Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 115285 articles
Browse latest View live

Stunning Portraits Of Europe's Modern Nomads

0
0

The New Gypsies

It's easy to get wrapped up in our modern concerns, from the new iPhone to troubles in the car industry. The world is moving a mile a minute and technology is moving faster. But people all over the world are choosing to abandon the fast pace and opt instead for a simpler way of life. 

Some have become part of a new breed of nomads in Europe. They travel the countryside without modern transportation, stopping for short amounts of time (usually illegally), before saddling up and moving on.

Unrelated to the Roma people, many of these folks have lived in caravans pulled by horses since the 1980s, inspired by the anarchic and punk ethos that flourished in England at that time. In his recent book, "The New Gypsies," veteran photographer Iain McKell presents a beautiful series of photographs documenting this ragtag community.

McKell began photographing the group in 1985 when he saw them on TV participating in a standoff with the police at Stonehenge. He got a press pass and went into the camp, where he spoke with people and took portraits. McKell says he was interested in the juxtaposition of counterculture against a backdrop of beautiful nature.New GypsiesSixteen years later, McKell decided to start documenting them again in an effort to get out of the city and work on something new. "Initially, they thought I was a tourist," he tells Business Insider. But eventually, he won them over with prints of his work and a bottle of Jack Daniels. He would photograph them for the next nine years.The New GypsiesMcKell says that these new-age nomads make money working festivals around Europe. "They're not in your face, there's no posturing. They do their thing quietly, 24/7," McKell explains. "They've fully bought in to being free."The New GypsiesThe nomads especially reject the world's dependency on oil-burning modes of transportation, doing so by traveling by horse only. He tells us that they love the slow lifestyle.

They have a deep respect for their animals. McKell adds that when they are traveling, the horses pull the wagons and the people walk beside them instead of riding them. "They understand that humans are just another animal," McKell says.The New GypsiesAnd they haven't rejected all technology. Many have portable phones and laptops. McKell recalls a time when he sat with a group of the travelers inside a caravan and watched a popular British television show.The New GypsiesThe travelers and the scene they create is so visually striking that, along the way, McKell was commissioned to shoot supermodel Kate Moss hanging out with the travellers for V Magazine.The New GypsiesMcKell says that he is often asked about the children living in these camps. He explains that they have a unique time and learn to work hard, but that they are educated and are never mistreated.

They play chess, read, draw, and create their own games.

McKell recalls a time when he walked with a young girl who listed off all the names of the flowers they encountered on the trail. "They're more connected to nature," McKell says.The New GypsiesFor McKell, the project was a way of looking into another world, or a "tribe" as he puts it, one different from his own. He says he was an observer, "documenting something important."The New Gypsies

"The New Gypsies" is out now on Prestel Publishing. You can see more images of the nomads and McKell's other projects on his website.

SEE ALSO: Meet 15 People Who Brave Freezing Temperatures To Live In The Arctic Circle

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Instagram!

Join the conversation about this story »









How To Make A Frappe — The Caffeine-Packed Iced Energy Booster

The New 49ers Stadium Is Revolutionizing The Way People Eat At Football Games

0
0

Inside Levis Stadium

The newly built, $1.3 billion, Levi's Stadium of the San Francisco 49ers offers a dining experience unlike any other NFL team

While the new stadium comes with higher ticket prices, once fans are there, they can enjoy top-notch dining choices, spearheaded by Michelin-star chef Michael Mina's upscale restaurant Bourbon Steak. Mina, who owns restaurants in Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Seattle, Atlantic City, and all over California, has been a 49ers season-ticket holder since 1991 and has made Levi's Stadium an elite place to eat.

Mina's restaurant Bourbon Steak is a 3,500 square-foot gourmet eatery in the stadium that offers filet mignon for $58, 10 oz. skirt steak for $74, or seafood like Alaskan Halibut or Pacific Salmon. It can all be washed down with a $75 Deus Belgian Strong Ale or $30 tableside flight of bourbon.

The stadium has also unveiled the Levi's Stadium App, which provides online tickets, parking passes, and perhaps best of all, mobile food orders. Fans can either order food to be picked up at concession stands or get it delivered right to their seats for an extra $5.

The app isn't completley perfect yet. Some fans complained about the wifi crashing and never getting their food delivered. But as the season gets underway, these are problems that can be easily fixed.

Another dining option within the stadium is Mina's Bourbon Steak Pub, which offers more affordable dishes like nachos, duck spring rolls, pulled pork sandwiches, and a wide variety of burgers. It still isn't cheap, but for quality food from a top chef, it's not too bad.

Mina and company are also revolutionizing tailgating. Fans can pay $5,000 for 10 tailgates, held inside the stadium at another one of Mina's restaurants.

Mina told CBSSports:

"So I said, I've got a crazy idea: We can turn the whole thing into a 1,000 person tailgate on gamedays and do something that no one's ever seen before."

At the start of the season, there were 500 open spots available for tailgate membership and more than 400 have been sold already.

Mina will also cater the menu based on the visiting team. When the Chicago Bears come to town, Mina is cooking deep dish Chicago Pizza, Chicago hot dogs, lobster rolls, and three different types of steak house salads. 

Join the conversation about this story »








Why McDonald's Can't Serve Brunch Right Now

0
0

mcdonald's breakfast

Yesterday, news broke that McDonald's had trademarked the term "McBrunch." 

The news led to speculation that the fast food chain could be getting in on the brunch trend to boost declining sales. 

McDonald's breakfast notoriously ends at 10:30 a.m. at most locations. 

Executives of the brand have hinted that it might extend breakfast hours—though no specifics have been provided. McDonald's already offers some breakfast items after midnight

But McDonald's would have to make major changes in the kitchen to enable brunch.

Scott Hume at BurgerBusiness.com explains that limitations in the kitchens are the reason that breakfast isn't served all day.  

"It's a shock to hear, but McDonald's doesn't do made-to-order breakfast," Hume said. "Its customer traffic is too great for that. So eggs and sausage are pre-cooked and held for breakfast sandwich assembly."

At 10:30, McDonald's needs to start using its toasters and grills for burgers, chicken nuggets, and sandwich buns instead, Hume said. 

mcdonald's eggs egg mcmuffin

J.M. Owens, a McDonald's operator in Atlanta, explained more about the process to BurgerBusiness.com earlier this year: "First, there are some capacity issues. We only have so much toaster space and so much grill space. Unlike a lot of breakfast QSRs, we still cook our product on a grill. Many of the pretenders are doing a ton of prep in microwaves. For instance, go into a Dunkin’ Donuts or a Starbucks, who are chasing breakfast, and you don’t find a grill, or oven, or fryer. We prefer to be a restaurant rather than processing everything through a microwave."

"The 'McDonald's After Midnight' menu works when customer traffic is light," Hume told us. "But it wouldn't work all day because it requires streamlining both breakfast and burger menus to a few all-star items."

So, it could take a long time for McDonald's to figure out a way to do breakfast and burgers together. 

SEE ALSO: 19 Fast Food Hacks That Will Change The Way You Order

Follow us: On Twitter.

Join the conversation about this story »








A Quote At The 9/11 Memorial Museum Doesn't Really Mean What It Says

0
0

Virgil quote National September 11 Memorial MuseumBetween where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood, a concrete wall now exists. 

The wall, one of the most deeply personal aspects of the 9/11 Memorial Museum, separates the public area from a repository of nearly 8,000 unidentified human remains. Inscribed on it, visitors will read a line from Virgil's "Aeneid":

"No day shall erase you from the memory of time."

The museum's creators, however, took the line out of context, the The New York Times reported in April. "You" doesn't mean thousands of civilians tragically dying, as did the victims during the attacks in 2001. The quote refers to two soldiers — who may have deserved their fates.

Book IX of the Aeneid (translated here), where the quote originates, tells of two Trojans, Nisus and Euryalus. They had just ambushed enemy soldiers in their sleep, and for that, the enemy impaled their heads on spears.  

The Times asked half a dozen experts in classical literature about the quotations' use at the memorial site. All but one saw it as troubling. 

“If we take into account its original context, the quotation is more applicable to the aggressors in the 9/11 tragedy than to those honored by the memorial,” Helen Morales, a classics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, told the Times.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation has known about objections to the inscription for years. The staff remains confident.

antennae World Trade Center 911 Memorial

“In selecting this quote, our focus was not on the specific narrative of the classic story nor its characters. What resonated with us ... was the reference to a single day not being able to erase the memory of those we love," museum director Alice M. Greenwald told The Times. 

In an attempt to separate the quote from its original meaning, the foundation removed attribution to the Aeneid in some cases. For example, key chains sold in the shop will only show the quote, according the Times.

Read the full Times article here.

Regardless of the controversy, the National September 11 Memorial Museum opened on May 21 this year. The organization hosted a moment of silence Thursday at 8:46 a.m., exactly when hijacked Flight 11 hit the Norther Tower. An anniversary ceremony followed.

What do you think of the quote? Tell us in the comments section. 

SEE ALSO: Here's What 9/11 Was Like For The Only American Watching From Space

Join the conversation about this story »








These Powerful Photos Depict The Reality Of A Generation Of 'Lost Boys'

0
0

LC 14

After three years in New York City's Pratt Institute, photographer Liz Calvi realized she couldn't afford her final semesters.

Calvi was lucky enough that her parents let her move back in with them at home in Hartford, Connecticut, and attend a local art school to finish her education without having to pay the price of room and board. She soon realized she wasn't the only one back in town.

"I noticed quite a few kids had come back home," she remembers. "This group of boys stuck around the longest, which is how I got the idea for lost boys instead of both genders." 

In her photo series "Lost Boys," the name of which was inspired by the use of "Peter Pan generation" to describe a generation that some believe refuses or postpones adulthood, Calvi mixes portraits of Hartford's 18- to 26-year-old "lost boys" with scenes from her hometown to illustrate the effects of a struggling economy on her peers. 

Here, she has allowed us to republish an excerpt of her project. To see the complete series, visit her website. 

In 2013, about a year after graduating, Calvi started her project. She was inspired in part by her younger brother Nick, pictured here as a junior in high school. "Being around him and watching him grow up, especially over the past two years, influenced me to start looking at other boys as well," Calvi says.



Calvi started with her "good group of guy friends" but eventually branched out to look for more subjects in town. Nolan, pictured here, is currently studying graphics in college, and he lives with his parents for the summer.



The project's subjects are all at home for different reasons. Some have graduated college, hold temporary jobs, are paying student loans, thinking about grad school, or are in school and saving on room and board. Kevin was homeschooled by his grandparents and is studying to be a firefighter instead of attending college.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Burger King Japan Is Selling Burgers With Black Buns And Cheese

0
0

Black burger Burger King

Burger King has gone to the dark side.

The fast food chain just announced the launch of two all black whoppers in Japan, according to Rocket News 24.

Their Kuro Diamond and Kuro Pearl ('kuro' is 'black' in Japanese) burgers will each feature black buns, black slices of cheese, and a black sauce.

The Kuro Diamond Burger is a little more colorful with onions, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, and a customized squid ink sauce. The Kuro Pearl (translated to The Black Pearl, aka the ship from Pirates of the Caribbean) burger, however, lacks the veggies, and could potentially pass as an edible black hole or a shadowy flying saucer.

Burger King black burger

In order to create their ninja-like facade, Burger King darkened the buns and cheese with bamboo charcoal and mixed the meat with scores of black pepper.

The peculiar patties will sell for approximately 690 yen ($6.40) and 480 yen ($4.50), and will be hitting Japanese stores on September 19th for limited time only.

SEE ALSO: Why McDonald's Cant Serve Brunch Right Now

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Instagram!

Join the conversation about this story »








John Travolta's House Is A Functional Airport With 2 Runways For His Private Planes

0
0

john travolta house

John Travolta is a certified private pilot who owns five aircraft, so it's only fitting that the 60-year-old actor's Florida home has two runways that lead directly to his front door.

"We designed the house for the jets and to have at our access the world at a moment’s notice, and we succeeded at that," a bearded Travolta said during an interview Thursday on Australia's "Today." "For the last 11 years, we’ve been able to globe-trot for Qantas and movies … I’ve been really able to operate out of this house for business and personal reasons.

Travolta has been a Qantas "ambassador-at-large" since 2002 and keeps his personal Qantas Boeing 707 in the yard of his Florida home, just a 10-minute flight from Orlando.

john travolta planes Travolta also keeps a Challenger jet parked in his backyard:

john travolta planes"Now I've made a profession out of flying in addition to acting, and at my age I'm glad I did, because it's something to do when you're not working," Travolta told "Today."

But the actor also flies his own planes for work. He flew the Challenger to the Toronto Film Festival to promote his new movie, "The Forger."

Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, previously gave a tour of their unique aviation-inspired home to Architectural Digest.

"It was always John’s dream to have planes in his front yard — to practically be able to pull up to the house — so that when you wanted to go to dinner, all you’d have to do was step out the door, get on the plane and whisk off,” Kelly told the magazine.

Travolta added: "You can be the ultimate eccentric, like I am, and bring in a 707, but you can also bring in any corporate jet or airliner."

Although the property came equipped with a 7,500-foot runway, Travolta extended the taxiway to reach the house.

Check out a few of Architectural Digest's pictures below:

john travolta house airplanesjohn travolta house airplanes More Architectural Digest photos here.

Check out an awesome aerial shot of the home here.

Travolta's property, located in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala, Florida, is situated on Greystone Airport. The actor was reportedly the first resident of the 550-acre community that caters to people who want fly-in, fly-out access.

The aviation community allows homeowners to land their planes, including Travolta's Boeing 707 airliner, and taxi up to their homes. travolta airport

There is a private control center:travolta airport

And a bed-and-breakfast where pilots and prospective homeowners can stay overnight:travolta airport

Watch Travolta's full interview about his airport-home with Australia's "Today" below:

Travolta waves from the cockpit of an Airbus A380 in 2005 in Brisbane, Australia:

John Travolta planeThe Qantas Airlines Global Goodwill Ambassador poses near two Qantas planes during a press conference in 2006 at San Francisco International Airport. Travolta was on hand to welcome the first direct Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia.

john travolta qantas airplane

SEE ALSO: NBC Is Paying For Matt Lauer's Helicopter Rides To Work From The Hamptons

Join the conversation about this story »









Gentlemen, Here's What You Need To Step Up Your Fall Shoe Game

0
0

It's time to switch your flip-flops out for something a little more fresh, gentlemen. Fall is here.

And while it's totally fine to recycle the classics you've kept over the years (as long as you've taken them to the cobblers — we implore you) you may want to kick your wardrobe up a notch with some of the new gorgeous footwear you'll be seeing around this season.

"It's all about the boots," said Evan Fript, cofounder of shoe retailer Paul Evans. "Lots of Chelsea and Chukka boots. Wear them to work with a suit and out at night with some slacks. Gotta have a pair in black and brown."

Consider them the "next level up in shoe game," as Fript put it.

Check out this pair of Chukka's from Paul Evan's for $449.

paul evans fall chukka

Also remember that you can get a little funky with color, this season you'll see a lot of green.

Check out this green Oxford boot from Esquivel. They'll cost you $975.

green esquivel boot

Now, if you're a true creative, or simply too fresh to wear what everyone else is wearing, we suggest you see Awl & Sundry. It's a new direct-to-consumer luxury-shoe brand that lets you design your own shoe.

The company was founded by a former banker named Nikunj Marvania. He was frustrated that he couldn't find the right shoe, well made, and at the right price point, so he decided to start his own brand.

"Customization was pretty much nonexistent in the online world prior to Awl & Sundry," Marvania told Business Insider. "We are the first brand in the world to offer this level of customization to our customers."

Start off by choosing a style — Oxford, Derby, Monk, Loafer — then choose the "last" (that's shoe-guy talk for shape). After that things get really interesting. Choose colors, materials, even monogram your shoes. Prices start at $350. Your shoes will be at your house in about 30 days, and they'll be exceptional.

"The quality of our product is outstanding," said Marvania. "We use the same construction process as Saint Crispins, John Lobb, Gaziano and Girling, and many other prestigious brands. Also, our leathers are sourced from tanneries in Europe."

For fall, Marvania suggests designing a pair in suede.

Like these:

awl and sundry suede shoes

Join the conversation about this story »








A Legendary New York City Steakhouse Is Suing Yelp For The Identity Of An Internet Troll Who Smeared The Restaurant

0
0

sparks steakhouse

This is when anonymity on the internet is truly out of hand.

Legendary Manhattan steakhouse Sparks is suing Yelp to compel the online reviewer to reveal the identity of one its users, The Smoking Gun reports.

The user, going by the name of Besfort S, claimed to be a waiter at Sparks. He wrote that the restaurant paid off health inspectors and that employees regularly spit in customers' food.

"I had personally spit my own saliva into dishes," the Yelper wrote.

The review has since been removed from Yelp's website, but here's a screen grab of the review from Sparks' complaint, filed in the New York State Supreme Court:

bar yelp review of sparks

Now, the thing is, Besfort S — the S is for Shala — does exist in real life, but while he did interview at Sparks he did not get the job.

However, Shala insists that he didn't write the review. He even filed a police report saying there was an imposter on the loose.

Sparks is known for expensive, delicious steak, some truly epic private birthday parties, and for being the sight of the murder of Gambino mobster Paul Castellano. He was shot there in 1985.

Sparks claims that the Yelper's comments were "malicious and defamatory."

To say the least.

Join the conversation about this story »








Here's How Rich People Are Using High-End Pawn Shops

0
0

diamond ring appraisal

The term "pawn shop" tends to summon mental images of a seedy strip mall storefront dealing in Grandma's jewelry and signed baseball cards.

That's why Paul Aitken, CEO of asset lending site Borro, doesn't use it to describe his company.

"We're about as similar to a private bank as we are to a pawn shop," Aitken explains. "We provide an average loan of around $15,000, which is very different from the average $150 loans that pawn shops provide."

The typical loan amount isn't the only difference between Borro and the old-school pawn shop. High net-worth individuals are discovering that the service, which allows users to manage transactions online, is a convenient way to get cash, in a method that works for them.

On the surface, asset lending and pawn shop models are extremely similar: The borrower applies to the lender for a loan based on the value of a given asset, and as collateral, hands over that asset to the lender for safe keeping. The borrower then pays back the loan, with interest, and takes back the asset (or doesn't pay, and forfeits their collateral for the lender to sell).

In the case of a standard pawn shop, the asset might be a pair of sterling silver cuff links. At Borro, it might be an Aston Martin.

andy warhol mao print

Borro, which operates in the U.S. and the U.K. with offices in New York City and London, deals in luxury goods, including diamonds, fine art, antiques, and even more unusual valuables like Oscar and Grammy awards and Olympic gold medals.

In particular, Aitken remembers a $250,000 loan for a Stradivarius violin, $1.2 million for a signed Monet, an Andy Warhol Mao print for $21,000, and even a collection of 12th- and 13th-century swords and armor for $325,000.

A little larger scale than Grandma's pearls.

Borro loans are capped at $2 million, and the company itself has raised over $152 million since its founding in 2008. It's probably the most well-known of its kind, and attracts customers through everything from newspaper ads to partnerships with wealth managers and private banks.

High-end pawn shops aren't common, per se, but Borro isn't alone in the space. Similar companies that have made headlines include New York Loan and Suttons & Robertson.

Aitken says the interest rates on Borro loans are typically between 2.5% and 4% a month, compared to pawn shop rates that tend to range from 5% to 25%, depending on the state. (Traditional pawn shops might also charge fees for things like lost tickets or storage.) Only 10% of borrowers don't repay their loans in full, and of those, he estimates, half never intended to take back their assets.

"A lot of people come to us who are self-employed with irregular cash flows," Aitken explains. "Banks don't like irregular cash flows. These are people who are looking for loans for opportunistic reasons — not distressed reasons — and they just need liquidity to do it. Over half of the loans are business-related."

borro websiteMost of Borro's clients, he continues, are small-business owners, property developers, or people working in sports or media with short-term contracts.

The average Borro client takes out four loans, prioritizing the ease of borrowing over the price. "They're paying for speed and quality of service," Aitken says. "People who consume luxury goods are more sensitive to quality than price."

Aitken explains that clients come to Borro instead of seeking alternate forms of financing for three main reasons: The transaction is quick; there's no material credit risk (Borro does a background check to confirm your identity, but no credit check); and in many cases it's cheaper than selling the valuables outright.

"If you sell an asset, you lose 30% of the value in the costs of selling," Aitken says. "The clients who come to us realize that. Otherwise, you just sell."

SEE ALSO: 9 Things Money Cannot Buy

Join the conversation about this story »








This Bike Lock Will Discourage Even The Most Experienced Thieves

A 13-Year-Old Certified Genius Just Had Her First New York Fashion Week Show

0
0

isabella rose taylorA young member of the Mensa society for people with high IQs hosted a show at New York Fashion Week.

Isabella Rose Taylor, 13, taught herself how to sew and also has a clothing line at Nordstrom.

Her fashion week show was sponsored by computer company Dell, according to Fox Business.  

Taylor attends college in her hometown of Austin, Texas.

Her fashion line, which is described as "hippie-grunge, yet feminine," launched for back-to-school this year. 

Prices range from $20 to $100. Taylor already blogs about fashion and sells some clothes online. 

Earlier this year, we spoke to the young prodigy about how she got into fashion and her goals for the future. 

Business Insider: How did you first become interested in fashion?

Isabella Rose Taylor: I began to paint at a very early age, and it was through my passion for painting and fashion that my current fashion line has become a business. I have always been enamored with fashion and five years ago, while I was exploring mixed media in my artwork I decided I needed to learn how to sew. I had my Mom sign me up for a sewing camp. I fell in love with sewing and designing. I immediately began sewing clothes for myself. As some of my friends began liking what I was wearing, I got the idea to sell them and to start a business.  

isabella rose taylor runway show models

BI: What are you studying in college? 

IRT: I have always had a passion for art and design and I'm currently pursuing my degree in Fine Art.  
BI: When do you work on your blog and fashion line? How much time do you devote to it?

IRT: I try to commit at least 2-3 hours a day during the week but it really does vary week to week depending on my homework load.  

Isabella rose taylor runway show models

BI: What are some of your goals for the future?

IRT: My first goal is to make Isabella Rose Taylor a global brand.  My second goal is to expand into accessories, handbags and shoes to complete my looks. Finally, I’d really love to inspire other girls and be a mentor to those who may not have the kind of support system that I have to help me achieve my dreams.

isabella rose taylor

SEE ALSO: Chanel Just Created The Fanciest Grocery Store Of All Time

Follow Us: On Pinterest.

Join the conversation about this story »








The 32 Most Stellar Looks Of The Year

0
0

 Cara Delevingne cannes earrings

It's only September, but there have already been tons of memorable style moments this year.

Now that the biggest award shows and fashion shows have whizzed by, we took a moment to collect the most buzzworthy and breathtaking fashion looks we've seen so far. 

From Pharrell's hat seen round the world to Lupita Nyongo's fairytale Oscar gown, these are the looks that set the trends for the rest of us.

While murmurs of divorce have swirled around the couple as of late, Jay-Z and Beyonce continue to hold a special place in American hearts by dominating the red carpet, like at the Met Gala this year.



Cara Delevingne is one of the world's most in-demand models, and her personal style and silly persona is what makes her so likable. This Chanel look was a Cannes Film Festival favorite.



Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen was one of the first to use 3D printing techniques in fashion, and in January 2013, she debuted this intricate, lace-like dress that was created with a laser printing technique by Belgian company Materialise.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






A Biracial Woman Asked Designers Around The World To Make Her 'Beautiful' Using Photoshop

0
0

original before and after part 2 photoshop

Back in June, freelance journalist Esther Honig had her face Photoshopped by artists in 19 different countries, and the results went viral.

Honig had used an online freelancing platform called Fiverr to send her photo to graphic designers all over the world with the simple request to make her look more “beautiful.”

Her close college friend Priscilla Yuki Wilson, an actor and radio journalist, just released her own set of manipulated images, and they are just as fascinating.

Wilson, who is biracial, with a Japanese mother and black father, asked the designers from countries around the world to use Photoshop to “make [her] beautiful.” The portraits were drastically different from Honig’s.

“In contrast to Honig’s results, where her face became a canvas to express more than a dozen contrasting  beauty standards, I found that my face actually challenged the application of Photoshop in this instance,” Wilson explained on her personal website. “As a biracial women there is no standard of beauty or mold that can easily fit my face.”

Even so, the 22 portraits she received from countries around the world showcase the differing perspectives of what “beautiful” really means. In some countries, more than one artist submitted a portrait.

Here is Wilson's original image, shot by photographer Che Landon.



Albania



Algeria



See the rest of the story at Business Insider







The Complete Guide To Eliminating Jet Lag

0
0

If you've ever flown across an ocean only to find yourself yawning at the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal, you've fallen victim to jet lag, that slightly drunken, probably drowsy, and absolutely grumpy state that happens when our internal clocks go awry. 

"All these clocks are controlled by the hormone melatonin, which is produced by the master clock when it gets dark to make us feel drowsy, and controls our body temperature when we sleep," writes BBC Future. "When we fly to a different time zone (or work night shifts), all the clocks in our body go out of sync — or, to use the technical term, 'desynchronise.' Each clock then takes a slightly different amount of time to re-adjust, which is why we feel so bad."

But with proper preparation and adaptation, you can wade through the jet lag fast. This new infographic from Iceland Air — the result of asking 1,000 travelers for their best tips for beating jet lag — provides the insight we need. 

iceland air jetlag infographic

SEE ALSO: A Frequent Flier Shares Smart Tips For Acing The Airport

Join the conversation about this story »








The 18 Most Expensive Mansions For Sale In Silicon Valley Right Now

0
0

silicon valley homes stonebrook courtPrices for homes in Northern California are notoriously steep, with tech money contributing to a somewhat inflated real estate market. 

The team at Point2Homes helped us gather data on the most expensive homes for sale in 13 cities in and around Silicon Valley: Palo Alto, Atherton, Cupertino, Menlo Park, Woodside, Saratoga, Portola Valley, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Hillsborough, Morgan Hill, and San Jose.

Of those cities, two were especially dominant on our list. Woodside, the ritzy Peninsula town where Larry Ellison's Japanese estate and Steve Jobs' historic mansion can be found, is home to Silicon Valley's most expensive private property.

Atherton, which was recently named the most expensive zip code in the country, made the most appearances on the list, with eight of the top 18 most expensive homes overall. Several tech billionaires, including Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen and Google chairman Eric Schmidt, own homes here. 

This 7-acre home has an expansive main house and two separate cottages.

Address: 437 Whiskey Hill Road, Woodside

Price: $14.85 million

There's even enough space for "equestrian activities," according to the listing.



This French-inspired home has some pretty lavish grounds.

Address: 35 Ralston Road, Atherton

Price: $14.9 million

Highlights include a pool, putting green, wine cellar, and billiards lounge.



$14.95 million will buy you a mini version of Versailles.

Address: 91 Isabella Avenue, Atherton

Price: $14.95 million

This home has custom marble flooring, antique French mantelpieces, and a garage that can accommodate up to 14 cars. An elevator makes it easy to access all three floors. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Why You Should Be Eating More Eggs

What The Union Jack Might Look Like If Scotland Votes For Independence

0
0

Flag Institute

Last November, the Flag Institute, which manages the United Kingdom's national Flag Registry, conducted a survey on the future of the Union flag if Scotland becomes independent. 

The national flag of the United Kingdom, better known as the Union Jack, combines the crosses of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. 

In the survey, respondents were asked questions like: "If Scotland becomes independent, do you think the Union flag will or will not change?" (56% said it will change) and "If Scotland becomes independent, do you think the Union flag should or should not change?" (64.8% said it should change.)

Along with the survey responses, loads of people also sent in their suggestions for what the new British flag might look like if Scotland cuts ties with the U.K. in the upcoming Sept. 18 vote. 

"It should be noted that the Flag Institute is not recommending any of these designs," Flag Institute chief executive Charles Ashburner said in a statement. "However as the UK's national flag charity the role of the Flag Institute is to facilitate and inform any national debate about its flag — nothing more complicated than that."

Some of the suggested designs appear below. Have a favorite? Let us know in the comments.

This is one of the most popular of the suggested designs, according to Ashburner. Basically, it just removes the blue Scottish bits and replaces it with black of Wales' cross.

Flag InstituteThis one includes black as well as gold from the Wales' St. David flag.

Flag Institute

This flag has a similar theme.

Flag Institute

This flag removes the Scotland part and replaces it with elements of the Welsh Dragon flag.

Flag Institute

The Welsh-oriented suggestions are less popular, says Ashburner.

Flag Institute

A dizzying cross-based design submitted by John Yates and titled as "United Britain" really stands out from other flags already out there.

Flag Institute

A lot of designs just stitch the flags of the remaining home nations together.

Flag Institute

Flag Institute

The two flags below are rather intricate.

Flag Institute

Flag Institute

In this design, the blue has been replaced with black and there's a border of flowers that represent the different home nations.

Flag Institute

SEE ALSO: Everything You Need To Know About Scotland's Vote On Whether To Leave Great Britain

Don't Miss: 49 Wonderful Gifts That Scotland Gave To The World

Join the conversation about this story »








Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, And Other Top CEOs Name Their Favorite Books

0
0

warren oprah zuck

The most powerful people in business spend much of their limited free time on a quiet, contemplative pursuit — reading books. 

For example, the third-richest person in the world, Warren Buffett, says he spends 80% of his day tearing through the written word. 

We've pored over interviews with some of America's most influential execs — from Bill Gates to Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey — to find out what they read.

Here are the favorites. 

Berkshire-Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett: "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham

When Buffett was 19 years old, he picked up a copy of legendary Wall Streeter Benjamin Graham's "Intelligent Investor." 

He remembers it as one of the luckiest moments of his life, because within the book was the framework he would use for making investments. 

"To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information," Buffett said. "What's needed is a sound intellectual framework for making decisions and the ability to keep emotions from corroding that framework. This book precisely and clearly prescribes the proper framework. You must provide the emotional discipline."

Buy it here >>



Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates: "Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street" by John Brooks

On the recommendation of Buffett, Gates became obsessed with a book called "Business Adventures," a collection of New Yorker stories by John Brooks. The book reminds him that the foundations of successful businesses stay constant, Gates says, regardless of the decade. 

He writes

For one thing, there's an essential human factor in every business endeavor. It doesn't matter if you have a perfect product, production plan and marketing pitch; you'll still need the right people to lead and implement those plans.

Lots of publications — including BI — are getting into the book, too. Slate wrote that it's "catnip for billionaires."  

Buy it here >> 



Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos: "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

When Bezos was asked what the most influential book for him was, he didn't say a business book — he gushed about a novel: "The Remains of the Day," which deals with age, memory, war, love, and Britain. 

"Before reading it, I didn’t think a perfect novel was possible," the Amazon CEO said. "I am entranced by that: the idea of the impossible achieved." 

With Amazon — an aggressive, but still profitless company— disrupting retail and publishing alike, it seems his business is doing much the same. 

Buy it here >>



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Viewing all 115285 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images