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Why A Feminist Professor Is Teaching An Entire Class About Beyoncé

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beyonce super bowl halftime showYou know you’ve made it when people recognize you by your first name. Cher, Robyn, and Madonna have all become single names, and now Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter has too.

One of the best-selling artists of all time, the multi-talented performer and businesswoman is a superstar to millions around the world. 

But to the professor Kevin Allred and 32 students at Rutgers University, Beyoncé is something more — a feminist, a gay icon, and a powerful political figure.

Allred teaches a wildly popular women’s studies course, “Politicizing Beyonce: Black Feminism, US Politics, & Queen Bey.”

The class is at capacity, and the room is cramped — especially because Allred encourages students to bring their friends. But that doesn’t stop them from rocking out to Beyonce’s greatest hits. 

“They usually sign up because they're big fans of Beyoncé's music, but they quickly start to make connections beyond just being fans," Allred says.

Allred, 33, says he’s been a huge fan of Beyoncé for a long time, but he didn’t think of her as a political actor until he came across an essay by Yale Professor Daphne Brooks that linked the singer to black, female disempowerment.

“She argued that Beyoncé's 'B'day' album should be seen in the same trajectory as more explicitly recognized black female protest singers,” Allred says. “I was compelled by the article and began to use Beyoncé in my teaching to spark students' interest in having conversations around gender, sexuality, and race.”

beyonce vma awardsBeyoncé’s music challenges many of society’s conceptions about gender, sexuality, and race, according to Allred, who says her prominence gives her political influence.

“Beyoncé is a political figure because she commands attention — perhaps the most attention of any entertainer today. People listen when she talks and people question things when she raises the question herself,” he says.  

attached imageWhile Allred admits her influence isn’t explicitly governmental or legislative, he says she has the power to inspire cultural movements for change.

The Queen Bey wrote a note on gender inequality for the Shriver Report, hosted a high-dollar fundraiser for Barack Obama, is a champion of LGBT equality, and increasingly highlights feminism in her work. 

"Her song lyrics also stress equality and partnership over traditional gender roles," Allred says. "Some songs even go so far as calling out the ways relationships and the ways we perceive sexuality are bound to fail because they have been based on these outdated stereotypes."

In a track from her latest album, “Flawless,” Beyoncé samples Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's viral TED talk on feminism. The image the track produced when Beyoncé performed it at this year’s Video Music Awards was unmistakable. In letters 12 feet high, “FEMINIST” lit up the stage.

“I've already had students in my Intro Women's Studies courses that say they wanted to learn more about gender and take a class because they heard Beyoncé talk about it on the new album,” Allred says.

feminist beyonce vmasGay men and women also identify with the artist. Allred says she frequently adopts lesbian styles by wearing suits and "men's" shirts, carries herself with a masculine swagger, and often jumps between gender styles — especially as her alter ego Sasha Fierce.

Speaking on the issue of same-sex marriage, and in a reference to her song "Single Ladies," Beyoncé said, "If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it." Her husband, rapper Jay-Z, said, "It's no different than discriminating against blacks — it's discrimination, plain and simple."

 inauguration beyonce obamaIn Allred’s course, Beyonce’s music is paired with black, feminists texts, another love of his.

“That way, students are getting an education in the history of black feminist theory in the US, just using Beyoncé as the focal point,” he says. “I let them be pretty fan-oriented on the first day, but urge them for the remainder of the semester to push past that and engage academically.” 

When he tells people what he does, Kevin says people are often surprised. Tons of jaw drops, a lot of exclamations over how excited they are to hear that something like that exists. Overwhelmingly positive stuff,” he says. 

I've only ever had one really really nasty email that classes like mine would mark the end of the world," he added, but I eventually made peace with the guy and he's not so mad about it now. "

SEE ALSO: Even Military And Police Want To Take This College Zombie Survival Course

SEE ALSO: 13 Strange College Courses You Can Take Right Now

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HP Exec Warns Men: Google Glass Will Hurt Your Love Life (HPQ)

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Google Glass Sergey Brin

In the very near future, the tech industry is convinced we'll all be wearing our smartphones, not holding them, and one name you don't think of when it comes to this new "wearables" market is Hewlett-Packard.

But HP has a wearables investment unit called HP New Ventures. And an exec from that unit, Ray Edwards, speaking at the GLAZEDcon 2014 wearables conference in London, was already throwing punches as two hyped wearable gadgets: Google Glass and Apple Watch.

For one thing, he warned men that Google Glass will do nothing for their sex appeal.

“When you look at the appeal of Google Glass … would you wear it on a date? Probably not. And, if you did, you probably wouldn’t get a second date," Edwards said, reports TechWorld's Sam Shead.

And he's not too keen on the Apple Watch, either.

"Taking something that you’re going to have to upgrade or recycle is not something you’re emotionally connected with, even though you can change it and offer different combinations. It’s not a Swiss watch. It’s not as timeless or emotional as something like that ... It’s not something you’re going to pass on to your kids," he said.

In contrast, "HP is looking at the wearables that create an emotional connection," he said.

One example is the luxury smartwatch that HP recently announced, created in partnership with Michael Bastian and Gilt.com.

Fashion designer Bastian designed the watch, and HP is providing the software.

It is expected to look more like an upscale piece of jewelry, which may not boost someone's sex appeal, but probably won't hurt it, either.

HPWatch

SEE ALSO: HP's Luxury Smartwatch Won't Have A Touch Screen, But Will Still Run Full Apps And Widgets

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7 Tips To Get You Through A Long-Haul Flight With A Baby

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baby on airplane

While planning a trip to Italy with my almost 1-year-old baby, I was dreading the 8.5-hour flight more than any other aspect of the trip. 

The idea of packing a car seat, stroller, suitcase, and diaper bag full of toys and then entertaining my very active daughter for hours in a confined setting was a completely daunting task.

But in reality, the flight was one of the easier parts of the trip. 

Here are 7 tips to get you through a long-haul flight with a baby: 

1. Schedule the flight time to coincide with nap or bed time

Ideally your baby will sleep for much of the flight. To help him do that, book a flight that coincides with nap time or bed time. There's a good chance that the ambient noise on the plane will lull your baby to sleep anyway, but it helps if the flight is during a time that your baby will be sleepy. I took the red eye to Italy and my daughter slept for almost the entire duration of the flight, since she would have been asleep for the night anyway. 

2. Choose seats strategically

Infants under two years old can fly for free if they sit on an adult's lap. That said, if you can afford the extra airfare, it might be worth it to buy your baby his own seat. (You can bring an infant car seat on board and strap your baby in to the seat.)

If, however, you don't want to shell out the money for another seat, then you should carefully select seats that will give you the most space possible. 

Consult SeatGuru to see the layout of the plane and find the seats with the most legroom. In coach, this usually means the bulkhead seat, though some airlines also have select seats where you can pay a little more money for extra room.baby in airplane bassinet

For long-haul flights, most airlines offer bassinets that hook into the wall in front of the bulkhead seat—this is the most ideal option, after getting a seat for your baby. Though there are no guarantees; you need to call the airline as soon as you book your flight (you can't request it online) and put in a request for the bassinet. You should also get to the airport early and reiterate your request.

If you're flying with someone else, you may want to book a window and aisle seat (leaving the middle open) in the hopes that the middle seat won't get filled. And even if it does, there's a good chance that the person will switch with you as no one wants to sit between two people who are passing a baby back and forth.

Just before boarding, ask the gate agent if there are any empty seats. You might just get lucky and get a seat for your child.

3. Bring a stroller, baby carrier, or car seat through the airport

man wearing baby in the airportYou'll want to keep your hands free in the airport, so bring a stroller or baby carrier, like the Bjorn or Ergo. It might make sense to bring the car seat too, since you'll want it on the flight if you can snag a spare seat for your kid. You can check the stroller and car seat at the gate.

4. Be prepared for the flight

Bring more diapers, wipes, food, and spare clothing (for both you and the baby) than you think you'll need. You do not want to run out of the essentials on the flight. Also bring enough toys and books to entertain your baby during the flight. You always want to have a backup plan to distract the baby if she starts to melt down. 

5. But don't overpack

It's hard enough to chase after a baby or toddler, so the last thing you want is to be weighed down with tons of luggage. Of course that's easier said than done, since babies come with tons of stuff. But try to pack the least amount possible—at least for the carry on. 

While you'll want to bring enough toys to keep your baby entertained, don't overdo it. Before the flight, I packed a bunch of toys and loaded my iPad up with all sorts of baby-friendly apps, but we barely touched them since my baby occupied herself with basic items like empty water bottles and magazines.

6. Plan for takeoff and landing

Your baby will probably have the toughest time during takeoff and landing, since her ears may bother her when the air pressure changes. To prevent the baby from crying, make sure that she is either feeding or sleeping during that time. Any sort of sucking motion will help, so give her a bottle or pacifier during the ascent and descent.

7. Be courteous to the other passengers on the plane

Some parents apologize to fellow passengers in advance, while others even offer gift bags with ear plugs and candy to passengers. That's a nice gesture, but it's not necessary. Still, a basic modicum of courtesy will go far with your fellow passengers.

If all else fails and your baby melts down, just take a deep breath and stay calm. Unfortunately, babies cry. That's what they do. Just do your best to comfort and quiet your child as quickly as possible. 


NOW WATCH: We Put The iPhone 6 Time-Lapse Video To The Test — Here's 6 Hours Of Sleeping Baby In 26 Seconds

SEE ALSO: Here's A Great Way To Find A Cheap Flight If You Don't Care Where

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An Internet Entrepreneur Listed His San Francisco Apartment For $6.25 Million — And He's Giving It All Away To Charity

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lokey house

Lorry Lokey, founder of media-relations site Business Wire, has listed his stunning San Francisco apartment for $6.25 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. 

Lokey bought the home for $4.6 million in 2006, but he isn't looking to turn a profit on his real estate. A signer of the Giving Pledge, Lokey plans to donate the money the apartment fetches in an effort to get closer to his goal of donating $1 billion. 

The 2,200-square-foot apartment is gorgeous, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and downtown San Francisco.

Located in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood, the apartment has incredible views of the Bay.



Lokey makes his primary residence in Atherton, but he often used this space for entertaining guests. He told the WSJ that he'll miss seeing his guests' reactions to the view.

Source: Wall Street Journal



You can't really blame them for having that kind of reaction — the view is amazing.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






The 10 Best Coffee Shops In San Francisco

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Blue bottle Coffee pour over station

San Francisco is filled with coffee lovers and shops that are dedicated to offering the best roasts around. 

The folks at Yelp helped us create a list of the best places to satisfy your caffeine craving in the Bay Area.

From coffee artisans who spent years perfecting their bean blends to the inventors of the coffee companion the "toast cup," these are the best coffee shops in SF.

10. Four Barrel Coffee

375 Valencia Street

Mission

Four Barrel Coffee roasts its beans in-store and offers a welcoming environment. Make sure to ask for your coffee with "no room" so your cup is filled to the brim.

Yelp user Chris P. commented, "If you have time, try the pour-over station and order some great coffee. Once you order, the barista will let you smell the freshly ground beans. They have pour-over coffee down to a science."

Note: Yelp's search results are based on an algorithm that is designed to provide the best results based on a number of different factors including review text, ratings, and number of reviews. Because several factors are taken into account, this is why you may see a 3.5-star restaurant with 500 reviews showing above a 4-star one with 15 reviews.



9. Blue Bottle Coffee Co

66 Mint Street

SoMa

Inspired by the origin of coffee in Vienna, the founder of Blue Bottle Coffee Co. made it his mission to offer customers coffee at the peak of its freshness using the finest, and most responsibly sourced, beans. The coffee shop also bakes its own cookies and pastries in store.   

Note: Yelp's search results are based on an algorithm that is designed to provide the best results based on a number of different factors including review text, ratings, and number of reviews. Because several factors are taken into account, this is why you may see a 3.5-star restaurant with 500 reviews showing above a 4-star one with 15 reviews.



8. Beanstalk Cafe

274 Bush Street

Nob Hill/Union Square

The Beanstalk Cafe is the perfect place to grab a quick yet delicious bite to eat and enjoy coffee from the best roaster in the Bay Area. Don't miss out on the "toast cup"  bacon and eggs in a crispy cup of toast.

Yelp commenter Mary M. stated, "I routinely get an Americano and add... nothing!  Because the coffee is that good... it's so super good."

Note: Yelp's search results are based on an algorithm that is designed to provide the best results based on a number of different factors including review text, ratings, and number of reviews. Because several factors are taken into account, this is why you may see a 3.5-star restaurant with 500 reviews showing above a 4-star one with 15 reviews.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






HOUSE OF THE DAY: Go Inside Jennifer Lawrence's New $8 Million Beverly Hills Mansion

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JenniferLawrencethumb

Beverly Hills has a new star moving into the neighborhood. Jennifer Lawrence just plopped down a cool $8.2 million for Jessica Simpson's old pad, according to real estate website Trulia.

Lawrence bought the property from an unknown buyer after Jessica Simpson sold it in October 2013 for $6.4 million.

Simpson isn't the only one: Paul Hogan, Ellen DeGeneres, and other industry bigwigs have all called this mansion home, Trulia reports.

The mansion has 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms for a total of 5,500 square feet. The gated and walled property was custom built in 1991. 

Lawrence joins a neighborhood of stars, as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who just moved in down the street.

The property is fully walled and gated, offering the ultimate in privacy to its A-list owner.



The house is also located in one of the most private and secure celebrity enclaves in Beverly Hills.



A formal living room delights guests with classical touches like hanging chandeliers. Adjacent to the living room is the formal dining room.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Here's What The Average American Man Looks Like Compared To Other Countries

The 18 Most Cliché Halloween Costumes Of 2014

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elsa, nycc cosplay 2014, frozen, disney meetupHalloween is right around the corner, which means that you're probably desperately searching for last-minute costume ideas.

But that's no excuse for being unoriginal.

Every year, there are those costumes that you can't seem to escape. How many twerking Mileys and Macklemores did you see last year?

Exactly.

Here are this year's pop culture costumes you'll want to avoid. 

Pharrell's hat was everywhere this year — it even has a Twitter account. We've all had enough of Pharrell's hat.



The Ice Bucket Challenge went super viral this year. Perhaps it's time to give it a rest.



Another Hunger Games movie year, another Hunger Games Halloween.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider







Gatorade's Top Doctor Says You Should Do These 3 Things After Every Workout

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Whether it's 10 miles on a bike or a round of heavy lifting, you absolutely have to take care of yourself after a workout. But what's the best post-workout routine? We talked to Gatorade's top sports scientist to get some answers.

Produced by Matt Johnston
 
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Americans Can't Stop Working, And It's Becoming A Problem

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Need more proof that Americans work too hard?

A new study finds that last year, the average US worker took just 16 days of paid time off, down from the 20.3 days workers were taking off, on average, between 1976 and 2000.

The study was conducted by Oxford Economics and paid for by the US Travel Association, a group representing companies in the travel industry and government tourism departments.

It included this helpful chart to show the 21% drop in American vacation time:

US Travel Association chart right size

And the loss of vacation time is not just the result of employers being stingy with paid time off.

Using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and a survey of 1,303 workers, Oxford Economics found that the average worker is given 21 vacation days each year but only uses 77% of them.

Since many companies have policies that do not allow employees to roll over unused days, the study reports that US workers lost 169 million vacation days in 2013, or about 1.6 days per worker. By forfeiting this time, the study found that employees surrender $52.4 billion in benefits. 

All this unused time off isn't just costing employees money — it could also be detrimental to their health and productivity.

Past studies have shown that people who make time for vacations are likely to be happier, healthier, and more energetic than those who don't. Even if they lose some time in the office by going away somewhere, research suggests people become more productive once they return.

Though some might feel they have to keep pushing themselves in order to get ahead, the US Travel Association found that workers who left between 11 and 15 days of paid time off unused were 6.5% less likely than people who used all of their time off to receive a promotion.

"America's work martyrs aren't more successful," US Travel Association CEO and president Roger Dow says in a statement. "All work and no play is not going to get you ahead — it's only going to get you more stress."

SEE ALSO: Here's Why So Many Americans Don't Use All Their Vacation Days

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Here's How We Ranked The Best Suburbs In America

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Elm Grove, Wisconsin

There are thousands of suburbs around New York City alone, and a seemingly endless number of suburbs around the country, but not all of them are great places to live.

We recently published our list of the 50 Best Suburbs in America.

For this list, we examined data on nearly 300 American suburbs. We started with the Census Bureau's places, and concentrated on cities and towns with populations between 5,000 and 100,000 which were within 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) of the nearest metropolitan area.

We then looked at the 2008-2012 American Community Survey and factored in average commute times, median household income, poverty rates, and a measure of housing affordability (percentage of homeowners who pay less than 30% of monthly income on housing).

Since we think that great suburbs need to be safe and have excellent schools, we also took into consideration FBI crime rate data for both violent and property crimes in 2013 as well as public school ratings for high schools in the top 300 suburbs from GreatSchools.org

To create the final ranking, we took the percentile rank from 0 to 1 for each measure (from 0, being the worst, to 1, being the best) and took an unweighted simple average of these measures, with each criterion weighted the same.

Here is the spreadsheet showing our calculations (click to enlarge):

Best Suburbs In America Data

NOW READ: The 50 Best Suburbs In America

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RANKED: The 50 Best Suburbs In America

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Elm Grove, Wisconsin

The U.S. is full of incredible places to live — cities, yes, but also numerous unique smaller towns and villages that people call home.

After examining data on nearly 300 suburbs, we put together a list of the 50 best suburbs in America. For this list, we considered suburbs with populations between 5,000 and 100,000 within 40 kilometers of the nearest metropolitan area. We also factored in average commute times, median household income, poverty and crime rates, public school ratings from GreatSchools.org, and a measure of housing affordability

Click here to see our full methodology

Our list was dominated by the Midwest, or more specifically by Ohio suburbs. This is likely due to several factors, most notably a reasonable cost of living.

Andy Kiersz compiled the data for this list.

50. Kirtland, Ohio

Population: 6,866

Great Schools score: 9

Residents who live in the "City of Faith and Beauty" take an average 25.4 minutes to commute to the nearby Cleveland-Elyria metro area. The median household income for this small town (less than 17 square miles) is $85,938.



49. Bellbrook, Ohio

Population: 6,943

Great Schools score: 10

The median annual household income in Bellbrook — $73,168 — may seem low, but cost of living is relatively low as well, and nearly 82% of homeowners spend 30% or less of their income on housing costs. Average commute time to Dayton, the nearest metro area, is just 21.8 minutes.



48. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Population: 6,194

Great Schools score: 10

Home to the liberal arts school Swarthmore College, the town of Swarthmore is conveniently located near the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro areas. Commuters are looking at an average commute time of 24.3 minutes. 



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Americans Are More At Risk For These Contagious Diseases Than Ebola

Late Telecom Entrepreneur's $35 Million Hamptons Estate Sells After Just 2 Months

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Treibick hamptons house

The Hamptons home of late cable and telecommunications entrepreneur Richard Treibick has sold after just two months on the market, according to Candace Taylor at The Wall Street Journal. It had been listed for $34.99 million in August.

The home is located on 31 acres of beachfront property in Sagaponack, in the Hamptons. The buyer remains unknown.

Treibick, the former chairman of Cable Holdings and Cellular Information Systems, died earlier this year. The Sagaponack property was his summer home, with his primary residence in Greenwich, Conn.

Gary DePersia of the Corcoran Grouphadhas the listing.

The estate is made up of two parcels: a 6,000-square foot house and 23 acres of adjacent farmland. Treibick leased part of the land to local farmers, using the rest to grow vegetables and berries. A barn, greenhouse, and shed sit on the property.treibick hamptons houseWith seven bedrooms and multiple decks, the house itself is gorgeous.

treibick hamptons housetreibick hamptons houseThe pool deck is a great place to relax with family and friends.

treibick hamptons houseAnd there are plenty of options for dining outside when the weather permits.

treibick hamptons housetreibick hamptons houseYou're never too far from the beach on this property. A private boardwalk leads down to the sand.

treibick hamptons housetreibick hamptons houseAnd there are plenty of ways to enjoy the view.

treibeck hamptons house

SEE ALSO: The 10 Biggest Tech Billionaire Yachts On The High Seas

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25 Of Banksy's Most Clever Works

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banksy

The identity of Banksy, the ever-elusive graffiti artist who has risen to superstar status over the past 20 years, is still unknown to the general public.

But that hasn't stopped him from selling art pieces for millions of dollars, compiling books of his work, and making documentary films about his escapades, all while becoming a household name the world over. 

Recently, a new Banksy work was itself vandalized, thrusting his name back into the spotlight.

Since he's been back in the news, we put together a list of some of Banksy's most clever and brilliant pieces to refresh your memory. 

Banksy's most recent work, a homage to Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring," trades the famous earring for a yellow alarm box.



This robot graffiti artist tagging a wall with a barcode (what else?) was part of Banky's well-publicized and shadowy residency in New York City last year.



Another one from Banksy's attack on New York City, this time in the Bronx, pokes fun at graffiti and its begrudging acceptance by the upper-class art world.



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20 Vintage Photos From The Heyday Of Shopping Malls

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Stephen DiRado Mall 4

As an emerging photographer in the 1980s, Stephen DiRado began exploring malls in and around his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, as a means of exploring his own middle-class upbringing.

At the time, shopping malls had become the meeting place for America’s youth, as teens of every different stripe milled about the food courts, smoked cigarettes, and went from chain store to chain store in search of temporary employment.

For two and a half years, DiRado visited malls in Worcester and all over Massachusetts for nearly 18 hours a week to document mall-goers and the strange world that American capitalism gave birth to.

DiRado shared a selection of the photos with us here, but you can check out the rest at his website.

DiRado was born in the late 1950s, just as malls were starting to be built to serve the growing middle class.

Stephen DiRado Mall 9Stephen DiRado Mall 2

As a young kid in the 1960s, DiRado and his friends met up at the neighborhood “five and dime” stores to hang out, drink sodas, and buy snacks. The owners were well-known members of the community.

Stephen DiRado Mall 27Stephen DiRado Mall 13

By his teens, malls became popular and the neighborhood stores closed down. DiRado considers his generation to be the first wave of mall-goers. "As teens, we would drive fifty miles to go visit a new one."

Stephen DiRado Mall 33

DiRado frequently visited the Galleria with his family in his youth, but by his twenties, he had soured on malls and hated going.

Stephen DiRado Mall 12

In his mid-twenties, DiRado began shooting at the Worcester Galleria in downtown Worcester, MA.  

Stephen DiRado Mall 7

When it was built in the 1970s, the Galleria was considered “one of the finest malls in New England,” says DiRado. 

Stephen DiRado Mall 3

By the time that DiRado started photographing the malls in the 1980s, the original malls suffered a serious decline, as shoppers stopped going and stores closed down. 

Stephen DiRado Mall 1

The malls were still the main meeting place for teenagers, however, who were less interested in buying clothes, than finding a place to smoke cigarettes and hang out.

Stephen DiRado Mall 5

When DiRado was photographing his malls series, it was a fad for teenagers to work through as many mall jobs as they could either by quitting or getting fired. Many teens told him of going from one mall job to the next, boasting that they could work their way through five establishments within a year or less.

Stephen DiRado Mall 17Stephen DiRado Mall 21Stephen DiRado Mall 6

The period that DiRado captured was especially unique because of the numerous subcultures popular amongst teens at the time. At any given time, DiRado says there were goth, heavy metal, and punk kids.

Stephen DiRado Mall 16Stephen DiRado Mall 34Stephen DiRado Mall 11

DiRado made sure to photograph window displays, prices on items, and food courts, knowing that with time, these subjects would gain added significance.

Stephen DiRado Mall 19Stephen DiRado Mall 25

"I knew during my tenure documenting the mall, we were clearly in a unique time in our history. I was not shy to capture on film as much of it as I could," DiRado told Business Insider.

Stephen DiRado Mall 18

SEE ALSO: 21 Sad Photos Of Dead And Dying Kmart Stores

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How To Be A Beer Snob In One Simple Chart

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When it comes to beer, there's a great big world out there, and it can seem overwhelming and confusing if you don't know what lies beyond Bud Light (and trust us, a lot lies beyond Bud Light).

We put together this handy chart to give even the most novice of beer drinkers a craft beer crash course. We've broken it out by type — lager, wheat, pale ale/IPA, porter, stout, and sour — with a few great examples of each, keeping in mind that there are many more types, and sub-types, of beer than we've included here.

Study the graphic below and you'll officially be able to call yourself a beer snob.

How to be a Beer Snob with One Chart

SEE ALSO: The Best Beer From Every State

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4 Countries Where Expats Can Live For Cheap

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Many people catch the travel bug — but few can afford to move abroad.

Expat Insider recently released the results of its annual InterNations survey, which looks at factors that motivate expats to move to certain parts of the world, including personal finance.

Overall, Ecuador emerged as the winner, with the lowest cost of living. Other factors played into the ranking too, such as earning potential and financial satisfaction. 

With over 14,000 expats from all walks of life participating in the survey, InterNations gained valuable insight into the personal satisfaction of people who choose to live abroad. 

Take a look at some of the cheapest countries for expats.

Ecuador

cuenca ecuadorThis small South American country on the coast occupies the number one spot with respect to cost of living. There, 88% of respondents rated it positively, with 45% describing the general cost of living as "very good."

Ecuador also ranks highest in financial satisfaction, with 85% of survey participants saying they're happy with their financial situation in general, and 94% claiming they earn a sufficient amount of money for daily life. Ecuador's housing is also the most affordable of the 60 countries included in the study.

Thailand

long boats in thailandThailand is ranked as the second-cheapest place to live, beaten only by Ecuador. 

Seventy-four percent of survey respondents consider Thailand's cost of living to be good or excellent, well above the global average of 35%.

Housing is cheap, too: 85% of expats report that they are happy with the affordability of the housing market. While the cost of living is low, expats' faith in the economy and sense of job security is not as high as it could be.

Even so, in terms of financial satisfaction, Thailand ranks fairly well at number 21 out of 61 countries.

The Philippines

Manila_golf_club_course,_November_2011The cost of living in this sovereign island country in Southeast Asia is extremely low, ranking ninth out of 61 for lowest costs of living.

Financial satisfaction is also high, even if earning potential isn't. About a third of expats living in the Philippines make less than $25,000 per year, but 84% reported that their income is still higher than the local average, and 55% of respondents said that their disposable income is more than enough to cover daily living expenses. 

China

the egg national center for performing arts beijingWith an economy that recently surpassed the US in size, China is "a beacon of value in an expensive world." As a business hub with low living costs, China attracts expats from all over the world.

Nearly half of survey respondents living in China said that the cost of living there is either good or very good — only 35% of expats globally said the same of their host country. 59% of expats in China also agree that their income easily covers everyday expenditures, in contrast to the worldwide average of 45%.

Considering these factors, many enjoy the expat life so much that they hope to stay in their host country indefinitely. Half of all expats surveyed said they planned to stay in their host country for at least three years, with 26% saying they might never leave. For American expats, that number is even higher — over a third of American expats said they were considering staying forever. 

SEE ALSO: The 50 Best Suburbs In America

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How One Woman Built A Multimillion-Dollar Cupcake Business With Just $33 To Her Name

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Gigi ButlerGigi Butler was a cleaning lady with just $33 to her name when she opened her first cupcake shop in Nashville, Tennessee, almost seven years ago.

"People thought I was crazy, and they laughed at the idea," she told Business Insider. "But I just had this feeling that I had to do it."

After securing a location, whipping up a few recipes, and hiring two employees off the street, Butler opened the doors of Gigi's Cupcakes on February 21, 2008.

"I had no investors and literally not a cent to spend on advertising," she says. "So I just hoped and prayed people would come."

And they did.

Today there are 92 Gigi's Cupcakes locations in 23 states, and this year she expects $35 million in annual sales across all stores. It's safe to say Butler's bank account balance is no longer in the double-digits.

"I'm so happy with how things have turned out, but I never thought my success would stem from cupcakes," she tells us. "I always thought it would be music."

gigi's cupcakes

Butler was born in Oklahoma and grew up on a farm in a small desert town in California, about an hour outside of Los Angeles. Since age 7, she dreamed of becoming a country singer. "Nothing else was even an option. I was going to be a country star, end of story," she says.

But at 15 she needed a job, and she really wasn't interested in working for anyone else. "I decided to buy some mops and buckets, and I went from door to door, ringing doorbells, offering to clean people's homes."

That's how Gigi's Cleaning Company was born.

She cleaned homes, offices, and construction sites (and sang in a band on the side) in California for five years before deciding she was ready to take the next step in her music career.

gigi stage

So, in 1994, she dropped out of college and moved to Nashville with $500, no job, no friends, and no place to live.

"When I got there, I continued cleaning. So I'd do that all day, then come home and nap, then I'd go sing at bars at night until 3 a.m. — and do it all over again the next day," she says. "But when I turned 31, I got tired of getting my butt pinched and passing the tip jar around. I felt like I was failing since my dream was to sing. But I knew it just wasn't working anymore."

After giving up her dream of becoming a country star in 2005, Butler focused on building her cleaning business in Nashville.

"I was making pretty good money and learning how to be a boss, manage a team, and run a business, all without having to be in the corporate world, which was great since I never really wanted to sit in front of a computer screen in high heels, pantyhose, and a skirt," she says.

Though content, Butler said she knew she wasn't being challenged enough, "and something was still missing."

gigi butler

In 2007, while cleaning a bathroom in a client's home, Butler got a call from her brother.

"He was in New York for Labor Day Weekend and said, 'You won't believe this, but people are waiting in line for hours for cupcakes! And they're not even as good as yours."

Butler grew up surrounded by bakers. Her aunts, grandmothers, and mother were all talented in the kitchen — and she "inherited the gene."

"It's in my blood, but I never thought about pursuing it as a career or a business."

Gigi Butler

She hung up the phone and looked at herself in the mirror and thought, I'm not afraid to fail, so I'm going to do this. I am going to open a cupcake shop.

A month later she was in Texas visiting her great aunt Bennie who owned a bakery. "I had no idea what I was doing, so I went there to learn."

When she got back to Tennessee, she went to the bank to ask for a loan. "I had great credit and no debt, but they literally laughed in my face and said, 'Seriously? A cupcake shop?'"

So, instead, she took $100,000 in cash advance loans from her credit cards. 

After finding a location for the store — which she refers to as "the sweet spot," since it's near three universities, six hospitals, and right off Music Row — Butler's parents came out to help her launch her new business. "My mom helped me develop recipes, and my dad did the store design. They also gave me some money, which I really needed."

Before opening the shop, Butler used up all of the $100,000 in loans, plus the money her parents gifted her, and all of her savings — and she still had $6,500 in bills to pay ($4,500 in rent; $1,000 for ingredients; and $1,000 for her first two employees). She had just $33 in her bank account.

Gigi Butler"I literally cleaned three houses the day before we opened the store to pay the plumber," she says. "And then that same day, my contractor came in with a $15,000 dry wall bill he 'forgot' to give me. I literally fell to the floor and had a melt down."

Butler had exactly one week to pay the $6,500 to her landlord, food supplier, and two employees — and told the contractor she'd need some time to pay off his bill.

"I didn't know how I was going to do it," she tells Business Insider. "I remember looking up, saying, 'Please, just let the people come. Make them like my cupcakes. They have to like my cupcakes.'"

They didn't like them; they loved them, she says.

Within a few hours of opening, a line formed outside Gigi's Cupcakes shop.GIGI'S CUPCAKES

Butler recalls an encounter with one customer that first week. "I was walking around greeting people, and one woman said, 'I'm going to order a Scarlett's Red Velvet flavor cupcake.' So I told her we didn't have that particular flavor that day, and she started screaming at me, 'I've been waiting in line for that cupcake! You're telling me you don't have it?! Are you some kind of idiot?' And you'd think I'd be offended, but I walked away and thought to myself, 'Oh my god, people are yelling over my cupcakes because they want them! Cha-ching!'" 

By March 1, 2008, a week after opening, Butler was able to pay off the $6,500 in bills. "And I still had $300 left," she says proudly.

A few months later, Butler's landlord, Alan Thompson, suggested she franchise her concept. "I said, 'What's franchising?'" 

So together with Thompson, her parents, and her brother Randall, who was eventually appointed as chief operating officer of the company, Butler began franchising the Gigi's Cupcakes brand in November 2008.

Gigi Butler

"I thought I'd open one shop and make $50,000 a year, and that's it," she says. "In fact, I didn't even stop cleaning until I had 15 franchises."

Today, 90 of the 92 Gigi's Cupcakes stores are owned by franchisees.

She believes her brand has had so much success because the products — cupcakes, cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, and other baked goods — are "delicious and unique. Each flavor has a story," she explains.

The other reason: "I was never afraid to fail, so I gave it my all."

Butler, a single mom to her 3-year-old daughter, says her biggest challenge has been accepting the fact that she "no longer wears all the hats."

"At the beginning, I did a little bit of everything. I'd be whipping up a batch of frosting, then have to run to a meeting, and then do paperwork. Now we have a great team to do all of those jobs, and my role is to be the face of the brand. But I still want to be everywhere, all at once, making sure everything is perfect, because this business is my baby — it has my name on it." 

Butler says she plans to grow the business to 250 stores by 2019.

"But no matter how big we get, I'll always make time to put on my apron and whip up a batch of frosting, because that's what I love to do." 

SEE ALSO: Here’s Why One CEO Asks New Hires To Sing Their Favorite Song In Front Of The Entire Office

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Fashion Designer Donna Karan Is Selling Her Secluded Caribbean Estate For $39 Million

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Parrot Cay Donna Karan home

Donna Karan is selling a seven-acre portion of her 10-acre beachfront estate (known as "The Sanctuary") in Turks and Caicos for $39 million.

Currently listed with Christie's International Realty affiliate Regency, the Caribbean island property is comprised of two vacation villas and a guest pavilion in the Parrot Cay resort.

Each house has four bedrooms with second-floor master bedrooms and its own infinity pool. The interiors are very zen with plenty of white couches, wooden floors, and art works from Bali and Africa.

As a part of the Parrot Cay resort, the new estate owners will have access to the beach, a spa, two private butlers, a personal chef, and daily maid services.

There's also a 24-hour manager, sporting facilities, restaurants, and boutiques on the island. Sounds just about perfect.

Welcome to Donna Karan's gorgeous seven-acre estate in the Parrot Cay resort on Turks and Caicos.



The property is comprised of two villas that have four bedrooms a piece.



Both homes were designed by Cheong Yew Kuan, a world-renowned Singapore architect.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






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