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Inside the mysterious LA sex club that costs up to $75,000 a year and is rumored to have hosted Gwyneth Paltrow as a guest

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Snctm

  • Snctm is an elite members-only sex club.
  • Rumored guests at Snctm's events have included Gwyneth Paltrow and Bill Maher.
  • The club's founder is currently feuding with its first member, Phuong Tran.

 

Snctm, a members-only elite sex club that hosts international events, is in hot water — and it could potentially jeopardize the privacy of its wealthy members.

The club — where a basic membership costs $20,000, while the special "Violet Key membership" for male members is a one-time payment of $1 million — centers itself on the idea of exploring the boundaries of what sex means, and how it makes its members feel. Snctm has reportedly hosted high-profile guests at its parties including Gwyneth Paltrow and Bill Maher.

Referred to as "erotic theater" by its founder, Damon Lawner, the club hosts masquerades, pool parties, classes, and dinner events for its male members, as well as approved female guests, all with the ability for attendees to either participate, or simply act as voyeurs. 

This week a feud erupted between Lawner and the club's first and most notorious member, Phuong Tran — also known by his character name, "Bunnyman" — when it was announced that Tran's membership had been revoked.

Tran posted an Instagram in November to say he believed "The pillars (privacy, safety, and exploration) that sustained the Club have crumbled." He has also accused Lawner of leaking names of celebrity guests to the media. The Dominus membership — the type Tran lost — is available to only 20 people worldwide and costs $75,000.

While no photography is allowed inside a Snctm event, HBO and Showtime have both aired documentaries exploring the parties the club hosts. Below are scenes from their recordings that show a small glimpse into the private and exclusive world of Snctm. 

SEE ALSO: I went to a decadent, $450-a-ticket party inspired by the Illuminati — and it was a totally surreal experience

DON'T MISS: Hollywood's elite $75,000-a-year sex club that claims to have celebrity members is embroiled in scandal after evicting one of its own

A majority of Snctm's events are hosted in Holmby Hills, California — at a private residence that's on an acre of land.

Source: Goop



In an interview published on Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle site Goop, Lawner said his inspiration for creating Snctm was to have "a meaningful conversation about sex, relationship, erotica, fetish, love, pain, and ultimately pleasure of the highest vibration that we might reach together."

Source: Goop



Becoming a member is a competitive, and expensive process. In terms of what they're looking for in members, Lawner told Goop: "Beauty, intelligence, wit, success, sexiness, wisdom, openness, non-judgment, desire to explore, fearlessness."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

All 49 of Netflix's notable original movies, ranked from worst to best

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netflix brightAs Netflix will be releasing 80 new original films over the course of 2018, it's worthwhile to take stock of all that the service currently offers. 

While the company's first entry into the realm of big-budget films, the Will Smith-led "Bright," has been scorched by critics, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has hailed the fantasy-action thriller as a commercial success that critics are "disconnected" from. 

On the opposite end of the critical spectrum, Dee Rees' period drama "Mudbound" recently earned the company four Oscar nominations in a record haul that appears to have legitimized Netflix as an awards season contender for feature films.

To figure out which Netflix original films are actually worth watching, we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to rank each release by its composite critical reception. We excluded documentaries and any film that didn't have enough reviews to receive a designation of "Rotten" or "Fresh," and we used audience scores to break ties.

Here are 49 of Netflix's original films, ranked from worst to best, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: All 54 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

49. “The Ridiculous 6” — 0%

Critic score: 0%

Audience score: 31%

Netflix description: "When his outlaw dad is kidnapped, Tommy 'White Knife' Stockburn sets off across the West on a rescue mission with five brothers he never knew he had."



48. “The True Memoirs of an International Assassin” — 0%

Critic score: 0%

Audience score: 42%

Netflix description: "After his publisher markets his crime novel as a memoir, a novice author finds himself forcibly recruited into a deadly political plot in Venezuela."



47. “The Do-Over” — 5%

Critic score: 5%

Audience score: 42%

Netflix description: "The life of a bank manager is turned upside down when a friend from his past manipulates him into faking his own death and taking off on an adventure."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Extravagant weddings, official state visits, and lavish decor — here's what it's like inside Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club

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Trump melania mar a lago

When President Donald Trump and his family aren't on foreign trips, at home, or golfing in Bedminster, New Jersey, they're likely at the Mar-a-Lago Club, the seaside resort he calls "the winter White House."

The Palm Beach resort, which was built in the early 20th century and is Florida's second largest mansion, serves as the first family's weekend getaway, and the president has used it on multiple occasions to host important dignitaries.

But first and foremost, Mar-a-Lago is a place of lavish luxury. With its countless ornately decorated rooms and halls, it is a place that is built to impress.

Here's a look inside the complex, and what it takes to become a member:

SEE ALSO: See inside the swanky party at Mar-a-Lago where Trump watched the Super Bowl

DON'T MISS: Trump's Mar-a-Lago is being slammed as a 'disgrace' after serving caviar with plastic spoons

The Mar-a-Lago Club is a 20-acre estate with 128 rooms. The heiress to Post Cereal built it in 1927. It spans the entire width of the island Palm Beach is located on, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intercoastal Waterway.

Source: Town and Country Magazine



Trump bought the estate and all of its antique furniture in 1985 for a combined total of $8 million.

Source: Town and Country Magazine



Today, it serves as the Trump family's playground, but is also open to people who purchase a membership at the club. Back in the 1990s, memberships cost $50,000, but they soared to $200,000 for the final spots after Trump's election.

Source: Palm Beach Daily News



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Dr. Ruth has interviewed thousands of people about their sex lives — and she's found the biggest threat to a relationship happens outside the bedroom

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dr ruth westheimer

  • Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a psychosexual therapist. She's found boredom — inside and outside the bedroom — is the biggest threat to a romantic relationship.
  • Before you give up on a boring relationship, Westheimer says you should try making your own life more exciting.
  • Other experts recommend trying new things with your partner as a way to combat boredom. 


Dr. Ruth Westheimer separated from her second husband when their daughter was one year old.

In her 2015 memoir, "The Doctor Is In: Dr. Ruth on Love, Life, and Joie de Vivre," she explains what happened: "What we'd had was a great love affair, but there wasn't enough of a connection to sustain a marriage that would last a lifetime. One of the missing ingredients was intellectual stimulation."

Westheimer — better known simply as Dr. Ruth — is arguably the world's most famous sex therapist. At 89 years old, she's heard from thousands of people about their most pressing sex and relationship issues. Over time, she's learned that the biggest danger to a romantic relationship is boredom — and not just in the bedroom.

In "The Doctor Is In," Westheimer writes:

"I often speak about sexual boredom, and it's certainly a topic that magazines like Cosmo address regularly, but in my opinion, sexual boredom is only a minor aspect to a couple's not having a satisfying sex life. Intellectual boredom with each other is a much bigger culprit."

Westheimer tweets frequently about the hazards of a boring relationship. From February 2012: "Boredom affects not just your sexual relationship but your entire relationship. Seek out ways to push boredom out of your life."

Boredom isn't necessarily the death knell for a relationship

Interestingly, other experts say boredom may not be an inherently negative experience. Elizabeth Bernstein at The Wall Street Journal reported that boredom can be a sign that you need to make a change in your relationship.

One therapist told The Journal that it's important to identify when and where you feel bored. Then talk to your partner about the situation — but instead of using the word "bored" or placing blame, suggest a new joint activity.

Indeed, research suggests that couples who try new things together are more satisfied with their relationships.

Westheimer concludes "The Doctor Is In" by answering questions she received from the audience at a production of "Becoming Dr. Ruth," a play based on her life. In response to a question about the biggest danger to a relationship, Westheimer responds (you guessed it): boredom.

She writes:

"The first step to fighting boredom is to recognize it. One clue is that you're always tired even though there's no particular cause, like a baby who wakes you five times a night or financial worries that keep you from falling asleep. The reason that you are tired is that there's nothing about your life that makes you excited."

Perhaps surprisingly, Westheimer recommends spicing up your own life as a way to combat relationship boredom: Visit the theater, join a book club, take an online course. "By investing in yourself in all these ways, you'll find that the fog of boredom will lift and the bright light of joie de vivre will being to light your life."

She caveats that if none of this is helping, you should seek professional guidance. And if Westheimer's experience in her second marriage is any indication, sometimes you may have to end the relationship.

The takeaway here is that, if you're on the fence about whether to stay in a boring relationship, you should exhaust all reasonable possibilities before giving up.

Here's Westheimer in "The Doctor Is In" again: "Joie de vivre isn't just a phrase that you sprinkle on your life now and then. It's an attitude that should permeate your every waking hour. It takes a little effort but let me assure you, the rewards are well worth it."

SEE ALSO: Dr. Ruth has interviewed thousands of people about their sex lives — and she says the most common relationship problem hasn't changed since the 1980s

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A relationship psychologist describes 3 ways to strengthen your relationship

It doesn't matter what class you're in — there's only one thing that makes a flight enjoyable or not (DAL)

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delta_ecuador_tickets

  • People fret over what class they're in on planes, but the only thing that truly matters are the people staffing the flight.
  • A bad flight crew can making flying a nightmare, while a good one can make it a dream.
  • I realized this on a trip of three very different flights from Quito to NYC.


On a recent flight from Ecuador to New York, I realized that it doesn't matter what class you're in, how new the plane is, or how extensive the in-flight entertainment is.

The only thing that determines how enjoyable a flight is is the crew.

Growing up outside Minneapolis, I've flown Delta since they bought out Northwest — in the main cabin, Delta Comfort, first class, and even one unbelievably luxurious flight from London to New York in Delta One.

While the size of your seat and your food options may change from class to class, a cranky flight attendant can make or break a trip. Likewise, a fantastic flight crew can make the naturally uncomfortable act of flying a dream.

Case in point: Even though I was in Delta Comfort on all three flights I took to get back from Ecuador, I had wildly different experiences on all of them.

While I knew my Quito-to-Atlanta, Atlanta-to-Detroit, Detroit-to-Newark jaunt would be an adventure, I didn't expect each leg of the journey to be so different.

Terrible service

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All the flights arrive in and leave from Quito around midnight, and mine was scheduled to depart at 12:30 a.m. Since it was an international flight and I was in Delta Comfort, I had two goals for the flight: Watch as many movies as possible, and take advantage of the free drinks.

When I boarded, I was feeling frazzled. I wanted a glass of white wine. But there were no flight attendants to be found.

I knew they had important duties to perform before takeoff, and I didn't want to bug them. I figured I'd wait until the captain told us we were free to move about the cabin before asking for my first drink.

Yet two hours passed without anyone checking in. I finally pushed my flight attendant call button. The man assigned to take care of first-class passengers came my way, asking what I needed.

At this point, I needed a whiskey-ginger, I told him. He acknowledged my request, and summoned "my section's" flight attendant to tell her. She finally came through with the beverage cart 15 minutes later, and gave me one tiny bottle of Jack Daniel's with my ginger ale.

There was no smile, no feeling of warmth, and she seemed particularly annoyed when I was surprised they didn't have the delicious Biscoff cookies I love so much.

Hours later, I was one movie down and had only had one drink so far. It was around 3:30 a.m., and the same flight attendant came through with what was supposed to be the breakfast service. She asked if I wanted a cheese plate or a chicken salad sandwich. What??

I chose cheese plate (I wasn't even hungry, but OK) and asked if she had anything to drink besides soda. She said yes. I asked for a Baileys on the rocks and she gave me the tiniest bottle of Irish liquor I have ever seen. I poured it onto the ice. A sad inch of booze covered the bottom of my plastic cup. So far, I was falling far short of my goals.

And that was all the service I got on my five-hour international flight. I never saw another flight attendant. At 6 a.m., I entered America in a foul mood.

The saving grace

Delta flight attendant pilot

But then, miraculously, my second flight was a dream.

I walked through the door, and jokingly apologized to the head flight attendant because he was using my seat to greet oncoming passengers. We immediately started chatting and established an amusing rapport.

All the flight attendants on the flight clearly knew each other and enjoyed working together. They joked with one another in the aisles, acted as a tight team to make sure everyone's carry-ons would fit onboard, and even looked up our arrival gate to reassure one man he would make his connection on time.

The minute we reached cruising altitude, they came through with the beverage service. When one of the flight attendants I was joking with came to take my order as I was watching my third movie of the day, I asked for a screwdriver.

"Two vodkas?" she asked. "Yes, I think that's a good idea," I replied. Goals, met.

Another member of the crew struck up a conversation with me, and I told him it was clear they were having a great time. "I love my team," he told me. "We're going to Vegas tonight!"

Long after all the cups and Biscoff wrappers were cleared and the tray tables were put away, he came back.

"Another round?" he asked.

"Why not!" I responded, and he hand-delivered another vodka-orange juice to my seat.

When we touched down in the Motor City, I was sad the flight was over.

The only thing that matters

delta skyclub

An airline could do everything perfectly, but if the person delivering the service to you at the end of the line is having a rotten day, or doesn't like their job, or doesn't want to help, that's all you're going to remember.

The first flight crew made me feel bad for asking for a drink, when that's part of the experience that I was supposed to get. But the second crew made me feel like I was at a friend's house, putting me at ease and making me feel pampered and appreciated at the same time.

My third flight had a good crew, and I remember it as a good flight — simple as that.

Delta's CEO Ed Bastian told Business Insider's Benjamin Zhang in December 2017 that he's made taking care of employees a priority under his tenure, and that overall pay is up 80% since 2008.

"We had a number of things we had to invest in and the most important thing was our people," Bastian said.

Maybe the first flight attendant was having a bad day, but it seems that mentality hasn't trickled down to all of Delta's people yet.

Ashley Black, a Delta spokeswoman, told me the company sees focusing on people as the way they're going to take the brand to the next level. Since they're in the customer service business, she said, finding the right people to deliver tip-top hospitality starts with recruitment.

"We realize that every interaction is an opportunity and every moment matters," she said. "Our goal is to remove any distractions or barriers so that Delta people can connect with our customers and deliver a more personalized experience."

With airlines trying to squeeze every penny they can in an era of shrinking profits, they could get a lot more bang for their buck by focusing on people above all else.

Mood lighting or fancy new planes or brand new movies aren't going to make people lifelong customers.

Good feelings are how you build loyalty. And positive interactions with real people make all the difference in the world.

SEE ALSO: Delta's CEO explains why airline computers fail and how tech will change flying

DON'T MISS: We went to a Victoria's Secret store in New York City and saw why the brand is struggling

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How much legroom you get on major US airlines

The 15 Oscar best-picture winners that made the most money at the US box office

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forrest gump

As the 2018 Academy Awards draw closer, it's time to dive into the numbers and check out which of the best-picture winners are the biggest moneymakers of all time at the box office.

There are some obvious ones here, but thanks to inflation, there are a few titles that may surprise you.

Here are the top 15.

Note: All box-office figures are domestic grosses only and include any earnings from rereleases. All figures are from Box Office Mojo.

SEE ALSO: 5 reasons "Wonder Woman" was one of the most important films of 2017, and deserved a best picture Oscar nomination

15. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) — $504.9 million

Unadjusted: $24 million



14. “Rocky” (1976) — $505 million

Unadjusted: $117 million



13. “Lawrence of Arabia (1962) — $508 million

Unadjusted: $45 million



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Dating is getting even more complicated — here are 5 more terms you need to know in 2018

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flowers man

If you thought the world of ghosting, stashing, and sidebarring was bad, things are about to get worse.

Modern dating is tough, and sometimes it can feel like everyone else has a manual to follow while you're left in the dark wondering if anyone will ever love you. 

The game playing makes it even more complicated. When are you supposed to arrange the second date? How long do you wait until you phone or text the person you're interested in? 

Of course, social media only perpetuates our anxieties.

However, thanks to dating website Plenty of Fish, there are names for all the digital dating behaviours you're likely to come across in 2018 — and most of them are linked to our phones, according to the site's dating expert Shannon Smith.

"[They] can often be avoided by communicating clearly with someone we're dating, and being mindful of our tech manners," she told Business Insider. "For instance, 'Cricketing' and 'Ghostbusting' are simply by-products of attempting to spare someone's feelings, or avoiding an awkward conversation that we shouldn't shy away from. And we all know that phoneless 'Flexting' has been going on since the dawn of time.

She added: "Singles in 2018 are incredibly savvy daters, and are more empowered than ever to make the best choices for them when it comes to their romantic dealings. But in a fast-paced world with so much choice, sometimes we all need a reminder that dating should be fun!"

Here are the five new dating behaviours to be aware of in 2018 — then you can go back to swiping away to your heart's content, knowing what you're getting yourself into.

SEE ALSO: You've heard of 'ghosting' — here are the 14 modern dating terms you need to know

1. Flexting

Flexting is digitally boasting to impress your date before you meet them in real life. According to Plenty of Fish data, 47% of single people have experienced this, via a person who brags to them over texts to big themselves up.

It's usually women on the receiving end of this behaviour, with 63% reporting having gotten messages like this, compared to just 38% of men.



2. Cricketing

Cricketing someone is when you leave them on "read" for too long. In some cases it can take days for the other person to reply and continue the conversation. Instead of getting a response, the sender is met with silence. Cue the crickets.

The majority of single people, 67% of them, have said they've waited patiently for a reply and have gotten it way later than expected. We're all just busy, okay?



3. Ghostbusting

This is one for the people who don't give up. Ghostbusting is where you continue to text someone when they are straight up ignoring you (ghosting).

According to Plenty of Fish, a massive 78% of single millennials have been ghosted by someone they were dating. In the current callous, cowardly world of dating, it's good to know there are some perseverent people left — 38% of people reported someone wouldn't stop texting them after they tried to phase them out.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You can legally drink your own booze on a flight — here's how

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Flight attendant drink service

  • There are ways of legally bringing — and drinking — your own booze on a flight, according to frequent flier Gilbert Ott.
  • On his blog God Save the Points, Ott provides the do's and don'ts of making it happen.
  • Whatever you do, never try and serve yourself.


Unless you're flying first class, chances are you're used to only getting one or two complimentary drinks on a flight — or at least having to pay for alcohol, even if it is just those mini bottles of wine available.

But, according to frequent traveller and air miles guru Gilbert Ott of God Save the Points, it's actually possible to legally bring – and drink — your own booze on board. Here's what you need to know:

You can make good use of the 100ml bottle rule...

While an entire bottle of whiskey won't make it through security, there's an easy way to get a smaller amount of your favourite tipple through.

"You’re probably aware that liquid containers may not exceed 100ml," Ott writes. "Same goes for perfume, cosmetics, etc.

"Fortunately, mini alcohol bottles fit into the sizing requirements, and you can bring multiple mini bottles through security. It’s absolutely fine. Just put them in a clear plastic bag, just as you would any other liquid items."

...or go shopping at duty-free.

Your second option is shopping for booze once you get into the airport lounge — as long as you're flying direct.

"If you’re travelling internationally, you could absolutely buy a bottle of wine or Champagne (anything you’ll consume entirely on the plane) on your next flight," Ott writes, warning: "Don’t buy from duty-free if you have a connection where you’ll need to re-clear security before consuming. You’ll lose it!"

Whatever you do, don't try to serve yourself

"You CANNOT serve yourself on the plane. Any plane. No. You can’t," Ott stresses. "You CAN however politely ask a member of the cabin crew if they would not mind serving you the liquor you brought on board.

"JetBlue famously made light of this policy last year — and we know many have successfully done this on other airlines around the world. There are no guarantees a crew will say YES — but this is real — and this happens."

Be prepared to drink the whole bottle

While you might get a nice flight attendant willing to open your own bottle for you, you better be ready to drink the whole thing.

"Don’t ask the crew to open anything which will not be finished on board. And please, be discrete," Ott writes. "The crew must dispose of anything open and unconsumed at the end of the flight. For that reason, it’s best to keep things simple."

Don't overdo it

According to Ott, the crew have final say on your ability to consume alcohol — so be wise in your consumption.

"If they decide you look far too ready for midnight karaoke — they have full right to cut you off," he writes. "In each and every circumstance — arguing with them is going to go poorly for you, so just don’t. Just sit back relax, enjoy the flight and politely persuade someone to pour you a lovely drink. You’ll be on the ground before you know it."

SEE ALSO: Everything flight attendants notice about you when you board a plane — and how their tips could help you get a free upgrade

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 science-backed ways for a happier and healthier 2018 — this is what you do the very first week


Asking someone how they are 'still single' isn't as complimentary as you think — here's why

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date flowers

  • Asking someone why they are still single is a popular first date question.
  • But it actually comes with a lot of negative implications.
  • Dating expert Erika Ettin says it suggests there is something wrong with being single, and you should avoid talking about exes at all when you first meet someone new.


When you're on a first date and it's going well, congratulations, you've cleared the first hurdle.

But even though you're quite sure you're attracted to each other, other anxieties can creep up on you.

For example, you might start to ask yourself how the attractive, smart, funny person sitting opposite you could possibly be single.

According to marriage counselor Robert Maurer, asking your date this question out loud is a good way of sussing them out, because it will give you an insight into their attitudes towards their past relationships. Are they always blameless when something goes wrong, or are they mature enough to learn from their mistakes?

However, Erika Ettin, founder of dating site A Little Nudge, says asking someone "so how come someone as wonderful as you is still single?" is a terrible idea.

"To start, this question is a back-handed compliment at its finest, with undertones of 'What's
wrong with you?' or 'Why does no one else want you?'" Ettin said in an email to Business Insider. "This question immediately puts the person at the receiving end on the defensive, when that person has nothing at all to be defensive about."

At best, Ettin said, the person can uncomfortably deflect the question, by answering with something like: "Aren't you lucky that I am?"

The most awkward part of the question, Ettin says, is the use of the word "still," as it implies that there is something wrong with being single in the first place.

"Being single is not a crime," she said. "In fact, it's a valid life choice that many people desire...[It's] as if one thinks you've been single since the day you came out of the womb. The reality is that we never know the other person's story."

It also suggests that being in a relationship is everyone's ultimate goal, which isn't necessarily the case. Just because someone is unattached, doesn't mean they are desperate for a relationship, or they are lagging behind everyone else.

In fact, Ettin says she discourages her clients from discussing past lovers on the first date at all.

"When you go on a date, the focus should be on the present, not the past," Ettin said. "Talking about prior relationships often brings up difficult feelings, usually negative, and takes the tone of the date down. Talk about things that make you happy, what you like to do, and who you are as a person… not who you used to be, and who you used to be with."

With that in mind, however curious you might be about someone's past, perhaps stick to less daunting questions the first time you meet them.

SEE ALSO: Posing this simple question to a first date will help you decide if you have a future together

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Tony Robbins bring someone to tears in a one-on-one motivational session

AI tried to fix a man's ski photo — but it didn't get it quite right

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alex harker ski photos

  • Google Photos occasionally uses AI to suggest edited photos to users on the platform.
  • On this occasion, though, Google messed up in spectacular and hilarious fashion.


Google Photos usually gets it pretty much right.

The photo-sharing service uses AI to suggest users edited or enhanced versions of photos they've uploaded. You might get a stylised filter, you might get an animation or you may get a panorama.

A panorama is what Alex Harker received when Google decided to weld three of his ski holiday photos into one wide image — capturing the stunning mountain scenery in full.

alex harker

There was one small irregularity in Google's panorama, though. If you look carefully between the trees, you'll see that Alex's friend's upper torso has been magnified to gigantic proportions.

Posting the photos on Reddit, Alex (writing as MalletsDarker) said: "I literally took like 3 pictures, one with them in, and two without them. And for some bizarre reason Google Assistant offered me a really strange panorama of the 3 photos spliced together."

One other Reddit user commented: "Wow, other than accidentally putting the giant head in the photo, that panorama stitching is amazing. I could not tell at all it was a stitched panorama. Usually there's dead giveaways because you can see vertical lines in the sky where it was stitched."

The photo-editing fail now has almost 200,000 upvotes on the r/funny subreddit. Although Google has done an incredibly seamless job blending Alex's friend into his surroundings, it's probably unlikely this one will make the photo album.

SEE ALSO: The 23 worst celebrity Photoshop fails

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People are obsessed with this Google app that finds your fine art doppelgänger

19 high-paying jobs for people who love history

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woman selfie vacation rome Colosseum italy history

• History might not seem like the most lucrative field, at first glance.

• But according to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), there are a number of well-paid jobs that require a level of interest in history.

• Many of those occupations are academic in nature.



You know what they say — those who study history are doomed to watch others repeat it.

That being said, history buffs aren't necessarily doomed to a life of subpar wages, despite the anti-humanities naysayers.

If you're dead set on pursuing your passion and entering a field that involves history or archaeology, you've actually got a couple of options when it comes to well-paid jobs.

We checked out the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs, and looked at salary data on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' website to find positions with a median annual salary of over $60,000 that require an extensive knowledge of history.

O*NET ranks how important "knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures" is in any job, assigning each a "history importance level" between one and 100.

Judging from this list, it's mostly academia or bust for history lovers. Sadly, historians themselves didn't make the cut — as the median pay for that job was $55,800 a year.

Here are 19 high-paying positions with a history-importance level of 45 or higher:

SEE ALSO: 25 high-paying jobs that are perfect for shy people

Park naturalists

Median salary: $61,110

History importance level: 74

Park naturalists plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.



Archaeologists

Median salary: $61,220

History importance level: 98

Archaeologists conduct research to reconstruct record of past human life and culture from human remains, artifacts, architectural features, and structures recovered through excavation, underwater recovery, or other means of discovery.



Anthropologists

Median salary: $61,220

History importance level: 82

Anthropologists research, evaluate, and establish public policy concerning the origins of humans.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Cubans have an ingenious system to deal with Cuba's excruciating long lines and mind-numbing bureaucracy

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CubaTravelTips LongLines 1

  • Cuba has long lines for nearly everything you might need to do while on vacation there.
  • Cubans have designed an ingenious system for making lines bearable — knowing the system is the best travel tip you can learn.
  • So long as you are not the last person in line, you can wander if you remember who is in front of you and head back before its your turn.

 

If there's one thing Cuban culture might best be known for — aside from salsa music and cigars — it's long lines.

There are lines for everything: A line for a customs, a line for the bank, a line to buy internet, a line to use the bathroom, a line for the bus.

Most things you want or need to do in Cuba require waiting, particularly if it involves the government. Cubans are so used to waiting in lines that they've even devised a clever system to make it more bearable.

If you are planning on visiting Cuba, knowing the system can make your trip much more enjoyable.

If you don't plan for the lines, you might end up like I did one afternoon last year in Viñales, a small town in western Cuba.

Though I had been warned about Cuba's interminable lines — and experienced a few already — I arrived a little too close to closing time at the state-owned telecom company ETSECA, where you purchase scratch-off internet cards.

I was informed by an office attendant that the person in front of me would be the last to be served. No internet for me that day. There's little sympathy for those who don't plan for the lines.

How Cuba's line system works

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When you arrive at the bank or bakery or wherever else you need to wait, first ask, "Who's last in line?" (best to ask in Spanish: quien es el último?) Whoever is last will instantly tell you. You go behind them, call out el último and now you are the last in line (la cola).

When a new person arrives and becomes el último, you are now free to wander. Next ask the person in front of you in line who they are behind (detrás quien va?). That way if the person in front of you decides not to come back, you know when it's your turn.

So long as you are back before it's your turn, you should be able to jump back to your place in line. But don't try to cut — everyone knows exactly where they are in the queue.

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Rather than get frustrated by the inevitability of long wait times, plan for it. 

For example, exchanging money is one of the most time-intensive things to do in Cuba. If you need to exchange money at the bank, don't show up at 3:45 p.m. expecting bank tellers ready to serve you or happy to stay late. There will be a line and the tellers will leave promptly at 4:00 p.m.

When you finally get to the bank teller, each individual bill that you hand them is thoroughly checked and the serial number is entered into a computer. You can imagine how long this might take if you hand them a stack of $5s, $10s, or even $20s.

Best to carry big bills to speed up the process. The others in la cola will thank you.

SEE ALSO: There are 3 things you need to know before traveling to Cuba — and it will make or break your trip

DON'T MISS: Trump is making it more difficult for Americans to travel to Cuba — these gorgeous photos show what they'll be missing

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Take a look inside one of the most exclusive racing clubs in the world

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The Thermal Club Clubhouse_preview

  • The Thermal Club is one of the most exclusive racing clubs in the world, with only 500 total memberships allowed.
  • Private Villas with racetrack views can cost nearly $7 million to construct and can hold impressive car collections
  • Members can enjoy 5.1 miles of world-class racing circuits and a full motorsports village.


Spanning nearly 400 acres of land in Palm Desert, California, the exclusive Thermal Club is one of the most impressive racing clubs in the world. Keep scrolling for a closer look:

SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz updated one of its most legendary vehicles — and it looks impressive

With a 500 member limit, the Thermal Club is one of the most exclusive racing clubs in the world.



Located in Palm Desert, just south of Palm Springs, the club spans almost 400 acres of land.



You can see an overview of the entire facility and all of the race circuits from the clubhouse viewing tower.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meghan Markle is defying another tradition and will make a speech at her wedding to Prince Harry

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  • Meghan Markle has apparently said she will make a speech after her wedding to Price Harry.
  • The couple's Royal wedding will happen on May 19.


Meghan Markle is no stranger to breaking Royal wedding traditions. According to the Times, she is about to defy another one, and will make a speech at her wedding reception.

In Britain, traditionally the groom, father of the bride, and the best man make speeches after the wedding. It is not common for the bride to say anything, but it does happen sometimes.

The Times reported that Markle, a former actress, will deliver a speech after the ceremony on May 19 this year. It will be an affectionate tribute to her new husband, Harry, and will include thanks to the Queen and her family.

Markle's father, Thomas, is very private and apparently not making a speech. But he is expected to walk his daughter down the aisle.

"She wants to have the chance to thank her husband and everyone who has supported them," a source told the Times. "Harry thinks it's a great idea."

SEE ALSO: These are all of the ways Meghan Markle smashes traditional royal stereotypes

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We tried everything on Taco Bell's new $1 menu and ranked them — here are the only things worth ordering

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Taco Bell Value Menu

  • The fast food value menu wars have flared back up with the release of McDonald's new dollar menu and Taco Bell's overhauled value menu.
  • Taco Bell's "Dollar Cravings" menu has 20 choices on it, including breakfast items. 
  • The majority of items are delicious, but there are a few that are definitely not worth the trouble.  


With the unveiling of its new $1 $2 $3 Menu, McDonald's fired the first salvo of the second Fast-Food War. But Taco Bell has been quick to respond in kind.

Enter: the chain's newly expanded $1 value menu.

There's a lot of competition among fast-food chains to grab the attention of dollar-conscious diners, and the spate of new value menus has sped up the race to the bottom of the value barrel.

And while many chains are slashing menu items left and right in an attempt to simplify customers' choices, Taco Bell's menu bucks the trend. With 19 food choices (and one drink), it far eclipses McDonald's tiered menu's comparatively puny selection of 10 food items. 

There are 11 all-day items and 8 breakfast items — an embarrassment of riches. But don't be fooled by the deal; not all that glitters is gold. We've tasted every item on the menu and ranked them so you know what to fork over a buck for, and what to avoid at any cost.

SEE ALSO: Taco Bell is taking aim at McDonald's with $1 fries — and they're like nothing else in fast food

DON'T MISS: We stacked Shake Shack's new Chick-fil-A copycat against the real thing — and the winner is clear

It's a huge menu — and therefore a huge undertaking to taste-test and rank it all. But someone's got to do it! So here they are, from worst to best.



19. Hash Brown

I'm a huge fan of hash browns. They're the unsung heroes of fast-food breakfasts everywhere — except at Taco Bell. It smells and tastes like a flour tortilla, which makes sense considering it's fried in the same fryer as ... flour tortillas. Efficiency does not make everything edible. 

It's a strange and unsettling flavor combination that should be avoided. 



18. Cheesy Roll Up

Sure, we all did it as a desperate after-school snack — and as a 7th grader who can't cook, it's a good, quick choice. Even as a very broke college student, it's allowed. But come on now, these days have (hopefully!) passed. 

It's a tortilla filled with cheese. Even if you’re extremely inebriated at 2 a.m. and looking for a $1 deal, you can be more imaginative than this. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 most beloved best-picture nominees that got robbed of their Oscars by mediocre movies

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There will be blood

The Oscars determine the best in filmmaking. 

Or do they? Often, best picture winners don't line up with the most beloved movie of the year by fans, or even critics. 

Although many of the most iconic movies in American cinema have been nominated for best picture, some didn't win. But they're loved so much and held in such high regard that you might assume they did. 

Some years were competitive — which is why "There Will Be Blood" lost the best picture win to "No Country for Old Men."

But some votes made by the Academy don't make any sense at all. Some years, the best picture winner was a movie you've probably never heard of. Or worse, sometimes it was a movie that's now considered terrible, like 2005 when "Crash" was awarded best picture instead of "Brokeback Mountain."

Here are the most beloved best picture nominees that didn't actually win:

SEE ALSO: 5 reasons 'Wonder Woman' was one of the most important films of 2017, and deserved a best picture Oscar nomination

"Citizen Kane"

Year: 1942, at the 14th Academy Awards

What beat it: "How Green Was My Valley"

"Citizen Kane," even to those who have not seen it, is one of the most recognizable films of all time, and it didn't even win best picture. A film doesn't have to have "best picture winner" next to its name in order to be iconic, and this movie is a great example. 



"The Graduate"

Year: 1968, at the 40th Academy Awards

What beat it: "In the Heat of the Night"

"The Graduate" is one of the most iconic films in American cinema. From the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack, to the cinematography, to its performances, it quickly became one of those movies that is studied in film class, and is still quoted today. 



"2001: A Space Odyssey"

Year: 1969, at the 41st Academy Awards

What beat it: "Oliver!"

To this day, Stanley Kubrick's revolutionary space odyssey film looks decades ahead of its time. And a mediocre musical beat it. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 22-year-old lauded as the world's best slalom skier shares the 3,000-calorie diet she eats every day for the Olympics

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Mikaela Shiffrin has been hailed as the best slalom skier in the world.

The 22-year-old is expected to dominate at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where she will be defending her slalom crown from the Sochi Games.

Shiffrin, who has notched 40 World Cup wins in her career, fuels on 3,000 calories a day as part of her training for competition. The downhill prodigy makes carbohydrates a part of every meal, though Shiffrin credits "balance and moderation" as the foundation of her diet.

"I feel like I have the metabolism of a pregnant woman," Shiffrin told Clean Eating magazine in 2015. "I have to watch what I eat. It's important."

On a typical day, Shiffrin starts the morning with two eggs and two pieces of whole wheat toast. She might add cereal or oatmeal and fruit for an extra kick of energy.

Lunch consists of lean protein, like chicken or fish, leafy greens, and a serving of carbs. Some of her go-to recipes include a farfalle pasta dish topped with edamame and pecorino cheese and a pesto spaghetti made with basil leaves and spring peas and served with cherry tomatoes.

Shiffrin likes to nibble on nuts, seeds, and dried mangoes when she's on the slopes.

Carbs are on the menu for dinner, as well. A bowl of pasta topped with chicken or steak and served with a salad or steamed vegetables round out the day for the Olympian.

Research shows that eating too many highly processed carbs may contribute to weight gain, promote diabetes and heart disease, and cause a hormonal response that makes you crave more sugary foods. High-carb diets have even been associated with a 28% increased risk of death.

But Shiffrin isn't ashamed to admit her love of pasta and other carbs.

"So if you think you're tough, give me all your love, and I'll give you every little piece of me." #Sia #CantStop #eleganceisanattitude @longines #focusedface

A post shared by Mikaela Shiffrin (@mikaelashiffrin) on Aug 23, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT on

"They're essential in providing the energy I need, especially on race days that can last 12 hours," Shiffrin told Good Housekeeping in January. Shiffrin calls pasta her "superfood."

During the off season, Shiffrin trims back her carb consumption. She fills up on more salads and her favorite vegetables— tomatoes, celery, and peppers.

Still, she won't deprive herself the indulgence of Thai food take-out or chicken parmesan.

"Everything in moderation. I'm not afraid of carbs," Shiffrin told Clean Eating.

SEE ALSO: A look at the career of Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, who competed just hours after an 'excruciating' crash in 2006 and recently said she doesn't represent Trump

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How to keep your dry, cracked skin from erupting this winter, according to science

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If it feels like your skin has been screaming lately, you're not alone.

Winter months in cold climates can be a recipe for dry, itchy, angry skin. "Xerosis," if you prefer the scientific term. 

But figuring out how to keep skin moisturized in the winter can be confusing. Should you change your diet? Drink more water? What about supplements and expensive oils? It's all mixed up in a web of pseudo-science and advice from people trying to sell you stuff.

We've narrowed this winter skin to-do list down to a few simple expert-approved tips.

Take a look at the advice, and then go give your skin some relief: 

SEE ALSO: How often you actually need to shower, according to science

Winter-dry skin isn't your fault. There's a vicious cycle at work.

It's a combination of dry winter air, and the skin that's right under your nose, your face, and your hands. Actually, it's covering the surface of your entire body.

The uppermost layers of your skin are called the stratum corneum, and they're kind of like your skin's shield, protecting what's inside, while keeping out bad elements from the environment.

Our so-called "shield" of armor, this stratum corneum, is made from about 10-15 micrometers of dead-cell skin. Scientific studies show these outermost layers play an important part in keeping natural moisture inside the skin.

 



But when the humidity drops, and winter chill creeps in, the outside air is drier. Then, making matters worse, we use radiators and heaters to stay warm inside, drying out those environments, too.

Our stratum corneum "shield" starts to dry out, opening up the skin's natural barrier.

David Leffell, author of "Total Skin: The Definitive Guide to Whole Skin Care For Life," and chief of dermatologic surgery at Yale School of Medicine, told Business Insider when the stratum corneum gets damaged, natural moisture "leaks out" of the top layers of our skin.

"That's when we start getting itchy, scratchable skin, making matters even worse," he said. And so, the vicious cycle begins. 



The most important thing you can do for your skin is moisturize it.

But remember, not all moisturizers are created equal.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

San Francisco wants to build 12,000 new homes on a former nuclear test site — but the project is in turmoil after the Navy found evidence of a botched cleanup

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  • The San Francisco Shipyard, a mixed-use development rising on the site of a former nuclear testing facility, is in limbo amid new allegations.
  • The Navy has found evidence that a government contractor hired to clean radioactive contamination from the area botched the cleanup.
  • Almost half of the cleanup work was later showed to be falsified or "suspect." Workers swapped soil samples from contaminated sites with clean ones.

 

A sprawling middle-class neighborhood is rising on the site of a former nuclear testing facility in San Francisco. But its future is uncertain amid new allegations of a botched cleanup.

The US Navy has learned that Tetra Tech, a government contractor tasked with the cleanup of radioactive contamination at the retired San Francisco Naval Shipyard, faked more soil tests than previously thought, in order to expedite the city's largest redevelopment project. Workers swapped samples from areas known to be highly contaminated with dirt from clean areas.

According to investigations by Curbed SF and NBC Bay Area, almost half of the toxic waste-site cleanup was "suspect" or has "evidence of potential data manipulation or falsification."

These findings could cause the project to be delayed many years. The Navy is expected to release the results of its investigation into Tetra Tech in a public meeting on January 31.

This long-forgotten patch of the San Francisco waterfront holds promise for the city's strained housing market. The plan is to transform the retired shipyard into a bustling live-work community with 12,000 new homes and about five million square feet of office and commercial space. The project is being developed by Five Point, a spinoff of mega-developer Lennar.

The project has a price tag to match its hefty ambitions: $8 billion. That's on top of the $1 billion or more in taxpayer money that has been spent on the cleanup since the 1990s.

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Hunters Point was a private commercial shipyard from 1869 until the start of World War II, when the Navy bought the property. The military repaired ships and submarines there. From 1948 to 1969, the shipyard hosted a then-secret laboratory that ran tests on ships exposed to nuclear weapons, as well as research on the effects of radiation on living organisms.

Military equipment and ships contaminated by atomic bomb explosions were left at Hunters Point, and toxic substances including petroleum fuels, pesticides, and heavy metals seeped into and polluted the soil at Hunters Point, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in 2015.

After the shipyard closed, it was declared a "superfund" site — a toxic-waste site where the United States Environmental Protection Agency can force parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government to do the work.

That burden fell on the Navy. It outsourced the work of decontamination and soil-testing to Tetra Tech. But several investigations into the nature of those efforts have led to scandals.

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The City of San Francisco selected Lennar as the master developer of the shipyard in 1999. A year later, an investigation by SF Weeklyfound that the Navy mishandled the radioactive waste it produced there. It reportedly dumped huge amounts of contaminated sand into the San Francisco Bay and sprinkled radioactive material around the base to practice cleanup.

In 2017, several former employees of Tetra Tech admitted to faking soil tests. They described a company culture that valued speed over safety and accuracy. The whistleblowers led the federal Environmental Protection Agency to delay transfers of land from the Navy to the new master developer, Five Point.

The latest revelations suggest the cleanup was more questionable than previously thought.

Last fall, the Navy hired third-party contractors to conduct a review of Tetra Tech's data. A series of draft reports that those contractors presented to the Navy (and which Curbed SF reviewed via a public records request) showed that 853 "units" of land at the shipyard were tested. Of them, 414 were identified as falsified or suspect, representing 48% of total units.

The reports, which have not been publicly released, recommend retesting those 414 units.

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Greenaction, a local non-profit fighting for health and environmental justice, has filed a petitionwith the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to strip Tetra Tech of its license to perform radiological cleanup. Tetra Tech received a $85 million contract from the EPA in October to assess the abandoned uranium mines in the Navajo Nation across the American southwest.

It's unclear what impact the new allegations leveled against Tetra Tech might have.

Construction on the mixed-use development at the (rebranded) San Francisco Shipyard began long ago. Five Point has sold about 300 townhouses and condominiums and plans to build 11,000 more units. A recent quarterly report from Five Point said it expects the Navy to deliver the last 408 acres it owns in phases between 2019 and 2022, instead of starting this year.

Five Point declined to comment on the draft reports and referred Business Insider to the Navy.

The Navy has said that residents who already live at the San Francisco Shipyard are "100 percent safe." The existing housing is located on land that was used for military housing and non-industrial activities, SF Curbed reported and a spokesperson with Five Point confirmed.

Bradley Angel, executive director of watchdog-group Greenaction, told Business Insider that he thinks prospective buyers will think twice before settling down at the shipyard.

"If I was living there, I would definitely be asking some questions," Angel said.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco's housing shortage is so bad that an $8 billion development is rising on a former nuclear test site — here's what it's like

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Most sororities have to follow a sexist and potentially dangerous rule that gives men on college campuses power

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  • A rule within the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) — an umbrella organization of 26 autonomous sororities — bans alcohol in sorority houses.
  • Since these sororities can't throw parties themselves, they throw a number of joint parties, or "mixers," with fraternities throughout the year.
  • At Yale University, some students note the inequity in the arrangement.


On college campuses across America, groups of men who've pledged a brotherhood to one another as part of a fraternity gather and throw parties with alcohol.

Most women who are part of equivalent sister organizations are prohibited from doing so.

That's because of a rule within the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) — an umbrella organization of 26 autonomous sororities — that bans alcohol in sorority houses. These sororities are not allowed to throw events with alcohol, because their governing national chapters voluntarily elect to adhere to that rule, and pay lower insurance premiums as a result.

Since sororities can't throw parties themselves, they throw a number of joint parties, or "mixers," with fraternities throughout the year, which make the two organizations codependent. At Yale University, some students note the inequity in the arrangement.

"Sororities are social places for women but they depend on frats for real estate and parties," Korinayo Thompson, co-president of Yale University's co-ed fraternity Fence Club, told Business Insider.

This rule also means that off-campus parties are almost exclusively thrown by male-only organizations. And in these spaces men are in control. Fraternity brothers monitor the door, dictating which attendees are worthy of entrance and gauging the gender ratio, and stand behind the bar.

"There's something weird about a space operated and controlled by men that feeds alcohol to women," Thompson said.

The NPC says its policies represent national best practices. "Our organizations were founded to support scholarship, leadership and engagement on campus – all of which are principles that lead them to prioritize substance-free living environments," Dani Weatherford, executive director of the NPC, said in a statement to Business Insider. "We believe that regardless of where a party takes place, the efforts needed to create safe campuses and battle sexual assault are universal – requiring a culture shift, not a venue shift."

Since women in sororities at Yale must throw joint parties with fraternities, or events at third-party vendors like local bars, if they wish to serve alcohol, they've developed a strategy to protect themselves from men they believe have engaged in sexual harassment or assault.

They use anonymous Google forms to compile the names of men who women fear are dangerous, and then prohibit them from attending certain social events.

"If there is a person you would feel unsafe having at formal, please utilize the Anonymous Feedback form," an October 2017 email to Kappa Alpha Theta sorority members read. "Please use this form seriously and submit it by end of the day Saturday."

The women of Theta submitted the names of people they believed had engaged in sexual harassment or assault, a Theta sorority sister told Business Insider. Later, executive members of the sorority reviewed the anonymous Google form and barred listed men from the party. Other Yale sororities, including Pi Phi and Alpha Phi, use a similar strategy, according to members of each group.

Read more fraternity and sorority culture at Yale here »

SEE ALSO: At Yale, students found to be sexual assailants return to campus

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