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20 Incredible Caribbean Resorts To Escape To This Winter

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Eden Rock St. Bart's

Translucent sea. Palm fronds waving in the breeze. Beachgoers lounging in the sun.

No region speaks to total relaxation quite like the Caribbean, with its castaway islands and idyllic resorts.

So how to choose? Leave it to the jet-setting readers of Travel + Leisure who highlight their favorite resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas as part of the annual World’s Best Awards survey.

Check out these top-notch resorts >

In 2012, the 20 best resorts are spread across 10 islands, from Bermuda to the British Virgin Islands, and from romantic all-inclusive sanctuaries to private rainforest verandas. There’s a top-notch Caribbean resort out there, whatever your idea of paradise.

Ever-popular Jamaica, for instance, claims the most properties (for the second year in a row) with four winners, including secluded Couples San Souci (No. 5) in Ocho Rios. The 150 colonial-decorated suites come with wicker furniture, Gilchrist & Soames bath products, and latticework balconies for taking in ocean views.

Further south, St. Lucia is beloved for its black-sand beaches, dramatic jungle-covered peaks, and, according to readers, three top-ranked properties, including Jade Mountain (No. 4), with its private infinity pools and panoramic views of the Pitons, and its 47-room, art-focused sister property, Anse Chastanet Resort (No. 19), tucked among coconut groves.

Though many of the top-ranked winners have appeared on the list year after year, one hotel made a big debut: W Retreat & Spa (No. 16) on Puerto Rico’s offshore island Vieques. Set among low-key fishing villages, the stylish W Retreat added a dose of luxe island flair to a destination that’s on the verge of becoming a popular hot spot (Vieques was the No. 1–ranked island in the Caribbean this year too).

But there’s one resort that has truly won travelers’ loyalty: this year’s No. 1 winner, The Reefs, Bermuda. It’s the type of property that travelers return to again and again, thanks to perks like the private rose-sand cove and world-class spa.

And here’s proof of its staying power: the cliff-side hotel has been on the list for the past 10 years in a row—it’s the only hotel that earned T+L’s Hall of Fame honor.

Ready to plan your own warm weather getaway? Read on for the top 20 winning resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

SEE ALSO: How To Book A Last-Minute Warm-Weather Vacation >

SEE ALSO: Top Florida Attractions >

SEE ALSO: Best French Fries In The US >

SEE ALSO: America's Coolest Hipster Hotels >

SEE ALSO: World's Best Islands >

The Reefs, Bermuda

You’ll find plenty of familiar faces at The Reefs on Bermuda’s south shore.

It’s the type of place that families and couples return to again and again — perhaps one reason why the property stocks four Flip Video cameras to capture those classic vacation moments.

After more than 10 consecutive appearances on the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, this iconic cliff-side resort has clearly earned its top-ranked status.



Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis

At Nisbet Plantation, the Caribbean’s only historic plantation inn right on the beach, you’ll spot green vervet monkeys from 36 wicker-furnished cottages spread among palm trees and beachfront hammocks.

Active types will want to head out with Reggie Douglas, Nevis’s reigning cycling champ, for a two-hour bike tour (the hotel concierge will gladly arrange the excursion).



Eden Rock, St. Bart’s

On chic St. Bart’s, this is the hotel for celebrity spotting.

What draws the boldfaced names? Each of the 34 rooms has a different aesthetic, and can include such idiosyncratic details as a rock wall or a Philippe Starck–designed bathroom.

We especially love the art gallery with a rotating selection of works on display (the space doubles as a studio, where guests can paint, too).

Eden Rock



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13 Of The Best Luxury Hotels In Europe

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Grand Hotel StockholmThis post originally appeared at Oyster.com.

There are plenty of different ways to travel in Europe – from shoestring-budget trips to over-the-top getaways worthy of the British royals.

Here at Oyster we’ve been lucky enough to be able to do both (seriously, the budget hotels in Europe are pretty nice!), but the holidays are for wishing and dreaming, so we’re going to help you put together your own list of top places to get pampered in 2013.

Keep reading and discover our favorite luxury hotels in Europe!

Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris

The world-renowned luxury hotel Plaza Athenee— a part of the Dorchester Collection — is synonymous with Parisian elegance and good taste. Iconic red awnings and chestnut trees welcome guests to the historic setting, on the upscale Avenue Montaigne location with direct views of the Eiffel Tower.

It’s all about luxury here, inside and out. The avenue is lined with high-end shops such as Christian Dior, Prada, and Chanel. And inside, the 146 rooms and 45 suites are decorated in classic Art Deco style with modern touches like flat-screen TVs and marble baths. With six distinct restaurants, a large fitness center, and a can’t-miss daily breakfast in a leafy garden, the Plaza Athenee doesn’t miss a beat.

Our favorite luxe amenity: Guests have access to the Dior Institute for a full range of quality beauty and spa treatments.



Draycott Hotel, London

This 35-room combo of Edwardian townhouses is warm and intimate with a country home feel, and in a great location for exclusive West End shopping.

With wonderful boutique perks such as the free English afternoon tea (guests at other hotels often have to pay at least a £15 premium to enjoy such a tradition), free pre-dinner champagne, and free hot chocolate before bed, it’s hard to find much at the Draycott Hotel to complain about.

Our favorite luxe amenity: The hotel has a quiet private garden, perfect for reading during warmer weather.



Hotel Silken Puerta America, Madrid

Hotel Silken Puerta America is known for its over-the-top design, from the colorful facade of the hotel to the rooms. Each of the 12 floors was executed by a different designer, and range from futuristic, space-like decor to sexy style with levitating beds and bold colors.

This funky hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a small indoor pool. Hotel features include a hip on-site restaurant and a top floor bar with expansive views.

Our favorite luxe amenity: The Skynight Bar, designed by Jean Nouvel, boasts great city views.



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17 Terms You Should Know To Talk Like A Photographer

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photographer, girl, camera

As a freelance photographerand writer, I’m caught between two distinct groups.

Whenever I meet up with fellow writers to talk about our craft, we speak in plain English. Our sentences are concise. Our ideas are conveyed without abbreviations or acronyms.

When I get together with other photographers, we speak another language.

Perhaps it’s fitting, too, because photography is an artistic craft so reliant on technological advances that we often feel like equal parts artist and engineer. It seems natural that we’d use some specialized terms:

Bokeh– Technically, bokeh is “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light,” but photographers usually only use the term to describe the appealing polygonal or round out-of-focus light created by wide-open glass.

Bonocored– Matador staff writer Kate Siobhan Havercroft asked me to include this term, even though I’ve never heard it before. Bonocoreing seems to be a balance between an uncle bob (see below) and a photobomb. Essentially, it’s when you inadvertently walk into someone else’s shot. That’s the main meaning, but Kate uses if for any photographic screw-up, from leaving her lens cap on to having a dead battery. I can’t help but wonder what happened when she worked with Michael Bonocore.

Chimping– While there’s little harm in taking a test exposure and reviewing it on the camera’s LCD screen, be wary of photographers who check every single exposure. They’re chimping, and the habit will make them miss more than the occasional shot.

CTO– CTO is an abbreviation for “color temperature orange.” It’s the color of gel that comes with nearly all hot-shoe flashes, and its standard purpose is to color-correct the flash to match incandescent lighting.

Double truck– Magazines pay freelance photographers based on the printed size of an image. A double truck earns the most because it covers an entire two-page spread.

Dragging shutter– When a slow shutter speed is used along with a flash, it’s referred to as “dragging the shutter.” The benefit is that it creates a natural-looking image by allowing ambient light into the background, while the flash lights the subject.

Dust bunnies– DSLR sensors get dirty, especially when changing lenses outside in poor weather conditions. The resulting dust bunnies on the sensor turn into dark splotchy marks on every photo, which then must be digitally removed.

Fast glass– Photographers say “glass” instead of “lens.” Fast glass refers to any lenses with an f/2.8 or wider aperture. When these lenses are shot at their widest aperture, they’re “wide open.”

Gobo– The acronym for “goes between optics,” a gobo is any object used to control the shape of light from its source. In Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe McNally describes how to use a number of different gobos, including soft boxes, barn doors, umbrellas, and gaffer tape.

Grip and grin– The bane of event photographers, grip and grin photography is as uninspiring as it gets. It’s literally as simple as having your subjects squeeze close together and smile for the camera.

Noise– A term that’s held over from the film era, noise is the grain that appears in high-ISO photographs.

Pixel peeper– Often found in online photography forums discussing the benefits of a FX camera sensor, rather than behind the lens making images, a pixel peeper is the Photoshop geek who opens an image file and immediately zooms into 600% to determine the image quality.

Racked out– A zoom lens is racked out at its longest focal length.

Soft focus– This term is pure photographer BS. It’s usually used to describe an image that isn’t sharp but is submitted to a client out of necessity.

Spray and pray– With experience, photographers become adept at capturing the moment. Beginners, especially beginner sports photographers, will spray at 8fps and pray to catch the critical moment.

Uncle bob– Although it is rarely the bride’s actual uncle, there’s an Uncle Bob at every wedding, easily identified by two traits: they’re constantly between the photographer and his/her subject, and they’re wielding an outdated camera with a popup flash set on full power.

Zeroed– Zeroing a camera is as easy as returning it to its default settings — lowering its ISO, resetting the WB, and dialing in neutral exposure compensation. It’s a good habit to do at the end of every shoot, so that the camera is ready to go for the next session.

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10 Free Ways To Get The Most Out Of Winter

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snowball

Wintertime has become veritable breeding ground for debt.

Not only are we under constant pressure to finance all the usual trappings of the season –– gifts, travel, and parties –– with credit, but there's always a constant stream of friends and relatives to entertain as well. 

The good news there are still ways to get in the holiday spirit that don't mean starting off the New Year in the red. 

We've rounded up a list of fun freebies that'll bring you closer to friends and family without breaking the bank.

Make your own festival of lights

If you can't make it to these ten cities for the best holiday light shows, look no further than your own front yard.

Host a "lighting ceremony" with your friends and family at home, then pile into the car to check out your neighbors' handiwork. Use last year's lights or borrow extras from family or friends.

The suburbs are known for friendly holiday decoration wars, with frosted yards filled with more LED-lit reindeer and blow-up Santas than you can shake a peppermint stick at. 

If you really want a show, hit up the wealthiest 'hoods in your town. If homeowners are crazy enough to enlist professional decorators to deck their halls for $1,500, why let all their hard-spent cash go to waste?



Play your own winter games

If you're lucky enough to live in snow-friendly parts of the U.S., grab your gloves and a couple of able-bodied friends for some good old fashioned snow games. 

Find a good hill for sledding or hit the lake for ice fishing.

For those in warmer climates, ice rinks often offer free admission as long as you bring your own skates.



Host a film festival at home

Movie tickets can cost up to $15 a pop these days, but your home is far cozier, comes with your own parking spot and – the best part – all the snacks are free. 

Try hosting a film festival from your living room. These days, you can stream Netflix and Hulu straight to your TV or, if you've cut cable, invite friends to bring their own flicks. 

Pop popcorn, make hot chocolate and curl up next to people you know, rather than rows of gibbering strangers. 



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The 25 Most Expensive Domain Names Of All Time

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adriana lima sexy model victorias secret

A few weeks ago, Investing.com was sold for a whopping $2.45 million.

But that's not even close to the highest price someone's paid for a domain name.

We collaborated with DN Journal and put together a list of the 25 most expensive domains in the world.

Not surprisingly, sex and gambling-related domains were the biggest money makers.

NOTE:  Web businesses have other assets and are not domain only sales, so they were not eligible for this list. For example, Insure.com was bought for $16 million as a fully-operating, profitable company.

DN Journal only reports domain names sold after 2003 because prior sales are not verified by credible sources. Also, most buyers and sellers remain anonymous for legal reasons, so names/companies are not included in this article.

21. (tie) Cameras.com - $1,500,000

Year sold: 2006

"Cameras.com attracted the highest bid in the live domain auction conducted by Moniker.com at the recently concluded T.R.A.F.F.I.C. East Conference in Hollywood, Florida," The DN Journal wrote in 2006.

"The winning bidder, Sig Solares (the CEO of Parked.com), wasted no time ponying up the $1,500,000 due, making that domain the first from the live auction that we have seen change hands."



21. (tie) Russia.com - $1,500,000

Year sold: 2009

Sedo.com brokered the deal back in 2009. Paley Media, based in Seattle, sold the pricey domain off.



21. (tie) Tandberg.com - $1,500,000

Year sold: 2007

"Tandberg Data, a leading global supplier and manufacturer of backup and archiving solutions, decided to take the cash offer for Tandberg.com from Tandberg, a leading global provider of visual communication products and services with dual headquarters in New York and Norway," The DN Journal wrote at the time of the sale.

The deal was actually completed in December 2006 but wasn't made public until early 2007.



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How The First Rothschilds Created Modern Finance And A Vast Fortune That Has Lasted For Centuries

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Rothschild Coat of Arms + Mayer

The Rothschild dynasty is, without a doubt, the pioneers of international finance.

Mayer Amschel Rothschild, the first of the family to open a bank, was honored by Forbes as the seventh most influential businessman of all time and the inventor of modern banking who introduced "concepts such as diversification, rapid communication, confidentiality and high volume."

Simply, Mayer understood and was willing to spend money in order to make money.

But the family's rapid rise to wealth has earned them much animosity throughout the annals of history. A quick Google of 'Rothschild family' reveals a vast number of conspiracy theories surrounding the allegedly unsavory means used to attain their fortune, the breadth of their connections, and their influence over major world events.

To be fair, many elements of the family's history are unsettling enough to pique mass interest. For instance, Mayer's primary manner of hoarding the dynasty's wealth was to institute a policy of keeping friends close...and family even closer.

But, as William Langley notes, one question looms large:

How did a down-on-its-luck brood of German street traders emerge, seemingly overnight, to become the prime facilitators of modern capitalism, the wielders of immense political power and, as the historian Niall Ferguson puts it in The House of Rothschild, “the richest family in all of history”?

Here's the answer; the tale of how Mayer and his sons established an international banking dynasty.

The Rothchilds come from humble beginnings: the Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt known as the Judengasse.

Mayer Amschel Rothschild, original architect of the family fortune, was born in 1744. He lived above the family shop with up to 30 relatives in extremely cramped conditions.

Source: The House of Rothschild



Mayer Rothchild's father was a trader and money changer.

Mayer's father, Amschel Moses, worked as a money changer and silk cloth trader, and had Prince William of Hesse on his client list.

However, Amschel wasn't a rich man by any stretch of the imagination, as his meager dwelling suggests.

Source: The House of Rothschild



After his parents passed away at the age of 12, Mayer went to Hanover to learn finance.

Mayer left rabbinical school in Furth, and honed the craft he had dabbled in as a child. In a letter, he wrote "in my youth I was...a very active merchant, but I was disorganized, because I had been a student [of the Talmud] and learnt nothing [about business]." He worked as an apprentice at the firm of Wolf Jakob Oppenheimer, who provided credit to royalty and engaged in international trade, especially in bullion.

Source: The House of Rothschild



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Meet The World's Newest Billionaire, A 36-Year-Old 'Surfer Dude' Named Nicholas Woodman

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nick woodman

Nick Woodman is the 36-year-old founder and CEO of GoPro, a wearable camera produced by Woodman Labs that can capture footage for athletes as they whiz down a mountain or surf 6-foot waves.

Last week, Foxconn purchased 8.88% of Woodman's camera company for $200 million. Forbes learned that Woodman is the majority owner. Even if he owns minimum of 51% of the company, that means Woodman is now a billionaire, worth at least $1.15 billion.

Inc interviewed the GoPro founder over the summer. Reporter Tom Foster paints a picture of a "total bro" who throws around the word "dude" frequently. He's a thrill seeker and also the survivor of a failed dotcom startup.

Here's his story:

Woodman was a visual arts major from UC San Diego who started a marketing company called funBag in the early 2000s.

goproHe raised outside capital for the operation, and things were looking good. Then the tech bubble burst, and Woodman found himself failing to save his company and out of a job.

So in 2002, when he was inspired to try a startup again, he decided he'd do whatever he could to bootstrap the operation and build something that could be instantly profitable.

An idea struck him while surfing in Australia and Indonesia for five months. Woodman had been frustrated that he couldn't take good action shots of himself or his friends while they were catching waves. Surfers were using disposable cameras strapped to their wrists with a rubber band. It would often fly off in the middle of the action and hit them in the face.

Woodman wanted to invent a strong, adjustable, elastic band that could secure a camera to a person's body as they participated in an extreme sport.

To fund the project, Woodman and his now-wife purchased 600 belts made of sea shells from a Bali market. Each cost them $1.90. When the Woodmans returned to the states, they drove up and down California's coast selling the belts for as much as $60 a pop.

With that money and a $35,000 loan from his mother, Woodman created the first GoPro camera straps. It took him 2 years to perfect the product. Jill, Woodman's wife, took the position as the straps' salesperson. The company's first break came in 2004, when a Japanese company ordered 100 items at an action sports tradeshow.

Eventually, Woodman began creating his own cameras and mounts, so extreme athletes like racecar drivers could point the cameras back on themselves while racing. Enthusiasts began uploading videos of their GoPro experiences online, and word spread.

Now, GoPro's cameras retail for $300 with all sorts of add-ons that can be purchased to capture amazing moments in real-time. The company has grown to 150 people, and Woodman is rolling in cash.

Here's what footage taken by GoPro looks like:

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10 Cool Alternatives To The World's Most Popular New Year's Eve Destinations

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kitzbuhel austria snow mountains town

It’s often said that New Year’s Eve is for amateurs.

To that end, there are some obvious destinations that any joker could tell you will be “fun” on New Year’s Eve.

Steer clear of the obvious and increase your chances of getting to the front of the line without having to use your elbows, and of course, your wallet.

A little research can unlock some equally exciting New Year’s Eve celebrations at slightly less traditional destinations.

Here’s our rundown of the most obvious New Year’s Eve hot spots and their off-the-beaten-track alternatives:

For the city that just missed making the list, check out the Hopper Blog!

1. Instead of Edinburgh, Try: Prague

Edinburgh is famous for its effervescent “Hogmanay” celebrations to wring in the New Year.

For a chilly European New Year’s in another incredibly gorgeous and historical city, why not Czech out Prague? Grab a spot on the banks of Vltava river to take in the incredible fireworks display that lights up the city at midnight.

For a crazier scene, join the crowds shooting off their own fireworks in Prague’s iconic Old Town Square.

The city is known for its lively club scene, and venues like trendy dance club Mecca are sure to be packed with people ushering 2013 in with a whole lot of electronica and euro-pop.

For an all inclusive evening, grab a ticket for an evening on a Party Boat, and spend the night toasting champagne and mingling on a cruise of through the heart of the City of a Hundred Spires.



2. Instead of New York, Try: Toronto

Sure, you could go smash yourself up against a million other people in Times Square or pay $200 to go to a nightclub, but why not ring in 2013 in another cosmopolitan city without the headaches that come with trying to hail a cab in Manhattan on Dec. 31 (trust us, it’s impossible).

Toronto offers the urban nightlife of Manhattan, with a little more breathing room and a more reasonable Canadian price tag (comparison: a deluxe room at the Four Seasons in New York for New Year’s Eve is $1,195 USD, a deluxe room at Toronto’s Four Seasons is $518).

Toronto’s equivalent to the Times Square Ball drop happens at CityTv’s celebration in Nathan Square, where celebrities gather for the countdown to midnight and fireworks.

Make sure to check out Toronto’s Distillery District, a lively area full of restored Victorian Industrial buildings and chock full of cafes, galleries and bars.



2. Instead of Amsterdam, Try: Reykjavik

Every year hundreds of thousands of partiers flock to Amsterdam for New Year’s to enjoy its lively club scene, the notorious cafes, and the incredible free-for-all that is Amsterdam’s fireworks display at midnight.

If fireworks are your New Year’s raison d’etre, consider Iceland’s Reykjavik instead.

Not only will you save on flight time and hotel cost (the average cost of a 4 star hotel in Reykjavik for New Year’s is $130 while Amsterdam’s four star hotels average at $300), but you’ll enjoy a similarly lively fireworks scene along with Reykjavik's signature bonfires.

Neighbors gather to light bonfires, toast the New Year and watch the sky light up with fireworks. Like the Netherlands, Iceland has an open policy regarding fireworks during New Year’s, which means they are liable to erupt from any and all corners of the city!

Later, everyone heads to the bars and clubs in Reykjavik's downtown center to ring in the New Year with live music lasting to 6 am on January 1st.



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The Most Blinding Christmas Lawn Decorations On The Internet

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insane christmas deocrations

In every neighborhood, there's always that one house that goes way overboard with the Christmas decorations.

We combed the internet for the wildest and wackiest Christmas lawn displays we could find.

It's great to have holiday spirit, but we'd hate to see these homes' electricity bills come January.

These homeowners in the San Francisco Bay area regularly have tourists flocking to their house.



This house has been featured on the Discovery Channel HD, showing off its 200,000 lights.



The owners of this house in Richmond, Va., must really love Christmas.



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7 Real-Life Holiday Movie Homes You Can Visit

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home alone

In the next week, we'll be barraged with holiday classics.

While you're watching Kevin McCallister laying traps for burglars, hearing Ralphie freak out over his eye being shot out, or watching Will Ferrell tell Peter Dinklage he's an angry Elf consider that not all of the Christmas classics are filmed on sets.

A lot of the homes – and apartments – where the holiday favorites take place are real, scattered throughout the U.S.

From New York to California see where you can visit the iconic homes from "Elf," "Home Alone," and "A Christmas Story." 

The apartment where Buddy's dad lives in "Elf" is right outside Central Park in New York City.

Address: 55 Central Park W, New York NY



Though most of "It's a Wonderful Life" was filmed on a set built for the movie, the Martini's home does exist in Flintridge, California.

Address: 4587 Viro Rd, La Canada Flintridge, California



The McCallister house in "Home Alone" really is in Illinois.

Address: 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, Illinois



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Kids Want iPads, Not Toys For Christmas

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little girl marketingToymakers are likely to see their Christmas sales squeezed this year, as children ditch traditional dolls and board games for Kindles and hand-me-down tablet computers, according to analysts.

Mattel, the world's largest toymaker by revenues, makes toys including Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars. However, a source told the Financial Times that its top selling product this Christmas was a mobile phone case.

While tablet sales continue to rise, some analysts have slashed fourth-quarter revenue forecasts for the world's largest toymakers.

"The top two guys, Mattel and Hasbro, they are terrified," Sean McGowan at investment bank Needham & Company told the paper.

Hasbro, which makes Action Man and Play-Doh, is also concerned about the rise in popularity of tablet computers among children, who are spending more and more time on electronic devices.

"Clearly, young people have an aptitude for an expectation with digital platforms that we need to recognise," said John Frascotti, Hasbro's chief marketing officer.

Mattel almost went bankrupt in 1983 when it posted a $394m loss following an ill-advised venture into video games. The company got back on track in 1987 when it decided to focus on core brands.

Apple sold 14m iPads in the three months to the end of September, while Google's Nexus 7 tablet is selling close to one million units a month.

According to retailer Toys R Us, the most popular toys this Christmas will include Lalaloopsy Silly Hair dolls, LeapPad Explorer tablets and Lego Ninjago sets.

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What's The Difference Between A Big Mac And A Whopper?

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big mac whopper

There's nothing mysterious about the world's two most famous burgers.

Burger King's Whopper, invented in 1957, is a quarter-pound flame-broiled burger plus fixings.

McDonald's Big Mac, invented in 1967, is two 1.1-ounce patties separated by a third bun, plus cheese, fixings, and a special sauce that tastes like mayonnaise plus ketchup. The Big Mac also uses dehydrated onions instead of fresh.

If McDonald's patrons want that extra meat, they can order a Quarter Pounder, which is basically a Whopper made on a standard grill.

The Big Mac has 550 calories and 29 grams of fat while the Whopper has 630 calories and 35 grams of fat.

Since there's no such thing as a blind taste tests between the two signature burgers, it's hard to say which the people like most. In 2008, Burger King set out to find "Whopper Virgins" in remote locations to compare the two burgers. Burger King claimed victory in this taste test but mainly just generated a ton of controversy for being "insulting and exploitative."

As with Coke and Pepsi, preference between Big Mac and Whopper depends most on  branding and exposure.

This is where the Big Mac has an advantage, and Burger King knows it.

'"You're capitalizing on the tastes that have developed in the American palate ... [and] God knows how many Big Macs have sold," said Barry Schwartz, Burger King's former director of brand research, on the mid-nineties launch of a copy cat burger called the Big King (it was discontinued in most regions).

McDonald's has 34,000 locations worldwide compared to 12,000 for Burger King.

Earlier this year McDonald's was ranked the seventh most valuable brand in the world, by Interbrand, while Burger King didn't make the top 100.

DON'T MISS: How To Make A Big Mac At Home >

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Late Artist Thomas Kinkade's Wife And Girlfriend Have Settled Their Dispute Over His $66 Million Estate

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Thomas Kinkade$66M Thomas Kinkade estate dispute between widow and girlfriend quietly settled

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Thomas Kinkade's widow and girlfriend have reached a settlement after a dispute over the late artist's $66 million estate, their attorneys said Wednesday.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that counsel for Nanette Kinkade and his girlfriend Amy Pinto announced the settlement but wouldn't provide further details, leaving it unclear who will inherit Kinkade's San Francisco Bay area mansion and his warehouse of paintings.

In a statement, they said the women kept Kinkade's message of "love, spirituality and optimism" in their amicable resolution.

The dispute went public after the 54-year-old artist died April 6 from an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription tranquilizers.

Pinto, who began dating Kinkade six months after his marriage of 28 years imploded, claimed Kinkade wrote two notes bequeathing her his mansion and $10 million to establish a museum of his paintings. Her lawyers filed court papers stating that she and Kinkade had planned to marry as soon as his divorce went through.

Nanette Kinkade disputed those claims and sought full control of the estate. She portrayed Pinto in court papers as a gold-digger who is trying to cheat the artist's rightful heirs.

Kinkade, the self-described "Painter of Light," was known for sentimental scenes of country gardens and pastoral landscapes. His work led to a commercial empire of franchised galleries, reproduced artwork and spin-off products that was said to fetch some $100 million each year in sales.

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What It's Like Flying First Class On The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (BA)

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Boeing, Dreamliner

I was lucky enough to grab a seat on Boeing's new super plane, the Dreamliner, for my trip to Houston last week to visit my parents for the holidays.

And I was especially lucky to be bumped up to first class.

This wasn't my first time in first class, but it was my first time on a state-of-the art aircraft like the Dreamliner. 

It was incredible. 

Click here for pictures >

I flew United, one of the first airlines to get the Dreamliner. Overall, the first class experience wasn't any different or special compared to other United flights I've been on. United treats its Dreamliner first class customers the same as they treat first class customers on any other plane.

And the food is just as bad. I had some sort of thick tomato soup and a salad with a sliced chicken breast on top. I could only stomach about half of it. Luckily, first class passengers get all the wine they can drink with their meal, so that made up for it.

The other first class passengers didn't seem rich or famous. I didn't talk to any of them, but most were casually dressed and I assume they were going to Houston to visit family for the holidays just like I was.

The real allure is the aircraft itself.

Every detail on the Dreamliner is meticulously thought out, from the lay-flat seats to the windows that go dark with the push of a button. Even the toilet was impressive.

The Dreamliner also has a special air filtration system that humidifies the cabin so you don't feel like you've spent several hours in a dry germ tube when you land. Instead, you feel clean and refreshed. 

I've been spoiled, and I'm not looking forward to flying back home in a few days on a regular old 737.

Want to see what it's like riding the Dreamliner? Check out the gallery below for a photo tour.

Note: Boeing/United did not pay for my trip. My parents were kind enough to fly me to Houston in style. Thanks guys!

There it is! Because I was in first class, I got to board the Dreamliner before everyone else.



All first class seats have a touchscreen entertainment center with dozens of movies and TV shows to choose from.



I'm a big Marvel nerd, so I jumped at the opportunity to watch "The Avengers" again.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Ad Mogul Jerry Della Femina Sells Hamptons House At $15 Million Discount, Blames Obama

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jerry della femina hamptons house price chopped $29.9 million

After several years on the market and several price chops, ad mogul Jerry Della Femina has sold his sprawling Hamptons estate for $25 million, The New York Post reports.

Della Femina, who initially tried to get $40 million for the property, blamed President Obama for forcing him out of town.

“I want the proceeds of this sale to go to my kids and my grandkids,” he told The Post's Jennifer Gould Keil and Selim Algar. “I don’t want my money going to Obama, and that’s what’s going to happen in the New Year. That’s why I sold right now, that’s why I wanted to get this done.”

“I’m basically the loser in Obama’s class warfare,” he added.

Curbed Hamptons has heard that the buyer is David Zaslav, the CEO of Discovery Networks and the third-highest paid CEO in America.

The East Hampton house has eight bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, and sits on nearly 1.7 acres.

The estate is on prestigious Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton.



There's a heated pool in case the ocean is too cold.



The 7,000-square-foot mansion is three stories high.



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Four Times It's Better To Rent Your Outfit Than Buy It

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people ski lift happy skiing

Life's special events often require expensive attire. Unfortunately, special-occasion wear is often donned once, never again to see the light of day.

Naturally, we rationalize this outlay of cash. After all, who can put a price tag on memories? But every time you catch a glimpse of that exiled gown waaaay in the back of the closet, your wallet sighs a little.

Don't make your wallet sigh. There's another way to look photo-fantastic for life's big events: Rent your outfit.

Online fashion rental companies Adorn.com, Mine for Nine, Mountain Threads and Rent the Runway can make you look like a million bucks at a fraction of the cost -- and without the guilt.

"This generation is so different; everybody is renting something," says Nadine Zaun, owner and chief style consultant at Adorn.com, which rents high-ticket diamond jewelry.

How does it work? What's the selection like? You probably have even more questions, but relax. These growing online companies have you covered -- for less.

For your next skip trip

The cost to outfit your whole family for a winter ski getaway can be Rocky Mountain high. Lugging those extra gear-laden bags through the airport both ways is no vacation either.

Enter an ingenious alternative: Rent the ski clothes, and have them waiting for you at your mountain destination (or pick them up on your way to the slopes).

"We don't offer equipment because there are plenty of places to do that at the resorts," says Myles Libby, marketing manager for Mountain Threads, a Denver company.

Many ski towns are popping up with this new service, even overseas. Customers who bond with their slope ensemble may even be able to purchase the pieces online during a post-season sale.

For moms-to-be

Maternity is a fashion nightmare for most moms-to-be. The clothes you like don't fit; the clothes that fit, you don't like. What to do?

Marisa Moss founded Mine for Nine LLC in 2009 when friends complained that it was impossible to find stylish maternity wear.

"There are so few brick-and-mortar maternity stores anymore and only one nationwide chain," says Moss. "If you live in a small town, you're even more limited."

Mine for Nine rents a full line of suits, dresses, coats and casual wear at 75 percent off retail. There are other online sites similar to Mine for Nine that rent whatever a mom-to-be might need to wear. Search by occasion, by designer or by price.

Moss says renting helps moms-to-be look and feel their best throughout their pregnancy. "This way, you're wearing clothing that fits you right now and is stylish as well," she says

For one-time swanky affairs

Love fashion but have a fear of commitment? Rent the Runway and other similar online sites offer the uncomplicated and less-costly relationship you've been searching for.

Rent the Runway is the brainchild of Harvard Business School students Jenny Fleiss and Jenn Hyman. It is just one site that allows folks to rent couture dresses and accessories. Their site offers designer duds at up to 90 percent off retail.

"The products we're offering are really around the experience of all of these magical events in your life and the fantastic feeling that a woman gets when she puts on an amazing designer dress," says Fleiss.

While you might not purchase a $1,450 Herve Leger coral sheath, now you can rent it for about $150. Rentals on sites like this usually are for four to eight days

For seasonal bling

Where jewelry is concerned, you have two choices for the big day: Look OK in jewelry you can afford or look OMG in rented diamonds.

Zaun, a 36-year-old mother of four, first worked for and now owns Adorn.com, the Kansas City, Mo., online jewelry rental business that's been around for five years.

"A few years ago, the mother of the bride would have said, 'That's OK for you but not for me,' but now most of my business is mothers of the bride," says Zaun. "It's become part of what you do: You rent a car, you rent a dress, you rent diamonds."

Other sites are also loaning out jewels, including BagBorroworSteal.com. For a fee, you can (temporarily) have the bling you've always wanted.

"It's for the pictures that last forever," says Zaun. "We're like Netflix but for diamonds."

SEE ALSO: 9 things collectors will be snapping up in 2013 >

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Champagne Sales Are Tanking In 'Gloomy' France

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derby champagne giant hat

Even the pop of a champagne cork can't pull France out of a national funk.

According to The Financial Times, champagne sales in France were down 5 percent in the first 10 months of the year, and the "gloomy" national mood is to blame.

"There is a moroseness, a sadness among the French population at the moment which has led to our compatriots drinking a little less champagne this year," Paul-Franois Vranken, chairman of champagne house Vranken Pommery Monopole, told The FT's Scheherazade Daneshkhu.

"Champagne consumption follows the mood of the country. Today, there isn't a mood conducive to celebration," he added.

Between the shaky economy and recent defections of high-profile French citizens like actor Gerard Depardieu, who recently announced he would abandon France for Belgium over high taxes  it's been a rough stretch for the French.

A 14 percent increase in excise duties on spirits hasn't helped sales of champagne and other alcohol, either, The FT wrote.

SEE ALSO: Here's Everything You Ever Wanted TO Know About Champagne

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A Coffee Cup That Wakes Up With You

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This is the Fred and Friends Wake-Up Cup.

Why We Love It: This heat-sensitive porcelain mug changes its exterior design as it heats up. Just pour the hot liquid beverage of your choice into the mug, and the ink will respond by changing the tired, haggard eyes to wide awake and alert ones.

The only drawbacks are you can't put it in the dishwasher or reheat your coffee in the microwave. But if you use as advertised, it makes a cute gift nonetheless.

Wake-up cup

 

Wake-up cup

Where To Buy: Available through Amazon.

Cost: $17.

Want to nominate a cool product for Stuff We Love? Send an email to Megan Willett at mwillett@businessinsider.com with "Stuff We Love" in the subject line.

DON'T MISS: Fork-Knife Chopsticks For Every Kind Of Take-Out Dinner

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Legendary Chef Morimoto Shares His Four Laws For Eating Sushi

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chef morimotoNapa Valley is a weird place. It's kind of demure, with rolling hills blanketed in low rows of lush vineyards, but also kind of action central, as the chances are high that the person cooking your food or pouring your wine is at the top of the industry.

Recently we ventured into kitchens, cellars and wineries (all accessible to you, too) in search of the extraordinarily yummy, which really is the norm in Napa.

Contrary to popular opinion, Napa's not only about the wine. Sure, that's a lot of the attraction, but you've got to eat something at some point to keep the drinking and drink appreciation going. That's where restaurants like Morimoto Napa come into play.

As the Flavor! Napa Valley festival only allows chefs with Napa restaurants to participate, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto took the opportunity to share the basics of precision sushi preparation.

Even if you're better at ordering in than turning out beautiful rolls, Morimoto has some tips. In addition to the fun fact that sushi is actually finger food (though chopsticks are of course plenty fine), he's shared with us his four laws of eating sushi. Take notes if you're Japan-bound!

No mixing. "Don't mix wasabi in the soy sauce. AGAIN. Do not mix the wasabi in soy sauce!" Can Morimoto be any clearer? That said, we're totally guilty of this.

No 'special rolls.' "Americans ask, 'what's your "special roll?"' I don't have a 'special roll.' All this is my 'special roll!'" With that, Morimoto gestured to the veritable buffet of fresh fish before him. He's right, too; go to Japan and you won't find California or Philadelphia rolls, and definitely not ones that look like a Disney chef was in charge. Leave the "ninja roll" to your local, strip mall sushi place.

Dip the fish. "Fish side down for dipping into the soy sauce. This takes balance, but it is necessary." This goes for sushi and sashimi; whatever side has the most fish, that's the one that should get the soy sauce treatment.

One bite. "Some females say, 'oh, I can't do it! One bite is too big!' But you must do it."

You know what this means, right? Tonight is totally sushi night. If you didn't know this sushi-eating etiquette before, be sure to practice before sauntering into a restaurant in Tokyo and wondering why the chef seems so offended. It's probably a wasabi-soy faux pas!

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Restaurants In Chicago

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The Naked Cowboy Will Tattoo Himself To Transform Into A Human Billboard

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naked cowboy

The Naked Cowboy — the famous Times Square performer who plays guitar in his underwear and marries off couples for $499 a pop — has a new money-making tactic: He's going to become Wow Body Ads' first human billboard by tattooing the company's logo onto his chest and back.

But don't worry, unlike the tragic skinvertising craze in the early 2000s in which people sold space on their bodies to get permanent tattoos of now-defunct website URLS, the Cowboy's tattoos only last for about a month.

Wow Body Ads marketer Darren Prince told ESPN that he's looking to bring back the celebrity human billboard trend.

It was huge a decade ago, particularly in boxing rings. Bernard Hopkins made $100,000 for wearing a temporary tattoo for casino Golden Palace in a big fight. (The Nevada State Athletic Commission put a stop to the trend since it didn't make a profit off of the ad placement, and it might conflict with pre-existing sponsorships.) NBA player Rasheed Wallace also considered wearing ad tattoos, but his agent passed.

Prince thought that the Naked Cowboy was a good vehicle to launch the skinvertising comeback.

"He is a beloved figure seen by millions of tourists each year," Prince said. "Who wouldn't want their brand in front of that many people and at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising?" 

Of course, some people never stopped transforming into human billboards.

Billy Gibby, also known as "Billy the Human Billboard," has 39 brand-related tattoos and counting. According to his website, he's still selling ad space. A 6" by 1" tattoo ad on his forehead goes for $20,000.

SEE ALSO: An Ad Company Accidentally Made A Gun Billboard Point At Billboard Of A Child In Michigan

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