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The correct way to pronounce 9 French brand names you've been saying all wrong

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Veuve ClicquotWho hasn't had one of those slightly embarrassing "seen-it-but-never-said-it" moments with a high-profile foreign brand?

Especially with a French brand.

Brands hailing from francophone speaking countries are tricky for an untrained ear, considering French is a language you can't really pronounce phonetically.

But be it because of a language barrier or just simple unfamiliarity, below are some of the most frequently mispronounced French brand names accompanied with a Parisian's pronunciation.

Merci a Lucas Paszkowiak pour la prononciation en Française.

SEE ALSO: Here are 8 reasons why you should teach your children to speak Français

1. Yves Saint Laurent

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The French fashion house was named after its founder Yves Saint Laurent who started the brand with his partner Pierre Bergé in 1961.

YSL is known for pioneering androgynous styles for women such as, Le Smoking suit, arguably the most classic tuxedo suit for females.

YSL sits alongside elite fashion houses like Chanel, Dior, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.



2. Hermès

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In 1837, Thierry Hermès opened his Parisian workshop crafting leather saddles and harnesses for carriages.

Hermès has expanded to specialize in luxury accessories, leather, clothing, and perfumes.

"Just to make sure that our customers are happy we also still dress horses as well as helicopters, cars, bicycles, boats, dogs and the occasional leopard," the company notes.

 



3. L'Occitane en Provence

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L'Occitane en Provence is an international retailer of skin care, fragrances, makeup, men’s products, hair care, and home products.

L'Occitane was founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan and is based in Manosque, France.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

It's time to stop watching these 8 TV shows, because they will probably be canceled

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the muppets cancelled shows ABC

As spring brings nicer days ahead, television providers are actually preparing to shut down.

This is the time for finales. It's also the time for networks to make their decisions about which shows have to go and which shows get another round. That will determine whether a show's last episode of the season is also a series finale.

With today's shrinking live viewership, it takes more than just ratings for a TV show to survive to see another season.

Networks are now looking at online, on-demand, and streaming viewership; awards appeal; social-media audiences; and international sales, among many other factors.

That said, here are Business Insider's predictions for the shows that will probably get the ax over the next few weeks.

SEE ALSO: Here are your favorite TV shows that are getting renewed for another season

SEE ALSO: The 14 biggest comedy power couples in Hollywood

"Galavant" (ABC)

A fun musical idea in its first season, "Galavant" was supposed to be an event series, but it was renewed for a second season. Whenever networks see success and dollar signs, they just can't help squeezing all the magic out of something.

No longer novel in its second season, the series generated less conversations, and the ratings dropped 52%. This knight's tale isn't going to end happily.



"Marvel's Agent Carter" (ABC)

This was one of the TV show returns we were most looking forward to. Apparently, we were in the minority, as the "Agent Carter" ratings fell 47% from its first season.

On the other hand, it may get a stay on its execution for being a Marvel series and part of the Disney family — synergy and all. Certainly, ABC isn't proving itself to be the best home for the Marvel-branded series. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." ratings fell 16% this season, and Netflix doesn't share its ratings.



"The Muppets" (ABC)

ABC was so excited about bringing back the "Muppets" franchise that it gave the series the green light on just a short pitch video. The company thought that by combining the iconic variety show with mockumentary elements of "Modern Family" and "The Office," it had found a new way to package the Muppets for young audience members but keep their nostalgic parents watching.

Instead, the show steadily fell in the ratings. ABC hoped a new showrunner and creative tinkering would make the difference, but few people stuck around to see the results. 

It's probably time to pull the curtain on this production.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Apple invented a magnetic phone charger and I want it to be real (AAPL)

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magsafe

One of the best features on most Apple laptops is MagSafe, a proprietary charger that uses magnets to insure that if you trip over your power cable it safely detaches, preventing your laptop from crashing to the ground.

Apple's never made a magnetic iPhone connector, but according to a patent published on Tuesday, it has clearly considered the idea.

The new invention, "stackable magnetically-retained connector interface," appears to describe an expansion to the new "Smart Connector" used on iPad Pros to connect a keyboard, as 9to5Mac points out. The patent describes a system in which several different plugs could be stacked on one smart connector, held together by magnets. 

Images in the patent depict connectors that look like a MagSafe laptop charger, a Lightning cable, and an Apple Watch charger. 

The system looks like this: 

Apple magnetic

The patent abstract describes the system as: 

A stackable connector interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories can allow power and data to be transferred between one or more stacked connectors. 

Existing MagSafe connectors cannot transfer data. But the patent for this Smart Connector Magsafe says that it will be able to transfer both data and power. 

Apple originally filed for the patent in September, 2014. 

It's interesting to note that Apple's most recent MacBook redesign, the MacBook released in early 2015, ditched the Magsafe connector for a universal USB-C charging cord. But this most recent patent suggests that Apple's beloved Magsafe technology might make a return on the iPad. 

Of course, Apple patents stuff all the time — 53 new Apple patents were published today alone — and there's no guarantee that patents will ever become real features or products.

But if you like the idea of a MagSafe phone charger, you can take a look at how Apple imagines that could work in the patent images below.

SEE ALSO: The FBI says it has hacked into the San Bernardino shooter's phone without Apple's help







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

3 money skills your kid should have before Kindergarten

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lincoln kid

Want your kids to grow up to be financially responsible adults? What they learn about money while they're still young — even as early as today — can have a big influence on how they handle it in the future.

That's right: As soon as your little ones can walk and talk, they're old enough to begin mastering some basics. We asked experts what three key financial tasks kids under five years of age can handle. Here's what they told us, along with some tips for you to help them get started.

SEE ALSO: 7 things to teach your kids in kindergarten if you want them to grow up to be rich

1. Earn money for work.

OK, maybe your child isn't ready to run a Fortune 500 company — yet. "But even at 3 years of age, you can have your children do a few basic chores around the home for pay," says Danny Kofke, author of "A Bright Financial Future: Teaching Kids About Money Pre-K Through College for Life-Long Success!"

While he believes that all children should do some household tasks just because they're part of the family, it's also wise to pay for other chores, to begin demonstrating the relationship between work and wages, he says. "You can have your kids straighten up their rooms or put away their toys in exchange for a set amount of money," he recommends. They can also help set or clear the table (as long as you give them nonbreakable glasses and knives without sharp edges).

And if you have a job, explain to your kids that you, too, receive pay for it, adds Melanie Hasty-Grant, a financial adviser, family therapist and co-founder of Waterstone Private Wealth Management who runs a financial summer camp for children. "Make a list together of other things that people might do for money, so your kids begin to understand that that are many ways to earn wages," she says.

RELATED: Kids' Allowances Keep Climbing



2. Learn how to budget and spend their earnings.

"As soon as my children began getting money for certain chores, we set up three empty coffee-creamer jars for each of them," says Kofke. "One jar is for spending money, one is for saving, and one is for money to be given away."

He would help his kids earmark about 10% of their earnings for charity, 25% for savings, and then allocate the remaining 65% for spending on fun stuff. "This method came in handy, because by the time they were 3 and 4 years old my kids were already seeing toys and other things on commercials, and wanting to buy them," he says. "We would talk about how much things cost, and if they wanted an item, we could count out the money in their spending jar to see if they had enough. If not, they knew they weren't ready to buy the item yet."

When the giveaway jars would grow full, he adds, his children would find creative ways to use the funds for the good of someone else. "They bought canned food for a food drive at church," he explains, "and one time they bought a stuffed animal for another child whose father had died." These simple acts drove home some important lessons, Kofke says: "My kids came to see that you don't need to have huge amounts of money in order to help others. They also began to realize that even though we don't have a lot, there is always someone who has less and could use our help."



3. Understand the difference between small- and big-ticket items.

At Hasty-Grant's financial camp, she strives to teach even the youngest children that some things cost more money to buy than others. "We will line up about six different toys against a wall, and have the kids look them over," she explains. "Some of the toys might be small, and then we'll have a couple of larger, fancier ones, such as a bicycle."

She'll then ask the children which ones they think have the largest price tag. Generally, they'll guess correctly, she says (if not, she can help). It's an easy enough exercise to do in your home — you may also want to expand the conversation, talking about why a bike might cost less than, say, a car or even a house. If you've also been teaching your little ones the link between work and money, they'll start to see why adults so often have and need jobs, and that it takes time, work, and patience to buy big things.

Read the original article on LearnVest. Copyright 2016. Follow LearnVest on Twitter.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 things I learned after driving Jaguar's new 200 MPH sports car

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Jaguar F-Type Tunnel SVR

Last week, Jaguar closed off a tunnel in the middle of New York City for a bunch of journalists, including myself, to rip its new, brutally fast F-Type SVR up and down in to experience its insane sound. If there was one thing on that car that I became acquainted with that night, it was most definitely its noise.

The F-Type SVR was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. It's like a normal V8 F-Type, which is already a decently crazy car, but lighter, with 25 more horsepower, a slightly redesigned exhaust, more aggressive body pieces which help with downforce and stability at high speeds, upgraded suspension, and some other minor tweaks here and there.

In person, it looks amazing. When you're actually driving it, its exterior looks are one of the last things on your mind.

Here's what it's like.

Its acceleration is insane.

The reason why its exterior would probably be the last thing on your mind is because of how much raw power the F-Type SVR exerts.

If you're actually getting into the SVR's 575 horsepower, you're going to want to be completely focused. 

Even if you push the gas pedal down in what you thought might be a reasonable, normal amount of throttle, the SVR will likely thrust your body back into its seats in a semi-violent, yet enjoyable manner. 

It might take some getting used to. 



It might even brake better than it accelerates.

If you want to get thrown forward in the SVR, all you have to do is slam your right foot on the brake pedal. Just make sure you have your seatbelt on. 

The SVR's brake pedal is firm, and maybe even slightly overly-sensitive. The good thing is though, it will stop the car on a dime without complaint.

The test car I drove was equipped with the optional lightweight and probably better braking, "Carbon Ceramic Matrix" brakes.

Jaguar has said that the optional carbon ceramic brake system helps prevent fade and assists.



Though the coupe looks amazing, the convertible might just be the way to go for this one.

For this test, I was lucky enough to have been put in an open-top SVR instead of a hard-top coupe model.

I firmly believe that the body lines on the F-Type Coupe look better than those on the convertible, but if you're a fan of loud cars and you plan on driving through a lot of tunnels with your F-Type, you need something without a roof.

It's really the only way to get the full experience from the car's amazing exhaust.

The only thing you really have to remember when comparing the two is that the convertible tops out at the 195 MPH mark, while the coupe is the car that Jaguar says can do 200 MPH. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 risks everyone should take at least once

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Man on Diving BoardLinkedIn Influencer Jeff Haden published this post originally on LinkedIn.

What is the one thing most of us already have enough of?

Regret.

Worse, someday most of us will look back and think, "What if I had only done that ... or said that ... or actually tried that?"

Like Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do."

You can always recover, learn, and build from mistakes, but when you do nothing, that automatically means there is nothing to improve or salvage or discover.

And all you're left with is, "What if?"

Here are five smart risks you should take before you die. I feel certain you'll be glad — if not now then definitely someday — that you did.

SEE ALSO: 5 risks highly successful people take

1. Hire or promote a person you "shouldn't" hire or promote.

I took an informal poll of a number of entrepreneur friends. Each said at least one of their most remarkable employees (here's how to tell if an employee is remarkable) was a person they took a chance on — someone who didn't have the "right" qualifications, or didn't have the "right" background, or was too young or too inexperienced or too new to the industry.

So why did they take a risk on hiring or promoting that person? They had a hunch. They spotted an intangible quality. They loved the person's attitude or enthusiasm or intelligence or work ethic.

As one CEO told me, "When you hire a person that ticks all the boxes you usually get those things. But you rarely get more. Sometimes the risky choice turns out to be the best choice because that person brings qualities you didn't even know you needed."

Give an unusual candidate a chance. You might get a lot more than you ever hoped ... but you'll never know if you don't take that risk.



2. Apologize for a huge mistake you made.

We've all screwed up. There are things we need to apologize for: words, actions, or omissions. Failing to step up or step in or simply be supportive. Those things happen all the time. We own up and say we're sorry.

But sometimes we've done something so bad, so egregious, so "something" that we don't say we're sorry. We're too embarrassed. Too ashamed. Too mortified. So we run away from the situation, often for years. We wish it would go away.

But it doesn't. And whenever we think about it, we feel a little worse about ourselves.

Man (or woman) up and say you're sorry. It may suck. It will suck. You may get yelled at. You may be humiliated.

But you'll also feel good that you finally stepped up. And you also may repair a friendship or relationship you thought was beyond any hope of recovery ... but you'll never know if you don't take that risk.



3. Face one of your worst fears.

One of my clients is an outstanding stand-up comedian. Audiences love him. He's crazy good.

Yet he still has panic attacks before he walks onstage. He knows he'll melt down, sweat through his shirt, feel sick to his stomach, and all the rest. It's just the way he is.

So just before he goes onstage, he takes a quick shower, puts on fresh clothes, drinks a bottle of water, jumps up and down and does a little shadowboxing, and out he goes.

He's still scared. He knows he'll always be scared. He accepts it as part of the process. Preshow fear is inevitable. It's going to happen.

He's not alone. Anyone hoping to achieve great things gets nervous. Anyone trying to achieve great things gets scared.

Productive people aren't braver than others; they just find the strength to keep moving forward. They realize fear is paralyzing, while action creates confidence and self-assurance.

Pick something you'd love to do but are scared to do. Don't try to get over your fear. Accept that you will be afraid. And then go do it anyway.

I'll bet it won't be as bad as you imagined; in fact, you'll probably realize you were simply scared of the unknown. But you'll never know if you don't take that risk.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 6-year-old photographer with more than 200,000 Instagram followers shares shots of the best trips he's taken with his dad

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For the Huey family, the rules of a road trip are simple: take the back roads, eat at local restaurants, find a good place to spend the night before dark — and of course, take a ton of photographs for their combined 900,000 Instagram followers.

When National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey gave his then 4-year-old son Hawkeye a Fuji Instax film camera, he was immediately intrigued and delighted by the images Hawkeye created. 

Hawkeye soon had over 200,000 followers on his Instagram account (which Aaron runs on his behalf), was also being repped by National Geographic, and published his very own photo book funded by Kickstarter.

In this month's issue, National Geographic Traveler is publishing a selection of images from both Hawyeye and his father, putting their photographic perspectives side by side. 

Below, see their photos of some of the best trips they've taken together. 

SEE ALSO: A professional landscape photographer says these are the best places to see star-filled skies in the US

The Hueys love road tripping through southern California for all of the kitschy roadside pit stops and tourist attractions.



Aaron and Hawkeye captured these images of the eccentric characters of Slab City, California, northeast of San Diego.



A trip through southern California wouldn't be complete without a stop at Joshua Tree, where Aaron says the trees look like "something out of Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax'".



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 daily habits that are easy to practice and can significantly improve your life

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Selfie Mirror

Want to pick up some good habits? The best approach is to start small.

In the Quora thread "What are some good 'mini habits' to practice each day?" readers shared the simple habits you should follow every day to become a happier, healthier, or more productive person.

The best part is, each one only takes about five minutes to complete.

Here are some of our favorites:

SEE ALSO: 11 skills that are hard to learn but pay off forever

SEE ALSO: 13 highly useful life hacks you can learn in a minute or less

1. Brush your teeth and floss.

Brushing and flossing your teeth not only prevents gingivitis and tooth decay, but it can also save your life

The American Dental Association recommends you brush twice a day for two minutes and floss once a day. If you don't, you could be putting yourself at greater risk for developing dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer, among other things. Pinkish Bamotra



2. Smile at yourself in the mirror.

Just after you brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror and smile, holding the smile for 10 seconds. Dr. Robert Zajonc, a famous psychologist, believed facial action leads to changes in mood, and in a 1989 study he found that participants who watched themselves smile in a mirror experienced a greater boost in mood than those who simply smiled. —Nistha Tripathi



3. Write down the day's most important task.

Also known as "eating the frog," decide on the one task you must perform that day to be successful and do it first thing when you get to work. Patrick Mathieson



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 of the world's best urban beaches

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chicago north ave beach

Max out your weekend by hitting up an urban beach and combine sunshine, sand and skyline views.

Rachel Beard seeks out the best of the bunch, from a hammock-strung stretch of sand in Philly to a floating swimming pool in Berlin.

SEE ALSO: 11 brilliant ideas for the skyscraper of the future

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

Paris Plages (Paris, France)

Ok, it's a river rather than the riviera but every July and August the banks of the Seine are covered in sand and dotted with palm trees to offer a little taste of the Côte d'Azur in the cultural capital. Sink into a sun lounger at one of three riverside spots (the Louvre to Pont Sully, Port de la Gare, Bassin de la Villette) and join in with typically Parisian pursuits (picnicking and petanque) or get active with a spot of beach volleyball or kayaking.

When: July 20-August 20 until midnight



Camden Beach (London, UK)

On a terrace next to the Roundhouse, one of London's finest gig venues, Camden Beach brings a little stretch of sand to the Big Smoke—150 tons of the stuff to be precise, interspersed with classic beach amenities including a tiki bar, rum shack and deckchairs. Expect killer tunes (the Roundhouse knows a thing or two about sound systems) and on the food front you can tuck into posh hot dogs and pulled pork from a converted shipping container.

When: July 26-August 23. Mondays 5-11 p.m.; Tuesday to Sunday 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.



Sugar Beach (Toronto, Canada)

Named for the nearby sugar refinery and fittingly studded with candyfloss-pink umbrellas, this sandy spot enjoys a cool breeze from the shores of Lake Ontario. The patriotic patch features water fountains embedded with a giant granite maple leaf plus a (maple) tree-lined promenade and muskoka chairs. It's also the setting of Toronto's (free) Sail-In Cinema event where films are projected onto a two-sided screen from atop a barge in Toronto harbor.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 characteristics of people with high emotional intelligence

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Why do certain people achieve more success than others?

What is it about how certain people behave and interact, how they are "wired," that drives them to greater success than their peers?

More often than not, it is their emotional intelligence (EQ), their "ability to identify and manage the emotions of themselves and others."

There are critical ways that high achievers with strong emotional intelligence handle their lives, which you can learn from.

Ten of them are:

SEE ALSO: 15 great interview questions that measure emotional intelligence

1. Embrace work-life balance

People who work too hard without rest or focusing equally on personal relationships usually burn out before they can reach their potential. Conversely, those who don't work particularly hard tend to simply underachieve.

The first step in EQ is self—awareness: understanding how much work — and focus on work — you can take on in your life and pushing the upper limit of that without coming too close to going over.



2. Empower your partner

Finding the right partner is a critical part of achieving emotional balance. That person should stabilize, compliment, and empower you — and they can only do that if you empower them in turn. Successful partner EQ support relationships are symbiotic — and it starts with you.



3. Focus

I always try to draw a key distinction in my own life between multitasking and multifocusing. Although I may be doing 3 tasks at once at any given moment, I keep my overall goals very focused and don't change them until those goals are achieved, or I need to pivot them.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Every weapon Batman uses in the fight against Superman

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batman v superman

Taking down a superhero? Better bring your A-game. 

Throughout "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," we see Batman use a lot of familiar weapons: the Batmobile, the Batwing, Batarangs, etc. But for his confrontation with Superman, he uses a small set of specially crafted weapons.

Bruce carefully designed this highly specialized arsenal of weapons, with each hoping to exploit one of Superman's weaknesses. 

We won't spoil who comes out the victor, but we did list each of these specially chosen weapons below. Here's every weapon Batman uses in his climactic fight against Superman. 

Similar to Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," Batman uses sonic waves to disorient Superman.

In the graphic novel, Batman attaches electrified weapons to his gloves and grabs Superman's head to stun him. In the movie, Batman remotely activates sonic weapons that stun him. In both cases, Superman is only momentarily disoriented. It's smart to target his brain and hearing system since Superman has unbreakable skin. 



Next, Batman uses remote activated guns that fire at Superman.

batman-weapons

Using his laser vision, Superman takes detonates the turrets with little more than a glance. 



Batman is well known for fighting from the shadows, and tosses a smoke grenade to help him hide.

It only works for a few seconds, but that's all he really needs. When Superman spots him, he's already in position with another weapon. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 11 photos illustrate an Arctic in crisis — and hint at what could be in store for the rest of our planet

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arctic ice norway

News from the frozen north has been very, very bad this week.

Not only is sea ice at record lows since we began tracking its seasonal extent into the Arctic Ocean, but scientists announced that Alaska's Juneau Ice Field could disappear in fewer than 200 years.

After a winter that saw Arctic temperatures average 4 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, are you really surprised?

The Arctic is changing rapidly. Because of the region's sensitivity to temperature (not to mention the potentially disastrous warming feedback loops it might trigger), scientists are watching it carefully for hints about the future of our changing climate.

These photos show just how quickly the Northern Hemisphere's polar regions are evolving.

SEE ALSO: Giant holes found in Siberia could be signs of a ticking climate 'time bomb'

MORE: The scientist who first warned us about climate change says it’s way worse than we thought

Since we started tracking sea ice levels in the Arctic Ocean in 1979, we've lost the equivalent area of two Texases from the ice's maximum extent.

Source: Tech Insider



Wildlife is already feeling it. In 2014, 35,000 walruses crowded this Alaskan beach when they could no longer rest on the disappearing sea ice.

Source: Reuters



Summer sea ice loss can be far more dramatic than the winter months. NASA scientist Walt Meier told Tech Insider that he estimates we've lost nearly half of summer ice since 1979.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

My favorite car from the New York Auto Show is an underestimated Italian convertible

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Fiat Spyder Abarth 1

They're calling it the "Fiata"— a slight at its Mazda Miata underpinnings. But it might be so much more.

The little Fiat 124 Spider and the sportier Abarth versionwere hidden away in a corner of the New York Auto Show past a replica of the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a selection from Toyota's soon-to-be-defunct Scion brand.

But the car stole my heart for a few reasons.

It looks better than the Miata; a beloved car that has typified the itty-bitty roadster genre since, well, forever. And it comes with heritage, something I am indeed a sucker for.

The car was a welcome respite from the high-powered automotive titans that headlined the show. It's a sports car in the classic sense: a good looking and reasonably priced (no official number yet, but a new Mazda Miata will set you back $25,000-30,000) automobile designed solely for driving enjoyment.

SEE ALSO: California's $64 billion project that would change how people travel is looking less doomed

The Fiat 124 Spider is a Mazda Miata, improved via an Italian engine and design.



Along with upgraded brakes, suspension, exhaust, and a new differential, the 124 Spider Abarth Elaborazione can be ordered with a matte black hood ...



... hearkening back to the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, a quintessential Italian sports car.



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Meet Yaya Han —the internet's most famous cosplayer

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yaya han

In the world of cosplaying, Yaya Han is one of a kind. 

Cosplaying is the practice of designing and wearing costumes, typically based on characters from comic books, anime, and television shows. Conventions are held all over the world each year where cosplay enthusiasts come together to celebrate their craft. 

Han's costumes are legendary. She's become a massively popular name in the cosplay world, and even has a comic book written about her

Her Instagram account is a great way to get a sneak a peak into Han's colorful and creative world, and to get a look at what it takes to be one of the best cosplayers in the world. She has hundreds of thousands of loyal followers.

Check out 23 photos of the most famous cosplayer on Instagram.

Meet Yaya Han, the internet's most famous cosplayer.

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Yaya Han started cosplaying in 1999 after she attended her first anime convention. Sixteen years later, she's known around the world for her incredible costume creations.

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Yaya Han as Sheryl Nome from "Macross Frontier."

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While the convention was Han's first experience with cosplay, she'd been longtime fan of anime and manga, Han told Nerd Bastards.

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Yaya Han as Arcade Miss Fortune from "League of Legends."

 Source



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how big 'Star Wars' ships would be compared to real-life objects

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star wars the force awakens episode 7 millennium falcon

Exactly how big is the Millennium Falcon? How about Kylo Ren's command shuttle? We used measurements from the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" book "Incredible Cross-Sections" to compare the ships in the new film to iconic monuments and real-world animals and objects. Keep reading to see how big the Millennium Falcon, Rey's speeder, and more are in real life.

Let's start with something relatively small. Rey's Speeder isn't too large.



You could compare Poe Dameron's X-wing to the size of a yacht.



Other ships are a lot larger. If you've ever seen the Rockefeller Christmas tree in person, Han Solo's ship would just edge it out.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 5 best cars for new drivers

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2015+Mazda3+5D+s+Touring+6MT+Blue+Reflex+%2817%29

Whether you're a recently licensed driver buying your first car or you're going the risky route of buying a novice driver a new vehicle, you're going to want to make sure that whatever you purchase is safe, reliable, affordable, and not too embarrassing. 

There aren't too many cars that fit the bill, but we hand-selected a group that both new drivers and their loved ones might actually be able to agree on.

 

No new driver would be embarrassed driving a car like the Mazda3.

The five-door Mazda3 is a perfect beginners car.

It's not ugly, it can move ( but not too quickly), it gets great fuel economy, and when equipped with its accident avoidance tech, it's even an IIHS Top Safety Pick+  in other words, it's safe.

At about $18,500 starting, it's one of the best deals on the new car market for both new and experienced drivers.



It's available with a manual transmission or an automatic.

Learning how to drive manual can be incredibly useful and it can also leave less opportunity for the new driver to be distracted behind the wheel.



The VW Golf isn't the best, but it's a close second.

Though the VW Golf five-door starts at about $1,500 more than the Mazda3 — with less power and worse fuel economy it is still a great alternative if  the little Japanese hatchback just doesn't do it for you.

Like the Mazda3, when equipped with frontal accident avoidance tech, the Golf is credited as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winner. 



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Here's what it's like to fly inside 'The Residence,' the insanely luxurious private airline cabin that costs $23,000 one-way

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huang1Travel blogger Sam Huang has a penchant for outrageously luxurious flights, but he recently got to sample perhaps the most opulent commercial experience in the skies: The Etihad Residence.

The Residence comes with a full bed, a butler, and a private bathroom.

"Everything about the space is simply brilliant,"he wrote on his travel-deals blog, TopMiles.

Huang got to check out The Residence on a flight from Sydney to Dubai, which would have cost $23,000 one-way.

Huang's ticket was actually for another part of the plane, in a luxury "apartment" that retails for $6,500. Huang got it for $108 and 60,000 AAdvantage miles, he says. Business Insider has previously confirmed with airlines that his booking methods are legitimate.

But The Residence was empty that flight, so the crew let him spend some time in it. Here's what the whole experience was like, in Huang's own words.

Note: All photos and text are used with permission.

SEE ALSO: This guy used a frequent-flyer loophole to take a $60,000 trip in a first-class suite on Emirates

On the day of my flight, I quickly checked in and headed to the relatively new Etihad lounge. The lounge was separated into two distinct sections, one for dining and one for lounging.



The lounging area was beautifully furnished with classy white and brown leather chairs.



I especially liked the wooden bookshelf, which gave the area a bit of a home-away-from-home feeling.



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10 mistakes you might be making in the first 10 minutes of the workday

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Coffee drinking woman

The first few minutes of your workday are critical to your productivity for the next eight hours.

If you show up late to the office or get sucked into an overflowing inbox, you could easily get thrown off and have a hard time focusing for the rest of the day.

We did some research and rounded up 10 common traps that can ensnare you within the first 10 minutes of your workday. Read on to find out how to avoid those pitfalls and set yourself up for success.

SEE ALSO: 12 highly influential people share the morning routines that set them up for success

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

1. Getting in late

You could be sabotaging your workday before it even begins.

A recent study, cited on the Huffington Post, found that bosses tend to see employees who come in later as less conscientious and give them lower performance ratings — even if those employees leave later, too.

It's not fair, but it's the current reality. So try getting to the office as early as possible.



2. Not greeting your coworkers

You can set a pleasant tone for yourself and others around you by taking a few minutes to catch up with your colleagues.

If you're a leader and you don't say "hi" to your team, your seeming lack of people skills could undercut your technical competence, according to 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."

Even if you aren't a manager, making a silent beeline for your desk could make you appear less approachable to colleagues.



3. Drinking coffee

If you're not the kind of person who downs a cup right when you wake up, you probably grab it as soon as you get into the office.

But research suggests that the best time to drink coffee is after 9:30 a.m. That's because the stress hormone cortisol, which regulates energy, generally peaks between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. When you drink coffee during that time, the body starts producing less cortisol, and depends more on caffeine.

Once your cortisol levels start declining after 9:30 a.m., you might really need that caffeine boost.



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Inside the block of luxury London flats with its own private art gallery and cinema

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bailey16

There are two things that are certain in London — there is a dearth of affordable housing but a healthy supply of luxury London flats.

In fact, the average property price in Britain's capital is now at £551,000 ($794,000), according to the Office for National Statistics.

But this pales in comparison to new luxury developments that seem to be cropping up everywhere and space is not an issue when you have cash.

The latest? A block of luxury flats in Marylebone, London which is the first set of apartments to have a private in-house art gallery, called The Chilterns. Starting prices are £3.8 million ($5.5 million).

But it's not just any art gallery — it's stocked with original pictures created by one of the world's most famous photographers David Bailey.

"This is the first London art gallery with works by a world renowned photographer to be showcased within a private residential development, featuring specially commissioned works by international photographer David Bailey," said Stephen Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Galliard Homes. 

"The new art gallery lobby is one of the most exciting and unique features of The Chilterns. The project highlights the close interplay between London’s luxury property sector and the art world. New buildings and homes have spaces ideal for artwork, so new developments like this help to drive the market for new works of art and important existing pieces.”

The Chilterns is a 44 luxury apartment development by Frogmore & Galliard Homes, and is located between the local shops of Marylebone High Street and Baker Street, and overlooks the greenery of Paddington Street Gardens.

But if you think a private art gallery is decadent, take a look inside at the other ridiculously luxurious amenities the block of flats has.

The Chilterns is located at 24 Paddington Street — between the local shops of Marylebone High Street and Baker Street, and overlooks the greenery of Paddington Street Gardens.



Seen here at night, there are 44 luxury residences available, built on a site that was once the Marylebone home of French Ambassador Viscount Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768-1848).



Like most luxury flats, prices are steep. The starting price for a two bedroom apartment is at £3.8 million. However, prices jump to £7.7 million for three bedroom flats.



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6 unpleasant ways scientists think the world could end

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Earth sustains life only because our planet teeters on a delicate and truly improbable balance.

Our atmosphere, proximity to the sun, and countless other beautiful coincidences not only permit life to evolve but also thrive.

And yet, here we are, sitting at desks and in coffee shops and walking down the street as if our very existence isn't some kind of extraordinary miracle.

But all good things must come to an end.

earth asteroid meteorite collision collides shutterstock

One day Earth will be inhospitable to anything resembling life as we know it.

The planet's history will most likely cease billions of years from now, but depending on the vicissitudes of astrophysics, it could happen tomorrow or any time in between.

Here are the many ways scientists believe the Earth could die.

1) The planet's core cools



Earth is surrounded by a protective magnetic shield, called the magnetosphere.



The field is generated by Earth's rotation, which swirls a thick shell of liquid iron and nickel (the outer core) around a solid ball of metal (the inner core), creating a giant electric dynamo.



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