Eccentric Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer was Thursday given the green light to build "the world's biggest" park of giant robotic dinosaurs, despite hundreds of objections filed by local residents.

A spokeswoman for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council said Palmer's plan to erect up to 160 animatronic dinosaurs at his Coolum Resort was approved "unanimously by council this morning", with local officials hoping for a tourism boost.

The exhibit will include five Tyrannosaurus rex robots, the largest towering at 8.5 metres (28 feet) in height, as well as a 10-metre Ruyangosaurus. The creatures, which are on order from China, will move their tails and chests and blink their eyes.

There are already two specimens on display at Coolum, north of Brisbane, and a third under construction, a Palmer spokesman told AFP.

"Jeff the T-rex (is) near the golf course pro shop, (there is) Bones the Skeleton and a giant crocodile is being installed," the spokesman said.

"More dinosaurs (are) coming in (the) next few weeks."

Palmer, a larger-than-life character who has made a fortune in mining and is currently building a replica of the Titanic to re-enact the ill-fated ship's Atlantic voyage in 2016, has described Coolum as the world's biggest dinosaur exhibit.

Asked earlier this year why he was building the Titanic replica, Palmer said: "I want to spend the money I've got before I die".

The council said Coolum "has the potential to attract new patronage and maintain the economic viability of the resort", rejecting local resident concerns about noise and fears the dinosaurs would lessen the resort's reputation and image.

"The additional attractions form a minor part (approximately 1.3 hectares) of the 150 hectare resort," it said.

It said the exhibits would be motion-sensor controlled and have a predetermined performance time, minimising noise, with a master volume control able to be adjusted "to ensure that they do not disturb either resort patrons or nearby residents".

Palmer is also running for office in Australia's national elections this year in an audacious and unlikely bid for the prime ministership.

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After hearing customers complain about the quality of office coffee, brothers David, Adam, and Noah Belanich decided to shut down their Manhattan coffee truck and start a new business.

Joyride relaunched in 2011 as a business that provides cafe-quality equipment to offices and delivers freshly roasted coffee every day. 

Although brewing their coffee takes a little more work than popping in a K-Cup, the quality is clearly better. The brothers claim that their coffee is also cheaper per cup than Keurig.

The company is growing fast, with clients including Foursquare, Twitter, Buzzfeed, and Gilt. They also introduced a "cold brew kegerator" just in time for summer.

After Business Insider talked with the Belanich brothers to learn about their business, Joyride shows us what a week in the life of the company is like.

Joyride gets coffee from only the best suppliers, like the Blue Bottle Roastery in Williamsburg ...

... and Stumptown's Red Hook Roastery.

All coffee is rigorously taste-tested.

For the last decade, thousands of spandex clad yogis have convened in Bryant Park to perfect their downward facing dog.

Just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Times Squares, it seems like an unlikely location for finding inner peace.

"These days everyone is doing yoga and if they are not doing yoga, they are very curious about it," said Christine Chen, one of the yoga instructor leading the Bryant Park Yoga classes, sponsored by Athleta, the sporting apparel line by GAP.

That certainly seemed to be the case when we visited. Despite the heat, the park was packed with people practicing sun salutations and a crowd of onlookers.

Between 300 to 800 people show up to take one of the free classes are offered on Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights throughout the summer.

Hear more from participants about the payoff and challenges that go along with getting your "zen on" in public.

Additional camera & production: Justin Gmoser

SEE ALSO: Bow Ties Are Back In Style — Here's How To Tie One

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Wesley College mistakenly published records online including test scores, grades and critiques of more than 100 students.

The News Journal reports that a reporter discovered the files during an online search and the Dover-based private college removed them from public access almost immediately after the newspaper inquired about them Tuesday.

The records include names of dozens of education students over several academic years up to 2011. College spokesman Jody Sweeney says the records were posted in a folder that was not password protected by faculty compiling records for an accreditation agency's review.

Sweeney says it reveals a flaw in how some faculty stored some records. He says the college is reviewing every document posted on its website to make sure the mistake is not repeated.

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FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Love is brewing.

Matchmaker Café, a pop-up cart at the plaza and beer garden outside upscale hotel Andaz Wall Street, has been serving coffee — and connecting couples — since launching two weeks ago.

The shop is an outpost for longtime New York City matchmaker Nancy Slotnick’s virtual concierge dating service of the same name, which she started in November.

“We’re really happy to have an actual spot for people to meet," Slotnick said.

"We’re trying to help harness that serendipity that naturally happens between two people — and maybe give it a little bit of a push.”

The cafe, which serves coffee from Brooklyn Roasting Company, is part of the city's new effort to energize the publicly owned private spaces — known as POPs — that run along Water Street. The program, called Water Street Pops!, includes a variety of activities and events through Labor Day, to help reinvigorate the Sandy-hit neighborhood.

At the cafe, as matchmaker-baristas serve up coffee they also try to find out if the customer is single. 

“Since we have a huge sign that says Matchmaker Café, people usually ask about it, but sometimes we just let them know what we’re all about," Slotnick said.

"The idea is to connect local people with each other, get them offline and actually meeting, even if it's for a quick 20-minute coffee.”

If single customers are interested, Slotnick takes their picture, chats about their dating life and uploads them into her database of New York City singles.

The single guy or gal can then look through the database of photos on Slotnick's iPad of other people who stopped by the pop-up cafe, to see if anyone piques his or her interest. If so, Slotnick or one of her matchmakers will make the connection between the potential couple.

For this week, making a call to potential dates is still free, but starting next week Slotnick will charge $5 for three calls and $10 for 10 calls. She also offers longer dating advice sessions and subscriptions to her online dating site, which has more than 5,000 members.

New customer Kathleen Christatos, 27, who stopped by the pop-up recently, said she was excited to get offline with dating, and have Slotnick guide her through the process.

"This just feels simple," said Christatos as Slotnick emailed several young men from the cafe, whom Christatos chose by perusing the database on Slotnick's iPad. "It makes it feel a little easier and personal."

The pop-up is a continuation of Drip Café, an Upper West Side coffee shop Slotnick launched in 1996 which was devoted to helping people find relationships during its nine-year run.

At Drip, customers could spend time flipping through binders of hand-written dating profiles, and then Slotnick would help schedule a date at the cafe.

Slotnick, who was featured on "Oprah" thanks to her cafe and dating book, "Turn Your Cablight On," said hundreds of marriages came out of her Drip days.

Since launching Matchmaker Café's pop-up, Slotnick said she has collected about 30 profiles and set up a handful of dates.

"We'd like to make this permanent, and have this in neighborhoods across the city," Slotnick said. "I think the idea of a cafe is [a] very friendly, inviting place — a regular hangout where you can let your guard down, and maybe be open to something more."

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Former Google CEO, and current chairman, Eric Schmidt spent $15 million to buy a penthouse apartment in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood, the New York Post reports. 

The apartment is a 6,250 square-foot duplex with four bedrooms, and a 3,300 square foot terrace. He also reportedly spent millions to have the place soundproofed because, according to a Post source, "he doesn't sleep well." 

The Post says Schmidt, who is in an open marriage, is dating two women in New York City. 

A source familiar with his home purchase told the Post, "While everyone in New York wants a doorman, Eric specifically said he didn’t want one. He doesn’t want anyone to see him and his guests coming in and out. He insisted on his own elevator."

We have photos of the place from Street Easy, via Valleywag.

Its a wide open concept. To the right is a semi-floating staircase.

The dining area with a fireplace looking at the kitchen.

The dining and living room. Very open with amazing views.

Fast food is all about convenience and affordability. 

But there are ways you can make a trip to the local McDonald's or Burger King feel like a VIP experience. 

Two Reddit forums revealed tips from fast food employees and savvy customers. We pulled out the best tricks that could enhance your next dining experience. 

From customizing your Taco Bell order to getting a cheaper "Big Mac," these tips could change your fast food orders forever. 

SEE ALSO: 18 Fast Food Menu Items That Were Sensational Failures

You can incorporate a Dorito shell into your Cheesy Gordita Crunch at Taco Bell.

It's just 30 cents extra for the delicious addition. 

Source: Reddit

You can get a cheaper McDonald's Big Mac.

"Get a McDouble without ketchup and mustard. Instead, ask for lettuce and big mac sauce on it. You have an almost-Big Mac for $1.39," an employee writes.

Source: Reddit

Get a real egg with your McDonald's breakfast.

"McDonald's uses three different kinds of eggs for their breakfast. If you want a REAL egg ask for the egg off the McMuffin," one employee said. 

Source: Reddit

New York Restaurant Week has officially kicked off — much to the chagrin of NYC foodies.

For the uninitiated, Restaurant Week is when hundreds of establishments, from fine dining standbys to hip new eateries, offer special prix fixe lunches and dinners for $25 and $38, respectively. The event actually runs four weeks, through August 16th.

Restaurant Week was started in 1992 by Tim Zagat and Joe Baum, and has become a massive hit in the past 21 years. More than 300 restaurants across the city are participating this season.

There are a few places out there where the special prix fixe is as good a deal as the regular menu (here are a few restaurants that are worth checking out). But by and large, foodies groan when the bi-annual event rolls around.

It's Bad For Customers

At first glance, Restaurant Week seems like a win-win for both restaurants and guests. Customers pay a fixed (and ostensibly lower) price while getting to try a new restaurant and its specialties.

But here's the thing: There are a ton of people who turn out for Restaurant Week. "Amateur eaters" are seduced by the seemingly low prices and a desire to experience a high-end or new NYC restaurant. Thanks to them, wait times can stretch on, and service may lag due to the sheer volume of orders and tables.

The quality of food often drops, too. Cheaper types of fish like salmon, or meats like chicken breast, that may not appear on the standard menu show up on the prix fixe as a way for owners to save money with the "special" Restaurant Week menus.

For example, none of the Restaurant Week entrées offered at Le Cirque this year — like Roasted Free Range Chicken and Grilled Atlantic Salmon — are on either the regular lunch or dinner menus. 

Portions are often smaller as well. A common complaint I've heard from friends who go out during Restaurant Week (and experienced myself) is that salads or entrées are reduced to half their size at their favorite spot.

Taking all of this into consideration, those $25 and $38 prix fixe costs suddenly don't seem like the best deal. Since drinks, tax, and tip aren't included in those "flat" fees either, diners looking for cheap eats would be better off turning to Groupon, LivingSocial, or OpenTable's Spotlight to get a better deal with items that are actually on the regular menu.

It's (Sometimes) Bad For Restaurants

Restaurant Week can certainly be great for restaurants — it amps up exposure and brings in new customers during winter and late summer, two of the slowest times of the year.

"NYC Restaurant Week is a good opportunity to showcase your restaurant to people who may have otherwise not dined with you," Chris Leahy of Midtown's Lexington Brass told us.

But it can also have the opposite affect. Crowds and long wait times annoy a restaurant's best customers, and those deal-seeking diners are not necessarily going to come back. Which is really bad, given that increasing repeat business for restaurants is one of the main goals of a publicity program such as Restaurant Week.

It can also be rough on the servers who schlep for unappreciative diners throughout the three-week event: "In some restaurants, servers aren't so happy," Anthony Mardach, the Director of Operations for Porter House (which offers a similarly-priced prix fixe year-round), told us. "It can lower the check average, and servers can make less money."

Once tax and drinks are factored in, guests realize they're spending as much as $50 for that "$25 lunch." With cheap eaters, it's the servers' tips that take the hit.

Ultimately, Restaurant Week can be a pain. But if you do decide to go, here are some tips for doing it right:

• Do your research— some menus might be dumbed down, especially the ones that are usually $100+ a person. Try to find restaurants that stick as close to their main menu as possible (check out what this year's Restaurant Week menus look like here).
• Make a reservation, especially at your favorite spot. Restaurant Week is always busy, and you might not be able to get in.
• Don't be afraid to call if a restaurant is booked. Sometimes, restaurants will extend their promotions after Restaurant Week (or offer the prix fixe year round). Plus, it never hurts to make sure there are no cancellations!

IT'S NOT ALL BAD: 13 Places That Are Actually Worth Visiting During New York Restaurant Week

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Opening a checking account is usually a pretty mundane experience. You walk into a financial institution or visit the website, open the account and deposit your funds.

But if you catch a bank on a good day, the experience can pretty great. You may be able to snag a free prize, bonus cash offer or even earn a much higher interest rate on your deposits.

Just about every financial institution offers some promotional rate or prize at some point, but we’ve nailed down the best checking accounts available so far in 2013.

Top 10 Checking Account Offers in 2013

1. Chase Bank — $200 Total Checking Promotion

One of the best checking accounts 2013 has to offer comes from Chase Bank.

Here’s how it works: First, open a Chase Total Checking account (available only to new Chase checking customers). After opening the account, set up direct deposit and you’re all done.

Within 10 days of your first direct deposit, you will receive $200 in your new Chase checking account.

Keep in mind that to qualify, you must deposit $100 or more into your account within 10 business days of account opening. Also, you must have your direct deposit made to the account within 60 days of account opening.

Offer expires August 15, 2013. Coupon must be used to take advantage of offer.

2. PNC Bank — $150 Virtual Wallet Deal

PNC Bank is making it easy to earn some quick cash when obtaining a Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend.

Customers must open a Performance or Performance Select Checking Account then making a qualifying Direct Deposit along with one payment via PNC Online Bill Pay. All requirements must be completed within 60 days of account opening.

It’s also important to note that the total amount of all qualifying Direct Deposits credited to the checking account must be at least $2,000. Once requirements are met, the bank will credit $150 to the account.

Offer ends July 27, 2013.

3. Sovereign Bank — $125 Checking Bonus

Sovereign Bank customers with the Premier Checking Package can enjoy a $125 bonus. To qualify, Sovereign Bank requires customers:

• Open the checking package (which includes the Premier Checking Account and Premier Money Market Savings Account) online by July 31, 2013.
• Make five debit card purchases or have one direct deposit by September 30, 2013.
• Get $150 cash bonus by October 15, 2013.

The process appears to be pretty simple, though note the deal also requires the following: (1) make a minimum deposit of $25 for checking and a minimum deposit of $10 for savings, (2) enroll online in Online Banking at account opening, (3) request a Sovereign Debit MasterCard at account opening and (4) make five purchases with the Debit Card or have one direct deposit by September 30th.

4. Capital One 360 — $50 Checking Account Bonus

Capital One 360 (formerly ING DIRECT) is offering a $50 deal with its 360 Checking account.

Customers will need to open an account online, then three card purchases or Person2Person payments (or any combo of the two) within 45 days of opening.

The $50 bonus will automatically be deposited into the account on day 50. The bonus is only available for new accounts with a new customer as primary owner.

Another bonus of this checking account is that it offers a variable interest rate for all balances (rates increase with dollar amounts saved). It’s pretty uncommon to gain access to interest, variable or fixed, with a checking account that comes with no fees, no minimums and access to over 38,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs.

5. Bank of America — $250 Keep the Change Offer

Bank of America is offering up to $250 to customers who sign up for the Keep the Change program, which automatically rounds up all Bank of America debit card purchases to the nearest dollar then transfers them to a Bank of America savings account.

One thing to keep in mind is it could take some time to reach the goal of $250 since after the first three months of participation have passed, the bank will only match up to 5 percent in your account, which is why it maxes at $250.

But with only a $25 opening balance in the checking account to participate and every debit card purchase — online or in-store — qualifying for the purchase, achieving this goal is possible.

6. U.S. Bank — S.T.A.R.T. Program $50-$100 Offer

By simply opening one of three U.S. Bank Package Checking accounts (Silver, Gold or Platinum — $25 minimum deposit is required to open any account), linking it to a U.S. Bank savings account of choice and setting up recurring transfers from your chosen checking account to savings account, you can take part in the S.T.A.R.T. Program.

Once $1,000 has been saved in the savings account, U.S. Bank will offer a $50 U.S. Bank Rewards Visa Card. If you are able to keep that $1,000 (or more) in the savings account for a year, U.S. Bank will offer another $50 Rewards Card.

7. Citibank — $400 Checking Offer

Citibank is offering one of the better checking account promotions out there — but you will have to work a little to make the most of it.

By opening a new Citibank Regular Checking account in the Citigold, Citibank or Basic Banking Account Package then completing one qualifying direct deposit and one qualifying bill payment for two consecutive calendar months, you could earn up to 30,000 in ThankYou Points, which are redeemable for up to $300.

The bank is also offering an additional 10,000 in ThankYou Points by downloading the Citi Mobile or Citi Tablet App then log in or enrolling in Popmoney and completing one transaction or signing up for Paperless Statements (one or more services must be completed within 60 days of opening).

The 10,000 points earned can be redeemed for up to $100, making the grand total $400 in offers.

ThankYou Points will be credited to the ThankYou Member Account within 90 days from the end of the statement period in which all requirements are satisfied. Offer expires July 31, 2013.

8. EverBank — 1.10% Bonus Rate

By opening the First-Time Checking Client Yield Pledge Account, customers can take advantage of the first-year interest rate along with a bonus rate (currently 1.10%) that is available on balances up to $100,000 for the first six months of the account.

Features of the account include:

• $1,500 to open
• No monthly fees plus free bill pay
• Unlimited ATM reimbursements with minimum balance
• Mobile check deposits

One thing that’s great about EverBank’s Yield Pledge is it guarantees that rates will always be in the top 5 percent of competitive accounts at leading banks.

9. Salem Five — $100 Visa Reward Card Offer

Salem Five is offering one of the better checking account offers with its $100 Visa Reward Card deal. Steps necessary to qualify for the card include:

• Open a new Salem Five Star, Gold Star or eOne Checking account as a primary owner
• Make two direct deposits over $250 each or 6 online bill pays over $25 or 20 debit transactions over $5 each within 60 days of opening an account.

The minimum balance to open a personal Star or Gold Star Checking account is $10 in person, $100 by mail or online. The eOne can only be opened online with a minimum $100 balance.

After completion of program requirements, customers will receive the $100 reward card within four to six weeks.

10. Chase Bank — $125 Total Checking Promotion

If you think you’re seeing double, you’re right! Chase Bank has made the list a second time for its $125 Total Checking Account promotion, making it one of the best banks for checking accounts.

Here’s how it works:

• Open a Chase Total Checking Account
• Set up a Direct Deposit
• Get a $125 cash bonus

Like the other checking deal, you must deposit $100 or more into your account within 10 business days of account opening and have your direct deposit made to the account within 60 days of account opening.

So which of the banks above offers the best checking account? That determination can only be made by you and should be based on your personal preferences, budget guidelines and financial needs.

But whatever decision you make, it sure is great to know that there are so many amazing deals available!

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Whether you're a millionaire or a middle-class father of two, we all make the same mistakes when it comes to money – we think the more we earn, the happier we'll be.

If you really want to buy yourself a more fulfilling life, it's not how much money you earn that matters, but figuring out the right way to spend it.

That's the idea explored in a fascinating new book, "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending," written by a pair of renown behavioral scientists, Dr. Elizabeth Dunn and Dr. Michael Norton.  

"When it comes to increasing the amount of money they have, most people recognize that relying on their own intuition is insufficient, spawning an entire industry of financial advisors," they write. "But when it comes to spending that money, people are often content to rely on their hunches about what will make them happy." 

That all ends with this book. We've combed through and highlighted five ways to change the way you think about money that will make you happier in the long-run.

You're buying too many things and not enough experiences.

In a world where anything and everything can be yours with a credit card and access to the Internet, it's easy to get swept up by material things. 

But if you recognized the fact that you could get more satisfaction out of a $50 dinner with friends than that big screen TV or new iPhone, it might change the way you shop. 

"Research shows experiences provide more happiness than material goods in part because experiences are more likely to make us feel connected to others," Dunn and Norton write. "Understanding why experiences provide more happiness than material goods can also help us to choose the most satisfying kinds of experiences."

To help, here are four questions they suggest asking before you spend money on an experience that may not be as happiness-inducing as others: 

1. Does this bring me together with other people?
2. Will this make a memorable story that I will tell for years to come?
3. Is this experience in line with who I am or who I'd like to become?
4. Is this a unique opportunity and something I can't compare to things I've done before? 

You're more focused on getting more money than buying more time.

Sometimes, we get too caught up in either working hard to save a buck or working hard to earn a buck to realize what really matters – our time. 

"Research suggests that people with more money do not spend their time in more enjoyable ways on a day-to-day basis," the authors write."Wealthier individuals tend to spend more of their time on activities associated with relatively high levels of tension and stress, such as shopping, working, and commuting."

On the flip side, penny-pinchers sometimes take saving too far. When you trade your time for some kind of monetary payoff (saving $20 on a flight by staying up all night on Kayak.com or using your vacation to earn over-time pay), you could be sacrificing your overall happiness in the process.

Now, if you get a high from saving five cents on a gallon of gas by driving 10 miles out of your way, then fine. But most people would be happier spending a little extra money to get home 20 minutes earlier for dinner. 

You think a McMansion will make you happy.

What could possibly be more satisfying than ditching that old starter home you and your spouse moved into during your broke newlywed years? 

Two studies cited in "Happy Money" prove otherwise.

When researchers followed groups of German homeowners five years after they moved into new homes, they all wound up saying they were happier with their newer house. But there was one problem: They weren't any happier with their lives. The same was true in a study of Ohio homeowners in which it turned out they weren't any happier with their lives than renters.

"Even in the heart of middle America, housing seems to play a surprisingly small role in the successful pursuit of happiness," Dunn and Norton write. "If the largest material purchase most of us will ever make provides no detectable benefit for our overall happiness, then it may be time to rethink our fundamental assumptions about how we use money." 

In an effort to curb the obesity epidemic in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has launched a new weight loss program where it will literally give people gold if they lose weight.

The city is offering residents 2 grams of solid gold (roughly $45) if they lose at least 2 kilograms (or 4.4 pounds) within 30 days. An additional gram is offered for every additional kilo they drop, with no limit to how much gold you can pocket.

35-year-old Ryan, an Executive Director at real estate company Khidmah who has lived in Dubai for five years, decided to take the challenge. He told us what the process has been like for him so far. Answers are in his own words, but have been condensed and edited:

What signing up was like:

The announcement was very sudden and was a week before the event. All the news agencies were running stories locally here so we all knew where to go. [Ed note: There were five locations in the city for participating residents to register and get weighed.]

We had to wait from 8 PM to almost midnight to sign up, and many were turned away at the registration that I visited. We are in the middle of summer and Ramadan is here, so you had people fainting from the heat and dehydration as they waited in line to be weighed.

The actual process, after waiting, was very fast and just required our UAE ID along with taking our measurements.

On obesity in Dubai:

Many people talk about the "Dubai Stone," which you tend to put on after living here for a few years. Working hours can be long here and many of us drive over 200 kms (124 miles) each day to and from Abu Dhabi to work.

The sedentary lifestyle along with the numerous easy food options here make for a weight watcher's nightmare.

Why he's participating:

I have a fairly hectic lifestyle and don't tend to take time out to eat properly or exercise, usually leading to a late night dinner and limited sleep. The gold weight loss competition came along at the right time to kick-start those changes for me.

It was not so much about the gold, but more about the competition.

Ryan's diet so far:

We are right in the middle of Ramadan at the moment, so during the daylight hours there is no public eating or drinking in the UAE. Many people eat right through to 3 or 4 AM to ensure they have the energy throughout the day.

As a non-Muslim I just get up a little earlier and ensure I have had breakfast and plenty of water for the day. This has been a big benefit as I am not typically a breakfast person so I am really feeling the difference now.

SEE ALSO: The 20 New Most Popular Cities For Tourists

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The 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is an unusual car.

It's a luxury station wagon with a supercharged V8 engine.

It's little-known and rarely seen, making up just 3% of CTS sales.

And it's a pure joy to drive.

For five days, the CTS-V Wagon served as our ride in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

It did the job perfectly, offering the control to handle winding mountain roads, the power to pass slowpokes on two-lane highways, and the spaciousness to comfortably fit four adults and their accompanying luggage.

The CTS-V Wagon starts at $63,215, the well-equipped version we tested came out to $75,885.

I wasn't sure about how I would feel driving a station wagon. It's far from my favorite type of car.

One friend's reaction: 'It looks like a Hearse.' Fair point.

But this Caddy has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine under the hood, good for a whopping 556 horsepower. That's about 8 Smart cars worth of ponies.

A Florida State Trooper has confessed to stealing public copies of the University of North Florida campus newspaper — The Spinnaker — to protect a friend charged with video voyeurism.

The Spinnaker reports that a security camera caught UNF alumnus and current State Trooper Steven Coppola removing a stack of newspaper from a campus dorm (Coppola is the man on the right in the blue shirt). Over 2,800 copies of the June 12 issue of the Spinnaker have been reported missing.

After being identified, Coppola reached out to the Spinnaker to explain his actions, saying that he was trying to protect 25-year-old Joshua Hott, a friend who had been featured in the issue's Police Beat for "taking video of an 18 year-old male as he was using the restroom." 

The Police Beat blurb describes how Hott used his cell phone to record the occupant of a campus bathroom stall, who quickly ran screaming into the building's lobby while Hott attempted to flee and simultaneously pull up his pants. Hott was then restrained by the victim and his two parents until the police arrived. According to the Spinnaker:

Coppola said he was concerned about how the coverage might affect Hott’s younger brother, who is currently a UNF student. Coppola and a friend decided to take the papers to prevent the story from getting out— a decision Coppola said he regrets.

As College Media Matters points out, it is unclear what, if anything, will happen to Coppola. A spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol emphasized to the Spinnaker that Copolla was off duty when he took the papers, and the department will only initiate an internal investigation in the case of a crime. Before Copolla had been identified, the Florida State Attorney determined that because the papers were free, no crime had been committed by removing them and the case would not be prosecuted.

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Earlier this week, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick made a public comment that sounded like he was denying claims his company was raising at a valuation north of $2.5 billion.

"There are probably one or two folks we're talking to who we've signed NDAs with who are particularly loose with information, but that information is not correct," Kalanick said when asked on Tuesday at Fortune's Brainstorm conference.

Instead, his company may be raising at a valuation that's up to $1 billion higher than that.

According to AllThingsD's Liz Gannes, the financing Uber is currently working on could value the real-time driver service at up to $3.5 billion. Similarly, Fortune's Dan Primack is reporting that Uber is asking for a "pre-money valuation well north of $3 billion." The size of the 9-figure check Uber is seeking will be "at least $150 million," Primack writes.

Both Primack and Gannes agree: The round will likely be led by private equity firm, Texas Pacific Group. Both also say Google Ventures is likely to invest, despite being invested in one of its ride-sharing competitors, Sidecar. That may mean MG Siegler is behind the deal there; he was at CrunchFund when it invested in Uber's 2011 $37.5 million round of financing and he is now at Google Ventures. Then, Uber was valued at $330 million. Siegler hasn't yet responded to a request for comment.

When you're an attractive company like Uber is, raising a ton of money at a sky-high valuation doesn't mean you have to give up much of your company. You can set unusually desirable terms for yourself and some investor will abide by it. 

The demand is certainly there. Uber's valuation seems to have increased by $1 billion since the fundraising talks began. "I've never seen people leaning in like this," one source close to the deal tells Business Insider, who also said investors were flying from all over to meet with the company.

Primack says Kalanick isn't planning to sell any of his own shares in the new financing round and that, despite writing a 9-figure check, TPG may not be given majority ownership of Uber. The deal may get done with Kalanick not having to give up more than a few percent of his company. The deal is still in the works, so all of the speculation above is subject to change.

Uber operates in 35 cities and while it isn't profitable as a whole, it is profitable in all of its earliest markets including New York and San Francisco. Revenue is growing 18% month over month and its Net Promoter Scores rival Apple's, which is about 72%.

Uber has not responded to a request for comment.

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Renzo Piano is the brilliant mind behind some of the most visually arresting buildings of the past few decades — The New York Times Building in Manhattan, London's The Shard, and the Pompidou Museum in Paris, to name a few.

Now the architect has completed an ambitious project on a smaller scale. Called "Diogene," it's a tiny house prototype built for German furniture company Vitra.

"The minimalist house is an idea that continues to fascinate Piano, particularly in an era in  which his office is dealing with big projects," Vitra writes of Diogene.

Scroll down to find out more about Piano's tiny house.

According to Vitra, Diogene is a "voluntary place of retreat" that's entirely self-sufficient. The house collects, cleans, and reuses water, and supplies its own power.

Features include photovoltaic cells and solar modules, a rainwater tank, a biological toilet, and natural ventilation.

The tiny house is made of wood and aluminum paneling, with a surface area of 2.5 x 3 meters (8’2’’ x 9’7’’) when fully assembled and furnished. It can be easily transported anywhere.

The front part of the house serves as a living room with a pull-out sofa and folding table under the window. A shower, toilet, and kitchen are behind a partition.

According to Vitra, Diogene has many possible uses, from a weekend house to a study to a small office. It could also be placed alongside other "Diogenes" to create an informal hotel.

The prototype is currently located on Vitra's campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany. The company expects to produce them in three years, and they will cost around $45,000, or $75,000 for a deluxe model with rooftop photovoltaic panels, according to The New York Times.

SEE ALSO: The 20 Tiniest Homes On Earth

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We caught up with Olivia Raymer, product manager at BootsnAll Travel Network to get an insider’s advice on the best way to explore the Portland local food scene.

Most people don’t know this, but to get a true taste of the local culture… cross the river. It’s not exactly a Portland secret, but visitors tend to stick close to the downtown area. To get a sense of local culture, hide out in a coffee shop, brew pub, or food cart pod for a couple hours and absorb the conversation and people. Sit at the bar.

On your first day here, seeing this is a must: Bridges, mountains, and rivers. While you might get a peek of Mt. Hood if you fly in on a clear day, one of the most beautiful things about Portland is the nature scattered all around the city. So spend a bit of time gazing at the beauty around you… grab a coffee and head to Waterfront Park, walk or bike over the Steel or Hawthorne bridge, kayak around Ross Island on the Willamette… No matter where you reside on the outdoorsy-scale, you’ll find something in Portland to suit you. And of course, go check out Powell’s Books when you’re done.

For a glimpse of daily life, I recommend this form of transportation: As one of the most bike-friendly cities in America, biking is a must-do while you’re here. Even if you don’t bike at home, there are tons of trails and paths that can take you all over the city or just a quick pedal around the Waterfront –- no on-street cycling required on this 2 1/2 mile loop.

I had my best night’s sleep at: Best is a relative term in Portland. If you’re here to sleep, there are plenty of fabulous (and a little pricier) boutique hotels in the area, like the Nines, Hotel Modera, and Hotel deLuxe (all downtown). If you’re here for some fun, and are on a budget, there are a number of cool hotels under $115/night like Jupiter Hotel, Ace Hotel, and several McMenamin’s properties that will save you some money, but also offer up a bit of extra fun ranging from free rental bikes, soaking pools, brewpub movie theaters, photo booths, cocktail bars and more.

The meal at this local eatery had me salivating for days: Portland is foodie heaven. Over the last few years, Portland hit the national radar for its food scene, and for good reason. Portland food focuses on local, in-season premium ingredients. One of the best places to experience local food at its finest is Bamboo Sushi – the first certified, sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. Although Bamboo can be on the pricier end of Portland dining, one of the best things about Portland food, in general, is the quality/price ratio of food. We have good food, for cheap. So if you’re in the market for some budget eats, Portland is the right place to be.

Best place to find artisan handicrafts: Finding local shopping is not a difficult task in Portland. You’ll probably find more handmade items, than not. Alberta Arts district, Mississippi Ave, and Hawthorne/Belmont areas all have tons of little shops. There’s also the Saturday Market which runs both days on the weekends and is chock full of handicrafts. Just try to leave the Portlandia “Put a bird on it” jokes at home.

Local celebration not to be missed: While there always seems to be something interesting happening in Portland, summer is the best season to experience Portland festivals. In June, Pedalpalooza intersects with PDX Beer Week. Pedalpalooza is three weeks of bikey fun, with group rides and free events organized by individuals, ranging from 50+ people taking to the streets in funky knee high socks, to Bowie v. Prince rides, and the World Naked Bike Ride. PDX Beer week is 10 days of beer-centric events and tastings, which runs into July’s Oregon Craft Beer Month. Attending one these summer events is a great way to experience the fun and eccentric passion Portlanders have for their “hobbies”.

Favorite pastimes: Portland is a city full of hobbyists and creatives. You’ll run into a lot of people who work part time and/or focus on a craft, and people with side projects. There always seems to be something interesting happening, somewhere in town. So drink beer, eat cheese, go to happy hour, go kayaking, go 80s dancing, tour as many coffee shops as you can, lounge in the park, or drive an hour to the Oregon coast, or an hour in the opposite direction to Mt. Hood or the Columbia River Gorge/Hood River, or drive 30 minutes south to wine country.

For a more bucolic/green setting I escape here: Portland has 279 parks (that’s 10,000 acres of natural areas!) – something for everyone. While no secret find, Mount Tabor is a great place to escape to soak in some green, quiet landscapes and views of the city and Mt. Hood. At 636 feet, Mount Tabor is a one of three cities in the U.S. to have an extinct volcano within city limits. Another great option is the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park with over 7,000 plants.

The art/music scene is alive and well here: You’ll find the art and music scene scattered all across Portland, in a DIY sense. What started with First Thursday in the more upscale Pearl District downtown, morphed into copy-cat nights of Last Thursday up on Mississippi and First Friday in the SE/Industrial districts. For music, there’s always something going on in this town. Doug Fir Lounge is one of my favorite venues, but check the Portland Mercury’s show schedule for up to the minute listings around town.

Where the locals get tipsy: While you’ll definitely find locals getting tipsy in downtown Portland, to get a better sense of the local bars hit up places on the east side of the river and North Portland, from inner SE neighborhoods (Bunk Bar), NE/28th (Migration Brewing), Alberta (the Nest), Mississippi (Mississippi Studios’ BarBar), Belmont (The Sweet Hereafter), Killingsworth (The Old Gold), etc. While Portland is a beer city, urban wineries (ENSO), craft cocktails (Rum Club), and distilleries are up-and-coming on the drink scene too. Sometimes it seems like another amazing new restaurant or bar is opening every week. So if you’re looking for the latest places, check out Eater PDX’s Where to Drink Now heatmap.

Most ludicrous stereotype about the people here: Since the popularity of the Portlandia TV show, it might seem easy just to slap the hipster sticker on Portland and call it a day. However, Portland is a city of fascinating history, incredible nature, and truly interesting people. A decade ago, ‘hipster’ wasn’t a term circulating on the Portland description list. It was just a city where many people flocked to do their own thing. You might see ‘oddities’, sure, but that’s been making this city tick for decades. For an interesting look at the culture of ‘Portland weird’ check out Palahniuk’s Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon.

If I had only 24 hours to explore Portland, I would: Start your morning early at the PSU Farmers Market (if it’s a Saturday) — great for people watching and drinking coffee. Next up, experience the breakfast “scene” in Portland (Screen Door, Jam, Tasty n Sons, Waffle Window are all favorites). Follow breakfast with a bike ride (or walk). Rent a bike near Waterfront Park, cross the Hawthorne bridge, check out a brew pub on the east side (Hair of the Dog or Bunk Bar), or if you’re feeling more adventurous go for a longer bike ride up to North Portland (Amnesia Brewing or 5^th Quadrant). If you’re ready to eat again, hit up a food cart pod (Cartopia pod at SE 12^th & Hawthorne favs are Pyro Pizza, Potato Champion, Perierra Creperie) or Boke Bowl, a ramen shop on Water Ave. From the eastside, circle North back over the Steel Bridge to return your bike near the waterfront.

Spend your afternoon pursuing your favorite hobby – if you don’t hate books, spend a bit of time at Powell’s. If you want more outdoor views, check the Portland Rose garden, Council Crest, Rocky Butte, Mt Tabor, or the grounds of Pittock Mansion (all free options). If movies are your thing, check out your chance to drink at the movies by heading to the Bagdad Theater or Laurelhurst. If you need to get caffeinated, check out Barista, Ristretto Roasters, Extracto, or Stumptown. For dinner, if you don’t already have a giant list of places you’re dying to try, fire up the Yelp app and pick the closest 4-star restaurant to you. We’re pretty serious about our online reviews in Portland, so you [probably] won’t be led astray with this strategy. Or go for town favorites: Pok Pok, Toro Bravo, or The Observatory. On a budget? Go for Por Que No, Little Big Burger, or another food cart. If music is your thing, head to the Doug Fir for a cheap (usually $10-ish, and often local) indie show. Finish your night by checking out Portland’s growing cocktail scene, at Rum Club, Clyde Commons, or Central.

SEE ALSO: A Local's Guide To Shanghai

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In 1993, the world went crazy for Beanie Babies, small, plush animals by toy company Ty.

Heralded as valuable collectibles, people would rush out to buy the $5.95 toys for their children or themselves, eagerly waiting for them to appreciate in value.

But then the Beanie Baby bubble burst.

As far as bubbles go, it wasn't bad — at worst, most collectors were stuck with a few worthless stuffed animals they'd overpaid for.

But one family found themselves sunk by the toys.

The Robinsons of Los Angeles currently have tens of thousands of Beanie Babies, all stacked neatly away and labeled in boxes. The family estimates they spent roughly $100,000 on the collection, thinking it would eventually appreciate in value and pay for their kids to attend college.

But the spending was only the tip of the iceberg. For a time, the family let the dolls rule their lives, hopping from one "Beanie joint" to another, trying to side step the "one-per-family rule" by recruiting neighbors make purchased for them and going to extreme lengths to catalogue and preserve their Beanie Baby hoard.

In 2009, their oldest son, Chris Robinson, decided to direct a short documentary (resurrected by Dazed Digital, which recently interviewed Chris) called "Bankrupt by Beanies" about his family's experience.

He interviewed his brothers Christian and Taylor, his mother Lesleigh, and his father Chris Robinson Senior to find out more about how the obsession started and the impact it had on his family.

When Taylor was three or four, he wanted a Beanie Baby. After his father Chris Sr. learned that they were valuable, he began to take the kids to different "Beanie joints" to get as many of the toys as possible.

"This is like admitting to a drug addiction," Chris Sr. now says of the Beanie Babies. He knew the schedules of when new toys were being released, and had an inside source about how much they would be worth.

Chris Sr. admits that when certain specialty items would come out, he'd buy more than one for each of his 5 children. He bought a total of 50 "Soar" Bald Eagle Buddies because they would only be sold for a day.

There have been close to 20 fraternity hazing-related deaths since 2005, and more than a quarter of those deaths happened in 2012, according to statistics compiled by Business Insider.

2005 is the same year the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FratPAC) — a lobbying group that claims to "support candidates who promote legislation that encourages hazing mitigation" — was founded.

But as two recent Bloomberg articles on the fraternity lobbying group show, it's clear that national hazing reform is not truly on FratPAC's agenda. The group has fought against efforts to pass legislation that deny financial aid to students who hazed, according to Bloomberg's David Glovin.

The graph below shows donations to FratPAC from various sororities and fraternities.

It's worth noting that since 2005, Sigma Alpha Epsilon has had threehazing-relateddeaths in its chapters. Lambda Phi Epsilon and Theta Chi have each hadtwohazing-relateddeaths. These deaths happened all across the country, and were not centralized around a specific chapter or region. None of those fraternities appear on the list below.

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The Cronut has enticed hundreds of people to wait hours in line at Dominique Ansel Bakery.

The confection, a croissant-donut hybrid that the SoHo bakery launched in May, has gained popularity and fame beyond anything Ansel ever imagined, he told Business Insider.

But there is more to Dominique Ansel Bakery than the croissant-donut hybrid.

“I think it’s important to understand we have so much more," Ansel said.

"I invite people to come and just to look at the bakery case and see what’s around. It shows all the pastries and what we can do. It’s not only about one product. It’s not only about the cronut. It’s about everything else in the bakery and everything has a little story or charm and magic into it."

Here are 10 reasons to visit Dominique Ansel Bakery besides the Cronut:

1. Small-batch baking

Five or six batches of items are baked throughout the day — the cookies every 30 minutes — to ensure they are warm and fresh for purchase.

“One of my child memories was going to the bakery with my mom and my grandma like three, four times a day just to get bread. Just to get fresh bread that was coming out of the oven," Ansel said. "That’s something that I really want to bring to the bakery. That’s why we do a lot of fresh-baked items.”

The chef has been approached numerous times about franchising and expanding the bakery but for fear of sacrificing quality, he said he isn't interested.

“There’s always something hot coming out from the oven and people love that aspect of the bakery — the freshness, the quality," he said.

2. The Garden

Behind the bakery is an enclosed jardin where guests can enjoy a coffee, pastry and lunch.

3. The "DKA" 

"Dominique’s Kouign Amann," the chef's signature item, was selling out every day long before the Cronut.

“It’s a specialty from France and I put a twist on it," Ansel said. "I make it much lighter — a lot less butter, a lot less sugar — something very light, gooey in the center and caramelized on the outside. It’s very, very tasty. I eat one, actually, every morning.”

4. Lunch

The bakery makes the traditional small cakes to-order. It doesn't get any fresher than that.

“I refuse to bake them ahead of time and put them in a bag," Ansel said. "They get dry, they get cold, it’s not the same experience as when you have those fresh. it’s so much better.”

6. The Paris-New York

Ansel's version of the Paris Brest is made with peanut butter, chocolate, and caramel instead of with hazelnut cream.

7. Kitchen-Watching

The tiny space is visible through a glass wall so patrons can see items prepared.

8. New Menu Items

Ansel said he constantly challenges himself to create new things and as a result, the lunch and pastry menus change every six to eight weeks. The changes have kept the daily customers for long periods and many visit multiple times per day, according to the chef.

9. The Atmosphere

“When I started working on the bakery, I really wanted to bring some French spirit, some French quality of the food, I wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed and very New York style and I wanted people to come in and feel like they could grab a pastry and stay and grab a cup of coffee and stay and have a good time." Ansel said. "Nothing makes me feel better than to see happiness in people face when they eat my pastries. To see them really enjoying it and having a good time with their friends."

10. Ansel Himself

Before the Cronut exploded, Dominique Ansel was already an accomplished and renowned chef. He was the Executive Pastry Chef at Daniel in New York City for six years and a 2013 James Beard Award finalist for Best Pastry Chef.

He's in the bakery day in and day out, and a genuinely nice guy who is clearly passionate about what he does. Order the bakery's new Frozen S'more, and you can watch him personally torch the dessert to perfection.

SEE ALSO: Fast Food Hacks That Will Change The Way You Eat

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Bugatti will launch six new special editions based on its Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, celebrating the men that have shaped its history.

The series is called the Les Légendes de Bugatti (Bugatti Legends) and the first of the six planned cars has been revealed today.

This first ‘Legend’ has been named after racing driver Jean-Pierre Wimille and will make its formal debut at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance taking place in California in just a couple of weeks.

Wimille helped achieved Bugatti’s two victories in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans: in 1937, driving a Bugatti 57G Tank co-piloted by Robert Benoist, and repeating the feat in 1939, this time supported by Pierre Veyron in a 57C Tank.

The winning race car from 1937 is the inspiration behind the design of the Bugatti Legend ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’ Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The original car appeared in the racing blue finish that habitually identified French racing cars. Accordingly, the special Veyron now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paint color.

No changes have been made to the mechanicals which means peak output from the car’s quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16 remains at 1,184 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is limited to 233 mph, though we know the car is capable of hitting 254 mph--with its top down. The 0-62 mph run takes 2.6 seconds.

Three examples of the Bugatti Legend ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’ Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse will be built and we suspect all have already been accounted for. The remaining five special editions will be revealed over the next 12 months.

According to Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Schreiber, the latest special editions help tell the story of the brand and at the same time create a link between its illustrious past and the present form.

Stay tuned for the car’s reveal at Pebble Beach and for our complete coverage of the event be sure to visit our dedicated hub.

From left to right: Pierre Veyron, Jean Bugatti and Jean-Pierre Wimille.

SEE ALSO: $1.5 Billion Worth Of Aston Martins Got Together For The Company's 100th Birthday

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