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The 20 best college towns in America

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Ames Iowa

Ames, Iowa, is the top-ranked college town in the US, according to a new list from American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

The city of roughly 60,000 people earned the top spot thanks to its affordable cost of living and ample employment opportunities in the fields of science and technology.

The rankings are calculated using 11 criteria including economic vitality, availability of entertainment, and rent. AIER defines small towns as having less than 250,000 residents.

Scroll through to find out the 20 best college towns.

SEE ALSO: The top 20 small cities for American college students

20. Mankato, Minnesota — home of Minnesota State University



19. Blacksburg, Virginia — home of Virginia Tech



18. Morgantown, West Virginia — home of West Virginia University



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12 of the strangest holiday gifts employees have ever received from a coworker

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presents

We've given you suggestions for what to get your coworkers this holiday season. Now we're here to tell you what not to give.

According to a new survey from CareerBuilder, conducted online by Harris Poll among 3,602 full-time workers and 2,326 hiring managers, about a fifth (21%) of employees say they plan to buy holiday gifts for coworkers and 20% plan to buy a gift for their boss.

"Holidays can be joyful, even in the workplace. But they can also trigger some confusion when it comes to gifting," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job." "It's helpful to think through an appropriate gift giving strategy for the office to avoid feeling awkward or embarrassed."

Yes, of course it's the thought that counts when it comes to gift-giving, but you really don't want to get your colleagues anything inappropriate or offensive — or something that might leave them scratching their heads. 

Before we get to examples of gifts you should never give, here are a few things you should consider while shopping for your coworkers:

1. Is gift-giving even appropriate or allowed in your office?

If there are no official policies in place, use your best judgment to decide the best approach, Taylor says. And be sensitive to your office culture.

2. Why am I buying this gift?

Don't feel compelled to go overboard to "win over" anyone or favors, especially the boss. "If you run out and get the latest iPad for your manager, it might be transparent that you are kissing up," she says. 

3. Is this thoughtful?

Try to think of what your team members might appreciate; everyone has their own interests, and a thoughtful gift is most valued, says Taylor. "Avoid running to the supermarket or pharmacy for something last minute and becoming desperate."

4. Is this appropriate?

"When in doubt, leave it out," is a good policy for gifts that seem questionable, she adds. "If you think it might be inappropriate or too personal, assume that the recipient will." 

Avoid gag gifts and anything that has religious, sexual, or political overtones.

5. Does this gift have wide appeal?

A professional and safe approach, especially for those you don't know well, is baked goods that can be shared, such as those that are already packaged, or office-related gifts, such as a mug, or desk item," she says. "Gift certificates for shops that are in the mainstream are often a safe choice, too."

6. How can I best show my appreciation? 

This is a good opportunity to thank those with whom you work. It's good etiquette to offer a brief message of thanks to your team along with the present, Taylor explains. "At the very least, give your gift with a holiday-related message," she suggests.

7. Am I being fair — or playing favorites?

You don't necessarily have to give everyone the same thing — but put the same amount of thought (and money) into each gift. Don't give Sally a $100 bottle of wine, and Jane a $5 pen. It will send a bad message. 

"People do pay attention to this," says Taylor.

Now, to give you an even clearer picture of what you should not give, here are 12 gifts real employees received from someone in the office during the holiday season, according to a CareerBuilder survey:

SEE ALSO: 13 things you should never do at the office holiday party

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

A giant heart shaped box of candy … from Valentine’s Day

Nothing says "I'm regifting!" like a treat from another holiday ... from 10 months ago.



A tattoo gift certificate (recipient did not have any tattoos)

Why?



A squirrel toilet seat decal

This is just creepy.

 



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I’m a financial planner, and here are the 11 best pieces of advice I can give you about money

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man bench ipad

As a financial planner who specializes in working with Gen X and Gen Y clients, I’ve come to learn a few basic facts about money.

I'll share those with you today in hopes that it provides you some insight to what, from a professional standpoint, you can do to be smarter with your money.

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

Pay yourself first.

This is a really important concept. When you get a paycheck, you save a portion of that money before you even pay your bills. You make this automatic, and you can set up automatic payments either through HR or bank drafts. Money is automatically being saved for all of your various financial goals — and that’s what it means to pay yourself first.



Focus on your income.

Too often we get caught just looking at the expense side of things and how much you can cut out of your budget. We preach about spending less and saving more. But we don’t look at how much more money we can earn.

Whether that be through salary negotiations at work, through a side hustle, or even through handyman work on the side, it’s important to find ways to focus on your income, too. How can you increase your earnings? What actions can you take to earn additional money?

It’s a lot easier, in my opinion, to find ways to make an extra $500 a month than to cut your monthly spending by $500 a month.



Invest in yourself before saving for retirement.

The number one rate of return that you will ever get on an investment is going to be through investing in yourself. What this means is getting additional certifications or designations, going back to school, getting additional expertise, or whatever that is for you and your career path that can help you earn more money.

That's going to give you significantly higher ROI long-term because it’s going to increase your income more than it would to simply sock money away for retirement. Now that’s not to say it’s not important to save for retirement, but if you're forced to choose between the two — especially as a young individual — invest in yourself.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

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Anaesthesioloigst

Some jobs intrinsically have more health risks than others. A nurse working in a hospital is more likely to catch an infectious disease than a lawyer working in an office, for example.

To rank the most unhealthy jobs in America, we used data from the Occupational Information Network, a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on occupations.

In order to analyze jobs by their impact on workers' health, we took O*NET measures of six health risks in each of the 974 occupations in the database: exposure to contaminants; exposure to disease and infection; exposure to hazardous conditions; exposure to radiation; risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings; and time spent sitting, since studies show that frequent inactivity shortens your lifespanO*NET scores these factors on a scale from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating an increased health risk.

Read on to find out which jobs have the most potential to damage your health.

Max Nisen contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: The 25 highest-paying jobs for people who don't want to sit at a desk all day

DON'T MISS: Here's the most disproportionately high-paying job in every state

24 (tie). Radiologists

Overall unhealthiness score: 52.8

What they doExamine and diagnose disorders and diseases using X-rays and radioactive materials.

Top three health risks:

1. Exposure to radiation: 87
2. Exposure to disease and infections: 85
3. Time spent sitting: 74



24 (tie). Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

Overall unhealthiness score: 52.8

What they doOperate or tend furnaces to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.

Top three health risks:

1. Exposure to contaminants: 100
2. Risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings: 96
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 94



24 (tie). Embalmers

Overall unhealthiness score: 52.8

What they doPrepare bodies for burial in conformity with legal requirements.

Top three health risks:

1. Exposure to disease and infections: 83
2. Exposure to contaminants: 83
3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 75



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 14 scariest hacks of 2015

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macbook outside

Nothing was safe from hackers this year.

From cars and gas stations to phones and hospital equipment, hackers got very creative finding new vulnerabilities to exploit.

And, even worse, they managed to get their hands on more intimate data than in past years.

This year wasn't just hackers accessing emails, passwords, and social security information, but they also stole new kinds of personal data including fingerprints and pictures.

Here's a look at the most frightening hacks that happened this year.

The US Office of Personnel Management was breached and hackers made off with tons of personal data, including fingerprints.

In June, hackers managed to get their hands on lots of highly sensitive information after breaching the US Office of Personnel Management.

Some 20 million people had their name, home address, and Social Security number stolen. But in addition to that there were some 5.6 million fingerprints that were also taken as part of the attack.

As if that wasn't bad enough, as many as 1 million people affected by the breach weren't able to be notified by the government agency that their data was compromised because their mailing address had changed.



Hackers figured out how to remotely take control of Jeep Cherokee.

Fiat Chrysler recalled some 1.4 million cars after hackers exposed a major security vulnerability in the UConnect feature, which enables phone calls, controls entertainment and navigation, and powers a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Hackers used Uconnect's cellular connection to find out the car's IP address and were able to gain control the car from anywhere in the country.

When the hackers accessed the chip that controls the entertainment system, they were also able to rewrite the car's firmware and implant code that allowed them to take over things like the engine and brakes.



A billion Android devices were compromised by a vulnerability in the operating system.

A nasty Android vulnerability called "Stagefright" went public in July. The exploit would let hackers take over the operating system of any Android phone without the user even knowing.

With almost 1 billion Android devices affected, security researchers were quick to call it one of the biggest smartphone security flaws ever. The vulnerability was discovered by the security company Zimperium, so we don't know if any hackers ever actually used it.

Google rolled out a patch, but because hardware manufacturers must first implement it before it can go to consumers, there's a good chance that millions of devices are still exposed.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There's a major long-term trend in the economy that isn't getting enough attention

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computer chips production assembly

As the December Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting nears, discussions and speculation about the precise timing of Fed liftoff are certain to take center stage.

But while I’ve certainly weighed in on this debate many times, I believe it’s just one example of a topic that receives far too much attention from investors and market watchers alike.

The Fed has been abundantly clear that the forthcoming rate hiking cycle, likely to begin this month, will be incredibly gradual and sensitive to how economic data evolves, meaning the central bank is likely to be extraordinarily cautious about derailing the recovery and rates will likely remain historically low for an extended period of time. In other words, when the Fed does begin rate normalization, not much is likely to change.

Shifting the Focus to Other Economic Trends

In contrast, there are a number of important longer-term trends more worthy of our focus, as they’re likely to have a bigger, longer-sustaining impact on markets than the Fed’s first rate move. One such market influence that I believe should be getting more attention: The advances in technology happening all around us; innovations already having a huge disruptive influence on the economy and markets. These three charts help explain why.

 

SEE ALSO: 28 charts that show how America changed since the Fed gave us 0% rates

1. ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE U.S., 1900 TO PRESENT

As the chart above shows, people in the U.S. today are adopting new technologies, including tablets and smartphones, at the swiftest pace we’ve seen since the advent of the television. However, while television arguably detracted from U.S. productivity, today’s advances in technology are generally geared toward greater efficiency at lower costs. Indeed, when you take into account technology’s downward influence on price, U.S. consumption and productivity figures look much better than headline numbers would suggest.



2. PERCENTAGE TOP 1500 U.S. STOCKS WITH ZERO INVENTORY THROUGH Q2 2015

Technology isn’t just transforming the consumer story. It’s having a similarly dramatic influence on industry, resulting in efficiency gains not reflected in traditional productivity measurements.

For instance, based on corporate capital expenditure data accessible via Bloomberg, it’s clear that U.S. investment is generally accelerating. However, the cost of that investment is going down, allowing companies to become dramatically more efficient in order to better compete. Similarly, with the help of new technologies, many corporations have refined inventory management practices, or have adopted business models that are purposefully asset-light, causing average inventory levels to decline over the past few decades. As the chart above shows, among the top 1500 U.S. stocks by market capitalization over the past 35 years, the percentage of companies reporting effectively zero inventory levels has increased to more than 20 percent from fewer than 5 percent, an extraordinary four-fold rise.



3. HIGHLY SKILLED LABOR VERSUS LOWER SKILLED LABOR TRENDS, 2000-2015

Meanwhile, on the labor market front, greater utilization of technology in business has placed a premium on high-skilled workers who can navigate and innovate alongside that technology. As such, over the past 15 years, we’ve seen considerably faster jobs growth in skilled positions than in lesser skilled ones, as shown in the chart above.

This shift reflects some of the significant influences of technological innovation on the labor market: Highly-skilled labor is rewarded for compatibility with new technologies and is less likely to be replaced by automation or robotics, while the opposite is true for lower-skilled workers, a trend that has kept job growth from being even more robust. This skills-divide also highlights the need for fiscal policies that emphasize education and retraining. In my view, the adoption of such policies will ultimately be much more important to the trajectory of the U.S. labor market and economy than whether the Fed moves away from emergency-rate levels this year or next.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

TOM LEE: These 9 stocks could be the 'FANGs' of 2016

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lion fangs growl teeth

This year in the stock markets, it's been all about the FANGs.

The group of Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google have by themselves kept the S&P 500 in positive territory. The four companies are up 86% in 2015, but according to Fundstrat's Tom Lee that isn't going to continue next year.

"Since 2005, top 10 stocks underperformed the following year by an average of 290bp," he wrote in a note to clients. "In other words, what was the top performer in 2015 is unlikely to see follow through."

Lee said that the top 10 stocks from a given year underperform the broader market the following year 52% of the time. Additionally, Lee said that since the FANGs are growth stocks, that's good for value stocks next year.

Based on this idea, Lee assembled a list of value stocks that weighed heavily on the S&P this year, with the idea that this year's losers will next year become winners.

"Look at [the] worst stocks as possible FANGS for next year," he said.

Lee had four factors for inclusion:

  1. Stock is one of the bottom 25 contributors to S&P 500 point change YTD 2015
  2. Stock’s dividend yield is greater than its bond yield
  3. Market cap is at least $10 billion
  4. Positive implied upside (based on the analyst price targets from nine different firms)

We've compiled Lee's list below, along with each stocks contribution to the S&P 500 this year, the implied upside, and Lee's estimate for earnings growth over the next three to five years.

Check them out.

National Oilwell Varco

Ticker: NOV

Current Price: $33.80

Contribution to S&P 500 year-to-date: -1.5 points

Mean Implied Upside: 14%

Estimated earnings per share growth: -7%



Caterpillar Inc.

Ticker: CAT

Current Price: $66.38

Contribution to S&P 500 year-to-date: -1.6 points

Mean Implied Upside: 2%

Estimated earnings per share growth: 9%



IBM

Ticker: IBM

Current Price: $136.78

Contribution to S&P 500 year-to-date: -2.5 points

Mean Implied Upside: 10%

Estimated earnings per share growth: 11%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meet 27-year-old Alicia Vikander, star of 'The Danish Girl,' on her way to superstardom

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Alicia Vikander

Just in 2015, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has played a famous painter, a secret agent, and an artificial intelligence that wants to be human.

It's been quite a year for the 27-year-old, and it might all end with her receiving an Oscar nomination.

Playing artist Gerda Wegener in "The Danish Girl" (opening in theaters this weekend), Vikander gives a scene-stealing performance as the wife of fellow artist Lili Elbe (played by Eddie Redmayne), one of the first identifiable recipients of sex-reassignment surgery.

But it's just the latest in a stellar series of performances Vikander has done, which also includes the hit indie film "Ex Machina."

Let's learn more about this star on the rise.

SEE ALSO: The fast-rising career of 26-year-old Brie Larson, 'Room' star and Hollywood's new 'it girl'

Vikander's first taste of success came in 2007 with the Swedish soap opera "Andra Avenyn" ("Second Avenue"), which looked at the lives of a group of people living in the second-largest city in Sweden.



In 2009, she starred in her first feature film, "Pure," in which she plays a troubled 20-year-old who, in leaving her family life, ends up in the arms of a married man.



Vikander then found notice in the US playing Kitty in the 2012 adaptation of the Tolstoy classic "Anna Karenina," starring Keira Knightley in the lead role.



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7 tax strategies the rich don't want you to know

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wealthy men table outside

You work hard for your money but, unfortunately, Uncle Sam takes a bite out of every paycheck for income and other taxes. And if you’re in the middle class, you probably think that bite is a little bit too big.

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, nearly half of Americans — 46 percent — believe the middle class pays too much in taxes. Yet, some of the wealthiest people find crafty ways to minimize their obligations.

Here are seven secret tax strategies the rich use that you can steal to legally decrease your tax bill.

Read: These 7 Tax Loopholes Could Save You Thousands

SEE ALSO: 5 money habits that make you look old

1. Deducting taxes for business expenses

If you run a business, you might reap enormous tax benefits. Business owners can claim potential tax deductions for some business expenses incurred for vehicles, meals, travel, office supplies, advertising, courses and a home office.

However, not every venture will qualify as a business that entitles you to these tax write-offs. You must intend to try to make a profit and not engage in what the IRS considers merely a “hobby.”

How do you distinguish between a hobby — an activity that produces some income — and a bona fide business? The IRS considers these factors, which can also be found on the IRS website:

• Whether you carry on the activity in a businesslike manner
• Whether the time and effort you put into the activity indicate you intend to make it profitable
• Whether you depend on income from the activity for your livelihood.
• Whether your losses are due to circumstances beyond your control (or are normal in the startup phase of your type of business).
• Whether you change your methods of operation in an attempt to improve profitability.
• Whether you or your advisors have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business.
• Whether you were successful in making a profit in similar activities in the past.
• Whether the activity makes a profit in some years and how much profit it makes.
• Whether you can expect to make a future profit from the appreciation of the assets used in the activity.



2. Hiring your kids

According to the IRS:

Payments for the services of a child under age 18 who works for his or her parent in a trade or business are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes if the trade or business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership in which each partner is a parent of the child.

Instead of paying high taxes on your business income, you can transfer some of that income to Junior as wages for services her or she performs. However, your child’s work must be “legitimate,” and their salary must be “reasonable,” said Gail Rosen, a certified public accountant. who gave this example of how this strategy works:

“Suppose a business owner operating as a sole proprietor in the 39.6 percent tax bracket hires his 17-year-old daughter to help with office work full time over the summer and part time into the fall. She earns $6,100 with no other earnings. The business owner saves $2,415 in income taxes at no tax cost to his daughter, who can use her $6,300 standard deduction (for 2015) to completely shelter her earnings.”

Brian Vosberg, a certified financial planner (CFP) with Vosberg & Associates in Glendora, Calif., and an enrolled agent with the IRS, said that you might also be exempt from paying self-employment taxes for Social Security and Medicare in respect of your employed children. Otherwise, if they were adult employees, you would owe these taxes on their salaries.



3. Earning income from your investments, not your job

Accountant Eric J. Nisall, founder of AccountLancer, said that the wealthy can make their money work for them, rather than working for their money.

The tax on earned income can be as high as 39.6 percent, which means that people in the highest tax bracket take home only about 60 percent of their gross income.

But, Nisall pointed out that anyone can invest in high-yielding dividend stocks. You collect the dividends that the companies pay at regular intervals and later sell the appreciated stocks. Your benefit is that the tax rate on long-term capital gains resulting from these sales is only 20 percent. This means you pay a smaller amount of taxes for long-term capital gains than the high taxes you pay for income you earn slaving away at your salaried job.

Another option to earn money from investments is to invest in real estate for rental properties. But make no mistake: This process is not easy. Long before you become a landlord and rake in rent money, you have to make a substantial up-front financial investment to acquire the properties and fix them up if necessary. Also, picking lucrative properties in the right locations can be risky. You have to find tenants who will pay the rent on time and won’t trash your place. Urgent repairs and periodic improvements can be costly as well.



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20 stunning portraits from the 'Humans of New York' photographer's interviews with Syrian refugees

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HONY

Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind "Humans of New York," recently traveled to Jordan and Turkey to talk to 12 different Syrian refugee families preparing to embark to the United States. Stanton met them at a highly emotional moment, at the end of an intense screening process that lasted multiple years.

Stanton has told their stories in the classic "HONY" style: kids' comical quips mixed in with more serious anecdotes about what life has been like for these refugee families.

It's grabbing the attention of not only HONY's more than 16 million Facebook fans, but also high-profile followers like President Obama and actor Edward Norton, who has already raised more than $300,000 for one of the refugees featured in the series.

Ahead, see 20 of the most hard-hitting memories and moving moments that Stanton has recorded and shared. 

(Captions written by Humans of New York)

SEE ALSO: 15 unforgettable portraits from the 'Humans of New York' photographer's trip to Pakistan

Istanbul, Turkey

"I want to be a professor that examines the bones of dinosaurs because I like dinosaurs a lot. I also want to have a dinosaur, but I know that’s impossible. I love to go to Google and type: 'Nice dinosaur movies.' But that uses a lot of the phone, so I don't get to do that too much. One day I'm going to open a museum full of dinosaur bones. I'm not sure where I'll find the bones. Probably America and France."

"Look at this invention we made. We've made a lot of inventions. You can make really good things out of stuff you don't need. We made an alien out of a speaker that we found in the trash, and then we made a person out of milk cartons, and we turned our trash can into a dinosaur because I love dinosaurs."



Istanbul, Turkey

"When I was in second grade, our school got attacked by a bomb. It was a barrel full of explosions. We were just opening our books to start the class, and it's hard to describe the sound, but it was like a building coming apart."

"I ran to the other class to find my brother, and he was crying because of the sound. Our bus left, so we didn’t know what to do. But my brother is so smart. He ran to the market and called our grandma."



Istanbul, Turkey

"I was at home when the telephone rang. It was my mother. She told me that there had been a bomb at the boys' school. I immediately tried to call the school, but nobody answered. Then I tried to call the bus driver but he didn't answer either. I imagined the worst. The roads were closed, so I couldn’t get to the school."

"All I could do was pace around the house. Finally the bus driver answered the phone and said that everyone was alive. The bomb had landed on the playground and only destroyed one wall of the school. After several hours the roads were reopened, and they came back home. When I hugged them, it felt like the whole world was in my hands."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 great-looking watches to give and get for under $300

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

13c2e849 564e 4192 a8f1 e3b61e241f15Men's watches make great gifts, but they're also accessories that can get expensive fast. And while there are worthwhile, sub-$300 timepieces out there, the selection is actually quite slim if you want to buy something decent-looking.

Since we know a good amount of watch wearers (and holiday shoppers) who read Insider Picks are, ultimately, just looking to get the most bang for their buck, we've done our best to cover timepieces at different price points — under $300, under $500, and under $1,000— over the past few months.

We've also written about watches of different styles, whether they be dive watches or smartwatches, and have included accessible picks whenever we can.

So if it's affordability and style you're most concerned with this season, and you're still searching for some quality pieces to shop, have a look at the 12 watches we rounded up below. They're all less than $300 and prime for gifting (yourself or someone else) this season.

SEE ALSO: 20 perfect gifts for stylish guys

READ THIS: 20 laptop bags that are stylish and professional

DON'T MISS: The most practical wallet you’ll ever use is now cheaper than ever — just in time for the holidays

Nixon Sentry Leather Watch, 42mm, $150.



Daniel Wellington Classic Oxford Watch, 40mm, $90.78.



Fossil Grant Chronograph Brown Leather Watch, $103.50.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything we know about Samsung's next iPhone challenger

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samsung logo galaxy s6

The Wall Street Journal has just uncovered details about Samsung's next major smartphone, and the report backs up a lot of the rumors swirling around the so-called Galaxy S7 lately.

Here's a look at everything we're expecting from Samsung's next flagship phone:

It won't look much different than the Galaxy S6.

The Wall Street Journal's report highlighted the cool new features the Galaxy S7 would have that the S6 didn't, but it also said that it wouldn't look or feel that much different.

Indeed, some graphic designs of the supposed Galaxy S7 leaked by the notorious @onleaks show what looks like a very similar phone to the Galaxy S6. 



It'll have a new type of charging port.

The leaked graphical design of the Galaxy S7 shows what looks like a regular microUSB charging port on the bottom of the phone, but the WSJ claims the S7 "will likely feature" USB-C, which will let users get a "full day's charge in under 30 minutes."

USB-C is a new standard that, if successful, will eventually replace microUSB. USB-C is thinner than microUSB and can also transfer data between devices much faster.

Some phones have already adopted USB-C like the OnePlus 2 and Google's new Nexus smartphones made by LG and Huawei.

 



There will be two different models, one with curved edges.

The success of this year's curved-screen Galaxy S6 Edge was a surprise even to Samsung. The company couldn't make enough to fulfill demand.

So, not only is Samsung likely to bring the Edge back for the S7 line, it'll probably make sure to build enough so everyone can get their hands on one as soon as they're released.



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Here's the crazy way one company puts camouflage on helmets

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Army helmet patternThis new way of putting camouflage on helmets is mind blowing, and while the United States military still uses fabric camouflage for their helmets, they might ditch it in favor of this technique in the future.

The process is called hydrographics — also known as immersion printing — and is kind of like printing with water.

It can be done very quickly, using different patterns, and on different products and materials.

It also looks cool.

HG Arts, a company that manufactures hydrographic printers, showed us how it's done.

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First, a thin film made of polyvinyl alcohol is printed with the camouflage pattern, and placed above a pool of water. After about a minute, the film dissolves into dye, which is when the helmets are dipped into the water. This is what it looks like from underwater.



Next, the helmet is dipped into the dye. You can do this by hand or using machines.



If done by hand, the helmet is sloshed around in order to push away excess dye.



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The best holiday desserts in 22 countries around the world

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speculaas2

Americans love to eat candy canes, gingerbread, and sugar cookies during the holidays. 

Elsewhere in the world, however, a typical holiday dessert might look a lot different.

From an 18-layered ring cake in Norway to a boozy rum-filled fruit cake in Jamaica, this is what holiday treats look like in 22 countries around the world.

SEE ALSO: Inside New York City's most festive bar, where they spend more than $60,000 a year getting ready for Christmas

AUSTRALIA: Many Australians opt for a light pavlova — or berry dessert — after dinner, instead of a heavy Christmas pudding or cake. Pavlova is similar to a large meringue that has been topped with fresh cream and berries.

Source: World of Wanderlust



AUSTRIA: Little vanilla crescent cookies called vanillekipferl adorn bakeshop windows and family kitchens throughout the holiday season in Austria. They're similar to a shortbread cookie and are made with vanilla and nuts.

Source: Food52



BELGIUM: Speculaas is a thin, crunchy cookie typically eaten before St. Nicholas' feast in the Netherlands. The cookies are created using intricate wood molds and are similar in taste to gingerbread cookies, except that they are more subtly spiced.

Source: Saveur



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China may soon eclipse the US in at least 8 fields of science

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obama xi putin

While China ramps up its commitment to science, the United States seems to be stalling.

In fact, China may soon eclipse the US in at least eight major scientific fields, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) 2015 Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard report.

The report shows which countries have the highest number of studies referenced by other researchers — a common measure of scientific excellence. Then it breaks the data down into 27 fields, revealing which countries have the largest share of the top 10% most-cited articles in each field.

From 2003-2012, US researchers swept all 27 disciplines with more articles in the top 10% than any other country. However, China placed a close second in eight of the disciplines.

While the total number of American scientific publications increased by 50% from 2003-2012, they quadrupled in China. The number of scientific articles among the top 10% cited in their field is also catching up — China claimed over 37,000 while US scientists had 102,000 in 2012.

A variety of forces may be driving China's rising worldwide recognition in science.

More scientists have moved to China in the past few years, while more are leaving the US, the report explains. And though more students overall receive doctorates in the US, China now awards more doctorates in the sciences — 27,000 versus 24,000.

The two countries were also the top backers of research and development in 2013: The US spent $433 billion, while China spent $318 billion. Yet China's government now spends a larger portion of its GDP on research and development than the US does. By 2013, foreign investments in China ($350 billion) surpassed those made in the US ($300 billion).

All of that investment in education, research, and industry adds up to a tangible effect: China has become the top exporter in the world — a manufacturing capability that requires scientific expertise.

Below are eight fields China could soon dominate, according to the report.

Materials science

1. US — 31,400 articles (in the top 10% most-cited)
2. China — 22,112 articles

Source: 2015 OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard



Engineering

1. US — 31,400 articles (in the top 10% most-cited)
2. China — 22,112 articles

Source: 2015 OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard



Mathematics

1. US — 27,127 articles (in the top 10% most-cited)
2. China — 10,416 articles

Source: 2015 OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard



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10 great wines under $10 to bring to holiday parties

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Wine is widely appreciated at the holidays as a host gift, at the dinner table, or at a party, but finding an eminently drinkable one that won't drain your wallet can be a challenge.

Based on expert recommendations and tastings, Cheapism.com has rounded up 10 enjoyable wines — five reds and five whites — for $10 or less (for a 750 ml bottle).

While they may not demonstrate remarkable complexity or depth, there are some delicious, easy-to-love wines at this price point that will satisfy a diverse gathering of friends and family.

SEE ALSO: 50 fantastic holiday gifts for $50 or less

RED WINES



Chono Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

One of the most popular and best-loved grape varieties is cabernet sauvignon. A familiar version of this ubiquitous wine is always an appreciated contribution to a holiday meal or gathering. This wine from Chile (starting at $9.50) hits all the points of a traditional cabernet sauvignon, with rich flavors of blackcurrant and cassis and green pepper undertones.



Jelu Malbec 2011

Malbec continues to be a darling of the wine world, beloved by multiple generations of wine drinkers. The big, soft fruit, subtle spice, and full body of South American malbec make it easy to love. This food-friendly wine from Argentina (starting at $9) is a good option for a holiday feast with a lot of different dishes.



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These photos of an outdoor high diving competition are messing with our minds

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16th Fina World High Diving Championship

Divers from around the globe flocked to Kazan, Russia over the summer to spread their wings at the 16th annual FINA high diving world championships.

Getty Images photographer Matthias Hangst snapped some of the most mind-bending and incredible photos of the high divers as they contorted their bodies into flying human torpedos and plunged into the water below.

Most impressive was Hangst's ability to capture Kazan's breathtaking skyline backdrop. The divers appear as if they are about to crash into the colorful buildings in the background.

Here are some of our favorite images from the contest.

The FINA world championships gather some of the most talented athletes from around the world.



They compete in aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, high diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo.



But the high diving contest is perhaps the biggest spectacle.



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The 10 biggest box-office bombs of 2015

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rock the kasbah

2015 was a strong year at the box office. Universal had three films make $1 billion each, the first time ever that a movie studio has pulled off the feat in a single year. And unless something goes very wrong, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is going to make a heck of a lot of money.

But there were also some massive duds released this year. Just this past weekend, Ron Howard's latest movie, the $100 million-budgeted "In the Heart of the Sea" starring Chris Hemsworth, made a dismal $11 million.

Though the future looks grim for "In the Heart of the Sea," there's still time for it to rebound. For these 10 titles below, sadly, the chance is gone, and they've failed miserably.

Here are the 10 worst box-office performers of 2015.

[Note: Eligible titles had to be released on 2,000 or more theaters during their theatrical run. All figures are from Box Office Mojo.

SEE ALSO: These 11 raising stars are auditioning to be the next Han Solo

10. "Mortdecai" $7.6 million (domestic) / $39.5 million (foreign)

Though this bizarre Johnny Depp vehicle more than quadrupled its domestic take in overseas sales, it still didn't come close to earning the $60 million budget the film had. We could hope this is just a phase for Depp, but for good or bad, the actor loves this kind of eccentric, costume-y part.



9. "Victor Frankenstein" $5.6 million (domestic) / $24.7 million (foreign)

Trying to give the Frankenstein story a shot of youth by telling the story through the perspective of Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) who meets Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) as a young medical student didn't seem to grab audiences. 



8. "Blackhat" $8 million (domestic) / $11.5 million (foreign)

"In the Heart of the Sea" wasn't the only bomb headed by Chris Hemsworth. In January, the thriller "Blackhat" directed by Michael Mann ("Heat,""Collateral") was a dud, too. This will only increase speculation that the hunky Hemsworth is only bankable when he's in Thor mode. 



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6 ways to make your money work for you

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ocean pool vast relaxing

"Make your money work for you" is such common personal finance advice that it borders on being cliché.

But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how can you do it?

We spoke with Sean Gould, a wealth strategist with Waddell and Associates and a certified financial planner, to outline six ways to put your money to work.

SEE ALSO: 8 lifestyle changes to make if you want to earn more money

Open a high-yield savings account.

Gould explains that before sending your money off to do the heavy lifting, you'll want to have an emergency savings account of about six months of living expenses stored in cash.

A smart place to keep it is in an FDIC-insured high-yield checking or savings account, where it can generate more value as it waits.

A typical savings account offers an interest rate around 0.01%, and a typical checking account is the digital equivalent of putting your money under the mattress. However, high-yield checking and saving offer interest rates that exceed 1% — 100 times what you'd get otherwise.

These accounts are usually available at online banks, which keep costs down by forgoing brick and mortar locations. NerdWallet provides comprehensive lists of high-yield checking and high-yield savings.



Store it in retirement accounts.

Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs are investment accounts, meaning your savings are invested in the market and have the potential to grow exponentially.

"The key is to get money in a 401(k)," says Gould. "Save as much as possible to have your money work for you tax-efficiently and to get money in the markets. The first bucket outside of the emergency fund is the 401(k) up to the match [if your employer provides one]. You don't want to give away free money."

After that, Gould explains, you'll want to put money in an IRA or a Roth IRA.

"Another good tool people don't think about are HSAs," he says, referring to the savings accounts for which people with high-deductible health insurance coverage are eligible. "If you sock money away in an HSA you don't lose it, and whenever you have healthcare costs, you can pull the money out and not pay taxes on it. When you turn 65, it turns into an IRA and you don't get penalized for using it for other costs — you can pay Medicare costs and long-term care premiums."

Read more about how to use an HSA.



Invest it in the market.

If you maxed out your 401(k) and IRA, next is an investment account, Gould says. "The key is participating in the markets."

Being in the markets is not the same as trying to time the markets: pulling money in and out to take advantage of favorable fluctuations and minimize the loss when the market dips is a strategy most experts advise against.

Over time, Gould says, worrying dips in the market should even out, resulting in an overall gain. To take advantage of this effect, though, you have to leave your investments alone.

And, he advises, "Don't have more than three to six months sitting in cash. People like the comfort of money in cash because they're burned from 2008 and 2009, but inflation will eat away at your cash. Sitting in comfort is not a good way to make money."



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In memoriam: 7 once-hot startups that shut their doors in 2015

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adora cheung homejoy

As legend has it, 90% of startups fail.

While the seven on this list collectively raised nearly $400 million in venture capital, these startups are only a few of the high-profile ones that ended up shuttering their doors in 2015. CB Insights has a full list of 146 startup failure post-mortems from the past few years.

Here's how they tried to change the world, and what other startup founders can learn from their demise:

SEE ALSO: The 25 hottest startups that launched in 2015

Quirky

What was it: Launched in 2009, Quirky was an invention platform where people could vote on product ideas they loved, and the company would turn them into products, like the much-loved Pivot Power strip. It also created a subsidiary Internet of Things business called Wink, which made hubs for the smart home.

Why it closed: Many of Quirky's products had thin to non-existent margins, Business Insider's Jillian D'Onfro reported. For example, the company spent nearly $400,000 on developing a Bluetooth speaker that only sold 28 units.

Its Wink unit also faced distress, and a botched security update meant the company had to do a nationwide recall this spring of all of its smart home hubs.

The startup ran out of money and filed for bankruptcy in September. It had struggled to change its business model after several rounds of layoffs, and eventually sold its Wink smart-home business for $15 million. Its CEO had stepped down in August.

Money raised: $185 million from Andreessen Horowitz, GE, RRE Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and Kleiner, Perkins.



Homejoy

What was it: Homejoy offered on-demand home-cleaning services. One of the first companies into the so-called gig economy, Homejoy was a favorite of the press because it offered low-cost cleaning and was using software to automate the process of booking so it would be more efficient.

Why it closed: In an interview with Re/code, Homejoy CEO Adora Cheung blamed the worker-misclassification lawsuits the company faced. It had failed to raise enough funding to grow the company as big as they wanted, she said, so it decided to shutter its doors in July.

But Christina Farr on Backchannel pointed to poor customer retention, poor worker retention, and mounting losses as its downfall. Like Groupon, the company had struggled to entice repeat customers when it offered a cheap initial cleaning and then later raised the price.

Money raised: $40 million from Y Combinator, PayPal founder Max Levchin, First Round Capital, Redpoint Ventures, and Google Ventures.



Zirtual

What was it: Zirtual provided on-demand virtual assistants. Instead of taking the gig economy model and using only contract workers, Zirtual differentiated itself by having full-time employees. Each assistant would work multiple accounts, depending on the workload, making it cheaper for corporate clients.

Why it closed: In August, Zirtual laid off its 400 employees in the middle of the night via an e-mail, after a last-minute Hail Mary round of funding failed to come through. CEO Maren Kate Donovan later said the "numbers were f-----" and the company had over-staffed without having matching demand.

Looking back, she told Fortune that she should have hired a full-time CFO and had a proper board for the company. Zirtual's assets were acquired in October by Fundable.

Money raised: $5.5 million, including from Jason Calacanis, Mayfield Fund, Tony Hsieh, and the VegasTechFund.



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