Homeschooling isn't what it used to be.

What largely started in the 1980s and '90s as a way for Catholic parents to infuse religion into their kids' education now has more mainstream appeal.

Homeschooled kids have the same access to online learning, friendships, and extracurricular activities as the typical public school student — but without many of the drawbacks, like standardized lesson plans and bullying.

Here are a handful of reasons homeschooling makes sense in 2018.

SEE ALSO: American schools have stopped crowning valedictorians so that other students don't feel pressured

Personalized learning is a strong method of instruction.

The core idea of homeschooling is the idea that kids need to learn at the speed, and in the style, most appropriate for them. In the education world, enthusiasts call the approach "personalized learning," and it's in place in a number of schools already.

Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are big fans of personalized learning, since it tends to use technology as a way to tailor lesson plans to students. In a recent blog post, Gates pointed to research that personalized learning helps boost scores in reading and math.

Homeschooling parents can take the method a step further. As parents, many are in the best position possible to know, and provide, the right kind of instruction.

Students can learn more about what they really care about.

Without formal curricula to guide their education, homeschoolers get the chance to explore a range of topics that might not be normally offered until high school or college. They can study psychology in fourth grade, or finance in eighth grade.

Some parents are capable enough to pass on this knowledge themselves. But many parents Business Insider has spoken with rely on online learning platforms like Khan Academy or workbooks. Some take their older kids to local community colleges.

While many homeschool families do teach English, math, science, and history, education is by no means limited just to those subjects.

Social media gives kids a way to form lasting friendships.

The most common misconception about homeschoolers is that they lack social skills. Before the internet, there was some truth to the stereotype.

But today's students have just as much opportunity to see kids their own age as those in private or public schools, and often without as much distraction. Homeschoolers still use apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook — which may foster unhealthy and even addictive relationships to tech — but also lets them meet up with other homeschoolers or those from traditional schools. 

"They're doing just as well or better," Brian Ray, a homeschooling researcher at the National Home Education Research Institute, told Business Insider.

• Amazon has announced its short list of the cities it's considering for its second headquarters.
• The e-commerce giant plans to invest $5 billion in the project.
• We've rounded up the major cities that didn't make the cut despite making appealing pitches.

Amazon has narrowed down its list of possible HQ2 locations.

For 20 cities, that was amazing news. For the 218 other cities and regions that had put themselves in the running, it wasn't great.

"Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough — all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity," Holly Sullivan of Amazon's public policy department said in a statement. "Through this process, we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation."

While there's been a lot of focus on which cities are moving on to the next round in this exciting sweepstakes, we decided to take a look at the cities that we thought had a good chance for HQ2, but ultimately didn't make the cut. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon just dropped a major hint about where it wants its new headquarters to be

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit had high hopes for the boost it would get as the site of HQ2. It didn't make the cut, but it was a close call, according to those involved.

"We were good but we weren't good enough on the talent front," Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, said to the Detroit Free Press, recounting feedback from Amazon.

Houston, Texas

Houston was hoping it would have something to look forward to in 2018 after a difficult 2017. Alas, it was not to be, though Amazon was not said to have cited a specific reason.

"I believe this is a wake-up call for Houston," Bob Harvey, CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, which submitted the bid to Amazon, said in a statement to local media. "While there has been growing momentum in the innovation space over the last couple of years, this is a clear indication that we have much more work to do as a region to grow our digital economy."

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis was not on the short list, a tough blow to local leaders who saw HQ2 as a way to unite the region.

Still, Sheila Sweeney, CEO of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the bid submission "was not in vain," and that it may have spurred local businesses to think about development throughout the region.

Anyone who wears a bra regularly knows that they are something of a necessary evil. Sure, they offer support and can enhance your natural assets, but they can also be incredibly uncomfortable.

Of course, you don’t have to wear them, but many people feel awkward without one on. So, it’s fair to say that bras come along with a whole set of problems. Want to make the experience a little less painful? There are few ways to fix the most common issues you have with your bra.

The straps are always falling down.

Slippery straps are probably one of the most common bra issues out there. Few things are more irritating than feeling your strap slip down your arm while you're in the middle of doing something. The solution is usually very simple: tighten the straps. Many of us forget we can do this. Also remember that the more worn they are, the more bras can stretch. If you've had your bra for a very long time and the straps are as tight as they can go, you may need a new one.

You might also want to look for a bra with wide-set straps, which are especially helpful if you have narrow or sloping shoulders. Racer-back styles are also much more secure on your shoulders and they can be a cute addition to your lingerie drawer.

The bra leaves red marks in your skin.

Bras might be obnoxious, but they should never actually be painful. If your bra is leaving red marks on your skin, that's usually a big sign that it's too tight. If the red marks are only on your shoulders from the straps, try loosening the band a bit. Most of the support comes from the band, and if it's too loose, you might unknowingly be making the straps tighter to compensate for it. If that doesn't work, you might need to buy a new bra with a bigger band size, not cup size.

If the red marks are caused by the band, then the band is either too tight or too small. Loosen it as much as possible, and if that doesn't help, get fitted — you probably need to go up a size in a new bra.

The back of it is always riding up.

Your bra band should be parallel to the floor all around your body. If it isn't, and you notice it rising higher and higher, the fit is the issue. You are most likely wearing a band that's too big for you.

If you've had the bra for a very long time, it's also possible that it has stretched out a little too much. In any case, you need a new bra. Head to the store, and pick a bra that is one band size down — but if you do that, remember that you need to go up in the cup size.

The NFL, which is entering its 98th season, is clearly a different league now than it was 30 years ago.

In 1979, Sports Illustrated's Frank Deford asked people around the NFL what the league might look like in 2000, from the rules to the personnel to the atmosphere. Looking back on those predictions is pretty eye-opening.

While some of the predictions look accurate today (growing fears of safety and more specialized positions) others look pretty funny (metals "flecks" in the football to see if it crossed the goal line).

We went back through the predictions and found a mix of guesses that were surprisingly on target and some that were wildly off the mark.

"In the year 2000, there won't be any contact below the waist."— Bum Phillips, head coach of the Houston Oilers in 1979.

Not quite, Bum. The league has gone the other way in an attempt to protect players' heads. However, some receivers still prefer players go high rather than low to protect their legs.

Read more: 2 of the NFL's top receivers say they'd prefer defenders tackle them in a way that should terrify the league »

"The 25-yard end zone is the single greatest thing that could change the game. The whole concept of goal-line defenses would change with that."— Marv Levy, then the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

• Disney World has many secrets and little-known facts that many Disney fans don't know.
• There are secret tunnels underneath the Magic Kingdom only for employees.
• Cinderella's Castle is designed to appear taller than it actually is.

Even if you know the basic secrets of Disney World, there are plenty of small details and little-known facts about the "Happiest Place on Earth" that even the most diehard Disney fan might have never heard.

From the secret utilidor tunnels underneath Magic Kingdom to the abandoned waterpark hidden on the property, INSIDER has rounded up 22 of the most surprising secrets that will give you a behind-the-scenes peek of Disney World. 

There is a secret suite inside Cinderella's Castle that's only open to contest winners and special guests.

This secret suite hidden inside Cinderella's Castle was originally built for Walt Disney and his family, even though he passed away long before Disney World opened. In recent years, the suite was repurposed as accommodations for special guests.

The rooms are decked out with a Jacuzzi tub, 17th century furniture, a Cinderella mosaic floor made with 24-karat gold, and a clock that is perpetually frozen at 11:59.

Unfortunately, you can't actually book a stay there, but Disney holds regular sweepstakes to win a night's stay in the suite.

Disney chooses a "family of the day" to open Magic Kingdom every morning.

Every morning, Magic Kingdom holds a musical opening ceremony known to Disney fans as the "rope drop." But few guests know that Disney employees pick a special family to help open the Magic Kingdom every day.

The family of the day gets to take a tour of Main Street before it officially opens for the day and star in the opening ceremonies. Cast members will then escort the family to the Magic Kingdom train station and introduce them to the waiting crowd below. 

Interested in being selected? Past family of the day alumni recommend that families should arrive very early to the Magic Kingdom, wear matching Disney gear, and show enthusiasm. 

Disney World constantly pumps scents into the parks, like the smell of baked goods and fresh popcorn.

Have you ever noticed that Pirates of the Caribbean has a damp gunpowder scent? Or that Main Street always smells like freshly baked goods? There's a reason for that. In both Disneyland — and later at Disney World — Imagineers use Smellitzer machines that pump scents through hidden vents in the park. 

Former Disney employee Jody Jean Dreyer wrote in her Disney memoir that Imagineers understood that scent is a strong trigger for memory, which helps us associate Disney World with childhood nostalgia, just by getting a whiff of popcorn.

• Sushi may be delicious, but there is a degree of risk associated with eating raw fish.
• You could get sick from parasites, food poisoning, or mercury ingestion.

Doctors recently pulled a 5-and-a-half-foot parasitic tapeworm out of a man's body that may have been caused by eating sushi.

But was this case just a fluke, or can you actually endanger your health by frequently indulging in rainbow rolls?

INSIDER spoke with Dr. Tania Dempsey, a primary care physician and founder of Armonk Integrative Medicine in Armonk, New York, and Stella Metsovas, nutritionist and author of "Wild Mediterranean," about the scary things that can happen to your body when you consistently eat a lot of raw fish, from parasitic worm infections to listeria. 

Mercury poisoning

Eating large amounts of big ocean fish, like tuna and yellowtail, can lead to mercury poisoning, which has some pretty nasty symptoms.

Mercury poisoning can lead to "memory problems, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling, tremors and irritability," according to Dr. Tania Dempsey.

"All fish contain some level of mercury, but most of the fish that is used in sushi rolls and sashimi are large fish, such as tuna, yellowtail, bluefin, sea bass and lobster, and they have the highest amounts of mercury," Dempsey said.

Parasites or tapeworms

A parasitic tapeworm is probably one of the most nightmarish things you could ever find in your sushi — and yet there have been several cases of people getting tapeworms from consuming raw fish.

Recently, the world was horrified by the story of a man who pulled a 5-foot-long tapeworm out of his body, which he likely got from eating raw sushi.

In another case, a man who was complaining of abdominal pain after eating sushi went in for an X-ray. Doctors found the parasite suctioned to the mucus in his upper abdominal wall.

"The parasite that is on the rise is Anasakiasis, or herring worm disease," Dr. Dempsey said. "Anisakis attaches itself to the stomach or intestines and causes acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. In some cases, it can lead to an allergic, anaphylactic reaction."

Listeria

Listeria — a serious infection caused by contaminated food — is often found in both smoked and raw fish, and can be especially dangerous for pregnant women.

"Pathogenic bacterias like Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus can wreak havoc in your gut," nutritionist Stella Metsovas told INSIDER.  "The major dangers of consuming raw fish can translate to infectious diseases that could result in severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting."

The world's most expensive cities to live in have been revealed in a major survey of almost 300 population hubs.

The destinations are named in the 14th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2018.

It analysed 293 metropolitan housing markets in nine countries — Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US — in the third quarter of 2017.

Using the "median multiple" approach, which involves taking an area's median house price and dividing it by — the median household income. So if the aver gae income was $50,000 and the average house cost $250,000, the median multiple would be 5.

The method found 26 "severely unaffordable" locations, with the worst offenders in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and China.

The survey also looked at all cities, non-major markets included — which is the data we've compiled below.

Scroll down to see the 10 most expensive cities to live in around the world in 2018.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most expensive cities to live in around the world in 2017

10. Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand — New Zealand's housing is severely unaffordable with an overall median multiple of 5.8, and in Tauranga the average home costs 8.9 times the average income.

=9. Salinas, Monterrey, California, USA — Located in the county of Monterrey, Salinas — a city with a population of less than 150,000 — has a median multiple of 9.1.

=9. San Francisco, California, USA — Tied with Salinas is hilly, much more populous San Francisco, also with a median multiple of 9.1.

• Morgan Stanley says corporate earnings growth, which has been a crucial driver of the stock market's record-breaking run, will start slowing around midyear.
• The firm has identified seven stocks around which it has high positive conviction this earnings season.

Earnings season has been a bright spot for the stock market for several quarters. You could even argue it has been the root cause of the equity explosion that has served investors so well.

Morgan Stanley, however, says to enjoy the profit growth party now while you still can, because it's not going to last.

The firm sees earnings expansion peaking midyear as it becomes clearer just how much of an impact Republicans' tax law will have on companies. At that point, the positive impact will be fully accounted for in corporate forecasts. And once that happens, the bar will be set extremely high for subsequent quarters, making it hard to achieve year-over-year growth.

But it's not all bad news. Since the strongest companies are likely to continue on a growth trajectory, they'll be easier to identify once the rest of the market starts to fade. With that in mind, the trick becomes knowing which stocks fit the bill.

That's where Morgan Stanley comes in. The firm's chief US equity strategist, Mike Wilson, has teamed up with a wide range of industry analysts to identify seven companies around which they have high positive conviction this earnings season.

Without further ado, here are those stocks, with an explanation of why Morgan Stanley industry analysts like them so much:

Align Technology

Ticker: ALGN

Sector: Healthcare

Price target: $300

Morgan Stanley commentary: "ALGN remains a beat and raise story for us. We expect a strong 4Q, as our AlphaWise tracker suggests 3-7% upside to 4Q Invisalign case volume guidance. Our 4Q revenue estimate for 41% growth is also 4% consensus and EPS +75% Y/Y, 8% above consensus."

Colgate-Palmolive

Ticker: CL

Sector: Consumer staples

Price target: $83

Morgan Stanley commentary: "We have high conviction in a Q4 topline re-acceleration. CL tracked channel sales growth has improved to +2.1% in Q4 vs. -3.0% in Q1-Q3 in the US, and similarly inflected to +7.2% in Q4 TD vs. -1.0% in Q1-Q3 in Europe. Further, we remain constructive on an EM growth pickup."

E-Trade Financial

Ticker: ETFC

Sector: Financials

Price target: $63

Morgan Stanley commentary: "We expect ETFC to report NIM of 288 bps in 4Q, above prior guidance of a low-to-mid 280 bps range. We also expect a 4Q adjusted operating margin (ex-credit costs) of 42.1% (+540 bps vs. a year ago and +200 bps vs. guidance). ETFC should also be major beneficiary of tax reform, and will likely return the majority of any benefits to shareholders, in our view."

From the free-flowing Champagne and luxurious, comfy seats to the abundant Instagram opportunities, there are many benefits of flying by private jet — or so we're told.

But the biggest draw has to be the flexibility it gives passengers to travel fuss-free to remote islands, exclusive resorts, and lesser-known destinations in a fraction of the time. 

We asked a selection of private jet charter companies for the standout destinations their planes serve which would be difficult or complicated to reach by other means of travel.

Keep scrolling to see 11 of the most incredible places in the world that are best reached by private jet, according to the experts.

SEE ALSO: This stunning Japanese island you've probably never heard of is the top trending travel destination for 2018

Paro, Kingdom of Bhutan.

Paro, a valley town in the Kingdom of Bhutan, sits 2,225 m (7,300 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by the Himalayan mountains.

Bhutan’s Paro international airport is said to be one of the most dangerous to land at, and you can see why in this video.

The "exciting" descent brings you closer to the mountain tops than normal, according to the tourism board — so you'll want to make sure that you're in safe hands.

A spokesperson for private jet charter company Victor told Business Insider that a political stop in India is often required for visitors arriving from certain countries, and that it can sometimes take up to 10 days to get permits. However, fly private, and you can arrive direct and have a permit secured on your behalf. 

The airport is also only served by two commercial airlines, according to the tourism board.

Norman’s Cay, The Bahamas.

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Bob Seidel, CEO of Alerion Aviation private jet company, told Business Insider: "One destination that is only accessible via private jet is an island called Norman’s Cay in the Bahamas.

Once the headquarters of the Medellin Cartel, the famous drug smugglers from Colombia, he said: "Today, it is a super exclusive resort being developed by the Four Seasons Owners in Miami."

They recently extended the runway to accommodate private jets, as beforehand you could only get there by turboprops — or a boat, of course.

And it looks pretty dreamy. It's popular with travel bloggers and explorers, with a big draw being the iconic plane wreck that crashed in the 1980s, which you can visit in the shallows. 

Agra (for Taj Mahal), India.

Luxury private jet tour operator TCS World Travel told Business Insider it has a cunning route to a popular destination, involving exclusive access at a military base.

Richard Butler, who has has circled the globe 26 times in his role as an expedition leader for the company, said: "The beauty of a private jet is that you can fly point-to-point to places like Agra, where we fly straight into the military airport. Then we stay in a hotel where every room has views of the Taj Mahal so you can watch the sunrise."

Claire Dineen, marketing manager for the company added: "Commercially, guests would have to land in New Delhi and transport down to Agra by road, taking several hours."

TCS World Travel takes passengers to the Taj Mahal as part of its "Timeless Encounters" 24-day around the world expedition also stopping at Bora Bora, Dubai, and Prague — that's if you've got the spare $135,000.

The first purple roundels marking Underground stations across London's new Elizabeth line have been installed, bringing the 10-year project closer to completion.

The first signs were put in place at stations including Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, and Custom House.

The Elizabeth line is a massive upgrade to the existing underground system. The £14.8 billion project, which connects 30 existing stations with 26 miles of new tunnels, is the biggest construction project ever undertaken in Europe.

Services from Liverpool Street to Shenfield will open in December 2018 with the full line being operational by the end of 2019.

The section of the line that will be operational from December 2018 has now been illustrated on an updated Tube map. 

The new roundels were installed in January across some of the platforms that are being upgraded for the Elizabeth line.

The roundels are bright purple, the signature color of London's newest railway.

The roundels have been manufactured across the UK in sites at Exeter, Glasgow, and the Isle of White, according to the Crossrail Project.

Liberia's president was officially sworn in on Monday, in the first peaceful transfer of power the African nation has seen in more than 70 years after being ruled by a succession of warlords.

Just as remarkable, however, was who took up the country's highest office: former Premier League soccer star George Weah.

Weah, 51, succeeded Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who took over in the wake of a civil war in 2006. He had campaigned for office twice before, but is best-known internationally for his soccer career in the 1990s, where he played for clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain.

Scroll down to learn more about George Weah, also known as "King George"— who said Nelson Mandela encouraged him to become a politician, and whose life Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said "can make a fantastic film."

George Weah grew up in Clara Town, a slum in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. It was this impoverished upbringing that attracted many of his followers.

Source: Reuters

He started playing soccer as a teenager — and became so good that he dropped out of his final year of school to go professional.

He told The Guardian in December: "When I started playing football, I never thought I would ever win the Ballon d’Or and emerge as the best player in the world. I just had a passion for the game and I worked hard. Every day. I would rather train than eat or sleep."

Source: The Guardian, BBC

In 1988, while playing for the Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé, he was spotted and taken to Europe by then-AS Monaco manager Arsène Wenger, who now runs Arsenal FC. Weah said of Wenger: "This was a man, when racism was at its peak, who showed me love."

Weah even invited Wenger to attend his inauguration, but the Arsenal manager was busy.

Wenger told the BBC: "I wish he has a happy presidency and I would like to say this guy is an example for everybody who plays football today."

He added: "The life of this guy is a real film. It is unbelievable. It can make a fantastic film."

Source: The Guardian, Reuters, BBC

Amazon is breaking into physical retail in a new way.

Amazon's checkout-free grocery store opens in Seattle on Monday.

The online retail giant first started testing its grocery store with employees in December 2016, when it also revealed its vision for a store without cashiers.

The store, called Amazon Go, doesn't work like a typical Walmart or supermarket — instead, it's designed so that shoppers will use an app, also called Amazon Go, to automatically add the products they plan to buy to a digital shopping cart; they can then walk out of the building without waiting in a checkout line.

The store opening Monday is 1,800 square feet, according to Reuters, and it's located in an Amazon office building.

The idea is that Amazon's machine-learning technology can automatically identify when a product is added to your cart, so you don't have to do it yourself. When you leave the store, Amazon automatically charges your Amazon account.

The stores will sell ready-made food, staples like bread and milk, and other grocery products. At 1,800 square feet, the store is relatively small compared with big supermarkets.

Internal company plans show Amazon could build 2,000 grocery stores across the US in the next decade, Business Insider previously reported.

Here is what Amazon says it will be like to shop in one:

SEE ALSO: Amazon is doubling down on retail stores with plans to have up to 100 pop-up stores in US shopping malls

SEE ALSO: Internal Amazon documents reveal a vision of up to 2,000 grocery stores across the US

Amazon Go sells prepared foods and other grocery staples.

Everyone who shops needs an Amazon Go app. You scan a QR code when you walk in.

You scan the app on a futuristic turnstile when you enter the store.

Thousands of federal employees began their weekends gripped with doubt, uncertain of when they'll be able to return to work and how long they'll have to go without being paid after a bitter political dispute in Washington triggered a government shutdown.

And now that the shutdown has extended into the work week, federal employees entered Monday unsure of when their next paycheck would come.

Many government operations will continue — US troops will stay at their posts and mail will get delivered. But almost half the 2 million civilian federal workers will be barred from doing their jobs.

The longer the shutdown continues, the more likely its impact will be felt. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Republicans and Democrats share the blame.

"Political gamesmanship, an unwillingness to compromise, and a lack of resolve on both sides have led us to this point," McCain said in a statement Saturday.

How key parts of the federal government would be affected by a shutdown:

SEE ALSO: DAY 3: The shutdown has rolled into the work week

DON'T MISS: This government shutdown is historic for one big reason

Internal Revenue Service

A shutdown plan posted on the Treasury Department's website shows that nearly 44% of the IRS' 80,565 employees will be exempt from being furloughed during a shutdown.

That would mean nearly 45,500 IRS employees will be sent home just as the agency is preparing for the start of the tax filing season and ingesting the sweeping changes made by the new GOP tax law.

The Republican architects of the tax law have promised that millions of working Americans will see heftier paychecks next month, with less money withheld by employers in anticipation of lower income taxes. The IRS recently issued new withholding tables for employers.

But Marcus Owens, who for 10 years headed the IRS division dealing with charities and political organizations, said it's a "virtual certainty" that the larger paychecks will be delayed if there's a lengthy government shutdown.

Health and Human Services

Half of the more than 80,000 employees will be sent home.

Key programs will continue to function because their funding has ongoing authorization and doesn't depend on annual approval by Congress, but critical disruptions could occur across many HHS programs.

Medicare, which insures nearly 59 million seniors and disabled people, will keep going. And so will Medicaid, which covers more than 74 million low-income and disabled people, including most nursing home residents.

States will continue to receive payments for the Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers about 9 million kids. However, long-term funding for the program will run out soon unless Congress acts to renew it.

Deep into a tough flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is continuing the government's annual seasonal flu program, including surveillance of the virus across the country.

The CDC's ability to respond to other disease outbreaks could be significantly reduced.

Justice Department

Many of the nearly 115,000 Justice Department employees have national security and public safety responsibilities that allow them to keep working during a shutdown.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian meddling in the presidential election will also continue working. His office is paid for indefinitely.

The more than 95,000 employees who are "exempted" include most of the members of the national security division, US attorneys, and most of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US Marshals Service, and federal prison employees.

Criminal cases will continue, but civil cases will be postponed as long as doing so doesn't compromise public safety. Most law enforcement training will be canceled, per the department's contingency plan.

There are few things like knowing that the person you're with just wants to be with you. When you feel solid and reassured by the level of love and communication in your relationship. There's no worry or stress about getting ghosted or cheating and your only worry about your partner is whether or not they've noticed that you're actively building and expanding your wedding board on Pinterest.

But sometimes, things take a turn and all of that reassurance and security can go out the door. If something seems off, that's an issue. Your significant other is supposed to love you and make that clear with communication and action. You shouldn't be up at night wondering if your partner actually likes you or you wasted all of those highly-inspired pins on the wrong person.  

They don't ask about you or your life.

Not only is this impolite, it's also a pretty clear, straightforward sign that someone's not really feeling you.

Your significant other should want to know how you're doing. They should ask you questions, maybe about your family, your job, or your beliefs, being sure to listen just as much as they speak. They don't have to be Barbara Walters, but they should maintain a genuine interest in getting to know you.

If you think they're at a loss for words, you can always spur the conversation or turn it into some sort of game. The key is interest, not so much the content or the topic. Seriously, it can be something that seems really boring, but as research has pointed out, "couples build intimacy through hundreds of very ordinary, mundane moments in which they attempt to make emotional connections." You've got to build somehow, even if it is just by asking someone's favorite color.

They avoid spending time with you.

Having some alone time is great. We all need a little bit of time to ourselves, but it shouldn't feel as though you're the only one in your relationship.

Research has found that the more time couples spend together, the happier they are. If your significant other either refuses to spend time with you or seems unhappy when you do spend time together, that's a big red flag.

They have no interest in meeting or hanging out with your family or friends, and don’t want you to meet theirs.

If you want them to meet your family or hang out with you and your friends on a Friday night and they refuse, they’re probably not in it for the long haul.

"If your partner doesn't introduce you to friends or family — and it's been six to 12 months or more of dating, they're manipulating your perception of them," relationship expert April Masini told INSIDER. "One of the best ways to get to know someone is to meet the people they're close to …”

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.

When closet and cabinet space is at a premium, it's all too easy to clutter a home with the things that make up your life — books, shoes, mail, dirty dishes, laundry.

Like many New Yorkers, I'm working with less than 1,200 square feet, so I have to get crafty with how I use my space, optimizing it for maximum organization and comfort.

I've lived in New York City for the past nine years, and I've gotten pretty good at making the most of my square footage, carefully choosing furniture and home accents that don't just look nice but also double as extra storage space.

I went through my Amazon order history from the past year to review the best space-saving purchases I've made for my latest apartment. You'll find a few pieces I've picked up from West Elm, Urban Outfitters, and CB2 in this list as well.

Here are 10 space-saving items I've bought along with my reasons why for each — in case you want to add any to your home. For any pricier purchases I talk about, I also list a similar, more affordable pick you can supplement into your home.

If you have a space-saving hack I didn't cover, email me at ehoffman@businessinsider.com, because I'd love to hear it! The ideas in this list are specific to my apartment's layout and are by no means the only options out there.

For the kitchen: a dual-compartment trash can for regular trash and recyclables.

Trash cans are surprisingly expensive. That's partly why I ended up "going big or going home" on a pricey simplehuman one. If I was already going to fork over close to $100 on a new trash can (I wanted one with compartments for regular trash and recyclables), I might as well increase my budget and get the best money can buy.

I don't have the room to store a trash can in the cabinet underneath my sink, so I treated this purchase like I would a piece of furniture. The trash can, for better or worse, is the first thing people see when they walk into my apartment, and my rose gold one from simplehuman makes a pretty nice first impression. It's stylish (can I say that about a trash can?), surprisingly compact given the amount of garbage it can hold, and it even has a convenient liner pocket that dispenses trash bags one by one from inside the can for a faster liner change.

This is by far the best designed trash can I've seen, and for me, it is well worth the high price.

What I bought: simplehuman 15.3-Gallon Dual-Compartment Recycling Step Can with Liner Pocket, $168.99 (rose gold color)

A similar pick: Organize It All Stainless-Steel Step-On 16-Gallon Recycle Bin, $108.16

For the kitchen: a hanging pot rack for your most used pots and pans.

My kitchen has decent countertop space and cabinet storage, but it’s not enough for me to easily store of all my pots and pans. So I got this hanging pot rack from Cuisinart to free up some room and make my most used cookware easier to access.

I like the copper version best for my space (I chose it to coordinate with my rose gold trash can), but the rack also comes in matte black, stainless steel, and bronze.

Cuisinart Chef's Classic 36” Rectangular Wall-Mount Bookshelf Rack, $79.81-$119.95 (prices vary by color)

For the bedroom: a shoe rack to keep all of your footwear together and organized.

Easy to assemble and sturdier than its price suggests, this is a great shoe rack for less than $20. For a few dollars more, you can get a rack that holds up to 30 pairs of shoes.

Whitmor 20-Pair Floor Shoe Rack, $17.96

The eyes may be a window to the soul, but they also offer a lot of information about your overall health. This doesn't simply mean your ability to correctly read an eye chart, either. Everything from liver health to cholesterol levels can be reflected by the eyes in some way.

The eyes also contain a wealth of insight about the rest of your body's ability to function. Read on to see what your eyes have to say.

You see an aura.

The sudden appearance of flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag lines can mean a monster headache is on its way. These visual disturbances, known as an aura, affect around 20% of migraine headache sufferers, according to the National Headache Foundation. The aura’s exact relationship to migraine headaches is still being studied. In general, however, auras only affect one side of the person’s vision, and they last about an hour or less, as explained by the American Migraine Foundation. Sometimes auras appear without a following headache, and not all migraine sufferers experience an aura beforehand.

If medical science has not yet explained the aura, authors from Lewis Carroll to Hilary Mantel have tried to put words to the visual sensation into words. The esteemed neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks described his first experience with the migraine aura as a young child in The New York Times: "I was playing in the garden when a brilliant, shimmering light appeared to my left — dazzlingly bright, almost as bright as the sun. It expanded, becoming an enormous shimmering semicircle stretching from the ground to the sky, with sharp zigzagging borders and brilliant blue and orange colors."

The zigzag patterns are common to aura sufferers, but the exact cause of their architecture is unknown. If you deal with these weird visions before a crushing headache, take heart in the fact that you’re in good company: plenty of luminous artists and thinkers have dealt with the same pain.

You have blurry vision.

If a person's vision slowly becomes blurry over time, then an underlying health problem may be to blame. For instance, individuals with glaucoma sometimes experience blurriness or tunnel vision as a symptom of the condition, according to All About Vision. Plus, people with diabetes may experience temporary blurred vision from high blood sugar, according to WebMD. It can cause the eyes to swell, which distorts vision. Then again, blurry vision that occurs over time could simply point to problems with a person's eyesight.

On the other hand, sudden blurry vision may indicate more serious health conditions. In some cases, a sudden blurriness or loss of vision is a strong indicator of a stroke, according to Health. Seek medical help immediately if you think this is even a remote possibility.

You have drooping eyes.

For many people, drooping eyelids are just a sign of fatigue. If one or both eyelids droops toward the pupil, then this may be myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease, according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The condition results in an overall loss of strength in the skeletal muscles.

Nominations for the worst movies of 2017 are in. 

The Golden Raspberry Awards, otherwise known as the Razzies, have picked 14 different movies that were just not good last year. The award is voted on by journalists, cinema fans, and other professionals in the movie industry,

Leading the pack with nine nominations is "Transformers: The Last Knight." It's followed closely by "Fifty Shades Darker" with eight and "The Mummy" with seven. 

Mark Wahlberg, Javier Bardem, and Anthony Hopkins all have two movies on the list. And Tyler Perry squeezed in a worst actress nomination for his role as Madea in "Boo 2! A Madea Halloween." 

Here are the worst movies of 2017, according to the Razzie voters. 

SEE ALSO: The 20 actors who have made the most money at the U.S. box office

"Transformers: The Last Knight"

Worst picture

Worst director (Michael Bay) 

Worst actor (Mark Wahlberg) 

Worst supporting actor (Josh Duhamel) 

Worst supporting actor (Anthony Hopkins)

Worst supporting actress (Laura Haddock) 

Worst screen combo (Any combination of two humans, two robots, or two explosions)

Worst prequel, remake, rip-off, or sequel

Worst screenplay 

"Fifty Shades Darker"

Worst picture

Worst director (James Foley) 

Worst actor (Jamie Dornan) 

Worst actress (Dakota Johnson) 

Worst supporting actress (Kim Basinger) 

Worst screen combo (Any combination of two characters, two sex toys, or two sexual positions)

Worst prequel, remake, rip-off, or sequel

Worst screenplay

"The Mummy"

Worst picture

Worst director (Alex Kurtzman) 

Worst actor (Tom Cruise) 

Worst supporting actor (Russell Crowe) 

Worst supporting actress (Sofia Boutella) 

Worst prequel, remake, rip-off, or sequel

Worst screenplay

• Amazon opened its futuristic Amazon Go store to the public on Monday.
• It's just one of several physical retail initiatives the primarily online retailer has undertaken recently.

Amazon has become synonymous with online shopping.

The e-commerce giant is now estimated to take about half of all online sales in the US.

But Amazon cannot live online alone. The company is increasingly moving into the physical world, opening spaces in malls, shopping districts, and even local strip malls. It's a move that signals the company's ambitions are larger than e-commerce, combining its digital prowess with the convenience of physical retail.

One reason that may be, an anonymous source told CNBC in September, is that Amazon is seeing online sales go up in areas that have physical stores. Brick-and-mortar stores increase customer awareness of the brand, and it's extra fuel for the Amazon engine.

Its latest move is the opening of its cashierless Amazon Go convenience store in Seattle.

Here are all of the ways that Amazon has expanded into the physical world so far.

SEE ALSO: Amazon just announced who's still in the running for its $5 billion HQ2 — here are 15 of the list's biggest snubs

Amazon Go is a new kind of convenience store.

Amazon Go is the store of the future.

With no lines or checkout process, the store uses cameras and sensors to track what you put in your basket. It then charges you through your Amazon account.

The store opened to the public on January 22 after a lengthy beta period. The company is reportedly planning to open more stores over the next few years, though possibly not as many as had previously been reported.

It acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.

Amazon's acquisition of natural-foods store Whole Foods is the big one to mention here.

Whole Foods was already a national chain with more than 450 stores, but with the power of Amazon behind it, it has the potential to be something even larger. Changes like selling the Amazon Echo, installing Amazon Lockers, and lowering prices are all already under way.

It struck a partnership with Kohl's, where it will be selling Amazon devices and accepting returns.

Kohl's started Amazon returns at 82 stores in Chicago and Los Angeles in October.

The returns are free, and they don't need to be packaged before drop-off. 

Ten stores also feature an "Amazon smart home experience" with a separate section selling Amazon devices like the Echo.

• Yvonne Agyei runs Booking.com's worldwide recruitment efforts, and her team gets about 400,000 applications a year.
• She said that standing out in a huge applicant pool is about being prepared, thoughtful, and genuine.
• Even if you have a gap on your resume or career hiccup, that doesn't necessarily take you out of the running.

The number of applications Booking.com receives every year is staggering: 400,000, to be precise.

But how can anyone stand out among hundreds of thousands of applicants?

We asked Yvonne Agyei, Booking.com's chief people officer, who is responsible for recruitment worldwide. Along with her 500 colleagues in human resources, Agyei selects candidates from piles and piles of resumes. Only one in 15,000 applicants is selected for a job at Booking.com.

Here are her best tips to distinguish yourself when thousands of people are applying for the job you want:

SEE ALSO: Etihad Airways hires 'flying nannies' to watch people's kids as they jet around the world

1. Adjust your resume and cover letter to the position

"Customize your CV and cover letter and any other material to the specific role you are interested in," said Agyei.

And don't be too modest: "Don't be afraid to show relevant skills and experiences that you may have gained through a personal passion or hobby," she added.

2. Study, study, study

"Do your homework," said Agyei. "Spend time understanding our corporate culture, values, and mission. Make sure you take a look at our website and apps."

Whether or not you want to work at Booking.com, this is good practice for any interview. "Learn as much as possible about the company before applying, and certainly when you are invited to interview," she said.

3. Come with questions

As you read up on the company, write down your questions.

"Come and ask questions about how we work and why — unlike others — we focus on certain areas," said Agyei. "Be curious and show us that you have taken the time to think about what we do and how you fit in with our future plans and ambitions."

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:

• Whether the grooming at hand involves a full shave or a minor shaping of the beard, with a sharp razor and a great shaving cream, you're always ready to look your best. Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream is our top choice because it goes on thick and smooth, leaves skin tingling and fresh, and doesn't cost much, either.

While it's impossible to pinpoint the exact year in which the practice of shaving off facial hair commenced, we can safely say that men have been shaving for many thousands of years. Simple but effective razors dating from the Chalcolithic period (also known as the Copper Age) date shaving back some five millennia at least, and it's entirely possible that shaving predated the use of metal tools, as techniques involving hair removal using shells and sharp-edged stones have also been documented.

What we can say with certainty is that today's gentleman is living in a golden era of shaving tools and accouterments. While just a century ago many men still went to the barber for a straight razor shave, today the wide abundance of varied razors and electric shavers makes personal grooming easier than ever. And said razors are aided by a stellar selection of shaving creams, gels, powders, soaps, oils, and more. With a bit of research (like you're doing now — good for you!) and likely a bit of trial-and-error, you'll soon find a shaving cream that agrees with your skin, your shaving style, and your nose, too.

Our guide includes classic foamy white shaving creams, vintage-style shaving soap, and some decidedly modern gels, too.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream is our top pick for best shaving cream and why you might prefer the Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel, the Lather & Wood Sandalwood Shaving Soap, the Gillette Foamy Original Shaving Cream, or the Anthony Shave Gel.

SEE ALSO: The best safety razors you can buy for a clean shave

The best shaving cream overall

Why you'll love it: Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream creates a smooth, protective lather that men have trusted for generations, plus, it has an invigorating scent.

In most ways, this is your father's shaving cream. And maybe your grandfather's, too. Barbasol first started making shaving cream back in 1919, and over the course of the last hundred years, the company has perfected the recipe for a rich, creamy product that goes on thick and helps you get a nice, close shave.

The density of this shaving cream's lather helps you spread it across your face quickly and evenly, minimizing the chance of missing any areas — and that includes the nooks behind the jawbone, around the Adam's apple, or under your nose. And speaking of noses, the crisp menthol scent of this shaving cream is understated but decidedly masculine.

The cream's thickness helps to surround and soften longer beard hairs, or you can use just a little dollop spread more thinly for daily shaves. Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream leaves refreshing tingle even without the use of aftershave.

You'll also appreciate the little cap that covers the dispenser button and the rust-resistant aluminum used to construct the bottom of the can. And yes, my own dad used Barbasol, thus I used it when starting to shave in high school. 

A gentleman by the name of Reid lauds this shaving cream's "sparkly lathery foam" and says it's his go-to choice for shaving "every morning." Another satisfied buyer reports that it "smells great and really works" to keep his face feeling cool and refreshed.

Members of the forum The Shave Den routinely praise this shaving cream, with one commenter stating that it delivered a "flawless, nick-free shave." In a video review on YouTube, a tester from ToServeMen.com loved the "cool feeling" it left on his face and appreciated the excellent "razor glide."

Pros: Thick and creamy lather, low price point, excellent coverage, leaves refreshing tingle

Cons: Some people dislike the menthol scent

Buy a can of Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream on Amazon for $5.50

The best shave gel for sensitive skin

Why you'll love it: Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel features two ingredients for use on sensitive skin and has none of the irritants found in many shaving cream products.

For the record, you don't have to have sensitive skin to use Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel. In fact, men with all skin types will appreciate the products moisturizing properties that leave skin feeling supple and healthy and the lubricating effects that help a razor slide smoothly over the face and neck without getting caught on hairs.

But for the man with skin prone to reactions caused by chemicals, dyes, or even to various natural ingredients, this shaving gel isn't just a good choice, but rather a must-have. This shaving gel is dye-free and contains none of the perfumes common in many shaving products and which are the culprit behind common facial irritation.

What the gel does have is colloidal oatmeal, a finely milled oat that is suspended in water and that readily absorbs into the skin, creating a protective barrier against the blade. It also features allantoin, a plant-derived compound that is can prevent nicks and cuts and that is also soothing and healing to any that should yet occur.

Any man with sensitive skin who nonetheless likes to be clean-shaven every day should try out this shaving gel. It just might make the difference between shavings being a pleasure instead of an ordeal.

A user named Jeff gave Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel a five-star rating and said that one "dab will shave your entire face." A buyer named Ricardo loved the "smooth and closer shave" he could enjoy with this gel.

Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel was recommended by Acne.org thanks to its protective, soothing ingredients, while a product tester from GetARazor.com noted the "extra moisturizers and lubricants" that were ideal for "sensitive skin shaving."

Pros: Ideal for sensitive skin, spreads out evenly, moisturizes face and neck

Cons: Does not penetrate fuller beards well

Buy Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave gel from Jet for $4.37

Buy Edge Ultra Sensitive Shave Gel on Amazon for $3.50

The best shaving soap

Why you'll love it: Beyond the fact that it's just fun to whip up some lather using vintage-style shaving soap, you'll also appreciate the lovely scent and close shave provided by the Lather & Wood Sandalwood Shaving Soap.

Have you got your badger brush and steel shaving bowl at the ready? Got your straight razor and a glass of bourbon perched on either side of the washbasin? Got that mustache wax and a bowler hat ready to complete your manly ensemble once the shave is finished? Then all you need is a tin of Lather & Wood Sandalwood Shaving Soap to have a close, even shave just as gentlemen have enjoyed for many generations.

And don't worry, this stuff works great even with a safety razor, and even without the bourbon, mustache wax, and bowler hat. You will need a shaving brush and a bowl, however, to properly work this classic-style shaving soap into a proper lather.

Once you have mastered whipping up said lather using a brush and a bit of warm water, you will be ready to enjoy dozens of shaves using just one tin of this superlative shaving soap. Which is good, because said tin costs sixteen dollars, which is quadruple the price of an average can of shaving cream or shaving gel.

This shaving soap includes tallow, coconut oil, and shea butter, all of which work together to help soothe and moisturize your skin. The sandalwood fragrance leaves you smelling great without overwhelming the senses — yours or anyone near that mug of yours.

Yes, part of the reason to use vintage shaving soap is because it's just kind of cool. But the other part of the reason is because it works well.

With five hundred-plus reviews posted on Amazon, Lather & Wood Sandalwood Shaving Soap has a commendable 4.5-star average rating online. One fellow loves the "nice rich lather" that he finds "thicker and more dense than most" other creams can create, while another gent puts it simply, saying "this soap does the trick."

A reviewer from ToolsOfMen.com states that Lather & Wood "uses some of the best ingredients available for your skin," adding that "the sandalwood fragrance is defined as being very manly, without being aggressively overpowering."

Pros: Creates thick lather, masculine scent, vintage charm, lasts for months

Cons: Rather pricey, requires use of brush and bowl

Buy the Lather & Wood Sandalwood Shaving Soap on Amazon for $16