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There's a waterfall in New Zealand that's filled with 1000s of baby seals

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There are thousands of baby seal pups at play at the Ohau Point Seal Colony, a waterfall in New Zealand. Visitors can walk a short trail to observe the frolicking pups, who are waiting for their parents to return from sea with food.

Written by Chloe Miller and produced by Alana Yzola

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I spent 10 days riding a motorbike through the mountains of Vietnam, and it was the greatest adventure of my life

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Vietnam

Back in 2008, I spent a summer abroad in China as part of my grad school studies. When my studies concluded, I had the chance to travel around Southeast Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

And while the entire summer was amazing, nothing was quite like the motorbike trip I took over my last 10 days in Asia. Here's what it's like to experience Offroad Vietnam

SEE ALSO: 5 maps that explain China's strategy

The trip began in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, and spanned the mountainous Northwest region of the country. The estimated location of the trip is highlighted by the red square on the map.



I had never been on a motorcycle before, and had just one hour to learn the day before we left. Having never driven manual transmission before, I ended up with this scooter. It was less powerful so I struggled climbing mountains, but was faster on the straightaways.



We arrived at the the Offroad Vietnam office at about 7am to load up the bikes. When we finally left, it was rush hour in Hanoi. This picture doesn't even show how crazy and chaotic the streets are. There are motorbikes everywhere.



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There's a better way to fight off morning breath

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Man Holding Breath

Step away from the mouth wash. 

In the near future, the source of our stinky morning breath could be the thing that helps us beat it.

Our body is filled with trillions of microorganisms, some of which hang out in our nice and humid mouths. But while we sleep, our mouths often get dried out, which can kill off some good bacteria. In their absence, the stinky gas-emitting bacteria thrive, which is why you sometimes wake up with a foul-smelling mouth.

But there could be a solution. Its name is Streptococcus salivarius K12. Researchers think the bacteria strain could soon be put into a lozenge or spray and used as a probiotic, or beneficial mix of bacteria, to knock out the bad bacteria that causes bad breath.

The delicate balance of microbes living inside each of us, collectively called our microbiome, help keep our body running. Unfortunately, when we take antibiotics or use an antibacterial hand wash, those actions can wipe out many of these beneficial microbes, which throws off the balance in our bodies.

So, researchers have been exploring ways to make it right, taking a particular interest in S. salivarius K12. A 2006 study of 23 people with halitosis (bad breath) found that those given S. salivarius K12 lozenges had lower levels of smelly breath. The participants started by using an antimicrobial mouthwash followed by either a placebo lozenge or one with Ssalivarius K12. They found that the addition of the bacteria reduced the levels of smelly breath better than the mouthwash on its own. A follow-up study in 2011 on 53 participants demonstrated the safety of the probiotic, though larger studies would likely need to happen before we all start adding doses of bacteria to our body. 

Ideally, this probiotic could be used in addition to antiseptic mouthwashes like Listerine, which kill all the bacteria — good and bad — in your mouth. Andrea Azcarate-Peril, director of the University of North Carolina's Microbiome Research Core, told Business Insider that antibacterial solutions like mouthwash and hand sanitizer are being overused to the point where they could be doing more harm than good.

"We are just too clean," she said.

But probiotics aren't a perfect solution either — at least not yet. We still don't know everything about the bacteria in our bodies, and not every probiotic works for every person. Plus, probiotics still aren't regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, so it's a little tricky to know if the supplements people are taking are actually doing what they say they are. 

Even so, the probiotics industry is expanding. Susan Perkins, one of the curators of an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History focused on the microbiome, told Business Insider in November that she wouldn't be surprised if we started using bacteria to treat morning breath within the year. Eventually, the hope is to eventually use these probiotics to treat everything from cancer to bad body odor, said Perkins.

In the meantime, keep your eye out for S. salivarius K12, possibly coming soon to a drugstore near you.

SEE ALSO: Most vitamins are useless, but there's one you could probably use

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You can still buy flights for Memorial Day weekend — here are the cheapest from 10 major US cities right now

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girl beach read summer vacationIf you still don't have any plans for this Memorial Day weekend, it's not too late to book a flight. 

Airfare prediction app Hopper has rounded up the best deals for round-trip flights departing from 10 major cities across the US this weekend.

The data was determined by analyzing more than 6 million domestic flight searches conducted between May 16 and 22. These searches were for trips departing on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday of this upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

The round-trip prices reflected below were updated yesterday to reflect what is currently available. Whether you're planning to take a trip from New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, or Miami, here are some-last minute deals to consider.

SEE ALSO: Here's how far in advance you should book your flight

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If you're flying out of New York City:

Chicago, Illinois: $185 (Spirit Airlines, flying out of LGA)

Charlotte, North Carolina: $201 (American Airlines, flying out of JFK)

Durham, North Carolina: $232 (American Airlines, flying out of JFK)

Buffalo, New York: $241 (American Airlines, flying out of LGA) 

Boston, Massachusetts: $250 (American Airlines, flying out of LGA)

Dallas, Texas: $260 (Spirit Airlines, flying out of LGA) 

Detroit, Michigan: $261 (American Airlines, flying out of LGA) 

New Orleans, Louisiana: $264 (American Airlines, flying out of JFK) 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: $266 (Spirit Airlines, flying out of LGA) 

Tampa, Florida: $267 (American Airlines, flying out of LGA) 



If you're flying out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport:

Minneapolis, Minnesota: $80 (Spirit Airlines)

Portland, Oregon: $102 (Frontier Airlines)

Boston, Massachusetts: $116 (Spirit Airlines)

Atlanta, Georgia: $116 (Spirit Airlines)

Las Vegas, Nevada: $128 (Frontier Airlines)

Baltimore, Maryland: $146 (Spirit Airlines)

Dallas, Texas: $162 (Spirit Airlines)

Detroit, Michigan: $180 (United Airlines)

New Orleans, Louisiana: $196 (American Airlines)

Miami, Florida: $202 (American Airlines)



If you're flying out of Miami International Airport:

Tampa, Florida: $76 (American Airlines)

Orlando, Florida: $83 (American Airlines)

Dallas, Texas: $134 (American Airlines)

Baltimore, Maryland: $148 (American Airlines)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $152 (American Airlines)

Las Vegas, Nevada: $168 (Frontier Airlines)

Atlanta, Georgia: $184 (American Airlines)

Cleveland, Ohio: $196 (American Airlines)

Detroit, Michigan: $198 (American Airlines)

Jacksonville, Florida: $219 (American Airlines)



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We tried a startup that serves strangers a gourmet meal in random houses when the owners aren't home

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Place Invaders 5228

Enjoying dinner cooked by a Michelin-starred chef inside a photographer's Park Avenue loft is not how I typically spend my Friday nights. But at a recent event I attended with PlaceInvaders — a traveling pop-up dining experience that takes place in private homes while its owners are away — that became a reality. 

Chef Danny Brown had been looking for a place to serve his meals since his Michelin-starred Wine Bar & Kitchen shuttered late last year due to disagreements with the landlord. So when PlaceInvaders asked Brown to collaborate on their weekend-long New York City run, he couldn't say no.

The event took place in a gorgeous Flatiron loft, and we got the invite. Ahead, see what our experience with PlaceInvaders was like. 

SEE ALSO: We spent an afternoon with the man who keeps power lunch running smoothly at one of New York's most prestigious restaurants

PlaceInvaders was founded by couple Hagan Blount and Katie Smith-Adair, who connected over their mutual love for both food and real estate. "We were inspired to find a way to travel and live in the world's most amazing apartments," they told Business Insider.



Together, they find prime real estate spots in various cities around the US and rent them out for short periods of time. They host ticketed dinners or brunch parties of between 15 to 25 people. They've even called themselves "the ultimate real estate tourists."



Locations and guest chefs are not revealed to attendees until 24 hours before the event. The goal is to keep guests on their toes and create an element of surprise.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

4 steps you should follow for a perfect, irritation-free shave, according to a dermatologist

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Forget everything your father taught you about shaving. It's probably wrong anyway.

Many typical shaving routines that are passed down from fathers and grandfathers are riddled with incorrect techniques that can cause irritation and other skin problems.

We asked dermatologist and Dove Men+ Care expert Dr. Terrence Keaney for the ideal shaving routine. He shared his 4 steps for perfect, irritation-free skin every time.

BI GRAPHICS_the perfect shave

SEE ALSO: This is the biggest mistake men make when they shave, according to an expert

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NOW WATCH: 5 classic men's shoes for work and play

This home appliance store lets you take a bath or cook a pizza before deciding to buy its products — here's what it's like to shop there

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Pirch 4993

Pirch is redefining what it means to try before you buy. The startup retail company just opened a massive new store in SoHo, Manhattan's most shopping-centric neighborhood, and it's packed with fun, interactive gadgets. 

The gimmick: All of the home appliances and fixtures that Pirch sells actually work in the store, so you can experience them firsthand and imagine them in your own home. The refrigerators are chilled, the faucets and showerheads run water, the ovens beep, and the washers wash.

Pirch was co-founded in 2009 by two formerly retired executives in the home and real estate development business, CEO Jeffery Sears and chairman Jim Stuart. Both men had similarly terrible experiences trying to buy home fixtures and appliances. In 2011, they opened the first Pirch store in San Diego. Later, they would open eight more across the country.

Pirch offers a completely different shopping experience. Let's take a tour through its brand-new SoHo location, which was built in an old metalworks building. It's one of the biggest stores in the neighborhood, and the company's largest location yet.

SEE ALSO: 17 things every guy should have in his bathroom

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

Pirch focuses on three areas of home appliances: the kitchen, the bathroom, and the outdoor space. All of its merchandise is laid out in a highly interactive space. "We thought, 'How would we want to be treated?', and so we built a place where people were received as guests," CEO Jeffery Sears said to Business Insider.

Pirch is attempting to disrupt what it says is a $40 billion luxury appliances market. Pirch has raised a total of $127 million in venture capital, including $62.8 million from L Catterton, who also previously invested in Restoration Hardware. 



Any shopping trip at Pirch starts with a stop at the Bliss Cafe, a full-service coffee counter that's stocked with complimentary cappuccinos, cucumber water, and lemonade that customers can grab as they enter the store.



From the cafe, you are free to move around the three levels of the 32,000-square-foot store. Everything is interactive, from the running faucets to the beeping dishwashers. "Look but don't touch" does not apply here whatsoever.



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5 ways to change your body language to make people like you


The 19 best online MBA programs

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Temple University Fox

An MBA can be a shortcut for ascending the career ladder and boosting your salary. While attending one of best b-schools in the world can be an attractive option — Business Insider published its list of the world's 50 best business schools in December — for some working professionals it's not feasible, making online programs a great alternative.

U.S. News & World Report recently released their ranking of the best online MBA programs, evaluating schools based solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs in five categories: student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. (You can read a full breakdown of the methodology here.) Note that because of multiple ties, the ranking only goes through No. 15. 

Temple University's online MBA program took the top spot, followed by Indiana University at Bloomington, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Read on for the rest of the 19 best online MBA programs in the country, according to U.S. News.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most popular free online courses for professionals

15. TIE: University of South Florida at St. Petersburg

U.S. News score: 76

Cost per credit: $907 (out-of-state), $462 (in-state)

University of South Florida at St. Petersburg employs the same qualified faculty to teach its online MBA courses. The program is based on flexibility in scheduling and coursework and accessibility to faculty.



15. TIE: University of North Texas

U.S. News score: 76

Cost per credit: $693 (out-of-state), $303 (in-state)

The online MBA program offered at University of North Texas can be completed in as little as 14 months. In addition, students are taught by the same tenured faculty who teach in the traditional MBA program.



15. TIE: University of Nebraska at Lincoln

U.S. News score: 76

Cost per credit: $531

Courses in University of Nebraska at Lincoln's online MBA program are accelerated with eight- week terms and employ the same faculty as the on-campus program. Ninety-six percent of students are employed when they enroll.



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These are the worst shorts a man can wear, according to women

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Jorts

Style mistakes are something a man generally wants to avoid. As for the style mistake that the opposite sex has voted the most egregious? Well, you'd better listen up.

Commenters on Reddit's r/AskWomen subreddit were asked to vote on what they considered to be the worst style blunders they see on men. Redditors can use gender symbols to signify that they are either a man or woman. 

The No. 10 item came in with 42 upvotes loud and clear: jean shorts.

Yes, jean shorts, the derided combination of shorts and jeans. They are often mocked for two reasons: They fill no particular function, and they often look messy and out of place.

Either they are homemade and cut from a regular pair of jeans with threads of severed fabric around the cuff of the short like cobwebs, or they are neatly hemmed and just look like a ludicrously too-short pair of jeans. Either way, it's not a flattering look if you're not a teenage skateboarder.

I can't think of a single instance in which I'd prefer to see a pair of jean shorts over a regular pair of chino shorts. The jean fabric is usually heavier than typical chino fabrics, too, making the shorts impractical for the hottest season of the year.

If you're a die-hard wearer of jean shorts, we understand that this might be hard to hear. For those men, we offer a compromise: chambray. This is a denim-like fabric that is much lighter and can be worn without fear of ridicule. Gap sells a pair for $45.

SEE ALSO: 4 big mistakes guys make with their business attire, according to a menswear expert

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: At this summer camp for grown-ups, you can relive your glory days — but with alcohol

We're on the cusp of an explosive change in how we treat one of America's most ignored health problems

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Woman Using iPad

You've probably been there: Something stressful is happening in your life, and you're feeling more anxious than usual. You'd love to talk to someone about it, but you don't know who to turn to.

Therapy is one option, but A) it can be crazy expensive, and B) you don't want to be that person who has to see a shrink.

Turns out, there is no that person. Roughly one in every five Americans, or about 43 million people, suffers from mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. About 60% of us received no treatment in the past year.

Stigma isn't the only problem. For many, treatment is simply too expensive; others can't physically get to a therapist or treatment center. It's one of America's biggest and most ignored problems.

Lots of people are trying to help. There are a handful of apps, from Talkspace to BetterHelp, that link people to licensed therapists and counselors over text message and video chat. The site 7 Cups of Tea offers chatrooms where people can talk with other like-minded fellows online. Others are scrapping the idea of real people altogether and experimenting with on-screen, artificial intelligence-powered robots.

Welcome to the future of therapy.

Face-to-screen

Some people think the future of therapy won't take place in an office. There will be no couches, no tissues, no awkward first-date-esque meetings. Instead, it'll unfold on screens.

After all, they say, most of our daily interactions already happen via text. Therapy should be no exception. 

Talkspace is spearheading this change by linking people with therapists they can talk to via text. (The app also recently began offering real-time video chat, but some 80% of users use the texting feature only.) "We are taking a very traditional profession and delivering it in a very modern way," Roni Frank, Talkspace's co-founder and head of clinical services, told me. "It's convenient. There’s no need to schedule an appointment. You can use it if it's 4am and you can't sleep. There’s no business hours or office hours, those don’t exist," said Frank.

Therapists who use the service agree that text-based therapy has its advantages. Some of them include having clients who feel more comfortable because they don't have to sit in a room with a therapist.

"I've had clients disclose things to me [on Talkspace] that they say they’d never disclose face-to-face," Licensed Professional Counselor Katherine Glick, one of the therapists who works for Talkspace told me.

talkspace_computer

Why is it so much easier to be honest online?

One reason, suggests Jonathan Gratch, who directs the center for virtual humans research at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies, is because we feel more anonymous there (whether we actually are is another matter).

"People are more honest on web forms," says Gratch. "They just feel safer disclosing things that way," he said.

When we interact with others for the first time, we spend a lot of time trying to manage what they think of us. If you've ever massaged the details of a story to make yourself look better or chosen to hide other information that might make you look worse, you've engaged in what Gratch calls "impression management."

It's a phase therapists spend lots of time getting past so they can get to a place where clients are being honest with them and letting them help. They call it building rapport. 

To Gratch, the future of therapy lies between these two important things: anonymity and rapport. And he thinks a "virtual person" might be the part of the solution.

Sim Sensei: The bot that makes you feel like she cares

usc sim sensei talkspace

"People who don't want to talk to people might be more interested in talking to virtual people," Gratch told me.

Gratch and his team study how people interact with on-screen artificial intelligence (AI) robots. While the bots clearly aren't human, they display some people-like capabilities, like gesturing at the appropriate times with their hands, nodding, and asking follow-up questions. One of their bots is named Sim Sensei.

In a 2014 study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, Gratch and his team had 239 volunteers go through a health screening in which they interacted with a bot interviewer which they called a virtual human (VH). Half of them were randomly assigned to be told the VH was controlled by a person ("like a puppet"), while the other half were told it was computer-controlled ("fully-automated") and there was no human on the other end.

This is way better than talking to a person. I don't really feel comfortable talking about personal stuff to other people.

When volunteers thought they were simply talking to a computer, they tended to engage in less "impression management" and they also displayed emotions like sadness more intensely. The volunteers who talked with the allegedly computer-controlled interface also said they felt less afraid to disclose personal details about themselves than those who talked with the supposedly human-controlled program. 

One of the study participants who'd been told he was talking to a fully-automated bot wrote this in the study about the experience:

"This is way better than talking to a person. I don't really feel comfortable talking about personal stuff to other people."

Gratch and his team think that's because people felt less judged by the computer. "We had this empathetic listening that draws people out to make them say more things, plus a feeling of anonymity," said Gratch.

To make Sensei, Gratch and his team spent years studying how people convey to each other that they're interested in what another person is saying, something called "active listening." They looked at what characteristics lead someone to say "Uhuh" in a conversation, for example, or "I'm sorry," as well as what sort of hand gestures we tend to use and when. Here's a screenshot from their 2014 study:

sim sensei talkspace ai bot

"It's kind of like being at a cocktail party," Gratch said, "where you're talking to someone but it's noisy and there's a lot going on in the background and you want to convey to this person you're talking to that you're interested in what they're saying."

By plugging that information into a series of algorithms, Gratch was able to create an AI with the ability to track and respond to facial expressions and tone of voice — to create the illusion that she was actively listening.

For example, in addition to determining when someone is sharing information that's generally positive or negative, Sensei can differentiate between when someone is asking a question and when they are making a statement. And, based on certain words she's been trained to pick up, Sensei can appropriately respond with an expression that either conveys understanding — like an "Uhuh" or a nod — or a sense of empathy, like an "Oh I'm sorry." To ask a question, Sensei leans in.

The limitations of therapy without people

The idea of replacing a human therapist with an artificially intelligent bot is decades away at best. At worst, it's an approach that's unmoored in reality, some experts say. And if it is at all indicative of the potential limitations a bot-based therapy platform might have, text-based therapy still has several weaknesses. 

Jumana Grassi, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works on the text-a-therapist platform Talkspace, told me she sees the app for most people as more of a gateway to face-to-face therapy than an end point. "There's an energy between human beings, you can tell when you're sitting next to someone. And I think a lot of that gets missed without that face-to-face interaction," she said.

More importantly, does text-based therapy work? 

Talkspace has done some of its own preliminary research that suggests it does. One study they conducted found that when compared with people enrolled in face-to-face therapy, people enrolled in text-based therapy experienced equally positive outcomes. But text-message-based therapy (as opposed to online therapy or therapy delivered over the phone) is relatively new. And very few high-caliber, peer-reviewed studies exist today that can vouch for these preliminary claims.

Still, there are some studies that compare a select few types of therapy administered online. 

A 2014 review of studies published in the journal World Psychiatry, for example, compared how people with a variety of psychiatric disorders fared after they got a popular type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In about half of the studies, the treatment was done online in a guided format, while in the others it was conducted traditionally in a face-to-face setting. Their results suggested that — at least for treating the handful of psychiatric disorders they reviewed — doing the therapy online was just as effective as doing in person. Still, the authors firmly concluded that “more research is needed."

There is evidence, though, that people who've never considered therapy are trying text-message-based therapy. This is a potentially huge bright spot for the method: It may reach people who'd otherwise never try it.

roni frank talkspace therapy conference"Many of our clients have never been in traditional therapy. Our average user is a first-timer. And therapists are hearing from clients that we've changed their lives," said Frank.

For others, it's the only way people can get any help. "I have a woman who would never be able to get to traditional therapy who I talk to everyday," Grassi told me. "That's awesome."

Still, Grassi thinks in-person therapy will always be the best option for the vast majority of people. Part of the reason for this, she says, is because so much of the information we communicate happens outside of typing or even speaking. Social psychologists call this system of communicating feelings or thoughts nonverbal communication, and it includes everything from making eye contact to using hand gestures. To convey that we're not interested in a line of discussion, for example, we might cross our arms, roll our eyes, or position our bodies away from someone else. Therapists are trained to pick up on these things.

"I'm sensitive to other people's reactions and body language, and I think it's one of the things that makes me a good therapist," said Grassi. "If I'm sitting with you I can see if you're maybe detached from the conversation or something is making you uncomfortable, for example. I can see your mouth is saying this, but your eyes are saying this."

Another therapist I spoke to who wanted to stay anonymous because of the sensitive nature of her clientele — she works with sex offenders and pedophiles — said she'd never work for a platform like Talkspace or Betterhelp, since meeting in person with her clients is so crucial to her. "You have to be able to look people in the eyes and be able to see how they're interacting in a real life, person-to-person setting," she told me. "How else can you see if they're really improving?"

Gratch agrees that Sensei isn't quite ready for the big time — at least not yet. Which means she's certainly not about to pop up as an app on your phone anytime soon.

"It's good for pulling information out of people, not so much for understanding what's going on. It's not appropriate for therapy...at this stage."

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10 places you should visit in Europe this year, according to Lonely Planet

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Dordogne

While Europe has long been a popular travel destination, it still has plenty of hidden gems to be explored. 

Lonely Planet recently released its Best in Europe list, which highlights the top 10 European destinations travelers should visit in 2016. 

The list, which was selected by Lonely Planet's travel experts, includes a mix of destinations that are currently trending, hidden gems that are set to become travel hot spots, and longtime favorites that are offering new experiences for travelers.

From the majestic Dordogne region of France to Greece's oft-overlooked Peloponnese region, here are 10 European destinations to put on your travel radar this year. 

SEE ALSO: The best landmarks in the world, according to TripAdvisor

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10. Northern Dalmatia in Croatia is ideal for nature lovers, with a breathtaking scenery that includes the Velebit mountain range and many dramatic waterfalls. Along the coast, you'll find beautifully-preserved medieval towns, while there are various islands with villages and coves to discover.



9. Texel is the largest of the Dutch Wadden Sea Islands in the Netherlands. Still a relatively under-the-radar destination, Texel has a variety of wildlife reserves, villages, and deserted beaches to enjoy. Travelers can take part in everything from boat cruises and skydiving to summer festivals.



8. While Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, does draw in crowds who stay at its all-inclusive resorts, its eastern coast is much less explored. Here, visitors will come across tranquil fishing villages, beach towns, and a low-key atmosphere where they can interact with locals.



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Here's when and how long you should nap to get the most health benefis

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couch napTaking regular naps has various benefits, from increasing your productivity to improving your mood. 

Swissotel put together a graphic describing the various ways napping can help you on a day-to-day basis.

The graphic tells the stories of famous people who were known for their napping habits — including Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy — and spells out the recipe for the perfect nap.

Keep scrolling down to see how you can take a snooze to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to continue on with your day.

SEE ALSO: This is the best watch to have if you travel often for work

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4 grooming mistakes you should stop making in the warmer months

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underarm sweat

With summer quickly approaching, it's time to get serious about your warm-weather grooming habits.

Though most of your routine will stay unchanged — you're still going to get haircuts every month and apply moisturizer every day— some are more important to adjust.

The sun and the heat are the biggest factors you have to work around.

Here are some of the biggest grooming mistakes you're making each summer. It's best to avoid these. 

SEE ALSO: 17 things every modern gentleman should have in his closet

DON'T MISS: I tried Dollar Shave Club’s new line of shower products — and it proves the company is much more than razors

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Neglecting to wear sunscreen.

If there is one thing keeping dermatologists up at night, it's the consistent and steadfast refusal of men to wear sunscreen.

Despite their increased risk of developing melanoma, many men just aren't willing to use a sunscreen every day. Still, it's necessary to prevent sun damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

In the warm, sun-drenched months, that danger only becomes more pronounced.



Washing your face too much.

Dr. Terrence Keaney, a dermatologist working with Dove Men+Care, recommends his male patients wash their face twice a day — and only twice a day.

"When you wash your face, the soap or cleanser that you're using not only strips away the oil and sweat, but also strips away some of the natural lipids in the skin, so it can be potentially irritating," Keaney told Business Insider.

So, even if you get sweaty, try to limit the times the times you wash your face in a single day. And always moisturize afterwards to replace the lost moisture.

 



Not taking the proper underarm precautions.

The worst part about summer is sweat, especially in sweat-prone areas like the underarms. Many men don't know the proper way to prevent sweat in the underarms: it's all in when you apply the antiperspirant.

That's because it takes time for your antiperspirant to work its magic and close your armpit's sweat ducts. After this process happens, good antiperspirants and deodorants usually last 24 to 48 hours. Therefore, the best time to apply antiperspirant is at night, before you go to bed.

Your white shirts will thank you.



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The secret weapon $16 billion startup WeWork plans to use to change how you work

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dave fanoDave Fano's mantra is that buildings equal data. In every office building, there's data just floating in the air about how, why, and when people use space. The problem is we simply haven't done a good job of capturing it in the past.

No one in the building industry has adequate information about space, Fano says. People have a gut instinct, then they build, then they live with it for at least 10 years. Experience and talent help, but there are still a lot of expensive mistakes. There is waste.

Fano, who trained as an architect and is now WeWork's chief development officer, has been obsessed with eliminating that waste for a long time. Before joining the coworking-space startup, Fano cofounded a consulting firm, Case, which gained a reputation for its ability to fuse architecture and technology. Case worked with WeWork for three years before the $16 billion startup decided to buy it in 2015.

WeWork is New York's largest startup by valuation, and has over 50,000 "members" who pay for desks and access to communal space and amenities — either at the company or individual level. But WeWork doesn't just think of itself as just an office-rental startup, but rather a "platform," Fano says. "Our wedge happens to be space."

Space is an increasingly valuable commodity, and one that hasn't been subjected as fully to the rigors of data.

wework room

The future is data

Critics often question how much of a tech company WeWork actually is, as opposed to primarily a lifestyle business. But when Fano talks about the future of WeWork, his answer becomes clear: data.

Fano sees WeWork buildings as one giant sensor for data collection, and he wants to map them down to the object. Understanding the space means understanding how to make it more efficient and better for members.

WeWork has, so far, been fairly limited in its ability to observe how people use its buildings. The company has often had to rely on "analog" data collection — counting — for things like understanding how its tenants use conference rooms, Fano says.

But he wants that to change. He talks about a future where various sensors can work to help his team figure out how WeWork can improve its buildings.

Here are a few observation initiatives Fano mentions WeWork could pursue:

  • Heat: Fano talks about filling a building with various thermostats to understand how to customize a comfortable office temperature down to the person level. Fano says that this is a particularly tricky challenge, but one he hopes WeWork will one day crack. I suspect that anyone who has worked in an office can relate to the struggle against temperature.
  • Sound: Fano wants to measure the decibel level of sound, to understand how noise travels through the office. While WeWork's office plans are "open," Fano says that there is too much focus on the "open" versus "non-open" office debate. WeWork has had success with shared private spaces, like "phone booths," and one can imagine an understanding of noise factoring into plans like these.
  • Occupancy: Fano says that tracking the movement of workers through a building can help not only with understanding what types of spaces are best, but also with being as energy-efficient as possible — lights, heat, and so on.

wework floor plan

The product

So what is all this data meant to accomplish? Since WeWork opened in 2011, one major premise has been that a highly efficient use of space can create a better working experience for the same — or less — money than a "normal" office.

The design process starts when WeWork uses a 3-D scanner to take stock of a leased building to millimeter accuracy — WeWork is not doing ground-up development yet. Then WeWork runs tests to determine what the optimal arrangement for the office is, to minimize waste and encourage interaction.

Before actual construction starts, everything is "built" on the computer in 3-D. Currently, most of the construction is then done on-site. But eventually Fano hopes that the majority of the construction will be prefabricated — made off-site and then put together on-site.

building scan

Bodies and square feet

WeWork's entire business model is based on how many seats it can fit in a floor plan, Fano says. WeWork thinks in terms of desks and bodies, and of the experience people will have in the workplace, not in terms of square feet.

Space matters because of the utility it provides. Here's the idea: If you have half the space at your desk but feel like your workspace is actually more pleasant, then WeWork can give you better communal amenities and save money at the same time.

Since the company opened in 2011, this focus on maximizing desks and utility has led it to develop a few design principles. Two main ones are access to light and large common spaces. WeWork puts up glass walls that don't block interior offices from natural light, to make the offices feel open and un-cramped. And a WeWork staple is big common areas — kitchen-like lounge areas — that emphasize socializing.

wework kitchen

Socializing is particularly central to the entire WeWork ethos, which has caught fire in the tech world — though WeWork says that VC-backed startups make up only "mid-single digits of the total population."

Fano says that his ultimate vision for WeWork, though it's not there yet, is to build villages where businesses refer each other, barter, and hang out. That seems particularly valuable for tech startups, but WeWork thinks it has broader appeal — much, much broader, according to leaked financial projections.

"No company enjoys managing space," Fano says.

WeWork isn't just a landlord for its 77 buildings, but a macro-level office manager bent on figuring out how to design as much utility into the office space as possible.

And if Fano's comments are any indication, the next big push — besides its entrance into the "co-living" market — will be data.

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The world's first pot-friendly gym is opening in San Francisco

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This fall, San Franciscans will be able to get high while getting swole.

A new gym called Power Plant Fitness will allow members to consume marijuana on-site while working out. It's claiming to be the world's first cannabis-friendly gym.

"It won't be a place to get high and just screw around," Jim McAlpine, founder of the cannabis event series 420 Games and cofounder of Power Plant Fitness, wrote in a blog on the company's website. "We are focused on the athletic side, not the cannabis side."

McAlpine's other venture, 420 games, is like the Olympics for stoners. The company hosts athletics events nationwide, where pot enthusiasts and their families compete in triathlons, obstacle courses, mountain bike races, golf tournaments, and the signature 4.20-mile run. It launched in San Francisco in 2014.

The gym (which is in the process of finalizing a lease) doubles down on the 420 Games' mission: to reverse the lazy stereotypes about pot users. 

san francisco baked sale edible medical marijuana

In an email to Tech Insider, McAlpine explains that the gym looks to cannabis as a tool for focus and recovery. New members will take a "cannabis performance assessment" under the supervision of staff to determine the "most optimal ways to consume." Some might find a bite out a pot brownie gives them the push they need to complete a circuit training workout, while others find it knocks them on the floor.

"We will be helping our members figure out how is best for them to ingest their cannabis," McAlpine tells Tech Insider in an email.

McAlpine says the facility will allow edibles and vaping on-site to start, and plans to add an outdoor smoking deck for those who actually want to smoke in the future. San Francisco city and county law currently prohibits smoking weed inside most public venues.

The company also plans to produce a line of edibles designed for pre-workout focus and post-workout recovery, according to a press release.

If it plans to sell the pot-infused goods on site, Power Plant Fitness may have to register as a dispensary lounge under California law. These cooperatives and collectives allow medicinal marijuana patients and caregivers, or suppliers, to exchange goods in public.

However, these organizations are designed not to make a profit; rather, earnings must be used for the welfare of the patients. It's unclear how membership would work at a facility like Power Plant Fitness.

420 Games stoner olympics 1634

Power Plant Fitness sounds like a safe haven for cannabis users who want to unwind with some bud and barbells after work, but it's hard to ignore the potential health-related risks.

Anyone who has ever toked up and experienced dry mouth knows that marijuana can be dehydrating. Plus, marijuana use by novices can lead to everything from dizziness to panic. Add in some physical exercise and it's hard to say what will happen.

McAlpine hopes the cannabis performance assessment will help foster good habits on the gym floor.

It could only happen in San Francisco.

SEE ALSO: There's a new exchange for weed, and Wall Street veterans are flocking to it

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This wildly popular french fry restaurant just reopened one year after a deadly gas explosion leveled it — here's what it's like now

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Pommes Frites 9

For 18 years, Pommes Frites stood as a staple of New York City's East Village, serving up overflowing cones of hot Belgian fries late into the night.

With a menu of only fries and 30-plus dipping sauces, the spot gained immense popularity and had a consistent line down the block.

But when it burned down in a tragic and deadly gas explosion last March, New Yorkers mourned the loss of the beloved fry joint. Now, 14 months later, Pommes Frites is back in a new West Village location. 

We stopped by its opening day on May 23 to check out the new space. Here's what a trip to the all-fries-all-the-time spot is like. 

SEE ALSO: The best fries from every state

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Pommes Frites' new location sits at 128 MacDougal Street in the West Village, across town from its old East Village digs.



We walked in around 6:15 p.m. expecting a crazy line for opening day. It ended up being moderately full, but it was nothing outrageous. I guess not everyone counted down the days until this place reopened like my friends and I had.



The decor speaks to the Belgian theme with dark wooded walls and tables, and rustic metal details throughout. The restaurant makes the most of a small space with two long picnic tables, a high "window" seat facing a fake window, and a standing-room-only nook.



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How not to look like a sweaty mess in the office this summer

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Summer is a dreaded time for many an office worker. Sure, it's easy to get away with full suits during the other three months of the year, but the warmest month always leaves them a little hot under the collar — literally.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent that. Or, at least there are ways to battle against the tide of sweat and warmth.

Wear an undershirt.

Sweat can't ruin a dress shirt it can't touch. Avoid the problem altogether by wearing a light, breathable undershirt in a fabric like cotton. It won't help keep you cool, but it can save your shirt.

Make sure it's in a light color, so it can't be seen past a light-colored dress shirt.

Learn the correct way to apply antiperspirant.

It turns out we're all wearing antiperspirant incorrectly, and that's a large reason why it just isn't working like it should when it comes to stopping sweat. You're actually supposed to apply antiperspirant the night before you need it, so that it can have ample time to clog your sweat ducts overnight.

Do this, and you might just sweat a little less to begin with.

Wear the right fabrics.

Wearing the same fabrics in the summer as in the other three months is not a smart idea. Summer demands lighter and more breathable fabrics. Both cotton and linen are great choices, and they can be had in both suits and shirts. If you like the look of seersucker, that can help keep you cool, too.

Wear lighter colors.

Similarly, colors that reflect light, like white, beige and light gray, will keep you cooler in general when you're outside in the sun. Colors like black, navy, and dark gray will absorb heat, making you feel hotter and sweat more.

Stick to the former, and you'll be better off.

If all else fails, keep extra shirts at work.

If you're still sweating too much throughout the day, it might be a good idea to keep an extra shirt at your office to change into throughout the day. It never hurts to be prepared.

If you need more than two or three shirts in a day, it might be time to see a doctor. They can only help.

SEE ALSO: 4 grooming mistakes you should stop making in the warmer months

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The Snapchat score is a perfect example of what an ex-Googler calls unethical app design

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Can product designers make decisions that are unethical?

The tech industry has been busily debating that question since former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris posted a fantastic essay on Medium earlier this week.

He writes:

And this is exactly what product designers do to your mind. They play your psychological vulnerabilities (consciously and unconsciously) against you in the race to grab your attention...

Are you upset that technology hijacks your agency?

Simply put, your incentives are different from the tech industry's. It wants to maximize engagement. You want to get the most out of whatever app or software you're using. They're not necessarily the same thing, and usually are not.

One example Harris doesn't cover in his essay is the Snapchat score. It's one of the clearest examples of unethical design to me, and even worse, it's targeting younger users — many of whom are teens.

Here's what a Snapchat score looks like — mine is pathetic:

snapchat_score

Consider:

  1. Snapchat is a service geared toward teens and young people.
  2. It quantifies popularity into a single number, the Snapchat score, which comes up frequently when adding new friends.
  3. How Snapchat calculates your score is mostly secret, but it's roughly the sum of all the messages you've sent and received.
  4. So the only way to increase your score — and hide how unpopular you actually are — is to use Snapchat more.

The score serves one real purpose: to get people to use Snapchat more.

An example of how it's pernicious: Take Katherine Pommerening, a normal 13-year-old who lives in Northern Virginia. Here's what happened when she switched user names, plummeting her score back down to zero, according to The Washington Post:

Then, because she changed her username, her Snapchat score reverted to zero. The app awards about one point for every snap you send and receive. It's also totally embarrassing and stressful to have a low Snapchat score. So in one day, she sent enough snaps to earn 1,000 points.

That's a lot of snaps! Which is great for Snapchat, because it's got her hooked. But it's less positive from the perspective of her teachers and parents — and maybe society in general.

You should read Tristan Harris' post here. It'll take you about 12 minutes.

SEE ALSO: 23 things you had no idea you could do in Snapchat

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100 pictures that will change the way you see the world

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Swiss mountains

Earth is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind place. 

To remind you of this, we've rounded up some of the most beautiful and mesmerizing pictures of our home planet.

These images will make you fall in love with earth all over again.

Swans swim past changing autumn leaves in Sheffield Park Gardens in southern England.

 



Cherry blossoms are seen in full bloom in Tokyo.



Smoke and lava spew from Chile's Villarrica Volcano at the end of March.



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