• First-class plane tickets can cost as much as 70% more than economy airfare, and even more for international flights.
• Such a high price tag makes flying first class an unattainable dream for many travelers.
• It's so expensive, in part, because it enables airlines to offer other tickets at a discount; it comes with coveted perks and pampering; and customers are willing to pay for it. 

First class has come a long way since the days when extra leg room was considered luxurious.

From offering meals by Michelin-starred chefs to in-flight showers, today's first-class experience offers so much more than it used to. One could call it a first-class hotel in the sky.

But all that jet-set glamour comes at a steep cost — as much as a 70% increase in fares compared to economy, possibly even more if you're flying internationally.

Currently, an American Airlines economy flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City to Heathrow Airport in the UK in July 2018 is $915. If you're flying first class on the same airline, that cost increases to $5,407.

Unless you're savvy with your airline miles and points, this high price tag renders first class an unattainable dream for many passengers.

As someone who hates being crammed like a sardine in a can for eight-plus hours but is far from being able to afford the ultimate upgrade — and has yet to master the art of nabbing a plane's prime real estate for next to nothing — I can't help but question why first class has to be so out of reach.

Here, eight reasons why first class is so expensive.

SEE ALSO: I flew first class to Japan and paid only $33.64 — here's how I did it

DON'T MISS: Here's what it's like to fly first class on Emirates, the best airline in the world

First class offers coveted perks and pampering.

One of the biggest appeals of first class is also why it's so expensive: the perks.

Airplanes have notoriously bad food, but it's a different story in first class, where menus of fine dining quality and dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs are often available — think Mahi-Mahi with lemon herb sauce, grilled asparagus, and jasmine rice. Some airlines are even said to serve Ben & Jerry's ice cream sundaes.

Rumor has it that American Airlines saved an estimated $40,000 by removing one olive in each salad served in first class.

And once passengers are fueled up on quality food, they're able to slip into a food coma with a flat bed, bedding, and turn-down service. If that's not enough to catch some Zzz's, airlines also provide pajamas and eye masks.

Other possible perks include a private TV screen; in-flight WiFi; goodies, from expensive gift bags to knitted socks; and showers. The Emirates A380 has two shower spas, complete with heated floors. 

First class provides exclusive access in the airport.

Special treatment isn't confined to the airplane, though.

First-class passengers also have special access to first-class airport lounges before and after flights, where they can grab a drink pre-flight or take a shower upon arrival. Some lounges even offer free mani-pedis.

As if that's not enough, some airlines even shuttle passengers to their connecting flight in a Porsche or Mercedes.

First class banks on passengers' willingness to pay.

"At a certain level of wealth, price doesn't make much difference,"writes one Quora user who has flown in first class.

"Because I only travel like that a few times per year, and because $2,000 and $8,000 are both so close to zero as to be effectively the same, I choose to travel in first," wrote the Quora user. "It changes the trip from something to dread into something to look forward to. I earn around $20,000 per week, so ya gotta put it in perspective."

As travel blogger Ben Schlappig writes in his blog, One Mile At a Time, "The cost of airfare is incredibly dynamic and is all about what consumers are willing to pay, rather than how much they should pay to cover their 'fair share.'"

Some are willing to pay a premium for the convenience of first class. A family with a toddler or a businessman who can get work done on the plane and land ready for a meeting are both better off leaving the plane refreshed and less stressed with minimal jet lag.

FORT BLISS, Texas — I wanted to ask the soldiers about their stories.

I wanted to ask them why they joined the service, if and where they had been deployed, what their experiences were like overseas, what it was like coming home, and more. 

But it was difficult.

I only had a few chances to speak to individual soldiers in-depth as I toured a number of different weapons systems during my trip to Fort Bliss.

The conversations were sometimes difficult. "I feel like a d--k for asking those questions," I told one of the public affairs officers after interviewing an officer who became emotional while describing an incident in Afghanistan. "But I think it's important for people to know these things."

"Yes, it is," the PAO said.

SEE ALSO: Soldiers don't believe this rare antelope-like animal is roaming around a Texas army base — but we saw one up-close

The first chance I got to speak to soldiers in-depth was when I met a couple of Abrams tank crews.

Name and rank: Sergeant T. Wilder.

Wilder, 27, of Athens, Tennessee, is an Abrams tank commander who said he's been in the service for eight years. 

"I joined right out of high school, like any typical high school kid does to get out of their hometown, pay for college, make something of themselves," Wilder told me. "I got about 12 more years, and I can retire."

Wilder said he deployed to Iraq in 2011 and 2012. 

"I was part of the initial drawdown," he said. "I was everywhere from Kalsu all the way down to Echo and K-Crossing."

"It was fun," he said. "I deployed in an infantry platoon so I was out doing route clearance patrols, patrols, convoy overwatch, and stuff like that."

Wilder said clearing IEDs was "slow, long, about 16 hours at about 20 mph," and that he saw all different kinds. "We saw several that were made out off 155 rounds, 105 rounds, saw one out of a propane tank, bunch of stuff stuck in water bottles and coke cans and stuff."

He said he took "a little bit [of contact], but nothing major."

When I asked him if he'd share any particular stories, he understandably shook his head no.

Name and rank: Specialist Christian Pena.

Pena, 22, told me he has been in the Army for two years.

"I'm originally from Mexico, but I moved to Arizona when I was 10," he said.

"I joined the Army 'cause this country has given me so many opportunities that I'm so grateful for — and it's my way of repaying it," he said.

He said he hasn't deployed yet, but that "it's definitely something I look forward to."

"Man of few words," the PAO said jokingly.

Venezuela has been riven by protracted political and economic crises that have prompted mass protests and sparked a wave of migration. Venezuelans have fled throughout the region, with some going as far afield as Spain.

The many who remain live in a deeply divided country, where President Nicolas Maduro maintains power — solidified in a May 20 presidential election granting him another term amid widespread doubts about its legitimacy — in spite of rampant shortages, high rates of crime and violence, and a deteriorating economy.

Geoff Ramsey, the associate for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America, a Washington, DC-based research and advocacy group, spent April in Venezuela, meeting with members of the public, the government, the opposition, civil-society groups, and others.

Ramsey spoke with Business Insider in late May, describing the conditions Venezuelans face at home as well as the political outlook fora  situation that has frustrated the region and the world.

The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.

SEE ALSO: Trump has been accused of going easy on authoritarian leaders — here's why the White House says Venezuela is different

'It's one thing to hear about them and another to see them firsthand.'

Christopher Woody: Being on the ground [in Venezuela] ... was there anything that was unexpected, that surprised you, that wasn't in line with what you'd heard before you got to the country?

Geoff Ramsey: It was not my first time in Venezuela, or actually in any of the three countries, and I've certainly been following the reports of the humanitarian situation on the ground and talking to people about it, but it's one thing to hear about them and another to see them firsthand.

It was really just heartbreaking to meet with people over and over that are reeling from this economic crisis. I met people that lost their savings due to hyperinflation. Elderly people that ... waited in line for their regular pension, and it amounts to essentially pocket change. It's truly devastating. And I think the best sense of the scope of the crisis that I've gotten so far was in speaking to people who have been fleeing, because I got a much better sense of how bad it is outside of Caracas, in the interior of the country.

In Brazil in particular, I was struck by the fact that I saw one guy standing on the side of the road selling oranges to passing motorists, and he was in a bright red PDVSA jumpsuit, a uniform. I went up to him and I spoke with him and he told that his state salary, working as a technician for PDVSA, just simply didn't allow him to make ends meet or support his family, so he now makes more money essentially living in the streets in Boa Vista [in Brazil] and selling odd fruits, cigarettes, candy in the streets, and he's able to support his family with a greater income doing that than he did working in the oil sector.

And I heard stories like that over and over. I met with one woman in Cucuta [in Colombia], I believe, who has a thyroid condition, and her husband also is a public employee, and she was saying that his monthly salary barely covers a week — essentially five or six pills — of the medication that she needs to take for her thyroid condition. So it's truly just devastating stories.

'Cash is worthless, but at the same time, nobody has any cash.'

Woody: You mentioned hyperinflation, and that has obviously destroyed people's ability to save and to buy things. At the same time, shortages are rampant, and that makes it impossible to get essential items like food and medicine. From what you saw, what are the processes people have to go through to buy basic things they need to meet basic needs or to get cash to make those purchases?

Ramsey: The interesting sort of irony of the situation in Venezuela is that there is hyperinflation, so cash is worthless, but at the same time, nobody has any cash. So ... most economic transactions are done with credit and debit cards, and in a country where the electronic infrastructure is crumbling, you can imagine that that presents serious logistical problems.

People routinely have to deal with their bank's electronic systems not working or the cash points, their readers of cards, not working correctly, so even something as simple as buying a cup of coffee can take an hour trying to go back and forth and slide your card multiple times, call up your bank, that sort of thing.

"'Eh, what's the difference.'"

Woody: I know in the run-up to the May 20 elections, there were still government supporters [backing Maduro], and Maduro maintains around 20% support, which is not nothing. What did you hear from them? How did they view the situation? How do they reconcile what's going on in the country with their support for the government?

Ramsey: I met with several government supporters, and I heard some sort of people straying from the official discourse, but not much. In general, I think there is acceptance of the idea that Venezuela is under what they call a "bloqueo financiero" or a financial blockade, and that the country's economic problems are the result of the collusion of the opposition with the international community in its sort of imperialist desire to get rid of Maduro.

Obviously we know that's not the case, but I think the government has, through state media, been particularly effective in pumping that message to its base.

However, I did talk to people that supported the government, but were, like most Venezuelans, not at all enthused about voting for Maduro, and so you had this interesting dynamic where I spoke to people that would go on about Chavez's legacy and how Venezuela is suffering from some international conspiracy and then ... I would ask them, 'So are you going to vote in these elections on May 20?' And what I heard in many cases was, 'Eh, what's the difference. what can I really expect to come out of that?'

• Sometimes, it’s tough to tell if someone is in love with you.
• However, some relationship experts believe that there are ways to tell if someone has stronger feelings than you may realize.
• With a bit of detective work, you can look for behaviors that indicate that a person secretly loves you.

Sometimes, a person right in front of you may be in love with you, but you don’t realize it. Perhaps you’re friends who hang out a lot and you even tell others that nothing’s going on — you’re “just friends.” However, little do you know that the person isharboring secret feelings for you.

Or maybe you are dating, but get mixed signals from them — though they’re not saying “I love you,” they are showing you through their subtle actions. Yes, they rescued you when you got stranded in the middle of the freeway when you ran out of gas, but isn’t that what friends do?

To get the scoop, Business Insider spoke to two relationship experts, includingDr. Suzana E. Flores, clinical psychologist and author of “Facehooked: How Facebook Affects Our Emotions, Relationships, and Lives.” “While there is no guaranteed way to knowif a person is truly in love with you, there are a few signs someone can show to reveal how they really feel,” Dr. Flores told Business Insider.

SEE ALSO: Using an all-too-common word in conversation can be destructive to your relationships — here’s what to say instead

1. They have fun with you even if the task at hand is not fun, per se

The saying, "It’s not what you do, but who you're with" is popular for a reason — because it's true. Pay attention to the person who's always there for you, even when the task at hand is not outwardly a fun one, like helping you move. "A sign someone may be in love with you includes their ability to have fun with you even during mundane tasks," Dr. Flores said. "If they are happy to see you, no matter what the two of you are doing, it may be love."

Kailen Rosenberg, elite matchmaker and founder of The Lodge Social Club, a dating application with a three-step vetting process that launched earlier this month, agrees. "The person will often go the 'extra mile' to help you with something — a project, a need, an errand, etc.," she told Business Insider. "Bottom line, they want to be near you, thought of by you, and assist you."

2. They look at you ... a lot

The next time you’re with the person in question, note how often they look at you. Harvard psychologist Zick Rubin found a correlation between eye contact and love. In his study, couples deeply in love look at one another 75% of the time while talking, while people engaged in conversation only look at each other about 30-60% of the time.

"When someone is in love with you, they will stare at your eyes more directly and for a longer period of time; they want to be completely present with you," Dr. Flores said. "This is why it's so important to interact with a love interest in person versus just through digital connection — we need to connect emotionally through eye contact."

3. They pay more attention to you

Everyone is busy, right? But people also make time for things — and others — that are important to them. “Someone may be in love when they begin to focus a lot of their attention on you, especially in one-on-one settings,” Dr. Flores said. Rosenberg agrees. “They’re just like the boy on the playground who used to pull your hair or tease you when you were a kid,” she said.

• Vacations are awesome.
• But returning from a break can be a real bummer.
• Here are some tips on how to ease back into work.

Coming back from a magical vacation isn't much fun.

One minute, you're lounging by the sparkling, blue sea without a care in the world. The next, you're back in your gray cubicle, feeling jet-lagged and sunburned.

But your transition back to the office doesn't have to be a total nightmare. In fact, there are certain steps you can take on your first day back that'll make the whole process much easier.

With some simple strategizing, you'll get back into your usual work groove in no time:

DON'T MISS: 12 signs you desperately need a vacation from work

DON'T MISS: 7 things successful people do the night before a vacation

Get an early start

If you want to ease back into work, you've got to prepare.

"Get to bed early the night before, and get in a little early," Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," told Business Insider. "That will mitigate the workload avalanche and give you a head start, sans distraction."

Don't stretch yourself thin

Don't schedule a ton of meetings and deadlines during your first day back. That'll just leave you feeling overwhelmed and behind on your work.

"Ideally, try and keep your first day back schedule-free from any meetings or appointments — keep it as open as possible so that you have the entire day free to catch up and not feel overwhelmed,"Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," told Business Insider.

Kerr recommended strategizing before you begin your day: "Take several minutes to plan your day before diving in, focus on priorities, and don't be afraid to ask for support."

If you're facing an avalanche of work, try prioritizing your tasks, Taylor said:

"Handle emergencies first. Decide what's most important to your job, your boss, and your project list. Look at the big picture, not what comes to you sequentially. Learn to say 'no' to low priority items hurled your way."

Get caught up

Before diving back in to individual emails and projects, Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, and author of "Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad," told Business Insider that it's important to get a broad idea of how things were while you were gone.

"Figure out if there were any major events or changes that occurred," he said. "This way, you'll be generally up to speed before diving in deep into the day-to day details of your work."

From rags to spit-and-polish boots, from scratchy blue wool to the new operational camouflage pattern, from tricorn hat to helmet, the Army uniform has changed drastically through the years.

In honor of the US Army’s 240th birthday, and the launch of the Operational Camouflage Pattern, Soldiers takes a look at the evolution of battle dress from the Revolution through today.

Editor’s note: Most of the historical information in this blog is from the US Army Center of Military History, as are all of the paintings. Multicam and operational camouflage information is from Army News Service stories. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are courtesy of the US Army Heritage and Education Center. Photos are also identified by photographer when possible.

SEE ALSO: Take a look at Arctic Edge 18 — where the US military is preparing to fight in the extreme cold

The Revolutionary War

Early in the war, most soldiers simply wore what they had, whether that was a state militia uniform, frontier dress (as seen here in the 1777 battle of Saratoga) or even their regular clothes. Washington actually ordered the use of fringed hunting shirts as a field garment to provide some uniformity until the Continental Army had a more consistent uniform.

Supply problems throughout the war — sometimes Congress actually failed to authorize uniform funds — forced many soldiers to huddle in blankets in the winter and tie rags around their feet when their shoes wore out.

Even officers’ uniforms varied widely. Here, Washington sports the blue and buff regimentals he designed, whereas an aide-de-camp wears brown and another general wears black. The officers’ ribbons, instituted by Washington, indicate their various ranks and positions. Noncommissioned officers were distinguished by epaulettes or strips of cloth on the right shoulder.

Later in the war, Continental Army uniforms became more standardized. Here, soldiers wear the uniforms prescribed in 1779: blue coats lined with white and trimmed with white buttons, worn with white overalls and waistcoats. The colors facing the coats identified Soldiers by region or branch.

For example, the lieutenant on the right wears blue faced with buff and shoulder epaulettes, indicating he is an infantry officer from New Jersey or New York. The soldier on the left is an artillery private.

In 1782, blue coats faced with red became standard for everyone except generals and staff officers.

• In early May, AAA announced the 2018 winners of its Top Green Vehicle award.
• Tesla's Model S and Model X won a combined four of the 10 categories.
• The Chevy Bolt won two categories.
• The vehicles were evaluated on 13 criteria, including fuel economy, safety, performance, and ride quality. 

Tesla has faced a number of challenges in recent months, including missed production goals, questions about the company's financial health, and concerns about working conditions at the Fremont, California, factory where the company makes its cars. But those cars still receive high demand and satisfaction ratings from consumers and positive reviews from experts.

In early May, AAA announced the 2018 winners of its Top Green Vehicle award, which is given to electric, hybrid, and fuel-efficient, gas-powered vehicles. Tesla won four out of the ten categories, with three going to its Model X SUV and one going to its Model S sedan. General Motors was the only other company to win multiple categories, with its Chevy Bolt compact hatchback winning two. Vehicles from Nissan, BMW, Ford, and Kia won the other categories.

The winners were evaluated on 13 criteria, including fuel economy, safety, performance, and ride quality. 

This year's results come as surveys indicate that demand for electric vehicles could increase in the coming years. While EVs currently make up around 1% of the global auto market, an AAA survey from 2018 found that 20% of Americans are likely to make their next vehicle electric. Respondents cited concern for the environment, lower long-term costs, and cutting-edge technology as the primary factors that would push them to buy an EV.

It remains to be seen if consumers' intentions will match reality, but for those who want a fully-electric, hybrid, or fuel-efficient, gas-powered vehicle now, there are a number of high-quality options.

These are the winners of AAA's Top Green Vehicle award for 2018.

SEE ALSO: 20 electric cars you'll see on the road by 2025

Overall: Tesla Model X 75D

Subcompact Car: Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier

Compact Car: Nissan Leaf SL

The company behind the biggest game in the world, "Fortnite," is being taken to court by the studio responsible for the second-biggest game in the world, "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," also known as "PUBG."

Stranger still: The two companies involved share a mutual investor, the Chinese holding company Tencent.

Bluehole, the South Korean company behind "PUBG," has filed a suit claiming that the US-based Epic Games is infringing on its copyright with "Fortnite." Bluehole intends to enforce its claim by suing Epic Games in South Korea, Bloomberg reported on Monday night.

This isn't the first time Bluehole has claimed Epic's "Fortnite" is copying "PUBG." Soon after "Fortnite" added its battle-royale mode in September, the Bluehole vice president and executive producer Chang Han Kim made his company's feelings about it clear.

"We are concerned that 'Fortnite' may be replicating the experience for which 'PUBG' is known," Kim said in a press release. It's also not the first time Bluehole has taken legal action to protect its battle-royale concept.

Here's a brief history of the ongoing battle over battle royale:

SEE ALSO: Why isn't 'Fortnite,' the world's most popular game, on Nintendo's Switch?

DON'T MISS: Over 45 million people are playing a bizarre shooter that pits 100 players against one another in a fight to the death — here's what's going on

First, what is "PUBG"?

You're jammed in a crappy plane with 100 other people, flying above an abandoned ex-Soviet island. You can jump whenever you want, knowing that as you plummet to the ground, 99 other people are plotting your imminent death. Of course, you're plotting theirs as well, just as soon as you can get your hands on a weapon.

Thankfully, though the island is uninhabited aside from you and the enemy players, its abandoned buildings — houses, hospitals, gas stations, etc. — are packed with P9s, AKs, and plenty of body armor.

As you scramble to put together a small arsenal and supplies for survival, you're also contending with the other 99 people doing the same thing. Sometimes those folks want to fight. Sometimes they're unarmed and just as terrified of you as you are of them.

Every interaction with another player in "PUBG" is a gamble, which is why it's so excellent.

"PUBG," a breakout hit, was the hottest game of 2017 by far and is an ongoing moneymaker.

It's hard to know exactly how much money "PUBG" has made, but we do know it's significant. On the PC's wildly popular Steam service, where it first launched as an unfinished "Early Access" game for $30, "PUBG" is the third-highest grossing game of all time. 

The latest sales numbers put "PUBG" somewhere in the realm of 30 million lifetime sales on PC alone. That's just shy of $1 billion in gross revenue in a single year.

That doesn't take into account the mobile version of the game — "PUBG" is available on both iPhone and Android, unlike "Fortnite"— nor does it account for sales on the Xbox One (which have been similarly brisk). 

It continues to be the most played game on Steam on a regular basis. Nearly 1.5 million people were playing it at the same time on Tuesday.

So, what is "Fortnite"?

"Fortnite" is a third-person shooter that is also focused on survival gameplay. You, or you and a group of friends, take on hordes of enemies from the tentative safety of a fort you've crafted. It's available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mac (there's also a version for iOS, which is coming to Android this summer).

There's a cartoony art style to "Fortnite," which tonally fits in alongside the game's goofy dialogue; there's a playful tone about everything in "Fortnite," which is starkly different from the dreary, dire tone of "PUBG." Moreover, the core of "Fortnite" is very different from "PUBG"— it's essentially a "tower defense" game.

In "Fortnite," like other tower-defense games, you're defending an immobile thing from waves of enemies. You have a period of time before the attack begins, when you're able to set up defenses (turrets, traps, walls, etc.). Once you trigger the battle, you must defend whatever that aforementioned thing is from being attacked. If you survive those waves, you've succeeded.

This isn't the stuff that Bluehole takes issue with.

They must learn how to greet people in multiple languages

They pack supplies of their own blood

They take extremely short trips

Greek yogurt is great for so many things — breakfast, a snack, dessert, the list goes on.

But with all the yogurt brands available at grocery stores, it can be hard to choose just one.

We did the work for you and sampled four brands — Fage, Chobani, Dannon, and Stonyfield — to see which is the tastiest.

Keep scrolling to read our thoughts.

For consistency purposes, we bought the same flavor across all four brands: blueberry.

Dannon, Chobani, and Stonyfield all have their blueberry flavoring at the bottom.

Fage is the only brand that comes with a separate compartment.

On Friday, the FBI warned that anyone who uses a router to connect to the internet should reboot their routers.

The warning is related to Russian malware (malicious software) called VPNFilter that can secretly install itself onto internet routers and collect data from an unsuspecting user. So far, it's estimated that 500,000 devices — mostly from Ukraine — have been affected.

Rebooting internet routers will "temporarily disrupt the malware and aid the potential identification of infected devices," according to the FBI. The agency also recommends disabling your routers' remote-management settings and updating the password you use to access your router's settings.

If there's an update available for your router, you should install that too.

I'll be using my Netgear router to show you to disable your router's remote-management feature, reboot your router, and install updates if they're available. Router settings will look different on routers from different companies, so this might not look the same if you have a router from a different company. Still, the settings on your router should be pretty similar, and you can always pull out the manual or search online how to do these things on your router.

Check out how to access your router's settings and update its firmware.

SEE ALSO: How to prevent Amazon's Alexa and Echo devices from accidentally sending private conversations to your contacts

1. Access your router's settings.

To access your router's settings, type in these numbers into your web browser's search bar: 192.168.1.1

You'll be asked to provide an account name and password. If you didn't add those to your router when you first set it up, it's most likely the default username and password:

Username: admin

Password: password

If your router has different default login credentials, check your router's manual or do a quick online search, like "[Your router brand, your router model] default login."

If you're still using the default login credentials, you should add your own password. I'll show you how later in this post.

If you did add your own credentials, use them.

2. Change your login credentials for your router settings.

Head to your router's Advanced settings > Administration > Set Password > follow the steps > click "apply."

3. Disable the remote-management settings suggested by the FBI.

Some brands like Netgear have the remote-management feature disabled by default, but it's easy to check and worth doing while you're in your router's settings.

On my Netgear router, I go to the Advanced tab > Advanced Setup > Remote Management > and make sure it's disabled.

If it's enabled, I uncheck the box next to "turn remote management on" and click "apply."

It's always nice to make a first impression when meeting your potential spouse, but some meetings are more memorable than others — especially when they're for TV.

"The Bachelor" franchise is known for having some bizarre first meetings when contestants step out of the limo. Some skip out on the limo and bring their own choice of vehicle and others come bearing unique items. Some wear costumes and others have weird one-liners. While some of these fun ideas leave a good impression, some lead to quick good-byes on the ABC reality franchise.

Here are 18 of the weirdest first introductions on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." 

Chantal O'Brien left her mark on season 11 of "The Bachelor" when she slapped the leading man.

Brad Womack was looking for love for a second time, but was caught off-guard when O'Brien gave him a slap in the face. 

"It's not from me; it's from every woman in America," she said before hitting him. 

The slap apparently didn't deter Womack from getting to know her. O'Brien ended up as his runner-up. 

Season 16 of "The Bachelor" featured a 72-year-old retiree, but she was just there to introduce her granddaughter, Brittney Schreiner.

Bachelor Ben Flajnik was shocked to see a 72-year-old woman emerge from the limo with crutches. He was relieved to know that Sheryl was only a grandmother there to introduce her granddaughter. 

Schreiner ended up quitting the competition during week three.  

Luxury brand consultant Kalon McMahon showed off his wealth on "The Bachelorette" season eight by arriving in his own private helicopter.

McMahon's arrogance later caught up with him when he was kicked out of the house for calling bachelorette Emily Maynard's daughter "baggage." 

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:

• If you have an Android phone and you want a smartwatch, there are lots of great options that run Google's Wear OS software. Of all the current smartwatches for Android users, our favorite is the Huawei Watch 2 because it has a sporty design, a heart rate monitor, and other high-tech features.

Although the Apple Watch is the best-selling smartwatch by far, Android users still have a number of good smartwatches to choose from. Google's Wear OS software puts access to your favorite apps and info right on your wrist. Since it was introduced in 2014 as Android Wear, the wearable software has undergone a number of minor revisions and a big name change from Android Wear to Wear OS.

The number of Wear OS smartwatches has also grown significantly since its inception. Now, even fashion brands are getting on the smartwatch train, so there are tons of great stylish options available for both men and women. It has been a while since big tech companies refreshed their smartwatch offerings, so we expect to have new options from Google, Samsung, and others soon.

All of the smartwatches in our guide support at least Wear OS 2.0, with varying levels of compatibility with the latest feature set. All of them are also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor, except for our least expensive pick, the TicWatch E. They all even have similar battery life in Wear OS mode, although some have features that extend battery life through other means.

Still, there are a lot of considerations and preferences to take into account when buying a watch. Our favorite picks, the Huawei Watch 2 Sport and the LG Watch Sport, come from mobile phone manufacturers and sport a full feature set and tech-focused look. The fashionable picks from brands like Fossil and Skagen trade in a few features for a more fashionable design. Finally, our budget-friendly pick, the Ticwatch E, manages to find room for a few crucial features at its low price point.

The bottom line is, you have some solid options, and only a few key differences separate them. Our picks cover the spread, giving you a nice blend of features, looks, and price.

• Best overall: Huawei Watch Sport 2
• Best for bigger wrists: LG Watch Sport
• Best for women: Kate Spade Scallop
• Best for style: Skagen Falster
• Best for subtlety: Fossil Q Explorist
• Best affordable option: Ticwatch E

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatches you can buy

The best Wear OS smartwatch overall

Why you'll love it: The Huawei Watch 2 Sport sets the bar high for Wear OS devices, with a variety of fitness features and a 25-day watch mode, all at a wallet-friendly price.

The Huawei Watch 2 Sport presents a value proposition that’s hard to beat. In addition to full Wear OS 2.0 support, it packs in GPS and a heart rate monitor, making it one of the best equipped Android Wear watches. It’s a bit on the pricey side, with a $300 price tag, but it frequently pops up for less than $250 on Amazon.

It packs in some unique features, too. The Watch Mode turns off most of the Android Wear functionality but extends the battery life to 25 days of standard watch operation. You’ll still have access to your clock and pedometer until you turn the Android Wear functionality back on, making Watch Mode perfect for when you forget to charge your watch or if you’re trying to get off the grid for a bit.

Like a number of the Android Wear watches in our guide, the Huawei Watch 2 Sport features the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. It’s a competent, albeit aging, chip that, along with 768MB of RAM, is more than capable of handling the lightweight Wear OS operating system. The 1.2-inch screen is on the smaller side, but it boasts sharp colors and solid brightness.

The Huawei Watch 2 Sport has a number of glowing reviews to its name. CNET’s Dan Graziano said it “has almost everything I look for in a smartwatch." Digital Trends praised the Huawei Watch 2 Sport for the watch mode, and for its lightweight, comfortable design. 

Buyer reviews on Amazon highlighted the bright, sharp screen and light feel, but noted the battery life suffered under strenuous use.

Pros: 25-day Watch Mode, lightweight design, clear screen, heart rate monitor, GPS

Cons: Middling battery life, plastic body

Buy the Huawei Watch 2 Sport on Amazon for $228 (originally $299.99)

The best Wear OS smartwatch for bigger wrists

Why you'll love it: The LG Watch Sport has a big, beautiful screen and a full feature set, as long as you don’t mind the bulky design.

The LG Watch Sport is a bit bulkier than the Huawei Watch 2 Sport, which might be just the trick for some people. Its 1.38-inch OLED screen is big enough that apps feel a bit more comfortable during heavy use. Of course, the watch hangs off your wrist all day, and it’s not just wider, but a bit thicker than some of the other options.

Just because it’s a little hearty, doesn’t mean it can’t be attractive. The watch is wrapped in attractive stainless steel, with an elegant brushed finish that helps it look just like any traditional watch, even if it is a little on the large side. It has a physical crown for scrolling through apps and notifications, an addition that Wareable says“makes the whole experience feel a bit more elegant. Faster, too.”

Under the hood, you’ll find the familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, a 1.1GHz chip with 768MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. It’s a common chip for Android Wear 2.0 devices and provides snappy performance for most apps.

It also packs in optional LTE coverage for American users, something the Huawei doesn’t offer. With Bluetooth headphones, you can make and receive calls from the watch itself, without tethering your phone. It also has its own always-on mode, which TechRadar claimed drains the battery at about 2% per hour.

At $350 suggested retail, the LTE-enabled LG Watch Sport can’t quite compete with the Huawei Watch Sport 2’s value. It does, however, offer a larger screen and LTE in the United States, which could be important features, depending on your needs.

Pros: Big, bright screen, elegant design, useful crown, LTE option

Cons: Slightly bulky, battery life

Buy the AT&T LTE LG Watch Sport at Best Buy for $349.99

The best Wear OS smartwatch for women

Why you'll love it: The Kate Spade Scallop is the first smartwatch that is truly feminine, whimsical, and charming.

Most smartwatches are still more unisex than specifically made for women. Even though Fossil, Skagen, and Apple make very convincing unisex watches that women can actually wear, none of them are unapologetically feminine. The Kate Spade Scallop is fully and completely designed for women.

The round metal watch casing is relatively slim, very sleek, and absolutely adorable because it has the cute little detail of scalloping around the watch face.

The watch faces themselves are classic Kate Spade designs. You get a sultry winking moon face with perfectly curled lashes, calling you a leading lady; cute bubbly balloons for a digital watch face with numbers; a speeding cab that reassures you that you'll be there in a New York minute; and a daisy that loses petals as the time ticks away in a classic game of "He loves me; he loves me not."

The cute leather watch band in black or light pink and the well-made, slim metal bracelet style watch band complete the feminine look. It is these little touches that make this watch so fun. 

Underneath all the fun design is Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) with all its skills and limitations. Like all the other Wear OS watches in our guide, you can pair it an iPhone or Android device to get apps and all your notifications.

I truly love this smartwatch's design in a way I've never loved any other. Alas, it's not quite as fully featured or friendly to small wrists as the Apple Watch. The Scallop lacks GPS, NFC for payments, the heart rate monitor of the Apple Watch. Still, if those things hold no value to you, this is the watch to get. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Adorable design, feminine watch faces and casing, cute straps, subtle details for fun

Cons: No GPS or heart rate monitor

Shop all Kate Spade Scallop Smartwatch styles for $225 and up

At work, a calendar filled with meetings and deadlines often dictates the cadence of our days. But despite what tightly timed agendas might try to insist, our internal body clocks are secretly running the show. Scientists call this personalized daily pattern of sleep and wakefulness a circadian rhythm.

Whether you know it or not, our bodies have a specifically set programming schedule for the best time of day to concentrate, spark new ideas, and experience peak performance.

Scientists have tracked how cognitive abilities rise and fall, and found that most of our brains follow a neatly predictable pattern of cognition that fluctuates hour by hour, throughout the course of a day. Author Daniel Pink revealed his formula for a perfect science-backed workday in his 2018 New York Times bestseller"When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing."

The strategy for your own perfect day might differ from this, depending on whether you're more of an early riser or a night owl, but in his book Pink reveals a basic formula for a better work schedule, whatever time of day you tend to plug in. We've added in a few other science-backed ways to make your workday better, too.

Take a look.

SEE ALSO: How often to clean everything you own, from your toilet to your phone, according to science

Almost all of us fall into a predictable mood pattern each morning.

Scientists who studied 509 million tweets from 2.4 million people in 84 countries around the world found that just about everyone's mood follows a body-clock-linked daily rhythm.

Our attitudes brighten in the morning. As we wake, we become happier, warmer and enjoy work more. The good feeling typically peaks somewhere around noon.

Source: British Journal of Psychology

So it might be best to schedule important meetings and earnings calls during these happier morning hours.

Researchers who studied more than 26,500 earnings calls in the US from 2001 to 2007 found that, generally, the tone of an earnings call became more negative as the workday wore on.

Just moving an 8 a.m. earnings call to a 3 p.m. slot could translate "to abnormal returns of −1.5% a year," on average, a Harvard Business Review report said.

Every year, there are songs that become fast hits, but sometimes artists can't replicate that popularity and become one-hit wonders.

And while they are some really great one-hit wonders, others are just bad. Aqua's "Barbie Girl" is annoying, and Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" is just too repetitive. 

But being a bad one-hit wonder doesn't necessarily mean the song isn't a bop, it just means that in retrospect, it's not really a good overall song. 

So without further ado, here are 50 of the worst one-hit wonders. 

"I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (1991)

"I'm Too Sexy" was the debut single from brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass of Right Said Fred. The catchy song proved to be a hit, topping the charts in countries including Australia and the United States. We still can't escape the song in 2018 thanks to Taylor Swift using the same rhythmic pattern in her single "Look What You Made Me Do." 

Listen to the song here. 

"Axel F" by Crazy Frog (2005)

The Swedish computer-animated Crazy Frog character is literally known as "The Annoying Thing," and that moniker can extend to his songs as well. But despite how annoying "Axel F" was, the song somehow managed to find international success, peaking at No. 1 in countries including Australia, Spain, and Sweden. The song spawned a viral meme when a video of two boys lip-syncing and dancing to it hit YouTube. 

Listen to the song here. 

"Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex (1994)

The origins of a folk song called "Cotton-Eyed Joe" extend back to the 1880s, but the most popular version of the song is a remix from Swedish group Rednex. The techno tune made people dance and even hit No. 1 in a few countries, but it's fairly irritating after a few seconds. 

Listen to the song here. 

You don't need to spend $800 or more to get an incredible smartphone experience in 2018. You can find plenty of excellent smartphones around the $500 range.

But what if you're only in the market for an iPhone?

Not everyone wants the newest or most expensive iPhone available — plenty of people just want a great phone at a great value.

Apple sells eight distinct iPhone models right now. Take a look at which ones give you the most bang for your buck:

8. iPhone X

Price: $999 for 64 GB, or $1,149 for 256 GB

New technology doesn't come cheap. The iPhone X is the most expensive iPhone you can buy right now, as it's the newest and most futuristic smartphone Apple makes, with Face ID to replace Touch ID and its gorgeous OLED screen.

The iPhone X starts at $150 more than the next most-expensive phone on the list — the iPhone 8 Plus with maxed-out storage — but the few differences between the iPhone X and iPhone 8 probably won't justify the price gap for many customers.

7. iPhone 8 Plus

Price: $799 for 64 GB, or $949 for 256 GB

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus share many of the same features as the iPhone X, including Apple's A11 Bionic chip that powers the phone, similar cameras on the front and back, and support for wireless charging.

That said, the iPhone 8 isn't that much cheaper than the iPhone X.

It costs $800 to start — almost $1,000 if you want more storage — but its design will feel very familiar if you've ever owned an iPhone 6, 6S, or 7. It also doesn't perform that much better compared to older iPhones; the exception is battery life, which is far better on the iPhone 8 Plus than any other iPhone available.

6. iPhone 8

Price: $699 for 64 GB, or $849 for 256 GB

We're starting to get into the areas of better value. If you're okay with a smaller screen, no portrait mode, and not-as-crazy-good battery life, you can have all the benefits of the iPhone 8 Plus for $100 less by getting the normal iPhone 8.

Still, you're paying $700 for an iPhone in 2018 that looks — and performs — similar to iPhone models that are two to three years old.

• Commuting to work via public transportation is usually cheaper than driving everywhere.
• But in these major cities, a monthly pass for public transportation may still be a major expense.
• The most expensive cities for commuting to work are in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Next to housing, transportation is one of the largest recurring expenses people face. In a major metropolis, that likely means a fair amount of time packed into the subway, trolley, or bus getting a little too acquainted with your fellow city dwellers.

The good news: It's better for the environment, and, depending on where you live, it may be cheaper than owning a car. 

The bad news: It can still be really expensive. 

In London, the most expensive city in the world for public transportation, you'll need to shell out nearly $197 for a month of riding the Tube. In New York City, a monthly transit pass costs $121. 

That's according to a recent report by Deutsche Bank, which analyzes the cost of living and compares prices among the largest cities around the world. 

The report sources prices from Expatistan, a site that tracks cost-of-living expenses in over 200 countries, for a "monthly ticket public transport" in nearly 50 cities. 

Here are the 16 most expensive cities in the world for commuting via public transportation each month. All prices are in US dollars.

SEE ALSO: The 20 cities where Americans work the hardest

DON'T MISS: 11 US cities where people are the least healthy, have the most miserable commutes, and don't sleep enough

16. Paris — $88.90

15. Oslo, Norway — $89.40

14. Zurich — $94.70

• Chaminade High School is a Catholic, all-boys school on Long Island, in New York.
• The school has a strict dress code, requires four years of religion courses, and teaches Bloomberg financial software to upperclassmen.
• Chaminade is the alma mater of several notable figures in politics and business, including conservative news anchor Bill O'Reilly, two Republican former senators, and the former CEOs of IBM and NBC.

Chaminade is no ordinary school. Students actively participate in athletics and clubs, everyone has an iPad, and all of the teenage boys are clean-cut and dressed in their Sunday best for religion classes.

Chaminade, which was founded nearly 90 years ago, also counts multiple high-powered media stars, CEOs, and politicians as alumni, including conservative news anchor Bill O'Reilly, two Republican former senators, the former CEOs of IBM of NBCUniversal.

Take a look at Chaminade High School and meet the powerful men who went to school there:

SEE ALSO: The best public high school in every state

DON'T MISS: At a high school in California, parents pay $55,300 a year for their kids to spend 6 weeks without cell phones, live in log cabins, and farm for their food

Chaminade High School is an all-boys Catholic school for grades 9 through 12.

Source: Chaminade

Chaminade is in Mineola, New York, a town on Long Island less than an hour drive from Midtown Manhattan. Annual tuition is $10,960, though the school offers financial aid and merit scholarships.

Source: Chaminade

The school was founded in 1930 and current total enrollment is 1,700 students. Chaminade's website says it promotes a "rigorous co-curricular, liberal-arts curriculum in an atmosphere that emphasizes the development of Christian community and education of the heart."

Source:  Chaminade

• Parenthood has its ups and downs, especially the first time around.
• My husband and I bribed my son with chocolates and messed up his bedtime routine every now and then, but having a happy and healthy five-year-old outweighs our missteps.
• Though every parent strives to be the best they can, there are times when we look back and think, “I should’ve done that differently.”
• Here are the four biggest mistakes that I made before my kid turned five.

When my son turned five early this year, my husband and I clinked our glasses and toasted to each other. We may have bribed him with desserts to take one bite of broccoli, messed up his bedtime routine every now and then, and overindulged him with toys on his birthday. But having a happy, healthy, and warm five-year-old outweighs our missteps.  

Though every parent strives to be the best they can, there are times when we look back and think, “I should’ve done that differently.” Here are the 4 biggest mistakes that I made before my kid turned five.

SEE ALSO: 5 things my parents let me do that I would never let my kids do

1. I believed that breast milk was irreplaceable

The nutritional benefit of breast milk is well established, according to the American Pregnancy Association. I thought that I made an educated choice about exclusively breastfeeding in the delivery room by requesting on every possible form to not give my newborn formula or water.

But the reality was that I didn’t lactate until one week after labor. My child was starved the first two days, and we made regular hospital visits for two weeks to check hisjaundice. As a first-time mom, I was ignorant about the fact that certain natural processes were beyond my control.

“He’s too hungry,” the pediatrician said when he offered us bottles of prepared formula, and I realized that giving my child formula was the best choice.

There is evidence to suggest that the observed benefits of breastfeeding are confounded by other parenting factors, such as socioeconomic status. In this instance, perhaps my desire to be “good enough” was counterproductive, as it prevented me from seeing the forest for the trees.

2. I assumed that potty training would be a breeze

My mother always raved about thetraditional Chinese toilet training method, where parents use a whistling sound to teach babies to relieve themselves into the toilet on command.

Instead, I opted for the American Academy of Pediatrics’child-readiness method, where you wait for cues from the child that they’re ready to start using the toilet. The natural approach appealed to me. However, I was not mentally prepared for how slow the process would be.

I encouraged with hugs and stickers, paused if my son showed no interest, read numerous potty-training books, and praised his successes with treats. There was not much progress a year into his toilet training. It was more painful than giving birth!

I was anxious that he would still be in training pants when he started school. Finally, a few days after he turned three and a half, he instantly grasped the whole thing!  

In retrospect, I could have given the aggressive 3-day method a shot. There has yet to be a scientific answer about which is the most effective way of potty training, according to a review of research on the topic. It’s all about trial and error.

3. I thought that I could purge my kid’s artwork at will

Don’t get me wrong — I care about my son’s creativity. We talk about his ideas and presentation whenever he brings home projects.

At the same time, I’m a neat freak. We were flooded with arts and crafts when he entered preschool. I barely felt a twinge of guilt when I tossed out stickers with lousy adhesive, glitter art that got everywhere, and half-baked coloring pages.

One day, my son spotted his drawing of a (hardly decipherable) ice cream in the trash, and he had a total meltdown. He screamed at me for throwing away a project he liked and still wanted to work on. I was glad that he let his true emotions out, and I apologized profusely for my carelessness.

I’ve learned the hard way to always, always talk to my child, respond to his feelings, and involve him in the decision-making process — even if it’s over a picture of ice cream.

• No state is perfect — no matter how much you love it.
• For example, Iowa may have been ranked the overall best state by US News, but it's not without problems. It isn't the most innovative state, and has the fewest environmentally-friendly buildings per capita in the US. 
• While the flaws range from minor (too many hipsters) to major (a high rate of drug overdoses), every state has something they can work on.

State pride is important. Almost everyone feels some sort of attachment towards their home, but the truth is that every place — yes, even your favorite — has at least one compromising quality that makes it sort of the worst. 

From the outrageously miserable winters in Minnesota to crumbling streets in Vermont, keep reading to discover the worst thing about living in each state.

ALABAMA: It's home to "the worst poverty in the developed world."

Part of a 2017 United Nations study on poverty and human rights abuses in America determined that rural Alabama is home to the worst poverty in the developed world.

Per Advance Local, U.N. Rapporteur Philip Alston was specifically concerned with an outbreak of hookworm in Alabama in 2017, a disease that tends to only be found in nations with substandard sanitary conditions."I think it's very uncommon in the First World," he said.

ALASKA: Alcohol misuse is rampant.

According to a 2018 article in the Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin, almost half of the Alaska children in "out of home placements" or foster care were from homes with reported parental or guardian alcohol abuse.

Additionally, 47,427 alcohol-attributable criminal justice convictions occurred in Alaska between 2006 and 2016, and of those convictions, 85% were for intoxicated driving.

Finally, alcohol induced deaths are three times the national average in Alaska. In 2016, there were 182 deaths attributed to alcohol — that's 22.9 per 100,000 of-age locals.

ARIZONA: Teacher turnover rates are high.

WalletHub placed Arizona dead last in its annual rankings for the best and worst states in which to be a teacher, citing the state's low public-school spending per student, the high pupil-to-teacher ratio, and high teacher turnover rates.