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7 Reasons Why Madison, Wisconsin Is Officially The Best Place To Live In America

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Madison, Wisconsin

Residential resource company Livability recently released its annual list of the 100 best places to live in the US, looking at factors like access to schools, hospitals, and infrastructure; affordability and income; and how residents take advantage of those opportunities.

(The list only looked at cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000. You can read the complete methodology here.)

Since Madison, Wisconsin topped Livability's list, Business Insider took a closer look at 7 things that make Madison, a northern midwest city of 235,000, stand out from the rest. 

1. It's a vibrant cultural hub of art, music, food, and beer

Madison is ranked fifth in Livability's list of best food cities for its collection of renowned chefs, top restaurants, and food cooperatives and festivals that take advantage of locally grown foods. Other major annual events like the Art Fair on the Square and the Great Taste of the Midwest celebrate Madison's thriving art and craft beer scenes.

Madison also had more rock shows per capita than any other city with the exception of Austin, Texas, according to a 2010 report by Songkick, which also hailed Madison for having some of the cheapest concert ticket prices.

great taste of the midwest

2. It's a college town where students actively support the community

The University of Wisconsin-Madison believes strongly in a tradition of improving people's lives outside of the classroom, known as the Wisconsin Idea. Examples cited by Livability include collecting and distributing farm crops for needy families, mentoring and tutoring programs for local school children, and a university policy of offering free humanities courses to low-income adults.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

3. It's a naturally beautiful city with plenty of outdoor activities

Madison's iconic State Street is a beautiful downtown center for shopping, eating, and entertainment, notes Livability. Spanning a narrow strip of land between the scenic Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, the street is also banked by the impressive Wisconsin State Capitol building and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Five lakes in the city's vicinity offer ample recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating, in addition to the 20 miles of trails in the 1,260-acre University of Wisconsin Arboretum. Being a northern city also has its benefits, as residents can drive short distances to ski resorts.

Madison, Wisconsin, State Street

4. There is very little concentrated poverty

While Madison has poverty like any city, only 20.4% of its poor population lived in neighborhoods with poverty rates of 20% or higher from 2008 to 2012, according to the Brookings Institution. That represents the lowest share of the poor population living in high-poverty and distressed neighborhoods among the 100 U.S. cities studied.

madison wisconsin

5. It is one of the most accommodating cities for cyclists

USA Today ranked Madison number 4 in its list of best cycling towns for its widespread network of biking paths and lanes and convenient bike share program, B-cycle. 

madison wisconsin

6. Young professionals are benefiting from a boom in downtown housing development

Educated 20- and 30-something professionals are moving into high-density rental apartment units popping up all over Madison's downtown area like never before, reported The Capital Times early this year. The city's 2014 development projects are worth $337 million, of which $213 million are for new apartments. The high demand is fueled by the proximity of the university and large private-sector employers offering steady work.

madison wisconsin apartment building

7. Madison is the "greenest" city around

NerdWallet named Madison the greenest city in America, awarding high marks for air quality and a ratio of 12.7 parks per 10,000 residents, more than any other city. The ranking took into account Madison's 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and the fact that there are more bicycles in the city than cars.

Madison has also received praise for providing a relatively high number of green jobs and many Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings and conference venues

madison wisconsin ice skating

SEE ALSO: The 20 Best Places To Live In America

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Why More Guys Should Sign Up For Spin Classes

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spinning indoor cycling class

Guys, look around you. It’s entirely possible that literally every woman in your office is heading to spin class after work tonight.

There’s a reason spinning is “so hot right now” – it’s one of the best cardio workouts out there, features a hard-to-replicate community vibe, and is undeniably addictive. No lie, sixty minutes on the elliptical just won’t cut it after a good class with a great instructor.

Of course, as all your co-workers know, the female/male ratio in their classes is probably seriously lopsided. 25:1? That’s my best guess—Jake Gyllenhaal, a reported devotee of NYC’s Union Square SoulCycle, can’t fill every seat, after all. Of course, that’s maybe not true for every class: “We see a lot of men in and out of our studios,” says Cyc founder Stephen Nitkin, whose classes, like many others, incorporate lots of hand weights for a full-body workout.

I don’t get why there aren’t more guys in the class, though my best guess is that it has something to do with the hippie-dippie (some might say cult-ish?) vibe of the most popular studios: talk to a devotee, and chances are good it’ll be the most boring conversation you have all week. Just remember:

Talking about spin: bad. Going to spin: good.

This is a legitimately bad-ass cardio workout—and if you’re going to meet girls (along with getting the average 600-calorie-per-class burn), it’s going to get you fitter, faster, than just about anything else.

Interested? Here’s what you need to know before hitting your first class:

WHAT IT IS

Think of your parents’ old exercise bikes—on speed (pun—sorry.) You’ll clip into the pedals – most bike shoes are loaned out with the cost of the class, though if you get really into it, you can buy your own – while an instructor guides you through intervals of varying intensity.

“We pedal fast with low resistance, which is amazing for endurance,” says Nitkin. “Then we burn fat through training in intervals with high resistance.”

Your joints, meanwhile, will thank you for this weight-dropping workout that doesn’t involve pounding your knees and ankles into the ground. And you get to do this all in—let’s call it a warm and tender vibe. There’s usually stadium seating and low lighting, which means you can suffer (or give yourself a break) in relative privacy. Nobody knows – or cares – what anybody else is doing. Consider it the saving grace of the spin studio.

GUY-TO-GIRL RATIO

0:25? I’ve been to studios where a guy hasn’t been spotted in weeks. Let’s put it this way—I’ve never seen a class come close to parity. There are noticeably more guys in classes closer to Wall Street or other banking districts—my theory is that the intensity translates.

Which means that except for a handful of ZIP codes in lower Manhattan, the reality is that at least for the time being, you are likely to be seriously outnumbered…by super-fit ladies serious about working out. There are worse things?

“You never know who you’ll meet,” Nitkin says. “Recently our creative director officiated a wedding between two riders.”

CHOREOGRAPHY COMPLEXITY

Low. The most complicated move is “tapbacks,” which – truth be told – I still don’t totally get. It’s sort of like a squat, over the bike seat..and looks about as elegant as I’m describing it. The rest of the time, you’re expected to try to pedal to the beat, but that’s about as complicated as it gets.

Just follow the crowd, and remember: At the end of the day, everyone’s pretty focused on their own ride. Only you really know how hard you’re pedaling, or how you’ve adjusted the tension. It’s not like yoga, where everybody’s sort of looking around for someone to judge. This, you get to do on your own.

SHOWER-METER

Plan on a shower, for sure. Burning up to 800 calories in a small, jam-packed studio can be messy.

HOW HARD IS IT, REALLY?

It’s hard. But again, it’s only as hard as you make it, and it’s easy to find instructors who offer something super hardcore or relatively chilled out. All good instructors will have their own styles. The biggest challenge might come at the beginning of the class—when you’ll hand over around $30 for the session. (Just keep telling yourself that it’s worth it.)

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An Aerospace Engineer Has Completely Reinvented The Ice Cream Scoop

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The midnight scoop kickstarter project ice cream gif

One of Michael Chou’s biggest pet peeves was not being able to scoop frozen ice cream.

“I couldn’t help but feel there was a better way,” Chou, a mechanical and aerospace engineer for the University of California San Diego, explained to The Daily Mail. “I like my ice cream frozen and hard – melting it with a hot spoon or letting it sit out for half an hour ruins it.”

So the 35-year-old Michigan father spent two years to invent the The Midnight Scoop, a “better ice cream scoop” that has the ergonomic design that allows you to scoop even the hardest ice cream.  

The midnight scoop kickstarter project ice creamWhat makes The Midnight Scoop different is that the curved end forces you to push the ice cream with your palm, thereby using the muscles in your arm and chest instead of with the weaker muscles in your wrist.

The key is in the handle which is curved to fit your palm and keep your wrist straight. The scoop is also specially designed with a thin and pointed end that can easily slice through ice cream.

Made from a coated and forged aluminium alloy, it will cost $50 with a lifetime warranty. The Kickstarter project has already exceeded it’s $17,500 goal by over $20,000 with still eight days left in the campaign.

The midnight scoop kickstarter project ice creamYou can donate to The Midnight scoop on Kickstarter here.

SEE ALSO: 10 Ingenious Reinventions Of Everyday Products

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Fall Fashion Trends That Any Guy Could Actually Rock

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zoolander and hasel

Here's the thing about fashion, it's not always wearable. What appears on the runway is not appealing on the street, or in any guys closet for that matter.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't a few cool trends any guy could pick up from each season — or ways to wear them without feeling like Zoolander.

Business Insider caught up with a few of our friends in the world of menswear to ask how they're incorporating trends they see from more runway-focused designers into their every day wardrobes... subtly.

"You can see things that are inspiring on the street or on the run way show and integrate them in a way that's not completely in your face," said Mark Bollman, founder of Boston-based  retailer Ball and Buck. 

ball and buck spring mixBall and Buck is a sportier brand that mixes classic and outdoor elements with modern style. Bollman recommends taking trends and subbing them in for one or two core pieces in your outfit.

Take two trends that were all over the runways this spring as an example, stripes and neon.

"Neons and other bright colors that are typically reserved for the gym have spread into the everyday wardrobe like wildfire," said Bollman. "As a brand with sporting roots we like to show our sporty side by throwing our signature blaze orange upland hat on top of almost any outfit we wear. It gives a little pop of masculinity without putting off the yoga vibe. It will also protect you if you ever find yourself on the hunting field with our old Vice President."

Or — if you don't have any hunting dates with Dick Cheney scheduled any time soon — you could try throwing a pair of brightly colored socks under your suit for a pop of color. 

As for stripes, on the runway they're wide railroad/jail-stripes. If that doesn't make you comfortable, go for a thinner, classic Oxford stripe. 

"It's about saying, would I feel comfortable wearing this in 3 years," said Bollman.

In the world of men's shoes, it's all about boots and suede, says Justin Jeffers, blogger at The Fine Young Gentleman and founder of shoe and accessory line, Jay Butler. Military coats and quilted jackets — the preppy staple — are also in full effect this season.

You may want to consider getting any of those items in green.

"Yes, a color can be a trend. This coming season that color is green. You will see it in a variety of shades from hunter green to the ever present olive drab of military wear," said Jeffers.

jay butler boxy bagAs for what guys are carrying, Jeffers says that bags are getting boxier — "a bit more voluminous; more masculine, some might argue."

There are also a couple trends that you should have no problem handling, like rain coats and chunky knit scarves.

You may want to be more careful with fur accents (like around the hood of your jacket) and patterns (like checks and florals).

That's if you're even willing to go in that direction. 

"It all depends on how much attention you want to get," said Bollman.

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Watch Mark Zuckerberg's Neighbors Get Really Ticked Off About Construction At His Mansion

The 20 Places Where You'll Pay The Most For A Hotel Room

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Bora Bora Four Seasons

Traveling costs a lot of money, but the price of a trip can fluctuate tremendously depending on the destination.

Hotels.com recently released its annual Hotels Price Index, a report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world that's based on Hotels.com bookings. 

As part of this report, they found the destinations where U.S. travelers paid the most for hotel rooms—and some of the choices are surprising. 

Instead of sleeping in notoriously expensive cities like Paris or London, Americans are spending more on hotel rates in places like Southampton, Bermuda and Moorea, French Polynesia.

The most expensive destination on this list by far was Bora Bora in the French Polynesia, with an average price of $855 per night.

20. Lake Louise, Canada: $313 per night

Book the Post Hotel & Spa in Lake Louise.



19. Salmiyah, Kuwait: $323 per night

Book the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait in Salmiyah.



18. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands: $325 per night

Book the The Ritz-Carlton in Seven Mile Beach.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






12 Reasons Why Eating At KFC Japan Is Completely Different Than It Is In The US

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KFC Japan

KFC is wildly popular in Japan.

The fast food chain has more than 1,200 locations there, making it the fried chicken chain's third-largest market behind the U.S. and China. 

As sales decline in the U.S., KFC is focusing on Asian markets to bring in big profits. 

Here are a few reasons KFC Japan is completely different from the U.S. version.

1. Dark meat chicken is popular.

Americans are crazy about all-white-meat chicken. In Japan, the patties, strips, and nuggets feature light and dark meat, as seen in this ad. 

 

2. Rice is featured prominently on the menu.

KFC caters to local tastes by offering rice products, such as bowls and a shrimp patty. Featured below are Japanese Teriyaki and Spanish rice bowls. 

 

3. Worker uniforms are a tribute to the Colonel.

KFC workers in Japan wear white uniforms that are a nod to company founder Colonel Sanders.

4. Milkshakes are one of the most popular items.

KFC Japan has milkshakes on the menu called "Krushers," which the company heavily promotes. Flavors include cookies-and-cream, berry, and mango. 

5. It's way more expensive to eat there.

Japanese customers are willing to pay a premium for the American fast food experience. 

"I recently went to KFC and ordered a 10 piece, two large fries, four biscuits and four small coleslaws," writes Asian travel blogger Facing The Rising Sun. "The bill was over $43 — and that was without any drinks."

6. The Colonel mascot makes frequent appearances. 

Colonel Saunders is much more prominently featured in KFC Japan's culture. The Twitter page frequently shows a mascot interacting with customers in the restaurant. 

 

7. People flock there on Christmas. 

Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan, and only 1% of citizens identify as Christians.

But thanks to a successful marketing campaign in 1974, people flock to KFC on Christmas Day, according to Smithsonian Magazine

"Many order their boxes of 'finger lickin' holiday cheer months in advance to avoid the lines — some as long as two hours," Smithsonian writes. 

kfc japan christmas

8. Fries are more popular than mashed potatoes and gravy. 

Most Japanese customers automatically order fries as a side to their fried chicken. Mashed potatoes take on a different form — they are packed with cheese and bacon and then deep-fried.

9. Customer service is renowned. 

"The customer service here is leaps and bounds ahead of that in the U.S.", according to the Japan-based food blogger Facing The Rising Sun.

KFC workers in Japan go through extensive culinary training. 

10. The company has some wacky promotions. 

In honor of "Colonel's Day," KFC Japan gave away some crazy chicken-themed computer accessories. Free gifts included a computer mouse shaped like a drumstick.

kfc japan accessories

11. The biscuits look like donuts. 

Unlike the buttery biscuits in the U.S., KFC Japan's biscuits are shaped like donuts, and have a sweet flavor. While the biscuits clearly resonate with the Japanese palette, Americans on a Reddit thread called them "terrible" and "bland."

 

12. Delivery is widespread. 

It's easy to get your KFC delivered in Japan. Couriers bring your food on company-themed motorbikes. 

SEE ALSO: Reasons People Are Obsessed With Shake Shack

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New York City’s New Most Expensive Apartment Will Cost $130 Million

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520 PARK AVE penthouse $130 millionNew York City has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, and there are no signs this will change.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the city's latest most expensive condo will be a $130 million triplex penthouse in the yet-to-be-completed 520 Park Avenue building 

This mansion in the sky will have over 12,000 square feet, a 1,257-square-foot terrace, and gorgeous views of Central Park. It will go on sale with other units beginning early next year, according to Bloomberg, and will be completed with the rest of the building in 2017.

The 54-story tower is being designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and developed by Zeckendorf Development Co., the same firms behind the celebrity-haven 15 Central Park West as well as 18 Gramercy Park.

It will be nearby other luxury high-rises on the so-called Billionaires' Row, sitting between 60th and 61st Street.

There will be a total of seven duplexes in 520 Park Avenue with over 9,000 square feet each and starting at $67 million. Twenty-three single-floor units will make up the rest of the building's condos and will be priced at a more modest $16.2 million with 4,600 square feet, according to the company press release.

The building itself will also have plenty of amenities, including a swimming pool, bi-level health and fitness center, sauna, children’s playroom, and screening room.

The $130 million triplex will join the Woolworth Building’s $110 million penthouse and the $118 million trio of penthouse apartments at Battery Park City’s Riz-Carlton residences as some of the most expensive homes ever listed in New York City.

Aside from the exterior, the only other rendering available shows what the building’s pool will look like.

520 PARK AVE pool

See a few pictures of the exterior and interior of RAMSA's 15 Central Park West below to get an idea of the luxuries that may await at 520 Park.

15 Central Park West is famous for attracting numerous celebrities and power players. The building, left, has numerous setbacks on its upper floors, much like 520 Park will.

15 central park west

Here's the entrance of 15 Central Park West. The limestone is a signature Zeckendorf style.

15 central park west

The pool of 15 Central Park West also has tall ceilings.

15 central park west

The lobby for 15 Central Park West is huge. 520 Park Avenue's lobby will probably be just as gorgeous.

15 central park west


NOW WATCH: America's Most Expensive Hotel Room Costs $45,000 A Night — And It's Non-Negotiable

 

SEE ALSO: THE NEW BILLIONAIRES' ROW: See The Incredible Transformation Of New York's 57th Street

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Meet 12 Unforgettable 'Humans Of New York'

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HONY

It all began when photographer Brandon Stanton lost his bond trading job in Chicago and moved to New York City without much of a plan. Initially, he wanted to create a massive collection of portraits, cataloging a large portion of NYC's inhabitants. Soon, however, he discovered he was much more interested in the individuals and their stories than creating an exhaustive compendium of people. 

So he began the blog Humans of New York, which showcases his portraits, coupled with a poignant quote from the subject. The blog is wildly popular and currently has more likes on Facebook than there are people living in all five boroughs of New York City. In 2013, Stanton published a book of his work and it quickly became a bestseller.

Stanton is currently on a United Nations-commissioned tour to photograph the humans of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Since Stanton's blog has thousands of portraits on it, we did you a favor and compiled his most talked about posts of the last 12 months (using Best of Tumblr), so you can become more acquainted with the humans of New York. 

"What’s your biggest dream for your child?" "We’ll let him dream for himself." (New Delhi, India, September 2014)



“She speaks more languages than anyone in the family. Because she plays with all the children in the street.” (Erbil, Iraq, August 2014)



"I found him in the trash. I named him Shadow because he followed me everywhere." (New York City, July 2014)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Keurig's New Coffee Machine Could Be The Biggest Hit Since The George Foreman Grill

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Keurig 2.0

Retailers are hoping that Keurig's newest coffee machine will perk up holiday sales.

The new $189 machine, called Keurig 2.0, allows users to brew up to 30 ounces of coffee at once using a K-Cup that's about twice the size of its traditional coffee pods. It's already available online and is expected to hit store shelves in the coming weeks. 

"There are countless retail legends about the [holiday] season being saved by a Salad Shooter, Fry Baby or similar item that was must-have in December and can’t-find by the following March," writes Warren Shoulberg in the industry newsletter The Robin Report. "And certainly, big-box stores [such as Target and Wal-Mart] still nostalgically recall the heyday of the single greatest selling small electrics product of all time: The George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine."

More than 100 million George Foreman grills have sold since 1994, according to Foreman's book, Knockout Entrepreneur, which was published in 2009. A 2002 New York Times article called the grill "the largest-selling household appliance in the history of the world. Ever."

"Retailers would kill for another Foreman Grill," Shoulberg writes. "They are hoping Keurig 2.0 is it."

Keurig 2.0 could fall flat, however. Two years ago, the company launched another machine that made larger servings called The Vue, and it never caught on.

Shoulberg blames The Vue's failure on the fact that "It was expensive [and] it didn’t have the endless choice of flavors and blends the single-serve machines offer."

The Keurig 2.0 has some new customizable options that allow users to adjust the temperature and strength of each batch of coffee. The machine also remembers preferences with the touch of a "favorite" button and it still has the capacity to brew smaller batches using regular-sized K-Cups.

As we reported back in June, people seem pretty excited about the new machine.

SEE ALSO: How To Get Free Refills At Starbucks

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Millennials Are Thinking About Their Future — And It Might Be In Suburbia

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suburban neighborhood street

Millennials may be creating the "experience economy" and changing the traditional workplace, but on most measures, they aren't all that different from the generations before them.

Nonprofit think tank The Demand Institute surveyed 1,000 millennial households to find out what, exactly, they expect for their futures. The findings aren't revolutionary — in fact, the plans millennials hold fall right in line with their parents' and grandparents' perceptions of what it means to live the American Dream. 

Here, we've republished the Institute's findings with its permission, in nine slides that shed light on everything from how millennials are feeling about the next five years to how much they're spending on rent.

By 2018, the number of American households headed by millennials will increase by over 60%.



Despite coming of age during the recession, millennials are just as optimistic as any young people who came before them: 79% expect their financial situation to improve.



Five years from now, 64% of millennials expect to be married, and 55% expect to have kids — news that will probably be very welcome to grandparents everywhere.



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Silicon Valley Billionaire Vinod Khosla Forced To Allow Access To The Beach He Had Blocked

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vinod khosla court

San Mateo County Court Judge Barbara Mallach has ruled against Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla in a lawsuit over public access to Martin's Beach.

According to the ruling, Khosla will be required to seek a permit from the California Coastal Commission before locking gates at the beach, as well as to consult with the community to determine changes to the property and public access to the beach. 

"Today’s court decision upholding the Coastal Act is an important victory for Martin’s Beach and ultimately strengthens the public's right to beach access in California," says Angela Howe, legal director for the Surfrider Foundation, who had filed suit against Khosla. "The Surfrider Foundation remains vigilant to protect beach access rights, not only in this case, but also in other cases where the beach is wrongfully cut off from the public."

Surfrider first filed suit in March of 2013, and most of the arguments took place this past July.

The setting for the heated legal battle is Martin’s Beach, a beautiful, secluded stretch of oceanfront located just south of Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County.

martin's beachKhosla blocked public access to the beach after purchasing a 53-acre parcel there in 2008. He reportedly paid $37.5 million for the property. 

A few months after Khosla made the purchase, a gate leading from the Pacific Coast Highway down to the parking lot was locked, and signs forbidding entry were posted. Anyone could conceivably walk around the gate, but only those with the correct key code could get it to open wide enough for cars to access the parking lots below.

"It’s a family beach that was open to the community for generations," Angela Howe, Legal Director for the Surfrider Foundation, said to Business Insider in early September. "That’s the most egregious offense here."

martin's beachThe California Coastal Act was created in 1976 to maximize public access to the state's beaches. There are now more than 1,150 public access points on the California coast in the form of state parks, stairways, and narrow paths. 

Surfrider's argument was that Khosla was in violation of the California Coastal Act when he changed the nature of public access to Martin's Beach before obtaining a permit from the California Coastal Commission. His lawyers also claimed that Khosla made road and drainage improvements without the necessary permits. 

Khosla has spoken publicly on the issue only once, in a piece with the San Francisco Chronicle during the trial in July. He said that he tried to meet with the Commission several times, and that it was unreasonable to expect him to pay exorbitant fees to keep the beach open to the public. He claims to have paid between $500,000 and $600,000 a year in costs for maintenance, liability insurance, and infrastructure, among other expenses. 

As a longtime investor in green technology, he added that he has no plans for the property and would never do anything to harm the environment.

"There is nothing I would do with it in the next 10 or 20 years," he told the newspaper. "But I do want to preserve my rights as a property owner."

SEE ALSO: A Silicon Valley Billionaire Is Fighting To Keep A California Beach Closed To The Public

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These Images Of John Malkovich Recreating Iconic Photos Will Blow Your Mind

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malkovich miller

When actor John Malkovich takes on a role, he really goes for it.

So, when longtime friend and collaborator, photographer Sandro Miller, who goes by his first name, decided he wanted to recreate his favorite iconic images as tribute to his most beloved photographers, he knew who to ask to be the stand-in model for the images.

" [Malkovich's] belief and trust in my work is unprecedented, granting me many opportunities to work with him. Over the past 17 years I would approach John with various personal projects... he has never said no, and has always been open to my ideas," says Sandro. 

The resulting series, shot over the course of three days in April, exactingly recreates 30 legendary photographs by 28 master photographers, all featuring Malkovich assuming many different roles in the frame.

Entitled "Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters," the resulting images will be on display at the Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago in November. Sandro has plans to tour the show to Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Italy, and Dallas in the near future. Also, be on the lookout for exclusive interviews with John Malkovich about the project coming soon in French publication 7-POST and French newspaper Libération

The series began two years ago, when Sandro came up with the idea to pay homage to his hero, Irving Penn, by recreating one of his iconic images, a photograph of the author Truman Capote, kneeling on a chair wedged in a corner created in Penn's studio. He realized that Malkovich looked a bit like Capote, so he asked him to stand in as the model. The feedback was great.



Because of the success of the first photo, Sandro decided to pay tribute to more of the photographers who had influenced him over the years. He flew to Paris to meet with Malkovich, prepared with 30 images he wanted to recreate.



"After consuming two bottles of wine with John, I showed him my idea and he fell in love," Sandro says.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






This Female Tech Exec Has A Passion For Coding — And Motorcycles

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IBM Lysa BanksThis post is sponsored by IBM

If you ran into Lysa Banks on the street, you'd never think the motorcycle riding, tattoo-sporting, DIY woman standing before you worked for IBM — let alone had a passion for coding. But she does. 

As lead architect for industry cloud solutions at IBM, Banks uses technology and software to improve people's lives, similar to how working at IBM bettered her own. Despite being raised in a low-income, single-parent household, Banks went on to graduate from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a degree in computer engineering, eventually landing a position as a software engineer at IBM.

As much as the self-proclaimed geek enjoyed coding, she found herself yearning for more human interaction at work. With the help of mentors and a supportive management staff, Banks was able to find opportunities at IBM that allowed her to engage with clients. Banks even found time to pay if forward by becoming a mentor for adolescents interested in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

In nine years at the company, Banks' coding and people skills helped her rise through the ranks and into her current position as lead architect. "If there's something you want to do," Banks says now, "you can do it."

Banks is just one of the women highlighted in IBM's "A Day in the Life" video series. As part of the company's campaign to attract more women into the field of technology, the videos show how each woman has grown her career at IBM while achieving a healthy work-life integration.

Watch the video below to see a day in the life of Lysa Banks. 

Learn more about IBM's opportunities and resources for women.

Find out more about Sponsor Posts.

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This Racy 'Breastaurant' Is The Fastest-Growing Food Chain In America

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twin peaks waitress

Twin Peaks is the fastest-growing restaurant chain in America. 

The chain, which prides itself on being a racier version of Hooters, has 57 locations, writes Devin Leonard at Bloomberg Businessweek. 

With $165 million in sales last year, it's the fastest-growing chain in the U.S., according to Leonard. 

CEO Randy DeWitt credits his attractive, young waitresses with the chain's epic success. 

Staff are vigorously judged on appearance.

"The women get points for hair, makeup, slenderness, and the cleanliness of their uniforms: fur-lined boots, khaki hot pants, and skimpy plaid tops that accentuate their cleavage," Leonard writes.

twin peaks pot roast

Waitresses are expected to "beguile the mostly male customers, flirting to get them to empty their wallets," Leonard writes.

In addition to menu items with tongue-and-cheek names like "well-built sandwiches," the chain pushes its extensive beer selection. 

According to the Twin Peaks website, there are 16 beers on tap. 

The chain also has frequent promotions for holidays and sporting events. 

Franchises are spread out across the U.S. 

twin peaks restaurant map

Yelp reviewers praise the chain's cold beer and awesome wings. 

Many also noted that despite a general resemble nce to Hooters, Twin Peaks has a much better menu. 

For some, the costumes are a little too racy. 

"Lingerie night makes even me a little uncomfortable sometimes," writes one patron in Houston, Texas. 

twin peaks waitresses

But many customers' top complaint is that the restaurant is always packed — speaking to the restaurant's success.

Hooters' costumes and menu have grown stale after more than 30 years in the business. Sales have steadily declined by roughly $132 million since peaking at $960 million in 2007, according to Technomic.  

Hooters is now working on rehauling its image, to catch up to competitors like Twin Peaks and Tilted Kilt. 

SEE ALSO: There's A Huge Market For Drinks That Help People Relax And Focus

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Some British People Want To Start Eating These Cute Little Horses

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Dartmoor ponies

The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association (DHPA), an animal conservation group in England, says a group of ponies should be killed for food to preserve the population and to improve animal welfare. 

It sounds counterintuitive, but the group argues that eating Dartmoor ponies will create a new market for horsemeat. Owners who think they can sell their ponies for meat will not only continue to breed the animals, but will also be encouraged to take better care of them. Britain's Princess Anne has previously endorsed this strategy. 

“It has taken years of considering reports and listening to the outcome of meetings to recognize and reluctantly accept that Dartmoor pony herders will only carry on keeping their herds if they have a sustainable market for them. We are in real danger of ponies disappearing from Dartmoor altogether,” DHPA founder Charlotte Faulkner said in a letter to South West Equine Protection, The Telegraph reported. She added: "Strangely, having a meat trade should improve a pony's chances of finding a new home at sales."

A Dartmoor pony is a pony that has been born and raised on the commons of Dartmoor, an area of protected land in England that's roughly one-quarter the size of the city of London. They are adorable and fluffy, and smaller than regular horses when fully grown. 

Dartmoor ponies come in a range of colors, but all types are known for their mild temperament and adaptation to the difficult conditions of the Dartmoor region, including frigid winters, strong winds, and a mixture of rough terrains, according to the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association. 

Dartmoor National ParkDartmoor ponies are mainly bred as a "conservation tool." Through grazing, the animals provide critical "maintenance of open, tussocky vegetation on which many rare species depend," the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust writes. The ponies also prevent the spread of a type of fern called bracken by trampling the young leaves. Tourists like them, too. 

But their numbers are falling, swaying many animal welfare groups to get on board with the eating-ponies-to-save-them plan. 

In an emailed statement, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (RSPCA) said: "The killing of horses for meat is an emotive subject as many see them as companion animals rather than a food source, a sentiment the RSPCA has great sympathy with." The group added: "However, the Society’s primary concern for all animals killed for meat is that they are cared for, handled, transported, and slaughtered in a way which safeguards their welfare at all times." 

In this case, consumers won't just have to get over the "yuck" obstacle of eating horsemeat; there's also a cute factor:

Dartmoor pony

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Waiting To Buy Flights Makes These Destinations More Expensive

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Simon Bolivar airport in La Guaira, outside Caracas

Flying is expensive — especially if you're traveling internationally.

Most of us would rather spend our travel budgets being there rather than getting there, so any insight into saving money on plane tickets is welcome. 

The latest comes from a study by flight data site Hopper, which analyzed over 300 million flight searches in a three-month period. They found that not only do Americans spend about 12 days looking for and comparing flights before ultimately buying one, but also in that time, flight prices typically rise 4.5% (which usually translates to about $10-$15, depending on the fare).

Of course, how much you pay is closely related to where you fly. In cities where airfare is highly variable, it's more likely that the price will rise as you procrastinate. 

Which cities are those? For domestic flights in the U.S., they are:

1. Washington (IAD)

2. Chicago (ORD)

3. Myrtle Beach (MYR)

4. Oakland (OAK)

5. Los Angeles (LAX)

6. Santa Ana (SNA)

7. New Orleans (MSY)

8. Chicago (MDW)

9. Kansas City (MCI)

10. Washington (DCA)

For international flights from the U.S., they are:

1. Amsterdam (AMS)

2. Beijing (PEK)

3. Toronto (YYZ)

4. Istanbul (IST)

5. Athens (ATH)

6. Rome (FCO)

7. Paris (CDG)

8. Manila (MNL)

9. Dublin (DUB)

10. Shanghai (PVG)

If you're flying to any of the above airports, be aware that stalling could cost you money. On the flip side, check out the most stable destinations — those where procrastinating may cost you the least — on Hopper's website.

In the meantime, take a minute to figure out whether you're one of the people who should book Thanksgiving flights immediately, and peek at the U.S. airports with the cheapest average airfare

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide To Scoring Cheap Flights

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How Tory Burch Built A $3.5 Billion Company In Less Than A Decade

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tory burch

Tory Burch is wildly successful. 

Her eponymous fashion line, which includes high-end handbags and Reva ballet flats, is ubiquitous.

The designer's bags, sunglasses and shoes are flying off the shelves at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Saks. She's competing with more established brands like Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade — and winning.

Burch's company is now valued at more than $3.5 billion. 

Burch started her career a fashion copywriter. After her ex-husband, retail tycoon Christopher Burch, gave her $2 million, she began designing clothes in her kitchen. Before long, she had an important celebrity endorsement and soaring sales figures. 

She's one of the most formidable CEOs in fashion— and she's also one of the sexiest.

We mapped out how Burch became a fashion billionaire. 

Tory Burch grew up in Philadelphia. Her mother is a former actress, while her father was an investor. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Pennsylvania.



Burch had a series of writing jobs before starting her fashion line. She worked for Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren and Harper's Bazaar.



In 2004, she launched her New York City flagship boutique. It's located in the retail mecca of NoLita.



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Richard Branson Hates Public Speaking — Here's How He Gets Over It

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In his new book "The Virgin Way," Richard Branson reveals that he loathes speaking in public. This is quite surprising given that the Virgin Group founder is one of the most active business people, doing countless public and media appearances. 

Find out how he got over his fear of delivering speeches and his tips on a making a great speech. 

Edited by Justin Gmoser. Produced by Graham Flanagan. 

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