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Restaurants Are Now Adding Surcharges For Obamacare...

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In case you're still wondering how Obamacare is going to affect you, you now have another answer.

You might start seeing Obamacare surcharges on your restaurant checks.

The Executive Editor of CNN Money, Chris Peacock, tweeted a snapshot of one such bill this morning. You can see the surcharge there right at the bottom: $0.20 for "ACA" — a.k.a., the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a., Obamacare.

 

Twenty cents isn't exactly exorbitant. But this new practice will no doubt get the anti-Obamacare crowd howling.

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Here's The Most-Listened-To Artist In Every State

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most popular band by state

Music data cruncher The Echo Nest's Paul Lamere is out with a new map showing the most-listened-to artist in every state.

It's pretty straightforward: Using data from The Echo Nest's vast client base, Lamere tallied up the groups that get the most streams from listeners who shared their zipcodes in their profiles.

Earlier this week, Lamere published a map showing the most popular band by relative number of streams.

The headline on our write-up of that data, "Here's Every State's Favorite Band," generated some debate.  

We would ask this: What is your state's favorite beer?

If you live in Pennsylvania, you'd say Yuengling. If you live in Texas, you'd say Shiner Bock or Lone Star. In Oregon, you'd say your friend's beer.

That's what this map shows — scraping out the raw total of streams, which band gets listened to an extraordinary number of times?

distinctive artist map

The data set showing the most popular band in each state, measured by overall (as opposed to relative) streams, looks different.

And if we're being honest, much more boring.

BONUS: Lamere also broke it down by region. 

regional artist preferences lamere

SEE ALSO: The Most Embarrassing Best-Selling Singles Of All Time

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The Oldest People On Earth Reveal The Secrets To Living Past 100

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Ikaria Greece

There's no magic bullet to living beyond the age of 100. But some places are on the right track. 

National Geographic writer Dan Buettner seeks out "Blue Zones," a few pockets around the world where a higher number of people live for a remarkably long time.

The remote island of Ikaria in Greece is one hotspot of exceptional human longevity. Here, there are more healthy people over 90 than any other place on the planet.

Buettner and his team spent 15 months studying the centenarians of Ikaria. The trip was documented in a series of videos, in which the researchers identified eight major secrets to reaching a record-setting age.  

First, some geography. Ikaria is an isolated Greek island in the Aegean Sea.

Watch the videos > 



Amid the lush green forests and beautiful waters, you'll find people who live longer than anywhere else on Earth.

Watch the videos > 



Buettner says only about 20% of how long we live is dictated by genes; the rest is lifestyle.

Watch the videos > 



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American Airlines Cancels Bereavement Fares

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american airlines thumb

American Airlines no longer offers emergency or bereavement fares, it announced quietly on its website, adding that it does "offer customers flexible fare options when booking last minute travel for a variety of reasons."

The new policy took effect February 18. According to Travelocity blog The Window Seat, the American's old policy had a fixed, reduced price for each route, and passengers could change their flight as needed. Back in 2004, SmarterTravel found a $40 difference between an American Airlines bereavement fare and the lowest online fare.

George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog, told Business Insider the bereavement fares weren't popular anyway, "because the savings weren't significant. You'd save more by using the name your own price option on Priceline and that's what I usually suggested people do when they had to travel last minute."

According to the AP, Southwest Airlines and Virgin America don't offer bereavement fares. United Airlines offers 5% off the lowest available fare.

In a statement, an American Airlines spokesperson said:

“We remain committed to doing all we can to relieve the burden of travel for our customers in times of need. With the advent of more choices, lower cost carriers and larger networks, the industry has started to move away from bereavement fares because walk-up fares are generally lower than in the past, and customers now have more opportunities to find affordable fares at the last minute.

"American is moving toward that industry trend and the airline offers customers changeable and refundable options with the ability to apply future reservations to bereavement travel without change fees. We believe this policy is a cost-effective solution for customers in need of bereavement travel.”

SEE ALSO: Bhutan's Tiny Himalayan Airport Is One Of The Trickiest Places In The World To Land

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Why The Borgata Is The Only Bright Spot In Atlantic City Gaming

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borgata water club atlantic city

Atlantic City has seen its luck turn since the high times of 2007, when guests ordered $1,000 brownies topped with gold flakes and gaming revenues flooded city coffers. Today, the city's tax base is shrinking, as resort properties lose their value and gamblers seek new options in neighboring states. Total gaming revenue fell below $3 billion last year for the first time in 22 years.

One bright spot in this gloom is the 11-year-old Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, co-owned by Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts.

While city gaming revenue fell 6.2% last year, the Borgata saw a 0.7% increase. It also had the most gaming revenue at $617 million, claiming one of every five dollar gambled in the city.

"I don't know what it is about this place," Fernando Commandari, 52, said while sitting at a Borgata blackjack table in early February. "It always feels current, which is nice. The staff are amazing and the service is great. But why do I come here over the Revel? I honestly can't say."

Andrew Zarnett, managing director of Deutsche Bank, offered a few reasons in an interview with the AP: "Borgata was successful thanks to a great location, well-executed design and talented management. Helping its success was a large investment in market research from the outset of development, which helped management understand the customer and implement a well-formulated plan."

The well-formulated plan included innovations like the popular "Borgata Babes" servers, more sophisticated slot machines, celebrity chef restaurants by Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck, a popular non-gambling sister hotel called The Water Club, constant renovations, and an early foray into online gambling (it now claims 41% of the local market).

Atlantic City New Jersey Revel Casino Resort 1 3None of this is news to Atlantic City's new mayor, Don Guardian, who shared his vision of Atlantic City with us in his office. When we mention the Borgata's success, the mayor smiled and said, "Yes, if only I had five more like it."

The mayor has a refined energy that's impossible to miss. In our brief visit, he outlined plans for a new Atlantic City facing the prospect of fading casino revenue. This includes expanding services in the health care field and the education sector with an eye to creating as many new, non-hospitality jobs as possible.

"I'm optimistic," he said. "I see great things for Atlantic City, I really do."

But it's easy to see how things could get worse before they get better.

Many casinos are on shaky ground or worse, with the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel closing in January and the Revel Casino only recently out of bankruptcy and reported to be looking for a buyout.

With more than half the mortgages in the area underwater, 30% of residents below the poverty line, and double-digit unemployment, there are fears that Atlantic City could become the next Detroit.

At least there's the Borgata.

SEE ALSO: Inside The Borgata's Most Lavish Suite, Where No Amount Of Money Or Fame Can Reserve You A Night

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15 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World

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Snow White Disney

The latest installment in Susan Veness' "Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" series will definitely test you. Even if you're a Disney freak, chances are you'll learn a thing or two from Vaness, who has been writing Disney guidebooks since 2009. 

Her trivia book asks multiple choice questions like, "What was the original nickname given to Walt Disney World?" Answer: The Vacation Kingdom of the World. 

Here are some more little-known facts from the book about Walt Disney World (Yes, that's the one in Florida):

1. A military veteran takes part in a flag-lowering ceremony every day at 5 p.m. on Main Street, U.S.A. in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

main street USA disney world

2. The Prince Charming Regal Carousel was first installed in Detroit, Mich., in 1917, then moved to Maplewood, N.J., before finding a permanent home in the Magic Kingdom.

3. If you hang out in the library for a few minutes after the Enchanted Tales with Belle show ends, the crew will explain some of their technical tricks, like bringing the character of Lumiere to life.

4. Fantasyland's concert hall assigns music performances based on puns; i.e. Genie sings the blues because he's blue and Ariel has a choral group as a play on coral under the sea.

5. Guests often throw coins into the water along the walkway of the It's A Small World attraction. Disney donates that money to Give Kids the World, an organization that makes wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.

6. Abraham Lincoln was Walt Disney's favorite president. To accurately represent him in the Hall of Presidents, the park made Lincoln's face from a copy of a life mask created by the sculptor Leonard Volk  in 1860.

Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom

7. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride almost wasn't built because Disney thought guests wouldn't be interested in a fantasy recreation of a place that was a short cruise away from where they already were in Florida.

8. The image of Jasmine's tiger Rajah is hidden in the front and back sections of the flying carpet in the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction.

9. In The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion, Nigel, the pelican hero from Finding Nemo, is the only main character not depicted.

10. Disney developed a signature scent for Norway in Epcot. It's called Laila and smells like airy mountains. The perfume is sprayed throughout the day in the pavilion. 

11. Sometimes in the red phone booth across from the Hotel du Canada in Epcot, the phone rings and it's a Disney character calling that you can have a conversation with. 

12. The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was supposed to feature music by the Rolling Stones, but the band proved too expensive for Disney's tastes. Instead, the park paid Aerosmith to use their music on the roller coaster.

rock'n'roller coaster disney world

13. In The Voyage of the Little Mermaid ride, Disney adds helium to the bubble makers to create bubbles that float up instead of down.

14. Some Spoonbills in the Oasis section of Animal Kingdom are given fake eggs to sit on. This helps prevent over population because it tricks the birds into thinking they've fulfilled their reproductive obligation.

15. Even though they're talked about in Animal Kingdom, there are no actual hyenas in the park. They're considered too vicious to be kept safely in Animal Kingdom.

You can pick up your own copy of "The Hidden Magic Of Disney World" here.

SEE ALSO: A Former 'Snow White' Dishes About Life As A Disney Park Princess

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider On Pinterest

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Meet The Free-Spirits, Drifters, And Vagrants Who Live On The Road In America [PHOTOS]

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AW_BusinessInsider_Boondock 7

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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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Chipotle CEO Sells His West Village Townhouse To A Music Mogul For $11.4 Million

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steve ells townhouse

Steve Ells, the founder of America's most popular Mexican fast-casual chain, just sold his townhouse on Jane Street in New York City's West Village to the music mogul who'd been renting the place for the past year, according to Zillow.

The 4,400-square foot Greek Revival first hit the market in September 2012 at $16.5 million, then was reduced to $14.5 million before Lyor Cohen, recently retired from Warner Music Group, scooped it up for $11.4 million.    

The 24-foot wide building dates back to 1858, with a modernized interior including four bedrooms, three family rooms, a wine cellar and a library. 

The Greek Revival townhouse has a facade that dates back to 1858.



Inside, it features a modern library with built-in shelves along two walls.



The building is 24 feet wide with five stories.



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McLaren's New Supercar Is Even Quicker Than Its Legendary F1

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McLaren 650S Coupe

McLaren has released the performance figures for its latest supercar, and they're as impressive as we'd hoped. The 650S Coupe can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat, and to 124 mph in just 8.4 seconds — a full second quicker than the McLaren F1, once the world's fastest production car.

Top speed is 207 mph, thanks to a V8 twin turbo engine that produces over 600 horsepower. Perhaps most impressively, McLaren says the 650S gets 24.2 miles per gallon — though hitting that number will require laying off the accelerator a bit.

The 650S will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Official pricing hasn't been announced, but a leaked document says the coupe will cost £232,500 (about $320,000) in Europe.

SEE ALSO: Jaguar Is Building An Awesome Station Wagon It Won't Sell To Americans

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13 Wonderful Old English Words We Should Still Be Using Today

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medieval England

As the years pass, language evolves.

Since the days of Chaucer and Shakespeare, we can all agree English has become less flowery.

Some fantastic vocabulary just dropped out of everyday conversation.

Author Mark Forsyth writes about the words we've lost. From his book "Horologicon" to his Tumblr and published articles, we compiled a list of the best words that need reviving.

1. Ultracrepidarian (n):"Somebody who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about."

Example: Too many ultracrepidarians discuss the conflict in Syria.

2. Snollygoster (n): "A shrewed, unprincipled person, especially a politician."

Example: Many consider Chris Christie a snollygoster after the Bridgegate scandal.

3. Zwodder (n): "A drowsy and stupid state of body or mind."

Example: Without my morning coffee, I remain in a zwodder all day.

4. Philogrobolized (adj): "Conveys a hangover without ever having to admit you've been drinking."

Example: Pedialyte freezer pops can save even the most philogrobized partier.

5. Grufeling (v): "To lie close wrapped up and in a comfortable-looking manner; used in ridicule."

Example: Avoid grufeling in the face of a challenge.

6. Clinomania (n): "An obsessive desire to lie down."

Example: Without adequate sleep, you'll suffer from more than clinomania.

7. Hum durgeon (n): "An imaginary illness; also "the thickest part of his thigh is nearest his arse."

Example: You should never claim hum durgeon to miss work.

8. Quomodocunquize (v): "To make money in any way that you can.”

Example: Rather than quomodocunquizing, invest your money wisely.

9. Fudgel (v): "Pretending to work when you're not actually doing anything at all."

Example: Sometimes fudgeling can actually increase your focus.

10. Snecklifter (n): "A person who pokes his [or her] head into a pub to see if there's anyone who might stand him [or her] a drink."

Example: Snecklifters never pay for their own whiskey — or offer to buy one for you.

11. Ergophobia (n): "The morbid fear of returning to work."

Example: The worst employees suffer from extreme ergophobia on Mondays.

12. Famelicose (adj): "Constantly hungry."

Example: I'm famelicose for a grilled cheese.

13. Groke (v): "To gaze at somebody while they're eating in the hope that they'll give you some of their food."

Example: My dog constantly grokes at me longingly while I eat dinner.

SEE ALSO: The Historical Origins Of 6 Swear Words

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11 Things You Didn't Know About Red Bull

We Just Tried Chipotle's New Tofu Dish — Here's The Verdict

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chipotle sofritas

When we heard Chipotle was coming out with a new tofu-based dish, we were skeptical.

The dish, called Sofritas, is the Mexican chain's first addition to its original menu in 20 years, so our expectations were high. But as carnivores who had only ever tried tofu a handful of times — and generally thought it was bland and unimpressive — we had our doubts.

Ahead of the dish's launch in New York, Boston and D.C. on Monday, which marks the start of a nationwide rollout, Chipotle invited Business Insider to try the new Sofritas in its test kitchen in the Flatiron district of Manhattan. 

Three of us, including retail reporter Ashley Lutz and deputy editor Julie Zeveloff, took Chipotle up on the offer. When we arrived, we were served the chain's signature Patron tequila margaritas on silver platters. Other drinks were available at a make-shift bar, as well:

Chipotle Sofritas eventToward the back of the room, Chipotle's culinary manager, Nate Appleman, and test chefs Tatiania Perea and Sam Benson, were busy cooking a few hors d'oeuvres.

Here's Benson preparing steamed buns filled with braised pork belly:

Chipotle Sofritas eventThe meat inside was tender with a sweet barbecue flavoring.

The chefs also served rice crisps topped with crab, shallots, lemon, parsley and black garlic:

Chipotle Sofritas eventAfter half a margarita and some appetizers, it was finally time for the main event. 

As the chefs prepared the Sofritas in a saucer, Chipotle founder and CEO Steve Ells explained that the tofu is from Hodo Soy Beanery in Oakland, Calif. Hodo Soy is beloved on the West Coast for its GMO-free, nutty-flavored tofu.

Here's Ells (right) discussing the new creation with Appleman (center) and Hodo Soy founder and Co-CEO Minh Tsai (left).

Chipotle Sofritas eventAs Ells spoke, the chefs were busy preparing the Sofritas in the kitchen.

Chipotle Sofritas eventAppleman told us he tried hundreds of tofu recipes with variations of Mexican flavors for about a year before discovering Sofritas.  

Like us, Appleman is a meat-eater. He said he wanted to find a way to make tofu "as good as, if not better than meat."

"I really thought hard about what's so appealing about meat, and what's not so appealing about tofu," he said. It came down to the flavor, he said, "and it all starts with great tofu."

Chipotle Sofritas eventAfter starting out with a tofu chorizo in mind, he finally settled on the Sofritas' chili-inspired recipe. It's made with shredded tofu that is braised with chipotle chilis, roasted poblanos and a blend of Mexican spices.

Chipotle restaurants will serve the dish like their other protein options: In a burrito, a bowl, tacos or a salad. 

It was served to us with black beans, tomato salsa, and guacamole. The guacamole will cost a little extra for Chipotle customers.

Chipotle Sofritas eventI thought the dish was delicious. The tofu flavoring was pretty spicy but the guacamole tempered the heat. The tofu was firm and granular, resembling ground beef.

In fact, in a blind taste test, I might have thought I was eating ground beef chili. 

Zeveloff and Lutz agreed that the dish has a surprising burst of flavor. 

"The Sofritas dish has some heat, but is not nearly as spicy as Chipotle's hot salsa," Lutz said. "The item has a chili-like consistency, and could be added to meat without being overpowering. The chewy protein also stands on its own. There is no moment of 'I'm eating tofu' while you're eating the bowl. This vegan product has widespread appeal."

Zeveloff added: "As someone who never orders tofu, I was surprised by the texture and taste. It felt more like meat than like spongy tofu I've tried in the past."

The night ended with a tofu mousse served over vanilla pearls, blood orange granita and sweet meringue. It was light, tart, and sweet. 

Here's the dessert:

Chipotle Sofritas eventWe left the taste-test with a newfound appreciation for tofu and plans to try Sofritas again at a Chipotle restaurant to see how it stacks up to the one prepared by Appleman.

SEE ALSO: See What It's Like To Eat At Chipotle's New Pizzeria In Denver [PHOTOS]

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider On Instagram

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This Map Shows Why People Should Stop Freaking Out About Rent Prices In San Francisco

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From outrageous listing prices to Google Bus protests, soaring rents in San Francisco have been all over the news lately. 

But new data from online real estate marketplace Zumper tells an altogether different story. 

Zumper compared median prices for 1-bedroom apartments from hundreds of listings posted on their site during the month of January. They then calculated the change from January 2013 to January 2014. What they found was that while some neighborhoods certainly did see an increase in rents year-over-year, rents in other neighborhoods stayed the same or even decreased significantly. 

11Jan14rentchangesf_RENTCHANGESFInstead of taking information from Craigslist or other boards, Zumper's platform allows realtors to post their listings directly to their site. According to Zumper Co-founder and COO Taylor Glass-Moore, this means that listings are more accurate, and there's no duplicate information. 

Glass-Moore says that one reason for the frenzy surrounding San Francisco rent is that the media tends to focus on certain neighborhoods that have historically been popular with residents, including techies.

"A lot of the focus is on overall prices and trying to identify unit types where there's been the most appreciation to have a number that is really dramatic," Glass-Moore said to Business Insider. "Multiple factors are causing the changes, but only one is being discussed." 

The tech sector has largely been blamed for causing rents to rise and longtime residents to be evicted from their homes, but that's only one part of the problem, according to Glass-Moore. 

"Yes, tech is driving demand and prices for apartments, but only in specific neighborhoods," he said. "A lot of focus is placed on SOMA or the Mission where a lot of tech workers have moved, but that's not representative of the city as a whole. There are plenty of neighborhoods where people aren't wearing Google Glass and jumping into a Google shuttle."  

Other factors contributing to high rents include rising construction of luxury condos, increase in short-term rentals (which tend to be more expensive than long-term), and rent-controlled housing. Most units in San Francisco are protected under rent control, but that locks up housing supply, according to Glass-Moore. 

Though rents in San Francisco were up 2.74% as a whole over the last year, Downtown and the Financial District were two neighborhoods that saw a decrease of up to 10% in rent prices. Sunset is another desirable neighborhood with relatively reasonable rent. 

He also emphasized that high rents in San Francisco are nothing new. 

"Rentals were expensive in San Francisco last year as well, so it's not like they were cheap last year and now they're much more expensive," Glass-Moore said. "The message that I think should be made clear is that San Francisco is still an affordable city to live in if you're open to other neighborhoods." 

SEE ALSO: The 15 Most Expensive Mansions For Sale In Silicon Valley Right Now

DON'T FORGET:  Follow Business Insider On Pinterest

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Volvo's Next Generation Of Cars Takes A Page From Tesla's Book

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volvo concept estate station wagon

Volvo is showing off a gorgeous concept station wagon at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but the most important bit isn't what the car looks like — it's what's inside.

According to the Swedish automaker, the "most striking feature" inside the Concept Estate is simplicity:

"The traditional selection of buttons and controls have been replaced by one large tablet-like touch screen control panel in the centre console, bringing the interior firmly into the 21st century."

That's right: au revoir, buttons. You know who does the same thing? Tesla.

While I have my qualms regarding the interior of the electric Model S, I love the huge 17-inch screen that controls just about everything the car does — radio, navigation, locks, windows, climate, etc. Lots of automakers have gone with touch screens, but hedge their bets with buttons.

I worry about the distraction element that comes with a huge touch screen — which you have to look at to use — but Tesla's is one of the best infotainment systems you can find in a car today. If Volvo can come close to that quality, it will be a great move.

Here's what it looks like:

volvo concept estate station wagon

The new control system will be introduced in the next generation of Volvos, starting with the XC90 later this year.

Volvo SVP for design Thomas Ingenlath said in a press release the interface "is so logical that it will be part of your muscle memory very quickly."

And for those (like me) worried about the distraction a touch screen creates — you have to look at it to use it — there are still buttons on the steering wheel and voice recognition so the driver can change the volume without taking her eyes off the road.

A few more images:

volvo concept estate station wagon

volvo concept estate station wagon

volvo concept estate station wagon

volvo concept estate station wagon

And here's what you find in a Tesla Model S:

Tesla S interior

SEE ALSO: Tesla Reveals Its Plan To Build A Massive Battery Factory

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Lifestyle Section On Facebook

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The LEAST Popular Band In Every State

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In the last couple of days, everyone's been talking about Paul Lamere's data showing each state's favorite bandThe data Lamere is working from is proprietary to his firm The Echo Nest. But he made it defacto accessible through a nifty app that allows you to compare one state's tastes with another's.

Which makes it possible to answer the question: Which bands are least popular? 

 On his blog Fancycwabs, engineer Randal Cooper did just that, coming up with a map showing the overall most popular bands in America that happen to be extremely unpopular in a given state.

Here are the results:

tumblr_n1mwikftQl1qzpn8ro1_1280

For reference, here's the data results he would have been working from. Below is the example for Alabama.

alabama music vs us


NOW WATCH: Even Genius Mathematicians Get The Monty Hall Problem Wrong

 

SEE ALSO: The Most Embarrassing Best-Selling Singles Of All Time

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Here's How Much Soda You Have To Drink To Make It Worth Buying Your Own SodaStream

Two Former Bankers Are Solving The Problem That Makes Wall Streeters Fat

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plated ceos josh hix and nick taranto

"When I was living on West 14th Street and taking the E train to Goldman Sachs it got so bad that a homeless man handing out papers in the train station would look at me and say, 'cheer up young man'," said Nick Taranto, co-CEO of Plated.

Part of that was because he "absolutely hated" his experience at Goldman, and wanted to do something entrepreneurial and creative. The other part, though, was a more common Wall Street problem.

Taranto was feeling depressed about gaining weight and being unhealthy. Like a lot of bankers he was working all the time and eating take-out all the time. Fitting exercise in with the demands of his position in Goldman Sachs' private wealth business was basically impossible.

It's hard to imagine Taranto, a tall, smiley Marine, looking or feeling sluggish. But it happens on Wall Street all the time.

So in 2012 he and Josh Hix, a former Bridgewater associate who Taranto met at Harvard Business School, launched Plated. It is a national subscription service that delivers fresh, healthy ingredients for meals you can make in 30 minutes to your door in as quickly as one day.

Here's how it works:

  • Go to Plated.com and put in your zip code and delivery day.
  • Choose what meals you want, and for how many people (each meal is $12).
  • Wait for your ingredients to show up.
  • Cook them (they come with directions).

If you want, you can fill out a form about your likes, dislikes, dietary restrictions (what have you), and Plated will send you food automatically. The menu changes weekly. Taranto calls this experience "curated discovery."

What he and his team discovered themselves, is that Plated solves an even bigger problem than just their clients' health. In the United States 40% of the food consumers buy goes to waste.  Plated has its waste down to less than 1%.

Of course, creating the infrastructure for a national delivery service like this wasn't easy. Taranto and Hix's first delivery involved hustling down to an Associated grocery store and sending off items themselves. Then there was the time they tried to build their own fridge (which ended with $20,000 gone and a fridge that would not cool below 65 degrees).

All that was before the $400,000 investment from Silicon Valley angel investors (which didn't stop Hurricane Sandy from almost flooding Plated's Brooklyn warehouse, but it definitely helped in other ways).

Now the company operates out of a sunny shared work space in SoHo where twice a week the open kitchen becomes a testing lab for the new dishes that will appear on Plated's menu over the next two months. Taranto likes the deconstructed tuna wasabi bowl (pictured below).

Plated has fulfillment centers in New York, San Francisco and Chicago and plans to open three more in Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles. The company employs about 100 people.

At this point, they should probably all know how to cook.

tuna dish from plated

 

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100 Trips Everyone Should Take In Their Lifetime

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Santorini sunset

With spring tantalizingly close, our minds are starting to drift towards vacation.

And if you're stuck in front of a computer all day, then yours probably is, too.

We've updated our bucket list of travel destinations to include reader suggestions and 2014's travel hotspots.

From eating pizza in Naples to skiing in Japan, these are 100 trips everyone should take in their lifetime.

Did we miss your dream destination? Let us know in the comments. And check our Wanderlust board on Pinterest for more beautiful travel photos.

Walk along the Walls of Dubrovnik, which have protected the Croatian city since the 7th century.



Drive a classic car around Havana, Cuba.



Cruise the Las Vegas Strip.



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Work On The $82 Million Private Jet Terminal Built (Mostly) For Google Starts Tomorrow

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signature flight support google airport san jose rendering

The $82 million terminal being built mostly for Google executives breaks ground in San Jose on Friday morning. 

The terminal is being built by Signature Flight Support, a fixed based operator that provides private aviation services (like maintenance, fuel, and parking) to its customers at 116 global locations.

In an interview with Business Insider, Signature President and COO Maria Sastre was quick to clarify that the San Jose project is not a "Google airport" — the terminal will be open to any of its customers.

Google will get special treatment, however. The tech giant is playing a large role through Blue City Holdings (BCH), the company that operates its executives' planes. BCH is splitting the $82 million price tag with Signature, and will have exclusive use of five of the seven hangars being built.

The other two hangars are available for use by other Signature customers. (Sastre declined to name some others who might use the airport, citing privacy concerns.)

The terminal is one of the largest projects Signature has taken on, Sastre said, and once complete, it will be able to handle at least 100 flights daily. It will include an executive terminal, the seven hangars, aircraft servicing facilities, and ramp space to accommodate large business jets.

The new terminal, which provides access to a runway at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, should be open for business in 22 to 24 months.

Signature's deal with the San Jose City Council gives it a 50-year lease, in return for $2.6 million in annual rent to the Airport, and a minimum annual tax generation guarantee of $70,000 for the first year, and $300,000 after year five. 

Here's what the shiny new terminal will look like:

signature flight support google airport san jose rendering

signature flight support google airport san jose rendering

signature flight support google airport san jose rendering

signature flight support google airport san jose rendering

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