• All 12 members of a Thai soccer team and their coach were rescued from a cave last week after being trapped inside for 17 days.
• The drama that unfolded for over two weeks drew attention from around the world as people sat on the edge of their seats to see if the boys and their coach would be saved.

In the darkness, down the twisting stone tunnels and through the murky water, they awaited an uncertain future.

Outside, under the skies of a modern planet, cameras and bystanders and a rapt global audience of many millions looked toward the remote hills of northern Thailand, connected by cables and satellites and wireless signals and gadgets in their pockets. For two weeks and more this went on.

The 12 young Thai soccer players and their coach are just starting to share their stories, giving us the first hints at what those harrowing days were like. For the rest of us, watching from afar as an uneasy planet's media juggernaut beamed us live shots and the unknowable was revealed drip by tantalizing drip, we knew one thing: It was hard to look away.

Particularly when these two words were splattered across the world's websites and mobile apps in impactful typefaces: "WATCH LIVE."

Were they even alive at all in there after so many days? Probably not. And yet they were. Could we get a glimpse? There they were, captured on video, waving tentatively to what had fast become their public.

Could they be pulled out, through water that rose and fell and threatened to rise again? That question, drawn out for so many days as the clock ticked menacingly, found its answer Tuesday with a resounding yes.

"We really needed something to cheer for right now. We needed some positivity. We needed a good headline that could carry the day," says Daryl Van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope College in Michigan who studies how humans build meaning in their lives.

"People started believing, like a snowball rolling down a hill: 'Maybe they WILL get out,'" he said.

First, the obvious. These were children who did nothing wrong, and we love tales of innocents. Plus, it was easy to conclude for several days that they'd met their end prematurely and unfairly.

When they did not — when children not unlike those in our own lives had a fighting chance at being OK — many eyes locked in on the story.

At that point, the saga was also fueled by hope, and by a possibility of a good outcome — both elements of any memorable human tale.

There are other reasons this particular story was so captivating, though. They cast light on some things about ourselves and about the strange forces — sometimes wonderful and sometimes destructive — that shape our lives in a modern media society.

SEE ALSO: This timeline shows exactly how the Thai cave rescue unfolded

DON'T MISS: Drinking cave water and not thinking about fried rice: Here's how the Thai soccer team survived 9 days in a flooded cave with no food or drink

The storyline couldn't have been more Hollywood

It's become cliche to compare the real world to showbiz ("It was like something out of a movie," so many witnesses to disaster say). But even bearing that in mind, it would have been impossible to craft a Hollywood treatment that felt more cinematic.

For several decades in the American film industry during the 20th century, a production code made sure that the bad guys couldn't win and that bad things couldn't be shown. What's less known is that the code discouraged ambiguity and subtly encouraged sharp, distinctive resolutions to plotlines — something that came to be known as the "Hollywood ending" and endures to this day.

That's what we got Tuesday out of northern Thailand — a satisfying, all-tied-up-in-a-bow Hollywood ending, the kind that would make a reality-TV producer salivate.

"This sets the framework for what we expect from a great story," says Roscoe Scarborough, a sociologist at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania who studies first responders and reality television.

"Any action movie follows this script. Thinking they’re dead but they're alive. A race against time and the odds to get them out," says Scarborough, who is also a firefighter. "It's a cultural product that we understand. But this is a real-life version."

Technology helped save them

Our world today is utterly consumed with technology — witness the ability to witness a lot of this event on television and mobile devices — but also increasingly uneasy with the way it affects our lives and landscapes.

So to look at such a remote area and watch a good outcome unfold because of smart uses of technology, from the pumping effort that drained water out of the cave to the carefully calibrated oxygen tanks used in extracting the kids, illuminated the ways technology can encourage our humanity rather than whittle away at it.

Someone sacrificed everything

In any epic narrative, something precious is lost. In this case, that was 38-year-old Saman Gunan, the Thai Navy SEAL who died in the cave late last week during rescue efforts.

This happens often in rescue efforts: People who die heroically trying to help others become martyrs who are seen as the best of us. The highest-profile example in recent years: the firefighters and police officers who died helping people on Sept. 11, 2001.

“They become symbols of our shared humanity, representative of our collective values,” Scarborough says.

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:

• School lunches are very often mediocre, and it costs a lot of money to buy food every day. So why not pack your lunch in an awesome lunch box? We've rounded up the very best lunch boxes for pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and professional life.

Whether your child is heading back to school, you are going back to school, or you’ve just grown tired of buying your lunch from the food truck outside your workplace each day, there’s no denying that a new lunch box makes the midday meal just a little bit tastier.

After all, you have to tote your sandwich and beverage in something, so why not make that something a reusable lunch box that looks good on the lunchroom table and keeps your sandwich from getting smashed, rather than wasting money and resources on use-them-and-toss-them paper bags?

Here at Business Insider, we take our lunch breaks seriously. That’s why we set out to find the best lunch boxes available for every age from pre-school right through adulthood. Honestly, any of these picks could be good for any person, no matter their age. 

We visited the top consumer websites to check out the research, and listened to buyer feedback on what owners love — and don’t love — about their purchases. So if you’re ready to eat, forget about that crumpled paper sack, and read on. Here are the five lunch boxes that we most recommend.

Here are the best lunch boxes you can buy:

• Best for pre-school: Bentgo Kids Bento Box
• Best for elementary school: Packit Freezable Lunch Bag
• Best for middle school: L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box
• Best for high school: L.L. Bean Insulated Lunch Box
• Best for college and professional life: Ramaka Solutions Insulated Lunch Bag
• Best for keeping food cold for hours: PackIt lunch bags

Updated on 07/18/18 by Owen Burke and Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting. Added a couple PackIt bags based on testing.

Read on in the slides below to learn more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best water bottles you can buy

The best lunch box for pre-schoolers

Why you'll love it: The Bentgo Kids Bento Box is divided into perfectly sized compartments for your child’s pre-school-sized appetite, and comes in three bright colors.

The first day of pre-school is a day of tears across the country, but it’s not usually the little ones who are crying. Instead, they are the bittersweet tears of moms watching their babies spreading their wings in preparation for the inexorable flight out of the nest. These little birds are just as likely to forget their lunch boxes on the playground as they are to bring them home, so it’s a good idea to choose a box in one of the bright colors most favored by this age group. It’s harder to overlook something colorful.

The Bentgo Kids Bento Box delivers: It comes in three happy colors, including purple, blue, and green that are bright enough to be remembered. But best of all, this pre-school and daycare-friendly lunch box performs a trick that is very important to many youngster; it keeps foods separate in their own compartments, so different foods don't “touch.”

The sturdy plastic box is made without BPA, vinyl, lead, or PVC. It has rubber edges, so it won’t crack if dropped, and the two clasps are easy for little hands to open and close. The inner tray lifts out and is microwave and dishwasher safe. It's also portioned into five compartments that are just the right size for the appetites of the pre-school crowd.

Wirecutter recommends the Bentgo Kids Bento Box as well because it's durable and easy to clean.

This pre-school-perfect lunch box is a hit on Amazon, where it has more than 2,600 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars. Parents love that the box is truly leak-proof and easy for pre-schoolers to carry and open. However, many commented that the compartments are much smaller than they expected, so be aware that this lunch box is truly intended for very young kids or those with small appetites.

Pros: Sized right for pre-schooler through first grade, bright colors, bento design, easy to wash, durable

Con: Compartments are small, so your child’s appetite will likely outgrow the box by first grade

Buy the Bentgo Kids Bento Box on Amazon for $24.99-$27..99 (originally $39.99)

The best lunch box for elementary school

Why you'll love it: The Packit Freezable Lunch Bag keeps your elementary kid’s lunch cold for hours, and it comes in more than 20 different fun colors and designs.

For the majority of kids, the elementary-school years are good ones. Toddlerhood is firmly in the rearview window, the pangs and perils of puberty are still far ahead, and for most children in this age group, it’s all about family, friends, and fun.

When it comes to a lunch box, elementary school children generally gravitate toward bright colors, favorite animated characters, popular movie themes, cutesy animals, or wacky-but-fun designs. There’s still a fair chance your kid will forget to bring the lunch box home, but when it’s as colorful as the Packit Freezable Lunch Bag, it’s a lot less likely to be left behind on the school bus.

There's no need for separate gel packs or ice packs in this lunch bag. Its patented cooling technology is built right into the bag, so just pop it into the freezer overnight, and in the morning, it’s chilled enough to keep lunch fresh for hours. Of course, you don’t have to freeze the Packit lunch box. If you prefer, just pack lunch the night before and store it in the fridge until it’s time to head out the door.

The soft Packit Freezable Lunch Bag is made of poly canvas, with a food-safe, water-resistant lining. It zips shut at the top and also has a Velcro tab for extra security. Plus, a buckle handle makes it easy to clip onto handlebars or a backpack. When lunchtime is over, the bag folds up to easily fit in a locker or backpack.

With more than 25 colors and designs to choose from, your child is sure to find a Packit Freezable bag he or she loves. Camouflage, bright geometrics, polka dots, tie-dye, treasure maps, owls, and many more designs are available. These lunch bags are fun.

Amazon buyers agree. There are more than 3,200 reviews of the bag, with an average of 4 stars. Parents appreciate the way the bag stays cold for hours and holds plenty of food for your hungry elementary-age child. On the downside, many buyers commented that the Velcro tab quickly wore out, although the bag still closes with the zipper.  

Pros: Many child-appealing designs and colors, stays cold a long time, buckle handle.

Cons: Velcro tab doesn’t hold up to regular use.

Buy the Packit Freezable Lunch Bag on Amazon for $13.99 and up (price varies based on design)

The best lunch box for middle school

Why you'll love it: The L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box hits the sweet spot between grown-up style and a kid-friendly design.

Ah, middle school. The in-between years are the hardest. Pre-teens are filled with yearnings to look, feel, and act more grown up. And yet at the same time, they long to stay in the ease and comfort of childhood. You can’t easily solve all of the angst that comes with junior high, but you can at least make lunchtime a little bit brighter with a lunch box that both reflects the desired maturity of its carrier, and yet retains the memory of the little-kid years they've so recently left behind.

The L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box hits that sweet spot for this age group. It’s available in a wide range of bright solids and equally bright and fun prints, yet it has a simple, “grown-up” design that proclaims the owner is no longer a little kid.

The rugged outer fabric is strong enough to take just about anything your child dishes out. The inner insulation keeps food cold for hours, is easy to clean, and resists leaks and stains. There’s a handy mesh pocket in the top of the lunch box to hold sandwiches, chips, utensils, or snacks that are easily crushed, and there’s plenty of room in the lower section for drinks, fruit, sandwiches, or plastic containers of food. An adjustable shoulder strap makes the bag easy to carry.

Good Housekeeping rates the L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box highly because it's leak-proof and easy to clean.

Pros: Lots of great colors and designs, durable and classic design

Cons: None to speak of

Buy the solid color L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box on LLBean.com for $24.95

Buy the print L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box on LLBean.com for $24.95

Not everyone can go straight to their Oscar-winning performances, as most of our favorite stars got their first big break starring in commercials. Funnily enough, you can see a glimmer of who they will become as actors and celebrities from these small rolls in advertising, whether it be fast food or everyday products, and even at such a young age.

Below you'll find just a selection of some clearly-dated commercials, some even going back to the late 70’s, that first featured many of Hollywood’s finest.

Tobey Maguire was just a kid.

Before suiting up as Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire briefly considered being a professional chef. In eighth grade, he found acting instead, and appeared in a Doritos commercial that still baffles viewers today. Set in a bowling alley, everyone is talking about "Bob" and how Doritos are his favorite snack, but Maguire doesn’t buy it, asking everyone "Who’s Bob?" before coming to the conclusion that "Bob’s not real!"

Watch the Doritos commercial here.

John Travolta was singing in the shower.

Talk about being typecast, John Travolta, the star of "Grease"and the remake of "Hairspray," got his big break during the early 70’s when athletic-themed commercials featured a lot of scenes of men singing in the shower for some reason. Singing in commercials for Band-Aid’s and Safeguard while washing-up with the rest of his team mates, the former jingle was actually written by Barry Manilow, according to Mental Floss.

Watch the Band-Aid's and Safeguard commercial here.

Jennifer Lawrence was sassy in an MTV commercial.

I doubt anyone in the production of this MTV’s "My Super Sweet Sixteen"commercial thought that they had an Oscar winner on their hands, but this Jennifer Lawrence starring promo of a girl dropped on the dance-floor after being carried out on a pedestal launched the "Hunger Games"and "Silver Linings Playbook"actress’ career. She never went on to feature in the actual 2000’s MTVseries however, which featured rich teens planning their extravagant sweet sixteen parties.

You can watch the "My Super Sweet Sixteen" promo here.

We could all use a little break sometimes. 

That seems to be the thinking behind Casper's latest effort to get you on one of its mattresses, at least.

The startup recently opened the Casper Dreamery, a spot to "rest and recharge" in New York City. For $25, anyone can walk into the Dreamery and book 45 minutes in a Casper Nook, a circular pod complete with a Casper mattress and pillow. 

You'll even get some pajamas, skincare samples, and free coffee after your rest.

I recently had the opportunity to try the Dreamery for myself. While I didn't fall asleep, I was pleasantly surprised by how a seemingly silly concept could make so much sense amid the insanity of a day in New York. 

Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: Here's our first look at some of the new emoji coming to iPhones later this year

I visited the Casper Dreamery on a weekday morning, before the space was open to the public. It's located directly behind Casper's retail space in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.

Once inside, I walked through a midnight blue tunnel, complete with twinkling lights. After walking through the city on a hot summer day, the entryway was a welcome respite.

My visit to the "Dreamery" was as a member of the press, but if it were a typical session, I would have first checked in at the front desk for my nap session. Sessions can be booked online between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day.

• Bluestone Lane, a New York-based, Australian-inspired coffee chain, plans to expand to 100 locations over the next three years.
• The expansion comes with the help of Miami Dolphins owner and billionaire investor Stephen Ross. 
• According to Bluestone Lane founder and CEO Nicholas Stone, who spoke with Bloomberg, the chain is focused on providing "more than simply a caffeinated product" and focuses just as much on aesthetic elements and freshly prepared food as it does on coffee. 

Bluestone Lane is about to take over the United States.

The New York-based, Australian-inspired coffee chain is winning over millennials with the help of Instagram-ready restaurants and fresh, healthy foods like avocado toast and almond oatmeal.

Nicholas Stone, founder and CEO of Bluestone Lane, said in an interview with Bloomberg: "Millennial customers are discerning and focused on more than simply a caffeinated product. That's why Bluestone is focused on a providing a broader experience that includes service and aesthetic elements as well as freshly prepared food like avocado toast."

Bluestone Lane, which launched in 2013, currently has 30 locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and Washington, DC, and it plans to expand to 100 locations in the next three years.

The massive expansion project is funded in part by billionaire Stephen Ross, chairman of Related Cos. and owner of the Miami Dolphins, who recently participated in a $19.5 million funding round to acquire a minority stake in Bluestone Lane's business, Bloomberg reported. March Capital Partners' Jamie Montgomery, JAWS, and Apax Partners also contributed to the round. 

This isn't the first small coffee chain that's won over investors — Ross' investment in Bluestone Lanes echoes Nestle's acquisition of the trendy Blue Bottle Coffee and Peet's Coffee's acquisitions of Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Intelligentsia, both of which started as small, independent coffee roasters and have since grown to see mainstream success. 

See why Bluestone Lane is the next coffee chain poised to take over the US: 

SEE ALSO: 13 popular fast-food menu items that are surprisingly perfect for vegans

The Bluestone Lane I visited was a smaller location in an office building. Bluestone Lane's locations are divided into two categories: small, coffee shop locations and cafés with more extensive seasonal menus.

The inside was decorated with marble countertops, green tile walls, and an abundance of plants. It had huge windows and bright lights, making it an inviting space.

The walls had vintage maps, photos of Australia, and sayings like "g'day mate" written on chalkboards. There were only a few benches for seating, but it didn't feel cramped or claustrophobic.

Infidelity is painful — not just for the wronged party, but also for the cheater. Stepping out on your partner can lead to fear, guilt, anxiety, and, if it leads to divorce, financial ruin. And getting cheated on yourself is an ego blow that’s hard to recover from.

And yet, people have cheated for millennia. According to the Institute for Family Studies, an estimated 16% of people have cheated on their spouse — and this doesn’t even account for infidelity in non-married relationships.

So why do people cheat? Well, 80% of the time, it’s not because of a failing relationship, psychotherapist and relationship therapist Esther Perel said in her TED talk. An infidelity is often a selfish act, and its motivation has everything to do with the person who’s cheating.

We rounded up some common reasons why experts say people cheat. 

They’re seeking self-discovery.

Esther Perel has been trying to shift our perceptions of infidelity for years, most recently with her book, "The State of Affairs." She emphasizes that infidelity can creep into even the happiest marriages. Sometimes, cheating results from a deteriorating relationship. Other times, though, that’s not the case.

"Many times, people who stray are also hoping to reconnect with lost parts of themselves, with the lives un-lived, with the sense that life is short and there are certain experiences … that they are longing for," Perel previously told Business Insider. “They are looking not just for another person but in a way they're looking for another self."

Of course, there are ways to find oneself that don’t include betraying a loved one. But at least this understanding of cheating takes the blame away from the wronged party.

"They're finally doing something they want,” Perel said. “Paradoxically, while they are lying to their partner, sometimes they find themselves in this strange situation, where maybe for the first time they are not lying to themselves."

They’re freaked out by getting old.

The old cliche of a man celebrating his midlife crisis by buying a sports car and leaving his wife for a 20-something exists for a reason.

Although cheaters might not realize it, age appears to be a motivator for affairs.

As Business Insider previously pointed out, research from 2014 found that men are more likely to join the affair-seeking website Ashley Madison when their age ends in 9.

In other words, when they’re approaching milestone birthdays, some men suddenly crave an affair. At least we can put to bed the idea that it’s because their wives are the ones getting older.

They’re searching for that feeling of butterflies — in other words, they’re bored.

In the 2013 book “The Normal Bar,” cheaters explained why they’d strayed. And for a whopping 71% of men and 49% of women, the answer was simply boredom, reported by HuffPost.  Even among Ashley Madison users, the most premeditated cheaters of them all, 30% said their reason for cheating was a desire to feel that lovey-dovey, early relationship butterflies sensation again, according to Galore magazine.

But this doesn’t mean the jilted party is at fault. Have you ever heard the disgusting saying, “If you have steak every night, pretty soon you’re gonna want a burger”?

The point is, if someone is bored by their relationship, it doesn’t necessarily mean their partner is boring. Some people just can’t take the routine of coupled-up life, despite all the perks it brings.

• Gap Inc.-owned Weddington Way sent an email to customers on Monday confirming that it had wound down all operations. 
• The store follows in the footsteps of J.Crew, which retreated from bridalwear in 2016 amid flagging sales. 
• We put together a list of brands offering bridesmaid dresses that cost between $68 and $328.

Weddington Way has officially closed. 

On Monday, the Gap-owned bridesmaid-dress retailer sent an email to customers confirming that it had wound down all operations besides its customer-service platform, which will be available for the next month.

Weddington Way sold bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories online, in 13 US test stores, and in some Banana Republic stores. It sought to capitalize on the casualization of the bridalwear industry by offering ready-to-wear designs in regular sizes that didn't require alterations. 

The company launched in 2011 and was acquired by Gap Inc. in 2016.

Weddington Way follows in the footsteps of one of its competitors, J.Crew, which retreated from bridalwear in 2016 amid flagging sales. 

A spokesperson for Gap told Retail Dive in an email in April:"While the business is performing well, we determined that Weddington Way would take time to scale in an impactful way for Gap Inc."

SEE ALSO: Millennials have a new attitude about weddings — and it's sending bridal stores into a downward spiral

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• Buying a home is a process that requires years of saving, careful planning, and a ton of effort to ensure you find the perfect place.
• But when you buy your first home, there are certain things you may not realize you should do, and not knowing can have huge financial consequences.
• Here are five mistakes I made when I bought my first home that could have been avoided.

My wife and I bought our first home back in early 2011. It was a charming, ranch-style house nestled just below the foothills of Glendale, California that was built in 1928. It still boasted many of its original charms, such as a massive window looking out on a 2,450-foot mountain, a stucco fireplace, and a vintage dining room chandelier with stained glass panels.

We did a lot of things right during the home-buying process, one of them simply being the timing: We bought while the housing market was still near a multi-year nadir due to the financial crisis, and the property appreciated remarkably over the next five years. We also saw the potential in the large but neglected and overgrown yard and the rundown garage, which we cleared and restored, respectively, over the course of several months.

Of course, being first-time homebuyers, we also made plenty of mistakes. Some of them turned out to be relatively minor, such as not repainting rooms before moving in furniture or choosing the wrong places for storing cleaning supplies, linens, and other household goods. These issues could be resolved quickly and without long-term issue.

But we also made a few mistakes that would prove to be much larger problems that often came with commensurate costs.

SEE ALSO: 10 hard truths no one tells you about buying a house

1. We went too cheap on the home inspection

Before you buy a home, you really should get it inspected. Wrongly assuming that one inspector must be as good as the next, we went with the cheapest guy we could find. And we ended up paying for it many times over down the line.

The quick-and-dirty inspection didn't turn up pipes so rotted that they failed literally the first day we moved in, a roof that would require replacing in less than three years, and a fireplace flue that was far too small for the current codes.

Had our inspector found and reported these issues, we could have negotiated the sale price down and/or required the sellers to address the issues before completing the purchase. Once the contracts were signed, all of the issues were ours.

2. We rushed the landscaping

Our first home was set on an 8,300 square foot property, which was large for the area and massive for a couple moving out of an apartment with a small patio. After getting a $20,000 quote from a professional landscape design company, we committed to doing all our landscape work ourselves.

Over the course of many weeks, my wife and I and a few friends cleared brambles, underbrush, weeds, dead trees and shrubs, and cleared and leveled the long-neglected land. Then we seeded a large area to grow a lawn, planted a few trees, shrubs, and flowers, and had a company install a patio.

Within a few months, the patio was still looking great, but all but one of the trees had died, the grass was down to a few muddy patches that I hadn't overwatered, and the bushes were largely on life support.

In the rush to get the yard completed, I didn't take the time to learn enough about how to grow new grass, which plants would work best given the sunlight and irrigation situation, and so on. Basically every dollar and hour invested into the first iteration of the yard was wasted, save for the education that came with it.

3. We furnished before living in the space

When you move homes, certain pieces of furniture move with you. Whether it's a favorite chair, a comfy couch, or a bedroom set that works well in the new place, there's no reason to toss perfectly good furniture just because you're moving. But when the move is to a larger home, you are going to need some new stuff, too.

We kept our apartment for two months after buying our house, since we were doing so much work on it both outside and in. We were eager to have the home as ready as possible when we finally did settle there. So we bought a new couch, chairs, and coffee table for the living room, accepted some hand-me-down antiques for the guest room, and bought a media center for the den.

Within a year, we had replaced everything but the couch. None of the other furniture suited our functional needs, nor did it work with the items we brought along from our apartment. Had we waited to furnish the place once we lived there, we would have done it right the first time.

Breakups are the worst. Not only do you have to change the passwords for all your streaming services, but you can end up feeling confused, hurt, and lonely. Cue the late-night texts and not-so-casual holiday wishes to your ex.

When you’re used to texting someone constantly, it can feel unnatural and more than a little painful to suddenly stop completely. Though you may want to put the phone down and move on, severing contact with an ex is easier said than done.  

Continuing to text your ex after a breakup is like picking at a wound — it hurts and keeps you from healing, but it’s also strangely addictive.

It is possible, however, to rewire your heart and habits. Here are a few ways you can learn to stop texting your ex for good.

Recognize why you want to text your ex.

Chances are that deep down, you’re not really texting your ex to find out how their little sister is doing or if they’ve seen the latest episode of that show you both watch.

Even sending an "I miss you" text could be more about missing that emotional connection with someone rather than actually longing for your ex.

Do you have the urge to reach out because you’re looking for closure? Do you want to make sure they’re not moving on before you have? Are you still secretly hoping you’ll get back together?

Pinpointing the real reason you’re texting your ex can go a long way towards figuring out the best way to stop.

“In reality, the only legitimate reason for contact not to be avoided is if you have children and must communicate about co-parenting responsibilities—and even in that case, you should maintain boundaries,” Jill P. Weber Ph.D. toldPsychology Today.

Acknowledge why you need to stop.

Whether you both calmly decided that things just weren’t working out or there was a more fiery conclusion to your relationship, texting your ex probably isn’t doing your heart any good.

Constantly reaching out to your ex is just reinforcing that behavior. You’re sabotaging your healing process with every heart emoji.

“If you persist in contacting or attempting to contact your ex, you are working against the recovery process and in favor of a self-defeating strategy of denial. This may buffer the blow but it cures nothing. It just allows you to put off fully accepting difficult feelings and your new circumstances,” Jill P. Weber Ph.D. toldPsychology Today.

Delete their number.

Purging your ex from your contacts is a foolproof way to stem the flow of texts, but it can seem like a drastic measure, especially if you have hopes of reconnecting as friends someday.

Here’s a good compromise: write their number down on a slip of paper and seal it in an envelope. Put the envelope somewhere safe and out of sight, and then delete their number from your phone.

This way, you know you’ll be able to get in touch with them if you really, truly need to, but you won’t have that instant access to them that can be so tempting.

• The Corvette Grand Sport convertible and the Aston Martin DB11 Volante match up closely on specs, even though the Aston costs hundreds of thousands of dollars more.
• I put both cars through their paces.
• The Aston Martin DB11 is impressive, but the Corvette Grand Sport is the best value available in high-performance sports cars.

I've often said that Aston Martins are the thinking person's Corvettes.

But I should probably stop saying that, not least because the latest generation of the Vette, built with pride in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the sports car many people would buy — if they thought seriously about their purchase. Basically, the Corvette is where the truly smart money should look.

That said, Aston Martins are still Aston Martins: James Bond's ride, an icon of style, expensive as all get out, but in many ways totally worth it. I often want to argue with Aston because the price tags are so high. And then I slip behind the wheel and all is immediately forgiven. 

I recently reviewed an Aston Martin DB11 Volante, a $273,244 convertible version of the DB11, the British carmaker's successor to the DB9. What a car!

But I was reminded, as I went through my usual Corvette counter-analysis, that I'd checked out a similarly spec'd Vette — the Grand Sport — a while back and was blown away by this $70,000 beast. For the record, Astons and Vettes might be separated by $200,000, but they go head to head on some of the world's greatest race tracks in endurance racing, most notably at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

So let's say you want to drop a considerable amount of coin on an Aston — just because, you know, it's an Aston. Should you step back and potentially save yourself a few hundred grand by at least considering the Vette?

I think it's a worthy exercise. So let's get to it.

Photos by Hollis Johnson, unless otherwise indicated.

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Let's begin with the Corvette Grand Sport.

With a 460-horsepower, naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter V8 engine, the Vette gives up 45 ponies to the Aston, which cranks out 505 horsepower using a 4.0-liter, Mercedes-sourced V8 that boasts twin turbochargers.

Could a turbo Vette match the Aston? Perhaps — but then it wouldn't offer that pure V8 vibe that Corvette is known for. Besides, both cars can achieve the 0-60 mph sprint in under four seconds. 

The Vette's motor is definitely more raw and stonking. The Aston's delivers a refined scream at higher revs, while the Corvette, being a Corvette, attempts to scare driver, children, and animals. 

Smaller, turbocharged engines are becoming more prevalent on sports cars, for reasons of fuel economy, emissions, and regulatory compliance. The DB 11 Volante's twin-turbo V8 is juxtaposed with its big brother DB 11 Coupé's V12, for example. 

But there's something to be said for taking gasoline, squirting it into combustion chambers, blowing it up in controlled fashion, and translating that violence into sweet velocity — without having to resort to extra plumbing to use exhaust gases to spin some turbos to intensify the process. Blunt, yes. Old-school, sure.

But so, so satisfying. 

The Corvette Grand Sport was created by the car's first chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, in 1963. They were intended to be race cars, designed to run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Vette GS sits between the Stingray and the 650-horsepower Z06 in the lineup — with the 755-horsepower Zr1 at the top of the mountain.

No supercharger, as on the Z06. But the GS gets a bunch of the Z06's performance goodies, making it the better track car than the Stingray. That's the key difference among the three versions of the this Vette.

Since “Parks and Recreation” ended in 2013, the workplace comedy has joined the halls of TV fame alongside other binge-worthy comedies such as “The Office,” “30 Rock,” and “Arrested Development.”

The show lasted seven seasons and centered on a group of co-workers at a small Parks and Recreation department and their unfailing dedication to a city filled with raccoon infestations, divisive citizens, and a giant pit.

The show boasts a talented array of actors in its main cast and also played host by numerous celebrities that gave the small town of Pawnee a visit. We rounded up our favorite celebrity guest stars you may have forgotten about. 

Michelle Obama played herself.

There is very little that can faze Olympic-level overachiever Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), but meeting former First Lady Michelle Obama did the trick. While Leslie visits California to consider a job for the National Parks Service, Michelle Obama appears to wish her well and state how important it is to have passionate people in government positions.

Leslie nods adamantly and replies, "I agree with you on all things throughout history until the end of times forever." Their interaction commences with an awkward and endearing high five.

Kristen Bell was on the town council.

Kristen Bell is perfectly terrible as Ingrid de Forest, an Eagleton councilwoman and Leslie’s snobby counterpart. Ingrid often makes reference to Eagleton’s lavish and glamorous lifestyle by proudly stating that Eagleton fills their public pools with bottled water and used government money to buy HBO for their whole town. After the Eagleton-Pawnee merger, Ingrid replaces Leslie on the town council.

In addition to guest starring on "Parks and Recreation," Bell has also worked alongside lead Adam Scott on numerous shows including "Party Down,""Veronica Mars," and "The Good Place."

Jon Hamm played an incompetent employee.

Hamm is introduced near the show’s end as Ed, a bumbling but enthusiastic National Parks employee. After the show’s time jump in the final season, Leslie immediately fires Ed, saying, "You're the most incompetent person I’ve ever worked with, and that includes Terry." Ed cheerfully accepts her order and waves goodbye to the office, thanking them for letting him work there for the three years that unfolded off-screen.

The 2018 Open Championship is shaping up to be quite an event.

While links golf is always compelling, with daunting bunkers, tall grass, and crosswinds causing trouble for the best players in the world, there's another factor this year that should make for an unforgettable tournament — the Carnoustie Golf Links are apparently burnt to a crisp, and running extremely fast.

"The fairways are faster than the greens," said Tiger Woods, who will be making his 20th appearance at the Open Championship.

The conditions are due to a draught in Scotland that have left the fairways unwatered while the greens remain maintained. As a result, the fairways are springboards and will add even more intrigue to what is already one of the most mentally taxing tournaments in golf.

SEE ALSO: The Open Championship 2018: 12 golfers with the best odds to win the Claret Jug this weekend

A quick look at images coming out of Carnoustie ahead of the Open Championship make it clear that conditions will be dry and burnt.

Alex Noren showed just how wild conditions were at the course, posting a video to Instagram of him bouncing a ball off the tight turf.

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With the fairways serving as a springboard, expect to see a lot of long shots this weekend.

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Just hit one 427 on 18 @TheOpen .. Guys would be hitting it in the burn in front of green 450+.. Carnoustie is baked out but greens are pure.. Never seen an Open this firm.. Will be an awesome week if it stays like this.. pic.twitter.com/AUXyPGF4iu

Brandt Snedeker, whose average driving distance of 291 yards ranks 135th on the tour, is apparently hitting 400 yard bombs thanks to the conditions.

The fast fairways essentially shorten the course, but add a new challenge for players trying to reach the greens — calculating just how far their shots will carry off the tee.

A hunter's paradise is having a hard time finding a buyer.

It's called the Granot Loma, and according to the listing, it may be the largest log-cabin lodge in America.

With a private marina and 5,000 acres of surrounding woodlands, the 26,000-square-foot house was listed for a staggering $40 million in 2015 making it the most expensive house in Michigan.

Bob Sullivan of Northern Michigan Land Brokers formerly had the listing. It is now for sale by its owner for $20 million — a discount of more about 50%.

Keep scrolling for a tour of its taxidermy-filled interiors.

SEE ALSO: Nobody wants to buy this $12.5 million Brooklyn mansion with connections to mobsters and Russian heiresses

Called Granot Loma, this gigantic log cabin sits on the shores of Lake Superior, north of Marquette, Michigan.

It was built and named in 1923 by its original owner, financier Louis G. Kaufman.

Kaufman played a pivotal role in the founding of General Motors, where he was on the board for 20 years.

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 Switch has been nothing but a runaway success for Nintendo.

The console, which launched in March of 2017, sold more units in its first year than its predecessor, the Wii U, sold in its entire four-year life. In fact, it's the fastest-selling console in US history.

That's partially because of the console's hybrid design — you can play it hooked up to a TV, or take it on the go — but the best-designed console in the world wouldn't be successful without great games to play on it.

The 10 best-selling Nintendo Switch games of 2018 (so far) cover a lot of ground. There are compilations of older games like the Mega Man X Legacy Collection that can introduce new players to classic franchises (or send you on a huge nostalgia trip), and new titles, including Splatoon 2, that prove Nintendo's best days aren't behind it. All of the games are kid-friendly, and many contain multi-player modes so you can get the entire family involved for a digital game night.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming consoles you can buy

DON'T MISS: The best Nintendo Switch games you can buy

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, $54.98

Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 1,500+ reviews

Mario Kart 8 was originally a game on the Wii U, but this deluxe edition includes even more characters, and courses that you previously had to buy separately. Up to four players can race one another using characters from the Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, or Splatoon series' on tracks that were newly designed for this game, or remade based on stages from previous Mario Kart games.

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey, $53.99

Amazon rating: 4.8 out of 2,100+ reviews

Super Mario Odyssey marks the Mario series' return to the running, jumping, and exploring game style created by Super Mario 64. Your objective is still to save Princess Peach from Bowser, but to do so, you'll need to collect power moons that are hidden throughout 14 stages.

You only need 124 moons to complete the game, but there are 999 total, so you have your work cut out for you if you're interested in learning all of this title's secrets.

LEGO Disney Pixar's The Incredibles

LEGO Disney Pixar's The Incredibles, $39.99

Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 20+ reviews

"The Incredibles" gets the LEGO treatment in a game that coincides with the release of the franchise's incredibly successful second movie. This game lets you control different members of the Parr family, bringing villains to justice. Instead of being split into distinct stages, the game is set in an open world, which encourages exploration as you discover different locations from within the Incredibles universe. 

For years, we've heard rumors about a Samsung foldable smartphone called the Galaxy X. The phone still hasn't surfaced — but it we could finally get a peek at it in 2019, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Before that, Samsung's 2017 financial report had hinted that the phone would be making its appearance soon, catching the attention of Samsung fans and anyone interested in what the company's engineers could do with a foldable smartphone (emphasis ours): 

"For the Display Panel business in 2018, the company expects OLED to become a mainstream panel in the smartphone industry and will reinforce its competencies in new applications such as foldable, automotive, and IT displays."

A lot of phone manufacturers, including Apple, are also said to be creating similar foldable smartphones. But if Samsung stays the course, it might be the first to execute, since it has the added advantage of being the maker of the OLED display that make bendable screens possible. 

Here's what we know about the rumored Galaxy X smartphone, reportedly codenamed "Winner":

Fionna Agomuoh contributed to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: 2 incredible smartphone innovations in the works and their likelihood of becoming real

The Galaxy X, as it's been nicknamed, will reportedly be 7 inches diagonally when unfolded. That's about the same size as a small tablet, giving more screen space than a traditional smartphone, in a smaller package.

When the screen is folded in half "like a wallet," there's a smaller display screen on the front and cameras on the back, according to the Journal. 

Samsung's patents and prototypes show a device that either opens and closes from side to side like a book, or horizontally like a notepad. Either way, the fold will make it possible to incorporate bigger display options. It might also give users the option to split the screen into two panels that show different things or show one big picture, similar to what Samsung accomplished with its 48-inch ultrawide computer monitor — but that's still speculation. 

The foldable design might make it a little more fragile.

Depending on the material of the outside layer, a smartphone that folds on itself could serve as its own screen protector, but the fold might create new issues in terms of durability, as indicated by Samsung exec DongJin Koh earlier this year

“We want to have a good reaction from customers once the phone is out in the market. But there are still durability issues that we need to address," he told reporters at a press briefing at CES in January. It's possible that pushing two screens against each other makes for a harsher impact on collision.

An additional concern with the amount of screen space is that multiple screens — meaning the ones on the outside and the inside — are more likely to make the battery overheat.

The Galaxy X could be bulkier than most modern smartphones.

Most smartphone manufacturers have spent years making devices slimmer, and a foldable smartphone could be like adding a layer to a thin phone or stacking two thin phones on top of each other.

The ZTE Axon M, marketed as the first foldable smartphone, is made of two displays attached by a mechanical hinge — but it's almost 1.5x thicker than Samsung's Galaxy S9.

And if the size of the display is comparable to a tablet's, then we can assume the device will be closer in weight to a tablet, too. 

America loves its sandwiches and no matter what kind of delicious creation you’re making, it's likely there's a way to make it even more delicious. 

We rounded up some ways to make the ultimate food on the go even more delicious. 

Keep those slippery cucumbers in place by adding lettuce for friction.

Dan Pashman, host of WNYC’s The Sporkful, offered up this hack on combating slippery components. Pashman recommends separating the slippery ingredients, like pickles and tomatoes, with thin layers of greens to create a friction, so they stay in place.

Make a bacon weave to get bacon in every bite.

"Bacon weaves cook nice and flat and take up lots of surface area, making them ideal for wrapping roasts, like chicken and meatloaf. They also ensure crispy bacon gets into every bite of sandwiches.” Perry Santanachote at Thrillist doesn’t scoff at turning your bacon weave into the bread part of your sandwich.

Pop it in the oven to get everything all hot and juicy.

To revive or put the finish touch on your ‘wich, Julie Deily from The Little Kitchen reveals that she will wrap hers tightly in foil and pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 250 degrees. This warms up all the good stuff on the inside without getting the bread soggy.

• Dogs provide happiness, companionship, and unconditional love to owners all over the world.
• Despite the benefits of adding a new pet to your family, certain dogs can have more health problems, be more prone to anxiety, and cost more than you think — especially if you’re adopting.
• Here are seven things I wish I knew before adopting a dog.

I had just broken up with my boyfriend of three years when I decided to take the plunge and adopt my first dog. When I went to the shelter and surveyed the pups up for adoption, my gaze settled on a miniature dachshund, lounging on a pillow, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around him as the other dogs jostled for my attention.

It was love at first sight, and that weekend, I took Finnegan — Finne for short — home.

That was eight years ago. And although I grew up with dogs, having one that's solely my responsibility has been a learning process. I expected nonstop cuddling and play time, but things haven’t gone as smoothly as I had hoped.

Here are seven things I wish I'd known before adopting a dog.

SEE ALSO: What having a dog does to your brain and body

1. Rescue dogs may experience more separation anxiety

When I brought Finne home, he would not leave my side — he was my permanent shadow. And when I’d leave home — after placing him in his crate, as professionals recommend— he would go berserk. Not only would he cry and bark endlessly (just ask my neighbors), but he would also urinate and defecate in the crate.

Now, I know that my dog was showing symptoms of separation anxiety, which the ASPCA says is common in dogs adopted from shelters.

2. Crate training doesn’t always work

I thought Finne would eventually get used to his crate, but he didn’t. When I told friends and family how much he hated the crate, including his having accidents in it, they were shocked.

Dogs often come to see their crates as their homes — crate training appeals to dogs as den animals, according to The Humane Society of the United States. Since the crate is their den, dogs don’t usually make a mess of them.

However, The Humane Society also acknowledges that crate training isn’t a solution for dogs with separation anxiety, and they may even injure themselves trying to escape their crates to reunite with their beloved person.

3. Dachshunds are difficult to train

Another factor that played a role in the training challenge was that dachshunds, although intelligent, are stubborn, independent, and difficult to train, according to the American Kennel Club. Once I realized this truth, I resigned myself to the fact that Finne wouldn’t be playing fetch or rolling over any time soon.

The US Navy announced in April that it may not deploy any littoral combat ships this year because of maintenance problems.

"Three of the Navy's four original LCSs are in maintenance now, and four of the eight block-buy ships that have commissioned already are undergoing their initial Post Shakedown Availabilities (PSA)," USNI News reported in April, citing Cmdr. John Perkins, a spokesman for Naval Surface Force Pacific.

But LCS' also have a problem with survivability, including limited anti-ship self-defense capabilities, a lack of combat radar systems and more.

The Pentagon is so concerned that LCS vessels aren't "survivable in high-intensity combat" that it's looking for a new frigate to replace them (read about one of the contenders here). 

In any event, one of the LCS that does not appear to be undergoing maintenance, according to the USNI News report, is the USS Coronado. 

Step aboard and take a look: 

SEE ALSO: We toured the heavily-armed and stealthy warship that may be the US Navy's next frigate

There are two variants of LCS — Independence and Freedom — and the Coronado is an Independence-class ship.

Source: US Navy

Independence variants are 421.5 feet long.

Source: US Navy

126.3 feet high.

Source: US Navy

Although it was officially decommissioned in 1985, US Route 66 still symbolizes the spirit of America — and the allure of the American road trip.

Thankfully, between the Interstate Highway System and the United States Numbered Highway System, there's no shortage of meandering routes to choose from when planning your next adventure. 

From Interstate 25, which traverses the Rocky Mountains as it connects New Mexico and Wyoming, to US Route 20, which spans from Boston, Massachusetts, to Newport, Oregon, here are 21 of America's longest highways. 

SEE ALSO: 15 car gadgets that will improve your driving experience

I-25: 1,061.67 miles

Traversing the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Interstate 25 goes from Las Cruces, New Mexico, to Buffalo, Wyoming.

I-5: 1,381.29 miles

Starting in San Ysidro, a district of San Diego, California, north of the US-Mexico border, Interstate 5 travels up the West Coast to Blaine, Washington — a city whose northern boundary borders Canada.

I-15: 1,433.52 miles

Interstate 15 originates in California in San Diego's Mission Valley. Its northern terminus is at the US-Canada border in Sweetgrass, Montana.

For many smartphone users, calendar apps are a vital tool for staying organized and remembering all the where and when they're supposed to be at all times. 

Owners of the iPhone in particular have two standout solutions available to them: Apple's built-in calendar app, which can back up your events to Apple's iCloud service, and Google Calendar, powered by the search giant's formidable artificial intelligence.

I put the Apple and Google calendar apps head-to-head and found that Google's software is the clear winner for anyone looking to stay organized and keep track of their schedule efficiently.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: We compared Google Photos and the built-in Apple Photos app on iPhone — and the winner is clear

EASE OF ACCESS

Both Apple Calendar and Google Calendar offer the convenience factor, because they free come with other accounts and devices that you probably already use.

If you use Gmail, Google Drive, or any other G Suite services, you already have access to your Google Calendar through any web browser. For more mobile-minded folks, there is a free Google Calendar app for both Android and iOS devices. 

Sadly, there isn't a Google Calendar app yet for Mac OS computers or Windows 10.

Apple's calendar app comes pre-installed on all iPhones, iPads, Mac computers and other Apple OS-powered devices, and can be accessed from a web browser on any device through your iCloud account.

As expected, you won't find an Apple Calendar app for any Android or Windows devices.

EASE OF USE

More than anything — in my humble opinion — a calendar app needs to be easy to use.

The vast majority of the time when I open up my virtual calendar, I'm in the middle of making plans with friends or trying to find time for an important call, and the last thing I want is to take more than a few seconds to see my schedule or add a new event. 

Google Calendar's colorful, spaced-out style makes looking at even a particularly packed schedule look tidy and organized across every page of the mobile app. 

The "schedule view" makes this especially easy by displaying all my upcoming events in one long, visually appealing list that's organized by date. 

Google Calendar also automatically decorates my events with these stock images based on their titles.