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A Conversation About Shoes In Argentina Led To A Hot Startup Combining Art And Footware

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Delta_04About six years ago, two Americans living in Buenos Aires bonded over a discussion about shoes that were hand-decorated. Today, the two are the cofounders of Bucketfeet, a company that connects artists and consumers through footwear.

Bucketfeet sells canvas shoes featuring designs by artists from all over the world. It's a way for the artists to share their personal stories with consumers, says Raaja Nemani, Bucketfeet's cofounder and CEO. 

“We try to be very authentic in who we are and the products we create, and we try to provide something really different that allows people to make a very intimate purchase that speaks to who they are as a person,” Nemani said.

A Connection Forged In Argentina

Nemani hasn’t always been in the shoe business; he quit his job in finance in 2008 to backpack around the world. He soon wound up in Buenos Aires, where he started tutoring young children. That's where he met Aaron Firestein, who would later become the co-founder of Bucketfeet.raaja&aaronFirestein had started his own shoe company in college, decorating and selling canvas shoes that he sold to students in his dorm. By the time he moved to Argentina, his business had grown to the point where he was shipping shoes across the world. Nemani bought a pair of shoes from Firestein that featured a "cuadras" (block) pattern, inspired by the city blocks of Argentina. Nemani wore those shoes for the rest of his backpacking trip.

Throughout his travels, Nemani noticed a pattern. No matter where he went, whether it was Australia, India, or Nepal, people would comment on his shoes. The shoes became an icebreaker, an easy way for Nemani to meet new friends on the road.

“When people asked me about the shoes, I found that I wasn’t talking about the brand because that didn’t really matter anymore. I was talking about the artist, Aaron, and his inspiration for design, why the colors were used, why the pattern was the way it was,” Nemani said. “I found that by having this real person and real story behind the shoe, it immediately created a connection, both between me and the person, and the person and Aaron.”Soho_5_WebNine months later, Nemani was living in the Middle East and Firestein was still in South America, working as a professional photographer. Nemani called up Firestein and asked if he wanted to take his shoe business to the next level by creating a company that would connect people through art. Firestein agreed, and the two young men moved to Chicago to start Bucketfeet.

“Art is one of those platforms that everyone can understand; it’s a universal language, and it can bring people together,” Nemani said. “Bucketfeet is inspired by our travels, the idea that we wanted to meet all these people, and the idea that people want to feel connected to something. Sometimes it’s hard to get that, but we thought, ‘What if we created a brand that could connect people through real products?’" 

The Growth Of Bucketfeet

This connection is exactly what Bucketfeet managed to accomplish—to tell artists’ stories through their shoe designs.

Artists submit their designs to Bucketfeet, and the company selects some of these designs to print on its shoes. The company has grown from a tiny venture running out of a house in Chicago working with four Brazilian artists to a business with nearly 3,000 artists from more than 40 countries. Today, artists connect with Bucketfeet through its social media platform and website.

“We’ve worked with everyone, from Japanese artists who have worked with companies like Coca-Cola and Disney, to stay-at-home mothers of two from Atlanta who have never done art professionally, but we feel that they’ve created—even if it’s just one thing—something that would look great on a shoe,” Nemani said. 

The company launched nationally with Nordstrom and has pop-up shops in Chicago and Manhattan, which Nemani is considering turning into permanent storefronts. A significant portion of Bucketfeet’s sales also come from its website. A pair of Bucketfeet shoes costs between $65 and $68 for adult sizes, and $45 for kids' sizes.Soho_1_WebSince its launch, Nemani said Bucketfeet’s sales have more than tripled, and its return rate is under 3% — a strong indicator that the brand is doing well. The company recently raised $3.7 million in venture capital, with Bridge Investments and Jumpstart Ventures leading the  financing. 

What Comes Next

Bucketfeet doesn't plan to limit itself to footwear. Artists can also design wall art, which Nemani said was a great way to bring new artists into the fold. He did say he'd like to mostly “stay around the feet” for the time being, though he believes with the company's roster of artists there's huge potential for new product categories. 

Nemani said the website will also start hosting regular design challenges, where people can vote on their favorite designs. Not only will the votes help decide which shoes are created, but they could also be valuable for retailers who are deciding which designs to order.

With the new round of venture capital, Nemani said he plans to create new products, invest in Bucketfeet's artist network, ramp up the company's website, and raise brand awareness.  

“We’re not trying to be the next skate brand or the next outdoors brand,” Nemani said. “We’re trying to be a very inclusive brand, one that brings people together and gives people higher value than just a product—it gives them a story and a person to feel connected to.”Soho_7_Web

SEE ALSO: How Food Photographers Make Every Plate Look Like Art

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Unbelievable Pictures Of Wildlife From The BBC's Photographer Of The Year Competition

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Facebook update

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, a collaboration between U.K.’s Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new category: the People’s Choice Award.

There are 50 images in the new category that were pre-selected by a jury from over 41,000 entries. The five photos with the most votes in this category, along with other winners from the competition, will be announced later this year at an awards ceremony.

Take a look at some of our favorite images here, then head over to the Natural History museum website to see the full gallery. Online voting is open until September 5, 2014.

"Apex Predators" by Justin Black from the U.S.



"Stretching" by Stephan Tuengler from Germany



"What's This?" by Peter Mather from Canada



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The Awesome Story Of How Stephen Colbert Helped A Debut Author Win Against Amazon

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edan lepucki

If you tuned in to "The Colbert Report" on June 4, you would have seen host Stephen Colbert flip Amazon the bird for waging an online war against the publishing house Hachette. 

Colbert, whose books are published by Hachette, had reason to be angry.

After the two companies failed to reach a deal regarding their e-book sales strategy, Amazon blocked preorder sales of Hachette books on its site. Amazon even tweaked its recommendation feature to skew towards non-Hachette authors and ordered fewer copies of Hachette books, which led to shipping delays.

But for one Hachette author, the outlook was about to get a whole lot sunnier. 

Later on in the June 4 show, Colbert interviewed Hachette author Sherman Alexie, whom he asked to recommend a book by an author who was being hurt by Amazon's attack on Hachette.

Alexie chose "California," a post-apocalyptic romance by debut author Edan Lepucki. 

"I felt pure amazement," Lepucki said to Business Insider on seeing her book on the show. "I was flabbergasted and couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it." 

Colbert told his viewers to go to his site, where they could preorder Lepucki's book from Portland-based independent booksellers Powell's Books. 

"We're going to prove that I can sell more books than Amazon," Colbert said in the segment. 

colbert california

And sell books they did — thanks to the "Colbert bump," "California" was soon Powell's top book. During a recent trip to Powell's, Lepucki spent three days signing a whopping 10,000 copies of her novel. It's been named one of the summer's hottest reads by The Chicago Tribune, The New York Post, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, among others. 

According to the New York Times, Hachette originally planned for a first printing of 12,000 copies. They ended up printing 60,000 hardcovers.

And ironically enough, Amazon's editors named "California" as one of their top picks for the month of July, despite the fact that the site had blocked customers from buying it on the site before its official July 8 release date. 

"It's nice to be the beneficiary of the dispute, but there are a lot of authors out there who aren't benefiting from it," Lepucki said, adding that many have compared her to the one stuffed alien chosen by "the Claw" in the famous scene from "Toy Story." 

As the fight between Amazon and Hachette continues, many authors worry about how their industry will change, and whether their interests will be well represented as a result. 

According to The New York Times, Amazon wants to start charging Hachette for a number of services, including personalized recommendations, an Amazon employee dedicated to handling Hachette books, and the infamous preorder button. There's also the ongoing debate regarding ebook prices.

"Even if you're not a Hachette author, there's a lot of general anxiety about unresolved issues. This case is dictating how the publishing industry will go forward," Lepucki said. "Hachette is just the first publisher whose contract is up."

edan lepucki california

Preorder sales are extremely important to building up hype for a book. Colbert wanted to focus his attention on a new Hachette author in part because they're the ones hit hardest by Amazon's removal of the preorder button. 

"Authors are part of the discussion, but we're not at the table," Lepucki said. "Amazon is such a big player in publishing, but a lot of authors feel this connection to their publishing house and their editors who helped them get their books out there, so their loyalties tend to go that way."

There's another interesting twist to Lepucki's story: her husband, Patrick Brown, is the director of author marketing at Goodreads, which was acquired by Amazon in 2013. Lepucki insists, however, that the Hachette-Amazon fight hasn't caused tension at home. 

"We both come from the independent bookstore world. Goodreads still feels like Goodreads to me," she said. "I don't shop at Amazon, but I use Goodreads."

Before Colbert rallied behind her book, Lepucki's publicist had planned a relatively small book tour, with stops in the East Bay, Los Angeles, New York City, and Boston. 

"After the Colbert thing, there was more interest, more presales, and multiple printings, and the independent bookstores kind of rallied behind us," she said. "Now I can't even count the cities we're going to, it's too crazy." 

Despite all of the attention, Lepucki remains remarkably modest.

"I've worked in bookstores, so I'm totally prepared for no one to come," she said. 

We've got a feeling that isn't going to happen. 

Watch the Colbert Report clip:

SEE ALSO: Here's What LG's Controversial New Jersey Headquarters Could Look Like

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Martha Stewart Posted A Bunch Of Awesome Drone Photos Of Her Farm

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Martha Stewart has posted some new photos of her Bedford, Conn. farm to her blog. They were taken with a drone flying 900 feet above the ground.

The 153-acre property — once known as “Cantitoe Farm”— was bought by Stewart over 12 years ago, and has a greenhouse, barn, garage, studio, and guest house, as well as horse paddocks and gardens.

“One of my security detail, Dominic Arena, recently purchased a DJI Phantom flying camera,” Stewart wrote on Martha: Up Close And Personal. “These drone-like, radio controlled aircraft are lots of fun to play with and they take extraordinary photos.”

They certainly do. Check out some of the best pictures below with amazing commentary from Martha herself.

"Dominic was up bright and early! Standing near the horse stables, he flew his drone high enough to take this breathtaking sunrise featuring the Cross River Reservoir."Martha Stewart bedford farm"This beautiful aerial shot of my home, which I call the Winter house (center), includes the flower room, carport and studio in the one long structure to the left, the Summer house to the far right, one of the horse paddocks and my beautiful peony garden in full bloom below."Martha Stewart bedford farm"I love the intersection of the four big horse paddocks and the way the fencing makes everything so architecturally pleasing," she wrote. "The grass in these paddocks is cut very short, preventing too much rich grazing which causes the Freisians to get fat."Martha Stewart bedford farmThis is Stewart's gorgeous stable "block" with stable house, carriage house, and farm offices. "My Chow Chow, Ghenghis Khan, loves to play in the small paddock on the upper right, which is sectioned off from the large horse paddock by an electric fence. If you look closely, you can see Dominic near the gate in the boxwood allee."Martha Stewart bedford farmThe property also has a flower garden, equipment shed, corn crib, hoop house, vegetable greenhouse, blueberry garden, hay barn, and greenhouse.Martha Stewart bedford farmAnd since it's Martha Stewart, of course the gardens are extremely well-organized.Martha Stewart bedford farmSee more pictures over at Martha Stewart's blog.

SEE ALSO: A Railroad Tycoon Is Selling His 87-Acre Connecticut Horse Farm For $55 Million

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The Fabulous Life Of Billionaire Michael Dell

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michael dell hawaii

With an estimated net worth of $18.6 billion, Michael Dell is one of the wealthiest people in the world.

Dell dropped out of school at the University of Texas at Austin to found Dell Computer Corp., which soon became one of the fastest growing companies in the country. He was only 23 when his company had its IPO in 1988, and soon, he was a billionaire. 

Dell lives the extravagant life of a successful businessman as well, complete with all of the private planes, summer homes, and sweet rides you'd expect from a billionaire. 

Michael Dell was born on February 23, 1965 in Houston, Texas. He was fascinated with gadgets from a young age — when he was 15, he bought one of the first Apple computers and disassembled it to see if he could put it back together.

Source: Academy of Achievement



When he was in high school, he got a job selling newspaper subscriptions. After figuring out how to target an untapped customer base, he made $18,000 in just one year.

Source: Academy of Achievement



Though he was really only interested in computers, Dell entered the University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med student in 1983. He spent his spare time upgrading PCs and selling them from his dorm room, making $180,000 in his first month of business. Though he never came back for his sophomore year of classes, he returned to his dorm for a photo opp in 1999.

Source: Entrepreneur



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The 20 Best Beaches In America

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Hapuna bay big island hawaii

The U.S. has 95,471 miles of shoreline, some parts more pristine than others.

Because nothing quite says "summer" like sand between your toes, salty air, and the lullaby of waves crashing on shore, we set out to find the best beaches in the U.S.

For this list, we looked at six notable beach rankings compiled by travel experts, vacationers, and water quality researchers and combined these rankings to come up with the ultimate list of the Best Beaches in the U.S.

The rankings we used were Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches for 2014, Trip Advisor's 2014 Travelers' Choice Awards Top 25 Beaches in the United States, Travel + Leisure's Best Beaches on Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council's Superstar Beaches, CNN's World's 100 Best Beaches, and Condé Nast Traveler's Best U.S. Islands for Beaches.

20. Beachwalker Park – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Roughly 20 miles from downtown Charleston, Kiawah Island's 10 miles of beaches are set among perfectly preserved maritime forests, sand dunes, and marshes. Beachwalker Park, mentioned among Condé Nast's Best U.S. Islands for Beaches list, is the island's only stretch of sand with public parking, lifeguards, and restrooms.

kiawah island beachwalker state park south carolina seashell shell

Source: Flickr/Bill Sutton



19. Barefoot Beach Preserve – Bonita Springs, Florida

Dr. Beach named Barefoot Beach No. 2 on his list of Top 10 Beaches for 2014. The pristine setting provides up-close access to tons of animal species, including sea turtles who nest in the sand dunes during the summer months.

barefoot beach bonita springs florida

Source: Flickr/chrisgriffith



18. Cape Hatteras – Outer Banks, North Carolina

Dr. Beach's fourth favorite beach, Cape Hatteras, made the Natural Resources Defense Council's "superstar list" for its crystal clear, unpolluted waters. The historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on site has 257 steps leading to panoramic views.

cape hatteras outer banks lighthouse north carolina

Source: Flickr/thebetancourts



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There Are Now 50 Colleges That Charge More Than $60,000 Per Year

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New York University NYU Students Graduation Commencement


As the average cost of higher education in America continues to rise, at least 50 American colleges and universities are now charging students more than $60,000 per year.

We found these numbers by examining the average cost of tuition, fees, room, and board that an incoming student would face over the 2014-15 academic year. Check out a more in-depth breakdown of the 20 most expensive colleges here >>

While these direct costs are a significant portion of the total cost of college, they alone do not reveal the true financial burden of higher education — students are also responsible for paying for textbooks, travel costs, and, of course, any social expenses. These "indirect costs" can often add up to an extra $2,000.

The most expensive school in the country for the upcoming school year is Harvey Mudd College, charging $64,527 — $48,694 in tuition and fees, and $15,833 for room and board.

Last year, only nine colleges charged more than $60,000. New York University — then the most expensive school — cost $61,977.

Here are the 50 colleges and university that now charge more than $60,000 a year:

Colleges 60K List Graphic

Jill Comoletti contributed research to this article.

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Dubai Is Spending Nearly $7 Billion To Build The World's Largest Mall

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Mall of the World dubaiDubai is in the process of building the largest mall in the world. 

The new real estate venture is part of a project to build an air-conditioned city. Dubai officials hope the projects will stimulate the economy following the 2009 debt crisis. 

The 48 million square foot complex — an air-conditioned network of 100 hotels, a theme park, and theaters — will be developed by Dubai Holdings for approximately $6.8 billion, Ahmad bin Byat, Dubai Holding's Chief Executive, told arabianbusiness.com.

While the entire project is estimated to take a period of at least 10 years to complete, the 8 million square foot mall will be ready in approximately three years.

dubai mall of the worldIt's unclear when construction will begin on the shopping mall, which is nearly four times the size of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. 

Until the "mall of the world" is complete, the world's largest mall is the New China South Mall. The approximately 7.1 million square foot Chinese mall is located in Dongguan and notoriously void of shoppers

dubai mall of the worldMeanwhile, the IMF continues to criticizes Dubai's ambitious real estate developments in fear that overbuilding may cause another boom-bust cycle. 

During Dubai's boom years, 2006 to 2008, Dubai Holding borrowed so heavily from banks to fund growth and ended up hitting a huge real estate bubble burst leading to the cataclysmic 2009 debt crisis.

dubai holding mall of worldAccording to Byat, half of the funds to finance this project will come from 'internal resources,' and the rest will be collected through the debt market, sales, and revenue from leasing.

Dubai's unprecedented luxury and extravagance along with massive retail projects are key ingredients in making this city the economic powerhouse of the Islamic world.

dubai mall of the world

SEE ALSO: Not A Single One Of The World's Biggest Shopping Malls Is Located In America

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A Sneak Peek At The Futuristic Cruise Ships That Will Hit The Seas This Year

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1365787357_Quantum Exterior 4 keynote

Royal Caribbean wants to take cruising to the next level with its new ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, which are being billed at the "world's most futuristic and advanced ships."

English TV producer Jason Bradbury teamed up with Royal Caribbean to produce a video detailing the ships' new features. Both will offer futuristic technology aimed at making cruising even more enjoyable and entertaining.

One of the major features on the new boats will be the North Star, a glass capsule modeled after the London Eye, which will suspend passengers 300 feet above the deck. This feature will operate whether the ship is docked or sailing.1365714000_RCI NorthStar Exterior 5K No AntennaAnother special feature, called Two70°, is a room that offers 270-degree views of the ocean. 1365787347_Quantum 270 1 keynoteRobotic screens will also project images — either real or imaginary — onto the room's massive windows, creating the illusion of a new location.1402432188_crop Moment Factory Keynote Slide 9The ships will also offer RipCord by iFly, an experience that uses a wind tunnel to simulate the feeling of skydiving. 1365713986_RCI RipCordPass2 5KAnd Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will host Sea-Plex, an entertainment center that transforms to accommodate the desired activity, whether it's rollerblading, driving bumper cars, or playing basketball.1365713929_RCI SeaPlex BumperCars 5KThe ships will each have 18 decks and 2,090 state rooms. Even interior rooms will have ocean views with the help of "virtual balconies," which offer real-time views of the sea.1365791712_InsideStateroom Angle2 comp07flat (1)The ships can each hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy. Quantum of the Seas is set to sail in November 2014 from New York, while Anthem of the Seas will sail from Southampton, UK, in April 2015.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Hottest Travel Destinations Of The Future

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The Right Way To Pack A Suitcase

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Packing well is an art: Frequent travelers know how to pack as little as possible while still toting everything they'll need.

We recently published a post on the best hacks for packing a suitcaseSince it's easier to visualize the suitcase, we've created an infographic that shows exactly where each item belongs.

This is what your suitcase should look like:BI_graphics_PackingSuitcase

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Why Your Superstitions Can Actually Help You

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black cat

We all know that superstitious behavior is irrational. Stuart Vyse, author of "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," points out, "When we are looking for ways to enhance our luck, we often see connections that are not there."

Due to confirmation bias, people tend to look for days when their lucky shirt gave them great fortune and overlook the times it didn't work or when good things happened without the shirt. They are also more likely to interpret ambiguous evidence, such as their favorite sports team playing well but losing the game, as support for their theory.

It's also no surprise that superstitious behavior can be problematic. It can create fear where there was none before. Superstition can also replace active, productive behaviors, such as bringing a lucky charm to an exam instead of studying. Even worse, it can manifest as rituals that people become dependent on because they are so easy to rely on. 

Yet despite the negatives, there are some real benefits to being superstitious. It can create actual results — not through magic, but through psychology.

Superstitions can change the way people think and behave, which can affect outcomes, says Jane Risen, associate professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Her ongoing research suggests that engaging in a ritual in a high-anxiety situation can make people feel less anxious and therefore perform better than people who do not engage in such a ritual. 

Additionally, "believing you are lucky can improve performance at a skilled task," Vyse notes. He mentions a laboratory study where golfers who'd been told that the ball they were using was lucky putted significantly better than golfers who hadn't.

Superstitions also help people manage difficult emotions, especially under conditions of uncertainty. "They make people feel like they can understand, predict, and control their environment," says Risen. For example, if people can attribute the reason they had a snow day to a snow dance they performed the night before, then they feel more in control of unpredictable circumstances.

"It would be great for us if we had a fast and easy way to increase our perceptions of prediction and control in the world, while reducing our experiences of stress and anxiety," says Donald Saucier, professor of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. "This is what we think superstitions do. We can now believe that we can influence events, whether or not we actually can, by doing things to increase our good luck, decrease our bad luck, and change our overall luck."

Being superstitious can provide fast and meaningful psychological benefits. It decreases feelings of helplessness, while increasing confidence and initiative. "We can do many things to try to make things work out well, but where there is a random factor, superstition may help fill the gap and give us a sense of control — even if it is just an illusion of control," says Vyse.

Specifically, avoidant actions — superstitious gestures that involve pushing away from the body, such as throwing salt, spitting, or knocking on wood — are the most effective for helping people feel protected, especially in situations where they are trying to undo bad luck.

Researchers have found that exerting force away from the self allows people to simulate the experience of having avoided bad fortune. Avoidant actions make people feel like they've gotten rid of the bad mojo, and it can be stress-relieving for them to connect their abstract fears to physical movements.

The next time you are in an uncertain situation, you might just find your superstitions coming in handy.

SEE ALSO: How The 'Friday The 13th' Superstition Got Started

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We Took A GoPro On The Tallest Drop Ride In The World And It Was Terrifying

A Burger Chain You've Probably Never Heard Of Was Just Named Best In America

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Habit Burger

An obscure burger chain was just named the best in America by Consumer Reports.

The Habit Burger Grill claimed the top spot for the best-tasting burger in the country, beating out competitors like In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys. 

Habit Burger was established in 1969 in Santa Barbara. After becoming well known for its signature Charburger, it began to expand in California.

When private equity firm KarpReilly invested in the company in 2007, the brand began to grow even more.

By the end of 2013, Habit Burger had expanded into Arizona and Utah, according to Nation's Restaurant News. The company now has about 100 locations.

The chain promises 100% fresh ground beef cooked over an open flame. The signature burger is pretty classic and includes "mayonnaise, pickle, fresh tomato, lettuce and caramelized onions on a toasted bun."

Other burger toppings include bacon and mushrooms.

In addition to Charburgers, Habit Burger offers sandwiches, including the popular fresh-grilled albacore tuna sandwich, crisp salads, and desserts like shakes, sundaes, and ice cream cones.

Nation's Restaurant News reports the company will be opening a New Jersey storefront sometime this summer and also plans to open locations in Las Vegas and Seattle.

Meanwhile, fans of the burger are already raving about Habit on Twitter ... 

Habit Burger

Screen Shot 2014 07 10 at 10.12.15 AM

... and are posting delicious Instagram photos:

 Habit is getting some great Yelp reviews: 

Screen Shot 2014 07 10 at 10.18.35 AM 

 Have you tried The Habit Burger Grill? Let us know in the comments!

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14 Fascinating Photos Of The Makeshift Fields Where Brazil's Poor Play Soccer

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The 2014 FIFA World Cup is currently in full swing and drawing enormous audiences. But while the superstars are playing in billions of dollars worth of new stadiums and earning millions, the regular people of Brazil, who's tax money funded the construction of those stadiums, are playing the beautiful game elsewhere.

Brazil's less fortunate citizens, who often live in massive favelas on the outskirts of Brazil's major cities, play on any land they can find, whether it be sand, dirt, or grass. As the favelas expand, these makeshift fields are disappearing fast.

Using a helicopter, photographer Renato Stockler photographed soccer fields on the southern and western fringes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, creating a body of work he titled "Terrão de Cima." His photos highlight the disparities between the glitz of a global spectacle like the World Cup and the social realities of living on the periphery.

Stockler told Business Insider, "These fields show the urgent need for public and communal places to practice sports and to improve community living, a portrait of those who fights for leisure and a better life... Even in face of social and political difficulties, [they] show us real soccer, far away from a society mediated by powerful media groups." brazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccerbrazil soccer 

SEE ALSO: Meet The Elite Cops 'Cleaning Up' Rio's Favelas

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: This $24 Million Miami Penthouse Comes With One Cool Perk

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Miami penthouse

Here's a home-buying incentive we've never heard of: an all-inclusive vacation.

But that's just what GR8-Group and Chad Carroll of Douglas Elliman (and star of Bravo’s "Million Dollar Listing Miami") are doing. 

The person who purchases this $24 million penthouse will also get a "billionaire's weekend getaway," which includes a private jet ride to a private island, a celebrity concert, and time on a yacht, all valued at $1.5 million. 

The two-story penthouse is perched atop the former Sony building and includes a private rooftop, 20,000 square feet of interior space, and customized steel and glass installations.

It's currently home to a creative firm, but could be used as a residence, office, shop, or gallery.

The penthouse is on the corner of Lincoln Road, a popular destination in South Beach.



The multi-level, 20,000-square-foot space is located atop the former Sony building.

 



The fully customizable space features custom steel and glass installations, exotic woods, and floating concrete stairs.



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These Gorgeous Postcards Are Some Of The First Color Photographs Of America

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In the late 1800s, the Detroit Photographic Company began printing a series of color postcards based off photographs of iconic places in America, such as New York City and San Francisco, and peoples such as the Seminole and Pueblo Indians. 

All produced between 1888 and 1924, the postcards were some of the very first color photographs of the United States ever. Though conventional color photography was not in widespread use until the introduction of Kodachrome in the 1930s, the Detroit Photographic Company used a process called Photochrom beginning in the late 1800s that added life-like colors in post-production. In the Photochrom process, trained technicians would transfer black and white photos onto numerous lithographic stones, each inked with a different color.

The postcards were wildly popular at the time, selling by the millions at tourist attractions and in mail-order albums.

Photographer and collector Marc Walter, who specializes in vintage travel photographs, has put together a massive collection of these postcards in a recently released book, An American Odyssey. Taschen Books and Walter have shared a few of the postcards here, but you can see all 600 in the book.

Mulberry Street in Manhattan was bustling at the turn of the century. It was (and is) the heart of Little Italy. The street was part of the infamous Five Points neighborhood, a disease-ridden slum that played host to numerous riots and gangs. The sidewalks were filled with street vendors.xl_american_odyssey_058 059The view from Battery Park, New York City in the early 1900s.xl_american_odyssey_030 031On "laundry day" in the late 1800s and early 1900s, New York City residents dried their clothes on clotheslines that stretched between buildings. When the weather was wet, residents had to string up lines inside their already crowded apartments. Washing was done by hand.xl_american_odyssey_062 063This panorama shows San Francisco when it was still a developing Gold Rush town. Around this time, San Francisco started becoming a major city, as new neighborhoods cropped up in every direction and famous artists and writers began to call the Bay Area their home.xl_american_odyssey_547 550The Mount Lowe railway was a scenic railway on Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe in California, built as a tourist attraction for those visiting the Los Angeles area.  It operated from 1893 to 1938, but it was never particularly successful. Here, the railway navigates the Circular Bridge, a feat of engineering at the time that allowed the train to rise 12 feet in elevation over 500 feet of track. You can see Los Angeles in the distance.xl_american_odyssey_588The Homestake Mine in South Dakota was the largest and deepest gold mine in the United States, producing over 40 million ounces of gold. It was owned and operated by George Hearst, the father of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. xl_american_odyssey_268 269The Georgetown loop in the Rocky Mountains was considered an engineering marvel at the time. It connected two mining boom towns and covered an elevation of 600 feet. It was integral in hauling silver and gold during the Gold Rush and later became a tourist attraction.xl_american_odyssey_390 391This is one of the first photographs of the Grand Canyon. The area became a popular tourist attraction in the late 1800s, after the Santa Fe Railroad was extended first to Flagstaff (the closest city to the Canyon) in 1882 and, finally, to the Grand Canyon Village in 1901.xl_american_odyssey_414 415This is a shipping dock in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Steamboats were integral in developing the Mississippi River in the 1800s because they facilitated large-scale transport of passengers and freight.xl_american_odyssey_296 297The magnolias are in full bloom on the Ashley River in South Carolina. xl_american_odyssey_276 277The Zuni Pueblo people have been farming and living in pueblos in New Mexico for the last 4,000 years. Here they perform a rain-dance.xl_american_odyssey_406 407The Seminole Indians dominated Florida up until the 1800s. A series of wars between the Seminoles and the United States in the mid-1800s established U.S. control in Florida. Most Seminoles were forced to move west of the Mississippi, while a small group refused to leave. xl_american_odyssey_322AMERICAN_ODYSSEY_XL_INT_3D_05772

SEE ALSO: 15 Vintage Pictures Of Los Angeles When It Was Still A Beachside Village

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Business Insider Is Now Hiring Paid Fall Interns

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Business Insider

Business Insider is looking for paid interns to join our editorial team this fall!

As an intern at Business Insider, there's no getting coffee, filing, or making copies.

Our interns are an integral part of our team. Many of our current writers and editors started as interns.

BI Interns spend their time doing meaningful work: researching, writing, pitching and producing features -- even breaking news if the timing's right.

Interns are encouraged to work full-time (40 hours a week) if their schedule allows.

Other perks? We have tons of free snacks and drinks, a great office environment, and a ping-pong table where we hold quarterly tournaments.

When it comes to qualifications, a journalism background and experience writing for a news site always helps, as do copy-editing skills and light HTML and Photoshop experience. Knowledge of social media and previous writing experience are both useful, too.

Verticals looking for help this fall include:
Main Page
Entertainment/Life
Lists
Retail
Science/Health
Politics
Finance
Sports

Apply here with a resume and cover letter if interested. Please also briefly describe which one or two BI section(s) interest you most and why.

And, please note: this internship requires that you work in our Manhattan office. The internship term runs for approximately six months, with some flexibility on start and end dates.

SEE ALSO:  Business Insider Just Moved To An Awesome New Office — Come On In And Meet The Team!

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Finland Gives This Awesome Box Of Goodies To All Expectant Moms

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finland maternity box reddit

Since 1938, Finland has been giving expectant mothers a starter-kit box for babies.

The cardboard box comes with a mattress at the bottom to make it “baby's first bed,” and includes bodysuits, a sleeping bag, bathing products, diapers, outdoor gear, a blanket, and unisex clothes. There are also bra pads and condoms for the parents.

The contents of the package are updated nearly every year by the Finnish social security institution, Kela, which provides them to all expectant or adoptive parents. Though there is an option to take a cash grant of 140 euros, 95% of Finish parents choose the box since it’s worth much more, according to BBC news.

Reddit user GrumpyFinn uploaded pictures of her maternity box on /r/Pics and Imgur to show Redditors some of what was offered in this year’s box. “All of the clothes are very high quality, and a good chunk of what came in the box was made in Finland or by Finnish companies,” GrumpyFinn said.

Take a look below.

SEE ALSO: 9 Things That Surprised Me About Being A New Parent

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What To Do If You Forget Someone's Name Immediately After Meeting Them

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awkwardWe've all been in those situations where we've forgotten someone's name. It's even worse when it happens immediately after meeting them.

How do we deal with it without being awkward? Here's some helpful advice, gleaned from personal experience, online message boards, and advice columns:

Ask them to put their number in your phone. It's the best way to get their name without even asking for it. Typically, they will enter both their first and last names, along with their number. It's a great way to stay in touch with them in the future and also to assure you won't forget their name again.

Introduce them to a friend.At a party or networking event, making introductions is expected. Find one of your friends and introduce them first, then wait for your conversation partner to do the same.

Wait until the conversation ends, and ask a friend. Oftentimes, you can go through an entire conversation simply using pronouns. There's always someone else at the party who must have either invited this person or who is in the same network — ask them afterwards.

Ask them how to spell their name or for their preferred nickname. It's not a weird question to ask, especially since names such as Jonathan or Alyssa can be adapted and spelled in so many ways.

Ask for their business card.They should be eager to share it with you, and it's a great way to keep them in mind in the future. You'll always know their name without having to ask again.

End the conversation by reminding them of your name. When you're finished speaking, you can talk about what a pleasure it was to meet them. For instance, you could say, "It was great meeting you. My name is so-and-so. And what was yours again?"

Ask about the meaning behind their name. It's always fun to learn about why your conversation partner's parents chose their name. Sometimes, their answers can lead to family histories or fun facts about the origins of words.

Get creative. You could compare ID and driver license photos, since they're fun to look at anyway. Or, if you're really desperate, you could say something along the lines of, "I heard it's almost impossible to pronounce your own name with a different accent because you've used it so much. Can you do it?"

Just be honest. They will appreciate your honesty, because everyone understands it's difficult to remember names. Just politely and apologetically admit that it slipped your mind or that it's on the tip of your tongue but you can't think of it now.

A gentler approach is the "I know your name, but I'm blocked" dodge, where you can say something along the lines of, "I keep wanting to call you David, but I know that's not right."

Either way, make sure you do this as quickly as possible — it gets more awkward the longer you wait to ask. 

SEE ALSO: 7 Body-Language Tricks To Make Anyone Instantly Like You

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GE Is Building A Machine To Count The Calories In Your Food

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Calorie counting microwave

GE is making it impossible for you to be in denial about how fattening your mom's pecan pie really is. 

The company is planning on making low energy (meaning it doesn't alter your food) microwaves that can count the calories in a meals.

GE says it is still working out the kinks, but so far, it has created one that measures the calories of homogenized mixtures of oil, water, and sugar, according to Gizmodo.

By utilizing sensor technology, the microwave can estimate calories by measuring the weight, fat content and water content. 

GE eventually wants to link an activity monitor and wireless scale to the Calorie Counter to monitor your health and calorie balance  with the data accessible on your tablet or smartphone.

See how it would work here:

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Espresso Machines You Can Buy For Your Home

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