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Today is National Margarita Day — here's the trick to making a perfect margarita at home

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Today is National Margarita Day, which is a pretty clear directive to head straight to your nearest bar for a tequila-based cocktail.

But how to whip up the perfect drink at home?

First, high-quality ingredients are key. Don't skimp on tequila, but instead go for a 100% agave option with a smooth finish. Fresh limes (instead of pre-packaged lime juice) will make a huge difference as well, offering a zesty citrus punch that won't be overly sweet.

Second, keep to tried-and-true proportions. As Chris Hall writes in Bon Apetit, "balance accounts for the difference between a good drink and a bad one," and no one wants a margarita that's overly sugary or burning with tequila.

Finally, keep the blender in the cabinet. For that authentic margarita experience, you'll want one served on the rocks — or straight up. Just shake with ice and pour in a classic margarita glass, garnished with salt.

Check out our foolproof margarita recipe, below:

Margarita Graphic

SEE ALSO: Anthony Bourdain just revealed his ideal menu for the massive food market he plans to open in New York City next year

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NOW WATCH: Your favorite bar is ripping you off — here are the drinks that are worth spending money on

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey says these 7 books changed his life

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jack dorsey

Jack Dorsey, the CEO and cofounder of Twitter and Square, is stretched to the limit this year running two publicly traded companies.

As he's matured as a leader, Dorsey has focused on pushing himself, and his favorite books offer insight into his thought process.

From a Product Hunt Q&A last year and his personal Twitter account, we've collected the books he's said have influenced him most.

SEE ALSO: 23 books Mark Zuckerberg thinks everyone should read

'Tao Te Ching' by Lao Tzu

In the Product Hunt Q&A, Dorsey said his most prized possession is a copy of "Tao Te Ching" a friend gave him.

This ancient Chinese text (pronounced "Dow Dé Jing") is attributed to Lao Tzu. It became the foundation for Taoism in the sixth century BC and was first translated into English in the late 19th century.

It is composed of 81 poems that reflect on the Tao, which is the force behind everything in the universe.

Among themes explored are self-mastery through humility.

Find it here »



'The Score Takes Care of Itself' by Bill Walsh with Steve Jamison and Craig Walsh

Dorsey regularly recommends "The Score Takes Care of Itself" to entrepreneurs around Silicon Valley.

It's a guide to leadership by the late Bill Walsh, one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Football League. It was published posthumously in 2010.

When Walsh became head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, they were the laughing stock of the league; over the next 10 years, the 49ers became a dynasty with four Super Bowl titles.

What makes his career even more remarkable is that he had a knack for finding and growing leaders, and his staff included eight future head coaches.

In his book, he explains the importance of creating a culture of high performance through personal encouragement and praise for exceptional work.

Find it here »



'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates' writing on American civil liberties exploded into the mainstream last year when "Between the World and Me" became a No. 1 bestseller and National Book Award winner.

In this book, Coates explores what it means to be an African-American man at this time in history, written as part memoir and part journalistic report, all framed as a letter to his young son.

The book is striking for both its commentary on American life as well as its meditation on what it takes to grow from a boy into a man.

Find it here »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These $180 Donald Trump piñatas are selling like crazy

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Have you ever noticed how vegetables often look like the part of the body they're good for?

This incredible dog has a super important job at a Michigan airport


This haircut is making the internet very upset

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A haircut, of all things, is drawing the ire of droves of Facebook users. Barbershapp, a mobile app that connects barbers with customers, published a video of a model getting an asymmetrical, layered haircut. The video has more than 9 million views on Facebook, with 41,000 mostly negative comments about the hairstyle.

The haircut video could just be a smart marketing decision to raise the profile of the mobile app, but one thing that seems certain is that this haircut won't be a trend any time soon.

Story and editing by A.C. Fowler

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28 photos that show where US presidents have lived

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home of harry truman

Some of US history's most famous presidents lived in iconic homes you can still visit today.

From the expansive gardens and original furnishings of the country's first president, to the bedroom where John F. Kennedy was born, these houses give an incredible glimpse into the lives of our former presidents.

We've put together a collection of 11 famous presidential homes, including Lyndon B. Johnson's private hanger and a library where you'll find thousands of Harry S. Truman's favorite books. 

SEE ALSO: 19 photos that show where world leaders live

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Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, was the popular estate of Thomas Jefferson. He inherited the 5,000 acres from his father and designed the home himself, spending over 40 years to create its stunning rooms and gardens.

Click here to learn more about Monticello »



The property is open for tours on a daily basis, and you can explore the rooms and corridors that Jefferson spent his time in, like the spacious dining room and tea parlor, pictured here.

Click here to learn more about Monticello »



When George Washington acquired Mount Vernon in Virginia in 1754, it was only a one-and-a-half-story farmhouse his father had built. He spent the next 45 years expanding it to become the 21-room icon known today.

Click here to learn more about Mount Vernon »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This helicopter company lets you take the ultimate Instagram pic thanks to its open doors

This picture of a floating basketball player is 100% real

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Illinois high school basketball player Walker Stillman is athletic, but he's not supernaturally athletic. When a photo of Stillman seeming to float in midair with a calm expression on his face during a game went viral, people assumed it was photoshopped.

Instead, Liz Brunson — a local photographer who took the picture — provided a lesson in perfect timing.

Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Ben Nigh

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A British tech entrepreneur is selling his New York City townhouse for $26 million

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26 bank st 6

British tech entrepreneur Jos White has just listed a four-bedroom townhouse for $26 million, reports the Wall Street Journal.

White, currently a partner at Notion Capital, bought the light-filled home on a quiet, tree-lined block in Greenwich Village for $7.25 million back in 2009. Originally built in 1915, the three-story building has an English flare and quirky interior touches, like a disco ball in the master bedroom.

Other perks include a private front garden, a wood-burning fireplace, and a rooftop glass "atelier" modeled after the Maison de Verre in Paris. Designed by architect Basil Walter, it's listed with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

SEE ALSO: A real-estate developer has hoisted his opulent Manhattan townhouse onto the market for $84.5 million

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Floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout keep the home bathed in bright light.



A private back garden is filled with greenery.



Previously owned by interior designer James Huniford, the house has warm touches like exposed wooden beams and arched entryways.



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This gorgeous time lapse of Paris is like a virtual vacation

Inside Facebook's marriage of social media and virtual reality

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Oculus Rift Oculus Touch

The Oculus Rift is about to hit the market next month, and Facebook is throwing even more support behind it with the announcement of a new social virtual reality team.

The social media giant has announced the creation of the team, along with an effort to improve the 360-degree video streaming qualities on its News Feed.

This news is hardly surprising considering that the News Feed has supported these types of videos since March 2015 (Facebook claims it has 20,000 such ads posted already), and the company has repeatedly said it wants to create a more holistic experience for social and VR.

Daniel James and Michael Booth, two former video gaming executives who are experts in 3D multiplayer gaming, will lead this social VR team. They will build social apps for Oculus and develop community experiences for customers.

The creation of this team is the next step in Facebook's plan to link social and VR. The company debuted Social Alpha, which allows up to five people to watch videos and speak in a virtual home theater, in October on Oculus' Cinema app. It also released Toybox, a game for the Oculus Rift that lets multiple people play games such as ping pong.

Facebook is likely trying to give average consumers a reason to consider purchasing the Oculus Rift, given that the total cost of a Rift ($599) plus a gaming PC with appropriate specs ($1,000 to $1,500) could scare them away, particularly early on in the product's life cycle. 

By bolstering and highlighting the social components of Oculus, the company could bring in more casual customers.

We're on the verge of the main stage debut for virtual reality products and when Oculus Rift hits the market, it's going to push the limits of what VR means to the average consumer. But what opportunities will this create?

The tech industry has promoted the prospect of VR for the past few decades. But only now, with headsets backed by big names like Sony and Facebook, is VR finally becoming a concrete product with mass market potential. While VR technology is largely associated with the gaming industry, the platform offers a new set of content opportunities in entertainment, advertising, and more.

But where is it all going?

Margaret Boland of Business Insider Intelligence has compiled a detailed report that examines how various VR headset categories will shape VR content development and looks at the trajectory for mobile gaming revenues to get a sense of how spending on VR content might develop. The report also lays out what types of content users and developers can expect on VR platforms, including gaming, video entertainment, and advertising.

virtual reality

Here are some main takeaways from the report:

  • VR headset manufacturers are driving both the development and distribution of VR content by investing significant technical and monetary resources in developers, in an effort to build up an exclusive content library.
  • High demand for VR headsets by mobile and console gamers will fuel demand for VR content. The VR content market will take an increasing portion of the mobile gaming software industry.
  • Beyond gaming, VR video entertainment will remain short form until demand for VR headsets increases.
  • Ads featured on VR headsets will likely have higher view-through rates than standard video ad spots.
  • Other industries are also beginning to experiment with VR content. Travel companies, publishers, e-commerce merchants, and social platforms are beginning to see potential in this new category.
  • VR content faces major hurdles that could keep developers from investing: The VR experience must be good enough for people to take up the devices. In addition, developers need to know that a sufficient user base exists to be worthy of the resource investment in VR content.

In full, the report:

  • Provides a breakdown of each type of VR headset, what platforms they run on, and how content will differ for each.
  • Includes estimates for global VR headset shipments by category.
  • Includes a mobile gaming forecast to give a sense of the most important market that will drive spending on VR content in the next five years.
  • Lays out what other industries are developing VR programs.
  • Discusses some of the potential barriers that could dissuade developers from investing in VR content.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the VR universe, choose one of these options:

  1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
  2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the world of VR.

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Here's what the 'smart casual' dress code really means

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suitYou just landed your dream job. Congratulations!

After offering you the position, the hiring manager goes over all the details of your new gig: start date, salary, manager's name, and dress code — which, she says, is "smart casual." 

So you put in your two weeks' notice, shoot your new boss an email, and shop for a new work wardrobe of nice jeans, polo shirts, colorful tanks, and sandals.

Everything is going smoothly with the transition to your new job until you arrive on your first day and realize you're completely underdressed. You suddenly regret not asking or researching what "smart casual" actually means.

Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results," says it's important to be aware of dress codes and understand what they mean. "Though dress is a very personal matter, it is a very public and professional matter on the job. Employees are expected to comply with company standards."

She says during her 20-plus years working as an executive coach, one of the most frequent career roadblocks she has observed is inappropriate dress in the workplace because people don't completely understand what all the different dress codes mean.

For example, the term "smart casual" is interpreted differently in many workplaces. "The definition can change, depending on several factors, including the industry, size of the company, number of employees, amount of interaction between employees and customers, geography, climate, culture, and average age of the workforce," Price says. 

At most companies, however, the "smart casual" dress code is a step up from "business casual," but not as formal as "boardroom attire." It's neat and professional — but still on the more informal side.

"The key look in this dress code is a chic, put-together ensemble," Price says. "It fashionably combines elements from the other dress codes, such as a nice pair of dark slacks, with a coordinated dressy blouse, jacket, and scarf, or a nice pair of trousers with a button-down shirt and sport coat." 

If your company has a dress code, get a clear understanding of what it is. And if it doesn't, create your own and err on the side of professional and conservative. "And if all else fails, pay attention to how your boss and their boss dress, and follow their examples," Price concludes.

Below are examples of appropriate "smart casual" outfits or accessories:

SEE ALSO: Here’s What 'Business Casual' Really Means

Brightly colored shirts are acceptable, and blazers or sport coats are encouraged.



Aside from bright colors, unique or fun accessories are a good way to tone down more formal attire to make it 'smart casual.'



The experts say to stay away from jeans in a 'smart casual' setting. Instead, men can wear khakis or dress pants. As far as footwear goes, they say loafers or monk-strapped shoes are most appropriate.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Relieve stress by destroying everything in this 'rage room'

11 'weird' buildings that would probably now be banned in China

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Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort

There's no shortage of strange and striking architecture in China's massive cities.

But that's all about to change. On Sunday, the Chinese central government released an urban blueprint demanding an end to all mainland construction of buildings that are "oversized", "xenocentric," or "weird." The new directive? Stick to architecture that is "suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye," the South China Morning Post reported.

Back in 2014, Chinese president Xi Jinping began his crusade against wild architecture, saying that art should "be like sunshine from the blue sky and the breeze in spring that will inspire minds, warm hearts, cultivate taste, and clean up undesirable work styles." 

Xi believes that the art and architecture in China should appeal to the average Chinese citizen, who should also be the main subject of all artwork. His sentiment hearkens back to late Chinese leader Mao Zedong’s idea that the working class in China should not only be the major audience for all art, but that it should be a reflection of their everyday lives. 

Here's a roundup of some wacky Chinese buildings that certainly wouldn't be approved under this new state rule.

SEE ALSO: Go inside a bonkers $84.5 million Manhattan townhouse being sold by a noted real estate developer

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Beijing's CCTV building is known for its odd "pants" design.



This golden Guangzhou Coin is 33 stories tall, and was designed by an Italian architect. It's the world's tallest circular building.



Shaped like a large clay teapot, this convention center in Wuxi has a massive hole through the middle.



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15 things successful people don't do in their 20s

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stressed upset frustrated

The best part about your 20s is that you can recover quickly from the inevitable mistakes you'll make as you figure out how to make it in the real world.

That said, there are some poor choices that have lasting effects — like not starting to save money and neglecting your health — that are easily avoidable.

We've sorted through a variety of advice from entrepreneurs and writers on Quora and found recurring themes.

Here are 15 things successful 20-somethings don't do:

SEE ALSO: 18 things successful people do in their 20s

They don't think education and talent are enough to become successful.

High intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to have, but they do not guarantee that you will land a great job — and they mean nothing when not paired with hard work.

"I spent my 20s in corporate environments, and I remember them for working nights and weekends," says Sylvie di Giusto, founder of Executive Image Consulting. "Sweat, hassle, pain, as well as diligence, perseverance, and an enormous amount of effort and energy characterize my career at this point. I've learned that there are very little short cuts when it comes to career success. Success doesn't 'just happen.' Never."



They don't neglect their health.

As you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly that you can't party like you did in college.

"Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night will be hilarious to you," Meggie Sutherland Cutter writes on Quora.

And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.

Communications professor Michael Weston says that 20-somethings also need to pay attention to their mental health, since any potential issues usually arise in your 20s.



They don't spend all of their disposable income.

A 2014 survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18 to 29 had no retirement savings.

Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a major disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.

Entrepreneur Aditya Rathnam says that there's no need to start investing too much, since you're just starting out, but it's essential to take advantage of your company's 401(k) matching program, if one is available, and/or open a Roth IRA account.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These bottle-shaped gummies are taking over YouTube

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