The older we get, the more difficult it seems to get a good night's rest. Even on those days where we're extremely tired, something like work or your home life seems to get in the way of getting a full night of sleep. Though the required number of hours to sleep varies person to person, sometimes that may not even be enough.

According to Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, renowned sleep expert and author of "From Fatigued to Fantastic," sleep deprivation — even when you think you've hit your needed number of hours — is more common than you may think.

"We are a sleep-deprived society. The average night sleep until under 35 years ago when light bulbs were invented was nine hours a night," he said. "We are now down to an average of 6 ¾ hours per night. Being so used to it, many people don't even know they are sleep deprived."

Since some signs may not be as noticeable all the time, here are seven ways that can help you realize when you need more sleep — even when it doesn't seem like it.

You fall asleep easily.

Falling asleep whenever or wherever may be a hidden talent for some, but according to Dr. Dawn Dore-Stites, assistant professor at Michigan Medicine and Reverie Sleep Advisory board member, this may be a sign that you need more sleep.

"Perhaps the biggest sign that you are sleep deprived is if you fall asleep easily," she said. "That is, do you fall asleep on car rides? In boring meetings? Watching TV? If you could fall asleep easily during the day if you were given the opportunity to nap, it is a sign that you need more sleep than what you are currently getting in your regular routine."

You are sleeping in later than you should.

Likewise, Dore-Stites noted that sleeping in later than normal is also a sign that you might need a little more sleep — even if you don't think you do.

"If you are 'oversleeping' (i.e. sleeping in later than normal), it is most likely a sign of sleep deprivation," she told INSIDER. "For example, if you go through the work week chalking up 6 hours of sleep per night, you may be more prone to sleep longer on weekends. Therefore, if you catch yourself sleeping longer on weekends, you may be sleep deprived — leading to feelings of tiredness during the day."

You're having trouble losing weight or controlling your eating habits.

If your workouts seem ineffective and your eating habits are uncontrollable, you may want to consider how much sleep you've been getting lately.

"Sleeplessness leads to a dysregulation of our appetite control hormones ghrelin and leptin, which can increase hunger," Dr. Lisa Davis, chief nutrition officer of Terra's Kitchen, told INSIDER. "Couple that with the physical and mental exhaustion of not sleeping and it becomes really difficult to withstand the double fudge sundae."

• Handwriting used to be a status symbol.
• People used to receive formal penmanship training.
• These days, digital word processors have minimized the importance of neat handwriting.

If you have terrible handwriting, you might be able to blame your genes or anatomy. But you can definitely blame history.

What used to be a prized art form that required formal training is now an afterthought in most public schools. No wonder you can't read your chicken scratch.

Here's how penmanship has evolved — or rather, declined — through the years.

This handwritten illuminated manuscript dates back to the year 1000.

Handwritten manuscripts and religious texts were the standard until Gutenberg's printing press debuted in 1440.

Even after the printing press, documents like the US Declaration of Independence from 1776 were written in crisp, neat script by professional penmen. (The ornate signatures add a flair of their own.)

Warning: There are some spoilers ahead if you have not seen "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally available to stream and the digital copy of the movie comes with a lot of extra features including deleted scenes and a director's commentary.

INSIDER went through the film's commentary and "The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi," a book which takes a deep dive into the concept art and ideas that went into the four-plus years of making the sequel.

While both don't answer every question we have after seeing the latest installment of "Star Wars," they do shed light on some of the early inspiration for "The Last Jedi."

Keep reading to see what we learned about the making of the movie.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' director Rian Johnson reacts to the backlash and addresses the movie's most shocking moments

The beginning of the movie was supposed to be completely different.

The film was originally supposed to start with Finn.

"Originally, I had this very clever visual idea where we would come down and find John [Boyega] in the dome, kind of healing bacta suit," director Rian Johnson says in "The Last Jedi" commentary.

The alternate opening, which is available on the film's home release, would have started out with the film tilting down making you think you're seeing the top of a planet. In reality, it's revealed to be a dome that Finn is under. Johnson said it just wasn't necessary.

"I realized as we started actually watching the movie with that opening, it was kind of too clever, and it just took too long," he added. "I realized you just have to get to it as quickly as possible. So we kind of reconfigured this new opening where we just leap into the thick of things."

Rey could have interacted with Luke's old X-wing ship.

One early idea was for Rey to stumble upon Luke's old X-wing in the caves on Ahch-To.

"Rey explores the island, trying to understand Luke's self-imposed exile from the universe. She comes across a cave, sunk at high tide within the base of the island," wrote visual effects art director Kevin Jenkins. "Here she discovers Luke's scuttled T-65 X-wing, rusted and rotting away in the water. It was set alight before it sank. It shows Luke's commitment to his exile, as he destroyed his only means of leaving the planet."

Instead, director Rian Johnson went with designs similar to Skywalker's sunken ship painted by artist Doug Chiang in 2013 off the island's coast. 

Luke Skywalker's character was inspired by Marlon Brando in "Apocalypse Now."

Colonel Kurtz (Brando) is the antagonist of the 1979 movie who goes rogue and is believed to have gone insane. Luke has some parallels to the decorated war officer in "The Last Jedi," in which he's a tortured man cut off from the rest of the world. However, the Master Jedi is able to find peace by the film's end.

You don't need a tech background to land good gig in Silicon Valley. 

In fact, tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft wouldn't run without the help of customer service representatives, accountants, and human resources managers.

Compensation monitoring site Comparably recently compiled results from more than 14,500 users to determine the most popular jobs for people without a technical background, along with how much those positions pay.

The employees measured hail from small, mid-size, and large companies, including Apple, Uber, Facebook, and more. Comparably found plenty of roles that require little to no tech experience — and some of them have hefty salaries and bonuses attached. 

Here are the 10 most popular roles for non-techies and what they pay. 

SEE ALSO: The most downloaded iPhone app in the world right now is one you've probably never heard of

Accountants are responsible for checking a company's financials.

Base salary: $60,249

Bonus: $3,037

Percent that gets their bonus: 52%

Average salary: $63,285

Copywriters produce content for brands and have a focus on storytelling.

Base salary: $65,976

Bonus: $1,722

Percent that gets their bonus: 34%

Average salary: $67,697

Customer service managers handle customer complaints.

Base salary: $65,400

Bonus: $5,187

Percent that gets their bonus: 57%

Average salary: $70,586

The Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii erupted Thursday, scarring forests and sending plumes of ash thousands of feet into the sky.

Dramatic photos from the US Geological Survey show lava pouring into residential neighborhoods around a fissure that opened during the eruption.

No injuries have been reported, and residents had plenty of advance warning about the eruption, so many had already evacuated.

Check out some of the stunning photos below.

SEE ALSO: Dramatic video shows lava bursting from the ground in Kilauea volcano eruption

The eruption occurred in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Hawaii's Puna district, a neighborhood within Kilauea's east rift zone.

A small fissure opened up around 5 p.m. local time, spewing lava and gas into the neighborhood and onto roads.

The fissure remained active for over an hour, scarring forests and forcing some residents to evacuate.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead if you haven't seen "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" surprised fans with the return of an iconic character, but it also delivered a lot of unexpected cameos you may have missed from celebrities and actors.

2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" also had plenty of cameos ranging from superfan Simon Pegg to 007, Daniel Craig. So it should be of little surprise that more celebrities wanted in this time around.

From princes to musicians and a second secret role for Mark Hamill, keep reading to see who popped up in "The Last Jedi."

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' director Rian Johnson reacts to the backlash and addresses the movie's most shocking moments

"The Leftovers" actor Justin Theroux played an important minor role on Canto Bight.

Let's start with an easy one. Theroux played the master codebreaker Finn and Rose were searching for on Canto Bight. You may have been thrown off by the accent and graying hair.

Model and actress Lily Cole plays the woman on his arm, Lovey.

Did you spot the actress on the master codebreaker's arm?

Carrie Fisher's dog, Gary, inspired a space dog on Canto Bight.

His cameo was first noted on Twitter earlier in December. You can actually spot Gary in one of the film's official photos.

Director Rian Johnson confirmed the "space Gary" role on Twitter to an eagle-eyed viewer. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• Putting can be the most frustrating and rewarding part of golf, but you can gain more rewards by practicing your putting stroke. As you practice and play, you’ll want a high level of feedback from the putter to help you feel and correct mistakes. The Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 delivers the feel you need in a classic looking putter that has modern technology and materials.

The movie "Caddyshack" certainly has several memorable comedic golf scenes, such as when Judge Smails is facing a critical putt on the final hole of the match.

He calls on his purple velvet wrapped Billy Baroo putter. This ancient putter has no modern materials or technologies, but it gives the Judge the confidence to make the key putt to put his team ahead … all while chanting the name of his putter and caressing it just enough to make the viewer hilariously uncomfortable.

Putting is all about confidence, which, for most golfers, is developed over hours and hours of practice with a favorite putter, rather than with a Billy Baroo.

Fortunately, if you don’t have the time or desire to spend hours on the putting green, modern putters have plenty of materials and design features that can help you gain confidence quickly. That's why we've done the research to find the best putters you can buy.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 is our top pick and why you might also like the Odyssey O-Works Red 2-Ball, the Ping Sigma G Anser, the TaylorMade OS CB Daytona, and the Pinemeadow Golf PGX putters.

SEE ALSO: The best golf wedges you can buy

The best putter overall

Why you'll love it: The Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 putter delivers a classic look that golfers love, but it also has the latest materials and technologies you need.

The Titleist Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 putter delivers all of the latest materials and technology you’d expect in a high-end putter, yet it all fits in a sharp looking design that resembles classic putters.

In the bottom of the putter, you’ll find two round weights that you can swap out to give the putter a different feel. These weights, which range from 10 grams to 20 grams apiece, allow you to control the heel/toe weight of the putter. This putter provides a great toe flow in the stroke because the shaft is connected to the putter’s heel with a 3/4-inch offset.

The head of the Select Newport 3 consists of stainless steel, while the putter face is made from milled aluminum. The face's material helps to give you a higher level of feedback in the putting stroke than most metal faces.

Golf Magazine says the feel of the Scotty Cameron putter is amazing, so you'll know exactly when you’ve struck the ball correctly. Amazon reviewer Christopher Sankey agrees, saying the Titleist Scotty Cameron putter has a pure feel every time you use it, delivering perfect feedback.

A larger dampener insert behind the face of the putter the contact with the golf ball feel softer, according to Spargo Golf, providing a bit more feedback on your putts.

Plugged in Golf says the Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 will forgive mis-hits better than most putters because it generates inertia to prevent off-line putts from straying too far off line. However, the reviewer says it does take some practice to be able to find just the right distance with this putter.

Left-handed players will appreciate the planned introduction of a putter that fits them in 2018, according to Golf Monthly. The Newport 3 has better vibration dampening capabilities than previous versions of this putter as well.

Pros: Forgiving on mis-hits, removable weights in the heel and toe for customizing the putter’s feel, milled face of the putter gives you a true ball roll, new left-handed version will be available

Cons: Takes practice to dial in the desired distance consistently, top of putter may reflect sun’s glare, very expensive

Buy the Scotty Cameron Select Newport 3 Putter on Worldwide Golf Shops for $379.99

The best mallet style putter

Why you'll love it: If you struggle to properly align your putts, the Odyssey O-Works Red 2-Ball putter gives you a visual clue with circles that look like golf balls printed on the mallet head.

Golfers aren’t shy about providing opinions on putter designs. But when it comes to the 2-ball design of the Odyssey O-Works Red 2-Ball putter, those opinions increase quite a bit.

Some people don’t like the look of the 2-ball putter design, which features two white circles about the size of golf balls directly in the center of the putter face. Other people like the way the two white circles help them visualize the path the putter should follow, moving those white circles through the white golf ball during the putting stroke.

Those who like the design and find it easier to use swear by it. The latest version of the Odyssey 2-ball putter is a high-level performer that will be a popular choice among those who like a mallet style putter.

One of the biggest improvements in this new version of the Odyssey O-Works is the micro hinge face insert, which consists of stainless steel and delivers a high level of topspin on your putting strokes, even when you have a mis-hit. The insert also should deliver a bit more distance than you may have received in the past.

Callaway Golf reviewer Jonny loves the face-balanced design of this Odyssey 2-Ball putter, especially the micro-hinge insert, calling it the best insert ever made for an Odyssey putter.

Golf Monthly says the O-Works putter delivers a soft feel, giving you the feedback you need for a proper ball strike. You’ll be able to generate a consistent ball speed with this putter as well. Golf Info Guide likes the heavier shaft and head in this putter versus predecessors, resulting in reduced tension in the hands and a better flow to your putting stroke.

The red version of the Odyssey O-Works 2-Ball putter might not appeal to everyone, but My Golf Spy loves the look, even if the design can potentially play some tricks on your eyes. 

Improvements made in the latest version of the O-Words Red 2-Ball putter give it a more consistent and higher level of performance versus previous versions of this putter, according to Worldwide Golf Shops reviewer Allen C.

Pros: Fans of this design really love it, nice improvements over past versions of this putter, red color gives you a clear contrast with the two white circles, design is extremely forgiving of mis-hits

Cons: Expensive putter, some people find the red color and the two white circles on top of the blade distracting

Buy the Odyssey O-Works Red 2-Ball Putter on Worldwide Golf Shops for $199.99

The best blade putter

Why you'll love it: The balanced Ping Sigma G Anser outperforms most blade putters, giving you a consistent ball roll and reduced penalty when you strike the ball toward the toe or heel.

Ping putters have long been among the best. The Ping Sigma G Anser continues building on the strengths of past putters by adding the latest technologies and materials.

You’ll especially appreciate the balance of the Anser putter because it's better than most blade style putters. The balance ensures fewer ball strikes off the toe or the heel, while also giving you more consistent speed for putts where you’re looking to lag to the hole.

The Sigma G Anser has an anodized aluminum face, which promotes top spin for a truer ball roll. It also has an elastomer insert just behind the face, which creates a soft feel for your putts, allowing you to better control distance.

In fact, the Anser delivers excellent results when putting from long range, according to Golf Monthly, because of the level of feel you’ll have. Golf Digest says the design of the aluminum face helps to minimize the effect of mis-hits from the toe or heel of the blade putter, resulting in a ball roll distance more similar to a center strike.

You shouldn’t have many skips or skids when striking the ball with the Ping Sigma G Anser, as sometimes happens with blade style putters, according to Golf Magazine. The elastomer insert will absorb vibration at impact, ensuring a truer ball strike, while also delivering feedback on the putt.

Worldwide Golf Shops reviewer Darryl says the Ping putter delivers a consistent and predictable ball roll from putt to putt. But the putter’s finish isn’t as long-lasting as it could be.

Golfalot calls the Sigma G Anser the “daddy of all Ping putters,” featuring a classic shape with modern technology in the face of the putter.

Pros: Great balance throughout the putter’s face versus other blade style putters, excellent results when trying to lag putt because of consistent ball speed, insert behind the aluminum face reduces vibration and enhances feedback

Cons: Head of the putter can feel too light for some people, expensive model, finish on the top of the putter may wear off

Buy the Ping Sigma G Anser Putter on Worldwide Golf Shops for $179.99

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" launched a franchise reboot in 2015 and it's not going anywhere soon.

Between multiple TV projects, franchise movies, and spin-offs, it feels like we're going to return to a galaxy far, far away once a year for the rest of our lives. In addition to "Solo," in theaters May 25, Lucasfilm has "Episode IX," another spin-off, and a whole new trilogy.

Here's everything "Star Wars" fans can expect to see on the big screen.

SEE ALSO: The 50 Disney movies that made the most money at the US box office

A Han Solo spin-off movie is coming this month called "Solo."

The movie originally featured Chris Miller and Phil Lord as directors. In June 2017, after principal photography on the film had already started, Lucasfilm announced the two left due to "creative differences."

Ron Howard came in to replace the directors.

The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo.

The rest of the cast includes Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke ("Game of Thrones", Thandie Newton ("Westworld"), Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Donald Glover ("Atlanta") as Lando Calrissian. Paul Bettany is playing a crime boss named Dryden Vos.

You can read more on Ehrenreich here.

The movie will show how Solo meets and becomes friends with Chewbacca and gambler Lando Calrissian.

The movie will be in theaters May 25, 2018.

Facebook is constantly updating Instagram to help it stay competitive; occasionally, a smaller feature goes unnoticed in the midst of larger app updates. 

One of those little-known features is what you can do with Live Photos on your Instagram Story. If you upload a Live Photo the way you would any other picture or video and hold it down, it comes to life and turns into a boomerang — the popular GIF-like video that goes back and forth (and back again). 

It's a useful little trick since Live Photos often unexpectedly turn into better boomerangs than the ones you plan. And while the iOS 11 update does let you do that same thing in the camera roll itself (scroll down from the photo and you'll see an option to convert to "Bounce"), this is a good alternative if you don't want it to be saved that way to your camera roll permanently.

If you're new to Live Photos or Instagram Stories, here's a quick run-through:

When you take a picture from your iPhone, make sure the circle in the top center is yellow, indicating it's in Live mode.

Open your Instagram app and swipe left from your Feed or tap on your own Story icon in the top left-hand corner to get to the camera for your Story.

Tap the camera upload icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and choose your favorite Live photo.

The date the photo or video was taken will automatically come up when you upload from your camera roll — you can delete it by holding it down and dragging it to the trashcan. 

The "Star Wars" fandom knows no bounds. Even celebrities are obsessed with a galaxy far, far away.

From Princes William and Harry to cosplaying actors, here are celebrities you didn't know were obsessed with "Star Wars."

Madison Malone Kircher contributed to a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: The 50 Disney movies that made the most money at the US box office

Kevin Smith said visiting the "Star Wars" set made him cry.

When "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director invited Smith to visit the film's set in England, Smith took him up on the offer.

Smith posted a teary-eyed Instagram picture and said being on set made him feel young again.

"When I was a kid, I liked 'Star Wars,' and now I'm on the 'Star Wars' set," the actor told the LA Times of the experience. "The moment I stepped on the Millennium Falcon 10 years dropped off my life."

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe also visited the set of "The Force Awakens."

Radcliffe became a "Star Wars" fan late in life, but when he did he fell in love with the movies. He told Conan O'Brien he crashed the set of the "The Force Awakens" because he knew most of the Potter crew was working on the film.

Radcliffe also dressed up as Boba Fett for a Halloween episode of "The Ellen Show."

Tina Fey has a love for all things Leia.

When Tina Fey walked down the aisle as Liz Lemon in the last season of "30 Rock," it was dressed in Princess Leia's classic white robe and twin hair buns.

"It's the only white dress I own," Lemon quips.

In real life, Fey was spotted wearing a "Vote Princess Leia" shirt on "Saturday Night Live" in 2008.

When your wedding date comes around, you want to make it something that fits you and your partner's personalities perfectly.

Since many weddings today are significantly-less traditional than in the past, couples have the freedom to try new things and experiment with their attire, vows, and everything in between, including the bouquets.

So don't feel pressured to stick to something just because everyone else does it — find what works for you and have some fun with it.

Here are 8 different alternatives to wedding bouquets that will make you rethink the tradition:

Balloons don’t just have to be for birthdays

A wedding, just like a birthday, is a celebration. Thus, balloons are never out of place. Giant balloons matching your wedding theme colors can make for great photo op before and after your wedding. Plus, for the resourceful brides, the balloons can then be reused as decor at the reception.

Light up the aisle with lanterns

If you're planning to get married in the evening, lanterns can be a beautiful alternative to flower bouquets. You can choose from a whole host of different types of lanterns, and,like the balloons, they can also be used as decor later in the night at the reception.

Brooch Bouquets are all the rage

Brooch bouquets are not only beautiful, the mementos also help make sure you and your bridesmaids remember your big day for years to follow. Unlike some other options, brooch bouquets can run fairly expensive. But you can make it more affordable by arranging outing to go vintage and thrift store shopping with your bridesmaids and then buy some craft materials to put together the bouquets yourself.

• Money isn't the only thing millionaires focus on to get and stay rich.
• Author Steve Siebold has interviewed more than 1,200 of the world's wealthiest people over the last 34 years and wrote two books revealing how they achieved success.
• Siebold says there are 10 things rich people put their energy into that help them find their success — including learning, courage, and results. 

When most people talk about acquiring wealth, money is usually the main focus of the conversation. How can I save more money? How can I spend less money? How can I better manage the money I have? While all of these things are certainly important points for consideration, the truth is that becoming rich has a lot less to do with money than most people realize.

I've interviewed millionaires all over the world, and what you might be surprised to know is that most of them aren't as money focused as you would expect. Sure, it's important and they think about it, but when it comes to the success they've had, they talk more about things like mindset, attitude, vision, belief, self-growth, confidence and continued learning. The bottom line: getting rich is not all about money.

More specifically, here are 10 things self-made millionaires focus their energy on that makes them successful:

SEE ALSO: 6 signs you're richer than you think, according to a wealth adviser for millionaires

They are visionary

You need to be able to see the future long before it arrives. In other words, you have to know what you want, why you want it and what you're willing to do to get it. Don't just take each day as it comes. Instead, have a plan. Being visionary keeps you focused on where you're going and eliminates procrastination in performance and hesitation in decision-making.

They compartmentalize their emotions

Your ability to control your emotions when it counts will play a major role in your success. Strong feelings of anger, jealously, exuberance, despair and others have the power to interfere with your ability to think clearly and make good decisions. They key to control is placing your emotions in psychological compartments, which means blocking them out temporarily so you can focus on the core of what’s being said or done so you can respond appropriately.

They simplify everything

Life is complex. People are complex. The world is complex. Your job is to simplify everything you can and focus on what's important. Decide what you want, concentrate on it to the exclusion of (almost) everything else, and embrace the challenge of attaining it. If you looked at a car engine as a whole it may seem complicated. Break it up one part at a time and it's simple. The point is everything can be broken down to its root cause, and that makes every problem easier to solve.

• Qantas announced that it will retire the remaining six Boeing 747 jumbo jets in its fleet by 2020.
• The planes will be replaced by six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
• This marks the end of Boeing 747 service with Qantas, which began in 1971.
• The 747 will continue to make passenger flights with other international airlines.
• Boeing has sold more than 1,500 747s but has struggled to find new customers for the plane. 

On Wednesday, Qantas announced that it will retire the remaining six Boeing 747s in its fleet by 2020. The announcement comes at the at the same time the Australian airline confirmed the purchase of six additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. 

The Boeing 747 has been a hallmark of Qantas' international fleet since 1971. 

"This really is the end of one era and the start of another,"Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement. "The jumbo has been the backbone of Qantas International for more than 40 years and we've flown almost every type that Boeing built. It's fitting that its retirement is going to coincide with our centenary in 2020."

The final six Qantas jumbo jets are expected to be the six 747-400ERs delivered to the airline between 2002 and 2003.  With extra fuel tanks for additional range, Qantas owns the only six 747-400ERs ever built. 

In 2017, the jumbo left passenger service with US airlines when both Delta and United retire their 747-400 fleets. 

Qantas announced recently that its traditional 747 service to Los Angeles will be replaced by both the Airbus A380 and the 787-9.

Although the 747 will still grace the skies above the US with foreign carriers like Lufthansa and Korean Air or with cargo carriers like UPS and Atlas, the idea that US passenger airlines will no longer operate what is arguably America's most iconic and successful airplane is sad.

Alas, economics trumps nostalgia. The reality is that the four-engined jumbo is big, expensive, and thirsty, especially when compared to twin jets like the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A350. The 777-300ER replaced the 747 at United while the A350-900 took over for jumbo at Delta.

Consumer tastes have also changed. During the 747's heyday, long-haul international flights operated almost exclusively between major hubs and frequently made several intermediate stops. These days, point-to-point flights are becoming increasingly popular, with no stops and no need to fly to a major hub — hence the popularity of smaller widebody jets like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

But before we let the grand lady of the sky fade into history, let's take a look back at its extraordinary life as the most iconic airplane in the world.

SEE ALSO: How Airbus became Boeing's greatest rival

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

The Boeing 747 first flew in February 1969.

The big jet and the Everett, Washington, factory in which it was built were designed and constructed in just 16 months by a team of 50,000 Boeing employees.

The people involved became known as the "Incredibles."

President Donald Trump is set to name several All-Stars from the sports world to his revamped sports council and most have previous ties to the president.

Trump signed an order in February to change the goal of the "Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition" to one that encourages children to play sports. Under President Barack Obama, the council was more focused on health and nutrition.

Among the stars named to the council are Bill Belichick, Mariano Rivera, three-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, Matt Damon, LouFerrigno, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Below we take a look at the biggest names on the council and their previous ties to the president.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

Belichick made headlines on the eve of the 2016 election when Trump said he had received an endorsement from the New England Patriots head coach and his star quarterback, Tom Brady. It was later confirmed that Belichick had written a letter to Trump congratulating him on his campaign, saying: "You've proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter. Your leadership is amazing. I have always had tremendous respect for you, but the toughness and perseverance you have displayed over the past year is remarkable. "

Former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera

Rivera spent time at the White House in 2017 as part of the listening group for Trump's opioid commission. Trump singled out Rivera at the time, saying the Yankees could still use him and speculating that Rivera could make $100 million per year if he were still playing.

Golfer Natalie Gulbis

Gulbis spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and told the audience that she believed Trump was the person we "desperately need" to clean up the mess. Gulbis has played golf with Trump and has credited him with helping career. Trump also has strong ties to the LPGA Tour through his golf courses.

• Shake Shack has debuted several new limited-time barbecue items for the summer.
• A burger, grilled chicken sandwich, and fried chicken sandwich are the three main new releases. 
• We tried all three, and while the grilled chicken wasn't very impressive, the fried version and the burger were superb. 

As unseasonably sweltering weather sizzles in much of the country, summer has more or less arrived — and with it comes the inevitable limited-time barbecue fast-food items. Shake Shack is now serving three BBQ options: the BBQ Cheddar & Bacon Burger, the BBQ Cheddar & Bacon Griddled Chick'n, plus a fried chicken version of it.

The items were launched last week as app-only exclusives and are now available nationwide, excluding airports, stadiums, and ballpark locations. 

While everyone seems to love barbecue, not everyone agrees on which American barbecue style is best. Carolinian, Texan, Alabamian, Kansas City — the various regional delectable dialects are too numerous to fully name. And Shake Shack's new items aren't just barbecue — they're heavy on the bacon, too. 

We grabbed the new items from Shake Shack to find out if they're absolute barbecue gold or sad charcoal bricks:

SEE ALSO: Taco Bell's newest menu item paid off big for the chain — here's the secret to its success

DON'T MISS: We tried the sandwiches at Wawa, which just made history by being named America's favorite sandwich shop — here's the verdict

All three items follow the same formula, more or less: pickles, BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

It sounds like a delicious formula — and for the most part, it is. 

Let's start with the $7.35 burger version. Like any Shake Shack burger, you can order a single or a double version. We grabbed a single here.

Putting pickles on burgers is a great way to bring some acid to the flavor equation and help lend some brightness to an otherwise very greasy, rich meal. 

And it works. It's an incredibly rich, savory burger, even with one patty — the slab bacon and lightly sharp cheddar cheese take care of that.

Luckily, the pickles balance out the taste — but were this a double patty burger, I fear the tangy yet sweet intricacies of the barbecue sauce would be lost in the beefy mass.

The Pentagon this week claimed two US pilots were injured when military-grade laser pointers were shone into their eyes from China’s navy base in Djibouti as the Americans came in to land at the US base.

SEE ALSO: 11 photos of the J-20, China's first stealth fighter jet that 'could soon surpass' the F-22 Raptor

1. Low-air Guard-I

A ground or vehicle-based laser weapon system, its 10 kilowatts of power can cover an area of 12 sq km. It was used to shoot down more than 30 small air vehicles – including fixed-wing, multi-rotor and helicopters – during tests, with a 100 per cent success rate, according to the first official disclosure in 2014. It can destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, within a range of 2km – flying lower than 500m – in about 5 seconds. The technology was developed by the China Academy of Engineering Physics for security purposes around “major events in urban areas”. A system with greater power and range for ships is under development, according to Xinhua.

2. The Silent Hunter

Used for security at the G20 summit in Hangzhou in 2016, this 30-100kW vehicle-based laser weapon system has a maximum range of 4km. Its laser beam can cut through a 5mm steel sheet from 1km away, or five layers of 2mm steel sheets from 800m away, according to its developer China Poly Technologies. It was first unveiled at the South African Air Show in 2016.

3. Guorong-I anti-drone system

A short-range ground-to-air laser weapon system, it has a detecting radar, electro-optical interference device and high-power laser ejector that can shoot down a UAV in seconds from hundreds of metres away. The system was developed by Guorong Technology, China Electronics Technology Group and the public security bureau, according to PLA Daily.

• Marriage is an exciting, romantic concept, but it's also a decision that will change the rest of your life. 
• However, with some introspection, you can better determine whether or nor you are ready for marriage with your significant other. 
• Here are five signs, from experts, that you shouldn't get married to your current partner. 

Although you can probably pinpoint several reasons to marry someone, reasons to not marry someone may not be as apparent. After all, it's a big deal — one of the biggest decisions of your life — and even though you may thinkyou're a getting-married type of person, deep down, your current lifestyle and future hopes and dreams may not agree. Plus, perhaps you do want to get married, but your current partner is not “the one.”

In any case, statistics prove that you are not the only one who’s opting for single life versus married life.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2015, there are 109 millionunmarried people18 years and older in the US — in other words, 45% of the adult population.

To help recognize the signs that you shouldn’t be getting married, Business Insider spoke to psychotherapist, relationship coach, and divorce mediator Toni Coleman:

SEE ALSO: 9 signs your marriage isn't as happy as you think it is

1. You argue frequently

While someconflict between you and your significant other is healthy, if you are arguing more than you’re not, it could be a sign you two are not well-paired for the long haul.

“Frequent fighting signals a problem with communication and compatibility,” Coleman told Business Insider. “These are essential components in any healthy, working relationship. Until and unless you can work together to address these adequately, you should not be getting married.”

2. You ignore red flags that may be potential deal-breakers

When it comes to relationships,everybody has different deal-breakers, such as not wanting to date a smoker or having to relocate for love. But if you are letting some of your key deal-breakers slide, it may cause relationship hurdles in the long run.

“Love does not conquer all,” Coleman said. “Unless you can have those hard talks before marriage and delve into concerns about any major differences that could become deal-breakers, you should not be getting married. Whatever the differences are, they will not go away after you say ‘I do’ — they will only grow stronger.”

3. You still fantasize about an ex

While you may still be friends with your ex on social media, there’s a difference between seeing them pop up in your News Feed versus obsessively going through their Facebook timeline, looking at all their pictures, and still wondering what it would be like if the two of you were still together. “When you find yourself fantasizing about a past lover, checking their social media channels, and thinking about contacting them, it’s a sign you shouldn’t get married to your current partner,” Coleman said.

She says that longing for a past love when preparing to or thinking about marrying someone else spells major doubt. “When you find that right person for you, there are no thoughts about someone else and what might have been,” she said.

• The Kentucky Derby is having its 144th run this year on May 5th.
• Wild fashions and large hats have long been associated with the Kentucky Derby.
• Horse racing and mint juleps are also embedded in the culture of the event.

Since the races were first run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has been drawing thousands of celebrities, politicians, and Louisville locals to the horse track at Churchill Downs.

Started by Louisville Jockey Club founder Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the sporting event has a long history tied to horse racing, mint juleps, and, of course, the famous Kentucky Derby hat.

As you prepare to watch the 144th iteration of the big event Saturday, see an overview of the Derby's history in photos. 

SEE ALSO: A photographer spent 25 years documenting rich people — meet some of her most memorable subjects

Though the Kentucky Derby was held for the first time in 1875, photos of it began to appear in the 1920s. It was during this time that the derby began being broadcast on the radio, and five to six million listeners tuned in.

Starting in 1931, the Kentucky Derby was permanently scheduled for the first Sunday of every May.

Even throughout the years of the Great Depression, the race continued, though tickets were priced at 50 cents for a spot in the infield. In 1932, it was broadcast on the radio internationally.

It is always challenging to decide how much transparency to have in a romantic relationship. Some people like to go all-in, sharing text messages and social media passwords with their partner, while others prefer to go a more guarded route. 

Deciding what to do in your own relationship is made more difficult by the fact that there is no one "right" solution. Everyone is different and everyone's relationships are different, too. So an ideology that works perfectly for one couple probably won't work for another. 

All the same, it can be useful to see what other people think about relationship transparency — particularly when it comes to learning about a partner's romantic and sexual history. To that end, on a recent Reddit thread, someone asked if it is important for people to know about their partner's relationship history— and, if so, why. Scroll through to see what they had to say. 

1. Details aren't important for everyone — but it is worrisome if someone refuses to discuss their past.

"I wouldn't necessarily say [it's] important [to share everything], but I would find it weird and off-putting if my partner refused to share anything. Some things are important. Has he been cheated on? Has he cheated? Did all the breaks up end poorly or is he friends with all his exes? Did any of his exes have kids he got close to? Is he a serial monogamist? Was there abuse? Did you end up having certain preferences after dating someone? Has he lived with someone before? Has he been engaged or married? Is this his first relationship after a ton of hookups?

Those types of questions give a ton of context and explanation of who this guy is as a person. Other sillier questions are fun to talk about, too. First kiss stories can be funny (mine was hysterically bad), first dates, first bad breakup, etc. I have a ton of funny stories that involved ex-boyfriends because I spent a lot of time with them. My boyfriend has a bunch of stories of bad dates. It can be a bonding experience.

My boyfriend didn't have a real girlfriend prior to me and I didn't find that concerning in the slightest. I would find it weird if he refused to talk about it. I learned a lot about what I wanted through the failure of my old relationships. We don't have to talk about dick size or how hot our old partners were, we just need to be able to talk about it." - Reddit user tonicCONgin

2. For some people, big-picture stuff is required — but not anything else.

"I don't need to know about every girl he ever dated, but hearing about the bigger relationships is important. For instance, my SO's ex-wife — that's a relationship I need to know a little bit about." - Reddit user super_nice_shark

3. Some feel that talking about your past isn't as important if you feel you've changed as a person.

"I've been with my BF for a total of four months (exclusively, three). Neither of us have said ANYTHING about our exes. I can't speak for him but my reason for why I haven't said anything is because my last ex was three years ago, when I was 21-22 and still in college. That was a long -ss time ago, before my personality developed and frankly, that was my first relationship so I was very much 'new' to the whole GF/BF thing. Plus, if I met the old [me], I wouldn't recognize myself in her...thus, there's no need to tell him of my exes when the old me is most definitely not a reflection of who I am today." - Reddit user TurboTHOT

Being a mother is a tough— and sometimes thankless — job.

If you're looking for a way to show your mom some appreciation this Mother's Day, check out our gift guide below.

We've rounded up 25 items that are sure to put a smile on her face. 

Essie nail polish set

Is your mom too busy to go to the nail salon? Give her the tools for an at-home mani/pedi. Essie's new spring collection features four bright colors that are bound to look great with any outfit.

Essie Spring 2018 nail polish collection, $18

S'well water bottle

S'well's water bottles not only look pretty, they're also eco-friendly and practical. Made of vacuum insulated stainless steel, these bottles will keep beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. They come in various sizes as well as patterns and colors, and they don't sweat, so mom can throw this in her purse without a second thought.

S'well water bottle, $25-50

Chanel N°5 the bath soap

Take her bath to the next level with a luxurious bar of Chanel soap. It was rated one of the best by Allure, and it will leave her skin smelling heavenly.

Chanel N°5 the bath soap, $26