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The 20 wealthiest private colleges in America

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university of pennsylvania campus penn

The wealthiest private colleges in America eclipse many corporate giants as financial powerhouses. The endowment for Yale University, for instance, is worth nearly twice as much Macy's or MGM Resorts. Harvard University — the richest college in the country and $13 billion wealthier than Yale — could buy Prudential, General Mills, or Nokia with its $36 billion endowment. 

Schools like Yale and Harvard use their endowments to support their operating budget and invest for future opportunities, from providing scholarships and financial aid to funding research and other initiatives. The richest colleges, frequently the most prestigious, can offer more of these opportunities to their students and community, giving them a leg up in recruitment and helping them burnish their academic reputation.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), an organization under the US government that collects and analyzes education data, provided Business Insider with the most recent figures on US college endowments (the fiscal year ending in October 2014). It also provided its most recent data on the annual cost for a student to attend each college while living on campus. 

Business Insider rounded up the 30 richest colleges overall, and below we've highlighted the 20 wealthiest private colleges — which all boast endowments of more than $3 billion.

Additional reporting by Alex Morrell.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best colleges in America

DON'T MISS: The 30 richest colleges in America

20. Johns Hopkins University

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Endowment: $3.39 billion

Total cost:$63,529

With nine schools and more than 240 programs— including top-ranked biomedical and environmental engineering programs— Johns Hopkins offers undergraduates endless areas of study, from biophysics to music composition. Johns Hopkins Hospital, the teaching hospital and medical center affiliated with JHU’s school of medicine, is regarded as one the best in the country.



19. New York University

Location: New York, New York

Endowment: $3.44 billion

Total cost: $66,022

The largest private research university in the US, NYU has over 40,000 students not only in New York but in cities all over the world, including Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. Its renowned Tisch School of the Arts has churned out notable alumni such as Martin Scorsese and Alec Baldwin. The university's Stern School of Business is one of the 20 best business schools in the world.



18. Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Endowment: $4.05 billion

Total cost: $62,320

Vanderbilt prides itself on being ranked No. 1 on the list of schools with the happiest students by Princeton Review. With over 200 music venues surrounding the school’s campus, Music City provides the university's students with a lush playground for exploration. The options don’t stop there, about 40% of Vanderbilt’s students choose to study abroad with one of the university’s more than 120 programs available in 36 countries on six continents.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

British Airbnb users want to stay in this treehouse in Cornwall more than anywhere else in the world — here's what it looks like inside

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treehouse outsideOf all the Airbnbs in the world, Brits want to stay in a treehouse in Cornwall the most, according to data released today by the accommodation rental site.

Tree Sparrow House in Helston has topped a ranking of the most popular rentals saved to British users' "Wish Lists" on Airbnb.

The company analysed nearly 2.4 million wish lists created in the UK to find the most sought-after properties.

The charming one-bedroom property — which costs £100/night to rent — is split across two floors with a kitchen/living area and bedroom. Suitable for two guests, the rental offers idyllic views of the surrounding countryside and coast.

Its host, Jonathan Melville-Smith, a retired landscape designer and contractor, hasn't lived in the treehouse himself, but he said he has spent "the occasional night" there.

"For me, my earliest childhood memories are about building dens, followed by the magical story of Swiss Family Robinson. From that moment on I wanted to build a tree house," Melville-Smith told Business Insider over email. "It seems to me that I have always wanted to live in a tree house and spend magical moments in one."

Take a look inside the upscale treehouse below.

Suspended over 6-feet above the ground, the treehouse is accessible via a wooden staircase. A proper treehouse "needs to be in a tree, supported by the tree," according to Melville-Smith. "Not on stakes, or posts in the ground next to the tree."



Here's the view upon entering the treehouse. It's a cosy space, with homely touches like fairy lights and a rug. There's also a tree bark running right through the structure in case you forget you're staying in a treehouse.



The living room is compact but the host has made clever use of the space to make it feel more spacious. For example, the tree twigs lining the walls double as a magazine rack.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Bronx Zoo just debuted 3 newborn lemurs and they're adorable

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Ring tailed Lemur and Baby Bronx Zoo

Three new lemur babies now call the Bronx Zoo home.

Two ring-tailed lemurs and one brown-collared lemur were born earlier this month and now reside with their mothers at the Madagascar! exhibit at the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Bronx Zoo. Lemurs are small primates called "prosimians," or "pre-primates."

Their habitat depicts the Malagasy Spiny Forest, which they share with critically endangered radiated tortoises and several spices of birds. Since the young lemurs cling tightly to their mothers and snuggle into their fur, guests have to observe closely to catch a glimpse.

Here are some images of the newborns at the zoo:

 

SEE ALSO: Here's how the human brain compares to other animals

DON'T MISS: This amazing footage of grey whales approaching a tourist boat in Mexico hides a sad reality

Lemurs are facing disappearing habitats in the African island nation of Madagascar — the only part of the world where lemurs are naturally found in the wild.



Ring tailed lemurs, native to the forests and bush in the south and southwestern portions of the island, are very social and live in large matriarchal groups.



Despite being competent climbers, they spend a lot of their time on the ground.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

19 interview questions you may have to answer if you want a job at the highest-paying company in America

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young professional millennialIf you want a job at the highest-paying company in America, be prepared to really work for it.

A.T. Kearney ranked No. 1 on this year's annual Glassdoor list for offering its employees the highest median total compensation at $167,534, which includes base salary and other forms of income, such as commissions, tips, and bonuses.

The global management-consulting firm headquartered in Chicago rewards even its youngest hires with some of the most competitive pay in the consulting industry, and the average employee starts off with a base salary of around $143,620.

The reason, as Glassdoor's chief economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlainexplains, is that there are certain "barriers of entry" to work at a premium consulting firm: Employers like A.T. Kearney want to hire top consultants who have personal contacts, reputations, and specialized skills and knowledge.

"We provide competitive compensation to attract the best talent to meet the needs of our clients across the globe," an A.T. Kearney representative said in a statement to the Chicago Tribune.

Unsurprisingly, then, A.T. Kearney is considered one of the most difficult companies to interview with. People who have interviewed there rank the processon Glassdoor a 3.7 out of four in terms of difficulty.

Like other big consulting firms, interview questions at A.T. Kearney generally fall into one of two categories: case-study and experience questions.

During the case-study portion of the interview, interviewees analyze a real-business problem and develop and discuss solutions to the client challenge it poses. The experience portion of the interview is a more familiar format, where interviewers can learn more about the job seeker's background and personal experience.

From Glassdoor, here are some of the toughest interview questions job seekers have been asked at A.T. Kearney:

SEE ALSO: The 25 highest-paying companies in the US in 2016

DON'T MISS: 19 tough interview questions you'll hear at a 'Big 3' consulting firm

'How many ping pong balls can you fit into a 747 jet?' — Data-analyst candidate



'How many people drink coffee in New York City?' — Procurement and analytics analyst candidate



'When was the last time you failed?' — Business-analyst candidate



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 ways to make extra cash selling your old clothes online

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Most of us have closets overflowing with items we don't want anymore.

The good news is, reselling your clothes, shoes, and accessories is easier than ever. Long gone are the days of schlepping them to the nearest consignment store or listing them on eBay — today, you have several apps and websites to choose from.

If you're looking to declutter your closet, and earn some money while you're at it, consider these eight outlets.

Antonia Farzan contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: 15 things you're better off buying used

For social shoppers: Poshmark

Poshmark, an app which looks and feels like Instagram, allows you to buy and sell clothing just like you would on eBay. The app has an enthusiastic community of shoppers and sellers who "follow" each other, comment on photos, and star their favorite items.

Brands like Tory Burch and Michael Kors tend to be the most popular, but you can also find lower-priced items from Forever 21 and H&M, as well as high-end labels like Chanel and Balenciaga.

For Alexandra Marquez, a 23-year old living in Arkansas, reselling thrift store finds on the app has become a full-time job. "I look at my phone from the time that I wake up until the time that I go to bed … and sometimes also when I get up in the middle of the night,"she told Business Insider.

It's paid off: She earns $5,000 a month and was able to quit her corporate marketing job.

Business Insider's Caroline Moss tried using Poshmark, and made $700 in less than two months.

Many of the app's users are on the younger side, like Marquez, but co-founder Tracy Sun told Business Insider she sees people of all ages reselling their preowned clothes. "Everyone from teens, college students, professionals, celebrities, stay-at-home moms and even grandmothers are using the app," she says.



For busy parents: ThredUP

With ThredUP, all you have to do is put your unwanted clothing and accessories in the mail. The company provides you with a shipping bag and label, and will make you an offer after it receives and sorts your items.

Originally for kids' clothes, it's expanded its mail-in resale service to include women's clothing and accessories.

Many of the site's two million users are busy moms who can't keep up with how quickly their kids are outgrowing their clothes, and don't have time to take photos, place listings on sites like eBay, and make extra trips to the post office themselves.

Anthropologie, J. Crew, and Free People are big sellers, and Moxie, Merrell, and Jacadi are popular for kids. However, the site will also accept items from less expensive stores like Old Navy. On average, items are listed for 70% of their original retail price, and anything that can't be sold gets donated to charity.

Laurie Palau, who runs the organizing business SimplyBOrganized, says she gives ThredUP's shipping bags to clients who need help decluttering their homes. "I deal with a lot of clients who feel guilty donating high-end clothes that they have spent a lot of money on," she explains." Taking time to go to a consignment store isn't always realistic for them."

To streamline her own life, she always keeps one of the bags in her closet. "Last time I checked, I had over $700 in my thredUP account."



For label fanatics: SnobSwap

On the high end of the resale spectrum, there's SnobSwap, where clothing and accessories from brands like Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Tory Burch, and Coach typically sell for $250 to $370.

(You can also skip the waitlist and get a Hermès Birkin bag for $90,000.)

Co-founder Emily Dang describes the average user as a professional woman between the ages of 20 and 45 years old who is fashionable but budget conscious, and loves a good deal.

Lydia, a seller who didn't want her last name used, fits that definition: She's made over $4,000 selling gently used pieces from her wardrobe, like Louis Vuitton and Prada bags.

SnobSwap authenticates every single item that it sells, which builds trust with buyers and makes it easier to get high prices for previously owned luxury goods. As Lydia puts it, "No one wants to spend $2,500 on a handbag that was actually a $25 replica from China."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This electric BMW from the '90s was impressive even by today's standards

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BMW E1

Though electric cars have only really picked up in popularity recently, there have been several other concepts and designs that have paved the road for the amazing cars we have today. The BMW E1 is one of those cars.

You probably won't remember the E1 because it never saw production. It was more of a show of what BMW's engineers and designers were capable of at the time, which was actually a lot. 

Let's take a look back at the incredible marvel that the E1 was.

The E1 was first shown off at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1991.



It was extremely lightweight for the time. It had an aluminum shell and used plastic body pieces to keep the weight down.



It used a sodium-nickel chloride battery, not the lithium-ion type that's used in Teslas today.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 great pieces of career advice you never hear

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coworkers boss

There's plenty of stale career advice out there: Go the extra mile. Do what you love. Always be the first one there and the last to leave.

But the Quora thread "What are a few pieces of unique career advice that nobody ever mentions?" provides something different: valuable career advice that we haven't heard a million times before. 

We picked out 13 of the best responses for a fresh take on how to make the most out of your career. 

SEE ALSO: The worst job interview advice people love to give

DON'T MISS: 15 ways to slowly destroy your career

Don't overload yourself.

"Don't look too busy. I've seen smart and dedicated employees fail to get promoted, because they have taken on too much, working too hard, and appeared too frazzled. If you appear stressed, people will think you aren't prepared to take on more, and you'll miss opportunities for new and innovative projects." — Mira Zaslove



Respect common spaces.

"Never, ever cook fish in the office microwave."— Ryan Harvey



Go to happy hour.

"In a new job, accept those first few invitations to lunch or happy hour. If you decline them, for whatever reason, they will stop, and you may find yourself an inadvertent outsider."— Laura Cooke



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 tiny daily habits that can lead to huge results

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running jogging

The way I think about personal development and designing the life I want to live is very similar to the way I think about investing.

Imagine that every choice you make in life is associated to a "bucket." Brushing your teeth goes in the "personal hygiene bucket."

Working on your novel goes in the "writing" or "creativity" bucket. Going to the gym goes in the "health" bucket. And so you have these five or six or 10 primary buckets that make up how you live your life: Work, Creativity, Health, Sleep, Social Life, Family, etc. 

Whenever you spend time doing something, anything, that is time you are investing in that "bucket." This is a very simple way to visualize the concept of practice time and the "10,000 hours it takes to master something." The more time you put into a bucket, the more you are investing. The more you invest, the more you "have." And in theory, the more you have of that skill, the better you are.

Where a lot of people go wrong, whether it be with their own goals or even the menial tasks that tend to occupy a workplace, is they feel like the penny doesn't matter. We think that the tiniest of tasks or habits don't matter.

But just like investing, over time those pennies add up.

Every little choice does matter, because every choice is time (money) in a "bucket."

If you want to make big changes in your life, or accomplish big goals, or do big things, then you have to realize the importance of the tiny details along the way. After all, a journey is comprised of a 1,000 little steps.

SEE ALSO: 10 apps you should use every day to be more productive

1. Wake up when you say you're going to wake up.

Setting the alarm is only half the battle. The real purpose of setting an alarm and then getting out of bed when it goes off is to keep that first promise of the day. When you set that alarm the night before, you are making a promise that you will get up at that time. If you then wake up and ignore it, you are starting your day on the wrong foot. You've broken the first promise to yourself.

This isn't about getting up on time. This is about practicing the habit of doing what you say you're going to do. And what better way to practice than first thing every morning?



2. Write down 10 ideas per day.

This is a habit I stole from James Altucher on Quora. Since implementing it into my life, I now have the tough challenge of choosing from too many ideas. 

Coming up with great ideas requires muscle--the act of creating actionable ideas stretches and flexes that muscle in a way that keeps it healthy and fresh. Carry a journal with you, or make use of the notepad on your phone and, throughout the day, jot down ideas that come to mind. There is something about writing your ideas down that makes the brain feel like the idea was acknowledged. 

Do this for a couple days and you'll see. You'll be swimming in great ideas.



3. Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I can't stress this enough. There is always time to eat, and if there isn't time to eat then something is out of balance and you've got bigger problems coming. The reason why making time to eat is so important is because personal health comes above everything else. If you don't, then at some point you're going to have to play damage control and that's going to be even more of a challenge. It's a lot easier to be preventative with your health rather than to be reactionary. 

During breakfast, use that time to read. During lunch, use that time to catch up with someone, maybe make it a business lunch. During dinner, see your loved ones, your friends and family. It isn't that big of a time investment, but it goes a long way to keeping you healthy and free of stress. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 foods that can make you look younger

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spices in marrakech morocco souk

Aging is a natural part of life that can’t be avoided.

However, the foods you eat can help you age better, both inside and out.

Here are 11 foods that can help you look younger.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: These are the best grains for you

1. Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil is one of the healthiest fats on earth.

Research has shown that it may help prevent many common diseases associated with aging.

It lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease, helps prevent metabolic syndrome, and may be effective in fighting cancer (1, 2, 3, 4).

Olive oil may also help your skin look younger. Animal and lab studies suggest it has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and may protect it from sun damage (5).

Additionally, nearly 73% of olive oil consists of monounsaturated fat, which is associated with increased skin elasticity and firmness (6).

Two studies looked at food records and questionnaires completed by middle-aged and older adults. They found that those with the highest intake of monounsaturated fat from olive oil were least likely to have severe sun damage (7, 8).

Bottom Line: Olive oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties that may protect skin elasticity and decrease the risk of sun damage.



2. Green tea

Green tea is high in antioxidants, which can protect against free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that form during metabolism and in response to stress. Antioxidants change their structure so they’re unable to cause damage.

Green tea is particularly high in antioxidants called polyphenols, which can fight diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation, and heart disease (9, 10, 11).

Polyphenols may also help protect collagen, the main protein in your skin. This may reduce and even partly reverse some signs of aging (6, 12, 13, 14).

In one study, women with sun-damaged skin who were treated with green tea cream and supplements for 8 weeks had modest improvements in skin elasticity (15).

Bottom Line: Green tea has strong antioxidant properties that protect your skin’s collagen from sun damage and may reduce signs of aging.



3. Fatty fish

Fatty fish is truly an anti-aging food.

Its long-chain omega-3 fats are beneficial against heart disease, inflammation, and ulcerative colitis, among many other diseases (16, 17, 18).

Studies suggest that they may also protect against inflammation and damage that occurs during sun exposure (19, 20).

Salmon, one of the most popular types of fatty fish, has an additional component that may keep your skin looking younger.

It contains a nutrient in its orange pigment called astaxanthin, which is a powerful antioxidant.

In one study, people with sun-damaged skin who were given a combination of astaxanthin and collagen for 12 weeks experienced significant improvements in skin elasticity and hydration (21).

Bottom Line: Fatty fish may provide protection from skin damage that occurs in response to inflammation and sun exposure. The astaxanthin in salmon may also improve skin elasticity and hydration.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 brain 'facts' that are totally wrong

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brainWe know surprisingly little about one of the most important organs in our body — the brain.

Nevertheless, the world is filled with dozens of ideas about why we think the way we do.

Here are 11 of the most common brain myths — and the surprising science to counter them:

READ NEXT: Here's how different drugs change your brain

RELATED: 4 things you can literally learn while you sleep

Myth #1: You only use a fraction of your brain.

If this were true, we'd be able to remove a large portion of our noggins with nearly no consequences! Some scientists think the root of this myth may lie in the fact that you're not constantly using 100% of your brain at once.

"It turns out though, that we use virtually every part of the brain, and that [most of] the brain is active almost all the time," Barry Gordon, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, told Scientific American.

 



Myth #2: It's all downhill once you hit your 20s.

Sure, some skills, like our ability to think quickly and recall information (also known as fluid intelligence), follow the familiar pattern: peaking at roughly age 18 and getting worse over the rest of our lives.

But recent research suggests that — in addition to getting wiser with age — we may also actually get smarter, at least in some ways.

Our ability to do basic math and use a larger vocabulary, for example, likely continue to improve until we turn 50. And our prowess at reading others' emotions and recalling recent events doesn't start declining until after age 30. 



Myth #3: Your personality is based on whether you're "right-brained" or "left-brained."

While either side of the hemisphere may be more engaged in specific tasks, neither one is fully dominant in any one person — at least as far as we know — and there's no evidence to support the idea that certain personality types are based on dominant brain hemispheres.

The brain's left hemisphere, for example, is generally dominant when it comes to language— both in terms of processing sound and helping assist with speech. Interestingly, while this rule holds true for roughly 95% of people who are right-handed, it's only the case for about 70% of people who are left-handed. For the other 30% of lefties, either the right hemisphere dominates when it comes to language or neither side does.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 truths millionaires embrace that the rest of us don't

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wealthy

"If you follow the beliefs, philosophies, and strategies of the rich and take action, you have a legitimate shot at becoming a millionaire," writes self-made millionaire Steve Siebold, who interviewed over 1,200 of the world's wealthiest people for his book, "How Rich People Think."

The problem is, most people don't do this, including a young Siebold.

"I spent the first 25 years of my life thinking about money like the masses, which kept me broke," he writes. "Once I changed my thinking, the money started to flow."

Who knows if attaining wealth is really that simple — but it can't hurt, right?

To help you change your thinking, we've rounded up seven truths about money that millionaires embrace:

SEE ALSO: 14 inspiring quotes that will change the way you think about money

Money can solve most problems

The wealthiest people see money for all the good things it can provide — freedom, opportunity, possibility, and abundance — and are not afraid to admit that, logically, it can solve most problems.

"The great ones know money is a critical tool that presents options and opportunities," Siebold writes. "They also know if you're not happy without it you won't be happy with it. But while money has little to do with happiness, it's one of the most important tools in the game of life."

Meanwhile, the typical person tends to view money as an enemy.

"Most people have a dysfunctional, adversarial relationship with money," he writes. But, "If you want to start attracting money, stop seeing it as your enemy and think of it as one of your greatest allies."



Getting rich has little to do with your level of education

"Self-made millionaires know getting rich has little to do with intelligence and everything to do with focus and persistence," Siebold writes.

Building a fortune isn't necessarily about being smarter, he says: "It's about knowing what you want and being laser-focused on getting it, no matter how long it takes or how hard you have to work. It's simple, but not easy."

In fact, many incredibly wealthy and successful people are college dropouts. While the rich don't necessarily put much stock in furthering wealth through formal education, they do appreciate the power of learning long after high school or college is over and choose to constantly self-educate.

"Walk into a wealthy person's home and one of the first things you'll see is an extensive library of books they've used to educate themselves on how to become more successful," Siebold writes.



If you do what you love, the money tends to follow

The wealthiest, most successful people pursue their passions.

"The masses think about how much they can get paid to do something, while the rich figure out what they love to do and then find out how to make money doing it," Siebold says.

If you do what you love, other traits required to be successful will come easier, he argues:

Instead of setting out to find work with the most profit potential, focus on work that has the most fulfillment potential. Once you find it, invest so much heart and soul into your work that you become one of the most competent people in your field. You'll be rewarded with uncommon wealth."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 high-paying side jobs for people in their 20s

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photography

You just graduated and accepted your first job — congrats! That probably means you'll be moving into a real, adult apartment. You'll have rent to cover, bills to pay, and furniture to buy. Oh, you'll also need a new work wardrobe — and you'll probably want to grab the occasional drink or meal at your new neighborhood hot spots.

All of those things cost money — a lot of it. And chances are, that job you just accepted doesn't pay as much as you'd like.

Luckily, there are some easy ways to make extra cash when you're in your 20s and trying to make ends meet.

FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, recently put together a list of high-paying jobs you can do on the side.

To qualify for the list, each job had to be considered "flexible"— and not full-time — and had to pay at least double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, according to the job posting on FlexJobs.

Brie Reynolds, director of online content for FlexJobs, says that "side jobs" are defined as anything part-time, including freelance, temporary, short- or long-term, work-from-home, or in-person-flexible gigs.

We selected the 13 jobs a 20-something could do on the side in their spare time:

SEE ALSO: The 13 most meaningful jobs in America

Temporary transcript processor

Pay: $15 an hour

Description: Data-entry jobs like transcript processing are great side jobs for people who love to work independently, have solid attention to detail, and enjoy the unique challenges of data entry.

Data-entry specialists are needed to input data from a variety of sources into the correct corresponding fields quickly and accurately, and working well under pressure is a must.



Copy editor/writer

Pay: Up to $17 an hour

Description: Copy editors and writers can be responsible for the writing, execution, and proofreading of materials across digital and print platforms.

Depending on the employer, they may write and edit for marketing materials, editorial content, social media, or other types of material.



Freelance photographer

Pay: Up to $20 an hour

Description: Make no mistake — photography side jobs require someone who is highly skilled in photography and related software for editing and retouching photos. Photography experience is almost always required, and graphic design and Photoshop experience is a plus.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

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game of thrones premiere season 6 jon snowWarning: spoilers ahead for Sunday's season-six premiere of "Game of Thrones."

Every "Game of Thrones" fan likely had their nose pressed to the screen for Sunday's premiere. That means you caught every dirty Dothraki word, right?

Well, there may have been some things you didn't catch. In that case, Business Insider has this quick review of what you need to know that might have gotten lost.

The episode picked up right from where season five ended and definitely presented plenty of twists for our favorite (and not so favorite) citizens of Westeros. As this season veers away from the books, don't forget that author George R.R. Martin is still credited as an executive producer and has surely given the showrunners a sense of where he's going with the story. So there were some moments that jibed with long-held fan theories, but still others that really didn't.

Here are the five things you may have missed on the season-six premiere of "Game of Thrones":

SEE ALSO: HBO shuts down rumors of a 'Game of Thrones' spin-off

SEE ALSO: Here's what 'Game of Thrones' stars look like in real life

Melisandre isn't just old — she's "centuries old."

That last shot of Melisandre (Carice van Houten) won't soon be forgotten for sure. In that scene, she revealed just how old she really is.

In the extra video on the episode that airs afterward, the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss reveal that George R.R. Martin told them early on that Melisandre is "centuries old." They believed that after getting so many visions wrong, this was time for her to strip the veneer to look at her true self.



Melisandre's necklace is a showstopper.

Melisandre's necklace has been a point of interest for fans for a while. During season two, it glowed in one scene. Is it the source of her power?

Taking it off was a powerful moment for her transformation into her true, older self. If it does have magical age-changing powers, then it's certainly an accessory everyone will want.

However, careful fans immediately observed that Melisandre was once seen before without her necklace, in a bathtub, and looked normal. That might be as simple as a continuity error.



Jon Snow's direwolf may be more important than ever.

Suddenly, Jon Snow's (Kit Harington) direwolf has become very significant on the show. Mentioned several times as a protector for the men loyal to his master, the wolf plays an integral role in a fan theory about how Jon Snow could be brought back.

Warging, the ability that allows someone to transfer themselves into an animal and virtually look upon the world through their eyes, is at the center of the theory. Suddenly, the direwolf's name, Ghost, also seems to support the theory.

Talk about man's best friend.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Photos from inside One Hyde Park, the super-luxury residence for oligarchs that costs £1 million to rent

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onehydepark2

The world's richest people may own some of the most decadent places in the most sought-after locations in the world, but they rent too.

One of the latest properties to hit London's rental market for the ultra-rich is a four-bedroom apartment at One Hyde Park, opposite the park of the same name, which costs an incredible £1.17 million to rent a year.

It's also available on a short-term basis for £22,500 per week or £90,000 per month. One Hyde Park is famous for being the London home of the prime minister of Pakistan and the president of Kazakhstan, among other oligarchs. They live there for the security and isolation it provides from London's teeming streets. 

But despite having some insanely luxurious amenities — such as a private cinema, pool, spa, and golfing area — it's not the most expensive flat at One Hyde Park. Last year, the letting agent Tunstall Property managed to rent another for £45,000 per week.

Take a look:

Residents at One Hyde Park have the luxury of a on-site concierge, housekeeping, and valet services, 24 hours a day. The round the clock service comes at the provision of the neighbouring Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which is connected to the development by tunnel.



The third-floor flat has 4,000 square foot of living space and has four equal-sized en-suite bedrooms, one of which has been converted into a "media room."



The luxury apartment, which is let fully furnished, was developed by Candy & Candy, One Hyde Park and was designed throughout by Katherine Pooley Design.



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PHOTOS: Barack Obama geeked out with a virtual reality headset in Germany

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World leaders love virtual reality just as much as the rest of us.

On Monday morning, US President Barack Obama attended a trade fair in Hannover, Germany.

While there, he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel got the opportunity to try out a virtual reality headset — to the pair's obvious amusement.

We first saw these photos over on Gizmodo.

Here Obama and Merkel are checking out a solar-powered satellite. Serious stuff.



And here they are with a virtual reality headset. Much more fun!



The Hannover Messe is the biggest industrial trade fair in the world, with lots of high-tech gadgetry on display.



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These $65 million NYC apartments will come with a complimentary 'lifestyle manager'

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A skinny white skyscraper is rising among a sea of black and navy buildings in Manhattan.

The latest work by architecture firm Foster + Partners is a 63-story tower full of amenities. When residents move in, they'll even get a complimentary "lifestyle manager" too.

The London-based architect collective's newest skyscraper will reside in midtown, about three avenues east of Rockefeller Center.

Slated to open in spring 2017, it's been in the works since 2005 (the 2008 recession stalled construction.)

I recently toured one of the model units, which are selling for up to $65 million.

Take a look inside.

The pearly white facade of 100 East 53rd Street will stick out among the surrounding dark skyscrapers, including the famous Seagram Building.



The exterior walls will look like wavy shutters. The windows will also have a special coating so that they will be completely clear, spokesperson Tinnie Sassano tells Tech Insider.



Artwork and sculptures curated by real estate tycoon Aby Rosen will fill the interior. The first floor will also feature an Eataly-esque market.



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What New York City's most famous buildings would look like in the middle of nowhere

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No building is designed in a vacuum — architects must carefully consider many different factors, like its environment and the buildings and streets that will surround it.

These restrictions fascinate Anton Repponen, a creative director, trained architect, and photographerIn his latest personal project, entitled "Misplaced", Repponen turned those deciding factors on their head, asking questions like: "What would the Chrysler Building look like in a mountainous landscape?" and "What about the Metropolitan Opera in a Brazilian desert?"

"I wanted to see how those buildings [would] look [when] you take them out from their original locations," he told Business Insider. "Would they still work? Would it look good, or make no sense? Would they actually be even more beautiful outside their environment?"

Ahead, 10 gorgeous photos of frequented New York City buildings dropped in completely bizarre locations.

The inconsistency in New York City's architecture is what fascinates Repponen the most. "You have old and new mashed together without much rules," he said. "That's what's interesting to observe, and what makes New York somewhat beautiful, but not 'classic' beautiful like Rome, for example."



The images of both the buildings and the landscapes are all captured by Repponen.



"When I decided to proceed with this project, I spent a week going through my 10 years' [worth of photos] to select some of the locations I thought would work," he said.



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17 useful things the Amazon Echo can do (AMZN)

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I activated my Amazon Echo for the first time in December. It's quickly become one of my favorite tech gadgets ever.

Most people compare Echo to virtual assistants like Siri and Google Now. But Amazon's speaker, which responds to either "Alexa" or "Amazon," is quicker to respond and understands commands much better than those rival services.

And thanks to its excellent audio system, with seven microphones for listening and a 360º omni-directional audio grille for speaking, Amazon Echo works exceedingly well wherever I am in my home. I can hear it — and it can hear me — perfectly.

Amazon Echo has completely transformed the way I live in my apartment. There's just so much you can do with Echo. Take a look.

"Alexa, what time is it?"

Don't bother searching for your phone or a wall clock just to get the time. With Echo, just ask the time from anywhere in your house and get the answer immediately. It's a small thing, but it totally makes a difference when you're rushing in the morning.



"Alexa, play some Kanye."

Amazon Echo can play thousands of songs from Amazon's Prime Music catalog. And compared to other virtual assistants that control music playback, Alexa takes less time to hear your commands and act on them, pausing, skipping and changing songs.



"Alexa, ask Uber to request a ride."

As of February, you can now request an Uber car to pick you up from your residence just by asking Echo to request a ride. Once you activate the Uber skill in the Alexa app, your Echo will let you know how far away the closest car is, and it'll even let you know if there's surge pricing before you accept the ride.



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The US's premier flight exhibition team just turned 70 — here's what makes them the best

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On Sunday, the US Navy's Blue Angels military demonstration team turned 70 years old. The pilots of the team are some of the world's best, performing death-defying tricks in fighter jets.

While the individual skills of each pilot is admirable, what sets the pilots of the Blue Angels apart is their ability to work as a synchronized team.

Here are 14 of our favorite action shots showing this beautiful coordination.

SEE ALSO: 24 photos that show the synchronized chaos of America's aircraft-carrier flight decks

SEE ALSO: Cool 360-degree lets you control the camera on a Blue Angel Hornet during an airshow

The Blue Angels demonstrate choreographed flight skills during the annual Joint Service Open House.



The Blue Angels demonstrate choreographed flight skills during the annual Joint Service Open House.



The Blue Angels fly in formation above Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.



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A former fashion exec is selling his historic New York City townhouse for $17 million

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62 West 12th Street Greenwich VillageFormer fashion executive Robert Duffy has just listed his 19th-century New York City townhouse for $17 million.

The historic brick townhouse, found just west of Union Square in Greenwich Village, is quirky but elegant, with both original prewar details and modern updates. It's a four-story, five-bedroom elevator building with 3,800 square feet and a private back garden.

Duffy, who helped co-found the Marc Jacobs International fashion brand and served as its CEO until 2015, is listing the townhouse with agents Frank Arends and Daniela Zakarya of the Arends Team of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Public records show it was purchased in 2013 for $10.25 million.

SEE ALSO: Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo are selling their huge New York loft for $5.5 million

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The townhouse dates back to 1839 and is located just across the street from Parsons School of Design in Greenwich Village. The neighborhood has long been a home of artists and cool kids. Duffy met Marc Jacobs at a graduate dinner at Parsons in 1983.

Source: Business of Fashion



The owner's eclectic yet refined taste is evident in the furnishings: contemporary art and colored walls are offset with antique furniture, a traditional rug, and gilt accents.



The dining room continues the theme of modern-traditional juxtapositions. Blues and gold tones are also used throughout.



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