Just when the cold weather has finally released its hold on most of America, the rain hits.

Showing up to work on a rainy morning is an inevitable disaster. Your shoes are ruined and socks are soaked, and you're likely hauling a broken umbrella and soggy gym bag.

Here are 11 rainy day hacks to survive even the worst spring showers.

1. Salvage Broken Umbrellas With Enameled Wire

When umbrellas break in the wind, most of us toss them in the trash (or on the street), and rush to buy a new one.

But it’s pretty simple to fix a broken umbrella if one of the stretchers (those metal arms that hold the umbrella taut) has snapped.

Buy some enameled wire at a hardware store and cut off a 6-inch piece. Match up the rivet holes of the broken stretcher pieces, and insert the wire through the holes. Wrap it around and keep wrapping and threading the wire through the hole until there’s no more room. Twist the wire ends together and trim. (See full instructions here.)

You'll inevitably save money on junky umbrellas from the drugstore.

2. Buy Microfiber Towels

Store a microfiber towel at your office, in your gym bag, or in your raincoat pocket. The water-absorbent towels can dry hair quickly if it gets drenched in a downpour.

They're also useful for wet socks: Lie your socks flat on an unfolded microfiber towel and roll the towel and socks together. Squeeze. The towel will absorb the lion’s share of the moisture so your socks will dry faster.

3. Keep Newspaper Handy At Home

Newspapers may be a dying industry, but they're extremely adept at drawing moisture out of shoes. Ball newspaper up in wet shoes shoes and wrap the remainder around the outside, securing with rubber bands. 

You might have to change the newspaper a few times before the shoes are dry enough to put back in your closet, but this is a far superior method to blowing hot air on your shoes, which can cause them to shrink and for leather to warp or crack.

Once your shoes are dry, insert shoe trees to ensure they keep their shape.

4. Choose The Right Umbrella

Most of us run to a drugstore to find a sub-par umbrella, or buy an overpriced model on the street when we’re caught in a downpour.

But there are plenty of quality umbrella options out there. There’s one that lets you text by keeping your fingers free; an umbrella that shields you from slanting rain; and an über-durable, storm-proof umbrella that won't break in the wind.

Don’t settle for a $6 version — you'll wind up spending more money on umbrellas in the long run. Look for models with solid rivets (when you can't see through a hole that connects two parts of the umbrella), grippy handles, and a high-quality frame that isn't aluminum.

5. Always Pack Back-Up Socks

Even when you’re wearing the right shoes for the rain, there’s no guarantee socks won’t get wet. If you see rain is on the agenda for the day, simply throw a spare pair of socks in your bag, just in case.

6. Fix Leaky Rain Boots

Instead of throwing away leaky rain boots, try repairing them with Tub & Tile Caulk. Rub the caulk along the seams of your boots, let dry, and then test the seam by standing in your bathtub with your boots on to make sure they’re leak-proof. (See instructions here.)

If you have a visible hole or tear in your boots, buy some Shoe Goo instead. Put a dash of the sealant over the hole and let dry. The boots will be as good as new, and will last at least another season.

7. Save Suede Shoes With Paper Towels

Rain can ruin suede shoes, but it doesn't necessarily mean doom. First, spot-clean the suede with a pencil eraser, then wet the entire shoe and use a soft sponge to gently rub the fabric until all of the salt, dirt, and grime are gone.

Next, stuff the shoes with paper towels or newspaper and allow to dry, inserting a shoe tree once you're done.

You can always protect your suede shoes in advance by spraying them with a suede protector.

8. Put Wet Gadgets In Rice

This is a tip most of us know, but it bears repeating. When your phone falls in a puddle or somehow gets wet, put it in a bag of dry rice as quickly as possible. The rice will absorb the moisture from your phone without damaging your gadgets. Leave it in there for 24 hours and try and your device again. Keep repeating until it works.

If the rice isn't doing the trick, a dehumidifier will also suck out moisture. Stick your phone on top of a dehumidifier, and let it do the work for you.

9. Let Your Suit Air Dry

When your suit gets wet, there are a few things you should never, ever do: wring it out, put it on a hanger, and throw it in the dryer.

Instead, lay your suit on a dry towel or cloth on the floor and leave it there until its 100% air-dried, changing the towel as needed. (This is the same game plan if your cashmere or wool sweaters get drenched, too.)

10. Carry (Dry) Plastic Grocery Bags

When your umbrella is wet, it’s rude to carry it into work or a friend’s house and leave a massive puddle.

Simply stuff a few dry plastic grocery bags in your rain jacket pocket or purse so you can put your wet umbrella in a bag and not track water all over the floor.

11. Tape Your Email To Your Umbrella

Losing a perfectly good umbrella really sucks. If you leave it at a restaurant or store (or even a friend’s house), it may never make its way back to you.

Tape or write your telephone number or email address in Sharpie onto the very top of the umbrella handle (where it’s not likely to fall off). Yeah, it’s a little dorky, but it will distinguish your umbrella from everyone else's, and someone can let you know if they found it.

SEE ALSO: The Best Men's Shoes For Rainy Days

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider on Pinterest!

Join the conversation about this story »

Many Jews this week are commemorating the liberation of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago during epic Passover services and dinners, known as Seders.

However, an increasing number of Jews are skipping out on this ritual altogether, Steve Lipman of The Jewish Week writes. Their absence reflects an ongoing decline in Passover Seder attendance, a trend the Jewish community is struggling to reverse.

Seder attendance has dropped from around 90% of Jews in the 1990s to between 60% and 70% today, according to several surveys cited by The Jewish Week.

There are a few explanations for this arguably troubling trend.

For one thing, Jewish intermarriage with non-Jews has been steadily increasing in recent decades, Shmuel Rosner has pointed out in The Jewish Journal. A non-Jewish spouse may not be inclined to spend hours listening to the Jewish text called the Haggadah that tells the story of Passover in a fashion some may find uninspiring. Only 54% of intermarried couples surveyed by Pew in 2013 attended a Seder, compared to 91% of couples who are both Jewish, Rosner writes.

For some Jews, attendance at Passover Seders dies out with the passing of older generations who traditionally lead the services. Philip Mandel, 60, told The Jewish Week he doesn’t make any Seder plans for Passover because the “full-blown, takes forever, Orthodox seder” led by his grandfather had no meaning for him.

While I don't consider myself very religious, I attend two Seders every Passover. My grandfather leads both Seders, the first with my large extended family and the second with just my immediate family. He excels at this because he knows when it’s important to diverge from the Hagaddah readings in order to speed up the lengthy service, satisfying everyone’s impatience to get to the part where we eat dinner. He’ll tell intriguing Passover stories in his own words, rather than by reading long, boring passages straight out of the Haggadah book.

My family members and I often wonder who will lead the Seder when my grandfather is no longer around. Will we lose interest in this ritual?

In one portion of the Haggadah, four theoretical sons — one wise, one wicked, one simple, and one who doesn’t know enough to ask a question — learn about Passover. Recently, my grandfather told me there is a fifth son whom I have never heard of — the son who doesn’t come to the Seder.

Tamar Frydman recently wrote about this fifth son in a separate piece in The Jewish Week.“It should be a communal goal to get all 'fifth sons' and daughters back at the table,” she writes. “It shouldn’t matter how you observe, where you are on the spectrum of connection, how learned, or if you are new to Judaism. We are all one people and we should create a community in which everyone feels comfortable and invited.”

SEE ALSO: Billionaire Roman Abramovich Has Reportedly Booked An Entire Luxury Hotel In Israel For Passover

Join the conversation about this story »

Quinoa is a high-protein, low-calorie seed that is often used as a substitute for rice or pasta.

Since 2007 it has soared in popularity internationally to the point that the United Nations declared 2013 the Year of Quinoa.

What most people don't know is that it's a grain crop that has been exclusively grown in the mountains of Bolivia and Peru for thousands of years. Watch and learn to find out more facts about this superfood, and how to prepare it.

NOW WATCH: Here's The Ancient Coffee Recipe That Could Help You Live Longer

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

[Editor's note: This article was first published in April 2013. With the spring weather finally approaching, we've decided to republish it.

Copenhagenize is a consulting and communications company that specializes in all things cycling-related. The company gave Business Insider an exclusive first look at its new ranking of the world's most bike-friendly cities.]

There are lots of cities where it's good to be a cyclist, but some are truly two-wheel paradises.

The newly released Copenhagenize Index 2013, produced by the Copenhagenize Design Co., ranked 150 cities around the world on 13 parameters, including cycling facilities, culture, sharing program, gender split, politics, and traffic calming.

It also gave bonus points for categories like political leadership.

Here are the top 20 cities, each with a score out of 100 points.

The list starts at number 14, since there are a few ties.

14. Hamburg, Germany

Score: 54

2011 Rank: 13

Why It Works: The Index always offers up surprises. More often than not it is when cities show up on the list. To be honest, we were surprised that Hamburg made the cut and clung onto the last spot in the Top 20.

In a global perspective, Hamburg is a premier league player, no doubt about it. The city's modal share has been steady and is slowly rising. The citizens are returning to the bicycle, especially in the neighborhoods.

The city's planners haven't really realized that it's a new millennium and much of their infrastructure is sub-standard. But it's there. Ready to form the foundation for more, better protected cycle tracks.

Fixes: If Hamburg gets the right political leadership, the city will blossom as an urban cycling paradise. The need for infrastructure that adheres to best practice is becoming more and more apparent.

The 20th spot on the Copenhagenize Index is a fragile position to be in what with so many other cities making impressive efforts and eager to move up the list. Get with the global programme or get left behind. You're snuggled in between Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

Figure it out.

Scoring: Cities were given between 0 and 4 points in 13 categories, with a potential 12 bonus points for particularly impressive efforts or results, for a maximum of 64 points. The final score was adjusted to be out of 100. Categories included advocacy, bicycle culture, cycling facilities, infrastructure, bike share program, gender split, modal share, modal share increase since 2006, perception of safety, politics, social acceptance, urban planning, and traffic calming. See the full index at Copenhagenize.

13. Paris, France (tie)

Score: 55

2011 Rank: 7

Why It Works: The second global mega-city on the list after Tokyo, Paris continues to impress. If every city had political vision like Paris, regarding liveable cities, the world would be a better place.

Paris has left London and New York in the dust over the past six years. In particular, New York is making efforts to catch up, but Paris' commitment to improving conditions for Citizen Cyclists remains strong.

The city's bike share system remains a success and an impressive number of stretches feature bicycle infrastructure.

With 30 km/h zones and the removal of archaic expressways along the river, bicycle traffic will benefit. The fantastic role of the bike share system in the nightlife shows that the citizens are embracing the bicycle for all purposes. Nobody would have thought that Paris could have done all it has done but the city continues to pinch us to tell us we're not dreaming.

Fixes: Planners have been searching for space for bicycle infrastructure and Paris has some unique solutions. They are, however, solutions that are not sustainable in the long run.

It's time to up the stakes and go after a more permanent solution with the creation of more protected cycle tracks. The success of the bike share system is impressive but better maintenance is required, as well as increasing the number of stations at both transport hubs and popular nightlife neighborhoods.

Scoring: Cities were given between 0 and 4 points in 13 categories, with a potential 12 bonus points for particularly impressive efforts or results, for a maximum of 64 points. The final score was adjusted to be out of 100. Categories included advocacy, bicycle culture, cycling facilities, infrastructure, bike share program, gender split, modal share, modal share increase since 2006, perception of safety, politics, social acceptance, urban planning, and traffic calming. See the full index at Copenhagenize.

13. Budapest, Hungary (tie)

Score: 55

2011 Rank: 10

Why It Works: Budapest continues to build upon the successes of the past few years, although we fear the pace may have slowed. The city's force remains visionary advocacy and the social acceptance of the bicycle.

One of the leaders among Emerging Bicycle Cities, Budapest is getting it's brain wrapped around infrastructure and development of a sensible network for bicycle users.

A city that can gather 50,000-80,000 for peaceful bicycle rides has some golden opportunities that can and must be exploited.

Fixes: Like every other city on the planet, it's all about the infrastructure. The city has brilliant advocacy, but it is now time to push for more protected cycle tracks. Paint ain't the same.

Budapest is a regional leader in bicycle culture but without political will and a modern desire for mobility change, their role will be overtaken by others. The upcoming bike share system, if implemented correctly, will be a game-changer for the city.

More infrastructure should be in place before the bike share system starts up.

Scoring: Cities were given between 0 and 4 points in 13 categories, with a potential 12 bonus points for particularly impressive efforts or results, for a maximum of 64 points. The final score was adjusted to be out of 100. Categories included advocacy, bicycle culture, cycling facilities, infrastructure, bike share program, gender split, modal share, modal share increase since 2006, perception of safety, politics, social acceptance, urban planning, and traffic calming. See the full index at Copenhagenize.

The United States is a big, diverse place, with each of the 50 states differing from each other in significant ways.

We recently took a look at the most normal states in America. Here is the other side of that ranking: the 11 states that are furthest from the national norm.

We considered 31 indicators from the Census Bureau's 2012 American Community Survey, along with 2012 unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indicators cover different social, economic, housing-related, and demographic characteristics of each state's population and of the population of the U.S. as a whole.

For each of those indicators, we figured out how far each state's level was away from the national level. These were then rescaled and averaged to get a sense of how far each state is from the overall national baseline. The states were then ranked on "normalness" based on how large that average distance was.

Below are the 32 population indicators from the 2012 American Community Survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics we used to compare the states, along with the corresponding national baseline values.

All values (except unemployment) were taken from the 2012 ACS one-year estimates, downloaded using the Census Bureau's American Factfinder tool.

11. California

Why it's weird: California is a land of immigrants to an even greater extent than the rest of America. Californians were more than twice as likely to have been born abroad than Americans overall — 27.1% of Californians were foreign born, as opposed to 13.0% of Americans. Unsurprisingly, the proportion of households in which English is the sole language spoken was much lower in California than in any other state. This is the case in only 55.7% of Californian households, but 79.0% of U.S. households spoke only English at home. 

Why it's normal: California's birth rate tracks closely to the nation's — in California, 53 babies were born for every 1,000 women, while the U.S. birth rate was 54 babies per 1,000 women. The proportion of workers in the public sector was also similar to the national total: 13.9% in California, and 14.5% in America.

10. South Dakota

Why it's weird: South Dakota had the shortest commute in the country. The average South Dakotan took 16.7 minutes to get to work, compared to the national average of 25.7 minutes. South Dakota also had the second-highest birth rate in the country with 76 births per 1,000 women, much higher than the national birth rate of 54 births per 1,000 women. 

Why it's normal: South Dakota had about the same proportion of people receiving Social Security benefits as the U.S. as a whole: 29.1% for South Dakota and 29.3% for the country. The vacancy rate for housing units also tracked the national trend — 12.1% of South Dakota's housing units were vacant in 2012, compared to 12.4% of the nation's housing units.

9. Maine

Why it's weird: Maine was quite a bit older and whiter than the U.S. as a whole. Maine's median age was 43.5 years, about six years older than the national median of 37.4. With the highest rate in the country, 94.1% of Mainers identified as white alone, while only 62.8% of Americans identified their race this way. Maine houses also had a huge vacancy rate, with 23.4% of units vacant, nearly double the 12.4% vacancy rate for the country as a whole.

Why it's normal: Despite the high vacancy rate, the median home value in Maine was $172,300, only $400 more than the national median of $171,900.

The FastDiet, also known as the 5:2 diet, is based on something called intermittent fasting.

This involves eating normally for five days a week and "fasting" for two. On those two fasting days, you eat about a quarter of your typical calorie intake — 500 calories for women and 600 calories for men. The rest of the time you can eat whatever you want. 

The book, released last year in the U.S., was written by Dr. Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer, both of the U.K. They claim this diet will make you lose weight faster than other standard diets. Mosley claims to have lost 20 pounds within a few weeks of starting the diet.

Although the extreme eating regime has been met with criticism in the health community, Mosley says the evidence to support intermittent fasting is there. The entire first chapter is devoted to the "science of fasting." And, some fitness experts have come out in favor of the diet. A 2007 review also found that alternate-day fasting may moderate disease-risk. 

Here we break down how and why the 5:2 diet works, according to its authors.

First, this is what happens to your body when you fast.

When you don't eat, your body must turn somewhere else besides food for energy and begins to feed on the glucose in your blood.

Once all of the glucose in your blood is eaten up, your body turns to stored glucose, which is kept in complex carbohydrate molecules called glycogen.

And finally, when all of that stored glucose is used up, your body taps into fat stores for energy and glucose. 

But, continuing to do this for long stretches of time is not sustainable. In fact, your body might go into starvation mode, where your metabolism actually slows down in response to a decrease in calorie intake.

Source: The FastDiet

The 5:2 diet, based on intermittent fasting, is different from calorie restriction or starving.

Intermittent fasting is not the same as prolonged calorie restriction, or starving. That would be when our body doesn't take in enough nutrients to maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.  

Intermittent fasting involves "eating fewer calories, but only some of the time," Mosley writes. 

Mosley admits that prolonged fasting is not sustainable and will ultimately result in muscle loss.

With the FastDiet, you never go for longer than 24 hours without eating. 

Source: The FastDiet

Ok, so where's the science?

Travel and food connoisseur Anthony Bourdain traveled to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro a few years ago to sample the local cuisine on his Travel Channel show No Reservations.

During his four-day stay, he drank on the beach, took a tour of a run-down Favela, and soaked up the nightlife in Copacabana.

He ate Brazilian favorites, like fried sardines, grilled pork sandwiches, and feijoada, a hearty stew of black beans and pork sausage — and raved about them all. 

Any chance he got, he shared his love for the city. "What sick freak wouldn't come to Rio given the opportunity?" asked Bourdain. "Lets call it what it is: perfection. You have to have some serious problems to not like Rio."

And since all eyes are on Brazil's capital for the much-anticipated World Cup, we decided to take a second-look at Bourdain's South American culinary journey.

Watch the full episode here. 

Bourdain first spends the day people-watching on the chic, 1.25 mile stretch of Ipanema Beach in the South Zone of Rio.

Where he knocks back a couple caipirinhas comprised of cachaça (sugar cane liquor), fresh lime juice, and sugar. “It's pretty much my constant companion every time I come to Rio,” said Bourdain.

At the same stand, he orders a grilled pork sandwich loaded with chimichurri sauce, garlic, parsley, oregano, olive oil and touch of vinegar.

A quarter century after the debut of the Discovery, Land Rover has revealed a concept version of the classic SUV that heralds a very different future.

Revealed in New York City Monday night, the Discovery Vision Concept is stunning, but it doesn't look like its predecessors.

Gone are the brick-like dimensions that have defined the model since its introduction in 1989, turning the square-jawed brute into a pretty boy.

The trademark boxy outline has been exchanged for aggressive curves, a change that Land Rover says previews the look of its future production models.

The concept also features outward opening suicide doors and a panoramic glass roof that will bring in tons of light, Land Rover says.

The result is a car that looks rather like a Range Rover, but should cost a lot less when a production version hits the market in 2015. The current Discovery 4, marketed in the U.S. as the LR4, starts for about $50,000, compared to $84,000 for the Range Rover.

"Its modern, relevant and compelling design is a significant shift from [the] Discovery as we know it," Land Rover design director and chief creative officer Gerry McGovern said at a glitzy event onboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, adding that the Discovery would serve as the basis for multiple Land Rover models.

On top of striking design, the Discovery Vision Concept pushes the boundaries of automotive technology. Land Rover says the driver will be able to change gears with hand gestures and maneuver the vehicle while not in the driver seat. Don't expect all of that futuristic tech to make it past regulations and into a production version.

Being a Land Rover, the Discovery Vision Concept is packed to the brim with off-road tech as well. The coolest bit is the "invisible bonnet" system that allows uses cameras to project a view of what's under the car onto the windshield — great for driving in rough terrain.

Here's the 2014 Discovery 4:And a look at the vehicle's future:

SEE ALSO: Here Are The Greatest Hits Of The Legendary Car Design Group That Just Went Bankrupt

Join the conversation about this story »

A massive private island in the Bahamas — which comes with its own airport code and 2,700-foot landing strip — will be auctioned off next month in New York City.

Innocence Island, part of the exclusive Exuma chain in the Bahamas, was first listed for $55 million in 2009, but the owner, who recently became ill, wants to auction the property for a quicker transaction, CNBC reports.

It shouldn't be hard to attract a luxury buyer. The 681-acre island has a 3,000-square-foot main house overlooking the entire island, plus a second hillside bungalow with a gym and meditation deck. Innocence Island also includes 15 miles of nature trails, six white sand beaches and flourishing tomato vines as well as mango, guava, and lemon trees growing on the island for your use.

It will be sold by luxury real estate firm Concierge Auctions with Damianos Sotheby's International Realty, and has a reserve price of $10 million.

Innocence Island is part of the Exuma chain of islands in the Bahamas.

It has 681 acres, making it one of the largest private islands in the Bahamas.

Here's a look at the wildlife on the island.

Members of the Social Computing Group at MIT have created beautiful — and functional — maps of independent coffee shops in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Cambridge and Brooklyn. 

Better yet, the colored parts of the map show a region that is walkable, within 1 kilometer (0.7 mile), for each coffee shop. 

The maps are interactive; when you click on a location, it opens the shop's Google+ page. 

For these maps, the researchers used the Google Places API and the Google Distance Matrix API, but as they explain on their FAQ page, they usually get information for their maps "from wherever we can. Sometimes we use Google Street View. Sometimes we use census data. Sometimes we use city-level data from police reports or zoning ordinances."

The maps are perfect for coffee-loving visitors to any of these cities, or even for someone wanting to open up an independent coffee shop of their own. 

Check out a few of the maps below:

(Via Uptown Almanac)

SEE ALSO: This company 3D printed 10 houses in a day

Join the conversation about this story »

Click for sound >

Join the conversation about this story »

Click here for the story >

Join the conversation about this story »

With the wide assortment of top tech companies currently headquartered in Silicon Valley, it should come as no surprise that some of the country's wealthiest people also call the area home. 

Stephen Higley, a professor emeritus of urban social geography at the University of Montevallo, recently created a list of the country's richest neighborhoods based on data from the U.S. Census' American Community Survey in the years 2006 through 2010. 

He aggregated block groups with a mean income of more than $200,000 to compile a list of the top 1,000 richest neighborhoods in the county. Higley explains his complete methodology on his website.  

We used Higley's rankings to compile a list of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Silicon Valley, looking at cities in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties to do so. 

Hillsborough was well-represented, with several different neighborhoods from the affluent San Mateo County city making an appearance on Higley's list. Small cities like Saratoga and Atherton, home to several notable tech executives, also ranked highly. 

#22 San Mateo Park, San Mateo, San Mateo County

Mean Household Income: $257,972

731st richest neighborhood in the U.S. 

This neighborhood is peaceful, with dozens of traffic circles in place to slow down cars on the city's main thoroughfares. 

It's also extremely convenient, with shopping and dining less than a mile away on Burlingame Avenue, and access to freeways via El Camino Real. 

San Mateo Park is 75.%5 white, 10.6% Asian, 7.0% Latino, and 0.9% black. 

#21 Barron Park Southwest-Research Park, Palo Alto, Santa Clara County

Mean household income: $258,759

722nd richest neighborhood in the U.S. 

This pastoral neighborhood provides a stark contrast to Stanford's high-tech Research Park, located nearby. 

You can even watch a pair of donkeys graze at the neighborhood's Cornelis Bol Park. The two donkeys, named Perry and Niner, have become Barron Park's unofficial mascots. 

Barron Park Southwest-Research Park is 66.7% white, 22.6% Asian, 4.6% Latino, and 2.0% black. 

#20 Woodland Acres-The Highlands, Los Altos, Santa Clara County

Mean Household Income: $260,289

696th richest neighborhood in the U.S.

Built on land that used to be orchards and forests of oaks and laurel trees, Woodland Acres is a neighborhood that has retained its rustic feel. 

The community is close-knit, but homes are pricey. 

Woodland Acres-The Highlands is 66.7% white, 23.1% Asian, 4.9% Latino, and 0.3% black.

Only 41% of Americans report that they've asked for a raise. Get the salary bump you've earned by taking the time to prepare and following these steps.

Produced by Justin Gmoser

NOW WATCH: 5 Things You Should Never Do In A Job Interview

Follow BI Video: On Twitter

Join the conversation about this story »

Ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson amassed a 5,000-bottle wine collection during his career.

You'd think he'd start enjoying it now that he's retired.

Instead, he's cashing in.

Ferguson will auction off the bulk of the collection at Christie's in Hong Kong, Michael Roddy of Reuters reports.

It's valued at $5 million, and it comes with a bunch of signed memorabilia.

Ferguson explained:

"Taking an interest in wine allowed me to have an interest outside the game. You have to have outside interests to distract you from the intensity and the pressure you come under as a football manager.

"And all of a sudden, two or three years ago, when I’m going through the portfolio, we realise this has got to be an amazing amount of wine. I retired last year, and I thought this was a good time to, to sell it."

Ferguson will start teaching at Harvard Business School in the fall.

Some photos of the collection from Reuters:

Join the conversation about this story »

There are certain things that don't need to be reinvented, like the wheel.

But once in a while, someone transforms an everyday object no one thought could be improved.

Here are some of the best redesigns of regular household objects we've recently seen.

1. This kitchen table doubles in size in mere seconds.

The Fletcher Capstan Table expands from a standard 6.5- or 10-foot table to one that measures anywhere between 20 and 30 feet across.

The round tables come in four standard sizes, and expand by simply rotating the top 180 degrees manually or electronically by remote. The tables are customizable, and range from $50,000 to $70,000 on the UK Fletcher website.

2. “LiquiGlide” allows condiments to flow effortlessly out of a bottle.

LiquiGlide is a coating of non-toxic materials that allows every single drop of your favorite condiment to flow out effortlessly, reducing a ton of waste.

Invented by five MIT students and their professor, LiquiGlide was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2012 and came in second in MIT’s $100,000 Entrepreneurship Competition. The inventors currently create the coating for specific clients.

3. These ‘invisible’ bike helmets inflate on impact.

The Hövding, or invisible bike helmet, is the brainchild of two students at the University of Lund. The Hövding is actually an air bag that uses a helium gas cylinder to inflate when its sensors detect a sudden jolt.

The airbag is like a hood, except it’s shock absorbent and able to withstand multiple head impacts. The helmets are expensive, retailing on Hövding for more than $400 (£299).

4. An Austrian artist reinvented the door with origami panels.

Artist Klemens Torggler's Evolution Door is a 4-panel "flip panel door" that opens and closes elegantly as though it's made of pieces of paper. 

Torggler has a few variations on this door, including one with origami-esque triangles that fold out to help the door move, and another system with rods that rotate two square panels. He sells them on his website for an undisclosed price (which depends on materials and design).

5. The toilet of the future folds up to save water and space.

Two British university students invented the Iota toilet, which folds in after use. Its creators claim it uses 50% less water than a stationary toilet, and is also comparatively smaller, so it can fit into tiny bathrooms. The  rimless design also makes it much easier to clean.

Currently the Iota is just a concept, but with an overwhelming Internet response, it could become a reality.

6. These light bulbs are Wi-Fi-enabled, multicolored, and smartphone-controlled.

First funded on Kickstarter where it raised more than $1 million, LIFX is a new kind of lightbulb that is not only multicolored, but can be controlled through any device with Wi-Fi and an app.

The bulbs can last up to 25 years, and have a lot of cool functions. In addition to changing colors, there's a sleep mode that dims your lights at night and brightens them in the morning, as well as a switch you control with your phone. The bulbs sell at LIFX for $99.

7. A shapeless water blob could replace today's water bottles.

Ooho is a biodegradable and edible membrane made of brown algae that can hold water. The flexible water bottle kind of resembles a silicone implant, and is easy to break and sip from.

Ooho was developed by three London design students who were aiming to make something sustainable, durable, and cheap — it only costs two cents to make, though the bizarre shape could prove problematic for on-the-go drinking. Ooho currently remains a prototype.

8. This regenerating candle can be reused again and again.

Called the Rekindle Candle and designed by artist Benjamin Shine, this candle holder collects melting wax to form a new candle in the base.

As the candle burns, melting wax drips down from the candle and accumulates inside a transparent stem with a wick. Once the candle is completely melted, you can crack open the mold to remove a new, fully formed candle (you can then start the whole process over again).

Due to an outpouring of support, Shine's prototype is now coming to market.

9. An inflatable, revolutionary car seat will change the game for parents.

Volvo’s new rear-facing car seat inflates in 40 seconds using an integrated pump. It only weighs 11 pounds, which is about half the weight of a regular car seat. Deflated, it fits neatly into a backpack, especially convenient for parents traveling with a child.

The reinvented car seat, made with a fabric that can sustain high internal pressure, was originally developed by the military and is now used by the boating industry. There's no word on when the inflatable seat could come to market, but hopefully it will be soon.

10. This nightlight keeps outlets free and lasts for 25 years.

The SnapRays GuideLight went absolutely crazy on Kickstarter after being posted in March, raising nearly $470,000 over its initial goal.

It’s pretty easy to see why, since the light replaces bulky night lights that take up outlet space, and is easy to assemble. You can pre-order the SnapRays GuideLight through creator Jeremy Smith’s website at $15 for one, $42 for three, $65 for five, and $120 for 10.

SEE ALSO: 12 Awesome Gifts Ideas That Appeared On 'Shark Tank'

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Lifestyle Sectuin On Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

Unless you want to pay insanely marked-up prices on re-sale sites like StubHub and TicketsNow, buying tickets at face value on Ticketmaster is usually your only option.

For events in high demand, the odds are strongly against you getting great seats at a reasonable price. We have a few tips on how to get an edge on Ticketmaster and avoid paying scalpers' prices.

NOW WATCH: If You Are Not Using These Google Maps Hacks, You Are Totally Lost

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

If you fly Southwest Airlines, you might be getting more of a comedy sketch than a safety talk. One flight attendant knew how to keep her passengers' attention on their trip to Salt Lake City, Utah — by making them howl with laughter.

The stewardess started off her speech, "Can I pretend to have your attention for just a few moments?" And kept the ball rolling by poking fun at the life vests, "In the highly unlikely event that the captain lands us near a hot tub, everybody gets their very own teeny weeny yellow Southwest bikini." And if the oxygen masks come down and you're traveling with small children? "We're sorry," she jokes. 

With that kind of work environment, it's no wonder that Southwest reported 10,000 people applied for 750 openings to work as flight attendants in just two hours back in December.

Check out her hilarious speech below. It's already going viral with more than 5.5 million views in three days:

SEE ALSO: This Massive Private Island In The Bahamas — Once Listed For $55 Million — Is About To Hit The Auction Block

FOLLOW US: On Instagram

Join the conversation about this story »

CCTV has apparently captured the elusive artist Banksy for the first time – as he was installing his latest creation.

Cameras, which, ironically, had been set up to deter graffiti artists, filmed two people unloading kit from the back of a white van in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The video appears to show the cheeky pair dressed as workmen. The footage was captured by Bristol's Broad Plain and Riverside Youth Project, which has recently announced it plans to sell Banksy's 'Mobile Lovers' piece, which appeared on some plywood outside of their building.

A second van operated by a construction company is also seen in the video completely unaware that they are working next the most elusive artist in history.

The Bristol-based artist has never before revealed his identity to the public.

Here is the video footage via SWNS:

Join the conversation about this story »

Wall Street has often been referred to as a casino, but one bank actually owns a Las Vegas casino.

Deutsche Bank's portfolio includes the $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which the bank finished building after the developer defaulted on their loans in 2008.

Deutsche Bank is now trying to sell the casino for more than $2 billion, Bloomberg News reports citing unnamed sources familiar.

The bank has has four potential bidders interested, the report said.

The Cosmopolitan has been a money losing venture for the German bank over the last six years. However, the casino has seen an improvement in business recently. 

Now we're going to take a tour of the resort. (A big thank you to Corey Deshon shared some his photos with us.)

The Cosmopolitan, a luxury resort and casino located in the center of the Las Vegas strip, opened in December 2010.

It features 2,995 rooms, a large casino, three swimming pools, bars and lounges, restaurants and retail space.

Here's a shot of the interior of a room.