First, you could hire a bridesmaid starting at $1,000.

Now, you can pay $500 or more for someone to write a wedding toast straight from the heart — well, a heart, anyway.

The New York Times explores the trend of hiring professional speechwriters to compose toasts for special occasions, whom it calls "toast whisperers."

It's not just limited to weddings — you can hire a professional to script your sentiments at events like birthday parties and Bar Mitzvahs, anniversaries, baby namings, and "even funerals."

Unsurprisingly, this industry is most popular in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. 

From The Times:

Lindsi Shine, a high-end lifestyle consultant in New York with over 400 clients, mostly celebrities, athletes and Wall Street executives, has a small stable of ghostwriters she sends tongue-tied 1 percenters to.

"You know you're always being judged a little," Ms. Shine said, "so it's better to get some professional help than try to handle it on your own. I'm from Indiana, and in Indiana we go to weddings and we enjoy them. In New York, we go to weddings and we review them."

According to the American Express Spending and Savings Tracker, the average cost of being in a wedding party is $701, and that doesn't include having your toast ghostwritten. Of course, that's nothing compared to the costs shouldered by the bride and groom — the average cost of holding a wedding, excluding the honeymoon, is over $31,000 as determined by wedding website The Knot. (However, that extravagant number has faced some debate.)

If you aren't interested in hiring out your toast-writing duties, the professionals who spoke to The Times warn amateurs to keep it short and avoid embarrassing stories. Victoria Wellman, founder of the New York City ghostwriting company Oratory Laboratory who writes about 100 speeches a year, boils down the components of a successful toast: 

"We always say a speech should be about 70 percent humor, 30 percent sincerity," Ms. Wellman said. "When you are sincere, when you truly break down how you feel about the person, people know it's real."

SEE ALSO: 8 newlyweds share their favorite money-saving wedding hacks

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As The Real Deal reports, “Even the British royal family is getting into the business of pieds-a-terres in New York.”

Queen Elizabeth herself has picked up a $7.9 million apartment at 50 United Nations Plaza.

Recently released records list the buyer of the three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot residence as “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand.”

The listing says the apartment is perfect for large-scale entertaining, as it boasts a gracious foyer and 15-foot-long living/dining area, as well as a high-end kitchen with a Foster Partners-designed island, white lacquer Poliform cabinetry, and honed absolute back granite countertops.

50 UN Plaza was appropriately designed by starchitect Lord Norman Foster, whom the Queen knighted 25 years ago. Here’s hoping she brings the grandkids for a visit.

Listing: 50 United Nations Plaza #18B by Zeckendorf Marketing

SEE ALSO: Robert De Niro's son nabs record-breaking, $120 million NYC listing

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At this point, your 4th of July weekend beer list has probably been expertly curated.

You've also probably done the headcount for ratio of hamburgers to human beings, and you may or may not have purchased some kind of firework.

However, you, gentleman, have probably not even considered your accessories.

You see, it's the accessories that separate the well-organized man, from the sloppy little boy.

Jessica Cadmus is the founder of The Wardrobe Whisperer, a company that dedicates itself to styling high-level Wall Streeters, executives and more. She told us that the well-organized gentleman needs four accessories for the 4th.

Four and no more.

A weekend bag

A sophisticated man needs a sophisticated bag. No, you may not use your gym bag, or your sweet LAX bag from college. People will see you.

"Part of cultivating a sophisticated aesthetic is upgrading such pieces- especially for travel. Keep the gym bag for the gym and buy a separate bag that hasn't at some point held sweaty work out clothes and sneakers, and use that for weekends on the go," says Cadmus.

This ones below are from Jack Spade:

An adult swimsuit 

Gently pick up your hibiscus patterned board shorts, walk over to the nearest trash can, and deposit them inside.

According to Cadmus a killer swimsuit is one which "is trim but not tight-fitting and just as appropriate for beach as for pool party."

Try a print, "it's universally flattering," she says.

The ones below are from Thorsun:

The sneaker slider

This is your free pass to wear a sneaker. TAKE IT. 

"The sneaker slide because these look just as great with shorts as they do with pants.  Plus, they are easy-on, easy-off but a major upgrade to a flip flop," says Cadmus.

Shoeliner socks

It goes without saying that your feet should not smell, so wear socks.

Wear these socks, specifically, because we don't want to see your socks either.

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Have you ever felt guilty about something for over two decades? One 39-year-old woman has, and now she's looking to make things right.

The woman, who doesn't disclose her real name, used the "w4m" (woman/women for man/men) section of the Craigslist Missed Connections page to post an apology to a gay couple she verbally harassed in 1993.

She was only 17 at the time, she explains, and admits her views about homosexuality have since changed and matured.

She says she was at a Kansas amusement park called Worlds of Fun when she and a friend from a church youth group noticed the couple.

The woman said it was then she loudly yelled: "Ewww gross."

Here's the full post. We bolded some of the main points:

Dear young gay couple in 1993,

You were sitting together on the curb near the entrance of Worlds of Fun. I was walking in with my church youth group. I was 17 and bigoted, taught that you were wrong and sinful. You were happy, sitting close, having fun, smooching a little, probably waiting for some friends. We walked in as a group, excited, adventurous, privileged. My friend pointed you out with a gasp of surprise and disgust. I looked over to see you together, relaxed and confident, and I said out loud, "Ewww gross."

I don't remember your reaction and I don't know if you heard me. As we walked away I felt a prick of shame. Outwardly I had acted as if it was you who should be ashamed, but for over 20 years it has been me who carries this shame. I'm writing this today to apologize for my behavior.

Dear young gay couple in 1993, I am so sorry. I am so sorry I treated you as second class citizens and ruined that sweet moment you were having. I want you to know that shortly after this youth group trip I entered college and my whole world changed. My learned bias and my belief in homosexuality as a sin was flipped upside down as I was exposed to new people and new ideas. I have walked away from the religion that taught me to hate. My life is now one of empowering and advocating for young people. 20 years later I carry my shame as a reminder to check my privilege. I consider myself an ally and I hope my advocacy over the years has righted some of my wrongs.

Wherever you are I hope you're each still sitting close with a loved one and living a wonderful life.

With a heartfelt apology,
A kid who learned the truth

The post, written in April, was incredibly popular on Craigslist, making it to the coveted "Best of Craigslist" page.

It's unclear if anything ever came out of the post, and the email attached is no longer listed. But maybe this is a new form of therapy — with the help of Craiglist, maybe we all can feel a little less guilty. 

SEE ALSO: Redditors were determined to track down the mystery person behind one of the most iconic designs ever — and they found her

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Britain's richest man isn't even British — it's Ukraine-born billionaire Len Blavatnik.

Blavatnik is worth $20.1 billion, rising to prominence after his privately held industrial group, Access Industries, purchased Warner Music Group for $3.3 billion in 2011. 

Since investing in tech giants Spotify and Beats, his wealth has ballooned, propelling him to the top spot from the number four spot on the Sunday Times Rich List just last year. 

From hanging out with famous musicians to partying on his yacht, get to know Britain's richest man.

Blavatnik attended Moscow University of Railway Engineering until his family immigrated to the US in 1978.

He went on to earn his masters degree in computer science at Columbia University and his MBA at Harvard Business School. He remained loyal to his alma mater: In 2013, he donated $50 million to Harvard to sponsor life sciences entrepreneurship.

In 1986, Blavatnik founded Access Industries, a privately held industrial company. Initially, AI was involved in Russian investments but has since diversified its portfolio.

When Spencer Butler bought his GoPro camera, he probably wasn't expecting to use it to capture himself running inside a burning building to save a puppy. 

But that's exactly what happened in Rapid City, South Dakota when Butler and his friend Brad spotted a burning apartment building, the Toronto Sun reports. The GoPro video Butler uploaded just two days ago already has over one million views on YouTube.

Instead of running away from the dangerous scene, his first reaction was to run into the building and make sure that all people and pets had been evacuated.

It was a good thing he checked — Butler, Brad and a few strangers saved the lives of three dogs who were stuck inside the building, according to the caption on the YouTube video.

When he sees smoke rising from the building, he asks a small gathered crowd, "do you guys know if there's anybody in the building?"

"Holy," Butler exclaims when he turns a corner and sees how big the fire is. He and his friend decide to bang on doors to make sure that no one is inside.

As they knocked on doors, they yelled to make sure everybody had left the building. They even knocked some doors down.

When they knocked down the door of a top floor apartment, they found a terrified Corgi.

Thankfully, they were able to chase the dog out the building. 

 Butler and his friend were joined by some strangers who helped them knock doors down.

Eventually, Butler looks around the smoke filled stairwell and said, "Let's get the hell out of here, it's going up."

By that time, firefighters had arrived to hose down the growing fire. 

Butler says (via the caption of the video) that any money he's making off of views will be donated to the Rapid City Fire Department in South Dakota.

Watch the full video now:

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John B. Spark's Histomap, originally published by Rand McNally in 1931 and preserved today by the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, is a five-foot long map documenting the history of seven different civilizations.

The map illustrates what Sparks believed were crucial historical events of the Aegean, Egyptian, Hittites, Amorites, Iranians, Indians, Huns, and Chinese civilizations from 2000 B.C. through 1900 A.D. 

It originally sold for only $1 and stands today as a fascinating example of one man's goal to record thousands of years of history.

SEE ALSO: This map shows the best tourist attraction in every state

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Not everyone gains entrance into the meeting places of the world's most powerful leaders.

In the interest of safety, meetings that take place in these eight rooms — located in tightly secured buildings, sometimes within huge secured complexes — are closed-door affairs.

It's that secrecy that fascinated photographer Luca Zanier, who was granted access to rooms in the buildings of the UN, FIFA, the Council of Europe, and other international government agencies — while they were completely empty. 

It's in these rooms where world-changing decisions are made by just a few individuals. These decisions "determine a large part of our collective existence," Zanier says, which is exactly what he set out to convey in his photo series, "Corridors of Power." He also created a photo book for the project, which recently reached its crowdfunding goal. 

Check out the rooms in all their quiet glory below. 

The United Nations General Assembly in the UN Headquarters in New York City is possibly the most powerful room that Zanier photographed. Here, representatives from 192 state delegations vote on essential UN regulations and functions.

The UN Trusteeship Council hasn't met in this room since 1994, after its goal of guiding post-WWII "trust territories" was achieved. However, they're still a part of the UN charter and remain an organization on paper.

UN Room XXIV is a 260-person capacity conference room in the UN's Geneva office. Though it lacks the glitz of the New York headquarters, it's certain that some important meetings are held here.

Cancel your gym membership and throw out those old Tae Bo tapes — getting in shape is now as simple as turning on your computer.

It's super easy to hack your fitness routine using YouTube. Channels devoted to everything from yoga and pilates to weight-lifting and parkour will have you looking and feeling better in no time. 

Plus, it's a totally free way to build a new exercise plan or spice up your current routine. 

Here's a look at 15 YouTube fitness stars who will have you off your couch and sweating in no time.

SEE ALSO: How to eat a fast-food breakfast without completely wrecking your diet

Cassey Ho wants you to "train like a beast" to "look like a beauty."

RAW Embed

Combining pilates moves with sculpting workouts, the "Blogilates" channel is wildly popular on YouTube.

Starring certified fitness instructor Cassey Ho, the videos feature popular music to help keep your energy level high during her high-intensity workouts. 

Her "5 Minute" video series is great for fitness in a hurry. Each video involves doing one minute of five individual moves targeted to work a specific area, such as legs, arms, or abs. 

YouTube subscribers: 2,346,042

Try Ho's "Intense INNER THIGH Challenge" to tone up your legs. 

Train with "Official Barstarzz" to impress your friends with some intense new moves.

If you're getting bored with your regular fitness routine mix things up with some of the exciting videos from "Official Barstarzz."

This international fitness team proves that you can get ripped just about anywhere, from your driveway to your office floor. 

"You don't need expensive equipment or gym memberships at all. Anything we do can be done if not at your home, then your local park. This is real strength, functional fitness," explains the team's Facebook page. 

YouTube subscribers: 513,977

Learn how to do an impressive "back clap push up" here. 

Elliot Hulse can help you make some serious gains.

Strongman Elliot Hulse is focused on helping you "become the strongest version of yourself," with his YouTube channel, "Strength Camp."

Don't be intimidated: Hulse breaks his workouts down clearly, like this video which teaches his top four exercises for getting stronger.  

"Strength Camp" videos do require some equipment, so you'll have to make sure you have the right weights and supplies for your body. 

YouTube subscribers: 1,356,454

Learn how to properly execute a dead-lift with this video. 

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Hidden bars have been popular in New York since Prohibition.

Today, drinking is legal, but New Yorkers still love these speakeasies for their vintage decor, secret entrances, and cocktails made with classic ingredients.

From Dutch Kills in Long Island City to Attaboy on the Lower East Side, here are 35 hidden bars in New York City.

An earlier version of this post was written by Megan Willet.

Raines Law Room's waiters come to your table when you pull a lamp string.

48 W. 17th St., Flatiron

On West 17th Street you’ll see an unmarked stairwell.

Head down and ring the doorbell, where a host will take you into the underground cozy den filled with curtained-off couches, soft music from the 1920s, and lamp strings you pull to have your waiter approach your table and take your order.  

Bar Centrale is hidden inside a brownstone apartment.

324 W. 46th St., Hell's Kitchen

You might walk right past Bar Centrale, considering that it looks like any other brownstone apartment on the outside. Inside, however, is a cool bar.  

If you want a table, you'll need to make a reservation, but try to pop in after Broadway shows as the bar sometimes plays host to Broadway stars.

At 67 Orange St., you can get lobster mac and cheese with your cocktail.

2082 Frederick Douglas Blvd., Harlem

Behind the thick curtains lining the windows of 67 Orange St. is an intimate Harlem speakeasy where you can get crafty cocktails with everything from gin and cognac to whiskey and champagne. 

The lobster mac and cheese and fried-chicken sliders complement the tasty drinks.

LG has agreed to reduce the height of its proposed US headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey after nearly a year of compromise with local officials and conservationist groups.  

The headquarters will be built along the Palisades, a stretch of green cliffs along the lower Hudson River in northeastern New Jersey and southern New York. Residents of Englewood Cliffs had taken issue with the building's proposed height, which, at 143 feet, would have been significantly taller than the buildings in the surrounding area. 

The plans for the new building, as agreed upon by LG, Scenic Hudson, the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, will now be just shorter than 70 feet tall and will protect the community's views of the Palisades. 

"We have found a solution that satisfies LG’s business needs and addresses concerns of our neighbors on both sides of the Hudson," LG Electronics USA President and CEO William Cho said in a press release. "The discussions were constructive, and parties on both sides showed a willingness to compromise, recognizing that there is a greater good to be acknowledged for the people, economy and environment of New Jersey."

The cliffs have been protected from development by builders and homesteaders for more than a century. Though the area's current zoning laws limit building height to 35 feet, LG obtained a variance in 2012 that essentially cleared the way for construction on the 360,000-square-foot building to begin. 

The original plan had received plenty of opposition, including from four former New Jersey governors — Thomas Kean, Christine Todd Whitman, James Florio and Brendan Byrne — who wrote a letter to LG's vice chairman in South Korea, asking for the building's proposed height to be reduced to meet the current 35-foot limit, according to the New York Times.  

In the letter, they wrote that they were "concerned that this tower would not only interrupt the historic, natural vista enjoyed by millions, but would also set a precedent for greater building heights stretching northward along these iconic cliffs, eroding the unique American landmark of the Palisades."

Local conservation groups have agreed to withdraw their legal appeals as part of the new agreement.

The current plan for LG's new headquarters call for a 27-acre LEED Platinum-certified campus, with plans to protect surrounding woodlands and wetlands. The company plans to nearly double its New Jersey workforce to 1,000 employees by 2019. 

"The entire community is thrilled that LG will remain in our town, while demonstrating in a very real way LG’s commitment to preservation of the environment," Englewood Cliffs Mayor Joseph Parisi, Jr. said in a press release. "This partnership is very good for Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, the state of New Jersey and the entire Tri-State region."

SEE ALSO: A shack in SiIicon Valley and a mansion in Austin: Here's what a $1-2 million home looks like in 7 major US cities

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While it may sound like a huge inconvenience, if you have the time, getting bumped off a flight can be a really lucrative business.

In fact, there's a whole subculture of folks who are hoping for an overbooked flight, playing the system by volunteering their seats in exchange for flight vouchers, upgrades, lounge access and cash, literally financing all of their travels in this way. 

Unfortunately, overbooking has become standard practice as airlines need it to post revenue and cancel out no shows (15%  of travelers apparently) and latecomers. But instead of getting angry, get paid.

Here's what to do to get bumped on your terms:

Don’t check luggage if you can avoid it

Not only will it save you time and effort, it'll make you more likely to get picked as a volunteer since it's a pain for agents to retrieve already checked bags.

Get to the gate early

Let crew members know you're willing to give up your seat should the flight turn out to be overbooked as early as possible (although gate agents usually won't know if they need volunteers until boarding). You can even drop the hint at check-in.

Sit close to the desk and listen for the announcement asking for volunteers

If other people are in on the bumping game it often becomes a matter of who makes it to the desk first.

Negotiate the same amount of compensation as the last person to volunteer

Airlines often raise compensation incrementally to attract more volunteers as they get more desperate for seats, meaning that the last holdout might get more than the first eager volunteer. However, you can make sure to get their final offer even when volunteering first simply by asking.

Ask for money instead of vouchers

Vouchers often have blackout dates, restrictions or limited seating, so you're better off grabbing the cash.

Play hardball

New DOT rules decree that airlines need to pay involuntarily bumped passengers up to $1,300. Obviously airlines want to avoid this at all costs, meaning you can try and negotiate for lounge passes, upgrades and direct flights.

But be cool too

If gate agents see you frothing at the mouth for some compensation, they might try and play hardball right back.

Make sure you get on another flight

Volunteering can be risky business. Make sure you're not giving up a seat on the last flight out for the day, or, if that's the case, that you'll also be getting a hotel room and free meals until then. Oh, and that you're actually getting re-booked, of course, ideally not on another overbooked flight (although you could try for the elusive double bump for twice the rewards — some people thrive during busy periods,  allowing themselves to get bumped multiple times in one day to make some serious money).

Make sure to have a plan B

Sometimes flights seem overbooked, and ask for volunteers, but end up being fine. In that case, if you've given up your seat you may actually end up getting rebooked on your original flight, and thus in a dreaded middle seat. Make sure to keep your original boarding pass and seat assignment, or that you are fully rebooked before volunteering your seat.

SEE ALSO: Here’s what you’re entitled to if you get bumped off a flight

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Staining a new shirt the first time you wear it can ruin your whole day. 

One startup, Dropel Fabrics, wants to eliminate that feeling forever. 

Using nanotechnology, the company has created a completely unstainable fabric that can be used in shirts, jackets, or anything else in danger of discoloration.

Though it may seem like magic, it's not — it's science!

The shirt is treated with a hydrophobic coating that prevents the liquid from absorbing into the shirt. That coating is made of a hydrophobic polymer that repels moisture of all types and causes it to bead up on the surface of the fabric.  

While there are other startups with similarly unstainable fabrics, Dropel claims its product is different, because it actually feels like regular cotton, as opposed to a starchy piece cardboard.

Bloomberg's Seth Porges, who tested a Dropel shirt, remarked on how the shirt felt "almost exactly like plain-Jane cotton."

The shirt's potential for disaster-prevention is endless. Aside from keeping white dress shirts pure white, the stain-free nature of the fabric means you can get more wear out of your clothes. That's good news for business travelers with small carry-on luggage.  

Along those same lines, the fabric could even be touted as sustainable, as the shirts require less washing, Dropel co-founder and president Bradley Feinstein told Time. 

Bloomberg posits that the shirt may be a great summer staple, as it wouldn't absorb smells and sweat stains.

But then, as Esquire pointed out, if the sweat isn't absorbed by your clothing, it will just stay on your skin, which makes for an uncomfortable experience and is antithetical to the philosophy behind most athletic sportswear, which include moisture-wicking proprieties to absorb the sweat from your skin.

Dropel is using the fabric in its own men's clothing line, Kelby & Co, which has products available for pre-order. Shirts start at $80, a T-shirt goes for $55, and they sell a French terry jacket for $145.

Time reports that, according to one client study, the fabric increases production costs by 5% but has the potential to spike sales by 40%. Seeing as Dropel is offering the fabric to other designers and clothing companies, this new fabric could become a business dress standard. 

SEE ALSO: How to pick the perfect pair of shoes for every color suit

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"Keep calm and carry on" is to Brits what "I heart NY" is to New Yorkers. 

The phrase is plastered on every printable surface and remixed hundreds of ways.

Bring it up in conversation with a Brit and you'll probably be met with an eye-roll — as noted in Fraser McAlpine's new book, "Stuff Brits Like."

But McAlpine, who lives in Cornwall, says the British secretly love the phrase because of its history.

Year: 1939

The phrase originated as a slogan in the spring before World War II. Anticipating the dark days ahead, the British government designed a poster to hang in areas being targeted by German bombers. 

Around 2.5 million copies were printed, but not one of them was posted, as officials had last-minute doubts about whether the content was too patronizing or obvious. They also couldn't settle on an appropriate time to hang the posters. Save for a select few, the majority of the posters were destroyed. 

Year: 2000

Fast-forward six decades and one of the remaining posters was discovered by a bookseller who bought a box of old books (where the poster was hidden) at auction. It was put up over the cash register in the seller's bookshop, Northumberland's Barter Books. 

Pretty soon, customers were asking about where they could buy a similar poster, and the shop's owners, Stuart and Mary Manley, decided to print copies. Little did they know how fast the "Keep Calm" craze would spread.  

Why Brits actually love the phrase 

In his book, McAlpine breaks down the phrase, further explaining why the British have grown to love it.

There is something quintessential in the way the posters do not say "Don't Panic" or "We Will Prevail"... They say "Keep Calm," and what that means is, "We may be suffering something of an invasion at the moment, but that's no reason to start acting in a rash and hot-headed manner. We may be a subjugated nation — temporarily — but we are not about to start acting like savages."

And what of the "Carry On?"... As a nation, we have been trained to look past the bad behavior of our rudest guests, especially the uninvited ones, and rather than cause a scene, we shall just go about our daily business as if nothing has happened.

The slogan, in its purest form, is a symbol of nationalism. While the British may loathe its exploitation, they adore "Keep Calm" for its historical roots. 

SEE ALSO: The 9 best summer reads under 400 pages

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Summer is a time for adventure. No longer must long pants hide our ankles and footwear.

But with great power comes great responsibility. What does that mean to you as you're shopping and observing street style this summer? Be on the lookout for three "ugly shoe" trends — Tevas, Birkenstocks, and yes, Crocs — that are making a comeback.  

They're riding the wave of the normcore, "ugly-chic," and unisex trends, which have also boosted such formerly derided legacy brands as L.L. Bean and its Bean Boots.

Birkenstocks

Long considered "hippiewear," Birkenstocks have been making quality (read: bulletproof) sandals since 1964. In the past, they were usually worn by your eccentric, nature-loving distant cousins, who think a hunk of salt passes for deodorant.

Today, however, they are seen on the feet of fashion's most influential players, including EJ Samson, who runs content strategy at Hearst Digital Media. 

Teva-Inspired Athletic Sandals

There was a time when the term "Teva-like" was understood to be a pejorative for a chunky athletic sandal — one you wore on the trail, not the street. That time is over and athletic sandals are having a moment. 

Case in point: When former Lucky magazine editor Eva Chen flaunts a trend on her Instagram, people tend to pay attention. Teva has even collaborated major players like Opening Ceremony and Nasty Gal. 

The athleisure trend marches on.

 Crocs

No longer just a favorite for kids who fuss about putting on their shoes, Crocs has branched out to appeal to a more mature audience.

And it seems to be working. At least, for some of the more normal-looking offerings by Crocs. A particularly popular option is the Crocs wedge, which has earned rave reviews on Amazon for its comfort.

SEE ALSO: These are the only shoes guys need for summer

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June 21st — the summer solstice and the longest day of the year — marks the official start of summer.

In Norway, people usher in summer with a massive celebration called Slinningsbålet.

It's celebrated with a huge bonfire every year on June 24th in the town of Alesund, which sits on the west coast of the country.

Slinningsbålet is part of the midsummer — or sankthans — celebrations, which honor the birth of John the Baptist.

Since this time of year marks when the sun starts to retreat, the midsummer fires — which date back multiple centuries — are believed to reflect the sinking flame of the sun.

To celebrate, the town builds a bonfire. But this isn't just your average bonfire. It takes 30 to 40 people several days to build a huge tower of wooden crates that's eventually set on fire, creating a massive roaring fire.

In 2010, the tower was a record-setting 132.71 feet tall. This year, the tower will be 112-feet-high.

The flaming tower is built on a small piece of land that is surrounded by the ocean so when it topples, it falls into the water and doesn't present any hazards. 

Here's a video that shows the building, lighting, and burning of the tower from 2010.

 The tower was not nearly as high last year (only 131.2 feet). Here are some photos of it that were taken by a drone.

And if you're wondering how exactly they light this huge tower on fire, here's your answer: Someone lights what appears to be a fuse housed in a barrel placed at the very top of the tower, and then climbs down as it start to burn. In the photo below you can see one of the climbers lighting the fuse.

And here they are climbing down the tower as it starts to burn.

One of them actually climbs back up to place the burning fuse back into the barrel.

The climbers quickly and safely make their way down before this happens.

SEE ALSO: The Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the biggest tourist attractions in New Zealand

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It's an awful experience when an airline loses your luggage, and it happens to hundreds of passengers experience every single day.

Thankfully, the US Department of Transportation has started laying down the law on what should happen when you arrive somewhere and your baggage doesn’t.

Unfortunately, this still varies wildly depending on each airline and each specific situation.

To help you navigate these tricky waters, we've compiled everything you need to know for when your luggage gets lost

If your luggage is damaged, get the airline to pay for repairs

If a bag is torn, missing a wheel, or in any way damaged, the airline should pay for repairs. If it's beyond help, the airline will pay you its depreciated value. Same goes for anything inside that's been damaged, though you'll have to prove that you didn't pack the damaged goods inadequately, especially if the outside of the suitcase is fine.

If your bag is delayed, report it as lost ASAP

Most "lost" bags are only delayed, as airlines have increasingly sophisticated systems of tracking them down, and can usually do so within a few hours. Chances are, your bags simply got on the wrong flight.

However, you still want a paper trail. Even if airline personnel has located your luggage and say it's on the next flight, ask them to file a report. You can give them your baggage claim tags, just make sure to get a copy of the report. Also make sure to get a phone number so that you can follow up/pester someone just in case.

Pro tip: take a photo of your luggage before you depart: it'll be more effective than describing your black suitcase.

Check the back of your ticket for maximum claims

Certain airlines have a maximum claim they'll allow, but you can usually find that on the back of your ticket. This means that if they have a maximum claim of $200, you might want to keep your brand new iPad in your carry-on, or buy "excess valuation."

Get ready to negotiate

Generally, you're entitled to getting back "reasonable expenses" incurred while luggage-less, though what you consider reasonable might not be in line with what the airline considers reasonable. This is when you need to flex your negotiation muscles.

Back in the day, airlines would have you begging for enough cash to buy yourself a toothbrush, but since the DOTs 2009 regulation, domestic airlines can no longer make up ambiguous figures to pawn you off with, but need to cover "all reasonable, actual and verifiable expenses related to baggage loss, damage or delay," so keep your receipts. Today, the per passenger maximum is $3,400 for for domestic flights.

Realistically, you will only get that amount if it's your wedding day and they lost your dress (though why did you pack that?!), but in theory, it means that if you need more than the, say, $50 they're offering you, you can probably eek out more just by asking and citing the DOT’s decree. And if that doesn't work, file a complaint with the DOT.

International flights are a different ballgame

International round trips that start in the US, one-way trips between the US and international destinations, and international round trips have different limits, which are set by the Montreal Convention. Currently that limit is 1,131 Special Drawing Rights (an international type of monetary reserve currency), which is roughly $1,600.

Get reimbursed for your checked baggage fee

Whether you actually get reimbursed depends on the airline, but asking to get reimbursed for the outrageous fee you paid for the privilege of having your bag lost can't hurt.

Don't assume that your delayed luggage will be delivered to you for free

Ask the airline first; negotiate if need be.

If sports equipment is lost, get the airline to cover your rentals

If you've arrived in Vail without your skis, most airlines are amenable to covering the cost of rentals.

If your luggage is lost lost, set a claim

Ok, so your bag is really lost (according to the DOT’s latest Air Travel Consumer Report, there’s only 2.9 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers, and that includes stolen, damaged and delayed luggage, so your chances of it being lost are slim — generally estimated at less than 2%), which means it's time to set a claim. The airline will do everything it can to find your bag and avoid having to pay out, but once it declares your stuff officially gone, they have to reimburse you for it. Basically, setting a claim involves filling out a claim form and explaining in detail what was in the bag.

Know that you will never get full prices on your things

Airlines will only pay depreciated values for things, so unless you can prove that something you lost is brand new, they'll only pay you a fraction of its value. The same goes for reimbursing you for clothes or anything bought while your luggage was temporarily lost — since they assume you will wear items again in the future they won't pay the full price.

Don't ask for too much

If airlines feel like you're exaggerating, or worse, lying, they might deny your claim entirely. They're also prone to asking for receipts or other documentation, so unless you're a hoarder with every receipt for everything you've ever bought, get ready to haggle with the airline on what your stuff is actually worth.

Check your home insurance and credit cards

Some homeowner's or renter's insurances will cover losses that occurred outside of your home. In a similar vein, some credit cards offer flight insurance or supplemental baggage coverage, which are often automatically applied when you buy a ticket with that card.  

Be patient

It can take airlines anywhere from a few hours to a month to locate your bag, and another four weeks to three months to reimburse you. In some cases, they’ll offer you travel vouchers worth more than the cash they owe you, but you should make sure those aren’t constrained by restrictions and blackout dates.

SEE ALSO: 29 travel hacks that even frequent fliers don't know

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When looking at a Snapchat, every second counts. 

To view a picture or video in the social media app, one finger must be kept on the phone screen at all times. Where you place that finger is the key. If you put your finger on the wrong section of the screen, you might miss something important.

GQ has found the sweet spot for Snapchat users, with a simple trick that anyone can use to to optimize their viewing time.

In the photo below — if I had held my thumb at the bottom of my phone — I might have missed this crucial caption from my colleague Will Haskell. 

But GQ says instead, try placing your index finger over the square in the upper right-hand corner where the Snapchat counts down your viewing time.

This way, you're only blocking a small portion of the screen that was already partially obscured. 

If you're left-handed you can place your finger on the upper left-hand corner, GQ explains. However, because the countdown is always in the same spot, it's probably best if you stick to the right. 

The one-finger rule is supposed to protect images from being screenshotted, though it's totally easy to get around that. Snapchat is reportedly considering doing away with the finger requirement entirely. 

"It's annoying to have to hold your finger there," Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel said this May at Code Conference.

SEE ALSO: The surprising reason why all your food apps are red

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It has been a few weeks, and I've been waiting for someone to touch on what is truly awful about the "Entourage" movie.

But no one has come forward.

So I guess it will have to be me.

The worst part of the "Entourage" movie has nothing to do with its content; the problem is that everyone is watching old episodes of "Entourage."

And those old episodes remind us of a dark, dark time in men's fashion.

This was a time when the most manly thing to do with your clothes was to not care about your clothes. Gorgeous actor Vinnie Chase wanders around Los Angeles in bowling shirts and flip-flops.

His brother, Johnny Drama, consistently wears short-sleeve button-down shirts open over T-shirts. This boggles the mind. He also cannot find a pair of jeans that fit him (no one on the show really can).

On the topic of jeans, actually, this was a time when men wore jeans with embroidery on the back pocket.

As I said, dark.

The only shining light is Ari Gold, whose well-tailored suits bring a welcome breath of fresh air to season after season of men's striped "going out" shirts.

"Entourage" went off the air in 2011. Luckily, since then, men's fashion has undergone something of a revolution. The internet changed the shopping experience for men.

Instead of having to spend hours in stores, men can now shop from their phones with brands that make it clear they are trying to make the experience as simple as possible.

Just two years after "Entourage" ended, menswear sales at some contemporary websites that carried both men's and women's apparel experienced a whopping 50% jump compared with their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

"If total women's clothing sales in the US are about $120 billion, and men's are about $60 billion, does that mean that men's has a $30 billion upside if there were more fashion for them to buy?" former Joe Boxer CEO Nick Graham mused in Women's Wear Daily.

See, now that it's easier for them to look good, men are actually starting to embrace looking good.

You see it everywhere — in how men are trimming their facial hair, buying accessories, caring more about suit tailoring and shoe quality. There are digitally based, experience-focused companies for all of that now.

It is truly a beautiful sight to behold.

And "Entourage" is just a reminder of how ugly it once was.

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