And their homework did not end after they purchased a stock. They continued to monitor the financials of each company they invested in. If the financials got better, they invested more money. If the financials got worse, they sold their stock.

Sounds a lot like Warren Buffet, doesn’t it? To these self-made millionaires, investing is only gambling if you don't do your homework.



2. All debt is bad.

Fifty-one percent of the self-made millionaires in my study were entrepreneurs. They started companies and then ran them as if their life depended on it. They took risks that would make most cower in fear. And they did not shy away from debt.

In fact, many took on enormous debt to start, grow or expand their businesses. They used debt to create a business asset that would eventually generate significant profits and make them rich.

To these millionaires, that’s good debt. Bad debt is debt that is used to finance losses in the business after the start-up period has long passed. Losses mean you’re not running your business correctly. And using debt to finance a poorly managed company is bad debt.



3. You need luck to be rich.

There is a difference between random luck and opportunity luck. To the haters out there, random luck is why the rich are rich. Not so. Opportunity luck is why the rich are rich.

Opportunity luck is a unique type of luck the rich create as a result of having good daily habits. When you have good daily habits, you magnify the opportunity for luck to occur.

Good daily habits — like reading, taking care of your health, and focusing on your goals— are nothing more than automated persistent behaviors that help get you closer to achieving the goals behind your dreams, and they help attract opportunity luck.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A drone captured breathtaking footage of these surfers' memorial to their friend

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luke mitchell

When a surfer dies, it's tradition for his or her friends to hold a "paddle-out" in memoriam.

That's what happened off the coast of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, on November 22 in honor of surfer Luke Mitchell, who recently died after battling vaulvular heart disease, according to an obituary. Mitchell worked in a surf shop and worked as a surf instructor, according to the obit, and has ridden waves in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and beyond.

Non-surfers rarely get to see a paddle-out up close,  but a camera drone manned by area photographer Mike Bissel was on hand to capture the memorial, which was organized by the Surfrider Foundation's Jersey Shore chapter. Keep reading to see what it was like.

To start, surfers paddled out to a rowboat that was sitting off the coast of Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

RAW Embed

 



“It’s just nice to see that we as a people, neighbors, friends, can still get together and not worry about what’s going on in the world today, but care for one another," Bissel said.

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Source: NJ 101.5



The surfers threw flowers toward the rowboat. This part gave Bissel goosebumps, he said.

RAW Embed

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is the best any 'Star Wars' game has ever looked

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In the new "Star Wars Battlefront," you're given a sandbox of "Star Wars" characters and worlds to play in.

It's very pretty — one of the best-looking games on any system — but doesn't hold a candle to what one intrepid gamer turned it into. Behold:

Star Wars Battlefront modNo, that isn't a still from the upcoming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"— that's what happens when you apply a new "mod" (modification) to "Star Wars Battlefront" on PC. And no, you can't do this to the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 versions, sadly; modding games requires a level of access to the guts of a game that you simply can't access on consoles.

All that aside: Whoa, right?

Everyone one of these images was captured by the mod's creator, Martin Bergman.



Bergman says that running the mod can be pretty intensive on your computer's processor.



It apparently drops the framerate pretty dramatically (in the 30-40 frames per second range).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to play 'Fallout 4' in 4 completely different ways

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fallout 4 pip boy stats

There are four main ways to play and complete quests in "Fallout 4" that we know about thus far.

  • You can travel through "The Commonwealth" and mow down anyone or anything in your way with more firepower than a small nation. 
  • You can strictly use your fists and melee weapons, like baseball bats or the Furious Power Fist.
  • You can sneak around and avoid combat by not being detected. And if detection is likely, "take care" of the problem from far away with a long-range weapon. 
  • You can try talking your way through the game without using any violence at all!

You'll need to allocate the stat points you begin with — as well as any subsequent points you obtain when you level up — very carefully. Ultimately, it's up to you where you allocate your stat points.

Looking to build toward a specific player type? This is the guide for you.

The "Fallout 4" stat system: explained!

At the very beginning of the game, you need to set up your your character.

You begin with 21 stat points and you can distribute them across seven main attributes, each with their own basic perks. These are: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. Or S.P.E.C.I.A.L. — get it? — for short.

Here's a quick rundown what basic perks each attribute offers:

-Strength affects how much you can carry and the damage of your melee attacks. 

-Perception affects weapon accuracy in the V.A.T.S, or the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System you can use to slow down time and make your player shoot specific parts of an enemy.

-Endurance affects how long your health bar is and how quickly AP (Action Points) drain while you sprint.

-Charisma affects your success to persuade in dialogue and bartering.

-Intelligence affects how many Experience Points (XP) you earn.

-Agility affects the number of AP in V.A.T.S and sneaking ability.

-Luck affects the recharge rate of your Critical Hits.

Each attribute can use up to 10 points, and the more points you assign to a specific attribute, the more you'll benefit from its basic perks. For example, if you assign most of your stars to Strength, you'll be able to carry a lot of stuff and your melee attacks will be more powerful.

Then there are 10 more advanced perks within each main attribute, ranking from Level 1 to Level 10. If you want to access the Strength Level 10 advanced perk, for instance, you need to have assigned 10 stat points to the Strength attribute.

By planning ahead, you can create a super player that's really good at a certain style of play without wasting valuable points on attributes or perks that won't really help you. For example, if you want to be a gun-toting maniac, the "Sneak" perk in the Agility attribute won't do you any good.

Here are four main player types and how to manage your stars to achieve greatness in each:



1) Go in guns blazing: End enemies quickly, and brutally, with superior firepower.

There are four S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes you should distribute the 21 stat points you begin with if you're a "shoot first, ask questions later" kind of player: Strength, Perception, Agility, Intelligence.

Strength:

Heavy Gunner - more heavy weapons damage. 
Strong Back - add carry weight.
Steady Aim - better hip-fire accuracy.
Basher - more gun bashing damage.

Perception:

Rifleman - more semi-auto rifle damage.
Awareness - shows enemy damage resistance in V.A.T.S.
Demolition Expert - more explosives damage.
Night Person - better aiming in V.A.T.S at night. 
Sniper - hold breath longer while using scope.
Penetrator - target enemies behind cover with V.A.T.S.
Concentrated Fire - stack damage of V.A.T.S attack.

Agility:

Gunslinger - more semi-auto pistol damage
Commando - more automatic weapon damage;
Quick Hands - faster reloading.

Intelligence: 

Gun Nut - more advanced gun mods
Science - more advanced energy weapon mods
Nuclear Physicist - more radiation weapons damage.

(Optional) Luck : Scrounger -  find more ammo in containers; Bloody Mess -  pulverize enemies into a gooey red mush. 



2) Get Medieval! Punch or melee your way through the Commonwealth without firing a single shot!

To play "Fallout 4" with your fists and melee weapons like it's the year 1199, you can save yourself the worry of running out of ammo.

For this type of play, you'll want to split your 21 stat points between Strength (for more powerful melee attacks), and Endurance (to survive the shower of lead you'll attract from enemies trying to protect themselves against raging medieval nutcase you've become).

Strength:

Iron Fist - more punching power.
Big Leagues - more melee damage. 
Armorer - more advanced armor mods. 
Blacksmith - more advanced melee weapon mods.
Rooted - better damage resistance when standing still.
Pain Train - stagger enemies by sprinting into them.

Endurance: 

Toughness - better damage resistance.
Lead Belly - absorb fewer rads when eating contaminated food or water to heal.
Life Giver - longer health bar.
Adamantium Skeleton - better limb damage resistance.
Cannibal - eat corpses of those you just killed for health.
Ghoulish - radiation restores your health.
Solar Powered - more strength and endurance during the day.

You'd also benefit from taking a bunch of performance-enhancing chems for more powerful melee attacks and damage resistance. If you do, you should invest in "Chem Resistant" (also in Endurance) so that you don't get addicted to chems, which reduces a bunch of your attribute points.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 non-GMO foods that are totally unnatural

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foie gras

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first genetically modified animal for human consumption: GMO salmon.

The fish, which grows faster and larger than traditional salmon, is already sparking controversy, with opponents claiming that GMOs are unnatural because they contain genes from other organisms.

But many of the foods we eat — GMO or not — could hardly be considered natural.

Take a look:

 

SEE ALSO: The healthiest things you can order at 12 fast-food chains

NEXT UP: Those 'gluten-free' and 'cage-free' labels probably don't mean what you think

Thanksgiving turkeys today are more than twice the size they were in the 1930s. They are also often fed antibiotics, a major contributor to antibiotic-resistance in humans. Some companies are going "antibiotic-free," but most of them still use antibiotics to treat infections in their animals.



Many milk alternatives, such as soy*, almond, or other nut milks are highly processed — they involve heating and blending the nut slurry, and most of the vitamins and nutrients in them, such as calcium, have been added during manufacturing. In fact, some of these milks have just a fraction of the nutrients (like protein) found in the nuts they're made from.



Beef cattle called "Belgian Blues" are bred to have many more muscle fibers than average — a phenomenon known as "double-muscling." All this might make you want to eschew the dairy industry, but the alternatives may be no more natural.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to retire on $30,000 a year

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relaxing parc guell barcelona spain

Seven out of 10 millennials think they'll spend less than $36,000 per year in retirement.

The question is whether they're frugal or overly optimistic. When that research came out recently — from the Insured Retirement Institute and the Center for Generational Kinetics, which also noted that today's 65- to 74-year-olds are spending an average of $46,757 per year — much of the reaction reflected the latter view. 

But more than half of Americans earn $30,000 a year or less, according to Social Security Administration wage data. Surely, then, it has to be possible to retire on that amount — or, in the case of millennials, an equal amount in future dollars. How? 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best places in the US to retire on $100 a day

Start budgeting now.

Many people don't know what they're spending money on today, let alone what they'll spend money on in 30 or 40 years. Enter budgeting, which solves both of those problems. 

Aside from its obvious benefits — people who budget tend to spend less and save more — your budget today can help you get a handle on your budget tomorrow, says Jason Preti, a certified financial planner with Unleashed Financial in Kirkland, Washington. 

"If you actually have a good working budget right now, you can identify what's going to remain in retirement, as well as what's not going to remain," Preti says. "You can see that you're not going to need dry cleaning in retirement, but with no vacation time to worry about, you might increase your travel expenses, for example."

The most notable line item you can kick when you're retired? You'll no longer have to save for retirement. 

Say no to debt.

Or at least pay it down. People who go into retirement with debt — whether from a mortgage, car payment, credit cards or personal loans — increase their cost of living substantially.

Even a small mortgage of $150,000 at 4% interest carries a $700 monthly payment. Add in a $200 car payment and some credit card debt and you could easily be forking over $1,000 in debt payments each month. That's 40% of your monthly budget when you're living on $30,000 a year, or an even greater percentage if your income is taxed. 



Be prepared to move.

Where you decide to live can have the biggest impact on your retirement spending, Preti says. "That definitely dictates how much your base cost of living is going to be. If you retire to lower-cost-of-living Florida, you could be living like a king on $30,000."

If you're truly committed to retiring on that kind of income, and you currently live in a high-cost-of-living city or state, you're eventually going to have to relocate. Florida has a reputation as a retirement-friendly state for a reason, but it's not your only option. A NerdWallet analysis shows that Texas, Louisiana and Arizona are also inexpensive places to retire; specifically New Orleans, El Paso and Mesa. If you're interested in a smaller city, you'll find many options on this list.  

Count on Social Security.

There's much concern that Social Security will become insolvent before today's youngest generations retire. In reality, that's unlikely to happen, though there may be changes to the system, Preti says. "It might be phased out significantly as retirement incomes rise, but it's a society support system that will not go away."

Social Security's own projections back that up, so you should tack that benefit on to your budget. (Calculate what you might expect to receive here.) The average monthly benefit today is just over $1,300; in a few decades, it will be several times that, even factoring in proposed cuts. 

Keep in mind, though, that health care costs will eat into your retirement budget: According to a 2014 analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicare beneficiaries spent an average of $4,734 out of pocket in 2010. That number, too, will go up by two or three times by the time you reach retirement. 



Be realistic.

Just because you can retire on $30,000 — today, or in inflated dollars in the future — doesn't mean you should, or that you'll want to. 

"I would like my clients to have the same or better standard of living in retirement. And if you really want the same or better, you're going to be spending more. You'll have more time on your hands, you'll hopefully be healthy, and you're going to want to go places and do things," Preti says.

It's a valid point: When you're fresh out of college, paying off student loans and sharing a cramped apartment with a roommate, $30,000 isn't a challenge, it's a luxury. But as your income increases over the years, it's harder to scale back, particularly when you have — as Preti says — a lot of extra time on your hands. Time isn't just money; in some ways, it costs money. 

So while it's comforting to know that it's possible to live on $30,000 a year, it's also a good idea to aim higher and save more when you're young, because you can't know for certain what the future will cost and you may want some flexibility. "You want to plan for the worst," Preti says, "not plan for the best."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The US National Archive is tweeting out presidential Thanksgiving recipes and they're amazing

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Thanksgiving is by far the most American holiday. 

So naturally the White House is a place that serves up amazing Turkey Day meals. 

Here's a few of the pie-filled highlights, as curated by the US National Archives

Truman served a 'stag dinner' on the USS Missouri in 1947.

 



The Republican Congressional Cookbook recommends walnut and custard pies.

 



Laura Bush opts for spicy sweet potatoes.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 science-backed tactics to win any argument

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obama romney debate

Arguments aren't logical. To win them, you have to understand people.

We've scoured the research and compiled the following science-backed tactics that will help you win any argument.

Be civil.

Contrary to what your debate coach said, arguments aren't rational.

So respect the other person's perspective, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.

"When people have their self-worth validated in some way, they tend to be more receptive to information that challenges their beliefs,"political psychologist Peter Ditto from the University of California at Irvine tells New York Magazine.

With that emotional connection established, you can then start getting logical.



Don't try to 'win' the argument.

Attacking someone's ideas puts them into fight-or-flight mode. Once they're on edge, there will be no getting through to them.

So if you want to be convincing, practice "extreme agreement": Take your conversational partner's views and advance them to their logical — and perhaps absurd — conclusion



Don't ask why. Ask how.

In a 2013 studyUniversity of Colorado psychologist Philip M. Fernbach separated people with extreme political views into two groups — people who had to explain why their opinions were right, and those who were tasked with explaining how their ideals could be turned into actual policy. 

The result?

Folks who gave their reasons for being right were just as confident in their convictions after the experiment as they were beforehand. But the people who had to explain the mechanics of implementation had softer views.  



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 amazing travel experiences to add to your bucket list

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You've probably heard that millennials, and consumers in general, are shifting their buying habitsfrom goods to experiences. Instead of purchasing a new handbag or the latest technology, consumers are opting to splurge on trips to Phuket and scuba diving in the Bahamas.

After visiting and investigating thousands and thousands of hotels around the world, we've come across some that are both located in beautiful locations and provide seriously unique experiences — perfect for those riding the wave of this new trend.

From spots where you can sleep on a bed made of ice, to prime locales for hanging ten in stunning Costa Rica, here are the 10 coolest experience-centric hotels in the world. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best tourist attractions in the world, according to Lonely Planet

andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp, Botswana

This ultra-remote, luxurious safari lodge on an island in Botswana's Okavango Delta isn't a hotel, it's an experience, where everything — including the excellent food and guided excursions (game drives, bush walks, river cruises) — is included in the price of the stay.

Guests can get up close to exotic wildlife on both land and water (think: lions and hippos), and even arriving to the property is an adventure, requiring transport by small plane, safari vehicle, and a boat.

The nine safari "tents" are fully screened in and thoroughly high-end, with huge soaking tubs, four-poster beds, lots of wood, and private pools. The decor blends rustic charm with bright, contemporary style — not an obvious combination, but it mostly works.



Tree Houses Hotel Costa Rica

This seven-room eco-resort, a scattering of rustic, sky-high treehouse bungalows, allows guests to live our their Lost Boys fantasies, and keep company with howler monkeys and tree branches.

The location is securely out of the orbit of the central La Fortuna tourist hub (the town is a 40-minute drive away over bad roads) — a pro for those looking for remote environs. 

The high-ceilinged cabins come with wraparound porches and bird feeders that the staff keep supplied with fruit to bring out hummingbirds and monkeys. To satisfy guests' grown-up needs, rooms come with conveniences like AC and safes, but modern comforts such as TV and Wi-Fi are nowhere to be found.

Related Link: Eight Stunning Tree House Hotels



Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas

Those looking for a relaxed vacation with some yoga thrown in should look elsewhere. This is a serious ashram by an established group (there are nine Sivananda Yoga Ashrams throughout the world) and the 5:30 a.m. wake-up bell proves it.

Guests focus on posture, breathing, positive thinking, and meditation, and have some free time to take advantage of the beautiful beach setting. Seemingly a world away from neighboring mega-resort Atlantis, this five-and-a-half acre, mid-range oasis has a range of accommodations from tents to Beachfront Suites (most rooms have shared bathrooms, though).

Two vegetarian meals are prepared daily right after each two-hour yoga class, while morning and evening satsangs (a mix of meditation, chanting, lectures, singing, and dancing) help create a sense of community. Extra workshops and lectures are built into the daily schedule, and there's a wellbeing center for massage treatments and Ayurvedic body treatments.

Related Link: The Best Hotels for a Yoga Retreat



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

POWER RANKINGS: Here's who has the best chance at being our next president

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donald trump

In fewer than 70 days, the first votes of the 2016 presidential primary will be cast.

The last month in the respective Republican and Democratic primaries have taken distinctly different turns.

Since Vice President Joe Biden declined to enter the race, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has cemented herself as the clear Democratic front-runner.

The Republican field, meanwhile, has something of a "free-for-all" feel. A man who was long expected to fade by now, real-estate tycoon Donald Trump, continues to lead almost every national and early-state polls.

Behind him is fellow political "outsider" Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon, and three other, more experienced candidates: US Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The feeling is that a slew of candidates in the still-crowded field can win.

So with less than a year until Election Day 2016, here's another look at who has the best chance of making it to the White House to succeed US President Barack Obama.

Our rankings are based on the Real Clear Politics averages of national polls and those in the first-voting states of New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. We also factor in candidates' fundraising prowess and their momentum (or lack thereof) over the past few weeks, especially after each party's debates earlier this month.

Here's a look at where all the candidates stand.

(All poll results as of Monday.)

SEE ALSO: THE INTERVIEW: Donald Trump sits down with Business Insider

15. Rick Santorum, Republican, former senator from Pennsylvania

It's sometimes easy to forget that Santorum won 11 states in his 2012 primary matchup with Mitt Romney, the eventual Republican nominee — including the Iowa caucus.

That's because he still hasn't even been a blip on the radar in the 2016 race.

He is facing stauncher competition this time around, and he has not solved his biggest problem from 2012: money. He raised less than $400,000 in the latest fundraising quarter and had just more than $200,000 cash on hand, the kind of money that doesn't bode well for staying power in a crowded field.

The state that provided his biggest win in 2012, Iowa, also hasn't given him the same kind of love. Despite focusing on the Hawkeye State, he still barely registers in polling there, placing 11th in an average of recent polls. He has lingered around that level since he entered the race.

National polling average among Republican voters: 0.5% (12th)
Iowa: 1.3% (11th)
New Hampshire: 0.6% (12th)
South Carolina: 0.5% (12th)

STOCK: Neutral
Last month: 16



14. Lindsey Graham, Republican, senator from South Carolina

Despite seemingly increased exasperation at some of the names ahead of him, Graham continues to be an afterthought in the race.

He hardly registers in Iowa. He barely shows up in New Hampshire polling. In his home state of South Carolina, he's just seventh in a crowded field.

The Republican base has soured on Graham's support of immigration reform and his distinct split from Trump on the topic. Far more voters, as polls have shown, have instead rallied around Trump.

"Donald Trump is the most uninformed person I've ever met running for president when it comes to foreign policy," Graham said recently. "He has no clue of what he's talking about. He doesn't understand how to destroy ISIL. ... President Obama doesn't have a clue of what he's doing. Don't replace President Obama with Donald Trump. It will get worse, not better."

National polling average among Republican voters: 0.8% (T-11th)
Iowa: 0.7% (12th)
New Hampshire: 0.8% (11th)
South Carolina: 2.3% (7th)

STOCK: Neutral
Last month: 14



13. Martin O'Malley, Democrat, former Maryland governor

O'Malley has watched as Bernie Sanders has entrenched himself as the progressive alternative to Hillary Clinton, outflanking O'Malley's attempts to outflank Clinton from the left.

Despite a vigorous campaign schedule, O'Malley is still not well-known nationally, and he has been unable to boost his poll numbers even in a three-way race.

O'Malley has an accomplished progressive record as governor, with achievements — on immigration, criminal justice, gay marriage, and healthcare, among others — that he can legitimately tout to Democratic voters.

But he hasn't been able to break out of the doldrums, even with solid performances in the first two Democratic presidential debates. O'Malley recently shifted more of his campaign staff to Iowa, where he'll need a strong showing to continue on the trail. 

National polling average among Democratic voters: 4.4% (3rd)
Iowa: 4.5% (3rd)
New Hampshire: 3.7% (3rd)
South Carolina: 2.7% (3rd)

STOCK: Neutral
Last month: 13



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's the $10,000 toilet that everybody is freaking out about

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NEOREST 750H Vignette 9x7

Earlier this month, The New York Times published a story headlined "The Cult of the Toto Toilet," which highlighted how obsessed people were with the high-end toilets from the Japanese toilet manufacturer.

A New York City businessman featured in the story held off going to the bathroom before he left on a flight from Milan because he wanted to do his business in his Toto.

Now, we understand why. The Toto is indeed a throne fit for a king and queen.

Meet Toto's Neorest 750

The company's top of the line toilet, which retails for $9,800, has a heated seat, a personal cleansing and drying system, and an air purifying system, among other features.

It also cleans itself, automatically flushes, and has a lid that opens and closes by itself.



The toilet bowl is coated with zirconium, which helps repel waste.

The Neorest detects when a person gets close to it, and it sprays the inside of the bowl's ceramic surface with water, moistening it, which also helps prevent anything from sticking. 



There's a UV light built into the lid.

When the toilet isn't being used, the UV light shines into the bowl to break down germ and waste particles.



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44 iconic images of Barack Obama's tenure as president

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obama car

On November 4, 2008, more than 69.4 million Americans voted for then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) to become the 44th president of the United States — and the first African-American to hold the position.

Obama, then 47, earned 365 electoral votes and nearly 53% of the popular vote in a wider-than-expected margin of victory. His Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), captured 173 electoral votes and a little more than 45% of the popular vote.

In honor of the seventh anniversary of Obama's ascension to office, here are 44 images of his time as America's commander in chief. 

SEE ALSO: POWER RANKINGS: Here's who has the best chance at being our next president

White House photographer Pete Souza took this photo of President-elect Barack Obama moments before Obama took the oath of office.



President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama shared a moment at the Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2009.



The next day, Obama entered the Oval Office to begin his first full day as America's 44th president.



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There are only 5 acceptable boots to wear with a suit

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sorrel boots do not wear

After a long fall, it's finally getting colder in New York City. That means we're going to start dropping not-so-subtle hints about how a gentleman should dress for winter weather.

Footwear is key here. Yes, you want to be warm. Yes, you want to be comfortable. But you do not want to dress like a child at work.

With that in mind, we reached out to Jessica Cadmus, founder of The Wardrobe Whisperer and a stylist who specializes in working with professionals at the top of their game.

She told us that there are really only five kind of boots that are acceptable to wear with a suit.

"What makes a boot suit-worthy is its level of refinement. The first thing to look at is the tread. If the boot's tread is high and jagged, most likely you are looking at a hiking boot, and those should not be worn with a suit. Not on Wall Street, at least. The sole/heel should be similar to a dress shoe," she said. (The tread, if you don't know, is the part of the boot that touches the ground.)

"Next, look at the construction. If you are noticing chunky elements like big grommets and heavy stitching and laces, chances are those boots are also made for the trail. The details of the boot you need are more elegant and muted, very similar to a dress shoe but with a high shaft," she added. (The shaft is the height of the boot from the bottom to the top.)

There are five kinds of boots that meet these requirements:

SEE ALSO: Gentlemen, here's how you get dressed for work in 5 minutes or less

The Chukka

This pair is from Paul Evans.



The Chelsea

This pair is from To Boot New York.



The Jodhpur

This pair is sold at Barneys.



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The best places to go ice skating in the US

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rockefeller

Ice skating is the quintessential winter pastime. When temperatures drop below zero, Americans lace up their skates and take to the rink.

Visitors can glide across the Rockefeller Center’s renowned rink, or take in views of the Pacific Ocean at San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado.

Whether the backdrop is palm trees or skyscrapers, rinks across the country offer unique experiences to fit every traveler. Here are our picks for the best ice skating venues in the United States.

SEE ALSO: What it's really like to sleep in a snow hotel

Sun Valley Ice Rink

Where: Sun Valley, Idaho

For picturesque views of the mountains and year-round entertainment, visit the Sun Valley Ice Rink. The outdoor rink is one of the few to stay open year-round, and it offers skating lessons and ice shows. Visitors can also rub elbows with Olympic and world-class skaters, as the rink is a popular training spot for athletes.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Sun Valley Guide



Rockefeller Center

Where: New York, New York

Skating in Rockefeller Center is a time-honored New York tradition. The rink is small and only accommodates 150 guests at a time, but skating underneath the center’s sparkling Christmas tree is well worth the wait. Crowds of visitors watch from the sidelines as skaters jump, twirl, and spin around the rink. 

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's New York City Guide



National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

Where: Washington, D.C.

Guests can view spectacular works of art at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. The rink is conveniently located on Washington’s National Mall and features sculptures by renowned contemporary artists. The nearby Pavilion Café offers panoramic views of the garden and rink as well as a variety of food and beverages.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Washington, D.C. Guide



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The 24 most powerful people in America

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warren buffett

Business Insider recently released its list of the 50 most powerful people in the world, and almost half hail from the United States.

Between political leaders, billionaires, CEOs, and entertainers, the world's top superpower is chock-full of people who possess the potent combination of money and influence that enables them to help shape the world.

To determine our ranking, we considered more than 100 of the most influential players in business, politics, and entertainment, and evaluated their influence using metrics in four major areas: economic power, command, newsworthiness, and impact — a subjective measure that captures how important they are in their respective spheres. We then pulled the top-ranking Americans and re-ordered the list. You can read the full methodology here.

US President Barack Obama topped the entire list. Business mogul Warren Buffett came in at No. 2 in the US, and fifth overall. Read on to see which other Americans command serious power.

Editing by Alex Morrell with additional research by Andy Kiersz.

SEE ALSO: The 50 most powerful people in the world

DON'T MISS: The 50 most powerful companies in America

24. Jay Z and Beyoncé

Titles: Singer (Beyoncé), rapper and entrepreneur (Jay Z)

Country: US

Age: 34 (Beyoncé), 45 (Jay Z)

Music's biggest power couple, Beyoncé and Jay Z turn nearly everything they touch into gold, which has helped them mint a combined fortune of $950 million.

Beyoncé shocked the music industry in 2013 when she released an album on iTunes without promotion — it went on to sell over 5 million copies thanks to hits like "Drunk in Love" and "Partition."

Jay Z is consistently one of the highest earners in music, reportedly raking in $56 million last year through his many ventures, including his Roc Nation music label and its sports division. Though his streaming service, Tidal, encountered some turbulencethe hip-hop mogul himself forgot he owned it— Jay Z is still just about everywhere in the entertainment industry.



23. Sheldon Adelson

Title: Chairman, CEO of Las Vegas Sands

Country: US

Age: 82

The "King of Las Vegas" is expected to dole out millions by this time next year, taking a gamble on one of his favorite things: politics. The casino magnate, who owns 13 private jets, is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, famously donating tens of millions from his $25 billion fortune to past candidates such as Newt Gingrich.

For his day job, he runs Las Vegas Sands — parent of the Venetian Resort and Casino and Sands China, a subsidiary that's planning to open its fifth casino in Macau next year. And while Adelson’s vision to make China the gambling capital of the world isn't outlandish considering his industry dominance, it may not pan out under political restrictions and President Xi Jinping's push to make Macau a family-friendly destination. Amid the flux, Sheldon’s fortune has reportedly lost several billions in the past year after a 25% decline in the price of Las Vegas Sands stock.



22. Ginni Rometty

Title: Chairman, CEO of IBM

Country: US

Age: 58

Last year, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty had to break some tough news: The tech company would be abandoning its years-long promise to hit $20 earnings per share by 2015. But the company's top leader has hatched a new plan: IBM will invest $4 billion to grow $40 billion in revenue in areas such as cloud computing, mobile, and big data by 2018. The plan would nearly double what IBM is making in these markets now, though it also means straying from the hardware focus that's defined IBM for decades.

Rometty's mandate is to keep one of tech's most iconic companies — which employs 380,000 people, on par in size with the population of New Orleans — relevant and profitable for the long haul, even if it means changing some of the most fundamental things about the company. The IBM lifer isn't apologizing for adapting. "Reinvention is not about protecting your past," she said at the Fortune Global Forum earlier this year.



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20 college majors where the pay goes nowhere

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While salary-growth potential shouldn't necessarily discourage students from pursuing a particular major, it's an important consideration to make when thinking about the future.

PayScale recently looked at salary data from this year's College Salary Report and analyzed the difference between starting (less than five years of experience) and mid-career (10 or more years of experience) pay by college major.

"The majority of majors with the smallest increases in pay from early to mid-career median are in health, social services, and education," says Gina Bremer, PayScale's lead data analyst and data-visualization specialist. "These fields of study typically lead to careers focused on helping others, but are more suited for people who prioritize making a difference over a large salary."

Here are the 20 college majors with the smallest salary growth:

SEE ALSO: The 20 highest-paying jobs for women

20. Respiratory care

Most common jobs: Respiratory therapist, respiratory-services supervisor, registered polysomnographic technologist

Starting median pay: $47,800  

Mid-career median pay: $64,000

Increase in pay: $16,200 / 33.9% 



19. Environmental management

Most common jobs: Environmental health and safety manager, environmental manager, environmental health and safety specialist

Starting median pay: $51,300 

Mid-career median pay: $68,600

Increase in pay: $17,300 / 33.7% 



18. Parks and recreation management

Most common jobs: Parks and recreation director, recreation supervisor, executive assistant

Starting median pay: $37,100

Mid-career median pay: $49,500

Increase in pay: $12,400 / 33.4% 



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7 successful people share the one guilty purchase they can't live without

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Gretchen Rubin

We all have guilty pleasures.

Whether they're wealthy entrepreneurs, multiple-bestselling authors or top entertainment personalities, I routinely ask guests on my podcast "So Money" to spill the beans on their top splurge; the one item that they spend oodles of money on … and can't bear to live without.

From the very first Apprentice Bill Rancic to comedian Margaret Cho and the Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger, here's what seven of my guests had to say.

Farnoosh Torabi is an award-winning financial author and host of the daily podcast "So Money." Want to learn more? Download her free e-book, "SoMoney Secrets: Financial Habits of Highly Successful People."

Margaret Cho: 'Hiring a cleaner'

Margaret Cho loves outsourcing her cleaning, and she started even before she could really afford it. 

The award-winning comedian says she has had the same housekeeper since 1990 and shares, "She is so well-paid and well-taken care of ... My major expenditure is people that I work with. I put them through school and stuff so that they can do other jobs for me."

Listen to the full interview with Margaret Cho.



Bill Rancic: 'Wine'

Although Bill Rancic, the winner of the first season of NBC's "The Apprentice" and an entrepreneur, admits to being "pretty frugal," he isn't afraid to spend some of his hard-earned money on good wine, he tells me.

He's actually a big foodie and has turned his guilty pleasure into a booming restaurant business. He is the co-owner of two popular Chicago restaurants, RPM Steak and RPM Italian. "We are very blessed that we have a brisk business," he says. Rancic shares that he is opening a third restaurant in Washington, DC, later this summer. 

Listen to the full interview with Bill Rancic.



Patti Stanger: 'Costume jewelry'

Bravo TV's "The Millionaire Matchmaker" Patti Stanger loves to collect costume jewelry, including, but not limited to, vintage Chanel. She admits to having a very big costume jewelry collection that she has built from browsing online and perusing second-hand stores. 

"I just love, love gems. The sparklier the better," says Stanger. "I just bought two Hermes watches … in a vintage jewelry store in Beverly Hills," she recounts. "And the other thing [I splurge on] is shoes, but what girl doesn’t [buy] shoes?"

Listen to the full interview with Patti Stanger.



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