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Here's How Much Money You Must Earn To Buy A Home In 25 Big US Cities

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san francisco painted lady houses

The cost of living in America varies wildly.

In Cleveland, people need a base salary of at least $19,435 a year to afford the average home, while San Franciscans must make upward of $115,000 annually.

HSH.com, an online mortgage and consumer loan information website, figured out how much a person would have to earn to afford a home in 25 of the country's largest metropolitan areas.

To do so, HSH looked at the National Association of Realtors’ fourth-quarter data for median home prices and HSH.com’s fourth-quarter average interest rate for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages to determine how much money homebuyers would need to earn in order to afford only the principal and interest payment on a median-priced home in their market. (They did not account for property taxes, insurance, and other expenses — read their methodology here.)

CLEVELAND: You'd have to earn at least $19,435 to buy an average home.

Average home price: $112,800

Monthly mortgage payment: $453.49

Minimum annual salary: $19,435.17

Source: HSH.com. See their full methodology here



CINCINNATI: You'd have to earn at least $22,227 to buy an average home.

Average home price: $128,700

Monthly mortgage payment: $518.63

Minimum annual salary: $22,226.95

Source: HSH.comSee their full methodology here



ST. LOUIS: You'd have to earn at least $22,398 to buy an average home.

Average home price: $130,300

Monthly mortgage payment: $522.61

Minimum annual salary: $22,397.54

Source: HSH.comSee their full methodology here



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An 11-Bedroom Connecticut Estate Built By A Legendary Banker Is On Sale For $5.7 Million

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James Stokes, banker and former U.S. ambassador, built this exquisite Georgian Estate back in 1912.

After a million dollars of renovations, the 19,452 square foot mansion known as "Sunset Hall" is on the market for $5.7 million, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Listed on The National Register of Historic Places, the home offers 11 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, tennis courts, a heated pool, and separate guest quarters. 

The house is listed last with Kathy Schmitt of Sotheby's International Realty.

The mansion is located in Ridgefield, Connecticut and is about an hour away from Manhattan. In the 1940s, the home was proposed as a site for the permanent location of the United Nations.



The 2 bedroom, 3 bath guest house with fitness center overlooks the property's tennis courts.

 



The 65-foot long heated pool was originally surrounded by grass and sand and deemed unusable for entertaining. Therefore, the current owners built a 4,000-square-foot limestone terrace and cabana.



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This Rat Infestation Map Of New York City Restaurants Is The Most Disturbing Thing You Will See All Day

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It's not just the West Side anymore, Mick

New city data compiled by programmer Steven Melendez shows restaurants with "evidence of mice or live mice" or "evidence of rats or live rats" can now be found all over the city.

The No. 1 neighborhood in Manhattan is the Upper East Side between 86th and 97th, where 50% of the 154 restaurants documented had rodent sightings. 

No. 1 overall goes to the Queens Village neighborhood bordering Long Island, at 61%, or 14 of 23 restaurants. 

And here's the map, via Gothamist:

SEE ALSO: The Cities And States With The Most Homegrown Residents

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These Are The Kinds Of People Who Live On The Road In America [PHOTOS]

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One day, photographer Andrew Waits’s aunt and uncle dropped everything, bought an RV, and headed out to live on the road. Four years later, they haven’t once looked back.

Intrigued by what drove them to seek such an unconventional life, Waits began meeting and photographing people in his hometown of Seattle and later all along the West coast who had made the decision to turn their vehicle — vans, trucks, RVs, and compact cars — into their home. 

Waits shared some of the photos and stories here (and you can see many more at his website).

When Waits went out to meet RV and van dwellers in Seattle, he found a huge diverse group of people made up of a few communities.



After months of meeting with locals, he set out on the road to meet more people.



There were those who went out on the road because they had no choice.



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The 10 Coolest Airbnb Rentals In Austin

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Tech conference South by Southwest is quickly approaching, and if you still don't have a place to stay, it's best to act quickly. Business Insider's Alyson Shontell recommends booking a room as soon as you know you're attending, which for her was in August. 

Airbnb rentals offer a great alternative to traditional hotel rooms. They're fun, unique, and likely to give you a more authentic Austin experience than you would get from a hotel.

We've picked out some of our favorite listings in several different neighborhoods around Austin. Prices listed are normal rates — some hosts are likely to raise prices during special events like SXSW. And act fast, as rentals go quickly.

Stay close to the action at the 'Argyle Suite.'

This two-bedroom loft is right across the street from the convention center, which makes it ideal for small groups attending SXSW. 

Cost: $179/night 

Accommodates: 6

Neighborhood: Downtown



Take a technicolor trip to the '50s at the 'Atomic Ranch.'

Bright colors and eclectic decor are highlights of this mid-century home. There's a Thunderbird-inspired kitchen, a bar made out of pennies, and a living room decorated with cyborgs and dinosaurs. 

Cost: $125/night

Accommodates: 8

Neighborhood: Bouldin Creek



Get cozy in this tiny cottage.

Originally built as a carriage house in 1924, this cottage has been converted into a charming living space. The garden is a great spot for taking in some sun before heading out to SXSW events. 

Cost: $135/night 

Accommodates: 3

Neighborhood: Bouldin Creek



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75 Incredible Photos Of Human Chameleon Liu Bolin

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China's Liu Bolin has mastered the art of camouflage. He paints himself into the backgrounds of photos so that he almost completely disappears.

Often called the "Human Chameleon," Bolin began his foray into photography for political reasons in 2005, according to his book, "Liu Bolin: The Invisible Man." The Chinese government's demolition of the Suo Jia Artist Village in Beijing inspired his most famous series, which shows him "hiding" in Beijing, New York, Venice, and other locations around the world.

Each of his works, although varied, require an average of 10 hours of painting.

The following photos show some of his most stunning creations, courtesy of Liu Bolin Art Studio and Eli Klein Fine Art. See if you can spot him.

SEE ALSO: This Chinese Artist Had Done Something Amazing With Paper

 



 



 



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These States Have The Highest Taxes On Beer, Wine, And Liquor

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Last week, the Tax Foundation released its latest map of state tax rates on wine.

They've previously released similar maps that look at state taxes on beer and spirits as well. Keep reading to see how much more you pay in your state for alcohol than in the rest of the country.

Beer taxes vary widely across America, ranging from $0.02 per gallon in Wyoming to $1.17 per gallon in Tennessee. (Read more about state beer taxes here.)

Beer Excise Tax Rates 2014Wine taxes by state are much higher than beer taxes, because as alcohol content increases, taxation also tends to increase (though there are exceptions). Wine taxes are highest in Kentucky at $3.56 per gallon followed by Alaska ($2.50), Florida ($2.25), and Iowa ($1.75). (Read more about state wine taxes here.)

Wine Excise Tax Rates 2014When comparing per gallon taxes on alcohol, spirits are taxed at far higher rates than wine and beer. Spirits are taxed the highest in Washington at $35.22 per gallon, followed by Oregon ($22.73), Virginia ($19.19), Alabama ($18.23), and Alaska ($12.80). (Read more about state spirit taxes here.)

Spirits Excise Tax Rates 2014

SEE ALSO: The Best Sports Bars In 13 Big Cities Around The US

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This Majestic Hotel In The Indian Desert Was Named The Most Extraordinary Place To Stay In 2014

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The Mihir Garh hotel near Jodhpur in India was just named "most extraordinary place to stay in 2014" by the writers and editors at Lonely Planet.

The isolated hotel, built like a sand castle to represent a mirage emerging from the Thar Desert, has only nine suites. They're huge and luxurious, while mirroring the fantastical architectural traditions of the Rajasthan region.

Everything on the property is custom-made, including the fireplaces constructed from cow dung and clay. 

Rooms start around $275 a night, and run up to $540.

The Mihir Garh is located near Jodhpur, in northwestern India.



It looks like a sandcastle rising out of the Thar Desert.



Mihir Garh means "The Fort of the Sun," and was designed with an eye toward fantasy and mythology.



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This Regenerating Candle Is Simply Brilliant

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Today in amazing design, an artist has invented a regenerating candle.

Called the Rekindle Candle and designed by Benjamin Shine, the candle holder collects melting wax to form a new candle in the base (we first spotted it on The Awesomer).

The way it works is, as the candle burns, melting wax drips down from the candle and accumulates inside a transparent stem with a wick. Once the candle is completely melted, you can crack open the mold, and a new, fully formed candle will be removed (you can then start the whole process over again).

Watch it in action below, in GIF form.

candle rekindle gif

DON'T MISS: An Austrian Artist Has Completely Reinvented The Door

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9 Reasons Why Everyone Loves Prince Harry

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Fourth-in-line to the British crown, Prince Harry, 29, has grown up with his personal tragedies as well as his blunders as the subject of intense media scrutiny. Though it all he has maintained ahappy-go-lucky attitude that makes him the royal we would want to get a beer with.

Here is what makes Prince Harry so cool:

1. He defied the queen's demands that he shave his beard.

There's no doubt that beards are cool. They're also a source of pride on the operational side of the military.

However, the Queen despises beards and forbids her staff much less her grandson from sporting them, US Weekly reportsHarry ignored the Queen's order and sported his beard at Christmas morning service. He shaved his beard a good month later — it had to go anyway, since he is in the armed  services.

Prince Harry beard2. He fought the Taliban from the ground ...

Prince Harry, known as Captain Wales in the army, began his military career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2005.

Harry was first certified as a tank commander and assigned to a cavalry regiment. Later, he deployed to Helmand Afghanistan as a forward observer with British ground units where he engaged in combat operations against the Taliban.

Prince Harry Afghanistan

3. ... And also from the air.

Not satisfied, upon his return he went into helicopter pilot training.

In 2009 he began a two-and-a-half year training course to become a fully operational, full-time Army Air Corps helicopter pilot. He completed a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan as a co-pilot gunner on an Apache attack helicopter and since then has flown missions in the U.K. 

Having deployed twice and seen combat both times, Harry has taken a new role as a staff officer at HQ London District.

Prince Harry apache helicopter4. He is a hardcore polar adventurer.

Prince Harry spent 4 weeks on an expedition to the North Pole in 2011 to raise awareness for wounded servicemen and women.

He covered 200 miles of the frozen Arctic Ocean by foot in minus 60 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. He then conquered a trek to the South Pole two years later.

prince harry south pole5. He parties like Frank Sinatra and hangs out with the most unexpected folks.

After a series of pot smoking and underage drinking episodes, Prince Harry's mischievous streak landed him in a London rehabilitation center for a day.

Another royal uproar occurred whenleaked nude photos of Prince Harry were published by British tabloid The Sun. The photos were taken during a Las Vegas vacation in 2012. He was media-shamed and sent off to war so quick, leading people to assume that he was punished with a deployment to Afghanistan.

Before wrapping up his military tour, Captain Wales shared his thoughts about the Las Vegas incident in a candid interview. "I let myself down, I let my family down, I let a lot of people down. But at the end of the day I was in a private area and there should be a certain amount of privacy one should expect," he said.

Prince Harry Kanye P.Diddy

6. He can't help but be involved in charities around the world.

Prince Harry founded his first charity, Sentebale, with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho when he was 21 years old.

The organization is named Sentebale, which means "forget me not" in the language of Lesotho and focuses on social development, education, and health of Lesotho's orphans. Prince Harry spent eight weeks living among the impoverished in Lesotho. He made a documentary titled “The Forgotten Kingdom” using footage from his personal hand-held video camera. The film raised $2 million for the British Red Cross Lesotho Fund.

Fourth in line to the British crown, Harry now sponsors 19 different charities.

prince harry charity

7. He is a pretty good cowboy.

Harry spent three months working as a jackeroo for £100 a week in Australia.

His normal working day begins at around 7:30 AM and runs through 6:00 PM with a two-hour lunch break in the outback heat.

"I have had a great time working out here, meeting people and learning a bit about how to be a jackeroo and, of course, the rugby was absolutely fantastic," Prince Harry said, reports the BBC.

As a kid, Harry spent time with Prince William and Princess Diana on E Bar L Ranch in Montana.

Prince harry jackeroo

8. He's obsessed with sports.

Harry is an avid fan of rugby and even coached at schools around the U.K. to encourage young people to learn the sport. Prince Harry plays polo regularly, both to raise money for charities and in competitive matches.

He also played for the army while he was training at the Royal Military Academy. He and the Queen are both loyal supporters of Arsenal soccer. 

On a trip to Jamaica in 2012 he challenged sprinter Usain Bolt, widely regarded as the world's fastest person, to a race. Even though Bolt let Harry win, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte took his race with the prince seriously saying, "the pool is my domain."

Prince Harry Usain Bolt

9. Despite being British, he can throw a good football

On his first tour of the U.S., Prince Harry visited the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs last summer. Before kneeling down at the bottom of a pyramid of cheerleaders, Harry impressively threw a few passes of a football. 

During his six day trip, Harry went to the White House, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and Arlington National Cemetery before heading west to help kick off the Warrior Games with wounded athletes and veterans. Harry is determined to launch a U.K. version of the Warrior Games.

SEE ALSO: 20 Iconic Photos Of Kate Middleton & Prince William's Royal Life

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Stunning Photos Show What Really Happens If You Spend Too Much Time In The Sun

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In a project titled "Ultraviolet Beauties," Brooklyn-based artist Cara Phillips used ultraviolet photography to expose sun spots and other blemishes in people's skin that the human eye can't see.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Phillips said she was inspired by the medical portraits she had seen in dermatological offices, which might be used for cosmetic consultations. The photos were taken of random people on the streets of New York and are meant to "reveal flaws beneath the skin," she told the website.

The photos also send a horrifying message about the effects of sun exposure.

"It's not truly a scientific test," said Jill Waibel, a board certified dermatologist in Miami, but it can be "a powerful tool for patients in denial that they are doing too much sun."

When our faces and bodies are exposed to the sun, it causes melanin, a dark pigment found in the skin's surface, to clump together. This is what causes freckles, sun spots, and other brown spots.

The photos, taken using ultraviolet light, show the clumping of the pigmentation that is not yet visible on the surface, according to Tom Rohrer, a Boston-based dermatologist.

The images are not a marker for skin cancer or other pre-cancerous lesions, said Rohrer, but it does show the amount of sun damage. Additional sun damage might increase the size and number of these small clumpings. 

Fair-skinned people and those with light or red hair, for example, show more damage to their skin than people with darker skin.

"When you see patients who have a lot of brown spots, it shows that there is damage that is occurring and that can lead to skin cancer," said Waibel.

One out of every five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their lives. Waibel recommends visiting the dermatologist once a year for a skin cancer screening.

Check out the ultraviolet photographs below, then head over to Phillips' website to see more of her artwork.

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SEE ALSO: Photographer Captures Incredible Human Side Of Animals

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Go Inside Legendary Investor Ron Conway's Awesome San Francisco Apartment, On Sale For $9.5 Million

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ron conway apartmentLegendary Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway is selling his San Francisco home, a 5,360-square-foot flat that takes up the entire floor of a historic co-op building, according to Trulia.

Conway has hosted gatherings featuring a wide array of tech A-listers here, including Marissa Mayer and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.

He also happens to be close friends with will.i.am and MC Hammer, who together helped Conway film the remix of "2 Legit 2 Quit" that went viral in support of Mayor Ed Lee back in 2011. Clips of the video were filmed on the apartment building's rooftop deck. 

The apartment has 3 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. and recently took a $500,000 price cut, according to Trulia. It's now listed with Pacific Union for $9.5 million. 

The entrance is dramatic, with lots of ornate decorations.



The living area is just down this hallway.



More vintage-inspired details line the walls of this formal sitting room.



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Delta Shrunk Its Bathrooms To Pack More People Onto Planes [PHOTO]

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In November, Delta picked up its first Next-Generation 737-900ER from Boeing. Both companies trumpeted the new jet's upsides, like LED mood lighting, bigger overhead bins, and a personal entertainment system and USB power outlet for every passenger.

Neither talked much about the bathroom, where the news isn't so great for passengers.

The updated 737 comes with the modular advanced lavatory system, specially designed by B/E Aerospace to save room — enough to fit six more seats on board.

That's why Boeing can give Delta "the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost" of any of its single-aisle planes. And why Delta has ordered 100 of the new 737-900ERs.

The standard plane bathroom is hardly spacious, so how'd they shrink it down? Aviation consultants and enthusiasts airlineguys just took their first ride in the new 737-900ER, and shared a photo that reveals the trick: No more counter.

Apparently, the tighter space isn't so bad:

Have you spent time in the shrunken lav? Let us know how it was @BI_GettingThere or in the comments.

SEE ALSO: Qatar Airways Made An All-Business Class Plane For Flights To London

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The Most Important Muscle Groups For Different Sports In The Winter Olympics

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While everyone can see which muscles Olympic weight lifters and sprinters are using, the winter sports are a bit more mysterious.

How exactly do luge athletes propel themselves forward? Which muscle groups do curlers train to keep themselves in tip-top shape during the off-season? And what are snowboarders flexing when they spin themselves around mid-air?

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Here's a primer on which muscles all types of Sochi athletes are relying on in their quest for the gold.

Curling — Upper arms, back, and shoulders

To vigorously and repetitively sweep the ice, curlers depend on strong upper body muscles.

"To move the brush side to side, rapidly and with high pressure, you need arm, back, and other torso muscles," Mark Shegelski, a professor of physics at the University of Northern British Columbia, told Business Insider. "Although sweeping looks easy, it is demanding," he said, "and a sweeper needs to be in good condition to do a lot of sweeping."

Alpine Skiing — Hips, legs, thighs, and feet

downhill.gifThe major muscles involved in skiing are those in the lower body, including hip muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, and feet muscles, according to Troy Flanagan, the director of sport science for the U.S Ski and Snowboard Association.

Alpine, or downhill, skiers, "tend to have unusually well-built legs and rear ends," Sarah Lyall says in The New York Times. Leg strength is needed to help steady skiers as they plummet "down the slopes as quickly and forcefully as possible."

Sturdy thigh muscles are also needed to "overcome the tremendous force generated during a run and maintain balance throughout turns," according to the Sports Performance Division of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

For speed, U.S. Olympic skier Julia Mancuso focuses on "exercising her fast-twitch muscles," according to an interview in the Wall Street Journal, which are "muscle fibers responsible for quick, explosive movements."

Snowboarding — Shoulders and core

snowboard-1.gifSnowboarding, like skiing, requires short bursts of energy and good balance, as well as cardiovascular strength. To explode out of the start gate, snowboarders use arm and shoulder strength. "For my sport, you can set yourself up for victory by your start, so lat strength, arm strength and shoulder strength is huge," Olympic snowboarder Seth Wescott told Today.com.

Core muscles are important for performing tricks, like spins and inverts, providing "stability for board grabs which will gain higher scores for basic tricks," according to research in Open Sports Medicine Journal.

Cross-country skiing — Arms, abdominal, and lower back

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Cross-country skiing seems less extreme compared to downhill, but according to U.S Olympian Kris Freeman, speaking to Men's Fitness, "It's one of the most demanding cardio sports in the world."

In addition to leg strength, cross-country skiing requires athletes to engage their arm, shoulder, and core muscles.

"Strong shoulders and triceps are essential for using the poles to propel you forward," according to Men's Fitness, while "most of the propulsion comes most of the propulsion comes from the abs and lower back."

Sports like road cycling, mountain biking, and running are good for helping cross-country skiers train during the off-season, while athletes practice on roller skis once the season gets going, writes Katie Thomas in The New York Times.

Bobsled — Legs

bobsled.gifBobsledders must be very fast and powerful for the starting push, taking the sled from zero to up to 90 miles per hour. "It's mostly legwork," Army Capt. Chris Fogt, a member of the U.S. bobsled team competing in Sochi, told The New York Times. "So we do a lot of squats, a lot of power cleans, jump squats, box jumps, lunges – everything legs. The upper body stuff is less important. "If you have huge massive shoulders and a big chest, the wind is hitting you and the sled is slowing down," Fogt explains, which is why bobsledders "don't do a whole lot of curls, shoulder type work, biceps or chest."

Bobsledders tend to be bigger than other athletes, using that mass to push the sled. For instance, Lolo Jones, a brakeman on the U.S. bobsledding team, is nearly 30 pounds heavier than when she competed as an Olympic hurdler.

American bobsledder Johnny Quinn, who weighs 220 pounds, used his pushing strength to bust through a stuck bathroom door in Sochi, later joking about how he's bigger than other guys.

Luge — Neck and upper body

luge-1.gifThe luge is timed to the 1/1000 of a second, and the speed depends primarily on how much forward momentum athletes can get when they slingshot themselves down the track at the very beginning. Unlikely bobsledders, luge athletes are already seated, so they must rely only only their upper body strength.

"Specific emphasis is placed on the 'pulling' muscle groups as the start is a pulling motion itself," according to the United States Luge Association.

Training for lugers includes pull-downs (pulling down a horizontal bar attached to weights), bench press, and dead lifts.

A strong neck is also crucial for luge. "Particularly while zooming through the curves of the track, luge athletes must be strong enough to keep their heads up while gravity is pulling their heads down," writes Juliet Macur in The New York Times. "To strengthen their neck muscles, they often put a light weight on their foreheads and bend their necks forward and backward."

Figure skating — Abdomen and back

figure skating.gifAll of those jumps and spins that look so effortless require almost perfect balance and posture, which means that core strength is key. Olympic figure skaters have to have an almost freakishly strong core to keep the body perfectly aligned when doing double and triple Axels.

The abdomen muscles are generally contracted throughout a figure skating move, and "the ability to correct oneself when slightly off axis in a jump is more likely to happen if the skater has strong abdominal and back muscles," U.S. Figure Skating explains in its training guide.

Team USA figure skater Gracie Gold told Self magazine that her favorite exercise to build core strength uses a resistance band to target the abdominal oblique muscles.

Speed skating — Legs and buttock

spped skating.gifOlympic speed skaters are known for their bulging glutes and quads, which they need to propel themselves forward even while whipping around tight curves. Squat jumps can work some of these muscles off the rink, speed skater Shani Davis told Men's Health.

"Speed skating is a unique way of human locomotion, in the sense that forward velocity is achieved by sideward push-offs," explained researchers in the International Journal of Biomechanics.

Speed skating actually uses muscles similar to those used by cyclists, so biking — much kinder to the joints than skating — is a common part of a speed skater's training regimen, says World Cup speed skater Patrick Meek. Five-time Olympic medalist Eric Heiden became a professional cycling racer after his speed skating career ended.

Ice hockey — Thighs, hip flexors

hockey.gifWith fast skating and puck-slapping power a part of every game, ice hockey is really a full-body sport. It engages everything from core strength to hand grip.

But the National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends that hockey players focus on "the inner thighs, thighs (quadriceps), hamstrings, and hip flexors since these muscle need to be strong and powerful to allow for acceleration in skating, stopping, and change of direction."

When the U.S. women's hockey team trained with strength and conditioning coach Mike Boyle last summer, he had them focus on "quick, explosive movements that typically involve jumping," he told The Boston Globe. But while their legs were strong and spry, those women were also bench pressing 140 to 150 pounds.

Olympic hockey forward Hilary Knight told Women's Health magazine she also builds leg strength through lateral lunges, rear-foot elevated squats, and goblet squats.

SEE ALSO: Why Curlers Sweep The Ice

More Olympics: Why Ski Jumpers Fly Through The Air In A V Shape

More Health: 25 Horrible Things That Happen If You Don't Get Enough Sleep

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The Newest Barbie Is An Entrepreneur With A Tiny Tablet And Smartphone

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Entrepreneur BarbieBarbie will be joining the cut-throat startup world this year armed with a tiny smartphone and tablet.

Nicknamed "Chief Inspiration Officer," Entrepreneur Barbie is Mattel's latest addition to its "I Can Be" career line. She was unveiled at this week's American International Toy Fair in New York, Entrepreneur reported.

In the past, Barbie's careers have included president, astronaut, registered nurse, surgeon, and flight attendant.

This appears to be only her second run in the business world. She was a "Business Executive" in 1992 with a bright pink skirt suit and white heels.

As an entrepreneur, she wears a pink and black shift dress and carries a black purse. The $12.99. doll will hit stores in June.

"We always try to make career Barbie a reflection of the times," Mattel spokeswoman Michelle Chidoni told CNNMoney. "Women entrepreneurs are more prevalent now and they’re growing in number. [It's] a great way to encourage girls to also learn about this role."

SEE ALSO: SI's Latest Swimsuit Model: 'Barbie'

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What To Do If You Lose Your iPhone

VIDEO: Here's The Moment A Painter Smashed A $1 Million Vase By Ai Weiwei

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Yesterday, Dominican painter Maximo Caminero smashed a vase created by renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, in an act some called vandalism but others deemed...more art, and even an homage.

Weiwei said he was slightly peeved — appraisers valued the work at $1 million. Caminero later said he regretted the act. "I didn't know that it was that amount," he said. "I feel so sorry about it, for sure." 

The video, which just surfaced from a group called CC Productions of Miami, is no less jarring:

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A Los Angeles Architect Has Completely Reinvented The Office Desk

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New York-based creative agency Barbarian Group has unveiled a brand new "superdesk" in their office. Made out of 4,400 square feet of plywood, the desk is so large that the entire company  all 125 employees  can share it. 

Their goal was to make their work environment as collaborative as possible. They turned to architect Clive Wilkinson to create this space filled with nooks and crannies. 

“We really wanted everyone sitting under a desk, but we also wanted to create spaces where people could escape to,” Barbarian Group CEO Sophie Kelly said in a video announcing the creation. barbarian group super desk

The result was this undulating wavelike structure, which has flat writing space on top and plenty of seating and group work areas underneath. barbarian group desk

barbarian group desk

Watch this video of the company introducing their crazy new office space.

SEE ALSO: An Austrian Artist Has Completely Reinvented The Door

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A Boston Company Wants To Build A Supersonic Private Jet With No Windows

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spike supersonic jet

If a Boston-based aerospace firm gets its way, wealthy travelers will be able to fly from New York to London in as little as three hours, and they won't even have to shut the blinds to get some sleep.

Spike Aerospace is working on the S-512 supersonic jet, which it promises will fly at 1.6 times the speed of sound — nearly twice the average cruising speed of today's aircraft.

This week, Spike announced the latest update: The cabin of the blazing fast private jet won't have any windows.

Instead, passengers will enjoy images captured by micro-cameras outside the plane and projected onto thin screens embedded in the walls.

So instead of dealing with glaring sun (or having the close the shade with their own hands), passengers can just dim the screens. And if the view of the clouds gets boring, they can switch the screens over to something more interesting.

The innovation has technical upsides, Spike explained in a blog post:

There are several reasons for removing the windows from the cabin. It has long been known that the windows cause significant challenges in designing and constructing an aircraft fuselage. They require addition structural support, add to the parts count and add weight to the aircraft. But until recently, it has not been possible to do without them.

With the micro-cameras and flat displays now available, Spike Aerospace can eliminate the structural issues with windows and reduce the aircraft weight. In addition, the very smooth exterior skin will reduce the drag normally caused by having windows.

That may be true, but eliminating windows will almost certainly kick up some dust with the FAA, whose strict regulations touch every aspect of aviation.

That's not the biggest issue at the moment, anyway. Spike is working to raise a new round of funding to continue to develop the S-512, and it's hoping to bring in $250,000 through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. One week in, with three weeks left, its haul is just over $700.

And if it ever makes it to market, the supersonic jet will cost between $60 million and $80 million, according to the Daily Mail.

Here's how the windowless cabin will look:

spike supersonic jet

And another shot of the S-512:

spike supersonic jet

SEE ALSO: The Brand-New Airbus Jetliner Has Made Its Public Debut, And It Looks Awesome

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PHOTOS: Inside The Beer Pong Tournament That Pitted NYC Startups Against Each Other

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It's officially Social Media Week in New York, and there are lots of informative panels and networking events to attend.

But on Monday, social media insights firm Mashwork got things started on a lighter note with a beer pong tournament held at WeWork Labs. 

Past years' participants have included professionals in PR, marketing, and advertising, as well as the founders, CTOs, and engineers from a wide range of tech companies. 

Uber, Venmo, HowAboutWe, and Twitter were among the companies sending teams to this year's tournament. 

It looked like a lot of fun.mashwork bp tournament

mashwork bp tournament

All of the booze and games were for a good cause. Mashwork asked a $20 donation from each of the 16 teams entered in the bracket, and those who participated in free play were asked to donate $3. In the past, the money has gone to Hurricane Sandy relief and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This year, it's going to charity:water. Venmo made a separate donation of $500 to the cause in the name of the winner. 

The team from Founder Shield, a company that provides insurance for startups, was victorious this time around. Twitter came in second, losing in a very heated final match.  

The two final teams put the competition aside to pose for this photo with the bracket and the organizers from Mashwork.bp tournament bracket

Participants took to Twitter to document the night, like the social media professionals they are. 

 

And again the next day to complain about their hangovers. 

 

SEE ALSO: Look Inside Box, The Hot Storage Startup Set To IPO This Year [Photos]

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