For the most part, Netflix had an accomplished year in producing a number of great original shows.

But the company also had a handful of new series that critics tore apart. 

From the lackluster Naomi Watts-led series "Gypsy," to the disappointing Marvel show "Iron Fist," six shows that Netflix debuted in 2017 received heaps of negative reviews on their way to earning a "Rotten" score from the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 

Here are the six worst Netflix original shows that debuted in 2017, ranked from bad to worst, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: All 26 notable Netflix original shows that debuted in 2017, ranked from worst to best

6. "Girlboss"— 31%

Critic score: 31%

Audience score: 72%

Netflix description: "Rebellious and broke, Sophia stumbles into creating an online business and learns how to be the boss. A comedy inspired by the best-selling memoir."

What critics said: "Watching an ignorant but energetic youngster rebel against adulthood is nothing new, and Girlboss' iteration would be fine if it showed some semblance of self-awareness."— IndieWire

5. "Neo Yokio"— 30%

Critic score: 30%

Audience score: 56%

Netflix description: "Joined by his faithful mecha-butler, Kaz Kaan pursues love, fashion and supernatural forces amid Neo Yokio's sinister high society."

What critics said:"There's a lot of talent involved in Neo Yokio... Yet, somehow, the show has no soul. It's dead on arrival."— The Verge

4. "Gypsy"— 24%

Critic score: 24%

Audience score: 85%

Netflix description: "Therapist Jean Holloway develops dangerous and intimate relationships with the people in her patients' lives in this simmering psychological thriller."

What critics said: "It's all fun and games until you desperately start hoping that your protagonist loses her malpractice suit."— The Village Voice

New Year's Eve sounds greaton the surface: Sparkly outfits, lively parties, and new beginnings. But think back: When was the last time you actually had fun on the last major holiday of the year? 

From overcrowded and overpriced bars to hangovers and broken resolutions, here are the reasons why we think New Year's Eve is really just the worst. Let's all just stay in this year. 

Food and drinks are WAY overpriced.

If you go out on New Year's Eve, expect cocktails to cost double their normal price, and food portions to be smaller and more expensive than usual. Don't even get us started on the cost of Champagne.

There's so much pressure to have a good time.

Not only is there so much pressure to have fun, there's so much pressure to attend a cool party or event. After all, no one wants FOMO. 

There's even more pressure to have someone to kiss at midnight.

If you don't come to the party with a date, you're either staring awkwardly at your shoes at midnight, or you kiss some random person at the bar. Neither is ideal. 

Warning: There are spoilers ahead. Do not read on if you have not seen "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally in theaters and fans are having a lot of different feelings about it.

Maybe you loved it. Maybe you're mad at the number of unresolved answers provided from 2015's "The Force Awakens." (We want to know who Snoke is, too!) Maybe you're just wondering what some of those weird scenes were about. The more you think about "The Last Jedi," the less some of it starts to make sense.

Whatever you're feeling about "TLJ," we hear you. Let's wade through this together.

Keep reading to see the biggest questions we have after the movie.

1. Who is Rey?

Let's start off with an easy one. 

Yes, we know Kylo Ren gave us some sort of answer. He said Rey is no one, a nobody from Jakku with nobody parents who sold her for money. Could Ben Solo have been lying? Rey seems way too advanced without proper training in the Force to not have some Jedi lineage. 

If that really was the big reveal, boy was it a letdown.

You can read more on Rey's reveal and what we know (or don't know) about her here.

2. So, who was Snoke?

Another letdown. "The Force Awakens" built up this mysterious villain, spawning two years worth of theories on his identity, only to kill him off without giving us any backstory whatsoever on him.

Sorry, gang. Your theories didn't matter. And that's a plot point which is most likely going to fracture the fandom — annoying those who invested so much time in something that had absolutely zero payoff.

If you decided to pick up any of Disney's tie-in novelizations you got a little more of a peek into Snoke (but not really). You can read more on the character here.

3. Is Luke dead?

In short, yes. Luke finally made peace with his demons and found some sort of resolve with his nephew. Now, he's one with the Force. Maybe we'll see him return as a Force ghost like Yoda.

Reuters photo agency is known for capturing some of the most memorable moments around the world, and this year was no exception. From the Women's March in January to the solar eclipse in July, 2017 had no shortage of stunning photo ops.

Reuters rounded up their most popular posts on Instagram, where they have 1.3 million followers, based on likes and comments.

Here are their most unforgettable pictures from 2017, along with their abridged captions.

Men feed seagulls along the Yamuna river on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India.

A man carries his pet cat as he walks under the cherry blossoms at Tongji University in Shanghai, China.

Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain wears the overall leader's yellow jersey, during Stage 10 of the Tour de France from Perigueux to Bergerac, France.

Deciding to leave a relationship or not is a tough decision. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’re going through a rough patch or if you’re falling out of love entirely.

Luckily there are a few ways to tell if your love for your partner is dwindling. From diminished communication to developing a wandering eye, keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs the next time you wonder if you’re falling out of love with your partner.

Their imperfections start to stand out

Being in love with someone means you love all of their quirks too. In fact, a study found that small quirks can actually make a person fall deeper in love more than physical attributes can.

Sure, there may be certain things about your partner that you don’t exactly love, but they usually seem few and far in between when you’re really into them.

But if your partner’s little quirks and imperfections have started making you more annoyed than charmed, it could mean you’re falling out of love.

Communication diminishes

A good relationship is built on strong communication with active listening.

If communication between you and your partner diminishes, and you start to hide your concerns about the relationship or discuss your concerns with friends instead of going to your partner directly, you may need to re-evaluate the relationship.

You develop a wandering eye

When you love someone, you can’t stop staring at them. It’s one thing to notice another attractive person, but if the streets suddenly seem to be swarming with potential lovers, you may be becoming curious about testing the waters with someone new.

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.

• Eddie Bauer is a great place to shop for stylish apparel, cozy loungewear, and warm outerwear.
• The company is having a site-wide 50% off sale, just use the promo code "AURORA" at checkout to save. Order by December 20 at 11:59 PST for guaranteed delivery before Christmas.
  
• We rounded up the sale's highlights to help save you time.

Founded in 1920 by Pacific Northwest outdoorsman Eddie Bauer, the eponymous company has nearly a century's worth of experience creating apparel for adventurers of all types. While Eddie Bauer's catalog of apparel is worth shopping year round, right now is the very best time to save. 

The company is holding a sitewide 50% off sale just in time for the holidays; certain items, like sweaters, are an even better deal at 60% off. Simply use the promo code "AURORA" at checkout to save.

If you're planning on using this sale to get some holiday shopping done, don't worry about your order not arriving in time. All orders placed before December 20 at 11:59 PST are guaranteed to arrive before Christmas.

Whether you're looking for everyday apparel like sweaters, hoodies, and button-up shirts, or winter-ready gear like jackets, hats, and gloves, you'll find it here. The holidays are almost here, so don't miss the chance to get great gifts at excellent prices.

To help you fully take advantage of the sale, we rounded up the best apparel, outerwear, accessories for men and women below.

Shop all items at Eddie Bauer now.

SEE ALSO: This is the warmest winter jacket I own, and it's also the thinnest

The best men's apparel

• Eddie Bauer Snow Bridge Cardigan Sweater, $47.60 (Originally $149)[You save $101.40]
• Eddie Bauer Radiator Fleece Shirt Jacket, $32 (Originally $80)[You save $48]
• Eddie Bauer Radiator 1/2-Zip $24 (Originally $60)[You save $36]
• Eddie Bauer Cascade Falls Sherpa-Lined Hoodie, $40 (Originally $80)[You save $40]
• Eddie Bauer Flannel Sleep Pants, $25 (Originally $50)[You save $25]
• Eddie Bauer Wrinkle-Free Relaxed Fit Pinpoint Oxford Shirt, $37.50 (Originally $75)[You save $37.50]

The best women's apparel

• Eddie Bauer Peekaboo Cardigan Sweater, $36 (Originally $90)[You save $54]
• Eddie Bauer Christine Turtleneck Sweater, $24 (Originally $60)[You save $36]
• Eddie Bauer Stine's Favorite Flannel Shirt, $30 (Originally $60)[You save $30]
• Eddie Bauer Boyfriend Flannel-Lined Jeans, $45 (Originally $90)[You save $45]
• Eddie Bauer Stine's Knit Sleep Pants, $25 (Originally $50)[You save $50]
• Eddie Bauer Christine Cardigan Sweater, $24 (Originally $60)[You save $36]

The best men's outerwear

• Eddie Bauer B-9 Down Parka, $149.50 (Originally $299)[You save $149.50]
• Eddie Bauer 1936 Skyliner Model Down Jacket, $99.50 (Originally $199)[You save $99.50]
• Eddie Bauer Vinson Down Parka, $249.50 (Originally $499)[You save $249.50]
• Eddie Bauer Storm Ops Parka, $174.50 (Originally $349)[You save $174.50]
• Eddie Bauer Superior 2.0 Down Jacket, $139.50 (Originally $279)[You save $139.50]

• We teamed up with Expedia to see which US cities were the most popular in 2017.
• Expedia looked at roundtrip flights booked in the country during a one-year window, from December 1, 2016 to December 1, 2017.
• The top five most popular places include Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, LA, and NYC.

Sometimes the best trips you take are the ones that are close to home.

We teamed up with travel booking site Expedia to see which American cities were the most popular in 2017.

In order to find this out, Expedia looked at roundtrip flight bookings in the country during a one-year window from December 1, 2016 to December 1, 2017.

Keep scrolling to see the top 10 places Americans were traveling to in 2017.

10. Atlanta, Georgia

Often referred to as the "capital of the South," Atlanta is full of culture — specifically African- American history — and delicious restaurants.

9. Denver, Colorado

You're never far from nature in this laid back city known for its breweries, budding art scene, and parks. Visitors can spend half their time exploring the city and the other half hiking or skiing in the nearby Rocky Mountains.  

8. Miami, Florida

Despite being hit hard by Hurricane Irma, Miami — world-renowned for its clubs and beaches — was still one of the most popular cities in the US and in the world.

"Whatever you do, throw yourself into it. Throw your head, heart, and hands into it."

That's a quote from Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, who wakes up at 4 a.m. every morning to run a multi-billion-dollar international corporation, and sat on a business council with the President of the United States.

She knows what she's talking about. 

If you're looking for some inspiration to start 2018 off right, keep reading for more inspiring quotes from world leaders, intellectuals, and entertainers who have shared their wisdom and advice.

SEE ALSO: 14 quotes about leadership from John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States

DON'T MISS: 50 places you should visit in 2018

Although she is only 20, Malala has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her commitment to providing education to everyone, especially girls, is apparent in this line from her autobiography "I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban." 

Nobody has created great quotes like the bard. Shakespeare tells us to not be afraid of risks in this line spoken by Lucio in Act I, Scene IV of "Measure for Measure."

Meryl Streep has won three Oscars and has been nominated for 20 Academy Awards.

While some brands stumbled, there was no dearth of marketers pushing the envelope to create some brilliant ads in 2017 either. 

The year started on a high with several marketers making statements about diversity and inclusion during the Super Bowl. Things only got better, with several viral campaigns and engaging digital work were pushed out in the following months. 

As 2017 wraps to a close, we look back at some of the most creative, innovative and funny ads by marketers. 

Oh and like the Worst Ads of 2017, we're grading these for fun too.

10. Snapchat's Dancing Hot Dog (Grade: B+)

While not technically an ad, the dancing hot dog helped tout Snapchat's technical and creative prowess in the realm of augmented reality like none other. The adorable animated hot dog took the internet by storm, birthing memes galore. And brands were all too happy to jump on the dancing 3D objects bandwagon, when Snapchat rolled out the functionality widely for them in September.

9. Squarespace's John Malkovich Super Bowl Ads (Grade: B+)

This quirky Super Bowl ad by Squarespace featured actor John Malkovich attempting to claim a domain based on his name from a less-famous owner. The JohnXHannes ad clearly resonated with audiences, as it ended up sweeping the Creative Arts Emmys for the 2017 Outstanding Commercial award. 

"Squarespace wins for their surprising use of John Malkovich and for smartly and simply connecting domain names to their brand, said Winston Binch, chief digital officer of Deutsch North America. "Provocative, and entertaining focus."

8. Lowe's DIY Instagram Stories Ad (Grade: A-)

This crafty Lowe's Instagram Stories campaign by Facebook's Creative Shop and BBDO weaved together 64 micro-videos to demonstrate how a tiny, unused room can be creatively transformed into a useful space. The closet-sized room perfectly matched the dimensions of Instagram's camera field, and the Stories format allowed users to flip back and forth with the swipe of a finger, reviewing how the changes were made.

Try as they may, every year, a handful of marketers just can't avoid rolling out completely terrible ad campaigns. 

Whether a tone-deaf message or ads with glaring racist slants, such gaffes are not necessarily reserved for smaller marketer with little to no creative counsel. As 2017 showed, this sort of thing can just as easily happen to big name brands with huge budgets. 

As the year winds down, we look back at some of the most cringe-worthy ads by marketers that should have frankly known better. 

Oh and we're grading them too, just for fun. 

It's not all grim, check out the Best Ads of 2017 here. 

10. Volkswagen's "Luv Bug" spot (Grade: C)

It's been a rough couple of years for the German auto maker post its emission scandal, and the company seems to have lost not just its credibility, but also its creativity. You probably haven't seen a more literal ad on your TV screens this year, with a couple expanding the size of their car as they expand their family. As the family grows, the Beetle gets swapped out for progressively bigger cars, including the Jetta and the Atlas. No points for creativity for this one.  

9. Netflix's "Christmas Prince" tweet (Grade: C-)

Netflix is usually a savvy marketer — and even landed a spot in our Best ads of 2017 list. But it seems that even the best and the brightest run out of original ideas sometimes. The streaming giant thought it could take a page out of Spotify's playbook, using its viewership data to fuel a quirky marketing campaign on Twitter for the holiday season. Except, it totally backfired and people thought it was rather creepy. 

"While there are some pros to copycat campaign marketing, it cannot be an integral part of a successful, long-term strategy," said Jerome Maisch, director of product strategy at Digimind. "These days, loyalists want their favorite brands to be unique and different — something that cannot be achieved by copying other brands’ marketing strategies on social and beyond."

8. Sprint's incessant trolling of Verizon (Grade: C-)

Some people may champion brands taking potshots at their competitors, but it's unimaginative, and frankly, comes off as lazy. Sprint has emerged as the king of such ads in recent years, relentlessly taking digs at Verizon. This ad, for example, is for a mock store called "Twice the Price," with Sprint calling out Verizon for charging "twice the price."

This week, Pharrell Williams' N.E.R.D released a new album that features Kendrick Lamar, and MGMT dropped an eccentric new single.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best songs of 2017, ranked

N.E.R.D — "Don't Don't Do It!" (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

With writing from Frank Ocean and an impactful verse from Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams' N.E.R.D takes on police brutality on the rock-influenced "Don't Don't Do It!" a highlight from the group's self-titled, fifth studio album. 

SZA — "The Weekend" (Calvin Harris Remix)

Continuing in the spirit of his latest album, "Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1," Scottish producer Calvin Harris released an upbeat, funk take on SZA's contemplative, hit single "The Weekend," with an album cover that references the Matisse painting "Dance."

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah — "Freedom Is A Word" (feat. Vic Mensa)

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, an acclaimed jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, teams with Chicago rapper Vic Mensa on the dark single "Freedom Is A Word," a social commentary on the epidemic of violence in Mensa's hometown.

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.

The Insider Pick:

• The Nintendo Switch is incredibly popular and its games are legendary. Our favorite games for the Nintendo Switch include “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” “Super Mario Odyssey,” “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle,” and “Sonic Mania.”

After an unfortunate run with its ill-fated Wii U, Nintendo is in top form again. The Nintendo Switch, launched in March of 2017, is a runaway success, proving so far to be the hottest piece of tech for this year’s holiday season (sorry, iPhone) for those lucky shoppers who can find one in stock. The Switch’s innovative hybrid format, multiplayer-friendly design, and lineup of great first-party titles have made the console a smash-hit, and Nintendo’s future is looking bright indeed.

Like the Wii U, the Switch can be played both on your TV and off of it thanks to its unique tablet format – something that the refined Switch design greatly improves upon compared to the Wii U’s unwieldy touchscreen controller.

The Switch has managed to tap right into that “sweet spot” market niche of long-time gamers who love first-party Nintendo titles as well as casual players, such as parents with children, who want something they can enjoy together in their living room. And for both of those, the Switch is absolutely perfect.

Although the Switch is still a new system and Nintendo is bringing plenty of great stuff to the platform in 2018 (including a full-blown Pokemon title), the console’s library is already surprisingly well filled-out with some truly awesome games.

Now is a great time to buy one, too, given its affordability compared to other consoles. Whether you already own a Switch or you’re hoping to score one from Santa, we’ve gone ahead and picked out what we think are the five best games for the Switch.

Read on in the slides below to learn why our favorite games for the Nintendo Switch include “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” “Super Mario Odyssey,” “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle,” and “Sonic Mania.”

SEE ALSO: The best gaming consoles you can buy

The best open-world adventure game

Why you'll love it: With its breath-taking open world and the sheer amount of content to enjoy, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is more than just the best Nintendo game released in recent years – it’s also possibly the greatest Zelda game ever made.

Every once in awhile a game comes along that changes everything, exceeding everyone’s expectations and re-defining an entire franchise. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is one of those games. Almost immediately, “Breath of the Wild” throws you into a vast world that’s all yours to explore.

Although the majority of Zelda games have featured relatively open overworlds, this one is by far the boldest and most ambitious yet. Hyrule has never looked or felt more alive than it does here.

But the thing that’s so special about “Breath of the Wild” isn’t merely its sprawling world, breath-taking art direction, or fantastic gameplay — it’s the sheer amount of unchecked freedom the game gives you to do whatever you want.

After the opening act, you can literally head straight for the final boss if you wish. It’s not likely you’ll be able to complete this right off the bat (nor will you want to, with this massive world at your fingertips), but the choice is there. The simple beauty of this game is its unparalleled lack of limitations imposed upon the player.

Like other recent Zelda titles such as “Wind Waker HD,” the openness and allure of “Breath of the Wild” will have you spending most of your time exploring and taking in the sights and sounds of Hyrule. The varied environments are colorful, rich, and vibrate with energy, feeling much more alive than in previous iterations with lots of active fauna for you to interact with.

You’re given all of your necessary weapons and tools within the first hour of play (a marked departure from the Zelda standard) and then set on your way as the captain of your own adventure.

One notable addition to your toolkit is Link’s new ability to climb. This offers a vertical dimension with which you can traverse the world, encouraging you to try out different ways to explore and infiltrate enemy encampments. It’s a lot of fun to climb up to a precipice, take in the view, spot someplace you’d like to go, then use your hang-glider to soar down to your new objective.

The size and scope of Hyrule may initially seem daunting but dotted throughout the landscape are “Assassin’s Creed”-style towers which Link can ascend to view his surroundings and unlock swaths of the map.

The latest entry in the Zelda series re-writes the formula in a way that hasn’t been seen since the Nintendo 64’s “Ocarina of Time.” “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is, simply put, a masterpiece, and it’s hard to see how Nintendo can surpass it. It’s easily the best game yet for the Nintendo Switch, but it’s also arguably the finest Zelda game we’ve ever seen.

Pros: A vast and awe-inspiring open world, near limitless freedom in how you can explore and complete objectives, non-linear quest progression, cleverly-designed puzzles and enemies, and a sea of content to enjoy

Cons: Breakable weapons become a nuisance, much steeper difficulty than previous entries

Buy "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" on Amazon for $60

The best platforming game

Why you'll love it: By trading the linear level formula for a daring new open-world approach, Nintendo has again re-invented its flagship franchise with “Super Mario Odyssey.”

When “Super Mario Odyssey” was first revealed at the 2017 E3 event, it turned a lot of heads and left many others scratching theirs. The Switch’s new flagship title was a clear departure from the classic Mario blueprint and Nintendo wasn’t trying to shy away from that fact.

Developers were certainly taking a risk here, but the gamble paid off, producing a masterpiece of platforming joy and what will surely endure as one of the best Mario games since "Super Mario World."

After the fantastic “3D World” for the Wii U, which was at the time the best Mario game to come along in awhile, “Odyssey” had some seriously big shoes (or rather, a big red cap) to fill. “Super Mario 3D World” introduced a lot of exciting new stuff to the series’ timeless platforming gameplay, but “Odyssey” completely turns the formula on its head. Gone is the linear point-A-to-point-B level design, ditched in favor of a huge new open world for players to sink their teeth into.

You’ll explore a variety of different “kingdoms” throughout “Odyssey,” each with its own distinct characters, atmosphere, enemies, and challenges. Some environments will be immediately recognizable to long-time fans, while others are completely new and have never been seen before in a core Mario title.

One such world is New Donk City, an urban setting inspired by New York. Each locale offers a mountain of stuff to do, so much so that it can almost feel overwhelming at first, but it’s enticing and extremely satisfying to explore every new area and discover its secrets.

Another big change from the standard series formula involves Mario’s outfits, and particularly his new sentient hat, “Cappy.” Cappy takes the place of Mario’s iconic headwear and lets our portly plumber take control of dozens of animate and inanimate objects such as the famous Goombas, Bullet Bill, or even a giant T-Rex (which is totally normal for a Mario game).

The ability to throw and bounce off of Cappy in mid-air is also extremely useful for platforming, not to mention a lot of fun to mess around with, adding another layer of depth to Mario’s standard arsenal of jumps and flips.

It seems hard to believe that Mario has been around for more than 30 years now. It’s even harder to believe that, after all this time, Nintendo continues to innovate and keep this series so fresh. But “Super Mario Odyssey” does just that, building on timeless platforming fundamentals to create an incredibly fresh-faced game that innovates and moves the franchise forward in a way we haven’t seen since “Super Mario 64” – and, just like its Nintendo 64 predecessor, it’s a safe bet that we’ll still be seeing “Odyssey” on “best of” lists for decades to come.

Pros: An innovative new open-world design, enormous levels with tons of stuff to do, using Cappy to take control of objects and characters is a lot of fun, great music and graphics, and an entertaining story that doesn’t get in your way

Cons: Cappy’s motion controls feel sloppy at times

Buy the Super Mario Odyssey on Amazon for $60

The best racing game

Why you'll love it: With a whopping 48 race tracks, 42 playable characters, and a completely overhauled Battle Mode, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is by far the best and most comprehensive entry in Nintendo’s iconic racing series.

Although it’s eclipsed by Super Smash Bros. when it comes to competitive e-sports, Mario Kart endures as Nintendo’s king of casual on-the-couch multiplayer. Since the first release on the SNES, these racing games have made their way into tens of millions of homes, giving gamers lots of laughs and plenty of red-shell-induced rage.

The series is showing no signs of running out of gas, either: “Mario Kart 8” managed to become one of the top-selling games in 2014 despite the Wii U’s sluggish console sales, and the new re-release is doing even better.

“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” brings the latest installment to the Nintendo Switch in all its glory, but it’s more than a simple upscaled port. The game comes loaded with all three DLC packs from the Wii U as well as exclusive content of its own, including some new cars and playable characters like the Inklings from “Splatoon” and King Boo, among others. In total, you can unlock an impressive 48 tracks and 42 drivers along with a number of different outfits and vehicles to play around with.

The Switch version is also upscaled to 1080p and runs at 60 frames per second, although it does drop down to 30fps when you’re playing four-player split-screen. The biggest new addition by far, however, is the completely re-vamped Battle Mode. One criticism rightly leveled at “Mario Kart 8” for the Wii U was its lackluster Battle Mode compared to previous games, and fans will be happy to know that this is much more fleshed-out in “Deluxe.”

Battle Mode now includes all-new purpose-built arenas so you and your friends can duke it out properly, whereas the Wii U’s Battle Mode only allowed competitive matches on existing race tracks — a bizarre omission that made certain game types like “Balloon Battle” extremely awkward.

Other tweaks and adjustments to the gameplay have been made as well in order to make “Deluxe” a noticeably more polished and balanced experience. As just one example, the infamous and rage-inducing blue spiny shell has been nerfed a bit this time around.

If you already own “Mario Kart 8” for the Wii U, however, then “Deluxe” may not offer enough new content to make it worth a second trip around the track. Nonetheless, it’s the most refined Mario Kart installment to date and it remains one of Nintendo’s best multiplayer experiences to come out in the past decade.

If you have a Switch and need some competitive action to tide you over until the next Super Smash Bros., then “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” should offer more than enough to keep you occupied for a long, long time.

Pros: Classic Mario Kart action with some great new weapons and abilities, includes all of the Wii U DLC, a huge selection of tracks and characters, a fun and fleshed-out competitive Battle Mode, and an extra layer of polish that smooths out the wrinkles from the original game

Cons: Not enough new content to justify a purchase if you already own Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U

Buy "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" on Amazon for $60

Media mogul Barry Diller's plans to build a floating public park on a Manhattan pier are moving forward.

Diller unveiled the project, dubbed Diller Island, in 2014. But his plans have had some hiccups. Over the past three years, costs have soared from $35 million to $250 million; and the civic group City Club of New York filed a series of environmental lawsuits, funded by real estate tycoon Douglas Durst, to scuttle Diller Island's construction.

Diller pulled the plug in September 2017. But the project has now been revived after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo persuaded all parties to come to a consensus on the park's design, according to The New York Times.

Check it out below.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX buys produce from this high-tech farm in a shipping container — take a look inside

Diller plans to build the floating park on the Hudson River near West 13th Street in Manhattan.

The project's initial name was Pier 55, a play off its location at Pier 54. If all goes according to plan, Hudson River Park Trust will lease the park, and Diller's nonprofit Pier 55 Inc will maintain it.

Supported by 300 mushroom-shaped, concrete columns, Diller Island will be on top of a platform that's 186 feet from the shoreline. It will be built above the predicted floodplain.

Source: The New York Times

Lush gardens and paths will fill the space designed by Heatherwick Studios.

• Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by multiple women.
• The accusations against Hoffman span decades.
• These are all the women who have come forward with accusations against him so far.

Allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault against Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman continue to surface, with new allegations published in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter this week.

Hoffman, now 80, has seven Oscar nominations for films including "The Graduate,""Tootsie," and "Kramer vs. Kramer." He has won twice, for "Kramer vs Kramer" and "Rain Man."

The accusations against Hoffman span decades, and range from alleged sexual harassment to inappropriate touching and sexual assault. Several women claim that Hoffman exposed himself to them when they were teenagers. 

Here are all the women who have accused Dustin Hoffman of sexual harassment or assault, including details of their accusations:

SEE ALSO: 2 women say Dustin Hoffman sexually assaulted them, and a third says he exposed himself to her when she was 16

Anna Graham Hunter said Hoffman spoke openly about sex in front of her and groped her.

In early November, writer Anna Graham Hunter accused Hoffman of sexually harassing her when she was 17 years old, in a guest column she wrote for The Hollywood Reporter.

Hunter said that while interning as a production assistant on the set of "Death of a Salesman" in 1985, Hoffman, who starred in the film, would speak openly about sex in front of her and inappropriately touched her.

Hunter also alleged that Hoffman made sexually explicit remarks in front of her, including one time when the actor asked her, "So, did you have sex over the weekend like I told you?"

According to Hunter, Hoffman also felt her butt four times while she walked him to his limousine on one occasion.

"He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment," Hunter wrote.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman said: "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am."

Kathryn Rossetter accused Hoffman of groping her repeatedly when they were in a play together.

Actress Kathryn Rossetter accused Hoffman of groping her while the two acted in a Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman" in 1983.

Rossetter wrote of her alleged experiences with Hoffman in early December in a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter. 

Rossetter alleged that after Hoffman went out of his way to campaign for Rossetter to get the role of Willy Loman's mistress, "the Woman in Boston," he began to physically violate her throughout the production. 

Rossetter performed alongside Hoffman six to eight shows a week, and in that time, she claimed the actor would fondle and grope her off stage "almost every show." 

At parties, Rossetter said that whenever Hoffman took a picture with her he would put his hand around her rib cage and then grab her breast just before the picture was taken.

"Only by luck do I have one such picture — where the camera caught him in the act," Rossetter wrote. That picture is included in the THR column.

According to THR, Hoffman’s representatives declined to comment but brought forth individuals who worked on “Death of a Salesman” and did not witness the conduct described in the column.

Wendy Riss Gastiounis said Hoffman made inappropriate sexual comments to her during a professional meeting, and asked her to go to a hotel with him.

"Genius" producer Wendy Riss Gatsiounis said that Hoffman sexually harassed her during a meeting she had with him in 1991, in an interview with Variety.

Riss Gatsiounis met with Hoffman and screenwriter Murray Schisgal to discuss her new play “A Darker Purpose,” and the possibility of turning it into a movie.

At one meeting, Riss Gatsiounis alleged that Hoffman asked her if she had "ever been intimate with a man over 40." Riss Gatsiounis was in her 20s at the time, and Hoffman was 53.

“I’ll never forget — he moves back, he opens his arms, and he says, ‘It would be a whole new body to explore,'” Riss Gatsiounis said. “I’m trying to go back to my pitch, and I’m trying to talk about my play. Then Dustin Hoffman gets up and he says he has to do some clothing shopping at a nearby hotel, and did I want to come along? He’s like, ‘Come on, come to this nearby hotel.'”

Hoffman declined to comment to Variety.

Like most professional sports leagues, the NBA has seen a marked increase in player salaries over the past few years.

When Mike Conley signed a $153 million extension with the Grizzlies in 2016, it was the biggest contract in the history of the league. Since then, no fewer than five different players have agreed to deals worth more money, a product of growing revenues and the perceived necessity of having at least one superstar to win a championship.

Below, check out our rundown of the NBA players who have the highest salary on each team, ranked by their 2017-18 salaries. Contract data was obtained from Sportrac.

30. Robin Lopez, Chicago Bulls — $13.8 million

Position: Center

Contract: 4 years, $54 million

One thing to know: The Bulls inherited Lopez's contract from the Knicks, acquiring him as part of the deal that sent Derrick Rose to the Big Apple. He is one of only two Chicago players making an eight-figure salary this season.

29. Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks — $16.9 million

Position: Shooting guard

Contract: 4 years, $70 million

One thing to know: Bazemore signed a multi-year extension following the 2015-16 season, when the Hawks won 48 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Less than two years later, he is one of the few recognizable names remaining with an organization that has prioritized the 2018 draft over 2017 victories.

28. Bismack Biyombo and Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic — $17 million

Position: Center (Biyombo) and small forward (Fournier)

Contract: 4 years, $72 million (Biyombo) and 5 years, $85 million (Fournier)

One thing to know: The Magic acquired Fournier in the 2014 deal that sent Arron Afflalo to Denver, while Biyombo came over as a free agent two years later. Both could be replaced on next season's list by the fourth-year foward Aaron Gordon, who is playing well in the final year of his rookie contract.

The athlete's village for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is now complete.

Organizers held a ceremony on Friday to celebrate the opening of the village, which will house up to 3,894 athletes, according to the press release.

The apartments are clean, basic, and best of all, appear functional and not in a state of disrepair, as Rio experienced early on in 2016.

Check out the photos below:

The village consists of eight 15-story buildings. There is also a smaller village in a nearby town.

The village has a dining facility, laundry facility, general store, bank, post office, and rec center for athletes.

The celebratory opening ceremony was attended by several high-ranking organizers.

When you first slip on the smart jacket that Levi's and Google teamed up to make, you might forget for a second that it's anything other than a run-of-the-mill denim jacket. 

And that's what makes it so great. 

The jacket — technically called the Levi's Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google — debuted in September. It looks like a standard denim jacket, but one cuff has conductive threads woven in and a place to snap on a Bluetooth tag that pairs with your phone. The jacket costs $350 and is available on the Levi's website. 

The Jacquard jacket is for a very specific type of person — namely, someone who commutes by bicycle. The idea is that if you're riding your bike and wearing headphones, you can leave your phone in your pocket and use the jacket to control the more crucial things like directions and music. It's intended to eliminate distractions and keep you safe without sacrificing your constant need to be connected.

I've been wearing the jacket on and off over the last few months. I don't commute by bike, so I'm not exactly the intended customer. But I do write about different types of wearables, and I love fashion. If anyone should be excited about this product, it's me. 

SEE ALSO: The new Kindle Oasis is the best e-reader you can buy

The Jacquard jacket is a great jacket in its own right, which is entirely thanks to Levi's.

My main takeaway after trying the jacket was that Google made a smart move in teaming up with Levi's to make it.

Google realized something about wearable technology that few other companies have: It's very difficult to design an incredible piece of technology that's also a beautiful thing people want to wear. With so many other wearables, brands easily deliver on the technology part and fall short on the style part, simply because fashion usually isn't in a tech company's wheelhouse.

But if you want to make a product people wear on their body, you need to keep style in mind. That's why outsourcing the design part to a company that's been around for nearly 200 years, that already makes clothing people love, and that knows denim better than anyone, was the smartest choice Google could have made.  

It wasn't the most flattering garment I've ever worn.

The Jacquard jacket fit perfectly. I guessed at my size and was delighted when it arrived, since it fit me like a glove. 

Still, I didn't love the way it looked on me, and that hindered me from wearing it more often. The sleeves were a bit too wide and the overall fit was very boxy. I thought that might just be me, but it looks about the same on the model on Levi's site.

I think the boxy fit may have something to do with the fact that the jacket is essentially unisex, but it definitely seemed intended for a man's torso instead of a woman's.

And while I'm not a bike commuter, I did actually try wearing it while biking and it was surprisingly great. By tapping or swiping on the connected sleeve, you can use the jacket to control music, get directions, or hear notifications, all without taking out your phone. I was skeptical about biking in denim, but I ended up changing my mind by the end of an hour-long ride. The jacket keeps you warm against the wind without feeling overheated, has reflectors on the back for safety, and has a flap in the back to cover your lower back just in case your pants slip too low.

The technology works extremely well — but is it technology you actually need?

Despite weeks of using the jacket, I'm still torn about the actual tech itself.

On a surface level, it's excellent. The Jacquard app— which is available for Android and iOS — is a beautiful, easy-to-use app that makes it super-simple to set up and pair your jacket.

For a first-time product, the Jacquard jacket was essentially glitch-free. It stayed paired with my phone and easily handled incoming calls, changing songs, or accessing my next direction. Google also just added three new features: the option to make the tag illuminate by tapping or swiping (it already flashes when you have an incoming call), a find-your-phone option, and the ability to have it tell you what song is playing. 

If there's one downside to the product as a whole, it's that there are only a handful of different motions you can program: swiping on the cuff left or right, double tapping, or covering the whole thing with your hand. You can re-map those commands are much as you want, but you may need to keep changing the commands based on what you're doing that day.

I didn't like this aspect of the jacket because I prefer to set something up once and forget about it. Plus, trying to remember whether I had to swipe or tap to answer a call got pretty frustrating.

But the question that lingered throughout my time using the jacket is whether this is technology the world needs just yet. I could imagine a San Francisco-based (male) programmer loving the concept and using the jacket during his morning commute, but it wouldn't be necessary for someone who commutes by car or rail. I suppose having this type of technology while walking somewhere — particularly in New York or just an unfamiliar city — would be convenient, but not exactly a must-have.

• We selected two cars from each decade that lived up to our criteria.
• The best cars ranged from pickups to supercars.
• Yes, Tesla made the cut.

We're always trying to figure out what the Golden Age of cars was, but the truth is that ever since World War II, we've lived in something of an endless Golden Age. 

For eight decades, cars have been incredible: gorgeous, innovative, powerful, and even reliable and affordable. As we spend more time talking about not owning cars and enjoying them drive themselves, we thought it would be appropriate to look back on the glories witnessed and pick a few big winners.

Our criteria was simple: Was the car a smash hit at the time, historically important, and did it change the game or exert a huge influence? Bonus points if a model is still in production in 2017.

Here's what we came up with, the two best cars from each decade from 1940 to the present. 

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The 1940s: Original Jeep

Why it's here:

The Willys-Overland Jeep was the vehicle than helped the Allies win World War II. The original rugged, throw-anything-at-it set of wheels, its legacy remains strong in vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler.

Military vehicles have sometimes made the transition to civilian life. Think of the Hummer, for example.

But the Willys Jeep is one of the vehicles that said it all in victorious fashion. Simple, easy to maintain, tough, ready for action. It was used by the US military and its allies as a scout car, so it saw front-line duty. Study it today and you can't help but be impressed at its perfect combination of form and function.

The 1940s: Ford F-Series pickup truck

Why it's here:

The F-Series pickups were originally introduced as work trucks and delivery vehicles for businesses, farms, and ranges. Fast forward Almost eight decades later, the F-Series has become America's bestselling vehicle, reigning at the top since the 1980s. Ford will sell nearly a million in 2017. That astounding run had to start someplace.

The 1950s: Citroën DS

Why it's here:

The Citroën DS marked France's automotive comeback after World War II. Ahead of its time in both technology and styling, the DS has and will always be considered a pinnacle of the peculiar Gallic aesthetic attitude toward cars: sleek, suave, worldly.

It's iconic styling, advanced hydropneumatic suspension, and numerous Citroën design quirks made the DS truly unique. 

The beautiful machine went into production in 1955 and stayed there until 1975. America had tailfins, Mustangs, and muscle cars during that period. France had the beautiful DS.

With Nintendo's $80 Super NES Classic Edition in such short supply, there are going to be a lot of disappointed people this holiday season. You could turn to eBay, where the adorable, miniature Super Nintendo Entertainment System is selling for over $200 apiece.

But you shouldn't do that. Who wants to pay nearly triple the price for a holiday gift? No one!

And that's exactly why you should turn to an excellent alternative this holiday: Pixel Pals.

These little light-up displays are inexpensive, impressive-looking, and tremendously easy to use. Best of all, they're the perfect salve for "I couldn't get a Super NES Classic anywhere. I'm sorry!" 

Don't think they look cool in the box? Take a closer look:

SEE ALSO: Nintendo has already sold 10 million Switch consoles just 9 months after launch

I got one of these guys in the mail from PDP, the company that makes them. Here's a lit up 8-bit Super Mario, from "Super Mario Bros. 3" for the original NES:

Even though I was sent this one, I'd happily buy more. At just $14.99, it's a steal. These are officially licensed, to boot.

It operates with a simple on/off switch on the back. There's even a sweet "Super Mario Bros. 3" sticker!

In 11 countries around the world, some 30 million people use a mobile money service that is transforming how people handle their finances.

It's called M-Pesa, and it has lifted hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty in Kenya.

"Pesa" is Swahili for money. The Kenyan service provider Safaricom launched M-Pesa in the East African nation 10 years ago, and since then it's enabled countless people to move small amounts of their own money and send it to others.

On a recent trip to Kenya, I got a firsthand look at how M-Pesa works on the ground.

SEE ALSO: I visited a baby elephant orphanage in Kenya — here's what it was like

GiveDirectly is a charity that delivers cash right to people's mobile phones. Agrippa Agida Onywero Krispo is one such recipient.

Krispo, 40, is enrolled in GiveDirectly's experiment in basic income, a system of wealth distribution in which people receive a standard salary just for being alive.

The money comes with no strings attached. Krispo and the other villagers have received $22 a month since October 2016, and they'll continue getting it until October 2028.

M-Pesa works similar to Venmo or PayPal —except you don't need a smartphone or a bank account. GiveDirectly sends Krispo the monthly payment via his phone. He can use the app to withdraw, deposit, and send money.

When GiveDirectly sends the money between the 5th and 7th of each month, it's just a few taps before Krispo can bring up the confirmation notice on his phone.

That screen lets him know the money was safely transferred to his M-Pesa account.

Scattered around town are M-Pesa stands, outfitted with live agents who can dispense money — essentially an ATM with a human teller.

This is one feature that sets M-Pesa apart from Venmo and PayPal, which can only sync with users' bank accounts.