Buying a high-performance luxury sedan in the United States in 2017 isn't difficult. You don't have to think about it. If you have the means, Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Cadillac, and BMW have you covered — especially BMW.

The Bavarians created the sports sedan and brought it to America in the 1970s. Since then, BMW has improved on the idea to the point where its 3 Series is the platonic ideal of four-door go-fast-ness. If you move up the M-Sport M3 from BMW's performance division, you get the platonic ideal with fire in its belly.

The default choice, therefore, is obvious. But the default can be boring, and that's where Alfa Romeo comes in.

The Italian brand is returning to the US after a long absence. Alfas of old were stylish — just think about the convertible from "The Graduate"— but not exactly reliable. Fans put up with this until they didn't, and a surge of dependable Japanese and superbly crafted German vehicles arrived.

Alfa started small and weird with the 4C, effectively a small Ferrari. (Alfa and Ferrari used to live under the same room at Fiat, before Ferrari was spun out in an initial public offering in 2015.) We liked the 4C, but it was quirky.

Enter the Giulia, a proper sports sedan. Alfa just started selling it. Also, enter the Quadrifoglio performance upgrade. "Quadrifoglio" means "four-leaf clover" in Italian, and the meaning of that totem of good luck for Alfa is nicely explained by Michael Banovsky. Suffice it to say the green badge on the Giulia Quadrifoglio adds something special.

Alfa tossed us the keys to the car for a week, and we put it through its paces. So how did this $77,125 (as tested) challenger to the BMW M cars stack up?

Photos by Hollis Johnson.

SEE ALSO: The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is one of the oddest and most memorable cars we've ever driven

We got out first taste of Alfa's return to America with the 4C, a taut little mid-engine roadster that's like a shrunken-down Ferrari.

Read the review »

The Giulia is far more low-key — a dignified four-door, oozing luxury.

Our $77,195 test car came with a Vulcano black paint job and Alfa's distinctive front grille, an inverted triangle that evokes the brand's heritage. The Alfa badge, by the way, is probably the most beautiful in the automotive universe.

Retired Marine general John Kelly sprung into action in his first week as White House chief of staff, attempting to impose a military-like rigor upon the staff of the notoriously chaotic West Wing.

Kelly, so far, has overseen the dismissal of bombastic communications director Anthony Scaramucci, ensured that President Donald Trump's visitors make appointments before entering the Oval Office, and insisted that even the most senior members of Trump's inner circle report to Kelly instead of directly to Trump.

It's an uncharacteristic modus operandi for the famously free-wheeling and impulsive president, but Kelly's presence in the West Wing has already had a discernible effect.

Here's everything you need to know about the retired four-star Marine general who served for 45 years before making his way to the West Wing:

SEE ALSO: Kremlin releases photos of Vladimir Putin's vacation in Siberia

John Kelly is a Boston native who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1970.

"In the America I grew up in, every male was a veteran; my dad, my uncles and all the people on the block," Kelly said in an interview posted on the Marines' website. "So, with that kind of background and the draft, you assumed you were going to go into the service when your time came."

He served as an infantryman with the 2nd Marine Division in Lejeune, North Carolina, but left in 1972 to attend the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He later returned to the 2nd Marine Division after attending the Officer Candidates School, serving as a platoon commander and working his way up to an infantry company commander.

He also received master's degrees from Georgetown and the National Defense University.

Kelly rose quickly within the ranks of the Marines, and served during the Persian Gulf War — including Operation Desert Storm — and the Iraq war.

Kelly served in numerous positions throughout the Marine Corps, even once serving as the Commandant's Liaison Officer to the US House of Representatives — an introduction to lawmakers and the political process.

"He knows how Congress works," Carl Fulford, a retired four-star Marine Corps general told USA Today.

He once lamented that being promoted as an officer took him "further and further away from day-to-day contact with young Marines."

"My whole last tour in Iraq, I was always on the road,"Kelly said. "To show up to a [forward operating base] in the middle of nowhere or at a convoy that's broken down and talk to [Marines] as they're changing the tire is the only way to do business."

At the edge of contemporary science, a new era of technology is on the verge of bringing the future into the present.

Today’s gadgets and electronics are beginning to bump against the ceiling of what is possible under classical technology, so scientists and engineers are turning to quantum physics to bring our sci-fi dreams into reality.

"Quantum physics is in the process of unlocking the next generation of killer technology,” says Alexey Fedorov, research fellow at the Russian Quantum Center. “It's going to change cybersecurity, material science, AI research, and metrology."

The International Conference on Quantum Technologies, the RQC’s biennial advocacy event, is the premier place for scientists to present their work and discuss applications of their research. And as we begin to hit the ceiling of what classical technology is capable of, it’s only by shifting the attention to the kooky quantum world that we can explore practical science in a more future-friendly way.

For one week in Moscow, the ICQT makes the people doing this research the stars of the show. Here are the five coolest things we heard at the fourth International Conference on Quantum Technologies: 

SEE ALSO: 'Quantum' technology is the future, and it's already here — here's what that means for you

A universal quantum computer is closer to reality than ever before.

The white whale of quantum technology is undoubtedly the quantum computer, first proposed in the early 1980s by celebrated physicist Richard Feynman. Various efforts are underway by research and business interests around the world to build such a device, which would use quantum states to solve problems that are either impossible or prohibitively inefficient for classical computers to solve. Right now, the star of the show is surely the work being done at Harvard University under Mikhail Lukin.

Lukin and team have built a quantum computer that harnesses 51 quantum bits to run its calculations, making it the most powerful quantum computer in existence. Most of today’s quantum computers are best-likened to jolty, primitive airplanes from 19th-century newsreel footage — they’re far from perfect. But Lukin’s team has built a quantum computer that’s like “a plane that can take off, turn smoothly, and land,” says Serguei Beloussov, co-founder of the Russian Quantum Center.

Quantum technology could eventually be used to make phone calls to Mars.

While Elon Musk publicly dreams about moon bases and Mars metropolises, there’s a fundamental problem in communicating with people that may move there. Depending on where Earth and Mars are in relation to each other in their orbit around the Sun, it can take between three and 22 minutes for radio signals (moving at the speed of light) to travel between the two bodies. Without a radical shift in communication paradigm, Mars-based internet is going to suck. But quantum technology could be harnessed to enable instantaneous interplanetary long-distance, without a delay.

Dr. Arkady Fedorov is a head of the Superconducting Quantum Devices Laboratory at the University of Queensland, and his research is concerned with using superconducting cubits as artificial atoms. Cubits are most famously used for information processing in quantum computing, but Fedorov’s instead interact with magnetic waves and can be controlled within certain parameters. If we want to harness this for instantaneous long-distance communication, he says the only missing ingredient is an adaptor that turns microwaves into optical light.

Such adapters are “a hot topic right now,” says Fedorov. “It is hard to turn microwaves into optical light because successful quantum operations require an efficiency close to 100%, but a number of groups have proposals on how to do it.” His research may one day be used to develop an interplanetary telephone.

Unbreakable codes are not only real, but they’re old news.

The “observer effect” holds that to observe a situation is to change it. This means that if you create a message by harnessing the quirks of the quantum world, you can send that message in such a way that it’s readable by everyone except your intended recipient. If a third party intercepts the message, they of course observe it and fundamentally change it, leaving your initial communication protected.

Quantum encryption technology lands somewhere between "Star Trek" and James Bond, but it’s a well-trod commercial pursuit of 16 years by the Switzerland-based ID Quantique. The company is approaching its two-decade anniversary in making and selling quantum communication hardware in use by research organizations and national governments alike.

Alex Rodriguez hasn't played a game in a year and yet he will still be paid $21 million this season from the New York Yankees, adding to what is already his status as baseball's highest-paid player of all time.

Thanks to a pair of contracts worth more than $250 million, Rodriguez has made more than $430 million in his career.

But A-Rod is not alone.

In all, 29 players have made at least $150 million in their careers, including 12 who — like A-Rod — played at least part of the careers with the New York Yankees.

29. Roger Clemens — $150.6 million

Seasons: 24

Highest single-season salary: $18.0 million

World Series Titles: 2

All-Star Games: 11

Cy Young Awards: 7

Played for the Yankees? Yes

28. Ken Griffey Jr — $151.7 million

Seasons: 22

Highest single-season salary: $12.5 million

World Series Titles: 0

All-Star Games: 13

MVP Awards: 1

Played for the Yankees? No

27. Adrian Gonzalez — $152.6 million

Seasons: 14

Highest single-season salary: $22.4 million

World Series Titles: 0

All-Star Games: 5

MVP Awards: 0

Played for the Yankees? No

Everyone knows Waffle House.

Driving along the interstate in the southern United States, the simple block letters emblazoned on iconic yellow signs tower over the landscape, beckoning to all travelers. However, the shabby and unassuming exteriors do little to instill confidence in the culinary abilities therein. 

Waffle House is often known as the late-night haunt of those who are not of sober minds — the last resort of drunken revelers and bleary-eyed workers searching for a bite before the sun rises. 

It's easy to write off Waffle House. However, on a recent trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, we decided to give it a shot — not drunk, not high, just hungry. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what it's like to eat at the Southern fried chicken chain whose diehard fans say is better than KFC and Popeyes

ALSO READ: We visited the regional chain that Southerners say is better than In-N-Out and Shake Shack — here's the verdict

Waffle House was founded in 1955 by Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, the chain has over 1,800 locations in 25 states. As with most Waffle Houses, the outside appearance wasn't much to look at — but we were more interested in what's inside.

Inside, Waffle House has a classic diner feel. Subway tiles, vinyl booths, and the ubiquitous jukebox lend a comforting timelessness. The chain avoids jumping on the latest dining trends — no raw wood or industrial lighting fixtures here.

The walls are dotted with greasy-spoon-style diner decor, with signs hawking the chain's titular menu item.

In the clear-blue waters off the coast of Dubai lies a chain of islands known as The Heart of Europe. They're manmade reconstructions of actual European nations, just on a smaller scale — part of an even larger chain of islands known as "The World."

Richard Branson, fittingly, owns the island representing Great Britain.

The Heart of Europe rolled out its first $2.8 million floating home, the aptly named "Floating Seahorse," in early 2016. Since then, development firm Kleindienst has been rolling out even larger homes that will cost roughly $3.3 million.

Keep scrolling to see the gorgeous renderings.

SEE ALSO: 17 stunning photos that show how Dubai has become the 'Manhattan of the Middle East'

The $2.8 million Floating Seahorse is the product of more than 5,000 hours of research and 13,000 hours of design and engineering, according to design firm Kleindienst Group.

The first models went on sale in 2015, before any Seahorses were even completed. Kleindienst told Business Insider it sold approximately 60 Seahorses in 2015.

The underwater portion, composed of a master bedroom and bathroom, will make up approximately 270 square feet on the interior. Just outside the walls is a 500-square-foot coral garden.

From the home, residents will be able to see actual seahorses dance through the Arabian Gulf — the animal's natural habitat.

The floating homes will have a massive floating bed as well as an observation deck above water.

If you want to take a swim, a convenient step-ladder offers a safe entry and exit. Or you could just dive right in.

Tom Brady turned 40 years old on Thursday, entering another decade, yet as dominant as ever.

To be as good as Brady is at age 40 requires a super-natural desire to compete.

And during Brady's 17 years in the NFL, his competitiveness has become legendary.

Across the league, there are stories of Brady's intense desire to win, top-notch preparation off the field, and extreme self-confidence that prove nobody loves competing as much as Brady.

Check out 35 of the best examples of Brady's competitiveness below.

Former Patriot Dan Koppen said that Brady is the most competitive person he's ever met.

Source: CSNNE

It started in high school for Brady. He used to have his high school teammates over his house to study film while his mom made them lunch.

Source: WEEI

But it wasn't always easy. He hired a psychologist to deal with the stress of being the seventh-string QB when he first got to Michigan.

Source: ESPN

Amazon has every single retailer in the US on notice.

The Jeff Bezos-led juggernaut is armed with a war chest of cash and it hasn't been shy about throwing its weight around in the past couple months, disrupting every industry in sight.

Its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods threw the whole grocery industry into disarray, while Blue Apron's battered IPO price ended up as collateral damage. Its newly-announced partnership with Nike sent the likes of Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour tumbling. Heck, even the payments industry is facing a major, Amazon-led shake-up.

But there are still a few bright spots, says RBC Capital Markets — companies whose existing business models have created a natural insulation from Amazon, as well as those that have been quick to adapt.

Here are four such corporations highlighted by RBC in a recent client note:

CarMax

Ticker:KMX

Total return year-to-date: 2.8%

Rationale: "We believe KMX provides true scarcity value with solid comp momentum and a business model that will be difficult for Amazon or others to disintermediate."

Source: RBC Capital Markets

Walmart

Ticker:WMT

Total return year-to-date: 17%

Rationale: "We believe Walmart will ultimately be one of the best positioned retailers over the long-term due to its existing size, scale and technological improvements."

Source: RBC Capital Markets

Best Buy

Ticker:BBY

Total return year-to-date: 40%

Rationale: "Best Buy has already weathered the worst of the 'Amazon storm' through price matching and substantial in-store/online improvements, and has now been steadily gaining market share ... Best Buy has fought back against Amazon better than most."

Source: RBC Capital Markets

Warning: "Game of Thrones" spoilers ahead.

• HBO's "Game of Thrones" includes numerous historical allusions.
• Some of the references are more obvious than others.
• "A Song of Ice and Fire" author George R.R. Martin has frequently expressed his own interest in history.

As they say, truth is often stranger than fiction.

That's something that "A Song of Ice and Fire" author George R.R. Martin — whose work was adapted into HBO's hit series "Game of Thrones — clearly understands.

In one interview with author Bernard Cornwell, Martin even said that "the historical novel and the epic fantasy are sisters under the skin."

So it's not surprising that his most famous work is chock full of historical allusions.

Here are just a few historical references included in "Game of Thrones":

SEE ALSO: We ranked the 'Game of Thrones' characters by leadership abilities — here's how they're doing so far this season

The fight between the Starks and the Lannisters should ring a bell for any medieval scholar

The War of the Roses might not have a terribly intimidating name, but it was a bloody conflict that sent England spiraling into disunity and chaos during the latter part of the fifteenth century.

The war was primarily fought between the House of York and the House of Lancaster.

Sound familiar?

Like their fictional counterparts, the Lancaster faction won the war after much death and scheming.

However, ultimately, it was the House of Tudor that prevailed and won the throne. They adopted the Tudor rose as their emblem, a combination of the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.

The Battle of the Bastards is a twist on a famous Carthaginian victory

"The Battle of the Bastards," which saw the noble-hearted Jon Snow face off against the wicked Ramsay Bolton, was one of the most raved-about episodes of season 6.

The numerous immersive, intense battle scenes kicked this episode into high gear for many viewers.

The whole thing also likely looked rather familiar to classical scholars.

That's because the showrunners mirrored the whole clash on the Battle of Cannae, as Kristen Acuna wrote for Tech Insider.

That famous 216 CE battle is now regarded as one of the most impressive tactical victories of all time. After spending two years rampaging about the Italian peninsula, Carthaginian leader Hannibal Barca cemented his status as a military legend by surrounding and defeating his enemies with a much smaller force.

Ramsay's forces used a similar pincer movement during the Battle of the Bastards. Jon was ultimately able to subvert the historical model and break free of Ramsay's circle of death, with the help of reinforcements from the Eyrie.

In Hannibal's case, the Roman legions were butchered, leaving up to 70,000 dead, including Roman consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus.

Paullus' son-in-law Scipio Africanus would ultimately defeat Hannibal once and for all at Zama.

The Boltons share their habit of skinning people alive with an ancient regime

Getting flayed alive is probably one of the worst ways to go out.

So it's no surprise that skinning people was a favorite past-time of Ramsay Bolton — one of the worst characters to ever grace the small screen.

But this antagonist's gruesome hobby didn't simply come from the dark side of Martin's imagination.

In fact, one ancient kingdom was famous for skinning its enemies.

According to the blog History Buff, the Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II claimed to have "flayed as many nobles as had rebelled against me and draped their skins over the pile of corpses; some I spread out within the pile, some I erected on stakes upon the pile … I flayed many right through my land and draped their skins over the walls."

Yikes.

At least 30 U.S. billionaires made their money from real estate; some say that it's the greatest way to create real wealth and financial freedom.

These six tycoons and members of The Oracles suggest how you can invest $100,000 or start with nothing.

SEE ALSO: 6 entrepreneurs share their biggest failures — and how they led to success

1. Start small.

Tai Lopez, investor and advisor to many multimillion-dollar businesses, who has built an eight-figure online empire:

Although I'm a businessman first, I've always been a part-time real-estate investor. You can do both, too. Have a business or career that creates positive cash flow, which you can diversify into part-time real estate investing. I've done it for many years.

If you've never invested in real estate, start small and don't use all your money. No one's ever looked back and said, "My first deal was my best." You've got to learn how to read the contracts, build your network of specialists — for example, lawyers and realtors — and develop a good eye for it. This only comes from experience.

The beauty of real estate is that you can learn the ropes while starting small: Find some cheap properties, like single-family homes, renovate-and-flips, multi units, or commercial properties. Try to commit as little as possible while you get some notches under your belt. Joel Salatin, my mentor, always said, "Make your mistakes as small as possible without catastrophic consequences."

If you have zero cash, maybe do wholesale deals. A business partner, Cole Hatter, and I created a real-estate program teaching you how to put a property under contract for very little money down, sometimes less than $1,000; you sell that contract to another buyer before the contract expires.

Worst case: You just lose under a grand. Best case: You make $5,000-15,000 positive cash flow that can be reinvested in long-term holdings.

Connect with Tai on Facebook or Snapchat.

2. Think big.

Grant Cardone, top sales expert who has built a $500-million real estate empire, and NYT-bestselling author of "Be Obsessed or Be Average":

It's easy to give up on the real-estate game because you don't have any money, but it's the deal that matters, not how much money you have. Chase the deal, not your budget.

I know a guy who saved $50,000 and started chasing $200,000 deals. First of all, you can't buy more than four units with that budget. The problem with four units is that each can only produce maybe $1,000 or $2,000 per month. And that's only after you've done thousands of dollars in work around the units to make them rentable in the first place. That math isn't difficult — there's just not enough money to make it worthwhile.

That's why you've got to go big from the start — with 16 units, minimum. Don't buy less. Without 16 units, you can't have a manager, and if you can't have a manager, you're going to either dedicate all your attention to the property or to your full-time job. To get 16 units, you will need to wait and save more money or use other people's money (but you'll need to learn how to sell).

Follow Grant on Facebook or YouTube.

3. Understand the economics, then find a mentor.

Phil Pustejovsky, founder of Freedom Mentor, bestselling author of "How to be a Real Estate Investor," and #1 YouTube channel on real estate investing with nearly 20 million views:

The real-estate deals that look the prettiest and are easiest to find — such as buying a property that has a tenant and management in place, joining a crowdfunding website, or buying into a publicly-traded real estate investment trust — yield the lowest returns. The most profitable opportunities are the ones no one else knows about, which you find and create.

Due to a strong economy, high consumer confidence, historically low inventory levels, and extremely low interest rates, it's the best time to flip houses in the past 40 years.

High consumer confidence and a strong economy give retail buyers the feeling that "now is a good time to buy" rather than retreat in fear and continue renting. Low interest rates allow retail buyers to purchase more of a home than if the rates were at historical average levels, like 6%. Low inventory levels create bidding wars by retail buyers, which increase the prices that investors sell their flipped houses for.

So, if you can find the deals before the competition, you can transform a little bit of money into a whole lot in a relatively short period by flipping houses.

If you're seeking tax-advantaged passive income, thanks to the rise of the sharing economy and services like Airbnb and HomeAway, short-term renting of residential properties is producing the highest returns. (It's not uncommon to obtain more than a 20% return on very nice properties in beautiful areas.) The majority of my real-estate holdings are now in short-term rentals.

Unfortunately, real estate is full of pitfalls. Getting educated through reputable online sources can help, but an article, book, or how-to video will be of little assistance in answering the most important questions you'll have in the heat of a deal. That's where the right real estate mentor becomes an invaluable resource.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

If there's one accessory every man needs to own, it's a wristwatch. The right watch should be functional and attractive — a piece that adds to the wearer's style. 

While certain brands like Rolex and Breitling are often used as a symbol of status, it's still possible to achieve a sophisticated look without spending high-end prices.

Just to name a few, brands like Seiko, Timex, Movado, and Fossil all offer beautiful watches at affordable prices.

Whether your style in watches is minimal or more complex, you can find the right timepiece on a modest budget.

For those looking for a quality watch that's not too expensive, we rounded up 10 of the best watches you can buy for less than $250 right now.

Check out our top choices below. And if you're looking for watches at all price points, Jomashop is having a huge sale on designer watches with discounts up to 75% off. 

SEE ALSO: 10 stylish watches you can buy for under $100

SEE ALSO: 6 dress shirts every professional man should own

MVMT Modern Sport Gold Coast

As the name suggests, this MVMT watch is both modern and sporty. Its brushed gold case and bracelet strap is contrasted by a black dial and minute and second hands.

MVMT Modern Sport Gold Coast, $160

Victorinox Swiss Army Chrono Classic Watch

You can never go wrong with a Swiss-made watch, and that's exactly what this Victorinox watch is. It features a stainless steel case a bracelet, a champagne dial and fixed bezel, and displays the date.

Victorinox Swiss Army Chrono Classic Watch, $189.99 (Originally $975)

Timex Waterbury Chronograph Watch

Timex is a watch brand that has stood the test of time and The Waterbury Chronograph is a nod to its rich history, dating back to 1854. This watch uses a classic styling combination —stainless steel case and black leather strap.

Timex Waterbury Chronograph Watch, $129

The teens have spoken: Companies like streetwear brand Supreme and aerospace startup SpaceX are officially cool.

Business Insider spoke to a dozen teens from across the US, and asked them: "What companies and products are cool to you and your friends?"

Their answers ranged from clothing brands to social media giants.

Check them out below.

SEE ALSO: Teens from across the US reveal what they think about Trump

Netflix — The entertainment platform that lets users stream films and TV shows, including Netflix Originals

"I'm a big fan of Netflix. It lets you watch different movies and shows whenever you want to watch them," Sharon Lin, 18, said.

Blizzard Entertainment — The California-based video game developer and publisher known for its "World of Warcraft" franchise

"My friends and I get addicted to their games and entrenched in the storylines. We really enjoy that," Christian Parker, 18, said.

SpaceX — The aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets

"I love seeing private companies prove that businesses can better not only themselves, but also humankind. Space transportation and the colonization of Mars are two examples of enterprises that can make a profit and advance our species," Tadhg Larabee, 17, said.

"I think space exploration is a fascinating industry with enormous potential in the long run future ... SpaceX does a great job of looking for innovations on ways to cut costs for space exploration and isn't afraid to set high goals such as their goal to land people on Mars," Matthew Fredricks, 18, said.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Thanks to online learning platforms, a physical classroom is no longer the only place to gain an education. You can now learn anything, anywhere. The democratization of education has helped break down traditional barriers of access like high costs and location, resulting in a more skilled and informed workplace and citizenry. 

These days, there are countless types of classes and online learning platforms to choose from. You could spend years absorbing the differences in coding languages, strategizing how to most effectively leverage email marketing tactics for your small business, or in a very meta twist, learning how to learn — and then move on to a different platform and do it all over again.

To help you make sense of the different models, we compared four popular online learning platforms: Udemy, Lynda, Coursera, and Skillshare.

We looked at pricing, types of courses offered, what you're getting in each course, and the teachers who will be guiding you through it all. We also found the top courses from each platform so you can get an idea of why specific students flock to each site. 

Keep scrolling to find a platform that will suit your particular needs, whether you want to gain the skills necessary for that next promotion or you just love learning for the sake of learning.

SEE ALSO: 17 online classes that teach the skills you need for the modern workforce

Udemy

Udemy is the world's largest marketplace for online learning, offering over 55,000 courses across a large range of categories. Its mission is "to improve lives through learning." 

Course categories:

• Development, IT & software, business, office productivity
• Design, marketing, photography, music
• Lifestyle, personal development, health & fitness 
• Teacher training, academics, language, test prep

Pricing: 

• Pay-per-course. There is no loyalty or subscription program.
• $10 (when discounted) to $200 per course

What you get:

• Full lifetime access to the course
• Learning tools: videos, articles, PowerPoint presentations, audio, assessments, and online discussion boards 
• Certificate of completion depending on the course 

Teachers:

• Experts in their field who create and manage the course

Apps available on:

• iOS, Android, and Apple TV devices 

Corporate or team programs available for:

• Business 

Languages:

• The website is localized for 13 languages to make it easier for non-English users to browse courses offered in both English and their native language. 

Top courses:

• Web Developer Bootcamp | 133,739 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 30,381 ratings 
• Machine Learning A-Z: Hands-On Python & R in Data Science | 97,705 students enrolled, 4.4 stars from 13,666 ratings
• JavaScript: Understanding the Weird Parts | 81,901 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 17,637 ratings
• Angular 4—The Complete Guide | 81,075 students enrolled, 4.7 stars from 21,873 ratings
• Learn and Understand AngularJS | 60,415 students enrolled, 4.6 stars from 11,849 ratings 

Use Udemy if: 

• You like choosing from a variety of options for nearly every topic imaginable
• You don't plan to take a lot of classes in the same time period. The cost of individual classes can add up quickly without promotions.
• You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money. 

Browse and sign up for courses on Udemy.

Lynda

Lynda is a LinkedIn-owned online learning platform that offers almost 6,000 courses, mostly in photography, development, business, web design, and video. Its mission is "to help you learn the skills you need to achieve your full potential." 

Course categories:

• Development, IT, business, web
• 3D & animation, CAD
• Design, marketing, photography, music, video
• Education & learning

Pricing: 

• Free 30-day trial 
• Basic subscription plan, from $19.99 per month
• Premium subscription plan, from $29.99 per month

What you get:

• Unlimited access to Lynda's entire course library
• Learning tools: videos, playlists, notes, and assessments 
• Offline viewing for Premium subscribers  

Teachers:

• Experts in their field who create and manage the course

Apps available on:

• iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Apple TV devices 

Corporate or team programs available for:

• Academic, business, and government 

Languages:

• Courses are offered in French, German, and Spanish through a separate subscription to their video2brain brand. 

Top courses:

• Photoshop CC 2015 Essential Training | 3.8 million views
• Online Marketing Foundations | 3.7 million views
• Photoshop CC 2015 One-on-One Fundamentals | 2.9 million views 
• Management Tips Weekly | 2.4 million views 
• The Practicing Photographer | 2.3 million views 

Use Lynda if: 

• You would like to supplement your current professional or educational experience.
• You plan to consistently take courses in order to make the subscription worth it.
• You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money. 

Start your free trial on Lynda.

Coursera

Courserapartners with top universities and organizations to offer more than 2,000 academic courses on its online learning platform. In addition to courses, it offers specializations and online degrees. Its mission is "universal access to the world's best education."

Course categories:

• Arts & humanities, social sciences
• Business, computer science, data science, math & logic
• Life sciences, physical science & engineering 
• Language learning

Pricing: 

• Free or pay-per-course for expanded access. Applications for financial aid are available. 
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Much confusion and mystery surrounds the 105-story, pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel, also known as the "Hotel of Doom," in North Korea.

Last week, Pyongyang took walls surrounding the building down, unveiling walkways to the hotel, fueling speculation that construction might start again, according to Fox News. 

Construction on the hotel began in 1987, under Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea and Kim Jong Un's grandfather. It was supposed to be finished in the late 1980s, but construction was stopped short in the early 1990s because of an economic depression. 

An Egyptian company was hired to make some improvements in 2008, and there have been rumors in the last few years that it could open soon, but the hotel's fate remains unknown. 

Below are photos of the hotel, most of which were taken in Spring 2017 and provided by Korea Risk Group, a company billed as the leading provider of risk analysis, news, information and data surrounding North Korea.

Originally slated to open in 1989, the hotel was supposed to have Japanese lounges, casinos, and night clubs.

Source: NK News

But construction ground to a halt in 1993 due to famine after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Source: NK News

Work began again in 2008, when an Egyptian company called Orascom Group, hired to install 3G cell phone service, added a glaze to the framework – but it remained unfinished.

Source: NK News

More and more, baseball is becoming a young man's game.

So far this season, every one of MLB's top 10 position players in Wins Above Replacement (an all-purpose stat designed to approximate a player's value) is under the age of 30. With pitchers, the number drops to four out of 10, but all told, it's still a remarkable share for baseball's youth movement.

And yet, some of our favorite players are the ones that manage to hang around for years, delighting baseball fans each and every summer. Impact veterans are only going to get less common as time goes on, so it can be fun to look back at what some of today's established stars looked like when they came up.

Check out how some of the top players in MLB look today versus how they looked when they first got the call.

At 29, Clayton Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner with a career ERA of 2.34.

He's more than fulfilled the considerable promise he showed as a 20-year-old rookie in 2008.

Bryce Harper, 24, is one of the most feared sluggers in baseball.

The Television Critics Association announced its winners of the 33rd Annual TCA Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Every year, the group of more than 200 TV critics from TV news outlets, newspapers, and websites honor the shows and stars they feel delivered the highest quality entertainment on the small screen.

This year, FX scored the most wins with three awards, two for "Atlanta" and one for "Fargo." Also this year, actress Carrie Coon became the first person to be honored for roles on two different shows: "Fargo" and HBO's "The Leftovers."

So what other TV series were among the critics' cream of the crop?

Here are the best shows on TV, according to critics (and what they won for):

"The Leftovers" (HBO)

Individual achievement in drama: Carrie Coon (double win with "Fargo")

"Fargo" (FX)

Individual achievement in drama: Carrie Coon (double win with "The Leftovers")

"Atlanta" (FX)

Individual achievement in comedy: Donald Glover

Outstanding achievement in comedy

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

After a long week — and a leak — season seven episode four of "Game of Thrones" finally arrived.

This episode, although anxiety inducing in its final minutes, is actually the shortest episode in the show's history. 

The episode starts off with a somewhat pleasant Stark reunion, then we witness an understanding between Daenerys and Jon Snow — possibly the most stubborn people in Westeros. And then we finally get to see Drogon in action against Jaime and his Lannister army. 

There's a lot to remember, especially after that epic battle at the end, so we highlighted the episode's biggest moments. 

Here's our recap of "The Spoils of War:"

SEE ALSO: The 5 ways to kill a dragon in ‘Game of Thrones’ — and how Cersei plans to do it

Cersei hides away in King's Landing, and almost confirms her deal with the Iron Bank.

Cersei promises Tycho Nestoris that all of the crown's debt will be paid once the gold arrives from Highgarden. He promises her that he will support her once the gold arrives. 

Although Randyll Tarly confirms that the gold made it to King's Landing before the battle, Dany's surprise and successful attack on the Lannister army could affect the Iron Bank's support. 

Bran subtly lets Littlefinger know that he knows all Littlefinger's secrets.

Bran and Littlefinger, the two creepiest creeps on "Game of Thrones" right now, have a creepy scene together. And you guessed it! It was creepy. Littlefinger gives Bran the dagger that was used back in season one in the attempt to murder Bran.

Littlefinger probably gives this to Bran in an attempt to have some kind of understanding: Littlefinger suspects that Bran knows some of his secrets, including that fact that he betrayed Ned back in season one. This betrayal led to Ned's death. 

Before the scene ends, Bran says, "Chaos is a ladder." Littlefinger famously says this back in season three, and Bran definitely threw Littlefinger off by saying this. Littlefinger is not safe in Winterfell anymore. 

After Littlefinger leaves, Meera Reed comes to let Bran know that she is going back to her family, because she wants to be with them when they fight the White Walkers. 

The most satisfying Stark reunion to date happens, but Bran is still creepy.

Arya makes it to Winterfell more easily than anyone has on this entire show. She goes straight to the crypts to visit her father. She tells Sansa about her kill list, and Sansa brushes it off. 

Then Sansa brings her to reunite with Bran (or is he even Bran?) in the Godswood. It's a little awkward, but Bran brings up Arya's kill list and gives her the Valyrian steel dagger that Littlefinger just gave him. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode four, "Spoils of War."

"Spoils of War" might go down in "Game of Thrones" history as one of the best episodes of all time thanks to the epic Lannister vs. Dothraki/Drogon battle and another memorable Stark family reunion. But hidden among all the madness were more references to older episodes and smaller important details you might have missed.

Keep reading for a look at the nine biggest moments.

Bran repeated the iconic "chaos is a ladder" line back to Littlefinger, revealing that he knows about Lord Baelish's true intentions.

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish tried and failed to rattle Bran by giving him the same blade used by the cutthroat to kill Bran on the first season. Then he tried to get Bran to divulge information about what he'd been up to beyond the Wall.

"To go through all of that and make your way home again only to find so much chaos in the world," Littlefinger said. " I can only imagine —"

"Chaos is a ladder," Bran said, interrupting.

This was what Littlefinger told Varys on season three, when he revealed that he had been manipulating Sansa and Joffrey the whole time.

For most of the earlier seasons, Littlefinger's motivations were mysterious. But he laid out his cards on the third season when he told Varys that creating chaos was his mechanism of ascending the rungs of power in Westeros. 

"Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos is a ladder," he told Varys. "Many who try to climb it fail, and never get to try again — the fall breaks them. And some are given a chance to climb, but they refuse. They cling to the realm, or the gods, or love ... illusions. Only the ladder is real, the climb is all there is."

If Bran has seen this conversation through his greensight visions, it means he probably knows about everything Littlefinger has done — including betray his father Ned.

Arya's struggle with entering Winterfell was a perfect mirror to the first season when she accidentally left the Red Keep.

When Arya finally made it to Winterfell, she was stopped at the gates by two guards who refused to believe she was really Arya Stark. The same thing happened to her on the first season when she was chasing cats and got lost in the dungeons of the Red Keep.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for HBO's "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode four, titled "Spoils of War."

Fire ruled the day on the newest episode of "Game of Thrones."

Clocking in at just 50 minutes, "Spoils of War" is the shortest episode of the series. But it sure packed a punch. 

Daenerys decided she couldn't sit back and let the Lannister army take Highgarden without some retribution and fights back, dragons blazing. Meanwhile, Arya returned home to Winterfell in a joyous reunion with Sansa, a kick-ass sparring with Brienne, and an awkward meeting with Bran, aka the new Three-eyed Raven. And as a result, Jaime's life was in danger as the show ended with a cliffhanger. 

But which moments had fans talking the most?

Social-media monitoring platform Brandwatch found more than 31,500 "Thrones"-related mentions on Twitter during the 50 minutes it aired on HBO and identified the scenes when conversation peaked.

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

5. Finally! Fans went nuts over the Stark family reunion between Sansa, Bran, and Arya.

9:22 p.m. ET – around 550 mentions

While the sisters (and real life BFFs) gleefully embraced each other earlier, there was a different tone to Arya's reunion with Bran. As the Three-eyed Raven, he certainly wasn't as warm upon seeing her.

 Also, fans are having a field day with Sansa looking like the most boring Stark.

4. Fans were thrilled by the episode's big battle. But the standouts for viewers were Bronn's bravery in the face of certain defeat and Daenerys' command of "Dracarys," which is High Valyrian for dragonfire.

9:46 p.m. ET – Around 590 mentions

Bronn had to survive several Dothraki attackers to make it to Cersei's dragon-killing weapon. But although wounded, Dragon still had something extra for a charging Jaime. Bronn pulled the Lannister out of harm's way, but the river may be trying to finish the job... or not.

3. All hail Drogon!

9:44 p.m. ET and 9:42 p.m. ET (tie) – around 710 mentions for both moments

Viewers celebrated the dragon for its mighty showing during the Lannister battle. They were so taken by Drogon's performance, moments during the scene peaked not once, but twice. It remains to be seen how much damage Bronn was able to cause though.

LONDON – Inequality among OECD countries is still very much a problem, and some of the richest and most developed countries have the widest gaps between the rich and the poor.

New data, collated by the OECD, shows the levels of inequality across all 36 member states.

Inequality is measured on a scale between zero and one, where zero represents perfect equality and one represents the maximum possible inequality (if one person were to have everything and everybody else had nothing).

Each country has two scores: one for 'market income' inequality, which measures salaries, capital and property income, and one for income after redistribution, which also takes into account levelling factors, such as taxes paid, cash benefits and social security.

All countries see a reduction in inequality after this redistribution is considered, although the amount by which inequality is reduced varies considerably.

Keep scrolling for the eight most unequal countries:

8. Lithuania — 0.35

Inequality before redistribution: 0.51 

Lithuania has one of the highest inequality levels in Europe, both before and after redistribution — although taxes bring this down significantly. 

The top 20% of the population has 6.1 times the amount of disposable income than the bottom 20%, and roughly a fifth of the population has been estimated to be at risk of poverty, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Source: OECD, IMF

= 6. United Kingdom — 0.36

Inequality before redistribution: 0.53

The UK has the third highest level of inequality in Europe after redistribution, and the joint fourth highest, with Spain, of all 36 counties beforehand. After redistribution, Spain is more equal than the UK. 

Income for the richest 20% of the population before cash benefits and direct taxes was roughly 12 times higher than that for the poorest 20% in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

When taxes are taken into account, disposable incomes were around five times higher for the richest 20% than for the poorest.

Source: OECD, ONS

= 6. Estonia — 0.36

Inequality before redistribution: 0.51

Estonia's level of inequality is very similar to the UK's, both before and after redistribution, and has worsened in the years since the 2008 financial crisis.

As the population has increasingly have moved to urban centres, the government has reduced rural public services, perpetuating inequality in more distant regions. 

Source: OECD, Leader of the Estonian Social Democratic Party, via news.err.ee.