Mark Zuckerberg's $7m house

Zuckerberg's wife Priscilla, and their dog Beast in the kitchen.

Beast caught looking for a snack in the fridge

Another view of the exterior of the house.

The two-floor white wood-sided home is ensconced behind a gated drive and a wall of groomed shrubbery, about three miles (4.8 kilometers) from Stanford University and three miles from Facebook’s Menlo Park headquarters.

A view of the outdoor pool.

Perhaps more astonishing than Mark Zuckerberg refinancing a 1.05% home mortgage rate is the fact that the 40th richest man in the world needed a mortgage at all. After all, why would someone worth over $15 billion need to borrow money to pay off a $7 million home? Well, if you can borrow money at 1.05%, you're basically borrowing money for free, reports Bloomberg. So Zuckerberg would be dumb not to.

A guestroom in the house.

One of the dining rooms.

The five-bedroom, 5-1/2-bath house was built in 1903 on a 9,011 square-foot (837 square-meter) lot.

Zuckerberg's mansion includes an outdoor gazebo with wood-burning fireplace, salt-water swimming pool, spa, and car porch.

Another dining room in the house

The luxurious bathroom.

Another view of the bathroom

Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla in the kitchen.

Zuckerberg's office in the house.

The benefits of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) are that the interest rates can be lower than a fixed-rate loan -- as evidenced by Zuckerberg's 1.05% rate. However, should the housing market unexpectedly heat up, the cost for borrowing money can increase, causing ARM rates to skyrocket. For most borrowers, this can be a problem, as that 1.05% loan can become a 6% or 7% loan. In fact, ARM rates skyrocketing is a frequently-cited reason for foreclosures during the past several years

However, for borrowers who have lots of money, the adjusting interest rate of an ARM poses little risk as the borrower can simply pay off the loan when the interest rate is no longer favorable. For example, if interest rates creep up, Zuckerberg could simply pay off the loan with his cash on hand. While Mark Zuckerberg's mortgage rate may be an example of the rich getting richer, the fact is that Zuckerberg is a near-zero risk to banks. His lenders are assured a return regardless of what the market does. The same can't be said for most every other borrower.

16 Cool Makeup Storage Ideas

We gathered a collection of the most cool and popular ways to store woman’s cosmetics. You’re probably familiar with some of them while others can be new to you. The goal of every solution is to create a space where all makeup will be in order. Among these cool ideas you’ll find makeup placed in specially designed furniture, chests of drawers, baskets, boxes, drawers, tabletop containers and bathroom cabinets. Check them out and find the one that suits you best.

What Is the Best Fruit to Eat for Healthy Skin?

Our skin is our largest organ so, by default, what we eat can be written across our faces, for good or bad. While no single food can supply all the nutrients our skin needs to repair damage, maintain elasticity, produce a healthy glow and produce a clear complexion, a variety of fruits can work well together in a balanced diet to keep our skin tight and supple. Eat plenty of nutritious fruit and minimize your intake of caffeine, alcohol and saturated fats, which can wreak havoc on your skin.

1. Avocados

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     An avocado is one of the best fruits you can eat if you want to have healthy skin. It is the fruit with the highest vitamin E content. One average-sized avocado contains nearly 3 mg of vitamin E. Vitamin E is actually a group of robust antioxidants that are charged with repairing your skin cells from environmental damage. When you consume unhealthy foods and alcohol, they stimulate the production of harmful free radicals in your body. A diet that contains lots of powerful vitamin E (as found in avocados) will keep your skin looking fresh by destroying those free radicals.

   Banana

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     Forget eating an apple per day--the banana is a nutrient powerhouse. It provides complex carbohydrates, healthy proteins and fiber. The best part is that each banana boasts more than 30 mg of magnesium. The proper balance of magnesium in your body counteracts the ill effects of poor circulation. With poor circulation, one's skin can appear pale and dull. With magnesium, it looks rosy. This mineral found in the banana is a must to keep skin firm and young looking.

   Cantaloupe

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     You are what you eat is very appropriate statement with this fruit. Look at its vibrant color, its dewy shine and sweet, earthy taste. Cantaloupe is chock full of vitamin A. One half of a medium melon contains 467 mcg of vitamin A. You mostly will notice how beneficial vitamin A is when you don't get enough. One of the first signs is a dry complexion. When you eat the abundant vitamin A in the cantaloupe, you infuse your body with the ability to maintain healthy tissue of the skin.

   Strawberries

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     Keep your skin supple with lots of vitamin C. Vitamin C is another powerful antioxidant vitamin that fights damage to your skin from environmental toxins, like smoke and wind. When the free radicals invade your cells, they destroy healthy collagen and elastin, which contributes to wrinkles and that loose skin around your neck. Eat strawberries to fuel your body with the ability to repair that skin

     tissue. In one cup, there are 82 mg of vitamin C. That's about 25 percent of your daily needs. Plus the abrasive texture of the skin helps to scrub stains from your teeth. Pearly whites always play a part in making your skin appear healthier.

   Papaya

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     The papaya is one of those rare fruits that is exploding with a wealth of different vitamins. It is high in vitamins A, E, and K. Vitamin K is essential in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to our cells. WIthout oxygen, our cells wither and our extremities loose their natural healthy appearance. It's also full of folate. Folate is vital for skin cell development. Papayas are grown in traditionally tropical locations so maybe a bite of one is a retreat to the beach and that thought does wonders for anyone's skin.

What Chewing Gum is Doing to Your Memory

Chewing gum is considered the world’s most common habit and over 374 trillion sticks of it are made every year.  Many people use chewing gum not only for its flavor, but also to help them relax, concentrate, relieve nervous tensions, enhance memory and mental performance, lose weight and even to speed up recovery after gastrointestinal surgeries. Researchers at the Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, Cardiff University, UK have taken a particular interest in the cognitive effects of chewing gum and in 2009 they published a study stating that gum increases alertness, accuracy and overall intellectual performance but has no effect on memory.  However, according to a follow-up study conducted at the same University, and published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2012), chewing gum may actually impair short-term memory and compromise performance on memory related tasks.

The Effect of Chewing Gum on Memory

In order to assess the precise effects of chewing gum on memory, the researchers asked 40 students to chew gum vigorously and to simultaneously memorize a sequence of randomly combined words and letters in the order that they were heard or seen.  A second group of students were asked to memorize the same word and letter sequences, but they were instructed to chew gum naturally. A third test was also performed, where the students were asked to identify the missing items in a sequence, while chewing gum.  The study found that all three situations resulted in reduced performance on short-term memory related tasks. More specifically, the students experienced forgetfulness and consequently, a greater difficulty in recalling the correct order of the word sequences.

Why Gum is Making You Forgetful

According to Gizmodo, Australia, researchers “suggest that the periodic action that is chewing gets in the way of repetitious cognitive tasks. If you try and memorize a phone number while tapping your finger, you’ll find it much harder than if you’re not tapping — and they suggest the exact same thing is true of chewing. In fact, they (the researchers at Cardiff University) even performed an experiment along those lines, and found that both tapping and chewing gum had similar (compromising) results on short-term memory.”

The results of the most recent Cardiff study, directly contrast three past studies. The first opposing study found that chewing gum results in better spatial recognition memory, as well as improved short-term number recognition and word recognition tasks (Wilkinson et al, 2002).   The other two opposing studies (Baker et al., 2004, and Johnson & Miles) found that chewing gum enhances recall performance of a relatively long list of words.  Some researchers hypothesize that gum enhances memory because the actual process of chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain.  This hypothesis however, does not explain the results of the most recent Cardiff study which found that gum actually increases forgetfulness and compromises memory.

One explanation for the discrepancy in study results may be the flavor of the gum, or lack thereof, used in the studies. According to the Cardiff study authors “The discrepancy between the current study and previous research on the effects of chewing on short term memory could be associated with the absence of flavor in the gum used in the present study. Flavor has previously been suggested as one factor underpinning the beneficial effects of gum.”  It looks like the verdict is still out when it comes to the effects of chewing gum on short-term memory, but if you do choose to chew during an important test, you may want to choose a long-lasting, flavorful variety!

Attractive Beachwear

Many people are heading for the beach to cool off in this hot weather. Over 1.5 million people went to Haeundae in Busan last weekend to beat the heat. If you are planning a beach trip, don’t forget to pack some eye-catching beachwear. Let’s take a look at some stylishitems guaranteed to make you a shining star at the beach.
◇ The cute swimsuit

Many women wear swimsuits not just to water parks but also at the beach. A swimsuit is a hot item to help keep you cool while showing off your figure.
Women usually wear single-color swimsuits, often black or white. A striped swimsuit, however, is a hot item this summer. Black-and-white or navy-and-white striped swimsuits are popular for their marine look. Swimsuits with stripes in a primary color, such as red, can make you look cute and bubbly.

If you feel uncomfortable exposing your chubby belly, a one-piece swimsuit may be your best option. Since bikinis are more common these days, a one-piece swimsuit can make the wearer more noticeable. Tube-top swimsuits are cute and lovely rather than sexy.
◇ Tasteful beachwear tops

Unconventional ethnic dresses are perfect for summer. A long ethnic dress makes you look feminine and elegant, while short baby-doll dresses make you look energetic and fresh. If you wear a swimsuit underneath, it’s convenient because you don’t have to change into a swimsuit before going into the sea.

If you want to show off your cute charm, try a tube-top jump suit. You can also wear a swimsuit underneath it and be ready for the beach at a moment’s notice.

If you are too shy to walk around in just a bikini, wear something on top. Crop-top T-shirts, which are easy to find these days, go well with a bikini. If you don’t have a crop-top T-shirt, you can tie your T-shirt above your waist and expose your belly. This is an effective way to show off your slim waist.

How to look five kilograms lighter

Hot summer weather makes people sweat a lot. It is the time of year for people to hide their surplus fat and expose themselves to help cool down. However, people who have a chubby upper body may hesitate at the thought of exposing their thick arms and love handles.

Wearing short pants and a loose top is a way to draw attention to legs and away from the upper body. Let’s find out what kind of summer styles will make you look like you’ve lost five kilograms.

◇ Straight style makes you look bigger

Koyote’s Shin Ji always wears clothes that make her waistline stand out. She is a little chubby as entertainers go, but she isn’t afraid of the exposure. She chooses clothes that have banding in the chest and complements her voluptuous figure with a vest to make her waist look slimmer.

◇ Wear clothes with a low-cut neckline

V-necks are good for people who have a chubby upper body. This body type usually has a chubby face and neck as well, so a polo shirt with a collar can make them look as if they’re stuffed into their clothes.

Seo Woo, who has a voluptuous figure, usually wears clothing with a plunging neckline. It makes her look slimmer and makes her neckline stand out and look refreshing. Bada and Eugene, former members of girl group SES, are slim, but they have bigger upper bodies, so they usually wear short pants or skirts with simple tops to draw attention to their legs.

◇ See-through lace cardigan look

Thick arms and broad shoulders make women look less feminine. Cardigans are a good way to cover up surplus fat and look slimmer. A see-through lace cardigan can make the wearer look slimmer, and the sheer fabric is a refreshing solution to the real-world heat.

SNSD’s Seohyun wore a lace cardigan to shoot a pictorial for the fashion magazine @Star1. Even though the cardigan has long sleeves, the lace makes it comfortable to wear in the summer.

Actress Shin Min Ah wore a black long-sleeved see-through at a press conference for SBS’s series My Girlfriend is Gumiho. Even though it was hot, her see-through look was sexy and didn’t look warm. The black color also helped slim her appearance. miss A’s Suzy also wore a long-sleeved see-through blouse and showed off her innocent yet sexy charm.

11 Reasons to Control Your TV Watching Habit

In reality, television viewing is always considered to be bad for your health. You cannot accept this fact readily, but watching TV for a long time can put your health at risk. It is accepted that you can gain a lot of knowledge from a few television shows, but still the disadvantages outweigh these benefits with a big margin! TV serves as a medium of entertainment and education for all, but it is associated with a number of physical and mental health problems such as:

1. Increase in the Risk of Heart Diseases: Based on the analysis of the data collected over a period of six years from 8,800 Australian men and women (over age 25 with no history of heart disease), researchers found that every hour of TV watching increased a person's risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 18%, and increased the risk of death from cancer by 9%. This means that people who watched more than four hours of TV had an 80% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease over the 6-year time period as compared to people who watched 2 hours or less each day. The problem normally crops up from a sedentary lifestyle which television offers to you. According to researchers, the human body evolved to move, not sit still for extended periods of time. So sitting in front of a TV or a computer screen for too long poses serious risks to health, and to life.
2. Disruption of Sleep: The light emitted from the television can prove to be too stimulating to our systems. This can reduce the levels of the brain hormone melatonin, which usually increase in the evening as light levels fall. This may effect the body's natural rhythm, keeping you awake longer and results in irregular sleep and extreme fatigue. Reduced levels of melatonin have also been linked to early puberty in girls.
3. Increase in the Risk of Diabetes: When it comes to controlling diabetes, TV watching habit can be included as the risk factor. A 2003 study of women published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the risk of diabetes increases by 14% for every 2 hours of television viewing in a day. Another study conducted in the same year and published in the journal Lipids found that men who watched more than 40 hours of TV per week were 3 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than men who watched TV less than 1 hour weekly. According to researchers, all this increased risk cannot be explained by the increased snacking and reduced activity linked with sitting in front of the television.
4. Increase in the Risk of Obesity: Prolonged watching of television relates to an absence of muscle movement. If your muscles stay inactive for too long, it can disrupt your metabolism leading to weight gain. Additionally, when you are watching TV, you tend to eat more and eat unhealthy foods due to advertising and other food cues on TV. A study compared the television viewing habits of more than 50,000 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study from 1992 to 1998, and found that weight gain increased as TV watching increased. For each two-hour increase in television watching per day, there was a 23% rise in obesity.
5. Development of Attention Deficit Disorder: In the 1970s, a Professor named Werner Halperin suggested that the rapid changes of sounds and images on TV may affect the neurological system of a young child and can cause attention problems. Also, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington Child Health Institute found that 3-year-old child who watches two hours of TV per day is 20% more likely to have attention problems at age 7 than a child who watches no television.
6. Increase in the Risk of Asthma: In the UK, a research studied the TV viewing habits of more than 3,000 children ranging in age from infants to 11 years. The results of the study established that children who spent 2 hours or more watching television per day had twice the risk of suffering from asthma.
7. Greater Chances of Mindless Eating: Studies conducted by the Stanford University of Medicine prove that TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating. You have more chances of eating junk foods while watching TV than in any other activity! It really feels very nice to enjoy burgers, pizzas and French Fries while watching your favorite shows.
8. Negative Effect on the Mental Development: Watching TV for a prolonged period of time has a negative effect on the intellectual development of children. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages TV viewing for kids under 2 and recommends no more than two hours a day for older kids. Prolonged watching of TV can also lead to a deterioration of the mental processing power in case of older people.
9. Increase in the Eye Strain: Watching too much television is bad for your eyes, especially when watching television in a dark room. Focusing your eyes too long on any one object can strain your eyes.
10. Portrayal of Aggressive Behavior: Young children are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior after viewing violent TV shows or movies. As part of a study, researchers examined the data on more than 3,000 3-year-olds and found that children exposed to more television, directly and indirectly (exposed to the television while other people in the home are watching), are at increased risk for exhibiting aggressive behavior.
11. Reduction of Social Interaction: Watching television may replace social interaction with friends and family, depriving children of sharing ideas and feelings with others. This may result various social phobias.

It would be quite difficult for you to control your TV viewing habit. But once you are able to do it, you won't have any repentance. You would want to spend the weekend by relaxing and this might mean sitting on a sofa and watching TV for long hours. Instead, you can go out and spend quality time with your family - a long drive and a family picnic are great options!

The Beautiful and Luxurious Walk-In Closet Designs

Walk-in closet have always been a symbol of luxury. If you are the sort of person who would like to stand back and rub your chin before deciding on what to wear for the day or occasion, these closets would at least give you some ‘room for thought’. In early days, walk-in closet is a literally closet – small space with some shelves and rods, that’s it. Nowadays, due to the customized and personalized request, walk-in closet is becoming bigger and bigger. They are not a dark small rooms with door, they can be really roomy and exquisite. Here, we feature The Beautiful and Luxurious Walk-In Closet Designs we saw around web. Hope you enjoy them.