Blue Apron has been decimated since going public in June, losing 35% of its value thanks to a direct assault from Amazon and troubling customer-retention issues. 

The company, which was courting an IPO price of as much as $17 a share for a valuation of $3 billion in early June, has lost more than half of its value since then.

Blue Apron closed at $6.65 per share Wednesday for a market valuation of $1.32 billion. 

That doesn't mean investing in Blue Apron has been a disaster for all of its backers, though. Three venture capital backers have still made gobs of money. Investors who put money into the company later down the road have lost out, in contrast. 

Winners

Blue Apron's three early VC backers have still made a killing on the investment.

Business Insider estimated the returns of Blue Apron's largest backers, based on figures from the meal-kit company's IPO prospectus and ownership statements its largest investors' are required to file with the SEC.

Bessemer Venture Partners, which first funded Blue Apron in 2013 and has reupped at each funding round since, is the largest outside shareholder, with a nearly 23% stake. It's made $215 million, a roughly 800% return on the $26.7 million it has invested, according to Business Insider's calculations. 

First Round Capital is up $98.7 million on its $7.6 million investment, a 1,398% gain, while Stripes Group is up a more modest $29.4 million on a $36.7 million investment for an 80% return.

Bessemer, First Round, and Stripes Group did not respond to requests for comment. 

Losers

Fidelity, another big Blue Apron backer, has gotten slammed on its investment so far. The institutional investor, which manages trillions in capital for pensions and retirement accounts of millions of Americans, first bought into Blue Apron during its Series D round in 2015, throwing down $125 million and helping the food delivery startup earn its "unicorn" status with a $2 billion valuation. 

Fidelity followed in May 2017 — just prior to the public offering — by purchasing $63.5 million in convertible notes, which converted into some 6.9 million shares at the IPO, according to the filings. 

In all, Fidelity is down $80.2 million on the $188.5 million it has invested.

Of course, Fidelity is a long-term investor, and its holding in Blue Apron is a tiny portion of its holdings, especially compared with venture investors. Even if Blue Apron never recovers, Fidelity won't feel much of an impact. 

"As a general practice we don’t comment on specific holdings. That said, our portfolio managers look to invest in companies that they believe are good long-term opportunities for shareholders," Fidelity spokesman Jeff Cathie told Business Insider in an email.

Cathie continued (emphasis added):

"Private investments are very small positions in the relatively few Fidelity funds that make such investments. For example, as of its most recently disclosed holdings (May 31, 2017), the Fidelity OTC Portfolio’s investment in Blue Apron represented 0.089% of the fund’s approximately $15 billion in asset under management. And by-the-way, this fund is significantly beating its benchmark (the Nasdaq Composite) and 100% of its Morningstar peers on a 1-, 3- and 5-year basis."

And of course, investors who bought in at the IPO and still hold the shares have taken a paper loss of more than 30% in a matter of weeks. 

That's the point

This is sort of the whole point of VC investing: Get in very early on a number of promising investments when the risk is outsized, and then get paid out exponentially for taking that risk when one of those investments hits.

Although these funds are up on this investment, they stood to make as much as 2.5 times more when Blue Apron first filed for its IPO. Bessemer's $215 million return looks fantastic, but the firm, which manages $4.5 billion in assets, was up more than $500 million a couple months ago. 

And the VCs could be taking losses on the rest of their bets, so it doesn't guarantee the fund is thriving overall. 

Since none of these firms have sold their stakes yet, these returns are still "paper" only and could change significantly by the time the funds exit.

Here's a detailed breakdown of how each firm's investment has fared so far, based on the SEC documents:

Note: Figures are rounded. Calculations use the stock price as of market close July 19 — $6.65 a share. 

Bessemer Venture Partners return: $215 million (+800%)

Investments

Series A preferred stock: 295,546 shares for $5.84 million
Series B preferred stock: 350,153 shares for $3.9 million 
Series C preferred stock: 725,528 shares for $12.1 million
Series D preferred stock: 375,181 shares for $5 million

Shares after IPO conversion: 36.29 millio

Return

Total invested: $26.7 million

Value of stake as of July 19: $241 million
Return: $215 million (804%)

Note — Preferred stock converts to common stock as follows:

• Series A on a 50-for-1 basis

• Series B on a 50-for-1 basis

• Series C on a 5-for-1 basis

• Series D on a 1-for-1 basis

First Round Capital return: $98.7 million (+1,398%)

Investments

Series A preferred stock: 199,323 shares for $1.1 million
Series B preferred stock: 87,538 shares for $961,491
Series C preferred stock: 326,325 shares for $5.5 million
Series D preferred stock: 7,504 shares for $100,000

Total shares after IPO conversion: 15.98 million

Return

Total invested: $7.6 million

Value of stake as of July 19: $106.3 million
Return: $98.7 million (1,398%)

Stripes Group return: $29.4 million (+80%)

Investments

Series A preferred stock: 1,801 shares for $180,100
Series B preferred stock: N/A
Series C preferred stock: 1,894,370 shares for $31.56 million
Series D preferred stock: 375,181 shares for $5 million

Total shares after IPO conversion: 9.94 million

Return

Total invested: $36.74 million
Value of stake as of July 19: $66.1 million
Return: $29.4 million (80%)

In much of the USA, school's out for the summer and vacation plans are in full swing.

With gas prices still at low levels, Americans are going to be taking to the road for trips both short and long.

That means getting the car in shape for the rigors of travel.

Here are some tips that will make your summer roadtrip a breeze:

SEE ALSO: VW used a simple technology to solve the problem of dirty backup cameras

Oil change time.

I usually change my oil twice a year, in the spring and fall, but summer is always a good time to check your oil levels and get some fresh quarts in there for maximum hot weather, long-range engine protection.

And, thanks to an extensive AAA study, we now know that synthetic oil, although more expensive than the old-fashioned stuff, is the best bet.

Evaluate your tires.

Oil changes are always a good excuse to take a close look at your tires. They may be rated for 40,000 miles, but wear can vary, especially if you haven't rotated them on schedule.

You're mainly checking out tread wear — a good rule of thumb is that if the tread even seems worn down, to the point where you wonder whether adequate traction will be provided, then zip by your mechanic for a quick evaluation.

And while you're at it, have your mechanic examine your brakes pads, rotors, and/or drums for an indication that you need to replace some or all of these components.

Lubricants and other fluids don't want to be neglected.

Your car has other liquids besides oil and wiper fluid that need to be checked out. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant — all need an occasional gander.

And don't neglect the lube. Yep, doors, liftgates, and so on all need a bit of grease to operate smoothly and quietly.

Atlantic City was once New Jersey's largest tourist attraction. As the first city to provide gambling outside of Nevada, it provided those on the East Coast a place to vacation on the beach and gamble. 

But the city has seen hard times these past few years; five of the city's 12 casinos closed between 2013 and 2016, and Atlantic City's unemployment rate is 6.3% (well above the national rate of 4%).

Just this May, the Trump Taj Mahal — which originally opened in 1990 — sold for four cents on the dollar. While its buyer, Hard Rock International, has plans to renovate the casino and hotel, it might not be worth the $375 million investment given a report that was recently released by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Agency.

The report warned of the possibility of an "extreme" sea-level-rise scenario that could cause chronic flooding and have some coastal cities completely disappear underwater by 2100. One of the most at-risk cities, according to the report, is Atlantic City.  

SEE ALSO: The Atlantic City casino Trump built for $1.2 billion is having a liquidation sale — here's everything up for grabs

Atlantic City's true heyday was in the early 1960s, when traveling cross-country was not economical for most families.

Even before gambling was legal in the area, the city served as the East Coast's go-to beach destination. Now, even on a 90-degree day, the beaches can feel eerily empty.

Opening its doors in the summer of 1978, the Resorts International Casino was the first casino to open in Atlantic City. It was the first time gambling was legal outside of Nevada, and it was a bold attempt to bring more tourists to the area.

Americans have racked up $1.01 trillion in revolving debt — primarily credit card debt — according to the Federal Reserve. That's the highest tally since the financial crisis in 2008. 

The credit card is now the preferred method of payment among Americans, edging out debit cards and cash, according to the 2016 US Payment Study by payment processing company Total Systems Services, or TSYS.

It's the first time credit cards claimed the top spot in the six years TSYS has been conducting the study, which surveys 1,000 consumers who hold at least one debt card and one credit card (you can read more about their methodology on page four of the study).

Why have credit cards grown more popular? The study offers some insights as to why: 

Forty percent of respondents from the TSYS study picked credit cards as their favorite form of payment, followed by debit cards (35%), and cash (11%). Credit cards have been gaining on debit cards for several years now.

TSYS found that credit cards aren't universally loved, currying the most favor from older millennials.

Credit card love also skewed toward high-income households. The more money a household earns, the more they prefer credit cards.

When humans finally outstay their time on Earth, we're going to need a plan B.

In the 1970s, physicists from Princeton University, the NASA Ames Research Center, and Stanford University imagined what this future home might look like. 

They created these artistic renderings of massive orbiting spaceships for life after Earth in the unfortunate case that our planet is destroyed.

As you will see, the designs unearthed by The Public Domain Review are pretty strange.

SEE ALSO: There's a compelling reason scientists think we've never found aliens, and it suggests humans are already going extinct

In the '70s, the scientists expected that people could travel to the first space colony by 2060. They designed three different types that would orbit the sun.

The first design is this donut-shaped spaceship that houses about 10,000 people.

The colony is full of homes, shrubbery, and sidewalks. A river flows through the center of the entire ship, which is only a half-mile wide.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. According to Forbes, the former WWE star made $65 million per year, beating out the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and his "Fast and Furious" co-star Vin Diesel.

One of the hardest working people in show business, Johnson stars in movies like "Moana" and "San Andreas" and TV shows like HBO's "Ballers," returning for season three on Sunday. He also runs his own production company and does product endorsements.

With custom cars and extensive charity work, the actor knows how to enjoy himself and spend his hard-earned cash. Here's how The Rock spends his millions.

Forbes named Johnson one of the world's highest-paid actor for 2017 with a whopping $65 million last year.

Source: Forbes

The movie star made a name for himself on TV with HBO's "Ballers," which is starting its third season.

Johnson is a box-office juggernaut who commands huge pay days for films.

A few recent hits include:

"The Fate of the Furious" (2017):$1.2 billion
"Moana" (2016): $643 million
"San Andreas" (2015): $474 million

Zillow, a leading real estate and rental marketplace, has put out a list of the top housing markets still showing scars from the housing crash.

"Roughly half of American wealth is held in home equity," wrote Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell in a press release. "Paying off the home mortgage is a key step toward retirement for most Americans, and it's clear from these results that Generation X is further from that goal than older generations because of the Great Recession.

The rankings are based on Zillow's home equity research of more than 50 million homeowners with a mortgage.

Here's the list of the cities still showing scars from the housing crash, ranked by percent of homes in negative equity:

13. Riverside, CA

Percent of Homes in Negative Equity, 2017 Q1: 10.1%

Loan-to-Value Ratio, All Mortgaged Homeowners: 62.4

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Gen X Homeowners: 68.4

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Millennial Homeowners: 71.2

Source: Zillow

12. Phoenix, AZ

Percent of Homes in Negative Equity, 2017 Q1: 10.6%

Loan-to-Value Ratio, All Mortgaged Homeowners: 65.8

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Gen X Homeowners: 72.2

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Millennial Homeowners: 73.8

Source: Zillow

11. Detroit, MI

Percent of Homes in Negative Equity, 2017 Q1: 11.4%

Loan-to-Value Ratio, All Mortgaged Homeowners: 60.5

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Gen X Homeowners: 67.1

Loan-to-Value Ratio, Mortgaged Millennial Homeowners: 65.3

Source: Zillow

Move over Chick-fil-A — there are some new chicks on the block. 

Zaxby's and Raising Cane's are two of the fastest growing chains in the entire restaurant industry. Zaxby's grew 13.3% in 2016, reaching $1.6 billion in annual sales and earning the 8th spot in Nation's Restaurant New's list of fastest growing chains. Raising Cane's took the No. 1 spot, increased sales by a whopping 25.9% in 2016 to reach $640.5 million. 

Both chains are children of the '90s — millennial chains, if you will, with Zaxby's opening in 1990 and Raising Cane's opening in 1996. Now they're giving the rulers of the roost, like KFC, Chick-fil-A, and Popeyes, a run for their money. 

Intrigued about this upstart ingénues, Business Insider ventured south of the Mason-Dixon to see what the hype is around these Southern cult favorites. 

SEE ALSO: We visited the fastest-growing restaurant chain in America — and what we discovered should terrify KFC and Chick-fil-A

Arriving at the Raising Cane's in Charlottesville, Virginia, on a sweltering and sunny June day we were hungry for the truth.

The first thing we noticed — a surprisingly minimalist menu. In contrast to much of the chicken community, Raising Cane's boasts just four options, plus a kids combo.

There's just two questions at Raising Cane's: How many chicken fingers do you want, and how do you want 'em?

Many people believe that traveling is extremely expensive, and while this may be true if you're expecting five-star hotels and luxury cruises, on the whole it's a misconception.

There are countries all over the world where, thanks to the low cost of living and (in some cases) strong U.S. dollar, it's possible to get around on a very low budget.

Traveling on the cheap is certainly not for everyone and it often means making a few sacrifices, but choosing the right place to visit is half the battle. Here are seven countries where you can travel on $30 a day or less. 

Unless otherwise stated, all figures quoted are referenced from numbeo.com, the largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide.

SEE ALSO: Visitors threw $1.5 million into Rome's Trevi Fountain last year — here's where all those coins go

DON'T MISS: The 17 best places in Europe to visit this summer that don't cost a fortune

1. Thailand

Nicknamed "The Land of Smiles" thanks to its welcoming and friendly reputation, Thailand is the original backpacker's paradise. Its mix of stunning tropical islands, bustling cities, mouthwatering food, and vibrant night life has seen its popularity explode in recent decades. Despite this huge growth in visitor numbers, Thailand's prices have remained extremely low and it's still one of the cheapest countries to visit in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Hostel dorm beds are available for as little as $1.47 per night. While I was there in 2014 I found private double rooms for just $7 a night. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost $1.77, and a pint of domestic beer costs the same.

Top money saving tip: Take advantage of the amazing street food in Thailand. It's famous for being some of the best in the world and is also some of the cheapest, with some meals costing as little as $1. (See also: How to Eat Street Food Safely While Traveling)

2. Bolivia

Bolivia is often overlooked as a travel destination in favor of more illustrious South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. That's a real shame, because this diverse country shares some of the most impressive landscapes on the continent with them, accessible at a far cheaper price. Sections of the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Rainforest, and Lake Titicaca all lie within its borders, as well as its crowning jewel, the Salar de Uyuni — the world's largest salt flat.

Hostel rooms are available for as little as $6 per night. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost $3.50, and a pint of domestic beer can be as cheap as $2.10.

Top money saving tip: Eat lunch at local markets where two-course specials are available at rock-bottom prices. (See also: 4 Secrets to Eating Great Food for Cheap While Traveling)

3. China

China is a country of massive contrasts. Ancient history meets cutting edge modernity, small cities house millions of inhabitants, and landscapes range from arid deserts to the freezing "ice city" of Harbin. With its vast size and population of over 1.3 billion people, it's a fascinating country with so much to explore that it can be overwhelming.

But China is also very affordable for travelers from the U.S. and other nations with strong currencies.

Hostel dorm rooms are available for as little as $2.93 per night. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost $2.95, and domestic beer can be as cheap as (0.5 liter draft) 89 cents.

In my experience in small-town China, you can buy large beers at the grocery store for as little as 30 cents and bring them into almost any restaurant, no questions asked. Sometimes the staff will even keep them in their refrigerator and open them for you.

Top money saving tip: Spend less time in the big cities where costs, particularly for accommodation, are higher. (See also: 5 Amazing Travel Destinations You Thought Were Unaffordable)

In February, Johnny Depp's former business managers alleged that the actor is living an extravagant $2 million (£1.5 million) a month lifestyle, complete with 14 houses, 70 guitars, and an enormous appetite for wine.

Now, new details have been released to The Hollywood Reporter about Depp's credit card expenses after The Man del Company (TMG) were told by the court to "reframe their arguments about the actor's spending."

The battle began after Depp launched a $25 million lawsuit earlier this year against TMG, claiming "gross mismanagement" of his affairs.

He said the company failed to properly pay his taxes on his behalf, made unauthorised loans, and overpaid for "security and other services," costing him "tens of millions of dollars" and leading to financial trouble, of which he claims to have only become aware of in March of last year.

The first cross-complaint, filed in February, stated that TMG "did everything within its power over the last 17 years to protect Depp from himself and to keep Depp financially solvent" but that TMG "did not have the power or ability to control Depp’s spending or his numerous other vices, or to force Depp to make wiser financial decisions."

The latest filing in the suit is a second amended cross-complaint from TMG.

The lawsuit lifts the lid, in extraordinary detail, on Depp's alleged "extravagant and extreme" $2 million a month spending habits.

We took a look through each of the documents to discover how the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star splurges his earnings. All of our figures are quoted in the TMG lawsuits, which are available in full here and here.

According to TMG, Depp has spent $75 million to 'acquire, improve, and furnish 14 residences' around the world.

This includes a 45-acre chateau in the south of France, valued at $13.5 million, a chain of islands in the Bahamas, a number of houses in Hollywood and penthouse lofts in downtown Los Angeles. He also has a horse farm in Kentucky. Each house has a full set of staff.

He has also spent 'millions' on 45 luxury cars.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/q8nwfzRjdG/embed/
Width: 658px

A 1959 Corvette is just one of his many motors.

He spent $18 million on a 150-foot luxury yacht.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BT-K4I0hybe/embed/
Width: 658px

JK Rowling reportedly bought the yacht off him in 2016.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Westworld" season two, including speculation of future events.

HBO surprised fans by releasing new footage from "Westworld" season two at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday evening. The new trailer was set to a telling tune by Sammy Davis Jr. —"I've Gotta Be Me" — and emphasized the robot revolution that was triggered on the season one finale.

With familiar faces (including Stubbs and William/the Man in Black) back, along with a tantalizing clue that indicates other "worlds" in the park, there was a lot to take in.

Let's dive into the biggest takeaways from the exciting new footage.

The trailer opens on the player piano and then cuts to a shot of Bernard/Arnold.

We learned last season that "Bernard" was really a host created in Arnold's image by Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins). Bernard discovered this for himself, as well, and watched as Ford's plot to bring Dolores' consciousness alive unfolded. 

A small detail we love in this shot are the flies all over Bernard. Flies were a big symbol throughout the series of the hosts' increasing level of consciousness and breaks from their programming.

Bernard seems to be looking at a dead tiger washed up on the shore of a body of water. This is likely at hint at "S-World."

On the season one finale, Maeve and her fellow host-crew killed their way through the park headquarters as she attempted to escape. As they passed through a set of doors, a logo reading "SW" was visible. Fans believe this stands for something like "Southworld" or "Samurai/Shogun World."

Seeing a tiger in Westworld with Bernard will only stir up more speculation about additional theme worlds nearby. Cocreator Jonathan Nolan wouldn't confirm the name of the world, but we know it involves Samurai.

We also see a figure hung from their feet, desperately trying to reach a gun.

Whoever this is, they're clearly in a bind, which seems to be a recurring theme in the trailer.

Do you have visions of orchestrating mega-mergers, minting millions on bold stock bets, or managing billions of dollars in assets? Or, perhaps more realistically, playing with spreadsheets for hours on end? Wall Street might be calling your name. 

A job in finance can set you up for a lucrative career. And an MBA from a high-powered business school can help you leap a few rungs on the ladder and command a six-figure salary right off the bat. In fact, at the top-10 business schools for finance, the average graduate earns over $140,000 in their first year. 

That's according to the latest list of top business schools by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked 131 MBA programs based on criteria that includes job placement, starting salary, selectivity, and assessments by peers and recruiters. The schools were given a numerical score, with 100 representing the best possible result. Read a full breakdown of the methodology here.

In addition to its overall ranking, U.S. News ranked the best schools for various business professions, from accounting to supply chain logistics. And, of course, finance. For these career-specific rankings, U.S. News surveyed the deans and MBA program directors at various schools, who were asked to nominate up to 10 programs that excelled at the given career specializations.

Read on to check out the 10 top business schools for a career on Wall Street. 

Note: Tuition figures reflect annual costs for out-of-state students.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best business schools in America

DON'T MISS: The 15 business schools where MBAs earn the highest salaries after graduation

10. University of California at Los Angeles — Anderson School of Management

Location: Los Angeles, California

Average starting salary: $140,457

Annual tuition and fees: $59,290

Overall score: 84

UCLA's Anderson School of Management prides itself on "looking to the future to discover and chart what will be." To that end, the school recently established an academic marketing partnership with Google to provide students with insight into Google's pioneering approach to marketing measurement and storytelling. Notable alumni include YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and a number of Google executives.

9. University of Michigan — Ross School of Business

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Average starting salary: $145,926

Annual tuition and fees: $64,678

Overall score: 89

The Ross School of Business strives to provide each student with opportunities to advance their career, and it facilitates a team of over 50 peer coaches to help them along the way. Hundreds of well-known companies visit the school to interview MBA candidates, and top recruiters for the class of 2016 included Amazon, Deloitte, Google, McKinsey & Co., and Microsoft.

8. Harvard University — Harvard Business School

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Average starting salary: $153,830

Annual tuition and fees: $75,353

Overall score: 100

The world's oldest— and most expensive — MBA program, Harvard Business School is also often considered the best for overall excellence. For a career in finance though, it currently lags behind a handful of other top-notch schools. 

The high average-starting salary its graduates command, the school's reputation with employers, and the HBS network of more than 46,000 living alumni make it one of the most coveted business schools for students. HBS's cadre of successful alumni— littered with politicians, CEOs, and billionaires — is unrivaled: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President George W. Bush, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and HP Chairman Meg Whitman all graduated from the institution.

Ferrari makes two kinds of dream machines: sports cars and GT cars. The former rank is currently filled by the 488 GTB mid-engine supercar and the LaFerrari hypercar; the latter is occupied by the California T and the 812 Superfast.

Then there's the oddball of this aristocratic lineup: the GTC4 Lusso.

Ferrari will never, ever build an SUV. (It has its corporate cousins Maserati and Alfa Romeo to supply them.) Nor will it build a car with four doors. So for that buyer who wants a Ferrari but doesn't need a bonkers mid-mounted twin-turbo V-8 making well over 600 horsepower, and who would prefer that their ride sent power to all four wheels, there's the GTC4 Lusso.

The vehicle is part of a very narrow niche: the "shooting brake," a sort of station wagon coupe, based on hunting coaches from the 19th century.

The GTC4 is a new model of the car once known as the FF. We spent some time with the FF a few years ago, in proper East Coast winter weather: snow, slush, cold. What a car! More recently, Ferrari allowed us to spend a weekend checking out the new GTC4, which came in at $347,522.84. (The 84 cents was just because.)

What a car ... again? Here's what we thought.

Photos by Hollis Johnson unless otherwise indicated.

The GTC4 Lusso arrived in New York City wearing a "Blue Tour de France" paint job — a kind of luminous, deep royal blue that I think looks great on Ferraris that aren't red.

The GTC4 follows the FF, which was the all-wheel-drive Ferrari I sampled in the winter of 2015.

Read the review »

The car brought out my "I wanna be an Italian" side.

The summer can be a great time to start a new relationship.

Maybe it's that lingering "school's out" mentality that makes us feel young and carefree. Or, hey, maybe it's that people look better when they aren't bundled up in an oversized turtleneck sweater.

Dating site Match told Business Insider that July tends to be one of its busiest months. Match's chief scientific adviser, Helen Fisher, said that might be because summertime is the mating season in many species — and even though humans breed all year long, "increasing light does give us a sunny personality and more energy and optimism — all of which could increase our sexuality.”

If you're thinking about joining a dating site in the near future, and if you're somewhat terrified by the prospect of wading through thousands of nearby matches in the hopes of finding someone decent (who thinks you're decent, too), we've got you covered.

Below, we've rounded up some of the most practical online-dating advice we've published in the last year. Read on to learn the tricks of the trade — and the biggest mistakes to avoid.

SEE ALSO: The 15 US cities where it's easiest to find a date

Choose a photo where you're taking up space

Research suggests that we're more attracted to people in expansive — as opposed to contracted — postures, even if we don't consciously realize it. Men especially appear more attractive to women when they're holding their arms upward in a "V," reaching out to grab something, or standing in another expansive position.

Whatever you do, avoid choosing a profile photo where you're crossing your arms or hunched over.

Don't choose a photo where you're covering your face

Tinder's in-house sociologist, Jess Carbino, told Business Insider that one of the biggest mistakes Tinder users make is obscuring their face in their profile photo. That includes wearing glasses or sunglasses, or even a hat.

The same logic likely applies to users on other dating services.

According to Carbino, we use people's faces to make judgments about their personality, which are sometimes (but not always) accurate. So if people can't fully see your face, they might not be able to assess whether you're extroverted or kind, for example. Meaning they just might move on to the next option.

Include a question in your profile

Carbino also told Business Insider that adding a question to your profile can make it easier for someone to message you, because they already have something to talk about.

For example, if you mention in your profile that you like to travel, list a few places you've been and then ask: "What's your next destination?"

If you're an art fan, cite artists whose work you enjoy and then ask: "Who's your favorite artist?"

Few pilots can claim to be as talented as the acrobatic aces flying in the US Blue Angels and UK Red Arrows display teams. 

Both teams perform choreographed and synchronized displays at incredible break-neck speeds. The teams update their performances every year, according to How It Works Annual Volume 6, and the displays can last up to 30 minutes. 

Although the individual skills and stunts of each pilot is admirable, what sets the pilots of the Blue Angels and Red Arrows apart is their ability to work as a synchronized team.

The teams, consisting of 6 and 9 planes respectively, must be able to effectively fly and perform tricks while maintain perfect distance from their fellow pilots. How It Works notes that aircraft during the displays can fly as close as six feet from each other.

Below are some of the teams' most amazing tricks explained.

Vixen Break

Source: YouTube/Varun Thangamani

Vixen Break

Rollbacks

 Source: YouTube/jasman71

Making the move from music to acting isn't always easy, but some musicians have managed to make the jump.

One of the most recent transitions is Harry Styles of the band One Direction. The singer, who has since gone solo, is currently starring in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk and he has been receiving rave reviews for his performance as a soldier. 

Many other musicians have made similarly successful moves to the big screen. Take a look at 11 musicians who transitioned into actors.

Harry Styles shot to fame as a member of the hugely popular boy band One Direction.

He's making his acting debut in"Dunkirk," Christopher Nolan's war film, and has received rave reviews for his performance.

Read our review here.

Rihanna rose to fame after Jay-Z signed her to his label and released her first single "Pon De Replay." She now has eight Grammy Awards.

Source: Billboard

Warning: Huge (very huge) spoilers for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode two. If you aren't caught up on the series, read at your own risk. 

After what felt like the longest seven days in history, season two episode seven of "Game of Thrones," titled "Stormborn," finally came on TV.

The majority of this episode felt similar to the season premiere: catching up with characters, and seeing the story mechanics that will bring everyone closer together as the series moves toward the end. But then it ended with an unexpected battle, as Euron attacked his niece's fleet at sea. 

Storms and trust (or lack thereof) were big themes this week. No one seems to trust anyone, which is a pretty smart way to live in Westeros. But it's also frustrating for the audience, because we want some of these people to just get along.

There's a lot to remember — between Sansa ruling the North and Grey Worm going all the way with Missandei — so we highlighted the episodes biggest moments. 

Here's our recap of season 7 episode 2 of "Game of Thrones:"

SEE ALSO: All the biggest moments from the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere

Daenerys doesn't trust Varys. And Melisandre wants her to team up with Jon Snow.

Daenerys doesn't feel at home in Dragonstone, even though it's her ancestral home. And for the first time, she addresses her distrust of Varys. This is actually coming from a solid place, and it's surprising she didn't bring it up when he came to Meereen. Varys betrayed her father, and then served as Master of Spies for Robert Baratheon. While doing that he, betrayed Robert as well. And he also helped facilitate the attempt on her life, with the help of Ser Jorah Mormont.

Daenerys tells Varys that she doesn't know she can trust someone when she doesn't know where their loyalties lie. But Varys smartly responds by telling her about his background. He is not from a noble house. Like Missandei and Grey Worm, he was a slave, so he cares about the good of the people in Westeros — not just the lords. This worked on Daenerys, and then Melisandre showed up to tell her that she should team up with Jon Snow, who can definitely use her help defeating what's coming from the North. 

Jaime doesn't trust Cersei, or believe in the Lannister army — and he goes behind her back in a meeting with Randyll Tarly.

Randyll Tarly (Samwell Tarly's dad, who we met in season six) is summoned to King's Landing to see Queen Cersei. She asks him for his allegiance to the Iron Throne. Tarly is fiercely loyal to the Tyrell family, but Jaime takes him aside and offers him a position as the ranking general in his Lannister army.

This scene proved that Jaime doesn't trust Cersei. She's literally a mass murderer, so lords of Westeros aren't likely to ally with her. At this point, anyone can be killed no matter what they do for her. Jaime also doesn't believe his army is strong enough, and needs all the help he can get.

The North doesn't trust Tyrion Lannister or Daenerys Targaryen, and with good reason.

As viewers, we know we can trust Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen. So far on the series, Tyrion has been kind to any of the Starks who cross his path. And in general, he treats people with kindness, unless they've done him wrong. 

And Daenerys hasn't shown her father's madness. Though some theorize that it's in there, we've seen a strong, brave, and confident leader who cares about her people. 

But the people in the North haven't seen the good sides of these people. They hear stories, and they associate them with the people they're related to. The people of the North don't have enough knowledge of Tyrion and Dany to  fully trust Jon and Davos's mission to ally with the young queen. But Jon's doing it anyway, because the White Walkers are coming, and they can't defend themselves alone. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones," titled "Stormborn."

Alliances were the driving force behind the newest episode of "Game of Thrones."

On "Stormborn," Daenerys received an unexpected visitor in Melisandre, the Red Priestess who believes she and Jon play a central part in a prophesy about a great hero. Meanwhile in the North, Jon faces a revolt when he decides to accept an invitation from Dany to meet with her in Dragnonstone. And while Tyrion thought he had the conquering of Westeros all planned out, an attack by Euron wipes out many of Dany's allies.

But which moments had fans talking the most?

Social-media monitoring platform Brandwatch found nearly 37,000 "Thrones"-related mentions on Twitter during the one-hour episode and identified the scenes when conversation peaked.

Here are the five most talked-about moments from the latest "Game of Thrones" episode:

5. Fans were enthusiastic about Grey Worm and Missandei's intimate sex scene.

9:31 p.m. ET – Around 770 mentions

Missandei visits Grey Worm before he leaves to lead the Unsullied to capture Casterly Rock for Daenerys. After sharing their feelings toward each other, they disrobe. And Grey Worm proves that a eunuch can work his way around his shortcomings in bed.

4. Sheer excitement as the episode begins and we find Daenerys holding court at Dragonstone.

9 p.m. ET – Around 850 mentions

The show opens on a stormy Dragonstone, which may foreshadow Dany's confrontation with Varys, the eunuch who has both served and double-crossed several rulers over his lifetime. Melisandre then follows with a visit to Dany to explain the rold she feels the Targaryen plays in a the famed "Prince That Was Promised" prophecy.

3. Fans were thrilled by Arya's reunion with Hot Pie, the King's Landing orphan who traveled with Arya for some time.

9:39 p.m. ET – Around 890 mentions

In addition to the thrill of Hot Pie's return, fans were excited when he filled Arya in on Jon Snow's rise to the King of the North. She then sets her course for Winterfell instead of King's Landing.

LONDON – Productivity is one of the key drivers of economic success. The more productive a country's workers are, the more value they can bring to their employers and therefore their home nation's economy.

New research from business-to-business marketplace Expert Market has shed some light on where in the world people are the most productive.

Expert Market compared data from 35 of the world's biggest economies before compiling their ranking.

To do this, they looked at the GDP per capita of nations and divided that by the number of hours worked per person, giving a rough guide to which nations make the most money in the least amount of time, and are therefore the most productive.

Numbers quoted below are the amount of value each worker brings to their country's economy per hour worked. Check out the ranking underneath:

19. Israel: £15.95 — Fast gaining a reputation as a hub of innovation, Israeli workers are at work an average of 1889 hours per year.

18. Japan: £17.21 — Another country, another stuttering economy. Japan is undergoing an unprecedented experiment with negative interest rates and has the highest level of government debt of any country on earth compared to GDP. An aging population

17. United Kingdom: £17.37 — Britain's economy is already suffering some downside from the Brexit vote, with the falling pound pushing up inflation and squeezing salaries. In the same ranking last year, Brits were generating £18.64 per hour.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode two, "Stormborn."

The seventh season of "Game of Thrones" ramped up the pace with "Stormborn"— an episode packed with callbacks to season one, Arya's bittersweet reunion with Nymeria, and huge sea battle. We've written up a deep dive into the hour's biggest revelation (are both Daenerys and Jon the Prince That Was Promised?), but now let's look at smaller moments.

Keep reading for a look at 9 details you might have missed.

During Daenerys' strategy sessions, the title "Queen of the Ashes" was used twice.

When the tactic of having Daenerys' dragons wreak havoc on King's Landing was suggested, Tyrion was quick to tell Dany that the last thing she wanted was to burn the whole city to the ground.

This was a callback to Varys' warning to Olenna about Littlefinger.

On season three, episode four, Varys and Olenna had a secretive conversation about where their loyalties lie. Varys warned Olenna not to trust Littlefinger.

"He would see this country burn if he could be King of the Ashes," Varys said.

Clearly everyone is steering Daenerys as far away from the other game-players as possible, including the "chaos is a ladder" archetype of Littlefinger.

Daenerys thought Jon Snow sounds impressive, and described in a way that mimicked Sam Tarly's thoughts on her.

Melisandre told Daenerys about Jon's accomplishments and why he could be a prophesied hero (read our full explanation of the significance of the prophecy to learn more).

"As Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, he allowed the Wildlings south of the wall to protect them from great danger," Melisandre said. "As King in the North, he has united those Wildlings with the Northern houses so together they may face their common enemy."

"He sounds like quite a man," Daenerys replied.