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Sales are soaring at Meghan Markle's favorite affordable brand. Here's everything you need to know about it.

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meghan markle

  • When Meghan Markle or Kate Middleton wear a new item in public, it's not uncommon for it to sell out almost immediately. 
  • Canadian retailer Aritzia told investors that it had experienced a boost in sales in the first quarter after Markle had been photographed wearing its clothing. 
  • "By all accounts, Meghan remains a huge fan of Aritzia," the store's CEO and founder, Brian Hill, said during a call with investors. 

The world has gone Meghan Markle mad, and it's playing into the hands of the brands she chooses to dress in. 

Markle has followed in the footsteps of her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, to become a global style icon. It's not unusual for any items that are worn publicly by either of these women to sell out almost immediately.  

Canadian retailer Aritzia is the latest store to see a boost from this. In its most recent quarterly results, reported in July, the company said that same-store sales were up by 10.9%. Part of its success was attributed to its celebrity endorsements, including Meghan Markle, the company said.

"By all accounts, Meghan remains a huge fan of Aritzia," CEO and founder Brian Hill told investors during a call this month.

Hill added that after Markle was photographed in one of the company's trench coats, it sold out within six hours.

While Markle is actually from the United States, she spent seven years in Toronto filming on the set of "Suits," and it was here that she likely came into contact with the brand.

Aritzia isn't the only designer to profit from the so-called "Meghan effect." When Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November, Markle's $750 white coat from Canadian brand Line The Label sold out minutes after the photos were released, crashing the brand's website. 

The P.A.R.O.S.H. dress and Aquazzura shoes she wore also sold out almost immediately.

Find out more about the affordable Canadian brand that Markle loves:

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle's and Kate Middleton's fashion choices can lead to huge spikes in sales — here are some of the brands they love

Aritzia was founded in Vancouver in 1984.

Source: Aritzia 



Since then, the company has grown to have 65 stores in Canada and 22 in the US.

The company plans to open six new stores across the US and Canada in 2018 and early 2019. The next store opening slated for the US is in San Diego. 



The store sells a mix of its own labels ...



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There is only one Blockbuster still surviving in the entire United States. Here's what it's like to visit.

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Blockbuster Bend Yelp

  • Blockbuster is almost down to a single location in the entire United States: a shop in Bend, Oregon.
  • On Thursday, Blockbuster announced that the final two locations in Alaska would close next week.
  • The Bend location is beloved by locals and a hot spot for nostalgic tourists eager to see the last Blockbuster in America. 

Blockbuster's last stand in the United States is in Bend, Oregon.

On Thursday, Blockbuster announced that the last two stores Alaska would close up shop next week. That will leave just one Blockbuster location in the entire US.

The holdout is in Bend, a city in central Oregon with an estimated population just shy of 100,000. As the last Blockbuster locations across the US have closed — with two other Blockbusters in Oregon closing in recent months — travelers have begun making their way to Bend in a nostalgic pilgrimage to the video-rental chain.

For Blockbuster lovers desperately missing the store, and for video-rental virgins raised on Netflix, here's what it's like to visit the last remaining Blockbuster in the US.

SEE ALSO: The last Blockbusters in Alaska are finally closing, leaving just one location of the video rental chain left in the entire US

Bend's Blockbuster sign is instantly recognizable and a guaranteed nostalgia trigger for any child of the '90s.

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Inside, the store remains the same, though videotapes have been swapped for DVDs.

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You can still open a membership and rent movies for a $30 monthly fee.

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Source: Bend Bulletin



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23 examples of Tiger Woods' insane competitiveness

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tiger woods 2018

Tiger Woods is one of the most fiercely competitive golfers in the world.

From his cold demeanor on the course, relentless work ethic, and desire to do nothing else but win, there are endless stories about Woods' insane competitiveness.

Woods is back in the spotlight this week as he is in contention at The Open for the first time in years. Relive some of the greatest examples of Woods' competitiveness below:

When Woods was 14 he said he could be the Michael Jordan of golf.

Source: Golf.com



He has practiced before and after competitive rounds: He was spotted playing in the dark at the 2011 PGA Championship.

Source: Nike Golf



He used to have a crazy, non-stop daily routine.

Woods recently revealed what his daily routine was when he was younger:

"I used to get up in the morning, run four miles. Then I'd go to the gym, do my lift. Then I'd hit balls for two to three hours, I'd go play, come back, work on my short game, I'd go run another four more miles, and then if anyone wanted to play basketball or tennis, I would go play basketball or tennis. That was a daily routine. I'm not doing any of that now."



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Here are the best places to buy affordable bridesmaid dresses (GPS)

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BHLDN

  • 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."

Gap Inc., which operates its namesake brand, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, has been doubling down on its more successful areas of business, specifically Old Navy and Athleta.

In September 2017, the company outlined its long-term growth strategy for its brands. It said that it is expecting Old Navy and Athleta to exceed $10 billion and $1 billion in net sales, respectively, in the next few years, and it will be looking to grow these areas of the business.

The departure of Weddington Way has left many fans wondering where to shop for affordable bridesmaid dresses now. We put together a list of brands offering dresses that cost between $68 and $328. Forever 21 was the cheapest brand overall:

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

H&M

Shop here.



BHLDN

Shop here.



Forever 21

Shop here.



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16 mouth-watering global dishes Americans don't even know they're missing

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char kway teow

  • The US is home to virtually every type of cuisine, but there are still many international foods most Americans aren't familiar with.
  • They include poutine from Canada, goulash from Hungary, and mango sticky rice from Thailand.
  • We selected 16 foods from around the world Americans are missing out on.


The United States is home to every type of cuisine under the sun, from Mexican to Mongolian.

But there are still plenty of international foods most Americans haven't heard of, let alone tried. They include hearty dishes like South African bunny chow and sweet treats like stroopwafels from the Netherlands. 

I've been to 25 countries, and I drew on my own travel experiences and recommendations from local experts in compiling a list of the best foods that Americans are missing out on. Take it from me — you'll want to try these delicious dishes when you travel abroad.

Here are 16 foods from around the world we wish they served in America.

SEE ALSO: 11 things you'll hardly ever see in the United States

Poutine is Canada's way of making French fries even better.

America's neighbor to the north has made an immeasurable contribution to the world of French fries. For the uninitiated, poutine is a dish consisting of French fries covered with cheese curds and topped with brown gravy.

You may be able to find poutine in the northeastern US, but it's most common in Quebec, where it's become a local symbol of cultural pride.



Tostones are smashed and double-fried plantains eaten throughout the Caribbean.

Tostones are a popular snack throughout the Caribbean and Central America. They're made from unripe plantains that are fried, smashed, fried again, and salted to savory perfection.



In Argentina, the alfajor is three desserts in one — cookies, caramel, and chocolate.

Sweet teeth around the world will appreciate the alfajor, a dessert that's popular in Argentina and other South American countries. The delicious confection is made with caramel-like dulce de leche sandwiched between two (or three) soft cookies, all of which is then coated with chocolate.

Some varieties of alfajor come with coconut, honey, or jam inside, and a popular modern twist is the three-layered Oreo alfajor.



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We compared Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions — and the winner is clear (AAPL, SPOT)

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Music headphones

It's not easy choosing a music streaming app these days. The subscription prices are generally the same, there isn't much disparity in the music that's available, and on the surface the services all appear pretty similar.

But there are some important differences that will decide which music app is right for you.

Spotify and Apple Music are currently the two biggest music streaming platforms available. Here are the key differences you need to know about when choosing the music service that's in tune with your rhythm:

SEE ALSO: The 15 biggest ways your iPhone will change in iOS 12

Subscriptions: Spotify offers a free version of the app, but Apple Music is subscription-only after the initial, free three-month trial.

Both Spotify and Apple Music offer student plans for $4.99 per month, individual plans for $9.99 per month, and family plans for $14.99 per month — so pricing won't likely play a role in your decision here. The free version of Spotify has limited functionality compared to the paid version, and includes ads.

For the purpose of this article, the paid version of Spotify will be compared with Apple Music. 



Apple Music starts off by asking you to select the genres and artists you're interested in.

After you've made your selections, Apple Music starts to recommend playlists and artists that it thinks you will like. Spotify doesn't have this type of feature, but it learns from your listening habits over time. Both apps allow you to 'like' a song, letting them know that you want to hear more like it. 



However, Spotify's recommendation system is much stronger.

Spotify simply does a better job of making recommendations than Apple Music. Every Monday you receive a new 'Discover Weekly' playlist — 30 songs picked through an algorithm that are similar to music you've listened to in the past. Spotify also has an entire 'Discover' page that makes recommendations based on artists you listen to frequently. 



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Here's which state you really belong in, based on your zodiac sign

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zodiac astrology

Many believe that zodiac signs are hugely influential and a great way to learn more about yourself. This powerful tool can offer insight that may help you to understand yourself, your pursuits, strengths, weaknesses, relationships, and even your intelligence.

It may even help you discover which state you really belong in. Of course, there is no scientific evidence that Zodiac signs guarantee you'll be happy somewhere, so this is just for fun. But for astrology fans, here’s which state you really belong in based on your Zodiac sign.

Aries: Massachusetts

This fire sign needs to reside in a place filled with opportunities to pursue their dreams and to be active and innovative. Massachusetts offers numerous busy and beautiful cities like Boston, Springfield, and Cape Cod where those under this sign can build careers, seek out opportunities for competition, and be the trendsetterAstrostyle lists that an Aries strives to be.



Taurus: Colorado

This Earth sign prefers the mountains and outdoors as they tend to be drawn to the natural world. This sign is patient, hard-working, and a lover of the arts. Too, according to horoscope.com, this sign "frequently needs to get in touch with their physical self," which Colorado certainly is fitting for as one of the happiest and healthiest states in the nation.

Colorado offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventures, beautiful mountain views, and two renowned art museums, just in Denver alone —Denver Art Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.



Gemini: Idaho

Geminis are all about complexity — they’re bubbly and excited, and other times serious and introverted. What better a place for Geminis than a place like Idaho? Idaho has one of the most extreme temperature ranges, making it a perfect match for the Gemini. After all, you’ll get to experience it all, from the outdoor recreation opportunities and historic sites to beautiful resorts, museums, and theme parks, Idaho’s wide range of seasonal activities will inspire Gemini’s creativity and keep them on their toes.



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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The deep and star-studded 2011 NBA Draft class

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The 2011 NBA Draft has proven to be one of the deepest classes in recent memory.

The class was highlighted by No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, but perhaps most interesting is how many stars have developed from picks all over the class.

Klay Thompson was picked 11th, Kawhi Leonard was picked 15th, Jimmy Butler was picked 30th. Even Isaiah Thomas was picked 60th, the last pick of the draft!

Over time, the class has evolved into one of the deepest and most star-studded in NBA history. Here's where the picks are today.

The Cavaliers took Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick.



Irving spent six years with the Cavs, helping them win the 2016 championship with an epic step-back three-pointer. In 2017, he requested a trade and landed with the Boston Celtics, where he can be the No. 1 option.



The Minnesota Timberwolves took Derrick Williams with the second pick.



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The 20 best books of 2018 so far, according to Amazon

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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.

best books 2018 main

Amazon has released its annual list of the best books of the year so far.

These top 20 books released between January and June of 2018 were hand-selected by Amazon book editors and represent a range of genres, including drama, true crime, and fantasy. They named Tara Westover’s memoir "Educated" as its top pick, calling it their "hands-down favorite."

You can browse all the best books of 2018 by category here and learn more about the top 20 picks below. 

Captions are provided by Amazon. 

These are the best books of 2018 so far, according to Amazon: 

"Educated" by Tara Westover

Buy it here >>

Tara Westover didn’t see the inside of a classroom until she was seventeen, but it was an experience that dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. This stirring memoir chronicles how she survived her survivalist upbringing, eventually earning a PhD from Cambridge University. It’s a rousing reminder that knowledge is, indeed, power.



"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah

Buy it here >>

In this pressure cooker of a page-turner, a damaged Vietnam vet moves his family to the wilds of Alaska. Initially it’s a welcome change, but as winter approaches, and his mental state deteriorates, his wife and daughter find themselves in an increasingly precarious position. Like her mega-bestselling "The Nightingale", Kristin Hannah’s "The Great Alone" highlights the heroics of everyday people, especially women.



"The Feather Thief" by Kirk Wallace Johnson

Buy it here >>

Clever, informative, and sometimes endearingly bumbling, this mix of natural history and crime opens up new worlds. Readers will never look at an old stuffed bird or an elaborately tied fishing fly the same way again.



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A 'Game of Thrones' thief and a dam hacker: These are the FBI's 41 most-wanted cyber criminals

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FBI most wanted cybercriminals

The FBI has 41 suspects on its "Cyber’s Most Wanted" page, an identity parade of some of the most skilled hackers in the world.

Their crimes range from state-sponsored espionage to holding episodes of "Game of Thrones," and even hacking into a US dam. Although it is a distinct possibility that the hacker got the wrong dam.

Scroll on to read more about each of the suspects and the crimes they committed. They are not ranked in any particular order.

SEE ALSO: An FBI agent mapped out the countries capable of unleashing a crippling cyber attack on the US

Behzad Mesri, held HBO to ransom

Mesri is an Iran-based hacker otherwise known as "Skote Vahshat" who allegedly hacked HBO's "Game of Thrones" and obtained unaired episodes, scripts, and plot outlines. He demanded a ransom of $6 million in Bitcoin. He also stole unaired episodes of "Ballers,""Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "The Deuce."



Danial Jeloudar, stole a vast amount of credit card numbers

Jeloudar is wanted for identity theft and fraud after he and his associate, Arash Amiri Abedian,  allegedly used malware to steal a vast amount of credit card numbers and other personal information, and then used that information to extort money, goods, and services from victims.

Jeloudar tried to extort a California-based online merchant, threatening to disclose its customers' credit card details and other personal information unless it made him a payment in Bitcoin.



Arash Amiri Abedian, stole and passed on bank details

Along with Danial Jeloudar, Abedian is wanted for alleged identity theft and fraud. Between 2011 and 2016, Abedian used malware to capture people's credit card details and other personal information.

In February 2012, Abedian sent Jeloudar approximately 30,000 names and numbers, which he said were unauthorized credit card numbers and associated information.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most mesmerizing photos from the World Cup

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World Cup 2018 photos

The 2018 World Cup has concluded, and France is the champion.

The tournament is now being called one of the best ever, and Russia was 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.

France is the 2018 World Cup champion.



Kylian Mbappe, the star of the tournament, kissing the World Cup.



Croatia celebrating its 109th-minute goal against England that advanced it to the final.



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7 terrifying enemy weapons that probably suck

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Russia T-14 Armata tank

Some terrifying weapons have come out in the past few years or are going through testing that make it seem as if the next war, no matter where it happens, will see friendly troops fighting a "War of the Worlds"-type conflict against unstoppable foes.

But many of these new weapons are overhyped, impossible to make work, or prohibitively expensive. In no particular order, here are seven you can probably stop worrying so much about:

SEE ALSO: These are the worst weapons an army could buy

1. That new nuclear-powered missile

The Burevestnik is Russia's splashy, new, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed missile announced in a March press conference. In theory, this weapon would spew nuclear waste over a large area as it swiftly maneuvers past enemy air defenses and levels an unknown enemy capital (that's obviously Washington, DC).

For all of you kept awake by night terrors, feel free to suck down some NyQuil and enjoy the dreams, because that missile barely works. And by barely, we mean that its "unlimited range" is actually 22 miles, otherwise known as 878 miles less than a US astronaut will drive in a diaper to win a love triangle. 'MURICA!





2. China's stealth jets, J-31 and J-20

The J-31 and the J-20 would challenge the F-35 and the F-22 for control of the skies, downing American fuel tankers at will and beating back flights of fifth-generation fighters too dumb to realize they were outmatched. Unfortunately, Chinese designers can't get the engines, as well as some other details, right.

So, while the newest J-fighters are still a threat (fuel tankers will be vulnerable when the planes carry their longest-range air-to-air missiles), American fighters will still hold a firm edge against them in nearly all conditions, especially knife fights and stealth battles in which the Chinese fighters' weak engines will make them have to choose between stealth and speed. The American fighters, especially the F-22, can enjoy both at once.



3. T-14 Armata tank

It's the tank that will savagely murder every Abrams tank it faces using its autoloader and massive cannon while shrugging off enemy rounds and missiles with no problem thanks to advanced protection systems that shoot missiles down! That'd be real scary if it weren't for the fact that it probably doesn't work — and it costs too much for Russia to buy even if it knew how to fix it. At present, this is a tank that is already seven years overdue.

It looks as if Russia may be throwing in the towel on ever deploying this boondoggle. The Russian Ministry of Defense allotted $417 million for upgrading existing vehicles and canceled the destruction of 6,000 vehicles, almost as if it thinks it'll need the current generation for a long time.



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I tried a $189, 10-course meal at the eclectic San Francisco restaurant that makes ice cream from milk mixed with hot coals and morphs trout into 'everything bagels'

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San Francisco has no shortage of restaurants, fine dining or otherwise, with menus boasting crazy high prices. Seven dollar bacon strips anyone?

The city's newly-opened Avery restaurant isn't any different in that sense. The prix-fixe East Asian-infused eatery takes reservations through Tock, the high-dollar restaurant equivalent of OpenTable that allows guests to reserve and pay for meals beforehand. No post-meal payment needed.

The restaurant is currently offering three menus: Cello Player, a smaller course plan for $89 a person, Avery's Room, a reservation for six to eight people featuring a special menu from the kitchen, and the seafood-themed Bouquet of the Sea for $189 a pop.

I took a gander at the latter during a recent visit to Avery and concluded that when it comes to eating in this city, you get what you pay for — which in this case is 10 meticulously-crafted, delicious dishes for $189 a person.

Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: San Franciscans are waiting 30 minutes in line for these Japanese cheese tarts — here's what they taste like

In the city's Fillmore neighborhood, Avery's storefront is minimal and could be easy to miss if you aren't looking for it.



The entry way features a black slatted wall. We were seated behind it, in a cozy booth.



My friend helped himself to one of the fleecy knit blankets available by the front door — they're great for keeping guests warm in San Francisco's infamous chilly night air.



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Here's how wealthy the average family is in 35 countries around the world

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  • How much money people have in the bank varies widely from country to country.
  • The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development tracks average household financial wealth across its member countries.
  • Average net worth (not including real estate equity) ranges from $4,429 in Turkey to $176,076 in the United States.

How much money people have in the bank varies widely from country to country.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a group of 36 countries around the world, including most of the major developed economies, dedicated to promoting "policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world,"according to the OECD's website.

The OECD tracks several economic and social statistics for each of its member countries as part of its Better Life Index program. One of the measures is the average household net financial wealth, or the total value of a household's assets less liabilities, adjusted for the country's cost of living, in each member country (with the exception of Lithuania, which only recently joined the OECD and thus is not included in the most recent report.)

It's worth noting that the OECD statistics do not include real estate or housing wealth, as "such information is currently available for only a small number of OECD countries,"according to the OECD

Average household wealth varies widely across OECD countries, ranging from a low of $4,429 in Turkey to a high of $176,076 in the United States. Across the entire OECD, the average household wealth was $90,570.

Here's the average household wealth across the OECD countries:

Average household wealth around the world

And here's each country's average net financial worth, along with its average household net adjusted disposable income, defined by the OECD as "the amount of money that a household earns, or gains, each year after taxes and transfers," and representing money available for spending.

SEE ALSO: Here's how much the typical millennial, Gen X, and baby-boomer worker earns in every US state

United States

Average household financial wealth: $176,076

Average household adjusted net disposable income: $44,049



Switzerland

Average household financial wealth: $128,415

Average household adjusted net disposable income: $36,378



Belgium

Average household financial wealth: $104,084

Average household adjusted net disposable income: $29,968



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16 signs you're underpaid — and what to do about it

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Feeling like you might be underpaid can be one of the most disheartening aspects of work.

"It stands to reason, because for many, compensation is a concrete litmus test of how well you're performing and progressing on the job — and how highly you're valued," said Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

What's crucial, if you realize you are underpaid, is to ask for a bump— not suffer in silence.

"The important thing to remember is that if you don’t ask the answer is always no," career and wellness coach Joanna Echols told Business Insider. "Even if you don’t get the raise right away, and you are an exceptional performer, the raise discussion with your boss is a great opportunity to reinforce your accomplishments and explain your future plans of adding more value to the company."

Here are 16 signs you're not being paid your worth, and what to do to boost your salary:

SEE ALSO: 5 major mistakes that can derail your salary negotiations

DON'T MISS: People are quitting their jobs in droves this year — and getting record-setting pay boosts because of it

A similar job listing on your company website offers higher pay

"If there are multiple positions like yours at the company, the job description closely resembles yours, and the salary is higher, that's one of the most obvious signs," Taylor said.

Stay on top of this by occasionally searching your own company's job postings to monitor what new employees are being paid, "and to see if that feels reasonable given your current level of experience and role in the company," said Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage."



Your firm's revenue has taken off, but your salary has barely budged

If your company isn't public, it's harder to obtain hard numbers about revenue growth.

But you likely have a sense of whether your company is booming or busting. If it's the former, you have a good reason to argue for a raise, Taylor said.



The salary for your first job was below market, and it hasn't changed much since

Think back to the salary you accepted for your first job — maybe you accepted a salary you knew was low because you were desperate.

Now consider how your pay progressed from there. If it hasn't changed much, you're probably underpaid. 

"It can be difficult to play catch-up if you started low," Taylor said.



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See stunning nighttime vistas from the US's first gold-tier 'Dark Sky' star-gazing reserve

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Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

Deep in the mountains of Central Idaho lies one of the darkest nighttime spots in the US.

The International Dark-Sky Association, a nonprofit led by two astronomers, has declared a 1,416-square-mile area in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area as the country's first gold-certified Dark Sky Reserve.

That means the central Idaho wilderness — along with the towns of Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Stanley — will remain one of the best places in the world to gaze up at the stars for generations to come.

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve was officially created in December, the brainchild of Stanley mayor Steve Botti and Steve Pauley, a retired doctor who has been pushing to preserve pristine night skies.

To become a Dark Sky Reserve, areas must meet certain minimum criteria— set by a council of astronomy experts — for nighttime sky quality and natural darkness, according to the International Dark-Sky Association's website. The Milky Way has to be easily visible at night, and there has to be minimal light pollution and little glare from existing lights.

Dark Sky Reserves must also have buy-in from the local community — there must be regulations and long-term planning commitments in place to reduce light pollution and establish low-glare lighting for any buildings in the reserve. 

Check out some gorgeous pictures of Milky Way and other far-off celestial bodies as seen from Idaho's Dark Reserve:

SEE ALSO: Two women just made history by winning the grueling Volvo Ocean Race, which is considered the 'Everest of sailing'

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve lies in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains.



It was the first US location to get a gold-tier certification from the International Dark-Sky Association, a nonprofit run by a group of astronomers.

To become a gold-tier reserve, areas must meet the highest standards set out by the Dark-Sky Association. Because the Idaho reserve is deep wilderness, there's little to no light pollution anywhere in the area. 



As part of the reserve, all the towns in the area have either passed or are working on regulations around nighttime light.

According to the Dark-Sky Association, these regulations include low-glare light bulbs, as well as proper shielding for any lights located in the reserve above 500 lumens.

 

 



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How much you need to earn to live in the most expensive zip code in every state

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beverly hills home

  • Beverly Hills, 90210, may be America's most famous zip code, but it isn't the only area with expensive and luxurious real estate.
  • GoBankingRates recently found the most expensive zip code in every state — and just how much money you need to make to live comfortably there.
  • It's costly to be near the waterfront — the top 10 most expensive zip codes are all coastal.

90210 may arguably be America’s most famous zip code; associated with fancy cars and even fancier homes, those five numbers are known to symbolize wealth and prestige — but it's not the only zip code to do so.

GoBankingRates recently found how much money you need to make to live in the most expensive zip code in every state, and 90210 has some competition.

To rank the list, they determined the most expensive zip code according to median home values for April 2018, sourced from Zillow. They then compared the monthly cost-of-living for one person based on housing, groceries, utilities, transportation costs, and healthcare expenditures. Housing costs were sourced from Zillow, while the other four costs were pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The monthly costs were combined and multiplied by 12 to get the annual cost of necessities in each zip code. Following the 50-30-20 budgeting guideline, the cost of necessities was doubled to find the amount of income one needs to live comfortably in each zip code, which determined the list rankings. Thus, necessities made up 50% of the yearly income, splurges made up 30%, and savings comprised 20%.

The top 10 most expensive zip codes all happen to be coastal areas.

Below, see the annual income you need to live in the most expensive zip code in every state, ranked from lowest to highest.

SEE ALSO: The 22 American cities with the most million-dollar homes

DON'T MISS: 10 cities where you can make 6 figures and still feel broke

51. 26508: Brookhaven, West Virginia

Total income needed: $79,786

Median listing price: $319,000



50. 57702: Rapid City, South Dakota

Total income needed: $83,064

Median listing price: $349,900



49. 39110: Madison, Mississippi

Total income needed: $84,322

Median listing price: $367,000



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I downloaded a $50 app to organize my entire life — here's what it's like to use

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things 3

Thousands of disparate thoughts fly through our heads every single minute of the day.

"I need to do laundry this week."

"I have a big project coming up for work, I should spend some time on that."

"I should make tacos for dinner tonight."

"Oh, I forgot to call my mom yesterday."

There are plenty of apps to categorize your various to-dos, but there aren't many apps that can help categorize your whole life: including your to-dos, but also your random thoughts, ideas, projects, and areas of your life, like work, friends, and family.

Things 3, from the Germany-based software startup Cultured Code, is a 2017 Apple Design award-winning app for organizing your life that's both simple and robust. It works across Apple devices only right now (sorry Android and PC users), but if you have at least one-Apple made product it's probably worth your consideration.

Thanks to Cultured Code, which provided me with review codes to try Things 3 on my Apple devices, I can confidently say that Things 3 is remarkable organization tool. It's great for jotting down quick thoughts that come along, but it's really best for tackling more complex projects — like planning vacations, learning a new language, and especially prioritizing your various work tasks.

I've spent a few months importing my entire life into Things 3 — here's what it's like to use the app, and why you should consider buying it:

First thing's😉first: Let's talk about price.

Things 3 can sync all your information across your various Apple devices, but you still need to buy the app for each device. Things 3 works the same way across all platforms, but Cultured Code put a lot of thought into designing each interface specifically for each device.

So, Things 3 costs $10 on the iPhone, $20 on the iPad, and $50 on the Mac.

Mac users also get a free 15-day free trial, so you can see if you actually like Things 3 before dropping a 50-bomb.

My advice: Consider which devices you use the most, and go from there. Personally, I use my iPhone and MacBook more often than my iPad, so if you're like me, I would highly recommend getting Things 3 for those two devices at least — to keep yourself organized while at work or on the go. But if you love your iPad, Things 3 works great there, too.



Here's a look at what my Things 3 looks like on my Mac. The left sidebar shows how Things 3 organizes all your information, and the folders at the bottom are divisions that I created myself, for Life, Work, and Projects.

The main part of the screen shows my Inbox, which has nothing in it at the moment.

The Inbox tab is where you can create tasks with unassigned due dates. Drop in any free thoughts you have lying around and organize them later.

A nice bonus: With a single button press, you can also import all of your calendar events and reminders if you use Apple's Calendar and Reminders apps, respectively, which is a very nice feature.



The Today tab shows you everything scheduled for the day. As you can see, I have a meeting at noon, and I also need to write my Things 3 re— oh man that's right now! I should do that!



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Russia just released videos of its next generation of nuclear weapons — Here's what we know

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Russian Sarmat

The Russian Ministry of Defense released on Thursday videos of five new weapon systems, which Russian President Vladimir Putin bragged would render make US missile defenses "ineffective" in a March address. 

The new weapons included a new intercontinental ballistic missile, a global cruise missile, a nuclear torpedo, a hypersonic plane-launched and nuclear-capable missile, and a laser. 

"They kept ignoring us," Putin said about the West in his state of the union address after describing the weapons. "Nobody wanted to listen to us, so listen to us now."

Although Putin boasted about the weapons during his speech, many have been skeptical about some of the new systems. 

Here are the newly published Russian MoD videos, and what we know about the weapons:

SEE ALSO: Step aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's aircraft carrier that's considered one of the worst in the world

SEE ALSO: 8 photos of the Tu-160M2, the new long-range super bomber that Russia's answer to the B-1B Lancer

1. RS-28 Sarmat ICBM

The Sarmat is a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile that Putin claimed had an unlimited range and could beat any air defenses. 

Meant to replace the SS-18 Satan, the Sarmat is silo-based and has several payload options, including 10 large warheads or 16 small warheads or a combination of warheads and countermeasures. 

It appears to have been successfully tested in late March, and is expected to be fielded by 2020-2021. 

Read more about the Sarmat here.



Watch the Russian MoD video of the Sarmat below:

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2. Poseidon nuclear torpedo

The Poseidon is an underwater, high-speed nuclear-capable torpedo unlike any other nuclear weapon.

As opposed to other nuclear weapons in which lingering radioactivity is only a dangerous side effect, the Poseidon uses radioactive waste to deter, scare, and potentially punish enemies for decades to come.

It's supposedly surrounded by cobalt, which, when detonated, would spread a shroud of radioactive cobalt indiscriminately across the planet. One US analyst estimated that the cobalt would take 53 years to return to non-dangerous levels. 

RIA Novosti reported on Thursday that tests of the Poseidon were "being completed."



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We visited a convenience-store chain with a cult following in Texas, and we were amazed by what we found

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Buc-ee's

  • Buc-ee's is a convenience-store chain with a cult following across Texas.
  • The chain serves as a supersized highway pit stop complete with "world famous" bathrooms, branded T-shirts, a beef-jerky bar, a wide-ranging home-decor section, and freshly made fudge.
  • We visited Texas to see whether Buc-ee's could live up to the hype — and we were shocked by what we found. 

If you're on a road trip traveling through Texas, Buc-ee's looms large as a highway oasis — and not just because of the endless signs along the road telling travelers how many miles until the nearest location appears on the horizon.

Much like Pennsylvanians worship at the altar of Wawa, hungry road trippers across the Lone Star State have their prayers answered at the gas-station chain Buc-ee's.

Need gas? Buc-ee's apparently has it for cheap. Food? Chefs say their breakfast tacos are some of the best. Clothing? Per sources, Buc-ee's T-shirts — featuring its iconic beaver mascot — are a trademark of a cool Texas teen.

Despite Texans' obsession, most of the world has never even heard of Buc-ee's. The chain, founded in 1982, has about 40 locations.

We visited Buc-ee's to see whether it lived up to the hype. What we found was like nothing we'd seen before.

SEE ALSO: We visited convenience-store rivals Wawa and Sheetz to see which does it better — and the winner is clear

We rolled into the Buc-ee's parking lot well aware of the promise that "everything is bigger in Texas." But even the state's self-aggrandizing did not prepare us for what was waiting inside.



Walking into Buc-ee's was like wandering into a mix of a Walmart, a barbecue-centric deli, and the Texas tourism bureau, plus a dash of the Cracker Barrel general store.



The snack aisles carry the classic road-trip rations, like trail mix, dried fruit, and candy — but on a scale unseen anywhere else in the country.



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