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Dropbox just signed the biggest office space deal in San Francisco history — 736,000 square feet

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The Exchange on Sixteenth San Francisco Dropbox

Dropbox has made a name for itself as a leader in file sharing and cloud storage.

Now it's taking the lead in a completely different area: real estate. 

The company has agreed to lease 736,000 square feet of office space in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco. The deal is the single largest office lease in the city's history.

The Exchange is a still-under-construction $570 million four-building complex that is being developed by Kilroy Realty Corporation. In addition to office space, the complex will also have 14,000 square feet of retail space which will be leased to other companies. 

Dropbox's lease will last 15 years, starting at the end of 2018. The company didn't say how much it will pay to rent the space. 

“We’re excited to partner with Kilroy to create a new home for our growing team," Drew Houston, CEO of Dropbox, said in a statement. "The Exchange is a space that will reflect our creative culture and inspire us to continue building great products for our users." 

Dropbox's current office, where it moved in April 2016, is in San Francisco's South Beach neighborhood — about a 25 minute walk from the new building.

The company's current office features a 5-foot-tall chrome panda statue in the entry way — rumored to cost around $100,000 — which came to represent a shift in the company from a buoyant darling of Silicon Valley excess to a serious business with an eye on profitability.

A representative for Dropbox declined to say whether or not the panda will move to the new office.

Take a peek at what Dropbox's new building will look like:

SEE ALSO: Tour Dropbox's luxe Austin office, which has its own gym and music room

Dropbox's new offices will be located at 16th and Owens St. in Mission Bay.



The four-building complex will include both offices and retail space.

They'll also feature courtyards, bike paths, and gardens.



The ground-level retail space is 14,000 square feet and will be leased by other companies.



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Every detail you need to remember before diving into 'The Walking Dead' season 8

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walking dead rick daryl.JPG

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "The Walking Dead."

"The Walking Dead" returns to AMC Sunday, October 22, and when it does it will feel like a return to earlier seasons. Sure, you may know Rick and company are banding together to go up against Negan's ruthless Saviors in season eight, but there's much more to be aware of before the show returns.

If you don't have time to marathon the series before it returns, INSIDER has you covered with a guide of everything you should know before tuning in to the season eight premiere.

Rick banded together Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom to wage war against Negan.

At the end of season seven, Rick realized that they can't keep living in fear of Negan and the Saviors. Michonne reminded him that they're the ones who survive and that they need to fight for a better life for his children, Carl and Judith.

He knew he didn't have the numbers alone. Although it was easy to convince the Hilltop to get on board without Gregory leading the charge, it took a bit more convincing to get King Ezekiel to risk the lives of those in the Kingdom. 

After the senseless killing of a young boy by Negan's men, Ezekiel knew he couldn't continue pretending to have a civil relationship with the Saviors. Get ready to see a lot of characters come together in the season eight premiere. You can read our spoiler-free review here.



Gregory — the leader of the Hilltop — ran off at the end of last season.

The current leader of the Hilltop has no interest in fighting the Saviors. Near the end of season seven, Gregory hinted to Negan's right-hand man Simon that someone else (Maggie) may be trying to take over the Hilltop. Simon told him if ever had any trouble along those lines to go see him at the Sanctuary.

After Simon considered killing Maggie himself, we see him planning a trip somewhere — presumably to Sanctuary.



Maggie has all but taken control of the Hilltop.

The Hilltop doesn't need Gregory anyway.

After working with Sasha to take out a group of undead at the Hilltop, Maggie earned the respect of the community and offered to teach them all how to defend themselves. The two trained an army, and, in the season seven finale, Maggie led a group of the Hilltop's people into Alexandria to help defend it from the Saviors.

 



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New satellite photos reveal the California wildfire's shocking damage from space

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santa rosa wildfire line northwest october 10 digitalglobe satellite photo

More than a dozen wildfires ignited on Sunday in Northern California, a region at its driest this time of year.

Flames have consumed more than 170,000 acres of land, killed at least 23 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Napa and Sonoma counties — the heart of California wine country— are especially hard-hit.

Officials have yet to determine the origin of the Santa Rosa wildfires. However, dry and powerful "Diablo winds" that blow in overnight may have stoked and spread the infernos.

Satellites in space are recording shocking views of the disaster, an event that some experts are calling one of the worst firestorms in the state's history.

On Wednesday night, DigitalGlobe — a satellite imaging company that captures 100 terabytes' worth of new photos of Earth each day — released some of the first close-up views of the disaster from orbit.

"Although there is a lot of smoke in the area, shortwave infrared (SWIR) can penetrate the smoke and detect heat beneath," DigitalGlobe wrote on its website.

The company took the following images on October 10 and 11 with its WorldView-3 and GeoEye-1 satellites.

"Some of these are natural color, while others are shown in the Very Near Infrared (VNIR), where burned areas appear gray and black and healthy vegetation is red," DigitalGlobe told Business Insider in an emailed statement.

Melia Robinson contributed reporting to this post.

SEE ALSO: Incredible satellite photos show Texas before and after Harvey flooded the region

DON'T MISS: Photos show how wildfires are ravaging parts of California's wine country

This image, taken by WorldView-3 on Tuesday, shows the Santa Rosa area of Northern California burning.

These images were taken in infrared, which can travel from the ground, pierce the veil of thick smoke, and be detected by the satellite's SWIR sensor.



Gray areas are burned, and red areas are vegetation. The bright line snaking through the hills of the area is the fire line burning through new material.



This zoomed-out view shows northwest Santa Rosa and Coffey Park — parts of which were decimated by the flames.



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The 14 countries with the highest inflation rates in the world

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Egyptian Farmer Wheat Egypt

LONDON – In major western economies, inflation is usually relatively low.

With the exception of events like the Winter of Discontent in the UK in 1978, central banks have been able to keep a lid on price increases.

That is not the case all over the world however, with less developed economies often finding it difficult to control the growth of prices for everyday goods.

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

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

One of those measures is inflation, with former Soviet Union countries and those in sub-Saharan Africa generally seeing the highest levels of inflation this year.

However, the stricken South American nation of Venezuela — which has seen its economy collapse with the drop in oil prices in recent years — has by far the highest inflation of any nation measured by the WEF. Venezuela's inflation rate is in excess of 250%, more than 10 times that of any other country.

Check out the full list of all countries where inflation was higher than 10% last year, below.

14. Egypt — 10.2%



13. Argentina — 10.6%



12. Sierra Leone — 11.3%



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16 creative Halloween costumes you can make with things in your closet

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Queen of Hearts DIY Halloween Costume

If you don't want to wear the same Halloween costume as everyone else this year, you might want to consider making your own.

However, DIY costumes are often difficult to put together, especially if you don't have a ton of arts and crafts experience.

That's why we rounded up 16 creative Halloween costumes that you can make using items you probably already have in your closet. Some of these costumes are harder to create than others, so make sure you have some scissors and a hot glue gun on hand.

Mary Poppins

What you need: A white shirt with a collar, a black skirt, black tights, a big purse, a black hat, a red bow tie, and a big umbrella.

See the complete tutorial on The Joy of Fashion. 



Deer

What you need: A brown dress, white and brown felt, scissors, a hot glue gun, and deer makeup.

See the complete tutorial on The Joy of Fashion.



Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland"

What you need: A red or black dress, heart-shaped accessories, two decks of playing cards, a stapler, and some bobby pins.

See the complete tutorial on The Joy of Fashion.



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All the women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault

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From left to right, David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Gwyneth Paltrow, Edward Zwick and Marc Norman all celebrate after receiving the Oscar for best picture for Over the past week, a wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein have emerged through a series of investigations published by The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Following the reports, more and more women have spoken publicly about their experiences with Weinstein. 

Most of these alleged encounters follow a similar pattern, of "business meetings" turning into a proposed massage and hotel room sexual harassment or assault. These accusations start as early as the 1980s and include actresses, assistants, and other employees of Weinstein's companies. 

With the catalog of alleged abuse growing, women like Gwyneth Paltrow, who accused Weinstein of touching her inappropriately in 1995, want to support women in similar situations by coming forward. 

“We’re at a point in time when women need to send a clear message that this is over,” Paltrow told The New York Times. “This way of treating women ends now.”

These are all the women who have come forward with accusations of Harvey Weinstein committing sexual harassment or assault, spanning decades.

Note: A handful of women told their stories anonymously—including one who described an alleged rape to The New Yorker—but we did not include those stories in this list. 

SEE ALSO: What 33 Hollywood stars have said about the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment and assault allegations

Gwyneth Paltrow

When Paltrow was 22 years old, Weinstein hired her to star in the 1995 movie "Emma." Before filming began, the actress told The New York Times that Weinstein invited her up to his room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for what she thought would be a professional meeting.

Paltrow told the Times that the meeting ended with Weinstein touching her and suggesting they massage each other. "I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified," she said.

Paltrow said she refused Weinstein's advances. She told her boyfriend at the time, Brad Pitt, about what happened. After Pitt confronted Weinstein, Weinstein told Paltrow not to tell anyone else about the incident, she recounted to the Times. "I thought he was going to fire me," Paltrow said. Pitt confirmed this story to the Times in an email.

Paltrow, however, continued to appear in Weinstein movies. In 1998, Paltrow won the Oscar for best actress for her work in "Shakespeare in Love," which Weinstein produced, and she thanked Weinstein in her speech. 

Paltrow told the Times that she felt like she had to keep up appearances to save her career. “He was alternately generous and supportive and championing, and punitive and bullying,” she said.



Angelina Jolie

The actress, director, and humanitarian didn't go into detail of her encounter with Weinstein, but she told The New York Times that she had a "bad experience" while shooting the 1998 movie "Playing by Heart."

“I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did," she said. "This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.”



Ashley Judd

Judd went on the record in The New York Times that 20 years ago, Weinstein invited her to the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for what Judd thought would be a professional breakfast meeting.

Judd said she was shocked when Weinstein sent her up to his room instead. Judd said Weinstein appeared in a bathrobe, offered her a massage, and asked her if she wanted to watch him take a shower. 

She said she felt "panicky, trapped," and said if Weinstein wanted to touch her, she would have to win an Oscar for one of his movies first.

“There’s a lot on the line, the cachet that came with Miramax," Judd told the Times. Years later, Judd appeared in two more Weinstein films, but said Weinstein didn't harass her again.



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The best printers you can buy for the office

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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.

office printer 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • Finding the best office printer requires a bit of thinking about how you plan to use it. Do you need speed? Color? Multiple functions? No paper jams? For a versatile printer that'll suit any office, buy the Brother MFC-L5900DW Business Monochrome Laser Printer. It offers amazingly good text printing at high speeds with a rare paper jam.

Living in a paperless office sounds like a great idea. No more clutter, preserving trees, etcetera. However, when it comes to the reality of a paperless office, it sounds better as an idea delivered by an executive as part of a feel-good corporate plan than it actually works in reality.

Even if your office still needs to print every now and then, it's a huge improvement over the days where people felt the need to print every important email they received. I think I still have a few of those stashed in a drawer somewhere.

Although people now are using less paper than they used to, there’s still a need for paper and printing, so we've rounded up the best office printers you can buy.

Key considerations for office printers

Before picking an office printer, think about how you want to use the device. Understanding your printing needs will help you make the right choice. Unfortunately, there’s no way to accurately predict just how many paper jams you’ll have to clear with any particular printer.

  • Ink and laser cost: This is one of the toughest aspects of a printer to calculate. As Consumer Reports says, ink costs are incredibly high, costing more than $6,000 per gallon when you consider what you pay for each tiny ink cartridge. Laser costs are cheaper in the long run. Some printer manufacturers will provide you with a cost per page to use the printer, but their measurements don’t always match up with how you’ll be using the printer, so your costs probably will be different. Another aspect of ink cost depends on the number of ink cartridges the machine uses. A color inkjet printer that’s made for photography may have up to eight cartridges, for example, which can be more expensive to replace over time than a simple black-only laser cartridge for a monochrome printer.
  • Paper handling: Different printers will be able to make use of different sizes of paper, as well as different thicknesses of paper. A printer may use a paper tray that can hold 100 or more sheets of paper, or it may use a paper feeder that can hold a couple dozen sheets. Some printers can even print on both sides of the page automatically.
  • Resolution: Printer manufacturers will list the resolution of the printer in dots per inch, or dpi, according to CNET. If the printer resolution is listed as 1200 x 1200 dpi, for example, the printer will lay down 1,200 dots horizontally and vertically per square inch of paper. As a comparison, that’s a better quality of resolution than what you’d find at 300 x 300 dpi. A higher resolution of printer works better with photographs, while a smaller resolution works fine for text documents.
  • Size: Bigger printers tend to have better print speed and larger paper capacities than smaller printers, so a large model may fit better in your office. However, many smaller versions are now available, as PC Mag notes. Or you may even want a small battery powered printer to allow for printing anywhere.
  • Speed: Printer manufacturers list a speed rating for their devices based on the number of pages per minute you can print. These ratings often will be different in black and white versus making color prints. Understand that these ratings are made under the best possible printing conditions, so your real-world results may be slower. Inkjet printers are faster than they used to be, but the top laser printers still can create the fastest black and white prints in the market.

Types of office printers

HP printer office

You will encounter a few different terms when looking for an office printer. Understanding what each term means will ensure you have better luck selecting the best model for your office.

  • Laser vs. inkjet: Laser printing is much more affordable than it was several years ago, so this is an option well worth considering. A laser printer is cheaper over the long run when you need to make a lot of text document prints, which makes it a great small business printer, according to Office Depot. Laser printers also are much faster than inkjet printers. Inkjet printers typically are better with graphics, photos, and odd-sized paper than laser printers, as inkjet prints look better on glossy and matte types of photo paper. Color laser printers have improved quite a bit from several years ago, both in terms of quality and cost, but they still carry a higher price tag than a comparable inkjet printer. An extremely busy office that needs speed, a lower cost per print, and high-quality text documents will appreciate the power of a laser printer. If your office needs photo printing for brochures that use odd-size paper, or if you need a lower upfront cost, look for an inkjet printer.
  • Printer-only vs. all-in-one: Some printers only offer print functions, while others offer multiple functions. These all-in-ones will work as copiers, scanners, and fax machines, in addition to their printing capabilities. For a smaller office that doesn’t want the expense or clutter of multiple machines, an all-in-one device makes a lot of sense. For a larger business that needs separate machines to handle the volume, a printer-only option will work better, as print jobs won’t tie up the machine when it’s needed for scanning or copying. However, printer-only devices are becoming harder to find, according to Digital Trends, because of the popularity of all-in-one units.
  • Specialty printers: Several types of specialty printers are in the market, but they may not fit your particular office need. According to Officeworks, some specialty printers include wide format printers for poster-sized prints, mobile printers for battery powered printing, and 3D printers to create objects. Another option is an external tank inkjet printer, which has large tanks of ink, meaning you don’t have to worry about constantly swapping out inkjet cartridges. Large tanks of ink will be cheaper over the long run versus small cartridges.
  • Connection options: Nearly all office printers are able to connect to a network, either through a Wi-Fi connection or an Ethernet cable connection. You also can print through a direct USB connection with a computer or tablet with the majority of printers. Some printers will even print over a Bluetooth or NFC connection with a mobile device.

With all that in mind, read on to see which of our top printer picks is best for your office's needs.

Although the Brother MFC-L5900DW Business Monochrome Laser Printer is our top office printer pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Color Professional Inkjet Printer, the Brother MFC-L8900CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One, the HP DesignJet T120 Large Format Color Printer, and the Epson WorkForce WF-100 Wireless Mobile Printer.

SEE ALSO: The best printers you can buy for your home

The best office printer overall

Why you'll love it: A laser monochrome printer is perfect for any office, and the versatility and performance of the Brother Monochrome Laser Printer make it the best option.

When you want a great combination of fast performance and high-quality printing output in an office printer, the Brother Business Monochrome Laser Printer delivers. This Brother monochrome printer provides excellent all-around performance, making it a good value for a busy office.

The printer has a large 3.7-inch touchscreen LCD to control its many functions. It works great for printing, faxing, scanning, and copying documents. 

One Amazon reviewer says the all-in-one device outperforms many other models in all phases of operation. The scanner works fast and includes a legal-sized surface glass, giving it plenty of flexibility.

In its review, PC Mag said the MFC-L5900DW excels at printing monochrome text documents with high quality at fast speeds at 41.2 pages per minute. That should be more than enough for most office spaces these days.

However, if you’re looking for a monochrome laser printer to handle graphics and photos, you may be disappointed with the output from the Brother L5900DW, according to the Live At PC review, as it loses some detail when translating color graphics and photos to monochrome. If you need color printing, check out our other picks in the following slides.

Pros: Excellent all-around performance level in a monochrome laser printer, reasonable price point, top-end monochrome text printing, fast printer, large touchscreen LCD to control the machine, offers multiple functions

Cons: Photos and graphics print quality is lacking when converting from color to monochrome

Buy the Brother MFC-L5900DW Business Monochrome Laser Printer on Amazon for $319.99 (originally $449.99)



The best photo printer for offices

Why you'll love it: If your office needs a full-color printer to create amazing brochures, posters, and photos, the Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Color Professional Inkjet Printer is the best.

Some office settings need large printers that offer excellent color printing to print brochures and posters … and the occasional full-color hilarious meme to hang up in the break room. If you want to maintain the ability to also print text documents and other items with your high-quality photo printer, you’ll appreciate the versatile Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Color Professional Inkjet Printer.

This printer can handle print sizes of up to 13 by 19 inches, and it offers eight print tanks of different colors, which allows for realistic printing results in color photographs. The Photography Blog review says this printer also excels with black and white photos because it includes three types of gray and black inks to handle subtle changes in shades.

The Pro-100 works over a Wi-Fi network connection. Although you can print text documents with the PIXMA Pro-100, it isn’t as cost-effective as it would be to use other types of printers aimed at printing text documents, such as a laser printer.

In its review, Steve’s Digicams mentions the Canon Pro-100 printer has the ability to overcome its lack of scanning and copying functions by focusing on outstanding image quality for photographs and graphics. One Amazon buyer appreciates the color accuracy of the prints with this high-level photo printer.

Digital Trends says the Canon Pro-100 doesn’t run as fast as some other inkjet printers, but its ability to print huge photos or posters at the highest possible quality is a worthy trade-off.

A few Amazon customers have experienced problems with the longevity of the Canon PIXMA Pro-100, though.

Pros: Outstanding photo print quality, can print at sizes up to 13 by 19 inches, makes use of eight different ink cartridges for improved color accuracy, engineered to do a great job with black and white photos

Cons: Heavy printer, doesn’t offer multifunction device features like scanning

Buy the Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Color Professional Inkjet Printer on Amazon for $379.99 (originally $499.99)



The best color laser printer for offices

Why you'll love it: If you want the speed of a laser printer, but you need color documents on occasion, too, the Brother Business Color Laser All-in-One is a great choice.

There was a time several years ago where color laser printing would not fit into the budgets of most office settings. But the technology has improved quite a bit, making color laser printing a more enticing option. For the best versatility in a color laser printer, we like the Brother Business Color Laser All-in-One.

The Brother printer can print at speeds as fast as 33 pages per minute, both in color and in black and white. An Amazon buyer is very impressed with the speed for both printing and scanning that this all-in-one device offers.

It works with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity options, and the 5-inch color touchscreen display makes it easy to control the device.

According to PC Mag, the Brother all-in-one excels in creating black and white prints with text documents and monochrome graphics. But this office printer struggles a bit when creating color graphics and photos when compared to the best color inkjet photo printers. One Amazon reviewer agreed, saying the color accuracy of this laser printer was less than satisfactory on occasion.

Another Amazon buyer loves the scanning capability of this all-in-one unit, while also mentioning that the printer runs very quietly.

Pros: Good price point for color laser all-in-one device, excels with fast and high-quality black and white text printing, very fast scanning device, excellent versatility in a color laser device, quiet printer

Cons: Color photo and graphics print consistency could be better, very heavy machine

Buy the Brother MFC-L8900CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One on Amazon for $519.00 (originally $599.99)



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Several prototypes of Trump's Mexico border wall are nearly complete — see what they look like

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trump border wall construction prototypes

Construction is well underway on eight prototypes for President Donald Trump’s long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border.

Several of those prototypes are "taking form or are near completion" after two weeks of construction, the US Customs and Border Protection's San Diego bureau said on Twitter.

The government selected six companies to construct the prototypes, which the agency said are meant to "inform future design standards" for the wall.

Although Trump's plans for a border wall have been beset by a number of obstacles — including the Senate's refusal to green-light a $1.6 billion down payment, wavering estimates on the total cost, and a lawsuit from California — his administration has moved ahead with the prototypes.

Here's what they look like so far:

SEE ALSO: The first group of refugees from what Trump called the 'worst deal ever' with Australia are heading to the US

DON'T MISS: Trump is reportedly backing down from his threat to shut down the government over the border wall

Eight prototypes are in various stages of completion, and have gone up near the Otay Mesa port of entry in San Diego, California.



Four of the prototypes are concrete walls.



The other half are made of "other materials", which have not been specified.



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The 10 US colleges where everyone wants to go — for good reason

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Princeton University Tigers Football Students

Princeton University is the best college in America, according to the latest ranking from US News & World Report.

The Princeton, New Jersey-based Ivy League school ranked first due to a combination of factors such as its selective admissions rate, high peer assessment scores, and strong graduation rate.

The US 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 below to see which schools round out the top 10.

SEE ALSO: 11 super successful people who went to state schools

10. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California

Peer Assessment Score: 4.6

2016 Graduation Rate: 94%

 



9. Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Peer Assessment Score: 4.4

2016 Graduation Rate: 95%



8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Peer Assessment Score: 4.5

2016 Graduation Rate: 95%



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The 10 best restaurants in the world, according to travelers

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Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton, England

The INSIDER Summary:

  • From Michelin-starred eateries to local favorites, there are plenty of amazing restaurants around the world.
  • TripAdvisor compiled a list of the best restaurants in the world based on user reviews.
  • The winner of the number one spot is The Black Swan at Oldstead in Oldstead, England.
  • Keep scrolling for the other nine contenders. 


There are spectacular restaurants all over the world, from holes-in-the-wall that serve incredible sushi in Japan to cafés that feature decadent pastries in France

TripAdvisor just released a list of the 1o best restaurants in the world. To narrow it down, TripAdvisor used an algorithm that took into account both the quantity and quality of reviews for restaurants worldwide.

Keep reading for the 10 best restaurants in the world, according to travelers.

10. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

Located in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain, El Celler de Can Roca was opened by three brothers in 1986. Diners love the restaurant's tasting menu, and the white asparagus and truffle viennetta is a particularly popular dish. 



9. Maido, Lima, Peru

Maido offers a unique blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines that they call "Peruvian Nikkei cuisine."



8. David's Kitchen, Chiang Mai, Thailand

David's Kitchen is a French Thai fusion restaurant in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand. The restaurant's owner first came to Thailand almost 20 years ago and quickly fell in love with the country. Today, he and his wife run the gourmet eatery. 

Visitors can enjoy the beautiful surroundings in the light-filled dining room as well as dishes like yellow Japanese pumpkin soup and foie gras with mango chutney. 



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The best tape measures you can buy

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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.

tape measure 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • No toolkit is complete without a great measuring tape. From the professional contractor's work to the DIY home repair, countless projects call for precise measurements. The QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Measuring Tape is our top choice because its innovative built-in pencil ensures you mark the same spot you measured.

If you want to measure the area of a room prior to the purchase of a new carpet, couch, or coffee table, you're going to need to use a measuring tape. If you want to see if that new furniture will fit in the back of your vehicle, that's another time when a measuring tape is key. Should you want to build a fine piece of furniture from scratch to perfectly fit that space in your home, then you're certainly going to need a quality measuring tape.

A measuring tape or tape measure is useful for landscape design, interior decorating, construction, crafts projects, and so much more. Imagine seeking the perfect placement for a painting, calculating the size of a bedroom, or planning the design of new kitchen cabinets and countertops without a tape measure — nothing would ever look or fit quite right. That old adage of "Measure twice, cut once" is oft repeated for good reason.

I've been using the same Stanley tape measure for years because the damn thing just won't break. I almost wish it would, because a few of the newer releases in the measuring tape category feature innovative and clever features, such as laser-assisted measuring and digital displays. For most people, a basic 25-foot tape measure is about all they'll ever need, but as a reliable tape measure should last for many years, it's OK to spend a few extra dollars and get some special features.

If you're in the market for a new tape measure, you're shopping at an exciting time. Well ... as exciting as tape measures get, anyway.

Although the QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Tape Measure is our top pick, for the reasons laid out in the slides below you should also consider the Stanley PowerLock 25-Foot Tape Measure, the WorkPro 100-Foot Fiberglass Measuring Tape, the General Tools LTM1 2-In-1 Laser Tape Measure, and the eTape16 Digital Measuring Tape.

SEE ALSO: The best pocket knives you can buy

The best tape measure overall

Why you'll love it: The QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Measuring Tape helps prevent human error in carpentry, construction, and craft projects with its built-in graphite marking wheel.

Even if you have carefully measured out a length of lumber or chosen the exact right spot on the wall, your painstaking measurements won't count for much if you make a mark in the wrong spot and then cut, drill, or sink a nail in the wrong place. The QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Measuring Tape eliminates that all-too-common problem thanks to a graphite marking wheel built directly into the base of the unit. All you have to do is jiggle the measuring tape ever so slightly once you have it in the right position and you will create a clear dark gray mark exactly where you need it.

And speaking of finding the exact right spot, this tape measure makes that easy, too. It has a bright red marking indicator band and a "Tru-View" sight that lets you see exactly where the measurement you need lines up with the surface underneath.

You might think an advanced measuring tape like this is only suitable for professional builders or designers, but in fact, it's much the opposite: This measuring tape is perfect for those of us who need all the help we can get with our projects. You also might think it would be expensive, but at around fifteen dollars, this is hardware that fits any budget.

One satisfied customer calls his QuickDraw measuring tape "an ingenious idea" he wishes he had owned "years ago." Another user called it "easy to hold, easy to lock" and of course said the tape measure makes it "easy to mark materials."

In a review on ToolGuyd.com, a writer appreciated that the tape measure's marking wheel can make up to 1,000 marks before needing a graphite rod replacement, while in a video review from Tech Trends, a gear demonstrated how quickly it can be used to make and mark measurements, even when being used with one hand.

Pros: Easy and precise marks, clear measurement indicator, great price point

Cons: Rather bulky, blade wobbles at longer extensions

Buy the QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Measuring Tape on Amazon for $15.89



The best low-cost tape measure

Why you'll love it: The Stanley PowerLock 25-Foot Tape Measure is tough enough for commercial use, durable enough to last for years, and yet it still costs only ten bucks.

Stanley tape measures are something of a benchmark for this category of tool. They have been around for generations and, arguably, are the original retractable tape measure brand. A man named Hiram Farrand patented the first modern spring-operated retractable tape measure in the 1920s, but the product rights were subsequently sold to Stanley Works. This basic, no-nonsense tape measure is a fine example of the years of design experience the company has to offer.

This tape measure features a one-inch wide, 25-foot long blade that will stay straight without bending (often called standout) for eight or nine feet, provided you have a steady hand. Its case looks like polished chrome but is in fact made from high-impact ABS plastic. The hardware is well protected, but the overall piece is relatively lightweight.

As the PowerLock portion of the name implies, the blade stays locked in place when you have the locking slide pushed forward, so once you have a measurement calculated, you can count on the tape staying steady while you note the length or make your marks.

While this tape measure is short on bells and whistles, it's big on quality, and that's the true measure of success here.

With well over 1,000 reviews posted on Amazon, this tape measure has a glowing 4.5-star rating. One satisfied Stanley customer named Todd puts it best when he says: "After buying several newer designed tape rules and having them fail in a matter of months or even less I went back to the first one I ever used thirty years ago. They lasted my dad decades and they seem to be built the exact same way as they were thirty years ago."

The experts at The Sweethome said the Stanley PowerLock "delivers the best basic combination of durability, ease of use, and accuracy — and all for a very low price." A writer with Popular Mechanics reports that "the blade feeds out quickly and smoothly and reels back into its housing the same way. The design is elegant, simple, and extremely rugged."

Pros: Great low price, time-tested design, smooth extension and retraction

Cons: End hook breaks off some units

Buy the Stanley PowerLock 25-Foot Tape Measure on Amazon for $9.88



The best extra-long measuring tape

Why you'll love it: If the area you need to measure is too long for a standard 25-foot tape measure, chances are the WorkPro 100 Foot Fiberglass Measuring Tape can handle it with ease.

Most measuring tapes are between 15 and 25 feet long, and for most projects, that's plenty of reach, but for measuring the area of extra large rooms or for plotting out design schemes for landscaping, patios, and other outdoor projects, you often need a tape measure with some extra reach. If the WorkPro 100 Foot Fiberglass Measuring Tape can't handle the job, it's probably time you call in the professionals anyway.

Thanks to the soft, flexible material used to construct this measuring tape, it tucks that impressive 100-foot long tape into a disc-shaped housing that will fit in most toolboxes and that is lightweight yet durable. The tape dispenses rapidly with minimal pressure and has a large metal loop on the end that can be hooked over a nail, screw, ground stake, or many other protrusions. The tape rewinds rapidly as you spin a retracting handle, which then folds flat into the case.

This measuring tape is ideal for use in larger construction projects as well as for scientific or classroom research. It can also be used for work ranging from surveying, thanks to its long length, to measuring a person's waist, chest, arms, and inseam for tailoring, thanks to its flexible design.

The WorkPro 100 Foot Fiberglass Measuring Tape has a fine 4.5-star rating on Amazon, with customers calling it "incredibly well made,""better quality than I expected," and noting that it "operates quite well considering the cheap price."

The product writers with Ali Express noted the WorkPro's "durable, comfortable, and highly visible" overmolded ABS plastic case, which protects the tape and retraction mechanism and should see the unit last for years.

Pros: Extra long length, lightweight design, flexible tape useful for myriad applications

Cons: Manual rewind required

Buy the WorkPro 100 Foot Fiberglass Measuring Tape on Amazon for $11.99 (originally $19.00)



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Photos show how wildfires are ravaging parts of California's wine country

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santa rosa fire

California wildfires have created apocalyptic scenes in wine country, where firefighters were still battling blazes on Thursday morning. The largest fires remain almost completely uncontained.

A series of massive wildfires spread through the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and six others early this week, destroying at least 3,500 homes, businesses, and other structures, and sending residents fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night. An estimated 50,000 people have left their homes for shelters and hotels, and new evacuation orders were issued late on Wednesday.

Dry, gusty winds returned overnight, threatening to push flames into unscatched areas.

The situation is considered one of the deadliest fires in state history. At least 28 people are dead, and another 463 people are reported missing in Sonoma County. Hundreds more have been hospitalized. Local officials describe the death toll as a "fluid number," as the hot zones cool and law enforcement officers begin to uncover human remains in the rubble.

An inferno called the Tubbs Fire (which has accounted for 13 of the deaths) has burned more than 34,000 acres in and around the city of Santa Rosa, according to the Cal Fire website. The Atlas Fire in Napa has charred an additional 43,000 acres. Residents and public officials won't know the full extent of the damage until evacuation orders have been lifted.

"Make no mistake," Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said in a news briefing on Wednesday. "This is a serious, critical, catastrophic event."

We will continue to update this story throughout the day.

SEE ALSO: Before-and-after photos show how California's wineries have been devastated by fires

DON'T MISS: The 'Diablo winds' explain why the fires burning California's wine country became so destructive

A series of wildfires ravaging pieces of Northern California's wine country is being called one of the worst firestorms in state history. The largest blazes hit Napa and Sonoma.



There is the city of Napa and the county of Napa, considered the holy grail of wine country. It's home to more than 400 wineries, with many packed side by side along State Route 29.

We went to Napa and the trendy destination people are ditching it for — and the winner is clear »



Sonoma County stretches across nine cities and is three times the area of Napa County.

California's lesser-known wine destination was named the best small town to visit in America — take a look »



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The Internet of Everything — $12.6 trillion ROI expected over the next decade [SLIDE DECK]

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future of retail deck slide 10

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

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

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

Some of the topics covered include:

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

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

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



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



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



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Here's how the new iPhone 8 Plus stacks up against a $9,000 camera

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Leadimage 1 v2The specs for the new iPhone 8 Plus' camera sound enticing — it's one of the most highly touted improvements  on the phone.

But when I was given the chance to compare the new iPhone's camera to the $9,000 Hasselblad X1D digital medium-format camera, I couldn't say no.

While drawing a comparison between a Hasselblad camera that produces 51-megapixel image files and an iPhone that produces 12-megapixel image files might not be totally fair (internally, they rely on different technology to capture a photo), I wanted to see how this incredibly expensive equipment held up when it came to taking everyday, tourist-type photographs.

I wanted to answer the question: when it comes to photographing your next vacation, is it worth investing in one of the best new cameras on the market, or should you stick with your iPhone?

I went to photograph Chinatown — one of my favorite New York City neighborhoods because of its vibrant colors and always-busy streets — to find out.

SEE ALSO: We went to New York City's most expensive neighborhood — home to Wall Streeters and celebrities like Taylor Swift — and saw why it's so popular







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Clemson's new $55 million football complex shows how swanky college football facilities have become

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Clemson Football

Clemson University won their second national championship last season and have played in each of the last two College Football Playoff championship games.

This season, the Tigers are a favorite to make it back to the College Football Playoff and they will take the journey in their new $55 million football complex.

The school opened the facility earlier this year, and now we get a peak inside and outside what looks like a swanky playground for college students.

Here are some photos and videos of some of the swankiest features, via HOK.

Here is an aerial view of the new facilities.

 



The "Allen N. Reeves Football Complex" was designed by HOK, the architect firm responsible for many stadiums around the world.



According to Thad Turnipseed, Clemson's director of recruiting and external affairs, he visited 36 football facilities around the country and was told by coach Dabo Swinney to "take the best from each place."

Source: Clemson Tigers



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8 details you may have missed on the 'Riverdale' season 2 premiere

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for the second season premiere of "Riverdale," titled "A Kiss Before Dying."

"Riverdale" loves to sneak in some fun Easter eggs in episodes, and Wednesday's season two premiere was no exception.

From some comic references to throwbacks to the first season and other hidden details, here are eight things you might have missed.

While in the hospital, Jughead gives Archie the superhero name Pureheart the Powerful.

As Archie and his friends sit in the hospital waiting room, Jughead credits Archie for saving his father and Cheryl.

"If you keep this up, you're going to need a superhero name: Pureheart the Powerful," he says. 

The name is a fun nod to some of the Archie Comics in which Archie is actually a superhero who goes by that same him. His friends also have their own superhero identities. 



Sheriff Keller makes a quick reference to Jingle Jangle.

When Sheriff Keller questions Archie about his dad's shooting, he says that the shooter was "probably out of his head on meth or the Jingle Jangle."

This drug name seems like a reference to a song called "Jingle Jangle" by The Archies, Archie's fictional band on the TV cartoon. 

Listen to the song here



Dr. Masters is taking care of Fred Andrews.

Dr. Masters is actually the name of an Archie Comics character who got his own story in "The Adventures of Young Dr. Masters." 

 



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27 incredible food halls in the US that you should visit in your lifetime

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The days of sitting down at a table and ordering from a waiter or waitress to eat are long gone.

From food trucks to food festivals, there are dozens of new ways to enjoy your favorite eats without trying to score a hard-to-get dinner reservation. And the hottest new trend in gastronomy? Food halls.

For a long time, these giant spaces filled with multiple food and drink vendors selling everything from charcuterie to viral desserts were pretty much found exclusively in the biggest, trendiest cities across the US. However, food halls, markets, and fancy food courts are opening up all over the place now, with emphasis on local vendors, fresh ingredients, and sometimes even with their very own celebrity chefs.  

We've rounded up 27 of the best food halls around the country to add to your travel bucket list, from Chelsea Market in New York to Market House in Nashville, along with must-eat dining suggestions for each.

Chelsea Market, New York

This urban market boasts 54 food and drink vendors and restaurants, including a secret bar in the basement called the Tippler. 

Must-eat culinary highlights — Any of the sandwiches at the Num Pang sandwich shop, which offers gourmet, meaty twists on the Southeast Asian bahn-mi. If you want to sit down, try a four-course pasta-tasting meal at Giovanni Rana. 



Chicago French Market, Chicago

This year-round indoor European-style food market located in Chicago's West Loop has more than 30 food, drink, and flower vendors.

Must-eat culinary highlights — The VBQ Wagyu beef sandwich from Saigon Sisters or classic macarons at authentic French bakery Vanille Patisserie. There's also what has been dubbed the best pastrami sandwich in Chicago at Fumare Meats.



DeKalb Market Hall, Brooklyn

Dekalb Market Hall is a newcomer to the throngs of food halls flourishing in the ever-hungry New York City. Here, you can find Brooklyn and other New York vendors in a 60,000-square foot industrial setting. 

Must-eat culinary highlights — The classic cheese and potato pierogi from Pierogi Boys, or a cheesy cornbread arepa from the iconic Arepa Lady



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A Brooklyn-based startup is making luxury sneakers regular people can afford

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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.

Greats Royale VintageMany of today's most popular sneakers are made by big-name sportswear companies, so finding a stylish or trendy pair is easy. But like all high-profile brands, you can expect masses of people flock towards them as well.

Stepping away from sportswear brands and going to smaller designer companies might seem like the best way to get truly unique sneakers, but they come a major cost. If luxury-grade quality and classic footwear styling is what you're after, Greats is one of the best places to buy sneakers, and show the world a bit of your personality.

Founded in 2012 by Ryan Babenzien and footwear designer Jon Buscemi in Brooklyn, Greats draws styling cues from the iconic sneaker silhouettes people have come to love and elevates the footwear with premium Italian craftsmanship and minimalist designs free of flashy logos. 

The best part about Greats sneakers is that they're affordable. Since its inception, the brand carved a lane in the industry for footwear with the quality that you'd expect on $1,000 designer sneakers for about what you'd pay for sneakers from your favorite sportswear brand by sticking to an online-only, direct-to-consumer business model.

Following much success, Greats is now teaming up with Nordstrom to release an exclusive collection in select stores and on nordstrom.com, while remaining affordable.

Greats sent over a few pairs for me to try out, and it has easily become one of my favorite sneaker brands of all time.

As a sneaker writer and a long-time sneaker collector, I've been able to experience the different levels of quality you can expect in sneakers, and Greats is definitely one of the best I've worn. 

Glue stains, chipped paint, cheap cuts of leather, and poor cushioning regularly make their way into products released by many of the biggest names in footwear. With Greats you definitely won't experience any of that.

If you're looking for luxury-quality sneakers you can actually afford, Greats is the place to shop for them.

Shop all luxury sneakers at Greats and Nordstrom now.

Check out my thoughts on the Nordstrom-exclusive Royale Vintage and the Pronto Nero sneakers, below:

SEE ALSO: 12 essentials under $100 every guy needs in his closet for fall

Greats Royale Vintage

The Greats Royale Vintage is a sneaker that you can wear with literally anything. With styling cues reminiscent of low-top basketball sneakers of 70s, many people will find the design appealing. Unlike mass produced retro sneakers from sportswear companies, the Royale Vintage is made with top-notch quality.  They features a super soft white leather upper, vegetable tanned leather sock liners and insoles, and suede accents available in navy, red, and black on the heel. The rubber outsoles come in a off-white color, mimicking the yellowing that occurs on vintage sneakers. With minimal branding, you'll find subdued Greats logos on the tongue and tag. 

Greats Royale Vintage, $179

Shop all Nordstrom exclusive Greats sneakers here.



Greats Nero Pronto

Out of my entire collection of sneakers, the Greats Pronto is definitely one of my current favorites. It draws design elements retro running sneakers, but has materials you'd find on some of the most expensive designer shoes. Its black leather features a combination of premium leather, premium suede and mesh. Waxed leather laces, vegetable tanned leather sock liners and insoles also add to the luxury feel, while hits for reflective material keep it sporty. Vibram outsoles done in a classic gum rubber complete the shoe with added durability and grip. To go along with the luxury look and feel of the sneakers, I wore them with black waxed denim, but you could easily wear these with a suit.

Greats Pronto Nero, $199



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MEET THE CABINET: Here's who Trump has appointed to senior leadership positions

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While President Donald Trump still has hundreds of key positions to fill that will shape his next four years in office, his Cabinet is mostly full.

Trump has 24 official members of his Cabinet, and 111 days after he became president, the Senate confirmed all of them. But there have been some changes since then.

In the nearly nine months since Trump took office, multiple high-level hires withdrew from the confirmation process, and several senior advisers have resigned, including former chief of staff Reince Priebus and former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.

Meet who is now counseling Trump for the next four years:

trump Cabinet graphic

SEE ALSO: Trump reportedly didn't know about the loophole in the 25th Amendment that lets 14 people remove a sitting president from office

DON'T MISS: Here are all the casualties of the Trump administration so far

Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson (confirmed)

Obama administration counterparts: Hillary Clinton, John Kerry

Duties: act as the top American diplomat, lead US foreign policy

Reactions: Tillerson has been praised for his business acumen and diplomatic missions negotiating deals for ExxonMobil, but roundly criticized for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Senators from both sides of the aisle have said he'll have difficult confirmation hearings because of their relationship. While Tillerson accepts humans are causing climate change and he supports the Paris agreement to limit emissions, environmentalists have taken issue with ExxonMobil's fierce lobbying promoting oil and gas.



Treasury Secretary: Steven Mnuchin (confirmed)

Obama administration counterparts: Timothy F. Geithner, Jack Lew

Duties: serve as the president's principal economic adviser, manage the public debt, set US tax and fiscal policy 

Reactions: As Business Insider's Matt Turner writes, there's a long list of reasons why people might not like Trump's pick for Treasury secretary. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders skewered Mnuchin's status as a hedge fund manager who worked at a large financial institution like Goldman Sachs — two things Trump called out on the campaign trail, as well.



Defense Secretary: Gen. James Mattis (confirmed)

Obama administration counterparts: Robert M. Gates, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Ashton Carter

Duties: lead the military, serve as "deputy commander-in-chief"

Reactions:Marines consider Mattis a warrior and he is well-respected by other service members. He has come under fire in the past for controversial admissions, however, like when he said in 2005 that it was "fun to shoot some people." Still, senators on both sides of the aisle have praised the pick, though they would have to waive a law requiring service members to wait seven years before becoming Defense Secretary to provide checks and balances. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she won't vote to waive the requirement, but Mattis likely has enough votes to clinch the nomination.



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Apocalyptic before-and-after photos show how wildfires are destroying parts of California's wine country

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AP_17282783963024 journey's end mobile home after

Since late Sunday, a series of wildfires has torched roughly 200,000 acres in Northern California. The situation is being called one of the worst firestorms in state history.

On Thursday, a clearer picture of the devastation began to come together.

The blaze began on Sunday evening and strengthened as strong, dry winds pulled many separate fires across large swaths of fields and freeways. Officials estimate that more than 2,000 homes, businesses, and other structures in eight counties have now been devastated by the fires.

At least 24 people are dead, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers clear through the rubble. More than 460 people have been reported missing in Sonoma County as of Thursday.

These before-and-after photos give us a glimpse of the destruction.

SEE ALSO: The devastating California wine country fires have made the air more toxic than Beijing's — and it's about to get worse

Signorello Estate winery, located on Silverado Trail, has been destroyed. Flames climbed the ivy-covered walls of the winery headquarters on Monday, and it eventually collapsed.

Source: Wine Spectator



Here's the entrance to the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery as seen on Monday.



A photo taken inside a tasting room at Signorello Estate winery shows a circular window.



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