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Chilling Photos Of An Abandoned Mental Asylum That's Being Turned Into An Evangelical College Campus

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11_Doctors_House

Life-long New Yorker David Allee has spent his summers in rural Connecticut for as long as he can remember. Every year, on his drive up to his family's country house, he would pass by the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, a massive complex that dominates the upstate New York town of Wingdale.

Originally slated to be a correctional facility, the hospital treated patients suffering from severe psychological and psychiatric issues from 1924 until it closed its doors in 1994.

The campus has sat abandoned for 20 years, giving it an unnerving atmosphere. But it's about to undergo a major transformation. It was recently purchased by Olivet University, a west coast-based evangelical Christian college that was founded by controversial preacher David Jang, who was rumored to have helped fund International Business Times' acquisition of Newsweek.

Allee made a dozen trips to the complex to capture it in its abandoned state, photographing the buildings and surrounding area. He has shared a selection of the photos with Business Insider. See more of his work on his Facebook page.

The hospital is made up of 80 buildings on more than 800 acres of land. The massive complex has sat empty for two decades.24_Hanging_ChairWhen it was opened in 1924, the prevailing approach to psychiatric care was to remove patients from the stresses of daily life.9_EntranceThe center, about 65 miles north of New York City, was originally built to ease overcrowding at nearby institutions. 7_LobbyBecause patients became dependent on asylums, they rarely left. Hospital populations continually grew, often leading to poor living conditions.2_HallAt its peak, in the mid-1950s, the hospital had more than 5,000 patients and 5,000 employees, according to Hudson Valley magazine.12_Tree_shadow_ADThe campus was so large that there was even a 9-hole golf course that doctors could play on. Patients were often encouraged to be caddies.Scare_Crow_9th_Hole_ADIt had its own bakery, a bowling alley, ice cream parlor, and one of the biggest dairy farms in the state.1_Ice_Cream_ParlorThe complex produced its own energy via a dam and hydroelectric power plant.20_GreenhouseThe trend towards treating mentally ill patients in "complete institutions" where they lived and worked fell out of fashion in the 1960s, as overcrowding and underfunding led to wide abuses at hospitals.Sunken_Truck_ADA real estate company purchased the abandoned asylum a decade ago, but gave up on plans to turn it into a housing and retail complex before the housing market collapsed, according to The New York Times.van_dollOlivet University paid $20 million for about half the property in 2013.TreadmillIt's an ideal space for a college campus: A Metro-North railway stop on campus connects it directly with New York City.beds_for_saleOlivet has already begun to clean up the former asylum, mowing lawns, stripping brush, and clearing land for sports fields.running_trackWhile Olivet's plans are still not totally clear, it appears that the college intends to use the existing buildings. Allee, who used to be an urban planner, doesn't think that's a good idea.4_Gym"It's become a hazardous waste site. The buildings were so full of asbestos and mold that I'm shocked anybody thinks they could rehab them," says Allee.3_ShelvesWingdale residents are actually excited about the arrival of Olivet, according to the New York Times. Residents expect that the college will draw new jobs and commerce to the town.8_Table_and_Pills

SEE ALSO: Eerie Photos Of Brooklyn's Gigantic, Abandoned Domino Sugar Factory

DON'T MISS: This Abandoned New York City Island Shows What Would Happen 50 Years After Humans

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18 Things Every Man Should Take Out Of His Closet And Burn

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East Bound and Down

Each of the 18 articles of clothing on this list has a place, and that place is a trash can.

Some of them are out of date, some of them were always awful. Either way, with this list we're not asking you to go on a shopping spree for the latest duds.

Quite the contrary, this list is just about doing the absolute bare minimum to look like a modern grownup in 2014.

Tie dye everything

Tie dye T-shirts belong at children's birthday parties (where they are hand made) and the far, far recesses of your memory — a hazy, immature, high school memory.

I hope I'm being clear.

 



Abercrombie and Fitch

Nothing says "I'm an adult" like dressing like you did in 2001.



Tevas

The actual purpose of the Teva as an article of clothing remains unclear. Are they for running? No. Lounging on the beach? Surely there are better shoes for that. Hiking? Wouldn't one want to go with a close-toed shoe for that?

One can only come to the conclusion that these shoes were created to embarrass whoever is wearing them.

And you don't want to embarrass yourself, do you?

 



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The Best Dessert In Every State

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Woodside Bakery

A delicious dessert is the ultimate, cherry-on-top ending to any meal. Just as most of us have personal preferences for our go-to cakes and pastries, each state has iconic favorites as well. 

We put together a list of the best desserts across the U.S., including everything from Georgia's peach cobbler and Mississippi's mud pie to fresh cinnamon rolls in Montana. 

We scoured high and low for the ultimate treats in every state, using reviews, recommendations, and of course, our own sweet tooth. 

ALABAMA: Alabama is proud of its moon pies, and Felix's Fish Camp in Mobile takes the graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate-dipped dessert a step further, pairing it with ice cream in a Moon Pie Sundae.

Felix's Fish Camp



ALASKA: Alaska is famous for its plentiful, fresh berries. You can sample them with the Triple Berry Pie, filled with local raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, from A Pie Stop in Anchorage.

A Pie Stop



ARIZONA: While Phoenix's Urban Cookies may be best known for its iconic cookies, the bakery also has incredible cupcakes, which were featured on the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars."

Urban Cookies



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Airbus Patents 'Bicycle Seats' That Look Terrifying For Airline Passengers

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Airbus Bicycle Seats

A five-hour flight in coach from New York to Los Angeles is enough to make most people cringe, but imagine doing so upright in a bicycle seat. Sounds like corporal punishment, doesn't it? But based on a patent application filed by Airbus Industries last December, this may indeed happen (via The Los Angeles Times' Hugo Martin). 

The seat design featured in the patent is barbarically sparse, without even basic necessities like a backrest, tray tables or any leg room to speak of.  In fact, the seats don't even appear to function like seats; instead they are designed to prop up the flyer in an awkward semi-upright position to reduce the space required between rows. 

Airbus' "bicycle" seats would function like the folding seats in a movie theatre or a ball park. They would fold down when in use, and flip back up when unoccupied.

Airbus Bicycle SeatsAirbus knows that being stuck in a cramped space on a place is uncomfortable, and admitted as much in the patent filing. But the company apparently believes passengers would be willing to handle the discomfort in exchange for a cheap flight. 

"[To maximize financial returns on aircraft for low-cost airlines], the number of seats in a cabin must be increased, to the detriment of the comfort of the passengers," stated Airbus in the patent filing. "However, this reduced comfort is tolerable for passengers in as much as the flight lasts one or a few hours." 

The patent filing represents what is perhaps the most extreme solution thus far for the airline industry's quest to cram as many seats into a plane as possible. Fortunately for flyers, an Airbus spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that the seats may never make it into production. 

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President Of Carvel Predicts That Frozen Yogurt Chains Will Be The Next To Fall

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carvel ice creamCupcake chain Crumbs shut down last week, and an insider believes frozen yogurt could be next. 

Scott Colwell, president of ice cream company Carvel, told The Wall Street Journal that he said no to investing in frozen yogurt.

"I absolutely believe we'll see a frozen yogurt bubble," he told WSJ,  adding that "only the strongest brands will survive long-term." 

Carvel dipped into the fro-yo world in the late 1980s with TCBYcarvel president

But Colwell said the company couldn't keep up with the booming fro-yo industry today.

“We don’t have the capability to offer that variety,” Colwell told WSJ.

Carvel recently changed the look of its 400 franchised stores. The brand also released a new line of Nutella ice cream. 

“We’re being the best at what we do well,” Colwell said. “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone.”

CNBC host Marcus Lemonis announced a plan to buy Crumbs last week.

SEE ALSO: The Rise And Fall Of The Crumbs Cupcake Empire

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Who Is Changing The Face Of Detroit? Let Us Know

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Jerry Paffendorf detroitCall for nominations!

Headlines don't paint a pretty picture of Motor City. Last year, Detroit became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy. Unemployment and crime rates remain unencouraging, and there appears to be a mass exodus of residents fleeing the once prosperous metropolis. 

Still, many Detroiters are toughing it out, pouring their resources and their talents into rebuilding the city.

We want to shine a spotlight on the people in Detroit who are making remarkable contributions to the city. We're looking for folks across industries, from finance and automotive to education, sports, and entertainment, who are dedicated to revitalizing the city.

To qualify, nominees must currently live in Detroit, but they don't need to have been born there.

Send your nominations to our Lists & Rankings team at lists@businessinsider.com. Please include the person's name, contact information, employer and job title if appropriate, and a brief description of how he or she has made a positive impact on Detroit.

We'll be accepting nominations through July 31.

Thanks!

SEE ALSO: A Detroit Company Is Making Luxury Watches In A Former Auto Factory

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13 Things You Never Knew About The Eiffel Tower

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Eiffel Tower

Happy Bastille Day! Today is France's La Fête Nationale, which commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille and the beginning of the French Revolution.

And no landmark is more greatly associated with France than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was completed 125 years ago after 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days of construction.

It stood as the gateway for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) in honor of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

Here are 13 cool facts about the Eiffel Tower everyone should know.

eiffel tower world fair exposition internationale 18891. The Eiffel Tower wasn’t the brainchild of Gustav Eiffel. Instead, his senior engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier designed the building. Gustav Eiffel wasn't overly interested in the project, but sent the engineers to the head of the company’s architectural department, Stephen Sauvestre. With Sauvestre's edits, Eiffel got behind the final plans and bought the right to the patent.

2. The Eiffel Tower in numbers: 300 workers, 18,038 pieces of wrought iron, 2.5 million rivets, 10,000 tons, 984.25 feet high.

3. The tower was built as a symbol of modern science, or as Eiffel himself said, “not only the art of the modern engineer, but also the century of Industry and Science in which we are living.” At the time that the tower was being built, another technology was also in its infancy phase — photography. As the tower was built, many photographers captured series of photographs to show the tower’s construction.

Eiffle tower construction

4. At the time of its construction, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world. It wasn't until 1930 when New York City’s Chrysler Building rose up to 1,046 feet that the tower lost that title.

5. The Eiffel Tower's elevators weren't operational at first. On May 6, fair goers were allowed to enter the tower, but the 30,000 visitors had to climb 1,710 steps to reach the top. The lifts finally entered service on May 26.

6. Parisian residents originally hated the Eiffel Tower, calling it an eyesore. Newspapers received angry letters that said the tower didn’t fit into the feel of the city, and there was a team of artists that rejected the plan from the get-go. One apocryphal story says that novelist Guy de Maupassant said he hated the tower, but ate at its restaurant every day for lunch. When he was asked why, Maupassant replied it was only place in Paris he couldn’t see it.

eiffel tower7. It changes height by the season. Because it’s made with puddled (wrought) iron, the tower’s metal expands when exposed to the summer sun, causing the structure to rise by as much as 6.75 inches.

8. The Eiffel Tower was only meant to stand for 20 years, but the French military and government began using it for radio communication and later telecommunication. When the permit expired in 1909, the City of Paris decided to keep it.

9. The Eiffel Tower has stood up to quite a lot during its lifetime. It transmitted radio signals during WWI, and during WWII the elevator wires were cut so that the Nazis could not use the tower (after Allied troops entered the city, the elevators were fixed). It even survived a fire on its top floor, and over 250 million visitors from around the world climbing on it.

10. The tower is not painted one uniform color. To counteract atmospheric perspective, the tower is painted darker at the top and becomes gradually lighter towards the bottom.

11. Speaking of paint, every seven years 50 to 60 tons of paint are applied to protect the tower from rust.

12. It’s not just a tourist attraction. The Eiffel Tower has housed a newspaper office, post office, scientific laboratories, a theater, and the first level becomes an ice rink every year.

13.It is the most visited paid monument in the world, attracting almost 7 million visitors every year (75% of whom are from other countries). Here’s the full breakdown:

eiffel tower visitors

eiffel tower visitors

For more cool facts on the Eiffel Tower, visit the monuments website here.


NOW WATCH: The Strange Fashion Choices Of European Men

 

 

SEE ALSO: 7 Reasons You Should Teach Your Children To Speak French

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McDonald's Is Becoming A Popular Wedding Venue In Hong Kong

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McDonald's Engagement

McDonald's restaurants are now doubling as wedding venues in Hong Kong.

McDonald's launched a wedding party program a few years ago in response to customer demand, with three locations offering wedding services.

Today, 15 McDonald's locations in Hong Kong host weddings, as well as engagement parties, anniversary parties, and bridal showers, according to CNBC.

"We started the program because many customers tell us that McDonald's is where they first started dating...McDonald's is where their love stories grew," a McDonald's spokeswoman told CNBC. "This connection is exactly why they want to hold their wedding parties and even anniversary parties at McDonald's—to relive sweet beginnings and bring their romantic story full circle."

The deluxe wedding package offers a two-hour venue rental, 50 McDonaldland character gifts, two McDonald's balloon wedding rings, an MC, decorations, and more. The most expensive package is about $1,290, while the bargain package is only $373.

When you consider that the average wedding price in the U.S. is $29,858, a McDonald's wedding seems especially affordable.

CNBC reports that for now, McDonald's wedding parties are limited to Hong Kong locations only.

SEE ALSO: Some Of New York's Best Restaurants Are Hiring People To Forage Ingredients

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How A Canadian Student Turned Her Nail Art Into A YouTube Sensation

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cutepolish

25-year-old Sandi Ball and her nail art tutorial videos have amassed a huge following on YouTube. 

Among her top videos, you'll find such fun creations as "Angry Birds Nail Art,"  "Hello Kitty Nails," and "Gangnam Style Nails," each with millions of views from fans.    

Since starting her YouTube channel (@CutePolish) four years ago, Sandi has earned a devoted following of more than 2 million subscribers. She's part of StyleHaul, a multi-channel beauty and fashion network with a total of more than 172 million subscribers. And with a total of more than 239 million views, CutePolish has grown to be the most popular nail art channel on YouTube.

Though millions of people tune in to her weekly nail videos, until just a few weeks ago, she had never shown her face or even revealed her identity. 

Business Insider caught up with Sandi to hear more of her story.

Business Insider: How did you get started with nail art?

cutepolishSandi Ball: When I was a little girl, my mother passed down her nail polish collection to me. She had about 50 bottles and lined them up on top of a big mirror on my dresser. I fell in love with all of the different colors and finishes of the polishes. Back then, the most adventurous I would get with my polish was layering a glitter polish over a solid color.

As I grew older, I began to see nail polish companies release polishes with long thin detailing brushes inside of them. I was really excited and bought a bunch from the store. When I went home that night, I played around creating stripes over my nails with them. And that's when it happened — I realized my nails were tiny little canvases that could be designed in endless ways using a few simple tools such as a tiny paintbrush and toothpick.

BI: What's the story behind your YouTube channel?

SB: Once I began creating and painting nail art designs on my nails, I would have friends and classmates compliment me on them and ask me where I had them done. I would reply with "I did them by myself!" and they would be shocked. They'd respond by saying it looked way too difficult for them to attempt. I'd assure them that it was quite simple and easy to do, but they wouldn't believe it. So, I decided to create online videos to show girls all over the world just how fun and easy nail art can be.BI: Was there a moment when you knew you had made it? What was that like?

SB: During the first year of my YouTube channel, I would upload nail art videos periodically. It was a hobby of mine and I didn't take it too seriously. After a little over a year, I received an email from StyleHaul, a new multi-channel network on YouTube. They saw so much potential in me and the videos I was creating, that they offered to partner with me to help grow my channel even further.

At that point I realized I had made something really worthwhile online and decided to sign with them and invest a lot more time and effort into my channel. Within the first month, my channel boomed! I began uploading a lot more frequently and had the support from my new network to help back me up. It was incredible to see just how many girls my nail art was reaching all over the world, with numbers increasing at such a large rate daily. 

BI: Where do you get inspiration for your videos? 

SB: Something I've learned from this nail art journey is that inspiration can be found everywhere. I always keep my eyes open and look for ways to incorporate nature, fashion designs, pop culture, and everyday items into my next manicure. Another huge source of my inspiration comes from my viewers; they are always sending in requests for new nail art designs.BI: How long does it usually take to make a video? What's that process like? And has it changed over time?

SB: Each video takes about a week to create. It begins by brainstorming nail art design ideas and reading requests from my viewers. Once I've decided on a theme, I begin painting many different designs on a plastic nail wheel and then choosing my favorite one. I then film an intro featuring myself showcasing the design, the actual tutorial of how to recreate the design, and an outro. Then I edit my video and upload it to YouTube.

But it wasn't always like this … when I first began I would be able to create a video in a quarter of the time because I was using a low-quality pocket camera, a homemade tripod, a very basic editing program, and wouldn't have a creative intro or outro. With an increase in video quality came an increase of work!

BI: Is there one video that you're especially proud of?

SB: Yes, my most recent video called #AskCutePolish! It's a Q&A where I'm answering questions about myself that my viewers sent in. This is the first time I've ever done this style of video, so it was a little outside of my comfort zone. I'm so glad I uploaded it and shared more about myself with them because their responses were so positive and they told me that they feel more connected with me now!BI: How do you make a video go viral?

SB: Well that's the thing about viral videos, you never "plan" to have them go viral. Sometimes it just happens! However, you can increase your chances by creating content that you believe your audience will love so much that they will share it with their friends. It's through all of the sharing that videos go viral!

SEE ALSO: Nerdy Cook Rosanna Pansino Has Figured Out How To Go Super Viral Without Even Trying

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: $65 Million Hamptons Mansion Comes With 2 Pools And A Grotto

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Hamptons Angel View estate

Another incredible Hamptons estate is up for grabs.

Known as "Angel View," the 15,000-square-foot estate in North Haven is selling for an astronomical $65 million through Harald Grant of Sotheby's.

Although the identity of the owners is private, Grant told The Wall Street Journal that they are looking to downsize now that their children are grown up.

The home sits on 6.5 acres and has 500 feet of waterfront on Noyack Bay. Amenities include a "grotto" room with an indoor pool, two outdoor infinity pools, and a tennis court.

Welcome to the "Angel View" estate in North Haven, near Sag Harbor.



The Tudor-style home has had the same owners for the past 18 years.



The six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion is designed with wood accents.



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7 Foods That Could Help Lower Your Stress Levels

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Kale Salmon Salad

When you're stressed out, you might be inclined to reach for a bag of chips or a cupcake.

That's normal. According to a recent survey by the Harvard School of Public Health, NPR, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 39% of people say they eat more when they're stressed out. Another 44% say they eat less when stressed, which is a bad idea because your body won't be able to function or regulate your mood without the nutrients it needs.

But emotional eating isn't healthy — at least, not if it makes you gravitate towards those quick snack foods. NPR's Morning Edition got in touch with researchers who study how different foods affect people's moods, and according to those experts, there's a strong relationship between what you are eating and your stress levels.

For example, carb-heavy comfort foods like chips, cupcakes, and cookies fall high on the glycemic index, meaning that they cause blood sugar to spike quickly but then crash afterwards, according to David Ludwig, a professor of pediatrics and nutrition at Harvard University and a researcher at Boston Children's Hospital.

As Ludwig told NPR, "when we feel stressed we seek foods that are going to comfort us immediately, but often times those foods lead to surges and crashes in hormones and blood sugar that increase our susceptibility to new stresses." His research shows that the crash when blood sugars drop causes stress hormones like adrenaline to surge to high levels.

The experts suggested some foods that may help people regulate their mood and stress levels. Here are seven suggestions:

1. Fish like salmon are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Stress hormones like cortisol are associated with inflammation. However, omega-3s help the body deal with inflammation. Research shows that they also may help boost mood and promote social behavior.

2. Canned tuna and sardines can provide a similar omega-3 boost.

3. Chia seeds and flaxseed are other ways for people to get omega-3s, but they have additional benefits too. Both are super healthy and often find a place on lists of superfoods that you should be eating.

4.Eggs are high in protein and vitamin B. The protein means they won't cause that blood sugar spike like certain carbs, making them a great breakfast. Nutrition experts say that we should all be eating more eggs.

5. Kale or other dark, leafy greens like Swiss chard are packed with helpful nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin K, and potassium.

6. Pumpkin seeds make a great snack, and provide both magnesium and zinc. Zinc is used to boost the immune system and magnesium is used to treat ADHD and anxiety. Athletes also use it to increase energy and endurance.

7. Dark chocolate is that rare treat that researchers keep telling us to eat more of, and for good reason. In addition to its high levels of antioxidants and its link to lower blood pressure, there's also research that shows eating it is associated with improved mood and cognitive function. There's even a correlation between per-capita chocolate consumption and Nobel prize laureates in a country.

There's obviously no silver bullet stress treatment. But when looking for a snack that's both tasty and nutritious, choosing one of the above is a much better way to go than opting for something that'll crash your system.

MORE ON STRESS: You Don't Know What Real Stress Is Unless You Have Health Issues

DON'T MISS: Here Is The Simplest Advice For Anyone Trying To Lose Weight Or Eat Healthy

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Correlation Expert Explains How 5 Questions Allow Him To Predict Almost Anything About Anyone

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hellmann's mayonnaise"We are predictable," correlations expert Shaun Gallagher observed about humans in a recent interview on Reddit.

Gallagher, a former newspaper editor, runs correlated.org, a site that polls registered users on a wide variety of questions to identify strange correlations, ranging from the tendency of pot smokers to prefer sweet snacks to the tendency of Twitter users to remember their dreams. He also recently released a book.

"Our answers to five basic questions are enough to predict our preferences and opinions about a whole lot of other things," Gallagher wrote. These questions are:

  • Your sex
  • Whether you have any children
  • Whether you think pot should be legalized
  • Whether you think you're a good singer
  • Whether you like mayonnaise

Gender is used to predict level of risk aversion and capacity for empathy; parenthood is an indicator of knowledge about pop-culture references and issues involving the younger generation; opinions about pot are a good way to measure leanings on political and social issues; people who say they are good at singing tend to say they're good at most things, with the same being true in reverse; and mayo tolerance is indicative of whether or not you're a picky eater.

Gallagher posted correlations at Redditors' requests, and Redditors offered candid reactions to the findings.

For instance, 55 percent of people say they are good at parallel parking, but amongst those with not very symmetrical faces, 71 percent say they're good at parallel parking.

"Cool!" wrote Redditor pithofthematter, "I absolutely kill it at parallel parking (this is very much an objective fact...). and I also have one ear slightly higher than the other. Fascinating."

Here are some of the other, most commented on correlations Gallagher included within the AMA:

  • In general, 39 percent of people say they have been cheated on. But among those who are better at punctuality than punctuation, 58 percent have been cheated on.
  • In general, 26 percent of people wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born. But among those who can walk across a room with a book balanced on their head, 40 percent wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born.
  • 60 percent of people who have smoked marijuana prefer sweet snacks over salty, compared with 49 percent of people in general.
  • In general, 37 percent of people find garden gnomes to be creepy. But among those who are not happy with their height, 56 percent find garden gnomes to be creepy.
  • In general, 22 percent of people have a Pinterest account. But among those who own cardigans, 39 percent have a Pinterest account.
  • In general, 39 percent of people say they're good at remembering their dreams. But among those who regularly tweet on Twitter, 57 percent say they're good at remembering their dreams.
  • In general, 26 percent of people wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born. But among those who can walk across a room with a book balanced on their head, 40 percent wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born.
  • In general, 26 percent of people wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born. But among those who can walk across a room with a book balanced on their head, 40 percent wouldn't want to know the sex of a baby before it's born.
  • In general, 54 percent of people have taken a philosophy course. But among those who stand up to wipe, 77 percent have taken a philosophy course.

On his site, he posts charts to go along with some of his findings. Here are some of the best ones he has posted recently:

book_graphic_1151

book_graphic_1156

book_graphic_1157

SEE ALSO: 10 Crazy Correlations Between Unrelated Things

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Top Restaurants Are Going Crazy For These Secret Ingredients Found In The Wild

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evan struvinsky daisies meadow field forage foraging"Organic." "Grass-fed." "Hand-picked." Once considered rare, these markers of the farm-to-table trend have become so commonplace on restaurant menus that customers hardly notice them anymore.

The new frontier among top restaurants is "field-to-table," an extreme version of farm-to-table dining that was pioneered in Scandinavia and elevates ingredients found in the wild. 

Some of the most highly rated restaurants in New York — Gramercy Tavern, The French Laundry, and Momofuku Ssäm Bar among them — have hired professional foragers to supply them with the freshest ingredients Mother Nature has to offer. This brings creativity, authenticity, and quality to the menu like never before.

Field-to-table is no gimmick, says Brandon Kida, head chef at The Peninsula New York hotel's Clement. He swears that once you eat foraged fare, you'll never go back. It's the future of high-end dining.

We traveled to rural Vermont with master forager Evan Strusinski and Chef Kida to look for fresh morel mushrooms that can go for $45 a pound and other secret ingredients.

Chef René Redzepi of Copenhagen's Noma is credited with elevating field-to-table fare and inspiring the foraging craze at restaurants around the world. The restaurant's foraged feasts, which feature ingredients like moss and pine, cost $300 a head.



Foraging, or the act of scavenging for food in the wild, minimizes the number of hands that touch ingredients before they land on a plate. Some say once you experience how food is "supposed to taste," you’ll never want to eat a cultivated mushroom or farmed strawberry again. It's that much better.



The “Noma-fication of things” is in full swing in New York City, where restaurateurs are clamoring to differentiate themselves from the slew of so-called farm-to-table eateries. Field-to-table is the new frontier.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






A Bunch Of People Were Given The Vacation Of A Lifetime In Dubai In Exchange For A Few Instagram Photos

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Dubai Instameet

Want to go on an amazing vacation for free? All you have to do is be really great at Instagram.

Last month, a bunch of influential Instagrammers like Liz Eswein (@NewYorkCity) and Murad Osmann (@muradosmann) were flown from all over the world to experience the biggest "Insta-meet" ever at a luxurious hotel — the Burj Al Arab— in Dubai.

The hotel and a company called Beautiful Destinations partnered together to select a handful of Instagram users who could enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai and capture images to share with their combined millions of followers. It's a brilliant way to advertise.

The Instagrammers flew first class to Dubai, were picked up at the airport in a Rolls Royce Phantom, received $600 worth of Hermes amenities, and each were appointed their own personal butler for the entirety of their stay.

All they were expected to do was capture their experience on Instagram and tag any photos and content with @beautifuldestinations and @burjalarab.

Jeremy Jauncey, who runs the Beautiful Destinations Instagram account (with 1.6 million followers) and co-founded the Beautiful Destinations company, told Business Insider that "the goal (of the Dubai trip) was to create a totally unique experience for the Instagram community, give back to the followers that have been supporting our accounts and position the brand as a pioneer in travel social media."

Eswein told Business Insider the trip was "absolutely incredible." Eswein, 24, who snagged the @NewYorkCity handle on Instagram in 2011, now serves as the Executive Director of Laundry, a full-service social media agency. 

This is the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. It boasts itself as the "world's most luxurious hotel" with over 200 suites, four swimming pools, and a private beach.



This is Liz Eswein, but you may know her as @NewYorkCity on Instagram. She was selected by Beautiful Destinations to go on an all-expense paid trip to the Burj Al Arab and post her photos to Instagram.



The influential Instagrammers were flown from all over the world to Dubai.



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The Scientifically Proven Way To Flirt Better


The Most Obnoxious Wall Street Bars Of 2014

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In New York City, things can get old pretty fast. So we've taken it upon ourselves to revamp last year's list of the most obnoxious Wall Street bars. Several have since closed, but many are still kicking and as annoying as ever.

Frequented by financiers, these Manhattan bars are loud, rowdy, and ridiculous. If you're into sweaty crowds, flashing lights, or absurd conversations, it's time to scope some of these out.

Otherwise, we've done the rounds on these bars so you don't have to. You're welcome.

If we left out any of your favorites, let us know in the comments!

230 Fifth

Location: 230 5th Ave, Gramercy

Vibe: Probably the biggest draw about 230 Fifth is that you're going to get a great Instagram photo of the Empire State Building. It's a huge rooftop space that can service a large crowd.  The later it gets, the more packed this place gets.

Popular Days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Popular Drinks: Raspberry mojitos "in the summer".

Overheard: "Oh my gawd, the Empire State building is so beeaaauuuutiful."



Turtle Bay

Location: 987 2nd Ave, Midtown

Vibe: Turtle Bay is your "typical bar" with beer chuggers, cheerleader look-alikes, and even a handful of Mets fans watching games on the TVs. The front section is supersaturated with summer interns and young professionals. People over the age of 25 should seriously consider the pros and cons before they enter.

Popular Days: Thursday

Popular Drinks: Beer

Overheard: "Pound it dude! 3... 2... 1... " *erupts in laughter*



Irish Punt

Location: 40 Exchange Place, Financial District

Vibe: The dim Irish bar is more calm during the summer, but come August and September, the bar is filled with finance guys that could have come straight out of "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Popular Days: Friday, Saturday

Popular Drinks: Skittle bombs

Overheard: "Shots! Shots! Shots!"



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These GIFs Show Just How Much Mariah Carey Was Photoshopped In Her Recent Magazine Cover Shoot

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High-profile photographer Terry Richardson recently photographed singer Mariah Carey for the summer issue of U.K.-based Wonderland magazine. 

It turns out that the photos were heavily Photoshopped to make the 44-year-old star look younger, thinner, and more attractive than she actually is, according to un-retouched photos acquired by Jezebel. 

While the changes to Carey’s body and face are drastic, they are not unexpected, as most fashion cover shoots employ similar techniques. 

What is most surprising is just how poor quality the original photography is. Richardson, who has been surrounded by controversy for allegedly preying on young models, is known for shooting high-profile celebrities using a rough, candid style. It seems that, for Wonderland, that just meant amateurish. 

The original photos in the Wonderland shoot appear blurry, over-lit, and washed out. The retouched photos that appear in the magazine have been altered heavily to fix those issues.

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The 25 Best Universities In The World

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Harvard University

Harvard University is the best university in the world, according to a new list from the Center for World University Rankings.

The CWUR listed Harvard at the top of seven of its eight criteria, including quality of education, alumni employment, influence, and broad impact. Harvard ranked second in CWUR's patent list, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took the top spot.

While the 2,000-university list represents schools from across the globe, eight of the CWUR's top 10 universities are in the U.S. The other two top 10 schools — the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford — are in the U.K.

The CWUR is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and claims to be "the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research without relying on surveys and university data submissions."

Here are the top 10 universities in the world, via the CWUR:

  1. Harvard University
  2. Stanford University
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. University of Cambridge
  5. University of Oxford
  6. Columbia University
  7. University of California, Berkeley
  8. University of Chicago
  9. Princeton University
  10. Yale University

And a more detailed look at the top 25 (click to enlarge):
Screen Shot 2014 07 15 at 10.34.05 AMSee the full world university ranking at the CWUR >>

SEE ALSO: There Are 50 Colleges That Charge More Than $60,000 A Year

FOLLOW US! Check Out BI Colleges On Facebook

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Here's What $1 Million Buys In Housing Markets Around The World

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A million-dollar home sounds like a major luxury. But $1 million buys something vastly different in cities around the world.

In New York City, for example, where the median home sale price is $1.2 million, a million bucks buys a decent one-bedroom apartment. In Buenos Aires, on the other hand, it buys a four-bedroom pad in a fancy neighborhood.

Our friends at Point2Homes helped us find properties in major cities across the world for around $1 million U.S. They range from small flats to spacious houses. 

In Capetown, $981,000 buys a 10,000-square-foot, five-bedroom mountainside home with a bar and private theater.

Price: $981,510 U.S. (10,500,000 R)

Click here to see the home. 



In Dubai, $1.09 million gets a two-bedroom apartment with 1,900 square feet and an ocean view.

Price: $1,088,954 (4 million AED)

Click here to see the home. 



In Sydney, $1 million buys a 990-square-foot apartment steps away from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Features include high ceilings, a communal roof terrace with harbor views, and a grand entrance foyer.

Price: $1,009,543 ($1,075,000 AUD)

Click here to see the home.



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The 25 Best Universities In Europe

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The University of Cambridge is the best college in Europe, according to a new list from the Center for World University Rankings. 

The University of Oxford and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich also held top spots on the list.

The CWUR, which is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, looks at the quality of education, prestige of faculty members, and quality of faculty research at each university to compile its annual list. 

In addition to Cambridge and Oxford, the United Kingdom had five other schools in the top 25 European universities.  Other countries strongly represented on the list include Switzerland, Germany, and France.

In addition to holding top spots on the European list, Cambridge and Oxford are also ranked as the fourth and fifth best colleges in the world, respectively. Harvard University took the number one global spot.

Here are the top 25 universities in Europe, via the CWUR (click to enlarge):

CMUR best european colleges

SEE ALSO: America's REAL Most Expensive Colleges

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