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20 photos that show why Pope Francis is so awesome

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RTX1K2WI

Pope Francis celebrates his 79th birthday Thursday. 

Though his favorability ratings in the US have slipped slightly in the last few months, the pope is still extremely popular in many parts of the Catholic world. During recent trips to the US, South America, and Africa, hundreds of thousands turned out just to get a glimpse of him.  

Pope Francis is known for being a relatable, humble, and accepting figurehead — some have even called him the "People's Pope." 

Here are 20 photos that show just how awesome Pope Francis is.  

SEE ALSO: 22 photos that show the intense excitement surrounding Pope Francis' first-ever visit to the US

Pope Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires in 1936, is the first New World Pope.



Pope Francis is often known as the "People's Pope" for his kind and humble nature.



Pope Francis held a number of odd jobs in his past life, including stints as a janitor, chemical lab technician, and even a bouncer at a bar in Buenos Aires.



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Everyone is completely misinterpreting a new study about American diets

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salad

Headlines inspired by a study from earlier this week boasted that eating a vegetarian diet is actually worse for the planet than sticking to a traditional American (read: meat- and fat-heavy) diet.

That's bogus for several reasons. It also ignores one of the study's biggest findings, which is that transforming how we eat could have a hugely positive impact on the planet.

Here's why:

1. The study didn't actually compare a traditional American diet with a vegetarian one.

What it actually did, in fact, was compare a traditional American diet with two other eating plans:

  • One that had the same number of calories as a traditional US diet but meets the USDA's recommendations for adding fruits, veggies, and fish (each of which the average American eats a disturbingly small amount of), and
  • One that had a healthy (read: far lower) number of calories and also meets those recommendations.

The first scenario, the researchers found, would increase energy use by 43%, water use by 16%, and emissions by 11%. The second would increase the three by 38%, 10%, and 6%, respectively.

Here's the problem: The USDA recommendations are guidelines. (That's why they're called guidelines.) They're not meant to be taken and transformed into a specific diet, and they're by no means themselves reflective of a perfect picture of health. Instead, they try to combine relevant, recent science into an overview with suggestions for what the average American should either cut back on or add to an existing diet.

"We looked at what Americans eat — we're not trying to change people's preferences — we looked at the USDA guidelines and assumed people would look at them and eat more of what they like," study author Paul Fischbeck, who is a professor of social sciences and engineering and public policy, told Business Insider.

And since they're designed for the average American, they're certainly not designed for vegetarians. For one thing, they're high in seafood (which many vegetarians don't eat), and for another, they're high in dairy (which vegans avoid entirely and vegetarians don't necessarily adore).

2. Using calories as a metric to compare the three diets doesn't make sense here.

iceberg lettuce"Eating lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse-gas emissions than eating bacon," Fischbeck is quoted as saying in a press release.

No, it isn't. And that's exactly what he told us.

Sure, perhaps eating 100 calories of lettuce is worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating 100 calories of bacon.

To get 100 calories of bacon, you'd eat two pieces of it. To get 100 calories of lettuce, you'd need to eat roughly 14 tightly packed cups of the stuff. Fourteen cups! By comparison, there are loads of protein- and calorie-rich foods that have a much lower environmental footprint, like beans and nuts.

"Absolutely beans and nuts and grains are good," Fischbeck said.

Fischbeck later added (emphasis ours): "Lots of common vegetables require more resources per calorie than you would think. Eggplant, celery, and cucumbers look particularly bad when compared to pork or chicken."

Yes. Per calorie. But not overall.

Instead of trying to swap all the chicken in your diet for lettuce, a better idea would be to swap any red meat you eat for a protein- and calorie-rich, less resource-intensive food like nuts or beans.

3. The study found that shifting from the current US diet to a healthier one would help the environment, not hurt it.

bacon burger cheeseburgerOn average, Americans are eating far too many calories. The average American consumes a whopping 3,800 calories a day. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's average minimum daily requirement is 1,800. A piece of toast has 100.

The study acknowledges this: According to the research, transitioning people from a current US diet to one designed for a "normal" body weight would reduce our use of energy, water, and gas by about 9%.

Which means there is a healthier, far simpler alternative: Instead of cutting out meat or amping up our intake of lettuce and fish, we should cut back on the amounts of everything we eat and incorporate foods from a wide variety of sources, whether fruits and veggies or dairy, fish, and nuts.

4. Red meat is still terrible for the environment.

Sorry, meat lovers.

From raising cattle to washing and processing their meat, burgers and steaks require far more water per ounce than almost all other sources of protein, like nuts and beans. Much of our water goes to crops raised exclusively to feed livestock, like alfalfa and forage. Take a look at this chart from a presentation made by professor Blaine Davis of the University of California at Davis:

skitched california crop chart water usage

The red arrows point to "forages" and alfalfa — crops raised almost exclusively for feeding farm animals. Both of these use way more water than the cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, almonds, and pistachios shown above and below them.

For example, 106 gallons of water goes into making just an ounce of beef. By comparison, about 23 gallons are needed for an ounce of almonds, even though almonds are portrayed as the sole villain in the California drought.

Compared with the plants humans actually eat, like tomatoes, potatoes, and cucumbers — and even with the protein sources that humans eat, like beans, pistachios, and almonds, raising red meat for human consumption seems to make little environmental sense.

SEE ALSO: One chart sums up the real problem in the California drought — and it isn't almonds

DON'T MISS: Yes, bacon has been linked to cancer — here's how bad processed meats actually are for you

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The World Health Organization says there is ‘sufficient evidence’ that bacon causes cancer

Three undeveloped private islands off the coast of Panama can be yours for $100 million — but there's a catch

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Panama Private Islands $100 million

Three pristine private islands are up for sale — with some strings attached.

The Cayonetas Islands in Panama are an unspoiled paradise just waiting for the right billionaire's offer.

Asking $100 million, the islands offer the buyer "instant status as a global player on the world stage," according to the listing.

The trio of islands — named Bayoneta, Cañas, and La Caida — lie in the Las Perlas archipelago, about 30 minutes by helicopter to Panama City, according to the Los Angeles Times.

But if your goal is to buy the islands for your own personal retreat, you might want to look elsewhere. 

As part of the deal, the seller is requesting that only 30% of the island undergo what they're calling an "eco-conscious development." The rest would be required to be kept as a nature preserve. 

The islands have more than 50 beaches, an estimated 19 miles of coastline, and a total of 1,800 acres of land. They're packed with endangered turtles and many unique species of birds. 

Panama Private Islands $100 million

The islands are being sold by German businessman Claus Mittermayer and former University of California at Irvine ecology professor Hana Ayala, who convinced Mittermayer to turn the islands into an eco-friendly vacation destination, according to Forbes.

Their idea is that the buyer will work with Ayala's company (Pangea World, which is committed to sustainable development) to make the islands a destination for the eco-conscious wealthy of the world. The revenue would then be used to fund scientific study on the island.

"We aren’t selling a property," Ayala told Forbes. "We’re selling a legacy."

Panama Private Islands $100 million

SEE ALSO: Construction on this Miami-area condo building hasn't even begun — and a penthouse already sold for $21 million

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Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Tour this mobile private island that just upped the ante on billionaire toys

These are the watches worn by the smartest and most powerful men in the world

Ice cream at this New York shop is blasted with liquid nitrogen right in front of you

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-321 Ice Cream Shop is far from ordinary.

Instead of serving pre-made ice cream, -321 makes their ice cream right before customers' eyes — and with liquid nitrogen.

The shop starts out with a vanilla-flavored cream base. Depending on the flavor of ice cream being made, the base is sometimes mixed with other gourmet ingredients, such as matcha. This cream is then added into a large machine that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze it at a temperature of -321 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain flavors, such as pumpkin pie and apple pie, include actual pieces of pie. According to the shop, this way of making ice cream results in a creamier, richer, and more authentically flavored version.

- 321 offers certain staple flavors all year round, such as Cookies 'n Cream and Green Tea Kit Kat, their most unique and popular flavor. Seasonal offerings include pumpkin and apple pie, among others.

Story by Sarah Schmalbruch and editing by Carl Mueller

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SEE ALSO: This fish made of sushi looks too real to eat

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The best winter sport you've never heard of combines ice skating, NASCAR, and downhill skiing

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Crashed Ice is an extreme winter sport in which people race downhill in the middle of cities — on ice skates. It involves several quick turns and jumps on a crowded track, and things get rough. People slip and crash into each other all the time.

Red Bull introduced the sport in 2009. It held this year's world championship in Quebec City, Canada, where Cameron Naasz, of the US, won.

Story by Jacob Shamsian and editing by Chelsea Pineda

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SEE ALSO: This wallet can charge your phone

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We had drinks at Dead Rabbit to find out why it's considered one of the world's best bars

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Dead Rabbit isn't what you might expect.

A small, disarming Irish pub steeped in history, it is one of the most talked-about bars of the global cocktail scene. The upstairs Parlor bar, if you can get in, features an ever-evolving menu of some of the most of-the-moment cocktails.  

In recent times, Dead Rabbit, or its founders, have taken home virtually every top accolade of the cocktail world, as chosen by the industry standard-bearer, Tales of the Cocktail:

Bartender of the Year, Best American Cocktail Bar, World's Best Drinks Selection, to name a few.

Dead Rabbit was opened in 2013 in lower Manhattan by two down-to-earth Irishmen, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, who started out as neighborhood bartenders before making a name for themselves at the 5-star Merchant Hotel bar in Belfast.

Dead Rabbit isn't that far from our Union Square offices. So we headed downtown to find out what all the commotion is about.

We were not disappointed.

Producer: Alana KakoyiannisReporter: Andrew SternEditor: Josh Wolff

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This brilliant machine makes five cups of pour-over coffee at once

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True coffee lovers are familiar with pour-over coffee. But few people have the time to make it themselves, or wait for it to be made by a barista at their local coffee shop.

That's where the Poursteady comes in. The Poursteady is a machine that uses robotics to make multiple pour-overs at once, with just the touch of a button. It doesn't take baristas out of the equation, but instead allows them to make more pour-over coffees, and faster. There's also an app that allows baristas to customize each cup. The machine makes about one cup per minute.

The Poursteady is made in Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood. According to Grubstreet, the Chelsea location of New York City's Café Grumpy was the first retail location to test the machine in July. They've since bought one.

Here's to hoping that more coffee shops will follow suit, so we can all get our morning fix a little faster.

Story by Sarah Schmalbruch and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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SEE ALSO: Ice cream at this New York shop is blasted with liquid nitrogen right in front of you

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Watch a skier spin backwards off the tallest jump in the Western Hemisphere

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Copper Peak is the tallest ski jump in the Western Hemisphere.

It's 24-stories high, and has a vertical drop of 364 feet. The jump can launch skiers brave enough to tackle it up to 500 feet.

Five-time X Games medalist Sammy Carlson was the first attempt the jump in 20 years. He did it for The Sammy C Project, a new movie about him directed and produced by Teton Gravity Research. Not only did Carlson manage to land the jump multiple times, one of those times, he spun off the jump backwards. He only took a spill once.

Now that's skill.

Story by Sarah Schmalbruch and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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SEE ALSO: The best winter sport you've never heard of combines ice skating, NASCAR, and downhill skiing

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The healthiest breakfasts you can order at 11 fast-food restaurants

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McGriddle 6

Yes, you can get breakfast that's nutritious — and filling! — at fast-food places like McDonald's and Burger King.

And while starting every day with a hashbrown and a McGriddle is probably not a great idea, you don't have to completely swear off the fast-food joints in your neighborhood.

We've compiled the following list of the healthiest fast-food breakfasts that'll fill you up and keep you going all day long.

SEE ALSO: Everyone is completely misinterpreting a new study about American diets

DON'T MISS: Most dietary supplements are useless, but here are the ones you should take

Panera — Power Almond Quinoa Oatmeal — 290 calories

Panera has half a dozen yummy and nutritious breakfast items. Order from the "Breakfast Favorites" menu to try a bowl of Power Almond Quinoa Oatmeal, which has:

290 calories— not too high, not too low

8g of protein— on the lower side as far as breakfast items go, but a fair amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

6g of fat— pretty low

51g of carbs— on the higher side; watch your snacks

220mg of sodium— very low



Subway — Egg and Cheese Sandwich — 360 calories

"Eating fresh" in the a.m. is pretty easy at this chain, where you can get an egg sandwich on flatbread loaded with veggies. Our only caveat is that the sandwich is pretty high in sodium, which research suggests may be bad news for your heart.

360 calories— not too high, not too low

19g of protein— a good amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

12g of fat— on the higher side, but not a deal-breaker

44g of carbs— roughly 15% of your daily allowance

860mg of sodium— more than half your daily allowance



McDonald's — Egg McMuffin — 300 calories

The fruit and yogurt parfait isn't the only healthy morning item McDonald's offers. Avoiding the meat is an easy way to lighten up their traditional breakfast items. An Egg McMuffin has:

300 calories— not too high, not too low

17g of protein— a hefty amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

12g of fat— on the higher side, but not a deal-breaker

29g of carbs— pretty low

730mg of sodium — a little less than half your recommended daily allowance



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The best car of the year — the Volvo XC90

Scuba divers can touch two continents at once in this Icelandic lake

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Silfra, in Iceland, is right between North America and Eurasia's tectonic plates.

It's home to Þingvallavatn Lake, where water comes directly from one of Iceland's biggest glaciers. Before it gets there, it filters through porous lava rock, making it one of the clearest natural lakes in the world — in fact, the water is totally drinkable.

Here's what it's like to scuba dive between continents.

Story by Jacob Shamsian and editing by Kristen Griffin

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SEE ALSO: The Netherlands is building entire neighborhoods that float on water

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Ex-Navy SEALs put the world's first all-diabetes pro cycling team through 36 hours of hell to toughen them up as they vie for their first Tour de France invite

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All diabetes pro cycling team train with Navy SEALS

How do you make a team better? It's an intriguing question that comes up a lot, especially in business and sports.

Recently, Team Novo Nordiskthe first pro cycling team of its kind, made up entirely of athletes with diabetes — took an unusual approach to up its game. General manager Vassili Davidenko sent his riders to California to take part in what normally would have been just another offseason training camp, where they typically get their new bikes and gear and pedal a bunch of miles while getting to know one another in a casual, laid-back atmosphere. But to their surprise, they were awoken on day one at 4 a.m. to take part in a series of rigorous team-building exercises with retired Navy SEALs and Special Ops personnel.

William Hart, cofounder of Acumen Performance Group, which teamed up with Novo Nordisk for the camp, greeted the stunned cyclists bright and early: "You guys are all professional cyclists and have a lot of coaches and trainers that make you some of the best in the world at cycling — us former retired Navy SEALs, we're the best in the world at getting through things that suck."

Over the next 36 hours, the cyclists would be pushed to their absolute physical and psychological limits in exercises designed to be taxing but empowering. This week, Business Insider caught up with Davidenko to learn more about his unique team, what the riders were put through — and how they fared — and how this hardcore camp fits into the big goal to ultimately get the team into the world's largest annual sporting event, the Tour de France.

DON'T MISS: Yes, actually cycling is the new golf

SEE ALSO: Multimodal cycling is so hot right now

Team Novo Nordisk is the first all-diabetes pro cycling team. "Our goal is to race the Tour de France by 2021, a year that marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin," a spokeswoman told Business Insider.

Its mission is front and center on its website:

"Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists, triathletes and runners, spearheaded by the world's first all-diabetes professional cycling team. Our mission is to inspire, educate and empower people affected by diabetes."

Denmark-based "Novo Nordisk is a global health care company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth-hormone therapy, and hormone therapy."



Other cycling teams hold camps with a military theme, too, but as Davidenko tells Business Insider, this camp was "completely different."

"Other camps introduce the riders to military guys, and they play with guns," Davidenko says. "Some play football and ride go-karts, and it's great to get together like that. But our camp was completely different. It was about getting our guys closer to one another, bringing them to their limits, taking them out of their comfort zone, and then keeping them there, making sure they work as a team, with no one left behind."

Juri Chabursky, CEO of Acumen Performance Group, says, "All the training APG delivers embodies a blend of elite military, business, athletic, and performance psychology best practices. Our programs are delivered in an immersive experiential manner, focused on adult learning principles, to ensure rapid retention and immediate utilization of the skills learned."

"Based on Team Novo Nordisk's needs, their 36 hours of training was oriented more from the U.S. Navy SEAL backgrounds of APG's founding partners. This particular client was looking to develop mental toughness in a manner consistent with the endurance-based multi-environment nature of their sport. This gave APG the ability to apply a huge range of our Navy SEAL and Special Operations instructional and operational experience to the program.

"The team improved their mental toughness, teamwork, leadership, communication, stress management, contingency planning, and their accountability to 'Team-Teammates-Self.'"



The camp was about training the brain — not just the body.

"We came up with the idea to do the Navy SEAL-style camp because we wanted the riders to work together more effectively as a team. We wanted to show them that when they work well together as a team, they can be better," Team Novo Nordisk CEO and cofounder Phil Southerland said. "We believe that what was holding them back was truly mental, so we wanted to break them down and build them back up as one solid unit."



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Why researchers are saying hot peppers are really great for you

'Fashion Santa' is for the moms

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If you head to Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto this holiday season, you're likely to find a line of people anxiously waiting to take a picture with Santa. Only, you may notice that the line is made up of of more mothers than children. That's because the mall has reimagined the staple Christmas character.

"There was a really cute line I think someone said. 'You go into Legoland, mommy's going to go see Santa," said Paul Mason, the male model behind Fashion Santa.

Mason sports the signature snow-white hair and beard, but that's where the similarities end. Mason is photographed wearing designer clothes, usually involving at least a hint of red, and he's thinner than the Santa Claus you grew up with. And it's not the children coming to the mall to see the 21st century St. Nicholas.

"It's the moms," Mason said.

Mason came up with the idea last year, but he became a viral sensation this holiday season.

Though the long-time model keeps his his beard year-round, he said he reserves wearing red for the month of December alone. 

Story and editing by Andrew Fowler

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SEE ALSO: New mom Kelly Rowland refuses to feel bad about loving her work

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This is the most affordable time to visit 24 of the world's most expensive destinations

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st. barts

Knowing the right time to book a trip can save you quite a bit of money.

TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals determined the best time to visit some of the most expensive places in the world by looking at the average weekly rate of a two-bedroom rental at different times of the year. 

In some cases, the difference between traveling during peak season and the more affordable period was as much as $8,000.

Whether you're looking to travel to England, Greece, the Cayman Islands, or Dubai, here's the best time to plan your trip.

SEE ALSO: The most affordable places to travel to next year, according to Lonely Planet

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Saint-Barthélemy (St. Barts/St. Barths)

Most affordable time to travel: November. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during this time is around $4,312. 

Peak time to travel: Mid- to late December. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during the peak season is around $12,900. 

Vibe: St. Barts is home to 14 stunning beaches, most of which remain crowd-free even during the peak season. A popular destination for celebrities, St. Barts has a variety of designer boutiques, an array of fine dining restaurants, yacht and jet ski rentals, and a breathtaking scenery of mountains, green hills, and glistening bays.

Click here to check out rentals »



Kapolei, Hawaii

Most affordable time to travel: Most of November. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during this time is around $2,626. 

Peak time to travel: End of December. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during this time is around $3,850.

Vibe: Kapolei, known as Oahu's "second city" after Honolulu, is built on former sugarcane and pineapple plantations. It has a sunny climate, lush green golf courses (including the Kapolei Golf Course and Ko Olina Golf Club), diverse dining options, and lots of water activities.

Click here to check out rentals »



St. Martin

Most affordable time to travel: Early August. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during this time is around $2,272.

Peak time to travel: Most of December. The average weekly rate for two-bedroom properties during the peak season is around $5,600. 

Vibe: The island of St. Martin is split into two sides: the Dutch half of Sint Maarten, which is filled with bustling nightlife, shopping centers, sprawling resorts, and gleaming beaches; and the French half of St. Martin, which has a quieter ambience, with white-sand beaches, small town squares, and charming mountainside scenery.

The island has 37 beaches in total and offers visitors a wide range of water activities, including everything from scuba diving and snorkeling to yachting and windsurfing.

Click here to check out rentals »



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JIM CRAMER: This is what’s preventing people from achieving the American dream

I got a haircut from the elite New York City barber who cuts Jack Dorsey's hair — and it was incredible

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Genos Barber 0436

Dzenad Bicic — better known as Geno — is one of New York's most talented and respected barbers. But if you talk to him, you might think he's also an amateur philosopher or village elder, dispensing hard-earned wisdom with the greatest of ease.

He has cut the hair of everyone from Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey to actor Daniel Day-Lewis, but if you ask him how he became so successful, he'll respond with just one piece of advice.

"If you're patient, everything will come," Geno tells me as we sit in his barbershop on Greenwich Avenue in New York City's West Village. Looking around at everything he's built for himself, it's hard not to believe him.

We spoke with the Montenegrin owner, operator, and (still) full-time barber of Geno's Barberia to see what it takes to cut the hair of New York's elite. (Hint: it's a lot of skill and a super-positive attitude).

SEE ALSO: 4 things every guy should tell his barber when he gets a haircut

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To call this neighborhood a hair-cutting hot spot would be an understatement. Greenwich Avenue is lined with high-end barbershops, as well as restaurants and boutiques that are frequented by a moneyed clientele. If you're a barber, you dream of setting up shop in the West Village.

After 10 years cutting hair in a shop owned by friend Franco di Maggio (and 27 years of barbering total), Geno decided to strike it out on his own. He leased a space down the street from where he had previously worked, and, with the help of Franco, opened Geno's Barberia in 2010.



At the time, all Geno had was a client list, a lease, and a dream. A New York Times mention soon followed, and Geno was forced to add a fourth chair. The rest, as is so commonly said, is history.

Geno says he has a two-week backlog of appointments, which can sometimes affect his business.

"Guys don't want to wait," he told us.

Oftentimes, guys will book their next appointment immediately after getting their hair cut, as if it were a doctor's office. Geno now employs four other barbers at his shop, but the man himself is still the one in the highest demand. 

"I think I cut everybody," Geno says before rattling off a long list of Broadway actors, photographers, musicians, sportsmen, magazine editors, and stylists. Geno says he cuts the hair of legendary stylist Nick Wooster, former Rangers left wing Sean Avery, and even actor Daniel Day-Lewis.



But Geno will make exceptions for some of his most loyal and dedicated — not to mention famous — clients. He often opens the shop early for Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square, so he can squeeze him in before his other appointments. 

And boast Geno should. Geno's shop's reputation is built entirely by referral and word of mouth. Dorsey frequently plugs Geno's shop on his social-media accounts, which Geno says he has nothing to do with. 

"Jack does it himself, believe it or not," Geno told us. "I don't even have a website."

As for next steps, Geno says he used to want to stay small, avoiding the complications of expanding. 

"That was before," Geno told us. "Now I have three kids." 

Now he's considering launching a line of hair products, and even expanding to a newer, bigger shop when his lease is up. 

I needed to see Geno in action. Even though it was his day off, Geno sat me down in the chair. 

 



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The unofficial Goldman Sachs guide to New Year’s resolutions

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new york times square new year confetti

Exercise. Read more. Save money. Travel. Those are the staple resolutions.

But if it’s not that complicated, why are there so many fat, dumb, poor people who don’t even have passports?

So, forget about all of the tired, regurgitated resolutions that you recycle unfulfilled year in and out. Here are twenty practical and realistic goals for 2016 that will fundamentally make your life better:

  • Return your hoverboard. You look like a jackassMartin Shkreli.
  • Write down your goals. Less than 10% of people fulfill their resolutions, but the ones who write them down have a much higher success rate. Take it a step further and make a list of what you want to accomplish each day, week, and month. Forget an app; go old school.
  • Turn off Netflix at midnight. Just chill.
  • Get a comprehensive health exam. If possible, from Donald Trump’s physician.
  • Read more. Hardly an original idea, but it’s seldom accomplished. This year, try being specific. Make a list of 10-15 books - a healthy mix of fiction, non-fiction, and a few classics you should have read in college. I’ll get you started with Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Mark Bowden’s Killing Pablo, Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, or this one.
  • Stop drinking soda. While you are at, give up orange juice too. Instead, drink green tea with fresh ginger and manuka honey. It cancels out the ten drinks you had the night before.
  • Stay in on Friday nights. Your weekend will become infinitely better, and your bank account will benefit too. It’s time to act like an adult; get drunk at brunch on Sundays instead.
  • Invest in a Bitcoin wallet. Because it will be the best-performing currency in 2016.
  • Come back to Twitter. Sure, engagement is down and relevance has peaked. But there is still no better way to efficiently curate news and information.
  • Spend more time with old people. The Greatest Generation now makes up less than 1% of the US population. Find a World War II veteran and take him to lunch from time to time.
  • Plan regular FBTs (Fake Business Trips). Get away from your life for a few days to relax, and, if need be, let some bad out. It’ll make you a better partner and parent.
  • Get promoted. Forget about LinkedIn; it’s the Match.com for the underemployed. Invite your seniors out, get them into a bar and network the old fashioned way.
  • Freshen up your wardrobe. There’s a reason Michael Jordan wore a brand new pair of shoes every game. While you’re at it, donate your old clothes to Career Gear or Dress for Success - non-profits that provide clothing and career guidance to low-income men and women.
  • Take a class. Sign up with a friend to make it more fun and help you see it through. It could be anything - cooking, coding, or photography. The Nikon D810 SLR even comes with free classes.
  • Forget about unrealistic health pledges. You don’t need some insane diet or detox regime. They don’t actually make you live longer. It just seems longer. Eat sensibly, drink in moderation, and exercise; it’s not rocket science.
  • Laugh more. Socialize. Drink. Throw parties. Host drunken game nights. Upgrade your friends if necessary. It’s the life in your years, not the years in your life.
  • Say no to fitness gimmicks. You don’t need to start taking the stairs or parking as far away from the Whole Foods entrance as possible. And don’t prepay for thirty personal training sessions. Take up a competitive sport instead. Remember that feeling as a kid when you’re on the field, not thinking about anything else? Most of us have forgotten how great that feels. So join a basketball league or find someone to play tennis with. And get some of these.
  • Skip the dramatic savings scheme. Giving up the $5 daily latte? Bringing your lunch to work? That just makes you the office pariah. Don’t go crazy with anti-social or unrealistic goals. Keep it simple; spend less than you make, and save up for the big-ticket items until you can afford them.
  • Declare the bedroom technology free. Does this even need an explanation? It means more time for reading, sleep, and sex. And go ahead and upgrade your mattress. We’re talking about 1/3rd of your life.
  • Stay in on New Years Eve. It’s amateur night and it rarely lives up to your expectations anyhow. This year, stay home with a bottle of something nice. Then start January 1 early and productively.

John LeFevre is the creator of @GSElevator on Twitter, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Straight To Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, And Billion-Dollar Deals

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Here's how factories make soft pretzels

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This factory makes soft pretzels — in batches of nearly 5,000.

After a worker makes the dough, it travels through a variety of machines, across a handful of conveyor belts, and gets heated up and cooled down before being packaged.

But the process that gives the pretzel its signature shape is the most spellbinding. Take a look.

This footage comes from "How It's Made," on the Science Channel, which you can watch on Thursday nights at 7pm/6pm central. New episodes air at 9pm/8pm central.

Story by Jacob Shamsian and editing by Alana Yzola

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SEE ALSO: How huge sheets of pasta become tiny and delicious noodles

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