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Bill Gates Cracked A Funny Condom Joke On Reddit (MSFT)

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bill gates

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates did an "ask me anything" session on Reddit on today.

One thing is certain, Gates has a good sense of humor about his foundation's more far-out projects.

For instance, someone asked him about creating a next-generation condom. No joke. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is trying to create the condom of the future that will be so awesome that guys want to wear it. They figure such a thing will help reduce HIV infections. In November, The Foundation sifted through 812 submissions and offered grants to 11 newfangled condom designers.

When asked about it on Monday, Gates answered with a pretty funny witticism. Emphasis ours:

alex4346: Any luck with the condom design competition?

Bill Gates: This is a sensitive topic. The idea was that men don't like the current design so perhaps something they would be more open to would allow for less HIV transmission. We still haven't gotten the results. One grantee is using carbon nanotubes to reduce the thickness.

The joke, "This is a sensitive topic" wasn't lost on the Reddit crowd and a pile-on of humor ensued. One user posted a GIF of Nicolas Cage looking strangely turned on. Others riffed on the name of the new condom, and so on.

But Gates probably didn't mind that his joke set them all off. He also told Redditors that one of the biggest things that's changed about him in the last 20 years is that he's "more mellow" and, he hoped, also had "a bit more wisdom."

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This Map Shows Which Countries Are Stealing Away The Most US Residents

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More U.S. residents have been moving to Australia, Brazil, and Germany in recent years than America is taking in from those countries, according to United Van Lines.

The mega mover says that in at least two of the past three years, those countries have enjoyed a net positive migration balance out of the U.S. United would not provide exact specifics on actual number of moves. Nor did they provide demographics, so it's not clear whether these are Americans or just citizens from the respective countries moving back.

The top 10 overall moving destinations in 2013 for U.S. residents were:

Germany
U.K.
Australia
China
France
Switzerland
Japan
India
The Netherlands
Singapore

And here's the full list of deficit countries. (They are not ranked.)

In 2013, the U.S. saw a moving deficit to:

  • Germany
  • Australia 

In 2012, the U.S. saw a moving deficit to:

  • Germany
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Australia
  • China
  • Switzerland
  • Chile
  • United Arab Emirates

In 2011, the U.S. saw a moving deficit to:

  • Brazil
  • Japan
  • Hong Kong
  • Italy

And here's a map covering all three years. The countries in red are the ones where the U.S. had a deficit twice during the period; green, once.

united van lines moving deficit

 

SEE ALSO: The No. 1 Moving Destination In America Hasn't Changed In Years

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A Chinese Artist Has Done Something Unbelievable With Paper

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Li Hongbo's mesmerizing sculptures are currently on view at Klein Sun Gallery in New York. After years of trial and error, he's perfected his method of layering thousands of sheets of paper and carving them into busts, replicas of nature and human forms.

Produced by Alana Kakoyiannis. Additional camera by Justin Gmoser.

NOW WATCH: We Followed A Cosplayer Into The World Of Anime, Tight Vinyl Costumes, And Nerd Culture

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

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The Most Romantic Hotels In 6 Big Cities Around The US

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The experts at Hotels.com just released a list of Cities We Love, where San Francisco took the top spot for most charming city in America. With Valentine's Day approaching, we asked the hotel reservation site to share some of the most romantic hotels in America's most charming cities, based on guest ratings.

Here's where you should plan your romantic getaway, next weekend or any other time.

San Francisco

Hotel Monaco, San Francisco — a Kimpton Hotel

Hotel Monaco San FranciscoAverage rating: 4.4

Rating for romantic stays: 4.7

The Hotel Monaco is a 1910 Beaux Arts building with a "Tree of Life" sculpture by renowned Bay Area artist Albert Guibara in the lobby. "The hotel is beautifully decorated, maintained, and staffed," Karen wrote in her review on Hotels.com, "The wine hour was perfect."

Argonaut Hotel — a Kimpton Hotel

Average rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Visitor's Center is connected to the Argonaut Hotel's lobby. A nautical theme runs throughout the 252 guest rooms. "The hotel was lovely and conveniently located near Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf," Jenny Sue wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

Palace Hotel — Luxury Collection

Average rating: 4.4

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

William Ralston opened the Palace Hotel in 1875 to rival Europe's finest destinations. The Palace features a stained glass dome and Austrian-crystal chandeliers throughout. "We were surprised with a bottle of chilled champagne, delightful chocolates and a hand written note from Adriana at the front desk," Kelli and Emil wrote of their honeymoon stay at the Palace in their review on Hotels.com.

New Orleans

Hotel Mazarin

Hotel Mazarin New OrleansAverage rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.7

A block away from Bourbon Street, Hotel Mazarin sits in New Orleans' French Quarter. It also has an on-site wine bar and valet parking. "High end stay at a very reasonable rate for area," Dann wrote in his review on Hotels.com. "Staff was always helpful with a great sense of humor."

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

Average rating: 4.5

Rating for romantic stays: 4.7

The Hotel Monteleone New Orleans dates back to 1886. Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner and Truman Capote counted it among their favorite destinations. It also features a Carousel Lounge that completes a a 360-degree turn every 15 minutes. "The hotel restaurant, Criello, where we had our anniversary dinner was exquisite," Mark wrote in his review on Hotels.com.

Le Pavillon Hotel

Average rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

The Beaux Arts Le Pavillon Hotel features Parisian woodwork, Italian-marble floors and five Czech crystal chandeliers. It also houses Le Gallery Lounge, which offers a variety of liquors and cigars. But they have a sense of humor amid the finery. "The PB & J with the hot cocoa every night took my wife and I back to our childhood," Carey B wrote on his review on Hotels.com.

San Diego

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

Manchester Grand Hyatt San DiegoAverage rating: 4.5

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

The Grand Hyatt's marble-floored lobby leads to Retail Row, which includes the Regency Gift Shop and the Madison Fine Art store. It's also within walking distance of several well-rated seafood establishments. "Excellent location with amazing harbor and city views," Doug Davis wrote in his review on Hotels.com.

Hotel Solamar — a Kimpton Hotel

Average rating: 4.5

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

A boutique San Diego hotel, Hotel Solamar sits in the heart of the Gas lamp Quarter. It's close to the San Diego Repertory Theater and Petco Park for baseball games. "The SoCal Hour the hotel offers is awesome," Damien wrote in his review on Hotels.com. "You get to mingle with other guests and find other attractive things the city has to offer."

The U.S. Grant — Luxury Collection

Average rating: 4.5

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

The U.S. Grant sits nearby the San Diego Opera and Repertory Theatre. The hotel also houses a Zagat-rated restaurant. "Impeccable personalized service. Fabulous food and drinks at Grant's Grill. Walking distance to nightlife," Michelle wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

Denver

Hotel Teatro

Average rating: 4.7

Rating for romantic stays: 4.6

Hotel Teatro sits in the heart of Denver's music and theatre district, perfect for an artistic and romantic getaway. A boutique hotel surrounded by culinary hotspots, the hotel features broad Rocky Mountain views. "A beautiful room, well-kept and a fantastic rainforest shower and deep soaking tub made this a wonderful hotel for a romantic evening," Lynn wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

Hotel Monaco Denver — a Kimpton Hotel

Hotel Monaco DenverAverage rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays 4.6

Hotel Monaco is a 189-room boutique hotel in downtown Denver close to Coors Field and Sports Authority Field. It's also well known for Panzano, which serves northern Italian homemade pastas and fresh seafood. "Great room, great service and an awesome in-room massage," Justin wrote in his review on Hotels.com

Magnolia Hotel Denver 

Average rating: 4.4

Rating for romantic stays: 4.5

The Magnolia is a block away from the 16th Street shopping district. They have a tradition of serving milk with warm cookies to guests every evening. "Great room, great views. I sprung for the fireplace. The happy hour and cookies are great," Rob wrote in his review on Hotels.com.

Seattle

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Garden at Fairmont Olympic Hotel SeattleAverage rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.9

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also offers complimentary town car service within downtown Seattle. "It is close to great restaurants and sightseeing," Pamela wrote in her review on Hotels.com. "The service was outstanding and the rooms clean and comfortable."

Hotel 1000

Average rating: 4.8

Rating for romantic stays: 4.8

Hotel 1000 sits two blocks away from the famous Pike Place outdoor market. It's a modern hotel, built in 2006, that features a golf club where you can put on virtual courses. "Champagne at check in, free car service and a menu for food at 1 a.m. were just a few of the ways they made our stay amazing," Amy wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

Grand Hyatt Seattle

Average rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.8

The Grand Hyatt sits within walking distance of the Seattle Waterfront and Space Needle.  It has a Pacific Rim vibe throughout the 425 guest rooms. "Breakfast in bed was included with our stay and so worth it," Bonnye wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

Boston

The Liberty Hotel — a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel

Liberty Hotel BostonAverage rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.8

Formerly the Charles Street Jail, the Liberty Hotel is a National Historic Landmark. It still has retains the original granite work and cupola built in 1851. "The hotel was clean and comfortable," Debbie wrote in her review on Hotels.com. "Loved the architecture and history of the hotel itself and it was within easy walking distance to Beacon Hill and other must-see sites." 

The Langham, Boston

Average rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.7

Built in 1922, The Langham used to be the Federal Reserve Bank. The bar on site, called Bond, used to be an old vault in the bank. The hotel retains the marble entryway and is full of antique furniture and 16th century maps of the city. "The Langham clearly takes customer service seriously. Every staff member, including the Desk Clerk, Bell man, Door man, concierge, and housekeeping staff was wonderful," Hank wrote in his review on Hotels.com

Millennium Bostonian Hotel Boston

Average rating: 4.6

Rating for romantic stays: 4.7

The Millennium sits right next to next to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market in Boston. It's also close to Boston Harbor, the New England Aquarium, North End restaurants and the Freedom Trail. "Excellent location to explore the historic district by foot, to make harbor tours and have a good meal in the Italian district," Jo wrote in her review on Hotels.com.

SEE ALSO: The Most Romantic Restaurants In 15 Big Cities Around The US

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Some San Franciscans Waited 2 Hours In The Rain For Day-Old New York City Bagels

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NyC eastside bagels san francisco

This past Saturday in San Francisco, people stood in line for two hours in the rain for day-old New York City bagels.

According to Eater San Francisco, the plain and everything bagels were overnighted from legendary New York deli Russ & Daughters to the Dear Mom pop-up restaurant Eastside Bagels. The imported bagels could be topped with plain, jalapeno, scallion and garlic, or olive cream cheese, or made into an open-faced sandwiches with toppings like pastrami or lox.

A huge line formed immediately for the famed bagels. By 11:30 AM — when Eastside Bagels officially opened — there was a line stretching around the building.

Some customers waited in line for more than two hours for the imported Russ & Daughters bagels, with many anxious foodies going home empty-handed.

The idea for imported NYC bagels was conceived by Sonya Haines and Wes Rowe, who told SFist, "There has never been a pop-up [at Dear Mom] with a line like today. Next time we know what to expect, and will be ready."

See some Twitter pictures of the insanity below.

SEE ALSO: How Authentic New York Bagels Are Made

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Here Are The Countries That Drink The Most Hard Liquor [MAP]

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Whether it's whiskey, vodka, or soju, people around the world love their liquor. And some countries love liquor more than others.

Global marketing research firm Euromonitor International shared their analysis of the market for hard liquor in 53 countries around the world. This map shows the amount of liquor sold in each country during 2013 per capita, per week:

world liquor map shots per week

South Korea handily dominates the list of countries, drinking more than twice as much liquor per capita as any other country. Three predominantly Muslim countries — Egypt, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia — reported zero liquor sales in 2013.

We converted the Euromonitor data from mL to shots, using a standard U.S. 1.5 oz (44 mL) shot glass.

Americans drink about 2.5 shots per week, putting us just out of the top ten countries.

Here are the ten countries in Euromonitor's database who consume the most liquor:

  1. South Korea — 11.2 shots/week
  2. Russia — 5.0 shots/week
  3. Thailand — 4.8 shots/week
  4. Poland — 4.0 shots/week
  5. Japan — 3.6 shots/week
  6. Philippines — 3.5 shots/week
  7. Bulgaria — 3.3 shots/week
  8. Slovakia — 3.0 shots/week
  9. Ukraine — 2.8 shots/week
  10. France — 2.7 shots/week

SEE ALSO: Beer Experts Say These Are The 20 Best Beers In The World

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Comedy Central's Nathan Fielder Is Behind 'Dumb Starbucks'

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Nathan Fielder

Comedy Central's Nathan Fielder is the man behind the Starbucks parody shop "Dumb Starbucks," Deadline is reporting.

“I’m proud to announce we’ll be opening our second Starbucks in Brooklyn NY soon,” Fielder reportedly said.

The bizarre parody shop opened up this weekend, serving up free coffee to a long line of Los Angeles residents and fueling discussion about whether the store was inviting a trademark suit.

In a YouTube video, Fielder appears to be poking fun at U.S. intellectual property law, which in some cases protects "parodies" from lawsuits by the companies they're making fun of.

"By adding the word 'dumb,' we are legally allowed to use the coveted Starbucks name and logo because we've fulfilled the minimum requirements to be considered a parody under U.S. law," he said. "We have a full menu including all your favorite Starbucks items."

Later on, he added, "Many of you probably know me as a comedian, but this is no bit or joke."

While Fielder is poking fun at U.S. law, Starbucks appears to be taking the store, and its potential trademark infringement, quite seriously.

"We are aware of the store  it is not affiliated with Starbucks," Starbucks rep Megan Adams told The Hollywood Reporter. "We are evaluating next steps and, while we appreciate the humor, they cannot use our name, which is a protected trademark."

From the start, many believed the store was some kind of gimmick because its use of the Starbucks trademark was so blatant. Earlier Monday, people were already specuating that it was a prank by Fielder's show "Nathan For You."

Fielder, a Canadian comic, plays a version of himself on the "docu-reality" comedy series, and he uses odd strategies to help business owners, as The Hollywood Reporter notes.

Others were implicated in the fake Starbucks affair before Fielder finally took credit. The Associated Press has previously reported that "Dumb Starbucks" was the work of a comedy duo with a cult followingThat pair, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, got permits to film at the site of the "parody" shop three different times, the AP noted. While it's unclear if they were also involved in Fielder's stunt, they are both producers on his show "Nathan for You."

A Los Angeles artist named Marc Horowitz also took credit on Twitter for the Starbucks "parody" store.

"my project is causing quite a stir - lol," Horowitz tweeted, linking to a Los Angles Times story on "Dumb Starbucks."

Later, he tweeted, "Would love to do interviews about #dumbstarbucks." As of Monday evening, Fielder was the only comic who had officially taken credit for the fake store. It's not clear whether Horowitz also has a connection to "Nathan for You."

 

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Bill Gates Washes The Dishes Himself Every Night

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bill gates welcomes satya nadella new ceo microsoft

Bill Gates, the world's richest man, likes to wash dishes so much that he does it every night, he revealed Monday during an "ask me anything" session on Reddit.

Redditor briannnf asked him:

 "I'd just like to know, what is something you enjoy doing that you think no one would expect from you?"

Bill Gates: Playing Bridge is a pretty old fashioned thing in a way that I really like. I was watching my daughter ride horses this weekend and that is also a bit old fashioned but fun. I do the dishes every night - other people volunteer but I like the way I do it.

That's a pretty surprising thing for him to chose to do, given that washing dishes isn't generally considered a fun activity.

But he's not alone in doing the dishes because he feel he does it best. There's even a term for that, thanks to the blog A Michelle Moment: Dishwasher Packing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (DPOCD). You can even buy greeting cards for those with DPOCD.

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Facebook May Be Able To Predict The Perfect Age For You To Get Married

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Can Facebook predict your ideal age to get married? 

Probably, by polling all of your married friends on the network and finding what age they were, on average, when they tied the knot. 

TIME created an app just in time for Valentine's Day to test it out. When you connect to Facebook, the app reveals how many of your friends are married, and what age you should get married based on their data. It pulls information for your friends who list their birthdays on Facebook, and who say they're either "engaged," "married," "in a domestic partnership" or "in a civil union."

I tried it and it was pretty spot on. Facebook says I should be married within seven months, at age 28.4. I'm getting married this year, just after my 28th birthday (and I never told Facebook what date specifically).

To try it, head over to TIME.

facebook marriage data

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Business Insider Reader, Tell Us More About YOU

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neil degrasse tyson shades pointing business insider

You may have heard recently that Business Insider is now bigger than the Wall Street Journal.

As we continue to grow, we'd like to do our best to make sure that you, the reader, continue to enjoy your experience on Business Insider. The first step is learning more about you and how you use the site so we can make your time here even better. 

Are you reading Business Insider on your smartphone or tablet? Do you consider yourself a go-to person for advice and information? Where do you share and post articles you find interesting?

Click here to take the survey. All we need is five minutes of your time. 

Thanks in advance for your candid answers.

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The Unofficial Goldman Sachs Guide To Surviving Valentine's Day

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valentine's day, victoria's secret modelsI won’t lie. I love Valentine’s Day.

It’s not because I am some hopeless romantic or benevolent lover who finds pleasure in making other people happy. In fact, the day itself can be pretty tedious, and certainly the commercial aspects are rather tacky and vulgar.  

But Valentine’s Day is a game. And like all things in life, I don't want to lose.

So… here are some fairly simple, yet definitive and strong words of advice on ensuring a victorious Valentine’s Day.

Stay at home on the big night.

  • Prix fixe menus are bulls--t. If I wanted a complimentary glass of champagne, I'd board my Virgin Atlantic flights 5 minutes earlier.
  • Besides, her menu won't have any prices on it.  How's she going to know how much she's supposed to appreciate the evening?
  • Instead, line up a thoughtfully prepared home-cooked meal at your place. Focus on the booze, a meal within your culinary comfort zone, and a classic romantic movie.  
  • Don’t bother with "Out of Africa." Although it's the manliest chick flick of all time, it'll also put her to sleep.
  • Go for "Coming to America" if she's in her 30s, and "50 First Dates" if she’s in her 20s, and only has two stamps in her passport, and they both say “Cancun.”

Celebrate the extravagant restaurant meal the night before, or the night after. 

  • It's less crowded. 
  • You won't get price-gouged.
  • You get to avoid the 3,000-calorie, 8-course prix fixe meal that ruins your night when she falls asleep too soon.
  • And… You can probably expense it.

Always send flowers to her office. 

  • Under normal circumstances, sending flowers to the office is a terrible idea. It's like a giant neon sign that tells all of her colleagues, "Hey everybody, my Wall Street boyfriend is an a--hole and this is his lazy way of apologizing for something."
  • But on Valentine's Day, chicks are hyper-competitive. Make sure it's either alive, or comes in a decent vase. Nothing is worse than forcing her to awkwardly lug home some thirsty bouquet on an evening when cabs are scarce and she’s already in a hurry to get dressed up for you.

“On Valentine's Day, I send my wife flowers with a card that says 'Congratulations'.”

  • Have the flowers delivered before lunchtime, just so you don’t have to deal with a barrage of inquisitive (irritating) mid-day calls and texts.
  • Send her something she can keep in the office for a few days (or longer) to show it off.
  • I’d recommend orchids. That way, she can rub it in her coworkers’ faces for months to come, and it’ll help ward off that piece-of-s--t, David Lindhagen.
  • While you are at it, send the two hottest chicks in your office flowers from the biggest douchebag in the office.  Address them both, “My Rosebud.”

No spa certificates. Period.

  • First of all, that’s what poor people do.
  • Secondly, it’s not-at-all thoughtful.
  • Going to the spa shouldn’t be treated like some special occasion. She should be making spa visits on a regular basis, mostly for herself, but also for your benefit.

Forget about jewelry; opt for a romantic vacation.

  • Don’t get me wrong—jewelry is great. But save that for Christmas, birthdays, and for when you really screw up.
  • A vacation is a gift that you get to enjoy too.
  • Instead of just giving her a printed out itinerary and e-ticket, go all out, and present it in something thoughtful like the perfect weekend travel bag (Valextra)or a sexy leather passport cover (Aspinal of London).
  • Mix it up; things can get tricky on a repeat visit to the same go-to spot. It’s unnecessarily stressful when you’re with a new girl and you have to constantly pretend it’s your first time there.
  • I’d recommend The Ocean Club (Bahamas), Jumby Bay (Antigua), La Esperanza (Cabo), Babington House (UK), Hiiragiya (Kyoto), or Nikoi Island (Singapore).

If you’re reading this on February 14th and have nothing planned… Don’t sweat it. Graff is open until 6 p.m.

Finally, always remember, your performance on Valentine’s Day will be seen by other women. Use this stage as an opportunity to line up other prospects.


NOW WATCH: How They Make Lingerie Models Look So Good

 

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Facebook Knows Who You're Going To Marry Based On Your Religion

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Star Wars Wedding

Valentine's Day is a mere 72 hours away, so here's a fun fact: Jedis (who practice Jediismbased on the teachings of the Jedi Knights in the "Star Wars" movies) have an above average likelihood of marrying another jedi, compared to everyone else.

This comes from a study by Facebook's Data Science unit. According to Quartz, the social network is currently "focusing their all-seeing gaze on the world of romance and, in the first installment, how it intersects with religion."

All different kinds of religion, even ones based in Star Wars theology. 

Here's what they found: people are less likely to date or eventually marry people who are of a different religion — even in some of the world’s most religiously diverse countries.

Quartz reports:

The United Kingdom is 40% Protestant, 17% Catholic, 15% atheist and 11% Muslim: if religion played no role, the odds suggest that only about one in five relationships would be between people of the same religionThe actual figure is 73%In even more religiously diverse countries like Singapore and Taiwan, more than 90% of people are in relationships with people they might meet at their mosque, temple, or church.

But in the USA, for example, Mormons and Sikhs are the most likely to stay within their religions, which makes up about 90% of relationships within those groups.

Jews, however, are more likely to date and marry outside their faith, despite the fact that they make up a larger part of the population.

Here is the chart (below) from Facebook showing the fraction of current relationships between two people of the same religion. While jedis are more likely to marry each other than the average person, they're still the least likely of all the religions to find another jedi to wed:

Facebook Relationship

SEE ALSO: Snow is coming to Atlanta again! Here's what supermarkets look like right before a storm hits.

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'BAD, BAD PANDA!': Here’s The Story Behind The Most Famous Photo on Flickr

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flickr error page pandaJapanese photographer Nagano Toyokazu unknowingly captured a perfect shot for Flickr's server error page while practicing his newfound photography skills.

The photo— which appears any time the site is having system problems — shows a young girl pulling a leashed expressionless panda bear statue in the middle of a farm road. The error message reads, "Bad, bad panda! Come on we want photos."

It is part of a 200+ series entitled My Daughter Kanna, featuring Toyokazu's 5-year-old posing with playful props on a road near their home in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. 

According to Markus Spiering, Flickr's Head of Product, the online photo sharing site was looking for a fun photograph with a simple message.

"We don't like when we have to serve an error message so we wanted to find something that would still make users smile. We looked through a selection of photos before finding Toyokazu's photo and we felt this panda was the best fit," he wrote via email.

Spiering also mentioned that panda bears are the official mascot for the site, with application programming interface (API) methods flickr.panda.getPhotos and flickr.panda.getList and playful description of processes using imaginary pandas Ling Ling, Hsing Hsing, and Wang Wang.

Toyokazu wrote by email that he was happy to see a piece of his father-daughter weekend bonding activity become so popular. He plans on taking more pictures of his eldest daughter who just recently turned 10-years-old.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of adults they’ll become. That’s why I want to make sure I capture the two of them, in picture form, as they are now, " Toyokazu wrote via email.

Here are a few more photos from Toyokazu's photography series:

Kanna japan

Kanna japan

Kanna Japan

kanna japan

Kanna Japan

kanna japan

Kanna Japan

Kanna Japan

kanna japan

Kanna Japan

Kanna Japan

SEE ALSO: A Photographer Mom Turned Her Sleeping Baby Into Adorable Works Of Art

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24 Extraordinary New Photos Taken By Teenagers

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Turjoy Chowdhury_Bangladesh_Shortlist Youth_Environment_2014

Sony and World Photography Organization have announced the shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, Youth category. 

More than 135,000 images were submitted to the contest from 166 countries. It was the highest number of entries the awards have seen in their seven year history. 

For the youth category, photographers must be 19 years old or younger. While a few of the young photographers have crossed  the line to professional, the majority are amateurs.

The awards are divided into three categories — environment, culture, and portraits. The winners will be revealed in April at the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Gala. 

ENVIRONMENT: Swiss photographer Tobin Meyers took this photo of Switzerland's Binn Valley the morning after a heavy snow.



Indonesian Michael Theodric took this photo at Ujung Genteng in Java. He is only 12-years-old.



Axel Boberg of Sweden took this at a lake near his home.



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Tech Startups Will Go Crazy For This Futuristic Campus In Silicon Valley

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A massive, futuristic new campus may soon be going up in Silicon Valley.

HOK Architects and developers Landbank, Cassidy Turley, and CB Richard Ellis have released renderings for a huge, curvy building with plenty of green space in Sunnyvale, Calif. The new structure, known as the Central & Wolfe campus, will replace an outdated "business park" currently standing on the site, according to Curbed SF

The developers hope that the 777,000-square-foot campus will attract tech startups as tenants. Central & Wolfe campus

Possible amenities include a cafeteria, coffee bar, fitness center, bank, bike repair, dry cleaning services, barbershop, and athletic fields. 

The campus will be energy-efficient, too, with plans to achieve a LEED Platinum certification.

"Our philosophy was simple: design a campus that would deliver an exciting, enhanced and enjoyable user experience. In this case, the 'users' include companies, their employees, surrounding communities, and Mother Nature," Landbank CEO Scott Jacobs said in a press release. 

The renderings show potential for a lush rooftop garden. central & wolfe campus

The Central & Wolfe campus is currently undergoing entitlement and environmental reviews. If plans are approved, the building can be completed by March of 2016, according to Jacobs. 

Maps released by the developers show that the site will be located between the Lawrence and Sunnyvale Caltrain stations. Central & Wolfe Transit Map

And this map shows the Central & Wolfe campus' location relative to the tech heavyweights headquartered in Silicon Valley. Central & Wolfe Location

SEE ALSO: This Is The Anonymous Social Network Silicon Valley Residents Are Using To Trash Talk Each Other

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Prince Alwaleed: I Have $11 To $12 Billion In 'Hidden Treasures' That Aren't Publicly Traded

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prince alwaleed bin talal

Prince Alwaleed, Saudi Arabia's self-proclaimed Warren Buffett, has seen his fund, Kingdom Holdings, return 52% since Sept. 5, when it hit a 52-week low.

And the prince has told Bloomberg that there's more where that came from.

“We have hidden treasures, lots of rich assets that aren’t publicly traded,” Alwaleed, 58, said by phone from Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where he was vacationing with his family. “They are worth more than $11 billion to $12 billion, and the market could value them at more than double that.”

His big winners recently have been Twitter, the Fours Seasons, and Chinese e-commerce retailer JD.com Inc. It's the second biggest e-commerce site in China and is considering an IPO.

Alwaleed owns 95% of Kingdom Holdings and has said since the company went public in 2008 he hasn't sold a single share. He's chasing Warren Buffett, his idol, but says that despite his recent success he won't be catching up to the Oracle of Omaha any time soon.

Alwaleed's openness about his wealth has not quieted the doubters, though. Last year, Alwaleed severed ties with Forbes' Billionaires List, saying that the publication's reporters gave Kingdom Holdings undue, biased scrutiny.

That prompted a brutal take down from Forbes reporter Kerry Dolan, who wrote:

Of the 1,426 billionaires on our list, not one–not even the vainglorious Donald Trump–goes to greater measure to try to affect his or her ranking. In 2006 when FORBES estimated that the prince was actually worth $7 billion less than he said he was, he called me at home the day after the list was released, sounding nearly in tears. “What do you want?”he pleaded, offering up his private banker in Switzerland. “Tell me what you need.

Since then, Alwaleed had been shooting down tales about him and his fund left and right. Most recently Kingdom Holdings put out a press release dispelling the rumor that he owns a diamond-encrusted Mercedes Benz, and charged people $1,000 just to touch it.

The whole rumor was silly really, considering that the car was only worth a couple million. Just a drop in Alwaleed's bucket.

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Mariah Carey And Nick Cannon Are Selling Their Bel-Air Mansion For $13 Million

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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon bel air mansion

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon put their multi-wing Bel-Air mansion on the market for just under $13 million last Friday, according to celebrity real estate blog The Real Estalker.

The celeb couple purchased the property back in spring of 2009 for $6.975 million.

The home is listed through The Agency for $12.995 million, according to Zillow.

The quasi-colonial style mansion is 11,750 square feet with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, and includes amenities such as an indoor basketball court, putting green, gym, pool, and personal movie theater. 

Welcome to Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Bel-Air mansion.

Source: Rodeo Realty



The home has 11,750 square feet of space and a grand, formal entry.

Source: Rodeo Realty



Every room has tall ceilings and huge windows that look out on the property.

Source: Rodeo Realty



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The Headlights In The New Mercedes S-Class Coupe Are Packed With Swarovski Crystals

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2015 S Class Coupe (5)

Mercedes-Benz has revealed its 2015 S-Class Coupe, the two-door version of its flagship sedan, ahead of the Geneva Motor Show next month.

It's no surprise the sporty new car is packed with luxury features like a heated armrest (optional) and the AIR-BALANCE system that keeps the interior smelling exactly how the owner wants (standard).

But Mercedes saved one of the cooler touches for the headlights — each of which is stuffed with 47 Swarovski crystals.

On the Edition 1 S550 version of the coupe, 17 angular crystals make up the daytime running lamps, and 30 round crystals form the turn signal lamps.

Based on the information from Mercedes, there's no technological advantage here (the crystals work in combination with Mercedes' LED Intelligent Light System), but the fancier material does "lend [the car] an extremely self-assured and distinctive gaze."

Mercedes has not revealed pricing for the S-Class Coupe, but the sedan version starts for $92,000. So the buyer had better be "self-assured" about his or her bank account before making the purchase.

This isn't the first time we've seen Swarovski crystals on a Mercedes. A few years ago, custom car company Garson/D.A.D showed off Mercedes-Benz SL 600 adorned with 300,000 Swarovski crystals. More recently, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal emphatically denied he owns one of these. Maybe he'll pick up an S-Class Coupe instead.

mercedes-benz sl600 covered with swarovski crystal glass

The new S-Class Coupe itself is gorgeous:

2015 S Class Coupe (11)

SEE ALSO: The New Corvette Stingray Is, Hands Down, The Most Fun Car I've Ever Driven

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Americans Complained About Airlines A Lot Less In 2013

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southwest airlines flight attendant plane door thumbs up

The U.S. Department of Transportation received 13,168 complaints about airline service in 2013, a 14.1% drop compared to the 15,338 it fielded in 2012.

But while the year was good overall, things weren't so nice once winter set in.

According to new numbers from the DOT, December complaints jumped 23.5% over December 2012, and 47.5% over November 2013.

That's not surprising, considering that, according to FlightStats, only 71.78% of North American flights were on-time in December 2013, compared to 84.16% in November 2013.

Complaints sent to the DOT cover flight delays and cancellations, mishandled baggage, oversales, fare increases, misleading advertising, poor treatment of animals, and discrimination.

Among U.S. airlines, Frontier was the subject of the highest rate of complaints — 3.09 per 100,000 passengers. Southwest came out on top, with just .34 complaints per 100,000 passengers.

SEE ALSO: The World's Fastest-Growing Plane Market Is About To Go On A Shopping Spree

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Tour The Gorgeous Florida Estate Where Thomas Edison Hid Out During The Winter

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Thomas Edison Summer House

Thomas Edison, one of the most famous inventors of all time, would have been 167 years old today. 

In memory of the American genius, here's a tour of his winter estate in Fort Meyers, Fla.

Edison purchased the property, located on the beautiful Caloosahatchee river, in 1885. The inventor's good friend, Henry Ford, bought the land next door several decades later.

Edison and Ford enjoyed fishing, boating, and planting exotic trees and plants during their leisurely winter stays.

The Edison family continued to visit the Florida retreat, dubbed Seminole Lodge, even after Edison's death in 1931. In 1947, Edison's wife, Mina Edison, deeded the property to the City of Fort Myers for $1. The Ford estate was acquired in 1988. 

The property is now open for public tours, featuring Edison's botanical gardens, rubber laboratory, and a historical museum

A pier overlooking Caloosahatchee river was constructed soon after Edison bought the property in 1885.



Edison's pier became a popular spot for fishing, boat watching, and riverfront picnics.



The views are breathtaking.



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