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These were the top-selling trucks in America last year (F, GM)

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  • About 17.2 million cars were sold in 2017, according to data from Kelley Blue Book.
  • Full-size and mid-size pickup trucks accounted for about 16.5% of all sales.
  • Among the top-selling trucks were theFord F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram Pickup.

There were about 17.2 million cars and trucks sold last year, according to a report by Kelley Blue Book.

The total number of car sales was down 1.8% from 2016, but there was an increase in truck sales. Though there were more SUVs sold than trucks, truck sales made up just over 16% of all vehicles sold. Some of the top-selling trucks included the Ford F-SeriesChevrolet Silverado, and Ram Pickup. Over 500,000 of each were sold in 2017 alone.

Here are some of the best sellers of 2017, according to KBB:

SEE ALSO: Americans are obsessed with SUVs — these are the ones everyone is buying

11. GMC Canyon: 32,106 sold in 2017. Down 14% over 2016.



10. Honda Ridgeline: 34,749 sold in 2017. Up 46.8% over 2016.



9. Nissan Titan: 52,929. +141.9%.



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9 John Bolton quotes that show why national-security experts are terrified of having him in the White House

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John Bolton

In the latest of a series of White House personnel changes, President Donald Trump on Thursday replaced his national security adviser H.R. McMaster with John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN.

Bolton is well-known for his hawkish statements, to say the least.

"John Bolton was by far the most dangerous man we had in the entire eight years of the Bush administration," Richard Painter, the chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, tweeted on March 16. "Hiring him as the president's top national security advisor is an invitation to war, perhaps nuclear war."

It's quite the statement about an administration that included Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and other notable hawks of the 21st century.

Here are nine things Bolton has said that scare the national-security establishment.

SEE ALSO: People are freaking out after John Bolton was picked to become Trump's national security adviser

"The Secretariat building in New York has 38 stories; if you lost 10 stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference," Bolton said in a 1994 speech, referring to the UN's headquarters. He added later: "There's no such thing as the United Nations."

Source: YouTube, New York Times



"I expect that the American role actually will be fairly minimal," Bolton said in 2002, before the US invasion of Iraq. "I think we'll have an important security role."

Source: BBC



"The main thing people feared at that time was Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons stocks," Bolton said in 2009, defending the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In reality, what most feared was the Bush administration's false claims that Hussein had nuclear ambitions and that the Iraqi government had ties to terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda.

Source: Hoover Institution



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The best multi-room speakers you can buy

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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.

best multi room speaker

The Insider Pick:

  • Great multi-room speakers are easy to use, well-designed, and sound great. The Sonos One is the best multi-room speaker system you can buy because it sounds great, works flawlessly, and has the smarts of Amazon's Alexa.

Home audio is evolving. Gone are the days when having multi-room audio meant wiring up an expensive audio system, with installation from a professional. These days, all you need to do is buy a few wireless speakers, set them up on your phone, and start playing the music. 

Of course, there are quite a few multi-room speaker systems out there, and they’re not all effortless to use. A few brands really stand above the rest, and Sonos is the obvious king of the speaker space.

If you’re in the market for a new multi-room speaker system, there are a few things to consider. Ease of setup and sound quality are obviously important, but you’ll also want to think about the standard you use to connect multiple speakers.

Sonos speakers, for example, can’t really connect with speakers from other brands. On the other hand, speakers that connect through Google’s Cast standard can indeed be used with other Cast-enabled speakers, so you can buy multiple speakers from different brands if you so choose.

Apart from that, the main things you’ll want to think about are sound-quality and price. Often-times, larger speakers have improved bass, but bigger isn’t always better — a lot of work goes into tuning speakers. We've combed through all the reviews and tested some of these speakers ourselves to find the bets multi-room speakers you can buy.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Sonos One is our top pick and why you might also like the JBL Link series, the Sonos Play:5, the Bose SoundTouch, and the Google Home Mini.

SEE ALSO: The best Bluetooth speakers you can buy

The best multi-room speaker overall

Why you'll love it: The Sonos One boasts excellent audio quality, has Amazon's Alexa built in, and it's effortless to set up.

Sonos has emerged as the leading brand when it comes to multi-room and wireless audio for good reason. Over the past few years, it has made some seriously great-sounding speakers, and it’s all culminated in the release of the Sonos One, its best smart wireless speaker to date.

There are plenty of reasons why the Sonos One is an excellent home speaker for multi-room setups. Most importantly, it has excellent audio quality. The speaker boasts a full-rich audio quality with excellent clarity in the high-end, as well as plenty of bass in the low end. It’s not overly accurate sound, so some audiophiles may want to look to more traditional audio brands, but for the vast majority of people, the Sonos One will sound just about perfect.

The One is controlled by the excellent Sonos app and you can use it with tons of third-party services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and more. If you have a network of Sonos speakers in your house already, the One will integrate with them once it's set up.

Then there are the smarts. Sonos built Amazon's Alexa straight into the speaker and Google Assistant will also work with the speaker. That way, you can control the Sonos One speaker with your voice and the artificially intelligent assistant of your choosing. 

Most other reviewers, including our very own Insider Picks audio guru Brandt Ranj, rate the Sonos One very highly in reviews. TechRadar gave the speaker a 4.5/5, while CNET awarded it 8.7/10.

Pros: Excellent sound quality, Alexa support with Google Assistant to come

Cons: A little pricey compared to other smart speakers

Buy the Sonos One on Amazon for $199



The best multi-room speakers with Google Assistant

Why you'll love it: The JBL Link series sounds great and offers all the intelligence you would expect from a smart speaker that's powered by the Google Assistant.

Looking to build out your Google smart home? The JBL Link series is the multi-room speaker system for you. With Google Assistant, you may assume that the Link series is better-served as the center of your smart home, but they're also great for listening to music. If you have multiple speakers, you can set them up to work in tandem in your home.

Google Assistant is a great way to improve your smart home. Using it, you can control a range of connected devices, including lights, switches, and so on. Best of all, the ecosystem is only getting better. The JBL Link speakers are meant to help you control your smart home and give you great audio quality whenever you want to listen to music.

It’s pretty easy to set up multiple devices to work together for multi-room audio. Once your JBL Link devices are set up, you can head straight to the Google Home app to group multiple devices. After that, you simply ask Google Assistant to stream to the speaker group you created or cast to the group from your phone.

There are four speakers in the JBL Link series, including the JBL Link 10, Link 20, Link 300, and Link 500. They get bigger and bigger depending on the number, so if you really want to fill your home with sound, get a couple Link 300 and Link 500’s, and you should be good to go.

Plenty of reviewers have given the JBL Link series a top score. Wired gave the series 8/10, while Tom’s Guide went a step further to give the Link 20 9/10.

Pros: Super smart, easy to group speakers, great sound quality

Cons: Not as great audio quality as Sonos

Buy the JBL Link series on Best Buy for $119.99 to $199.99



The best multi-room speaker for bass-heads

Why you'll love it: The Sonos Play:5 offers many of the features you know and love from Sonos’ speakers, plus it seriously ups the ante in sound quality and volume.

The Sonos One is a great multi-room speaker, but if you’re looking to seriously improve the audio in your home, then the Sonos Play:5 is your best option.

Now, the Play:5 doesn’t offer all of the smart features of the Sonos One. It doesn’t have a digital assistant built right into it, but it still works very well with the Sonos app and can connect to most top music streaming services. You can also connect it to your Amazon Echo or Dot if you already have one, and thereby play music on it using your voice.

The Sonos Play:5 can connect with other Sonos speakers in your home, too, so you can have excellent sound in every room.

The best thing about the speaker is that it sounds great. In fact, it’s the most powerful speaker Sonos has built so far. There’s a ton of bass, but the clarity and sibilance in the high-end has been given plenty of attention, too. Plus, this speaker gets loud. Like, really loud. If you’re a fan of listening to your music at ear-bleeding levels, this might be the choice for you.

Plenty of reviewers think the Sonos Play:5 is among the best smart speakers with multi-room features too. TechRadar gave the device a 4.5/5, while CNET awarded it 8/10.

Pros: Well-designed, super powerful sound

Cons: Expensive, smart features found in Sonos One missing

Buy the Sonos Play:5 on Amazon for $499



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18 British words and phrases that don't mean what you think they do in America

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Barack Obama Prince Harry

  • Brits and Americans might speak the same language, but there are plenty of British words, phrases, and slang that mean something totally different in America.
  • These differences can cause embarrassment or even get you into trouble. If you ask a British woman about her pants, for example, she'll assume you're asking about her underwear, not her trousers.
  • Brush up on these British words, phrases, and slang that mean something completely different in America to avoid any trouble down the road.

 

It's been said that England and America are two countries divided by a common language.

Different words, different pronunciations, and different spellings have created two distinct separations in the English language: British English and American English.

Words, phrases, and slang that mean one thing in the UK often mean a totally different thing in the US – and vice versa.

As a British expat living in New York, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there's nothing worse than saying something to an American and being met with a blank stare or a stifled giggle. I'm ashamed to admit that I've accidentally ordered a doughy, cheesy, savory "biscuit" instead of a cookie more than once.

Here are some common British words, phrases, and slang that mean something entirely different across the pond in America:

SEE ALSO: 6 major differences between how Americans and Brits work

DON'T MISS: 11 things you say that will automatically ruin your chances in a job interview

Pants

Don't ask a British person about their pants. You'll get a very funny look, and maybe even a slap round the face, because you'll be inquiring about their underwear and not their trousers.

How we'd say it in Britain: "When you get dressed you put your pants on first, then your trousers."

 

 

 

 



Jumper

In Britain, a jumper isn't a sleeveless dress worn as part of a school uniform — we'd call that a pinafore dress in the UK.

What we call a jumper in Britain is a cozy, knitted pullover you'd put on when it's cold out, or as it's known in America: a sweater.

How we'd say it in Britain: "Can you pass me my jumper? I'm freezing."



Football

We're talking about the game that made David Beckham famous. The one where your kick a ball with your foot. Not the game where you throw a ball and catch it in your hands, with the occasional kick thrown in for good measure – that game has no business being called football.

How we'd say it in Britain: "David Beckham was one of the best football players to ever play the game."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We visited Best Buy and an Apple Store to see which was a better shopping experience — and the winner was clear (BBY, AAPL)

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  • Many customers have come to expect overcrowding, long wait times, and awkward customer service interactions at the Apple Store.
  • Best Buy has a partnership with Apple in which it sells the tech giant's products in its stores and acts as an authorized Apple service provider. Best Buy stores also have a tech-support service that's similar to the Genius Bar.
  • I went to an Apple Store and a Best Buy store in Downtown Manhattan to see how the experiences stacked up.

Apple Stores were originally intended to be completely different from traditional retail stores, setting Apple apart from competitors with stylish, minimalist aesthetics. Apple Stores have rules that govern everything from how employees interact with customers to the exact angle laptops should be placed in. 

Apple retail boss Angela Ahrendts explained in 2016 that the company wants its stores to be places you go to meet people, like a gathering place or a town hall.

But if you've visited an Apple Store recently, you may have found that this idealistic vision of a town hall isn't quite the reality. Long wait times, confusion, and overcrowding have become the norm at Apple Stores, with some customers even comparing the shopping experience to being at the DMV

Apple isn't the only place that provides tech support on Apple devices, nor is it the only place that sells them. Best Buy has partnered with Apple to become an authorized service provider, in addition to creating what is essentially a mini Apple Store within Best Buy locations. 

Best Buy also has its own equivalent to the Genius Bar, called the Geek Squad, which can service both Apple and non-Apple products. 

To see how Best Buy's retail experience stacks up against the Apple Store, I visited the two stores in Downtown Manhattan back to back. This is what it was like:

SEE ALSO: We went to Best Buy after it reportedly decided to pull CDs from stores — and it's never been more clear why Amazon is winning

First, I went to the Apple Store in SoHo. I was immediately greeted by an employee who was standing by the door, directing people to different departments.



The store was bright, open, and surprisingly, not very crowded — there was almost one employee per customer. Everyone working seemed to be overseeing every department, and I was approached by at least five different people in 10 minutes, asking if they could help me. When I said no, they continued to show me different products that I was standing near anyway.



Everyone who was working was very friendly and helpful, but I definitely felt pressured to buy something. Even if I said I didn't need help and just wanted to try out a product, employees would still hover next to me and try to sway me towards buying the product.



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10 books you should read if you want to retire rich, according to financial advisers

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  • Regardless of age or income, it is always wise to plan for retirement.
  • Depending on whether you are a young adult, hoping to retire early, or drawing social security, seek the advice that suits your current financial situation. 
  • For those who want to earn their wealth through investing, 'The Behavior Gap' by Carl Richards gives practical advice on building a nest-egg through stocks and shares.

Retirement planning is a confounding topic — and there's no shortage of books that say they'll show you how to handle it. According to Amazon, there are nearly 5,700 on the subject.

Sussing out which of those books are going to really help you with retirement planning might sound like a task better left to the pros — so that's what we did. MONEY asked certified financial planners across the United States and with different areas of specialization for their best retirement planning book recommendations. Here's their collective top 10 list of the books you need to buy, and why each one is so beneficial, regardless of where you are in planning for retirement.

SEE ALSO: How to break up with someone the right way

1. For young adults

Starting to build your nest egg early — decades before retirement is even on the horizon — is the best way to ensure a comfortable financial future, but just knowing where to start retirement planning can be overwhelming. "Most people know that they're supposed to be doing something. They need it broken down to tasks that they can do easily and habits they can incorporate into their regular lives," said Dana J. Levit, owner of Paragon Financial Advisors. She recommended 'The Young Couple's Guide to Growing Rich Together' by Jill Gianola. "[It's] written in language that is accessible and the concepts are doable."



2. For people who want to retire young

Are you interested in learning how to retire young? Then you need to have a plan not just for your finances, but for personal fulfillment, said Scott Cole, president of ColeFP and Wealth Management, who recommended 'The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living your Dreams… At Any Age You Want' by Mitch Anthony. "This is not a 'how to' book, but rather, a 'how to think' book about retirement," he said. This version has been updated to reflect newer research about the nature and complexities of 21st-century retirement, Cole said. "It asks the reader to think about what it means to retire and how you can craft a fulfilling retirement."



3. For women taking the reins

The number of households headed by single women has been rising. Since women can often face unique challenges when it comes to retirement planning, the best retirement planning books for them take those hurdles into account. For these investors, Zaneilia Harris, president of Harris & Harris Wealth Management Group, recommended 'Women’s Worth: Finding Your Financial Confidence' by Eleanor Blayney. "I feel this book is a great resource for women taking control of their finances and making decisions that will affect their lifestyle and livelihoods," she said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The giant garbage vortex in the Pacific Ocean is over twice the size of Texas — here's what it looks like

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the ocean cleanup plastic great pacific garbage patch

  • The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive area measuring more than 1.6 million square kilometers, but it's just part of the North Pacific Gyre, an ocean region where currents collect plastic.
  • Researchers from the Ocean Cleanup foundation conducted a survey of plastic in the area, using planes to observe from the sky and boats to trawl the water.
  • They found that the amount of plastic there seemed to be increasing exponentially and that there could be 16 times as much as previously thought.

Every little bit of plastic that gets tossed into the ocean or swept downstream out to sea either sinks or is picked up by currents. Much of it is eventually carried into one of five massive ocean regions, where plastic can be so concentrated that areas have garnered names like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

While "garbage patch" might make you think of something you pass by on the side of the road, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is less like a patch and more like a massive swirling vortex more than three times the size of Spain and more than twice the size of Turkey or Texas.

And it's growing and collecting more plastic rapidly, according to a study published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports by researchers associated with the Ocean Cleanup foundation.

There may be more than 16 times as much plastic in the vortex than previous studies have estimated, according to the Ocean Cleanup researchers.

An aerial view of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch might at first appear to be open water. But inside there's debris from all over the world — debris that traps or is eaten by marine animals, filling up their bodies to the point of being fatal and tainting our food supply.

More than 320 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year — and a disturbing amount of that ends up in the ocean, with much of it accumulating in places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

SEE ALSO: A 22-year-old is moving ahead with a controversial plan to trap plastic floating in the great Pacific garbage patch

Much of the Ocean Cleanup foundation's data on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from a 2015 expedition involving 18 vessels.

The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch organization started by a young entrepreneur named Boyan Slat, wants to launch a somewhat controversial effort to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and has conducted research about the scale of the problem.



The ships trawled the waters using manta trawl nets outfitted with mesh to catch as much plastic as possible.



The area they focused on is a particularly concentrated part of one of the five global gyres where ocean currents collect plastic from around the world.



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I've lived in Miami for over 20 years — these are the best neighborhoods to live in right now

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  • Miami is home to many diverse neighborhoods and over 2.5 million people.
  • Miami's downtown area is best for young professionals who rent, while those looking to buy could get the best value in Aventura.
  • With low crime rates and a number of parks and schools, the historic seaside village of Coconut Grove is ideal for families.

Miami is the nation's juggernaut for year-round sunshine, raging nightclubs, and Cuban sandwiches. It's a city continually ranked among the globe's leading travel destinations and is known as a tropical playground for the rich.

But beyond Miami's association with South Beach, nearly 2.5 million people call the city home. There's a place for everyone, with pockets of culture like Coconut Grove, Little Havana, and Wynwood. It also boasts a booming restaurant industry and seemingly non-stop luxury development.

But living here doesn't come cheap. Miami renters are some of the most cost-burdened in the country, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. The median rent here is about $1,800 per month.

As someone who's lived in Miami for more than two decades, I've watched this unique part of the country grow leaps and bounds. A decade ago, roaming Wynwood, Midtown, or Brickell was out of the question. Today, they're among the hottest neighborhoods.

While I'm certain other areas will spike in popularity soon, here are the city's best right now.

SEE ALSO: 5 tips to get the perfect Instagram photo of your dog, according to an expert with 1.2 million followers

Miami's urban core is great for young professionals

For recent grads and young professionals, Miami's urban core is where it's at. Made up of edgy neighborhoods like Wynwood, Midtown, Brickell, and Downtown, construction here has grown 66% since 2010, surpassing other major cities like San Francisco, D.C., and even Los Angeles.

There's a host of newly developed offices and apartment buildings, as well as a multitude of restaurants, bars and other spots to hang. You'll get a bustling city feel with the beach a short car ride away.

One-bedroom apartments here start at around $1,200 a month, but it's worth it if you work in the area (with a moderately high-paying job) — especially if you can walk to your office and avoid Miami's gridlock.



Coconut Grove is the best neighborhood to raise a family

There's a lot of charm packed into this seaside village. Though Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest neighborhood, living here will make you forget you're even in the Magic City. Roaming peacocks, massive aged oak trees, and parks aplenty, this part of Dade County is one of the most peaceful. It's got great schools, gorgeous single family homes, a budding restaurant and arts scene — and low crime rates. Compared to other areas, it's also pretty walkable and bike friendly.

But all this charm doesn't come cheap: The current median home value is over $627,000, and rental costs for one-bedroom apartments start at $1,350.



The best place to buy property is Aventura

Miami is not the most cost-friendly in the country. But if you're set on owning property, try Aventura. At the time of publication,the median price of homes on the market was about $425,000, while the average sold price is just above $317,100. Right now, Zillow lists the suburban city as "Cold," which means it favors buyers versus sellers.

As someone who lived in Aventura for more than a decade, I can attest to its appeal. It's only about a 10-mile drive from Miami's urban core, is conveniently located to Miami's interstate highway, I-95, and falls in the center of major hubs like Miami Beach, Downtown, and Fort Lauderdale to the north.

The city is also home to the Aventura Mall, which recently underwent a multimillion-dollar expansion, adding a slate of luxury shops including Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Tesla, along with a handful of restaurants and a gourmet food hall.



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You may be storing your food all wrong — here's how to keep fruit, veggies, meat, and dairy fresh for longer

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fridge milk skitched

Do your bananas go brown too fast? Do your greens wilt in the fridge

Many of us chuck spoiled food into the trash because it goes bad before we have a chance to eat it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, American families throw away an average of $1,600 worth of wasted food every year.

But it doesn't have to be this way. 

We've compiled some handy tips that could help you keep food fresh for longer and store things the right way. Read on to stop wasting food (and money) by storing smarter.

NEXT UP: 7 foods you should always refrigerate

DON'T MISS: 14 foods you don't need to keep in the fridge

Rinse berries in a simple solution of vinegar water before putting them in the fridge: 1 part vinegar, 10 parts water. This will kill any berry-infecting mold spores. Raspberries will last up to one week, and strawberries up to two.

Sources: BuzzFeed, Momables.com



To keep bananas fresh, wrap their stems in plastic wrap. Banana stems produce ethylene gas, which makes the fruit ripen faster. Separating the bananas and wrapping each stem individually can keep them fresh even longer.

Source: BuzzFeed



Parisian baker Éric Kayser says you should never store bread in the fridge, since the air inside is drier than the loaf. Instead, wrap it in a paper bag or dish towel and keep it in a dry spot, where it should last for two to four days. Avoid storing bread in plastic, which will make it get stale and moldy faster. Iif you want to keep bread for a while, your best bet is to put it in the freezer, then toast it up when you're ready to eat.

Source: Tastingtable.comBusiness Insider



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MLB POWER RANKINGS: Where all 30 teams stand heading into Opening Day

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Aaron Judge

Spring is here and with Opening Day just days away, it's a great time to check in on where teams stand entering the 2018 campaign.

At the top of the playoff race are the expected faces — the Houston Astros return the majority of their World Series-winning roster, and teams including the Yankees, Dodgers, and Nationals are all reloading and getting ready to take them down.

In the middle of the table, there's an interesting group of teams that are either coming out of or heading towards a rebuild, hoping that the 2018 season can giver their franchise a look at what their future will soon behold.

Take a look at where every team stands heading into the 2018 MLB season below.

30. Miami Marlins

2017 record: 77-85

2018 Las Vegas over/under win total: 64.5

Odds to win the World Series: 500/1

One thing to know: When Derek Jeter took control of the Marlins, he made clear that he was focused on long-term success. His moves have confounded many — gutting the team for parts and trading them away for assets at a rate never before seen in the MLB.

While Jeter hopes that these moves will make the team competitive down the line, in 2018 the Marlins are going to have a tough time convincing anyone to show up to their home games. The team was already near the bottom of the standings in attendance, and that was before they dumped Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich.



29. Detroit Tigers

2017 record: 64-98

2018 Las Vegas over/under win total: 67.5

Odds to win the World Series: 500/1

One thing to know: Miguel Cabrera is now six years removed from his back-to-back MVP seasons and will look to bounce back from an awful year at the plate. In 2017, Cabrera had career-lows in home runs and batting average. His attempt to return to form will be one of the most-watched stories of the Tigers season.



28. Cincinnati Reds

2017 record: 68-94

2018 Las Vegas over/under win total: 73.5

Odds to win the World Series: 300/1

One thing to know: Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton will try to drag the Reds to as many wins as they can this season, and if anything could be extremely valuable contributors to your fantasy team this year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 revolting facts about food that will make you second-guess everything you eat

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woman eating cake

They say the truth will set you free, but after learning these disturbing facts about food, you might wish you'd remained under a veil of blissful ignorance— at least until after dinner.

From ground-up maggots lurking in your canned foods to the brown beaver slime that's used to flavor vanilla treats, these 10 revolting facts about food will make you second-guess everything you eat.

The average jar of peanut butter may contain 4 or more rodent hairs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed it: a typical jar of peanut butter is allowed to contain one or more rodent hairs, and an average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams before it is considered to be unsanitary enough to pose a heath hazard.



The vanilla flavoring in some foods comes from a secretion made by beavers.

Some of your favorite vanilla-flavored treats are made with an ingredient called "castoreum," (sometimes referred to as "natural flavoring" on ingredient labels), which comes from the castor sac scent glands of male or female beavers — which are located by their anuses.

While castoreum was used predominately as a medicine in its early history (Roman women erroneously believed inhaling its fumes would induce abortions), castoreum has also been used in perfumes and as a food additive since the 20th century.

Apparently, the brown, fragrant slime smells delicious — just ask Joanne Crawford, a wildlife ecologist at Southern Illinois University.

"I lift up the animal’s tail,"  Crawford told National Geographic, "and I’m like, 'Get down there, and stick your nose near its bum."

"People think I’m nuts," she continued. "I tell them, 'Oh, but it's beavers; it smells really good.'"



Many gummy candies are made from pigskin, cattle bones, and cattle hide.

A main ingredient in your favorite gummy candies and wobbly desserts (such as certain puddings and Jell-O) is gelatina virtually colorless and tasteless water-soluble protein that is prepared from collagen.

Here's the catch: as French chef, nutrition therapist, and author Alain Braux explains in his book, "GMO 101,"collagen is actually extracted from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, typically pigs and cattle.

If you want to see the gritty process for yourself, you can watch this graphic video on how gelatin candy is made.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We drove a $63,000 RAM 1500 pickup truck to see why it's part of America's latest obsession — here's the verdict (FCAU)

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RAM 1500

  • The RAM full-size pickup is the perennial third-best-seller in the US, behind the Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado.
  • We spent a week with a well-appointed version of the truck.
  • And we were mighty impressed.

We certainly live in a Golden Age for luxury pickups, which are becoming America's latest obsession. Detroit can't sell enough of them. In the first two months of 2018, Ford has already moved 127,000 F-150s. And everything truly is better. That gas-chugging V8 on a '78 Chevy would give you just about 160 horsepower, while a modern V8-motored pickup will top 400hp with better fuel economy. It's also hooked up to the internet, is far more reliable, and can be had with all manner of luxurious appointments. 

Ford has revamped its segment-leading F-Series pickups, and now both Chevy/GMC and Fiat Chrysler's RAM have followed suit. For old time's sake, however, we jumped at the chance to sample the outgoing RAM 1500 when the carmaker flipped us the keys to a well-optioned $63,870 2018 Limited Crew Car 4x4 version of the third-best selling pickup in the USA (over half a million units in 2017).

Here's how it went.

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The RAM 1500 Limited Crew Cab 4X4 has a base price of $53,595, which is a lot higher than the stripped-down $27,000 no-frills trim level. Our "Maximum Steel Metallic" tester stickered at $63,870.



The RAM 1500 is a full-size pickup — the heart of the pickup market. These trucks have to be able to do it all, from hauling stuff to towing stuff to driving people around.



RAM pickups have a more aggressive, semi-truck-like appearance than the competition. It isn't for everybody — but we thought it make our tester look pretty imposing.

That's a "Tungsten Chrome" grille, by the way. Which means it isn't shiny chrome. And it looks pretty fantastic.



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22 books that Hollywood should make into movies

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go set a watchman girls emma cline harper lee

Many of Hollywood's richest ideas start out as books. Book-to-movie adaptations are a way for filmmakers to reinterpret another work of art into a different medium and often make for some of the best movies of all time.

And in a time when diversity in front of and behind the camera is sorely needed, they can be a great resource for stories that can fill that gap.

Here's a list of books that should be adapted into movies. Some of them are neglected classics, some of them are imperfect but could soar with the right interpretation, and some of them have been noticed by studios but development seems to be stuck. In all these cases, there's a great story waiting to be told on the big screen.

"Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee

Harper Lee's ham-handed sequel — or is it an earlier draft? — to "To Kill a Mockingbird" is exactly the type of flawed book that could come alive with another artist's interpretation. With the right director and actor, it could make a great film that finds nuance in Atticus Finch.

It would also need the permission of Tonja Carter, the lawyer who runs Lee's estate, which could prove difficult.



"The Animators" by Kayla Rae Whitaker

"The Animators" is prime for a Hollywood hit. Kayla Rae Whitaker's debut follows two women working in the male-dominated field of animation. The best friends are working on their first feature film, but tension builds and threatens their creative and personal relationship. The novel was optioned at the end of 2017 as a potential series, but it would be great to see something come of it. 



"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon

"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" is a masterpiece. Michael Chabon weaves together an imaginative story full of comic book wonder and magic. Two cousins strive to dominate the comic book industry with the historical backdrop of Nazi-occupied Prague and America during the 1940's.

The novel was primed for a film adaptation in 2001 with Chabon adapting his own novel, but the project has stopped and started multiple times since then. It needs to emerge from development hell, because it belongs on the big screen. 



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Costco employees share their best food court secrets and hacks

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Costco Food 7

  • Costco's food court has attracted many fans.
  • Some of the Costco food court's biggest fans may be the employees themselves.
  • Some employees say you don't even need to be a store member to grab a hot dog or a slice of pizza at Costco's food court.
  • The chain deliberately keeps prices low to better customers' shopping experiences.


Costco food courts have a bit of a cult following.

The retail chain is well-known for hawking cheap eats you can grab once you wrap up your shopping spree. But these food courts aren't just some tacked-on idea to help the store make a quick buck. They're kind of a big deal. In fact, in the pizza business, Costco is actually the 14th-largest pizza chain in the US.

If you're looking to grab something tasty and cheap, it's definitely a good option.

Costco employees have shared a number of tips that can help you make the most of your food court visit.

Here are a few things you should know before you visit Costco's food court:

SEE ALSO: 11 insider facts about shopping at Costco only employees know

DON'T MISS: We ate at a Costco food court, and it was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had

You don't always need a membership to shop there

A standard Costco membership, which costs $60 a year, can help a customer rack up huge savings.

But you don't necessarily need one to grab a bite to eat at the chain. Non-members also have a chance to swing by the food court, Business Insider's Jessica Tyler reported.

On Reddit, Costco employees said that, while the food courts are supposed to be members-only, the rule is rarely enforced in some stores.

"When I was a greeter, we didn't care," wrote one Costco employee in a Reddit AMA. "A couple years later they changed it to require a membership. I think we're being lenient again."

The employee went on to say that the debate over whether or not to serve non-members comes down to whether the food court is a "service" for existing members or a "money-maker" that could help attract new members.



The food is incredibly cheap but still delicious — and yes, employees eat it

You get a ton of bang for your buck at Costco food courts.

A hot dog and a beverage will cost you $1.50. A giant slice of pizza goes for $1.99, and a full pie is $9.95.

When Business Insider's Hollis Johnson visited a Costco food court in Brooklyn, he ordered practically everything on the menu. The whole smorgasbord came out to just over $25.

And, what's more, the food's pretty good, considering the deal.

"Costco's pizzas are pretty incredible considering the price," Costco worker Stefan Winter wrote on Quora. "Crust is yummy, toppings are good quality, what's not to love?"



There are more great options other than the pizza or hot dog, and some depend on where you live

While Costco's pizza and hot dogs might be the chain's most famous selections, there are a number of other options, too.

BBQ brisket sandwich, turkey-and-provolone sandwiches, a "confusing yet delicious" chicken bake, and massive churros are all on the menu, too.

Regional and temporary menu items also include poutine, clam chowder, piña colada-flavored smoothies, and fries.

Former Costco employee Robert Lu wrote on Quora that he typically hits up the store's food court during his lunch break. His favorite menu staple was the $1.99 slice of combo pizza, followed by gelato.

"Regardless of what you eat as the 'main course', the pistachio gelato — or any gelato — is to die for," he wrote.



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This private club of socially-conscious entrepreneurs bought a ski mountain in Utah for $40 million to build what has been called a 'utopia for the millennial elite'

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Powder Mountain Summit

  • Summit, a socially conscious entrepreneurial collective, bought a mountain in Utah in 2013 for $40 million.
  • The community is known for its progressive events with leaders at the forefront of their respective industries making up the attendee list.
  • Summit has begun building 28 houses on Powder Mountain as a first step toward providing a more permanent location for its followers.

 

On Utah's Powder Mountain, you'll find some of the world's most influential individuals on what has been dubbed "the utopia of the millennial elite."

The socially conscious entrepreneurial community Summit, founded in 2008, purchased the mountain for $40 million in 2013, adding it to its repertoire of elite meeting grounds.

The collective is known for hosting gatherings designed to cultivate the biggest and brightest ideas of the millennial generation by bringing together leaders at the forefront of their respective industries. Richard Branson and Sophia Bush count themselves among the Summit clan, and anyone wanting to join must go through an application process beforehand.

Summit, which has been described as a mix of Ted Talks and Burning Man, is taking its progressive programming to the slopes. According to a report published in The Guardian, Summit's founders envision that the mountain will bring together its community members in a more permanent settlement. 

Powder Mountain is still under construction, but these photos give us an early peak inside the Utah utopia. Take a look.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley loves Burning Man and these tech executives are no exception

Welcome to Powder Mountain.



It's the largest skiable resort by acreage in the United States.

Source: PowderMountain.com



The closest city is Eden, Utah, at seven miles away. Salt Lake City sits 55 miles south.



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The cheapest time to visit the top 11 travel destinations in the world

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Santorini, Greece


Pack your bags! TripAdvisor Rentals rounded up 10 top travel locales — from Dubai to St. Martin — and identified the most affordable times to visit.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Love glitz, glam, and over-the-top luxury? Dubai, AKA the "City of Gold," dazzles with its opulent hotels, grand spas, towering skyscrapers, and mega malls filled with designer outposts. (Not surprisingly, it made our list of the most popular destinations in the Middle East.) But a trip to this posh paradise doesn't have to come with a premium price tag ... that is if you go the second week in February when rates drop by 58%.

Adding to its accolades, Dubai is also home to one of the coolest water slides in the world.



St. Barts

With its sandy beaches, exclusive resorts, and ritzy nightclubs, it's easy to see why St. Barts has long been the island of choice for socialites and celebs. Although it was rocked by Hurricane Irma in fall 2017, recovery efforts are well underway — and it won't be long before sky-high prices and swarms of sun-seekers return. You can save some serious dough (51%) by booking a trip in the back half of October. Warming: It's hurricane season, so be sure to buy travel insurance.

Find out your ideal vacation, according to your zodiac sign.



Catalina Island, California

Despite its proximity to Los Angeles, Catalina Island feels like you've stumbled upon some undiscovered gem. Its romantic ambiance and unspoiled wilderness (88% is a protected nature preserve) make it a glorious weekend getaway. Summer sees an influx of tourists, which is fine, although if you're looking for a more secluded escape, consider the off-season. There are fewer crowds and costs drop significantly (46%) in January and February.

Don't miss these secret island escapes around the globe.



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26 Ulta employees tell us the only products you should buy

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ulta interior

The cosmetics store Ulta Beauty is arguably right up there with Sephora as a makeup lover's paradise.

Look one way and you see tons of high-end cosmetics calling your name. Look the other way and you're met with aisles of drugstore favorites. Walk towards the back and you'll find hair-care products and brands you never knew existed. And don't even get us started on the coupons.

It can be difficult to know exactly where to look when you're surrounded by all these options. We previously asked Sephora and Lush employees to pick out their favorites, so we decided to talk to people who work at Ulta to find out their picks for the best products in the entire store.

Here are their recommendations.

SEE ALSO: 33 Sephora employees reveal the one product you should buy

Too Faced — Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

Cost: $32

Ulta employee Lydia thinks this coconut water-infused primer is a "must have" first step for any beauty routine. "I honestly notice a difference in my makeup application and longevity," she told INSIDER. She also thinks it's perfect for any skin type because she finds it adds just the right amount of hydration without feeling too oily.

Find out more about Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer here >



Benefit Cosmetics — The POREfessional Face Primer

Cost: $31

This oil-free primer is Allison's pick for her favorite product because of its lightweight and smooth consistency. She's not the only one who seems to love this product — it holds the title of the top-selling prestige face primer in the US.

Find out more about Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer here >



Real Techniques — Miracle Complexion Sponge

Cost: $5.99

This affordable beauty tool has developed quite a loyal following, and Ulta employee Valerie is one of its biggest fans. "I use it everyday and will never not use one again," she told us.

Find out more about Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge here >



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8 of the best movie aerial dogfights, ranked

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Red Tails Dogfight

Despite their popularity on the silver screen, many of the best military action scenes don’t depict the heroic storming the beaches of Normandy or cutting through the enemy frontlines in the jungles of Vietnam.

In fact, some of the most intense sequences are of the deadly dogfights in the sky.

Several awesome films get overlooked just because there isn’t any land warfare involved. So, to even things out a bit, here are a few of our favorite films that feature dogfights and keep us on the edges of our seats.

8. Top Gun

When Tony Scott’s Top Gun landed in movie theaters across the country, it was a freakin’ blockbuster, raking in over $350 million worldwide. Filled with plenty aerial acrobatic, Top Gun made audiences of all ages want to be the next hotshot pilot.

The fight scenes that capped off the film were well-edited, featured a kick-ass soundtrack, and delivered plenty notable one-liners that had moviegoers nodding in approval.

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7. Memphis Belle

Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, Memphis Belle follows the brave men crewing a B-17 bomber based in the United Kingdom as they prepare for their final mission over Germany.

The dogfight scenes capture what it must have been like battling wave after wave of well-trained German fighters.

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6. Fly Boys

In 2006, James Franco took to the pilot seat playing a young man who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. got involved World War I.

The film showcased the intense training and extreme dangers that canopy-less fly boys encountered during the war.

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RANKED: The 19 cheapest holiday destinations in Europe

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riga latvia

Eastern Europe offers some of the cheapest holiday destinations on the continent, according to the 10th annual City Costs Barometer from Post Office Travel Money— and they're also pretty stunning.

Using price estimates from National and Regional Tourist Offices and average accommodation costs from Hotels.com, the Post Office City Costs Barometer 2018 looked at the total cost of a weekend trip to 36 cities in Europe to determine which ones offer the best value for money.

Along with the average cost of two nights of accommodation for two adults in a three-star hotel, in order to come up with the total cost, the study looked at the average price of typical tourist items, including: a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine, a cup of coffee, a coca-cola, a beer, and a glass of wine, a return bus or train transfer from the airport to the city, a 48-hour city travel card, a sightseeing tour, and a visit to a leading museum, a gallery, and a heritage attraction.

The cheapest destination came in at a highly affordable £164.80 ($232.62) for the entire weekend, while the second cheapest was close behind at £165.53 ($233.65).

Scroll down to see the 19 cheapest holiday destinations in Europe, ranked in ascending order by the total cost of a two-night trip, along with the average cost of some typical tourist items.

SEE ALSO: 25 under-the-radar places in Latin America to visit in your lifetime, according to the world’s top travel experts

SEE ALSO: The 13 cheapest holiday destinations in the world for couples

19. Palma, Majorca — £283.45 ($400.10).

Cup of coffee: £1.81

Bottle of beer: £2.72

Three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £48.33

Return bus or train transfer from airport to city centre: £9.05

48-hour travel card: £9.05

Two nights' three-star weekend accommodation for two: £179.00



18. Berlin, Germany — £282.22 ($398.37).

Cup of coffee: £2.90

Bottle of beer: £2.26

Three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £95.04

Return bus or train transfer from airport to city centre: £5.07

48-hour travel card: £12.67

Two nights' three-star weekend accommodation for two: £124.00



17. Rome, Italy — £281.86 ($397.86).

Cup of coffee: £2.37

Bottle of beer: £4.42

Three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £55.39

Return bus or train transfer from airport to city centre: £8.06

48-hour travel card: £11.31

Two nights' three-star weekend accommodation for two: £127.00



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The one player you need to know from every country competing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup

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Mohamed Salah, Egypt

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia kicks off in three months' time and will likely be one of the most-watched sports competition on the planet.

France, Brazil, and Argentina are among the favourites to win the tournament with players like Antoine Griezmann, Neymar, and Lionel Messi expected to excel.

But those nations are far from reliant on just one player and it takes a team effort for a single country to lift the World Cup trophy when the competition finishes on July 15.

For that reason, we've collected a list of one player you really need to know from every nation in the tournament.

SEE ALSO: The 24 best footballers on the planet right now

DON'T MISS: The 15 richest billionaire football club owners in England — and how they made their fortunes

Argentina — Nicolás Otamendi.

Position: Defender.

International appearances: 51 (3 goals).

We're well aware one of the best players on the planet, Lionel Messi, plays for Argentina. As does Paulo Dybala, Sergio Agüero, and Gonzalo Higuaín. Argentina has an embarrassment of riches up front — that's obvious.

But, in Nicolás Otamendi, Argentina has an outstanding defender to go with its unstoppable attack. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said Otamendi is a true fighter, according to Goal.com, and that is a quality that will stand out this summer.



Australia — Aaron Mooy.

Position: Midfielder.

International appearances: 31 (5 goals).

Aaron Mooy is one of the first names on the team-sheet at Huddersfield Town, an over-achieving club in England's Premier League.

He does not yet have the kudos of veteran attacker Tim Cahill, who has been ever-present in Australia's squads for almost 15 years, but Mooy is a player the Socceroos can build a team around for the 2018 World Cup and beyond.



Belgium — Kevin de Bruyne.

Position: Midfielder.

International appearances: 58 (13 goals).

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has scored or created a goal for every 123 minutes he has played this season and there are few players who can take that kind of form with them to Russia.



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