• The best time to buy a flight can vary based on when you're trying to travel.
• Travel websites like CheapAir and Skyscanner research the best times to buy flights for every type of trip.
• A good rule of thumb is 70 days before you leave, but that can change based on whether you're booking holiday travel or have flexible dates.

Snagging a great flight deal can feel like playing the lottery. But getting the best possible airfare for a flight doesn’t have to be just "plane" difficult — in some ways, there is a method to the madness. 

CheapAir.com recently released their 2018 Airfare Study— an annual report on the best time to buy flights. They crunched the numbers on over 900 million airfares to determine that in 2017, the best time to buy a flight within the continental U.S. was 70 days in advance.

The key when booking a flight is to know your priorities — is it important that you go to a specific place? That you get away at a specific time? Once you have your non-negotiable factors set, finding the most economical flight comes down to putting in the time to research.

SEE ALSO: How to find the best restaurant wherever you are, according to Anthony Bourdain

For when you need to get away now

The report found that flights booked between 21 and 121 days before you leave are within the "prime booking window," where you’re likely to find flights within 5% of their lowest possible fare.

If you book within 2-3 weeks of your trip, you can still find decent prices, but may sacrifice perks like preferred seat selection, CheapAir found. If at all possible, avoid purchasing a flight less than one week in advance. You'll pay, on average, $208 more if you book a flight between 0 and 6 days in advance.

For your summer/fall/winter/spring vacation

CheapAir's survey notes that the best time to buy flights for your summer vacation is 47 days in advance. But, consider when you want to take your summer vacation. As Business Insider previously reported, August 23 is known as "cheap flight day" — some experts claim that it’s the cheapest time to fly, while others say that it’s the cheapest time to buy a flight.

In actuality, there is some truth to both. Fares tend to drop for late summer travel, and the end of August is also a great time to purchase tickets for fall flights, as many destinations enter their off season, Business Insider reports.

The best time to buy flights for your winter vacation (excluding the holidays, which we'll tackle next) is 62 days in advance, according to the CheapAir report. For fall travel, it's 69 days in advance, and for spring travel, it’s 90 days in advance.

For the holidays

According to a 2018 report by Skyscanner, a flight search engine, the best time to book flights for Christmas and New Year’s Eve is 11 weeks out—the week of October 22 for Christmas, and the week of October 29 for New Year's.

CheapAir has a holiday trend report where you can track prices for Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel.

• We recently spent a few hours sampling the new Tesla Model 3.
• Its minimalist design is one of its most striking features. 
• But I had an interesting reaction to the lack of a traditional instrument cluster.

Tesla recently let us borrow a $57,500 Tesla Model 3, in fetching red with a black interior.

We were impressed with the car, but it isn't without some radical departures from business-as-usual, particularly when it comes to user interface and information design.

For example, Tesla has eliminated the instrument cluster. This has bothered some reviewers. 

But I'm of a different mindset. 

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

SEE ALSO: We drove a $57,500 Tesla Model 3 and a $43,000 Chevy Bolt to see which is better — here's the verdict

Behold the Model 3!

This is a snazzy looking car. Tesla let us borrow it for a few hours, and we made the most of our time, escaping the concrete canyons and traffic of Manhattan for the bucolic sights and winding roads of Northern New Jersey.

Here's the now famous, ultra-minimalist interior. See if you can guess my favorite feature?

Could it be that large central touchscreen, floating in the middle of the dash like an iPad suspended in space?

How about the almost button-free steering wheel?

Maybe the sleek piece of open-grain wood stretching from side-to-side?

The unadorned central stack? The clean lines of the seats?

Nope, none of those things. Rather, it's the VIEW!

The basic information about the car — whether it's in drive, park, or reverse — and the speedometer are displayed on the left-hand side of the screen. 

Some reviewers have complained about this and said that the Model 3 should have a heads-up display projecting info in front of the driver, due to the lack of a traditional instrument cluster.

But I differ. In practice, gathering information from the touchscreen was easy for me to get used to. So I could then spend most of my time gazing serenely forward, looking at nothing but open road. This is a meditative, blissfully calming experience (not so much that I stopped paying attention, but still quite relaxing).

Can you call an unobstructed, distraction-free view a feature?

I think you can, and in the Model 3, it's my favorite.

• The average federal tax refund in America is $2,895, but the figure varies by state.
• In Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, the average tax refund tops $3,000.
• Eight of the 10 states with the lowest average tax refund border Canada.

You can now submit your tax return and wait for your refund.

Last year, the IRS sent $324 billion back to taxpayers. Nearly eight out of 10 received a tax refund worth an average of $2,895.

SmartAsset analyzed 2016 data from the IRS to find the average federal tax refund in each state and Washington, DC. To do so, it looked at the total income tax refund for each state and divided it by the number of refunds there.

Maine had the lowest average tax refund, with $2,302, while Texas had the highest, with an average of $3,133. Northern states were more likely to receive smaller tax refunds — eight of the 10 states with the lowest refunds share a border with Canada.

California, the most populous state in America, led the way with the most refunds and largest total amount in refunds but missed the top 10 in average refunds, coming in at No. 13. Wyoming, the least populous, had the fewest refunds, but residents had the 11th-highest average tax refund.

Getting a smaller tax refund may be a smart move, says Lauren Lyons Cole, a senior editor at Business Insider and a certified financial planner. She says that overpaying your tax bill by withholding too much from your paycheck is basically an interest-free loan to the government.

Scroll through to see how much the average person gets back in every state, ordered from the biggest federal tax refund to the smallest. We also included the total amount in tax refunds in each state and the number of federal tax refunds received.

SEE ALSO: Here's the salary of every governor in the United States

DON'T MISS: How to use H&R Block to file your taxes for free in 2018

Texas

Average refund: $3,133

Number of refunds: 10,148,743

Total income tax refunded: $31.8 billion

Oklahoma

Average refund: $3,088

Number of refunds: 1,321,650

Total income tax refunded: $4.1 billion

Louisiana

Average refund: $3,073

Number of refunds: 1,651,207

Total income tax refunded: $5.1 billion

The San Francisco Bay Area is on the brink of an exodus as a low supply of homes and high demand drive housing prices to new insanities, and the cost of living with it. A recent report from real-estate site Redfin said that San Francisco lost more residents than any other US city in the last quarter of 2017.

But where are they going?

Over 146 million American workers have LinkedIn profiles, and over 20,000 companies in the US use LinkedIn to recruit, which gives the social network an inside look at workforce trends.

One of the trends the company is watching: Where people leaving San Francisco are headed.

LinkedIn crunched its data to identify the US cities where the most LinkedIn members moved to from the San Francisco Bay Area in the past 12 months. These are the top 10 destinations.

SEE ALSO: All the crazy things happening in San Francisco because of its out-of-control housing prices

10. Stockton, California

Located in California's Central Valley, Stockton became the most populous city in the US to declare bankruptcy in 2013. Now, the city's 27-year-old mayor is leading a basic income trial that will give some residents $500 cash each month with no strings attached. That program was initially funded with a $1 million grant from a group co-chaired by Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes—

The tech-fueled riches of Silicon Valley could help turn around this California city's fortune.

9. Salt Lake City, Utah

Dubbed the "Silicon Slopes," the area reaching from Salt Lake City to Provo, Utah, is filled with top tech companies, including Adobe, EA Sports, Overstock.com, and cloud software startup Domo. Tech workers who flock to Salt Lake City for its lower taxes, more flexible regulatory environment, and natural amenities may find they can actually afford a home near the office.

The National Association of Realtors reported that the salary needed to buy a home in Salt Lake City was $59,521 in the last quarter of 2017. In San Francisco, it's at least $173,783.

8. Hawaii

Tech workers are finding paradise on the Hawaiian Islands (LinkedIn was not more specific as to which islands). The ready availability of wireless internet and smartphones has made it easy for people to work remotely, even where they're surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on all sides.

The tech sector in Hawaii remains small. The state ranks 44th in net tech employment. Hawaii employed about 31,000 tech workers in 2017, which makes up just 4% of the state's total workforce.

Dr. Guy Berger, an economist who works at LinkedIn, said retirees and people working outside of the tech industry likely account for some of the migration from the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Honeymoon destinations can range from the tropics to the city.
• U.S. News recently ranked the best honeymoon destinations based on expert opinion and travelers' votes.
• Warm weather beach locations and Mediterranean locales dominated the list.

For newlywed couples, honeymoon planning can be just as important as the wedding plans.

U.S. News & World Report recently rounded up the top 20 honeymoon destinations based on expert advice, along with thousands of traveler votes. While some of the destinations have been honeymoon staples for years, such as the island Bora Bora, there's a reason for that.

Warm weather locales and destinations in Italy topped the list. Below, take a look at where couples are booking their honeymoons.

SEE ALSO: The average wedding cost in America is over $30,000 — but here's where couples spend way more than that

20. Nice, France

For couples that want to honeymoon in France, but still experience the Mediterranean coast, Nice is the location to visit. While there, watch a tennis match on the Nice Lawn Tennis Club, which opened in 1890, take a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, and check out the photography museum Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image. 

19. US Virgin Islands

Couples seeking a beach honeymoon with white sands and clear blue waters might consider the US Virgin Islands. Stay at the 17th century hotel the Buccaneer, or The Westin St. John Villas.

18. Corfu, Greece

Corfu, Greece, is a paradise for honeymooners looking for a more affordable Greece vacation. The best times to visit are spring and fall. U.S. News has called Corfu one of the safest tourist destinations in Europe. 

Most of the greatest film directors in history have swung and missed on occasion. 

Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and many other critically acclaimed directors have directed at least one movie that critics tore apart. 

For this list, we chose 45 directors who have largely been praised by critics as masters of their craft, and we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to find out which of the films they've directed was the most critically panned.

We excluded a number of great directors who did not have a film in their catalog with a critic score under 70%. (Stanley Kubrick, for instance, is not on this list, as his "worst" film, "Eyes Wide Shut," has a 74% "Fresh" rating on the site.)

Here are the 44 worst movies made by iconic directors, ordered from the (relative) best to worst, according to their critic scores:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best movies of all time, according to critics

Alejandro G. Iñárritu — "Biutiful" (2010)

Critic score: 65%

What critics said: "It's the kind of film that congratulates the viewer on her tolerance for the spectacle of unrelieved misery." — Slate

Guillermo del Toro — "Blade II" (2002)

Critic score: 57%

What critics said: "The only dread it inspires is in the possibility that its director prefers turning human flesh into CGI-enhanced mush over exploring genuinely frightening material." — The Village Voice

Sergio Leone — "The Colossus of Rhodes" (1961)

Critic score: 57%

What critics said: "This ludicrous costume epic complete with hambone acting is interesting to film buffs because it is an early work by the king of the spaghetti Westerns, director Sergio Leone."— TV Guide

• The chicken sandwich has made a resurgence in the fast-food industry in the last few years — and now it's time for spicy chicken sandwiches. 
• We tried versions from several major chains: Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Wendy's. 
• While the entire group had decent chicken, the quality of the sandwiches varied greatly. 

The fast-food chicken sandwich is enjoying a golden age — and now the heat is rising. 

Burger King recently launched a spicy version of its revamped chicken sandwich, hoping to compete with the titans of spicy chicken sandwiches: Chick-fil-A and Wendy's. 

Spicy-chicken sandwiches are unique beasts. They need enough heat to make things interesting, without burning out the taste buds of customers at large. Plus, the chicken still has to be held to the same standard as its non-spicy brethren — it doesn't matter how spicy the chicken is if it's bone dry and stringy. 

With this in mind, we compared the spicy sandwiches of the three major chains to see who makes the best:

SEE ALSO: Taco Bell's newest menu item beat out Doritos Locos Tacos to become the most successful launch in the chain's history — here's the secret to its success

Let's start with Burger King's new sandwich. It certainly looks good, and the smell is peppery and golden fried.

The chicken looks heavily breaded, and it's a rather discomforting orange hue. The sandwich necessities are lackluster at best — the tomato slice is mealy and pale, and the iceberg lettuce is wilted and sparse.

It's definitely not crispy, but there is a solid spiciness to it. The heat is surprisingly strong and sharp, with a lingering needling that’s similar to the vinegary heat of buffalo sauce. The tomato and lettuce add a cooling balance, but let the sandwich down in terms of quality.

Heat level: 6/10

If you're living in the United States, chances are good that you're buying your smartphone from your carrier.

Indeed, 90% of Americans buy their mobile devices directly from their carrier, according to telecommunications giant Huawei. 

If that figure is accurate, it means that 90% of Americans aren't getting the full choice of fantastic smartphones out there. I just visited a carrier store selling phones and carrier plans, and was met with an appallingly limited selection of devices that its customers had to choose from. Some locations have better selections than others, but almost no single store carries every single phone available. 

Sure, I saw the most popular smartphones like the latest iPhones and Samsung devices at the store I visited, and there were some LG, HTC, and Motorola phones there, too. And those are really great smartphones.

But there's a lot more choice out there that you should consider before paying several hundreds of dollars for a new device. You might not be buying the best phone overall — a phone you can't buy at your carrier's store might better fit your needs. 

I bring this up because I personally recommend a lot of phones that you won't find in carrier stores. It's a shame that potentially 90% of you aren't exposed to a wider selection of truly great devices. Not everyone who buys a smartphone follows the minutae of the tech industry to find the exact right device for them.

Check out some of the smartphones – some available today, some coming soon– you should consider buying that you won't find at your carrier's store:

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the OnePlus 6, one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2018

You don't have much to worry about if you're an iPhone-only kind of person.

If you're device of choice is, and always will be, iPhone, you don't have much to worry about. iPhones are in every carrier store everywhere, and you probably know exactly what you're looking for. 

Still, just in case you might consider switching to Android, it's worth checking out the more exotic smartphones that you won't find in your carrier's store. 

OnePlus smartphones are an amazing value.

If Americans weren't so willing to spend close to $1,000 on a new smartphone – and if they didn't buy from their carriers as often as they do – I'd estimate that you'd see a lot more people walking on the street using OnePlus smartphones. 

OnePlus smartphones are the smartphone to buy if you value sleek looks, stock Android, astounding and unbeatable performance, and a value-driven price tag. On several levels, OnePlus devices are better than Samsung phones. They have better performance and they're significantly cheaper, too, costing in the $500 range.

To top it off, OnePlus devices also run a very clean version of Android that looks and works almost identically to the "pure" version of the operating system, meaning a bare minimum of annoying pre-installed aps. I personally prefer that over the heavily modified version of Android running on Samsung and LG devices.

OnePlus actually ran out of supply of its latest phone, the OnePlus 5T. However, the company is said to release its new device – the OnePlus 6– soon.

Essential Phone is a good choice that you can't find in most stores.

The Essential Phone is one of the prettiest Android devices you can buy. In fact, the latest Ocean Depths Essential Phone is the most beautiful smartphone I've ever seen. It's also a great performer that runs on stock Android. And that's not to mention that at $500, it's also less expensive than the latest iPhone and Samsung devices.

You can actually find the Essential Phone in Sprint and Telus stores, so those customers will be aware of the Essential Phone's existence. But that leaves out a large chunk of customers that use Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. You should know, though, that the Essential Phone will work on those networks, too. 

You can buy the Essential Phone from the company's website.

The best golfers in the world once again gathered at Augusta National to compete in the Masters.

Augusta National is one of the most incredible courses on the planet, with pristine conditions, gorgeous views, and years of tradition. While there are plenty of quirks to Augusta National— from its low prices on food and beer to its arcane rules for patrons— it undoubtedly offers golfers and fans alike a once in a lifetime opportunity to take in an unbelievably beautiful space.

Below is a look at the best photos from this year's Masters taken by the talented folks at Getty Images and the Associated Press.

Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Phil Mickelson walk down the first fairway with the Augusta National clubhouse in the background.

Caddies wait for their golfers on the first tee.

Bernhard Langer hits from among the shadows on the second hole.

It seems like we've barely had time to get over the thrill of watching "Black Panther" before "Avengers: Infinity War" tumbles into theaters on April 27 as the "most ambitious crossover in history."

Indeed, "Infinity War" is what the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe — 10 years and 18 movies — has been building toward.

And for many, "Black Panther" has been the best of the bunch up until now. It is now the highest-domestic grossing superhero movie of all time.

But to me, "Black Panther" still isn't the MCU's best movie. That honor goes to 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy," an insanely fun, surprisingly touching, and all-around great movie that never should have worked.

I understand why some people consider "Black Panther" the best of the best, and even see the arguments for other standout movies in the MCU, such as "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" or "The Avengers."

But which of those 18 movies is the best to me? Which one sticks with me personally? The answer is most certainly "Guardians of the Galaxy." 

Below are 7 reasons why:

SEE ALSO: New MoviePass data reveals the 27 movies that sold the most tickets to its subscribers since August

A strong ensemble cast that perfectly embodies the characters — who were largely unknown before the movie.

As mentioned, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is a superhero movie that never should have worked. It features characters largely unknown to general audiences — two of which are a walking, humanoid tree that can only say three words and a talking, genetically modified raccoon. Even more so than "Thor"— about an alien god — "Guardians" was the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first real test. Just what would audiences go along with?

Well, a lot. Thanks to a strong ensemble cast, these bizarre characters are now just as well-known and admired in the MCU as Tony Stark. What's more impressive is that these characters didn't have the benefit of being introduced in an earlier movie like Black Panther or Spider-Man.

It's the movie that introduced the world to the now mega-popular Chris Pratt as an unlikely, quirky action hero. And even more unlikely but proven to be possible, Dave Bautista steals the show as the awkwardly delightful Drax.

It's not just that the actors bring to life their characters so well, it's that they have such good chemistry. The Guardians are a family — a highly dysfunctional one, but a family nonetheless, and that makes them different than many other super-teams. 

James Gunn.

No other MCU movie has James Gunn at the helm, and his passion both behind the camera and away from it helps make "Guardians" the best of them.

The actors help make their respective characters so likable, but it's Gunn's direction, attention to detail, and engagement with fans that make the "Guardians" movies — yes, even the sequel — so fun even after the credits have rolled.

Gunn's social media presence is notable for engaging with fans and answering questions. He's not shy about revealing new tidbits about the movies. For instance, he recently revealed that the Baby Groot seen in "Vol. 2" is actually the original Groot's son, who sacrifices himself at the end of the first film.

There's also a bevy of Easter eggs hidden in "Guardians of the Galaxy," and Gunn has claimed that there is one Easter egg that fans have not discovered yet. It's this kind of engagement that heightens the experience of watching "Guardians."

It was the first movie in the MCU that didn't feel like it was part of the MCU.

Being a movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a trustworthy trait, so it's not a bad thing by any means. But in regards to "Guardians of the Galaxy," the movie works so well because it doesn't feel stuck in that universe, or pressured to tie into the larger events of it.

Sure, it sets up Thanos as a future bad guy and much of the story revolves around an Infinity Stone that Thanos will be after in "Avengers: Infinity War," but that feels natural and secondary to the characters' relationships. "Guardians" brings the action to planets we hadn't seen before; there's no S.H.I.E.L.D. or Nick Fury or Tony Stark. Again, none of those things are bad, but for this particular movie, it was refreshing and only made it better.

Getting enough fat in your diet can be a great way to stay full, trim, and sharp. Fats are inherently energy- and calorie-rich foods, but that doesn't mean they're bad or that they will make you fat. 

Eating the right kinds of fats feeds both the body and brain, all while keeping us full longer, so we’re not as tempted to overeat or binge on sugary, crash-inducing snacks.

In fact, studies have shown no evidence of a link between how many daily calories a person gets from fat, and how likely they are to gain weight or develop heart disease. Besides, when food manufacturers lower the amount of fat in a food, they typically up the sugar and carbohydrates instead, so it’s better to embrace the role of fat in your diet instead of swapping it out for more sugary, cakey sweets.

But don't assume that just because fats serve an important role in fueling the body and protecting cells that you have a free pass to slather a layer of lard on everything you eat, or consume large portions of red meat every day.

Not all fats are created equal. Some can help your heart stay healthy, while others can do real damage to the body, increasing the risk of heart disease and early death.

Here’s how to choose the right fats.

SEE ALSO: There's now even more evidence that one type of protein is best for your body

We know some fats do damage to the body. One of the worst offenders is trans fat.

Trans fats come from both artificial and natural sources.

Artificial sources of trans fat include vegetable oils that are laboratory-heated to prevent spoilage, as well as deep-fryer oils, margarines, and packaged foods like frozen pizzas and cookies. 

Researchers estimate that during the heyday of trans fats in the 1990s, they led to roughly 50,000 preventable deaths every year in the US.

The FDA is now in the process of rolling out a ban. Companies have until June 18, 2018 to stop using trans fats, though many food makers are simply replacing those trans fats with interesterified fat, which may not be any better for us. 

"There's clear evidence that trans fats are bad," said professor Gary Fraser of the Loma Linda School of Public Health, who's studied fats for decades.

Some small amounts of trans fats are naturally found in some meat and dairy products like butterfat and beef, but it’s not clear whether they are as harmful as artificial trans fats.

Porn star Stormy Daniels's allegations of an affair with President Donald Trump are some of the most salacious to be made against a president.

Daniels, an adult film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, alleged that she had an affair with Trump at a Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal recently made similar allegations against the president, who prior to taking office was accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women. Trump denies all of the allegations against him.

While those allegations have garnered much media attention, and have followed the president throughout his first term, they are far from the only such allegations made against an occupant of the Oval Office. Trump is no stranger to such scandals, and neither is the presidency.

More than a third of the men who've occupied the Oval Office have been either accused of sexual misconduct, alleged to have had an affair, fathered a child out of wedlock with someone they were conducting such an affair with, or boasted of their extramarital sexual escapades.

Here's a history of the presidential sex scandal:

SEE ALSO: If Trump wants to take a shot at Amazon, there's a potential billion-dollar deal staring him right in the face

George Washington

The country's first president was alleged to have fathered children with a slave named Venus who lived on his family's Virginia estate. In 1999, The New York Times reported that the slave's descendants were seeking a DNA test to prove they were related to Washington.

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was accused of fathering children with a slave, Sally Hemings, during his first term in office. Jefferson's wife had died while he was vice president and he held a large plantation estate in Virginia. A 1998 DNA test linked two Hemings descendants to Jefferson.

Andrew Jackson

Jackson came under fire for his marriage to Rachel Donelson Robards because the two wed before she was legally divorced from her previous marriage.

• From email to social media to online dating, we make decisions every day without thinking about it.
• But many of the choices you arrive at this way aren't so wise, like staring at a computer all day or refusing to let your partner's slightly annoying comment go.
• Just a little thought can help you make better decisions, and have better days.

Even smart people can make terrible decisions.

Generally, it's not because they spent time deliberating and somehow arrived at the wrong answer. It's because they didn't spend any time thinking at all.

For example: You might automatically keep your phone on your desk at work, or grab a smoothie as a go-to "healthy" snack. But these aren't the wisest choices you could make.

Below, we've listed some of the easiest traps to fall into, at the office and at home.

SEE ALSO: The behaviors that affect weight can be explained by economic theories — according to formerly obese economists who lost 120 pounds in 18 months

Tackling your easiest tasks first

Do the hard stuff first.

Some people call this strategy "eating the frog," based on a quotation attributed to Mark Twain: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."

Some researchers say willpower decreases as the day goes on, so it makes sense to work on tasks that require lots of focus and concentration in the morning. Others disagree that willpower is a finite resource.

If nothing else, it makes practical sense to start with the hardest tasks, since you never know what scheduling conflicts will pop up later on.

Constantly checking your email

The siren call of your inbox can be hard to resist.

Yet research suggests that switching between tasks — say, doing research and checking for new email — takes up to 40% longer than doing one at a time. Even when you think you're being more productive by multitasking, you're probably not.

One simple solution, from psychologist Ron Friedman, is to silence your phone so you don't receive email alerts or to close your email tab while you're working on something important. Designate specific times to check and respond to email in batches.

Keeping your phone on your desk at work

Turning your phone on "vibrate" isn't enough. Actually, turning your phone off isn't even enough.

Research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research suggests that the mere presence of your cell phone nearby can hurt your cognitive performance — even if you're unaware of its influence. The best solution appears to be keeping your phone in another room entirely.

• Taxes are due by April 17.
• Most Americans should file a state income tax return in addition to a federal income tax return.
• State income tax rates range from zero to 13.3%, depending on which state you live in and your income.

Tax day is April 17 this year, but the Internal Revenue Service began accepting tax returns on January 29.

Most Americans file returns for both state income tax and federal income tax. You can do that through H&R Block or TurboTax— both of which offer free tax filing for eligible taxpayers — or an accountant.

Nearly everyone is subject to federal income taxes. How much you pay depends on how much you earn, also known as your tax bracket.

Though President Donald Trump signed the Republican tax bill into law at the end of December, new federal tax brackets will affect only income earned starting January 1, 2018. You'll see those changes when you file your 2018 taxes next year.

When it comes to state income tax, the amount you pay varies depending on where you live. Seven US states have no state income tax — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Tennessee don't have a state income tax either, but they do tax interest and dividends at 5% and 6%.

The rest of the states either have a flat income tax — meaning everyone, regardless of how much they earn, pays the same percentage of their income to the government — or a progressive income tax, which means the tax rate is determined by income.

Among the 41 states that tax income, North Dakota has the lowest maximum rate at 2.9%. California is the only state with a double-digit tax rate for the highest earners, topping out at 13.3%.

After you file your tax return, you may get a state tax refund or a federal tax refund — or both. The IRS says the fastest way to get your tax refund is the method already used by most taxpayers: filing electronically and selecting direct deposit as the method for receiving your refund.

Below, we've created a ranking of states from the highest state income tax rate to the lowest income tax rate. For states that have a range of tax rates based on income, we used the highest rate to determine the ranking.

SEE ALSO: H&R Block's tax calculator will estimate your refund for this year and next year — and it takes less than 5 minutes

DON'T MISS: How to file your tax return for free online this year — and get your tax refund even faster

California

State income tax: 1% to 13.3%

Oregon

State income tax: 5% to 9.9%

Minnesota

State income tax: 5.35% to 9.85%

Despite aircraft carriers' immense cost, the Navy believes there is no replacing a well-armed, aircraft equipped, sovereign piece of US territory, powered by dual nuclear reactors.

Former Defense Secretary William Cohen was fond of saying that without "flattops" the US has "less of a voice, less of an influence." Evidently, many of the worlds nations also believe this is true. 

The last few years have seen a number of interesting developments for aircraft carriers. Some nations, like India and Spain retired aircraft carriers, while China commissioned its first aircraft carrier, and the UK returned to the rather exclusive carrier owners club.

The US commissioned its newest aircraft carrier in 2017 — the USS Gerald R. Ford — the first in the Ford-class. Business Insider got a chance to tour the Ford last year.

In all, 20 aircraft carriers can carry and launch fixed-wing aircraft are currently in service around the world.

Take a look at them here:

Walter Hickey and Robert Johnson contributed to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: We toured the world's largest aircraft carrier, which can house 75 aircraft (but doesn't have urinals)

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HMS Queen Elizabeth is the newest aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, and currently the only active one as well

Length:932 ft

Commissioned: 2017

Propulsion System: Two Rolls-Royce Marine gas turbine alternators and four diesel engines

History: Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of her class and one of the newest aircraft carriers in the world. It is currently Britain's only active aircraft carrier, with the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, still under construction.

The ship was laid down in July 2009, completed in July 2014, and commissioned in December 2017. Business Insider was able to take a tour of the ship in December, shortly after its commissioning.

Queen Elizabeth is unique from other carriers in that she has two control towers, one for sea operations, and one for air operations.

The carrier is intended to have up to 40 aircraft, with the F-35 intended to be the main fixed-wing jet for the ship. Other aircraft planned to be included are Chinook helicopters, Apache AH MK1 gunships, AW101 Merlin transport helicopters, and AW159 Wildcat anti-surface warfare helicopters.

More recently, Queen Elizabeth docked for the first time at an overseas port when it visited Gibraltar on February 2018. The carrier should be fully operational by 2020.

USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy's newest aircraft carrier

Length:1,106 ft

Commissioned: 2017

Propulsion System: Northrop Grumman nuclear propulsion system and a zonal electrical power distribution system

History: USS Gerald R. Ford was laid down in November 2009, completed in October 2013, and commissioned in July 2017. It is the lead ship of its class, and is planned to be the first of 10 new aircraft carriers.

The ship is still in a testing phase, but is intended to have a planned complement of more than 75 aircraft, mostly F-35Cs. As it is the Navy's newest carrier, new weapons may be added to the ship in the coming years, including lasers.

The ship has a number of new technologies, like the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, which is intended to replace the current steam-powered launch system on current aircraft carriers.

Gerald R. Ford recently tested launching F/A-18F Super Hornets off of its deck last July. It is expected to be fully operational and integrated and into the Navy by 2022.

INS Vikramaditya is the Indian Navy's only aircraft carrier

Length:930 ft

Commissioned: 2013 (Indian Navy), 1987 (Soviet Navy)

Propulsion System: Eight turbo-pressurized boilers, four shafts, four geared steam turbines

History: INS Vikramaditya is currently India's only aircraft carrier, after India retired the INS Viraat in early 2017.

Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier. It was originally built for the Soviet Navy in 1982, and served the Soviet Union under two names; Baku from 1987 to 1991, and Admiral Gorshkov from 1991 to 1996.

India purchased the carrier in 2004 after years of negotiations for $2.35 billion. After extensive modernization and modification efforts, the Vikramaditya entered full service in the Indian Navy in 2013. 

It carries a total of 36 aircraft; 26 MiG-29K and 10 Kamov Ka-31 and Kamov Ka-28 helicopters. 

The Vikramaditya recently became the first ship in the Indian Navy to have an ATM on board.

Tiger Woods is back on the golf course and doing well.

For golf fans everywhere, it's refreshing to see the sport's biggest name healthy and back in action.

Over his career, photographers have flocked to Woods, capturing some gorgeous photos of one of the greatest golfers doing his thing.

Check out 40 of the most beautiful photos of Woods hitting the greens.

Farmers Insurance Open, San Diego, California — 2018

Genesis Open, Los Angeles, California — 2018

Genesis Open, Los Angeles, California — 2018

• Critics of President Donald Trump have called his work ethic into question since he was elected.
• Infamous photos of the president, including ones of him playing golf and watching television, have bolstered their arguments.
• His predecessor, Barack Obama, was also documented closely by a photographer while he was working out, preparing to give speeches, and taking meticulous notes.
• Below, see some of the photos that have prompted questions about and comparisons between abut Trump and Obama's work ethics.

Since taking office in January 2017, President Donald Trump's work ethic has frequently been called into question.

There's the infamous photo of him posing inside a truck cabin when critics argued he should have been wrangling votes for the Republican healthcare bill.

There's the time the White House photographed him during the government shutdown purportedly working at his desk, which was conspicuously empty.

Then there are the 100 and counting days he's spent at one of his golf courses — nearly a quarter of his entire presidency.

Every president draws comparisons to his predecessor, and for some people, there couldn't be more of a contrast between the work ethic of Trump and former president Barack Obama. While we can't truly know what goes on behind closed office doors, people have pointed to various photos of the two commanders-in-chief to draw conclusions about how they work, in and out of the White House.

Below, we compiled some of the most infamous photos that have prompted questions about and comparisons between Trump and Obama's work ethics.

SEE ALSO: Trump's being slammed for this photo of his desk — here are past presidents' desks for comparison

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Some people thought this photo showed Trump's misplaced priorities.

In March 2017, Trump posed for pictures inside a truck cabin during a meeting with members of the American Trucking Associations on the White House lawn.

At the same time, Republican lawmakers were struggling to gain support for an early version of their healthcare bill with its critical deadline just hours away.

Trump drew criticism for opting to pose in the truck rather than fight for the bill, and some said it demonstrated a lack of interest in securing the votes on Trump's part.

Photos of him riding a golf cart make it easy for critics to say he doesn't exercise.

Trump's exercise regimen — or lack of one — has been fodder for critics since he entered the political spotlight.

He argued in January that he gets all the exercise he needs on the golf course. Of course, Trump is frequently photographed riding golf carts when he hits the links, making it easy to poke holes in that claim.

This photo didn't make things any better.

Making matters worse, in June of last year, Trump was caught committing one of the cardinal sins of golf: driving his golf cart on the green.

Perhaps you get a pass when you own the course — the moment took place at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, after all — but it angered some golf fans nonetheless and provided ammunition for critics who accused him of being lazy.

• Arlington, Virginia, was ranked the best U.S. city for running. It has the highest number of races relative to its population size.
• The study found that the cities that rated highest for running also tended to have high property prices.  
• Southwestern cities tended to rate the poorest for running, as they generally require a car to navigate and have fewer park areas.

Nearly 17 million people competed in 30,400 U.S. road races in 2016, according to data from Running USA. But for Americans who are truly passionate about getting their daily steps in, not all cities are equal. Some cities are better for runners who prefer to run outdoors. While others are better for those who value access to competitive races. Below we look at these and other factors to rank the best cities for runners.

We looked at data for 100 U.S. cities across eight factors. Specifically we looked at data on the number of races per 10,000 residents, walkability, safety, housing cost as a percent of income, gyms per 10,000 residents, percent of a city covered by parkland and percent of residents with access to a park. Check out our data and methodology below to see where we got our data and how we put it together.

Key findings

• Southwest USA is car territory— Cities in Southwestern states like Arizona and Nevada ranked at the bottom of this study. In total cities in those two states occupy five of the bottom 10 cities for runners. Those cities tend to have little parkland and are not very walkable.
• Tradeoff between walkability and housing costs — In general the most walkable cities tend to be the more expensive ones. Cities like Boston, San Francisco and Washington D.C. are all in the top 10 most walkable cities but also come with high housing costs.

SEE ALSO: 10 US cities where you can save the most money by getting an Airbnb instead of a hotel

1. Arlington, VA

Arlington, Virginia ranks first. Anyone who lives and runs in Arlington is probably aware of the large number of races in the city. According to our data, no city in the study has more races relative to population size than Arlington.

And if road races are not your speed, there are plenty of other ways to run in this city. It has top 10 scores for number of gyms per 10,000 residents and percent of residents who have park access.

2. Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis has top 15 scores in six out of the eight metrics, so no matter what kind of running you prefer the city should have something for you. The city's best scores come in pedestrian fatality rate and percent of residents with access to parks. It ranked second and fourth in those metrics, respectively.

Of course, winters in Minneapolis can be brutal, so outdoor running may be difficult for much of the year. Fortunately, the city also has a top 10 score in the number of gyms per 10,000 residents, meaning those who want to stay in shape on a treadmill during the cold months can do so.

3. (tie) Madison, WI

After Minneapolis comes another Midwest city, Madison, Wisconsin. In Madison, almost 9% of the workforce walks to work. That suggests this is a good city for those who prefer to get around using their two feet. It also leaves open the opportunity to jog to work.

According to our data, Madison also has the second-highest number of gyms per 10,000 residents in the study.

Fans in cosplay, or role-playing costumes, invaded San Jose, California, for the third annual Silicon Valley Comic Con.

The event, which Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak co-created, combines the Silicon Valley icon's love of technology and pop culture. This year, we saw screen accurate supervillains, "Game of Thrones" queens, and video game heroes descend on the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

Here are some of our favorites.

See any great cosplay? Email me your best photos at mrobinson@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: These are the real faces behind every Disney princess

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A "life-sized" Totoro greeted attendees of Silicon Valley Comic Con at the doors.

The man inside the costume, Zach Dender, said he made Totoro by wrapping fabric around a skeleton he made from drainage pipe. A camera situated by his ears let Dender see outside.

Ciri from video game "The Witcher" is a princess who doesn't need saving.

Many of the world's greatest golfers turn pro as teenagers and grow up right before our eyes.

Yet, down the road, it is easy to forget just how much many of these golfers have changed since they started their pro careers, and how much better their fashion sense has become.

Below we take a look at what guys like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day looked like before they were famous.

Dustin Johnson in 2007 (age 23).

Dustin Johnson now.

Phil Mickelson in 1991 (age 20).