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10 Of The World's Best All-Inclusive, Upscale Cruises

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Seabourn

On most cruise ships, your accommodations, standard meals, entertainment, and daytime activities are included in your fare.

Then the nickel-and-diming begins.

Want a soda? Add it to your tab.

Take a Pilates class? Expect a fee. Indulge at one of the fancy specialty restaurants?

There’s a charge for that, too. The extras quickly add up, often sinking hearts when the bill arrives at the vacation’s end. 

See the best all-inclusive cruises >

But there are cruises that thankfully buck this trend, with out-of-pocket expenses that are truly minimal. Alcoholic drinks, crew gratuities, and sometimes even airfare, shore excursions, and pre- or post-cruise hotel stays are included in the advertised price.

While these great all-inclusive cruises are mostly in the luxury category, you can quantify the perks and often find real value. Swan Hellenic, the upscale British brand, for instance, markets its included shore excursions alone as being worth up to $825 per person.

The most all-inclusive of the cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, did a price comparison showing that when you add in the included air, hotel stay, alcohol, excursions, and gratuities, the difference between cruising in a suite on the more luxurious Regent compared to one on a big mainstream ship was only a few dollars a day.

Scott Kertes, president of Hartford Holidays Travel and a Travel + Leisure A-List agent, says consumers need to carefully note what’s included and compare apples to apples. “In the case of Regent, people might get sticker shock at, say 20 percent more, but they are including 40 percent more. You can literally step on your ship with no money in your pocket.” But on a lot of “all-inclusive” ships, he adds, it’s not that you have no bill but rather a lesser bill.

Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, says that line recently moved to be more inclusive to simplify pricing for its international clientele. A selection of wine, beer, and spirits is now complimentary; passengers can upgrade if they choose. “If all of a sudden they want a Dom Pérignon champagne, they are going to have to pay for that,” he says.

The line also added a cultural experience, AzAmazing Evenings, on every cruise. Pimentel says the nighttime event is worth $350 to $500 per passenger. When it comes to all- or mostly-inclusive cruising, Pimentel adds, “the value screams.”

See the best all-inclusive cruises >

More from Travel + Leisure:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Fleet: With two all-suite, all-balcony, 700-passenger ships and one 490-passenger ship, Regent is the most all-inclusive of all the cruise lines. Cruising destinations include Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Asia/Pacific, and South America.

What’s Included: Practically everything. Round-trip air (business class for top suites); specialty dining; unlimited beverages including premium wines and spirits; in-suite mini-bar; shore excursions in every port; gratuities; pre-cruise luxury hotel package; transfers to the ship.

Sample Cruise: 7-night Rome to Monte Carlo on the Seven Seas Mariner. From $4,799 per person.

rssc.com



Crystal Crusies

Fleet: The two largest ships in the top luxury category, the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity and 922-passenger Crystal Symphony sail around Europe, New England/Canada, the Caribbean/Panama Canal, and on world cruises (also available as segments).

What’s Included: Fine wines and premium spirits; gratuities; dining at Nobu and other specialty restaurants; in-room fridge stocked with soft drinks and beer; fitness classes (including spinning and Pilates Reformer); golf lessons with PGA pro; shuttle service in most ports; self-service laundry. In 2014, select Asia itineraries will include a two-night Beijing land package.

Sample Cruise: 7-night French Canadian Jubilee, round-trip from Montreal, embarking Sept. 26. From $2,830 per person.

crystalcruises.com



Azamara Club Cruises

Fleet: Two 694-passenger ships designed to be like floating country clubs. They sail in Europe, Asia, South America, the West Indies, and Central and North America.

What’s Included: Boutique wines, international beers, and standard spirits; nonalcoholic drinks; gratuities; shuttle transportation to city centers from ports (when available); AzAmazing Evenings nighttime events; self-service laundry. Airfare credit of $500 to $1,000 per person is also offered with select sailings.

Sample Cruise: 7-night Provence and Côte d’Azur, Barcelona to Monte Carlo, on Azamara Journey. From $2,599 per person.

azamaraclubcruises.com



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New York-Inspired Jewish Deli Comes To The South

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The General MuirWhenever Ben and Jen Johnson would visit New York City, they'd stop by their favorite Jewish delis, because "it's always the last deli dinner until the next time."

But three months ago, they decided to change that by opening their own New York-inspired Jewish deli in East Atlanta, an industrial area that reminds the Johnsons of New York's Meatpacking District. This will be the couple's second restaurant — their first is West Egg, a place known for its brunch menu also located in East Atlanta.

"We really wanted a place that would have the food that we've craved that isn't being done on the level that we want it to be done in Atlanta," Jen tells us.

Lined with white tiles that resemble New York's subway scene, The General Muir gives off a classic deli vibe that was most popular in America's northeast in the early-to-mid-1900s. This old American vibe is hard to replicate in the up-and-coming East Atlanta area, where most of the construction is new and modern. 

The General MuirWhen you browse through the menu, the restaurant is "far from kosher" with items such pastrami and corned beef piled on rye bread, matzoh ball soup, chopped liver and a Reuben sandwich, which includes sliced beef, Gruyère cheese and sauerkraut. But the owners did decide to eliminate pork from the menu — a risky decision to make in the South, where pork is a huge part of most people's diets. 

Jen tells us that the decision was made between her and executive chef Todd Ginsberg, who is also a partner. "Neither Todd or I were raised kosher, so we sat around the table and debated what kinds of food we should have on the menu ... we decided not to include bacon, because besides what it symbolizes in the Jewish community, bacon is a crutch ... it's delicious, but you can still make your food delicious without pork, so as of right now, we serve no pork in the restaurant."

The General Muir

Although more common in the Northeast, Jewish food is scarce in the South where there isn't a big Jewish population. The Johnsons see this as an opportunity.

"In recent years, Atlanta has become a metropolitan area filled with young people willing to try new things," says Jen. "There are also a lot of young, creative people who work in professions where they don't have to be in an office at all times, and they can use our restaurant as their office."

The concept is to create a place that's part of the community and "not so expensive so that you can come every day if you want," she says, because, inevitably, that's what the Jewish deli represents in American history.

"It's not necessarily Jewish food; ultimately it's American food ... it was a place for immigrants back then which represents America; everyone has their own immigration story." In fact, the restaurant is named after the ship that brought Jen's grandmother — a Holocaust survivor — to New York Harbor on March 23, 1949. 

The General Muir"We really wanted to create an atmosphere deeply rooted in the neighborhood," she says. "We have photographs of everyone's family throughout the restaurant. We wanted to give off this vibe of something more communal where people could go if they wanted solo dining because they're working, or if they wanted to bring their friends and family."

"Spending time with others is the same as sharing the food you're eating ... the hospitality you receive, the environment that you're eating the food in is probably just as important as the food you're eating. That's the restaurant business."

"There were definitely moments when I woke up thinking maybe there's not this food in Atlanta for a reason ... maybe people don't want it ... maybe only Ben and I want it," but so far, Atlantans seem to be embracing the Jewish concept. The General Muir was featured in Atlanta Magazine's most anticipated restaurant opening article published earlier this year.

As Jewish deli food is introduced down South, The General Muir — located near Emory University — might be another sign that Atlanta is quickly becoming "The New York of the South."

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Millionaire Yoga Guru Bikram Choudhury Accused Of Rape And Human Trafficking

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bikram choudhury yoga class

Millionaire yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been accused of rape, sexual assault and "human trafficking" in two new lawsuits filed by former students.

According to the suits, filed in Los Angeles this month, Choudhury has "a propensity to sexually assault young women". The two suits, filed by women named only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, accuse Choudhury and Bikram Yoga College of India of sexual battery, false imprisonment, discrimination, harassment and other counts.

Calcutta-born Choudury, the 67-year-old founder of the "hot yoga" chain, runs an international empire of about 650 yoga studios across three continents. Choudhury claims to have taught yoga to presidents Nixon, Reagan and Clinton. Celebrities including Lady Gaga, David Beckham and Madonna have practiced Bikram, a series of 26 yoga poses that take place in rooms heated to over 100F (37.8C).

Another former Bikram student, Sarah Baughn, filed a suit in March claiming Choudhury made sexual advances while she was training to be a teacher. That complaint alleged sexual harassment but not rape. The two new plaintiffs have opted to maintain their anonymity.

All three women are being represented by Mary Shea Hagebols of Shea Law Offices in Oakland, California. "I have worked with the victims of sexual assault for decades," she said. "It is very difficult for someone to come forward and speak out against someone powerful and wealthy." She said her clients wished to protect other women from similar assaults.

Petra Starke, president of Bikram Yoga College of India, said she could not comment on the cases.

Jane Doe 1, who filed her suit on 7 May, claims Choudhury raped her twice in the fall of 2011. She claims that Choudhury's inner circle (identified in the suit as defendants 1-25) were aware of their boss's behaviour.

"Plaintiff is informed and believes that after defendant Bikram Choudhury lures the young women to his place of business, through various schemes and designs and with the participation of his inner circle who are knowledgeable of and complicit in the abuse, he sexually assaults and/or rapes them," the suit alleges.

In March this year Jane Doe 1 said she confronted Choudhury and told him his conduct was "unlawful, unwanted, and unconsented to". She said Choudhury tried to "inflict guilt" on her by saying if she came forward, the Bikram community would suffer.

Jane Doe 2, who filed on 6 May, claims that Choudhury raped her in November 2010 after her boyfriend gave her a gift of a $13,000 nine-week teacher training programme at Choudhury's Bikram Yoga studio in San Diego. The grueling training programme began at 7am and ended at between 2am and 3am. During the sessions, would-be teachers were told what they could eat, wear (skimpy clothing and nothing green), what they could say and "the expressions on their faces", Jane Doe 2 alleges.

During weeks of gruelling training Choudhury allegedly singled out Jane Doe 2 claiming she was "a piece of gold in a roomful of brass". His approaches allegedly became more sexual and were rebuffed. The suit alleges the exhausted student was raped when she was "too weak and overwrought to fight him off".

The suits paint a cult-like atmosphere at the training camps. Trainees were allegedly told that Choudhury is on the same level as Jesus Christ or Buddha, that Bikram yoga can cure cancer and that practitioners will be able to live to 100 years old. Trainees were bullied and humiliated as well as praised, the suits say, and Choudhury allegedly gave lectures in which he disparaged gays, Americans and made ethnic slurs.

Jane Doe 2 claims that Choudhury recruits volunteers from overseas who are "so in fear of defendant Bikram Choudhury's wrath that they will travel to the US and risk violating immigration laws in order to serve him. Once in the US these volunteers work for little or zero pay. "Their duties include grooming him, massaging him, making his tea, bring[ing] him food and being forced to submit to sexual assaults and rapes against their will," the suit alleges.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

SEE ALSO: This Former BigLaw Attorney Reveals Why She Ditched Everything To Become A Yoga Instructor

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Inside The Offices Where Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, And The Great Googa Mooga Are Made

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superfly office tour

When Jonathan Mayers started interning at Jazzfest he didn't exactly know he would one day helm a company responsible for putting on some of the biggest and best music festivals in the United States. But that is exactly what happened.

While living in New Orleans, in addition to interning he was booking a club called Tipitina's where he met Rick Farman and through him Kerry Black. The three of them started thinking about doing their own events and Mayers brought in Richard Goodstone, a friend from high school who moved down to New Orleans. And Superfly was born.

They started with concerts and concert series around special events like Jazzfest and Mardi Gras. The four focused on creating unique one off events, "thinking about it almost like an art project," as Mayers told Business Insider, putting extra effort into getting cool art for the posters and creating engaging environments at the concerts.

With their expertise growing the four decided to launch Bonnaroo in 2002 and it quickly blossomed into one of the premier summer festivals. As that event has grown over the years the group has added more festival and more staff.

The 4-man team has grown to around 60 full time employees in offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. And on top of festivals they've also moved into brand marketing programs, creating unique experiences around brands and companies.

To stay grounded and continue the fun, family feel they started with, Superfly has created an open and relaxed office environment. This keeps it easy for people to work together and collaborate and come up with the new and exciting ideas that keep their events fresh.The occasional late night karaoke session helps too.

But at the end it is about the music and show and when we stopped by their office they were gearing up for this year's the Great Googa Mooga which will take over Prospect Park on May 17-18.

Welcome to Superfly!



The company has a fun entrance that can also serve as a workspace. Julie Daly, seated at the desk, has been an administrative assistant at the company for a year and a half. She enjoys the "family vibe" around the office and loves the company's music festivals. For Googa Mooga she is looking forward to seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.



A souvenir from last year's Great Googa Mooga, a fun way to kill time if you have to wait in the waiting area.



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A Craigslist Ad Is Offering $25 For Fake Yelp Reviews Of NYC Restaurants

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Yelpers beware: There is a Craigslist ad circulating that offers $25 for writing positive Yelp reviews of unspecified New York restaurants.

The ad, discovered by Eater, was posted in the writing/editing jobs section and seeks people with "established Yelp accounts with over 50 reviews" to write well-written, 5-star reviews for the establishments.

The ad goes on to say most of the restaurants have 4- or 5-star ratings, but a few "unfiltered 1's" from competitors or disgruntled ex-staff are lowering their overall ratings.

The price for your integrity is a $25 PayPal transfer per review, and another $25 if you cut and paste the same review onto other social media websites.

Attempts to cheat the system on Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other review sites are nothing new. Last year, Eater wrote about a "reputation management" firm that offered to game Yelp reviews for $495.

And while Yelp argues that its filtering system is effective, controversy around the site continues. A Florida restaurant owner recently complained that he was plagued with negative reviews after refusing to buy ads on Yelp. 

So far, the Craigslist post has yet to be removed. See it in full below (click to enlarge).

Craigslist yelp ad

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Lamborghini Is Officially Making This Gorgeous SUV

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Lamborghini Urus SUV

Whether you’re a fan or not, you had better get used to seeing a Lamborghini-badged SUV in your neck of the woods as a production version of 2012’s Urus SUV concept has been given the green light.

Lamborghini made the announcement at its 50th anniversary celebratory event in Italy last week.

The sharp-edged Urus was first shown at the Beijing Auto Show a year ago and within a month of its reveal there was talk of a production version. However, the ongoing economic crisis in Europe had Lamborghini’s bosses worried and a final decision put on hold.

It looks like circumstances have changed, as it was also revealed at last week’s 50th anniversary celebration that development of the new SUV remains on schedule.

The SUV is to share a platform with the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. This same platform, a variation of the Volkswagen Group’s MLB, will also be used for Bentley’s planned SUV, though production of this model hasn’t been made official just yet.

To extract the performance one would expect of a Lamborghini from this SUV platform, engineers are expected to use lighter carbon fiber in place of some of the steel and aluminum sections. One of these sections is believed to be a T-shaped structure extending from the central tunnel to the rear suspension hinging points.

Peak output will also likely be higher in the Lambo than in the other VW Group SUVs, with most reports suggesting about 600 horsepower. The standard powertrain is expected to be a twin-turbocharged V-8 though a plug-in hybrid has also been touted.

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SEE ALSO: Take A Walk Around The Absolutely Gorgeous Lamborghini SUV

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Wealthy Parents Have Found A Despicable Way To Cut The Lines At Disney World

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Disneyworld tourists at Cinderella's Castle

A handful of rich Manhattan mothers are hiring disabled people to pose as family members so their children can jump to the front of the lines at Disney World, The New York Post reports today.

The paper points its finger at Dream Tours, a company that helps organize vacations for people with special needs.

The company — and clients who are willing to pay — allegedly take advantage of a Disney rule that allows guests who need a wheelchair or motorized scooter to bring up to six guests to a “more convenient entrance,” the Post's Tara Palmeri reports.

The company reportedly provides a disabled "escort," who accompanies the family around the park and to the front of the line at busy rides.

According to The Post:

“You can’t go to Disney without a tour concierge,’’ [one mom] sniffed. “This is how the 1 percent does Disney."

The woman said she hired a Dream Tours guide to escort her, her husband and their 1-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter through the park in a motorized scooter with a “handicapped” sign on it. The group was sent straight to an auxiliary entrance at the front of each attraction.

The "black-market" guides run $130 for an hour, and $1,040 for an eight-hour day, The Post reports. 

Disney did not return The Post's requests for comment. You can read the full story at The Post.

SEE ALSO: What It's Like To Hang Out At Disneyland's Super Exclusive, $10,000-A-Year Private Club

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You've Probably Been Screwing Up Your French Press Coffee All Along

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A new wave of coffee drinking has swept across the country.

Coffee houses like Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Oregon and Intelligentsia in Chicago and Los Angeles, turned what used to be a simple cup of Joe into something between an exact science and an art form.

We recently stopped by Maialino, a restaurant in Manhattan, where head barista Natalie Czech, showed us what it takes to make a perfect cup of french press coffee, and why being coffee obsessed is worth the trouble.

Watch the video below to see how it's done.

 

Produced by Robert Libetti

SEE ALSO: The Secret To Making One Of The Tastiest Sandwiches In New York City

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Prada Made A Special Driving Moccasin For Lamborghini's 50th Anniversary

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This is Lamborghini and Car Shoe's Anniversary Bull 50°.

Why We Love It: Lamborghini and Prada — maker of the "Car Shoe" — have teamed up to create a special moccasin called the Bull 50° in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the carmaker. The shoe is made entirely by hand in Italy with "Toro" calf leather, and has rubber studs on the bottom made from the same compound found in tire treads.

The metal medallion on the heel of the shoe has the Lamborghini logo, and the shoes come in orange, blue, or black in men's sizes 6 through 12.

There is also a special suede leather version available in navy.

Lamborghini driving shoe 50th anniversary

 

Lamborghini driving shoe 50th anniversary

 

Lamborghini driving shoe 50th anniversary

Where To Buy: Available online through the Car Shoe website.

Cost:350, or $454.

Want to nominate a cool product for Stuff We Love? Send an email to Megan Willett at mwillett@businessinsider.com with "Stuff We Love" in the subject line.

SEE ALSO: The Chef Sleeve Keeps Your iPad Clean In The Kitchen

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A Man In China Smashed His $423,000 Maserati Over The Repair Bill

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A man in China publicly destroyed his $423,000 Maserati Quattroporte to protest poor dealership service.

The owner hired several men to take sledgehammer to the car, according to Car News China. The owner was reportedly angry with the dealership, which he said had repaired the car with an old part, and charged him too much money for the job.

According to Car News China, the act of destruction was planned for maximum coverage: Today is the start of the local Quindao International Auto Show, and the Maserati met its fate in front of the exhibition hall.

china men smash maserati quattroporte

SEE ALSO: The Ridiculous Supercars Of The Dubai Police Force

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ENDING SOON: Enter To Win A Kindle Fire From Business Insider

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ipadmini

We're giving you a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD.  Become a newsletter subscriber now to enter.  If you're the lucky winner you will have a host of features at your fingertips.  

Entry deadline is May 31.

As a newsletter subscriber, you'll get daily updates and alerts on topics that matter most to you. You must subscribe to at least one newsletter to be eligible, so if you haven't already, be sure to choose one or more before submitting your entry.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER >

On or after May 31, 2013, we'll announce the lucky winner.

You must be a legal resident of the U.S. and a newsletter subscriber to win.

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How One Woman's Gambling Addiction Nearly Ruined Her

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Woman Standing Water

When Linda Mannerberg attended the Women's Money Conference in Las Vegas Nevada in 2012, she was struggling with debt and a gambling addiction she hid from those closest to her.

She attended the conference again this year in April 2013, but this time she was in a completely different place.

She received a standing ovation for turning her financial life around in just a year.

Like many of the other women at the conference who applauded her success, I was deeply touched by Linda's story and asked her if I could share it with our readers.

She agreed, but said she didn't think it was a big deal. I told her I disagreed. Here is her story:

When I came to the conference last year, I was in a lot of debt. I had credit card debt, a car loan and payday loans. I would get paid and pay the interest on the payday loans, but I wouldn't have enough to pay off the loans.

I also had a gambling addiction -- I would get up in the middle of the night to go gambling.

My boyfriend and I have lived in Las Vegas about nine years now. When we first moved here, a new casino held a slot tournament. It didn't cost anything to join, so a friend and I decided to go.

I ended up in the finals and won $5,000. That's when my gambling problem started. I thought that if I won that, then I can win again.

Of course I never did.

In fact, this year when we went to the casinos to get our gambling loss statements, I was shocked. It showed that I lost $35,000 with all the casinos. I used to play penny slot machines so I kept thinking, "I am only playing 40 cents at a time." But it adds up.

Keeping Secrets

No one knew about my financial problems. I hid them from my parents and my boyfriend. We've been together 22 years, and he didn't have a clue. I kept everything to myself. We have our own checking and savings accounts, so he didn't know what was going on.

So I listened carefully at the conference, and took lots of notes. I knew I needed to change because if I didn't, it was going to get worse. I sat down with my boyfriend and told him everything. I thought for sure he would throw me out on the street, but he was really nice about it.

He said he would help me, but I needed to follow what he said. He took over my money. I cashed my check and gave it to him. He paid off the payday loans and took over my payments on the other loans and gave me just enough money to put gas in the car or whatever.

Finally, after six months we decided I could open a savings account -- but he told me he wanted to see how I could handle it. I think he was making me prove to myself that I could have that money there without spending it.

Getting Help

After the conference, I also talked to a friend at work about my problem. She told me I would be surprised at how many people are gamblers, and that I should talk with one of my co-workers who, I was surprised to learn, also had a gambling problem.

She took me to Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

Now, I don't want to be in casinos anymore. If I get a gambling urge I call a friend, or I stay home and don't get dressed.

Last year when all this happened I owed about $12,000. Since then I have been able to pay my boyfriend back all that money he spent paying off my debts. I only have student loans and my car loan now.

After the first Women's Money Conference, I ordered my free Credit Report Card from Credit.com to see my credit score, and so did my boyfriend. Once a month we look at it to see if my credit scores are getting better.

Recently I needed a new car, so I applied online to see what I could get. When I learned I qualified for a car loan at 2.9%, I started crying. My last car loan had a 9% rate. We ended up buying my car from a dealer in Utah, 404 miles away, because it saved me $3,000. Now I research things carefully.

Recently, I opened my own checking account. My goals now are to double up on my payments on my student loans and car. My boyfriend is going to get ready to retire and I want to be able to retire, too. Being ready for retirement is my goal now.

Related Links: 

 
 

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Dizzying GIF Of The World Trade Center Spire Being Lifted Into Place

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The final piece of One World Trade Center was lifted into place earlier this month – making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at a symbolic 1,776 feet.

One of the coolest things from this historical event is this footage taken on a GoPro camera mounted on the spire as it was being raised.beige tbi

wtc-spire-gif-gopro-5.gif

Take a look at the entire video taken by The Port Authority of NY & NJ below:

SEE ALSO: Here's How The First FDA-Approved Bionic Eye Works

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REPORT: $6 Million Worth Of Hair Donations To Locks Of Love Have Gone Missing

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Locks of Love

Hold onto your ponytails: A new report alleges that Locks of Love— a well-known charity that makes wigs for children suffering from medical hair loss — has disclosure inadequacies that could total up to $6 million annually.

Locks of Love reportedly receives around 104,000 hair donations per year to make "hair prosthetics," according to the report by Nonprofit Investor, an organization that evaluates charities.

That should be enough to produce around 2,080 hairpieces, taking into account that 80% of donated hair can't be used (too short, gray, or bleached),  and that it takes six to 10 donations to make a Locks of Love wig.

But in 2011, Locks of Love made just 317 of its custom-fitted wigs, according to Nonprofit Investor.

If that's true, a whole lot of hair is unaccounted for.

Nonprofit Investor notes that since the retail value of each wig is between $3,500 and $6,000, according to Locks of Love's own calculation, the unaccounted hair could be worth some $6.6 million.

Locks of Love says on its website that it sells unusable hair to offset manufacturing costs.  

But the nonprofit only disclosed $572,997 worth of hair sold on its 2011 income tax return, which still leaves over $6 million of hair missing from its public records, Nonprofit Investor notes.

Nonprofit Investor acknowledged in its report that it had a hard time finding exact figures for Locks of Love donations: It arrived at the 104,000 donations-per-year estimate from a 2004 USA Today article in which a former executive director said the charity received between 2,000 and 3,000 donations each week.

The exact percent of hair that goes unused is also unclear. 80% is an estimate a source told The New York Times in 2007, and Locks of Love again did not counter with a different figure. The charity also denied to Nonprofit Investor that there are 104,000 donations a year, but did not give another figure, the report said.

Locks of Love did not respond to our specific questions, but released the following statement from President Madonna Coffman: "To our knowledge we are the only organization that provides a vacuum fitted, custom prosthesis, as opposed to 'wig'” that can be mass produced and inventoried until needed. False claims based on inaccuracies, fabrications or assumptions will not interfere with our commitment to these families."

Nonprofit Investor notes that of the 62 nonprofits it has reviewed, this is the first time it has given a poor rating for disclosure inadequacies.

DON'T MISS: 20 American Charities That Are Actually Raking In Donations

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Chicago's O'Hare Airport Hired A Bunch Of Goats To Do Its Landscaping

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goat grazing

Apparently, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has a problem with overgrown grass.

So instead of paying landscapers to mow the lawn with noisy equipment that's bad for the environment, it has come up with a new solution: the airport has hired about 25 goats to graze on the grass and keep it trimmed.

The environmentally-conscious program was the brainchild of Central Commissary Holdings, LLC, a Chicago-based restaurant group, who won a two-year bid for $19,500, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Starting next month, the herd of goats will roam about 120 acres of the airport's land, munching on grass and weeds. The herd should be able to clear about 250 square feet of grassy area a day. 

But don't worry: the goats won't accidentally roam onto the runway. NBC reports that the goats will be "kept away from the airport airfield by security fencing and their munching will be restricted to sites that include hilly areas near creeks and streams and roadway right-of-ways."

At night the goats will stay nearby in a transport trailer. That means that passengers at O'Hare likely won't get to see the goats, except maybe when their planes are taking off or landing.

O'Hare touts the environmental benefits of using goats, saying that the program will reduce the use of lawnmowers and heavy equipment, provide an alternative to toxic herbicides, and naturally recycle nutrients as fertilizer.

"This initiative aligns with the CDA's desire to implement aviation industry-leading sustainability initiatives that complement and promote the City of Chicago's commitment to sustainability at Chicago's airports," said CDA Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino.

The airport is following the city of Paris's cue. Last month, Paris decided to replace lawnmowers with sheep in some of its public parks.

Chicago is also not the first airport to employ farm animals as a landscaper. In 2008, Seattle-Tacoma International brought in goats to munch on weeds, and last year Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport employed about 100 sheep to graze on invasive plants, according to NBC.

Say goodbye to your gardener—these adorable farm animals may soon be the hot new landscapers.

Here's a CNN video showing the goats at work:

SEE ALSO: A Woman Was Kicked Off A Plane For Singing Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'

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Chinese Motorcyclists Show Their Love For Harley-Davidson

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China Harley Davidson National Rally motorcycleHarley-Davidson may be a quintessentially American brand, but that doesn't mean it's not beloved around the world.

On Monday, about 1,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from all over China traveled to Qian Dao Lake, in Zhejiang Province.

There, they took part in the 5th Annual Harley-Davidson National Rally, part of the celebration of the brand's 100th birthday.

These photos from the event show that Chinese Harley fans aren't so different from their American counterparts: They love crazy outfits, the open road, and their motorcycles.

About 1,000 Harley fans came out to celebrate the brands 110th birthday.

[Source: Reuters]



In China, motorcycles are in the same class as electric bikes, horses, and bicycles.

[Source: Reuters]



That makes them illegal on highways and large avenues in major Chinese cities.

[Source: Reuters]



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Jennifer Lopez Bought A Gorgeous Hamptons Estate For $10 Million

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Jennifer Lopez Water Mill mansionThe New York Post reported today that Jennifer Lopez bought a $9.995 mansion in Water Mill, in the Hamptons.

The eight-bedroom home is close to Mecox Bay, and comes with a sauna, steam room, theater, and backyard pool and play set for her twin children.

The 8,660-square-foot home was built in 2004, according to Zillow, and sits on three acres of property on Bay Lane with its own cul de sac, so it's incredibly private.

According to The Post, sources said Lopez liked that there was enough room to build a guest house or tennis court in the future.

The home was listed with Corcoran Real Estate Group.

This is the Water Mill mansion Jennifer Lopez dropped almost $10 million on.



The Hamptons property sits on over three acres of land and has space enough for a guest house or tennis court.



There's already a gorgeous heated pool in the backyard.



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Here's How Much You Can Legally Drink Before Driving If The Blood Alcohol Limit Is Lowered To .05

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended Tuesday that states lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level while driving from 0.08 to 0.05 or lower.

Exact blood alcohol levels are hard to estimate, but the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) created these charts to help men and women know when they've had too much to get behind the wheel.

Here, one drink equals 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor (40% alcohol), 12 ounces of beer (4.5% alcohol), or 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol).

Under current law, everything in red (.08 BAC and higher) is legally intoxicated. But if the NTSB gets its way and the legal limit drops to .05, most of the yellow crosses into illegal territory.

That means a 100-pound woman could not have even one drink in an hour without being legally intoxicated.

These figures are approximations, and can vary based on how much food is in the drinker's stomach. The charts below are meant as a reference only.

Here's the chart for men:

bac drinks driving chart men

And for women:

bac drinks driving chart women

SEE ALSO: Incredible Ad Uses 17 Nude Painted Bodies To Depict A Crashed Car

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Meet The Private Equity CEO Playing On Prince Harry's Polo Team Later Today

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Michael Carrazza Greenwich Polo

Prince Harry is in New York City, and the entire town has gone completely mad about him.

Today he'll play in The 3rd Annual Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in Greenwich, Connecticut for Sentebale, a charity he launched to benefit needy children in Lesotho.

And as it so often happens in Greenwich, Wall Street will be represented on the field during this invite-only affair.

Michael Carrazza, the CEO of investment firm Solaia Capital and Chairman of Patriot National Bank (PNB), will be playing on the Prince's team — the match starts at 3:00 pm.

As you can imagine, gigs like this don't come around every day. Just getting into the match (let alone playing in it) has been tough. There were only 400 tickets to the event available, and the word from Greenwich is that it sold out in March.

Carrazza and Prince Harry will be joined on the Sentebale Land Rover team by amateur player Marc Ganzi and Malcolm Borwick, a regular on the England national team.

The opposing side, named for its sponsor, St. Regis, will be captained by international polo star Nacho Figueras. He'll be leading Peter Orthwein, chief executive of Thor Industries; Steve Lefkowitz and Dawn Jones, wife of actor Tommy Lee Jones — she's a top female polo player.

So on to how one gets invited to play on one of these teams without being an internationally recognized polo player, a prince, or a founding member of the Greenwich Polo Club (like Orthwein).

Carrazza has been an active polo player in the New York area for over a decade, but he says there are really two reasons why he was contacted and offered a spot on Prince Harry's team.

"They were looking for someone with my handicap level and the fact that I'm in the community with an initiative that compliments Sentebale made me a perfect fit," said Carrazza.

The initiative he's talking about is called Lend A Hand. Starting on May 15th Carrazza's bank, PNB, will match donations up to $10,000 made to either Sentebale or the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, it's an organization that helps children overcome behavioral and mental health challenges and it has been especially active since last year's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

In Carrazza's mind, the two causes dovetail perfectly.

Carrazza became Chairman of PNB back in 2010 after taking the company through a recapitalization. His latest project is the Siena Lending Group, a company that provides asset based lending (ABL) loans of between $1-20 million to small and mid-sized companies.

The idea fills a specific need in American finance right now — helping smaller businesses (that are ignored by big banks) get loans, and expanding the balance sheets at regional banks with high quality loans that Siena's team can originate, service and monitor.

The Siena Group deal came together on April 26th, which tells you how quickly Carrazza has had to prepare for an event that will be attended by a long list of A-listers from Greenwich and beyond, like Dan Stevens, the actor who played Downton Abbey's Matthew Crawley, fashion designer Jason Wu, and model Karolina Kurkova.

So no pressure.

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The Most Ridiculous Things Students Have Written On AP Tests

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student writing

High performing high school students around the country are taking Advanced Placement tests around now, which will be graded by more than 11,000 participating teachers and college faculty.

Of course, not all of the test responses are brilliant, at least not in the conventional sense.

A recent Reddit thread asked AP Graders to name the "the most ridiculous thing you have ever read on a test you were grading."

The thread has received more than 5,000 comments, mostly from students, not AP graders. Some say they drew funny images, others rambled nonsensically, and many mastered the art of BS. We've compiled some of the most interesting comments here.

Drawing a picture of Godzilla and King Kong attacking the College Board building.

"My comparative government teacher told me about the essay that contained no words —  just a picture of Godzilla and King Kong attacking the College Board building."

(MustardForBreakfast, Reddit)

Students taking a test



Writing a one-line essay about the Enlightenment.

"My AP European history teacher told us that one year, the essay was on Enlightenment thinkers. One student wrote, 'The Enlightenment had many great thinkers, none of which come to mind currently.' And nothing else."

(MrHockeytown, Reddit)

students



Recounting Bruce Wayne's coming-of-age.

"I just took the AP literature test today and wrote a beautiful essay on the upbringing of Bruce Wayne and how he morally matured to become Batman. I hope it gets a 9 for creativity."

(cookies50796, Reddit)

5813639201_53b39711ca_b



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