A gorgeous new "Star Wars" game launches on Friday on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. It's called "Star Wars Battlefront 2." Perhaps you've heard about it?

In it, you can play as over a dozen iconic "Star Wars" characters, in major "Star Wars" locations, doing "Star Wars" things like using the Force and piloting the Millennium Falcon. It even has an original story, bridging the events of "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens."

Unfortunately, all fans are talking about is why you shouldn't buy it. One of the top posts on the game's Reddit page on Friday morning said: "Target Employee here. We haven't sold a single copy of Battlefront II. Keep it up!"

The situation is complicated and messy — here's what's going on.

SEE ALSO: Fans are outraged by the new 'Star Wars' game

Problems started long before the game's release.

Though "Battlefront 2" launched on Friday, fans had several opportunities to play the game before. A beta of the game was available in October, enabling anyone to try the game's multiplayer section.

Overshadowing the game itself, which consists of first-person shooting and spaceship dogfighting, was the way "Battlefront 2" implemented so-called loot boxes.

Players were able to buy in-game currency ("crystals") to use for in-game loot boxes. These boxes contain a random smattering of items for use in the game, from character enhancements to other forms of in-game currency.

What people took issue with were the character enhancements. By putting items in the loot boxes that affected gameplay, the game's developers tipped the scales in favor of people willing to spend more money, known among gaming fans as "pay to win."

The game's loot-box system was altered in response to complaints from the beta — but not enough.

When the beta ended, the game's maker, EA, told fans it would address complaints with the loot-crate system before the game's soft launch in mid-November.

But when the game arrived through EA's "early access" system on the Xbox One, the loot system hadn't changed much at all. You could still pay real money for access to enhancements that would otherwise take dozens of hours to unlock by playing the game.

Meanwhile, you were playing against people who could easily defeat you with stronger weapons, faster movement, and more health — people who were willing to pay more money on top of the $60 for the game.

On top of that, several major "Star Wars" characters — including Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader — weren't unlocked from the start of the game.

Characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Princess Leia — so-called hero characters in the game's multiplayer mode — require in-game credits to be unlocked.

This week, Miguel released a new single from his upcoming album, and Tame Impala dropped a collection of new B-sides and remixes. 

SEE ALSO: The best concert tours of all time, according to a veteran music critic

Tame Impala — "List Of People (To Try And Forget About)"

Tame Impala's new collection of B-sides from their critically acclaimed 2015 album "Currents" features a stellar track in "List Of People," a captivating, melancholy piece of their distinctive brand of psychedelic synth-rock.

Talib Kweli — "Traveling Light" (feat. Anderson .Paak)

With a triumphant, horn-laden beat from Kaytranada and a charismatic chorus from Anderson .Paak, "Traveling Light" stands out on rapper Talib Kweli's first album in six years, "Radio Silence."

The National — "Maybe Not" (Cat Power cover)

The National puts its own somber spin on Cat Power's 2003 piano ballad "Maybe Not," adding strings and a guitar to the contemplative track for a new Spotify single.

Warning: There are some mild spoilers ahead for "Justice League."

"Justice League" is finally in theaters and reviews haven't been kind to Warner Bros.' latest DC superhero outing.

Fans will quickly want to compare it to the studio's other DC extended universe releases and know whether or not its better than 2016's "Batman v Superman" or holds a candle to "Wonder Woman." 

Those two answers are simple. But how does "Justice League" stack up against every movie in DC's extended universe? Keep reading to see every DCEU movie from "Man of Steel" to "Justice League," ranked.

5. "Suicide Squad" is not only the DCEU's worst installment, it's easily one of the worst superhero movies ever made. And that's a bummer.

Though Margot Robbie's take on Harley Quinn won over fans and inspired a hit Halloween costume and cosplay, there's not much else anyone loved about this movie.

The film was overstuffed with too many uninteresting characters, a comical CG mess of a villain, and Jared Leto's strange gangster, tattooed take on the Joker wasn't well-received. 

"Suicide Squad" is in leagues with other superhero movie abominations including "Elektra,""Catwoman," and Fox's recent "Fantastic Four" reboot attempt.

You can read my review of "Suicide Squad" here.

4. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" was supposed to be a huge all-out brawl between the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel, but it turned into a two-and-a-half hour slog and the Wonder Woman show.

When the addition of Wonder Woman outshines two of the most popular superheroes known to man in their own movie, you have a problem. 

The trailers promised a battle of the ages against the two titans, but gave audiences a mere tease of a savory smackdown. It didn't help that their quarrel was resolved by the realization that the heroes' moms share the same name. (I wish I was joking.)

I enjoyed Affleck's take on an older Caped Crusader affected by PTSD more than most. I thought the film delivered a raw, realistic interpretation of the Gotham Knight. But Affleck and Gadot's performances couldn't save the film from its silly third act with another overly-processed CG villain.

From my review:

"It's difficult to not feel like a lot of 'Batman v Superman' is an exhaustive — and expensive — effort from DC and Warner Bros. to catch up to Disney and Marvel's well-oiled cinematic universe. The full title of the movie tells you what the movie is really all about: "Dawn of Justice." This is the setup for 2017's "Justice League."

While all the parts click by the film's end, it's a journey getting there. 'BvS' is a busy film with a lot of players involved in one overarching story while making sure there's enough setup for future films. Sometimes the pacing feels rushed. When a villain is finally added into the mix, the film is nearly over."

You can read the full review here.

3. "Justice League" serves as a palate cleanser to the last two ensemble movies with some fresh, eager faces, but they get lost in a lame story with a silly, forgetful CG-rendered villain.

The first reviews for "Justice League"criticized the film for its lack of a villain worthy of the DC superheroes, awful CG, and a lame story.

While the film has a few stand-out performances from Ezra Miller as The Flash, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, and Gal Gadot's popular take on Wonder Woman, the group feels underutilized and rushed through a stuffed, generic story with a second-rate villain who isn't even a main baddie of the Justice League.

You can see how much influence "Avengers" director Joss Whedon had in trying to deliver a lighter, more fun tone to the film; however, it seems certain aspects of the movie — like the villain and main plot — were so set in stone when he joined the film that he had to work with the hand dealt. At best, you can say the film is a restart button for the DCEU to start fresh. 

You can read INSIDER's review here.

Netflix made a deal with Marvel Comics back in 2013 to produce four Marvel-universe shows and a mini-series.

The deal has since been expanded, and on Friday, Netflix released its sixth Marvel show, "The Punisher," which early reviews are mixed on. 

To find out which of the shows have fared the best, we turned to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes for the composite critical receptions of each Marvel series. 

Here are Netflix's six original Marvel shows, ranked from worst to best, according to critics: 

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Netflix's 25 original comedy shows, from worst to best

5. "Iron Fist"— 17%

Critic score: 17%

Audience score: 77%

Netflix description: "Danny Rand resurfaces 15 years after being presumed dead. Now, with the power of the Iron Fist, he seeks to reclaim his past and fulfill his destiny."

"The Punisher"— 67%

Critic score: 67%

Audience score: N/A

Netflix description: "A former Marine out to punish the criminals responsible for his family's murder finds himself ensnared in a military conspiracy."

4. "The Defenders"— 75%

Critic score: 75%

Audience score: 78%

Netflix description: "Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist join forces to take on common enemies as a sinister conspiracy threatens New York City."

• The home remodeling and decoration website Houzz released its list of the 10 design trends it expects to see in 2018.
• The list was assembled from feedback offered by its network of users and home professionals.
• Vibrant colors and intricate wall patterns appear frequently throughout the list.

If you're thinking about remodeling your home next year, now might be a good time to start planning.

With Black Friday approaching, hardware stores will be offering discounts on any tools or building supplies you can imagine. And Houzz—a website which offers products, ideas, and the names of contractors for home remodeling and decoration projects—has just named the 10 home design trends it expects to see most frequently in 2018. The trends were chosen based on input from Houzz users and home professionals.

These are the trends that made the list. 

SEE ALSO: Hilarious listing photos show what not to do when putting your house on the market

More color in kitchens

Increasing the amount of color in your kitchen can give it a warmer, more personal touch while also making cooking-related stains and damage less apparent.

Rich colors throughout the home

Paying attention to color throughout the home can make your furniture and decorative items pop.

No more white or stainless steel sinks

Houzz expects sinks made with materials like stone, copper, concrete, and granite to become popular in 2018.

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.

Starting a smart home is a fun endeavor, but it can also get expensive. Fast.

That doesn't have to be the case, though, and with a little planning and the right products, it's possible to create a smart home on a budget. 

The four products on this list all cost under $100, and when used together can make your current home smarter without a lot of extra work.

DON'T MISS: This little-known Amazon service turns stuff you want to get rid of into store credit

SEE ALSO: I've written about a bunch of great smart-home tech, but these are the gadgets I use every day — here's why

A smart-home hub

Every smart home needs a hub. 

A hub is how you communicate to all of your smart-home accessories, and in the case of Amazon's Echo Dot I mean that literally. 

As someone who uses an Echo product every day, I can attest to the platform's versatility, and being able to control parts of my apartment using my voice still impresses me.

The Echo Dot is just as smart and capable of any other member of the Echo family, but it's smaller and less expensive. If you're starting a smart home on a budget, this is the hub I'd choose.

Echo Dot, $49.99, available at Amazon

Smart plugs

Making the appliances you currently have smarter is significantly less expensive than buying all new ones. 

TP-Link's Smart Plugs make retrofitting these still-functional pieces of your home easy. You plug the smart plug into an outlet, connect it to your Wi-Fi and Echo (a process that doesn't take more than a couple of minutes), and plug in your "dumb" appliance. 

You'll be able to turn the appliance on and off through TP-Link's app or the Echo Dot, which doesn't make it as smart as a new appliance, but does make it more useful.

Think about your morning routine: There's probably something you have to turn on in another room, like a coffee maker. Wouldn't it be nice to turn it on and have fresh coffee waiting when you're done getting changed? That's the type of luxury smart plugs can provide while still being reasonably priced.

TP-Link Smart Plug, $29.99, available at Amazon

Smart light bulbs

Smart light bulbs are probably the first smart-home accessory people think of when considering starting one. 

It's fun to turn your lights on and off with your voice (trust me), but there's also a lot of utility in it. If you have a room where the light switch is in an inconvenient spot, it pays to be able to turn the lights on and off without it. 

I've tried a couple of different smart light bulbs, and both have specific pros and cons. TP-Link's option is less expensive, but isn't part of a larger ecosystem of lighting products. 

Philips Hue bulbs require a larger upfront investment, but are part of a series of different lights that can be used in different places around your house. Most of the initial cost comes from having to buy a Hue starter pack, which includes a hub. Once you have a hub in the house, you're able to buy different lights a la carte, and it becomes less expensive.

Either way, as someone who started their smart home with bulbs like these, I can highly recommend them.

TP-Link Smart LED Light Bulb, $19.99, available at Amazon

Philips Hue White Bulb Starter Kit, $69.97, available at Amazon

• Employees rank Delta Air Lines as one of the best places to work.
• Delta flight attendants, who consider the job extremely gratifying, say that it can also be difficult and competitive.
• Danny Elkins, who's been a flight attendant with Delta for more than 35 years, shared with Business Insider what it's really like.
• He said that it's harder to get invited to the Delta Flight Attendant training center than to get into Harvard University.
• He also shared the many perks of the job including getting paid to travel and his proudest moments on the job.

Being a flight attendant isn't like your typical 9-to-5 job.

According to Delta's careers page, flight attendants can expect 4 a.m. wake-up calls and sporadic hours, delays, and flight cancellations that will nix plans, and weekends and holidays spent working.

The tradeoff, though, is getting to see the world and not having to take your work home with you.

Flight attendants submit their monthly scheduling choices in a process called "bidding," and the more seniority they have, the more they're able to determine which routes they fly and days they get to take off.

Every new flight attendant at Delta flies six monthly "A days," or days they are assigned to be on-call at or near the airport. For people who commute to work — many flight attendants live in cities other than where they are based — that can mean flying standby from home to base and then waiting to possibly be called to work a flight. For some, work commute means two four-hour flights across the country.

While the job is demanding at times, it does help to work for an airline employees seem to love.

On Glassdoor, employees rate Delta Air Lines 4.3 out of 5 stars, citing pros like great perks and benefits, a professional and friendly environment, and flexibility.

Danny Elkins, who's been a flight attendant with Delta since it acquired Pan American World Airways' North Atlantic routes in 1991, would agree.

During his tenure as a flight attendant, Elkins has held several titles, including Language of Destination flight attendant, International Coordinator, Code Share flight attendant, and flight-attendant recruiter.

We spoke to him to find out what it's really like to be a flight attendant with Delta. Here's what he said:

SEE ALSO: Airline workers share 14 insider facts about flying most passengers don't know

DON'T MISS: Airline workers share 17 things they wish passengers would stop doing

Current role

Each workday really depends on the length of the flight and my rotation.

These days I generally fly from my base in Atlanta to the West Coast, including Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and other destinations. After meeting with my fellow flight attendants on board, we perform the required safety and security checks before helping passengers board.

We also prepare beverage carts and food carts for cabin service. If I'm working in the first-class cabin, I have meals to cook and work with pilots to discuss details of the flight.

I'm a people person, so after we finish our drink and snack service in the cabin I engage with customers and make sure I'm visible in the aisles to keep them well taken care of. We are there for our customers' safety and comfort, and every interaction counts, so I make the most of it when I'm in the aisles.

Hiring process

I haven't been a flight-attendant candidate for 35 years, but I do help recruit our new hires, so I know a thing or two about the process.

Our culture at Delta is important to us, so we have to make sure those we hire can not only serve to keep our customers safe and comfortable on board, but also fit well within our organization.

We implement an array of techniques, including video interviews, Q&A sessions, and in-person meetings to evaluate candidates to see if they'll be successful as a Delta flight attendant. It's a rigorous process, but we make sure it's fun and engaging for prospective crew members. And we often have an opportunity to select some amazing flight attendants.

Once the requisition is open for hire, it's not uncommon to receive more than 100,000 applications — I am told it's harder to get invited to the Delta Flight Attendant training center than to get into Harvard University.

*Note: According to Delta, of the 150,000 people that applied to be a Delta Flight Attendant in 2016, only 1% made the cut.

Useful skills for a flight attendant to have

It's important to have patience and be a good listener when you're a flight attendant.

Our passengers are as diverse as the places we fly, and their wants and needs vary greatly. But I have tools at my disposal to make sure they have a great experience on board the aircraft.

Flying can be tasking at times, so I do whatever I can to make their travel fun and easy. Listening to and being patient with my customers on board is paramount in making sure that happens.

• Larry Ellison, Oracle's founder and former CEO, has an extensive real estate portfolio.
• His holdings include multiple homes in Malibu and Lake Tahoe, as well as mansions in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. 
• He also owns 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison is no stranger to the real estate market — he's been called"the nation's most avid trophy-home buyer" and has all but taken over entire neighborhoods in Malibu and the Lake Tahoe area. 

When asked by CNBC in 2012 why he would buy more homes than he could possibly live in, Ellison referenced his love of art. 

"I'm going to start these art museums that are basically converted homes, and I have one for modern art, and I have one for 19th-century European art, and one for French impressionism,"Ellison said to CNBC. "I've got Japanese. I own a home in Kyoto, Japan actually on the temple grounds in Nanzenji that is going to become a Japanese art museum. So, a lot of them are museums." 

Though his 2012 purchase of the Hawaiian island of Lanai has been his largest overall investment by far, he's made a number of blockbuster purchases over the last two decades. 

SEE ALSO: Tech billionaire Larry Ellison just bought a historic Lake Tahoe casino that once belonged to Frank Sinatra

DON'T MISS: These will be the biggest design trends in American homes in 2018

In 1988, Ellison paid $3.9 million for a William Wurster home in San Francisco's swanky Pacific Heights neighborhood, a popular area that's now home to other tech moguls like Mark Pincus, Jony Ive, and Trevor Traina. Several news outlets reported Ellison planned to buy the home next door for $40 million, but the sale never happened.

Source: Curbed SF 

His home in Woodside, California, modeled after a 16th-century Japanese emperor's palace, is worth an estimated $70 million. The 23-acre estate took nine years to design and build, and it was completed in 2004.

Source: SF Gate

He also owns a historic garden villa in Kyoto, Japan, which was reportedly listed for $86 million, though the price he actually paid is unknown.

Source: SF Gate, Japan Property Central

Pictured: Nanzen-ji Temple, which is right near Ellison's estate

• CEO Katrina Blake has run Stitch Fix since it was founded in 2011. The company held an IPO Friday.

• The 34-year-old Stanford and Harvard grad was "risk averse" as a child and initially considered becoming a doctor.

• Lake is the only woman to lead a tech IPO in 2017 so far.

Friday, Katrina Lake became the only woman to lead a tech IPO so far this year.

Lake is the CEO of Stitch Fix, a subscription-based fashion startup. It works by having customers fill out a detailed questionnaire on their personal style, pick a shipment date, and pay a $20 styling fee. Stitch Fix stylists then pick out outfits to match your style, and if you like your outfit enough to keep it, you pay for the clothes.

The San Francisco-based company has around 5,000 employees — 3,500 of whom are full and part-time stylists, according to the Los Angeles Times.

According to CNBC, investors and analysts were concerned about Stitch Fix's profitability in the wake of troubles at meal subscription company Blue Apron. Forbes reported the IPO raised $120 million.

Here's a look at how Lake went from a prospective pre-med major to an entrepreneur on a quest to blend fashion and tech:

SEE ALSO: The life and career of Steve Jobs' mysterious widow Laurene Powell Jobs, who has become a powerful investor with a net worth of $20.7 billion

DON'T MISS: This hot fashion startup eliminates the hardest part of shopping

Lake told the Los Angeles Times she was "risk-averse" growing up in San Francisco and Minnesota. The daughter of a physician and a teacher, she thought about pursuing medicine.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Star Tribune

However, when she began attending Stanford University, she became mesmerized by economics. Lake earned a B.S. in the subject and went on to receive her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Source: Katrina Lake's blog, The Los Angeles Times

Before Stitch Fix, Lake worked at tech company Polyvore and management consulting firm The Parthenon Group.

Source: Katrina Lake's blog

Nothing beats a cruise. You get to explore multiple destinations while only unpacking once, there's a plethora of onboard amenities to keep you busy, and you don't have to worry about planning a thing.

With so many different cruises to choose from, however, deciding on the perfect one can be tough.

Luckily, Expedia CruiseShipCenters revealed which cruise is best for you based on your zodiac sign.

Keep scrolling to see what they said.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Alaskan cruise

According to Expedia, Aries are always looking for thrills, which is why they recommend a seven-night glacier cruise around Alaska.

"From hiking and river rafting to gold panning and local shops built on stilts above a crystal stream — an adrenaline rush and adventure awaits them in Alaska."

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Central America cruise

"With an eye for beauty, an 11-night Central America cruise is perfect for a Taurus," Expedia said, adding that such a cruise can take guests from Colombia to Costa Rica and the white beaches Mexico.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Caribbean cruise

Geminis enjoy exploring and trying a little bit of everything, so Expedia recommends a seven-night Caribbean cruise.

"With excursions that include diving, cave exploration, relaxing on white beaches, visiting historic shipwrecks and coral formations, and shopping at local markets and galleries throughout the Bahamas, Mexico, and Honduras, Gemini are sure to enjoy this cruise that gives them the chance to try everything."

Mario is on the verge of starring in his biggest game in years.

Forget about that smartphone game — "Super Mario Odyssey" is a massive, insanely-good, open-world Mario game. And it's only available on Nintendo's Switch.

Though there are plenty of games on all three major game consoles this holiday, a few blockbusters are exclusive to each. Starting with "Super Mario Odyssey," we've put together the three heavy-hitter "exclusive" games for Sony's PlayStation 4, Microsoft's Xbox One, and Nintendo's Switch console this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: 6 reasons you should buy a Nintendo Switch instead of a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One this year

1. "Super Mario Odyssey" on the Nintendo Switch

Just as "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" was a massive evolution of the long-running, celebrated "Legend of Zelda" franchise, "Super Mario Odyssey" challenges and evolve the "Super Mario" formula.

"Super Mario Odyssey" is an open-world, nonlinear game starring Mario. That means you're not running from a beginning point to, say, a flagpole. We're talking big open worlds that are packed with details: secret areas to find, puzzles to solve, and — bizarrely — even some old-school 2D Mario thrown in for good measure. Seriously!

This is an area you enter, and play, in "Super Mario Odyssey":

Instead of reaching an endpoint, your goal in "Super Mario Odyssey" is to collect moons, of which there are many in each world. The closest comparison is to "Super Mario 64." It may be too early to call it, and there are a dozen other incredible games this year, but "Super Mario Odyssey" — to me — is the game to get this holiday season.

Check out our review of the game right here.

Check out "Super Mario Odyssey" in action right here:

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2. "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" on the Xbox One/Xbox One X

"PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" boasts a bizarre name and a brilliant concept: 100 people on a massive island, armed with their wits and a scattered arsenal, fighting to the death. Whoever survives at the end of the match wins — and there can only be one.

Each match of "Battlegrounds" starts the same way: You're in a derelict airplane with 100 other actual people; as you fly over a deserted island you're able to choose where you'll parachute down. Since you're unarmed, if you land near anyone it's up to you to choose whether to run (an attempt to arm yourself and/or escape) or to fight (with your fists!) to death. As the match progresses, the area of the island you're able to occupy shrinks — thus forcing you closer and closer to your opponents.

It sounds intense because it is intense. There is no single-player, no "campaign" mode. Just the terrifying island and 100 actual people.

OF NOTE: This game is an "exclusive" insofar as it's only coming to the Xbox One this holiday season. The game is already available, albeit unfinished, on the PC; it will also head to the PlayStation 4 further down the line, though it's not clear when.

Release date: December 12

Russia unveiled its new Tu-160M2 Blackjack long-range super bomber on Thursday — an upgrade to the Tu-160M and original Tu-160, according to The Drive.

"While ostensibly an improved variant of the Soviet-era Tu-160, the Tu-160M2 is a new bomber in all but name," Russian media said, according to The Aviationist.

The new Blackjack is expected to make its maiden flight in 2018 and go into mass production in 2021.

Its full capabilities are therefore still unknown — but here's what we know so far:

SEE ALSO: 13 photos of the Su-57, Russia's first stealth fighter that can outmaneuver the F-22 Raptor

Russia unveiled the new Tu-160M2 White Swan — codenamed Blackjack by NATO — on Thursday.

Source: airforce-technology.com, The Drive

It's an upgrade to the Tu-160M, which entered Russian service in 2014.

The original Tu-160 first entered Soviet service in 1987.

• LinkedIn Influencer Travis Bradberry published this post originally on LinkedIn.
• Setting aside time to organize each day can help you get more done.
• Highly productive people don't respond to emails as they arrive. 
• They also only use a single to-do list and plan their day the night before.

We often confuse being productive with working as fast as we can, every second of the day. We fear that slowing down to get organized will kill our productivity, but the facts suggest otherwise:

• The average office employee spends over one hour each day just looking for things.
• The average U.S. executive spends six weeks per year searching through messy desks and disorganized files for misplaced information.
• 23% of adults say they're late paying their bills because they lose them.

Being disorganized is costly, in terms of both money and time. But if you can convince yourself to slow down and get organized, the ROI will shock you.

"For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned."— Benjamin Franklin

While Benjamin Franklin's estimation is overstated, spending time getting organized is still a valuable investment. Experts estimate that every hour spent in planning and organizing saves three to four hours of time that would otherwise be wasted.

There's a reason why people who are the calmest and least stressed are the ones who get the most done—they understand the importance of organization, and they've adapted their habits accordingly. The good news is that you can become more organized and productive too, just by emulating the habits that they rely on.

SEE ALSO: 4 things you can say at work that will make your boss love you

1. They don't let their desks get cluttered.

You may think you know exactly where, and in which stack of paper, you can find a particular document. But you're kidding yourself if you don't think you'd be more productive with a clean and organized desk. Just the act of organizing the stuff on your desk helps you organize it in your mind. In addition, research conducted at Princeton University revealed that the more our brains are bombarded by the competing stimuli on a cluttered desk, the less we're able to focus. And this wasn't just subjective evidence; they were able to see the difference in MRIs of the subjects' brain activity.

2. They never touch things twice.

Organized and productive people never put anything in a holding pattern, because touching things twice is a huge time-waster. Don't save an e‑mail or a phone call to deal with later. As soon as something gets your attention, you should act on it, delegate it, or delete it.

3. They don't respond to e-mails as they arrive.

Productive people don't allow their e‑mail to be a constant interruption. In addition to checking their e-mail on a schedule, they take advantage of features that prioritize messages by sender. They set alerts for their most important vendors and their best customers, and they save the rest until they reach a stopping point in their work. Some people even set up an autoresponse that lets senders know when they'll be checking their e-mail again.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is one of the biggest events of the year in the modeling world. Although the show features plenty of models, only 14 of them hold the coveted title of a Victoria's Secret Angel.

These models often get several endorsement deals and high profile ad campaigns as a result of their Angel status, which has landed six of this year's Angels on Forbes' list of The World's Highest-Paid Models of 2016.

Here's a look at which each of these Angels earned last year before they strut their wings on this year's catwalk.

Jasmine Tookes — $4 million

Jasmine Tookes has been with the Victoria's Secret family since 2012, and officially earned her wings in 2015. She has since landed deals with Lancome and Calvin Klein, which helped earn the 26-year-old $4 million in 2016.

Taylor Hill — $4 million

21-year-old Taylor Hill received her Angel wings in 2015, and has already generated a huge following on Instagram with 9.2 million followers at the time of this post. Her campaign with Topshop helped her earn $4 million in 2016.

Lily Aldridge — $4 million

Lily Aldridge also made $4 million in 2016. Her lucrative deals with brands like Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger have made her one of the highest paid models in the world. The 32-year-old model made her first appearance in the show in 2009 and quickly became an official Angel the following year.

• Brittany Wright is a food photographer whose book "Feast Your Eyes" comes out November 28.
• It features her signature food gradient photos that continue to go viral on Instagram.
• She arranges foods according to size, color, texture, and type.
• She hopes to inspire people to appreciate how beautiful everyday foods can be.

As they say in the food business, you eat with your eyes first.

With painstaking arrangements of edible items sorted by size, color, texture, and type, food photographer Brittany Wright creates incredibly satisfying photos meant to help people appreciate the beauty of everyday foods.

She originated the #foodgradients hashtag on Instagram, where it has earned her 195,000 followers.

Wright spoke to INSIDER about her inspiration for the series and how she puts her food gradients together.

Brittany Wright is a food photographer based in Seattle, but she started out fixing computers.

Desperate for a creative outlet outside of her day job, she began paging through cookbooks and trying new recipes.

"Food had always been a big part of my world," she said.

Across the internet, alarmist bloggers and quack doctors stir up panic about "bad" foods. They insist that MSG, artificial sweeteners, gluten, soy, and more are the secret culprits behind our health problems.

It's tough to spend five minutes on Facebook or Pinterest without seeing some "wellness" guru warning you against the dangers lurking in your kitchen cabinets. 

The issue is that — in many cases — these supposedly horrible foods aren't "bad" for you at all. Often, there's decades of scientific evidence to prove a food's safety. But even that isn't always enough to quiet the online rumor mill.

We spoke with two dietitians to sort out fact from fallacy. Here's a look at 11 foods and ingredients that you don't need to fear.

Savory flavor-booster MSG doesn't cause headaches or chest pain.

Lots of people still think that eating flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (better known as MSG) causes headaches, nausea, chest pain, and heart palpitations — a suite of symptoms once referred to as "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome." 

That fear is unfounded.

MSG was first discovered by a Japanese chemist who isolated it from seaweed, the BBC reports. It didn't get its bad rap until 1968, when a doctor published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine wondering why he always felt numb and got heart palpitations after eating Chinese food. Some experts thought MSG was to blame.

But in later human studies, MSG has failed to consistently cause those negative symptoms, even in people who believe they're sensitive to it. Scientists now acknowledge that a very small percentage of people may react to MSG, according to the Mayo Clinic, but most people will have zero issues eating it in reasonable amounts. 

There's no need to fear artificial flavors.

Lately it's trendy for food companies and restaurant chains to make grandiose announcements about how they're switching from artificial flavors to natural ones.

It's a clever trick that makes their food seem more pure and safe. And since so many companies are doing it, it might make you wonder whether there's some inherent danger in those flavors. But this artificial-to-natural move is just a distraction tactic that's doing little to benefit your health, dietitian Andy Bellatti told INSIDER.

"The current health issues in America have nothing to do with artificial or natural flavors," Bellatti said. He added that he hasn't "seen any data whatsoever" that artificial or natural flavors are linked to dire health outcomes for the human body.

In other words, if you really want to eat a "healthy" diet, eliminating flavorings doesn't need to be a top priority. Sure, a lot of nutrient-poor foods contain artificial flavors, but that's not the reason they're considered unhealthy.

Dairy can be part of a healthy diet.

All those Got Milk? ads tell you that milk's a super-healthy source of calcium. But all your vegan and paleo friends on Facebook keep sharing memes about how dairy is bad for you. Who's right? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. 

Yes, dairy is a good source of calcium, but it's not the only food that's rich in calcium. (Here are some excellent non-dairy ways to get it.)

And yes, a lot of people have trouble digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in milk. That's a good reason to avoid dairy.

But if you have no trouble digesting the stuff, it can be part of a healthy diet, dietitian Georgie Fear, author of  Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss, told INSIDER. ("Part" is the operative word here. The world's healthiest diets are plant-based, not cheese-based.)

"Certainly if somebody chooses to avoid dairy for religious or allergy or other reasons, that's fine," Fear said. "But there's no real health superiority to avoiding it."

Besides, eating should enjoyable, and a savoring a hunk of really good cheese is one of the most enjoyable food experiences out there.

It was another day of hits and misses for our daily fantasy picks last Sunday.

Tyrod Taylor was a major bust, as was running back Bilal Powell, but JuJu Smith-Schuster was a quality wide receiver play, and Sammy Watkins found the end zone as a budget option as well.

This week, we're back at it, trying to identify the best, affordable players for your DraftKings lineup. Everyone wants to load their teams with studs sure to light up the box score, but it's finding the undervalued players that allows you to max out your budget on the likes of Kareem Hunt and Tom Brady this week.

Below we've picked some of our best value plays for daily fantasy this week. Consider them when trying to find a few extra dollars to upgrade elsewhere in your lineup.

QB: Blaine Gabbert, $4,900

Jokes about his tooth fairy outfit aside, Blaine Gabbert isn't the worst quarterback starting under center for a team this week. He has an arm, and against the Texans paltry pass defense, should have a chance to put up some points.

RB: James White, $4,700

James White is a versatile back that is often used in the slot for the Patriots spread offense. He's a weapon that can be used in a lot of different ways, and chances are there will be a lot of points scored between the Pats and Raiders this week. It's a good game to consider investing in.

RB: Doug Martin, $4,500

Doug Martin has been relatively quiet this year, but the Buccaneers looked a bit more put together last weekend, and only five teams in football have given up more rushing touchdowns than the Dolphins.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, on November 20. The glitzy affair will be broadcast on November 28— and we can't wait to see what goes down on the runway.

In September, we introduced you to all 61 models who were confirmed to walk in the show at the time. Then, we gave you a closer look at the 17 newcomers. Now, we're spotlighting the 14 current Victoria's Secret Angels who earned their wings after years of dedication to the brand.

From Adriana Lima to Taylor Hill, keep reading to learn more about the Angels.

Adriana Lima is supposed to return for another season as a Victoria's Secret Angel. Aside from 2009, the Brazilian model has walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show since 1999.

Lima, 36, is the longest-serving Victoria's Secret model ever. At this time, it's unclear if Lima will make it to Shanghai, China, as her visa has been reportedly delayed because of an "ongoing diplomatic problem."

Alessandra Ambrosio, 36, will walk in the show this year. She has been in over 10 Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows.

The model helped launch Victoria's Secret PINK in 1999 and wore the Fantasy Bra in 2014.

Behati Prinsloo, 28, will return for her ninth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Prinsloo has been an Angel since 2009.

The Namibian model was discovered in a grocery store while on vacation in Cape Town, South Africa, according to People.

• When it comes to losing weight, there are a variety of workout routines and diets to choose from.
• Your personality can influence your weight loss journey. 
• So, we got an astrolger to tell us the best ways to lose weight based on your zodiac sign. 

If you're wondering how to lose weight, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the insane amount of information out there. With a new diet plan trending seemingly every other week, it can be hard to identify not only the strategies that work, but the strategies that will work for you. The best way to begin your path to weight loss and to a healthier lifestyle is to contemplate your personality. That's where your zodiac sign comes in. It can help you figure out what will get you up and moving and help you stay motivated. We got astrologer and life coach Linda Furiate, who has written for Astrology Hub, The Baltimore Sun and more, to offer insights to help guide you toward a healthier way of living.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

For Aries, the best way to start and keep up with workout routines or diet plans is to harness their competitive edge. The hardest part about weight loss for an Aries is that they love to start projects, but have a hard time following through. Competition is a way to motivate Aries when they would otherwise begin to slack off.

"They are motivated to try new things and to be the first to use something," Furiate says. "They love getting the latest product on the market to help in their workout or nutritional routine. Their kitchens are filled with blenders, food processors, or other gadgets. Unfortunately, they use these things once or twice and then get bored or lazy. The best thing for Aries is to find a friend or partner they want to aid in their weight loss and workout routine." These are the secrets of women who work out every day.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Taurus can be very hedonistic, which makes exercising regularly and following diet plans difficult. "They can tend to be slow, methodical, and stuck in their ways," Furiate says. "They also love sweets and rich foods." Basically, anything scrumptious or luxurious will attract a Taurus, so if working out or dieting is somehow made to seem glamorous, a Taurus will have a much easier time of it. Furiate says, "If they feel good around what they are wearing and find value in spending the money for exclusive membership, this may motivate them to get up and go to the gym." So a gym with extra amenities, like a pool, a sauna, or access to masseurs would be perfect for a Taurus. They would benefit from a spa experience. Check out these 12 must-have products for your very own home spa day.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Geminis love to go, go, go. Luckily for them, that means that staying committed to a workout routine shouldn't be too difficult. According to Furiate, the best activity for a Gemini to engage in is running. "Running or fast walking is great for Geminis. They love being on the move. They will benefit also from being able to talk to or communicate with another person while working out. They need to find a buddy to walk or run with." Geminis are also great multitaskers, so if they can't find a partner who is willing to run a few miles with them, they can always fill the silence by listening to music or a podcast. (This is the energizing workout music that makes exercising more fun.)

Our college picks are on a roll!

After going 6-1 in Week 10 of the college football season, we hammered the sportsbooks again last week with yet another 6-1 performance, thanks in large part to contrarian plays like Miami and Mississippi State. 

Hopefully, this hot streak of 12-2 means some of you are making money out there, and if you haven't cashed in yet, start thinking about it soon — streaks this scorching can only last so long.

Let's get to our best seven bets of the college football weekend and keep the money rolling.

All lines are courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.

LAST WEEK: 6-1
OVERALL: 46–31

USC (-16) over UCLA

In a matchup with the two top quarterback prospects to potentially enter the 2018 NFL Draft, we're backing the Trojans to keep rolling through the competition. Josh Rosen will definitely have a chance to secure a backdoor cover with a line this long, but USC have been playing like that have a score to settle ever since their embarrassing loss to Notre Dame, and I don't expect them to let up now.

Cal (+15.5) over Stanford

California has not had the season they dreamed of having back in August, but at 5-5 they are still alive to make a bowl game should they secure another win. I don't think it happens here, but I think the Golden Bears defense can play sell out defense to prevent Bryce Love from running all over them and score enough points to keep this game within two touchdowns.

Tennessee (+16) over LSU

After fans had been calling for the firing of Butch Jones for almost the entire season, the Volunteers head coach was finally let go after last week's 50-17 loss to Mizzou. LSU is a strong team, but I love backing a team who recently dropped a coach that they felt was holding them back. The Volunteers are at home and fans will be locked in and looking to get the post-Jones era off to a good start.