Losing weight is hard — that's why it's a $66 billion industry in the US alone.

Losing weight can be tough and it's something that is often shrouded in guilt and secrecy. If you want to lose weight or even simply adopt a healthier lifestyle, here are 13 things you need to know beforehand, no matter what your plan is.

Not everyone's meant to be super-thin — and that's OK. It doesn't mean you're not healthy.

Let me put it bluntly: If you're embarking on a diet plan so you can look like someone else, you're probably going to be disappointed.

The simple truth is we're all built differently. There are scientific explanations for why people's bodies store and burn fat in different ways.

But don't adopt the mindset that because you're body's built a certain way, healthy eating and exercise are pointless. Despite the natural factors that make weight loss harder for some people, scientists still maintain that the obesity epidemic has more to do with caloric intake than genetic makeup.

You'll always benefit from cutting processed foods and moving more, even if washboard abs or a lower number on the scale aren't in your immediate future. Just manage your expectations.

You're going to hear a lot of conflicting information and uninformed opinions.

There's no one diet plan that's going to satisfy everyone. Talk to a keto devotee about your increased fruit intake, and they might lecture you about the sugar content in bananas. A proponent of Weight Watchers might insist that cutting any food group is pointless and unsustainable.

But only you can decide what works for you. And you must stick to your guns when people insist you're wrong because believe me, they will.

You're going to receive unwanted advice from everyone — even the people who are asking you for advice. And their input says more about them than it does about you. So learn which sources to trust and which ones to politely ignore. Do your research, talk to your doctor, understand how your diet and exercise routine works, and make sure you really believe in what you're doing.

Eating fewer calories is going to be hard at first.

Weight loss is the result of a simple math equation: you're burning more calories than you're taking in. This means that when you start a diet, you'll probably be eating less food than usual or food that doesn't feel as satisfying at first. The physical process is simple, but mentally, the execution is so hard.

At the beginning of a weight-loss plan, feelings of deprivation are normal and often mostly mental, but you also shouldn't be starving. Just make sure you're getting enough calories, and be patient. Once you've built new habits, your brain will forget the old way of doing things.

• Friday the 13th has been a superstitious date for a very long time, but no one knows exactly why.
• Whether you believe in the bad luck this day brings, there are multiple examples of terrible or tragic events happening on these Fridays throughout history.
• The next Friday the 13th is in April, so beware.

Friday the 13th is so famously unlucky that there's even a phobia dedicated to it: friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Even if you personally don't put stock in this fear, there are a lot of people who do. According to CNBC, the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimated that between $700 to $800 million dollars are lost every Friday the 13th because people are afraid to shop, travel, and conduct business.

Still think it's just a superstition? These events might be enough to convince even the most determined non-believer.

Buckingham Palace was bombed during WWII.

According to the New York Daily News, the German forces during WWII bombed Buckingham Palace on September 13, 1940. The bombs hit both the palace and its chapel.

Even scarier, the King and Queen were both at the residence at the time of the attack. Even though the event was traumatic, Queen Elizabeth merely stated she was "glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face."

Tupac Shakur passed away.

The murder of Tupac Shakur is one of the most famous unsolved cases in recent history. Some say he was taken out by his friend Suge Knight, others are convinced it was Christopher Wallace (a.k.a the Notorious B.I.G.),  while others still think the FBI conspired to kill Shakur in order to end the violent East Coast vs West Coast feud.

The details we do know: Shakur was shot four times on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas. He succumbed to his injuries six days later on Friday, September 13. 

A British 13-year-old was struck by lightning on Friday the 13th, at 13:13.

While getting struck by lightning is definitely horrible, this incident ended up being a miracle. According to the Daily Mail, the unnamed teenager was struck by lightning while at an air show in England  and was treated only for burns on his shoulder. The hospital stated he was expected to make a full recovery.

San Francisco has raised its minimum wage from $14 to $15 an hour, largely as a response to out-of-control housing prices. The law went into effect on on July 1.

An hourly wage of $15 is more than twice the federal rate of $7.25, but it's still not enough to live in San Francisco comfortably, according to an SFGate analysis of data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. With a minimum-wage job, the numbers suggest, San Franciscans still need to work 160 hours per week to rent a two-bedroom home.

Minimum wage levels differ by city, but many activist groups in other metros are pushing for their own bumps to $15 per hour.

The Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think-tank, has compiled a list of minimum wages in cities across the US. In some areas, workers who receive tips can make as little as $2.13 an hour.

Many cities follow state or federal minimum wage standards — even though the cost of living tends to be higher in urban areas than the rest of the state or country. In a process called indexing, some metros will soon begin adjusting minimum wage levels annually to account for inflation (based on the state or metro area's Consumer Price Index). Just six states currently have mandatory indexed increases, though several more have legislation in the works.

Take a look below at the minimum wage in 13 major US cities — the list is ordered based on each city's median rental cost for all housing types.

SEE ALSO: Vintage EPA photos reveal what New York City looked like before the US regulated pollution

Detroit — $9.25 an hour

Minimum wage:$9.25 an hour

Tipped wage:$3.52 an hour

Upcoming increases: Statewide annual indexing will begin in April 2019, unless the unemployment rate is high. The hourly wage will rise to $10 in 2019, $10.65 in 2020, $11.35 in 2021, and $12 in 2022. Yearly inflationary adjustments could follow based on Michigan's Consumer Price Index. Under another proposal pending approval, tipped employees would be paid full minimum wage on top of their tips by 2024.

Median rental housing price:$800 per month

Note: Every city in Michigan follows state minimum wage standards.

Louisville — $7.25 an hour

Minimum wage:$7.25 an hour

Tipped wage:$2.13 an hour

Upcoming increases: None

Median rental housing price:$1,195 per month

Note: Every city in Kentucky follows federal minimum wage standards. In 2016, the state ruled that cities do not have the authority to raise the minimum wage.

Iowa City — $7.25 an hour

Minimum wage:$7.25 an hour

Tipped wage:$4.35 an hour

Upcoming increases: Annual indexing will begin in January 2021.

Median rental housing price:$1,325 per month

Most cities in Iowa follow federal minimum wage standards. In 2017, the state's former governor Terry Branstad signed a bill that limited the minimum wage in Johnson County (where Iowa City is located) to $7.25 — before a proposed $10.10 raise could take effect there.

You don’t need to spend big bucks to see incredible views of the stars. All you really have to do is get away from civilization and visit one of the best places in the US to stargaze.

Here are 10 places you're guaranteed to see a spectacular night sky. 

Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming offers unparalleled views.

The otherworldly landscape of Devil's Tower is etched into the minds of sci-fi fans, as the centerpiece of Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." You aren’t likely to see any UFO’s swirling around Devil’s Tower at night, but if you visit Wyoming’s most mysterious monument during the summer months, a glance up will treat you to views of a rising Milky Way Galaxy over an 867-foot tall monolith.

Staking out a site at the National Park Service’s Belle Fourche campground inside of the national monument will give you unhindered views of the tower for $20 per night, while the nearby Joyner Ridge Trail will place photographers far away from the light pollution and clamor of camp. Bring a flashlight, and take a twilight stroll along the trail while you wait for the galaxy to rise.

Head to Creede, Colorado for tacos and stargazing.

Located more than four hours by car from Denver, this Southern Colorado hideaway is a holdover from pioneer days. However, you won’t find streets littered with ski slopes and rocky candy shops in Creede. Instead, you’ll find elevated views of the stars atop Bachelor Loop Road, scattered among rolling vistas and abandoned mines.

Treat yourself to some of the finest tacos in the state at Kip’s Grill, before making your way up Bachelor Loop Road to soak in the views. Be warned: the road is narrow, unpaved, and steep in many places. If you’re afraid of heights, this is a view you’ll have to work for.

Looking for a pit-stop on the way? Swing by Great Sand Dunes National Park en route for a Sahara-like landscape unique among US national parks.

Mojave National Preserve, California offers a peaceful stargazing experience.

An hour’s drive south of Las Vegas, the Mojave National Preserve is home to an endless sea of sagebrush, sand, and Joshua trees. Bereft of national park status, the preserve sees far fewer visitors than the relatively close major parks at the Grand Canyon and Death Valley.

The National Park Service operates two, family-friendly campgrounds within the preserve; however, my best recommendation is to make for visitor’s center at Kelso Depot and ask a park ranger about dispersed camping areas. They’re likely to point you in the direction of a lonely fire pit hidden somewhere in the desert, and that’s where a sublime stargazing experience awaits.

Light is such a commodity here at night, that a set of party lights can illuminate your campground. And, in the Mojave, you’ll find the stars unobstructed, save for the peculiar Joshua trees or mountain peaks in the distance.

• Some companies will help employees pay for vacation.
• Glassdoor recently released a list of companies that give financial support to employees who want to travel.
• From that list, FlexJobs pulled out nine companies that also offer remote or part-time opportunities.
• These nine companies will help employees pay for their trips while also offering flexible job opportunities so they can work on the road.

These companies really help you customize your work-life balance.

Believe it or not, there are some companies that will actually help their employees pay for vacations. If this seems like a wild pipe dream to you, maybe it's time to reconsider your career path...

Anonymous job review site Glassdoor recently put out a list of companies that offer financial support to employees planning a trip, including stipends, discounts, and reimbursements. From that list of companies, FlexJobs — a website that helps you find less structured work than a typical 9-to-5 desk job — pulled out nine that not only contribute to your trip fund but also offer flexible job opportunities, like remote or part-time.

Here are the nine "flexible companies" that pitch in financially to their employees' trips–but read at your own peril because the benefits will make you seriously question how amazing those free Monday morning bagels in your office are.

Airbnb encourages employees to travel.

The accommodation site Airbnb has helped countless travelers find a place to stay, and it turns out employees have a little assistance when it comes to traveling, too. The company grants $2,000 a year in travel coupons to the people who work there.

BambooHR offers "paid paid vacation" to employees.

Similarly to Airbnb, BambooHR — a tech company focused on improving human resources through software — gifts employees $2,000 a year toward travel. The company calls it "paid paid vacation."

Evernote gives employees unlimited vacation days.

As a product, Evernote is an app that helps people organize their work and collaborate on projects. As a company, Evernote helps people travel by giving them unlimited vacation days and a $1,000 yearly travel stipend.

MoviePass is known for being a non-expensive moviegoing subscription service — but it's also known for its awful customer service. 

Whenever MoviePass posts a meme on social media, which it loves to do, the comments on the post from frustrated users usually refer to MoviePass' poor customer service. Whether it's users complaining about the app, or not receiving a card in the mail after months, MoviePass' social media posts usually backfire.

I'm a regular MoviePass user, and use the service to go to the movies numerous times a month. It's convenient, and has saved me a lot of money. But I also recently ran into MoviePass' poor customer service, and it was a frustrating, but comical, experience.

Here's what happened: the week that "Incredibles 2" came to theaters, MoviePass users experienced an error on the app where they could not check in to a movie. For those who don't know how the service works, users check in to a movie at the appropriate theater on the app and then use their MoviePass card to purchase the ticket.

On Twitter, MoviePass said that the issue was resolved. But my girlfriend and I experienced it anyway, and couldn't check in for "Incredibles 2." If there was an update, we didn't see one, and didn't really have time to troubleshoot that much. I had waited 14 years for "Incredibles 2." I wasn't going to wait any longer.

We paid out-of-pocket, which is fine. But MoviePass always encourages people to request a refund. So I tweeted at them my issue, and they told me to direct message them. 

Here's how it went down:

SEE ALSO: The positive Rotten Tomatoes audience score for 'Gotti' has raised suspicions after the movie's thrashing by critics

The conversation started off well enough. MoviePass immediately got back to me and asked if I could tell them my email address. I did, but a few days went by after that.

When I followed up after not hearing from MoviePass for a few days, they got back to me and asked for my phone model and operating system. It was an odd request to me, but I'm sure there was a reason for it.

What happened next is where things got frustrating. MoviePass asked for more details about the issue I had experienced, which is fine. But it seemed as though they were stalling to me. I had told them my issue, and it's not that complicated. I couldn't check in to a movie, which is an issue users frequently have. But it wasn't so much that they asked for more details, which is a reasonable request — it's what came next that was really frustrating.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

"Ant-Man and the Wasp" is out in theaters. While you probably have some questions after the movie and its jaw-dropping ending, the sequel also contains references to the comics and the "Ant-Man" movie that came before it.

INSIDER rounded up a collection of the best Easter eggs, callbacks, and nods we noticed while watching the movie and from around the web.

If you were wondering why Hope Van Dyne is such a skilled fighter in the sequel, you shouldn't be surprised.

In 2015's "Ant-Man," Hank Pym says his daughter studied martial arts after the disappearance of her mother, Janet. She was the one who trained Scott in the first movie.

It's confirmed that Hope's mom Janet can be briefly seen in the first "Ant-Man" movie.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has flashbacks to the his time in the Quantum Realm at the end of the first movie. There, he sees someone flying around briefly. That's Hope's mom, Janet Van Dyne.

Hank Pym tells Hope he lost her mother in the Quantum Realm years ago when the two of them were trying to save a number of people from a bomb exploding. Janet Van Dyne went subatomic to stop the bomb and has spent the past 30 years floating through the Quantum Realm.

Director Peyton Reed confirmed to Collider in 2015 viewers should be on the lookout for "something or someone" in the Quantum Realm.

FBI agent Jimmy Woo says Scott Lang took a joint plea deal which gave him two years house arrest and three years probation.

Although his name is never said on screen, it's likely a member of the Avengers took that same deal.

• McDonald's restaurant crew members have seen it all.
• Business Insider spoke with a number of current and former McDonald's employees about the worst things they've seen on the job.
• They shared their horror stories with us, from early morning soda runs to oatmeal-throwing drive-thru customers.

McDonald's crew members have a few horror stories to share.

Sometimes, customers can be pretty mean. Other times, things just get weird.

Take, for instance, the time performance artists stormed a Moscow McDonald's in 2007 and threw a cat across the counter. "The idea, they said, was to help snap the workers out of the dull routine of menial labor," Reuters reported.

Business Insider spoke with several current and former crew members and heard some of their worst, grossest, and strangest stories about working at the fast food giant.

Here's what they had to say:

SEE ALSO: McDonald's employees share the 4 things they wish they could tell management

DON'T MISS: McDonald's employees reveal their 20 favorite menu items — and one bonus secret menu item everyone should try

SEE ALSO: McDonald's employees share the 6 menu items they'd never eat

Emergency Walmart runs

McDonald's and Coca-Cola are quite a pair.

McDonald's is actually the soda brand's biggest restaurant customer, according to The New York Times, and customers expect to be able to order a soda drink with their McDonald's meal.

So issues with a McDonald's soda machine are a big deal.

One McDonald's crew member of two years told Business Insider how their restaurant dealt with a broken soda dispenser.

"I had to drive to Walmart at 4:00 a.m. to buy 30 two-liter bottles of soda until we could fix the issue," the crew member said.

Barking, disruptive dogs

One McDonald's crew member of seven years complained about encountering customers who bring in "annoying" dogs that "bark in my ear when I'm trying to take your order."

Customers keeping money in their bras

A crew member from Pennsylvania told Business Insider that they hated to see "people that take money out their bras."

They added that they didn't want to have to touch "bra money."

"I don't want to touch what was just touching your flesh," the crew member said.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia is off to a great start, and the tournament has already produced incredible moments and photos.

Russia is a gorgeous background for some amazing sports photography.

From goal celebrations to great saves, gut-wrenching own goals, and crazy fans, here are the most mesmerizing photos from the World Cup so far.

Gareth Southgate celebrates England advancing to the semis.

Jordan Pickford of England makes a save during PKs against Colombia.

Japan's keeper can't stop a shot from Belgium.

The Fortune 500 list, which ranks United States companies by their total revenue, provides a glimpse into the nation's top businesses and the bold leaders who run them.

In addition to being industry leaders, some of the corporate chiefs are bilingual or multilingual. Based on publicly available information, many either grew up speaking at least one other language or learned it later in life.

Here are nine multilingual CEOs that show how linguistic acumen can further enhance a successful career.

SEE ALSO: 11 American presidents who mastered second languages

Stefano Pessina, Walgreens Boots Alliance — Italian, French, and English

Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO and vice chairman Stefano Pessina was born in Italy and is a native Italian speaker. However, he can also speak French— France was the second country, after Italy, on his world tour of buying up drug wholesalers.

Pessina now resides in Monaco, a French-speaking city-state on the Mediterranean coast of France.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was number 19 on this year's Fortune 500 list. It is one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the world, made up of Walgreens, Boots, Duane Reade and Alliance Healthcare.

Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo — Tamil and English

The soda giant PepsiCo ranks 45th on the Fortune 500, and its CEO and chairwoman Indra Nooyi is one of only 24 women (and just a couple of women of color) on the list this year.

Nooyi was born in India, in the city of Madras (now called Chennai), capital of the Tamil Nadu state in the southern part of the country. She grew up speaking Tamil, a Dravidian language spoken primarily in India and Sri Lanka.

Juan Luciano, Archer Daniels Midland — Spanish and English

Juan Luciano sits at the helm of Archer Daniels Midland, a food-processing company coming in at number 48 on this year's ranking. Like the CEOs mentioned above, Luciano is a native speaker of another language. He is a native Spanish speaker, having been born and raised in Argentina. After graduating college, he emigrated to the United States. 

There are couples that welcomed bundles of joy this year, couples that called it quits, and new couples that no one saw coming. For some stars, 2018 is marked by another milestone — getting married. 

Stars like Kit Harington and Rose Leslie walked down the aisle for the first time, while actors like Richard Gere have been previously married.

From Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook to Ellen Page and Emma Portner, these are the celebrity couples that revealed their weddings this year. 

Ellen Page and Emma Portner

Page and Portner kicked off 2018 by sharing that they quietly tied the knot. It's unclear when they got married, but they revealed the news with fans on January 3.

"Can't believe I get to call this extraordinary woman my wife. @emmaportner," Page wrote on Instagram.

Porter echoed similar sentiments on her Instagram post.

"I get to call this incredible woman MY WIFE! @ellenpage I LOVE YOU," the dancer wrote. 

Marcus Grodd and Ally Lutar

The former "Bachelorette" and "Bachelor in Paradise" stars got married in Vancouver, Canada. 

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef

During an interview with "E! News," the "American Crime Story" star said that he and Yosef got married. 

"It feels amazing," Martin said. "I can't introduce him as my fiance. I can't. He's my husband. He's my man."

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando is nothing short of magical. Potterheads from around the world visit the park to see their favorite locations, foods, and characters from the series come to life. 

But no theme park is perfect — especially with Muggles on the loose.

Here are 14 photos that show the expectation versus the reality in Harry Potter's world.

You can ride the Hogwarts Express into the Hogsmeade section of the park.

A British railway company is looking for "Harry Potter" experts to work on a real version of the Hogwarts Express train.

However, the traffic at the mock King's Cross station is almost as bad as the real one in London.

Fans flock to the real King's Cross station on September 1st every year, the day the Hogwarts Express left in the books.

That first glimpse of Hogwarts is nothing short of magical...

Many fans still dream about attending Hogwarts someday.

President Donald Trump will announce his nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement in primetime on Monday.

He started with a list of 25 potential nominees, but has since narrowed it down to four finalists: Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge, Thomas Hardiman, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Reports have surfaced that Kavanaugh and Hardiman were the final two finalists, but the nation won't officially know until Trump makes his big announcement at 9 p.m. ET.

All four nominees are current federal appeals court judges and are all under the age of 55, meaning they would have the opportunity to shape the nation's highest court for decades to come.

Here's what you need to know about the backgrounds and legal careers of the final four:

SEE ALSO: This judge was the runner-up to Neil Gorsuch when Trump made his 1st Supreme Court pick — now he has new momentum

DON'T MISS: A top Republican senator might have just offered a massive clue about the identity of Trump's Supreme Court pick

Brett Kavanaugh

Age: 53

Alma maters: BA Yale University '87, JD Yale Law School '90

Clerked for: Judge Walter Stapleton of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Judge Alex Kosinski of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy of the US Supreme Court

Past positions:

• Associate Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor who investigated former President Bill Clinton's extra-marital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Kavanaugh helped draft the Starr report urging Clinton's impeachment, and led the investigation into the suicide of Clinton aide Vince Foster
• Partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, DC
• Senior associate counsel, associate counsel, assistant to the president, and staff secretary to former President George W. Bush

Current court: US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2006

Rulings and writings on key issues:

• Criminal investigations of presidents: After serving alongside Starr, Kavanaugh wrote in 1998 that "Congress should establish that the President can be indicted only after he leaves office voluntarily or is impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted and removed by the Senate." In 2009, he argued the president shouldn't be criminally prosecuted or civilly sued while in office. Given that Trump is currently being investigated by the special counsel Robert Mueller and is the subject of multiple civil suits, these thoughts will likely be of interest to both Democrats and Republicans.
• Abortion: In Garza v. Hargan, Kavanaugh authored a three-judge panel decision overruling a previous decision from a federal judge who ordered that an undocumented and unaccompanied teenager in Texas could leave government custody to get an abortion. The panel gave the government more time to find a sponsor for the teen, as minors must have the consent of a parent or guardian to undergo an abortion in Texas. When the appeals court for the DC circuit then reversed that decision to allow the teen to get an abortion, Kavanaugh dissented, writing that it was not a constitutional right for "unlawful immigrant minors in US Government detention to obtain immediate abortion on demand."

Sources: DC Court of Appeals, Los Angeles Times, Vox, SCOTUSBlog, Business Insider

Thomas Hardiman

Age: 53

Alma maters: BA University of Notre Dame '87, JD Georgetown University Law School '90.

Clerked for: No one

Past positions: 

• Litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Florn in Washington, DC
• Associate and partner at Titus & McConomy in Pittsburgh, PA
• Partner at Smith Reed also in Pittsburgh, where he mainly practiced white-collar and civil litigation
• Judge at the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Current court: US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit since 2007

Rulings and writings on second amendment rights: In several of his decisions on the appeals court, he has taken an expansive and originalist view of the second amendment and gun rights. His dissenting opinion in the case Drake v. Filo over a New Jersey law requiring gun permits said "the Second Amendment extends beyond the home.” Last year, he sided with two men appealing their respective convictions for carrying a firearm without a license and corrupting a minor, writing that “dangerous persons likely to use firearms for illicit purposes were not understood to be protected by the Second Amendment."

Sources: Federal Judicial Center, Los Angeles Times, SCOTUSBlog

Amy Coney Barrett

Age: 46

Alma maters: BA Rhodes College '94, JD University of Notre Dame Law School '97

Clerked for: Judge Laurence Silberman of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the US Supreme Court

Past positions: 

• Associate at law firm Miller, Cassidy, Larocca, and Lewin in Washington, DC
• Professor at Notre Dame Law School, where she teaches constitutional law, federal courts, and statutory interpretation

Current court: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2017

Rulings and writings on abortion: A devout Catholic, Barrett has been on the bench for less than a year, but she's written extensively on abortion. In a 1998 law review article, she and a co-author argued Catholic judges should be allowed to recuse themselves from cases involving abortion or the death penalty. Barrett has also said she believes it highly unlikely for the landmark case Roe v. Wade to be overturned, but doesn’t see it as a “super-precedent" case, like Marbury v. Madison, that no court would overturn. She advocated in a 2003 article for a more "flexible" application of stare decisis, or the principle of respecting precedent in court cases. Those writings combined with her personal belief that life begins at conception have some critics concerned about what her presence on the court could mean for future abortion rights cases.

Sources: Federal Judicial Center, Chicago Sun Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Notre Dame Law School, Kresge Law Library

• The average cost of having a baby in the US is $10,808.
• In 2016, 2,684,803 mothers had a vaginal birth and 1,258,581 mothers had a c-section, the latter of which is on the rise.
• FAIR Health gave Business Insider a state-by-state view of how much it costs to have a baby in every state for both a vaginal birth and c-section, with or without insurance.

The cost of having a baby isn't cheap — in the United States, at least.

The average cost to have a baby in the US, without complications during delivery, is $10,808 — which can increase to $30,000 when factoring in care provided before and after pregnancy. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was likely billed less than that to bring new royal baby boy, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, into the world. For 24 hours in a deluxe room and a non-Caesarean delivery in 2015, the Lindo Wing charged £5,670, or $8,900— and that's for luxurious maternity ward accommodations.

When considering the fact that in the US, 2,684,803 mothers had a vaginal birth and 1,258,581 mothers had a c-section in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that's a lot of money going into the healthcare system just from maternity costs.

C-sections are the more costly of the two, and they're on the rise. Nearly 32% of all births in 2016 were c-sections — a rate that has increased by nearly 50% since the 1990s, reports The Guardian. 

But whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section, the cost varies depending on what state you live in.

FAIR Health provided Business Insider with a state-by-state view on just how much it costs to have a baby in every state. 

Scroll through below to find out how much it costs to have a baby in your state, ranked from least expensive to most. We've included the median cost of having a vaginal birth with insurance and having a vaginal birth without insurance, as well as the cost of having a c-section with insurance and having a c-section without insurance.

The cost with insurance reflects the full hospital bill. Actual out-of-pocket costs would be lower and dependent on the coinsurance or copay included in the individual's health insurance plan. The cost without insurance is based on the full amount a hospital might bill, which an uninsured person would be fully responsible for unless other arrangements were made.

SEE ALSO: Kate Middleton's delivery of her third baby probably cost less than a typical birth in the US

DON'T MISS: Having a baby can give you big tax breaks

50. Alabama

Cost of having a baby:

Vaginal birth with insurance: $4,884.44
Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,013.88

C-section with insurance: $7,404.07
C-section without insurance: $12,593.60

49. Rhode Island

Cost of having a baby:

Vaginal birth with insurance: $4,987.38
Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,147.54

C-section with insurance: $7,939.74
C-section without insurance: $13,610.95

48. Nebraska

Cost of having a baby:

Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,223.61
Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,611.30

C-section with insurance: $8,039.19
C-section without insurance: $13,893.06

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.

Amazon Prime Day doesn't technically start until July 16 at 3 p.m ET, but some companies are kicking things off early to stand out. 

Anker is one of our favorite tech accessory startups; its battery packs consistently top Amazon's best-sellers list, it makes the best wireless charging pad I've ever used, and its auto accessory arm Roav brought Alexa into my car. On July 9, Amazon Prime members can get an exclusive discount on nine of Anker's accessories.

Whether you need a long, durable cable, high resolution dash cam, or smart car charger, you'll find what you're looking for below. But, like all pre-Prime Day deals, you'll need to have an Amazon Prime subscription to take advantage of these discounts.

If you're not a subscriber, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial right now and take advantage of all the pre-Prime Day deals that are available. This includes discounts on Amazon's services, including Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Audible and its hardware, like the Echo Show and Certified Refurbished Fire Tablet HD 8 Tablet.

Amazon Prime Day is going to last for 36 hours this year, and while hundreds of thousands of items are going to be on sale, these early deals give you the opportunity to save money without having to fight hot items that can quickly go out of stock. If you've been looking for a good way to save on some tech staples, don't let the deals below pass you by.

Check out all of our Amazon Prime Day coverage:

• Here’s how to successfully get a Lightning Deal during Amazon Prime Day 2018
• Is Amazon Prime worth it? We think it is — here are 14 reasons why
• A complete guide to all of Amazon's devices — what they do and which to buy
• How much is two-day shipping on Amazon without Prime? We calculated the cost
• I purchased a 6-month supply of toilet paper on Amazon Prime Day — and it was one of the best decisions I ever made

SEE ALSO: What is Amazon Prime Day? Everything you need to know and what to expect on July 16

Anker PowerCore 5000

Anker PowerCore 5000, $13.99 (originally $19.99) [You save $6]

The PowerCore 5000 is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, but has enough power to fully recharge a non-regular-sized iPhone twice. It uses an Anker-exclusive technology called PowerIQ to charge gadgets as quickly as possible.

Anker PowerLine USB-C to USB Cable three pack (3ft)

PowerLine USB-C to USB Cable Three Pack (3ft), $10.98 (originally $14.99) [You save $4.01]

USB-C ports are starting to show up on phones, laptops, and headphones, so it's a good idea to have a few spare cables handy. Anker's PowerLine cables are made with bulletproof fiber and laser-welded connectors, so they're a lot more durable than the cheap ones you'd find at the drug store.

Roav 30W Car Charger

Roav 30W Car Charger, $15.99 (originally $21.99) [You save $6]

Roav's car charger can do so much more than recharge a couple of phones or tablets thanks to its built-in Bluetooth antenna. The charger keeps track of your car's location and battery  performance, and lets you see that information at a glance in Roav's free app. If you get this charger, you'll never have to wander around a crowded parking lot to look for your car again.

Understaffed, behind schedule, and so short on flowering plants that landscapers had to adorn weeds with plaques bearing fake Latin names, Disneyland opened its gates for the first time on July 17, 1955.

Despite the frantic lead-up, Disneyland’s inauguration drew nearly 30,000 guests on the first day—about three times as many people than had actually been invited for the special press preview, many holding counterfeit tickets—and Walt Disney’s life’s work began to blossom. Here are 23 mind-blowing Disneyland facts compiled from Chris Strodder’s epic The Disneyland Book of Lists.

Disneyland was almost built in Burbank, California

Before Disney chose Anaheim, he almost built his park on a seven-acre studio lot in Burbank. The meager playground would be called “Walt Disney’s America.” Fortunately for us all, his dreams grew quickly. You’ll definitely want to see Walt Disney’s first map of Disneyland. 

The amusement park was built on a 160-acre orange grove

Disneyland displaced more than 12,000 orange trees. Park landscapers Jack and Bill Evans tried to make up for it though: More than 40 species of flowers and 700 exotic trees grow along the Jungle Cruise alone, and the iconic Mickey-head topiary out front contains 10,000 flowers—replanted six times a year.

Disney nicknamed the park’s opening day “Black Sunday”

The very first opening day at Disneyland was a complete madhouse! As more and more people crowded into the amusement park, masses of food, drink, and bathroom shortages abounded.  But wait, it gets worse. The summer heat even melted the freshly poured pavement, which trapped some women who wore high heels. Plus, the large crowds nearly tilted the Mark Twain Riverboat over into the lake because the ride had exceeded its passenger capacity. Don’t get any Disneyland facts confused with Disney World’s, though. Check out the real difference between Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

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.

• Starting today, July 9, eBay will begin rolling out over 100 deals priced at $119 — the same price as an Amazon Prime membership — plus plenty of deals at other prices.
• There's no membership fee required and all items will be shipped for free.
• Whether you're a Prime member or not, eBay has plenty of worthwhile deals on tech, power tools, kitchen appliances, apparel, luggage, jewelry, and more. 

Amazon Prime Day has become an unofficial deal holiday of sorts. While Prime members will flock to the site during the day-and-a-half-long event on July 16 and 17 to save on tech, small appliances, power tools, footwear, and more, many other retailers are fighting back with huge sales of their own — and one of the biggest contenders is eBay.

Great deals can be found on eBay daily, but today the online marketplace is beginning to roll out over 100 deals priced at $119 — the cost of an Amazon Prime membership. With no membership fee and free shipping on everything, eBay has created a summer savings season that can't be overlooked.

For consumers who are already Prime members, this is the perfect opportunity to beat the online rush and save on quality products in advance. If you're not a Prime member and can't quite justify the $119 annual fee, this is your chance to gain access to plenty of deals without feeling forced into signing up for anything. 

To help you save on eBay, we combed through all of the current $119 deals to point out the best ones. You'll find great bargains on smartwatches, TVs, photo printers, gaming accessories, luggage, sneakers, and more. In addition to the $119, deals eBay will still have a slew of heavily discounted items at other price points.

Keep in mind that eBay will be continually updating the sale over the next few days, so you'll want to check back on the deals page regularly.

Shop all deals on eBay now.

Check out some of the best $119 deals, below:

Kodak Dock Wi-Fi 4x6 Photo Printer

Kodak Dock Wi-Fi 4x6 Photo Printer, $119.94 (Originally $175.99) [You save $]

Bose SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth Speaker

Bose SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth Speaker, $119

TCL 32-inch 720p HD Roku Smart LED Smart TV

TCL 32-inch 720p HD Roku Smart LED Smart TV, $119 (Originally $229.99) [You save $110]

• Tech workers and community activists marched in front of the Salesforce headquarters in San Francisco Monday to protest the company's contract with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• The protest coincides with the CBP's separation of migrant families and their children as they cross the border illegally.
• The protest also comes a couple of weeks after a letter, signed by 650 Salesforce employees to persuade CEO Marc Benioff to end the contract, went disregarded.
• Similar protests have ignited across the industry as part of a larger movement as tech workers from various companies speak out against how the technology they build is used.

Tech workers and community activists gathered in front of the Salesforce headquarters in San Francisco Monday morning to protest the tech giant's contract with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

The protest comes on the heels of a letter signed in late June by 650 Salesforce employees who sought to persuade CEO Marc Benioff to end the company's contract with the CBP, which uses the company's Analytics and Community and Service Cloud programs.

Nothing came of the letter, prompting an uproar amongst tech workers and local activists who showed their solidarity with the 650 Salesforce employees by marching outside its headquarters Monday.

The issue at the heart of the protest is a part of a larger movement in the industry that has tech workers from various companies speaking out against how the technology they build is used. In June, Amazon employees wrote an open letter to CEO Jeff Bezos protesting the company's facial recognition contracts with law enforcement. Like the letter penned by Salesforce employees, it went unaddressed by its CEO.

“The workers here need to have a voice and need to have a seat at the table," said protest attendee and tech employee Stephanie Parker. "If we don’t want to build it, we’re not going to build it and we’re going to have our voice heard one way or another about this.”

Here's what the protest looked like:

SEE ALSO: Protesters in San Francisco dumped a huge pile of scooters in the street and blocked 11 tech buses — and then things got tense

About 25 protestors marched with banners in front of the Salesforce headquarters at 415 Mission St. in San Francisco Monday starting at around 10am.

Most were tech workers, many of whom remained anonymous. Their goal: to persuade Salesforce executives to cancel the company's contract that supplies the CBP with software.

The signs they carried read messages like "Caging children is a crime, not a business model."

Protestors bellowed chants like "No justice, no peace" and "No kids in cages." They echoed across the street and down the block.

The creators of "Fortnite: Battle Royale" are known for keeping players on their toes with weekly — and sometimes daily — additions to the game, including new items, limited-time game modes, and fun and interesting challenges.

In lieu of simply announcing what the newest addition to the game will be, the developers will often leave cryptic hints and easter eggs scattered across the island (or in the game's code) for the most dedicated fans to decode ahead of time. 

In Fortnite, there is no more hotly-anticipated change than the transitioning of Seasons, which brings a new theme to the game's Battle Pass, and often many cosmetic changes to the map. For example, in the days leading up to the beginning of Season 4, the game hinted that a meteor shower would change the island forever. When the meteor did hit, it caused a large crater in the enter of the map, turning Dusty Depot into the craterous Dusty Divot.

Now, Season 5 is only three days away and Epic Games' clues are only getting weirder and more mysterious. In addition to the in-game easter eggs that we've come to expect from Epic, hints toward the future of the game have also started to appear in the real world. 

Here's an overview of all the biggest changes to Fortnite ahead of Season 5:

SEE ALSO: 'Fortnite: Battle Royale' just got a huge new update — here's the new mode and weapons

Two weekends ago, a one-time in-game event featured a rocket launch and rifts in the space-time continuum, and nothing has been the same on the island since.

The huge rocket embedded into the side of the mountain just northeast of Snobby Shores — which many, including this reporter, previously believed to be a missile — launched into the sky last Saturday, and nearly obliterated Tilted Towers before a crack in the space-time continuum swallowed it up.

After traveling in and out through a few more inter-dimensional "rifts," the rocket eventually careened into an invisible dome above the center of the map, causing a large crack to form in the sky. The sun rose shortly afterward, and the rocket was gone.

You can watch a full cinematic-style recording of the launch, recorded and edited by YouTube filmmaker Enzait Films here:

Since the launch, rifts have been spotted all over the map, and a few of the map's landmarks have disappeared through them.

One player managed to capture a video of the goofy-faced burger sign disappearing into a rift from atop the Durr Burger restraunt:

The signs welcoming players to Lonely Lodge and the motel in Anarchy Acres have also mysteriously disappeared in the same way since the rocket launch. 

Then, a landmark from the game resurfaced...in the real world.

On Friday last week, a photographer from Los Angeles spotted the Durr Burger statue in the California desert. 

• The amount the US holds in gold reserves is three-quarters of its entire foreign reserves.
• Germany has the second largest amount of gold reserves.
• Countries differ in their reliance on gold for foreign reserves. 

Beginning in 2010, central banks around the world turned from being net sellers of gold to net buyers of gold. Last year official sector activity rose 36 percent to 366 tonnes – a substantial increase from 2016.

The top 10 central banks with the largest gold reserves have remained mostly unchanged for the last few years. The United States holds the number one spot with over 8,000 tonnes of gold in its vaults – nearly as much as the next three countries combined. For six consecutive years the Russian Central Bank has been the largest purchaser of gold, increasing its holdings by 224 tonnes in 2017 and overtaking China to hold the fifth spot, according to the GFMS Gold Survey.

Not every central bank is a net buyer. For the second year in a row, Venezuela has been the largest seller of gold, with 25 tonnes sold last year to help pay off debt. However, gross official sector sales declined by 55 percent last year, to the lowest since 2014, indicating that central banks are happy to keep their reserves in gold, historically viewed as 

2018 could be another strong year for central bank gold demand. According to the World Gold Council(WGC), demand in the first quarter was up 42 percent year-over-year, with purchases totaling 116.5 tonnes for the highest first quarter total since 2014. As global debt continues to skyrocket, central banks and individual investors alike might want to keep gold in their pockets, as it historically has performed well during times of economic downturn and geopolitical uncertainty.

Below are the top 10 countries with the largest gold holdings, beginning with India.

SEE ALSO: Snap surges after report says it's teaming up with Amazon for a visual-search feature (SNAP)

10. India

Tonnes: 560.3

Percent of foreign reserves: 5.5 percent

It’s no surprise that the Bank of India has one of the largest stores of gold in the world. The South Asian country, home to 1.25 billion people, is the second largest consumer of the precious metal, and is one of the most reliable drivers of global demand. India’s festival and wedding season, which runs from October to December, has historically been a huge boon to gold’s Love Trade.

9. Netherlands

Tonnes: 612.5

Percent of foreign reserves: 68.2 percent

The Dutch Central Bank announced that it will be moving its gold vaults from Amsterdam to Camp New Amsterdam, about an hour outside the city, citing burdensome security measures of its current location. As many others have pointed out, this seems odd, given that the bank fairly recently repatriated a large amount of its gold from the U.S.

8. Japan

Tonnes: 765.2

Percent of foreign reserves: 2.5 percent

Japan, the world’s third largest economy, is also the eighth largest hoarder of the yellow metal. Its central bank has been one of the most aggressive practitioners of quantitative easing—in January 2016, it lowered interest rates below zero—which has helped fuel demand for gold around the world.