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This addictive new shopping website is the Kayak of clothing brands

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Shazop

Shazop could revolutionize shopping for high-end fashion online.

It's a brand new comparison shopping site, where shoppers can select designer dresses, shoes, and handbags and from over sixty different retailers — such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, Nordstrom, and Macy's — and compare sizes and prices. The site keeps track of coupon codes for added discounts.

Founder Andrea Marron, former Vice President of Digital at Nicole Miller, came up with the idea during her tenure at Nicole Miller. She noticed that whenever the company would distribute product to retailers, the mark downs would vary tremendously. In spring 2013, she teamed up with ZocDoc developer Amit Sawat, and Shazop began to come to realization.

It's obviously in its nasceny, but Marron thinks of the website as the Kayak of online shopping.

"Way back in the day, you would go to ten different airline sites to try to find the best price on a flight," Marron said in an interview with Business Insider. "But now, it's a lot more convenient for a user to just go to Kayak to find the best flight. We want to be the one place that a consumer can go to to browse and find the best style for them and have all the information there for them on one page."

 

Shazop UI

 

Right now,Shazop sells high end brands, like Tory Burch, Elizabeth & James, and Rag & Bone. This is intentional. 

"We thought that it’s easier to brand yourself as high-end and later add the lower-end brand then to do the reverse," she said. Right now, she wants Shazop to be a "curated experience." In the coming weeks, Shazop will offer more brands, including Kate Spade, Balmain, and BCBG. Shazop will continue to add products and designers as the site grows, and Marron said that a suggestion will allow users to request brands they'd like to see on the site.

Not only is this beneficial to consumers, but Marron believes that retailers can benefit from this service, because it's "an opportunity for them. Let's say someone is browsing on Shazop for a dress and it's sold out at a retail that they had in mind ... another retailer could potentially pick up a customer by having that size in stock."

It all is rooted in a tremendous amount of data. Shazop pulls data from the websites and brings the information to the consumer easily, making it a one-stop shop for consumers.

Naturally, Shazop has accumulated tons of data and information while making the product. To capitalize on this, Shazop offers a B2B service called Ragtrades, which sells data to retailers to help them handle their pricing and buying methodologies. Marron told Business Insider that Ragtrades' most popular product is a price tracking dashboard.  

shazop ui

Marron knows that online shopping can be troublesome to many. "Finding something that fits you really well is certainly a big concern," Marron said. "And finding something that you love in your size that fits you at the right price."

But Shazop could be appealing to those who have disavowed online shopping.

Marron believes that online shopping and in-store shopping have a symbiotic relationship. In fact, it's partially the basis of Shazop.

"I really see them [in-store shopping and online shopping] as so separate; they both inform each other I’d say," she said. "If you love in-store shopping you can use something like Shazop — say you go tot the store and try something on [and use] a tool like Shazop to find the best price."

But ultimately, when it comes to in-store shopping and then going home to shop online, Marron believes that "the lines are getting blurred."

SEE ALSO: Online shopping is killing a category that retailers have been relying on for years — and now they're scrambling Kate Taylor Nov. 10, 2015, 10:51 AM 3,853

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Check out the spectacular safari camp in Tanzania that draws celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel

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Singita Grumeti, located in Tanzania, has been named the best hotel in the world several times. It gained even more recognition after Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba spent their honeymoon there.

The property, which covers 350,000 acres, adjoins with the surrounding Serengeti National Park. Each super luxe room has epic vistas, and guests can lounge by the pool and then see elephants in their natural habitat. 

There are also daily game drives with professional guides, a spa, yoga center, and tennis courts.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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The fashion choices that can make men go bald faster

Here's what could happen if you eat too much salt

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Our bodies need a certain amount of sodium to survive, and one of the most common ways we get it is in salt. About 40% of what's in your table salt is sodium.

Salt does more than just take that caramel cookie to the next level. Healthy levels of it in the body also help keep our blood pressure under control and ensure that our muscles and nerves function properly.

Each person reacts to salt differently. But generally, physicians agree that if you want to control high blood pressure, you should limit your salt intake, and not doing so can be unhealthy. Here are some of the reasons:

BI Graphic_What Happens if You Eat Too Much Salt

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: See the presidents' Christmas cards, from Coolidge to Obama

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Obama 2011 WHCards

While it may be less common these days to send a holiday greeting via snail mail, the White House has yet to let go of its nearly 90-year tradition.

Starting with Calvin Coolidge in 1927, the long-standing practice requires each sitting US President to let their staff and supporters know they wish them a happy holidays.

Who gets the cards changes from year to year, and each card is unique.

With the help of the White House Historical Association, we've pulled together 65 White House holiday cards from the past eight decades years. Happy holidays!

(An earlier version of this post was written by Christian Storm)

SEE ALSO: There's only one kid living on a remote Scottish Island, so Redditors are sending him tons of Christmas cards

Calvin Coolidge, 1927



Herbert Hoover, 1929



Herbert Hoover, 1932



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We compared Chipotle's food to another major Mexican food competitor — and the winner shocked us

Scott Wade turns dirty cars into art

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Scott Wade isn't like other artists — his canvases are dirty car windows.

His talents have earned him many nicknames, like the "Da Vinci of Dust," but he prefers the simple "The Dirty Car Artist." What Wade does is use fine brushes to turn the dust and grime on dirty cars into pieces of art, and the cars themselves into mobile art galleries. 

"When we see a dirty car, we're like 'Oh God, that's ugly, I've got to go wash it.' When you can turn that into beauty, it challenges our perceptions of what's beautiful and what's not beautiful," said Wade.

He started making art on his own cars. Now, he does commercials and art demonstrations around the world. His work has appeared on television in over 20 countries.

However, most importantly, his work brings him joy. 

"When people say, 'what's your favorite work?' I always say, 'the next one.' You're passionate about it, you get into the moment, you do it. It's just wonderful."

Story and editing by Jeremy Dreyfuss

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SEE ALSO: This incredible chandelier is made out of old bike parts

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RANKED: The top-trending people of 2015, according to Google

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Ronda Rousey

On Wednesday, Google released its list of the most searched terms of 2015.

Annually, there are about 1.2 trillion searches made on Google, and the company trawls through its data at the end of every year to come up with lists of the most popular terms.

Google's list of the top-trending people of the year refers to "the searches that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2015 as compared to 2014," according to a Google representative.

Here are the top-10 most trending people on Google in the past year:

SEE ALSO: Here's what it was like inside Yahoo's lavish Roaring 20s-themed party that reportedly cost the company millions

10. Josh Duggar

The "19 Kids and Counting" star and former conservative lobbyist apologized for his online "double life," admitting to cheating on his wife amid reports that he was a member of adultery website Ashley Madison.



9. Adele

Adele's blockbuster new album "25"was released in November, selling 2.3 million copies in its first three days, according to Nielsen, CNN reports.



8. Rachel Dolezal

Rachel Dolezal, the former head of an NAACP chapter, came under national scrutiny after saying she identified as black and suffered hate crimes because of her professed race. Critics slammed her for misrepresenting her ethnicity and identity and attempting to "pass" as black while avoiding cultural burdens.



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The insanely successful life of Uber billionaire Travis Kalanick

The 20 best-selling books of the year

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Jessica Knoll Luckiest Girl Alive

One surefire way to find a great book to read is to see which ones top the best-seller charts.

Amazon recently released its list of the 20 best-selling books of 2015, and chances are, if you haven't already read a few of these yourself, you know someone who has.

It's not too late to read — or reread — the bestsellers of the year. Keep scrolling to see which books made the list.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best books of the year, according to readers

20. "A Spool of Blue Thread" by Anne Tyler

"A Spool of Blue Thread" spans four generations of the Whitshank family — a loving group of people who share laughter, tender moments, milestones, and the challenges of growing up — but just like any other family, they also experience disappointments, heartache, jealousy, and deep-rooted secrets.

From Baltimore in the 1920s to the summer in 1959 when Abby Whitshank fell in love with Red, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyler paints an intimate picture of a flawed, but close-knit, family.

Buy the book here »



19. "The Stranger" by Harlan Coben

Adam Price is living the American Dream, with a big house, beautiful wife, great job, and two wonderful kids. Then he runs into The Stranger and learns a secret about his wife, Corinne, that could unravel everything.

No one knows who The Stranger is. He appears out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly, but not before leaving people, like Adam, in the dust. "The Stranger" is another dramatic cliffhanger from prolific suspense writer Harlan Coben.

Buy the book here »



18. "The Crossing" by Michael Connelly

Even though Harry Bosch retired from his detective job with the LAPD, the work isn't over: Bosch's half-brother is an attorney who believes his client has been framed for murder, and he need's Bosch's help now more than ever.

Bosch takes the case as a favor to his brother, but when the real killer discovers that Bosch is hot on his trail, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse ensues.

Buy the book here »



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I got a haircut from the elite New York City barber who cuts Jack Dorsey's hair — and it was incredible


The 10 best watches you can give for under $1,000 this holiday season

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shinola watch gift guide

Watches are a classic holiday gift, only slightly less common than sweaters and gift cards. But the truth of that matter is that many people aren't well-versed enough to pick out the very best watch for their money.

Let us demystify for you. We've found 10 beautiful watches under $1,000 that would make an absolutely perfect gift for any man who wants a stylish and practical piece to wear at work or about town.

By and large, these aren't watches for the watch snob — you're better off buying him a gift card.

These are watches for the average wearer, who just wants something well-designed, beautiful, and high-quality to go on his wrist.

 

SEE ALSO: 9 beautiful watches that cost $10,000 and won't become obsolete

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Timex Weekender

The Timex weekender is one of the best deals in watches. For $30, you can give him a handsome, simple watch that comes in a variety of color combinations and fits virtually any wrist.

Price: $30



Seiko 5

A step above Timex's range is Seiko. The Seiko 5 is one of the best deals in watches, period. Pictured here is the stainless steel dress version, but it also comes in a military-inspired face option as well.

Price: $71



Daniel Wellington Classic Cambridge

It won't win any awards for precise timekeeping, but the Daniel Wellington is a reasonably priced watch that's sure to impress as a gift. It looks a lot more expensive than its $90 price point and comes with an endless variety of straps and face variations.

Price:$90



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Sending humans to Mars could uncover a disturbing truth to one of life's greatest mysteries

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curiosity2

If humankind successfully lands people on the surface of Mars, we could discover an important clue about the origins of life on Earth — one of the greatest scientific mysteries in human history. 

A theory called panspermia, which dates back to the 5th century BC, posits that certain life forms can hop between planets, and even star systems, to fertilize them with life. 

Following this theory, some scientists suspect that the first life on Earth never formed on our planet at all, but instead, hitched a ride inside planetary fragments from Mars that were flung into space after a powerful impact and eventually fell to Earth. We could be the aliens!

While some write the theory off as outrageous, others think it could harbor some potential. If true, it could deeply impact how we identify ourselves as a species. 

By studying the planet's geography, atmosphere, and soil composition, planetary scientists know that billions of years ago, Mars was once a warm, wet world with conditions ideal for life.

Why a manned mission to Mars is necessary

None of the landers or satellites we've sent to the Red Planet thus far have uncovered evidence of past or present life of any kind. 

the martian It's possible that a robot simply cannot dig deep enough or collect enough of the right kind of sample. In the end, it might take a human to explore what robotic rovers cannot.

Plus, what it takes NASA's best Mars rovers a week to do, a well-equipped human could complete in 15 minutes, according to mechanical engineer and popular science communicator Bill Nye in his latest book "Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World."

"If we found microbes on Mars that are clearly related to those on Earth, such a discovery would change the course of human history ... everyone everywhere would soon come to feel differently about what it means to be a living thing in the cosmos," Nye writes. 

It won't be a surprise

This kind of discovery, however, won't come suddenly, according to Linda Billings, the consultant to NASA's Astrobiology and Near Earth Object Programs. 

Mars meteorite."As is the case with most scientific discoveries, the discovery of extraterrestrial life will likely be a prolonged process," Billings told Business Insider. "Claims of evidence of extraterrestrial life will be subjected to peer review, and other scientists will continue to look for further evidence."

One example of this prolonged process took place in the mid-90's when a team of scientists announced that they found convincing evidence for extraterrestrial life inside of a Martian meteorite — a rock that formed on Mars, were ejected into space after a powerful impact by an asteroid or comet, and eventually landed on Earth. 

To date, scientists have identified 132 Martian meteorites.

In 1996, the NASA-led team published a paper in the prestigious journal Science that they'd identified grooves and organic compounds in the "ALH8400" Martian meteorite, discovered in Antarctica, that could be fossilized evidence for extraterrestrial nanobacteria.

"The astrobiology community spent months into years investigating those claims," Billings said. "Eventually a consensus emerged in the science community that the original claim of fossil evidence of martian life did not stand up to scrutiny."

If astrobiologists do eventually discover that life came from Mars, NASA will be ready for what happens next. 

NASA explores the repercussions 

In 2011, NASA and the Library of Congress established the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Astrobiology Program, which explores the philosophical, religious, ethical, legal, and cultural impact related to the possible discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Church Christianity Religion The current chair of the program, Nathaniel Comfort, who is also a scientific historian and professor at the Institute of the History of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University, shared his thoughts with Business Insider about what the notion that we all have a little Martian in us might mean:

"It wouldn't alter the views of those who hold literal interpretations of Scripture. And the rest of evolution would follow as before," Comfort said. "The tabloids would have a field day of course. But once the headlines faded and the conferences ended, I think life would continue on much as before."

As for the people who dedicate their lives to the scientific process, Comfort said:

"Academics would debate questions of human identity afresh  ... in short, it might throw an existential monkey wrench into the works, but the principles of moral behavior would remain the same."

The probability of panspermia 

The idea that life came from Mars is a highly-debated topic. Both Comfort and Billings agree that the possibility is unlikely. 

Reef corals (genus Acropora/Isopora) are seen in the Western Indo-Pacific Ocean in this undated handout picture from Paul Muir from the Queensland Museum in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. REUTERS/Paul Muir/Queensland Museum/Handout via Reuters"It seems to me extremely unlikely that life on Earth came from Mars (or anywhere else)," Comfort said. "The logic and data I find most persuasive dismisses the idea of life coming from a 'seed' at all, whether terrestrial or not."

Yet, other scientists, like Steven Benner — who's a chemist and one of the world's leading experts on the origins of life — argue otherwise

In 2013, Benner said during a talk at the Goldschmidt conference for geochemists that Mars might have been a better place for life to begin than Earth. 

That's because ancient Martian meteorites contain more boron and molybdenum — important precursors to the formation of RNA — than early Earth. 

Moreover, Christopher Adcock and Elizabeth Hausrath, both researchers at the University of Nevada in 2013, discovered that phosphates — another important chemical in the formation of RNA, DNA, and essential proteins — in Martian meteorites are more water-soluble than those on early Earth.

And since life is suspected to have begun in the presence of water, their research suggests that Mars could have formed life more readily than Earth.

However, studying Martian meteorites for signs of life has been ongoing for over two decades without success. Perhaps the only way to know for sure if we are the true aliens is to head to Mars ourselves and dig up the potential proof.

LEARN MORE: This 1-minute animation will change your perception of life in the universe

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