Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 116889 articles
Browse latest View live

Controversial 'Lips' Urinals Just Won A Major Bathroom Award

$
0
0

kisses2

A set of red-lipped urinals, designed by a female artist, installed in the men’s toilets at a Sydney restaurant and bar have taken out the prize for best bathroom at the 2014 AHA NSW Awards for Excellence.

When the “Kisses” urinals where first mentioned in a restaurant review of Ananas Bar and Brasserie in The Rocks two years ago, it sparked claims of misogyny by prominent commentator Dr Anne Summers.

The venue responded by promising to remove the $1150 toilets, designed by Dutch artist Meike van Schijndel, and inspired by The Rolling Stones lips logo, but re-installed them six months later following overwhelming “public support”.

The Kisses design has proved popular around the world and van Schijndel has even set up aFacebook page which has more than 25,000 followers.

Ananas owners Urban Purveyor Group, which also runs restaurants such as Sake, The Cut, Lowenbrau Keller and Bavarian Beer Cafe, took out the new award for best bathroom at the state-based Australian Hotel Awards.

Pub of the year went to The Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay, while the Kooringal Hotel in Wagga Wagga took out best country pub as well as best redeveloped/new hotel. Hotel Centennial, Woollahra was named the city’s best redeveloped/new hotel.

On the food front, the Sydney outpost of hot New York chef David Chang, Momofuku Seiobo at The Star was named best fine dining, while Urban Purveyor Group’s modern Japanese, Sake, was named best city restaurant and Graze at the Willow Tree Inn, best country restaurant.

Best casual dining is split into regional categories and the winners included the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Longueville Hotel in Lane Cove, The Riverview Hotel, Balmain, and the Rocksia Hotel in Arncliffe.

Hunters Hill Hotel scored best burger while the Hibernian Hotel in Goulburn nabbed best steak.

The reborn Potts Point institution The Bourbon was declared the best cocktail/lounge bar and the HPH Hotel, Pennant Hills best traditional hotel bar.

Best boutique beer offering went to the Potters Hotel Brewery Resort in the Hunter Vallery and Sackville Hotel, Rozelle, was named best retail liquor outlet.

Best family friendly hotel went to The Ettamogah, Kellyville Ridge, and best outdoor facility to Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.

Justin Hemmes’ Merivale group picked up several awards, with est’s Peter Doyle named chef of the year, Andrew El-Bayeh declared industry rising star and Peter Tavernese, apprentice of the year. The ‘March into Merivale Food & Wine Festival’ took out best promotional concept.

Two hat chef Michael Urquhart of Bonville Golf Resort’s Flooded Gums restaurant was named rising star.

North Sydney’s Union Hotel scored best sports bar.

The full list of winners is here.

Follow Business Insider Australia on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn

Join the conversation about this story »









15 Gifts The Modern Lady Actually Wants This Year

$
0
0

Modern Lady_Gift Guide

A lot of gifts women like are pretty general: makeup, accessories, some fun tech, and jewelry.

Where people get confused is finding what kind of makeup, accessories, fun tech, or jewelry she actually wants. 

Business Insider put together a list of specific items the modern lady in your life might want to find wrapped up, under a tree, or inside a stocking. 

If you're really having trouble, send her this list and see what happens. You might learn something.

Give her ears a "jacket" with some Dannijo earnings.

Dannijo jewelry was started by two sisters that used Instagram to spread their fun ideas about jewelry. You don't put on a necklace, you "put a bib on it," and you don't just put an earring on your ear, you "give your ears a jacket."

Also, the jewelry is just stunning.

Price: $128



A membership to a spa.

Even the most put-together ladies need some time to unwind. Get her a Bliss Spa membership, and she'll be able to do so on the regular.

It offers monthly recurring treatments at a discount and exclusive perks. Services include:

-One 60-minute facial or massage each month
-10% off all additional services
-20% off Bliss, Elemis and Remede products
-2 guest passes per year for services at membership rate

Price: $99 per month (one year minimum commitment)



A fierce lipstick kit.

Urban Decay makes makeup for the badass lady. This lipstick stash is loaded with six sticks, including bestsellers Gash, Liar, and F-Bomb, and a classic ozone lip pencil.

 Price: $39



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






The Five Coats Every Woman Needs In Her Closet This Winter

$
0
0

As soon as the temperatures drop, people tend to give up on looking presentable and work-appropriate.

But believe it or not, it's possible to survive the Polar Vortex and look stylish.

Insider Picks has put together five coat trends for this winter — go ahead, and take your pick.


Neutral With A Fur Trim. 

Vera Wang, Max Mara, SAM.(LEFT: Vera Wang, $315; CENTER: Max Mara, $1390; RIGHT: SAM., $995)

If you're a fan of the latest fur and faux fur styles, we recommend getting a neutral colored coat with a fur trim. A full fur coat is not only expensive, but can look incredibly tacky when worn in the wrong situation — such as running to brunch or the supermarket.

But with a coat like one of these, you can capture the glamour of fur or faux fur. And because the coat's color is neutral, it won't look too gaudy.

Puffer Jacket (critical in New York or Chicago.)

Burberry Brit, Burberry Brit, Canada Goose(LEFT: Burberry Brit $850; CENTER: Burberry Brit, $1595; RIGHT: Canada Goose, $850

Utility meets style.

It's impossible to survive the winter in a city like New York or Chicago without a super warm puffer jacket, but many of them are pretty unstylish. We recommend getting a dark neutral like navy or black so that you'll retain a hint of sophistication when staying warm.

Pro-tip: you're going to want to get something that comes with a thick hood, and also covers down to the middle of your leg.

Leather Jacket.

Mackage, Steve Madden, Helmut Lang(LEFT: Mackage, $690; CENTER: Steve Madden, $150$99.90; RIGHT: Helmut Lang, $1395)

Leather jackets are a perennial winter staple. We recommend getting a leather-shearling jacket, or one that comes with a fur collar for extra warmth this season.

Pro-tip: Buy your leather jacket a size or two up so that you can layer this sweaters under it. (And you don't want the leather to look like it's painted onto you, anyway.)

Classic Beige Coat.

MSGM, Topshop, Helene Berman(LEFT: MSGM, $2210; CENTER: Topshop, $110; RIGHT: Helene Berman, $350)

Sometimes, it gets pretty gloomy in a uniform of black, navy, and gray in the winter. So we recommend investing in a camel or beige colored coat as well — they're nice change up from the sea of winter grays, but are still sophisticated enough for the work day.

Peacoat.

Burberry Brit, Lauren Ralph Lauren, kensie(LEFT: Burberry Brit, $1250$837.49; CENTER: Lauren Ralph Lauren, $195; RIGHT: kensie, $288$189.89)

Peacoats are a great weekend coat option. They're not too formal looking, and are still versatile enough for everything from brunch to a nice dinner.

Again, if you live somewhere particularly cold, it's a good idea to look for longer ones. 

SEE ALSO: 10 Great Docking Stations For Your Phone, Tablet, And Laptop

DON'T FORGET: 14 Killer Sound Systems That Could Get You Evicted

Join the conversation about this story »








The Best Meals You Can Possibly Get When Flying Business Class, Ranked

$
0
0

QantasAirlineMeal.JPG

Nobody expects the food on airplanes to be good. But some do it better than others. 

The "World Airline Awards" compiles an annual ranking of the best meals you can get when flying in business class. We got photos of those dishes from AirlineMeals.net, an online database of thousands of photos and food reviews from airlines around the world.

Lick your lips!

10. South Africa Airways. When flying out of Johannesburg you could try this sophisticated crayfish and chicken timbale.



9. Emirates. This chocolate ganache cake, served on a flight from Dubai to Dallas, looks super yummy.



8. All Nippon Airways. If you fly to Japan, expect some sushi to be served.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 Easy Ways To Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Healthier

$
0
0

potato

It's annoying to sacrifice taste for health on Thanksgiving. That's why we've provided preparation techniques to get more nutrients into your meal and strategies to prevent overeating so you don't have to count every morsel of food during the big feast. 

We'll also settle the great debate over white and dark meat — is one really healthier than the other?

Read on to find out.

Eat a mix of white and dark meat.

We're often told to eat white meat over dark meat because it's more healthful. It's true that white meat has fewer calories and less fat than dark meat, but not by much.

An ounce of white meat without the skin typically contains around 40 calories and 0.1 grams of saturated fat, compared with 45 calories and 1.6 grams of saturated fat for an ounce of dark meat without the skin. But dark meat also contains more nutrients, including higher levels of iron, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12.

If you plan to gorge on turkey, then eating mostly white meat is the best option for trimming calories, but eating some dark meat provides other nutritional advantages.



Don't peel the potatoes.

What's Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes? Most mashed potato recipes call for peeled spuds. A potato is still healthy without its skin, but extra nutrients are needlessly wasted when we discard the outer layers. The skin is notably a good source of fiber, which is important for digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer. 

To lighten your mashed potato dish, which traditionally incorporates heavy cream and butter for a smooth consistency, many chefs suggest using Yukon gold or red-skinned potatoes, known for their natural buttery flavor and creamy texture. You can also make whole, roasted potatoes.



Use smaller plates.

It's not just the color of your plate that affects how much you eat. Size also matters, according to Wansink and Ittersum. Their study is based on what's known as the Delboeuf illusion — the idea that when one looks at concentric circles, the size of the inner-circle appears smaller as the outer-circle gets larger.

When we apply this bias to plates, a larger plate makes a serving of food appear smaller (there is more white space around the "inner-circle" of food) than if the same amount of food was dumped onto a less big plate. The researchers explain that a large plate not only causes us to put more food on our plate — leading us to eat more — but it may also trick us into believing we have eaten less than we think.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






The Most Successful Alumni Of Oxford University

$
0
0

Oxford GraduationOxford is synonymous with excellence in education and leadership.

Among its former students, the University counts 26 British Prime Ministers, 50 Nobel Prize leaders and dozens of international heads of state. Also, 120 Olympic medallists studied there. 

But it's not only the cream that make a good living: The Sunday Times says the laureates from the computer science program at Oxford as the top-earning graduates in the UK

Oxford is made up of 38 colleges and 6 independent halls, each with its own heritage and tradition. Considering which college to join is as important as choosing Oxford itself.

David Cameron: Brasenose College

The current Prime Minister is a former student at Brasenose, where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics and graduated in 1988.

Another illustrious alumnus from that school is William Webb Ellis, the inventor of rugby.

William Golding, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983, studied there too.



Albert Einstein: Christ Church College

Albert Einstein was briefly a student at Christ Church College in the 1930s, before emigrating to the US.

His theory of relativity revolutionized modern physics and he was named Person of the Century by Time Magazine.

Christ Church is probably the most prestigious college when it comes to alumni: 13 British prime ministers and King Edward VI of England studied there. 

It is also the college of Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the Olympic rowing twins associated with the founding on Facebook.



Tony Blair: St John's College

Blair, UK prime minister from 1997 to 2007, is a graduate from St John's, where he read law.

He is currently the UN representative for the Middle East as well as an advisor to many foreign governments.

Another alumnus is Lester Pearson, Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 and a former prime minister of Canada.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






The Bourbon Shortage Is 'VERY Real' And It's Coming For The Good Stuff

$
0
0

buffalo trace bourbon

Is the great bourbon shortage really real? 

After writing about it last week, we got some rather irate emails from readers, alleging that we were being fed a marketing scam. (There's some skepticism out there on the internet, as well.) After all, there's still plenty of bourbon in the liquor stores today! 

First off, we reached out to Kentucky's Buffalo Trace Distillery, which has been the source of most of the "bourbon shortage" hype.

"Yes, I can assure you the bourbon shortage is VERY real, not a ploy at all," a spokesperson told Business Insider "Our intent was never to get people worked up, or to start hoarding it, we did it out of a very genuine desire to let people know this was on the horizon."

That said, there aren't a ton of specifics to be had, as the distillery won't give out sales numbers. However, the spokesperson did say that growth in the category was around 6.7 %. Citing numbers from the "industry's bible," the spokesperson said 17.6 million cases of whiskey were sold in 2013, and that figure "is expected to reach its 20 million case high in the next few years." The Beverage Information Group did not return requests for confirmation of these numbers.

Bourbon Barrel The whiskies that Buffalo Trace produces range from 4 years of ageing to 23 years.

The shortage, according to the company, is coming from the ageing process: demand is a lot higher than they expected when they decided how many barrels to age 8, 10, 15, or 20 years ago.

The shortage is likely coming in the older vintages, which is why a lot of people don't "see" it at the liquor store. The more popular, broadly available stuff is younger, and therefore not hugely affected, says Robert Haynes-Peterson, a longtime wine and spirits writer and editor. But nonetheless, he thinks the shortage is real.

"It's not going to affect your everyday options - the lower level Johnny Walker or Jack Daniels or whatever," he told Business Insider, "But [it] definitely affected some of the smaller stuff (Blanton's, Boker's, Russell's Reserve, etc) and older stuff (6 year and over for bourbon, 15 year and over for Scotch)."

Do you have more info on the whiskey shortage? Get in touch at sferro@businessinsider.com.

Join the conversation about this story »








I Went To A 300-Person Party Catered With Food Taken From The Trash, And It Was Delicious

$
0
0

salvage (30 of 34)

This past summer, recent School of Visual Arts grad Josh Treuhaft drew headlines for his buzzy Salvage Supperclub, which treated attendees to a gourmet dinner held in a dumpster in Brooklyn. The location was chosen to draw attention to the source of the dinner’s ingredients, food that quite literally would have otherwise ended up in the trash.

In the US, 133 billion pounds of uneaten food — nearly one-third of all the food America produces — is tossed in the garbage every year.

Treuhaft started his supper club not only to draw attention to this, but also to highlight the ways that regular people could take action by appreciating, and eating, the aging food that they normally throw away.

Salvage Supper, which has held seven dinners over the last several months, is evolving into a a full-fledged business. Treuhaft and his chef Celia Lam were recently contracted to cater a 300-person party for the engineering firm Arup, where Treuhaft now works. The duo worked with Kalynn Dong at Toi et Moi Events to bring their unique experience to a larger audience.

For the party, the team traded traditional hors d'oeuvres like deviled eggs and meatballs for high-class fare like beet tartare and curried squash shooters, all created from salvaged food. The goal: to educate party-goers about how food is being wasted, and how to save it.

We headed down to Arup's New York headquarters on Wall Street. The company was hosting a "REparty" to show off its various Green engineering projects to members of the company, as well as others in the industry.



The party's theme fit perfectly with Josh Treuhaft and Chef Celia Lam's Salvage Supperclub, which serves salvaged food to educate people about food waste. Here's a look at one of the original Salvage Suppers, held in a dumpster in Brooklyn.



Before dinner, Treuhaft (right) explained to attendees how he conceptualized the idea while attending SVA's Social Innovation Master's program. Treuhaft wanted to show classmates and others that they could "eat everything."

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider







Economists Figured Out The Real Reason It's Nearly Impossible To Get A Taxi In The Rain

We Put A GoPro On The Empty Train That Runs Through Downtown Detroit

Science-Based Hacks For Making Your Thanksgiving Meal Perfect

$
0
0

Thanksgiving dinner comes with a lot to orchestrate — turkey, stuffing, family, and everything else.

There are high stakes, and while science can't necessarily solve awkward family conversation about politics at the dinner table, there are scientific ways to help ensure you don't have to deal with a dry turkey. Now that would be a true disaster.

Understanding a few simple chemical processes can actually make your Thanksgiving meal tastier and healthier.

A Bytesize Science video from the American Chemical Society tipped us off about some of these hints, which we've supplemented with additional information.

1. Brining your turkey before cooking it means the meat will be more moist and taste better.

spatchcocking turkey spatchcock butterflyingYou've got two brining options here.

A classic wet brine, as described by Bytesize Science, involves soaking the turkey in cold salt water. During that time salt seeps into the turkey, which helps change the proteins inside so that they can hold more water.

This works, but some say it leaves the turkey a little too waterlogged — plus, it's a mess.

Business Insider's resident food expert recommends a dry brine instead, which involves covering the dry turkey in salt overnight.

Salting the outside of the bird draws moisture out at first, but as that salt breaks down the proteins in the meat, it reabsorbs those juices, leaving you with a moist, flavorful Thanksgiving meal.

2. Get the most antioxidants out of your cranberry sauce.

Cranberry sauce ThanksgivingWe know that the preference of cranberry sauce in a can versus homemade cranberry sauce is generally made based on tradition, not what's healthier.

But if you are interested in getting the most out of your antioxidant-packed cranberries, we'd recommend leaving them as close to their natural form as possible.

The antioxidant level in foods decreases when they are crushed or cooked, so the more that's done to them, the fewer the health benefits that will be left.

The good news? Even dried or cooked cranberries still have far more antioxidants than most other foods.

3. Chemistry can make fake turkey feel more like a real bird.

seitanFactory farming got you down?

If you've decided to opt for a vegetarian version of what was almost America's national bird, there are steps you can take to give it a more real feel.

If your fake turkey uses seitan, a meat substitute made of the wheat protein gluten, that "wheat meat" is highly sensitive to acid levels. Playing with the levels of acid can change the texture of your fake bird. So you can use a mixture of acidic soy sauce and basic vegetable stock to come up with a meat-like guilt-free alternative.

4. Crushing garlic and letting it sit for a while before cooking will maximize its health benefits.

Peel head of garlicGarlic goes with just about everything except dessert on the Thanksgiving menu. And this ancient cooking staple may have important benefits for your heart, too.

But there's trick for getting the most out of this flavorful bulb, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. After crushing your garlic, let it sit for 10 minutes.

This releases an enzyme that maximizes its healing power.

We're thankful for science.

Kelly Dickerson contributed to an earlier version of this post.


NOW WATCH: Here's How To Cook The Perfect Turkey In 90 Minutes Flat

SEE ALSO: 9 Easy Ways To Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Healthier

Join the conversation about this story »








Why This NYC Firefighter Is Prepping For The End Of Civilization

$
0
0

Jason Charles NYC Preppers 4

The so-called survivalism movement — made popular by the reality show "Doomsday Preppers" — sounds a little crazy. The idea of preparing for the end of the world might conjure images of wild-eyed people in tin foil hats hiding in bunkers. In reality, normal people of many different backgrounds, races, and income levels spend their days preparing for the worst. 

Shows like "Doomsday Preppers" show off the extremes of the movement, including people building elaborate castles to survive the zombie apocolypse. However, little mention has gone to more average preppers, like New York City firefighter and family man Jason Charles, who heads up the NYC Preppers Network

We recently contacted Charles to learn the more sane and mundane truth about the prepper movement. As his two children horsed around his Harlem apartment, Charles explained that prepping is a reasonable reaction to the world today. For him, it's all about protecting his family.

The NYC Preppers Network meets regularly to discuss how to prepare for natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and global catastrophes. They work though various problems specific to New York City residents, such as limited space for storing emergency supplies and the difficulty of evacuating from a high density area like Manhattan. 

Charles started prepping nearly four years ago after reading Newt Gingrich's introduction to the science fiction novel "One Second After." In the introduction, Gingrich wrote about the possibility of a catastrophic electromagnetic pulse attack. Such an attack, he said, would “throw all of our lives back to an existence equal to that of the Middle Ages ... Millions would die in the first week alone.” To hear a public figure like Newt Gingrich seriously lay out what he thought was a plausible scenario convinced Charles that he needed to prepare.

How Natural Disasters Could Break Down Society

When Hurricane Sandy hit New York in 2012, Charles realized he needed to prep for a more immediate threat. While Manhattan emerged primarily unscathed, the devastation wrought across the coast of New Jersey, Staten Island, and Queens struck him. The city was able to recover quickly, but if something more catastrophic hit next time, like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he wasn't so sure.  

“The breakdown of society doesn’t have to come from a nuclear bomb,” Charles told Business Insider. “It could be something like Hurricane Katrina. People were left on their own for too long. They had to wait for help. The government didn’t come fast enough. I don’t want to wait for help. I can be that help for my family and possibly my neighbors.”

Charles began talking to people on prepper forums who had lived through Hurricane Katrina. Their stories from the storm only strengthened his resolve. 

katrina2

The most harrowing story he was told came from a prepper, who in the run-up to Katrina, urged his neighbors to buy emergency supplies, food, and water. Few listened and, when New Orleans flooded, they came to him for help.

He gave out supplies initially, but, when the neighbors returned with a crowd, he explained that he needed the rest for his family. The crowd turned antagonistic. The man scared them off with a shotgun, but it wasn't long before they returned throwing bricks through his windows in retaliation. He left soon after with as much of his emergency supplies as he could carry.

katrina1

The Entitlement Problem, And How To Avoid It

Stories like this, according to Charles, happen often when "sh—t hits the fan." One prepared person warns others in the run-up to a potentially dangerous event and others don’t listen, expecting someone — the government or a friendly neighbor — to provide during a disaster. It’s what Charles calls “the entitlement problem,” a phenomenon talked about ad nauseam on prepper blogs and websites.

Many preppers believe modern society has conditioned people to depend on others (the government, companies, neighbors) to fix their problems, rather than taking the time and effort to care for their own needs. This mentality dominates during disaster scenarios, according to preppers. 

prepper (1 of 1)

The entitlement problem can make things turn ugly, according to Charles.

“Everyone feels entitled to your stuff. They don’t prepare and they look to the people who did. People in this building know I’m a fireman,” Charles says. “They will come knocking on my door if something happens. They make the correlation.”

To avoid this scenario, he keeps his supplies hidden deep in a closet in his apartment. The closet houses an extensive food supply (ramen, rice, sugar, salt, flour, canned goods, meals-ready-to-eat), water, propane, and first-aid. Charles says he leaves the front of the closet looking messy to fool looters in the event of a breakdown.

Charles teaches fellow preppers in the NYC Preppers Network to, at the bare minimum, carry seven days worth of supplies. To him, doing so carries little risk and, in the off-chance that a disaster or an attack does happen, provides a lot of relief.

"Go big or die," says Charles. "The government says to carry three days of food and water. Don’t stop at what they say. People died during Katrina waiting for help. If all else fails, you will be able to help your neighbor out."

closet

 

SEE ALSO: Pro-Kremlin Russian Media Says Moscow Has A 'Nuclear Surprise' For NATO

Join the conversation about this story »








Japanese Workers Tread Dough With Their Feet For 6 Hours To Make Udon Noodles

The Sad Truth About What Happens To 'Pardoned' Turkeys

$
0
0

popcorn caramel pardoned turkies

Every year, the president pardons one or two turkeys from being a family's Thanksgiving feast. One turkey is actually pardoned, the other is runner-up. This year, the lucky birds are named "Mac" and "Cheese."

But are Mac and Cheese actually lucky?

History would suggest not. While the birds may be pardoned, that doesn't mean they get to enjoy a long life.

CNN looked into pardoned turkeys and where they go to die. They're hauled off to Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate, and given shelter in a small coop. But there, no other turkeys gobble.

That's because all the previous pardoned turkeys are now dead. Well, almost all. There's one lone survivor, Carmel, who was pardoned by President Obama in 2013. Carmel's co-pardoned turkey, however, died over the summer. The 2012 pardoned turkeys died before they ever got a chance to meet Carmel.

It's kind of like The Hunger Games. Even if you're the one turkey who survives Thanksgiving, the odds are not in your favor.

"All the turkeys ever pardoned at the White House are dead, including the six already given a pass from the roasting pan by President Barack Obama in previous years," CNN wrote last year.

Dean Norton, who is in charge of livestock at Mount Vernon, tells CNN why:

"The bird is bred for the table, not for longevity...Some of [the pardoned turkeys] have been pretty short lived."

National Turkey Federation spokesperson Keith Williams tells ABC: "They're not pets. They're not workhorses. They don't live that long."

SEE ALSO: 13 Sad, Sad Facts About Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Join the conversation about this story »








This Winter's Hot New Food Trend: Tater Tots

$
0
0

tots

Nostalgic trend alert: tater tots are the hot new (old) thing.

A Yelp search for the tiny potato fritters turned up 62 pages of establishments that have them on the menu in New York City alone.

But are tots really making a comeback, though? It's questionable they ever went away. 

They've been a kid favorite for decades. Never really gone from our collective conscious, crispy morsels have emerged as a trendy alternative to that potato stalwart, the french fry, on the urban restaurant scene. 

The Associated Press (via CNBC) is hot on the heels of the trend this week:

The comfort (and kid) food staple, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, has been making it big on the bar scene, showing up as a crispy snack recently everywhere from neighborhood holes-in-the-wall to upscale craft bars. Meanwhile, home cooks and haute chefs alike have been inspired to come up with their own tweaks on the Tot.

Barbecue bacon wrapped Tots. Breakfast burrito Tots. Pizza Tots. Totchos — think nachos only with Tots instead of tortilla chips — and the rather meta Tots-topped baked potatoes.

Cale Weissman, a fellow Business Insider employee, detailed what he loves about tots (which he says he's been eating for at least 15 years) on Twitter:

Weissman also says that "the best are the smaller ones, because they're crispier" and "artisanal tater tots are a sham." Indeed, higher-end tots, in our experience, are often too soft. They are more likely to contain sweet potato or some other starch that doesn't absorb moisture the way that a regular old Idaho potato does, which creates a less satisfying crunch when fried. (Let's be honest: fried crunch never goes out of style.)

Tater tot-as-trend may be cyclical. It's certainly not the first time since millennials were tots themselves that there's been a resurgence in popularity of the potato poppers. Last time, about a decade ago in Portland, according to twitter, probably had something to do with the release of the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite:

So what do you think? Tater tots: hot new trend or sleeper fan favorite? Tell us at the comments or write to me at sferro@businessinsider.com

SEE ALSO: The Quaint Economy: How A Good Story Makes A Successful Product

Join the conversation about this story »









Explore Top-Shelf Booze With This Liquor Tasting Pack [44% Off]

$
0
0

redesign_flaviar 1pack mf2Booze is a great gift idea for anyone old enough to drink. Choosing the right bottle, however, can be a drag. There are so many types and flavor profiles, the wrong choice could be the difference between a great gift and a forgettable one. Flaviar, a liquor sampler delivery service, can make things easier.

It's a great way to discover and explore fine alcohol, from craft batches to well-known brands, and it's currently available with a 44% discount.

redesign_flaviar 1pack mf1

You'll receive a hand-sealed tasting box with five different spirits, from scotch to cognac to rum. You'll also get access to the School of Spirits e-learning course to expand your knowledge. If you're giving this as a gift, keep the course for yourself so you sound smarter than you are.

It's a great idea for any aficionado or novice who wants to explore new tastes.  

Get 44% off the Top Shelf Liquor Tasting Pack ($33.99 incl. shipping)

Here's exactly what you'll get:

  • Five (5) vials of different spirits – 45ml each
  • Tasting notes and drinks description
  • Tasting pack theme description (more general, on Scotch, on Rum etc.)
  • The School of Spirits E-Learning Course
  • 7 Day Email Course
  • Learn about Fine Spirits
  • Tips & Tricks on Tasting
  • Become a Rockstar of the Bar
  • Receive a Fancy Certificate

Get 44% off the Top Shelf Liquor Tasting Pack ($33.99 incl. shipping)

SEE ALSO: Essential Items For A Grown-Up Grooming Routine

Join the conversation about this story »








7 Things Successful People Do In Their 30s

$
0
0

couple new

Your 30s are typically a time of settling down. You can't get away with many of the risks or bad habits that may have characterized your 20s.

We looked through the Quora threads "What is the biggest mistake you made in your 30s and what did you learn from it?" and "What do you regret not doing in your 30s?" in addition to author Mark Manson's "10 Life Lessons To Excel In Your 30s" and noticed recurring messages.

For instance, many 30-somethings focus so much on raising a family and building a career that they neglect important relationships and ignore opportunities they may never get again.

We've collected below the most common advice from those who have already experienced their 30s.

1. They spend time with people who add value to their lives.

Manson collected over 600 responses from readers who have lived through their 30s, and one of the most common pieces of advice was to stop spending time with those who don't treat you well and instead spend more time with loved ones.

"Don't just work. Make memories. The older you get, the harder it is to make meaningful relationships," writes Microsoft product designer Michael Dorian Bach on Quora.

The entrepreneur and blogger James Altucher writes on Quora that you also shouldn't forget that your parents grow older as you do. "When I was 34 I hung up the phone on my dad in an argument and never returned his calls. Six months later he had a stroke and died. A week before that he had emailed me to say hello but I didn't return the email. I'm sorry, Dad."

2. They pursue their loftier aspirations.

Twenty-somethings often begin their careers with big goals that they set aside to settle for a job they're not passionate about. Before they know it, a temporary job becomes a career.

An anonymous poster writes on Quora that the biggest mistake of his or her 30s was to become "addicted to a monthly salary," in the sense that he or she chose job security over career satisfaction.

While it's certainly more difficult to start a business or switch industries when you're 35 as opposed to 25, it's not impossible and may be the right choice.

Vera Wang, for example, didn't enter the fashion industry until she was 40 and now she's one of the world's premier designers.

3. They don't obsess about the future.

Manson recounts that one of the biggest lessons of his 20s was that there's not a magical moment where you start feeling like an adult who has it all figured out. He was happy to learn that his older readers said the same thing about their 30s.

"Unless you are already dead — mentally, emotionally, and socially — you cannot anticipate your life 5 years into the future. It will not develop as you expect. So just stop it. Stop assuming you can plan far ahead, stop obsessing about what is happening right now because it will change anyway, and get over the control issue about your life's direction," his reader going by Thomas writes.

It's healthy to have goals for you and your family, but don't stress out over specifics. Acknowledge that you still have plenty left to learn and that you're going to continue to grow as a person in unexpected ways.

4. They decide whether they want kids or not.

Kids certainly are not for everyone, but the majority of those who wrote to Manson or posted on Quora say they realized that putting off having children for an ideal situation is a bad idea. If you want to have kids, have them before it's too late.

"You don’t have the time. You don't have the money. You need to perfect your career first. They'll end your life as you know it. Oh shut up … Kids are great. They make you better in every way. They push you to your limits. They make you happy. You should not defer having kids," Manson's reader Kevin writes.

bay ridge brooklyn shore promenade bridge runner running park

5. They take care of their health.

With a growing list of responsibilities, one of the first things that can go is making exercise and healthy eating habits a priority. But think of putting forth a little effort in both areas as a long-term investment.

"Be healthy. That is priority 1. Don't get into your 30s being slow and tired all the time. It sucks," Michael Dorian Bach writes on Quora.

Adam Dehner says on Quora that "at 41, I've got a list of physical complaints that might not have come about had I been healthier."

6. They establish a financial foundation for the future.

Hopefully you used your 20s to figure out a way to pay back the student loan debt statistics say you most likely had after graduating, and also started saving. But if you hit 30 and you've set nothing aside, it's not too late. By this point, though, you need to start saving for your retirement.

Altucher writes about the many times in his 30s that he bet practically all of his money on a business venture and then lost all of it. He is doing well now, but he looks back on his failures as the result of recklessness.

Determine what percentage of your paycheck you can easily live without and consider setting up an automatic investment in a 401k and/or other savings accounts.

7. They still enjoy themselves.

And finally, just because you're not in your 20s anymore doesn't mean you need to stop having fun. Bach writes on Quora that he spent most of his 30s chasing money, and it only made him unhappy and more cynical about life.

Quora user Jeff Miller adds that he learned the best times in his 30s were going on dates with his wife and playing with his kids. Among all participants, there was a recurring theme that none of the money you work hard to make matters if you're not enjoying life.

SEE ALSO: Jerry Seinfeld Explains How He's Remained Consistently Successful

Join the conversation about this story »








The World's Largest Cruise Ship Could Fit Five Titanics Inside Of It

The 10 Best Cities In The World For Students

$
0
0

Students Paris Eating Seine River

With a number of highly ranked universities and its relatively low cost of living, Paris, France is the best city in the world for students, according to a new ranking from QS.

The QS Best Student Cities index considers five categories— university rankings, student mix, desirability/quality of living, employer activity, and affordability. Here's why QS named Paris the best city in the world for students, from their website's profile of the storied European city:

Topping the QS Best Student Cities index for the third year running, Paris has no less than 17 universities assessed within the QS World University Rankings 2014/15 – comfortably more world-leading institutions than any other city on the planet except for London, which has 18.

And while Paris does have a reputation for being an expensive place to live, relatively low tuition fees mean that for students, it actually represents a more affordable destination when compared to many other popular student cities – though of course enjoying all the delights of life in this iconic European capital is certainly likely to demand quite a substantial student budget.

Cities are awarded up to 100 points in each category for a potential total of 500. Paris received 412 points, the only city in the world to break 400.

These are the top 10 cities in the world for students, according to QS:

  1. Paris, France
  2. Melbourne, Australia
  3. London, England
  4. Sydney, Australia
  5. Hong Kong
  6. Boston, United States
  7. Tokyo, Japan
  8. Montreal, Canada
  9. Toronto, Canada
  10. Seoul, South Korea

See the full list of the top cities for students at QS >>

SEE ALSO: The 20 College Majors That Lead To The Most Satisfying Careers

Join the conversation about this story »








14 Things Every Traveler Should Pack In Their Carry-On

$
0
0

christmas airport

When you're hovering by your gate at one of the most frustrating airports in the US, holiday travel can seem more tedious than fun.

For that reason, it's imperative that you do everything you can to make it go smoothly — like, for instance, packing the perfect carry-on.

Even if your luggage isn't lost (fingers crossed), you'll no doubt be glad to have a fully-stocked bag on hand at all times. 

At the very least, it will spare you the expense of having to buy temporary replacements while your sweater/snacks/toothbrush idle in the bowels of an airplane.

As far as what should go in said bag, we asked experts and scoured the web to figure out what you'll need by your side.

This post was originally written by Mandi Woodruff.

Stop paying for airport WiFi and stay connected with your own MiFi hotspot.

Unless you're interested in shelling out up to $12 to use airport WiFi, it's a good idea to invest in a WiFi hotspot of your own. 

With its slim, credit card-sized package and simple access to 4G networks, personal MiFi hotspots like the Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE MiFi are a personal favorite of Yahoo! CEO Marissa Meyer and David Rush, cofounder and CEO of Earshot.

"It is a huge time-saver because you always know you can stay connected regardless of your location," Rush told Business Insider. 



Bring a reusable water bottle to fill after going through security.

"My number one tip is to invest in a water bottle with a filter," said Talia Salem, a communications rep for PlanetWildlife. "I have taken this all over the world and it has saved me hundreds of dollars."

Brand is up to you (there are dozens to choose from online). Salem is a fan of the Camelback Groove ($25) and we're crazy for AquaGear water filtration bottles ($29.99). 

They remove 99.99% of tap water contaminants and can save up to 600 plastic bottles over their lifetime.



Pack a small kit with medicines, band aids, and first aid essentials.

If you've ever paid $10 for a minuscule bottle of aspirin at an airport kiosk, you'll appreciate this tip.

Stock up on essentials like pain reliever, band aids, vitamins and cough drops before heading out on your flight, and be sure to pack them in your carry-on.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Viewing all 116889 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images