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An NYC restaurant serves a delicious twist on poutine

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Most people know poutine as a rich dish consisting of French fries covered in cheese and gravy.

NYC restaurant the Pavilion serves a version with homemade potato chips — and it's just as delicious as the original.

Written by Sarah Schmalbruch and produced by Ben Nigh

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Here’s the surprising reason why pen caps have a small hole at the top

The best- and worst-dressed celebrities at the Kentucky Derby

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Kentucky derby, best dressed, worst dressed, red carpet

The Kentucky Derby is a light-hearted affair, where celebrities are free to take some fashion risks. 

Big and colorful hats are a huge part of the look — but not everybody can pull it off. It's not unusual to see some people go completely over the top.

Ahead, the best- and worst-dressed celebrities of the Kentucky Derby.

 

SEE ALSO: 17 photos of people having the time of their lives at the Kentucky Derby

BEST: Singer Ray J and fashion designer Princess Love looked elegant and classy.



WORST: Chef Johnny Luzzini, pictured here with fellow chef Claire Robinson, showed up in a somewhat strange hat and a too-shiny jacket.



BEST: Actress Megan Scrimshaw looked picture-perfect in baby blue.



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A restaurant in London makes a dessert that looks convincingly like a plant terrarium

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This may look like a potted plant, but it's actually a dessert at Oliver Maki in London. The Japanese restaurant experiments with strange ingredients and new techniques in order to surprise their guests. This Tiramisu "pot" is filled with delicately whipped coffee and Matcha cream. Don't be fooled by the rocks either; they're chocolate.

Written by Eloise Kirn and produced by David Fang

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This startup is trying to create the ideal roommate experience — here's what it's like inside its new 51-bedroom Brooklyn building

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commonGeneral Assembly cofounder Brad Hargreaves wants you to stop fighting with your roommates.

His new company, Common, is one of a few "co-living" startups that have sprung up in places like New York and San Francisco, designed to bring the tech ethos to bear on the idea of communal living. On Saturday, Common opened by far its biggest project to date, a 51-bedroom complex in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood.

Co-living is just a fancy way of saying living with people other than your family, and Hargreaves explains that the idea behind Common isn't meant to be revolutionary. People sometimes approach Common like it's some completely new invention, he says. But really what he wants to do is craft the ideal roommate experience for someone who doesn't necessarily have an extended social network in New York to tap into (more than half of Common residents are first-time New Yorkers).

Common tries to do this by taking care of things that cause tension between roommates, like cleaning and buying communal furniture, and setting up the living situation in a way that encourages people to be social with their neighbors.

But Hargreaves doesn't like the comparison to a "dorm for adults." He says that implies things like shared bedrooms (none of the bedrooms at Common are shared except for couples) and flimsy furniture. But despite his protests, the co-living idea does seem meant to recapture the spirit of dorm life, where it's easy to hang out with your neighbors and make new friends — just with greatly upgraded amenities (and a price to match). 

Here's how it works:

Common's new building in Williamsburg has 51 bedrooms, which are subdivided into 12 furnished suites. It was 80% full before launch.



To become a Common "member" you have to apply. But Hargreaves (right) and design head Sophie Wilkinson (left) say the main criteria is simply whether you want to be part of the community. They aren't trying to place people together who share interests (or work in tech).



A room in Common's new building costs $1,800 - $2,300 per-month for a 12-month stay (more if you want to lock in for just 3 or 6 months). That's probably more than you would pay in a standard Craigslist situation, though not outrageous given the neighborhood (the average one-bedroom in Williamsburg is around $3,000).



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This beautiful Buddhist temple hangs off the side of a cliff more than 10,000 feet above sea level

This is how sausage is made

What this symbol that’s on nearly half of your food actually means


17 photos of people having the time of their lives at the Kentucky Derby

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Michael Hickey Stringer Getty2

The 142nd Kentucky Derby took place this weekend at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.

The derby has many long-standing traditions — the parties on the infield, the extravagant hats, the marching band's rendition of "My Old Kentucky Home", and, of course, the tens of millions of dollars that are bid on the horse races.

One lasting tradition that is sure to get the party going is the mint julep. The perfect mix of bourbon, ice, sugar, and mint has been the derby's signature drink for nearly a century.

Ahead, take a look at the debauchery that happened as the heavily favored Nyquist beat the rest of the horses to the finish line.

SEE ALSO: The best- and worst-dressed celebrities at the Kentucky Derby

Prior to the races, the party was already getting started on the infield.



Guests' attire ranged from spring dresses and bold striped suits...



...to more casual party outfits.



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A man used a power drill to eat corn on the cob

Take our 14-day plan to radically improve your finances

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BI Better Money 3x4

According to a 2015 survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, less than half of Americans keep close track of their spending, and nearly 30% aren't saving for retirement.

Clearly, there's room for improvement.

#BIBetterMoney is a 14-day self-improvement plan designed for the busy professional, featuring a simple task a day for two weeks to help you take control of your money.

We recommend participating with at least one other person, so you have more fun and keep each other in check. You can start on any Monday and should complete actions on their specified day when possible.

The following slides go through the days and the thought behind them in detail, and you can also reference our infographic calendar.

SEE ALSO: 7 signs you're doing something right with your money

MONDAY, DAY 1: Get your 90-day number.

Let's dive right in.

In his book "Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women & Money," "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary recommends that before you take any steps to improve the way you manage your money, you get what he calls your 90-day number: A sum of every dollar you've spent and earned in the past three months.

"It's going to be a positive or negative number," he writes, "because money is black or white. There is no gray. You either have it or you don't."

You'll do this in two steps: First, add up your income, and next, add up your expenses. 

Income number - expenses number = 90-day number

If it's positive, you're starting off on the right foot. If it's negative, we have some work to do. And if it's hovering around zero, you're playing a dangerous game.



TUESDAY, DAY 2: Choose a system to track your spending.

You made a big effort yesterday, so today, we'll keep it quick: All you have to do is choose and implement a system to keep track of your income and expenses in the future, so the next time you want your 90-day number it will be available in a matter of minutes.

While you're welcome to break out a notebook and pen, you'll probably find it easier to take advantage of technology. Two of the most popular options are:

Mint, a website and app that you can connect to your credit cards and bank accounts. It automatically pulls in data from any connected account to log every expense and paycheck, so you can see the full picture of your finances in just a few clicks.

A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, which requires more manual input but allows you to manipulate the data in myriad ways. If you're already a big Excel user, you might be more comfortable with this format, although you will need to take a minute or two every morning — or a few minutes once a week — to update it.



WEDNESDAY, DAY 3: Add up your debt.

All debt isn't equal, but it does have the same bottom line: You owe money to someone else, and they're charging you for the loan. The money you pay them is money you can't use elsewhere. Generally, experts divide debt into two categories:

Good debt, which has relatively low interest rates and which pays for something immeasurably valuable or accruing value. For example, mortgage and student loan debt. Paying off good debt is less urgent than paying off bad.

Bad debt, which has relatively high interest rates and pays for a depreciating asset, like credit card debt or a car loan. You'll want to pay this debt as soon as possible, because it gets more expensive by the day.

One of the hardest things for many people to do with debt is simply to face exactly how much they owe — so we'll get that out of the way today.

Log into your accounts and get the balance for any debt you've been avoiding or has been weighing on you (take note of the minimum monthly payment while you're there). Add it all up, and face the number: This is money to be repaid, and tomorrow, we'll start figuring out how.



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25 books every entrepreneur should read

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mark cubanYou are what you read, and if your goal is to build a massively successful company where you call the shots, you might want to start with the following books.

We spoke with wildly successful entrepreneurs and VCs like Mark Cuban and Peter Thiel and pored over years of interviews with star founders to find the books that every aspiring entrepreneur should read.

Here are their top recommendations.

Bianca Male, Aimee Groth, Richard Feloni, Natalie Walters, and Alison Griswold contributed reporting to this article.

SEE ALSO: 33 business books every professional should read before turning 30

"The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand

Self-made billionaire Mark Cuban tells Business Insider that this book is required reading for every entrepreneur.

It's also a favorite of Charlie O'Donnell, a partner at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures. He says:

I don't know any book that sums up the entrepreneurial passion and spirit better than "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand: "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."

Get it here >>



"The Effective Executive" by Peter Drucker

This is one of the three books that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had his senior managers read for a series of all-day book clubs. Drucker helped popularize now commonplace ideas about management. For example, managers and employees should work toward a common set of goals.

"The Effective Executive" explores the time-management and decision-making habits that best equip an executive to be productive and valuable in an organization.

Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.

Get it here >>



"The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton Christensen

Bezos also had his executives read "The Innovator's Dilemma," one of the all-time most influential business books and a top pick of several other founders and VCs, whose reviews are below.

Steve Blank, a former serial entrepreneur who now teaches at UC Berkeley and other schools, says of the book:

Why do large companies seem and act like dinosaurs? Christensen finally was able to diagnose why and propose solutions. Entrepreneurs should read these books as "how to books" to beat large companies in their own markets.

Chris Dixon, an investor at Andreessen Horowitz and a former cofounder and CEO of Hunch, notes:

"The Innovator's Dilemma" popularized the (often misused) phrase "disruptive technology," but there's a lot more than that one big idea. Great insights into the "dynamics" (changes over time) of markets.

Get it here >>



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Chicken finger nachos are a fried fiesta for the taste buds

A stunning glacier in Iceland shows exactly how much the climate has changed

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iceland glacier lagoon

Jökulsárlón Lagoon in Iceland is one of the most visually arresting spots on earth. The lagoon sits at the base of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. Close to the sea but slightly below sea level, it is filled with huge chunks of ice that keep breaking off the glacier. As these icebergs flow toward the Atlantic, they often wash up on the lagoon's black-sand beach, making for some eye-catching optics.

But while it's a stunning spot, it's also a visual representation of climate change, as visitors can observe the dynamic melting of the Breiðamerkurjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers that feed it. In fact, the lagoon didn't even exist 60 years ago. Below we've gathered some stunning pictures that will make you want to visit Jökulsárlón Lagoon:

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The lagoon is about 200 miles from Reykjavik, within Vatnajökull National Park. The park is also home to Iceland's largest glacier, of the same name.



It's relatively new. Until about 60 years ago, the Vatnajökull glacier covered most of the land in the area.



The glacier started receding around 1948, leaving behind deep gorges that filled with melted glacier water, which ultimately became the lagoon.



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An Australian cafe serves hot chocolate that is poured over cotton candy

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Hash Specialty Coffee in Melbourne, Australia, serves a towering cone of cotton candy in their Hash Hot Chocolate. The "fairy floss" perfectly complements liquid chocolate, which is rich and bittersweet. This hot cocoa isn't just fun; it's one of the most decadent drinks Down Under.

Written by Eloise Kirn and produced by Carl Mueller

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This backpack lets you easily access the stuff inside without taking it off

Bonobos just quietly changed one of the biggest things that set it apart

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Bonobos

When Bonobos hit the e-commerce scene in 2007, it made quite a splash by doing two things a bit differently: pants and returns.

The brand's pants are just as popular as ever. The startup's return policy, though: not so much.

The policy has gone through several different iterations in its nearly 9 years of existence. It started with a policy of "lifetime" returns, which meant that customers could return any item to the e-tailer at any time.

That was changed to a still-extremely-generous 365-day return policy in 2012. A year later, in 2013, it was changed yet again, and the 365-day policy applied only if you were exchanging an item or returning it for store credit. Cash returns were subject to a 90-day policy.

Now, Bonobos has confirmed to Business Insider that the initial 365-day return policy is gone altogether. Exchanges or returns for store credit must be done within 90 days, and cash returns within 45. The new policy is reflected on the startup's website.

Dominique Essig, Chief Experience Officer for Bonobos, told Business Insider:

"We're constantly evolving as a brand and evaluating our policies to ensure they are customer friendly. Based on research and findings, we determined this would be amenable not just to our business but to our customers as well. We're proud to still offer a generous return policy to our customers, one that still is well above the industry standard."

Bonobos' 45 day return and 90 day exchange is still more generous than e-commerce retailers like Net-A-Porter, which offers only 28 days to return an item, and Combatant Gent, which offers 30 days to return and 60 to exchange. Everlane carries a more lenient 90-day return policy, however.

Bonobos

One theory for why the company was forced to change its policy is how much "strategic customers" — customers who take full advantage of generous policies — can cost a company like Bonobos.

In a 2014 Medium post, startup founder Soren Larson wrote that, since Bonobos clothing ships without tags, it was easy to test-drive a piece of clothing, even wearing it out a number of times, before ultimately sending it back to the company and ordering something else at no additional cost.

A sale to a strategic customer is therefore not really a sale, but more of a loan, Larson said. Bonobos made money on the bet that only a small number of its customers will be so strategic.

Bonobos confirmed to Business Insider that no other similar changes are on the horizon. It has raised a total of $128 million in venture capital.

SEE ALSO: Brooks Brothers introduced a more expensive version of its best-known shirt, and fans are loving it

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NOW WATCH: One of America's longtime wardrobe staples could become extinct

An artist paints incredibly detailed portraits on the palm of his hand — and then transfers them to paper

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Russell Powell is an elementary school teacher and artist from California. He paints stunning portraits on his hand using face paint, and then presses it on to a piece of paper. The result is a mirror image of his palm and the painting on it. He calls the process hand-stamping. 

Written and produced by Kristen Griffin

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Peking duck is one of the best things you can eat in Beijing

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Peking duck is a traditional dish in Beijing, China, where it has been served for hundreds of years. The duck is hung upside-down and roasted in a special oven, which makes the skin extra crispy and golden. Once cooked, the duck is sliced up and rolled into thin pancakes. Toppings include hoisin sauce, roasted garlic, cucumber and white onion.

Written by Eloise Kirn and produced by Kristen Griffin

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SEE ALSO: Here's the crazy way people drink wine in Barcelona

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A guy from Indiana built a pretty intense roller coaster in his backyard

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In 2001, John Ivers of Bruceville, Indiana, built a makeshift roller coaster in his backyard.  He named it Blue Flash. It even has a corkscrew. But the most thrilling part may be knowing it's made of farming equipment and old car parts.

Written and produced by Carl Mueller

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