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11 of the greatest TV dogs of all time

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family guy stewie brian

Research has shown that humans are more empathetic to dogs than their fellow humans. It could be because we see dogs as part of the family, rather than just pets.

It's no surprise, then, that dogs have become some of the most beloved television characters as well. Some are cartoon animals who have the ability to speak with their owners and walk on two legs. Others, like Lassie, were played by canine actors who became celebrities in their own rights.

From sardonic pup Brian Griffin on "Family Guy" to beloved doghouse snoozer Snoopy, these television dogs have captured viewers' hearts.

Wishbone was the ultimate companion for '90's book lovers.

PBS Kids' "Wishbone" starred a Jack Russell terrier who would insert himself into different literary adventures.

On the show, Wishbone explored the stories of famous books from history, meeting characters including Sherlock Holmes, Hercules, Tom Sawyer, and Robin Hood.

The canine actor's real name was Soccer, but he had three stunt doubles, Phoebe, Slugger, and Shiner, and a publicity double named Bear.



No collie will ever be as famous and beloved as Lassie.

The 1950's were big for heroic dog characters, and Lassie was the biggest of them all. The fearless collie saved the day over and over, and has become a major part of popular culture. 

Played by Pal, Lassie's first appearance in "Lassie Come Home" had her traveling across Scotland to return to her rightful home.

Her television show lasted 19 seasons, making it one of the longest scripted prime time television shows in American history.



Scooby-Doo loved Scooby snacks almost as much as he loved Shaggy and the mystery gang.

The canine part of the crew made everyone want a Great Dane to help them solve spooky crimes.

This dog didn't contribute too much to catching the villains, but was more often trying to escape them through a series of doors .

The cartoon premiered in 1969 and is still around today, with multiple movies and reboots under its belt.



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13 queens who are reigning around the world right now

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queen elizabethThere are still a number of places around the world where royals reside, even if they're not technically ruling over countries. Although many nations do not follow a monarchy, there are still quite a few queens and queen consorts around the world.

This list only includes current reigning monarchs with the term "queen" or "queen consort" within their royal title. But, it is worth acknowledging that there are many women married to royal rulers who aren't technically considered queens themselves, as well as female rulers of nations who do not have a queen title.

Here is a list of the current reigning queens around the world. 

Queen Margrethe II is Denmark's first queen.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is Denmark's very first female monarch. She is currently 78 years old. Though she is the first female monarch of solely Denmark, according to the BBC, her ancestor Queen Margrethe I ruled over a combination of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway back in the late-14th and early-15th centuries.

Queen Margrethe II married her husband, Prince Henrik in 1967 and became queen on January 14, 1972. Prince Henrik died earlier this year.

Queen Margrethe II celebrated 40 years on the throne in 2012, and will one day pass the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.



Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-serving British monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-serving British monarch and has ruled over the commonwealth nations for over 60 years.

Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne when her father died on February 6, 1952, but didn't have her coronation ceremony until June of 1953. The next in line to the British throne is Prince Charles of Wales.

Read more: Queen Elizabeth's purse makes a cameo in her latest royal portrait — and the reason why is super relatable



Queen Letizia is part of the Spanish royal family.

Queen Letizia is the wife of King Felipe VI of Spain. Before she joined the Spanish royal family, she was a journalist and then a news anchor.According to Vogue, when she was a journalist she covered the United States presidential election in 2000.

She married then-prince Felipe VI in 2004. Together, the couple has two children: Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia. Princess Leonor is the heir to the throne.



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A new $11.7 billion airport just opened in Turkey and it could become one of the world's biggest. Take a look inside the giant hub.

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Istanbul Airport 2

  • On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the new Istanbul Airport, a major public works project that is the culmination of Erdogan's 15-year building spree.  
  • At the price of $11.7 billion, the new Istanbul Airport will be one of the world's busiest.
  • iGA, the developer of the project, expects the airport to serve 90 million passengers in the first phase of construction, and anticipates that number to rise to 200 million passengers in three terminals once the fourth phase is completed
  • "We have completed this project," Erdogan declared at the ceremony, according to The Independent, "and we are officially launching the first stage. We did not build the Istanbul airport for our country. It is a great service we are offering to the region and the world."

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the new Istanbul Airport, a major public works project that is the culmination of Erdogan's 15-year building spree. 

At a price of $11.7 billion, the new Istanbul airport will be one of the world's busiest.

"We have completed this project," The Independent reports Erdogan declared at the ceremony, "and we are officially launching the first stage. We did not build the Istanbul airport for our country. It is a great service we are offering to the region and the world."

The new Istanbul Airport was constructed and will be operated by iGA, a joint-venture consortium that was awarded a contract in 2013 and will be continually improving upon the airport over 25 years, according to iGA's website. 

iGA anticipates the new Istanbul Airport to serve more than 100 airline companies and reach over 300 destinations, though it is unclear if these numbers account for the entire score of the project.

iGA, who developed the project, expects the airport to serve 90 million passengers in the first phase of construction, and anticipates that number to rise to 200 million passengers in three terminals once the fourth phase is completed. 

Read more:These are the 15 coolest things at airports around the world

With phase one of the project completed this week, iGA expects all four phases to be completed between 2025 and 2027, when the airport plans to become "a new center of international aviation," as the Board of Directors wrote in a public letter.  

The airport will utilize some of the newest technology emerging in a variety of sectors. According to iGA, information technology solutions featured at the airport will include BIM (Building Information Modelling), virtual reality, augmented reality, smart kiosks, and social media enabled services.  

Take a look at some photos and renderings below which showcase the inauguration ceremony of the new Istanbul Airport as well as some interior and exterior shots. 

SEE ALSO: You can now fly with weed out of Los Angeles International Airport

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

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a ceremony on October 29, 2018 to inaugurate the opening of the new Istanbul Airport.

Source: Associated Press



Many foreign dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony for the new airport, which took place on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic following its war of independence

Source: Associated Press



The airport cost $11.7 billion to build and is the largest public works project in Turkey's history.

Source: HAARETZ and The Independent



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10 things Gwen Stefani does to make 49 look like 29

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gwen stefani

It's safe to say that Gwen Stefani is a beauty icon. The Grammy Award-winning singer and reality TV star captivates fans across the globe with her talent and apparently ageless visage.

Here are a few things Gwen Stefani has credited with allowing her to look so young.

She's serious about sun protection.

Even though she grew up in California, Stefani told Elle that she was proactive about avoiding the sun once she hit her twenties.

"Later in life, you're like 'What is that?!' and it turns out it's from the sun and you're like, 'Oh why did I do that to myself?'" she remarked.

Gwen Stefani is living proof that protecting your skin from the sun's rays isa crucial part of preserving your complexion.



She pays special attention to her hair.

"I really dotake care of my hair, even more than my face. Because you have to if you're a blonde," she shared with Vogue.

Stefani revealed that sheprefers using only soft water to wash her hair. She even had her boyfriend, country music star Blake Shelton, install a water-softening system at his Oklahoma ranch.



Stefani knows the power of good lighting.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Stefani revealed that she thinkslighting has a huge impact on your makeup and overall look.

Stefani explained that she believed the sunlight in the UK made her makeup look different than it normally did in Los Angeles.

"That's why I'm always up for trying something different andchanging my look," she told Cosmo.



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10 books that have been banned in schools

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catcher in the rye

  • Classic books and contemporary young adult novels have been banned in schools.
  • Language, sexual content, and even "Satanic" themes have all been the subject of complaints.
  • Some districts have allowed the books after pushback from students and faculty, though many remain blacklisted.

Both classic books and contemporary novels have been banned in schools due to "profanity," plotlines "centered around negative activity,""X-rated" content, and "Satanic" themes. While some books have been reinstated by school districts after pushback from students and faculty, others remain blacklisted.

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracks the number of complaints that books receive in schools, tallying up the most frequently challenged books since 1990, as well as classic books that were challenged and banned throughout the 20th century into today. 

Here are 10 beloved books that have been banned in schools and what made them so controversial.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

"To Kill A Mockingbird" has been challenged, removed from curricula, and banned in schools across the US due to its use of the N-word and other racial epithets that promote "racial hatred, racial division, [and] racial separation" as well as "adult themes such as sexual intercourse, rape, and incest" as Brentwood Middle School in Tennessee put it in 2006. 

Michael Cary, director of curriculum and instruction at Duluth Public Schools in Minnesotatold the Duluth News Tribune that, "We felt that we could still teach the same standards and expectations through other novels that didn't require students to feel humiliated or marginalized by the use of racial slurs."

It was also one of the 10 most challenged books in schools in 2017



"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain

Like "To Kill A Mockingbird," the book's language and depiction of African Americans has been controversial in schools. Bans on the book date back to one year after it was published, when it was called "trash and suitable only for the slums" in 1885. 



The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" made the list of the most challenged books in the 1990s even though the first book was only published in the US in 1999. Books from the series were also the most challenged books in the following decade, with complaints that they were "anti-family," violent, and Satanic. 

 



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Here's what it was like at the Google walkout protest in San Francisco (GOOG, GOOGL)

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Google employees across the globe participated in a walkout Thursday to protest the company's handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

The protest follows a bombshell New York Times report that identified high-ranking Google executives past and present as having been credibly accused of sexual misconduct — including Android co-creator Andy Rubin, who was reportedly given a $90 million severance package after an internal investigation into his behavior.

While Google's main headquarters is in Mountain View, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, it maintains a sizable office just north in San Francisco. What appeared to be hundreds of Google employees from the San Francisco office left their desks and gathered in front of the city's historic Ferry Building for a rally. 

Here's what the Google walkout protest was like in San Francisco:

SEE ALSO: Google walkout live: Pictures of Google workers leaving their desks in protest over sexual misconduct

Google employees gathered in a plaza outside the company's San Francisco office at 345 Spear St. around 11am Thursday.



Many held banners at the ready. This one evokes Google's unofficial motto of many years



Soon after 11am, employees spilled out of the plaza area and onto the sidewalks.



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12 Black Friday tech deals you can already shop on 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. 

Nebula Anker, Mars II 300 ANSI lm Portable Projector

Amazon has kicked off Black Friday a few weeks early with thousands of deals you can take advantage of right now. 

We've sorted through them to find the best deals overall, but you can find the 12 best tech deals available below. You'd think Amazon might hold off on big tech discounts until later in the month, but you can already save hundreds of dollars on a projector or robot vacuum

To keep things interesting, Amazon is going to rotate these deals regularly, and we'll update this post to help you keep track of what's available. We're also cross-checking these prices against other stores, and we'll let you know if you can get the same price somewhere else. 

If you're trying to get holiday shopping out of the way early, you can find great prices on some tech staples below. 

Shopping for more gifts? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

SEE ALSO: 

A big HD monitor

Dell LED-Lit 31.5" Monitor, $159.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $40] 

An external monitor helps you see more of your work at once, and Dell's 31.5-inch HD display is big enough to make a major difference in your productivity. The ultra-thin monitor has a wide viewing angle, so colors will look consistent regardless of where you're sitting, and both a VGA and an HDMI port. Having two ports lets you use the monitor with your computer and another video device, like a media streamer or game console.

This deal is also currently available at Best Buy.

 



An HD dash cam

Roav DashCam A1, $45.59 (originally $55.90) [You save $10.41]

Nobody wants to think about getting into a car accident, but a dash cam can provide important evidence of what happened. Roav's A1 has a wide-angle lens that records multiple lanes of traffic in 1080P, so you'll have a clean recording when you play it back. It also has a night vision mode, which means you'll still get a clear recording after dark.

You'll need to get a MicroSD card for the dash cam to work, but a 32GB card can store hours of HD video and costs less than $10.



A portable HD projector

Nebula Mars II Projector, $396.99 (originally $499.99) [You save $103]

Nebula's Mars II projector lets you take an HD movie theater with you wherever you go. It can project a 720P screen up to 300 inches, has built-in speakers for loud stereo sound, and an HDMI port, so you can plug in anything from a game console to your phone. It also has up to five hours of battery life, so you can take it with you anywhere and watch a movie or two before it has to charge.



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10 tips to make going through airport security a breeze

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As we quickly approach the busiest traveling time of the year, there's one thing that millions of travelers must be mindful of — and that's how to be efficient when it comes to airport security. 

Without the convenience of TSA precheck, Global Entry or CLEAR, navigating airport TSA can seriously be a headache. From random in-depth searches to one-too-many overstuffed carry-on bags, passengers can unknowingly slow down the process of getting through security.

If you want to avoid holding up your fellow travelers this holiday season, here are 10 ways to make getting through airport security a breeze.

Check into your flight the night before your flight is set to take off.

All airlines send a courtesy email, call or text (depending on your preference) travelers to give them the opportunity to check-in 24 hours before the flight departs. Unless you have to check luggage that is larger than carry-on size, this probably the biggest hack that could save dozens, if not hundreds, of travelers time when they first arrive at the airport.



Arrive to the airport early.

When flying domestically, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has long cautioned travelers to arrive at least an hour ahead of time, and two hours if you’re traveling internationally. Regardless of what area of the country you may reside, it's not wise to assume you know how long an airport line will be. It's better to err on the side of safety and give yourself extra time.

 

 



Invest in TSA precheck or Global Entry.

It’s surprising how many Americans have yet to take full advantage of TSA Pre and Global Entry.

At $85, you pay for a five-year membership that doesn’t require you to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets upon entering the security line.

With Global Entry, you pay $100 for a five-year membership, but you are granted expedited clearance back into the US after traveling abroad. With both options, you’re able to bypass the long security lines and get to your gate with enough time to stop and shop

If you can't decide between the two options, see why we recommend Global Entry. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A history of the times Kellyanne Conway's husband has roasted Trump

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kellyanne conway george

Prominent conservative lawyer George Conway has been highly critical of his wife's boss, President Donald Trump.

His latest comment came after Trump announced plan to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and George have previously shared how their political disagreements— especially about Trump — are affecting their marriage. But it wasn't always this way.

Here's a brief history of George Conway's transformation from Trump supporter into one of his most visible and vocal critics on the right.

SEE ALSO: Kellyanne Conway opens up about how the president is affecting her marriage

DON'T MISS: Inside the marriage of Kellyanne and George Conway, who Ann Coulter introduced, are now worth $39 million, and are increasingly at odds over Trump

June 2, 2017: Conway turns down administration role

After speculation began in March 2017 that Conway would be picked for a position in the Trump administration, Conway eventually declined any administration role, saying:

"I am profoundly grateful to the President and to the attorney general for selecting me to serve in the Department of Justice. I have reluctantly concluded, however, that, for me and my family, this is not the right time for me to leave the private sector and take on a new role in the federal government."

Conway went on to clarify: "Kellyanne and I continue to support the President and his administration, and I look forward to doing so in whatever way I can from outside the government."

The Washington Post reported that Conway considered the role, but was scared off by Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and the aftermath that ensued.



June 5, 2017: Conway posts his first critical tweet

Shortly after turning down an administration position, Conway started to tweet critically of Trump.

In his first post, he questioned the usefulness of Trump's tweets, mocking Trump's signature sign-off "Sad!"

In a later tweet, Conway clarified that he still supported the president.



March 28, 2018: Conway gets more vocal on Twitter

In late March, after nearly a yearlong hiatus, Conway called Trump's reported interest in pardons for former staff as a way to protect himself from the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation "flabbergasting."

Also at this time, Conway reportedly switched his party registration to "unaffiliated."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

22 work-appropriate yet thoughtful gifts for your boss — all under $50

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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.

hydro flask $29.95

You spend the majority of your day with your coworkers, and if you like them enough, you might even plan on getting them a gift as a thank-you for all the good times in and out of the office. 

Another person you're probably thinking about gifting is your boss. Though not always easy to come by, a good boss makes a big difference for how you approach daily work activities and grow professionally. 

Since they're your manager, it's important that your gift maintains professionalism — but still gets the message across that you appreciate their hard work. 

These 22 affordable gifts for your boss do just that. 

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

A fun desk toy

Speks Blocks, $29.95, available at Amazon

The makers of our favorite magnetic desk toy have a new way to reduce stress and keep your boss entertained. With these colorful magnetic blocks (which also come with a travel bag), they can take a mental break or use the opportunity to refocus their mind as they build creative sculptures. 



A gift card to a popular women's workwear shop

Gift Card, $50, available at MM.LaFleur

Popular women's workwear brand MM.LaFleur makes excellent pants and blazers that are definitely an investment, but worth the price. Its Bento Box contains these stylish and comfortable wardrobe staples to take the headache out of getting dressed in the morning. 



A set of cool memo books

Field Notes Coastal: East Special Edition Grid Memo Books, 3-Pack, $22.92, available at Amazon

These small books are the perfect size for jotting down quick notes and the coast lines on the cover are embossed in a pretty holographic foil. West Coast fans, Field Notes didn't leave you out



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10 things you didn't know about Benjamin Franklin, who first suggested an idea similar to Daylight Saving Time

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Benjamin Franklin 1767

Benjamin Franklin is one of the key figureheads of American history. A brilliant inventor, publisher, politician, and ambassador, the founding father wore many different hats in his lifetime.

But did you know he was the first to suggest an idea similar to Daylight Saving Time? And that he invented a musical instrument that Beethoven and Mozart loved so much they wrote music for it?

Keep scrolling to learn more facts about American history's "Renaissance man." 

Franklin's Daylight Saving Time-esque idea originated as a humorous suggestion to the French.

Benjamin Franklin is not credited with inventing what we now know as Daylight Saving Time, but he did structure a remarkably similar argument for re-arranging sleep schedules— and was the first person to ever have such an idea.

In 1784, when Franklin was 78 years old and serving as an ambassador to France, he was unpleasantly awoken from the summer sun at 6 a.m. As a result, Franklin penned one of his famous satirical essays, suggesting that Parisians, if they woke up at dawn, could save money through "the economy of using sunshine instead of candles."

Unfortunately, Franklin lived at time when time was not standardized, so there was no way of implementing his plan. After Europe was standardized, in the early 1900s, Englishman William Willett led the first campaign for what we know know as Daylight Saving Time.



Benjamin Franklin only had two years of formal education.

In this day and age, it's hard to believe that a world-renowned thinker like Franklin hardly set foot in a classroom.

Franklin was 8 years old when he attended the South Grammar School (Boston Latin) in Boston, Massachusetts. The following year he switched to George Brownell's English School, which specialized in writing and arithmetic.

At age 10, Franklin started an apprenticeship in his father's soap- and candle-making shop, which marked the end of his formal education. Nevertheless, he remained a prolific reader and writer, borrowing books from friends, and, eventually, apprenticing at his brother's printing shop



Franklin designed the “glass armonica,” a musical instrument that was beloved by Mozart and Beethoven.

During his time as a delegate to London and France, Franklin noticed that many performers used sets of drinking glasses to create sound. He was intrigued, and got to work on a musical instrument that could mimic the sound of wet fingers on glass. 

Completed in 1761, Franklin's glass armonica ("armonica" comes from the Italian word "armonia," which means "harmony") uses glass cups of varying sizes and density to create different notes. His invention went on to become one of the most popular instruments of the 18th century, and composers like Beethoven and Mozart even wrote music for it.

Franklin said about his creation, "Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction."



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Tech's biggest CEOs and founders lost $61 billion during the stock market's plunge in October — here's who got hit hard (FB, AMZN, AAPL, NFLX, GOOG, BIDU, BABA)

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Jeff Bezos

October was a rough month for billionaires in the tech sector, who saw their net worth plummet as stocks took a hammering. 

According to Bloomberg data, the CEOs and founders of the most popular tech companies "FAANG+BAT" lost $61 billion in October.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq index plunged 9.2%, posting its worst month since the financial crisis.

And among the hardest hit were the "FAANG+BAT" stocks —  Facebook  (-7.7%)Apple (-3.1%), Amazon (-20.2%) Netflix (-19.3%), Google (-9.8%), Baidu (-16.9%), Alibaba (-13.6%) and Tencent (-14.1% in Hong Kong). 

The list below provides details of the estimated net worth of some of tech's richest CEOs and founders:

Reed Hastings — CEO and cofounder of Netflix

Rank on Bloomberg Billionaire's Index: 463

Net worth on October 31: $3.9 billion (-19% from $4.8 billion at the end of September)

Holdings in Netflix: $1.7 billion

Source: Bloomberg



Robin Li — CEO and cofounder of Baidu

Rank on Bloomberg Billionaire's Index: 82

Net worth on October 31: $13.6 billion (-16% from $16.1 billion at the end of September)

Holdings in Baidu: $13.4 billion

Source: Bloomberg



Laurene Powell Jobs — wife of the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs

Rank on Bloomberg Billionaire's Index: 35

Net worth on October 31: $21 billion (-3% from $21.6 billion at the end of September)

Holdings in Apple: $8.5 billion

Source: Bloomberg



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These 20 stocks are about to experience an explosive end-of-year rally, JPMorgan says

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rocket

  • A late-year rally related to progress on trade relations between the US and China is likely, according to derivatives strategists at JPMorgan. 
  • The firm identified stocks with cheap out-of-the-money options that traders can buy to profit from price gains. 

The stock market has taken a beating in the final stretch of 2018. This means opportunities abound to find stocks that will be the biggest beneficiaries of a rebound. 

"With investors now positioned defensively, and leverage rapidly reduced, there is an elevated risk of market reversion into year-end, thus an elevated risk of an October 'rolling bear market' turning into a 'rolling squeeze higher' into yearend,"JPMorgan derivatives strategists said in a recent note. 

This rally may be triggered by share buybacks, portfolio rebalancing, the mid-term elections, and progress on trade. That fourth factor would be the most unexpected catalyst for stock gains — and it hinders on President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping having a fruitful discussion at the late-November G20 summit, the strategists said. 

JPMorgan recommended the list of Russell 1000 stocks below as having cheap, limited-loss out-of-the-money call options (~110%), or bets that their prices will rise. Analyses of their earnings-call transcripts suggest that they're the most exposed to trade risks — and the strategists like their reward-to-risk profiles. 

Additionally, JPMorgan screened only for stocks where it sees a more than 15% upside to their six-month high.

SEE ALSO: With investors now positioned defensively, and leverage rapidly reduced, there is an elevated risk of market reversion into year-end, thus an elevated risk of an October ‘rolling bear market’ turning into a ‘rolling squeeze higher’ into yearend

20. Trinity Industries

Ticker:TRN

6-month high: $39.10

Upside to 6-month high: 37%

Cost of the Dec. 110% Call: $0.35

Strike: $31.50

Source: JPMorgan 



19. FedEx

Ticker:FDX

6-month high: $265.53

Upside to 6-month high: 20.5%

Cost of the Dec. 110% Call: $2.72

Strike: $242.50

Source: JPMorgan 



18. Caterpillar

Ticker:CAT

6-month high: $158.92

Upside to 6-month high: 31%

Cost of the Dec. 110% Call: $1.75

Strike: $133

Source: JPMorgan 



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Photos show how much holiday shopping has changed in America over the years

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Christmas shopping NYC

  • Black Friday is just a few weeks away, officially kicking off the holiday shopping season. 
  • Black Friday as a singular shopping day is becoming less important thanks to online shopping and frequent discounting.
  • Still, holiday spending is expected to top $717 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
  • These photos show how much holiday shopping has changed over the years. 

Black Friday is just around the corner. 

On November 23, the holiday-shopping season will officially kick off. Though Black Friday itself is becoming less and less important thanks to the rise of online shopping and frequent discounting year-round, many retailers have been prepping for the shopping season for months. In some cases, stores have set their Christmas displays up as early as October

This year, holiday spending is expected to top over $717 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. And the holiday shopping craze isn't new — long lines and hectic crowds have always accompanied holiday shopping, long before the term "Black Friday" was coined.

The photos below show how holiday shopping has changed — and stayed the same — since the early 1900s:

SEE ALSO: Here are the most over-the-top gifts on Neiman Marcus' guide for the ultra-wealthy

Macy's has long been a destination for holiday shoppers.



This 1933 photo shows shoppers in New York City, admiring the window displays of a department store.



Men dressed as Santa stood in the streets, collecting charity donations ...



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25 reasons Thanksgiving is our least favorite holiday

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thanksgiving

While many think Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year, is it really?

From the holiday's messed-up history to the insanity and frenzied consumerism that is Black Friday, Thanksgiving isn't always all sunshine and casseroles.

Here are 25 reasons why Thanksgiving is our least favorite holiday.

The history is messed up.

The first Thanksgiving took place in 1637, when Massachusetts Colony Governor John Winthrop celebrated the safe return of colonial hunters who had just massacred 700 Pequot Indians. He called it a "Thanksgiving." 



Chicken is way better than turkey.

There is a reason we never eat turkey on any other day of the year. Chicken is way better.



There's a lot of food waste.

There is no reason to make as much food as we do on Thanksgiving. And as great as leftovers are, you can only eat so much before you have to throw the rest away.



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'Houdini-like metrics move': Here's what Wall Street is saying about Apple's decision to stop revealing its iPhone sales (AAPL)

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tim cook

Apple on Thursday reported underwhelming iPhone sales and gave soft guidance for its crucial holiday quarter.

The tech giant said it sold 46.9 million iPhones, which was up 0.4% versus a year ago but shy of the 48.4 million that Wall Street analysts surveyed by Bloomberg were expecting. Apple also said it would no longer reveal unit sales for its hardware.

Apple said it expected to generate revenue of $89 billion to $93 billion during the holiday quarter, a number on the low end of the $92.74 billion that analysts were hoping for.

The company reported earnings of $2.91 a share, easily beating the $2.78 that analysts surveyed by Bloomberg were expecting. Revenue rose 19.6% year-over-year to $62.9 billion, outpacing the $61.44 billion that was anticipated.

Shares plunged more than 7% in after-hours trading to $206.30 apiece. Any print below $207.45 during Friday's session would cost Apple its $1 trillion valuation.

While Wall Street analysts were disappointed about Apple's decision to withhold unit sales for hardware, they remained mostly bullish on the tech giant.

Here is what Wall Street analysts are saying about the quarter:

Jefferies — 'We believe AAPL intends to tell a compelling Services story'

Price target: $265 

Rating: Buy

"AAPL will stop disclosing unit sales figures next qtr, fueling fears the company has something to hide," the Jefferies analyst Timothy O'Shea said in a note.

"But AAPL will disclose Services gross margin for the first time ever, a potential catalyst for the stock. We believe AAPL intends to tell a compelling Services story, which we believe has 2x higher gross margin than hardware and improving."



Morgan Stanley — "Noise near-term"

Price target: $226

Rating: Overweight

"Downtick on emerging market trends & disclosure changes create noise near-term but better ASPs & sustained Services growth support our view of Apple monetizing a loyal & increasingly engaged user base," Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty wrote.

"Apple provided a wider guidance range ($4B) than normal ($2B) to reflect greater demand uncertainty given the higher number of new product launches and greater macro uncertainty in the economy relative to 12 months ago with mid-point implying +45% Q/Q versus normal seasonality of 63%.

She added: "Apple announced that it will make a number of disclosure changes next quarter including not disclosing units by segment. The reality is that as the smartphone market matures, users are paying up for higher quality devices that last longer making units less of an indicator of trends than revenue."



RBC Capital Markets — 'The bull thesis is more diluted'

Price target: $240 (from $250)

Rating: Outperform

"AAPL reported modest upside to Sept-qtr results with no notable slowdown from China as better iPhone ASP's and stable GM's enabled revenue and EPS upside vs. expectations," RBC's Amit Daryanani said.

"The disappointment from this print will be A) their decision to stop providing iPhone units/ASP information going forward and B) Dec-qtr gross-margin guide was underwhelming vs. expectations given memory tailwinds."

Daryanani added: "We are sticking with our OP rating, but concede the bull thesis is more diluted given risk that AAPL's desire to stop providing iPhone unit disclosures is an attempt to hide unit declines going forward (will take a while to prove/disprove this)."



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The major improvements to online play in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' might be worth the price of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription

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Super Smash Bros Ultimate Mural

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is the biggest Nintendo Switch game of 2018, bringing some impressive upgrades and thelargest roster the series has seen so far.

Online play has been a part of the franchise since "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" arrived on the Nintendo Wii in 2006. However, Nintendo's handling of online play has historically lagged behind other game developers, earning the company a reputation for subpar matchmaking, unstable connections, and limited rewards for dedicated players.

The Switch is the first Nintendo console to require a subscription for online play ($20 per year), and there is hope that the added investment will translate to a better online experiences overall. Nintendo has overhauled the online modes in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" to tackle some of its past issues head-on. A recent Nintendo Direct livestream fully detailed how online play will function in the new game with the Nintendo Switch Online service.

Your smash tag is essential for online play

The first step to playing online will be creating a smash tag. Your tag will identify you to other players, and as you beat other people, their tags will be added to your own list. Records and statistics from online matches will be recorded based on the Smash tag, making it easy to track results over time.



Players will be matched online based on their preferred rules.

The last "Smash" game, "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS" divided online matches between two modes with two different sets of rules; For Fun, which included normal stages and items, and For Glory, which only featured flat stages and no items.

Rather than divide the player base into two camps, online quick play in "Ultimate" will let players set their own rules and match them with others who have similar preferences. Once the match is set, the game will randomly choose one player's rules to use during battle.

However, the matchmaking prioritizes connection strength over rules, so there may be some occassions where players are stuck playing with rules they don't prefer, in favor of a more stable match.



Your location is the most important factor in matchmaking.

Matching players who live in similar regions makes it easier to maintain a stable connection and ultimately cuts down on lag when playing online. In past Smash games and other Nintendo titles, players often report being matched up against players in other countries, leading to significant delay during the match.

By prioritizing proximity, the matchmaking system will deliver more consistent matches, even if the ruleset isn't always ideal.



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One of the most iconic teen clothing companies from the '90s is being brought back from the dead after filing for bankruptcy 4 years ago

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Delia's

  • Delia's, the teen fashion brand that exploded in popularity in the 1990s but then fell of the scene and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2014, is being relaunched by Dolls Kill.
  • Dolls Kill, another teen fashion brand, has bought the rights to the Delia's name and is rolling out a new collection of clothing inspired by the original Delia's catalogs from the '90s.
  • The 70-piece collection launches on Friday.

1990s fashion is back in vogue, which means that some of the decade's most popular brands are having their moment in the spotlight once more. 

Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi's have all benefited from a '90s comeback and have capitalized on the trend by relaunching archive collections. But perhaps more dramatically, some of the best-known brands of that era are being resurrected from the dead.

Delia's is one of them.

In its heyday, Delia's was a wildly popular teen fashion brand best known for its catalog. However, after expanding rapidly and opening stores throughout the '90s, its growth came to a halt at the turn of the decade, when popular fast-fashion brands such as Forever 21 and H&M started to take market share. Sales slipped, and in 2014, the chain filed for bankruptcy.

Now, Delia's is being bought back to life by Dolls Kill, another teen brand that operates online and in two stores. 

Find out more below:

SEE ALSO: Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, and Gap are resuscitating a trend that millennials have rejected for years

Dolls Kill is relaunching the Delia's brand on November 2 on its website and in its two stores in California.



The first collection features 70 different pieces of clothing and accessories.



It has been produced by Dolls Kill, which bought the licensing rights to Delia's.



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The best places to buy scarves online

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best scarf

  • When it comes to versatility, you can’t beat J. Crew’s scarf selection. From cozy and affordable cashmere to snuggly wool-blends in adorable prints, there’s something for everyone here.

Every fall and winter I inevitably leave the house at least a couple of times without a scarf. I kind of just … forget they exist. It’s like I come down with temporary weather-related amnesia each October and it takes me a few tries to get seasonal dressing right. If only there was a layer just for my neck I think as I’m shivering on the first under-50 degree day.

Your choice of scarf can make or break your comfort level in the wintertime. Opt for one that’s wooly and warm and you’ll be toasty. Choose a too-thin fabric and you, well, won’t. Scarves are also a great opportunity to infuse a bit of personality into your winter wardrobe. And when you get bored of your outerwear, you can always pick a new scarf to mix things up.

The stakes are lower when it comes to scarf shopping because they simply aren’t as pricey as coats. You don’t have to spend much money to build a small collection of stylish and functional options. These five brands are your best bet for warm, attractive options that will keep you cozy all winter long.

Here are the best places to buy scarves:

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

The best scarf brand overall

Why you'll love it: J. Crew is the one to beat in terms of scarf selection, from cute patterns to affordable yet luxe fabric blends.

Cute scarves are a dime a dozen, but cute, warm scarves? Those are significantly more rare. But not at J. Crew! The brand offers scarves for both men and women in a ton of colors, patterns, knits, and materials.

J. Crew has mastered the concept of fun basics, and the scarf selection is no different. There are colorful, patterned, embellished knits and solid options to go with every coat in your closet. Looking for affordable cashmere? This is your place — J. Crew’s cashmere scarves are $98.

For men there’s the Solid Cashmere Scarf in four colors: graphite, burgundy, heather oatmeal, and dark navy. For women, the Contrast Cashmere Scarf in heather graphite/black, heather camel/falme, lavender/olive, and navy/ivory and the Ribbed Cable-Knit Everyday Cashmere Scarf in nine solid colors.

If you’re not a fan of cashmere, there are several wool blend and lighter weight options for men and women alike. Overall, you’ll find warm scarves in colors for just about every mood or personality.

J.Crew scarves have been featured in Men’s Journal, Esquire, Glamour, and more.

Pros: Affordable cashmere, warm scarves, lots of styles and patterns

Cons: Some styles are dry clean only

Buy J. Crew women’s scarves for $29.50 to $128

Buy J. Crew men’s scarves for $79.50 to $118



The best affordable scarf brand

Why you'll love it: Uniqlo teaches us time and time again that warm, high-quality winter wear doesn’t have to cost half a month’s rent. 

You don’t have to dish out a lot of money on a scarf in order to stay warm this winter. Japanese brand Uniqlo, known for affordable basics, makes some great ones you can buy on the cheap. And I mean really cheap — scarves made out the brand’s popular Heattech material are only $14.90.

Heattech is Uniqlo’s “bio-warming” fabric designed to keep you warm super warm without weighing you down with tons of layers. The scarves are available in an array of muted colors like wine red and dark grey to go with any winter jacket. There’s also a plaid scarf and a trendier snood style available in the same fabric.

Uniqlo also sells cashmere scarves for $49.90, which is absurdly inexpensive. The Cut featured a fascinating breakdown of the brand’s cashmere production process that should convince you you’re getting bang for your buck. The brand great for getting that wallet-friendly cashmere experience.

The store is pretty much your one-stop shop for classic unisex winter accessories that won’t break the bank.

Pros: Affordable, classic styles, innovative fabrics like Heattech and affordable cashmere

Cons: Not a lot of patterned options

Buy Uniqlo scarves for $14.90 to $49.90



The best stylish scarf brand

Why you'll love it: Topshop and its men’s counterpoint Topman are reliable when it comes to shopping for on-trend wares, so it’s no surprise it has an extensive and ever-changing scarf collection. 

I was so excited when Topshop opened its first Stateside location back in 2009. I was a senior in high school and my mom actually let me miss school one day so we could go shopping soon after it first opened, which was not her usual style.

As an adult I find the brand’s offerings hit-or-miss — sometimes awesome, sometimes a bit too pricey for the quality. But outwear is one category in which the selection always shines.

The scarf selection is especially impressive. From patterned fashion offerings to thick wooly numbers perfect for the dead of winter, Topshop and men’s counterpart Topman have it all. And the prices aren’t bad either, averaging between $35-$40 for the heavier styles.

The brand’s scarves have been featured in The Cut and NYMag’s The Strategist.

You’re not looking at super luxe materials here  — most of the styles are made of polyester or acrylic — and there’s higher turnover so you won’t be able to pick up the same beloved scarf year after year. But none of the Topshop scarves are a major investment, so it won’t sting too badly if they don’t last for longer than a season or two.

Pros: Trendy, not super expensive, lots of options

Cons: No luxe materials

Buy Topshop scarves for $18 to $45

Buy Topman scarves for $20 to $35



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'It's just awesome' — An A-10 pilot reveals what it's like to tear through the skies in a flying cannon

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A-10 Warthog

  • The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first US Air Force aircraft specifically designed for close air support, and it is particularly lethal against ground targets, such as tanks and other armored vehicles, according to the service.
  • It is a powerful weapon of war armed with a GAU-8/A 30mm cannon that can fire 3,900 rounds per minute.
  • In the following interview, Air Force Maj. Vince Sherer tells Task & Purpose what it's like to fly this awesome aircraft.

Ahh, the Warthog: A close air support death machine that looks like the energy drink and dip-fueled daydream of a grunt turned aeronautical engineer who decided to make a giant cannon — the GAU-8 Avenger — and then slap some wings on it.

Few aircraft have as die hard a following as the A-10 Thunderbolt II — from those serving overseas in combat zones, to military bases, and on numerousFacebook groups and “Save the A-10” pages. Its fans span the ranks from enlisted to officers, and across all fields. And of course, there are the pilots themselves, like Air Force Maj. Vince Sherer, who spent three combat tours flying Warthogs out of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

“The A-10, most definitely, is like first love,” Sherer, who now spends most of his time in T-38s as a pilot instructor trainer at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, told Task & Purpose.

“You’re always pining to go back and relive your glory days. I always look back fondly to doing that, but at the same time it’s good to be doing something that’s a little less intense for a little while.”

Given the aircraft’s popularity, Task & Purpose got a hold of Sherer to ask what it’s like to fly a cannon with wings; how it feels when it “BRRRRTs”; what unit traditions are unique to Warthog pilots; and of course, to ask about the dumbest thing he did in the cockpit.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and style.

What does it like to fire the gun?

Task & Purpose: In a few words, describe what it’s like to fire the GAU-8 Avenger on a gun run? How’s it feel?

Vince Sherer: F’n awesome, is my first response.

It kind of encompasses all the senses. There’s a massive noise you can hear through your double hearing protection, and through the canopy. There’s massive vibrations; you can feel it. You can see the gun gas; you can smell it. Every bit of your senses are just maxed out when you’re firing the gun, and at the same time you’re watching it lay waste to what you’ve got the gun cross over. It’s just awesome.



Does the force of firing the gun actually slow the plane?

T&P: I heard that when an A-10 does a dive and fires its main gun, that the force actually slows the aircraft down a little — is that true, or total bullshit?

VS: That’s a classic A-10 story, man. It’s complete BS. There’s nothing true about it. The origin of that was in early testing. When the gun gas would come out, there was so much gas it would reduce the oxygen content of the air going through the motors to the point it would flame out both motors, and it would compressor stall the motors.

So that verbiage came out to be: When you shoot the gun, it stalls the jet. Which came to be thought of as: the gun’s force slows the airplane down so it stalls. But no, it was gun gas causing the compressor stall, which was the origin of that idea. So they created different shapes on the nose of the jet to route the gun gas so it wouldn’t flame out the engines, so that’s not a factor anymore.

But, the great part about it is we like to tell people at airshows “yeah, yeah, it slows the airplane down so we stall.” We perpetuate that myth.



What's the deal with the wild nose art on some of the aircraft?

T&P: What’s the story behind the paint jobs on the nose of some A-10s?

VS: Yeah, nose art as a matter of normal operations in the Air Force was prevalent in World War II. Operations have kind of changed a little bit. It wasn’t acceptable publicly to have scantily clad women painted on the side of the aircraft.

The A-10s specifically, there are some units that have unique designs, to include snake’s teeth, shark teeth, and boar’s teeth, and it’s based on the unit you’re with — those are allowed. But they’re not the same style as a World War II airplane with the name on it.

T&P: Ah, so it’s not so personalized anymore?

VS: No. However, on the inside of the ladder door, there’s door art, so we can hide it away. We close the door and it’s not for public consumption, so as you’re going up, you can see that “this is is the Tasmanian Devil jet,” so you remember the last time you flew it, and the quirks and the ins and outs.

The A-10, I think, is kinda unique with that, where units are allowing guys to do that, but it’s a little more covert.



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