Nintendo's on a roll, with no end in sight.

The new "Super Mario Odyssey" is receiving near-universal praise, and the Nintendo Switch is beating the competition month after month in sales.

There's a good reason for that: The Nintendo Switch is the best console to buy this holiday. Here's why!

SEE ALSO: Nintendo's new Mario game is a great argument for buying a Nintendo Switch

DON'T MISS: 11 reasons why now is the perfect time to buy a Nintendo Switch

1. The Switch has the best line-up of games.

Since launching in March, the Nintendo Switch has taken the mantle as the must-have console for playing the best games. This is the number one reason to buy the Switch this holiday: It's the only place to play the best games of 2017.

Yes, there are excellent exclusives on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. "Horizon Zero Dawn" on PS4 and "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" on Xbox One stick out as strong arguments for each, and that's not wrong. 

But let's be clear: The Switch is absolutely stacked with huge, new games that can only be played on the Switch.

Like "Super Mario Odyssey"

The latest hit that can only be played on the Switch is "Super Mario Odyssey." It's currently got an average score of 97/100 on Metacritic, putting it on the all-time top 10 highest-rated games category. 

It's highly rated because it's an outrageously good game, full of delight and surprise around every turn. "Odyssey" is the latest example of Nintendo's approach to major games as of late: Take classic franchises and evolve them to new heights.

It's hard to overstate the quality of "Super Mario Odyssey"; it's clever, and massive, and beautiful, and deeply referential, and so much more. It is, frankly put, one of the best Nintendo games of the past decade — perhaps of all time. 

Read our review of "Super Mario Odyssey" right here.

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe"

Whether you've been playing "Mario Kart" games for years or you've never touched one, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is a tremendous delight. 

It's the definitive "Mario Kart" experience, with a ridiculous number of courses and playable characters. Best of all, the Switch becomes a portable "Mario Kart" machine if you take the console in portable mode — each Joy-Con becomes a gamepad, and the Switch is the screen. Being able to casually challenge a friend to "Mario Kart" by simply having the Switch with you is pretty incredible.

Crucially, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is a perfect game to play alone or with friends. The vast majority of the time I've spent with the game has been sitting next to my wife, playing together online against the world. Since the game came out in late April, it's been a constant in my apartment. 

Read our review of "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" right here.

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.

Trash cans are surprisingly expensive. I found that out while browsing Amazon for a new one for my kitchen a few weeks ago.

I really didn't want to spend more than $50 on one since a trash can isn't exactly an exciting purchase. The more I looked, however, the more I realized I was going to spend at least that much on a trash can I didn't even particularly like.

That's partly why I ended up buying a fancy Simplehuman one. If I was already going to fork over close to $100 on a new trash can (I wanted one with compartments for regular trash and recyclables), I might as well spend a little more and get one I really liked.

I don't have the room to store a trash can in the cabinet under my sink or anywhere else where it would be hidden, so I decided to treat this purchase as I would a piece of furniture.

The trash can, for better or worse, is the first thing people see when they walk into my apartment, and my rose gold one from Simplehuman makes a pretty awesome first impression. It's stylish (can I say that about a trash can?), surprisingly space-efficient given the amount of garbage it can hold, and it even has a built-in bag dispenser that lets you simply replace the garbage bag without rummaging around your kitchen for more of them.

It's also $200. Yes, $200. A lot of people reading this are probably rolling their eyes, but I don't care. This is by far the best designed trash can I've seen, and for me its high price is justified by the convenience, organization, and style it offers.

The trash can also comes with a 10-year warranty; so if the pedal breaks as a result of "normal household use," for example, you're covered. The company will provide replacement parts at no charge or arrange a repair. All you have to do is register the can on Simplehuman's site.

I never thought I'd spend more than $50 — let alone $200 — on a trash can, but it's arguably the smartest purchase I've made for my home so far this year.

You can buy Simplehuman's dual-compartment trash can on Amazon for $200 in either stainless steel or rose gold stainless steel.

Scroll down for a closer look at the trash can's stylish design and smart features. And click here to check out Insider Picks' guide of the best trash cans you can buy. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best purchases I've made to save space in my small apartment

The trash can, for better or worse, is the first thing people see when they walk into my apartment.

Here's a close-up look at my Simplehuman trash can. I went with rose gold stainless steel, but the trash can also comes in regular stainless steel.

The dual compartments make it easy to neatly sort my trash and recyclables in one convenient, space-efficient space.

The can's steel pedal is sturdy and strong, and the company's patented "lid shox" technology ensures a smooth, silent close every time. My old trash can would whip open and hit the wall, leaving behind annoying scuff marks. No more.

Breaking up is never easy, and when you're in the public eye it can be downright horrible. 

We've seen a number of high-profile celebrity break ups in 2017. From the short-lived to the legendary, INSIDER rounded up all of the celebrity couples who called it quits this year. 

We'll be updating the list should any other notable couple decide to split before January 1, 2018. 

Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac

The actress and the journalist confirmed their split in January after two years of marriage, but a source told People magazine that they had actually been broken up since summer 2016. 

They have one child together, 3-year-old Rose Dorothy.

Jemima Kirke and Michael Mosberg

The "Girls" star and her husband of seven years split in January. Kirke later revealed to U.K.’s ES Magazine that she blames acting for their divorce.

The former couples has two children together daughter Rafaella Israel, 6, and son Memphis, 4. 

Lea Delaria and Chelsea Fairless

The "Orange Is The New Black" star and her girlfriend of four years, Chelsea Fairless, released a funny announcement calling off their engagement in January.

"Apparently this was an eerily prophetic choice of engagement photo as our relationship has since gone the way of David and Liza, with one small exception: our split is amicable. Please exclude us from the tragic and basic celebrity breakup narrative," the post reads. "We were happy together for four years and will remain in each other’s lives. In fact, we look forward to finding new ways to torture each other."

The former couple split just a few days after the were originally supposed to be married. 

• Google's Fast Pair feature will let you pair wireless Bluetooth headphones faster and easier than the old fashioned way.
• Almost any Bluetooth headphone can support Fast Pair, as long as they support the "Low Energy" Bluetooth standard.
• It's a lot easier for headphone makers to adopt Google's Fast Pair than it is to build new headphone models with Apple's W1 chip.
• The potential for headphones to support Fast Pair is far greater than for Apple's solution.

Google announced its new Fast Pair feature on Tuesday, which will make it easier to pair Bluetooth headphones with Android devices running Android 6.0 or above. 

All you need to do is:

• Turn on a pair of headphones that's compatible with Fast Pair near your Android device, and put it in pairing mode, like you would with normal Bluetooth pairing.
• A notification will appear on your Android device asking you to tap the notification to pair the headphones with your phone. That's it.

SEE ALSO: The Pixel 2 XL's camera makes the iPhone 8 Plus' camera seem flawed

Pairing Bluetooth headphones to an Android device has always been problematic, at least for me.

Indeed, pairing new Bluetooth devices to a smartphone can be a convoluted experience. My personal experience with pairing Bluetooth headphones to Android devices hasn't been great. I'll often see a long list of Bluetooth devices to pair with on the phone's screen, and each listing usually looks like a garbled arrangement of letters and numbers, which makes it difficult to know which device in the list I want to pair with. It usually takes an inconveniently long time for the actual name of the device you want to pair to show up. 

It's similar to Apple's seamless auto-pairing with iOS or macOS devices and its AirPods or Beats headphones that come with Apple's W1 chip.

With Apple's solution, all you have to do is flip open the AirPods' case or turn on the compatible Beats headphones near your iPhone, and a notification will ask you to connect the two devices via Bluetooth. It's almost identical to Google's Fast Pair.

It's a one-time process, and your AirPods or Beats headphones with a W1 chip will connect automatically to your iOS or macOS device next time you turn them on. 

Except Google's Fast Pair is better than Apple's solution in one crucial way.

It's a lot easier for headphone makers to adopt Google's Fast Pair than it is to build new headphone models with Apple's W1 chip. All headphone makers need to do is apply for Google's Fast Pair support with a simple Google form, and even existing headphones can get Fast Pair support. As a result, the potential for headphones that support Fast Pair is far greater than Apple's solution.

Headphone makers don't even need to issue updates to their headphones to support Fast Pair. Everything that's required for headphones to support Fast Pair is done on Google's side. Google essentially just has to add a headphone model to its list of Fast Pair compatible headphones. 

The way Fast Pair works is that a Bluetooth Low Energy signal is emitted by your headphones, and that signal is picked up by your Android phone. If your headphones support Fast Pair, your phone will recognize your headphones and start the easy pairing process. If your headphones haven't been added to Google's Fast Pair list, you'll have to pair them the old-fashioned way. 

Google's Fast Pair works with existing and future headphones that have the Bluetooth "Low Energy" feature, which was introduced with Bluetooth 4.0 in 2010. With that in mind, headphones that don't have Bluetooth 4.0 or above and the Low Energy feature wouldn't be able to adopt Fast Pair.

There are numerous reasons why some actors have to be replaced.

Some stars step in to play the same character after scheduling conflicts arise and the original actor has to leave. Sometimes the celebrity doesn't agree with the script and leaves of their own accord. Other times some set drama results in an actor being fired, and new character is introduced. 

We've compiled 29 instances of actors stepping in for each other for various TV and film projects. See how many you knew. 

SEE ALSO: The best celebrity couples costumes of Halloween 2017

Eric Forman's older sister Laurie was played by Lisa Robin Kelly for most of her time on "That '70s Show," but she was replaced with Christina Moore on season six.

Kelly was introduced as Laurie during season one of "That '70s Show," but abruptly left the show during season three and was written out by having Laurie go off to beauty school. Kelly briefly returned on season five but was replaced by Moore for a couple episodes of season six. 

In a 2012 interview, Kelly told ABC News that she left because of alcohol abuse brought on by the loss of a child.  

"I had lost a baby," she said. "As a result of that I lost it. I lost everything and I was abusing alcohol. With 'That '70s Show,' I was guilty of a drinking problem. And I ran." 

"Riverdale's" Reggie Mantle was played by Ross Butler on season one and Charles Melton on season two.

Butler had to leave his role on The CW show due to scheduling conflicts with "13 Reasons Why." 

Melton told INSIDER that he didn't focus on Butler's portrayal of the character on the first season because he was told not to. 

"I went in during the audition process, it was like the second audition, and I had a session with Roberto," Melton said. "I watched the show to kind of get a feel of it, and Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] was like, 'Don't watch anything. Don't watch what Ross [Butler] did. What you're doing is completely different.' He was steering me to not throw myself off by trying to emulate somebody else."

In October, Olivia Colman was announced as Claire Foy's replacement on "The Crown."

Foy has played Queen Elizabeth for the first two seasons of the Netflix drama, but because the third and fourth seasons are set to portray the middle-aged Queen, a casting change was needed. 

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.

It used to be that having a Mac at all would set you apart.

Not so much anymore.

A lot of people use a MacBook, but if you want yours to stand out, you should pick up a sticker. 

I've put MacBook stickers on my laptop before, and they've always made me smile a little bit. There are hundreds of different stickers, so you can represent whatever fandom you'd like.

We've picked 25 to get you started.

DON'T MISS: This is the MacBook Pro accessory I couldn’t live without

SEE ALSO: 9 accessories that’ll help you get more out of your MacBook

Retro Apple Logo

$5.99, available at Amazon (Fits 11" 13" 15" MacBooks)

The Pixar Lamp

MacBook 15", $8.50, available at Amazon

MacBook 13", $4.99, available at Amazon

Left Brain and Right Brain

$7.99, available at Amazon (Fits 13" MacBooks)

• Networking is a necessary part of the job search process.
• The best people to email are those that know your skill-set — like former coworkers.
• Reaching out to professionals in your desired industry can also lead to potential job listings.
• It's important not to come across as annoying or rude when asking for help.

When you're actively looking for a new gig, you already know that it's smart to lean on your network. After all, the more people you have in your corner, the better.

But, here's the thing: There's also a little bit of shame that comes along with that approach.

Not only do you need to openly admit that you're on the hunt for something new (which is extra embarrassing if your last job didn't end on great terms), but you also need to throw yourself on the mercy of the people in your professional circle and ask them for help.

I get it — as important and beneficial as these sorts of requests ultimately are, that doesn't necessarily mean they're easy to make.

So, to take some of the palm sweat out of the situation, I've pulled together four different email templates you can use to let different people in your network know that you're currently open to new opportunities. 

SEE ALSO: 8 moments that can make or break your career

1. Someone you used to work closely with

Perhaps it's your supervisor from your college internship. Or, maybe it's your favorite colleague from one of your previous jobs. Either way, nobody knows your skills and preferences better than the people you used to work side-by-side with — meaning they can be a huge help in your job search.

Hey [Name],

I hope you're having a great week! I've been keeping up with you on LinkedIn, and it looks like things are going awesome with [job or professional interest].

I'm getting in touch to let you know that I'm currently searching for a new opportunity in [industry]. With my background in [field] and skills in [area], my ideal position involves [detailed description of ideal job] for an employer who [detailed description of ideal company].

Since we used to work so closely and I know you're so well-connected, I'd love if you could let me know if you hear of any opportunities that you think I'd be a good fit for. I've attached my resume to this email, just in case that helps.

Of course, I'm always willing to return the favor if you ever need.

Thanks so much, [Name]! I have so many fond memories of our time together at [Company], and I hope things are even better for you since then.

Best,
[Your Name]

2. Someone who works in your desired industry

Sending a note to someone who is already employed in the field you're eager to be a part of is always helpful, but especially when you're making a career change. Chances are good that he or she is connected to other people in the industry  — some of whom might even be hiring. 

Hello [Name],

I hope you're doing well!

I'm reaching out to let you know that I've decided to make a career change. Thus, I'm currently exploring different opportunities in [industry].

Since I know you've worked in the industry for quite a while, I thought you'd be the perfect person to get in touch with. If you become aware of any open roles that might be a good fit for someone with a background in [field], skills in [area], and a desire to learn, I'd love if you could give me a heads up. You can also find my resume attached to this email to get a better understanding of what I bring to the table.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate any help as I work on making this switch.

Thanks so much, [Name]!

All the best,
[Your Name]

3. Someone you are hoping will introduce you

You've identified someone that you know could be a huge asset to you in your job search. The only problem? You don't know him or her yourself. Fortunately, someone in your own network is connected to that person — and you're hoping you can get introduced.

Hey [Name],

I hope things have been going great for you!

I'm touching base today with a request. I'm currently pursuing new jobs in [industry] and am actively working on making more connections within this field.

I noticed that you know [Name], and I was hoping that you'd be willing to connect me with [him/her]. As I'm sure you know [Name] has a ton of great insights into my area of interest, and I'd love to get connected so that I could ask [him/her] a few questions about the industry and [his/her] experience in general.

Would you be willing to send a brief email introducing the two of us? I'd appreciate that so much.

Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions, [Name].

Thanks for your consideration!

Best,
[Your Name]

• Heidi Klum's Halloween parties are known for being over the top.
• This year, Klum dressed as the werewolf from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.
• Lots of other celebrities, like Questlove and Mike Myers, showed up in costume.

The so-called Queen of Halloween, supermodel Heidi Klum, may have outdone herself this year.

For her annual party, now in its 18th year, Klum appeared in full makeup as the werewolf from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video. The costume took seven hours to complete.

"Michael Jackson was always such an icon and the 'Thriller' video is such an iconic video and I was like, 'I have to redo that,'" Klum told People.

Hosted at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar at Moxy Times Square, the party was DJ'd by Questlove and attended by plenty of stars, including Heather Graham, Ice-T, Mike Myers, and Kyle MacLachlan.

Below, see the best costumes of the night.

SEE ALSO: Michelle Obama's White House photographer reveals in a new book what being around the former first lady was like

Jay Manuel arrived as a bionic man.

Model Anastasia Machekhina dressed in blue.

Model Sommer Ray wore cheetah print.

• Facebook testified before Congress this week on its role in allowing Russia to spread propaganda during the 2016 presidential election.
• CEO Mark Zuckerberg initially described the idea that Russia could influence the election as "crazy," but has since said he regrets saying that.
• Lawmakers have criticized Facebook for being too slow in addressing Russian propaganda and manipulation on its platform.

Executives from Facebook, Twitter, and Google testified before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday to explain their role in allowing Russian-backed bots, trolls, and advertisements to flood social media platforms during last year's presidential campaign.

In written testimony released prior to the first hearing, Facebook admitted that Russia-based operatives published about 80,000 posts online between June 2015 and August 2017 in an attempt to influence the presidential election. Those posts, Facebook said, may have reached as many as 126 million Americans.

"These actions run counter to Facebook's mission of building community and everything we stand for," Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said. "And we are determined to do everything we can to address this new threat."

In the weeks and months following the election, however, Facebook didn't appear to be as concerned. Here's how the social network's stance on Russian election meddling has evolved over time:

SEE ALSO: Facebook thought about disclosing election manipulation by Russia in April, but waited until September

DON'T MISS: Facebook's top lawyer admitted they should have caught Russian ads earlier but said foreign currency isn't enough to act on

November 10, 2016: Mark Zuckerberg dismisses Russia's influence

Just two days after voters elected President Donald Trump, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said there was only a "small amount" of fake news on his platform.

He also downplayed Facebook's role in influencing voters.

"To think it influenced the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea," he said. "I do think there is a certain profound lack of empathy in asserting that the only reason someone could have voted the way they did is they saw some fake news."

December 15, 2016: Zuckerberg announces plan to fight fake news

Amid growing criticism, Facebook said it would partner with fact-checking organizations, including Snopes, ABC News, Politifact, and FactCheck.org, to combat fake news.

Some free speech activists worried that fact-checking wouldn't be applied equally to both sides of the political spectrum and that unpopular opinions could be suppressed.

"I understand how sensitive this is and I have instructed our team to proceed carefully and focus on fighting spam, not flagging opinions," Zuckerberg said. "For example, we're focused on obvious hoaxes with headlines like 'Michael Phelps just died of a heart attack' designed to get people to click on the stories and see ads."

January 6, 2017: US intelligence report concludes Russia interfered in the election

A declassified intelligence report directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering "an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election", and concluded that social media played a major role.

"Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency,"the report said.

There was no immediate response from Facebook.

• At the Women's Convention in Detroit, women shared their stories of sexual abuse and harassment.
• Many said that the #MeToo movement helped give them the courage to speak up.
• They hope that talking about the issue will help prevent more people from staying silent.

In Hollywood and around the world, two simple words have given victims of sexual assault and harassment the courage to speak out against their alleged abusers: me too.

At the Women's Convention in Detroit, a gathering run by the same people who organized the Women's March, 15 brave women shared their stories of sexual abuse and survival and talked about how the #MeToo movement helped them find the courage to speak out.

Here are their powerful statements.

"Let's lift each other up instead of pushing each other down."

"Women have been taught that sexual harassment or anything sexual or abusive towards them is just a part of being a woman, it's just something that we live with, that we accept that we have to push through or push down and go on with as a part of life. The #MeToo movement is just another part of the women's movement that we're finally coming together and saying let's lift each other up instead of pushing each other down... I think it's changing the entire future for women that the younger generation are seeing this and saying 'Wait. That guy shouldn't be talking to me like that. I'm not going to let that happen to me in the club. He shouldn't be touching me in this way...' My daughter is 19 and I'm proud of what's happening with the #MeToo movement because I feel that it's going to make her safer and stronger. Just to have that on a huge scale right now, that it's not okay to be harassed and raped and abused."

— Theresa Joy, 39

"I didn't realize how many other people didn't realize and were not aware that there was such a large community of us."

"I've always been aware that most women, if not all, and tons of other people experience sexual harassment and assault. I've always been really open that I've had those experiences throughout my life. But I didn't realize how many other people didn't realize and were not aware that there was such a large community of us."

— Maya Helferty, 25

"My #MeToo experience prompted me to get involved in local organizations."

"My #MeToo experience prompted me to get involved in local organizations to help disenfranchised women who have been sexually assaulted or victims of human trafficking or domestic violence."

— April Slusser, 24

Following actor Anthony Rapp's allegation that Kevin Spacey made a sexual advance on him at age 14, a number of other men have come forward to accuse the "House of Cards" star of sexual misconduct. 

Most of the allegations involve Spacey inappropriately touching, or making sexual advances toward younger male actors. The accusations start as early as the 1980s, around when Spacey's acting career began, and run into the late 2000s. 

Last week, Spacey's apology to Rapp sparked criticism when he chose to come out as gay in the same statement. His representatives have not responded to Business Insider's requests for comment on subsequent accusations. 

Following Rapp's accusation, Netflix suspended production on its Spacey-led political drama "House of Cards."

Spacey's accusers follow a recent deluge of sexual misconduct allegations against influential men in Hollywood, a movement which began with numerous women accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.

Here are all the men who have accused Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct:

SEE ALSO: Netflix has suspended production on 'House of Cards' indefinitely, after a sexual misconduct accusation against star Kevin Spacey

Anthony Rapp

In a late October article published by BuzzFeed News, "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp accused Kevin Spacey of making a sexual advance toward him when he was 14 and Spacey was 26. 

The alleged incident took place in 1986, when Rapp and Spacey were cast members in a Broadway production. Rapp said Spacey invited him to a party at his Manhattan apartment. He said that Spacey later found him watching TV in a bedroom, where Spacey picked him up, placed him on the bed, lay on top of him, and made a sexual advance.

"I still to this day can't wrap my head around so many aspects of it. It's just deeply confusing to me," Rapp told BuzzFeed News.

Spacey subsequently apologized to Rapp in a statement, and said that he did "not remember the encounter," but that if it happened it "would have been deeply inappropriate, drunken behavior."

Roberto Cavazos

Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos wrote a Facebook post accusing Spacey of trying to touch him against his will at the bar of London's Old Vic Theatre in 2008.

Spacey was the artistic director of the theater from 2004 to 2015, and Cavazos appeared in numerous plays there, starting in 2008.

"I don't remember how many people told me the same story: Spacey would invite them to meet him to 'talk about their careers,'" Cavazos wrote. "When they arrived at the theatre, [Spacey] had prepared champagne on the stage, beautifully lit. Each story varied in how far the picnic went, but the technique was the same. More common was to find him at the bar of the theatre, grabbing whoever caught his attention."

"There are many of us who have a 'Kevin Spacey story,'" he continued. "It seems the only requirement was to be a male under the age of 30 for Mr Spacey to feel free to touch us. It was so common that it became a local joke (of very bad taste)."

Tony Montana

Independent filmmaker Tony Montana told Radar Online that Spacey groped him at a Los Angeles bar in 2003, when Montana was in his 30s. 

"I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me,” Montana told the outlet. "He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package."

Montana said Spacey then told him, "This designates ownership." After Montana removed Spacey's hand and walked away, Spacey allegedly followed him into the bathroom. Montana said Spacey appeared intoxicated.

"I backed him out the door and I pushed him," he said. "One of his friends was in line and I said, ‘It’s time to take your boy home.’ They all ended up leaving."

Montana said that he suffered from PTSD for six months following the alleged incident.

What do you picture when you imagine a hedge-fund office? A noisy trading floor full of hedge-fund guys in fleece vests?

Two Sigma, a $45 billion hedge-fund firm that uses advanced technologies to find investment opportunities, is a little different. The firm, which says it has seen head count grow by more than 400% in the past seven years, is as much a technology company as it is a finance company, analyzing over 10,000 data sources to find patterns in markets.

That approach seems to have paid off. Two Sigma ranked as the fifth-biggest hedge fund in the world in Institutional Investor's Alpha's 2017 Hedge Fund 100 list, while cofounders David Siegel and John Overdeck each made $750 million last year, according to the magazine's list of the top-earning hedge-fund managers. The firm also runs an insurance business, Two Sigma Insurance Quantified, a market-making arm called Two Sigma Securities, and a venture-capital arm.

In August, Business Insider took a tour of the firm's two New York offices, which are across the road from each other in the SoHo neighborhood. The offices are stashed with arcade games, computing memorabilia, gyms, a hacker space, and a music room.

SEE ALSO: These before-and-after photos show tech billionaires' dramatic transformations

There was a teach-in on Python for Research when we visited 101 Avenue of the Americas, one of three talks the firm hosts weekly.

The kitchen was well stocked.

You may be able to see a Juicero machine on the left side. Two Sigma Ventures, the venture arm of Two Sigma, is an investor in Juicero, which recently announced a price cut and layoffs.

Across the road at 100 Avenue of the Americas, there's another kitchen, with staff taking time out to play games.

Introducing the Rising Stars on Wall Street age 35 and under.

We scoured our contacts for ideas about whom we should include, receiving recommendations from bosses, colleagues, recruiters, and others working in the finance industry. The editors made final decisions.

We've included people with a variety of roles and experiences, from companies including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, New York Stock Exchange, BlackRock, and Bridgewater.

We came across many talented people, and this list is by no means comprehensive. To be eligible, we asked that nominees be based in or around New York City, be 35 or under, and be distinguished in some way from the pack.

Following are Business Insider's list of the top young Wall Streeters.

Eric Evans, 26, Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers

Evans, 26, is head of research and an investment analyst at Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers, a hedge-fund firm in New York that manages more than $1.8 billion.

Evans was appointed head of research at age 25, in April 2016. His responsibilities include leading process enhancement and the cost-management effort at the firm. That includes figuring out how to make the investment teams work more efficiently and developing tools that help the firm monitor skills and behavioral biases.

Evans also manages relationships with more than 100 counterparties that work with Weiss.

As an investment analyst, Evans focuses on investing in energy stocks and derivatives, one of several sectors Weiss invests in. Evans got his start at the firm as a summer intern ahead of his senior year of college at the University of Florida. He worked at Citi as an analyst in leveraged finance before moving back to Weiss.

A Miami native, Evans holds a bachelor's and master's in finance from the University of Florida, which he completed in four years.

Fahmi Quadir, 27, Safkhet Capital

Quadir, 27, is launching a short-selling-focused hedge fund, Safkhet Capital. The fund, which is targeting a $200 million soft close for next year, will focus on betting against fraudulent companies.

Quadir previously worked at Deallus Consulting, where she did investigative work for pharmaceutical clients. One of the companies she came across was Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which became valuable when she moved to hedge fund Krensavage Asset Management as an analyst. There, she initiated a short position on Valeant in June 2015 and continued to press as her conviction increased, leading to major gains for the fund as the stock plummeted.

Quadir holds a bachelor's degree in math and biology from Harvey Mudd College.

Jesse Reinherz, 27, Millennium Management

Reinherz, 27, is a stock-focused portfolio manager at Millennium Management, a $35 billion New York hedge-fund firm. He focuses on consumer and tech investing.

Reinherz joined Millennium earlier this year and is one of the youngest portfolio managers in the firm's history. He previously was a senior investment analyst at Moore Capital and worked on the sell side at Stifel, where he covered the beverage sector.

He holds a bachelor's in economics and math from Boston University.

Halfway through the NFL season things are finally starting to fall into place.

After it seemed parity was the new normal in the NFL, with massive upsets and upheavals happening week to week, football fans have a pretty decent picture of which teams to pay attention to heading into the second half of the season.

The Patriots, Steelers, and Chiefs remain forces in the AFC, while the Seahawks and Eagles appear to be leading the pack of the NFC, with wild cards (no pun intended) sure to reveal themselves in the coming weeks.

Take a look below at where each team stands as we head into Week 9.

32. Cleveland Browns

Record: 0-8

Last week: Lost to the Vikings, 33-16

This week: Bye

One thing to know: The Browns nearly solved their quarterback crisis by trading for A.J. McCarron — but they reportedly botched the paperwork and timing. DeShone Kizer it is.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Record: 0-8

Last week: Lost to the Eagles, 33-10

This week: vs. Arizona Cardinals

One thing to know: With the acquisition of New England's backup/quarterback-in-waiting Jimmy Garoppolo, the Niners finally made a move that might give fans hope for the future in a largely lost season.

30. Indianapolis Colts

Record: 2-6

Last week: Lost to the Bengals, 24-23

This week: at Houston Texans

One thing to know: Andrew Luck is still apparently having shoulder pain, and doctors can't figure out why. Not great!

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. 

Buying men's dress shoes can feel like a paradox. 

You can either buy an inexpensive pair that looks nice but needs to be replaced often, or spend a small fortune on a pair of dress shoes that will last a few years. 

Paul Farago noticed this, and in 2012 he founded Ace Marks, a company that sells direct-to-consumer handcrafted shoes at a more reasonable price. 

After finding the right factory in Italy to make the shoes, Ace Marks began production and has since completed two successfulKickstarter campaigns in addition to selling loafers, wingtips, and other footwear options through its site.

Because they're hand-dyed and burnished, each pair of Ace Marks' shoes will be a little different. If you're looking to add a unique piece to your regular shoe rotation, you're definitely covered.

What sets Ace Marks apart from other luxury shoe makers — besides trying to make handcrafted shoes accessible to more people — is its focus on giving back. The brand will issue a $50 credit toward a new pair of shoes if you send them your old pair, and they'll donate that old pair to charity.

Some of the members of the Insider Picks team were able to try Ace Marks shoes, and you can find our thoughts below.

SEE ALSO: 5 dress shoes every professional man should own

Breton Fischetti, senior director of commerce

I had not heard of Ace Marks until they sent over these shoes for us to try, but they are definitely a worthy entrance into the mid-to-high range men's shoes market; they take their quality and design seriously. The shoes took about two days to break in but have been very comfortable ever since.

Not that I advise doing this test, but I did get caught in the rain with them and was very pleased with how well they handled drying out. The leather didn't get splotchy or streak. You shouldn't go around jumping in puddles, but these shoes didn't lose their seal after getting wet.

Like many well-made shoes, Ace Marks' are made in Italy and use high-quality calfskin leather. As with many dress shoes at this price point, they are an investment that should last years, especially if you get rubber treads put on the soles before you start wearing them.

It's common for shoes not to come with them, but it's worth the extra $60 to get it done. It'll be the difference between have to resole the shoe in three years as opposed to five or seven.

Monkstrap Brandy Antique, $295

Brandt Ranj, associate commerce editor

I've never owned a pair of Chelsea boots before, but Ace Marks' have turned me into a big fan. Breton and I had the same experience with breaking them in — it took about two days, but now they fit very well. 

You can tell these shoes are well-made by looking at them, but that point is further emphasized when I put them on. Although they weren't made explicitly with comfort in mind, I could walk around in these shoes for extended periods of time without getting uncomfortable.

Because I don't have a lot of experience with this style of shoe, I don't have a good basis of comparison, but this pair can be dressed up or down depending on the situation. While I've generally worn them on weekdays to work, I wore them during a night out a few weeks ago and they held up really well.

Chelsea Boot Black Antique, $325

Spencer Lambert, commerce intern

Like Breton, I tried out Ace Marks' monkstrap shoe and was a immediately a fan.

Usually there’s a noticeable change in how I walk when I'm in dress shoes versus sneakers, but I managed to wear this pair to work for a week without ever noticing a difference in comfort and mobility. 

While it's important for nice shoes to be practical and comfortable, they also need to look good, and this pair definitely checks that box. They are versatile enough wear with either jeans or tailored pants, and the double buckles really catch the eye. 

After trying them out for a couple weeks, what sets these shoes apart is how comfortable I feel wearing them. While other dress shoes may look great, none of them feel good enough for me to want to wear them casually. I can get away with wearing these shoes to work without having to worry about changing into a new pair if my evening plans involve a lot of walking.

Monkstrap Black Antique, $295

• We tried four different pastas from Pasta Flyer, the new quick-service pasta joint from James Beard award-winning chef Mark Ladner.
• Ladner is offering pasta that's made in 40 seconds and costs between $7 and $8.
• We were shocked to find that the noodles and sauces were cooked to perfection and tasted like they were being served at an upscale restaurant.

This past January, James Beard award winning chef Mark Ladner left his position as head chef of an upscale NYC Italian restaurant to open a casual, quick-service pasta joint.

Nine months later, Ladner is serving up $7 to $8 bowls of pasta at Pasta Flyer, which was hailed the "McDonald's of pasta" before it even opened.

And Ladner is just fine with that comparison.

We took a trip to the new restaurant to see how one chef is combining two of the restaurant industry's most tried and true concepts into one revolutionary model.

Ladner came up with the concept for Pasta Flyer after noticing a general lack of high-quality food offered at relatively inexpensive prices.

"There's no reason why people who aren't wealthy shouldn't be able to have access to good food," Ladner said.

So he opened a quick service pasta restaurant in hopes of attracting not the Instagram-obsessed foodies whose attention most restaurants clamor for, but the "people where food isn't necessarily a priority in their life."

LONDON – The global gender gap widened in 2017 for the first time since the World Economic Forum (WEF) began measuring the divide, according to a new report.

Findings published on Wednesday in the WEF's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report show the average gap worldwide now stands at 32%, compared to an average gap of 31.7% last year.

This analysis is based on four dimensions — economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment — across 144 countries worldwide.

On current trends, the report says, "the overall global gender gap can be closed in exactly 100 years across the 106 countries covered since the inception of the report, compared to 83 years last year."

The gaps in economic participation and political empowerment remain widest, with equality in economic participation now at its lowest point since 2008.

This year, 82 countries saw their scores increase, while 60 saw them decrease.

Keep scrolling for the 16 countries with the smallest gender gaps:

16. Canada — 0.769. This country is in 1st place for equality in educational attainment between men and women, but trails in 56th place for 'women in parliament.'

15. UK — 0.770. Levels of education between men and women are about equal in this country, but it scores 49th for 'women in ministerial positions.'

14. Denmark — 0.776. There are an almost equal number of male and female professional and technical workers in this country, but there are two and half times more male than female legislators, senior officials and managers.

It's Game 7 of the World Series!

For just the 38th time in Major League Baseball history, two teams will play a winner-take-all Game 7.

Considering how thrilling the playoffs and World Series have been so far, it was only fitting that the world championship of baseball would be decided by a Game 7 between the two best teams in baseball this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros.

Below, we will track the big plays and big scenes from the game. These are the moments everybody will be talking about on Thursday, and for years to come.

As if there wasn't enough pressure, they have the trophy on the field before Game 7.

David Ortiz was 0-6 predicting the winner of the first six games of the World Series, so prior to Game 7 he refused to make a pick.

The Astros came out in their orange alternate jerseys for the first time in the World Series.

Gaming company Razer is getting into the smartphone business. 

And, as you might expect from the maker of high-powered gaming laptops, its new phone has outrageous specs and is geared for video games. 

Indeed, judging from its specs, the Razer Phone, which the company announced Wednesday, could handily beat Apple's iPhone X, Google's Pixel 2, Samsung's Galaxy devices, and other top smartphones, when it comes to performance.

But the Razer Phone has another thing going for it that could even tempt non-gamers — its $700 price. That's a lot cheaper than many other top phones. 

Check out Razer's new Phone:

SEE ALSO: REVIEW: There's only one reason you should buy LG's latest smartphone — and plenty of reasons not to

The Razer Phone has some seriously impressive power.

Looking purely at its specs, Razer's phone is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. It has:

- A 5.7-inch Quad HD (1400p, or 2K resolution) display with a wide color gamut and a 120-hertz refresh rate. 

- An all-aluminum case.

- Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor, the same powerful chip found within Google's Pixel 2 and Samsung's latest Galaxy phones.

- 8GB of RAM, which is equivalent to the amount of memory that comes in many PCs. By contrast, most phones typically include around 4GB of RAM.

- 64GB of built-in storage. You can also augment that amount with a microSD card. 

- Dual front-facing speakers that are certified to meet Dolby's Atmos high-end audio standard. Each speaker is powered by its own dedicated amplifier. 

- A large, 4,000mAh battery.

- A dual-lens rear camera system, with each camera offering 12 megapixels of resolution. The system includes both a standard wide-angle lens and a 2x optical zoom lens, similar to both the iPhone X and the Galaxy Note 8.

- An 8-megapixel front camera.  

- A fingerprint sensor on the power button, which is located on the side of the device's.

The Phone has some features that hardcore gamers can appreciate.

Razer is targeting the most discerning gamers with technology that you'd typically find on the highest of high-end gaming PCs.

One of those features is the Phone's 120-hertz refresh rate. That frequency rates up there with gaming-quality PC monitors. It should yield ultra-smooth video and gameplay and allow you to play games or videos at 120 frames per second.

By contrast, Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One X will play games at 60 frames per second, albeit at a higher resolution. Razer's CEO Min-Liang Tan said the Phone's ultra-fast refresh rate will prevent motion lag, stuttering, and ghosting, which is when a screen displays an older and newer image at the same time. 

Tan also boasted about Razer's Ultramotion feature. Similar to Nvidia's G-Sync and AMD's FreeSync, Ultramotion is a technology that synchronizes the graphics chip in the Phone with its screen, which helps it offer smooth gameplay at high frame rates. That kind of feature is coveted in the PC gaming community. 

Still, the Phone lacks some of the latest features found on other flagship devices.

While Tan touted the Phone's performance against other flagship phones, the company's brand-new device is missing a few features found on those gadgets, including:

- Water resistance

- An OLED screen 

- Ultra-narrow borders around its display

Unfortunately, the Razer has copied its rivals in one way. Like many other recent high-end smartphones, the Phone lacks a standard headphone jack.

President Donald Trump's new tax plan could cause a tidal wave of internationally held cash to flood back into the US.

The repatriation tax holiday outlined in the plan, for which details were released on Thursday, is designed to incentivize US-based companies that do big business overseas to bring those profits back home.

By Goldman Sachs' calculation, S&P 500 companies hold $920 billion of untaxed overseas cash, and the firm estimates that $250 billion of that would be repatriated. Looking at all US-based companies, Citigroup says there's a whopping $2.5 trillion of capital stashed internationally.

Once a company brings that money back to the US, it has a few options for how to use it. The first is reinvestment into core businesses — this is most likely the avenue policymakers would prefer, as it holds the most direct bearing on economic expansion.

Another option is for a company to repurchase its shares — this would be beneficial to stock prices and, by extension, the market as a whole. Buybacks are a good way to achieve immediate share appreciation and signal to investors that a stock is viewed as undervalued.

And regardless of how the cash is used, a tax break for multinational companies at least partially addresses what a recent World Economic Forum survey identified as the most problematic factor for doing business: tax rates.

So with that established, which companies stand to benefit most? Goldman says it's those holdings the most post-tax cash overseas relative to their market cap — a group heavily concentrated in the tech and healthcare sectors.

Back in late September, after the initial tax plan framework was released, the firm put together a handy list of the stocks that fit the bill. Here are the ones it has identified as the top 13 beneficiaries.

13. General Electric

Ticker: GE

Sector: Industrials

Total return year to date: -19%

Overseas cash: $35 billion

Overseas cash as % of market cap: 14%

12. Foot Locker

Ticker: FL

Sector: Consumer discretionary

Total return year to date: -52%

Overseas cash: $1 billion

Overseas cash as % of market cap: 15%

11. Citrix Systems

Ticker: CTXS

Sector: Tech

Total return year to date: 7%

Overseas cash: $2 billion

Overseas cash as % of market cap: 16%