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Here's the story behind the 58-letter town name in Wales that everyone is talking about

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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch railway station signDespite looking like what happens when someone falls asleep on their keyboard, Llanfairpwll-gwyngyllgogerychwyrndrob-wllllantysiliogogogoch is actually the name of a town.

Yes, it's 58 letters long, though you can also call it Llanfairpwll, or Llanfair PG for short.

The tiny town on the island of Anglesey in Wales recently made headlines when Liam Dutton, a UK weatherman, pronounced it during a live report without skipping a beat.

It is the longest town name in Europe — and second only to an 85 letter-long place in New Zealand.

The Welsh village has around 3,100 inhabitants, of which around 70% speak Welsh — a language is said to be dying out, as only around 19% of Wales residents speak the language. They probably have to, just to say where they’re from.

The tongue-twisting name actually only has 51 letters in Welsh, as "ch" and "ll" are are considered single letters in the language.

Either way, the name is pretty descriptive — it basically tells you the town's exact location, standing for Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave.

Llanfair_Church

Let's break that down:  Parish [church] of [St.] Mary (Llanfair) [in] Hollow (pwll) of the White Hazel [township] (gwyn gyll) near (go ger) the rapid whirlpool (y chwyrn drobwll) [and] the parish [church] of [St.] Tysilio (Llantysilio) with a red cave ([a]g ogo[f] goch).

Apparently, the town originally had a shorter name (and dates back to the Neolithic period; 4,000-2,000BC), but added a ton of syllables to attract tourists.

However, there's not really a whole lot to do in Llanfairpwll — which only has a few places to stay and eat — apart from gawking at the train station, which features the town's name in all its glory.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch signWhile the weatherman may have but LPG back on the map, the town is no stranger to being part of pop culture. Super Furry Animals named their debut E.P. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgoger-ychwyndrobwllantysil-iogogogochynygofod (in space), Yeasayer referenced the town in their song "Red Cave,” and it is featured in movies like Barbarella and The Road to Hong Kong.

Another fun fact: Actress Naomi Watts briefly lived their with her grandfather, and can pronounce the name of the town perfectly.

SEE ALSO: 15 cultural faux pas you should avoid making in London

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A Hawaiian treehouse with ocean views is on the market for $2.96 million

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212IuikaHighres 24 Bridge

A home that'ss basically the adult version of your childhood treehouse is on the market for $2.96 million

In 1975, architect Steve Au built this unique vertical home on the side of a hill in Kailua, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Steve's wife, Irene, spent time tending to what she calls her "personal Eden" — a garden bearing fresh fruit like avocados, papayas, and cherries. 

Now in their early 80s, the couple can no longer handle climbing four stories of stairs every day, so they decided to put their "treehouse" up for sale in October 2014. 

"This house marks a major chapter in our life," Steve told Realtor.com. "And we are willing to pass this on to whoever this is that can find value in living as we do."

Originally priced at $3.8 million, the treehouse is now listed for $2.96 million. Lynn Young Soldat of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties holds the listing.

SEE ALSO: What it's like to live off the grid, according to a couple who moved to a fire lookout in the middle of the Oregon forest

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In 1975, the couple purchased 72,500 square feet of land for $125,000. They split the cost with Steve's business partner, and the two families built separate homes side by side.



Steve was forced to design a vertical structure because of the mountain's incline. The home is made of cedar wood and is surrounded by 25 different species of trees.



The 1,220-square-foot house features an open floor plan with plenty of windows.



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The 50 best private colleges in America

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Princeton students with umbrellaFor our seventh annual ranking of the best colleges in America, we asked over 1,000 Business Insider readers to choose the colleges that best prepare their students for success after graduation.

We then combined those results with each school's average SAT score from College Board and the median starting salary from PayScale to come up with the final ranking. You can read the full methodology here.

Here, we've narrowed down our results to look at the best private colleges in the country.

SEE THE MAIN LIST: The 50 best colleges in America

SEE ALSO: The 24 best public colleges in America

50. Fordham University

Average SAT score: 1880

Median starting salary: $50,200

"The Jesuit University of New York" has two undergraduate campuses serving 8,633 students at Rose Hill in the Bronx and Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Fordham emphasizes giving and community service with over 1.2 million hours served by students in 2013. 



49. Brigham Young University

Average SAT score: 1890

Median starting salary: $51,800

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsors Brigham Young University and seeks to cultivate individuals of faith, intellect, and character. Last year, US News ranked Utah's BYU in the top 10 best-value schools. The most popular colleges where students study at BYU are Life Sciences and The School of Management. 



48. George Washington University

Average SAT score: 1950

Median starting salary: $47,700

Located in the nation's capital, GW established the world's first political communications major. This month, The Princeton Review named GW students the most politically active in the country. The most popular majors are social sciences, business and marketing, and healthcare – GW reportedly provides the second-highest number of service professionals among national universities.



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13 incredible department stores to shop at in your lifetime

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Galeries Lafayette, ParisFor some, vacations are all about new fashion and shopping. For others, it's about history and culture.

How about combining the two?

Whether you're into shopping or not, there are several glamorous and historic department stores around the world that are so famous they have become tourist attractions in their own right.

Get a taste of local style and culture at these 13 world-famous department stores. 

SEE ALSO: The 21 best trips for foodies around the world

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Lovingly known as KaDeWe, the Kaufhaus des Westens, or  "department store of the west," opened in Berlin, Germany, in 1907. Today it is still the largest department store in mainland Europe, with 645,834 square feet of sales floor and around 180,000 shoppers a day. The historic building was designed by German architect Emil Schaudt, though a lot of it was destroyed during World War II when a shot-down American bomber crashed into it. It reopened bit by bit between 1950 and 1956.

To learn more about KaDeWe, click here »



Shinsegae in Busan, South Korea, is officially the world's largest department store, spanning two buildings and 5,487,595 square feet. It's part of a massive complex that has two epic food courts, an ice skating rink, indoor golf range, a giant spa, and a rooftop garden. It's also incredibly luxurious.

To learn more about Shinsegae, click here »



The Galeries Lafayette may now be somewhat of a mini-chain with 280 stores around the world, but its stunning flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, France, will still get any fashionista's heart beating faster. Founded in 1895, the current location was specially designed for the shop, and is an incredible 10-story stained-glass and steel dome with Art Nouveau staircases and 19 restaurants. Don't miss the shop's free weekly fashion shows.

To learn more about the Galeries Lafayette, click here »



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Sports agents reveal the biggest threat to an NFL player's financial success

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The documentary series "The Agent" follows a handful of sports agents dealing with the often stressful realities of negotiating lucrative deals for their clients and navigating with the unpredictable world of the NFL. We asked two stars of "The Agent" to reveal the biggest financial challenge faced by players in the league. Both agents agreed on the same factor. 

Produced by Graham Flanagan

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The 24 best public colleges in America

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Cornell University fans

We recently released our seventh annual list of the best colleges in America, which included schools from every corner of the US.

Here, we've narrowed down our results to look at the best public schools in the country.

To determine the rankings, we asked over 1,000 Business Insider readers to choose the colleges that best prepare their students for success after graduation. We then combined those results with each school's average SAT score from the college-data website College Board and the median starting salary from the employer-information website PayScale to come up with the final ranking. You can read the full methodology here.

Please note that this list drew from our original survey on the best colleges in the US, where survey respondents chose from a limited pool of what we perceived to be the top 100 schools in the US.

Did your school make the cut this year? Read on to find out.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best colleges in America

SEE ALSO: The 48 best colleges in the Northeast

24. University of Connecticut

Average SAT score: 1885

Median starting salary: $51,700

UConn has a built-out career services office, with resources both on campus and online. The online portal features a number of internship, co-op, and full-time job opportunities with companies like Pepperidge Farm, JetBlue, Unilever, and UBS, as well as a number of resources to help students apply and place there.



23. University of California at Irvine

Average SAT score: 1740

Median starting salary: $49,300

Part of the prestigious University of California system, UCI is known for its top-rated research programs, which provide opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students alike to participate in research projects. And although it's a large school, the student to faculty ratio remains low — only 19:1 — and 50% of classes have 20 or fewer students



22. University of California at Davis

Average SAT score: 1815

Median starting salary: $50,800

UC Davis graduates enter a network of over 200,000 living alumni when they complete their degrees. While still in school, students have access to 104 major choices, preparing them for careers in everything from landscape architecture to microbiology to nutrition science.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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11 fitness 'truths' that are doing more harm than good

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workout

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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The 15 worst mistakes people make in their 20s

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woman and papers stressed

The best part about your 20s is that you can recover quickly from the inevitable mistakes you'll make as you figure out how to make it in the real world.

That said, there are some poor choices that have lasting effects, like not starting to save money, that are easily avoidable.

We've sorted through a variety of advice from entrepreneurs and writers on Quora and found recurring themes.

Here are the worst mistakes 20-somethings would be wise to avoid as they establish their professional and personal lives.

They think education and talent are enough to become successful.

High intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to have, but they do not guarantee that you will land a great job — and they mean nothing when not paired with hard work.

"I spent my 20s in corporate environments, and I remember them for working nights and weekends," says Sylvie di Giusto, founder of Executive Image Consulting. "Sweat, hassle, pain, as well as diligence, perseverance, and an enormous amount of effort and energy characterize my career at this point. I've learned that there are very little short cuts when it comes to career success. Success doesn't 'just happen.' Never."

They neglect their health.

As you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did in college.

"Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night will be hilarious to you," Meggie Sutherland Cutter writes on Quora.

And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.

Communications professor Michael Weston says 20-somethings also need to pay attention to their mental health, since any potential issues usually arise in your 20s.

They don't start saving money.

BI_Graphics_Building a million dollar retirement accountA recent survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18 to 29 had no retirement savings at all.

Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a major disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.

Entrepreneur Aditya Rathnam says there's no need to start investing too much, since you're just starting out, but it's essential to take advantage of your company's 401k matching program, if one is available, and/or open a Roth IRA account.

They equate happiness with money.

Prestige and a fat paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success than that, says Joe Choi on Quora.

You're setting yourself up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.

They give up when things get tough.

Ending a serious relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn can all seem devastating when they happen to you for the first time.

But rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.

"Getting fired and waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of the world," says Quora user Carolyn Cho. "Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the bad relationship was over."

They let others define them.

When you're starting out in your career and unsure of which direction you want to head in, you can be susceptible to letting others choose your path for you.

It's why "Shark Tank" investor Lori Greiner tells every entrepreneur she works with to never let others' opinions influence them on a personal level.

"Your success will have everything to do with how you perceive yourself, because how you perceive yourself is how others will perceive you, too," Greiner says.

They are impatient.

You don't need to be a married homeowner with a 10-year career plan by the time you're 30. Be patient and stay focused on the present.

Matisia Consultants founder and CEO Kristina Roth says when she was younger she felt like she had to achieve all of her goals as soon as possible, an anxiety-inducing mindset that was counterproductive.

"In my 20s, I learned the concept of delayed gratification and that you need to pay attention to important decision points in the tree of life, which will change your life one way or the other," she says.

They try to please everyone.

buzz words tech startupWhen you're starting out in your career, it can seem natural to want to be on friendly terms with your boss, clients, and all of your coworkers.

Rather than feeling crushed when you realize some of them simply don't like you, accept it and move on.

"Inevitably, someone will always dislike you," says Cho. "I wish I had figured this out a lot earlier and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it."

They think all friendships can last forever.

"Your college pals that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will still be there at 40; most will be living their lives doing their thing," says Sutherland Cutter.

When your friends aren't all living in the same town, you'll realize which ones mean the most to you and are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.

They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.

Traveling and living somewhere new can be culturally enriching, and your 20s are a perfect time to do both.

But, says Choi, do not think that moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.

They create bubbles around themselves.

It's important to build relationships with colleagues and others in your industry, but if you stay within the confines of a particular world, you can start to get a myopic perspective. Make an effort to branch out.

"The people you surround yourself with have a direct impact on your success and failure," says Jon Levy, founder of the Influencers. "They will affect everything from how much you exercise and what clothing you wear to how much you earn and what values you deem important. So if you want to live a life full of joy and accomplishment, you need to become masterful at building relationships with good people you respect, and letting go of relationships that have a negative impact."

They see things in black and white.

Author and investor James Altucher thinks that many people in their 20s get caught up in absolutes.

For example, some feel like they have to choose between a career path that benefits them or one that benefits others, without realizing that self-interest does not have to mean the opposite of doing good for the world.

They look for their "soul mate."couple

Some people decide to spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone. Others search for the right person to marry.

The latter group can get caught up in the fantasy of finding someone where everything just clicks and the relationship is effortless. But in real life, the most meaningful, long-term relationships require work and dedication.

"You have to continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings, explain yourself. But you know what — that's what makes it fun!" says Mitesh Jain on Quora.

They try planning years in advance.

"It's hard to predict where you'll end up and what you'll be doing," says Choi.

So avoid driving yourself crazy with five-year plans and focus on immediate goals.

They think they're the only one of their friends struggling.

As you're finding your way in the world, determining who you are as an adult and building a career, it can seem like your friends or colleagues are more successful and confident, says Sarthak Pranit on Quora.

But regardless of income, job, or living situation, every 20-something is still figuring things out as they go along — and they'll continue that process the rest of their lives.

SEE ALSO: 9 habits everyone should master before turning 30

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21 pictures that will make you want to visit Thailand

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Doi Inthanon national park

Thailand has a little bit of everything: picturesque beaches, busy cities, magnificent temples, and tranquil nature parks.

It's perfect for the traveler who wants to experience the outdoors, history, and religion all in one trip.

From stunning islands in the south to remote elephant sanctuaries in the north, here are 21 photos that will inspire you to book a trip to Thailand.

SEE ALSO: 27 pictures that will make you want to visit India

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Southern Thailand's Railay beach is its own peninsula located near Krabi province. The beach's soft white sand and shining aquamarine waters are accessible only by boat since high limestone cliffs cut off mainland access.



Bangkok's Grand Palace is still as magnificent as it was when it was first built in 1782 as the residence of the Kings of Siam. It still serves as a site for official events today, and Thailand's current monarch resides in another palace also located in the complex.



The country's southern region also has mountains, which can be seen when visiting parks such as Thale Ban National Park, located near the Banthat Mountains in the Satun province.



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Go inside a historic Soviet spy ship that just went on sale for $25.5 million

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la sultana dining area

For those looking to own a piece of history, the famous Soviet spy ship La Sultana is now for sale at an asking price of more than $25.5 million.

In addition to its sheer elegance, La Sultana boasts a fascinating past.

According to The Telegraph, the Soviet Union ostensibly enrolled La Sultana as a research ship in 1970. For the most part, however, the vessel was used to spy on the US and Britain during the Cold War. 

Originally used as a passenger ferry, La Sultana was transformed a third time in 2007, when it became a stunning private yacht.

Scroll down to see what the ship looks like on the inside.

SEE ALSO: Take a tour of millionaire magician David Copperfield's private island, which you can rent for $57,000 a night

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Originally built in 1961 in Bulgaria, the ship was used to carry passengers across the Black Sea before its conversion into a spy ship by the Soviet Union. It was purchased by La Sultana Group in 2007 and underwent renovations that turned it into an elegant oasis.



There are seven cabins that sleep 12 guests all together. All of the rooms come with distinctive windows, marble baths, and showers.



The rooms are lined with wood finishes. They also feature work by famous Moroccan artist Jilali Gharbaoui.



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Here's how much sneaker styles have changed over the last century

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Our obsession with sneakers is nothing new. Since the inception of the Chuck Taylor in 1917, sneakers have been a part of the American consciousness. 

They're now more popular — as well as more adventurous and varied — than ever before. Pop Chart Lab, a two-person collaboration between a graphic designer and a book editor, has decided to distill over 98 years of sneaker history into the 134 most important styles, all rendered in a beautiful graphic.

From 1917 until today, here's a look at how the styles of the most popular sneakers in America have evolved over time.

Greatest Sneakers

You can buy the chart on the company's web site.

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Check out millionaire magician David Copperfield's private island, which you can rent for $57,000 a night

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