It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the Levante SUV for Maserati. The brand came back to the US over a decade and and half ago, but since the financial crisis and amid an SUV boom, it's been selling only stylish luxury sedans and sexy GT sports car.

That will all now change, and it couldn't happen at a more important time for the Italian automaker, part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles empire. It's down at the bottom of the luxury sales hierarchy in the US, with a puny 0.1% overall market share (Porsche sells five times as many vehicles annually).

The Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans have their fans (me, for example). But in the US and increasingly China, you really need a strong crossover offering. Porsche established the template for an automaker that had never built an SUV crossing that river in the early 2000s when it created the Cayenne, a hugely successful vehicle.

Now Maserati has taken the same plunge.

We first saw the Levante when it was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and later in the flesh at the New York auto show. Now we've actually spent some time behind the wheel. It was a relatively brief, two-hour run from a working farm and restaurant, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, about an hour north of New York to Bear Mountain, under pleasant Northeastern autumn skies.

This wasn't enough time to fully evaluate the vehicle — we'll get a crack at that later — but we formed some early impressions. And those impressions were good.

Read on:

SEE ALSO: The Levante is Maserati's first SUV — here's what it's like to drive

I arrive at the driving site. It's the rustic Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, home to the well-known and highly regarded Blue Hill restaurant.

The scenery is spectacular. This is a working farm. There are cows and sheep in the fields, a beekeeping area, and lots of farming plots and pastures.

Gorgeous. A fine day to drive an Italian luxury SUV.

Let's cut right to the chase.

I was never a fan of the first-generation Acura NSX. In fact, I could rightly be called a critic of the car, introduced in 1990 and produced until 2005. I thought it was boring. A guy who lived down the street from me in Los Angeles owned one and parked it on front of his house. I never once paused to look at it.

Yes, I know the car was a designed by the legendary Pininfarnia. Didn't matter. I didn't care.

But the NSX had its fans, and plenty of them. So after a hiatus, Honda (Acrua's parent company) completely rethought the NSX and rolled out a second-generation of the car. I saw it for the first time at the 2015 New York auto show. My reaction was "Meh." 

Later, I saw different versions of the new NSX. More meh. Images of the interior began circulating. Meh.

Then Acura kindly let us borrow the NSX for a few days.

Oh. My. God. 

It was almost head-warping how quickly my mind was changed after just a few minutes with the actual NSX, live and in the flesh, sitting behind the wheel, driving the thing. 

It was hypnotically beautiful. It was fast and responsive. It was breathtakingly gorgeous. 

The new NSX flat-out ravished me. I can't remember having such a profoundly rapturous reaction to a car. I could barely speak. Everything I had thought about the car before was wrong, so wrong.

Let's take a closer look at why I was an idiot to ever doubt the new Acura NSX:

Photos by Hollis Johnson.

SEE ALSO: The new Maserati Levante SUV has raised the luxury bar

The NSX landed in New York City during a spell of lousy weather. It didn't matter. Our photographer, the intrepid Hollis Johnson, couldn't stop drooling over the $160,000 car, which wears wet stupendously well.

Hollis was fascinated with how rain beaded elegantly on the luminous, deep-red surface of the NSX.

I thought it looked like something out of "Blade Runner." Really, better than something out of "Blade Runner."

As I sat on a waiting room sofa in the David Lynch Foundation's office in September, it felt like a scene from one of Lynch's surrealist films.

I was waiting for my first Transcendental Meditation lesson.

My teacher Mario Orsatti, a man in his 60s with a penchant for big smiles and unwavering eye contact, took my offering of two apples, a kiwi, and purple irises I'd picked up at a bodega 20 minutes earlier as instructed, and ushered me into a plain, dark room.

In front of an illustration of an Indian guru in an orange robe, sitting cross-legged with a golden aura, Mario handed me one of the irises and began solemnly reciting what I assumed to be a Sanskrit prayer. He proceeded to light candles and arrange the fruit and other items before him.

Hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio had helped popularize Transcendental Meditation (TM) on Wall Street when he proclaimed it "the single biggest influence in his life" a few years ago, but Dalio is widely known for his eccentricities. I wondered if other finance power players, like TM practitioners Third Point manager Dan Loeb and JPMorgan wealth management CEO Barry Sommers, were just following his lead. As for the celebrities who endorsed it — like Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Scorcese, Oprah Winfrey, and Dr. Oz — well, celebrities are often easy prey for this kind of stuff.

I couldn't help but wonder: Was I being inducted into Wall Street's hot new cult?

SEE ALSO: Transcendental Meditation, which Bridgewater's Ray Dalio calls 'the single biggest influence' on his life, is taking over Wall Street

The David Lynch Foundation's New York center is located on the 14th and 15th floors of a building in midtown, Manhattan.

Lynch, the acclaimed director ("Twin Peaks,""Mulholland Drive"), cofounded his foundation in 2005 with the intention of teaching TM for free to disadvantaged students, veterans with PTSD, and victims of domestic abuse.

Through partnerships with middle and high schools in the US, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and shelters, the DLF has taught TM for free to 500,000 people.

Veterans can also take lessons at the DLF office, as one did during one of my trips.

Walmart is dominating Target in one critical area: groceries.

Target's grocery business is about 15% the size of Walmart's, according to Moody's analysts.

That's largely because shoppers fail to see Target as a destination for food, according to Neil Saunders, CEO of the consulting firm Conlumino.

"In essence, we believe Target needs to rip up the grocery rule book and reinvent its rather bland store environment," Saunders wrote in a recent note to clients.

Some analysts think there's no hope for Target in the food business, however, and have suggested that the retailer cut its losses by quitting selling groceries altogether.

We visited a Target store and a nearby Walmart store in Richmond, Virginia, to see how they compare.

SEE ALSO: Kroger has a game-changing new grocery service, and moms are freaking out about it

Walmart's store entrance funnels shoppers right into a giant fresh produce department.

Target's fresh produce department, on the other hand, is at the furthest point of the store from the entrance.

Back at Walmart, refrigerated shelves display a vast array of fresh salad greens, vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Everything around us is becoming connected. As a result, we are seeing shifts in investments and returns. There is already a great demand for network expansion, cyber security and insurance. And generally, the prices of hardware will fall as IoT becomes less of a novelty.

All of this opens up a huge opportunity for everyone to make and save a lot of money. We will invest $6 trillion in IoT between 2015 and 2020, which will yield $12.6 trillion ROI over the next decade. Enterprise will make up the majority of the investment dollars, followed by government and consumer.

BI Intelligence has created a slide deck exploring the most disruptive trends in IoT. To get a more detailed view of the progression, landscape and projections of the Internet of Everything, access the complete slide deck by clicking here.

Some of the topics covered include:

• The market drivers for the IoT.
• Forecasts for the IoT market.
• A breakdown of how many industries are utilizing IoT devices.
• A look at how governments are using the IoT to revolutionize their cities and defense.
• An examination of the smart home and connected car market.
• And much more.

Below are 8 sample slides from the 60-page deck. Want the full deck? Access it here for FREE >>

Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>

Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>

Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>

It's official: Tesla is an energy company.

Shareholders voted in favor of Tesla buying SolarCity in a deal worth about $2 billion on Thursday. The core product being made by the "new Tesla" will be its solar roof product, first unveiled by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Oct. 28.

Musk said it's looking "quite promising" that the solar roof could be cheaper than a normal roof after the shareholder vote on Thursday. He added that the price he is speaking to factors in the cost of labor, as well.

Tesla will offer four types of shingles to match different housing aesthetics in an effort to get homeowners to ditch clunky solar panel add-ons in favor of a beautiful roof. (Although Musk will be quick to add traditional panel installation is still an option if you're not in the new roof market.)

Here's everything we know about the new solar roof product:

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk: Tesla is developing a special kind of glass for its Model 3

Musk installed its new solar roof offerings on houses on Universal Studio's famous backlot, which creates a suburban environment.

The first product offering Musk showed was its textured glass tiles.

See how it shimmers?

There's no question that working in the tech industry, particularly as a software engineer, is a great job with high pay and lots of opportunities.

It's also a job that will stay in demand for many years as software continues to eat the world.

But some companies pay far more than others. To get a feel for which companies are offering top dollar, we cruised the salary reports from job hunting site Glassdoor, looking for the average salary paid across software engineer titles.

The following list only includes companies that had at least 100 salary reports for "software engineer" on Glassdoor, and it only includes companies that pay significantly more than the national average, which is $95,195.

SEE ALSO: 9 tech skills that pay over $120,000 and are in demand

eBay: $113,549

At eBay a software engineer makes on average, $107,021 on base salary. Base salaries ranged from $87,000 for junior positions, to $168,000 for senior positions.

When factoring in bonuses and other comp, average total compensation is $113,549.

Oracle: $116,514

At Oracle, a software engineer makes on average, $113,870 on base salary. Base salaries ranged from $62,000 for junior positions, to $158,000 for senior positions.

When factoring in bonuses and other comp, average total compensation is $116,514.

Microsoft: $116,967

At Microsoft, a Software Development Engineer makes on average, $104,659 on base salary. Base salaries ranged from $73,000 for junior positions, to $152,000 for senior positions.

When factoring in bonuses and other comp, average total compensation is $116,967.

It doesn't matter who you ask — the weekends never seem long enough.

Make the most of those two short days with tips from busy entrepreneurs on what they do during time away from the office.

SEE ALSO: 5 productivity tips you haven't heard a million times before

1.In the summer, I go spear fishing almost every weekend. Get in the ocean, go swimming with a close group of guy friends, and it's my favorite activity."—Sterling Wilson, Pop! Promos, No. 135 on the Inc. 5000

Wilson's multimillion-dollar company stemmed from his love of sports, so naturally the Pop! Promos co-founder and president makes time for athletic pursuits. Studies have shown that physical activity has a plethora of good-for-you benefits like reducing stress and boosting self-esteem — a very important draws for entrepreneurs.

2. "I always, always try to make sure to find time to not work."— Daniel Hermann, Paint Nite, No. 2 on Inc. 5000

An entrepreneur's job is never done, and it's easy to let work creep into your personal time. This is especially true for Hermann, whose painting party business is not your typical office 9 to 5. "I think you think better when you have a balanced approach to your life," he says.

While it's important to take time off to recharge, weekends are also a good time to catch up on those tasks that you never get to in the office. Stewart, founder and CEO of a marketing automation service, uses these slower days to send updates like financial metrics and highlights to investors.

3. "I spend time with my family."— Bill Wade, Company.com, No. 5 on the Inc. 5000

The founder of a social network and resource center for small businesses, Wade's schedule is packed full of work commitments. However, the entrepreneur doesn't let that interrupt time with loved ones. "I've got a great family (I'm married and have four children), and sometimes business has a way of eroding the time we get to spend together," he says. "So weekends are dedicated to getting together."

Every year, the World Economic Forum releases its Global Competitiveness Report on the state of the world's economies.

The WEF looks at data on areas as varied as the soundness of banks to the sophistication of businesses in each country. It then uses the data to compile a picture of the economy of almost every country on earth.

Countries were ranked according to the "12 pillars of competitiveness," which includes macro-economic environment, infrastructure, health and primary education, and labour market efficiency.

We have drilled down into the schooling data to look at which countries have the best education systems. Neither the US or the UK make the grade in the top 11 (3 countries are tied for 9th, making 11 the clearest cut off point.)

Here are the ones that did make the grade:

=9. Japan: 5.6

Japan is one of the top performing countries for literacy, science, and maths in the OECD group. Students go through six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, and three years of high school before deciding whether they want to go to university. High school is not compulsory but enrolment is close to 98%.

=9. Barbados: 5.9

The Barbados government has invested heavily in education, resulting in a literacy rate of 98%, one of the highest in the world. Primary runs from 4 to 11, with secondary 11 to 18. The majority of schools at both levels are state-owned and run.

=9. New Zealand: 5.6

Primary and secondary education in New Zealand runs from aged 5 to aged 19, with school compulsory between 6 and 16. There are three types of secondary schools in New Zealand: state schools educate approximately 85% of students, state-integrated schools — private schools that have been integrated into the state but keep their special charter — educate 12%, and private schools educate 3%.

The INSIDER Summary:

• This is a world where we've seen multiple characters be brought back from the dead. 

WARNING: Spoilers for seasons 1 - 6 ahead.

With a show as tight-lipped about plot details getting out as Game of Thrones is, the wait between seasons can be incredibly frustrating, as you vacillate between wanting to know absolutely nothing, and wanting to look up every single fan theory and potential GoT spoiler you can lay your hands on. Or at least, that's the way it is for me, which is why I've put together a list of 11 former Game of Thrones stars who want to return to the show. It's right in the sweet spot of things I want to know but that don't ruin anything for me, because these aren't characters who definitely will be coming back for Season 7, just actors who would leap at the chance, if it was offered.

Many of them are alive, but some of them are dead as well, but I've included them here because, hey, this is Game of Thrones we're talking about, and death doesn't necessarily mean the end of the line. For one thing, there's always the potential that we could see a character again through flashbacks, like Ned Stark, for example, and actual undead characters like the Night's King, but this is also a world where we've seen multiple characters be brought back from death, like Beric Dondarrion and, most recently, Jon Snow. So it's really anybody's game as far as character resurrection, and here's a list of the actors who are up for it, along with a little wink-wink and a nudge-nudge for co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

1. Pedro Pascal

Pascal played Oberyn Martell on the show, who met his bloody end at the hands — literally — of The Mountain in Season 4, but would do almost anything to come back, telling Vulture in 2015:

"There isn't anything negative I could say about the experience of Game of Thrones. It was ideal in every sense. I would have loved for it to have gone on longer, but I got so much out of the brief time that I was there."

And when the interviewer suggests that perhaps we'll see the Red Viper in one of Bran's flashbacks, he says, "Wouldn't that be wonderful? I would be a leaf on that tree! I don't care! I love those guys." Dare to dream!

2. Miltos Yerolemou

You might remember this English actor as Syrio Forel, Arya Stark's old combat instructor. It seemed as though he was killed in King's Landing in Season 1, but without follow-up, we can't be sure. Especially because when many speculated that the shadow of his character had been spotted during a Season 6 episode, Yerolemou fueled the conspiracy theories with a cryptic tweet.Many took this as confirmation that Syrio Forel is back, but at the very least, it seems to suggest that Miltos Yerolemou is down for a return. After all, what do we say to the God of Death? (Not today!)

3. Thomas Brodie-Sangster

It was a huge bummer when Brodie-Sangster's character Jojen Reed was killed off in Season 4, but no one is more hopeful than the actor himself about a possible return, jokingly telling Good Morning Britainin 2015, "No one knows what goes in that show. It would be fun and I had a great time doing it. It's a fun show to be a part of."

It's well-established by now that the opinions of professional film critics don't necessarily reflect what the people actually want.

Many movies that critics have deemed inferior turn out to be fan favorites in spite of — or perhaps because of — the fact that they aren't artfully made. Goofy comedies like "The Replacements,""Without a Paddle," and "Soul Plane," as well as many B-level horror and action films are as adored by fans as they are abhorred by critics.

Metacritic exclusively provided Business Insider with data about which movies since the year 2000 have most divided critics and regular viewers, looking at titles with high user scores but very low critic averages.

"Metacritic averages the review scores from the top critics to generate our Metascores, and we're also very interested in what our users have to say about the movies they see," Metacritic cofounder Marc Doyle told Business Insider. "At times, the professional critics and the regular moviegoers will disagree — and we're in a great position to highlight those differences."

Check out Metacritic's 50 movies that people love but critics hate, ranked from least divergent critic and user scores to most divergent:

SEE ALSO: The 30 best movie endings of all time, ranked

50. "Soul Plane" (2004)

Critic score:33/100

User score: 8.6/10

Plot summary:After a humiliating and horrific experience on a commercial flight, Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) sues and is awarded a $100 million settlement. Determined to make good with his newfound wealth he decides to create the airline of his dreams.

What critics said: "An hour and a half of real airplane turbulence is better than sitting through the bad, offensive material that makes up 'Soul Plane.'"— The Washington Post

49. "Self/less" (2015)

Critic score: 34/100

User score: 8.8/10

Plot summary: An extremely wealthy man (Ben Kingsley) dying from cancer undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds). But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body’s origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause.

What critics said: "'Self/less' is a celluloid smoothie blended from dozens of familiar elements, but it’s neither tasty nor nutritious."— New York Post

48. "American Outlaws" (2001)

Critic score: 25/100

User score: 7.9/10

Plot summary:When a Midwest town learns that a corrupt railroad baron has captured the deeds to their homesteads without their knowledge, a group of young ranchers join forces to take back what is rightfully theirs.

What critics said: "There's no escaping the hackneyed plot or Mayfield's conventional hand. So don't go."— The Washington Post

Black Friday, the start to the holiday shopping season, takes place in a week.

Stores are already starting to offer deals on TVs, Amazon Echo speakers, Sony PlayStations, iPads, and other electronics that kids of all ages would want to see underneath the Christmas tree.

But the most desirable gadgets this Christmas won't be easy to get.

They probably won't be available in stores, unless you line up in the early hours of the morning.

This season, some of the most interesting electronics — from companies like Nintendo and Apple — will be incredibly hard to buy, in short supply, and will require queueing up, or getting into an Ebay bidding war, or knowing someone who works for Apple.

Here are the three rarest electronics gadgets that you probably won't be able to find this Christmas: 

SEE ALSO: Nintendo just released a brand-new $60 game system — here's what we know

Snapchat Spectacles

Retail price: $129

Ebay price: $600+

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, started to roll out its new face computer earlier this month.

The Spectacles are super fun. They're well-designed, stylish, and because they're so rare, they attract attention. A camera mounted on the sunglasses takes short videos from a first-person view that will certainly get attention on Snapchat. 

They're also very hard to get a hold of. Snap is only selling them through a single vending machine that it moves to a random location every other day. 

The vending machine spits out about 300 pairs per day, we've guessed, so there are perhaps only about 1000 pairs of Spectacles out in the world. 

The vending machine has made appearances in LA and Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

They retail for $129, but you can get a pair on Ebay for about $600 or more.

Apple AirPods

Retail price: $159

Ebay price: Not available

The perfect gift to give alongside a headphone-jack free iPhone 7 will be hard to find this season.

In September, Apple debuted AirPods, a new set of wireless earbuds that pair instantaneously with Apple products and look like an iconic pair of the Apple EarPods with their cords cut off.

They were supposed to go on sale in October, but Apple delayed them, saying that they weren't ready, and hasn't set an official release date for them.

The latest word suggests that mass production will start in December, which means that they might not go on sale before Christmas. Even if they do go on sale, it's a safe assumption that they will be in short supply, so if you want a pair, you'll have to try to buy them as soon as they go on sale or line up outside of an Apple Store. 

Some people already have AirPods — analysts and journalists have them so they can review them, and we've spotted Apple employees rocking them in San Francisco. 

When they do go on sale, they will cost $159 from Apple. There don't seem to be any AirPods for immediate shipping available on Ebay. 

Nintendo NES Classic Edition

Retail price: $60

Ebay price: $200+

A great gift for Nintendo fans is the NES Classic Edition. It might just be a perfect gift for adults who want to replay the classic games they played as children. 

Maybe nostalgia is the reason that people on Ebay are paying $200 or more for the $60 console, which is hard to find. 

The pocket-sized NES is basically a modern computer that does nothing but emulate and look like the original Nintendo Entertainment System, which first launched in 1985. But it plugs in to your flatscreen with HDMI. 

It can play 30 classic NES games, including "Final Fantasy," all three "Super Mario Bros.," and the "Legend of Zelda." It even comes with a cute modern version of the classic NES controller.

When a batch of NES Classics went on sale on Amazon earlier this month, the demand crashed the product page.

If you'd like to get your hands on one at its retail price, online retailers like Walmart and Amazon are announcing occasional supply drops — log on at the appropriate time, usually 5 p.m. ET, get your refresh clicker finger on the ready, and hope you get lucky. 

No caveats, no equivocations: Now is the time. This is the holiday where you finally buy that PlayStation 4 or Xbox One you've been thinking about!

"But aren't these consoles nearly three years old now?" Yes, friend, they are. And that's precisely why now is the right time to buy one.

This is how the video game console market usually works:

• A game console-maker like Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo announces a console, a release date, and a price.
• The console launches at a relatively high price, and that price comes down across the next 5-10 years. 
• As console sales decline, the cycle repeats.

We are at the perfect point in that cycle where console prices have come down dramatically, the hardware has been minorly revised to work optimally, and game developers are putting out their best work.

More directly: We're at the perfect point in the game console cycle where you can buy a system knowing you'll get years of use out of it. Here's why.

SEE ALSO: REVIEW: The new PlayStation 4 Pro is only for three very specific groups of people

The price is right: $300.

When the PlayStation 4 launched in 2013, it cost $400. When the Xbox One launched in 2013, it cost $500. In 2016, both consoles cost the far more reasonable price of $300.

Better yet, that's the price of each console with a major game packed in. In the case of the PlayStation 4, you can snag a free copy of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End"; in the case of the Xbox One, you can snag a free copy of "Gears of War 4."

These are brand new games — both launched in 2016 — and they're both fantastic. Moreover, they're both exclusive to their respective platforms; there's literally nowhere to play "Uncharted 4" other than the PS4. 

The systems are smaller and more efficient than ever before.

Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 got a redesign and re-release in 2016.

The Xbox One above, for instance, is actually called the "Xbox One S" console. It's smaller, prettier, and slightly more capable than its predecessor — the Xbox One S has support for HDR gaming (should you have a TV capable of HDR visuals), and can stream 4K video (not games).

The PlayStation 4 got its own redesign and re-release in 2016. The original PS4 was a parallelogram with sharp corners; the new PS4 is slightly slimmer, and has rounded edges. It's otherwise functionally identical to the original.

This isn't a new concept in the world of game hardware; every PlayStation since the original has gotten redesigned in the middle of the cycle. Microsoft's second console, the Xbox 360, was redesigned twice. This enables console makers to re-boot sales of their system while simultaneously bringing down the manufacturing cost of their hardware. It's a win-win: Consumers get a new, less expensive console to buy, and console makers enjoy renewed sales numbers.

There are dozens of incredible games on both consoles.

After three years, the Xbox One and PlayStation are now jam-packed with great games. From "Forza Horizon 3" on Xbox One to "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" on PlayStation 4, each console has its fair share of big "exclusive" games. 

Even better: Most of the best games are on both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, so you're not missing out if you only have one.

Incredible games like "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain" and "Fallout 4" are identical on both platforms, as are new classics like "Titanfall 2" and "DOOM." Better still: Many of these games are massively discounted at this point (and especially so during the holiday shopping season). There literally aren't enough hours to play all of the amazing games available on both of these consoles; you're far more limited by your own lifespan than by cost at this point. 

Work can be taxing for everyone, and we all occasionally feel weary after a long day at the office.

But if your life is a chronic state of stress and exhaustion thanks to work, you're probably suffering fromjob burnout.

Sometimes it's hard to notice when the physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion from work is taking its toll, but with the help of burnout specialist Ben Fanning and medical experts, we're able to identify some warning signs.

By taking note of these common signs workers exhibit when they're burnt out at work, you can take steps to avoid burnout entirely in your current role or reignite your career, Fanning says.

DON'T MISS: 14 TED Talks to watch when you're feeling totally burned out

SEE ALSO: 16 signs it's time to quit your job

Feeling depleted after work

Consistently lacking the energy after work to do regular things like cook, go to the gym, or spend time with your family is not a good sign.

Disregarding how you treat coworkers or customers

If you're planning to quit or you're just sick of dealing with the same people every day, it may be reflected in how you treat your coworkers.

Constantly being asked about your feelings

Do your coworkers often approach you because they're worried that you're struggling or down on yourself? This is a signal that others are picking up on your misery.

The INSIDER Summary:

• The William Beekman mansion had been abandoned for 50 years before Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge took it over.
• They filled the mansion with custom-made furniture and antiques.

The Beekman Mansion

Josh Kilmer-Purcell and husband Brent Ridge live in this 19th-Century mansion and farm. The 5,000-square-foot Georgian-Palladian residence was built by a local judge, William Beekman, in 1802. Although the structure is made of brick, it was covered in clapboard following the style of that time. “We fell in love with it because it was so beautiful,” says Ridge. “Initially we thought it was going to be our weekend getaway.”

Winter Wonderland

The residence, seen here from the back, was renovated by its previous owners, who installed plumbing, electricity, and other modern necessities. Before that, it had been abandoned for 50 years.

The Beekman Boys

A sign right outside the historic property names its original owner. “Everybody knows this house," says Ridge. "It’s one of the most prominent residences in Schoharie County, and it wasn’t long before locals started referring to us as 'the boys who bought the Beekman.'"

Most anything can be overcome with a good, well thought out, reasonable plan.

But if you can’t think of anything good, just be like these guys and do something crazy. You’ll at least get a good story out of it.

SEE ALSO: China says its aircraft carrier is combat-ready — here's how it stacks up to other world powers'

The US Coast Guard’s predecessor saved hundreds of sailors by herding reindeer to them

When eight whaling ships and 265 sailors were trapped by early Arctic ice in 1897, President William McKinley asked the Revenue Cutter Service if they had any way to get supplies to the ships.

The RCS, a predecessor to the Coast Guard, responded by forming a unit of volunteers who traveled 1,600 miles from December 1897 to March 1898, buying reindeer along the way and herding them to Alaska where the sailors were trapped.

They arrived with 382 reindeer just in time for most of the survivors. Three people died of starvation, but the rest were rescued during the spring thaw.

Army PSYOPS troops pretended they were vampires

American psychological operations soldiers were sent to the Philippines in 1950 to help destroy a Communist rebellion in the country.

When the commander learned that the local fighters were superstitious and believed in a shape-shifting vampire known as the “asuang,” he came up with a Scooby Doo-esque plan.

First, he had friendly locals spread a rumor that an asuang was living in the hills. Then, the Americans and their allies set up an ambush in the hills, waited for the last man in a patrol to pass them, and abducted him.

They poked two holes in his neck, drained him of his blood, and put his body back on the trail. The rebels bought the ruse and fled the area, allowing government forces to reclaim it.

Four Royal Marines rode Apaches into a Taliban fort

Long story short, a British attack on the Taliban base of Jugroom Fort went bad quickly, and British forces quickly withdrew. But, they accidentally left wounded Royal Marine Lance Cpl. Mathew Ford behind. With the Taliban in the fort already on high alert, a daring plan was needed to recover him.

So, some Royal Marines volunteered to strap themselves to the outside of two Apaches, ride into the fort, recover Ford, and ride back out. The daring plan worked, but Ford had unfortunately been rendered brain dead at the time of injury.

What's next on the agenda for US President Barack Obama once he leaves the White House in January?

Well, if he follows in the footsteps of the six presidents on this list, it will probably involve writing a book or two.

No matter what, there might be some lucrative book deals awaiting Obama, who's already authored "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," according to a report from the New York Times.

Before the 44th president's potential tell-all hits shelves, check out these books by former presidents.

Amazon Books senior editor Adrian Liang created this list of the best books written by US presidents once they've left the White House.

Here are her picks, listed in reverse chronological order, with descriptions in her own words:

SEE ALSO: 15 fascinating political biographies to take you through the election and beyond

DON'T MISS: 9 fascinating books about the greatest friendships in politics

'Through the Brazilian Wilderness' by Theodore Roosevelt

"While modern presidents start centers for charity and giving, this former president decided to explore the darkest corners of the world. Read Roosevelt's own story about exploring the River of Doubt in the Amazon, and then read Candice Millard's 'River of Doubt,' which covers much of the same territory but underlines as well the enchantment Roosevelt wove over the people who met him — a charismatic leader who could woo you or inspire passionate hatred."

BUY IT HERE »

'Decision Points' by George W. Bush

"The 43rd president reveals the inner workings of his presidency during the 9/11 attacks, the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and more. Even those who don't like W's decisions tend to like this book because it's readable and avoids being long-winded."

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'41: A Portrait of My Father' by George W. Bush

"Who better to write the biography of the first George Bush to become president than his son, the second George Bush to become president?"

BUY IT HERE »

There are millions of miles of roads in the world.

While some offer no more than a dreary commute, others provide incredible views.

From an oceanside cruise in Hawaii to treacherous hairpin turns in the Swiss Alps, these roads prove that sometimes the journey really is the destination.

An earlier version of this post was written by Jill Comoletti and Maggie Zhang.

Milford Road, New Zealand

The Milford Road winds for 144 miles through Fiordland National Park, in the heart of the Southern Alps. The road also connects to Milford Sound, one of the filming locations for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Atlantic Road, Norway

Norway's Atlantic Road stretches across seven bridges and offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. If you drive in calmer weather, you might even see whales and seals.

Overseas Highway, Florida

The Overseas Highway connects mainland Florida to the Florida Keys and consists of 42 overseas bridges across 113 miles. You'll feel like you're driving on the surface of the ocean. Sunrise or a sunset drives are ideal, as the sun casts a spectacular reflection on the water.

If you have a Prime membership, it's pretty easy to default to buying everything you need on Amazon.

Need a book? A pair of headphones? A T-shirt? Is it time to restock on the shampoo you're down to the final ounce of? Most of those things are easy to find on Amazon.

And for the most part, you can expect to find pretty good deals on many of the household essentials and day-to-day items that you find yourself searching for on Amazon. 

But there are at least a few things that you shouldn't buy on Amazon, like clothing, pet food, and school supplies, because you're unlikely to actually find good deals on those items. Does the same logic hold true for tech purchases, too?

It turns out that there are a few gadgets and categories of electronics that you're better off shopping for somewhere other than Amazon. If you've read any of our shopping guides before, you've probably caught on to our tendency to recommend that you do copious amounts of research before committing to any expensive electronics purchase.

That's no less important if you're shopping on Amazon. In fact, it may be even more important to research what you're getting on Amazon, since there are plenty of tech products that probably aren't as good of a deal as Amazon would have you believe.

If you're looking to save money (and avoid buying gadgets that won't work as advertised), you should steer clear of a few tech products on everybody's favorite online shopping platform. Read on to check out the electronics and accessories that we'd recommend skipping on your next Amazon shopping spree.

SEE ALSO: 4 times paying off your mortgage early could actually cost you extra

DON'T MISS: The 10 colleges with the most billionaire alumni

1. Apple chargers and cables

Ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac that more than 90% of Apple chargers and cables labeled as "genuine" on Amazon are actually fake. It's not just products sold by third-party sellers that are fake — even those sold by Amazon directly are counterfeit items labeled as the real thing.

The manufacturers behind these fake chargers and cables are not only deceiving consumers, but are providing accessories that may not have passed necessary safety tests.

Apple offers a support page to help consumers tell the difference between authentic cables and counterfeit ones. But in the future, it's probably better to avoid shopping for Apple cables and chargers on Amazon.

2. Batteries

Batteries are a pretty important part of many gadgets, but you typically shouldn't buy them on Amazon. If you're buying standard-size batteries, like AA or AAA, they'll be cheaper at your local Costco or Sam's Club than on Amazon.

That's probably reason enough not to buy batteries on Amazon. But if you need another reason, How-To Geek reports that cheap third-party batteries for smartphones or laptops aren't worth the savings.

Poorly manufactured batteries can catch fire or explode, which would not only damage the device in question, but could hurt you and your family or even damage your house or your car. Third-party batteries and counterfeit batteries purchased on Amazon are likely produced as cheaply as possible. So you should skip the aftermarket battery and choose an official model when it comes time to replace the battery in your phone or laptop.

3. Counterfeit gadgets

Few people take to Amazon to purposefully buy a counterfeit product, but as How-To Geek reports, counterfeit products are all too prevalent on the platform. Even products that are "fulfilled by Amazon" come from third-party sellers, which means that Amazon hasn't vetted the product.

CNBC's Ari Levy reports that Amazon's "counterfeiting issue has exploded" at a time when more than 40% of Amazon's unit sales come through its third-party marketplace.

"Much of the expansion has occurred since Amazon started opening the floodgates to Chinese manufacturers," Levy reports.

Counterfeit chargers and batteries aren't the only things you need to worry about. Counterfeit phones and computers exist too, and How-To Geek recommends avoiding Amazon listings that are sold by third-party sellers. Check reviews for red flags and claims of counterfeit products, and keep an eye out for positive reviews that seem fake.

J. Crew is struggling to grow sales, as the brand attempts to reinvent itself once again. 

The retailer has had a difficultfew years. 

In August, the company announced sales declined 4% in the most recent quarter to $569.8 million. Sales at stores open at least a year dropped 8%, following a decrease of 11% in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, fast-fashion retailers such as Zara and H&M have exploded in popularity in recent years. 

So, J. Crew is trying to make changes. In November, the retailer axed its popular bridal line.A month earlier, J. Crew launched an athleisure line with New Balance. 

In an effort to see what these changes actually mean for shoppers, Business Insider visited a J. Crew location in Manhattan. The shopping trip revealed some of the biggest problems at the retailer — and how J. Crew is failing to fix them. 

SEE ALSO: J. Crew is trying to make changes.

Even from the outside, J. Crew's window display hints at a retailer looking for a savior — in this case, its new athleisure line.

Inside, there's evidence that changes haven't helped sales all that much yet, with major discounts.

The discounts makes a lot of sense when you realize how expensive J. Crew is compared to its competition, thanks in part to the growth of fast-fashion.