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24 incredible underground attractions to visit in your lifetime

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colombia salt cathedral

Some of the world's most breathtaking travel destinations may be hidden in the ground beneath your feet.

While some are man-made constructions, others are fascinating natural wonders that have been formed over the course of thousands of years. 

We've put together a list of 24 subterranean attractions to visit in your lifetime, from a 10,000-year-old cave in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, to a town that built a library, church, bar, and homes underground. 

SEE ALSO: 19 natural wonders everyone should see before they disappear

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

Salina Turda, located in Turda, Romania, is home to an underground theme park inside one of the oldest salt mines in the world. Head 400 feet down to reach an amphitheater, bowling alley, mini golf course, ping pong courts, Ferris wheel, and an underground lake with row boats.

Click here to learn more about Salina Turda »



St. Michael's Cave is a network of limestone caves situated in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar. The cave has been used as a theater since the early '60s and has a seating capacity of 400.

Click here to learn more about St. Michael's Cave »



Bounce Below is a set of three giant trampolines nestled inside the Llechwedd Slate Caverns — a former Victorian slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales. It was created by Zip World, a company specializing in adventure activities.

Click here to learn more about Bounce Below »



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I 'showered' in bacteria for a week, and it totally changed my definition of clean

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mother dirt spray

A startup called Mother Dirt has developed an "AO+ mist"— a spray containing a type of bacteria called AOB that you put on your skin, which may restore it to a natural, healthier state.

Our extreme, hygiene-obsessed routines are unnecessary, Jasmina Aganovic, president of Mother Dirt, told Business Insider. "We’ve confused 'clean' with 'sterile,'" she said.

David Whitlock is the founding scientist of Mother Dirt's research partner, AOBiome. Whitlock, who uses the spray religiously, told Business Insider he hasn't showered in 12 years. Of course, Mother Dirt doesn't recommend that its clients do this, and you should definitely still wash your hands.

But just to get a feel for the most extreme case, I attempted to stop showering for a week, and sprayed myself with AO+ mist instead.

Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: A geneticist says any new parent should 'roll their child on floor of the New York subway' — here's why

SEE ALSO: This controversial parenting theory about health and cleanliness will make you question your childhood

Why does this product exist? Just like our intestines, our skin is home to a rich ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes. Most are harmless, and some are actually good for us. For example, many animals contain ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, or AOB, which break down the ammonia in sweat. AOB isn't found on the skin of most modern humans, but studies have found it on the skin of the Yanomami people indigenous to the Amazon rain forest.



Every time we lather ourselves with soap and shampoo, we're taking off bacteria like AOB. This ties into something called the hygiene hypothesis, which states that people who aren't exposed to microbes as a child are more likely to develop allergies and other diseases because of a weakened immune system.



So I ordered a free sample of Mother Dirt's AO+ mist, soap, and shampoo. It arrived in the mail a week later in a special temperature-controlled pouch (because the bacteria survive longer when kept cold).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You can modify your iPhone's logo so it glows like the one on your MacBook (AAPL)

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glowing apple iphone logo

Did you ever wish your iPhone's Apple logo would glow like the logo on your MacBook laptop? You could have the ultimate harmony of glowing Apple products.

Well, your wishes have come true. David Cogen from TheUnlockr.com, a smartphone how-to tutorial site, happens to sell a kit that lets you replace the shiny Apple logo on the back of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with a glowing logo. He also shows you exactly how to do it.

The kit for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are available for pre-order.

There's a huge caveat though. The procedure requires you to take your iPhone apart, which voids your warranty and puts you at risk of permanently damaging your device.

Here's how it's done.

SEE ALSO: 9 tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPhone's email app

Using this simple toolkit, David Cogen can make the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone 6 glow like it does on MacBook laptops.



He starts by unscrewing the two tiny screws on either side of the iPhone's Lightning port with the special screwdriver included in the kit.

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He then uses the suction pad and another tool to shimmy the iPhone's screen off from the main body.

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The 10 most liked photos on Instagram from 2015 were mostly of Taylor Swift and her cats

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Instagram has shared its most liked photos of 2015, and Taylor Swift — along with her cats — owns half the list.

The rest of the top posters are all celebrities, like Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Beyonce.

Here are the most liked photos of the year:

1. This photo of Kendall Jenner is not only the most liked pic on Instagram this year, but of all time with over 3 million likes.

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2. Taylor Swift posted this photo of flowers Kanye West sent her and got 2.6 million likes.

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3. Swift shared a candid-looking moment of her enjoying 4th of July weekend with boyfriend Calvin Harris — one of the first pics of the two lovebirds together.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 times it's worth spending a little more

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shoes

Sometimes, spending a little more is totally worth it.

But how do you know which indulgences are worth it? Or whether you're actually paying for quality, rather than just hype?

We combed through Reddit and Quora to find out which expensive purchases users had no regrets about making.

Mandi Woodruff contributed to an earlier version of this article.

 

 

SEE ALSO: 13 things you're better off buying used

A Tempurpedic mattress: "My girlfriend at the time had chronic back pain. Spent $3,000 on a mattress. I can never go back."

Source: Reddit user Pabca



LED lightbulbs: "The entry cost is high, but maintenance, efficiency, longevity, and useability make up for it."

Source: Quora user David Waedemon



Shoes: "Rule of thumb: don't skimp on anything that separates you from the ground."

Source: Reddit user gothicaasshole



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Volvo S90 luxury sedan is ready to compete with Audi and Mercedes

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Volvo S90

Volvo is on a roll. The Swedish automaker just had its best month in the company's 88-year history with nearly 50,000 cars sold worldwide in November. Business was particularly good in the US, where sales jumped more than 90% on the back of the successful introduction of the company's XC90 luxury SUV.

Today, Volvo unveiled its new flagship sedan — the S90. The company's new large luxury sedan will be the second model — after the XC90 — to be built on Volvo's flexible Scalable Product Architecture platform. It's also the latest product to emerge from an $11 billion research and development investment made by Volvo's parent company, Geely Group.

"With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be — we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand," Volvo Cars president and CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, said in a statement. "With the launch of the XC90 we made a clear statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game."

Although Volvo hasn't always fashioned itself as a luxury brand, the company has generally always offered a large executive sedan for its loyal legion of customers. The brand's current luxury flagship — the S80— has been on the market for a decade and is ready for retirement.

SEE ALSO: Volvo's transformation into a luxury brand has been a long time coming

Volvo introduced the new S90 to the motoring press on Wednesday at the company's headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.



The S90 will replaced the current generation S80 sedan, which has been on sale since 2006.



The new S90 will share the Volvo lineup with the ...



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11 things that will trash your home's value

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home

For many of us, a home is the biggest investment we'll ever make — yet most Americans are clueless about their home's value, including the things that can ruin it.

From unappealing renovations to an unfortunately-placed sinkhole, numerous factors can devalue your greatest investment.

We've rounded up 11 threats that could torpedo your home's value:

SEE ALSO: 9 hidden costs that come with buying a home

Sinkhole damage.

While there's insurance coverage specifically for sinkhole damage in case your property is hit by a sinkhole, they still hurt property values. 

"It definitely stigmatizes the property," Rob Arnold, a Florida real estate investor and realtor who has bought and sold more than 30 sinkhole properties in the last five years, told CF13 News. He tells owners of damaged homes to knock 30% off their asking price, plus the cost of any repairs.



City dumps and power plants.

When researchers looked at five municipal landfills near residential property in Cleveland, Ohio, they found the stench was enough to drag down property values by 5.5% to 7.3%. Landfills are most hurtful in populated, expensive, residential areas. The effect was basically nonexistent in sparse, rural areas.

Likewise, the University of California at Berkeley found homes within two miles of a power plant drop 3% to 7% in value.



Hoarders or messy neighbors.

If your neighbors' homes and yards look sloppy, home shoppers tend to put a lower value on your home.

A nearby property's overgrown yard, peeling paint, and clutter can easily knock 5% to 10% off the sale price of your home, Joe Magdziarz, the president of the Appraisal Institute and a real-estate appraiser with 40 years of experience, told MSN Money



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Survey reveals 12 things people don’t know about their own country

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The way we perceive the world around us can be completely wrong sometimes.

The research company Ipsos MORI just published the results of a new survey called "Perils of Perception" that reveals some of the biggest misconceptions people have about their own country.

The survey asked citizens from 33 countries to estimate things like the average age of people in their country, how many people live in rural areas, and the size of the immigrant population.

People were way off on most questions.

Keep scrolling to see how much people overestimated or underestimated on each question, or skip straight to the quiz to see how well you know your own country.

In the charts below, the answers are tabulated by country. Red bars are guesses that were too low, and green bars were guesses that were too high. To the far right of the chart the respondent's average answer and the actual answer are shown for each country. 

Q: What proportion of the total household wealth do you think the wealthiest 1% own?

People tended to overestimate how wealthy the 1% are.



Q: What proportion of the total household wealth do you think the wealthiest 1% should own?

And they thought the 1% should own way less than they really do.



Q: Out of every 100 people aged 20 years or over, how many do you think are either overweight or obese?

People seriously underestimated the obesity rate in their countries.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The top 20 most Instagrammed locations of 2015

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Times Square

Adding your location to your Instagram photos is a great way to keep track of the places you've traveled.

Instagram recently revealed its list of the top 100 geo-tagged destinations of 2015. From the Eiffel Tower to Times Square, you can cruise the app to see where people snap the most selfies, family group shots, or gorgeous professional photos.

Tourists spots like Disney World and Universal Studios made the cut, along with many of the globe's top museums and parks.

The main takeaway? People love Disney.

  

SEE ALSO: The 10 most liked photos on Instagram from 2015 were mostly of Taylor Swift and her cats

20. Disneyland Paris — Paris, France

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19. Tokyo Disneyland — Tokyo, Japan

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18. Empire State Building — New York, New York

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The best gadgets you can buy this holiday season

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It's time to get serious about holiday shopping.

Trying to decide on the perfect laptop, tablet, or tech accessory can be overwhelming.

Manufacturers release tons of gadgets all year, so sifting through all of your options to find the best fit is often a pain.

Our holiday gift guide is full of excellent ideas — whether you're trying to find a new laptop for your son or daughter going away to college, some new cases and accessories to use as stocking stuffers, or the best entertainment devices to spice up your living room.



Audio-Technica's M50x headphones are the best headphones you can buy under $200

The M50x headphones are entry-level audiophile headphones that are stylish too. A fan-favorite for their crystal clear sound and accurate bass, these professional-grade studio headphones will make your favorite songs sound even better.

Price: $158.98



Sennheiser's Momentum 2 headphones are the best headphones under $300

Sennheiser's Momentum 2 headphones blow Beats out of the water with their impressive sound quality and premium design that won't go out of style any time soon. A slight step up from Audio-Technica's M50x headphones, these headphones will ensure you're hearing your music how it's intended to sound, and there's even handy controls for your smartphone too.

Price:$248



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's why these Japanese people are taking baths in red wine

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Beaujolais Nouveau Day Japan

In France, the third Thursday of November is known as Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a holiday celebrated in honor of the annual release of a new batch of Beaujolais Nouveau wine, a young, fruity drink that has become popular around the world

At the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun hot-spring resort in Japan, drinkers took the holiday to the next level by bathing in a pool filled with the bright red beverage. 

Here's a look at the what goes on.

 

People of all ages raised their glasses at the spa in honor of Beaujolais Nouveau Day.



It looked like quite the celebration.



In case you're not familiar with the wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is a sweet wine made through a very short fermentation process.

Source: Beaujolais Nouveau Day



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

33 business books every professional should read before turning 30

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reading on subway

Your 20s are the time when you lay the foundation for your career and finances, which means there's plenty to learn along the way.

To help you figure out how to navigate the professional world and set yourself on the right trajectory, we've rounded up some of our favorite business books.

They include career guides, business memoirs, and academic research on how to maximize your time and network.

Here are the business books we think every professional should read before turning 30.

Drake Baer contributed to this post.

SEE ALSO: 33 books everyone should read before turning 30

DON'T MISS: 26 time-management tricks I wish I'd known at 20

'So Good They Can't Ignore You' by Cal Newport

Some of the most common advice you'll hear when you're starting out is that if you pursue your passion, the money will follow.

But there's a big caveat to that, argues Newport, an author and professor. For most people, he says mastery of a certain skill can lead to finding your passion, since it can open new doors and allow you to progress in your career.

He's not suggesting you give up on your dreams. Rather, ensure that you pair them with a dose of reality and make yourself valuable in the marketplace.

Find it here >>



'The Black Swan' by Nassim Taleb

People love the illusion of certainty provided by predictions.

In "The Black Swan," investor-philosopher Taleb diagnoses the way people misguidedly lean on prediction as a way of moving through the world, and reveals how the most structured of systems are the most vulnerable to collapse — like the financial system in 2007.

It's rare to find a book that will change the way you think about the world. This is one such book.

Find it here >>



'Lean In' by Sheryl Sandberg

Regardless of whether you agree with Sandberg's theories on gender and society, "Lean In" is a must-read for anyone looking to join the conversation around women and leadership.

In the book, she combines compelling research with moving personal stories to examine how women can sometimes unintentionally undermine their professional progress. Moreover, she offers guidance for women and men looking to promote women's career success.

It's a work that will make readers of any gender question their assumptions about what it really takes to succeed — and be satisfied — at work.

Find it here >>



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What to do if you want to retire ... and your spouse doesn't

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couple walking winery

No matter how aligned you and your spouse may seem, there are sure to be road bumps in any marriage. Don't let planning for retirement be one of them.

There are many strategies when it comes to saving for retirement and everyone may have an individual style or approach. When it comes to timing, you and your spouse may have very different ideas about when is a good time to leave the workforce.

SEE ALSO: The 21 best places to retire in the world

1. Define 'retirement.'

No matter what stage you are at in your career, you probably notice that there is a shift in retirement trends. More women are in the workforce and have their own savings and outlook on how they want to live in retirement. There is also a strong inclination toward gradual retirement as well as longer working lives.

Many Americans are taking on part-time work or maintaining their own business or consulting service well past age 65. This means retirement is no longer necessarily one drastic transition, but often a multi-part process. This means there is a lot more for couples to negotiate.



2. Talk it out.

Communication is key in any decision. The question of when to retire involves many factors — money, job satisfaction, age difference and future plans. Will you both retire at the same time? Will either or both of you work freelance or part time? Will you move or stay put? Will you travel or live simply?

In addition to these factors, it's a good idea to consider your marital happiness and how you work better (with some alone time, with separate projects, etc.). It's important to be confident and clear when you communicate your vision and priorities with your partner. If you are not able to do it on your own, you can always seek professional help through financial advisers, marriage counselors or both.

Depending on what you want or your partner feels he or she needs, you may think about taking on new roles. If you were once the breadwinner but your spouse is willing to work more if you could contribute more to the family, you may be able to step back. Meanwhile if you are unhappy in your position, you may need your partner to take the reins while you look for a more fulfilling job.



3. Make the plans.

Once you have reached an understanding and hopefully a compromise through speaking openly and honestly with your spouse, you may think you are all set. But, having a detailed plan on how to get there can make all the difference.

How much will you have to save each month to reach your retirement age goal? Once you've figured that out, it's a good idea to make a new budget that accommodates that. Debt can also be a huge weight on your retirement savings. You can see your lifetime cost of debt here to see what you'll be looking at spending to borrow.

A better credit score can lower that total, so check your credit scores for free on Credit.com to see where you stand and what you can do to improve your credit.

You also want to think about locations — some places are better for retirement than others, tax, weather, and living cost wise. You may also need to consider health factors and access to the care you or your partner may need as time goes on. Will you need to move to reach your retirement goals? Are you able to? Or do you want to move once you retire and how will that impact how much you need to save?

So even if your spouse doesn't have the same ideas about retirement saving or timing as you do, it's important to communicate and make plans to get you both there.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The new BMW 7 Series is a high-tech masterpiece — and the finest 7 Series ever built

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BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 Series sits atop the Bavarian luxury-car maker's hierarchy of vehicles. It's supposed to be the smooth, suave, powerful luxury flagship sedan you graduate to when you're ready for the full-size semi-limo experience.

But the 7 Series — offered in three different trim levels, 740, 750, and 760 — has always been a divisive car for BMW fans and auto enthusiasts. As far as the "ultimate driving machine" goes, the 7 Series is a lot less fun to drive than its siblings, the 3 and 5 Series — unless you're idea of fun to drive is motoring along in a straight line at high speed with Beethoven ringing in your ears. It's big. It's quiet. It's remarkably well appointed. But it's just ... kind of ... boring, in the way that a 20-room mansion is. Oh look ... another ... room ...

Because it tries to retain some of the performance character of the smaller Bimmers, it doesn't match up well with its main competition, the Mercedes S Class. And because it's a four-door, a lot of buyers may look away and cast their gazes more lustily on BMW's SUVs and crossovers, which are more versatile, if less plutocratic.

At Business Insider, we debate the 7 Series more than any other luxury car. Matt DeBord has always disliked it; Ben Zhang thinks it isn't so bad. But both agree that even though you can objectively find a lot to like about the 7 Series, it has lagged behind another competitor, Audi's A8, when it comes to the technology story. (The A8 is one of the best car-tech experiences we've ever enjoyed.)

But, boy, has BMW changed the terms of the debate. The new 7 Series, which debuted earlier this year, is absolutely crammed with tech. And by crammed we mean suffused. Every aspect of the sedan is technologically amplified, enhanced, enabled. Not that this is exactly new: The 7 Series has always been a tech platform for BMW, going back to the early 2000s' introduction of the controversial iDrive system.

But the new 7 Series takes it to a whole 'nother level. As we found when BMW let us borrow an M Sport version of the 750i xDrive, tricked out with every bell, whistle, and, we think, possible trumpet, harmonica, and bass viola that BMW had in its techno orchestra.

This big, sleek Bimmer landed in the suburban driveway of Business Insider's test headquarters. Somehow, in this shimmering mineral white metallic paint job, it looks like a killer whale, an Orca for the roadways, immense yet powerful and purposeful.



The design language picks up a contemporary theme: The front end looks ferocious.



The signature BMW double-kidney grille has been laterally elongated and narrowed, to avoid creating an imbalance with ...



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17 perfect gifts for the whiskey lover

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whiskey glasses gift guide

There's nothing cozier than enjoying dark spirits like whiskey around the holidays.

When the time comes to buy gifts for the whiskey lover in your life, you'll have a wide variety of stocking stuffers and bottles to choose from. 

We've put together a collection of gifts that are sure to please whiskey drinkers, from the best go-to bottles out there to treats that have been infused with the rich drink. 

Just sit back, pour, and enjoy.

 

SEE ALSO: 16 gifts that the modern gentleman actually wants this year

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

Add to their bucket list.

Whiskey expert Ian Buxton reveals the whiskeys that enthusiasts should seek out around the world, from America and Sweden to Japan and Scotland.

"Awesome sauce for even the slightest of whiskey nerds ... completely worth picking up," LiquorSnob.com raved in their review of the book

Price: $9.99 (ebook), $10.33 (paperback), $17.29 (hardcover)

 



Keep their whiskey perfectly chilled.

While some whiskey drinkers like their cup chilled, no one likes it watered down. Avoid the mishap altogether with these Vermont-milled stones made by the oldest soapstone workshop in the US.

Just add in three stones, let them stand for five minutes, and enjoy your perfectly chilled drink.

Price:$19.99



Help them count down the days to Christmas in a more adult way.

This adults-only Advent calendar brings some holiday fun back into the picture, with 24 windows each housing a different whisky variety.

Highlights from this year's calendar include a rare 50-year-old Scotch, an award-winning Japanese whisky, and the drink that was named the World's Best Blended Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards last year.

Price:$193

 



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How to get richer without getting a raise

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tim ferriss

Live the life you want without working all the time. That’s the message of Tim Ferriss — entrepreneur, angel investor, public speaker and author of several bestselling books, including “The 4-Hour Workweek.” And it’s helped him achieve massive success.

Tim Ferriss is a finalist in GOBankingRates’ 2015 “Best Money Expert” competition held in collaboration with Ally Bank. As part of the competition, we asked top finance experts to share their best money tips for 2016. The advice Ferriss offered gets to the heart of his message about living the life you want:

The lifestyle value of each dollar you have is determined by your control of two other currencies: time and mobility.

According to Ferriss, time and mobility are the currency of what he calls the New Rich. The New Rich are people he says use these currencies to take control of their lives to escape 40-hour workweeks without sacrificing their lifestyles. Here’s how you can live a life of luxury without working yourself to death.

See: 12 Influential Experts Give Their Top Money Tip for 2016

SEE ALSO: 20 money mistakes you're probably making right now

Ferriss went from working 14-hour days to working four hours a week earning $40,000 per month.

He writes on his blog, FourHourWorkWeek.com, that he “separated income from time and created my ideal lifestyle in the process, traveling the world and enjoying the best this planet has to offer.” And he did it using the principles of DEAL, an acronym for Definition, Elimination, Automation and Liberation.

Given that a Gallup survey found that the average workweek is actually 47 hours, you might have a hard time whittling yours down to just four hours. But by using Ferriss’ strategies, you might be able to get more done in a shorter period of time and boost the amount you earn in the process.



Define what you want.

By Definition, Ferriss means that you should define your ideal lifestyle. Ask yourself what you want to be doing, what you want to have and how much that lifestyle will cost you.

This might be easier said than done. A 2015 University of Phoenix survey found that about 60 percent of working adults want to change careers, but nearly 40 percent of those adults aren’t sure what other career to choose. The adults surveyed cited other barriers to change including lack of adequate education, lack of financial security and fear of the unknown, such as when starting a business.

You might be able to test the waters of a new field before making a switch by looking for volunteer opportunities. Or look for a mentor in the field you’re interested in to understand the requirements and help you find new opportunities. You can also explore your interests with free online courses on Saylor.org or on the websites of colleges and universities.

Learn: 41 Ways to Improve Your Money Skills



Eliminate time-consuming activities.

Once you know what you want, you can focus on Elimination — getting rid of the static that interferes with your ideal lifestyle. One of the key things you should eliminate is an addiction to information, especially the need to constantly check emails.

Using an autoresponder to let people know you only check emails twice a day can reduce unnecessary back and forth. And people who might reach out to you over email for help will be forced to be more solution oriented. By putting down your phone and establishing a set time to check emails, you can cut down on interruptions, allowing you to use your time more effectively.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This New York City-based soup-and-sandwich chain could be the next Panera Bread

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Hale and Hearty 9

As winter settles in and temperatures drop, nothing beats the chill quite like a hot, comforting meal.

And for those on the go, Panera Bread is a likely stop to warm up with a hearty soup or sandwich — even with its dystopic plans to automate service.

But in New York City, there's another option: Hale and Hearty.

From its first location in the Upper East Side nearly 20 years ago, Hale and Hearty has grown to 34 locations in the city and nearby Long Island, and opened its first outpost in Boston earlier this year.

Steaming savory soups are the chain's main focus — some seasonal and some menu mainstays — and it also offers a variety of sandwiches made with locally baked bread.

With its first foray outside the NYC market, Hale and Hearty is testing the waters for expansion. I decided to visit one of the chain's locations to see if it had what it takes to be successful nationwide, and make Panera nervous.

SEE ALSO: Make the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers with these delicious smoothies

With over 30 locations in New York City, it's easy to find a Hale and Hearty. I visited the one at 29th Street and Park Avenue.



The ordering process is divided: Those ordering soups and sandwiches go in one line, while those wanting custom salads go in another.



The soup menu is extensive, offering both seasonal varieties like Yucatan chicken lime and orzo, and more year-round options like tomato basil and rice.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

America's best neighborhoods for food

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emc_seafood

If your 'hood is on this list, congratulations, you're probably gaining weight, as we made sure every neighborhood is fantastic to eat and drink in. And once we’d narrowed it down to our top 18, we examined two major factors to determine placement: 1) culinary history, and 2) what’s happening now.

The first factor is important because — as much as we love knowing about the new, cool spots popping up in changing neighborhoods — it's just as important to us that these 'hoods maintain some semblance of a connection with their food history. And the second is obviously critical because that history is constantly being rewritten by new chefs and bartenders with crazy, innovative ideas, and lots and lots of mezcal.

As this does exist on the Internet, there will be disagreements, and we encourage you to express them using your inside voice in the comments. But until then, put on your most comfortable Skechers walking shoes and some loose pants, and get ready to enjoy the best food and drink ‘hoods in the land of the free.

SEE ALSO: The 15 most underrated foodie cities in the US

RiNo

Once upon a time, this was a neighborhood Denverites would go to if they wanted to have a nice night out... and then get mugged afterwards. Now? It's practically swarming with hot restaurants and breweries. Part of that is due to The Source, an enormous 20,000sqft "artisan food market" that houses one of Denver's best restaurants (Acorn), coffee roasters (Boxcar), breweries (Crooked Stave), and plenty more. Four other exemplary craft breweries have taprooms in the neighborhood as well, including the Utah-transplant Epic Brewing, which knows their way around a sour. For food, Work & Class serves up shared plates of delicious Latin/American food, Cart-Driver is the tiny, high-quality pizza joint every neighborhood deserves, and Los Chingones is the Mexican food outpost of one of Denver's finest restauranteurs. And for something you likely won't find in any other city, Infinite Monkey Theorem cans their own wine and has an expansive space to drink it in.

Denver, CO



Fishtown

The legend here is that Charles Dickens named the area Fishtown when he visited in the 1800s, but, if you’ll excuse the pun, that story’s veracity kind of stinks. And now that most people have stopped reading, let’s get down to it: the old shad-fishing blue collar Irish neighborhood is in the midst of those changes you read about when a New York Times writer visits, and puts down the official stamp of gentrification (see: Bonnie Tsui, October 9th, 2013). And as much fun as it is to discuss the hilarity that ensues when theTimes comes in and calls a place "scruffy," you still want to go here and eat and drink, thanks to places like beer garden Frankford Hall (if you’ve never had a Kasekrainer, this is the time to do it), Johnny Brenda’s from the Standard Tap folk, Stephen Starr/Joe Carroll’s amazing BBQ spot Fette Sau, and the chorizo & potato tacos at Loco Pez. And yes, of course, there is a Barcade here too.

Philadelphia, PA



East Nashville

East Nashville’s role in the Nashville food renaissance might be captured best by POP Nashville: Chef Sarah Gavigan ladles up the city’s most-slurpable ramen four nights a week, but opens the 1,000sqft space as a pop-up for the rest of the week, letting whatever other creative spot take a turn to test their talents — whether it’s another chef or a temporary art gallery. With nationally-acclaimed restaurants now dotting Music City, historic East Nashville acts more as an artsy small town fostering talent, rather than a ‘hood in the state capital. From Porter Road Butcher, a full-service butcher shop/one of the best sandwich shops in the city, the city’s first izakaya Two Ten Jack, cocktail haven Holland House, and Pharmacy Burger Parlor’s juicy, hulking burger, wandering the area is like eating a Nashville sampler platter, condensed for your convenience.

Nashville, TN



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I run a company that manages over $3 billion, and here are the 11 best pieces of advice I can give you about money

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jon_stein_betterment_HAMERMAN_web

I spent years working as a consultant, advising the world’s largest banks.

Now, I run Betterment, an automated investing service that’s working to realize the potential of technology to make each and every one of us great at managing our own money — providing personalized advice and planning.

My money management tips aren’t complicated, and they work for anyone who’s investing for a happy future.

SEE ALSO: I was earning $500,000 a year at 30: Here are the 10 best pieces of advice I can give you about money

1. Start with your goals.

When you invest, avoid blindly putting money into the market; instead, think about what you want to accomplish in the future in terms of specific goals.

These are things like retirement, a home down payment, your child’s education, making your money last your lifetime, or simply building wealth for the long term.

By having clear, concrete goals, you can put together a properly risk-managed investment plan, which can increase the likelihood that you’ll reach your goals.



2. Make sure your portfolios are taking on the right level of risk.

It’s important for your portfolio to take on the right level of risk for your goal’s time horizon because it will increase your chance of reaching your goal.

For example, if you have a 30-year retirement goal, then it generally makes sense to invest in a 90% stock / 10% bond portfolio.

This higher-risk portfolio is designed to return more over this long time period, even though it may have ups and downs along the way.



3. Use low-cost ETFs.

Invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with low expense ratios that let you keep more of what you earn. Over time, high fees can significantly erode portfolio returns. In fact, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that unnecessary fees drain $17 billion a year from IRA investors’ accounts.

For individual investors who want to build a portfolio, basic stock and bond index ETFs tend to be cheaper than the average mutual fund in the same asset class, and lower minimum investments.

Consider the price difference between Vanguard’s Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and equivalent mutual fund (VTSMX). They both follow the same CRSP US Total Market Index, but there is a significant cost difference. VTI has an expense ratio of 0.05% and VTSMX has an expense ratio of 0.17%, according to Morningstar. You can invest in VTSAX, which costs 0.05%, but only if you invest a minimum of $10,000 in that fund alone.



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You won't believe what this $500,000 armored Mercedes-Maybach limo can do when it's attacked

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INKAS Mercedes Maybach S600

Over the past 100 years, Mercedes-Benz has earned quite a reputation for building some of the toughest and most solidly engineered cars in the world. Sitting at the top of Mercedes' lineup is the massive Mercedes-Maybach S600 limo.

The 5,300-pound luxury sedan offers more performance and safety than most people in the world would ever need. But there are a select few who need more protection than crumple zones and a lot of airbags. They need to stop bombs and bullets. They need armor. For these Mercedes-Maybach owners, Canada's Inkas Armored Vehicle Manufacturing has come up with a Maybach that can offer some "extra protection."

"It shows what happens when the best innovations in security, performance and technology merge to make a top-notch vehicle," said retired Maj. Gen. David Fraser, Inkas' COO, in a statement. "Based on the Mercedes-Maybach S600, it caters to customers who desire prestigious, high-class vehicles without compromising safety."

The cost? Just half a million US dollars.

SEE ALSO: The Volvo S90 luxury sedan is ready to compete with Audi and Mercedes

In 2002, needing a car to compete against Rolls-Royce's upcoming Phantom and ...



... Bentley's stalwart Arnage T, ...



... Mercedes revived the long-dormant Maybach brand.



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