Tesla is preparing to launch its biggest battery project yet.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Friday that it's halfway done building the world's biggest battery in South Australia. Tesla will build the 100 MW system using several of its massive commercial battery pack, the Powerpack. It will draw energy from Neoen's Hornsdale wind farm that's 142 miles north of Adelaide, ultimately storing enough electricity to power up to 50,000 homes.

Since acquiring SolarCity in November, Tesla has been doubling down on its renewable energy efforts.

Tesla has been selling the Powerpack and its at-home battery, the Powerwall, since 2015. The company released upgraded versions of both the Powerwall and Powerpack and also unveiled its solar roof product last year. Tesla began accepting orders for the solar roof in March.

South Australia is far from the only place relying on Tesla's giant commercial batteries. Here's a look at some of the biggest projects — from resorts to entire islands — that are currently using Tesla's Powerpacks to help keep the lights on: 

SEE ALSO: Tesla will start delivering the Model 3 in July — here's everything you need to know about the car

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Tesla is helping power a luxury lodge located sitting on the outskirts of Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The luxury resort, Singita Lodge, privately owns 33,000 acres of land in Kurger National Park, which is home to buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and more. The resort itself has on-site solar panels running on Tesla's 3,150 kilowatt-hours Powerpack system.

Singita Lodge practices ecotourism, though it's certainly a pricier form. According to Travel + Leisure, the resort has 15 loft suites, spa, fitness center, smoothie and espresso bar, and gym. A villa costs 17,9025 rand ($13,285) a night. 

The resort says team members lead conservation efforts like the rehabilitation and maintenance of land, wildlife monitoring, and fencing security to initiate anti-poaching methods.

Tesla is also powering another luxury resort on Malolo Island, a volcanic island in Fiji.

Called Vunabaka, the resort sells properties priced as high as $2.5 million. A 2014 New Zealand Herald article said the properties were sold largely "through word of mouth" to people from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

The resort generates electricity via a 1-megawatt solar array powered by 20 Tesla Powerpacks.

Tesla was selected by energy company Southern California Edison to build a 20-megawatt battery system that can power 2,500 households a day.

The battery project was built at Southern California Edison's Mira Loma substation and is the largest lithium ion battery storage project in the world. The system doesn't run on solar power, but is meant to offset the energy grid by taking charge during off-peak hours, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Tesla was chosen to build the substation after the Aliso Canyon natural gas reservoir suffered a massive rupture in 2015 that displaced more than 8,000 California residents. Los Angeles wanted an electric energy solution that could be more reliable during peak times.

In today's world, when you have a lyric stuck in your head but don't know the song it comes from, the answer is just a quick search away. 

Tracking this impulse, Amazon has released a list of the song lyrics that people have most frequently asked about on its Alexa devices.

"The most requested lyrics don't always correspond with the title or chorus of each song," the company notes in a release, explaining the double appearance of a certain Justin Timberlake song on its list. 

From "We all live in a yellow submarine" to "swish swish bish," these lyrics have confounded and intrigued Alexa owners enough to inquire about the songs they originate from.

Here are the 13 song lyrics that people get confused about the most, according to Amazon Alexa data:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best-selling music artists of all time

13. "...we all live in a yellow submarine"— The Beatles, "Yellow Submarine"

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12. “...the battle of Yorktown” — Hamilton Cast Recording, "Yorktown"

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11. "...tell me what you want what you really really want"— Spice Girls, "Wannabe”

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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.

A watch should be just as functional as it is stylish. With minimal hour and minute markers and thin hands, some of the most stylish watches lose functionality due to their hard-to-read-displays.

Sure, your smartphone and plenty other devices are around will clearly tell you what time it is, but there's nothing more convenient than having it on your wrist all the time.

If you want to be able to accurately tell the time without guesstimating it using an analog display, digital watches are for you.

Digital watches are ideal for athletes during training sessions and runners keeping track of lap times, as well as regular everyday use.

No matter what you intend to use your digital watch for, there are many options to choose from. With a $100 budget, you can find some of the most practical and stylish digital watches. Brands like Casio, Nixon, Puma, Adidas, and Timex all make watches you're sure to love.

Check out the 10 best digital watches under $100, below:

G-Shock Digital Sports Watch

Made by Casio, G-Shock is one of the most popular digital watches you can buy. The G7900A-4 model has everything you could possibly need in a watch. The dial features a wide array of functions, including hours, minutes, seconds, calendar, tide and moon data, world time with 29 time zones, five alarms, countdown timer, stopwatch, 12/24 hour formats, and a backlight.

G-Shock Digital Sports Watch, $61.50 (Originally $99)

Puma Go Grey Digital Silicone Watch

The Puma Go Digital Watch has a black plastic case with a black silicone strap. With an easy-to-read digital display and simple start/stop and lap functions, it is the perfect watch for runners. 

Puma Go Digital Silicone Watch, $24.99 (Originally $90)

Nixon Baja Polycarbonate Digital Watch

The Nixon Baja features a black polycarbonate case, a black nylon strap, and a fixed red polycarbonate bezel. The black dial is accented by grey displays that read the time, day, date, and year. Additional features include a compass and thermometer.

Nixon Baja Polycarbonate Digital Watch, $34.99 (Originally $150)

The Trans World Airlines Flight Center at JFK International Airport is one of the most famous terminals buildings in the world. With its instantly recognizable lines, the Eero Saarinen designed building has been a New York landmark since 1962.

However, with TWA's demise in 2001, the terminal has sat abandoned for the past decade and a half. Now, the iconic structure is getting a new lease on life as an airport hotel. MCR Development, the hotel investment firm behind the terminal's revival, plans to restore the build to its original state while adding a 505-room hotel.

"The passion for this incredible building and the outpouring of support for our plan to preserve Saarinen’s masterpiece and permanently reopen it to the public as a 500-room hotel has been astounding," MCR Development CEO Tyler Morse said in a statement.

The TWA Hotel project has the support of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

"The conversion of the TWA Flight Center into a new state-of-the-art hotel will preserve this iconic landmark while cementing JFK’s status as a crown jewel of aviation," The Governor said during the hotel's groundbreaking last year.

According to MCR, the project is privately funded with no government subsidies.

The hotel is slated to open in 2019. Here's a closer look at the building, and some renderings of what it'll look like once the hotel is built:

SEE ALSO: Here's a first look at the New England Patriots' Boeing 767 private jet

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The TWA Flight Center is an icon that harkens back to the golden age flight.

The neo-futurist design of the building conveys the image of a soaring bird.

The TWA Terminal is famous for its funky architectural elements and...

Where you should move to next could be written in the stars.

We spoke to astrologer Jennifer Angel, founder of Jennifer Angel Horoscopes, to see where you should live based on your zodiac sign. 

We had Angel describe the ideal city for each sign, and used our own travel expertise to then find an appropriate city.

Keep scrolling to see what she said.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Chicago, Illinois

"Aries are outdoor people. They like a lot of excitement and adventure. Aries can take on a lot of projects at once, regardless if they finish all the projects or not. They like cities where things are happening rather than being stuck out in the country.

They like a lot of high energy because they thrive on the energy rather than it draining them. Aries like fresh air where they can get into a park. Aries are great runners. So even though they love the city and the high energy, they also need to get out in the nature."

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Westport, Connecticut

"Taurus is Venus-ruled, so beauty is very important to them, as well as stability. Tauruses would rather own something than rent. They like to put down a solid foundation. They don't like to move a lot, so Taurus will stay in one place for a long time. Once they are able to buy a place, they will sort of stay there.

Luxury and money is also very important to them, so they need to be close to big cities where earning a high income is still accessible. They are also big foodies, and love to cook, entertain, and go out at night. They are home people, but need to be close enough to a city to earn a high income."

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): London, England

"Geminis are more interested in learning. Ruled by Mercury, communication and education are very important. They are very inquisitive. They like to be in cities that have a lot of different things to offer in the way of museums, galleries, and shows. They are highly creative and very good with electronics.

Depending on what else is in their chart, they would rather spend their money on going out and seeing a good show or going to see the opening of a new museum than spend it on their home. Being accessible to education on all levels is very important to them."

The INSIDER Summary: 

• It's easy to keep your diet on track during Halloween if you know which candies to choose from.
• Chocolate lovers will be pleased to know that Hershey Kisses only clock in at 22 calories.
• If you're looking for something sweeter, then a roll of Smarties is only 25 calories. 
• Here are the "healthiest" candy to munch on this Halloween. 

When you're surrounded by candy and chocolate at Halloween, it's hard to say no. Luckily, with these guilt-free options, you don't need to.

3 Musketeers Minis

One fun size 3 Musketeers bar contains 63 calories, two grams of fat, and 11 grams sugar. Instead of chocolate bars filled with caramel or peanuts, choose this lighter, chocolatey snack that has far fewer calories and fat than other chocolate bars. To shut down candy cravings for good, find out how to eat less sugar.

York Peppermint Pattie

Each mini York Peppermint Pattie has just 50 calories and one gram of fat — though it does have nine grams of sugar. This light, refreshing treat is lower in calories and fat than heavier chocolate treats. Added bonus? It leaves you with minty-fresh breath. Find out another easy way to cure bad breath when you don't have gum.

Peeps Pumpkins

One Peeps Pumpkin marshmallow contains 16 calories, no fat, and 3.5 grams sugar. A handful of these marshmallow treats contain very few calories, though keep in mind, they are pretty much all sugar. (Here are 9 signs you eat too much sugar.)

As bullets rained down on a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday night, people stepped up to protect total strangers and the ones they love.

Tales of heroism have emerged in the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting, which left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured.

Here are some of the inspiring stories.

SEE ALSO: 'I see muzzle flashes from the Mandalay Bay': Body camera footage shows police running toward the gunfire amid the Las Vegas mass shooting

Jack Beaton died protecting his high-school sweetheart.

Jack and Laurie Beaton attended the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary. They sat sipping beers and enjoying the concert on the grass.

Laurie posted to Facebook, "Here's to 23 wonderful years and looking forward to 23 more."

Less than an hour later, Laurie felt a bullet fly by her shoulder. Jerry Cook, Laurie's father, recalled a conversation with her in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

"Jack got on top of Laurie to protect her. He laid on top of her and said, 'Laurie, I love you.' She said, 'I love you, too,' and boom — he got hit. I don't know how many times," Cook said.

Rescue workers ushered Laurie and others members of her group to safety. Jack had already been removed from the scene when she returned looking for his body.

Jack, 54, leaves behind two children, Delaney and Jake.

Marine veteran Taylor Winston stole a truck and drove dozens of people to the hospital.

When Stephen Paddock fired on a country music festival, Taylor Winston didn't run away. The 29-year-old marine veteran knew he had to help.

"People started scattering and screaming and that's when we knew something real was happening," Winston told CBS. He described the scene as a "mini war zone."

Winston, who served two tours in the Iraq War, helped toss people over a fence to get to safety. He then raced to a field of trucks parked nearby. The first one he checked had the keys in it.

He texted his friends who had set up a makeshift hospital far from the gunfire to bring over some victims, he told CNN. They squeezed into the back of the truck and the backseat.

After dropping people off at a hospital, Winston turned around for a second trip. By the end of the night, he and his friends had transported around two-dozen people to the hospital.

Jacob Shamsian contributed reporting to this post.

Dawn-Marie Gray and Kevin Gray stayed behind to save others.

When Dawn-Marie Gray and her husband, Kevin, won tickets to the Route 91 Harvest festival through a Portland radio station, they could never have known it would be one of the most harrowing events of their lives. The couple took shelter in a VIP area during the shooting.

"When we came out it was horrific," Dawn-Marie told USA Today. "A field of bodies."

Dawn-Marie, who worked as a paramedic for about seven years, knew that local paramedics would not be admitted entry until the area was deemed safe. She and her husband turned to the wounded, providing CPR, making tourniquets, and checking for pulses on lifeless bodies.

The couple worked together to load victims into cars en route to the hospital.

"It had nothing to do with being a hero," Dawn-Marie said. "That's being a human being."

Fashion designer Elie Tahari's Hamptons home has just gone on the market for $45 million. 

Tahari originally purchased the home for $12.1 million in 2005. The designer said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal that he's selling it because his focus is currently on his business. 

"I haven't been there for the last two summers," he said in the statement.

During one of those two summers, the Sagaponack home was rented to a hedge fund manager for nearly $800,000 for the months of July and August, the property's listing agents, Keith Green and Ann Ciardullo from Sotheby's International Realty, told the Wall Street Journal.

Take a look at the private beachfront, pool, and three-bedroom home, below.   

SEE ALSO: Nobody wants to buy this $7.5 million duplex being sold by the former CEO of Equinox

The home is 4,500 square feet ...

... and sits on two and a half acres pf property.

There are three bedrooms ...

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.

Showing your true personality can be a little difficult when you're dressing for work. Picking out unique neck ties or adding a fun tie bar might seem like the only way to liven up your outfit, but socks are also a great way to do so.

If boring blue argyle or solid black socks no longer pique your interest, Happy Socks makes some of the best alternatives.

Known for its cool and colorful designs, the Swedish brand is now taking its fun socks to another level with a collection done in collaboration with The Beatles.

While the legendary rock band's entire discography — which makes up more than 600 million records sold worldwide — is highly praised, the 1969 album "Yellow Submarine" stands out because it followed the 1968 film of the same name. 

With a powerful message of love, the "Yellow Submarine" album and film have transcended generations and are the inspiration behind the Happy Socks x The Beatles collaboration. 

The six-pair collection comes in a vinyl LP record sleeve-style box and includes socks themed with Yellow Submarines, Monsters, Apples, Pepperland, Blue Meanie Jeremy, and Gloves. A smaller three-pair box comes in a vinyl EP record sleeve-style box with the iconic Yellow Submarine on the front.

This collection is a must-have for die-hard fans of The Beatles. Whether you're buying it for yourself or as a gift, these Yellow Submarine socks will surely make people happy.

Shop the entire Happy Socks x The Beatles Collection now.

Check out the bundles and individual pairs below:

SEE ALSO: 7 sneakers that will never go out of style — and they're all under $100

Happy Socks x The Beatles Collector Box Set

Happy Socks x The Beatles Collector Box Set, $84 or $74.50-$78 on Amazon

Happy Socks x The Beatles Socks Set

Happy Socks x The Beatles Socks Set, $42 or $39.50 on Amazon

Happy Socks x The Beatles Yellow Submarine Sock

Happy Socks x The Beatles Yellow Submarine Sock, $14

On Wednesday morning, we got our first look at the Google Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL— Google's latest and greatest flagship Android phones, designed in-house by the search giant's growing hardware team. 

Speaking personally, I've been rocking an iPhone regularly since 2011, so I jumped at the chance to try the Google Pixel 2 in person.

Google bills the Pixel as the top-of-the-line phone that shows the true potential of Android. And I was eager to see how it stacked up for myself.

And try it I did. I got the chance to go briefly hands-on with the Google Pixel 2 following the big reveal. And while it's hard to tell in a quick demo, I came away impressed.

Here's the deal with the Google Pixel 2:

Here's the flagship Google Pixel 2, which will sell starting at $649. It's got a really, really, really nice 5-inch AMOLED screen that puts my iPhone 6s to shame. And while I didn't get the chance to really test it, Google says the Pixel 2 camera is better than the iPhone's or any other smartphone camera.

Right off the bat, you should know that no version of the Pixel 2 has a headphone jack. In that way, at least, it's exactly like Apple's newest iPhones.

It does, however, fit nicely in the hand.

Couples costumes are a fun and exciting Halloween tradition. And although anyone in any couple made up of people of any gender identities can dress as anything they want, there aren't always as many clear-cut ideas for same-sex couples and couples made up of queer people. 

INSIDER rounded up some of the best to ensure all couples have plenty of ideas for a killer joint Halloween costume. 

Batman and Robin

What you need: Masks and bodysuits, or just shirts with the superheroes' logos on them. 

Zoolander and Hansel from "Zoolander."

What you need: Sparkly clothes, a statement necklace, sunglasses, a blonde wig for Hansel, and your best version of Derelicte. 

Ash and Pikachu from "Pokemon"

What you need for Ash: A hat, blue vest, and green finger-less gloves.

What you need for Pikachu: Some yellow clothing, ears, and face paint. 

Sure, we all know that Facebook was famously launched from Mark Zuckerberg’s dorm room, but the social media giant isn’t the only successful company to rise from pizza box-cluttered surroundings.

From successful startups to massive, multinational brands, we’re going to tell you about 7 companies you never realized were founded by college students.

SEE ALSO: The 30 highest-paid CEOs in tech

Insomnia Cookies

It’s a dilemma familiar to every college student – it’s late, you’re hungry, and you’re bored with the few remaining food options. When Seth Berkowitz was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, that craving proved an opportunity.

Later that year, Berkowitz founded Insomnia Cookies, baking and delivering fresh cookies to his fellow students. One year later, the company’s first retail location opened in Syracuse, NY – today there are more than 100 storefronts, most located near college campuses.

FedEx

In 1962, Yale student Fred Smith submitted a business proposal for an economics class, outlining the creation of a global logistics company that would handle cargo from pick-up to delivery. According to legend, Smith received a C.

Undaunted, Smith raised $91 million in venture capital after graduating, and launched Federal Express, later FedEx, in 1971. Today, the company’s annual revenue exceeds $50 billion.

ModCloth

Not only was the indie and vintage retailer ModCloth founded out of a dorm room by Susan Gregg Koger and Eric Koger, the two of them were also high school sweethearts. (They’re now married.)

While students at Carnegie Mellon, the pair launched the site to feed Susan Kroger’s love affair with thrift shopping. Fifteen years later, in March 2017, they sold ModCloth to Jet.com, in a deal reportedly worth between $51 and $75 million.

No one does Halloween quite like the Hollywood elite.

With plenty of money to spend on outfits, hair, and makeup, celebrity Halloween costumes are often over-the-top creations that make jaws drop. (Though there are some terrible celebrity Halloween costumes that make jaws drop for a different reason.) So it should come as no surprise that celebrity's kids' costumes are just as amazing. 

Need some inspiration for your little one's costumes? Check out some of the best celebrity kids' Halloween costumes of all time. 

Reese Witherspoon matched her daughter Ava in a witch costume, and her son Deacon dressed up as a robot.

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The "Big Little Lies" star shared this photo from 2007 as a festive Throwback Thursday. Even back then Reese and Ava looked a lot alike. 

Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, and their twins, Gideon and Harper, dressed as characters from "Peter Pan."

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The 1-year-old twins dressed as Tinker Bell and Mr. Smee, while Burtka dressed as Peter Pan and Harris donned a Captain Hook costume. 

Jessica Alba, Cash Warren, and their daughter Honor dressed as characters from "The Incredibles."

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To maintain order in the classroom — and to keep their jobs — there are some things teachers just can't tell their students, even if they want to.

But some of these things, while perhaps controversial, could end up being a service to young people, if only someone would just tell them.

So we asked teachers everywhere to weigh in on the one thing they'd love to tell their students but can't, and more than 50 teachers shared their insights.

We've (anonymously) included some of the most constructive thoughts here:

SEE ALSO: 23 teachers share the weirdest thing they've ever experienced on the job

SEE ALSO: 19 things teachers say parents should do at home to help their kids succeed

'Really, all this stuff you learn is probably not that important'

"What is important is the life skills you learn while completing the tasks in class.

"You learn how to argue effectively and communicate with different types of people. You learn how to listen to others and respond respectfully. You learn so much that you don't even realize because it seems disguised by homework and essays. But really, you are learning to be independent adults more than you know."

'Don't waste this opportunity'

"Please just know that I love teaching and I sincerely want to help you. But I can't help you if you don't put in the effort. I chose this job because I'm passionate and hardworking and I know my s---, and I will help you get to where you need to be. But you need to meet me halfway.

"It's so frustrating because education opens so many doors, and people around the world would kill to have this educational opportunity. Malala was shot in the freaking head for it. And you're just throwing it all away, and that makes me want to tear my hair out."

'You are not your test scores'

"All the standardized testing we do is so insignificant to who you will become."

If there's one thing PIMCO is stressing to its clients right now, it's caution.

The $1.6 trillion asset manager doesn't see another economic recession happening just yet. But with low market volatility and many economies around the world growing steadily, there's an open door for complacency to creep in. 

"While the current macro environment and outlook appear better than many of the younger market participants can remember, the last time a similar combination prevailed was in 2006 – and that didn’t end well," wrote PIMCO's Joachim Fels and Andrew Balls in their outlook for the next six to 12 months.

The following slides dig a little deeper, with pointers to some specific areas that investors should beware.

Thanks to PIMCO for giving us permission to feature this presentation.

SEE ALSO: Trump's tax plan could bring $250 billion into the US — here are the companies set to benefit most

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.

Winter will be here before you know it.

When it comes to footwear, you should already have a nice pair of fall boots, so now is the perfect time to focus on a pair of winter boots — especially if you want a good deal.

As on of the best choices on the market, the iconic L.L.Bean Boot is known for selling out every year well before the height of winter.

Created in 1912 by avid fisherman and hunter Leon Leonwood Bean to keep feet warm and dry, the boots were handmade in Maine and single-handedly launched the company to success.

Still to this day, the L.L.Bean Boot is made by expert craftspeople, never by a machine, in Maine using the same design processes. With immense popularity, the demand for Bean Boots always far exceeds what the factory can produce by hand. 

While the classic 8-inch boot is still available, there are many new options for men, women, and kids. Whether you're going for a higher 10-inch boot, a warm insulated boot, a stylish moccasin, or a unique color, you can find it here.

Now through October 10, L.L.Bean is having an amazing sitewide sale that will make you want to order your Bean Boots today. Save 20% by simply using the promo code "FALL20" at checkout. Plus, get $10 gift card when you spend $50 or more.

Don't wait until there's snow on the ground to order your Bean Boots. With how quickly orders pile up, you might not get a chance to wear them until next winter.

Shop all items at L.L.Bean now and save.

Check out the best L.L.Bean Boots for men, women, and kids below:

SEE ALSO: 8 sneakers that look good and keep your feet dry in the rain

L.L.Bean Boot Original 8"

Now through October 10, save 20% by simply using the promo code "FALL20" at checkout.

L.L.Bean Boot Original 8", $103.20 (Originally $119)

L.L.Bean Boot Tumbled-Leather Flannel-Lined 8"

Now through October 10, save 20% by simply using the promo code "FALL20" at checkout.

L.L.Bean Boot Tumbled-Leather Flannel-Lined 8", $119.20 (Originally $149)

L.L.Bean Boot Small Batch 8" Thinsulate

Now through October 10, save 20% by simply using the promo code "FALL20" at checkout.

L.L.Bean Boot Small Batch 8" Thinsulate, $119.20 (Originally $149)

Amazon's Echo family is finally getting some real competition. Behold: The Google Home line of devices, aimed squarely at Amazon's equivalent Echo line of devices.

We're not talking about Bluetooth speakers here — we're talking about speakers that live in your house, permanently plugged in and connected to the internet, which you can command using your voice. In the case of Amazon's Echo line, you're speaking to Alexa; in the case of Google's Home line, you're speaking to Google Assistant. 

Following the announcement of two new Google Home devices earlier this week, Amazon and Google are on more even ground than ever before. But which to buy? Here's how the two families of devices stack up.

SEE ALSO: Everything Google announced at its big hardware event

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

Price:

Amazon Echo: $100

Google Home: $130

What can it do?

Amazon Echo: Amazon's main Echo device is capable of playing music, giving you directions, ordering you an Uber, and a whole mess of other things. You can ask Alexa to re-order items from Amazon, or you can ask Alexa how far Pluto is from Earth. It's the gold standard in smart speakers, and the second-generation speaker both costs less and looks better than the first model.

Google Home: Google's main Home device is nearly identical, in terms of functionality, to Amazon's main Echo. It can play your music and answer questions and whatever else, all powered by "Google Assistant"— the name for Google's smart-ish AI assistant (Google's Siri, in so many words). 

Which should I buy?

At $30 less, and nearly identical in terms of functionality, Amazon's Echo is a no-brainer here. The Google Home seen above is nearly a year-old device at this point, whereas Amazon's second generation Echo is still fresh. Not only will you pay less with the Echo, but you'll get a newer device. Win-win.

Amazon Echo Dot vs Google Home Mini

Price:

Amazon Echo Dot: $50

Google Home Mini: $50

What can it do?

Amazon Echo Dot: Amazon's Echo Dot is an Echo in every way except loudness — we're talking about a tiny little device. If you were expecting serious sound out of this little hockey puck, you've got another thing coming: The Dot is an extension device, enabling you to network your Echo devices and play music in multiple rooms. You could use the Dot as an alarm clock, or you could just use it to hear the morning headlines ("Alexa, tell me the news"). 

Google Home Mini: Like the Dot, Google Home Mini is an extension device. It does everything that the Dot does, but it has one notable difference: A broadcast feature. Here's how it works: Say you're a parent, and you're in the garage waiting by your car for your kids to come downstairs. You've got a Home Mini in the garage, and various Home devices all over your house. You ask Home Mini to broadcast the message, "Get down to the garage before I freak out." And it will! Pretty fresh.

Which should I buy?

This one is far more of a toss-up. Both of these devices do roughly the same thing, cost the same price, and really exist to extend the functionality of the Amazon Echo or Google Home you already own. In so many words, don't buy an Amazon Echo Dot if you have a Google Home, and vice versa — these are items that you get after you choose to buy an Echo or a Home.

Amazon Echo Plus vs Google Home Max

Price:

Amazon Echo Plus: $150

Google Home Max: $400

What can it do?

Amazon Echo Plus: Amazon's Echo Plus can do everything a standard Echo can do, but it has better speakers and a built-in smart home hub. Normally, if you want to, say, control your Phillips Hue lights with an Echo, you have to teach it that "skill"— meaning, you go into the Alexa app and activate that particular ability before you can freely use it. In the case of the Echo Plus, it can detect and connect to stuff like that automatically. The Plus is a vision of the future of the Echo, and what Amazon's after: a connected smart home, controlled by voice, using Echo devices that are connected to smart lights and TVs and whatever else.

Google Home Max: If you're big into audio, the Google Home Max is for you. If you're not, the Google Home Max is very much not for you. This device is more of a speaker than a smart device, though it certainly does everything that all the other Google Home devices do. It's got Google Assistant built in, and you can order a pizza from Domino's (or whatever), but the real idea with the Home Max is to take on stuff like the Sonos Play 5 speaker and Apple's upcoming HomePod. To drive this point all the way home (get it?), Google introduced the Home Max with a video starring Diplo. If you don't know who that is, this speaker definitely isn't meant for you.

Which should I buy?

Whoa on that price difference. We're not talking about a $10 disparity here, but hundreds of dollars.

That said, though the Echo Plus and the Home Max occupy the same tier on their respective product line-ups, these aren't really comparable devices. The Echo Plus is intended as the main hub for your smart home (in addition to being a better music device than the entry-level Echo), whereas the Home Max is intended as the main hub of your music life. Despite the price comparison being obviously weighted in the Echo Plus' favor, what you really need to identify here is what you want this device to do. If you're looking to kit out your house like Marty McFly's house in "Back to the Future 2," the Echo Plus is for you. If you want an incredibly loud, clear speaker with voice control, the Home Max is for you. 

By many measures, 2017 appears to be the year of cryptocurrency, but Wall Street's most powerful players are not on board with the craze. 

The market for cryptocurrencies, digital coins powered by so-called blockchain technology, is up by more than 720% since the beginning of this year, at $145 billion. 

Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency, is up more than 450% since the beginning of the year. It is seen as the most crowded trade to a pool of 214 fund managers overseeing $629 billion, according to a survey conducted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

At the same time, initial coin offerings, a cryptocurrency-based fundraising method, have taken off with hundreds of startups using the method to raise, in some instances, millions of dollars in a matter of seconds. 

On top of that, over 75 crypto "hedge funds" have popped up to invest in the more than 1,000 cryptocurrencies on the market and initial coin offerings. 

The massive growth of the market has piqued the interest of folks from Main Street to Wall Street, but Wall Street's top execs — who have seen their fair share of bubbles — are concerned. 

Since the beginning of the month, a number of top Wall Streeters have weighed in on the bitcoin debate. Here's what six of them have had to say: 

SEE ALSO: A manager at a $6 billion quant fund gives the best intro to cryptocurrencies we've heard

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, got the bitcoin conversation among top Wall Streeters this year going when he bashed it at the Barclays Financial Services Conference on September 12.

Dimon called it "a fraud" and said it was "worse than the tulip bulbs."

He added that he would fire any banker at the firm who traded the red-hot digital currency. 

The morning after Dimon's remarks, the price of bitcoin tanked 11%. 

Ray Dalio, co-CIO of Bridgewater Associates

Ray Dalio, the founder of the world's largest hedge fund, echoed Dimon's criticisms of bitcoin on September 19. 

The billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates said bitcoin "is a bubble" during an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box. 

Dalio's beef with bitcoin, specifically, is that it isn't a good store of value and it's hard to make transactions with, the two criteria Dalio sees as essential for a currency. 

"Bitcoin, today, you can't make much transactions in it," Dalio said."You can't spend it very easily."

Dimon (Part II)

Dimon doubled down on his anti-bitcoin position on September 22, saying cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether "are a kind of novelty."

While talking to CNBC India, the banker went after cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings, a red-hot cryptocurrency-based fundraising method.

"It's creating something out of nothing. That to me is worth nothing," Dimon said of ICOs. "It'll end when people lose a lot of money."

To raise money through an ICO, companies create their own digital coin or token. Investors have poured into ICOs this year, with some companies raising millions of dollars in a matter of seconds from a token sale.

In total, more than $2 billion has been raised via ICOs, according to Autonomous NEXT, a financial technology analytics firm. 

Tesla's semi-self-driving technology, Autopilot, got there first, but General Motors isn't letting the upstart California carmaker steal all of Detroit's thunder. GM has begun rolling out its own semi-autonomous system, Super Cruise, through its Cadillac luxury brand.

Unlike Autopilot, which can be used pretty much everywhere, Super Cruise was carefully designed to function in well-defined, separated highways that have been mapped. Autopilot also used a suite of cameras and sensors to operate, while Super Cruise relies on laser radar (Lidar), a more expensive but arguably more advanced technology, although it can't operate as well in fog, rain, or snow as Autopilot.

Different philosophies, closely linked to GM's and Tesla's corporate cultures, have also guided the development and introduction of Autopilot and Super Cruise. Autopilot has benefitted from the Silicon Valley attitude that real-world beta testing is the best way to refine a technology, and so the tech has been out in the wild for years, gathering data and experience to improve itself. 

Super Cruise's introduction has been consistent with Detroit's more conservative approach: test, test, and test some more. To a degree, Autopilot was designed to encounter challenges and learn from them, while Super Cruise is trying to avoid challenges that could lead to accidents. Neither path is necessarily worse than the other, but each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, as Tesla learned last year when a driver was killed in a tragic Autopilot-related crash in Florida.

Cadillac recently invited me to sample Super Cruise in its natural, and only, environment: a long highway drive from New York City to Washington, DC.

Here's what happened:

SEE ALSO: Cadillac has redefined the luxury sedan with the new CT6

We commenced our journey at Cadillac House in lower Manhattan. A few years back, Caddy made news by relocating some operation to New York City from Detroit to be close to the pulse of the luxury market.

The NYPD was on the scene. You'll see why in just a bit.

Cadillac head Johan de Nysschen was joined by New York's Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochu, for a short pre-drive presentation.

Five of the top 10 public universities in America are part of the University of California system, according to a ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

That's likely welcome news to California residents, as in-state tuition at public schools is typically far cheaper than tuition at private universities.

The U.S. News ranks schools using quantitative factors — like graduation and retention rates — and qualitative factors — like peer assessment surveys from college presidents and deans of admissions. The list includes schools which offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus masters and Ph.D. programs.

Read on to see the top 10 public universities in America.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best colleges in America

9. University of Florida (tie)

Gainesville, Florida

National Rank: 42 (tie)

In-state Tuition and Fees: $16,183 

9. University of California-San Diego (tie)

San Diego, California

National Rank: 42 (tie)

In-state Tuition and Fees: $16,183

9. University of California-Irvine (tie)

Irvine, California

National Rank: 42 (tie)

In-state Tuition and Fees: $15,516