• Kate Middleton has an incredibly extensive coat closet to combat the cold England winters. 
• Middleton primarily sticks with blue coats and her best look was an entirely blue monochrome outfit. 
• The few times Middleton took risks and wore bright pink or red, it paid off. 

Despite the blisteringly cold winter months, an expectant Kate Middleton has been dutifully fulfilling her many, many royal engagements. Luckily, to keep warm, the Duchess is always bundled up in a trendy topper. Given that she's one of the foremost fashion influencers of today, it's no surprise that her coat closet is extensive. We've ranked all 17 of her winter outerwear choices thus far — scroll ahead to see which one we picked as number one!

17. Baby blue maternity coat

The Duchess of Cambridge wore this baby blue coat by maternity designer Séraphine on a visit to Kings College on January 24, and while blue is definitely one of her colors, this hue is the least flattering of the azures in her coat arsenal.

16. Royal blue fitted coat

The royal blue coat on her February 7 appearance to open the Action on Addiction Community Treatment Centre by one of the Duchess' fave outerwear brands Goat is definitely more up her alley. It's fitted and chic and makes quite a statement.

15. Casual outerwear Burberry coat

It's not every day you see Middleton in black, but she went with a more casual outerwear look by Burberry while on a state visit to Sweden, where she watched a game of bandy hockey (hockey played with a ball) on January 30.

• The White House communications director, Hope Hicks, is one of the most powerful people in American politics.
• Hicks' fashion evolution over the past year reveals her ability to evolve to maintain Trump's support in a White House plagued by controversy, as she moves from echoing Ivanka Trump's style to imitating Melania Trump.
• On Thursday, the White House confirmed that Hicks is resigning from her position. 

Hope Hicks has become one of the most powerful figures in American politics. Now, she's leaving the White House. 

Hicks will resign from her position as communications director in the coming weeks, the White House confirmed on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, Hicks testified before the House Intelligence Committee on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Hicks could be a pivotal witness as one of Trump's closest advisors— and as one of the few people involved in Trump's campaign who has still been working in the White House. 

Unlike many in the often bombastic Trump administration, Hicks rarely speaks to the media on the record. However, as a former model with experience in fashion PR, Hicks knows how to make a statement with her appearance without saying a word.

Here's a look at how Hicks' public presentation has changed — and how it could reveal how the communications director made herself invaluable to the White House.

SEE ALSO: How 29-year-old Hope Hicks, Trump's 'real daughter,' became the youngest White House communications director in history — and resigned after getting ensnared in its biggest scandals

Hope Hicks began working for Ivanka Trump's fashion brand in 2014, four years after she graduated from Southern Methodist University.

"Hicks grew close to Ivanka and began dressing like the heiress, who seemed worthy of the emulation," GQ reported. "Ivanka was that rare female corporate leader who is also kind to other women, and she affected an air of competence that seemed to temper the boorishness of the Trump brand."

Source: GQ

When Hicks began working on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, she mimicked Ivanka's accessible style — lots of business-casual dresses in pale shades or florals, with heels and long, straight hair.

The White House announced on Wednesday that communications director Hope Hicks was resigning.

Her announcement came on the heels of powerful White House staffer Rob Porter's resignation February 7 after both of his ex-wives accused him of physically and emotionally abusing them during their marriages.

The administration has been rocked by a series of high-profile exits — including Sean Spicer as press secretary and James Comey as FBI director — since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017.

Here are the top-level people who've either been fired or resigned from the administration, and why they left:

SEE ALSO: How 29-year-old Hope Hicks, Trump's 'real daughter,' became the youngest White House communications director in history — and resigned after getting ensnared its biggest scandals

DON'T MISS: MEET THE CABINET: Here's who Trump has appointed to senior leadership positions

Hope Hicks

White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of Trump's closest confidants who's been with him "since the beginning", announced on February 28 she was resigning.

The resignation came just a day after she testified before the House Intelligence Committee, where she reportedly said that she told white lies for the president, but never lied about anything consequential related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump," Hicks said in a statement. "I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who first broke the news, reported that it was not clear when her last day in the White House will be, but that it's expected to be in the coming weeks. Hicks told she did not know what her next job will be.

"Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years," Trump said in a statement. "She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood."

Rob Porter

Rob Porter, a powerful White House staffer whose profile has increased in recent months, resigned February 7 after two of his ex-wives accused him of physical and emotional abuse.

Porter denied the allegations in a statement, and said he will "ensure a smooth transition" when he leaves the White House.

The White House did not give a specific date for Porter's departure.

Here's his full statement:

"These outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos given to the media nearly 15 years ago and the reality behind them is nowhere close to what is being described. I have been transparent and truthful about these vile claims, but I will not further engage publicly with a coordinated smear campaign. My commitment to public service speaks for itself. I have always put duty to country first and treated others with respect. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served in the Trump Administration and will seek to ensure a smooth transition when I leave the White House."

Brenda Fitzgerald

Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald resigned on January 31 after Politico reported that Fitzgerald purchased stock in Japan Tobacco while serving as CDC director.

Fitzgerald had also bought shares of the pharmaceutical companies Merck and Bayer and of the health insurer Humana.

The purchase of the tobacco shares especially raised concerns, because one of the CDC's goals is to prevent and reduce smoking.

• The Trump International Hotel and Tower Panama in Panama City is currently the site of an intense business dispute.

• Trump Organization employees refused to vacate the premises after being fired by the hotel's majority owners on Tuesday.

• The international blowup could cause problems for President Donald Trump.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Panama City boasts 369 hotel rooms, an infinity pool with spectacular ocean views, and a bitter business dispute that's already required police intervention.

It's the site of a contentious showdown between Trump Organization staffers and the property's majority owners, led by investor Orestes Fintiklis. His firm, Ithaca Capital Partners, has a majority stake in the property, The New York Times reported.

The owners chose to cut ties with the Trump brand last year, and have been in arbitration since October 2017. The Los Angeles Times reported the owners have accused Trump Hotels of "gross mismanagement" and "financial misconduct."

But the Trump Organization isn't budging.

In January, the organization refused to admit a team of Marriott staffers visiting on behalf of the owners. Now, the owners are accusing the Trump Organization executives of illegally encroaching on their property, The New York Times reported.

Last week, Fintiklis showed up at the hotel to hand out termination slips. The Trump Organization team called the police and "barred the owners' group from entering a room containing the building's computer servers and closed-circuit television system,"The New York Times reported. Trump Organization executives were also overheard shredding files, the Associated Press reported.

The face-off turned physical on Tuesday, when rival teams of security guards began to scuffle in the building. Police were called again, and broke up the fight. One guard was handcuffed, but not arrested, after blocking police access to the building's administrative offices, The Washington Post reported.

Once he was allowed to access the hotel, Fintiklis celebrated by playing Beethoven on a piano in the hotel's lobby, according to the Washington Post. 

And Wednesday, riot gear-clad police burst into the building to investigate whether hotel staffers were being paid. Panamanian authorities have opened an investigation into the tense situation. 

The ongoing dispute could bring about repercussions felt in the White House, possibly sparking concerns about President Donald Trump's international conflicts of interest, reported Business Insider's Allan Smith.

Here's a look inside the five-star hotel that's the center of this dispute:

SEE ALSO: A wild dispute between a Panamanian hotel owner and the Trump Organization could have huge implications for the president

DON'T MISS: The richest man in the Middle East has been released from house arrest in Saudi Arabia — see the luxurious Ritz Carlton where he was held captive for months

The 70-story skyscraper is the tallest building in Central America and the only Trump hotel in Latin America. In 2014, Trump tweeted that the building's "design evokes a majestic sail fully deployed in the wind." The property includes both a hotel and condominiums.

Source: World Atlas, The Washington Post, Trump Twitter Archive, Chicago Tribune

For a stay in late March, guests can pay anywhere from $135.15 a night to $1,994.25 a night for the presidential suite.

Source: Trump Hotels

If the website is any indication, the hotel is still taking guests, despite Tuesday's fracas and an impending investigation by the Panamanian government.

Source: Trump Hotels, HotelManagement.net

Snacking non-stop, even when you're not hungry

Why it's dangerous

Losing touch with your body's natural hunger and satisfaction signals can lead to chronic overeating and unhealthy extra pounds that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other serious conditions. If it's junk foods you snack on, you're also flooding your body with unhealthy ingredients.

Why you should stop

With determination, anyone can fix bad eating habits, and get to a healthier, more natural weight. By paying attention to your hunger signals and switching to healthy snacks, you can boost nutrition, control cravings, lose weight, and avoid energy slumps. Your weight will fall to a healthier level, and you'll replace unhealthy trans and saturated fat, sugar, refined carbohydrates, and extra sodium with more nutritious fare.

Reverse the habit

• Reacquaint yourself with hunger: Wait to eat until your body is physically craving food.
• Stop eating before you're stuffed: Finish when you feel just a little bit full, you'll eat less this way.
• Eat for the right reason: Because you're hungry — not because you're stressed, bored, angry, or sad.
• Stop mindless eating: If snacking is an old, bad habit, ban unhealthy food from your home.
• Replace junk food with real food: Once you've cleared your pantry, stock your kitchen with fruits, veggies, nuts, and low-fat, whole-grain products.
• Plan snacks like you do meals: Eat your healthy snack on a plate, with a glass of water, and sit down at the table to enjoy it.

Spending too much time on the couch watching TV

Why it's dangerous

The more TV you watch, the less physical activity you're getting, increasing your odds of being overweight and developing type 2 diabetes. A large-scale study of over 9000 people found that those who watched more than two hours of TV a day ate more, while downing more sugary soft drinks and high-fat, high-calorie, processed snack foods than those who watched less. If television is replacing the time you'd spend on an old hobby, visiting friends, or exercising your mind, it can also speed up memory loss.

Why you should stop

By turning TV time into active time and committing to a healthy TV/activity balance, you can burn more calories, become more fit, and reduce your odds for related health problems quickly. You'll have a fitter body and more time for sleep, plus more energy, a better mood, sharper mind, and more social connections, which can even help you increase your self-confidence. These are some more reasons why binge-watching TV is unhealthy for you.

Reverse the habit

• Follow the 2/30 rule: That means no more than two hours of TV a day — and at least 30 minutes of exercise.
• Don't channel surf: Only turn the TV on when you have something specific to watch. Get out instead of searching mindlessly.
• Don't snack in front of the TV: It's far too easy to eat hundreds of calories' worth of chips and barely realize it.
• Exercise while you watch: Walk in place, do sit-ups, pushups, or drag your treadmill into the TV room.
• Clean during commercials: Avoid food commercials by emptying wastebaskets, vacuuming a room, or doing a load of laundry. It can add up to 20 minutes' worth of calorie-burning chore time every day.
• Resolve to leave home more often: See more friends, do more interesting things, and stimulate your mind every day.

Overspending your way into debt

Why it's dangerous

Money worries can have serious health consequences. In a Rutgers University telephone survey, responders said financial stress contributed to high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, headaches, digestion troubles, aches and pains, ulcers, excessive smoking and drinking, and gaining or losing weight.

Why you should stop

You'll regain a hold on your finances. It's tough, but getting yourself out of debt is a lot like losing weight. It takes time, can be hard on your ego and your lifestyle, you have to be constantly vigilant, and it's easy to revert back to old habits. But for those who succeed, and many people do, the results are stunning. You'll feel more in control of your life with less stress and fewer worries. You'll be able to sleep better, stop overeating, and have fewer headaches. Finding ways to curb your spending and focus on the simple joys in life will also help improve your relationships. Try some of the money-saving habits, too.

Reverse the habit

• Learn about money management: Educate yourself on the basic rules and methods of personal finance — for credit cards, mortgages, budgeting, and investing.
• Freeze your credit cards: Literally. Put them in a cup, add water, and relegate them to the back of your freezer so you'll stop using them.
• Create a budget: How much money is coming in each month? How much are you spending on essentials, and how much frivolously? Keep track, and discover what you need to cut back on.
• Pay at least the monthly minimum on your bills: Prioritize paying more on the highest-interest credit card. Once you've paid it off, move on to the next worst.
• Automate good monthly habits: Use online banking to transfer some of your paychecks into a savings account, and set your bills to be paid automatically.
• Change money priorities: Stop shopping as a form of entertainment or distraction. Identify important things you'll need in the future and start savings programs for each.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

• During our honeymoon last fall, my wife and I flew in United's Polaris first class from Tokyo to Honolulu.
• From private, customized service, to delicious food, to a luxurious bed, the red-eye flight was incredibly relaxing and enjoyable.
• We only paid $38.96 each for the flights, and used 62,500 points from our Chase Sapphire Preferred cards, and a few other cards, for the rest.

Flying long-haul is rough. Of course, that's if you're in economy. If you're lucky enough to sit in business or first class, it's an entirely different story.

The problem is that premium cabins are extremely expensive on international flights. For most of us, the only way to fly in front is if it's a work trip and your office is paying — a perk often reserved for the highest-level executives. Alternatively, if you're constantly on the road for work, you might have elite status with a frequent flyer program, in which case you might be able to get certificates for free upgrades. Even if you can't get those elite upgrades but you do fly often, you might be able to save up enough miles.

Fortunately for the rest of us, there's another way to fly in first class, and it's virtually free — use your credit card points.

You can book through your credit card's travel website, although this usually takes a huge amount of points. A better option is to transfer your points to an airline's frequent flyer program, basically turning them into miles. Because of the way that frequent flyer programs work, you can usually get a lot more value from a lot fewer miles than credit card points. 

As an example, I searched for flights on United Airlines and found business class tickets between Chicago and Munich starting at $4,600. If I use credit card points, worth one cent each, to buy the ticket, I would need 460,000  points. If, for example, those points are from a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, meaning I'd get a 25% bonus for booking travel through Chase, I'd still need 368,000 points.

However, United's frequent flyer award chart shows that each way in business class between the US and Europe only costs 60,000 miles at the saver level — or 120,000 for a round-trip, and you're able to transfer points from the Sapphire Preferred to United. If I make that transfer, which converts my points into United miles at a 1:1 ratio, I can effectively get a business class ticket for just one-quarter of the points.

Last fall, my wife and I used this technique to fly in first class during our honeymoon. On this particular leg, we flew overnight from Tokyo to Honolulu with United on an overnight flight.

It was surprisingly easy to get the points we needed to book the tickets.

Something great about Chase is that you can combine the points from all of your Chase cards, and you can also pool points with people in the same household.

We each opened a Chase Sapphire Preferred card — earning a 50,000 point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 within the first four months (this was before the similar Sapphire Reserve card was available). I opened mine first, and earned a few bonus points for referring her and a couple of friends to open their own cards, too. I also opened an earlier version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card to buy the engagement ring, and earned 15,000 bonus points for spending $500 within the first three months.

Between those sign-up bonuses, our normal spending, and a few reimbursable travel expenses for work trips — plus a handful of United frequent flyer miles we already had — we had enough miles for the United flights. We even saw our credit scores increase, since the new accounts added to our credit history.

Each ticket was 62,500 United MileagePlus miles. Since United is a transfer partner of Chase, we transferred the points we needed to supplement our modest stock of United miles. I spent about two weeks searching for flights every few days until a few first class seats appeared at the saver price — standard would have cost more miles. We booked about nine months out.

The cards we opened still have the same sign-up bonuses. If you wanted to fly in a premium cabin with United or any of a few different airlines, you could get nearly enough points simply by opening a new card or two and earning the signups. Of course, before you do that, you should make sure to read up on how opening a new credit card will affect your credit score and profile. 

While the flight was on an older United plane, which didn't have the latest cutting-edge Polaris cabin and seats, it was extremely comfortable and enjoyable. Take a look below to see what our flight was like, and check out the links to learn more about the credit cards I used to get enough points for the trip.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: Here are all the amazing ways you can use the points from your Chase credit card

We got to the terminal at Tokyo's Narita International Airport, and found the exclusive private check-in area for Star Alliance first class passengers — that included us.

Inside, there was a check-in desk for pretty much every applicable airline. We went to the United desk, where a helpful agent checked us in, checked our luggage, and then escorted us through a private security area. We didn't see any other passengers during this — it was like we had our own mini terminal, all for ourselves.

Once we were through our private security and passport control, we went towards the United Club, which featured an exclusive United Global First Lounge — eventually, this is set to be replaced with a rebranded "Polaris Lounge."

After we checked in, we were directed to this elevator...

This year is one of change and upheaval in the world. The USA has a president unlike any other in its history, Britain is undertaking one of the biggest changes in its political life with Brexit, and a nuclear war in North Korea cannot be completely ruled out.

However, the global economy continues to tick over. Ten years on from the financial crisis the world's economy is growing strongly.

As a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit titled "Cause for concern? The top 10 risks to the global economy" puts it: "There has arguably never been a greater disconnect between the apparent strength of the global economy and the magnitude of geopolitical, financial and operational risks that organisations are facing."

In the report, the EIU identifies potential global flashpoints that could have a significant impact on the economy worldwide. It does not suggest that all, or even any, of those risks will manifest in 2018, simply that they might. It then analyses their possible impacts.

Take a look at the risks below.

9. Oil prices diving

Probability: Moderate

Impact: Moderate

Oil prices have recovered over the past year or so, but remain well below pre-2014 levels. Tensions still remain within OPEC, the oil producers cartel, and any escalation could cause prices to dive, with a widespread, global economic impact. Saudi Arabia, for example, could decide to ramp up production, creating a fresh supply glut.

"Having only recently started to recover from the 2014-16 downturn, oil prices would be hit hard by a sudden, large increase in crude production, and some countries would face serious balance-of payments shocks," the EIU says.

"Developing nations, including Nigeria and Angola, would face serious debt distress, and possibly also political and social instability."

T=6. Rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia crippling global energy markets

Probability: Low

Impact: Very high

Saudi Arabia and Iran have had a tense relationship for decades, but it has intensified recently, and now has the potential to present a global economic challenge.

As the EIU notes: "In the worst-case scenario, these proxy battles could lead to wider conflict in the Gulf region, potentially pitting Saudi Arabia and Iran directly against each other, shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and crippling global energy markets."

"In a period when we already expect global oil stockpiles to be falling, any disruption to supply from the Gulf would quickly translate into a surge in prices and would consequently hit global economic growth prospects severely

T=6. War on the Korean peninsula

Probability: Low

Impact: Very high

While Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's war of words has subsided somewhat, tensions between the USA and North Korea are still elevated.

"A pivot from aggression to containment is likely in the medium term, but before then the risk of a US attack aimed at damaging North Korea’s military capabilities is growing," the EIU says.

With global interest rates on the rise, led by an ongoing tightening cycle from the US Federal Reserve, the era of ultra cheap money looks to be coming to an end.

Since the 2008 crisis, many companies have taken advantage of low rates, borrowing aggressively to fuel expansion.

Now though, with rates starting to rise, many companies have left themselves exposed to bigger interest repayments.

Some firms are more at risk than others, with companies on both sides of the Atlantic vulnerable to rising rates.

To examine which companies are exposed analysts at Deutsche Bank created what they call a "non-exhaustive list of firms with significant debt refinancing risks over the next few years." 

Measuring using the companies with the highest ratios of debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation — a key measure of balance sheet strength) Business Insider took a look at those firms most open to damage from rising rates.

Take a look below (charts show the companies' stock performance over the last 12 months):

SEE ALSO: UBS: Buy these 10 undervalued stocks to cash in on market volatility

11. Freenet

Ticker: FNTN

Industry: Telecoms

Net debt to EBITDA: 3.4x

Freenet's debt to EBITDA rate is among the lowest on Deutsche Bank's list, but is still elevated. The company has around €600 million maturing in the 2020-21 financial year.

10. JD Wetherspoon

Ticker: JDW

Industry: Hospitality and leisure

Net debt to EBITDA: 3.7x

British high street pub icon Wetherspoons — whose founder Tim Martin is a big Brexit backer — has produced solid results in the two years since the vote, but needs to replace all its debt before the end of February 2020.

9. Cemex

Ticker: CX

Industry: Building & Construction

Net debt to EBITDA: 4.1x

Cemex, the world's second largest seller of building materials needs to refinance at least 1/3 of its debt in next three years, with an average rate of 6%.

China's ruling Communist Party proposed this week to eliminate presidential term limits, making it possible for current president Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely. 

Without a set limit, Xi will be following in the footsteps of communist China's founder Mao Zedong, who ruled from 1949-1976, but also oversaw the deaths of tens of millions.

The most impressive aspect of Xi's leadership — and potentially the most threatening — is his calculated consolidation of power.

As president for the last five years, Xi initiated a corruption crackdown, which jailed some of China's highest-ranking leaders, and created central leading groups that allow him to bypass regular checks and balances. Xi has effectively gained oversight on almost all aspects of Chinese policy, from military reform to cybersecurity.

He has also increased internet censorship, which is aimed at curbing popular dissent, and implemented the ambitious Belt and Road initiative, China's global trade and infrastructure plan to link 70 countries.

Xi is coming to the end of his first five-year term and is set to be appointed to a second, and no longer final, term starting March 5.

Here is a look at some key moments that marked Xi's rise to absolute power. 

October 2007: After spending 25 years in various government posts across China, Xi is named to the country's highest decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

The Politburo Standing Committee consists of China's top leaders. While it has collective decision making power on national policy, its decision making process and the issues it debates remain unclear.

Xi joined the committee alongside new members Li Keqiang, the current Premier, He Guoqiang, who quietly retired as Xi was elected, and Zhou Yongkang, who was later jailed under Xi's corruption sweep. 

Source: NPR

March 2008: Xi moves up in ranks to become vice president to Hu Jintao.

The new title, and an unofficial rule that would see most of the Standing Committee soon retire, meant Xi was now expected to succeed then-president Hu.

According to a government profile on Xi following his appointment, the leader had "affections for the common folk" and was well-known for "amicability."

Retired senior officials in Zhejiang, where Xi lived from 2002 to 2007, said he is a "man of action without making shows, an open-minded man with a down-to-earth style of work."

Source: Government of the People's Republic of China

March 2013: Xi becomes president.

Xi's accession to president was essentially unchallenged.

Nearly 3,000 carefully vetted communist party members met for the National People's Congress, and voted for Xi in a rubber stamp ceremony. There was just one "no" vote and three abstentions. 

Experts speculate that members of Standing Committee bargain in secret to delegate a president several months before the congress "vote."

That same year Xi introduced his major global infrastructure initiative, Belt and Road, and created the National Security Commission, which he also chairs.

Source: Reuters

Retro feels, pastel hues, and symmetrical buildings are just some of the recurring themes in the works of cult filmmaker Wes Anderson — and it turns out similar places exist in real life.

Brooklyn-based die-hard Anderson fan Wally Koval originally created his Instagram account @AccidentallyWesAnderson after being inspired by a Reddit forum called "Accidental Wes Anderson."

His account is a space dedicated to sharing photos of buildings and landmarks around the world that look like they could be straight out of one of his films.

Koval told Business Insider: "I have always been a big fan of Wes Anderson's work, developing a bit of a fascination for the extraordinary aesthetic he brings to the locations and settings portrayed in his films. When I started seeing real-life Anderson-esque locations pop up on the Subreddit, I became intrigued to know more about the history and background behind the facades, so I started digging."

Now, he manages the Instagram account with his fiancée Amanda, whom he calls their "chief location scout."

"@AccidentallyWesAnderson is a community, an inspiration, and an adventure — we explore the intersection of distinctive design and the unique narratives that typically follow. We hope to contribute to an unending bucket list of travel destinations, and perhaps help someone put a new pin in their own map," he said.

Ahead of the release of Anderson's new film "Isle of Dogs" later this month, Koval shared a selection of photos from the account with Business Insider. From palaces in Jaipur to Berlin's "gritty" rapid transit systems and dreamy Art Deco buildings in Downtown LA, scroll down for some Wes Anderson-inspired travel inspiration — bucket lists at the ready.

*Photographers are listed by their Instagram usernames along with the year each landmark was built.

SEE ALSO: The 30 most stunning and influential Instagram travel accounts to follow in 2018

Lake Shore Place, Chicago, c. 1926 — @HasoTaso

Stadtbad Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany, c. 1928 — @Berlinstagram

Eastern Columbia House, Los Angeles, California, c. 1930 — @ElizabethDaniels01

• EMILY's List, the Democratic political group, has nominated six women who hold state and local offices for its annual Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. 
• The nominees will gain exposure to the group's vast fundraising network and receive strategic advice from its consultants. 
• The list of nominees is one to watch in the coming years. 

EMILY's List, the political group that supports pro-choice, Democratic women running for office — and one of the most powerful forces in the party, has nominated six women in state and local office for its annual Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. 

The lawmakers hail from across the US — from Washington state to Boston, and they embody a diverse array of young, ambitious talent in a year when the Democratic Party has seen an unprecedented surge in women running for office. 

"With near-constant attacks on our values coming at every level of government, it could not be more important to have champions working on behalf of women and families," Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, said in a statement. "These elected officials have demonstrated their commitment to their states and communities by advocating progressive causes like paid family leave, access to reproductive health care options, and equal pay."

The nominees will benefit from the added national exposure and access to EMILY's List donors and consultants. 

"Our advisors become very personally invested in the success of these women," Geri Prado, the group's senior director of state and local campaigns, told Business Insider. 

Some of previous recipients of the award have since embarked on higher-profile political careers, including Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia House Minority Leader now running governor, and Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley, who's running for congress.

The winner of this year's award will be announced in April. 

Here are the nominees: 

SEE ALSO: Both conservative and liberal groups are hoping to capitalize on Trump backlash to get women elected

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is the first black woman to lead the second-largest prosecutor's office in the country and Prado called her a "formidable force" on criminal justice issues in Illinois. 

Foxx "walks in a room and people take notice," Prado said.

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu grew up as the daughter of two Taiwanese immigrants in Chicago, made it to Harvard for college, moved back home to care for her sick mother, and then returned to Boston at 24 to attend Harvard Law School, where she was Sen. Elizabeth Warren's student and, later, her campaign aide. 

Wu is a particularly outspoken advocate for women's rights in the workplace. In a November op-ed, Wu used her own story to call for federal legislation to help families with child care. 

"Every morning, I take the double stroller on the subway, drop Blaise off at City Hall's on-site childcare center, and bring Cass with me to meetings and events," Wu wrote. "Sometimes I'm the only one standing during a discussion, bouncing Cass to sleep."

Colorado state Rep. Faith Winter

A strong advocate for mental health care and women's rights, Colorado state representative Faith Winter recently teamed up with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, to advocate for the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, a federal paid family leave proposal reintroduced by Gillibrand last year. 

"There are many bright spots, but when you go into that state, the first thing people say is, 'have you talked to Faith Winter?'" Prado said. "She is a huge mentor for women." 

Winter recently accused fellow Democratic Rep. Steve Lebsock of propositioning her and making lewd comments at a party in 2016. Nearly a dozen women have since come forward to allege that Lebsock has harassed them as well. 

• Your zodiac sign can tell you a lot about your tendencies in the bedroom. 
• While Cancers need emotional stability and affection, Aquarians just need excitment. 
• Capricorns use sex to unwind but Pisces actively seek it. 
• Gemini need to communicate with their partner before sex. 

Leos are playful, Geminis are distracted. What does that mean in bed? Noted astrologist Craig Martin explains what your zodiac reveals about your sexual drive.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

The planet Mars rules Aries, and Mars governs sex drive, astrologist Craig Martin, Sage of Stars, tells Reader's Digest. Aries folks exude primal sexual energy. The fiery ram pursues whatever is new and sparkly—including lovers. The fun is in the pursuit and the satisfaction that comes from conquest. Passionate about love and seduction (as in all things), there's something untamed about Aries' sex drive. They are rarely the seduced, and more often the seducer. (This is your most attractive trait according to your zodiac sign.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Sensual, earthy, and elegant: Bulls want physical pleasures of all kinds—being held, stroked, and massaged. Elements like intriguing scents, soft fabrics, and mood lighting all draw Taurus closer to their partner. The pleasure is in the journey, not just the destination.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Like all Air signs, Geminis can sometimes be a little detached from their sexual needs. Romance can take some time to kindle, but don't assume Geminis are lazy or disinterested if they are slow to spark. A great conversation and a good laugh with their partner will bring out the passionate lover they can be. Heavy, overly dramatic situations are a turn-off.

Women have brought countless amazing contributions to society throughout history, yet their accomplishments have often been passed over due to their gender.

From successfully getting an astronaut into space to leading the suffragette movement, these women have done remarkable things.

Credit where credit is due. Here are 19 women you probably don’t remember from history, but should.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton helped organize the world's first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848. She also helped form the National Women's Loyal League with Susan B. Anthony, and co-established the National Woman Suffrage Association, which ultimately helped women in the US gain the right to vote.

Jeannette Rankin

Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to US Congress, and served two terms in the House of Representatives. She was also a lobbyist for the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and lead 5,000 people in an anti-Vietnam War march in Washington, D.C.

Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was a famous dancer and performer, becoming the first person of color to star in a major motion picture (the 1934 film "Zouzou"). Refusing to perform for segregated audiences in the US, she's also known for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. If that all wasn't enough, she was also a spy for the French Resistance during WWII, as she smuggled messages in her sheet music.

• Nordstrom's sales grew in the fourth quarter, mostly thanks to its off-price chain, Nordstrom Rack.
• The company said it would be opening 12 new Nordstrom Rack stores this year in addition to one new Nordstrom store. Nordstrom Rack stores now outnumber the company's full-price stores in the US.
• We visited a Nordstrom Rack store in New York City to see what the shopping experience is like.

Nordstrom is turning into a discount retailer to boost sales. 

The century-old department store reported a 2.6% increase in same-store sales during the fourth quarter on Thursday. This was mostly thanks to strong sales at its off-price chain, Nordstrom Rack. 

Same-store sales at Nordstrom Rack grew 3.7% overall, and its net sales were up 15%. This was driven by growth online, which was up by 23.7% in the quarter. Nordstrom's full-price stores, meanwhile, reported a 1.7% decrease in same-store sales and a 12.4% increase online. 

Nordstrom has struggled recently. Same-store sales numbers have steadily declined in its full-line stores since 2014. It has increasingly leaned on Nordstrom Rack, for growth, and these off-price stores now outnumber Nordstrom's full-price locations.

The retailer announced in its earnings release that it would be opening 12 new Nordstrom Rack stores in 2018, and only one new Nordstrom. 

We went to a Nordstrom Rack store last June to see if this truly is the future of the Nordstrom brand:

SEE ALSO: Macy's just confirmed the end of department stores as we know them

DON'T MISS: Luxury brands are cleaning up their image — and it could be bad news for TJ Maxx

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of the luxury department store Nordstrom. It sells brands for between 30% and 70% off. We visited one of its stores in New York's Union Square on a sunny afternoon in June 2017. The store is one block away from a rival off-price retailer, Burlington.

While same-store sales in Nordstrom's department stores have slowed in the past three years, the off-price channel has seen more growth, especially online.

For this reason, the brand has been growing its off-price store locations: Nordstrom now operates 232 off-price stores in the US and 122 full-line stores. The retailer confirmed it will be opening 12 more Nordstrom Rack stores in 2018.

Many former athletes struggle with weight gain after their playing careers end. This is especially true among football players.

Some players are luckier and actually lose a ton of weight. In many cases, the players are now nearly unrecognizable.

One common theme among many of these players is the position they played.

Most of the players on the following pages were offensive lineman, suggesting those players do more to push their body weight to an extreme, developing dangerous habits like consuming massive numbers of calories to maintain their playing sizes.

Montgomery now weighs 225 pounds — his lowest weight since high school — and has a 34-inch waist. He did it by cutting out sugars, no longer eating pasta and bread, and drinking more red wine and less beer.

Source: @monicaculpepper

Here is Brad Culpepper with his wife on the show "Survivor." He says it was pretty easy to lose 80 pounds because he simply stopped eating all the extra food needed to maintain his playing weight.

Source: sptimes.com

David Carter was a 300-pound defensive lineman for the Cardinals and Cowboys.

• There are some questions that you might be embarassed to ask your gynecologist but you shouldn't be. 
• Gynecologist's will answer any question you have ranging from odd smells to different sex positions. 
• If you're wondering if you can visit your gynecologist while on you're period, the answer is yes, unless you're getting a pap smear. 
• Having sex while pregnant is usually fine unless it's a high risk pregnancy.

Whether you’re getting an annual exam or a “what the heck is going on down there?” check-up, a visit to your OB/GYN can bring up a lot of emotions: nerves, awkwardness, and even relief when you discover that your weird symptoms aren’t a big deal. But one thing you should never feel, no matter how much your inner sixth-grader needles you, is embarrassment. The gyno’s office is a safe, understanding, and caring place, and when it comes to lady-parts drama, your doc has seen and heard it all—trust.

“We’re a confidential source and ear,” says Maria Keating, MD, an OB/GYN at Drexel Obstetrics & Gynecology in Philadelphia, PA. Sure, the thought of discussing the state of your vagina with a relative stranger may make you cringe, but Dr. Keating stresses it’s a much better option than consulting Dr. Google. “[The gynecologist’s office] is a non-judgmental environment,” she adds.

Comforting, right? While you await the opportunity to spill all at your next appointment—since you should always consult with your own MD regarding your personal health—check out the answers to some hard-to-ask questions that OB/GYNs get on the reg.  Hopefully they’ll ease the stress around some of your own queries. And, at the very least, you’ll be reassured to know that you’re not the only one wondering whether your discharge/vulva/sex habits are normal. (Spoiler alert: They probably are.)

Can I see my OB/GYN while I’m on my period?

It depends on why you’re headed in, says Alane Park, an MD in Los Angeles. “If the visit is for your annual checkup, which includes a pap smear, you can’t be on your period,” she says.

And if your pap comes back abnormal and you’re returning for a colposcopy or biopsy, you also can’t be menstruating, Dr. Park says. Otherwise, it’s fair game—your doctor definitely won’t be fazed if he or she catches a glimpse of blood during your appointment.

Does it matter if I do or don’t shave/groom/wax before my visit?

Definitely not! Your personal grooming has no effect on your exam or check-up, Dr. Keating says.

What are those bumps down there? Should I be worried?

Intimate bumps happen. Sometimes they disappear on their own—typically, this happens with acne, folliculitis (AKA ingrown hairs), and benign skin tags—but sometimes they don’t. Dr. Park says those that stick around could be ulcerative lesions and it’s best to get them checked out. If the bumps are irregular in shape, discolored, or bleeding at all, that’s another cause for a powwow with an expert.

Last August, my son Leo handed me a computer and said, "Here. I filled out as much as I could on my own, but you need to do the rest to give me permission."

"Permission for what?" I said.

"I’m trying out for America’s Got Talent."

"What?"

I had not known, at that point, that my 11-year-old had been obsessed with watching YouTube videos of past performers. Only that he’d taken up ukulele at his summer camp and seemed to like it.

"What are you going to perform?""No idea," he said. "But I’ll figure it out."

Four months later, early in the morning on December 17th, 2017, we arrived at the Javits Center for his audition.

This was the moment he’d dreamed of. Getting his audition number.

You see that water bottle, the blue one? Yeah, we accidentally left it there.

I hope it’s found a nice new home. See that flag, the American one? Yeah, at the time of this photo, everyone was talking about how Trump wanted to fire Mueller, which would have plunged us into a constitutional crisis.

It’s been a crazy year, hasn’t it? It felt good to be doing something proactively joyful in America that day.

America’s got talent, but it also has an entire generation of young adults who face shaky economic futures.

We still have no paid maternity leave, no paid parental leave, no subsidized daycare, no universal healthcare.

Buying a home has become increasingly out of reach for so many, particularly those saddled with student debt. The gig economy has become the economy: I know. My life has been defined by it.

Nevertheless, I was glad to see that these young adults minding the registration desk had work that day, even if it was only temporary.

• Hospital stays are expensive — adding up to more than $384.5 billion a year in the US, according to recent data.
• The average hospital stay costs over $10,000, but the amount varies widely depending on the medical condition.
• The top 35 most expensive conditions account for more than 70% of all hospital costs in the US.

Any hospital visit can be scary — and frighteningly expensive.

The average hospital stay in the US costs just over $10,700, based on an analysis of recent data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).

Using the 2014 National Impatient Survey from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HCUP found the hospital visits and costs associated with different medical conditions classified by the Clinical Classifications Software principal diagnosis category. In total, there were 35.4 million hospital stays with an aggregate cost of $384.5 billion.

Routine childbirth accounted for the most stays — over 3.8 million — but is a relatively low-cost hospital trip compared to other conditions at $3,600. Of all hospital stays billed to Medicaid, 23.1% fell in this category.

The 35 most expensive conditions accounted for 70% of all hospital costs in the US. Septicemia — also called sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection — created the greatest total cost at $27 billion. But, because of the large number of patients treated for the condition, it did not have the highest average cost per treatment. Heart and lung conditions also show up frequently when looking at the most expensive illnesses.

Who paid the hospital bill tells a different story, and is an important piece of the national debate on health care. Medicare covered 46% of that cost, with Medicaid pitching in 17%. Private insurance paid for 28% of the cost, while 5% went to patients who were uninsured.

In addition to what patients are going to the hospital for, where they are can also affect costs. A trip to the hospital in the US can vary a great deal based on where you live.

We went through the 50 conditions with the highest total hospital cost and found the average cost per hospital stay based on how many visits were made for each condition. These are the 35 conditions with the highest average cost:

SEE ALSO: Why hospital bills are outrageous and impossible to understand

DON'T MISS: Hospital groups and the VA are trying to upend the generic drug business

35. Pancreatic disorders

Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are several of the more common disorders that lead to digestive problems in the pancreas. 

Average cost per stay:$9,727

Percent of all US hospital stays: 0.9%

34. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung condition — an infectious inflammation of the air sacs.

Average cost per stay:$9,793

Percent of all US hospital stays:2.5%

33. Diabetes mellitus with complications

Conditions that occur from poor treatment of diabetes are wide-ranging, from vascular diseases, blindness, and chronic kidney disease.

Average cost per stay: $9,850

Percent of all US hospital stays:1.5%

There are few things that the mythos of the French lifestyle  —  which purports that everything the French do, from eating to wearing clothes to putting on weddings— hasn't touched.

It also extends, unsurprisingly, to parenting. And, as it turns out, there are a few distinctive differences in technique between parents in France and their American counterparts. Keep reading to check out what they are.

French parents create strong boundaries for their kids.

In the book "Bringing Up Bebe," author Pamela Druckerman wrote  that French parents establish clear expectations of what is expected and what is unacceptable behavior from their kids at an early age. This creates an authoritative parenting style and leaves little question as to who is in charge in the family.

French children learn four magic words.

In the US, kids generally learn two "magic words," which are "please" and "thank you." According to "Bringing Up Bebe," French children learn four — "s'il vous plaît" (please), "merci" (thank you), "bonjour" (hello), and "au revoir" (goodbye). Although it is polite to say greet people in the US, in France, it is essential.

In "Bringing Up Bebe, Druckerman writes that, in France, "saying bonjour acknowledges the other person's humanity." So, it's important.

Kids eat adult meals.

The concept of a "children's menu" or "kid's meal"— which tend to be bedrocks in American restaurants — aren't as common in France.  According to the book "French Kids Eat Everything," there is very little distinction between what might appear on a parent or child's plate.

Kids are given strong, mature flavors from a young age (think Roquefort cheese and pate), which gives them time to develop a taste for things that their American counterparts would find "icky."

The phrase "birth control" is a great cover-all — but the pill is so much more than that.

In reality, women have been taking it throughout the years to manage a number of other health concerns — from polycystic ovary syndrome to severe acne to extreme menstrual cramps.

You should talk to your OB-GYN before going on any specific pill, but here are some things that you may want to know before you think about taking the pill.

The pill is 99% effective when you take it "perfectly"

The real world is far from perfect. That’s why in reality, of women who take birth control pills, approximately 9 out of 100 (or 9 percent) will get pregnant anyway.

"It's hard to actually [take the pill at the same time every day] when you're living a busy life. If you take these pills every single day, the chances of getting pregnant is 1 percent. But typically the chance is much higher than that, because people miss pills. This isn't just true with birth control pills. It's true with any prescription medication,"Dr. Vanessa Cullins of Planned Parenthood told Vox.

If you miss your pill, that doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get pregnant if you have sex. Just be sure to use a backup barrier birth control method, such as a condom with spermicide. Talk to your OB-GYN with any specific questions or concerns you may have.

Your period may change or even stop altogether

Some women with irregular and debilitatingly painful periods find relief from those symptoms by taking birth control pills. Taking the pill on a regular schedule can lead to more regular periods for some.

If you decide that you want to stop having a period altogether, talk to your doctor about starting a continuous birth control pill regimen. Whether you have a monthly period is a decision that is entirely up to you and your doctor, and there is no medically necessary reason for you to have one if you choose not to do so.

Your acne may clear up

The hormones in all birth control pills — regardless of brand — may help prevent acne from forming, according to the Center for Young Women’s Health at Boston Children’s Hospital.

In some cases, when other over-the-counter and prescription medication for moderate to severe acne has not been a success, a doctor may even prescribe birth control pills for this welcome side effect.