Architecture as Art

24 of the World's Strangest Buildings Don’t you just hate it when the new neighbor decides to go and paint his house in a strange color, or build some unsightly addition to his house? If that’s the case, you can consider yourself lucky; These 24 buildings are strange, I'm finding it hard to decide whether these are acts of genius or stupidity.

House in the Clouds (Thorpeness, Suffolk) Originally built as a water tower, House in the Clouds was converted into a home in 1978, with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

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Mushroom House (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) Built by the architect Terry Brown between 1996 and 2006, this house is one of Cincinnati's most famous landmarks.

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Wat Ananda Metyarama (Singapore) The new wing of the Wat Ananda Metyarama Buddhist temple in Singapore was opened on January 2014.

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Futuroscope (Poitiers, France) The "Born to be Wild" building in the Futuroscope theme park. It contains a screen the size of a tennis court, showing the amazing story of Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas and Dr Daphne Sheldrick as they travel between Kenya and Borneo.

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Lotus Temple (Delhi, India) The main house of worship for members of the Baha'i faith in India. The Baha'i are a religious group that believes in the spiritual unity of all humankind.

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Edificio Torres Blancas (Madrid, Spain) Built in 1968, this is actually one building, designed by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza and meant to display the Spanish avant-garde of the 60's and 70's.

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Nord LB building (Hannover, Germany) The head office of the Norddeutsche Landesbank, built to minimize energy use for cooling, heating and lighting. It features a fantastic main courtyard that is open to the public and contains shops, restaurants and reflecting pools, to name a few.

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Atomium (Brussels, Belgium) Built in 1958, the Atomium building was constructed for the Expo 58 world fair. Each of the 8 spheres are accessible via escalators or lift, and each contains an exhibit hall and public spaces.

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Wonderworks (Orlando, FL, USA) Wonderworks is a company that creates entertainment centers, located in the USA. It contains interactive, educational exhibits, as well as fun games like Laser Tag.

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Nordpark Cable Railway (Innsbruck, Austria) Winner of the World Architecture Festival in 2008, the Nordpark Cable Railway was designed with the flow of ice in mind.

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Infosys Building (Hinjewadi, Pune, India) This is the Infosys headquarters in India, the locals say that the building resembles a descending spacecraft...

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Jockey Club Innovation Tower (Hong Kong) Home of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Innovation Tower was designed to be "a beacon structure symbolizing and driving the development of Hong Kong as a design hub in Asia."

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Esplanade Theater (Singapore) Taking its name from the Esplanade waterfront, the theater also contains a concert hall and serves as the center of performing arts in Singapore.

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Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China) Also known as "The Bird's Nest", the National Stadium was constructer for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It's comprised of 110,000 tons of steel.

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Montreal Biosphère (Canada) The Biosphere is a museum, dedicated to preserving the environment. Between its construction in 1967 and until 1976, the dome had acrylic panels covering the dome, but in 1976, a fire burnt away the panels, but the steel structure survived.

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Hotel Marques De Riscal (Elciego, Spain) The building is made of warped titanium, painted pink, gold and silver, made to remind you of the color of wine and the famous Marques De Riscal wine bottles.

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Air Force Academy Chapel (Colorado, USA) Featuring Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as Jewish chapel and an all-faiths room, it was built in 1962, and is made of 100 identical tetrahedrons, each 75 feet (23 m) long, weighing five tons, and enclosed with clear aluminum panels.

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Kunsthaus (Graz, Austria) Built in a unique "Blob Architecture", this art house is nicknamed by the locals "The Friendly Alien" and is the hub for most contemporary art in Austria.

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Forest Spiral Building (Darmstadt, Germany) This unique residential building contains over 1000 glass windows, yet none are the same. The same goes for all the door and window handles! All wall edges are rounded as the designer was against using straight lines...

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Ryugyong Hotel (Pyongyang, North Korea) This pyramid monstrosity is a hotel with 105 stories. Its construction began in 1987 but was halted in 1992 with the fall of the Soviet Union. Construction resumed in 2008 and the building has yet to have been completed.

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School of Design OCAD Building (Toronto, Canada) The Sharp Centre for Design was completed in 2004. It is designed as a box, four stories off the ground, which are supported by a series of multi-coloured pillars at different angles.

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Gas Natural headquarters (Barcelona, Spain) The new headquarters for the Gas Natural Group is made to look like a series of buildings that mixed together at odd angles.

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The National Library (Minsk, Belarus) Believe it or not, this is a library. Belarus' National Library's new building, completed in 2006, houses the largest collection of Belarussian printed material and 3rd largest collection of Russian writings. It is also the central cultural and information building in the country.

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Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, California, USA) With a parking garage that cost $110 million, the entire project is estimated to have cost upwards of $274 million. The designer, Yasuhisa Toyota, constructed the building to achieve the best possible acoustic conditions.

How to Tell if Your Dog/Cat is Sick

Warning Signs that Your Pet is Sick If you’ve got a pet, you know how much love they give without asking for anything in return. They become family members. More than that, scientific studies consistently show that having a pet keeps you healthier and calmer. However, our animal companions are unable to speak, so they can’t tell us when they’re not feeling well. This is where us owners need to pay attention because our pets do tell us; they just use body language. Cats – Sick in Secret Cats tend to hide when sick, so more often than not owners only realize how sick their cats are when they’re in a serious condition. This does not imply that they are neglectful owners, but rather that their feline friends were hiding their ailment. Here are the top 10 signs your cat might be sick: 1. Bad breath As in humans, bad breath can indicate gingivitis or gum disease in cats. If a cat’s breath smells like ammonia, it could indicate a kidney disease. 2. Change in sleep patterns

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If you have an active cat that suddenly prefers to sleep all the time, it might be trying to tell you it’s sick. The same goes for the opposite situation – your calm, sleepy kitty suddenly patrols the house through all hours of the night, meowing its (and your) head off. Consider taking your cat to the vet for a checkup. 3. Change in behavior When a typically social cat becomes reclusive and antisocial, there’s a good chance it’s sick. When cats feel bad, they want to get away from everyone else. 4. Change in weight If your cat’s losing a lot of weight, it might have a thyroid disease or even cancer. If it’s suddenly gaining weight or its stomach starts growing bigger, it can indicate a slew of ailments. Furthermore, obesity in cats can lead to arthritis and heart diseases. 5. Changes in grooming

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Is your cat suddenly neglecting itself? Is its fur lackluster, dirty or greasy? This can indicate a skin condition, as well as a few other potential illnesses. Alternatively, cats with skin parasites tend to overgroom, which results in bald patches. 6. A change in appetite A significant change in your cat’s appetite, be it voracity or apathy to food, is a warning sign. There are quite a few different diseases that cause overeating, as well as a lack of appetite, so let your vet know as soon as possible. 7. Not using the litter box This is uncommon. Cats do not like to expose their urine and feces, since it can be used by predators. If your cat suddenly starts doing its business around the house, it can be the result of urinary blockage or infection, so a trip to the vet may be paramount. 8. Changes in activity If your middle-aged cat suddenly becomes much more active, it may feel like it got a second wind, but this may also indicate an overactive thyroid. If your happy kitty suddenly seems reluctant to play and move, it might have arthritis or some other issues. 9. Change in vocalizations If your cat’s voice suddenly changes, it could be indicative of a serious problem. If your cat is often quiet and suddenly becomes more vocal, or if your chatty cat suddenly becomes silent, it may require a veterinary intervention. 10. Stressed behavior

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Changing the environment your cat is used to can cause it a great deal of stress. Adding another pet, new noise source (such as renovating), etc. can cause the cat to lose its appetite, hide, or even get depressed. If your cat’s displaying such behaviors, make sure you be as objective and accurate when describing it to your veterinarian. Dogs – Gloomy pooches You may have heard that if your dog’s tail is tucked between its hind legs, it may be sick, and everyone who watched the movie will remember Cujo’s aggression and mindlessness. But a lot of dog owners (and some vets) miss signs of sickness in their dogs.

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1. Runny eyes and/or nose If your dog behaves like it has the flu, it might be suffering from respiratory problems. Other indicators are gasping and struggling to breathe. 2. Difficulty urinating If your dog yelps when it urinates, or if its back is hunched, it can indicate a urinary infection or kidney problems. If you notice blood in your dog’s urine, it’s a significant warning sign. 3. Refusing to eat for more than 24 hours Dogs may refuse to eat from time to time, but they’re generally gluttonous animals, so if your pooch refuses to eat for more than 24 hours, it’s time to call the vet. 4. Itchy and flaky skin The state of your dog’s skin is a good indicator of its health. A dog’s skin should be smooth, and either pink or black. Dogs that display signs of dermatitis and constant itching may be experiencing an allergic reaction, quite possibly to fleabites. 5. Uncharacteristic lethargy

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If your happy dog suddenly has no energy, spending time lying down constantly instead of playing around, it may be feeling unwell. If this behavior persists, take your pet to the vet for a checkup. May also interest you: This Is Why Sitting Down Is Slowly Killing Us... Know the Critical Early Signs of Diabetes! 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease You Should Know 6. Swollen or red gums Especially when combined with bad breath, red and swollen gums are a strong indication of gum disease. In extreme cases, dogs can lose teeth, have a problem chewing, and lose weight because eating hurts them. 7. Excessive drinking or urination Both excessive thirst and constant urination are common indicators of an underlying condition. If combined with any other symptom on this list, head for the veterinarian immediately. 8. Change in weight

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If your dog is losing weight consistently over 2-4 weeks or is slowly losing weight for a prolonged period, it’s often a clear indication of a health problem. 9. Repetitive coughing, gagging, sneezing or vomiting If your dog keeps choking or getting sick when it eats, pay attention. Constant vomiting may indicate an allergy or even worse in older dogs. If your dog keeps coughing, it may be kennel cough, which can become a serious illness. 10. Pushing its head against objects

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If your dog is constantly standing with its head pressing against the wall or other objects in the house, it’s a warning sign for several dangerous head problems. Take it to the vet immediately.

Bedtime Eats - Do's and Dont's

Foods that Help and Foods that Disrupt Sleep

Night time is a very tempting time to eat. We often get little cravings and feel like having a little snack or a small meal between dinner and brushing out teeth. In essence, there is nothing wrong with eating a small something before going to bed, but in so doing, it pays to know what we should and what we shouldn't eat to get a good night's sleep.

Foods that help you sleep: Cherries Cherries are some of the only foods naturally containing the chemical melatonin, which is responsible for configuring our 'internal clock'. A study has found that adults suffering from insomnia and drank cherry juice before bed reported a marked improvement in the quality and length of their sleep time.   Jasmine Rice Although rice has a high glycemic value, the body slowly digests it, slowly releasing glucose into the bloodstream. This prevents a sugar spike that can destroy your sleep. Researchers have found that eating rice a few hours before going to bed lowered the amount of time it takes to fall asleep by half. Enriched Cereals As a rule, carbs are a pretty good food option before going to sleep, but a box of cookies before bed isn't recommended. Instead, try a bowl of cereal with complex carbohydrates. If you make a habit of eating cereal with milk, you're twice the winner, because milk is also considered a food that promotes good sleep. Quinoa, buckwheat and barley are also recommended carbs to eat before going to bed. Bananas Bananas are rich in magnesium and potassium, minerals known to be muscle relaxants. They are also a good source of carbs, which, as we've mentioned, promote a better quality of sleep. If you choose to eat a banana you also earn a few more healthy advantages, such as helping your heart and blood vessels, as well as your cognitive functioning.   Turkey Turkey meat contains an essential amino acid called tryptophan, which is one of the most powerful materials your body uses to get you to sleep. That's why you always feel like napping after eating a good amount of turkey. Sweet Potato Like the banana, the sweet potato also contains carbs combined with potassium that relaxes your muscles. As a food belonging to the orange family, sweet potatoes also contains carotenoids and powerful antioxidants that will promote your general health. Valerian Root Tea The root of the valerian plant has been proven by several studies to be a high-quality sleep promoter, shortening the length of time it takes to fall asleep. You can drink the mixture with chamomile, a plant known to relax the body as well. Important: Only drink chamomile or valerian root tea without caffeine. Foods you should avoid before sleep: Hamburger The large amount of fat found in hamburgers is a known 'sleep killer'. The fat encourages the stomach to pump more acid out, which can cause heartburn. Of course, these heartburns may really get in the way of falling asleep, not to mention the stomach needs to work extra hours to digest this heavy meal, which will also harm the quality of your sleep. Alcohol Although it may put us to sleep faster, all types of alcohol go through a fast metabolic process in our digestive system, causing us to wake up several times during the night, even if we don't remember it the next day. A study has found that women who drank alcohol before going to sleep were up 15 minutes more (in little mini-breaks) in the middle of the night, as well as sleeping 20 minutes less than average. That may not sound like a lot, but the study found that the quality of the sleep is damaged. In addition, alcohol may cause snoring, causing disruptions in your sleep as well as your spouse's.   Coffee I bet you knew this one already. Coffee is meant to wake us up in the morning. It doesn't actually make us more alert, it works as an antagonist to sleep hormones, and so is, of course, one of the worst things you can put in your body in the hours before you go to bed. Of course, people have a radically different reaction to caffeine, and so the length of time you should keep between drinking coffee and going to sleep may change from person to person. Chocolate Other than the vast amounts of sugar, causing your blood sugar levels to spike, chocolate also contains caffeine and is considered a food that keeps you awake. Chocolate also contains a substance called theobromine, which can elevate the heart rate and interfere with our sleep. Spice is not nice Any spicy food will detract from the quality of our sleep. A recent Australian study found that men who consumed tabasco sauce or mustard before sleep had trouble falling asleep as well as experiencing a low quality of sleep. Hot food can also cause heartburn, which, as we've explained, is terrible for a good night's sleep.

Virtual Art Museum - Click to Visit

For Art Lovers - Your Very Own Museum! 

With over 100,000 paintings created by more than 5,000 artists, this site is an art-lover's dream. The paintings are arranged by artist, so click on the one you are interested in and you will be taken to a page with all of his/her works. Enjoy!

Click Here to visit the Museum

How Not to Avoid Germs

When cold and flu season starts, people start acting irrationally out of fear of contracting a virus. People think of all kinds of ways to avoid pathogens. Catching a cold is unpleasant but it's no reason to start adopting behaviors that lack a genuine scientific basis.

1. Wearing Gloves Many people who use public transport or shared bathrooms think that wearing gloves will protect your skin from direct contact with germs. Avoiding heavily used surfaces is a temporary solution. While most bacteria have a more favorable chances of surviving on human skin, a lot of bacteria fare equally well on metal, or fabric. This method also requires diligence as you have to be careful not to touch the area of the glove that came into contact with the bacteria and remove the gloves gingerly.

2. Surgical masks This seems like an extreme step and is probably highly regarded due to medical professions use of them. Masks can reduce germs from being spread, but do practically nothing for intake of germs as they are not 100% airtight and do not seal out all germs. Surgical masks are effective in promoting public health if worn by those who are already ill as they kindly warn others to keep their distance.

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3. Paper towels as temporary gloves This seems like a smart move: in the short term you avoid direct contact with surface germs. However, this method is mostly wasteful of paper towels. The problem is that you’re very likely to come into contact with the germs when you scrunch up the paper and throw it out. On top of this the towel might be more absorbent of germs than your skin. Much like wearing gloves, for this method to work, you have to employ sterile techniques that allow you to not come into contact with the germs.

4. Holding your breath when someone sneezes or coughs This is another myth that somehow became respected. The problem is that when someone coughs or sneezes, it is too late and the fast traveling pathogens are already released into the air. The other reason this doesn’t do any good is because people forget that you don’t have to inhale a virus to be infected by it. The most this method does reduce the exposure to the pathogens directly in front of you. The only real way to avoid exposure is to not breath, and that isn’t an option.

5. Using the back of your hand instead of your palm The idea behind this behavior is less exposure to germs as less skin surface is being exposed. And while there is some truth to this idea as not all skin surfaces are equal, when it comes to bacterial transmission, it’s not very practical for everyday life, when you might need to hold or maneuver an object. Furthermore, the difference when it comes to infectious disease is negligible. An interesting fact is that a fist pump might be a more effective greeting. A study by medical researchers at West Virginia University shows that this form of contact greeting does result in fewer bacteria being spread.

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6. Overusing hand sanitizers Some times excessive removal of germs is actually to your detriment. Your skin has its own bacteria which work at combating invasive bacteria, and when you remove all bacteria you make yourself more vulnerable to infection and prevent the body from naturally fighting disease. Some antibacterial soap breeds antibiotic resistant superbacteria and hand washing can be damaging to the skin, so hand sanitizer can be very useful. However, it is important to know that alcohol-based sanitizers are only as effective as soap and water, not more. An epidemiologist at New York University, Dr. Martin Blaser, shares that instead of trying to kill bacteria, we should be focusing on enriching our environment with more probiotics. Luckily he says that there is a lot of research going into the biology of built environment, with these considerations affecting planning of buildings and cities.

7. Hovering over the toilet seat Recent research suggests squatting is linked to increased longevity; however this doesn’t help your buttocks from being exposed to germs. The problem with toilets is when you flush all the contents become aerosolized so the chances are that the previous person who used the stall has left germs hovering in the air around you. The best advice to minimize this is to put the lid down before flushing. However, your overall chances of catching an illness from the toilet seat are miniscule.

8. Pushing the flush lever with other parts of your body This one requires some dexterity: to avoid direct hand contact with the flush some people take to using their feet or elbows, and some public bathrooms even have automatic movement sensory flush systems. However, despite this creative thinking, when you try this one you still have to contend with aerosolized germs from the previous toilet user. This behavior also causes other problems as you are exposed to the germs when you take off your shoes and you spread germs wherever you walk. Mostly this action is unnecessary because after using the toilet you’re going to wash your hands anyway.

How to really protect your immune system You shouldn’t live in fear of high traffic surfaces, as little risk of catching an infection exists. Medical advice is to safeguard yourself during flu and cold season when the risk is actually real. It’s important to remember that the likelihood of catching a disease is not the mere presence of bacteria or viruses. Many people favor getting the flu shot annually. Outside of flu season there is little use in being reliant on hand sanitizers. What you must do is always wash your hands before handling food and rinse your hands after going to the bathroom. These golden rules apply all year round.  It also helps to avoid people who are sick and to not smoke as this lowers your immune system's effectiveness. Other general tips include not biting your nails or touching your face as these are the main entry points for germs.  Other things you can do to support an effective immune system are habits that are oldies, but goodies: maintain a healthy diet, exercise and get a good night’s sleep.

The 10 most valuable global brands

1.  Apple

Source: money.cnn.com

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• Brand value: $247 billion

Apple (AAPL, Tech30) has surpassed Google since 2014 to become the most valuable brand in the world.

The Apple brand has increased in value by 67% over the past year as the company has continued to promote its products globally, according to an annual ranking by BrandZ.

Apple has performed particularly well in China, where it has been taking market share from competitors such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei.

Plus, the Apple Watch -- the company's first new consumer product in five years -- has created a ton of buzz around the world.

2.  Google

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• Brand value: $174 billion

The value of Google's (GOOGL, Tech30) brand is nothing to sneeze at, up 9% to reach $174 billion.

"Google has done very well; it's just that Apple has done better," said Elspeth Cheung, global valuation director at BrandZ.

The company still dominates the online search market in the Western world and is continually ranked as one of the best employers.

However, Google's brand has also been challenged as the public has raised concerns about the company's privacy policies and tax affairs.

3.  Microsoft

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• Brand value: $116 billion

Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) has long used its Windows software as a cash cow, but things are changing now that new CEO Satya Nadella has taken over, said Cheung.

The company is offering its new Windows 10 as a free upgrade for current Windows 7 and 8.1 users.

Cheung said this move marks a turning point for Microsoft as the company makes its products more easily accessible.

The Microsoft brand is now the third most valuable brand in the world, up from fourth place in 2014.

4.  IBM

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• Brand value: $94 billion

The value of IBM's (IBM, Tech30) brand has declined by 13% over the past year, pushing it down one rank to fourth place.

Cheung said the tech firm's brand has foundered as IBM tries to compete in the cloud computing space against the likes of Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) and Microsoft (MSFT,Tech30).

Lower profitability has also dragged down the overall valuation, she said. In the most recent quarter, IBM reported results that missed Wall Street's expectations.

"We are disappointed in our performance," CEO Ginni Rometty said when the results came out.

5.  Visa

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• Brand value: $92 billion

Visa (V) jumped two spots to become the fifth most valuable brand in the world.

The surge in the credit card company's brand has been "very impressive" as worldwide revenue increased at a healthy pace, said Cheung.

However, she warns that Visa must be aware of encroaching competition, specifically from tech-driven firms like PayPal, which has experienced rapid growth over the past year.

6.  AT&T

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• Brand value: $89 billion

Two top American telecom firms -- AT&T (T, Tech30) and Verizon (VZ, Tech30) -- enjoyed a good year.

AT&T's brand value climbed by 15% to reach $89 billion, leading to its sixth place ranking. Verizon is close behind in seventh place.

Cheung said AT&T is trying to become more of a lifestyle brand for consumers, providing entertainment services in addition to typical telecom offerings.

However, the firm's shares have underperformed the overall market, and the company was kicked out of the Dow Jones industrial average earlier this year. Shares are down about 2% over the past 12 months.

7.  Verizon

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• Brand value: $86 billion

Verizon (VZ, Tech30) has plans to dominate a future in which all content -- from TV channels to publications -- are streamed over the Internet.

That's why the firm recently announced a $4.4 billion deal to buy AOL (AOL, Tech30). The goal is to create a major new player in the digital media business by combining one of the biggest mobile network providers with a leading content producer.

Cheung said she's optimistic about Verizon's future following a stellar year where the brand value surged by 36%.

8.  Coca-Cola

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• Brand value: $84 billion

The Coca-Cola (KO) brand -- which includes all versions of Coca-Cola Light, Diet and Zero -- has been a member of the Top 10 list since BrandZ began its ranking 10 years ago.

However, the value of Coke's brand increased only 4% last year, lagging other top performers. Therefore, it fell in the rankings by two spots.

Cheung said the company simply hasn't seen a lot of growth this year in developed markets and emerging markets, a trend that has has held back the brand.

9.  McDonald's

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• Brand value: $81 billion

The McDonald's (MCD) brand has suffered over the past year with its valuation declining by 5% to $81 billion.

The brand now ranks in ninth place, falling from fifth in 2014.

The fast food chain has seen profits crumble and sales shrink as many consumers opt to eat at competitors like Chipotle (CMG), the burrito chain that McDonald's sold off almost a decade ago.

But McDonald's isn't going down without a fight. It is rejigging its menu and rebranding itself, moving away from its traditional red and yellow color palette in favor of green, said Cheung.

10.  Marlboro

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• Brand value: $80 billion

It may surprise you that the Marlboro brand has been on the Top 10 list since BrandZ began its ranking 10 years ago.

In fact, the Marlboro brand has increased in value by 19% over the past year.

"Even though ... there [are] limitations on what they can do with their marketing campaigns, they are still a very strong brand," said Cheung, noting that advertising bans in countries around the world have kept competitors from challenging Marlboro's dominance.

Marlboro is the largest-selling cigarette brand in the world.