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Photos that show how Tom Brady evolved into an NFL and fashion icon

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tom brady gisele

Tom Brady is a five-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.

But that is just one thing that is going well for Brady. He is also the husband of the world's highest-paid supermodel, Gisele Bündchen, and he is the third-highest-paid NFL player of all time.

Brady is now 40 years old and in addition to being an NFL icon, he has become somewhat of a fashion icon off the field. However, Brady's fashion sense had humble beginnings.

Below we take a look at how his style has evolved over the years.

This post originally appeared on Business Insider in August and has been updated.

Brady's fashion decisions certainly had humble beginnings.

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Brady's high school yearbook photo reveals a nice, clean look, especially with his hair which will take on many forms over the years.

 



Before he was in the NFL, there was a time when Brady's suits weren't always tailored.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

POWER RANKING: The top 25 people who will decide the winner of Super Bowl LII

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Tom Brady

The Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles is shaping up to be one to remember.

On one side, you have the greatest quarterback ever to take a snap and the greatest head coach to ever wear a headset leading the greatest modern dynasty in football onto the field. Against them, you have an upstart team that's overcome injuries and underdog status time and time again to put themselves in position to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Either way you look at it, it's quite a story.

Come Monday, there will be heroes and tragic figures , and while we don't yet know who will show up to play on Sunday and who might have an off night at the worst possible time, we have an idea of which players' performances will be of the most consequence when it comes to deciding who wins the Big Game.

Whether it's an MVP performance through the entire game or one game-changing play just before the clock expires, these are the players who will decide who wins Super Bowl LII.

25. Malcolm Butler

As the man behind one of the biggest plays in NFL history, it would be irresponsible to leave Butler off of any list of potential Super Bowl impact players. Butler isn't due to have the toughest assignment of the Patriots secondary — he will likely be lined up opposing Torrey Smith for the majority of the night — but if the game comes down to a goal line stop for the Patriots, you know who they'll trust to step up.



24. Nelson Agholor

Eagles fans were once worried that Agholor would end up a draft bust, but this season he's proven to be a valuable pass catcher out of the slot. He's come down with more than a few crucial third down catches this year, and will likely be called upon to do so again on Sunday.



23. Gene Steratore

Steratore is fairly well-respected as far as NFL referees go, but he also had the most notorious officiating decision of the NFL season — you might remember him as the man behind the index card measurement. Steratore also led one of the most active regular season officiating crews in terms of flags thrown. Refs usually like to let the players play a bit more in the postseason, but don't be surprised if he makes a few big decisions on Sunday.



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Meet the 3 quarterbacks who got the Eagles to the Super Bowl to face off against Tom Brady

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wentz foles sudfeld

  • The Philadelphia Eagles enter Super Bowl LII after a wild couple months of quarterback concerns.
  • Carson Wentz was having an MVP-calibre season before suffering a season-ending injury in December, forcing backup Nick Foles to guide the Eagles through the playoffs.
  • Third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld is on reserve should Foles go down in the Super Bowl.


With a win in Super Bowl LII on Sunday, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could cement his legacy as the greatest football player of all time.

Standing in his way are the Philadelphia Eagles, whose past couple months have been filled with quarterback concerns.

Carson Wentz led the team to an NFC-best 11-2 start, and looked to be on pace for a potential MVP season before tearing an ACL in week 14, sidelining him for the rest of the year.

While many assumed Wentz's injury meant the end of the road for the Eagles, backup quarterback Nick Foles managed to lead them to two playoff victories, including a decisive rout of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

Wentz's injury also thrust third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld into the spotlight — should Foles get injured, the little-used Sudfeld will have to step up on the sport's biggest stage.

Read on to learn about the three quarterbacks taking on Tom Brady and the Patriots this Sunday:

SEE ALSO: Nate Silver's model has nailed 80% of the NFL playoff games, and now it has made its Super Bowl projection

There are three quarterbacks on the Philadelphia Eagles roster: No. 11 Carson Wentz, No. 9 Nick Foles, and No. 7 Nate Sudfeld.



Carson Wentz started out the year under center for the Eagles. The highly touted second-year player led Philly to a surprising 11-2 start, good for first place in the NFC.



Wentz quickly became an icon among Eagles fans, who dubbed their state "Wentzylvania." His 33 touchdown passes and nearly 3,300 passing yards made Wentz an early MVP favorite.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A look inside the marriage of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who are worth $540 million, planned their wedding in 10 days, and have spoken every day for 11 years

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Tom Brady Gisele Bundchen

• Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen met through a friend back in 2006 — and it was pretty much love at first sight.

• The couple married in a tiny wedding ceremony in 2009.

• Today, Brady and Bundchen largely live outside of Boston with their two children.



Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen give new meaning to the phrase "power couple."

The Patriots quarterback is the only NFL player to win five Super Bowls playing for the same team. On Sunday, he'll see whether or not the sixth time's the charm, as the New England Patriots square off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.

Going into the game, Brady's definitely not the underdog. As Business Insider's Cork Gaines put it, he's already established himself as "the greatest quarterback of all time."

Meanwhile, Bundchen has frequently ranked on lists of the wealthiest and most powerful women in entertainment. In 2016, she made Forbes' list of highest paid celebrities.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the couple is worth a total of $540 million. NESN.com and The Week reported Bundchen often out-earns her husband by a margin of millions.

Here's a look inside their eight years of marriage:

SEE ALSO: Inside the marriage of Bill and Melinda Gates, who met at work, live in a $124 million home, and will leave their children only a small fraction of their fortune

DON'T MISS: Inside the relationship of power couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez — who call themselves 'twins' and have 20 crazy things in common

The two met through a friend back in 2006. For Bundchen, it was pretty much love at first sight.

Source: Vanity Fair, PopSugar



"The moment I saw him, he smiled and I was like, 'That is the most beautiful, charismatic smile I've ever seen,'" Bundchen told Vanity Fair.

Source: Vanity Fair



The pair spoke for three hours that night, and they haven't stopped since. "From the first day we met, we've never spent one day without speaking to each other," Bundchen said.

Source: Vanity Fair



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Tom Brady's teammates on his first Super Bowl team

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Tom Brady

Tom Brady is now 40 years old and in his 18th season as a quarterback for the New England Patriots. He is also about to play for his sixth Super Bowl ring.

It has been 17 years since Brady's first Super Bowl. That season, Brady replaced the injured Drew Bledsoe, beat the Raiders in the "tuck rule" game, and helped the Patriots beat the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl.

The only other constants between the 2001 Patriots and this season's team is head coach Bill Belichick and a couple of assistant coaches. Most of Brady's teammates from that season have now moved on. That group now includes television analysts, one NFL head coach, a professional poker player, and amazingly, a kicker who is still playing.

Below we look back at Brady's first Super Bowl teammates and see what they are up to today.

Tom Brady was a second-year player who replaced starter Drew Bledsoe in the second game of the season. He led the Patriots to an improbable victory over the Rams in the Super Bowl.



17 years later, Brady is now widely considered the GOAT in the NFL and is entering the conversation for one of the greatest athletes ever in North American sports.



Drew Bledsoe was drafted by the Patriots as the first pick in the 1993 draft and served as their starting quarterback for nine seasons. He signed a then-record 10-year, $103 million contract extension in 2001, nine months after the Patriots drafted Tom Brady, but he lost his job to Brady early in the next season when he ruptured a blood vessel in his chest. He returned from the injury but did not regain his starting job in New England.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are the extravagant rings given to Super Bowl champions over the years

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robert kraft super bowl ring

Each year, the National Football League gives teams playing in the Super Bowl an allowance of $5,000 for each impeccably crafted, diamond-encrusted champion ring.

For 150 rings, the cost comes to $750,000. The teams foot the bill for going over-budget.

But for the victors, the value of the ring is beyond money.

"It isn't just diamond and gold," Jerry Kramer, a former Green Bay Packer player who won the first Super Bowl in 1966, told ESPN. "It's a collection of memories and moments."

Founded in 1897, Jostens has been the primary supplier of Super Bowl rings for over 50 years. The Minneapolis jeweler forges each ring by hand and personalizes it with the player's name.

Jostens provided us with photos of the Super Bowl rings they've made since Super Bowl I.

SEE ALSO: I tried Tom Brady's vegan meal-kit delivery service and learned I don't have what it takes to cook for the greatest quarterback

Super Bowl 1967: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10



Super Bowl 1968: Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14



Super Bowl 1970: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7



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12 smart home gadgets that practically clean the house for you

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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.

irobot braava

Mentally, I'm a very organized person, but I've never claimed the same for my physical surroundings. The various apartments I've lived in over the years would never win any compliments or prizes for cleanliness, and I can chalk this reality up to a couple of reasons: lack of time and, more often than not, pure laziness.

I know logically that a clean living environment contributes to happier, more productive inhabitants, but like many people, I just hate cleaning. 

With so many rooms and appliances to clean, and a strong desire to do literally anything else with my time, I found a variety of tools and gadgets that will do most if not all the work for me. While a few of them may take some initial setup and getting used to, in the end they'll cut down on time and labor, and you'll definitely notice the difference. 

Keep scrolling to see how you can make your life a lot easier with these cleaning tools.

SEE ALSO: This $10 fix makes cleaning your dishes way more sanitary than what you're doing right now

A robot vacuum that connects to wi-fi

Earning our top pick for best robot vacuum, iRobot's three-stage cleaning system cleans several floor types, navigates around objects, responds to voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant, and runs for an hour of continuous cleaning. Its strong suction and effective spinning side brush along with its ability to be programmed and controlled from an app make it a worthy competitor to high-end bots. 

iRobot Roomba 690, $324.99, available at Amazon



A self-cleaning litter box

While cats are known to be more low-maintenance than dogs, you do still have to clean up after them. This futuristic litter box almost completely eliminates one of the more unpleasant tasks associated with being a cat owner by automatically separating the clean litter from the clumps and dropping the waste into a carbon-filtered drawer. It has a large entry for cats of all sizes and is ideal for multi-cat households. 

Litter-Robot III Open-Air Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box, $449, available at Amazon



A self-cleaning dog potty

Another gadget that makes cleaning up after your pets less of a hassle is this automatic potty for dogs under 25 pounds. Its adjustable timer automatically advances the highly absorbent pad once, twice, or three times a day, while the sensor ensures that the timer will never start while the dog is on the machine.

BrilliantPad Self-Cleaning, Automatic Indoor Dog Potty, $159.99, available at Amazon



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the most unforgettable Super Bowl commercials of all time

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Cindy Crawford - Pepsi

This Super Bowl Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the New England Patriots, and both teams will have their eyes set on the Lombardi trophy.

But off the field, there will be another battle on your TV screens, as brands attempt to outwit one another with their  Super Bowl commercials.

While the 2018 ad winner is yet to be crowned (here are the 10 most buzziest commercials), it's as good as a time as ever to take a walk down memory lane. Whether heartwarming or funny, sad or downright weird, these commercials left an indelible impression on their audiences.

Here are 10 of the most unforgettable Super Bowl commercials of all time, in no particular order. 

 

Apple's "1984"

Apple's much-hailed yet very bizarre commercial from 1984 was technically the very first viral ad —making Super Bowl commercials a true phenomena. 

The ad aired only once, but was replayed on news channels across the world for weeks, and contributed to the sale of about $150 million worth of Macintoshes in barely three months.

Talk about a return on investment. 

Watch it here.



Always' "Like a girl"

By recasting a phrase often used as an insult as an empowering message, the award-winning Procter and Gamble spot won hearts everywhere. 

Although a continuation of a campaign that began the previous summer, the spot stood out among a sea of hyper-masculine ads, and won heaps of praise for changing the conversation about what it means to run, throw and do pretty much anything "like a girl."

Watch it here.



Doritos "Live the Flavor"

More groundbreaking from an innovation, rather than an audience perspective, this 2007 spot was the first ever crowdsourced Super Bowl spot.

It let Doritos cut down on costs while simultaneously engaging some of its most loyal customers.

Watch it here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This year's Super Bowl commercials are more expensive than ever — here's your complete guide to all the ads that will air

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Pepsi Super Bowl

The Super Bowl isn't the Super Bowl without its ads, but luckily you don't need to wait until Sunday to watch them.

This year, NBC is reportedly charging $5 million per 30 seconds of commercial showing time. Some of the world's biggest companies have spent millions on a premium spot for Sunday night's show. 

Find out what we know so far, based on a list put together by iSpotTV and what we've seen so far online:

This year's game will be broadcast on NBC at 6.30 p.m. ET, Sunday, February 4. 

SEE ALSO: The price of a 30-second Super Bowl ad has exploded — but it may be worth it for companies

Amazon

Amazon's 90-second, star-studded ad for its Alexa-enabled devices could have cost the retailer around $15 million, based on NBC's estimate of each 30-second ad costing $5 million.

In the ad, Alexa loses her voice and is replaced by a host of celebrities, including Rebel Wilson and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos also makes an appearance. 

The video currently has over 7.9 million views on YouTube after being posted Wednesday. 

Watch the ad here



Avocados from Mexico

Avocados From Mexico returns to the Super Bowl for its fourth consecutive year. In this year's ad, the company creates a utopian world full of avocados, but all hell breaks loose when people realize that there are no chips. 

Watch the ad here.

 

 

 



Bud Light

Bud Light is bringing back its popular Dilly Dilly ads for the Super Bowl.

In 2017, the company launched a series of ads that went viral thanks to their constant appearances during commercial breaks in NFL and college football games. 

The brand didn't expect them to be so successful.

"It didn't test that well. We did that ad, actually, because of – the new season of 'Game of Thrones' coming, but when we tested, it didn't test that well. We said, 'Consumers will get it,'" Chief Marketing Officer Miguel Patricio of parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev told Business Insider in December.

Watch this year's ad here.

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

EAGLES WIN THE SUPER BOWL! Here are the big plays and moments everybody will be talking about

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Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl LII was another one for the ages, as the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles traded blows throughout the night. But in the end, there was no miracle for the Tom Brady and the Patriots as the Eagles won their first Super Bowl.

In a game that featured nine touchdowns, five field goals, and just one punt, the Patriots took the lead for the first time with just under ten minutes to play as Brady and Rob Gronkowski came alive in the second half.

But after the Patriots scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half, the Eagles took the lead back and then forced a fumble on Brady with just over two minutes to play.

The Patriots did get the ball back, but Brady's last-second Hail Mary fell incomplete and the Eagles are the champs.

Below, we tracked the top plays and the biggest scenes. These are the moments everybody will be talking about on Monday.

Brady showed up to the Super Bowl with his game face on.



On the field, Brady was fired up as usual.



The celebrities came out for the game, including Chelsea Clinton and Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was dressed appropriately for the weather outside.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

All the ads that ran during the Super Bowl so far, in order

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Super Bowl 52 is underway. 

This is a list of the ads that have run so far.  

This year, NBC is reportedly charging $5 million per 30 seconds of commercial showing time. Some of the world's biggest companies have spent millions on a premium spot for Sunday night's show. 

A note: We've only included the ads that aired nationally. You may recall seeing some other ads during the big game this year, but they were likely regional buys, which won't have aired in all markets.

Check out the list below.

SEE ALSO: This year's Super Bowl commercials are more expensive than ever — here's your complete guide to all the ads that will air

Toyota – Good Odds

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Sprint – Evelyn

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Turkish Airlines – Five Senses

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 photos of Justin Timberlake's nostalgic Super Bowl 2018 halftime performance

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Justin Timberlake stuck with his old hits for his 2018 Super Bowl performance.

The 37-year-old singer started the halftime show with his new single "Filthy" before launching into some of his biggest hits. His medley including old songs like "Rock Your Body,""SexyBack," Mirrors," and "Can't Stop the Feeling." He also did a controversial tribute to Prince. The stadium and surround area was doused in purple lights as Timberlake sang along with a Prince video to "I Would Die 4 U." 

The pop star released his newest album "Man of the Woods" on Friday to bad reviews

Here are 13 photos from his nostalgic performance. 

Justin Timberlake started with "Filthy."



He then broke into a medley.



The fans were into it.



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The best and worst Super Bowl 2018 commercials

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Super Bowl

Advertisers shelled out at least $5 million for 30 seconds of screentime time during this year’s Super Bowl.

But official sponsors weren’t the only ones that won: One of the biggest brand winners was Crock-Pot, which didn't even have a commercial of its own. 

Here are our picks for winners and losers of Super Bowl 52.

Winner: PepsiCo.

After a disastrous 2017 — remember the tone-deaf Kendall Jenner ad? — Pepsi made a strong comeback with a joint ad for Mountain Dew and Doritos and another one for Pepsi.

Its 30-second commercial brought together stars from across generations, including Cindy Crawford, Britney Spears, and Michael Jackson, taking viewers on a nostalgia trip. 

On the other hand, Peter Dinklage and Busta Rhymes teamed up to take on Morgan Freeman and Missy Elliot in this epic showdown between fiery Doritos Blaze and Mountain Dew Ice.

The ads clearly touched a chord, for Pepsi already had over 36,000 tweets engaging with the brand by the first half. The combo ad had over 68 million social impressions, according to iSpot.



Winner: Budweiser

Budweiser followed its powerful "Born The Hard Way" spot from last year with a philanthropic bet this year. 

In this year's Super Bowl ad, the brand is highlighting its charitable side, and how it has donated 79 million cans of water to disaster relief since 1988. 

The effort seems to have paid off, with the brand scoring over 4.1 million impressions, according to iSpot. 

 

 



Winner: Crock-Pot

Crock-Pot went on the defensive after a Jan. 23 "This is Us" episode, when it was revealed that the cause of the house fire was a faulty slow cooker.

But then it got support from the NBC show itself, with a hilarious new ad for the show featuring Milo Ventimiglia eating some chili made in — you guessed it — a Crock-Pot.

This way, Crock-Pot won the Super Bowl without spending a single dollar. Digital content engagement around Crock-Pot increased by 84% after the ad supporting the slow cooker was released, according to data crunched by Amobee.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Trump spent Super Bowl Sunday with cheerleaders at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort — and left the lavish party early

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donald trump super bowl cheerleaders women

President Donald Trump spent his second Super Bowl in office at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Just like last year, he and first lady Melania Trump hosted a lavish party at the private club, where cheerleaders and a marching band livened up the festivities.

But the first couple left the party early. Here's how they spent Super Bowl Sunday:

SEE ALSO: Only people in DC got to see a bizarre Super Bowl commercial with a Trump impersonator and the Redskins' quarterback

DON'T MISS: See the party where Trump watched the Super Bowl last year

The Florida Atlantic University Marching Band came to Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. They performed "Hail to the Chief,""Boogie Wonderland," and "Shut Up and Dance."

Source: White House pool report



The school's cheerleaders were there, too.



Before the game started, Trump opted out of the traditional presidential interview and instead released a statement honoring members of the armed forces. "We hold them in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the national anthem," he said, in a thinly veiled shot at NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.

Source: Business Insider



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BANK OF AMERICA: These 17 stocks could get crushed by higher interest rates

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Investors are worried about higher interest rates.

US stock futures were sharply lower on Monday, indicating last week's sell-off was set to continue. Stocks slumped Friday after the January jobs report showed average hourly earnings rose at the fastest pace since the recession. It was another sign that inflation may be accelerating.

Moreover, investors are worried about how the Federal Reserve would respond. Last Wednesday, the central bank held its benchmark rate unchanged, but took a more aggressive view on inflation, saying it expected the rate of price changes "to move up this year" and stabilize around its 2% objective "over the medium term."

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has identified stocks on the S&P 500 that could be hardest hit by a higher 10-year yield based on how the stocks have historically responded to changes in rates.

The equity strategists led by Savita Subramanian explained in a January 30 note: "Screens are based on a regression of stocks' monthly excess returns vs. monthly changes in the nominal and real 10yr yields, including only those stocks with beta (slope) that is statistically significant at the 5% level and who have at least 10 years of monthly returns. Regression data is based on the time period from 1972-12/31/17 for nominal yields and June 1990-12/31/17 for real yields."

Here are the 17 stocks that top the list. 

SEE ALSO: What a $2.8 trillion asset manager is watching for proof that the bull market in stocks is really over

Dominion Energy Inc.

Ticker:D

Sector: Utilities

Nominal interest rate beta: -4.1

 



Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

Ticker: MAA

Sector: Real Estate

Nominal interest rate beta: -4.2

 



Southern Company

Ticker: SO

Sector: Utilities

Nominal interest rate beta: -4.2

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best puppy potty training gear to prevent any accidents

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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.

puppy 4x3

The Insider Pick:

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with a certain degree of responsibility. In addition to making sure your puppy is fed and properly cared for, you also need to train him. Housetraining a puppy doesn’t need to be a difficult and lengthy process. With the right supplies and a little determination, you can housetrain your puppy in a matter of weeks.

To help you housetrain your puppy as quickly as possible, we’ve compiled some recommendations for the best potty training products for puppies. 

Read on in the slides below to check out all of our favorite puppy potty training products.

SEE ALSO: The best puppy gear to make your new dog feel at home

The best training crate

Why you'll love it: The MidWest Life Stages Folding Dog Crate is a sturdy crate that comes with a divider so you can adjust its size as your puppy grows.

When it comes to house training a puppy, a high-quality crate is a must-have. Not only does a crate provide your puppy with a comfortable place to sleep, but it enables you to keep him contained when you are not able to physically watch him yourself.

Keeping your puppy in the crate overnight and when you are away from home can speed up the crate training process. Our top pick for the best puppy training crate is the MidWest Life Stages Folding Dog Crate.

Available in seven sizes with a single- or double-door design, the crate is perfect for a growing puppy. It features a wire divider that you can use to customize the size of the crate as your puppy grows, saving you the cost of buying multiple crates. More importantly, the crate a leak-proof plastic pan for easy clean-up, a strong carrying handle, rubber roller feet to protect your floor, and heavy-duty slide-bolt latches.

My Sweet Puppy says the MidWest Life Stages crate offers maximum visibility and ventilation while also being lightweight and easy to store or transport. The Wirecutter gives this crate its Runner-Up award, while Canine Journal recommends it for training.

With more than 18,000 reviews on Amazon, the MidWest Life Stages Folding Dog Crate is by far one of the most popular dog crates among dog owners. Buyers love the affordable price and sturdy construction, though there are comments that it may not be durable enough for very anxious or destructive dogs and some dogs may be able to manipulate the latches.

Pros: Lightweight and durable construction, available in seven sizes with one or two doors, divider to adjust size for growing puppies, leak-proof plastic pan, strong carrying handle, rubber roller feet to protect floor, heavy-duty slide-bolt latch

Cons: May not be strong enough for very anxious or destructive dogs, some dogs will be able to manipulate the latches, does not come with a crate pad

Buy the MidWest Life Stages Folding Dog Crate on Amazon for $29.99 and up (price varies by size)



The best puppy pee pads

Why you'll love them: With five layers of leak-proof protection and a generous size, Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads are the ultimate puppy training pad. 

If you live in a condo or apartment without easy access to the outdoors, indoor housetraining may be your best option. Training your puppy to use pee pads can make life easier for both of you and help to keep the mess contained. This training method is not perfect, but it works well for many dog owners. If you’d like to give it a try, we recommend Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads.

With five layers of protection and a quilted surface, Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads are highly absorbent. With 100% leak-proof protection, these pads give your puppy an acceptable place to “go” and you peace of mind, knowing that you won’t come home to a mess.

These pads have a wide border to contain liquid, and they are treated with an attractant to draw your puppy when nature calls. The pads are very affordable, and they come in packages ranging from 7 to 200 pads.

Best Reviews says these pads are very absorbent and that they have no lingering smell. Top Dog Tips and My Sweet Puppy also recommend these pads.

With more than 2,300 reviews on Amazon and a 4.4-star rating, Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads also carry an Amazon’s Choice award. Buyers love the super absorbency that keeps the floor dry, though there are some comments that the pads may leak if the puppy doesn’t hit the middle.

Pros: 5 layers of leak-proof protection, quilted texture for maximum absorption, can handle multiple uses, treated to attract puppies, no lingering smell after use, available in several sizes

Cons: May not be ideal for large or giant breeds, some pads not properly sealed to water-resistant backing, might leak if dog pees along the edge instead of the middle

Buy 150 Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads on Amazon for $39.52 

Buy 100 Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads from Walmart for $31.79



The best pet stain remover

Why you'll love it: Rocco & Roxie's Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator is effective on all surfaces and powerful enough to tackle even the toughest stains and odors.

When you are housetraining your puppy, you should expect a few accidents to occur along the way because your puppy can only hold his bladder for about one hour per month of age. Though pet stains are an expected part of housetraining, they can be stubborn and difficult to remove.

Plus, your puppy may be tempted to repeat the act if the carpet retains some of his scent. To remove both pet stains and odors, you need Rocco & Roxie's Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator.

The spray is made with a powerful formula that cuts through even the toughest stains and odors with strong enzymatic action. It works on all surfaces including carpet, hardwood, and upholstery. This stain remover is professional-strength, but it is also gentle and safe enough for use around children and pets. It may be more costly than other options, but it is well worth the price.

Petsho highlights the spray's ability to remove not only the stain itself but also its odor to discourage pets from using the same area again. Dogs Recommend also speaks highly of Rocco & Roxie's spray, noting that it lives up to its name by quickly and effectively removing stains and odors.

With more than 5,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator is a best seller on Amazon. Buyers love how well it tackles even the toughest stains and odors, though there are some comments that the smell of the cleaner itself can be unpleasant.

Pros: Unique enzymatic action, powerful against all stains and odors, can be used on any surface, discourages puppy from reusing the same area, safe for pets and children

Cons: More expensive than many options, cleaner may have an unpleasant or strong odor

Buy Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator on Amazon for $19.97 

Buy Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator fro Walmart for $29.99



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The 10 most valuable brands in the world (AMZN)

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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

  • Brand Finance, a brand consultancy firm, released their ranking of the most valuable brands in the world in 2018.
  • The firm looks at marketing investment, stakeholder investment, and business performance to help it measure how much each brand contributes to the company. 
  • Amazon took the top spot this year.
  • Tech companies in general dominated the list, with Apple, Google, and Facebook all ranking in the top 10. 


Amazon has officially replaced Google as the most valuable brand in the world, according to Brand Finance, a brand consultancy firm. 

Their 500-strong ranking shows how overwhelmingly digital of an age we live in, with technology accounting for the same amount of value as telecoms, retail, and automobiles combined. In fact, a majority of the top 10 most valuable companies are part of the tech sector. 

Here are top 10 most valuable brands, according to the firm's rankings:

SEE ALSO: Amazon is tightening its 'iron grip' online

10. ICBC

Brand value: $59.2 billion

Percentage change from last year: +24%

Last year's rank: 10

Since 2008, China’s share of global brand value has increased from 3% to 15% , with ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) holding its 2017 rank of the 10th most valuable brand in the world.



9. Walmart

Brand value: $61.5 billion

Percentage change from last year: -1%

Last year's rank: 8

Walmart is losing value compared to 2017, with the future looking uncertain as the brand started 2018 by closing more than 60 of its Sam's Club stores.

 



8. Verizon

Brand value: $62.8 billion

Percentage change from last year: 7

Last year's rank: -5%

Verizon is down 5% from where it was last year, and a big part of that is because it's losing customers to smaller companies like T-mobile.



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9 iconic landmarks in the US that are falling apart

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penn station entrance

  • Travel hubs like Penn Station and LaGuardia Airport in New York are in need of serious improvements.
  • Mount Rushmore is full of cracks and requires constant maintenance.
  • There are many other iconic landmarks in the US that are falling apart.


The US is full of important historical landmarks and iconic pieces of infrastructure. But many of those sites are beginning to show their age. 

Here are 9 landmarks around the US that are falling apart.

Montauk Lighthouse — Montauk, NY

Montauk Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark as the oldest lighthouse in the state of New York. Its construction was authorized by none other than President George Washington in 1792.

Over the past 200 years, 200 feet of Montauk Point's coast has been eroded by the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse now sits only about 75 feet away from the edge of the bluff. Some have proposed moving the structure further back or reinforcing the cliff it sits on before it plummets into the sea, according to the New York Times.



The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building — Washington, DC

FBI officials have been pushing for new headquarters for a decade, according to The Washington Post. Completed in 1975 by President Gerald Ford, the building is now a mess of cracked concrete, outdated building systems, and haphazard office spaces in storage areas.

According to a 2011 report from the Government Accountability Office, only 53% of the building's space is actually usable.



Penn Station — New York, NY

Bloomberg called Penn Station "the most awful transit center in America" due to its crumbling infrastructure. 

The original Penn Station was a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture that stood from 1910 until 1963, when it was demolished to make way for Madison Square Garden. Now completely underground, it's the busiest travel hub in the Western world — busier than Heathrow Airport in London and Newark, La Guardia, and Kennedy airports in the New York City metro area combined. But with train derailments, sewage water leaks, and underground tunnels operating on borrowed time, Penn Station is barely functioning.



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17 actors made younger with crazy CGI

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the rock

Cutting-edge technology can transform our favorite actors into all kinds of crazy characters. Nowadays, they often transform into… their younger selves?

That’s right — turning back time on the world’s most recognizable faces is becoming more and more common as technology advances. It’s hard to miss the trend, especially since it’s employed in the biggest blockbuster movies. De-aging is useful for prequel films, flashbacks to a character’s younger days, or just for the sake of keeping A-list faces looking their best. Unfortunately, some de-aging just doesn’t look right.

Some movies de-age actors for mere seconds; short scenes, sometimes without much motion or dialogue. Other movies create entirely new characters with the concept using computer generated imagery and even some practical effects to boot. Sure, it is ambitious technology that still needs improvement (and its merit should be noted), but it can make characters look anywhere from slightly uncanny to downright scary.

The list collects some of the most recent attempts at de-aging actors to see just how cringeworthy they can get. It might seem weird at first glance, but de-aging actors is the future of cinematic technology. Apparently the future is now — for better or for worse.

Here are 17 actors made younger with crazy CGI:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best TV show seasons of all time, according to critics

17. Jeff Bridges in "Tron: Legacy"

When 2011’s Tron: Legacy called for the return of Tron characters Kevin Flynn and CLU,  Disney chose to do something bizarre. Jeff Bridges portrays both characters, just as he did in the original. However, since CLU is a computer program, he was made to look younger with special effects and motion capture— and it shows in the worst way.

It looks like somebody took Jeff Bridges and made a rubber action figure out of him.

This is only made worse by Jeff Bridges’ actual appearance in the film, featuring long gray hair and a full beard. The physical contrast of the two is immediately apparent, but it doesn’t make Jeff Bridges look old — it makes his CGI doppelganger look silly. It was a pretty advanced visual technique,  but maybe a little too ambitious for the time.



16. Michael Douglas in "Ant-Man"

Disney has invested more money in de-aging techniques than most other movie studios. This is especially apparent in its Marvel Studios projects, which land on this list more than once.

Michael Douglas is de-aged in Ant-Man, during a flashback scene featuring Douglas’ character Hank Pym. The flashback takes Michael Douglas from 1989 and brings him to life in one of the more impressive instances on this list. It actually does look strikingly like young Michael Douglas for a little while.

As the scene plays out, Douglas speaks plenty of dialogue and becomes so physically animated (no pun intended) that he actually gets several close-ups. The scene starts out scarily realistic, but as he speaks and the camera moves in on him, the CGI begins to reveal itself. His jaw becomes rubbery and his mouth looks increasingly fake.

Like most of these entries, it looks amazing until the actor starts to… well, move.



15. Carrie Fisher in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

Her scene is short: she appears on screen for a few seconds, and speaks only one word. However, Carrie Fisher’s appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story just seems… off. It’s difficult to describe in specifics, and that’s the problem with the uncanny valley — when a human replica is “incorrect” or “imperfect” in some way, feelings of discomfort alert us that something is not quite right.

Maybe it’s in her eyes or the way her mouth moves, or something else entirely. All we know is that something just doesn’t look right.

With that said, this cameo is one of the better entries on this list for its brevity and poignancy, especially after the violent scenes prior. Carrie Fisher may have passed away, and she may look like a weird mannequin in Rogue One, but it’s a sweet scene that lands nicely once you get past her uncanny looks.



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11 photos of the Su-25, the Russian aircraft that was shot down over Syria

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Su-25

Syrian rebels shot down a Russian Su-25 Groch, or "Rook" in Russian, over Idlib province on Saturday. 

The pilot safely ejected, but was killed on the ground after getting into a gunfight with the rebels, possibly blowing himself up with a grenade

The Su-25 is a ground attack aircraft similar to the US A-10 Thunderbolt II, or "Warthog."

They're both heavily armored. They're both able to execute extremely low-altitude sorties and bombing raids. And they've both even been described as "flying tanks."

Production on the Su-25, which the US calls the "Frogfoot," and the A-10 Warthog both began in the 1970s, and they've since been used quite extensively. 

Check it out below:

 

 

SEE ALSO: 15 photos of the legendary A-10 Warthog, which Congress wants to keep flying for years to come

Production on the Su-25 began in 1978, while the A-10 Thunderbolt II was put into production in 1972.

Source: National Interest



The Su-25 has 10mm to 25mm of armor surrounding the cockpit to protect the pilot while performing low-altitude strafs.

Similarly, the A-10 Warthog has 1,200 pounds of titanium armor around the cockpit. These cockpits have been dubbed "armored bathtubs."

Source: National Interest and Popular Mechanics



Su-25s generally carry 250 to 500 kilogram bombs and rockets, while the A-10 are often fitted with precision-guided munitions, like Maverick anti-tank missiles.

The Su-25s rockets range from "pods containing dozens of smaller 57- or 80-millimeter rockets, to five-shot 130-millimeter S-13 system, to large singular 240- or 330-millimeter rockets," the National Interest said



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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