Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 116484 articles
Browse latest View live

Only 6% of Americans who make over $100,000 say they're upper class

$
0
0

picket fences house

Very few people in America are willing to identify as upper class, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

About 94% of people in that income bracket (over $100,000) identified as middle class, upper middle class, or lower middle class while only 6% called themselves upper class.

Here are the results of the survey:

Pew class income survey

While a family of three with an income of up to $122,000 is still considered "middle income," the over-$100,000 range also includes families with much higher salaries than that.

Pew middle class

And although only 6% of survey respondents identified as upper class, Pew's data shows that 20% of American adults are in the "upper income" bracket.

Income classes US

The reason why so many Americans identify as middle class when almost half o them are actually in a higher income bracket is because "in a self-defined classless society, people will naturally not want to separate themselves from their fellow citizens," according to The Brookings Institution.

Economic inequality continues to grow in America. Pew notes that only families in the upper-income bracket have seen a significant increase in wealth since the early 1990s, while the share of adults living in middle-income households is falling.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This Texas Millionaire Lives In A Low-Income Housing Complex In Houston









Why there are 3 different ways to say 'love' in China

Science says that charisma can be learned — here are 9 proven strategies

$
0
0

beyonce smile

It's not something you're born with.

"Charisma is simply the result of learned behaviors," says Olivia Fox Cobane, author of "The Charisma Myth.

Use words that people can relate to.

In his book "Why Presidents Succeed," University of California at Davis psychologist Dean Keith Simonton argues that the most effective communicators use concrete — rather than abstract — language.

"'I feel your pain' has association," he tells the APA Monitor, "but 'I can relate to your viewpoint' doesn't. The most charismatic presidents reached an emotional connection with people talking not to their brains but to their gut."



Express your feelings.

"Charismatic individuals express their feelings spontaneously and genuinely," Claremont McKenna College psychologist Ronald E. Riggio says. "This allows them to affect the moods and emotions of others."

It's called emotional contagionor "the tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize expressions."

So if you're really excited about something, other people with "catch" that excitement, too.



Talk about your potential — it's more impressive than talking about your accomplishments.

A Stanford-Harvard study recently cited on Marginal Revolution suggests that accomplishments aren't what capture people's attention — rather, it's a person's perceived potential. 

"This uncertainty [that comes with potential] appears to be more cognitively engaging than reflecting on what is already known to be true," the authors write



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






An engineer solved the most annoying problem with ordering lunch at work

$
0
0

refinery 29 founders

When you're a fast-growing media company, even coordinating lunchtime deliveries can become a challenge. 

With more than 200 people — 60% more than in 2013 — fashion and lifestyle media company Refinery29is experiencing a growth spurt. Still, there have been some growing pains.

Front-desk employees (or First Impressionists, as they're known at Refinery29) have become so inundated with takeout orders that it's impossible to send individual emails to employees when lunches arrive.

"The problem was that we would get bombarded with emails for lunch orders that did not have any specific person associated with them," Travis Kaufman, a senior platform engineer at Refinery29, told Business Insider. 

"Stopping everything you're doing to respond to an email notification takes more time and mental energy than most people think, and when the email has nothing to do with you it's a waste of precious time." 

Refinery29 says there are usually between 50 and 75 lunch deliveries a day. Inevitably the entire company would be flooded with emails with subject lines like "Dig Inn at the front with no name" and "Fries...?" 

Kaufman decided to do something to solve the email bloat.

"The solve was not that difficult from a technical perspective, so I just went ahead and built it," he said.

Kaufman spent a day and a half using a variety of open-source software — NodeJS, ExpressJS, AngularJS, Redis, and Twitter Bootstrap — to create a web app he called R29 Lunch Box. The app allows people who ordered lunch for delivery to subscribe to lunch alerts, leaving everyone else in the company off the email.

refinery29It may seem minor, but even the higher-ups at Refinery29 say this lunch hack has helped to streamline lunchtime.

"Overall, it's a way for us to maintain productivity and help our employees work efficiently," Philippe von Borries, co-founder and CEO of Refinery29, said to Business Insider. "My inbox is grateful!"

refinery29 lunch

And Kaufman has plans to make it even better.

"I have a lot of ideas for how to improve it going forward, such as real-time updates to the lunch feed, better UX, and auto-unsubscribes once a lunch is claimed," Kaufman said. "As an engineer at a hyper-growth media company, it's important that I stay focused on building solutions to the myriad of interesting challenges a company like Refinery29 faces."

SEE ALSO: Warby Parker sent a customer a gift card to a bar after they found out her car was stolen

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: When we showed people the food of the future, they were shocked








Here's why Thin Mints taste different depending on where you live

$
0
0

girl scout cookies

The Girl Scout cookies you enjoy every year might taste different if you've moved since the last time you ate them. That's because the Girl Scouts use two different bakeries to distribute the cookies.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Thin Mint cookie that's "crunchier, with more mint than chocolate" comes from Virginia-based bakery ABC Cookies. The cookie with "a distinct peppermint taste" is produced by Kellogg's Little Brownie Bakers located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Since the cookies are coming from two different bakeries, the taste and appearance will naturally vary due to slight differences in the recipe and ingredients available to the bakers, a Girl Scouts of the USA spokesperson told Business Insider.

Most of the U.S. gets its cookies from Litte Brownie Bakers, but major cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, and Orlando are getting cookies from ABC Cookies. The L.A. Times created this interactive graphic that lets you search by ZIP Code to see which version of the cookies you're eating. 

Here's a look at the cookies produced by each baker:

fixeeeeeeddddRegardless of the baker, Thin Mints carry the same name wherever they are sold unlike their cookie counterparts "Samoas" which are called "Caramel deLites," by ABC Bakers, and "Tagalongs," which are called "Peanut Butter Patties," by ABC Bakers. Three other cookies, called "Do-si-dos," "Trefoils," and "Savannah Smiles," by Little Brownie Bakers are called "Peanut Butter Sandwich," "Shortbread," and "Lemonades," by ABC Bakery, respectively.

So, why do the Girl Scouts have two different bakers to produce two different types of the "same" cookie?

Because the annual cookie operation is massive. 

Each year, Girl Scouts sell about 200 million boxes, which equates to $800 million worth. The most popular cookie, Thin Mints make up 25% of the entire sales, which is $200 million.

"Having more than one baker allows us to have greater production capacity to support the Girl Scout Cookie Program,"a spokesperson told Business Insider. 

"During our busiest point in the season, our bakers make about 9 million Thin Mints daily."

SEE ALSO: How the Girl Scouts built their cookie empire

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do








A high school senior applying to Harvard created the perfect fake rejection letter

$
0
0

High school senior Molly McGaan has a rejection letter from Harvard University, which is sorry to inform her that the Ivy League school is unable to offer her a spot in the Class of 2019 — despite her high level of "$wagg moneyyyy."

McGaan — a senior at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago — created the now-viral fake Harvard rejection letter for her school's satirical magazine, Citizen Poke. She tells The Boston Globe, though, that she really did apply to Harvard and is still waiting to hear back.

The letter includes some good advice from Harvard. "For future reference, it is not wise to start an essay with the words, 'listen here u little slanks' and end with 'McGaan out *drops mic*.'" There are more gems like that in the fake rejection note.

McGaan told The Globe that she's surprised that so many people think the letter is authentic. It's gotten over 6,000 likes on the Citizen Poke Facebook page and has been passed around extensively on Reddit and Imgur.

You can read it in full below:

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Law School Is A Waste Of Money Unless You Get Into A Top School








A chiropractor says we should never sleep on our stomachs

$
0
0

sleeping on stomach

If you’re a stomach sleeper, chances are you're not getting the best possible night of rest.

“It’s the worst thing,” New York chiropractor Dr. Jan Lefkovitz of Body in Balance Chiropractic told Business insider. “You should never sleep on your stomach — it creates rotation in your spine.”

Unless you rest with your head face down into the pillow, you’re probably turning your head to one side and that can put a lot of strain on your neck and cause misalignment problems, according to Dr. Lefkovitz.

“If you sleep 8 hours a night that’s a 1/3 of your day, so you’re spending a 1/3 of your life with your spine completely rotated,” he explained to us, adding that it can cause severe back and neck pain.  

If you are sleeping on your stomach, the easiest way to transition is to start sleeping on your side. 

Dr. Lefkovitz also recommends investing in a full length body pillow.

“That’s a really, really good way to get off your stomach because it will block you from turning onto your stomach,” he said. “Put one end between your knees from your ankle to your knee and the rest of the pillow should go to the front of your body and you can rest your top arm on it.”

This position will allow the pillow to keep you on your side and stop you if you try and roll over.  Plus, for anyone who has lower back pain, having a pillow between your knees will align your hips and prevents your pelvis from rotating and collapsing.

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Life on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch 2 armed gangs fight on a busy road in China








9 great deals on golf equipment [up to 48%]

$
0
0

Tiger Woods thumbs up happy patriotic

Spring is finally around the corner, which means you can go ahead and start thinking about your golf game. 

If you're in the market for some new golf accessories, here are some great options.

Whether you're already a pro or are just starting out, there's something in here for you.

Check it out.


TaylorMade SLDR mini driver

golfThe TaylorMade SLDR mini driver is for people who want some improvements in their driving.

Reviewers note that it's easy to control.

Price: $279.99$149.99[46% off]


Wilson Titanium Balls (18 pack)

golfThese balls are good for the price, and are more responsive than other options, according to reviewers.

"A good ball for distance as well as getting control to improve," one reviewer wrote.

Price: $8.99


Callaway super-soft golf balls

golfMeanwhile, these balls feel great off the club, and lead to a "good distance for slower swing speeds," according to reviewers.

"Soft feel with excellent control and distance," one wrote.

Price: $27.50$19.99[27% off]


Wilson profile complete package golf set

golfIf you're just starting to get serious about golf, these are a great set of clubs for a beginner.

Price: $399.99$297.99[26%]


Callaway strata ultimate men's complete golf set (18 piece)

golf Another great option for people just starting to learn the game.

We recommend getting this set as a holiday or birthday gift for any newbie golfer in your life.

Price: $500.00$357.55[28% 0ff]


SKLZ accelerator pro ball return putting mat

golfIf you want to spend some extra time practicing indoors (at home or even at the office!) we recommend one of these.

Price: $49.99$42.74[15%]


Sports sensors swing speed radar

golfHere's a sensor that'll measure your swing speed.

It can also be used for baseball — in case you happen to dabble in both games.

Price: $119.95$94.79[21% off]


Callaway hyper-lite 5 stand bag

golfA sturdy, durable bag that comes with loads of pockets for gloves, balls and tees. 

Plus it's relatively lightweight and easy to carry around.

Price: $234.00$120.53[48% off]

 


Odyssey men's white hot pro 1 putter

golf

Here's a great putter, that, as one reviewer put it, "will turn a decent putter into a great putter."

Price: $185.00$109.99[41% off]


 

SEE ALSO: 6 shampoos to use if you're worried about hair loss

SEE ALSO: The 5 must-have books on whiskey, American cocktails, and moonshine

SEE ALSO: The 16 greatest books about how to be a man

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do









San Franciscans are lining up to eat this sushi-burrito hybrid

A sleep expert shares 7 tips for having more energy than you've ever had before

$
0
0

sleep

The latest in sleep science is clear: No matter how self-motivated you may be, you need a good night's rest to perform to your highest potential.

Nitun Verma is a Stanford-trained sleep medicine researcher and cofounder of the health care company PeerWell who took to Reddit to answer users' questions about getting a perfect night's sleep. We've taken the best tips from his writing, as well as additional information from Harvard and the National Sleep Foundation.

Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.

Your body runs on an internal clock, which you can think of as the balance between an alerting signal and sleep drive, as shown in an interactive chart from the sleep division at the Harvard Medical School.

In a healthy schedule, one's sleep drive decreases in the day as one's alerting signal increases. One can stay awake with an alert mind for "as much as 16 or 17 hours straight" according to Harvard. During sleep, the sleep drive increases while the alerting signal decreases.

It's why powering through your internal clock or catching up on sleep on the weekend puts your body through the same experience as jet lag, Verma writes on Reddit. There will be times, of course, where you have some late nights on the weekend, but the least you can do is stick to a tight schedule during the week and understand how a night on the town affects your biological rhythm.

Get 7-9 hours of sleep.

There are five stages of sleep necessary for "muscle repair, memory consolidation and release of hormones regulating growth and appetite," according to the National Sleep Foundation. Seven to nine hours are required for the average adult to fully go through each stage.

Verma explains on Reddit that people who barely get sleep and seem alert are deceiving themselves. He writes:

When people get a low amount of sleep (like 4-5 hours) for a long time, they think they've gotten used to it, and don't need the usual amount. It is true, that they don't feel as sleepy as they used to... For example, if someone who normally gets 8 hours of sleep drops to 4 hours, they will feel pretty tired/miserable for a week or two. But after more time, they won't notice sleepiness. So they start to think they've trained themselves. But.. being sleepy is different. Being sleepy means your brain isn't working as fast as it used to.

Be careful with what you eat and drink shortly before bed.

Avoid stimulants like caffeine and nicotine for obvious reasons, the National Sleep Foundation says. Also avoid large meals before going to sleep, since your metabolism's processing of the food will throw off your internal clock. And while alcohol is a depressant that can make you fall asleep, the metabolizing of the alcohol can lead to disruptions of the important second half of your sleep cycle.

And if you rely on even moderate drinking or smoking of marijuana to fall asleep each night, as some of Verma's Reddit readers said they did, you should probably consult a physician to see if you actually have a sleep disorder.

Don't do intense exercise too soon before bed.

Similarly, you don't want to raise your metabolism with a weight-lifting session or pickup game of basketball too late in the day. "On days of extreme activity at night, the metabolism is increased for several hours," Verma writes. "That causes increased heat, and confuses the brain to stay awake. It increases the struggle to catch sleep. That heat is different from a blanket, or taking a warm shower."

If you've got an unavoidably abnormal work schedule, make use of accessories like blackout curtains to help your circadian rhythm adjust.

If you work the night shift, you may have to force your body to adjust its internal clock. Verma recommends using blackout curtains to keep daylight from pouring into your room, as well as earplugs and a white noise machine to diminish background noise.

Have a regular pre-bedtime ritual.

"Imagine your body is like a car," Verma writes on PeerWell. "Even if you slam on your brakes your car will take some time to stop. In the same way you cannot stop your body immediately. You need to slow down before you can come to rest."

Verma recommends spending at least an hour away from your smartphone, laptop, or television before bed, and using deep breathing for 10 minutes to help quiet your mind and transition into sleep.

Regulate your light intake.

Your body produces the hormone melatonin to regulate your circadian rhythm, and its regulation is dependent on light intake. Your body is wired to sleep in the dark and wake with daylight, Verma says, so help it along by keeping lights dim before bed and opening the shades when you get up.

SEE ALSO: EXPERTS: Here's how much sleep you really need

DON'T MISS: We used iPhone time-lapse video to see how much an average 28-year-old man tosses and turns in his sleep

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We Used iPhone Time-Lapse Video To See How Much An Average 28-Year-Old Man Tosses And Turns In His Sleep








8 things no one should ever do at the gym

$
0
0

Women Working out at Gym

I go to the gym four times a week — no fail.

I don't need to trick myself into going; I genuinely want to.

Some people may call me crazy, but what they don't realize is I actually would be crazy if I didn't get my weekly gym sessions in.

It's my de-stressor.

That being said, there are a few things I see fellow gym goers doing that make my — and others' — workouts less enjoyable.

If we're all sweating together, we might as well have a little common courtesy for each other, right?

Here's my beef.

1. Sitting on a machine and texting

Chances are you know what expression I'm referring to when I say work or get off the machine. The gym is a place to exercise, not a place to figure out what you're doing after you finish exercising. There is nothing worse than being pulled out of your workout zone by someone who is on the machine you want to use — and they're not even using it. 

Plus, if you can text during your work out, you're probably not working hard enough.

2. Grunting excessively

The other day I was running on the treadmill, listening to my music, minding my own business, when the man next to me started grunting — loudly. It was as if I had just stepped into one of Sharapova's tennis matches. I get it, you're working hard, but come on, grunting while jogging? Is that really necessary? If you're benching your weight or more than fine, but even then keep it to a low roar.

3. PDA while working out

To all those couples who choose the gym as their PDA spot: why? Wouldn't you rather save that for a time when you're less sweaty (ie any time you're not at the gym)? Personally, I like to work out alone, but if you need a little motivation and your significant other is the one you go to, great. All I'm asking is for you to take a break from the kissing, hugging, etc. for the hour you're working out.

4. Taking up too much space

If your gym is anything like mine, it gets pretty crowded during peak workout times. So it's always a good idea to use space wisely. That means if you're doing planks on the mats, don't sprawl out in between sets so that others can't use the mat space around you. Or if you're alternating between exercises that involve different types of equipment, make sure that equipment isn't blocking others from getting anywhere near you.

Man Lifting Weights

5. Not putting equipment back where it belongs

Sometimes I spend half of my workout looking for weights rather than actually using them. People don't come to the gym for a scavenger hunt, they come to exercise. So if you're going to transport the 15-pound weights all the way to the other end of the gym, just be sure put them back when you're done, so the next person who wants to use them can actually find them before their workout is over.   

6. Wearing your street clothes to work out

Let me preface this by saying that you don't need to have the latest and greatest gear to exercise in. You can wear your grandpa's old swim trunks for all I care. But your street clothes? Do you really have a full radius of motion in those jeans — and do you really want to sweat in them? I can almost guarantee that you'd be more comfortable in stretchy cotton — trust me.

7. Wearing anything but athletic shoes on your feet

Yes, I've seen men working out in dress shoes. It's very confusing to me since — sorry for stating the obvious — sneakers are designed specifically for working out and dress shoes are designed specifically for the office. And then there's the fact that your street shoes are probably tracking in all kinds of dirt that the gym staff works so hard to keep out. 

8. Going barefoot

As I just mentioned, your gym staff probably works hard to keep your gym clean. But it's a gym, which is a place where people sweat — a lot — and there's probably all kinds of bacteria on the floor that you don't want to be picking up on the bottom of your feet. Plus, it's a safety hazard with all that heavy equipment you're surrounded by. If going barefoot is your thing, just use that as motivation to finish your workout, so you can leave the gym and return to your natural state. 

SEE ALSO: 4 Moves You Need To Master Before You Hit The Gym

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch 2 armed gangs fight on a busy road in China








Architecture critic compares Google's new HQ to a 'Truman Show-style nightmare of total surveillance' (GOOG)

$
0
0

Last week, Google released new renderings of the campus it plans to build in Mountain View, California. But not everyone is enamored with the design.

Edwin Heathcote, an architecture critic at the Financial Times, published a scathing critique of the campus this week, saying that "the designs for Google's huge new Mountain View HQ look oddly like a vision of the future from somewhere in the past." 

The campus was designed by star architects Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick. The renderings show an incredibly futuristic construction made up of translucent canopies and modules that can be changed to adjust the buildings' layout. The images also promise an adaptable environment with lots of light, bike paths, and even retail opportunities for local businesses.

Campus Google

Heathcote compares the architecture to various sci-fi cliches, like glass biodomes and alien settlements.

He then compares the Google HQ to the tech campus depicted in Dave Eggers' dystopian novel "The Circle," which Heathcote says is a "'Truman Show'-style nightmare of total surveillance." 

Campus Google

Though Google says it plans to keep the campus relatively open to the public, Heathcote is skeptical. 

"Google has the opportunity, the power and the money to build an entire city and anchor a new vision of urbanity — but instead it has retreated into a predictable, perhaps even slightly sinister vision of a private world enclosed under glass," he says.

Campus Google

Still, some critics have praised the design — Clive Wilkinson, the architect behind the original Googleplex, told Fast Company that the new HQ "seems extremely community-oriented, extremely people-oriented. The idea of multiple places for enjoying nature and the outdoors being integrated, these moves are extremely positive."

This is the first time Google will design and build offices from scratch. The plans have been submitted to the Mountain View City Council.

SEE ALSO: Google's futuristic new campus looks incredible — check out the latest renderings

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do








A Holiday Inn in Florida is livestreaming its massive spring break pool party

$
0
0

spring break pool party panama city beach

A real-time video of Spring Break in Panama City Beach will make you sad you’re no longer in college.

The "Pool Cam" feed offers an inside look at the pool of the Holiday Inn in Panama City Beach, Florida — apparently a prime destination for sprink breakers (h/t Buzzfeed's Matt Zeitlin).

It shows plenty of young, ostensibly intoxicated people listening to music (unfortunately, there's no sound so we aren't sure what they are dancing to), and throwing around a ball while drinking and hanging out.

In case your office blocks you from viewing the livestream as you sit at your desk and watch the snow pile up, the Holiday Inn, which calls itself “your Spring Break headquarters,” also has an Instagram feed.

You can watch the livestream here — the dancing bros are truly incredible.

 

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Life on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do








The most important cities in the world for the super-rich

$
0
0

London Skyline

Which are the hottest cities for the world's ultra-wealthy? Global real estate consultant Knight Frank broke them down for us in its 2015 Wealth Report.

The report ranks the top 40 cities for "Ultra High Net Worth Individuals," meaning anyone with a net worth of $30 million or more. The ranking looks at business links, economic activity, quality of life, and the number of other super-rich people who live there.

"In short, these are the cities where the wealthy congregate, work, invest, are educated and spend their leisure time," the report says.

In other years, New York has been number one, but this year London edged it out. Several of the top 10 cities are in Asia.

Here's the full list:

  1. London
  2. New York
  3. Hong Kong
  4. Singapore
  5. Shanghai
  6. Miami
  7. Paris
  8. Dubai
  9. Beijing
  10. Zurich
  11. Tokyo
  12. Toronto
  13. Geneva
  14. Sydney
  15. Taipei
  16. Frankfurt
  17. Moscow
  18. Madrid
  19. San Francisco
  20. Vienna
  21. Milan
  22. Los Angeles
  23. Jakarta
  24. Munich
  25. Amsterdam
  26. Mumbai
  27. Dublin
  28. Johannesburg
  29. Istanbul
  30. Kuala Lumpur
  31. São Paulo
  32. Mexico City
  33. Berlin
  34. Washington, D.C.
  35. Boston
  36. Cape Town
  37. Auckland
  38. Buenos Aires
  39. Rio de Janeiro
  40. Tel Aviv

SEE ALSO: The 11 cities with the most opportunity right now

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 2 Economics Grads In London Are Changing The Color Of Those Iconic Red Telephone Boxes — And Some People Hate It








Over 50% of American singles had casual sex in 2014 — here's why that's good for their relationships

$
0
0

hippie couple paint

According to a new 5,000 person study, 66% of men and 50% of single women report that they had a one-night stand in 2014.

According to anthropologist and study author Helen Fisher, this could actually benefit their future relationships.

In a new article for Nautilus, Fisher says that while have an "uncommitted sexual encounter" with a stranger might "appear reckless," it's a hugely efficient way to get to know someone. 

The "Why We Love" author explains:

Any stimulation of the genitals promotes dopamine activity, which can potentially push you over the threshold into falling in love.

At orgasm, oxytocin and vasopressin—neurochemicals linked with feelings of attachment—spike. With just one night of casual sex, risky as it is, you may win life's greatest prize: a devoted mating partner. 

After a one night stand, Fisher says that people often move to a "commitment-lite" relationship, in which "a pair has coitus when convenient, but they don't appear in public as a couple."

In other words, you may be sleeping together, but you're not tagging each other on Instagram, popularly known as "friends with benefits."

Fisher reports that in the 2013 Singles in America study, 58% of men and 50% of women had been in a friends-with-benefits situation. 

And it's not like those relationships are going nowhere. Fisher reports that 28% of the 2014 survey participants had experienced a friends-with-benefits arrangement grow into a long-term relationship.

So hook-ups lead to friends-with-benefits, friends-with-benefits lead to long-term partnerships.  

But the news for the casually sexual isn't all good. 

Research from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia indicates that couples who wait to have sex until later in their relationship report having higher quality marriages.

Some of the "people who are already more likely to struggle in romantic relationships — such as people who are impulsive or insecure — are also more likely to have casual sex," write report authors Galena K. Rhoades and Scott M. Stanley.

SEE ALSO: Why couples that 'hook up' early tend to be less happy in marriage

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What the Chinese saying 'The ugly wife is a treasure at home' actually means









New flexible glass yacht design looks like a floating Apple store

$
0
0

Salt Boat

Hot off the achievment of his last yacht rendering, Glass, Lujac Desautel is back with a new, more svelte yacht design: Salt.

Salt takes the "floating box" of Glass and stretches it longways, forming a much more traditional yacht shape, as DesignBoom.com notes. Its design takes cues from three very different historical sources: the glass cabin was inspired by Phillip Johnson's Glass House, the sails were inspired by 17th century Japanese Red Seal ships, and the Water Step Well of New Delhi, India inspired the hull.

Salt Boat

Apart from the contemporary design, the Salt also has another distinguishing feature: flexibility.

The yacht was designed to make the "connection to the sea is tangible,"  according to press materials. To that end, the sides of the boat fold down to become steps down to the water, its cubed glass cabin opens to become a open and airy space, and a rear hatch lowers down to the sea for a beach club-like experience.

Inside, many of the luxuries you'd expect in a yacht are accounted for, including three dining rooms and five cabins nestled in the hull.

Check out more renderings of the Salt below.

Salt BoatSalt Boat

 

Salt BoatSalt BoatSalt Boat

SEE ALSO: It Costs A Terrifying Amount Of Money To Operate A Luxury Yacht

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The New Mercedes Driverless Car Even Has The Driver's Seat Facing Away From The Road








Three great pairs of touch-screen gloves to buy right now [up to 61% off]

The battle for New York City's most expensive penthouse is ON

$
0
0

520parkavbebnue e1425583674441

Now that we have reached the nine-figure threshold with the sale of a penthouse at One57 for $100.5 million, New York's luxury real-estate developers are seeing how far they can push the price tags on their latest projects.

This week, two developers unveiled the floor plans for the top apartments in their new high-rises, and they are virtually guaranteed to set records.

Vornado Trust Realty is building a 69-story tower at 220 Central Park South, in the heart of Manhattan's "Billionaires' Row." While prices for the six penthouses have not yet been revealed, sources told The Real Deal that the most expensive one would "ask between $150 million and $175 million."

Meanwhile, Zeckendorf Development — the company behind behemoth 15 Central Park West— released the floor plans and price for the pinnacle apartment at 520 Park Avenue, the high-rise it is building on Manhattan's east side. That penthouse, a triplex, will be listed at $130 million, the real-estate blog 6sqft reported.

And in February, the developers of another luxury tower at 550 Madison Avenue, the former Sony headquarters, announced that their penthouse would hit the market with a price tag of $150 million. That apartment, also a triplex, will encompass 21,500 square feet, according to The Real Deal.

Here's how the three new offerings (all still under construction) stack up:

550 Madison Avenue: $150 million, 21,500 square feet. Eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, 10 half-baths.

550 madison

520 Park Avenue: $130 million, 13,650 square feet. Eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two half-baths.

520 park avenue

220 Central Park South: "$150 to $175 million."

Somewhat less is known about the blockbuster penthouse at 220 Central Park South, since its floor plans have not yet been made public. We do know that the building will have six penthouses. The priciest unit now on the market at 220 CPW is asking $60 million, according to The Real Deal. It has five bedrooms and is 6,591 square feet, so we can only imagine the specs for the best apartment in the building.

220 Central Park South

Given the red-hot nature of New York City's real-estate market, it should be interesting to see who winds up living in these three penthouses.

SEE ALSO: Inside One57, where New York's most expensive penthouse just sold for a record-breaking $100 million

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do








Here are the countries where the ultra-rich are going to be spending even more money

$
0
0

Big Spender index 2015

Knight Frank's annual Wealth Report is out, and in it, the real estate consultant takes a look at luxury spending.

Specifically, they break down which countries are most likely to see increased spending on luxury goods, based on a number of factors, including their luxury store "footprint," their own wealth growth, and the population of "Ultra High Net Worth Individuals" (worth $30 million or more) who live in each country.

Out in front this year is the United Kingdom, which scored 9/10 for its luxury store footprint and 8/10 for its premium travel and spending.

"The finding underlines the importance of the UK for luxury brands, which sold over £8 billion of goods in the country last year," the report said.

China takes the number two spot, scoring a 10/10 for its luxury store footprint. And, according to the report, Chinese consumers are already the top buyers of luxury goods around the world.

Perhaps the most surprising country on the list is India, in fifth place. The number of super-wealthy in India is skyrocketing, and with it, its luxury consumption is also soaring. According to the report, the value of champagne imports there rose 19% last year.

So keep these trends in mind, whether you're a luxury brand looking to expand, or you're part of the ultra-wealthy yourself and curious about where to go for your next shopping spree.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How To Pack A Suit So You're Not A Wrinkled Mess When Traveling








Months after the 'Spider-Woman' butt fiasco, the writer behind the series has the perfect response

$
0
0

Once more, here's the "Spider-Woman #1" alternate cover that made the internet go crazy:milo manara spider-woman

This erotic image by artist Milo Manara set off a thousand blog posts about sexism, resulting in Marvel canceling its release. The irony was that the book itself was about a strong and otherwise respectable female lead.

At the time, writer Dennis Hopeless told IGN: "It's strange for a book that has my name on it to get that much attention that has nothing to do with the book itself. Because our book, the actual story that we're telling, couldn't be less misogynistic."

Well, seven months after the controversial cover appeared and several months after the book launched, Hopeless has the perfect response.

"Spider-Woman #5," out this week, inaugurates a more practical and far-less-sexualized costume and a new, indie feel. In a meta moment, protagonist Jessica Drew even makes fun of the butt fiasco.

spider-woman

spider-woman

spider-woman

Marvel, despite the butt fiasco, is clearly making an effort to promote women in comics, with a record number of female characters in their own series including The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, the Muslim-American Ms. Marvelthe new female Thor, the all-female Avengers team A-ForceCaptain MarvelAngela: Asgard's AssassinSpider-GwenSilkBlack WidowElektraStorm, as well as Spider-Woman.

DON'T MISS: The comic book industry is on fire

SEE ALSO: Here's proof that Hollywood is sexist

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie could become the next Kate Upton








Viewing all 116484 articles
Browse latest View live


Latest Images