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Obama Has A Very Impressive Diet, According to Australia’s Ex-Foreign Minister

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Obama Beach Swim Shirtless 2008President Barack Obama’s “steely resolve” in avoiding sugar, carbs, and fat has been praised by Australia’s former Foreign Minister, Bob Carr. 

The comments appear in "Diary of a Foreign Minister," a collection of journal entries published by Carr after retiring from Australian federal politics.

G-20 Working Session at the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 5,

In an entry after a dinner at the 2013 G20 meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, Carr describes President Obama as “Leader of the Free World and Leader of the Slim People of America.”

“Anything with sugar, carbs or fat in it he pushed to one side," Carr notes.

In another entry, Carr describes Obama — along with former CIA Director David Petraeus and Secretary of State John Kerry — as belonging to “the elite of the flat-stomached.”

“Men who’ve looked at the prospect of swelling belly fat and settled on strategies to stay slim,” he wrote.

Carr laments that, “outside a circle of the ruling elite, nobody in America is lean anymore.”

“A plot by the fat people of America" 

On November 10, 2012, when Carr learns that David Petraeus has resigned as Director of the CIA after an extra-marital affair, Carr writes “an affair is elevated to a hanging offense.”

Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 29, 2010, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to be confirmed as President Obama's choice to take control of forces in Afghanistan. “Their best military commander, and author of the text on counter-insurgency, the leader of the surge in Afghanistan, a dedicated public servant. Next step — chemical castration mandated for cabinet appointees?”

“Or maybe,” Carr muses, “it was a plot by the fat people of America against a greyhound-fit public servant who could run rings around them.” 

Carr’s diaries offer bi-partisan praise for many American politicians – including John McCain, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Republican Senator Roy Blunt – however, the diplomat harshly condemns the Bush Administration. 

According to Carr, President George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney “bankrupted the country and drained its military strength.”


NOW WATCH: Why You Weigh Less In The Morning Than At Night

 

READ THE FULL STORY: Australian Ex-Foreign Minister Releases Diary Full Of Priceless Entries About US Politicians

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Cellphone Billionaire Is Selling His Canadian Island Playground For $75 Million

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james island

A gorgeous private island owned by Seattle-based telecommunications billionaire Craig McCaw is on the market for a jaw-dropping $75 million. 

With such luxurious amenities as a private harbor, spa, and Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, it's an amazing private retreat fit for a billionaire.

Though the island has a history of manufacturing dating back to the early 1900s, McCaw's J.I. Properties first purchased the island for $19 million in 1994.

James Island is located just off the southeast corner of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.

 



The island is a total of 780 acres, with wooded land, private docks, and even an 18-hole golf course.



The course was designed by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.



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An Austin Brewery Is Selling A Case Of 99 Beers For 99 Bucks

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Austin Beerworks 99 pack Anytime Ale

"99 Bottles of Beer" was just taken to new heights, literally.

Austin Beerworks, a local Austin brewery, is offering a 99-pack of their award-winning Peacemaker ale for $99 dollars. The case is called "Anytime Ale."

The beers are packed in a 82-pound, 7-foot long case, most definitely requiring multiple people to take one down and pass it around ... and haul it to the trunk.

According to Culture Map, the popular, extra pale ale won a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and is the first hoppy drink ever brewed by Beerworks. 

The good news is, the hefty packages will be in stores starting Thursday. 

The bad news is, they're only available in limited quantities in Austin. Womp.

However, if you are in the area, you can follow Austin Beerworks' social media for specific location announcements on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Watch them take the case out of a refrigerator in a convenience store:

Austin Beerworks Anytime Ale

You'll definitely need to bring a friend or two:

Anytime Ale Austin Beerworks

Watch the full video here:

Austin Beerworks – Peacemaker Anytime Ale from Beef and Pie Productions on Vimeo.

SEE ALSO: I Went To Summer Camp For Adults And It Was Like A Frat Party On Steroids

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Toronto's New Campaign Insults People To Get Them To Stop Littering

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Livegreen Toronto is rolling out an advertising campaign that has everyone talking right now. They're trying to stop people from littering on the streets.

The thing is, they're being really abrasive about it.

Check out the images, posted on Imgur, they're using to stop people from throwing trash all over the streets.

Toronto Ad1

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 So far the campaign seems to be going over pretty well with many folks in Toronto:

 

 

 

 

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21 Stunning Portraits Of Humans Around The World

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Human of the World

Brandon Stanton is the photographer behind Humans of New York, the wildly popular photography blog that currently has more likes on Facebook than the entire population of New York City itself. Stanton was recently tapped by the United Nations to go on a nearly 2-month-long "world tour" to bring his signature style to various countries around the globe.

Stanton's method involves high-quality portraits of people he meets on the street paired with illuminating quotes from them. The blog has been documenting people in and around New York City (and various other select cities) since 2010, and was the subject of a best-selling book released last year.

Currently, Stanton is shooting in Uganda. Before that, he traveled to Kenya, Jordan, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Next up are India and Vietnam, according to The Atlantic. The trip was created to build awareness for the UN's Millennium Development Goals project, by attaching human faces to the project's written objectives.

While Stanton's travels have just begun, he's already got some great shots in the bag. Click through our slideshow to see some of the best ones. You can see more on his site, which is updated regularly.

I asked the mother for a photo, but she said the decision was up to her son. So I asked the boy. He stood up, walked over, looked me up and down, and said: "Prove to me you’re not a terrorist."(Kampala, Uganda)



"I clean the streets. I used to work as a lifeguard at a fancy hotel on the Dead Sea, but I lost my job. I brought some of the mud from the beach to my cousin because it is good for your skin. My manager said: ‘Hey! We can sell that! You’re stealing!’" (Amman, Jordan)



"We were engaged for six months, but her parents made her marry a richer man." "What’s the last thing you said to her?" "I told her: ‘I’ve done all that I can do. I wish you happiness in your life.’" (Petra, Jordan)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






The Hamptons Is Running Out Of Rosé

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rose wine

Time to hit the panic button: There's apparently a shortage of rosé wine in the Hamptons, which is bad news for anyone headed out east this weekend for a final summer hurrah.

According to The New York Post, the rosé supply at several hot Hamptons restaurants and East End wineries has already run dry.

Restaurants including Red Stix in Water Mill and Surf Lodge and Navy Beach in Montauk have reportedly run out of certain popular labels, and a representative from Wölffer Estate in Sagaponack told the Post that the vineyard had already sold out of two of its more popular rosé wines.

The general manager at Lieb Cellars on the North Fork told Business Insider that they had temporarily run out of rosé in their East Hampton tasting room, but planned to restock before the the weekend. Its 2013 Bridge Lane Rosé is still available in its two other tasting rooms and online.

At least one restaurant promises to be well-stocked. Pierre Weber, owner of Pierre's in Bridgehampton, assured us that they had plenty of magnums of Nationale 7 Rosé and Whispering Angel on hand for a "big and very festive weekend." He did warn, however, that the swank seafood spot would probably run out of some top-selling labels post-Labor Day.

And the CEO of Bedell Cellars on the North Fork in Cutchogue said the winery's tasting room was amply stocked with Taste Rosé, and that he had "dispatched our sales team to the Hamptons today to help stem the shortage"  phew!

It's not the first time the Hamptons have found themselves high and dry before the close of summer. The Post reported on a similar panic back in 2012.

Rosé wines have become increasingly popular as a summer quaff over the past few years. Vogue declared it "the drink of summer" in May, and the co-founders of Instagram feed @yeswayrose explained to the magazine: "We think rosé got a bad rap for a while because of the misconception that it was the same as the sweet white zinfandel your grandmother used to drink, but wine lovers seem to have become more knowledgeable and are accepting rosé for the sophisticated and versatile wine that it is."

We reached out to a few other popular restaurants and wineries in the Hamptons to see if the shortage is really as dire as they say, and will update if we hear back. 

SEE ALSO: Where To Eat And Drink In The Hamptons This Summer

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No Internet. No Microsoft Windows. No iPods. This Is What Tech Was Like In 1984

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Steve Jobs and Mac

1984. It's a year synonymous with George Orwell's novel about a dystopian society ruled by omnipresent government surveillance.

The real 1984 was a far cry from that. While today, we do have scary government surveillance, that's largely thanks to email, social media, smartphones, and cloud computing. Those things didn't exist in 1984.

In fact, 1984 was 10 years before the World Wide Web (commonly called the internet) was born. It was the year Ronald Reagan was re-elected as president; the telephone monopoly Bell System was officially dismantled and AT&T launched; and Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, was born.

Apple's famous 1984 Macintosh commercial aired during the Super Bowl ...



Two days later, Steve Jobs officially launched the Macintosh PC.



In 1984, Dell Computer launched. This is what Michael Dell looked like.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






After Exposing Sexism In The Video Game Industry, This Woman Received Rape Threats On Twitter

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Anita Sarkeesian

Anita Sarkeesian was forced to leave her home and stay with friends after she recieved an outpouring of violent threats over Twitter.

Sarkeesian is a a media critic and the creator of Feminist Frequency, a video web series that explores how women are portrayed in pop culture.

Lately she's been digging into the appallingly sexist world of video games. She just posted a video that showed how many video games treat woman as sexual playthings and "the perpetual victims of male violence," as the video is described.

Whenever someone (particularly a woman) criticizes the way women are portrayed or treated in the gaming industry, that person is almost certainly guaranteed to be subjected to threats of violence.

We've heard a lot of horrifying stories like this with Sarkeesian's among the worst. After the video was posted she tweeted:

 Then tweeted she was leaving her home:

Today she added:

And here's the most horrifying part. She also shared the specific list of threats being tweeted at her (warning: it's very graphic). They are so appalling that we won't run them on Business Insider. What we will say is that a person threatened to rape, mutilate, and "drink her blood."

She also shared an anonymous message from someone who emailed her via her website, calling her obscene names.

All because she's pointing out that the video game industry is poorly representing half the population (a half who likes to buy video games).

As The Journal reported, this stuff was so bad, famed Hollywood writer, director and producer Joss Whedon came to her defense on Twitter for both the documentary series and the scary tweets. (His credits include "The Avengers," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Toy Story.")

The situation is going viral on Twitter right now.

This isn't the first time. In 2013, GameSpot’s Carolyn Petit wrote a mostly glowing review of "Grand Theft Auto V," but threw in one critique that the game glorified "male sexuality while demeaning women." The comments exploded attacking Petit. A petition was even signed by tens of thousands to get her fired.

Female game programmers also took to Twitter last year to share stories of harassment in a string called

And another person was subjected to similar threats by speaking out against harassment as a woman who organizes conferences events where people wear costumes (known as Cosplay).

Video games are supposed to be fun (and they are). But as Sarkeesian said: This kind of thing has just got to stop.

We reached out to Twitter and Sarkeesian for comment and will update when we hear back.

SEE ALSO: No Internet. No Microsoft Windows. No iPods. This Is What Tech Was Like In 1984

SEE ALSO: Look How Much VC Money Is Being Offered To Men, Not Women

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Why Everyone's Wearing This Best-Selling Tank Top

The Founders Of Chic Salon Chain Drybar Attribute Their Success To This Motto

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Allie Webb and Michael Landau

Sibling entrepreneurs Alli Webb and Michael Landau say they owe much of their small business' enormous success to the three-word motto they've embraced since day one: "We are family."

In 2009, the brother-sister duo cofounded Drybar, a chic chain of hair salons that offers blowouts ("no cuts, no color, just blowouts") for $40 a pop.  

Since its inception, they've opened 37 locations and hired over 2,200 employees — including Webb's husband, Cameron, who serves as the company's creative director, and Landau's wife, Sarah, Drybar's Spirit Director, recruiter, and "mother figure."

Drybar, flatironBut Webb, Landau, and their spouses aren't the only family members in the business.

They consider each and every one of their 2,200 staffers family — and they strongly believe this mentality has helped them achieve so much of their success.

Webb and Landau say infusing the "we are family" motto into everything they do, and including it as an official company core value ("We are family. Drybar was started by family. You are part of our family."), has allowed the company to stand out from conventional salons where stylists clock in and clock out and "don't feel like they're part of something bigger." 

"In most salons, stylists rent a chair, come in, do their work, and go home," Landau tells Business Insider. "At Drybar, we do things differently. And because we've created a 'family environment,' and everyone is reminded over and over again that 'we are all family,' our employees are excited to come in to work. They are passionate about the brand, the products, and what they're doing. And this helps them create a wonderful experience for our clients — which makes them want to come back again and again."

Drybar

Webb and Landau say they recognized the importance and power of the "family environment" — and the "we are family" motto — early on.

When they first started hiring in 2009 they placed job ads on Craigslist and conducted interviews in Webb's Los Angeles home.

"During interviews, I would have stylists 'audition' in my living room," Webb explains. "They would blow out my hair, and I would see how they did and whether they could hold a conversation."

But she quickly learned that the best stylists weren't the ones with the strongest technical skills. They were the ones who wanted to be part of the Drybar family; those who truly embrace that core value.

"Now we always make it clear in the interview process that working at Drybar is like joining a family. If the person isn't interested in being part of an environment like that, we know it won't work out," she says. "Many stylists don't come from that type of environment, so some try it, thinking they'll like it, and later decide they don't. Those stylists ultimately don't work out for us."

alli webbTo figure out whether an individual would be a good fit for Drybar, Webb says the company's hiring managers typically ask questions that have nothing to do with skillsets. "Instead, we try to learn about who they are and what they value most. That helps us determine whether they'd thrive in a family-like environment."

And when the employees thrive, everyone wins. 

"The 'we are family' motto really works for us, our employees, and our customers," Landau says. But as Drybar continues to grow, maintaining the "feel of a small, family company" may prove challenging.

"As we get more corporate, we don't want to feel more corporate," he says. "We always want to have that family atmosphere and vibe we all enjoy today."

Watch Drybar's video on their 10 core values and beliefs here:

SEE ALSO: Here’s What Boxing Taught This Small-Business Owner About Entrepreneurship

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LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy Is Creating Groundbreaking Music At The US Open

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IBM.UsOpenSessions.JamesMurphy.TennisDataThis post is sponsored by IBM.

The U.S. Open is underway, and dedicated tennis fans will be hanging on every ace, double fault, and down-the-line volley. What if they could follow all of those parts of a match ... as a piece of music?

Now they can. Music producer James Murphy — best known as the frontman for LCD Soundsystem — has partnered with IBM on a very cool project, creating music based data points from matches at the U.S. Open.

Any match at the U.S. Open encompasses millions of points of data: aces tallied, forehand winners, break-point conversion percentages, and more. With the help of IBM Cloud services, Murphy and IBM experts used a custom musical algorithm that interprets these various data points into music, all in real time.

A new track will be produced for most of the men's and women's singles matches. Watching with a digital soundboard, Murphy will incorporate factors such as wind, humidity, and other variables so that every match has its own unique digital footprint. He'll remix 14 of those tracks into shorter, composed "songs" and compile them as a full album.

Fans can access "The U.S. Open Sessions" in several different ways through IBM's mobile-optimized site. They can stream the music during matches on their phones, listen to archived tracks from past matches, watch behind-the-scenes videos of how the music is created, or even visit an on-site listening booth if they're lucky enough to be there in person.

The site will also host a visualizer so fans can actually see and interact with the data that is generating the music. 

It's a groundbreaking use of IBM cloud technology and reinvention of music, inspired by one of the biggest sports events of the year.

Learn more about IBM's "U.S. Open Sessions" collaboration with James Murphy.  

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How To Rock A Bow Tie

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bowties, fashion week 2011, fashion's night out 2011, nyc, sohoIt's National Bow Tie Day, so we'll attempt to answer the question: When is it OK to wear a bow tie?

In short, the answer is "anytime." But wearing a bow tie is a much more nuanced art than tying on a standard necktie, and must be handled more carefully.  

First, let's get to know the different types of bow ties: Self-tied, pre-tied, and clip-on. Ignore types two and three immediately.

If you're the type of person who wants to wear a bow tie, you should be the type of person that wants to learn how to tie one. There are literally 100,000 videos to choose from (my personal favorite is this one).

The key to wearing a bow tie is to do it sparingly, unless you're trying to make it your "thing," like a certain Supreme Court Justice. Make it about a special event, and keep the rest of your outfit muted  think a solid color suit and shirt.adam levine bow tie hairFor a suits, go with navy, black or grey, and for shirts, stick to blues and whites. It's possible to wear a pinstripe suit with a bow tie, but make sure the stripe is subtle. And make sure the suit and shirt match, since they'll be more visible than they would be with a regular necktie, which bisects the male torso. 

Most important is the bow tie itself. Since the rest of your outfit will be conservative, this is the time to make a statement.

A basic place to start is with some stripes, but once you're comfortable with patterns, start experimenting with polka dotspaisley, or anything else. A bow tie is such a small piece of clothing that it's acceptable for it to get loud. You wanted to stand out by wearing one, so embrace it.

Once you've tied your bow tie and you're happy that it's not going to come undone, leave it alone. It's part of the fun that the knot won't be perfect; that's how people will know you did it yourself.

Remember, bow ties don't look nearly as cool loosened like regular ties, so keep it tight. Don't touch it again until you're ready to untie it completely for that rakish (cool) end-of-a-great-night look you've been waiting for.Matthew Morrison untied bow tie

SEE ALSO: Some Regular New York Businessmen Walked The Runway During Fashion Week

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See The Secret, Tiny Bedrooms Flight Attendants Use On Long-Haul Aircraft

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b Boeing 777 4

When you're on a long-haul flight to Asia, you know how important it is to get some sleep.

You'll probably be all right if you're in first class. Flying economy? Good luck.

But what if you're a member of the flight crew? Turns out that on Boeing's 777 and 787 airliners there is a secret stairway that leads to a tiny set of windowless bedrooms for flight attendants and pilots. After all, they also need sleep on journeys than can take 18 hours or more.

Passengers aren't allowed up there, and few people know they even exist. Here is what those upstairs bedrooms look like, via YouTube videos from Chris McGinniss at Travelskills.com and Chris Jepson and the Flickr account of Martin Deutsch.

This is Boeing's official representation of the crew rest area on a Boeing 777.



This diagram shows how the crew bedrooms are located in a tiny slot above the main cabin.



It looks pretty nice in there, judging by Boeing's official imagery.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






A New Hotel Chain Wants Guests To Relive Their College Glory Days

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Graduate Hotel MadisonIf we could forgo sleeping in extra-long twin beds and showering in flip-flops, we're pretty sure most of us would choose to go back to college. 

Well, lucky for nostalgic alums, a new hotel chain is letting you re-live the collegiate glory days in a more sanitary manner. AJ Capital Partners is launching Graduate Hotels  a hotel collection intended to celebrate local colleges and their hometowns across the country.  

"We wanted to create an inspiring environment where alumni, current and prospective students, parents, professors, visitors and business travelers alike can see themselves spending time and feel a sense of place that’s true to the town," said Ben Weprin, Founder of AJ Capital Partners. "Each property will have its own flair that reflects the personality of each community while also fitting into the national scheme and concept of our brand as a whole."Graduate Hotels TempeThe hotel chain is opening two locations in the next two months. One is in Tempe, Arizona, next to Arizona State University, and the other is in Athens, Georgia, near the University of Georgia. Over the next year, the company plans to expand to Madison, Wisconsin, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Bloomington, Indiana, all major university towns.

The chain wants guests to relive their glory days by offering "subtle nods" to their alma maters. The boutique hotels will have everything from "imaginatively appointed guestrooms and animated lobbies accented by coffee shops and bars, to locally-inspired art collections," the company said.Graduate Hotel AthensAt Graduate Athens, for example, the decor will blend classic southern and art in a mash of "bright florals, classic Southern haberdashery and fresh modern elements." It will also house a collection of locally sourced vintage art, as well as contemporary art geared towards the university and community.  

“Through our travels and research, we’ve spoken to locals and alums and experienced what makes each of these classic American cities so loved," said Christian Strobel, President of Graduate Hotels, "from the quirky traditions passed down over generations, to local haunts and the people that bring them to life."

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8 Futuristic Home Improvements You Can Buy Right Now

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smart home hi tech lead

Personal solar panels and energy-efficient appliances are often trumpeted by home owners, but now foot-massaging floors and lighting synced to your circadian rhythms are the height of conscientious luxury. The focus of late in the design world is the new WELL Building Standard stamp of approval. The system—developed by Paul Scialla, 40, founder of the real-estate company Delos, after he saw a link between the multi-trillion-dollar real-estate market and the country's booming health industry—rates an interior's impact on its occupant's physical state.

Although WELL is in its nascent stages, the posh amenities it requires can already be found in real-estate conglomerate CBRE's headquarters in Los Angeles; LYFE Kitchen, a health-food chain with locations in Chicago and California; Las Vegas' MGM Grand; and downtown L.A.'s forthcoming mixed-use development, The Bloc. The program's crowning glory is Manhattan's 66 East 11th Street, a residence that opened this summer whose units range from $14.5 to $50 million and Leonardo DiCaprio is an owner. Below, a tour of the top salubrity-centric home improvements.

1. In-Duct Air Filtration

Poor air quality is the likely culprit behind that nagging sinus headache or mold allergy. Breathe easier: A particle-and-carbon-removal system, built into the central A/C, eliminates allergens, toxins, pathogens, and pollen, while UV sanitizers sterilize harmful particles that make it into the O2 circulating through your pad.

2. Eardrum-Pleasing Acoustics

Soundproof Sheetrock walls and double-glazed windows block noise from even the busiest streets and loudest neighbors, while cork-and-rubber sound-damping floor underlays and all-natural foam insulation help keep the peace inside.

3. Circadian-Rhythm Lighting

Overexposure to static light (which is what's in most interiors) throws our circadian rhythms out of whack and drastically reduces melatonin (the sleep hormone) levels. These lighting systems can be tailored to the occupant's sleep habits and—coupled with a dawn-simulating nighttime blackout-shading system—gradually brighten or darken to help you doze off and rise naturally.

4. Vitamin C–Infused Showers

The nutrient does wonders for hair and skin, and after 15 minutes under a tricked-out faucet, you'll be drenched in it. According to celebrity dermatologist Dennis Gross, topical vitamin C is proven to be twice as potent as consuming a pill. And though it won't fend off a cold, advocates say adding vitamin C to water neutralizes chlorine, eliminating cancer-causing free radicals.

5. Light-Therapy Mirror

Perform your morning grooming ritual basking in waves of blue light (similar to those emitted by an iPad). Colors at this "temperature" slow the melatonin flow that started at night and, per a Harvard Medical School study, boost attention, reaction times, and mood—making you more alert than a latte would.

6. Reflexological Tiling

Heated Carrara-marble flooring in the bathroom delivers a mini-rubdown with every step; the raised tiles can be arranged in patterns modeled after the foot-reflexology maps seen taped up in the windows of Chinese massage parlors.

7. Steam Oven

A reservoir boils water, generating a low-temperature cloud of steam heat (more intense than electric heat) that covers food instantly. The resulting rapid cooking "preserves the fiber, color, and flavor of produce, as well as B vitamins . . . vitamin C, calcium . . . and zinc," attests Robin Westen, author of The 2-Day Superfood Cleanse.

8. Germ-Free Countertops

Single-slab quartzite countertops are treated with a photocatalytic coating (an invisible layer of titanium oxide that can be applied to any high-touch surface—faucets, light switches) that destroys chemicals, killing odors and bacteria. With no gaps between slabs of marble for micro organisms to settle, your clean-eating habit is that much cleaner.

 

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10 Great American Travel Destinations For Labor Day Weekend

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Delaware seashore beachLabor Day is the last long weekend of the summer, and everyone's dying to get away for those three days.

Over 34.7 million Americans are planning to travel for Labor Day this year — the highest number since the recession, according to AAA.

We found the best all-American getaways to celebrate Labor Day this weekend.

From the Gulf Coast to the San Juan Islands, these destinations are all near major U.S. cities, making it easy to jaunt over for a long weekend.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Under two hours from Boston and just across the New Hampshire-Maine border is one of the most picturesque fishing towns in all of New England.

Kennebunkport is home to numerous unique gift shops and restaurants, and you just might catch sight of President George H.W. Bush — his summer home is minutes from town.

Go on a whale-watching expedition and eat the freshest local seafood at Noonan's Lobster Hut in neighboring Cape Porpoise.

One of the top places to stay is The White Barn Inn, a charming inn with a European feel; rooms here start from about $800 per night over Labor Day weekend.



Hilton Head, S.C.

Just 45 minutes from Savannah and about four hours from Atlanta, Hilton Head is ideally located for southerners looking for a beach getaway on the Atlantic coast.

The laid-back island has top-rated restaurants, world-class golf resorts, packed beaches which are great for either laying out or riding bikes on the sand, and the charm and hospitality you'd expect from a southern destination.

There are tons of hotels, inns, and apartments for rent, but one of the most popular places to stay is the Inn at Harbour Town - Sea Pines Resort, where rooms start at about $320 per night over Labor Day weekend.



Carmel, Calif.

About 120 miles south of San Francisco, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque dot on the Monterey Peninsula with a population of just 3,722.

It's dog-friendly and known for its kitschy local arts and culture scene. It also has great fishing. Think twice about wearing high heels, though; Carmel law requires a high heel permit.

La Playa Carmel is a grand, old hotel that's allegedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who drowned herself in Carmel Bay — but that doesn't seem to stop vacationers from staying there. Rooms at La Playa start from about $615 per night over Labor Day weekend.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






How To Choose The Best Photos For Your Online Dating Profile

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The online dating world is a competitive one. With thousands of profiles scattered across a variety of different networks, making a memorable first impression is critical.

It turns out that having a good profile photo could be what makes the difference between receiving messages and getting passed over for another profile. 

Lisa Hoehn is an online dating pro. She's the founder of Profile Polish, a one-woman business that helps daters to make over their profiles and potentially attract more matches. 

Hoehn shared some of her tips for choosing the most effective profile photos. We've demonstrated some of the changes she typically recommends, using three real Profile Polish clients as case studies. 

1. Less isn't always more.

It's important to use as many photos as your dating site of choice allows. Hoehn upgraded Mary Beth, an OKCupid dater, from one, far-away shot to three beautiful photos that better demonstrate who she is as a person. profile polish photo upgrades

In the first of the three new photos, Hoehn's cropping brings the focus to Mary Beth's face and away from the cars and sunset in the background. 

For the second one, she added a black border to make an already beautiful photo fit OKCupid specifications.

"The photos have to be 400 by 400 pixels for the site, but Mary Beth hadn't used this photo because it was too small, even though it's a great one of her," Hoehn said. "If a photo is too small, but you feel it's one you want to use, don't be afraid to add a border to make it work. There are lots of free photo-editing sites you can use."

And in the third, Hoehn chose a photo where Mary Beth looks obviously confident and happy.

"She isn't wearing makeup here, which I think is better. It may seem informal, but there's no use in hiding behind only fancy photos," Hoehn said. "Someone you're dating is going to see through that right away, so don't be afraid to show who you are." 

2. Vary your poses.

Caroline is another OkCupid dater who got some help from Profile Polish. Hoehn's main critique of Caroline's photo choices was that she posed pretty much the same in all three of the pictures, and though she looked attractive, they were a little too dark to show off her best features. 

"The first main photo is a window into your profile," Hoehn said. "Someone scrolling through the site is obviously going to pick the woman they can see more clearly."profile polish photo updatesStudies have shown the most popular online daters look straight into the camera and smile with their teeth. Hoehn chose the first photo because Caroline appears engaging and approachable.

"Even if it is online, you're more likely to feel engaged with someone if they're looking right at you," Hoehn said. 

For the second photo in a set, Hoehn recommends picking a photo that says something about what you like to do for fun, whatever that may be. She also recommends picking at least one photo that shows your whole body.

"It breaks it up visually, and people can see what you really look like," she said. 

And for the third, she picked one she felt really showed who Caroline is as a person.

"She looks so happy," Hoehn said. "You feel like you know her, and there's something really warm about it."

3. Keep it clean.

Hoehn had some of the same general critiques for Dan, another OKCupid dater. 

"Overall, the photos aren't terrible, but they all sort of look the same," Hoehn said.

She had a few issues with the second two photos Dan chose, though.

profile polish photo upgrades

"I'm generally a fan of Halloween pictures. I think the costume you choose says something about your personality," Hoehn said. "But having another girl in the picture is really a grey territory, unless it's really obvious she's your sister."

In the third photo, Dan is obviously having a good time, but Hoehn advises against using a photo where you appear to be intoxicated — and Dan's beer-in-hand isn't too subtle.

Instead, she chose a photo that better showed his sense of humor.

"Yes, he does have a glass of dark liquor, but he's having fun and it's obvious he's enjoying a quality dinner," Hoehn said. "He's not taking it too seriously."  

SEE ALSO: Elite Yelpers Hold Immense Power, And They Get Treated Like Kings By Bars And Restaurants Trying To Curry Favor

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: An Insurance Tycoon Is Unloading His Plaza Hotel Pad For $50 Million

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Plaza Apt 301

An apartment in New York's Plaza Hotel has hit the market for an insane asking price.

Florida-based philanthropist and retired insurance tycoon Barry Kaye and his wife Carol Kaye have listed their third-floor Plaza apartment for a whopping $49.5 million, according to the New York Daily News.

The 3,412-square-foot pad has three bedrooms, two master bathrooms, access to the Plaza's spa and gym, and views of Central Park in every room.

The apartment was built from two former state rooms, which the Kayes bought in 2008 for $13.6 million.

The Plaza Hotel is one of New York's most iconic buildings and sits right at the foot of Central Park.



It's also the place that a lucky few call home. Barry and Carol Kaye bought two former staterooms on the third floor for $13.6 million in 2008. They are now selling the converted apartment for $49.5 million.



The massive living room includes a 13-foot-high ceiling with a recessed coffer.



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The 14 Most Caffeinated College Campuses In America

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Slogging through countless exams, lectures and hangovers, college students practically have a divine right to guzzle down gallons of caffeine.

According to new data from GrubHub, some campuses are more jittery than others, with students packing up to 10% of their online orders with coffee, espresso, and energy drinks.

The delivery site ranked the student bodies with the highest percentage of their total orders that contain caffeinated beverages like vanilla lattes and Red Bulls  and Philadelphia school dominated.

Six of the top 14 schools were located in the Philadelphia area, with the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University taking the top two spots. 

Here is the full list of the 14 colleges that have the biggest caffeine fixes: 

1. University of Pennsylvania - more than 10% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

2. Drexel University - 9% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

3. Lehigh University - 8% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

4. The College of New Jersey - 8% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

5. University of the Sciences - 8% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

6. Temple University - 7% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

7. Hofstra University - 6% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

8. Middle Tennessee State University - 5% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

9. Rochester Institute of Technology - 5% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

10. Rider University - 4% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

11. Villanova University - 4% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

12. The University of the Arts - 4% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

13. Pratt Institute - 4% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

14. University of Maryland - 4% of orders contain coffee/espresso/ energy drinks.

SEE ALSO: Meet The Guy Who Makes 1,000 Dollars An Hour Tutoring Kids Of Fortune 500 CEOs Over Skype

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Step Inside Celine Dion's Lavish Florida Compound, Now On Sale For A Discounted $62 Million

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Celine Dion has slashed the price of her gorgeous property on Florida's Jupiter Island to $62.5 million after it languished on the market for over a year.

According to The New York Daily News, Dion's compound was discounted by $10 million after originally being listed for $72.5 million back in August 2013.

The home, which is jointly listed by Sotheby's International Realty agents Joseph Montanaro and Cristina Condon, was custom-built and designed in 2010 by Celine Dion herself.

She and her manager husband Reneé Angélil bought the lot of land in 2005 for $12.5 million and the adjacent mansion in 2008 for $7 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. They then razed to build the current spread.

The five-and-a-half-acre property has views of the Atlantic Ocean, a four-bedroom guest house, a simulated golf range, pool house, and three separate pools.

The main residence alone measures close to 10,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and a custom-designed, walk-in closet with automated rack for clothing and automated carousel for shoes.

In 2012, Dion listed her home on a private island in Quebec for $29.3 million; it's still on the market.

Welcome to Celine Dion's 5.5-acre compound on Jupiter Island in Florida.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



The singer is selling the property for $62.5 million.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



She and her husband custom-designed the property themselves after buying two lots and razing one of the existing homes.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



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