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The 14 best colleges in the Midwest

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Illinois Wesleyan University

Business Insider released its annual ranking of the best colleges in America, highlighting schools that provide a quality education and graduate students on time, set graduates up to earn well-paying jobs early in their career, and create a memorable and enjoyable campus experience. (You can read about the methodology in detail here.)

Location wasn't a factor in the ranking, but when we zoomed out on our data to look at the top-100 schools in the country, a number of them fell in the Midwest

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (No. 12 on our overall ranking) topped the list of Midwestern schools, followed by University of Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis.

Continue reading to see which 14 schools not only shine as the best in the Midwest, but as some of the best in the country. 

SEE ALSO: The 50 best colleges in America

DON'T MISS: The 22 colleges that accept students with the highest SAT scores

14. Gustavus Adolphus College

Location: St. Peter, Minnesota

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $50,100

Average SAT score: 1224

Student life score: A-

Founded on the principles of the Lutheran Church, Gustavus Adolphus College reflects its Christian heritage through weekly praise and worship services and 12 student-run religious organizations. On the academic side, the liberal-arts college offers 72 different majors across 25 departments, including art history, geography, and environmental studies.



13. Creighton University

Location: Omaha, Nebraska

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $57,800

Average SAT score: 1214

Student life score: A-

Committed to Jesuit traditions and Catholic values, Creighton University challenges students to pursue justice for those in need, respect everyone, and aim for excellence in all aspects of their lives, among other core values. This sense of community engagement stands as a major part of the Creighton experience, as evidenced by the nearly 1.25 million service hours students racked up over the 2014-2015 school year.



12. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Location: Terre Haute, Indiana

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $78,900

Average SAT score: 1310

Student life score: A-

At Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the college’s 2,100 undergraduates can choose from 24 majors focused in science, math, and technology. The average class size is about 20 students, allowing them to have a hands-on experience and one-on-one mentorships. RHIT also prepares its students for life after college with its LEAD Programa series of workshops and speakers to help students develop leadership skills to pair with their newly learned technological skills.



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I've used a meditation app loved by Wall Streeters and Olympic athletes daily for the past 8 months, and now I can't imagine my life without it

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meditating guy meditation

Over the past eight months, I've had fun being the obnoxious guy who tells everyone he meditates every day. 

Ever since I decided to try out the guided-meditation app Headspace last December after hearing about it on Tim Ferriss' podcast, I've been much more aware of my thoughts and emotions, and with a few exceptions (including a rough day at the airport) I've been much calmer and more collected in times of stress.

I've dealt with occasionally intense anxiety since I was 11 years old, so that's an accomplishment.

Headspace isn't a hippy-dippy placebo; it's a straightforward teacher that helps you learn the basics of breathing and visualization associated with secular meditation.

The company reports it has 8.5 million active users, and this includes Wall Streeters, Olympic athletes, and celebrity executives like Arianna Huffington and Richard Branson. Companies like Goldman Sachs and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have bought package subscriptions for employees. The app is free to download, but a subscription unlocks full access to all of its lessons.

After using it for so long, I've gotten to a point where it's become an essential part of my daily routine. Below, I'll break down what it's like to use.

SEE ALSO: I followed Barack Obama's morning routine for a week, and it taught me a valuable lesson about mental toughness

Headspace was founded by Rich Pierson, left, and Andy Puddicombe in 2012. Puddicombe was formally trained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk during a 10-year excursion in his 20s. Headspace's lessons are secularized versions of exercises Puddicombe studied.



Puddicombe is your Headspace teacher. He appears periodically in video tutorials to give you a bit of extra insight. I've become very familiar with his English-accented voice!



When you begin Headspace, you have access to the 30-day Foundation pack, which introduces you to the basics of guided meditation.

After going through the first 30 days, you can access the rest of the exercises through a subscription.

I signed up for the year subscription, which now goes for $96, though you may find some promo codes floating around for a discount.

It's certainly not cheap, but if you take it as $8 a month, it's worth it for a daily user.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The tightest race at the 2017 Oscars is best actress — here's who could win

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Jackie natalie portman

As we get deeper into award season, the picture of how Oscar night will turn out is getting clearer.

"La La Land" and its director Damien Chazelle are frontrunners in the best picture and best director categories. Casey Affleck, meanwhile, is the odds-on favorite to win best actor for his performance in the moving "Manchester by the Sea."

But best actress will likely keep people scrambling to guess until the big night.

The category has been famously tight in recent years. And this year performances by Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, and Amy Adams are all very strong, and anyone could win. Though they could be upset by the work of Taraji P. Henson or Isabelle Huppert. Or Meryl Streep could even swoop in and take down everyone, as she sometimes does.

Below are 10 actresses who all have a chance at being nominated and eventually winning best actress at the 2017 Academy Awards — and who we think has the best shot:

SEE ALSO: The 25 worst movies of 2016, according to critics

Amy Adams, "Arrival"

Adams has been nominated for an Oscar five times in her career (four times in the supporting actress category), and her portrayal as a linguist who is brought on by the military to communicate with aliens is the kind of performance Oscar voters love. She plays a character who is strong and assertive, but also tender and heartbreaking. It could lead to her first Oscar, and she certainly deserves one.



Annette Bening, "20th Century Women"

Bening gives one of the best performances of her career as a chain-smoking mother in the late 1970s who is trying to cope with her son turning into a rebellious teen. Playing it with a comedic touch, she will make you laugh and cry.



Jessica Chastain, "Miss Sloane"

Chastain plays a no-nonsense lobbyist and shows why she's one of the best actresses of her generation. Eschewing all the usual cliches of the woman-in-a-man's-world movie, she plays a role that shines bright in our "nasty woman" era.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Politics and celebrity deaths dominated the discussion on Facebook in 2016 (FB)

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Chewbacca Mom

A lot happened on Facebook in 2016.

Politics unsurprisingly dominated much of the discussion among Facebook users, but so did the passing of celebrities like Muhammad Ali.

Facebook looked at the posts from its 1.8 billion users from January 1 to November 27 and anonymously aggregated them to find the top 10 most talked about topics.

Here they are in order:

SEE ALSO: Facebook’s growth boom shows no signs of slowing, says top analyst

1. The US presidential election

President-elect Donald Trump dominated news coverage on all fronts during the Republican primary and the general election where he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in a massive upset, winning the White House in November.

Clinton won the popular vote, however.



2. Brazilian politics

Among Brazil's many travails, its former president, Dilma Rousseff, was suspended from office in May. Brazil's Senate ordered her to stand trialin a historic decision brought on by a deep recession and a corruption scandal.



3. Pokémon Go

It was the newest craze — for a little while.

People swarmed busy streets, parks, and national landmarks to play Pokémon Go. Organized meetups to hunt Pokémon in places like Central Park drew thousands of people.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There's now a $75 million private jet for your inner Texas oil tycoon (ERJ)

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Skyranch

There's flying, and then there's flying.

Brazilian private-jet maker Embraer prefers that its customers experience the finer side of aviation. Earlier this year, the Sao Paulo-based company dazzled with its Kyoto Airship concept interior that featured a massive skylight installed on its flagship Lineage 1000E jets.

Now, Embraer has teamed up with Eddie Sotto, a designer based in Los Angeles, to create a custom interior called Skyranch One. Instead of the Kyoto Airship's Asian theme, Skyranch is a harmonious blend of several cultures.

"Think Dallas' JR Ewing meets the daughter of a Brazilian rancher," Jay Beever, Embraer's vice president of interior design, told Business Insider in an interview.

As a result, the Skyranch offers a Southwest theme with some Spanish and Portuguese flair, Beever said.

Here's a closer look at the Skyranch One interior concept:

SEE ALSO: The incredible history of Air Force One

The Skyranch One interior is designed for Embraer's top-of-the-line Lineage 1000E executive jet. The 1000E has room for 13 to 19 passengers, with a range of nearly 5,300 miles.



Like the Kyoto Airship, the centerpiece of the Skyranch interior is a massive (by airplane standards) vertical "picture" window. Embraer strengthened the structure in the area around the window in a manner similar to that of an emergency exit door, Beever told Business Insider.



The interior is designed to "capture the solitude and privacy, the romance of the wide open spaces," Sotto wrote in a press release. "After all, aren't the skies the last frontier of privacy?"

Source: Sotto



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Foursquare's CEO has lived in 5 different countries — here's how a love of travel led him to the startup world


18 mountains that celebrities and business moguls love to ski

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chalet zermatt peak

For many, the onset of winter means the chance to hit the slopes.

While there's plenty of mountains to choose from around the world, some ski resorts are specifically known for their exclusive terrain and luxurious amenities. 

We've put together a list of 18 ski resorts where celebrities, royals, and business travelers are known to flock to. 

From the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, to the chic chalets of Zermatt, Switzerland, here's where the rich and famous love to ski. 

Talia Avakian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

SEE ALSO: 25 mountains everyone should ski in their lifetime

DON'T MISS: 11 warm places you can travel to this winter without worrying about Zika

Moonlight Basin — Big Sky, Montana

Moonlight Basin is an 8,100-acre alpine community in Big Sky, Montana.

Amenities within the members-only club include a lodge built with a tavern, spa, fitness center, and pool, a Nicklaus-signature golf course, and miles of hiking trials, alpine lakes, and clear streams.



Spanish Peaks Mountain Club — Big Sky, Montana

Another members-only club in Big Sky, Montana, the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club is a 5,700-acre ski and golf community where members can enjoy direct access to the slopes and an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf championship golf course.



Yellowstone Club — Big Sky, Montana

Despite hitting a bankruptcy crisis in 2008, the Yellowstone Club — our final pick in Big Sky, Montana — has bounced back as one of the country's most exclusive mountain clubs.

Located just north of Yellowstone National Park, its members include Bill Gates and Hollywood producer Peter Chernin.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Trump says he only sleeps a few hours each night — and there could be a scientific reason why

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Donald Trump

President-elect Donald J. Trump reportedly only needs a few hours of sleep every night. 

While on the campaign trail, he said, "You know, I’m not a big sleeper. I like three hours, four hours, I toss, I turn, I beep-de-beep, I want to find out what’s going on."

Trump's not the only one: Corporate executives like PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and even President Barack Obama rarely — if ever — get what's considered a full night of sleep.

While for many of us, getting too little sleep can have some nasty consequences such as headaches and stomach problems, others are able to thrive off of just four-to-six hours of shut-eye, something called "short sleeping." 

Short sleepers, a group the Wall Street Journal once called the "sleepless elite," need only a short amount of sleep every night instead of the average 7-8 hours. Scientists estimate they make up only about 1% of the population.

The reason these leaders seem to thrive in their careers despite their short sleeping hours may be because apart from their extremely long days, there are a few characteristics that most short sleepers that have been identified thus far appear to have:

  • They tend to be more optimistic and upbeat than most. 
  • They tend to wake up early, even on vacation or weekends.
  • They tend to have a family member that is also a short sleeper. Since short-sleeping is linked to genetics, the behavior that accompanies it often runs in the family.
  • They tend to be physically active.
  • If they sleep longer than they need, they tend to feel groggy.
  • They say they tend to avoid caffeine or don't need it to feel energized.

It's a relatively new area of study. There's still a lot that's unknown about short sleepers and its genetic links. Having some of these traits doesn't necessarily mean you're genetically a short sleeper, nor does not having some of these traits mean you're not a short sleeper.

The short sleep clinic

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Even though it has no apparent negative health effects, short sleeping is considered a sleep disorder.

And although many people think they can get by with just four hours of sleep, for the most part they aren't true short sleepers — they're just chronically sleep deprived.

Ying-Hui Fu, a biologist and human genetics professor at the University of California, San Francisco started studying short sleepers in 1996, when a woman came into the lab asking them to investigate why her whole family woke up at extremely early hours every day. Fu started investigating the traits relating to that family and others who came into the clinic. Soon, she learned that there were three types of people: early risers, night owls, and people who are somewhere in between. Perhaps most importantly, she also learned that there were specific traits linked with all three types.

That launched 20 years of studying these sleep behaviors to learn more about how people sleep and how genetics may play a role in that behavior.

"We know almost nothing about how sleep is regulated," Fu told Business Insider last year.

That's at least partially because the research money isn't there. With other disease areas to focus on, it's hard to see the value in exploring the complicated topic of sleep, though it could be a great area for a potential gene therapy, which is an ever-growing research area. For now, most sleep research money goes into funding treatments for sleeping disorders that deprive them of sleep, and those treatments are focused on helping people sleep more, not less.

But Fu thinks that belies how critical this research is. "Other than water and air, nothing is more important" than sleep, she said. Which is why she's dedicated her lab to learning everything she can.

Abby Ross: Mother, doctor of psychology, marathoner, 'awaker'

Abby Ross has never needed what's considered a full night of sleep.

And for years, Ross didn't have an answer to why she woke up feeling chipper and ready for the day, even after just four hours of sleep. That's when she went to Fu's lab and learned she was a short sleeper.

She began reading about short sleepers and quickly realized she fit the bill. So she decided to contribute to research at Fu's lab, giving blood and answering questions from psychologists and doctors from all over the world. Ross still doesn't know if she has the genes that have since been linked with being a short sleeper. When she joined Fu's study, she agreed that any information the researchers gathered about her genes linked with short sleeping wouldn't be shared with her.

The lab's rationale for this, as they described it to Ross, is that if someone who came in with short sleeping symptoms didn't have any of the already-identified short-sleeper genes, that wouldn't mean they weren't technically a short sleeper. Rather, they may have another gene linked with the disorder that Fu's lab has yet to identify. Ross won't ever get her results, though she says the information she's gotten so far is enough.

"I learned that what I have is truly a gift," she told Business Insider in 2015.

As long as she can remember, Ross said, she's been a short sleeper, even she didn't have a label for it until recently. When she was young, she'd always be up early to get bagels and coffee with her parents. This early development of short sleeping habits is consistent with other short sleepers, who typically develop the habit sometime in childhood or as a young adult.

At Northwestern University, Ross got her undergraduate degree in three years by taking more classes than the average course load, which just happened naturally for her. To her, an "all-nighter" wasn't a dreaded way to cram in some last-minute studying before a midterm; it was just a regular night. Plus, Ross says, she's always had an easy time falling asleep, so if her body needed an hour or two, she'd take a nap, then pick up right where she left off. After Northwestern, Ross went on to graduate school to study psychology. At the same time, she started a family. And when her daughter was in kindergarten, Ross started her doctorate.

At 35, Ross had two more kids, all while writing her dissertation and raising the first. "If I got up to feed the baby," she recalled, "I could stay up studying psychology."

Ross went on to work at two universities, while staying active in a number of organizations. She did it all, she said, by developing a respect for her body clock.

"It gave me permission to accept that if my husband goes to bed at 10:30, then I stay up," she said. "It's just the way it is."

IMG_5682In true short sleeper form, Ross has led an incredibly active life. Ten years ago, she ran 37 marathons in as many months. In one of those months, she did three marathons. Even now, she tends to log about five miles of walking and other activity on her Fitbit each day.

Ross puts her extra hours to good use, using them to do everything from catalog family photos to catch up with loved ones.

And it runs in the family: Ross' 92-year-old father is also a short sleeper. For years, the two have emailed each other around 5 a.m. every morning to start their days.

For the most part, Ross has embraced her short sleeping gift, in all but name.

"I think the name is really weird" she said, since it sounds like people are referring to her height.

Instead of a short sleeper, Ross would like to be called an "awaker."

Recent developments

Being a short sleeper is, for the most part, genetic.

So far, Fu has pinpointed several genes connected to the disorder. One such gene is DEC2, a gene known to effect our circadian rhythm, the biological process influenced by light and temperature that helps determine when we sleep and when we wake up. The other genes have yet to be published.

One of the main reasons Fu's lab hasn't been able to publish their latest findings is because it takes quite a long time — 10 years, she said — to publish the type of sleep-related paper she is looking to publish. For these studies, researchers have to find and recruit short sleepers, which as only 1% of the population aren't easy to come by. 

Plus, running the tests can be a lengthy process, as can funding all of the specialists who come in to run the tests and conduct interviews. Finally, processing the data and getting the paper peer reviewed and accepted into a journal can be time consuming as well. In an email Wednesday, Fu said that funding is still a major roadblock, but she's hopeful this won't be the case for much longer.

There isn't a ton of money going into sleep studies, which Fu said is the wrong approach, since understanding sleep habits could help people avoid diseases that are worsened by sleep deprivation.

"Instead of putting the fire out, let’s try to avoid fire," she said.

No official long-term health effects have been linked to being a short sleeper, though Fu said that is one concern her lab is looking into. For the most part, the people coming into Fu's lab are generally anywhere from 40 to 70 years old and in good health. Most stay active into their later years, and Fu said she's even had one volunteer in her lab who was 90 years old, so she hypothesizes that longevity could also be linked with being a short sleeper.

Ideally, Fu hopes to one day crack the code on how to become a short sleeper without being born with it. Then, maybe there will be more research focus to develop a gene therapy that can adapt people into short sleepers.

"I feel someday in the long-distance future, we can all sleep efficiently, and be healthy and smart," she said. "It's appealing to me."

SEE ALSO: What too little sleep does to your brain and body

DON'T MISS: Here's how much an IUD costs with Obamacare — and without

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jim Cramer reveals the secret to surviving on less than 4 hours of sleep

12 gifts the modern gentleman actually wants this year

5 tips to decorate your home like a rich person, when your bank account is anything but

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Homepolish

Luxury and richness come at varying price points, and creating a space that feels and looks expensive doesn't always have to be costly.

"Sometimes when working with a limited budget, it's easy to say 'let's play it safe," Homepolish designer Ariel Farmer told Business Insider. "More often than not this route leads to the blah and boring world of beige walls and matching sofas and love seats."

However, says Farmer, "You can just as easily achieve your aspirational home goals through sensible purchases and investing in foundational pieces with high impact."

Below, Farmer shares five tips for decorating your home to feel rich when you're on a budget.

DON'T MISS: HGTV’s Chip and Joanna Gaines choose the opposite of trendy when designing a home

SEE ALSO: 13 things that will trash your home's value

1. Invest in a few primary pieces of furniture

If you're designing a living room, for example, Farmer suggests investing in statement furniture, like the sofa or media console, because as "the largest and most utilized pieces of the room ... it's imperative they be functional and stylish."

Farmer says it's important to "steer away from anything too bulky, rounded or 'of the moment.' The pieces you invest in should be timeless and able to evolve with you."



2. Or try a high-quality accent piece

Furniture doesn't always need to be the big investment, says Farmer, especially if you already own an older or inexpensive piece you want to keep. Buying high-quality accent pieces, like pillows and throw blankets, can elevate the overall look of a room, too.

"Sometimes, that $200 lumbar pillow makes your thrift store find of a lounge chair seem like it was ripped out of the pages of the latest design magazine," she said.

Ultimately"it's more about the mix of high and low and buying the best quality that your budget can allow," Farmer says.



3. Get a good paint job

According to Farmer, "a good paint job goes a long way."

She says it's an "inexpensive way to add drama and glamour to a space," without breaking the bank. "Life is too short to live in a white box (unless it's intentional to the design of course!)."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Take a look inside the most expensive home in America at $200 million

Almost every US president since the 1950s has received this watch at inauguration — and Trump may be the last

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Vulcain Cricket

A little-known American tradition could be in danger.

Ever since former President Harry Truman wore a Vulcain Cricket watch while in the White House, it's been a tradition to celebrate a new Commander-in-Chief's inauguration with a gift of the same model, the watchmaker told Bloomberg.

The watch in question is the Vulcain Cricket, a mechanical watch dating back to 1947. It has an alarm function that supposedly sounds like a cricket, which the Secret Service has mistaken for a bomb in the past, according to the company. 

Some models, like the chronograph, retail in the $20,000 dollar range, though a typical model sells for one-third of that. It's unclear exactly which model will be sent to President-elect Donald Trump.

Though Trump will receive his watch, the future of the tradition is in question, as a steep downturn in the Swiss watch industry has forced Vulcain to cut its staff from 12 to just five employees.

“We're small and we're struggling as we also compete with the big players who have more brand recognition,” Daniel Wechsler, Vulcain's VP of sales and marketing, told Bloomberg.

The Swiss watch industry at large is in some trouble thanks to weak worldwide demand and changing consumer tastes.

"Swiss watch industry exports fell faster than at any other time in the first half" of the year, said a report that was recently released by Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH. Compagnie Financière Richemont SA — parent of A. Lange & Söhne, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Cartier — erased 350 jobs this year, while Swatch Group — the biggest Swiss watchmaker, which makes cheap plastic models as well as luxury brands like Omega — saw profits fall 53.6% year over year.

It's not yet clear whether the Vulcain watch Trump receives at inauguration will mark the end of the the six-decade tradition. The small workshop, which dates back to 1858, may even be for sale. It has been owned by the Saudi Arabian Al-Rayes family since 2009.

SEE ALSO: A steel wristwatch just shattered the record for the most expensive watch ever sold

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the best watches at every price point

This simple subscription service will revolutionize your bathroom

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BizIns Razor

When Mike Dubin founded Dollar Shave Club in 2011, his idea was simple: Give men an easy way to get fresh, high-quality blades without the expense or hassle. It was ridiculous that buying razors meant waiting around for a store employee to unlock a razor case — almost as ridiculous as some of the higher-priced razors with “shaving breakthroughs." 

When Dollar Shave Club launched, it put an end to the hassle of shopping for razors by delivering high-quality razors directly to its members. With one simple idea, Dollar Shave Club solved a frustration that had plagued men for decades. And within a few years, their membership exploded to over three million strong.

Are the blades any good?

Over the years, men have grown accustomed to the price point set by the big razor companies. They just assume that sticker shock is part of shaving. But why should a razor cost an arm and a leg? It doesn’t make sense.

Dollar Shave Club blades are made from high-quality stainless steel for a close and smooth shave. Members automatically get replacement cartridges every month, or every other month, meaning they can shave with a fresh blade whenever they want. In short, members can always shave with a razor at its best: close and smooth.And at a fraction of the price of the big razor companies, why not always shave with a fresh blade?

The whole bathroom, deliveredBizIns Wanderer

Dollar Shave Club also formulates and makes its own grooming brands: Wanderer shower products, Boogie's hair stylers, Dr. Carver's shave products, and the GQ award-winning Big Cloud skin protection products. With a few clicks, you can take care of your entire grooming regimen, from razors to body wash, and get it all shipped to your door in one box. And with a 100% money-back guarantee, there’s no reason to worry about getting stuck with a product you don’t like.

Taking a "no BS" approach

One of the things new customers say they appreciate the most about Dollar Shave Club is how open the company is about the ease of canceling a membership. There are no long-term contracts (cancel anytime), cancellation penalties, or other hidden fees. Perhaps because of this (or because of their award-winning Club Pros), most members stay in the Club for years and years.

Dollar Shave Club’s newest strategy

For the first time in Dollar Shave Club’s history, they’re letting new members try their best razors for $1. Just pick one of their three razors (the Executive is the highest rated) and they’ll ship you a free, weighty handle and four replacement cartridges. If you like the razors, you can keep replacement cartridges coming for as little as $3 a month. If you’re not in love with the shave, there’s no obligation to buy anything. You can even keep the razors they sent you.

 

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Dollar Shave Club

 

 

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Dollar Shave Club

 

For more information on how to get your best shave ever, visit Dollar Shave Club

This post is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. | Content written and provided by Dollar Shave Club.

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These eerily empty street photos show how different New York City was in the crime-ridden 1970s

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125_Cars

Riddled with crime, and on the brink of bankruptcy, New York City was a very different place 40 years ago. Unlike most New Yorkers, photographer Langdon Clay spent much of the 1970s walking around Manhattan alone in the middle of the night.

It certainly wasn't the safest way to spend his time, but "being young and foolish can have its advantages," Clay told Business Insider.

While roaming the streets, Clay documented the city's cars, peacefully parked and left for the night, reflecting the neon signs and street lights. Though the photographic focus is on the cars, it's hard to ignore the fact that there are very rarely any other people in the shot. Clay's new book, "Cars — New York City 1974-1976," is a collection of photos of a New York City that will probably never be that eerily quiet again.  

SEE ALSO: These photos show how drastically Manhattan's Financial District has evolved since the '70s

Clay moved to New York City in 1971. 1,691 murders were reported in the city the following year.

Source: The Village Voice



By 1975, the city had to agree to deep budget cuts to avoid bankruptcy.



In those days, the city was "mostly broke," Clay said. He referenced a New York Daily News headline that read "(President) Ford to City: Drop Dead!" after city officials had gone to Washington "hat in hand." "But I didn't notice much of that," Clay said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 things you may not know about retirement

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LFG retirement

Planning for your retirement seems simple enough: Max out your 401(k), age gracefully, then retire to sunny Florida and enjoy your grandkids. But as it turns out, there's much more to it.

Here are five surprising things you may not know about retirement.

1. It's never too late to save 

It's important to start saving for retirement early because yearly contributions to IRAs and 401(k) plans are limited. But at age 50, you're eligible for "catch-up contributions," which can help boost your retirement savings by allowing you to save additional funds each year. So even if you weren't able to take full advantage of the compounding interest that makes saving early so important and valuable, you can still save a comfortable amount.

2. A little patience can pay off 

To receive full Social Security retirement benefits, you have to reach full retirement age (FTR), which is currently 66 for those born between 1943-1954 and will rise to 67 for those born after 1960. But if you wait to retire until the FTR, you'll receive delayed retirement credits, which increase your benefits 8.0% for each year they accrue. So, currently if you were born between 1943-1954 and wait three additional years to retire, your retirements benefits would be 24% higher than if you had retired at 66.

3. You'll probably enjoy a (very) long retirement

Americans are living longer, with an estimated one out of every four 65-year-olds living past age 90 today, according to the Social Security Administration. If you retire at 67 and live to 91, that's 24 years of income you'll need to provide for yourself. While some costs will decrease (commuting, work attire, income taxes), your retirement funds may need to stretch over multiple decades and compensate for factors like inflation and increased healthcare costs. Estimating your retirement expenses with an eye toward longevity planning can help guide your investment decisions.

4. You'll probably be taking care of a parent and yourself

Living longer means more time to spend with loved ones, but retirees are increasingly finding themselves as the primary caregivers for their elderly parents. The average primary caregiver is currently in their 50s, works full-time, and spends three hours per day caring for a loved one, but the National Alliance for Caregiving notes that 20% are now 65 and above. Aging often means increased health-related expenses, and in some cases long-term care needs. So, you may want to consider long-term care benefits because they can provide protection for your retirement income.

5. Retirement improves your outlook 

Retirement improves both happiness and health, according to a recent study by The National Bureau of Economic Research. Though the importance of planning for retirement can't be denied, and even if you still have decisions to make, it's good to know that most retirees report being happy and healthy.

Find out more about how to plan for your retirement.

This post is sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group.

SEE ALSO: More What Matters

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A 58-story skyscraper in San Francisco is sinking and people are fighting over whose fault it is

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millennium tower san francisco

Millennium Tower, a $350 million skyscraper completed in 2008, has sunk 16 inches and tilted two inches since it opened.

Now San Francisco's very own "leaning tower" is in the middle of a battle between the building's developers, residents, and city officials over who's at fault. The fight's far from done.

Here's what you need to know about the development and sinking of Millennium Tower.

 

 

SEE ALSO: Meet the famous residents and jaw-dropping properties inside San Francisco's own 'leaning tower'

Millennium Tower rises 58 stories above San Francisco's Financial District.



The city's fourth tallest skyscraper contains over 400 multimillion-dollar condo units. It soars 645 feet, providing residents with unparalleled views of the Bay Area.

Source: Wikipedia



Completed in 2008, Millennium Tower includes top-notch amenities, including a pool, fitness center, wine cellar and tasting room, and concierge service.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This New York City restaurant spends more than $60,000 a year getting ready for Christmas — take a look inside

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When it comes to getting in the Christmas spirit, no one does it quite like Rolf's German Restaurant in New York City's Gramercy Park.

The otherwise quiet restaurant and bar is a spectacle during the holidays. Thousands of sparkling ornaments, icicles, lights, and dolls dangle above customers as they sip spiked hot apple cider and mulled wine. 

Last year, Business Insider spoke to restaurant manager Suhal Uddin to get the scoop behind Rolf's tradition of over-the-top Christmas decorations. He estimated that there are about 15,000 ornaments and 100,000 lights hung up inside. It all costs the restaurant between $60,000 and $65,000 each year.  

We had to check out the decorations for ourselves — here's what we saw.

SEE ALSO: 12 gifts the modern gentleman actually wants this year

The Christmas decorations usually start going up during the last week of September.



Over the following six weeks, six men work overnight, five nights a week, to complete the decorating process.



By November 1, it's complete. At Rolf's, the holiday season begins well before Thanksgiving.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 30 most expensive colleges to live near

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There's no way around it: College is expensive. Not only do tuition prices continue to rise, but location can skew the final price tag as well, especially for students who want to live close to campus.

HomeUnion, an online residential real estate investment management firm, compiled a list of the colleges with the most expensive off-campus housing. The site compared the median rent within a two-mile radius of the university's campus to the market-rate rent for the larger metro area to find which schools have inflated rent costs near campus. 

Universities in California — Los Angeles-based UCLA and Stanford, located on the outskirts of San Jose in Silicon Valley — earned the top two spots, with students paying more than 50% the market rate to live close to campus. Though notorious for its high cost of living, New York City landed at No. 10 on the list, likely due to the fact that prices remain high throughout the city and don't necessarily spike close to New York University's campus.

Read on to see the full list of the most expensive colleges to live near. 

SEE ALSO: The 30 best college towns in America

DON'T MISS: The 50 best law schools in America

30. University of Michigan

Metro area: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Median rent near campus: $1,964

Market-rate rent: $1,793

Percent above market: 9%



28. (TIE) Clemson University

Metro area: Greenville, South Carolina

Median rent near campus: $1,288

Market-rate rent: $1,158

Percent above market: 11%



28. (TIE) University of Wisconsin at Madison

Metro area: Madison, Wisconsin

Median rent near campus: $1,794

Market-rate rent: $1,611

Percent above market: 11%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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