Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

The most fun cruise ships on the high seas

0
0

norwegian

There was a time when “cruising” meant a vacation in the middle of the ocean, where you did nothing but eat, tan, and play trivia. And while that might still be a lot of people’s idea of a perfect weekend getaway, cruising has evolved.

If you haven’t been on a cruise liner in the past few years, you should. (Or, at the least, you should read about what it's like to work on the boat — it's insane!).

Gone are the days when ice sculptures, blackjack tables, and midnight buffets were considered cutting-edge draws. Today, every new floating city that launches sets the bar higher in terms of size, amenities, and crazy onboard activities (think: skydiving, "snow" rooms, and water-slides), which is why we thought it'd be fun to take a closer look at some of the coolest new ships to set sail this year, and a few that will hit the high seas in 2016.

SEE ALSO: 6 mistakes people make when packing for a cruise

Escape, Norwegian Cruise Line

Route: Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Thomas, Nassau)

This ship is so Miami, Norwegian had Pitbull perform at its christening. It serves food from popular 305-favorite Pubbelly, as well as pours local Florida beers from Funky Buddha and Wynwood Brewing. Rounding out the F&B is a wine bar from the Mondavi family and two restaurants from James Beard Award-winning Jose Garces.

Escape is the largest in the NCL fleet and can accommodate 4,200 passengers, some of whom will stay in the luxurious ship-within-a-ship Haven — complete with its own retractable-roof pool area. For entertainment, there are Broadway shows, a 19,000sqft casino, water-slides, and a ropes course. There's even a “snow room" in the spa where guests can cool off in fresh powder after coming out of the sauna.



Viking Star, Viking Cruises

Route: Germany (Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Heidelberg, Frankfurt)

European river cruises aren’t the all-inclusive festivals of gluttony that some of the ocean cruises are. Which is why Viking Star is the perfect fit for a more exclusive voyage: small, understated, but utterly luxurious. In addition to a fire pit and free wine/beer, the ship’s got an “explorer’s lounge” where you can relax and enjoy panoramic views of the continent as you float down the Rhine. Or, if you’d prefer to enjoy Europe from the comfort of your own cabin, every room boasts a private balcony.



Regal Princess, Princess Cruises

Routes: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Canada, New England

Ok, so like an Oscar contender trying to beat the end-of-year clock, the Regal Princess actually debuted in late 2014 — but it didn’t really get underway until this year when it cruised through the Caribbean and up to Canada. This 19 deck, 141,000-ton vessel can carry up to 3,560 passengers and has over 1,000 cabins WITH balconies. Its trademark feature, however, is the SeaWalk — a glass bottom walkway that takes guests 28 feet away from the ship so they can stand and look down into the water. It’s also got a poolside nightclub, the world’s largest floating pastry shop (!!), and an onboard television studio.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

3 champagne cocktails to try this New Year's Eve

0
0

glasses champagne

The champagne cocktail is a classic libation to ring in the new year. It also works wonderfully at holiday parties with its festive hue. AJ Rathbun, GoodLife Report’s resident mixologist and author of Champagne Cocktails: 50 Cork-Popping Concoctions and Scintillating Sparklers has provided us with some interesting ways to jazz up your champagne toast. 

If you want to trace the word sparkle back to the Old Norse sparkr, I certainly won’t peep about it. Or, if you go back to the Old English spearca, and want to deliver a point, I’ll follow your point and even read the footnotes. If you, perhaps, would rather debate the relative merits of how this sparkling drink was once shaken a bit and so should be still, I'll listen calmly to your arguments and nod my noggin reflectively even if I do happen to disagree.

When reclining in two large chairs at the edge of the dance floor, if you’d rather posit that Peychaud’s bitters or Angostura bitters or your very own house bitters goes better than orange bitters in this, I'll weigh out each possibility, one glass at a time, while you state your liquid position. Truth be told, I’ll be happy to contemplate any of your talking points on this simple and simply delicious classic, as long as you don’t let my glass run dry, of course.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most expensive champagne bottles on the planet

Champagne Cocktail (classic)

Serves 1

1 sugar cube
3 dashes Agostura bitters
Chilled brut Champagne (or dry sparkling wine)
Lemon Twist for Garnish

1. Add sugar cube to flute glass in any manner you see fit. Add 3 dashes* of angostura bitters over cube.

2. Fill the flute almost to the top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

* A dash is typically 1-3 drops depending on your technique

Other Variations: As mentioned above, it can be rather fun to switch around your bitters in this elegant equation. Both Angostura and Peychaud’s do nice things to the end result. And your homemade bitters (if you have them) probably are swell, too. There are also a wide number of new bitters available on the market that are worth tracking down to try, and which will add a modern twist. Intriguing ones to look for include Bittermans Xocolatl Mole bitters, Scrappy’s Cardamom bitters, The Bitter Truth Creole bitters, and other Bitter Truth bitters. Having a number of bitters for guests to try sounds like quite a good party idea, too.



Lavanda

Doesn’t this sound like a risqué dance that’s only mentioned in heated whispers along the back walls of respected waltz ballrooms? Before the main waltzers decide to take it to the streets, that is, slipping out of their upright facades (and limiting buttoned-up clothing) to embrace the sensuality of the Lavanda in a Lavanda dance-off against those shady (but cute, too) across-the-tracks dancers. Whew, all this hip-shaking is enough to make anyone thirsty. May I suggest the real Lavanda as a quencher?

Serves 2

Ice cubes
4 lavender sprigs
3 ounces gin
1-1/2 ounce lavender simple syrup (see A Note)
Chilled Prosecco 

1. Add the flowers from the top of two lavender sprigs, the gin, and the lavender simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, muddle well.

2. Fill the cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Shake like a dancer.

2. Strain equally into two flute glasses. Top each with chilled Prosecco, and garnish each with a lavender sprig.

A Note: To make lavender simple syrup, add 1/4 cup chopped fresh lavender, 2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cups water to a medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until it reaches a low boil, stirring regularly. Once it reaches that low boil, reduce the heat to medium- low and keep the syrup at a simmer, still stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

A Variation: If you don’t want to bother making lavender simple syrup, try a “La Rosette.” Add 1/2 an ounce St. Germain liqueur (made from elderflower) to a flute glass and fill with Prosecco or Brut Champagne or any other dry sparkling wine.



Cardinal Punch

This is kind of a curious punch, at first glance, with its two liquors, two kinds of bubbles, English drawing room favorite claret (but no ascots to be found), and then (as if that weren’t enough), a curious coalescence of sweet vermouth, orange, pineapple, and a bit of simple syrup (well, maybe a touch more than a bit–a sweet bite, let’s call it). It almost seems, at that first glance, doomed to fail. But to use a metaphor that matches the title, it actually flies like a bird, with every flavor slipping here and there to the forefront (like birds in a flock as they fly, if I may be so bold), and with a serious enough undertone hiding within that it can both charm and fortify. As a bonus, it looks lovely, with a deep rich coloring. All in all, it’s so darn swell that I nominated it for Punch of the Year, 2008. And, you know what? It won. Of course, I was the only judge, but hey, that’s how the contest went.

Serves 10 to 12

12 ounces brandy
12 ounces dark rum
16 ounces claret red wine (Merlot or Cabernet will suffice)
12 ounces Simple Syrup
4 ounces sweet vermouth
1 ice round, or cracked ice
1 orange, cut into slices
5 pineapple rounds, cut into chunks
One 2-liter bottle chilled club soda
One 750-milliliter bottle brut sparkling wine

1. Pour the brandy, rum, claret, simply syrup, and vermouth into a large punch bowl. Stir slightly with a long spoon.

2. Add the ice round to the punch, or add enough cracked ice that the bowl is almost halfway full.

3. Add the orange slices and pineapple chunks, and slowly add the club soda. Stir again, but not frantically.

4. Gently add the sparkling wine and stir–but just once more. Serve in white wine glasses or punch cups.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 55 best Christmas episodes you can watch on Netflix right now

0
0

the office michael scott

When you're trying to get into the holiday spirit, you might feel an urge to check Netflix for Christmas-y movies like "Love Actually" and "White Christmas."

But if that's your only strategy, you're missing out on some awesome content in the form of holiday-themed TV episodes. These eps can be harder to find because Netflix's search option won't pick up on episode titles — and some of the episodes don't even have "Christmas" or "holiday" in the title.

So we've culled some of the best holiday episodes and specials available to stream on Netflix this year. Scroll through to check them out.

SEE ALSO: Why the ridiculous 'Elf Yourself' app is dominating the App Store

"The Office"

"The Office" has a formidable seven Christmas-themed episodes to its name, and they're all currently available on Netflix.

Season 2, episode 10: "Christmas Party"

Season 3, episode 10: "A Benihana Christmas"

Season 5, episode 11: "Moroccan Christmas"

Season 6, episode 13: "Secret Santa"

Season 7, episodes 11 and 12: "Classy Christmas: Part 1" and "Classy Christmas: Part 2"

Season 8, episode 10: "Christmas Wishes"

Season 9, episode 9: "Dwight Christmas"



"Gilmore Girls"

The women of Star's Hollow have a soft spot for Christmas — there's a holiday-themed episode in each of the show's seven seasons. 

Season 1, episode 10: "Forgiveness and Stuff"

Season 2, episode 10: "The Bracebridge Dinner"

Season 3, episode 10: "That'll Do, Pig"

Season 4, episode 11: "In the Clamor and the Clangor"

Season 5, episode 11: "Women of Questionable Morals"

Season 6, episode 12: "Just Like Gwen and Gavin"

Season 7, episode 11: "Santa's Secret Stuff"

 



"Orange Is the New Black"

Inmates need holiday cheer, too.

Season 1, episode 13: "Can't Fix Crazy"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 most charming ski lodges around the world

0
0

cristal_palace

Heaps of snow, minimal sunlight, gusty winds that make you feel like you might as well be at the North Pole…these are some of the reasons we dread winter, or at least its length. But there are, of course, plenty of perks that come along with the frigid temps — ski vacations being one of them.

Even if hitting the slopes isn’t your cup of hot cocoa, clicking into a set of skis is well worth it when it means you can return to a cozy chalet after a day spent traipsing down the mountain.

Chalet-style ski resorts are nothing new, but we’ve traveled the globe and have found 13 properties that stand out from the others. The chalets that make our list are the most charming ones in the entire world, so take a look.

SEE ALSO: The best ski lodges in the Alps

Au Coeur des Neiges

This upscale mountain escape in the Italian Alps near the French border (thus the French name "Heart of Snow") is less a hotel and more a cluster of 16 charming chalets all sporting rustic-luxe decor and modern conveniences. Wooden furniture, floors, and walls, working fireplaces, faux fur throws on the beds, and warm colors make each chalet (with private entrances) feel like a separate cabin in the woods (albeit one with free Wi-Fi and satellite TV). Situated within minutes of the ski slopes and also downtown Courmayeur, guests can ski in/ski out of the property, and then return "home" to recover in their quiet mountain retreat with a restorative spa.



Hotel Park City

The 100-suite Hotel Park City is an upscale, romantic, and family-friendly retreat located with a chalet-meets-lodge style typical of Park City hotels. There are an on-site Ruth’s Chris Steak House, bar, spa, modern gym, and outdoor pool with a hot tub. Suites feel like private cottages, with flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes, and patio hot tubs.



Auberge du Manoir

The 24-room mid-range Auberge Le Manoir is a charming chalet nestled in Chamonix, France’s famous Alps village. Guest rooms are cozy and rustic, with modern features and en-suite bathrooms, and are available in a variety of sizes. The property has a country craft vibe and the hotel’s bar is a particularly lovely place to relax after a day on the slopes. The center of town is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and there is an on-site sauna and spa for guest use, not to mention an excellent homemade breakfast buffet. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

20 fun gifts for $20 or less to please almost anyone in your office

0
0

office holiday party

Ideally, you'd draw a name for your office White Elephant, Secret Santa, or Secret Snowflake gift exchange, and, after painstaking research, find the perfect purple, ergonomic pen for Cathy from accounting who loves bright colors. It only costs you $6, and everyone is impressed by your thoughtfulness and diligence.

The reality is probably different.

If you draw a recipient, you might not know them well ... or at all. Maybe you can't find anyone to tell you anything about them other than "He leaves at 6:02 to catch his train home." Maybe you're doing a White Elephant exchange, where anyone could end up with your gift in hand.

No matter your situation, we've rounded up 20 fun, festive — or at least useful — presents you can contribute. And they're all $20 or less.

SEE ALSO: 8 documentaries that will make you smarter about money

Keep commuter pockets toasty with hand warmers.

If you live and work in the Northeast or Midwest, there's no such thing as too many ways to get warm in the winter.

Price:$3.99



Know immediately who left their notebook in the conference room.

Because it's bound to happen.

Check it out in red, aqua, yellow, white, and gold, too.

Price: $11



Provide festive footwear with classic Fair Isle socks.

Everyone can find a use for festive socks ... even if it's just a re-gift to their uncle.

Price:$8



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

An explanation for everything in the 'X-Men Apocalypse' trailer

0
0

x-men apocalypse

The first trailer for next year's big "X-Men" sequel, "X-Men: Apocalypse," was released Friday morning, and it gives us our first good look at the film's villain, Apocalypse. 

The trailer is pretty straight forward in previewing what we'll see in next year's movie. If you have no idea who Apocalypse is from the comics, the trailer does a pretty good job of introducing him.

But if you're still a little confused, keep reading to see what you can expect from the next "X-Men" movie.  

The trailer opens with a series of ominous and terrifying images predicting the end of days.

x men apocalypse



The series of images is a premonition seen by the young Jean Grey who's being played by "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner.



It looks like she's living at Charles Xavier's home for "gifted youngsters" (aka mutants). We see him comforting Jean telling her it's "just a dream." Don't bet on it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 kitchen gadgets under $100 that any home chef will love

0
0

3891d35a 31b4 4e12 bb79 a8f11c91280d

It's amazing what you can prepare in your kitchen in 2015 — new gadgets and tools are changing the way we cook and making meals that used to be a painstaking ordeal to create accessible to the everyday home cook. If you have family or friends that fancy themselves chefs, we've rounded up 15 cool gifts aimed at their passion. 

SEE ALSO: 20 perfect gifts for stylish guys

READ THIS: 17 gifts your dad actually wants this holiday season

DON'T MISS: 12 essential holiday records to get you into the Christmas spirit

A Bluetooth meat thermometer

A meat thermometer allows for consistently perfect grilling, and with this Bluetooth model that task is now easier than ever. You can set an alert on your smartphone and the iGrill2 will let you know when your steak has hit a perfect medium rare. Grill enthusiasts can finally grill through the winter months without standing in the cold checking up on their upcoming meal. 

iDevices iGrill2 Bluetooth Thermometer, $94.84

For just $38, you can pick up the iGrill Mini, which houses one probe instead of the iGrill2's four.



A drip coffee maker

Any coffee enthusiast knows making a good cup of cold brew is not easy. If you just wait for your morning cup of hot coffee to cool off and throw a couple ice cubes in it, that’s not iced coffee, it’s just gross. This cold drip coffee maker by Cold Bruer makes it so you can have a quality cup of iced coffee from the comfort of your own home — it's perfect for the friend you know is always spending $5 a cup at Starbucks.

Cold Bruer Drip Coffee Maker B1, $79.95.



An ice cream maker

For some, ice cream is an essential food group. With that in mind, stop spending $7 per pint of Ben & Jerry’s and turn your kitchen into your very own Cold Stone Creamery. Give it as a gift and the home chef closest to you will be able to make delicious desserts that are ready to scoop in under 20 minutes. Sundaes will never be the same.

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, $53.50.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 5 best new songs you can stream right now

0
0

Now that music comes out on Fridays, and superstar artists are increasingly keeping their work off Spotify, it can be hard to know where to find the next great song. So Business Insider is helping you with this rundown of the best of what's new in the music world that you can listen to right now.

All songs available to stream on Spotify.

SEE ALSO: 10 epically failed TV spin-offs that should have worked

Pusha T - "M.F.T.R." (ft. The-Dream)

One of the rapper's most fiery performances since he came to mainstream attention on Kanye West's "Runaway."

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/DZLDO9LCRaQ
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

 



Coldplay - "Adventure of a Lifetime"

The climax of Coldplay's seventh studio album, "A Head Full of Dreams," is "Adventure of a Lifetime," with its classic-cool Coldplay melody that'll have any listener bobbing their head.

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/QtXby3twMmI
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

 



Charles Bradley - "Changes"

The Screaming Eagle of Soul doing a stripped-down, soul-baring Black Sabbath cover is not quite as profound as Johnny Cash doing Nine Inch Nails — but it's close.

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/xi49yirJiEA
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 50 colleges where students earn the highest salaries

0
0

MIT

Salary potential isn't the only factor to consider when college searching — but it's nice to know which schools are paying off in the long run, particularly since tuition continues to soar.

In a new report, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce looked at the four-year colleges whose students go on to earn the highest salaries 10 years after starting their studies.

MIT topped the rankings, with median annual earnings of $91,600. Read on to see if your alma mater, or current school, cracked the top 50:

SEE ALSO: Here's how much millennials are earning annually across the US

50. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, Massachusetts

Median earnings: $63,700

Graduation rate: 92%



49. Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Median earnings: $64,100

Graduation rate: 94%



48. George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

Median earnings: $64,500

Graduation rate: 80%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 things mentally strong people do every day

0
0

strengths

Mental strength is just like any other skill: It takes time to develop.

In her book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," psychotherapist Amy Morin writes that your genetics, personality, and life experiences all play a role in your mental strength.

Since we know what mentally strong people don't do, we asked Morin about the key habits they do follow.

Here are nine things mentally strong people do every day.

This is an update of an article originally written by Steven Benna.

SEE ALSO: 13 things mentally strong people don't do

DON'T MISS: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

1. They monitor their emotions.

People often assume mentally strong people suppress their emotions, Morin says, but they are actually acutely aware of them.

"They monitor their emotions throughout the day and recognize how their feelings influence their thoughts and behaviors," she says. "They know sometimes reaching their greatest potential requires them to behave contrary to how they feel."



2. They practice realistic optimism.

Having a positive outlook all the time is impossible, and too much negativity is counterproductive.

Mentally strong people "understand that their thoughts aren't always true, and they strive to reframe their negativity," Morin says. "They replace exaggeratedly negative thoughts with a more realistic inner monologue." 

 



3. They solve problems.

To put it simply, "mentally strong people refuse to engage in unproductive activities," Morin says. Instead of sitting there complaining about your bad day at work and wishing bad things wouldn't happen, evaluate why something went wrong and fix it. Learn how to calculate risk and move forward from there, she says.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Construction on this Miami-area condo building hasn't even begun — and a penthouse already sold for $21 million

0
0

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach

A penthouse in a Miami building that has yet to be completed just changed hands for a whopping $21 million, according to developers Fortune International Group and Château Group

The entire 51st floor of the 52-story Ritz Carlton Residences at Sunny Isles Beach is currently under contract. Construction will begin on the condo building in 2016, with a projected completion date of 2018.

Though it was originally being sold as two separate residences, the buyer — who is a "successful entrepreneur,"the developer told The Wall Street Journal— elected to combine them into a full-floor penthouse. 

Another full-floor penthouse one floor up is still on the market for $30 million.

SEE ALSO: An insane Florida mansion that was once the most expensive home in the US is back on the market — and now it's even more expensive

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

The second-from-the-top-floor penthouse of the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Sunny Isles Beach is already sold.



The building, scheduled for completion in 2018, hasn't even begun construction yet.



The penthouse — which was previously being sold as two separate units — will measure 7,735 square feet and have five bedrooms in total.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What happens behind the scenes of CBS daytime talk show 'The Talk' from start to finish

0
0

The Talk group picture.JPG

"The Talk" returned to New York City for its annual week of taped shows in New York City this week. And the CBS daytime show gave Business Insider a look into the crazy schedule.

"We come every year," executive producer John Redmann told BI. "It's an opportunity to expose ourselves to a new audience, our huge fan base on the East Coast. And we get access to different guests, like people doing Broadway. There's a different energy in New York."

The ladies arrived to the East Coast on a high. The week before, "The Talk" attracted its second-largest average weekly audience ever with 2.71 million viewers, slightly beating "The View's" 2.69 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

When are the women their most jovial? How long does it take to get ready for TV? What's the dirty secret to cooking segments? And what's the difference between shooting in LA and NYC?

Here's what happened on a day with "The Talk" in New York City.

SEE ALSO: 10 epically failed TV spinoffs that should have worked

MORE: RANKED: All 13 late-night shows from best to worst

8:20 a.m. – The hosts hang out in the "CBS This Morning" green room.

"A highlight of our trip to New York is visiting 'CBS This Morning,'" host Sara Gilbert told Business Insider. "I hope they don't notice a couple of their Emmys went missing after the show."

"They like to do a shot of the Toyota green room," Julie Chen added. "So I saw the two Emmys and I said, 'Let's grab them and act like they're ours.' We are an Emmy-winning show, so it's not a total lie. But it's just us being naughty and joking." 



10:15 a.m. – Julie Chen gives "CBS This Morning's" Gayle King a little help in a pre-taped segment that will air that afternoon on "The Talk."

Julie Chen did a game segment for "The Talk" with Gayle King called "What's on sale, Gayle?" The "CBS This Morning" host and Oprah Winfrey's best friend had to guess the prices of items collected from street vendors and flea markets. If King got six right in 60 seconds, the audience would get a prize. But she needed some help.

"She was horrible at it," Chen said. "But I cheated with her. She'd say, 'Five dollars.' And I'd say, 'Say ten.' And she'd say it. We don't want our audience to go home empty-handed. It was just in good fun."



11:28 a.m. – It's called the producer meeting, but the women love to use it to catch up with each other.

A few hours before the show starts, executive producer John Redmann meets with the hosts about that day's topics and gets their feedback and a feel for what they want to say.

"What's funny about this meeting is that it's usually they're talking and gossiping and having fun," Redmann said. "We can't get them out of this meeting. Especially in New York, they all do different things the night before and want to catch up. They genuinely have a good friendship." 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Arby's took us on a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour to debunk a common myth about its meat

0
0

Arby's 3

Arby's marketing plan is all about meat — and sales are soaring.

“In the last two years, Arby’s has kind of transformed itself as a place to get these great meats you can’t get anywhere else in QSR,” Arby’s CMO Rob Lynch recently told Business Insider.

In November, the company reached 20 consecutive quarters of same-stores sales growth, reporting a 9.6% increase in same-store sales in the US in the third quarter.

However, certain people — especially those familiar with a previous iteration of the chain — still question the company's culinary credentials. Rumors such as the one that Arby's serves "liquid meat" have plagued the company for years and, as a quick Twitter search will reveal, are still floating around on social media. 

So, Business Insider decided find out if there was any truth behind the rumors with a behind-the-scenes look at how the sausage — or roast beef — gets made at Arby's new Manhattan location. 

The new Manhattan location uses Arby's new design, which is scheduled to be rolled out at 60 new restaurants and 160 remodeled locations this year. In addition to a sleek, modern seating area, the new design allows a more open kitchen, making it the perfect opportunity for Business Insider to sneak behind the scenes.



Arby's meat is sourced from a wide variety of locations. Some meat arrives ready to slice and serve, such as the brisket, has already been smoked for 13-plus hours at a smokehouse in Texas. Meanwhile, the iconic roast beef is slow roasted for about four hours in the store daily. Here's the oven where the roast beef is cooking, marinating in a roasting bag that, while less than aesthetically appealing, is definitively not filled with liquid meat.



Arby's gave Business Insider the step-by-step rundown of how to create the brisket sandwich, which helped spark the company turnaround with a successful launch in 2013.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We visited one of the only moon rockets left from America's prized Apollo program

0
0

Ap6 68 HC 191

It's not every day that you get to stand next to the prodigious Saturn V rocket — the most powerful rocket ever built and NASA's ride to the moon.

To this day, the Saturn V — a ticket into the history books during the '60s and early '70s — remains the only rocket capable of transporting humans beyond low-Earth orbit, where the International Space Station resides. And it's a monster.

We recently visited the never used, ready-for-flight Saturn V that was destined to transport NASA's Apollo 18 crew to the moon before the US government canceled the mission in 1970.

Words cannot describe the experience of standing next to one of humankind's most impressive engineering feats. But these photos should give you an idea:

LEARN MORE: Sending humans to Mars could uncover a disturbing truth to one of life's greatest mysteries

SEE ALSO: Here's how ridiculously fast we could visit everything in the solar system if we traveled at the speed of light

Instead of scrapping the Saturn V rocket after Apollo 18 was canceled, NASA preserved it at their Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shown below. Check out the Saturn V rocket in the lower right.



The Saturn V was designed to fly three astronauts at a time. At launch, it weighed 6.54 million pounds and towered 363 feet tall — about 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.



Today, the Apollo 18 Saturn V is stored in a massive warehouse. A life-sized illustration of the rocket decorates the outside, and for $25, visitors can take a tour across the grounds and take a trip inside!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

33 things you should never say during a performance review

0
0

woman, work, businesswoman

If you work for someone other than yourself, you're likely to receive an annual performance review from your boss.

"When done well, reviews can greatly benefit both the employee and employer," says Darlene Price, president of Well Said Inc. and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results." "Unfortunately, not everyone makes the most of these meetings."

Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," says it's tempting and all too easy if you are on the receiving end of a review to express frustration at the process or get defensive. But you should resist the temptation, he says, "because you'll want to demonstrate that you are truly listening to what's being said and taking it all in without rushing to judgment," and that you are open to receiving honest feedback and willing to learn and grow.

"If you truly do feel the feedback is unwarranted, then a more constructive approach would be to saying something along the lines of, 'Thank you for that. I’m not sure I completely agree with that assessment, but let me take some time to mull it over and maybe we can sit down again next week once I've had a chance to consider it carefully,'" says Kerr.

He concludes: "Save those conversations for another time when you can have a constructive conversation about what needs to change to improve the process."

To help ensure you get what you want and deserve out of your next review, avoid the following phrases:

SEE ALSO: 13 interview questions you should never answer

DON'T MISS: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

'But that's not in my job description' or 'But that's not my responsibility'

"Expressing these sentiments raises the ire of any supervisor because it makes you look like you are more concerned about shirking responsibility than you are about doing what needs to be done to help the team or organization succeed," says Kerr. "Managers want people who will do whatever needs doing regardless of whose responsibility it is."



'I'm not paid to ...' or 'I'm not paid enough to ...'

Again, this makes you sound not only defensive, but as though you are shirking responsibility and merely interested in doing the bare minimum required to get by, Kerr says.



'If you think I'm bad, you should see ...'

Don't point fingers. A performance review is rarely, if ever, the time to talk about other colleagues, especially in a critical way. Kerr says this makes you look petty and as though you are passing the blame around or making excuses.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 biggest tech shockers of 2015

0
0

tim cook

This year rarely had a dull moment. 

Apple introduced a product Steve Jobs famously hated, Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise announcement, and Microsoft revealed that the next version of Windows would have an unexpected name — just to name a few milestones that caught everyone off guard.

There are the biggest shockers of the year. 

SEE ALSO: The best video games you should be playing this holiday season

January: Microsoft skips a number with Windows

Just three weeks into 2015, Microsoft made the surprise announcement that it was skipping Windows 9 and going straight to Windows 10 — and that the new operating system would be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users.



February: FCC supports net neutrality

In February, the FCC voted to regulate the internet as a public utility under Title II, supporting the important concept of net neutrality.



April: Amazon's Dash buttons

When Amazon announced its "Dash" buttons on March 31, everyone assumed it was an early April Fools' Day joke. But it's a very real way to literally order products with the push of a button.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Lemurs are watching TV to prepare for their reintroduction to the wild

0
0

4K televisions are known for providing crystal clear images — but did you know they're so good that they can even help animals get a glimpse of their future home?

Port Lympne Reserve, a wildlife park in Kent, United Kingdom, is using Sony 4K TVs to let lemurs and langurs see their natural habitats.

lemur sony tv

The reserve is streaming images of their natural habitats in Java (for the langurs) and Madagascar (for the lemurs) so the animals can familiarize themselves with their homes before being reintroduced to the wild.

Here's a closer look at the program:

The Port Lympne Reserve introduced Sony BRAVIA 4K TVs into lemur and langur enclosures this week. The images are four times the clarity of HD Tvs.



The idea is to let the langurs and lemurs familiarize themselves with images of their natural habitats prior to their reintroduction into the wild. Langurs will be reintroduced in 2016, but there's no timeline on when the lemurs will head back home.



“While our large enclosures are designed to resemble the animals’ natural habitat as closely as possible, we decided to give our langurs and lemurs an actual peek of areas in the wild that could, potentially, become their new homes," Simon Jeffery, animal manager at the reserve, wrote in a press release.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 tricks stores use to get you to spend more during the holiday season

0
0

holiday shopping kids

It's laughably easy to overspend during the holidays — from catering feasts and baking treats to stocking stuffers and Yankee swaps, the expenses seem to never end.

What's more, most stores are carefully engineered to get you to overspend. Particularly during the last month of the year, they'll tug on your emotions with holiday cheer and load the checkout aisle with tempting holiday delights that are nearly impossible to turn down.

If you want to curb your spending this holiday, start by recognizing these subtle yet common store tricks:

SEE ALSO: 12 psychological tricks to save more and spend less over the holidays

They put a big, bold "SALE" sign in the window.

Even if there are a few leftover Black Friday sales here and there, this is simply bait to get you in the store, where you'll likely buy nonsale items.

There's also a reason they're red, besides the holiday factor: People react faster and more forcefully when they see the color red.

Source: Shopify



They play the "limited-time offer" card.

Stores not only entice you with sales, but they also use limited-time offers to increase your sense of urgency in making a purchase — and it doesn't help that the holiday season already exudes urgency.  

Oftentimes, stores are simply creating the illusion of an unbeatable sale. While these items may be tempting to buy on the spot — especially with a looming gift-giving deadline — you're better off putting the item on hold, thinking through the purchase, and making sure it's really worth opening your wallet for. Keep in mind that to be a thorough shopper over the holiday season you'll have to plan ahead and start your shopping early.

Source: US News and World Report



They place the pricier items at eye level.

Anything a store really wants customers to buy is placed at eye level so it's easiest to find, and particularly favored items are highlighted at the end of aisles.

Look above and below for similar items with lower prices and fewer markups.

Source: POPSugar



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Forget San Francisco: 9 other cities where you can make $100,000+ as a software engineer

0
0

Startup workers employees computer

The average software engineer's salary may be highest in San Francisco, but you can make a comfortable living even if you don't come to Silicon Valley.

Hired, a tech job marketplace, analyzed more than 80,000 job interview requests and job offers to determine the average offer made in cities across the US. 

In San Francisco, the average engineer's annual salary is $132,000, according to Hired's first-ever State of U.S. Salaries report. But you don't need to relocate to the Bay Area to command six figures. 

Here's nine other cities where software engineers make above $100,000 on average:

SEE ALSO: The 20 most popular places people on Facebook visited in 2015

9. Chicago: $108,000 average salary



8. Austin: $110,000 average salary



6 (tie). San Diego: $115,000 average salary



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This popular street photographer takes adorable dogs' portraits around the world

0
0

new york city dog

Who wouldn’t want to spend all day taking pictures of pets?

That’s the job of 27-year-old photographer Elias Weiss Friedman who runs The Dogist Instagram account with over 1.6 million followers. Since starting in 2013, Friedman has taken portraits of nearly 3,500 dogs in the city and around the world, making his Instagram like The Sartorialist or Humans of New York— but for dogs.

With the success of his social media, Friedman never had to go back to his corporate job in brand management and was able to raise money to travel everywhere from Cape Cod to far off destinations like China, Taiwan, and Croatia to take pictures of pets.

Friedman uses his trusty Nikon cameras to take pictures of the animals and has since published a book with some of his best subjects, including dogs in cones of shame, working dogs, dogs in fancy outfits, and, of course, puppies.

Sometimes, it’s his captains that make the post a success. In addition to the dog’s age, breed, and name, Friedman often includes little vignettes into their lives by quoting the owners.

Keep scrolling to see more of The Dogist.

Friedman has been photographing dogs since 2013 in New York after the success of his video project "Barking at Dogs." He decided to make photographing dogs like the Shar Pei Jelly Bean here his full-time job.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/zSd7trtObM/embed/
Width: 800px

 



Since his Instagram has become popular, Friedman has traveled around the world meeting dogs and taking their portraits. Here's Guójì in Beijing, China...

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/r8Ft3FtOfr/embed/
Width: 800px

 



...and Tora the Akita in Milan, Italy. Friedman has also traveled to Los Angeles, Boston, Taiwan, Croatia, Seattle, Miami, Amsterdam, and more.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/7a9PEPtOdu/embed/
Width: 800px

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images