Johannesburg, South Africa didn't fare well in Conde Nast Travelers' annual survey, earning the title of least friendly city in the world.

Not all the cities on this list earned their designation as "unfriendly" based on the people who occupy them, however. Survey respondents noted Johannesburg's reputation as an unsafe city and the danger of traveling alone there. Language barriers, political perceptions, and location could also factor in.

The results of Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Survey aren't scientific (it's an online survey that anyone can take), but thousands of people participate each year. The survey ranks hotels, cruises, beaches, and cities.

If you're traveling to one of these cities soon, be wary.

The 10 unfriendliest cities in the world

10. Nassau, Bahamas (score: 63.6)
Readers said the city is "unsafe" outside of the tourist areas and big hotels.

9. Monte Carlo, Monaco (score: 63)
This city full of glitz and glam can be "ostentatious and overcrowded."

8. Milan, Italy (score: 62.9)
The "traditional Italian friendliness and hospitality" typically isn't found in Milan.

7. Frankfurt, Germany (score: 61.7)
The locals have been described as "cold" and "very rude."

6. Beijing, China (score: 61.4)
The "terrible pollution" and "dirty streets" detract from the city's beautiful attractions.

5. Marseille, France (score: 60.9)
Pickpockets are a concern here, which makes for a "threatening atmosphere for tourists."

4. Paris, France (score: 60.8)
One survey respondent said that "everyone was downright rude" and unhelpful in this city.

3. Moscow, Russia (score: 59.6)
Many people don't speak any language other than Russian here, and the people are "unfriendly."

2. Cannes, France (score: 58.5)
This "forgettable city" has been called a "European Vegas" with "unfriendly" locals.

1. Johannesburg, South Africa (score: 56.1)
Despite its beauty, Johannesburg has a reputation as an unsafe city filled with crime.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Friendliest Cities In The US

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Inventor and M.I.T. Media Lab researcher David Rose coined the term "enchanted objects" to describe ordinary objects with extraordinary functions. 

These objects are not only fun but also may hold the key to a better way for humans to use new technology — as opposed to what Rose considers a bleak future in which every tool will be crammed into a computer screen.

Rose, whose gadget-filled home was recently featured in The New York Times, has a new book called, "Enchanted Objects: Design, Human Desire, and the Internet of Things."

We've compiled 15 of the coolest enchanted objects currently in existence. Many of these aren't available on the market yet, but they offer a glimpse into what the future has in store. 

The Vitality GlowCap reminds you to take your medications by lighting up, making chirping sounds, and eventually sending you a text message. You can share your medication data with a remote loved one, a professional caregiver, and your pharmacy.

Not widely available.

The Ambient Umbrella has a handle that will glow if snow or rain is in the forecast, reminding you to grab it on your way out the door.

Not widely available.

The Google Latitude Doorbell, created at the MIT Media Lab, chimes a tune when a family member is approaching the house. Each family member has their own tune.

Not widely available.

If you've ever woken up and felt on top of the world it may be because you're actually a little taller in the morning than at night. Here's the science behind it.

Produced By Matt Johnston.

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Having it all isn't easy, but Lisa Song Sutton, the current Miss Nevada United States, comes pretty close.

So far, Sutton has succeeded in being a model, a business executive, a Sotheby's real estate broker, a volunteer, and an entrepreneur with two thriving businesses. 

"I appreciate the diversity of all the different aspects of my life. I'm not doing the same work or dealing with the same topics seven days a week," Sutton said in an interview with Business Insider. "I can have varied items going on in my schedule, even just in a 24-hour timeframe." 

Sutton's busy lifestyle began during childhood. She was born in South Korea and moved to Arizona when she was about five. When she was young, she was very involved in extracurriculars ranging from tap dance class to flute lessons. Through these activities, she learned that she loved to perform.

"I've always had an outgoing, gregarious personality from a young age. So when I was six or seven, I wanted to be a singer, and an actress, and a model, and do something that incorporated the fine arts and being out in the spotlight," Sutton said.

However, during high school, she excelled at academics—especially reading and writing. She said her AP English teacher suggested she consider a route that utilized these skills, so she eventually decided to pursue law. She currently holds a degree in political science from the University of Arizona and a degree in law from the University of Miami.

Law, Entrepreneurship, and Charity

After graduation, Sutton moved to Las Vegas and worked as vice president of human resources at Atkinson & Associates P.C., a top law firm in the city. Today, she is vice president of business development for SSK Holdings, Inc.

Despite her busy schedule working as an associate for a law firm, Sutton found time to pursue her first entrepreneurial venture: Sin City Cupcakes, a business that sells alcohol-infused cupcakes. Sutton created the business in 2012 with her friend, Dannielle Cole, who was living in Florida at the time. Cole told Sutton that she was making alcohol-infused cupcakes for parties and events. 

"She told me about how they're really popular, and it got the wheels turning, especially because Vegas is a destination city," Sutton said. "When people come here, it's for a special occasion; it's an event, it's someone's birthday, it's someone's bachelorette party. So I was like, gosh, that would be so perfect for a place like this."

Sutton asked Cole if she would consider moving to Las Vegas to start Sin City Cupcakes with her. Cole took a leap of faith and moved there to help start the business. Sin City Cupcakes is now the number one alcohol-infused cupcake company in Las Vegas.

"It's a lot of fun, because think about it: when you're a consumer purchasing cupcakes, especially alcoholic cupcakes, you're doing it for some celebratory reason. You're in a good mood," Sutton said.

Sutton said there's been interest in expanding Sin City Cupcakes beyond Las Vegas, but their goal for the next year is to really work on growing the business in the city and make it a flagship location.

Sutton also recently launched Liquid & Lace, a swimsuit company that has partnered with charities to provide donations of goods after a portion of swimsuits are sold.  

"It's almost like a Toms kind of idea, where we're actually donating tangible goods instead of just a shady portion of proceeds where no one knows how much we're actually giving," Sutton said.

One of the charities that partners with Liquid & Lace is the Fundamental Elements Foundation, which Sutton works with on the board of directors. The organization works to promote women empowerment through mind, body, and spirit. Sutton's work with the organization served as her platform in the Miss Nevada United States pageant.

Modeling in Print and Pageants

Sutton began modeling when she was 19, but said the process of landing shoots was different than it is today.

"This was right before Facebook came out, and obviously way before Instagram. So my point with that is, social media—and photos of women on social media—wasn't at the level that it's at now," Sutton said. "I was still part of a generation of models that found more traditional routes of working and of being discovered."

Sutton's modeling career really kicked off while she was studying in Miami.

"Living in Miami, I was one of three Asian models. There are so many beautiful girls down in south Florida, but you have the whole spectrum except Asians," Sutton said. "That's just how it was at the time. Had I moved to LA to go to school, my modeling career probably would have taken a completely different path."

Sutton said that with her height and look, she was eligible to do a lot of print work. Most major publications do shoots in southern Florida because of the beautiful scenery and weather, so Sutton had a lot of work. She's been featured in more than 70 publications, including Sports Illustrated, GQ, MAXIM, and Macy's swimwear advertisements.

Sutton feels very lucky to have landed such incredible shoots, especially because she is shorter than 5'10, which is unusual for models. "It's a combination of having sort of lucky genetics with being in the right place at the right time," she said.

Last November, Sutton was named Miss Las Vegas United States, and this past May she received the title of Miss Nevada United States. In June, she won the Fashion Hero runway competition at the Miss United States pageant. 

"I met so many accomplished women. It was really inspiring being around this really great group of ladies who are all obviously beautiful and talented, but who also give back to their communities and are actually really nice people," Sutton said of the pageant experience.

She said she's excited to take the efforts she made in the community as Miss Las Vegas and bump them up to a statewide scale.

Along with holding the Miss Nevada United States title, Sutton is also a model with the prestigious Wilhelmina modeling agency.

Dabbling in Real Estate

Sutton's family has a history in the commercial real estate industry, but she didn't really take an interest in the business until she moved to Las Vegas. She said she already had her real estate license, so she decided to interview with Synergy Sotheby's International Real Estate and was able to secure a job.

Since this is her first job as a real estate agent, she is partnering with her friend Deven Chase, who has many years of experience in the field. So far, she's been able to bring in clientele from the networks of people she's met in both the legal world and the modeling world. Sutton and Chase currently have the listing for the most expensive home on the market in Las Vegas.

"I'm really lucky to be paired up with an agent that has years of experience, and also to have the people at Sotheby's behind me. Sotheby's is just a great institution, and I'm here to learn as well as utilize its resources and support my clients," Sutton said.

Sutton Outside of Work

In what little spare time she has, Sutton says spending time with family and friends is at the top of her to-do list. After all, part of the reason she moved to Las Vegas from Miami was to be closer to her family in Arizona. She also enjoys staying active by playing tennis and golf, and tries to spend a good amount of time outdoors.

She also loves to read. "I'm a big Stephen King fan. I also just got through the Game of Thrones novels, so now I'm jumping on to the TV series," Sutton said. "You have to read them, they're so, so good."

As for advice on how to be as successful as she is? Sutton says she knows it sounds cliche, but you need to believe in yourself first. 

"You have to put expectations on yourself and hold yourself to those expectations. Not because your mom said so, or because you have a friend who is doing better than you," Sutton said. "You have to put those expectations on yourself and believe that you can rise to the occasion, and sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised that not only did you perform, but you exceeded your expectations."

SEE ALSO: 14 People Who Are Changing The Face Of Detroit

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What's in a name? Potentially your future.

A host of research shows just how much your name can affect your lifetime success, from your hireability to your spending habits.

We took a look at the research and have highlighted some of the surprising findings below:

If your name is easy to pronounce, people will favor you more.

In a New York University study, researchers found that people with easier-to-pronounce names often have higher-status positions at work. One of the psychologists, Adam Alter, explains to Wired, "When we can process a piece of information more easily, when it's easier to comprehend, we come to like it more." In a further study, Alter also found that companies with simpler names and ticker symbols performed better in the stock market. 

If your name is common, you are more likely to be hired.

In a study by Marquette University, names that were viewed as the least unique were more likable. People with common names were more likely to be hired, and those with rare names were least likely to be hired. That means that the Jameses, Marys, Johns, and Patricias of the world are in luck.

If your name is uncommon, you are more likely to be a delinquent.

A study at Shippensburg University revealed that there is a strong relationship between the popularity of one's first name and juvenile delinquency. Researchers found that unpopular names were positively correlated with juvenile delinquency. While the names themselves are probably not the cause of the criminal activity, they may be related to factors that increase one's tendency toward juvenile delinquency, such as low socioeconomic status.

If you have a white-sounding name, you're more likely to get hired.

In one study cited by The Atlantic, white-sounding names like Emily Walsh and Greg Baker got nearly 50% more callbacks than candidates with black-sounding names like Lakisha Washington and Jamal Jones. Researchers determined that having a white-sounding name is worth as much as eight years of work experience.

If your name is closer to the beginning of the alphabet, you might get into a better school.

In a study published in the Economics of Education Review, researchers studied the relationship between the position in the alphabet of students' names and their admission chances at competitive schools. The earlier in the alphabet a name came, the more likely they were to be admitted.

If your last name is closer to the end of the alphabet, you're more likely to be an impulse spender.

According to one study, people with last names such as Yardley or Zabar may be more susceptible to promotional strategies like limited-time offers. The authors speculate that spending your childhood at the end of the roll call may make you want to jump on offers before you miss the chance.

You are more likely to work in a company that matches your initials.

Since we identify with our names, we prefer things that are similar to them. In a Ghent University study, researchers found that people are more likely to work for companies matching their own initials. For example, Amanda might work for Amazon. The rarer the initials, the more likely people were to work for companies with names similar to their own. 

Using your middle initial makes people think you're smarter and more competent.

According to research published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using a middle initial increases people's perceptions of your intellectual capacity and performance. In one study, students were asked to rate an essay with one of four styles of author names. Not only did the authors with a middle initial receive top marks, but the one with the most initials, David F.P.R. Clark, received the best reviews.

If your name sounds noble, you are more likely to work in a high-ranking position.

In a European study, researchers studied German names and ranks within companies. Those with last names such as Kaiser ("emperor") or König ("king") were in more managerial positions than those with last names that referred to common occupations, such as Koch ("cook") or Bauer ("farmer"). This is because of associative cognition, which means that the status linked to your name may influence how people view you. 

If you are a boy with a girl's name, you are more likely to be suspended from school.

Northwestern Universityresearchers studied a large Florida school district from 1996 to 2000 and found that boys with names most commonly given to girls misbehaved more in middle school and were more likely to disrupt their peers. Their behavioral problems also led to increased disciplinary problems and lower test scores for their friends as well.

If you are a woman with a sexually ambiguous name, you are more likely to succeed.

According to The Atlantic, in male-dominated fields such as engineering and law, women with "sexually ambiguous" names are more successful. One studyfound that women with masculine names, such as Leslie, Jan, or Cameron, are more successful in legal careers.

Men with shorter first names are overrepresented in the c-suite.

In 2011, LinkedIn analyzed more than 100 million user profiles to find out which names are most associated with the CEO position. The most common names for men were short, often one-syllable names like Bob, Jack, and Bruce. A name specialist speculates that men in power may use nicknames to offer a sense of friendliness and openness. 

Women at the top are more likely to use their full names.

In the same study, LinkedIn researchers found that the most common names of female CEOs include Deborah, Cynthia, and Carolyn. Unlike the men, women may use their full names in an attempt to project professionalism and gravitas, according to the report. 

SEE ALSO: Here's Why Using Your Middle Initial Makes You Look Smarter

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Erstwhile billionaire Eike Batista has sold a prized possession — a Lamborghini Aventador, which the Italian automaker billed as its best model ever.

Brazilian paper O Globo reports that the car was sold to a dealership for $1.1 million. The sticker price for one of these babies new is about $1.6 million.

So Batista didn't get a bad deal, but maybe he didn't really enjoy the car while it was his, either, considering that it was sitting in his living room and was said to have a little over 1,200 miles on it when sold.

Must have been nice while it lasted.

The car was launched on the public in 2012. And, being the seventh-richest man in the world at the time, Brazilian mogul Batista bought himself a white one. Around the same time he told Bloomberg TV's Stephanie Ruhle that by 2015 he would be the richest man in the world, replacing Mexico's Carlos Slim.

"Just give me time, let me work please," he told Ruhle.

Unfortunately for Batista, he has since fallen on hard times. That same year the oil fields that his flagship company OGX was developing turned out to hold far less black gold underground than surveyors had anticipated.

Batista had bet the farm though — the farm being his then-$35 billion holding company, EBX — on the success of these fields, particularly one he called "Hammerhead." Slowly his six-company empire started to crumble.

Now creditors are calling in debts. For example, Mubadala Investment Corporation, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund that once made a $2 billion investment in Batista's companies, has been forced to restructure its debt and take a stake in his mining company.

Give it one last good look and say goodbye.

NOW WATCH: This Billionaire's Definition Of Success Will Surprise You

SEE ALSO: The Complete Story Of How Brazilian Tycoon Eike Batista Lost 99% Of His $34.5 Billion Fortune

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For the second year in a row, Yorkshire was named the best European travel destination by the World Travel Awards, a prestigious travel industry award that's voted by travel agents around the world.

The rural county in Northern England is know for its beautiful countryside, historic castles, and sweeping coastline. This year, it hosted the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ, and it has been rapidly gaining in popularity, with about 216 million visits each year.

Here's why Yorkshire was named the best destination in Europe:

1. Known as "God's own country" by locals, Yorkshire is huge. It's the largest county in the United Kingdom, at 2.9 million acres. Yorkshire is split into South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

2. The landscapes are absolutely beautiful. North York Moors features 1,400 miles of forest, rolling hills, moorland, and coastline. 

3. There are about 40 castles in Yorkshire, including Skipton Castle, one of the best preserved castles in Britain, which is located in North Yorkshire.

4. The city of York is famous for its chocolate shops. One of the top spots is the York Cocoa House.

5. It also is home to the beautiful York Minster cathedral, known for its 128 intricate stain glass windows. The cathedral took 252 years to build.

6. A street called The Shambles in York was named Britain's most picturesque street in the 2010 Google Street Awards.

7. Yorkshire's eastern border is 45 miles of coastline, with many popular vacation spots including Scarborough and Whitby. Spend a day on one of many sandy beaches, or go whale watching—Whitby is the best place on the whole coast to spot whales.

8. Whitby is also home to the National Fish & Chip Shop of the Year winner, Quayside.

9. Rugby is huge here. Yorkshire has seven club teams playing in the top class rugby league. The Rugby League was actually created in Yorkshire, in a town called Huddersfield. 

10. The Tour de France began in Leeds this year, beating out Florence and Edinburgh for this honor.

11. There's a rich literary history here. You can visit the village of Heptonstall and find Sylvia Plath's grave, or visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum in the town of Haworth. 

12. Yorkshire has many breweries that you can tour, like The Black Sheep Brewery and Leeds Brewery.

13. Yorkshire also has five Michelin star restaurants, which is more than any other county in England outside of London. Below is the wild seabass main course at The Pipe & Glass Inn in Beverly.

14. Yorkshire has nine horse race courses, more than any other county in the United Kingdom. The county is also home to the world's oldest classic horse race, the St. Leger at Doncaster.

15. The county is also home to England's oldest tourist attraction: Mother Shipton's Cave.

16. You can see the Humber Bridge in Hull, which is the longest single-span suspension bridge in England and the second longest in all of Europe. Not to mention, the view is beautiful.

SEE ALSO: Here's Why Madeira Was Just Named The Best Island In Europe [PHOTOS]

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The makers of the world's first burrito vending machine are turning their attention to pizza. 

Box Brands, based out of Los Angeles, is developing a machine that will bake a 10-inch pizza in 90 seconds.

The pies will cost $5 and come in a variety of combinations, including a sausage-and-egg "breakfast" pizza.

The makers of the machine stress that the Pizza Box does not contain a microwave. The pies are cooked instead using a proprietary pizza oven, says Box Brands' Joey Pomerenke.

"The idea behind the Pizza Box is to introduce the concept as the new drive-thru "ATM" or "AFFM" —Automated Fast Food Machine — as we like to call it, like you would see in a large retail parking lot," Pomerenke said. "For the first time ever, Americans will have a pizza drive-thru option, not just burgers and tacos."

The first Pizza Boxes are set to hit the streets of Los Angeles in five months.

In the meantime, Box Brands is expanding its burrito vending machine nationally.

The "Burrito Box" offers five different burritos, all for $3, that customers can select from a touch-screen menu. The varieties include Chorizo Sausage, Roasted Potato, Uncured Bacon, Free-Range Chicken and Shredded Beef. All the ingredients are 100% natural with no hormones or antibiotics, according to the company.

Here's the Burrito Box: 

SEE ALSO: Check Out The World's First Burrito Vending Machine

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A new Yo-Yo World Champion has been crowned in Prague, and this year’s winner was a 17-year-old from Chico, Calif. (first spotted on Gizmodo).

Gentry Stein, who has been yo-yoing since he was in third grade, won the 2014 World YoYo Contest by a slim margin with 88.2 points according to YoYoNews.com. He beat out thousands of other top players who hailed from around the world. Contestants were scored on their technical abilities as well as their showmanship.

As you can see from Stein’s winning freestyle (video below), he is incredible. And like most of his competitors, many of his moves are his own inventions, which makes it even more fun to watch.

WATCH: 7 Crazy Facts That Sound Fake But Are Actually True

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Burger King is bringing back one of its most iconic items: Chicken Fries. 

Starting today, Chicken Fries "will return to restaurants nationwide" the company said in a news release. 

At the moment, the menu item is being served for a limited time only. 

You asked. We answered. #ChickenFriesAreBackpic.twitter.com/dYdwCSEw4P

— Burger King (@BurgerKing) August 8, 2014

Chicken Fries were originally launched in 2005. Despite a cult following, they were discontinued in 2012. 

The company said it decided to bring back the fries after seeing petitions, tweets, and Facebook pages begging for their return. 

Fans of Chicken Fries say they are easier to dip in sauce than traditional nuggets. 

Burger King has posted sales gains this year after simplifying the menu to include classic products. 

SEE ALSO: The Fate Of America's Dying Supercenters

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Taco Bell's new upscale taco chain, U.S. Taco Co., opened its first location today in Huntington Beach, California.

The company provided us with some photos of the menu offerings and renderings of the restaurant when it was announced earlier this year.

First, let's take a look at the food. 

Here's a combo meal with U.S. Taco's thick-cut fries, a "Friggin' Fried Ice Cream" milkshake, and a steak taco.

These are the Winner Winner tacos with Southern-style fried chicken breast topped with South of the Border gravy, roasted corn, pico de gallo, jalapenos, and cilantro in a flour tortilla.

Tacos will be priced at about $4 each, and the average check size is expected to be roughly $12 with a drink.

Here's a close-up of the Winner Winner.

This is the roasted chile queso with habanero-dusted "Papas Fritas."

The "1%er" is served on flatbread with lobster, garlic butter, slaw, roasted poblano crema and cilantro.

The "Not My First Rodeo" taco is filled with smoked brisket, molcajete salsa, slaw, pickled onions and cilantro.

Customers will be able to watch their food being made inside the glass-enclosed area next to the ordering counter.

The restaurant, meant to attract higher-income foodies, will have an outdoor patio.

This is a rendering of the exterior of the first U.S. Taco Co. location.

SEE ALSO: Two Former McDonald's Executives Are Leading A Fast-Food Revolution

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We recently asked you to vote for the best places for guys to shop.  

The results are in, and we're ready to reveal where men like to get their apparel and accessories. 

Classic brands won out overall, though several newcomers in the e-commerce category had strong showings. 

J. Crew and Banana Republic were clear winners in several categories, revealing the trend that people are willing to pay more for items they think are high-quality. 

The popularity of e-commerce wasn't surprising considering 39% of readers said they preferred shopping online to any other venue. 

More than 850 Business Insider readers took the survey. Of the respondents, 96% were male, and most were between the ages of 21 and 30 and lived in urban areas.

Best work pants: Banana Republic (40%).

J. Crew came in second place with 27% of the votes. E-commerce site Bonobos was also popular, capturing 15% of the votes. Other options included Express (8%), Gap (6%), and Club Monaco (5%). 

Best Button-Down Shirts: J. Crew (44%).

Best Suits: Brooks Brothers (35.3%).

Our readers prefer quality: the classic menswear brand narrowly defeated Hugo Boss (34.8%). Other options were Men's Wearhouse (11%), online retailer Suit Supply (11%), and Jos. A. Bank (8%). 

If you're 29, savor this orbit around the sun — because it's the most popular you'll ever be.

That's according to a new survey of 1,505 Britons. It found that 29-year-olds had an average of 80 friends, more than the 64 friends of the average person.

The Independent U.K. says that being part of multiple networks causes the popularity: You have the buddies you went to school with, as well as friendships that develop in your professional life. 

The survey, conducted by a food company called Genius Gluten Free, also found that the at-work friendships were more robust than those that form in school, due to the outsized number of hours people spend at the office and the pressurized professional situations that bring people together. 

This is good news for the more awkward among us. Since the 1950s, sociologists have documented that it's hard to make friends as we get older, because we have less contact with the conditions that allow for forming close friendships: "proximity; repeated, unplanned interactions; and a setting that encourages people to let their guard down and confide in each other."

The thing about the modern American office, however, is that we have loads of proximity and interactions, but not always the setting that allows for confidences to be exchanged — you're not going to spill the sordid details of your weekend in the middle of your open office, right? That requires a shifting of environments, like, say, to a bar or gym down the street. 

And therein lies a cultural difference hidden in this survey. In the U.K., it's common for everybody in the office to head to the pub after work, but less so in the U.S., perhaps limiting the potential of at-work collegiality. So there's a lesson from our friends across the pond: more happy hours.

SEE ALSO: Who You Know Is Even More Important Than You Realize

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The first buildings were built some 12,000 years ago. 

We've come a long way since then — creating temples to our gods, houses for our operas, and museums for our art that rival nature's beauty.

Here are 21 buildings you need to see before you kick the bucket.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is the world's tallest building, standing at 2,717 feet.

You can see why the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing gets its nickname, 'The Egg.'

The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, houses an aquarium, an opera house, and an IMAX theatre all in one.

File this one under "We're not surprised." According to researchers, taking walks in older cities leads to a healthier life.

“Over the course of the 20^th century, we did a great job of engineering utilitarian active transportation out of our daily lives,” said Wesley Marshall, an engineering professor at the University of Colorado Denver, who joined Norman Garrick of the University of Connecticut in writing the report.

In a statement, Garrick noted that while urban designers from the previous century were "well-intentioned," they "effectively forced people to make an effort to seek out exercise" rather than get a workout from simple strolling about.

“While it is possible to lead an active, healthy lifestyle in most any type of neighborhood,” he said. “Our findings suggest that people living in more compact cities do tend to have better health outcomes."

The problem with cities of more recent vintage is that they were conceived with the automobile in mind. Wide, car-friendly streets and the presence of so-called "big box" retailers, such as Costco and Wal-Mart, not to mention fast-food restaurants, have contributed to ailments that include diabetes and obesity, the authors of the study conclude.

The researchers argue that these cities suffer from an "inferior pedestrian environment" and propose that urban environments be revamped to place the emphasis back on walking.

SEE ALSO: Take A Walk In The Park To Be A Better Person

SEE ALSO: Why 2PM Is The Perfect Time To Take A Walk

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Cooking with fresh beef will always be the ultimate way to prepare a steak, but it turns out that using a frozen steak is your next-best option.

That’s according to Dan Souza, a Cook’s Illustrated senior editor. He experimented in America’s Test Kitchen (first spotted by Food Republic) with eight strip loin steaks cut in half. He froze the steaks, then thawed a half of each steak in the fridge over night, keeping the other side frozen.

Souza then seared both sets of steaks in a hot skillet for 90 seconds on both sides before transferring them to a 275-degree oven until they were cooked to medium rare (125 degrees).

His team discovered that the frozen steak not only lost less moisture and cooked more evenly, but it also tasted better than its thawed counterpart. The frozen steak had a much thinner band of overcooked meat (known as a “gray band”) surrounding the pink interior than the thawed beef, too.

The frozen steaks also browned nearly as fast as the thawed steaks in the skillet, though they did take 18 to 20 minutes of cooking time in the oven (compared with 10 to 15 for the thawed steaks).

Of course to get these results, the steaks need to be frozen properly. Simply storing them in a bag can cause ice or moisture to form on the steak, which can in turn cause flare-ups when you’re searing the steak in oil. 

Instead, Souza said the best way to freeze the steaks was to set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Once they’re fully frozen, wrap each steak in plastic wrap and put them into a plastic bag.

Watch the video below to see how frozen steak trumps thawed steak.

Full instructions below (recipe here):

• Heat skillet filled 1/8 inch deep with oil

• Sear until browned (90 seconds per side) 

• Transfer to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet

• Cook in 275-degree oven until desired doneness (18 to 20 minutes for a 1-inch-thick steak)

SEE ALSO: I'm No Chef, But Here's How I Made The Perfect Steak At Home

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One year after the University of Alabama's student newspaper revealed that many of the school's sororities were actively keeping minority students from joining, more women than ever have signed up to go through UA's rush process this week.

A report from UA students Abbey Crain and Matt Ford in The Crimson White last year uncovered a system-wide segregation in the school's sororities, which had only admitted one black student in 50 years. A week after The Crimson White's article, the UA administration mandated that the sororities go through "continuous open bidding" — an informal rush process that eventually led to 21 minority women joining predominantly white Greek houses, according to a recent report in Marie Claire.

Details from the Marie Claire story paint a picture of an openly racist sorority system that was deeply afraid of allowing minority women to join their houses. One Kappa Delta sister recalled a revealing moment when a black student was accidentally seated in the sorority's high-interest room, called "Rush-to-Pledge":

"This past year, a black girl ended up in the Rush-to-Pledge room ... Someone messed up and seated her in the wrong spot … so you can imagine the sad hilarity of watching a bunch of really privileged white girls freaking out. They were like, 'Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God! What are we going to do? She can't think we actually like her!' So they were like, 'Nobody talk to her. … She's gotta know that she's not welcome. She's gotta know this isn't going to work out.'"

However, even after revelations such as these, more women than ever have signed up this year— with likely more than 2,250 female students participating in rush. AL.com reports that this is the most women to participate in UA history and probably the largest rush group of any college ever.

Read more about University of Alabama's sorority rush week at AL.com >>

SEE ALSO: A Misguided Fraternity Movement Is Revealing The Worst Aspects Of Frat Boy Culture

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Approximately 40% of U.S. citizens have at least one ancestor who passed through Ellis Island for inspection on their way toward building a better life for themselves and future generations, according to The History Channel. 

Nearly 12 million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island's immigration station from its opening in 1892 to 1954, when it closed. But the number of immigrants dropped significantly by 1924, due to anti-immigration legislation.

The main purpose of the federal government's Ellis Island Immigration Station was to ensure immigrants were legally and medically fit for admittance into the U.S. The station's 500 employees included inspectors, clerks, interpreters, nurses, doctors, and social workers.

The inspections lasted an average of three to seven hours, but sometimes took much longer. In the process, some individuals were denied entry and families separated. 

The 1921 Emergency Quota Act set quotas based on nationality. The number of immigrants admitted into the country was reduced to 3% of that nationality's representation in the 1910 U.S. census.

That was followed by the Immigration Act of 1924, which further limited admissions to 2% of each nationality's representation in the 1890 census. That law sought to specifically restrict immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, where half of U.S. immigrants in the early 20th century originated from.

The New York Public Library has a collection of photographs of Ellis Island from 1902 to 1913, which came from the estate of William Williams, the Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island from 1902-1905 and 1909-1913.

Immigrants who passed the first mental inspection wait in pens in the Registry Room, also called the Great Hall. The peak day for immigration occurred April 17, 1907, when Ellis Island received 11,747 immigrants, according to The History Channel. That was also the peak year, with just over 1 million arrivals.These immigrants passed the inspections and wait to be transported off Ellis Island. Approximately 80% of immigrants who passed through during the peak period of 1900-1914 left the island within hours, but others were detained for days and weeks, according to The History Channel.Immigrants wait with their baggage at a teller's window to exchange money. A family undergoing a medical examination. Immigrants waiting to be processed by Immigration Bureau Officials.A view of the front of Ellis Island's Main Immigration Building, which opened December 17, 1900.A 1912-13 photograph of the New York City skyline from Ellis Island. The tallest building in the skyline is the Woolworth Building, then still under construction.Immigrants carry luggage past the island's pier.Dining hall staff after preparing the long tables with worn porcelain-enameled plates, and forks and knives.A lone gentleman, possibly Commissioner of Immigration William Williams, gazes at New York Harbor from the observation roof atop the Immigration Station. Immigrants eating a free meal at Ellis Island.Immigrants aboard the ferry boat named Ellis Island as it nears Battery Park. Right of center is the partially built U.S. Customs House, constructed from 1902-1906.A photo of these Hungarian Gypsies appeared in The New York Times in 1905, which reported that they were all deported.Immigrants donning turbans and fezzes shortly after their arrival.The decoration of the large vessel these immigrants are gathered around suggests they may have been Muslim Ottoman Turks. The Immigration Station's Main Hall, showing immigrants seated on crowded long benches. In the first decade of the 20th century, a federal law was passed denying admittance to children without adults, according to The History Channel.

SEE ALSO: Tour The Parts Of Ellis Island Tourists Never See [PHOTOS]

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About a year ago, Reddit went nuts for a guy who custom-built a trailer to look like a Hobbit Hole. Well now, you can buy it on Craiglist for $5,000. 

While the trailer does resemble a typical "tear drop" model, Sam Hunt's project started from scratch. He even constructed the base with a Harbor Freight Tools trailer kit.The circular entrance, common to tear drop trailers, took shape early on. That reminded Sam of The Shire, but he didn't take the design that direction until after building the bed frame, he said in a Q&A with Lord of the Rings fan site, TheOneRing.net.The wood frame is slightly narrower than the trailer frame, which allows the walls to rest on the metal. It makes them much more stabler but also changes the inside dimensions for building.Sam's wife, Lauren, helped considerably. Not counting trips to hardware store, he thinks he spent about 150 hours over the course of two weeks.Completed, the trailer is 4 feet by 8 feet and weighs 800 pounds. 

The sleeping area inside — about 6 feet, 6 inches — easily fits a full size bed.His wife wanted the inside wall to look like stucco, so Sam applied pints of vinyl putty to plywood.The back window is a Duraplex model.The trailer includes a battery, which runs the fan and other appliances. The hatch back, shown below, has decent storage space, too.The Hunts offered the trailer on an eBay auction as well, which closed at $1,975. "The eBay auction was largely to gauge interest ... and I am partially attached to it ... and not in a hurry to sell, so I haven't lowered the price," Sam Hunt told Business Insider.

Check the full Craigslist posting here for more information.

SEE ALSO: How An Environmentalist Architect Made An Incredible House Out Of Garbage

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Back in 2010, French photographer Antoine Bruy began hitchhiking around Europe without any fixed route. Along his travels, he met people who had entirely abandoned city life in favor of an isolated country existence they found more fulfilling. 

Bruy began seeking out people who lived off-the-grid. After three years on the road, staying in makeshift houses and on community farms, he has released Scrublands, a documentation of the lifestyle. While each living situation is different, Bruy found that all the people he met shared a common desire to escape the rat race and achieve a quieter life in harmony with nature. 

Bruy shared a number of photos from Scrublands here, but you can check out the rest on his website. Bruy is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to continue his project in the United States, which you can donate to here.

Over the last 30 years, numerous Europeans have begun to move out of the cities and head for sparsely populated areas like the Sierra de Cazorla mountains in Spain (shown here), the French Pyrenees mountains, and parts of Switzerland. Bruy began meeting such people after volunteering at farms through WWOOF, an organization that places traveling volunteers at organic farms throughout the world.

This property in the French Pyrenees is owned by a German man, who moved with his family here 25 years ago. He has since renovated the shack to be a completely self-sufficient house. There are no electrical appliances, but the solar panel powers small lights in the house.

Although his family has left, the German continues to live here with four other people and a revolving door of 20 or so travelers.