Johnny Fugitt's love of barbecue goes far beyond that of your average enthusiast. 

The St. Louis native spent a year dining at 365 barbecue restaurants across 48 states. 

In his self-published book, "The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America," he details his journey and homes in on what he believes are the best 'cue joints in the country. 

The book ranks the top 25 restaurants and then explores the other 75 by region. 

Keep scrolling to see Fugitt's ranking of America's 25 best barbecue spots, from Lockhart, Texas, to Piedmont, South Dakota, and beyond.

SEE ALSO: America's 50 best new restaurants, according to Bon Appétit magazine

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25. City Butcher and Barbecue (Springfield, Missouri)

This Texas-style barbecue joint is home to both a restaurant and charcuterie. Three out of four customers order the brisket, but Fuggit says City excels in its burnt ends and sausages. Arrive early, though: The restaurant is known for selling out — sometimes before 3 p.m. 

To learn more about City Butcher and Barbecue, click here >

24. Heirloom Market BBQ (Atlanta)

Heirloom fuses American and Korean barbecue for a unique and memorable flavor profile. One of the chef/owners grew up eating barbecue in Southwest Texas and the other used to be a Korean pop star. The restaurant is sandwiched between a highway and an apartment building that made a cameo in "Catch Me If You Can."

To learn more about Heirloom Market BBQ, click here >

23. Smoque BBQ (Chicago)

Smoque BBQ bills itself as a neighborhood place. Fugitt says Smoque, home to some of the Windy City's best Austin-style brisket, is the most recognized barbecue restaurant in Chicago. By combining different barbecue styles from around the country, Smoque serves up a flavor all its own.

To learn more about Smoque BBQ, click here >

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Harvard PhD student Robert Manduca created this cool interactive map which breaks down every job in America by industry segment based on 2010 census data. One dot denotes one job. A red dot indicates a job in manufacturing and trade, a blue dot indicates a job in professional services, a green dot indicates a job in education, healthcare, and government, and a yellow dot indicates a job in retail, hospitality, and other services. 

Zoomed out it looks like a map of population density. But once you zoom in, the map reveals the economic identities of American cities. Here are how the jobs break down in various cities around the country:

New York metro area

Washington D.C.

Charlotte

Atlanta

Miami

New Orleans

Houston

 Cleveland

Detroit

Indianapolis

Chicago

St. Louis

Minneapolis

Denver

Phoenix

Los Angeles

Las Vegas

Silicon Valley

Seattle

SEE ALSO: Here's how far a $15 minimum wage would go in every part of the country

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You want to get your suit tailored.

You've got the suit, and it fits.

You've found a tailor.

You've made an appointment.

So what's the first thing you say to your tailor when you walk in?

"Communicating effectively with a tailor can prove to be quite difficult when you literally and figuratively do not speak the same language," said stylist Jessica Cadmus, founder of The Wardrobe Whisperer.

Her company coordinates closets for high-powered executives and other professionals.

"It's helpful to know exactly what you want before discussing any desired alterations," she continued. "It's also helpful to internalize a few buzz words that any tailor should know — even those that don't speak fluent English."

In other words, you need to learn tailor lingo. We've listed a few terms in bold in their proper context below. Learn them, use them, love them.

1. The first thing to do is check out the body of the suit on the hanger. If it hangs like a sack you should tell your tailor it needs to be shaped. Cadmus said: "This is most effectively done through the two darts that appear on the back of the jacket.  Have your tailor show you where he will take it in. If he points to the center seam versus the aforementioned darts, find another tailor."
   
2. If you want your suit to look custom without spending a ton of money, tell your tailor you want the bottom on each sleeve jacket functioning, and then leave those buttons open. "Take it a step further and have the tailor use thread in a bright or contrasting color (like cobalt or red) to trim the bottom functioning buttons. These are details commonly associated with bespoke suiting," said Cadmus.
3. Oh, and a non-lingo thing on the sleeves — you want 1/4"- 1/2" of shirt cuff to show. Sometimes the tailor will take this from the shoulder but it's best if they take it from the bottom of the sleeve. It is okay to have the tailor remove a sleeve button to do this as long as you have at least three buttons left.
4. If you want to play with the waist of your suit pants, you should know you have about 2" to play with. You can have them let out or taken in. "Taking them in may effect the seat of the pants in which case you may notice your tailor drawing a V shape in tailor's chalk down the middle of the seat," said Cadmus. "This just means he's going to ease the fabric in so that the lines of the pant remain original looking."
5. Now for one of the most crucial parts of the tailoring experience, the hem of the pants. This has to be done right. Be sure to wear your favorite dress shoes and a matching belt (you should wear one unless your pants have a tab front) as your tailor is measuring. "Ask for little to no break.  This is current for pant length," says Cadmus. "This will allow the fabric to fall nicely over your shoe but the fabric in the front of the pants will not cascade."

Got it? Go into a tailor's shop with this vocabulary in your arsenal and you should be good to go.

Maybe bookmark this page before you go.

SEE ALSO: If you buy a suit off the rack, there's really only one part that MUST fit perfectly

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A new furniture startup is aiming to be an even cheaper alternative to Ikea. 

The company, called Greycork, makes sofas ($450), chaise lounges ($300), side tables ($75), coffee tables, ($125), and bookshelves ($200). Each piece of furniture is shipped to customers in a medium-sized box and can be assembled in under four minutes without the use of any tools.

The furniture, made of solid ash wood — the same material used in baseball bats — fiberboard, and metal, will last 20 years to 40 years, according to Greycork CEO John Humphrey.

The pieces have a minimalist design similar to Ikea. Here's the sofa and chaise lounge:

Greycork launched on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo on Sunday.

Humphrey, who grew up working in his family's factory, said he founded Greycork to give young, mobile millennials an easier and cheaper option over Ikea. 

"Our target audience is moving around every couple years, so we didn't want to create furniture that was disposable — we wanted it to be able to withstand five or so moves at least," Humphrey told Business Insider. 

The company compares its living room set to similar items in Ikea's Kivik and Hemnes series, which according to Greycork's calculations, would cost $1,380 and take three hours to assemble. Greycork's living room set costs $1,130 and 20 minutes to assemble, by comparison. 

Customers who are wary of buying furniture online can visit the company's showroom in Providence, Rhode Island.

They can even reserve one night's stay in the showroom through AirBnb, or tour the company's Massachusetts factory, courtesy of Greycork. 

Greycork keeps its costs low by reducing the amount of components in each piece of furniture, Humphrey said. 

The company is planning to expand its collection beyond the living room, but Humphrey wouldn't say which room Greycork is planning to tackle next. 

SEE ALSO: The world's largest retailer is tired of losing to Amazon in one area

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Ikea Says Its New Furniture Takes Only 5 Minutes To Assemble — Here's The Truth

When Converse revealed the redesign of its All Star II, some were confused.

Why release a sneaker that looks basically the same as the original All Star? And based on that, why charge up to $25 more for it? 

Well, the reviews are in, and the beauty of the updated sneaker is much more than meets the eye. 

GQ called it "a legitimate game-changer for fans of the sneaker everywhere," praising how Converse preserved the classic shoe's aesthetic.

The magazine also noted that it now "looks more fit for 2015," thanks to the color-matching metal eyelets and stitched-on logo patch.

But the sneaker's biggest changes aren't as visible to the naked eye. As Style.com's Steff Yotka points out, "Aside from its silhouette, it’s a completely different sneaker entirely." 

The biggest difference Yotka found was that the previously thin canvas has been replaced with Tencel canvas, which is not only harder to rip, but also provides a stiff shape to the "formerly flimsy" All Star.

However, the stiffer canvas has its downside. Yotka notes that the redesigned high-top's unrelenting fabric was none too kind to the backs of her ankles. Once broken in, though, they "fit like a glove." 

The other major change that distances the new model from its 20th century counterpart is its comfort-focused design. The original All Star was widely considered as one of the most uncomfortable shoes around. A Lunarlon foam liner (technology borrowed from parent company Nike), a foam-padded collar and tongue, and micro-suede lining are among the shoe's improvements.

Ben Barna of Nylon.com says this foam liner "makes all the difference" and that the shoe "doesn’t feel like a Chuck Taylor" — which, in this case, is a positive thing.

Overall, if the brand's goal was to preserve the original silhouette while creating a slightly better looking, tougher, more comfortable All Star, then the critics agree that they've succeeded. 

SEE ALSO: The surprising reason why Converse All Stars have fuzzy bottoms

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There is only one pedestrian bridge that connects Manhattan with The Bronx.

The High Bridge, which has been a fixture in the city for over a century and a half, was completed in 1848. It was built before the Brooklyn Bridge, which went up in 1883, and the George Washington Bridge, which was completed in 1931.

It also played an role in bringing fresh water into the city.

But for more than 40 years, the High Bridge was closed to pedestrians.

In June, the High Bridge reopened after years of political wrangling and construction. It now connects the two boroughs, letting walkers and cyclists stroll over the Harlem River. 

We trekked to the top of Manhattan to see this piece of new York history.

SEE ALSO: We used New York City's 47 bridges to solve an 18th Century math puzzle

The High Bridge was completed a little more than a decade after construction started in 1837. It was done by 1848, and the walkway itself was finished in 1864. The design echoed a Roman aqueduct.

The bridge played an integral role in the modernization of New York City's water supply. It was an early part of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which was built to carry water from Westchester's Croton River into Manhattan.

It soon became a popular spot for tourists, artists, and photographers. Local attractions sprung up nearby. At the time, the northern reaches of the city were still considered the country, and the bridge could be reached by ferry. “They came by the thousands on Sundays,” Sidney Hornstein, a geologist and historian, told The New York Times.

Source: The New York Times & NYC Parks

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An online store is taking charitable giving to the next level.

For every Just Porter backpack you buy, the company gives one filled with school supplies to a child in need.

And there's more.

Instead of giving a filled backpack to the child, Just Porter oversees local manufacturing of the bags and buys the school supplies locally.

The idea for the venture came to founder Chris Bahr in 2006, when he was doing humanitarian work with a medical group in the Philippines. Having no medical background, Bahr found other ways to help.

Walking past a school in a poor condition one day, Bahr decided to go to the local market to buy school supplies for the pupils. When he saw how happy the children were to recieve them, he knew he had to do more.

“I noticed companies like Toms shoes and Warby Parker were combining a charitable giving with commerce,” Bahr told Business Insider in an email, adding that he also realized donations were really just a short term solution.

“Because of my background in economics and finance, I knew that the one-for-one model could be done better and have a lasting impact if developed the right way.”

He named this new way of helping children and the communities they live in, Giving 2.0.

“There are two forms of giving. The first is straight charitable. It tends to be a handout with the best of intentions. The second is philanthropic. That type of giving is usually attached to a vision and an action plan,” Bahr said.

Charitable giving can have weaknesses, as it often creates negative consequences for the communities. The donations, Bahr found, eventually hurt the economy as local businesses go out of business because they can't compete with the free handouts. 

So Bahr thought of a way to still help the children but also invest in the community.

“Now, all giving is great. But, not all giving is equally responsible or equally beneficial. And that is why I created Giving 2.0,” he said. “Giving 2.0 is geared towards helping create jobs, engaging the community and helping develop solutions.”   

After a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised pledges of over $56,000 with just a $40,000 goal, Just Porter launched in November 2014.

The company — a combination of “justice” and "porter," the French verb for carry — works with local suppliers to manufacture the bags.

“The fabrics, zippers and even labels are made or bought in the community in which we are giving.  We have found local manufacturers that can make the 'give' backpacks,” Bahr said.

The resulting investment in the community helps create jobs and keeping the local economy afloat while helping children in need. Every bag is also made specifically according to the grade of the child recieving it and filled with supplies local teachers said would benefit them most.

Bahr chose to sell backpacks specifically because of their versatility. 

"First, backpacks are incredible. They’re like a portable micro version of your home. Everyone has one or has owned one. They’re used everywhere,” he said. B

ut Bahr also mentioned that he was never happy with the backpacks on the market and felt he had to choose between design, quality, and price. In his search to discover why that seemed to be the case, he found out that 80% of all backpacks are manufactured by the same two companies.

“It’s essentially a duopoly between VF Corporation and Camelbak. These are two companies that are publicly traded or owned by private equity. In my opinion, quality and innovation are sacrificed to produce the highest profit margin,” Bahr said. “We believe that you can make something excellent that people love.”

The backpacks Just Porter sells are produced in the Philippines by a manufacturer that pays a fair wage to their employees, Bahr claims.

“That was a huge factor in who and why we choose our manufacturers,” he said.

The company hires people in the countries that receive the backpacks to monitor the manufacturing process, which follows a strict procedure to ensure a lasting effect. Just Porter also tries to engage local politicians in the process and work closely with schools and businesses.

“It’s a really dynamic process and takes a lot of effort to execute. A small example: people need to be hired to separate the school supplies and place them in the bags before the student receive them. People can’t imagine how much time, energy, and resources goes into that small part that is easily overlooked,” Bahr said.

As of now all the “give” backpacks still go to the Philippines, but as Bahr refines the Giving 2.0 model, Just Porter may expand to India, Africa, and some countries in South America.

Bahr is very enthusiastic when it comes to the future of Just Porter and said the company has already been able to help thousands of children.

“We believe that people have the ability to carry justice and equality with them anywhere,” he said. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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Who are the most eligible singles working in finance? What about media?

Hinge, a popular dating app that introduces users to friends of friends, says it knows. The app has put together a list of the hottest bachelor and bachelorettes in each of nine major industries.

Hinge works by displaying the profiles of single people in your city. If you like someone's profile, swipe right; if you're not interested, swipe left. But unlike location-based dating apps like Tinder, Hinge shows you only second- and third-degree Facebook connections. These are people you might have heard of, even if you're never met.

If you want to see who's doing Hinge right in your field, you can skip to each individual industry by clicking the links below:

• Finance & Consulting
• Media & Entertainment
• Retail & CPG
• Health & Wellness
• Nonprofit & Education
• Startup & Small Business
• Marketing & Business Development
• Policy & Law
• Technology

SEE ALSO: 30 universities where the alumni have both brains and beauty

Finance & Consulting

30. George Van Wormer

Work: Business Analyst at Netchex

Education: BA, Loyola University

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Current Hinge city: New Orleans

Influence: 161 friends on Hinge

29. Rohin Bhasin

Work: BCG Digital Ventures Senior Manager, Product Innovation and New Ventures

Education: BS, University of Southern California; MBA, UCLA Anderson School of Management

Hometown: Santa Monica, CA

Current Hinge city:Los Angeles

Influence: 157 friends on Hinge

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In the public eye, guys can't hide their fashion and grooming missteps. Captured by photographers and torn apart by magazine editors, it's plain to see. 

Ed Helms, of the "The Office," "The Hangover," and "The Daily Show" fame, is one such guy, but his story is a bit different. Seemingly indifferent to fashion for years, he's recently turned his style life around.

Take a look at some of the mistakes he was making back in 2011:

Mismatched colors: Who told him these colors go together?  

Grown-out hairstyle: Helms looks like he hasn't had a cut in a while, and his hair has no particular style to it.

Out-of-fashion sweater: No one wears argyle sweaters anymore. No one.

Jacket sleeves too long: The sleeve of your jacket shouldn't touch your palm, much less engulf it. Helms needed to get this jacket tailored.

Pre-washed denim: Dark-washed denim would have served Helms much better here.

Dirty/clunky boots: While this setting isn't exactly the red carpet, it isn't the woods of Maine, either. If you're going to be photographed, leave the work boots on the farm. 

Ill-fitting jeans: There's no mincing words here: Helms' denim does not fit properly. It's both too long and too wide. He would have been better served by a slimmer-fitting cut of jean in a higher inseam.

Now check out all the things he's doing right in 2015:

Trendy fade haircut: Helms' fade haircut is one of the trendiest styles today. He's also clearly got some product in his hair, lending an effortless, slicked-back look.

Trendy suit color: More interesting than navy yet not quiet as adventurous as cobalt, Helms' suit color lies somewhere in between. It's the perfect choice for an informal event, such as Jon Stewart's going away party.

Spread collar & notched lapels: Helms is aware that most guys are choosing spread collars and notched lapels these days, and it frames his face perfectly.

Shirt cuff showing: Ditching the absurdly long sleeves of 2011, Helms is showing a bit of shirt cuff — the mark of a properly fitted, well-tailored jacket.

Good tie length: The perfect tie length hits halfway down your front pants button. Helms has got this style rule down pat.

No belt: For today's man, belts are optional. After all, if you need a belt to hold up your pants, they don't really fit you. Wearing no belt is a choice, and it's one that Helms pulls off flawlessly.

Great fit: Helms has come a long way since his terrible denim days. His suit in this photo fits impeccably. 

SEE ALSO: 7 outdated men's style 'rules' that you don't always have to follow

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For better or worse, humans are trading in grass and farms for concrete and skyscrapers.

Nearly 80% of people in developed countries live in urban areas, and why not? City life is chock-full of opportunities you could never find in the suburbs or countryside, part of the reason that 250 million people are moving into Chinese cities alone. 

But as a city grows, so does its dependence on things like buses and high-speed rail — making for rush hours that will make you grateful for your relatively sane commute.

Located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the village of Khurja frequently sees commuters and students alike piling onto passenger buses.

In Bangladesh, people are getting wealthier faster than the country can expand its infrastructure. The government in Dhaka, the capital city, plans to begin construction on a rapid transit system by 2019.

While heavily trafficked during the day, Bogota's Transmilenio bus system is seldom used at night. Recently, the capital city was judged to have the most unsafe public transit system out of 15 other capitals and New York.

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Sending racy texts to love interests or significant others has become an integral part of 21st century dating culture.

The concept is called “sexting,” and as it turns out, it’s not just used by hormone-charged teenagers: more than 80% of adults do it too.

To see just how integral it’s become, psychologists at Drexel University surveyed 870 heterosexual men and women (a little more than half of participants were women, the findings noted) aged 18 to 82 about their experiences with sexting.

In findings presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention, the researchers reported that 88% of those surveyed said they had at some point in their lives received a sexually explicit message on their cell or smart phones, while 82% had done so in at least the past year.

And most of the people in relationships found it a positive experience for their sex lives. The more people sexted, the researchers found, the more sexually satisfied a couple tended to be, regardless of how long they'd been together.

However, sexting appeared to have a more nuanced link with how satisfied couples said they were with the relationship overall — for couples who said they were not in "very committed" relationships, sexting appeared to play a positive role: the more they sexted, the happier they were. Yet in couples who said they were in "very committed" relationships, sexting didn't play much of a role at all.

While three-quarters of those sexting did it from the comfort of their own homes, close to 30% said they sexted from the office or while they were more ambiguously "out and about."

But there's another variable the researchers didn't account for: Photos. “Not all sexting is equal. Like most types of communication, content and intent matter,” doctoral candidate Emily Stasko, who was one of the psychologists conducting the study, told Gizmodo.

We'll keep an eye out for further research.

RELATED: Science says couples in lasting relationships typically wait this long to start having sex

UP NEXT: Scientists discovered that having more sex won't make you happier, but that's not the most surprising part

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New York City's Financial District is the nation's economic hub, so naturally it has a robust and classy bar scene. 

Based on Yelp reviews, a consensus from FiDi locals, and our own experiences, we've found the 15 best places to grab a drink in the area. From the Full Shilling on Pearl Street to Beckett's on Stone Street, keep scrolling to see what's on tap at the neighborhood's most popular (and historic) watering holes. 

Frank Pallotta contributed to an earlier version of this post. 

SEE ALSO: The best steakhouses in all 50 states

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Stone Street Tavern

With a low-key vibe and refreshing drinks, the Stone Street Tavern is a laid-back locale in the middle of the bustling Financial District. 

Since Stone Street is closed to traffic, enjoy a drink outdoors while people watching — or go for brunch. 52 Stone St.

Beckett's Bar and Grill

Located in a 1603 building that used to house New York City's first printing press, Beckett's combines old-school style and new-school drinking with two floors and plenty of TVs.

From March to the end of November, Beckett's transforms into one of the best outdoor bars in the city by putting out benches and tables right on Stone Street. 48 Stone St.

Fraunces Tavern

Built in 1719, Fraunces Tavern is one of the oldest bars in the country.

George Washington frequented the iconic tavern, and today it continues to draw in patrons to its Porterhouse Bar with its cool history and large beer selection. 

If beer is not your flavor, the tavern's Dingle Whiskey Bar has many fine whiskeys and liquors. 54 Pearl St.

Whether you want to tone up, slim down, or give yourself a mood boost, you've likely taken a stab at tweaking your fitness routine.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of "fitness" advice out there that won't help you meet your goals and could actually be doing you more harm than good.

For example, which matters more for weight loss: exercise or diet?

Are marathons the best way to get fit?

The answers to these questions might surprise you.

Have some we missed? Send them along to science(at)businessinsider.com.

UP NEXT: Here's the best time of day to work out to lose weight

RELATED: We talked to an exercise scientist about whether diet or exercise is more important for weight loss, and his answer surprised us

Exercise is all that matters when it comes to losing weight fast.

Wrong. 

In the short-term, the bulk of research shows us that diet is far more important than simply upping your workout regimen if you want to start shedding pounds.

"Studies tend to show that in terms of weight loss, diet plays a much bigger role than exercise," Philip Stanforth, an exercise scientist at the University of Texas and the executive director of the Fitness Institute of Texas, told us.

Over the long-term, though, research suggests that regular workouts do become more important for staying fit. "When you look at people who've lost weight and are also managing to keep it off, exercise is important," said Stanforth.

Weight training will turn fat into muscle.

Nope. Lifting weights won't magically make your flab lean. Unfortunately, body fat cannot become muscle. But weight training will help you build muscle tissue, which will thicken underneath any fat above it.

Early morning is the only time you should work out.

The afternoons or evenings are likely nearly as good for you as early-morning workouts, according to several studies.

But some research suggests that working out first thing each dayhelps speed weight loss and boost energy levels by priming the body for an all-day fat burn.

Plus, getting more daylight may play an important role in shedding pounds. By making sure we align our internal clocks, or circadian rhythms, with the natural world, we may help give our metabolisms a boost. One recent study showed that people who basked in bright sunlight within two hours after waking tended to be thinner and better able to manage their weight than people who didn't get any natural light, regardless of what they ate throughout the day.

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Nature has helped produce stunning wonders around the world. 

Some of these natural phenomena are so bizarre that it can be tough to believe they exist, but the breathtaking and eerie wonders reveal nature's immense power.

From a bright pink lake in Australia to the Northern Lights, here are some of the world's most fascinating natural marvels.

SEE ALSO: 20 gorgeous natural wonders around the world

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In Morocco, goats climb up argan trees in order to eat their fruit. The site is not uncommon to locals, but travelers are often shocked to see the bizarre phenomenon.

Source: Lonely Planet

Grüner See (Green Lake), located below Austria’s Hochschwab mountains near the town of Tragoess, seems like just another lake at first glance…

Source: Huffington Post

But what’s fascinating is that in the winter, it is only three to six feet deep and is surrounded by parkland. In the summer, snow from the mountains melts and increases the depth of the lake to 40 feet, with the surrounding parkland becoming completely submerged.

Source: Huffington Post, Daily Mail

Read more about Green Lake »

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With real estate's rental market on fire and companies like Luxury Retreats (Airbnb for mansions) cropping up, billionaires on the hunt for a summer or vacation rental are spoiled for choice. 

For a glimpse at the luxury rentals at the top of the market, RentCafe.com has curated a list of the most expensive rental homes across the US. Properties range from the presidential suite of an iconic hotel to a beachfront mansion in Malibu, California.

Keep scrolling to see what up to $750,000 per month gets you at some of America's most exclusive rental mansions. 

SEE ALSO: http://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-rentals-2015-4

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10. 2507 Foxhall Road, Northwest, Washington D.C. ($27,500 per month)

Available September 1st, this five-level D.C. mansion boasts eight bedrooms, seven full baths, and four partial baths. It comes equipped with a catering and gourmet kitchen, a pool and sauna, and a modern media room for entertaining.

See the listing for more photos and information

9. 6347 East Royal Palm Road, Paradise Valley, Arizona ($40,000 per month)

Sitting on approximately 1.8 acres of land, this Mediterranean estate resembles a five-star resort. Among the home's highlights are Swarovski crystal doorknobs, a 3,000-square-foot master suite (with a makeup room, massage room, and gym), two libraries, a tennis court, and a luxurious outdoor living area with mountain views. 

According to the listing, the property can be purchased for $7.295 million. 

See the listing for more photos and information

8. 973 Sheridan Road, Winnetka, Illinois ($40,000 per month)

Renowned international architect John Scholz built this Mediterranean-inspired lakefront estate for Chicago philanthropists Ann and Robert Lurie. The 14,670-square-foot home features a rustic wine cellar, 10 bedrooms, a gym and tennis court, and tranquil views of the lake. 

See the listing for more photos and information

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America might be all about bigger being better, but for Dubai it's all about decadence.

And while many know that the aptly-named City of Gold is awash in opulence, said opulence is so extreme it's often hard to fathom.

We've found 17 things that prove just how decadent Dubai is.

1. Dubai's police drive $1.79 million super cars

Dubai's police force drives cars most people can only dream of, like the Aston Martin One-77, which costs around $1.79 million, the Ferrari FF, which costs a cool half million, and the Lamborghini Aventador for approximately $397,000. Those cars cost more than you'll spend sending your kid to college.

2. It's home to the "World's Most Luxurious Hotel"

The Burj Al Arab is often referred to as the world's only 7-star hotel, and calls itself the "World's Most Luxurious Hotel." With 202 obscenely luxurious duplex suites, guest amenities like 24-carat gold iPads and private butlers, a helipad, four pools, and airport transfers in a Rolls Royce or helicopter, it's not an overstatement. 

3. The hotel is dripping in gold

Living up to Dubai's nickname of the City of Gold, the Burj Al Arab is decorated with approximately 19,267 square feet of 24-carat gold leaf.

It even offers 24-carat gold plated iPads (as well as iPhones and BlackBerrys) to hotel guests to use free of charge. They are also for sale in the hotel's boutique for around $10,000. 

4. One night in a Dubai hotel suite costs more than most people's annual rent

Suites like the Royal Suite at the Burj Al Arab and the Royal Bridge Suite at Atlantis the Palm easily cost between $23,000 and $35,000 a night. 

A night in the "cheapest" one bedroom suite at the Burj Al Arab will set you back at least a cool $1,360 (more than $2,000 depending on the season) — a steal compared to the around $20,000+ a night for its most opulent suite, the Royal Suite. 

5. Brunch comes with butler service and endless bottles of super expensive champagne

Champagne brunch in Dubai is the real deal. Despite being a Muslim state, on Fridays and Saturdays in Dubai, most hotels have decadent brunches with endlessly flowing high-end champagne — Moët, Bollinger, Laurent Perrier — alongside abundant buffets full of lobster and caviar.

The most decadent brunch is at The Royale Brunch at Imperium, part of the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, which costs $680 per person. You'll be handed your very own bottle of Dom Perignon (which usually costs about $200 a bottle), as well as a private butler.

At the Madinat Jumeirah, however, you'll be handed a map, as Friday brunch is spread over three restaurants and 37 cooking stations, covering the entire ground floor of the Al Qasr hotel. Brunch here, with free-flowing Moet, will set you back around $200 a head. 

6. The city boasts the tallest building in the world — which in turn boasts four world records

Dubai is also home to the world's tallest building. The Burj Khalifa is 2,722 feet tall (to put it into perspective, the Empire State is less than half that, at a diminutive 1,250 feet sans antenna), and boasts 160 floors. Its observation deck sits at 1,821 feet, and is the highest observation deck in the world, giving the building its fourth Guinness World Record, along with the world's tallest building, tallest man-made structure, and highest restaurant.

7. It's also building the biggest airport in the world

Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport is undergoing a massive $32 billion expansion that will make it the world's largest airport, at a whopping 54 square miles.  The mini city is expected to be able to handle more than 120 million passengers a year once completed in six to eight years. 

8. Dubai created its own islands with insane beachfront properties

Only in Dubai could someone decide to simply build a bunch of islands, and then import enough sand to fill the Empire State Building 2.5 times — and that's just the Palm Islands (on the left). Billed as the "8th Wonder of the World," it is the world's largest man-made island, cost $12.3 billion to build, and is made of 3.3 billion cubic feet of sand. 

Even more outrageous is The World, an archipelago of islands that literally forms a map of the world, allowing the insanely rich to "buy a country." 

9. It's home to the world's largest shopping mall

With a total area of 5.9 million square feet, the Dubai Mall is the world's biggest. It has more than 1,200 stores, a 22-screen movie theater with 2,800 seats, a copy of London's famous Regent Street, a giant aquarium, as well as an Olympic-sized ice skating rink. It is also one of the world's most-visited shopping destinations, having attracted a record 80 million visitors in 2014.  

10. But it's building an even bigger mall

Why have the world's biggest mall when you can have the world's two biggest malls? Since there's no competition quite like competing with oneself, Dubai announced last year that it is building a huge temperature-controlled "city" of a shopping complex, said to house eight million-square-feet of retail space once completed. Called the "Mall of The World," the entire project will be 48 million square feet in size, and include approximately 100 hotels, a theme park, and medical tourism facilities.

11. It created a winter wonderland and a full indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert

Again, Dubai decided to make the impossible possible by building a ski resort in the desert. Ski Dubai inside the Mall of the Emirates has five runs, the longest one being a respectable 1,300 feet, and a freestyle area with jumps and rails. But it obviously doesn't end there, as they've created a veritable winter wonderland complete with live penguins, tobogganing, and ice sculptures.

12. It's also planning to build more insane developments underwater

Maybe winning above-sea level superlatives was becoming too easy, but Dubai has its sights set on developing what's under water. While it already has underwater hotel rooms, it has plans to build an entire hotel below the sea. The Water Discus Hotel, designed by Ocean Technology, would consist of two sets of discs, one above and one below the ocean, the underwater one containing 21 hotel rooms, as well as an underwater dive center and bar. Also, plans for an underwater tennis court recently surfaced.

13. Its horse races feature multi-million dollar prizes

Nothing in Dubai is half baked, and thus the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, attracts racers the world over to compete for the grand prize of almost $10 million — and the day's nine races total a prize money of $30 million. 

14. Spa treatments involve 24-carat gold and other precious metals

For only $540, extreme skin restoration can be yours. The "La Prairie Platinum Rare" facial at Jumeirah's Zabeel Saray spa features infusions of pure platinum said to restore your skin's balance.

And if gold is your precious metal of choice, the Raffles Dubai hotel offers a $500 "Egyptian Gold" facial, which involves 24-carats of gold sheets placed over your face that promise ultimate skin rejuvenation. 

15. There's an $817 scoop of ice cream

Scoopi Cafe in Dubai has an ice cream called "Black Diamond," which is made with Italian truffles, Iranian saffron, and 23 carats of edible gold. It costs $817 a scoop.

16. There are $1,000 cupcakes

Bloomsbury's Golden Phoenix cupcake is one of the world's most expensive sweets, clocking in at $1,000. Each cupcake is made with Italian chocolate, Ugandan vanilla beans, and strawberries dipped in 23-carats of edible gold. 

17. And there are cocktails made with diamonds that cost thousands of dollars

The Skyview Bar of the Burj Al Arab hotel sells an equally costly drink. Costing a whopping $1,347 per glass, the "Diamonds are forever" cocktail is made with L’Héraud Vintage Grande Champagne 1906 Cognac, as well as Comtes de Mazeray Brut gold flake champagne. Oh, and it comes in a Swarovski cocktail glass made with a diamond-filled stem, which you get to keep. However, the most expensive drink on the menu is The Birth of an Icon, which is basically a daiquiri made with St. Lucia Distillers Nine Cask Founders Rum, aged Cointreau, and dehydrated gold dust that costs an inexplicable $4,083 per glass. 

SEE ALSO: 16 things Europeans find strange about America

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Fades are in. Walk down the street, pick up a magazine, turn on your TV — the close-cropped style can be seen on stylish gents everywhere.

But not all fades are created equal. In fact, there's a fade for nearly everyone and almost every head. It all comes down to how strong the taper of the fade is, and where the fade's line lies on the sides and back of your head.

Hairstyleonpoint.com has created a handy graphic that outlines the six most popular fade styles.

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At 44 years old, Nicole Jackson says she has bigger concerns than the six-figure student loan debt that has shadowed her for the last 20 years.

Jackson, a Miami, Fla.-based family law attorney, gave up on ever paying off her $186,000 federal student loan balance years ago. At $1,600 per month, her monthly loan payments eclipsed her $1,200/month mortgage and she and her husband are raising three teenage daughters. 

"The way I see it, I'm already screwed," Jackson told us. "I'd rather make sure my kids are OK. Unless I start making significantly more money [my situation] is not gonna change."

With the nation struggling under a $1 trillion student debt crisis, stories like Jackson's are nothing uncommon. For the first time ever, the national student loan default rate exceeds the credit card delinquency rate, and so long as student loans remain one of the few types of debt that can't be discharged in bankruptcy, chances are the situation won't improve any time soon. 

At the beginning of her story, Jackson, a native New Yorker, was one of the lucky ones. Her father, a doctor, paid for a year of her undergraduate studies, leaving her free to dodge student loans for a while. And with a well-paying job at a Manhattan law firm, she had more than enough funds to finance the rest of her undergraduate studies. 

But when Jackson decided to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney at the University of Miami, it became impossible to avoid taking on debt.

"My intention was to go back to work after my first year of law school," she said. "[But] I did so poorly that I didn't think I could [keep a job at the same time]. So that’s when I started borrowing money."

It was a costly decision. Jackson took out about $26,000 in federal loans for each year of law school and then another $20,000 in private loans to keep afloat while she studied for the bar exam.

She graduated in 1994 with more than $100,000 of debt. Within three years, she had one daughter, a surprise set of twins, and was earning less than $50,000 per year.

"It’s always been a struggle," she said. "I worked for the state of Florida most of my [career] and the most I was making was $50,000/year. With three kids, it wasn’t enough money."

So she, like many other borrowers, bought as much time as she could, starting by consolidating her federal student loans. Since she worked for the state, she was able to defer payments and declare financial hardship as well –– whatever it took to keep from defaulting.  

"[My debt] is not going anywhere because I do not make enough money, not because I have just ignored it," she said. 

"My debt is not going anywhere because I do not make enough money, not because I have just ignored it." 

Meanwhile, her federal loans ballooned. With an 8% interest rate, they appreciated even after she consolidated, growing from a principal balance of about $80,000 in 1994 to $186,000 today. Other than her home and a car payment, it's the only debt she carries to this day. 

Eventually, her debt drove her back to New York, where she moved her family and took a lucrative job at a Manhattan law firm. She was finally able to start making federal loan payments, but the move took a toll on her family life.

"I was making six figures, working 13/14 hour days, and my kids were sad because I wasn’t around," she said. "I wanted the money but I didn't want my kids to be miserable. They were babies." 

After two years, they packed up and headed back to Miami, where Jackson continued plugging away on whatever legal cases came her way. Exhausted with state work, she started her own firm in 2008 with the hope that she'd earn more and could finally begin chipping away at her loans. 

Last year, she was able to enroll in an income-based repayment plan for her federal loan, a perk that private lenders don't offer. Her monthly payments were reduced to $74, though the prospect of paying $74/month on a $186,000 debt hasn't exactly made the burden seem any lighter. 

For now, she has her eyes on her future –– namely, her daughters' futures. Her eldest will be in college in 2015, and Jackson devoted her savings to establish a prepaid college savings plan for all three of her kids. 

"I’ve stressed to my daughter the importance of not borrowing any money. If she doesn't get a scholarship or there’s money that needs to be found somewhere, I’ll borrow it myself and I'll deal with it before I let her," she said. "I don't want my kids going into life with this over their heads."

SEE ALSO: The Stunning Fall of Generation X >

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The most incredible meteor shower of the year, Perseids, is happening this week.

Meteor showers are nature's nocturnal entertainment. During large showers, like the Perseids and Geminids, you can see as many as a hundred meteors an hour. But what even is a meteor? What causes these stunning showers to occur every year?

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