• Sometimes, you'll see that you're getting fired from a mile away — other times, it'll be more of a surprise.

• In order to avoid getting caught unawares, keep in mind the signs that your job is at risk.

• Everything from bad performance reviews to recent mergers can prove to be warning signs.

Getting fired from your job can be a real shock to the system.

But there are usually signs that you're about to get fired. You've just got to know where to look.

Maybe your boss is out to get you. Maybe you've been embroiled in some recent controversy at work. Or maybe your organization is undergoing a massive transition or merger.

Either way, it helps to be prepared.

Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," told Business Insider that the savviest professionals always keep an eye out for the classic signs that their job is in danger. This way, if and when they notice red flags popping up, they can attempt to turn the tides before it's too late.

Here are some signs you may be getting the boot:

SEE ALSO: The one time I had to fire someone, I quickly learned why being a 'nice' boss is overrated

DON'T MISS: 29 signs your company is about to conduct mass layoffs

You receive a bad performance review (or two, or three)

A negative evaluation is not always synonymous with being fired, but, in conjunction with other bad feedback, it can mean trouble, said Taylor. "Your employer needs to create a paper trail, so along with warnings, your employer will use a performance review to document the problem areas."

More than one poor performance review in a row is an especially bad sign, added Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage." 

"Depending on how bad your first performance review was, you may be given a chance to make corrections and improve, but a series of critical performance reviews could be a major sign that your job is in jeopardy," Kerr told Business Insider.

If it's because of a lack of experience or lack of training in a certain area, then there's always a chance to fix it. But critical phrases to be mindful of during performance reviews include, "You're not a good fit for our culture," "You're not a team player,""Your personality or style doesn't seem to mesh with the team," or "You have a major attitude problem."

"If you hear any of these types of criticisms then it's time to break out your résumé, since it's often assumed that attitudinal issues are deeply engrained and unfixable," he said.

You're left out of the loop

If it's suddenly hard to access important data that would help you perform well in your job, or you're not invited to important meetings or included on key emails, a pink slip may be coming your way, said Taylor.

"There could be other reasons for this happening, but certainly one may be that your leadership has lost the trust or confidence in your abilities, making you vulnerable when and if layoffs happen," Kerr said. 

Your job has become mission impossible

"When you first assumed the role, you had your marching orders and could accomplish them. Now it seems that you’re tasked with projects akin to climbing Mount Everest blindfolded," said Taylor.

"You're being set up to fail," Kerr explained. "Sometimes this is due to lousy leadership, but occasionally it can be because a company wants to get rid of you, but they need solid evidence to do so, and setting you up for disaster is one way of getting the 'proof' you longer belong there."

• Some job interview errors are a bigger deal than others.

• Do your research and adopt a confident mindset in order to boost your chances of succeeding.

• But, whatever you do, don't make mistakes like cursing, dissing the company, and asking weird personal questions.

Nobody's perfect. You could be pro at job interviews, but there's always a chance you'll say something a bit off.

That won't necessarily sink your candidacy, though. Your qualifications and endearing personality might just carry you over.

That is, unless you say something so bad that you completely wreck your chances.

Here are a few interview faux pas that could automatically disqualify you, unless you're really lucky:

SEE ALSO: 21 things that make you sound rude in a job interview

DON'T MISS: 23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview

1. 'What does your company do?'

Questions like this will make you look like you don't even care enough to run a simple Google search.

2. 'Are you married?/Are you pregnant?/etc.'

Never ask the interviewer any personal questions — or anything that could be offensive. It's just off-putting.

3. 'S---,' 'b----,' 'f---, ' etc.

Hey, everyone curses. It's better to hold off on the profanities in job interviews, though. That being said, letting out a curse word or two during a funny story might not be a nail in your coffin. Angrily swearing at someone (your interviewer or otherwise), on the other hand, would definitely knock you out of the running. This goes double for any offensive, racist, or sexist speech.

For some people, plastic surgery is the way they choose to express themselves or enhance their physical appearance.

While some may choose small procedures or ones that are medically necessary, others take physical enhancements to the next level in order to get their ideal look.

Here are 11 people who have taken plastic surgery to a new heights throughout the years. 

Billionaire socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, 77, has had multiple surgeries reportedly to look more feline.

Dubbed the "Catwoman" by tabloids, the Swiss-born socialite has reportedly spent more than $2 million on surgeries. Her first was an eye lift. In a 1998 Vanity Fair article, her ex-husband Alec Wildenstein described how frequent the plastic surgery became.    

"She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture," he said. "Skin does not work that way. But she wouldn't listen."

Justin Jedlica is known as the "human Ken doll."

Jedlica was 17 when he first decided he wanted a nose job. But without his parent's permission he had to wait until he was 18. Since then, he has undergone more than 150 procedures. He offers consulting services for others looking to modify their appearance. 

But Rodrigo Alves has also been dubbed a "human Ken doll."

Alves is well-known around the globe for his extensive surgeries — more than 50— and extravagant fashion. According to his website, he has been on more than 50 television shows in over 30 countries to share his experiences. He is also incredibly active on social media. 

One of President Donald Trump's most trusted lawyers reportedly sent $130,000 in hush money to a porn star just weeks before the 2016 presidential election to keep her silent about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter she had with the then-Republican presidential nominee.

Stephanie Clifford, who also goes by the stage name "Stormy Daniels," met Trump at a July 2006 celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.

Here's what you should know about her:

SEE ALSO: Trump's lawyer reportedly paid a porn star $130,000 just before the election to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump

Daniels was born and raised in Louisiana.

She started stripping as a teenager and soon entered the porn business.

In 2002, she became the lead actress in a film for Wicked Pictures, a porn movie studio based in California.

Photoshop is a powerful tool. Sure, it can be used to make your Instagram posts look better, but in the hands of celebrities and brands, it can have questionable implications. 

From Ralph Lauren editing a model's appearance to make her look emaciated to Victoria's Secret dramatically enlarging Angel Candice Swanepoel's shoulders, we rounded up 16 of the biggest Photoshop disasters of all time.

This is Selena Gomez. She is a singer, actor, producer, and the face of Coach.

In this January 2018 Coach ad, Gomez looked unrecognizable, likely thanks to a botched Photoshop job.

Commenters sounded off in the comments of Coach's post.

"This looks nothing like her so of course it's photoshop. You can't seriously think it looks like her ?!" one fan asked.  "What have you done to her face? She didn't need any Photoshop," someone else commented.

This teaser for Netflix's October 2017 movie "The Babysitter" looks fine at first glance.

President Donald Trump's cabinet has already gone through a couple of changes since Trump took office — Gen. John Kelly has stepped out of his role as Homeland Security secretary in order to become White House chief of staff, and Tom Price resigned from the Department of Health and Human services after using taxpayer money to fund expensive private jet travel.

Although a number of cabinet members are not serving in the fields they have expertise in, all of them have attended universities — some of which include America's most prestigious academic institutions. Several members are Georgetown alums. 

Here's where each cabinet member, including cabinet-level officials, went to college:

SEE ALSO: China and Russia have their eyes on the Arctic — and Rex Tillerson says the US is 'late to the game'

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was a section leader in the University of Texas at Austin marching band.

Tillerson graduated with a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1975.

Source: News 4 San Antonio

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was a member of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University.

Mnuchin was also the publisher of the "Yale Daily News."

Source: Bloomberg

Defense Secretary James Mattis got a Bachelor's in history from Central Washington University as part of the ROTC program.

Mattis later went on to get a Master's at the National War College in Washington, DC.

Source: Britannica

At least 18 people have died from massive mudslides in a wealthy Southern California region, according to local authorities.

A heavy storm on Tuesday triggered flash floods and unleashed debris in Montecito, Santa Barbara, around 2:30 a.m. local time, the LA Times reported.

As Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told reporters on Tuesday night: "The best way I can describe it is it looked like a World War One battlefield."

Rescue crews with dogs and scanners were still looking for at least 5 people missing on Friday, Reuters reported. One hundred single-family homes were also destroyed and hundreds of other buildings were reportedly damaged.

"We've got a window that's closing, but we're still very optimistic," Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said. "There's been plenty of cases where they've found people a week after."

Take a look at the harrowing scenes below.

A heavy storm in the region triggered flash floods and unleashed debris. The region was especially vulnerable after a series of wildfires. This smashed car on Montecito's Hot Springs Road, is a small part of of the destruction in the area.

Trees were torn from their roots, houses and cars were destroyed, and people were covered in mud as debris surged down empty streets. This woman was caught up in the chaos, and had to be rescued from a collapsed house.

As of Wednesday, at least 28 people were injured because of the storm.

With dreary weather and low moods, planning a holiday can be the perfect January pick-me-up — especially for couples considering a Valentine's Day getaway.

The Post Office Holiday Money Report — released today — has revealed the cheapest holiday hotspots in the world in 2018 that make for the perfect holiday for two.

To produce the ranking, the company looked at the cost of the following items in 42 destinations around the world: a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine, cup of coffee, bottle of local beer, can of Coca-Cola, glass of wine, bottle of still water, suncream, and insect repellent.

It doesn't include how much it costs to get somewhere, or the price of accommodation.

The costs were compiled with the help of national and regional tourist boards and specialist tour operators. And there's good news — in more than 40% of the places on the list, the costs of items like meals and drinks are less than they were a year ago.

From Bali to Budapest, scroll down for a look at the cheapest holiday destinations in the world for couples, ranked in ascending order by the total cost of key holiday essentials:

SEE ALSO: This under-the-radar European city has been named the best in the world for a night out

13. Mombasa, Kenya — £66.77 for holiday essentials.

Cup of coffee:£1.63

Beer: £2.29

Coca-Cola: £1.51

Glass of wine: £3.26

Bottle of mineral water: £0.50

Suncream: £11.25

Insect repellant: £2.27

Meal for two: £44.06

12. Bali, Indonesia — £66.61.

Cup of coffee: £2.10

Beer: £1.38

Coca-Cola: £0.51

Glass of wine: £4.50

Bottle of mineral water: £0.36

Suncream: £10.32

Insect repellant:£0.64

Meal for two: £46.80

11. Hoi An, Vietnam — £65.85.

Cup of coffee: £1.45

Beer: £2.18

Coca-Cola: £1.45

Glass of wine: £5.08

Bottle of mineral water: £0.54

Suncream: £4.35

Insect repellant: £1.81

Meal for two: £48.99

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for being a charismatic, powerful, and controversial figure.

As the 67-year-old leader of a country with more than 1.3 billion people as well as one of the world's strongest militaries and largest economies, his influence is undeniable.

But there's something else about Modi that not many outside India may know: He loves giving hugs.

From government officials to presidents to prominent businessmen and dictators, everyone gets an embrace.

Here are 19 of Modi's most amusing awkward encounters:

SEE ALSO: The rise of Narendra Modi, India's prolific — and complicated — prime minister

DON'T MISS: Indian Prime Minister hugs Trump during Rose Garden ceremony

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto was caught off guard.

After a bilateral meeting in 2015, former President Barack Obama didn't know how to handle Modi's hug either.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry decided to chat mid-hug, perhaps to make the whole thing a little bit less awkward.

• The 2018 Porsche Panamera is Business Insider's 2017 Car of the Year.
• The Panamera has always been amazing to drive, but people hated the looks.
• Porsche restyled the second-generation Panamera, fixing the one thing that prevented the original from reaching greatness. 
• The base Panamera starts at $85,000 while our loaded Turbo test car cost $180,000.

From the beginning, the Porsche Panamera has been one of the best sports sedans on the market. But the Panamera's odd styling kept it out of the car geek hall of fame.

What I'm referring to is the weird rear hatch that's too tall to be a fastback or a coupe, but too low-slung to be a wagon. 

The Panamera's ungainly looks can be attributed to the need for all Porsches to look, well, like a Porsche. In plain terms, all cars bearing the company's brand need to be instantly recognizable. That means they've all got to look like a 911. It's both a blessing and a curse.

Instant brand recognition is worth its weight in gold for a car company. However, for Porsche, that need for conformity has resulted in some truly odd looking cars. Another example would be the original Cayenne SUV, which the former hosts of "Top Gear" described as a Porsche that backed into a shed and got stuck.

Looks aside, the first generation Panamera was generally regarded as one of the finest performance sedans money can buy. The last first-gen Panamera GTS Business Insider tested blew us away with its luxurious cabin, pin-point-precise handling, and gutsy V8 engine.

In November 2016, Business Insider became the first journalists to drive the second generation Panamera in North America, after getting behind the wheel of a Panamera Turbo in New York.

Recently, Porsche dropped off another Panamera Turbo for us to take an extended look at its new high-performance luxury sedan. Here's what it's like to drive. 

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo starts at $150,000 while our option-laden test car came out to about $180,000. The base Panamera starts at a more affordable $85,000. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 most beautiful cars of 2017

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Here it is! The new Porsche Panamera! Even though it's built on VW Group's new Porsche-developed MSB platform, you won't mistake for anything other than a Panamera.

See the resemblance!

And have they changed that controversial rear end?

It's hard to find anyone that's bearish. 

2017 was one of the most profitable for the S&P 500 in this bull market, now in its ninth year, with a 19.4% gain. And all the lead strategists at top Wall Street firms expect many of the same catalysts to lift stocks again in 2018, particularly earnings growth and US economic expansion.

Across the board, Republican tax bill is expected to boost the profits of America's largest companies, and possibly reward shareholders through more buybacks.

But this year may not rival 2017 as one of the most peaceful in the market's history. Some strategists warn that the regular pullbacks that create volatility could resume.

Here's what strategists forecast for 2018, in ascending order of their year-end targets for the S&P 500.

HSBC: 2,650

US mergers-and-acquisitions levels "are down 20% year-over-year," Ben Laidler, HSBC's global equity strategist and head of Americas research, said in a Bloomberg TV interview on December 4.

"So I think we're certainly due for a pickup," he said. "We've got a bit of visibility with the tax reform that will allow that to accelerate. US corporates are sitting on a lot of cash. They are sitting on high multiples. I definitely think we're going to see a pickup here."

He added: "I also think we'll see something on the capex front, and a little will go a long way given that US capex is the most depressed in the world. But I still think most of it goes on share buybacks."

Citi: 2,675

"Tax cuts could be quite stimulative to S&P 500 EPS," Tobias Levkovich, Citi's chief US equity strategist, said in a note on November 15.

"We suspect that investors may not be willing to accord the same P/E for earnings generated by a lower tax rate versus one for underlying operating performance," he said. "Nonetheless, even if we assumed half the market multiple on the incremental tax-related EPS gains, it will still be additive to the S&P 500's upside potential."

Bank of America Merrill Lynch: 2,800

"Optimism was building this year, and we think 2018 could be the year of euphoria," Savita Subramanian, the head of US equity and quant strategy, said in a note on November 20.

"Of our five target models, only our Fair Value model suggests negative returns," she said. "Valuation matters, but is only predictive over multi-year time horizons. We think sentiment will be a more important driver of returns in 2018, and drives the bulk of our market call."

The habits and tastes of millionaires are fascinating to those of us with less-than-seven figure bank accounts.

According to a report on American millionaires by Wealth Engine, about 7% of the US adult population has a net worth greater than $1 million.

Below, we've highlighted some interesting facts about rich Americans that may surprise you, from the type of car they drive to their political affiliations.

SEE ALSO: According to one estimate, wealthy couples in NYC need $190 million to keep their heads above water

DON'T MISS: Time is a CEO's most valuable resource — here are all the people the .01% hire to keep their households running smoothly

They're not all filthy rich. In fact, 95% have a net worth between $1 million and $5 million.

More rich Americans identify as Democrat (58%) than Republican (38%).

They don't only drive luxury cars. Ford is the second most popular car brand behind Mercedes and ahead of BMW.

• The Detroit Auto Show media preview starts on Monday of next week.
• Automakers will be putting a lot of new pickup trucks and SUVs on the show floor.
• There might even be a few surprises.

The 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), better known as the Detroit Auto Show, is pulling into Cobo Center in downtown Motown next week.

The show will run through January 28, with several days of press previews before it opens to the public. We'll be there to report on all the fun.

Detroit comes hot on the heels of CES this year and kicks off a 2018 that's expected to see lower new-vehicle sales in the US than in the previous three booming years. That's led to plenty of speculation about what we're going to see on the show floor: plenty of trucks and SUVs, the bestselling vehicles these days.

Here's all the cool shiny sheet metal we're looking forward to:

SEE ALSO: The new Lincoln Navigator is enormous but sophisticated — here's what it's like to drive

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Chevy will debut its all-new Silverado full-size pickup truck.

Ford will showcase its much-anticipated Ranger — a throwback nameplate and Ford's entry in the revived company pickup segment. Here it is being announced in Detroit last year.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will unveil its new Ram 1500, setting the stage for a Ford-Chevy-Ram pickup battle. No photos yet — this is the outgoing model.

There was no shortage in funding for healthcare and biotech startups in 2017.

By the end of the year, a new crop of unicorns were born, while others increased their already billion-dollar valuations.

From companies harnessing the plant microbiome to buzzy biotechs working on cutting-edge technology, here are the unicorns to keep an eye on in 2018, ranked by valuation.

Unless otherwise noted, valuations are according to PitchBook.

SEE ALSO: Theranos is gearing up for a rebound with $100 million to get it through 2018

DON'T MISS: Nutrition experts ranked the best diets to try in 2018 — here are the top 11

15. Flatiron Health — $1.2 billion

Flatiron Health, a New York-based healthcare technology startup, collects clinical data from cancer patients — such as what medications patients have taken and how they have responded to them.

The hope is that with that information, healthcare professionals can have a better idea of how cancer drugs work in the "real world"— in hospitals and cancer centers — as opposed to during clinical trials. The company has partnered with the Food and Drug Administration over this data, which could one day influence how we treat cancer.

The company most recently raised $175 million in January 2016.

14. Clover Health — $1.2 billion

The venture-backed Clover Health sells Medicare Advantage health-insurance plans. When seniors in the US turn 65, they can choose to be part of either traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which is operated through private insurers like Clover and often provides additional healthcare benefits. The hope for Clover and other technology-based health insurers is to use data to improve patients' health. 

In January, CNBC reported that the company had hit some rough patches, including upsetting patients and missing financial targets.

Founded in 2014, the company most recently raised $130 million in May. 

13. Auris Surgical Robotics — $1.28 billion

The surgical-robotics company has been relatively quiet about its work in relation to its valuation. 

"We are developing targeted, minimally invasive therapies that treat only the diseased cells in order to prevent the progression of a patient's illness," the company said on its website. To start, the company is going after lung cancer. 

The company most recently raised $280 million in August.

The death toll is rising as mudslides continue to ravage southern California. 

Eighteen people have died as a result of the disaster in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, a community about 90 miles up the coast from Los Angeles.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says finding anyone alive in the muck at this point would be a "miracle," even as rescue workers continue searching for survivors this weekend. The eighteenth victim, an 87-year-old man, was found dead in his home on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

Rescue workers are using search and rescue dogs to help wade through the mud and rocks — which is sometimes thigh-deep or higher — to search homes and cars. The damage from torrential rains was made worse by recent wildfires in the area that charred the earth and scrubbed the land of vegetation, making the ground slicker and the slides more dramatic.

Take a look at what rescue crews are dealing with as they survey the deadly damage: 

SEE ALSO: This year's deadly flu season is reaching its peak — here's how to tell if you're contagious

Cal Fire search and rescue crews used their hands to get free as they trudged through the mud, looking for survivors.

Most people who have evacuated are being told to stay away from their homes for at least two weeks, the Associated Press reported. 

Crews are using search-and-rescue dogs to hunt for victims.

But time is running out, as authorities plead for the public's help locating seven people who are still missing.

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Meetings in the jungle lounge, free massages, and perpetually full refrigerators: In Google's offices, every detail aims to make employees feel at home.

That's because if people feel comfortable at work, they are also more productive, according to the philosophy of Google founder Larry Page.

This special working culture also attracts talent: In 2017, Google made the Forbes list of most popular employers for the sixth time.

The largest Google office on the European mainland is located in Zurich, where more than 2,000 employees work on products such as Google Maps, Youtube, and Gmail. Some of the space is open-plan offices which look quite normal, but most employees do not have a permanent desk.

Take a look at the mega-campus, where the self-proclaimed "Zooglers" spend their days:

SEE ALSO: Facebook was just named the best workplace of 2018 — step inside its New York office, where employees enjoy an in-house pastry chef and tons of celebrity cameos

The Google Campus in Zurich is located only a few minutes' walk from Lake Zurich on the grounds of an old brewery and extends over four floors.

Since January 2017, there has been a second location in the historic post office building at the main station. The employees also call themselves "Zooglers."

The first thing visitors see in Google Switzerland is this lobby. However, you can only enter the building if you are personally invited.

The meeting rooms on the campus are arranged according to different themes. There are about 100 different plants in the jungle lounge.

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.

If you've ever bought anything on Amazon, you may have noticed a banner at the top of its homepage touting New & Interesting Finds. 

The section is my go-to when I'm looking for a quirky product, wandering aimlessly on the Internet and want a good laugh, or trying to find a gift for someone who's difficult to shop for. 

This page is updated daily with fresh product discoveries, which you can filter by category including kitchen, pets, photography, travel, and fashion. Add a heart to the things you like and they'll be added to a category called "My Hearts" that you can access later. "Hearting" items will also help Amazon recommend more interesting finds that you might like, which you can find in "My Mix."

Scattered throughout the page are curated idea lists by fellow Amazon users; for example, if you like piña coladas, you can check out this pineapple-filled collection. 

New & Interesting Finds is what you'd discover if you dove deep into Amazon's site on a treasure hunt to find the next cool thing, only you don't have to do any of the actual work.

Below, you'll find our picks for the most intriguing of the bunch. 

SEE ALSO: 18 weird but useful kitchen gadgets you might not have yet

A whisk that King Kong has taken over.

Fred Kitchen Kong Gorilla Whisk, $14.06, available at Amazon

HDE Novelty $100 USD Toilet Paper Roll, $9.99, available at Amazon

High heels for your phone.

Gunlar High Heel Phone Stand, $8.19, available at Amazon

When a city is chosen to host the Olympics, the country's government usually shells out hundreds of millions to build extravagant venues for the athletes and fans.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea will be no exception.

The Korean central government has taken on half of the $62.6 million in costs for building a new stadium for the winter games' opening and closing ceremonies in Pyeongchang. The country has also spent more than $1.5 billion on the Alpensia ski resort, which will serve as a main Olympic venue. In total, the 2018 Winter Olympics will cost South Korea about $12.9 billion, nearly double the amount the country projected when it won the bid in 2011.

While some of the minimalist venues appear to blend in with the snow, others, characterized by sweeping curved lines, look ultra-futuristic.

Check out these structures below:

SEE ALSO: See South Korea's 2018 Winter Olympics venues in new photos taken from space

The 2018 Winter Olympics will start in the ski resort town of Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The Alpensia Ski Resort will serve as the main venue for outdoor sports, including ski jumping, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and luge. The resort includes seven smaller venues within it.

One of these venues is the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre. Completed in 2008, it features two slopes, which are 210 feet long and 320 feet long. The drops are steep.

At one time, there was nothing more American than sipping on an ice-cold Budweiser or biting into a Whopper. But those days are gone. 

Times have changed and some of America's most famous brands have fallen into foreign hands. 

We put together a list of the most surprising and popular consumer companies that are no longer able to truly call themselves American. 

Take a look below:

SEE ALSO: This is what Nordstrom stores could look like in the future

Budweiser

Current owner: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Belgian brewers

Don't be fooled by Budweiser's rebrand. The cans may say "America" on them, but this beer is now owned by a Belgian company.

The history of Budweiser dates back to the 1850s when a German, Adolphus Busch, moved to St. Louis and married the daughter of a local brewer, Eberhard Anheuser. The two became partners, but Busch eventually took over the business and created the light, crisp lager we have today. His brewery became the nation's largest beer producer.

In 2008, the company was sold to Belgium beer conglomerate InBev for $52 billion.

Ben & Jerrys

Current owner: Unilever, Dutch-British consumer goods company

America's iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's was started by best friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield after they purchased an old gas station and turned it into a scoop shop in 1978.

In 2000, the brand was bought by multinational consumer goods company Unilever for $326 million.

Burger King

Current owner: Restaurant Brands International, Canadian fast-food company

In 1954 James McLamore and David Edgerton opened a small hamburger shop called "Insta Burger King" in Miami, selling 18-cent hamburgers and milkshakes. Three years later, they dropped the "Insta," added a gas grill, and created the signature "Whopper" burger.

In 1967, the duo sold the chain to the Pillsbury Company and it became the second-largest burger chain in the US after McDonald's. In the decades that followed, the chain changed hands several times after a series of mergers and acquisitions with its parent company, before going public in 2006. In 2010 it was sold to private-equity firm 3G Capital and went back to being privately owned.

Today, it's part of Restaurant Brands International, a Canadian fast food company that was formed when Burger King merged with the Canadian coffee and doughnuts chain Tim Horton's. It is still backed by 3G Capital.

• IHOP's All You Can Eat pancake deal is back and continuing until mid-February.
• This year, the promotion costs $3.99.
• While nonstop pancakes may sound like a dream come true, it ended up being our sugary nightmare.

We at Business Insider love a good bargain — especially when it comes to food. 

So when we heard about IHOP's All You Can Eat pancake promotion, we immediately began dreaming of syrupy stacks. 

Little did we know, our flapjack fantasy would fall into pancake perdition. 

Here's what it's like to spend five hours in a Manhattan IHOP — and why this delicious deal may not be as sweet as it seems. 

SEE ALSO: We went to Red Lobster for its 'Endless Shrimp' promo and stayed for 8 hours — here's what happened

We arrived at 10 a.m., ready to pile on the pancakes.

This 14th Street location is open 24 hours, which means that you could roll in at 3 a.m. and tackle the All You Can Eat challenge. The deal runs for the entire month of January, continuing into mid-February. 

After our triumphant Shrimpsgiving at Red Lobster, we were feeling confident about this day. How could a day full of pancakes possibly go wrong?

We settle in and prepare to order.

While you can order just pancakes, the promotion offers five different combo plates to start. Kate decides on the egg combo, which comes with two eggs of your choice and a side of hash browns ... plus infinite pancakes. Hollis chooses the sausage and egg combo, consisting of four sausage links, two eggs, and hash browns — and of course, pancakes galore. 

Interestingly enough, ordering simply pancakes would cost $9.99, the same price as Hollis' sausage combo, and a dollar more than Kate's egg combo. 

While perhaps this should have raised suspicions, we brushed it off and concocted a brash motto for the day: you stack 'em up, we knock 'em down. 

While waiting for our order, we took in the scenery.

Above us was a rather eerie and foreboding image of a child dwarfed by an absurd totem of pancakes. It was interesting to say the least.

The soundtrack pumped us up with countless '80s power ballads and anthems, and we felt like we could take on the world — or at least 10 pancakes. 

Our friendly and attentive waitress told us that the most impressive All You Can Eat showcase she had personally witnessed was 10 flapjacks. However, the man who completed this astonishing feat "looked bad" by the end. 

"What do you mean?" Kate asked with a hint of anxiety.

"Bad."