Betty Crocker's iconic identity was created in 1921. Since then, Betty Crocker's advice, cookbooks, and cake mixes have become a staple in households around the world.

Here are some surprising things you didn't know about Betty Crocker.

The Betty Crocker identity is not based on a real person.

Her persona was created in 1921 by the Washburn Crosby Company during a promotion for Gold Medal Flour. The company published a puzzle in The Saturday Evening Post, offering home cooks a pincushion that looked like a sack of flour if they correctly completed it. 

Along with submissions, the company received tons of questions on common household topics. The company wanted to use a woman's voice to answer the questions, so they created the moniker "Betty Crocker."

"Crocker" is a nod to honor the retired director of the company, William G. Crocker and "Betty" was chosen because it sounded friendly. 

Her signature was created by a female employee.

Washburn Crosby Company executives asked female employees of the company to create Betty's signature and the chosen signature is the basis of the one seen on packaging today.

Betty got a face in 1936.

In 1936, General Mills commissioned Betty Crocker's first portrait to be drawn by the prominent artist Neysa McMein, who was known for her portraits of women in war and the painting "All American Girls."

The portrait was a blend of features from Washburn Crosby Home Service Department's female employees and it made its way onto a package of Softasilk cake flour the next year.

Later renditions of Betty Crocker have also been inspired by real people. The Minnesota Historical Society revealed that the 1996 face of the brand was a blend of the previous Betty Crocker portrait and features from 75 contest winners.

Betty's portrait has been updated several times to reflect modern clothing, hairstyles, and brand personality, but she is always dressed in red with a pop of white at her neck.

Although not all celebrities are vocal about their political views, some are very open about which party they support. 

Here are a few stars who have been outspoken about being Republican.

Donald Trump was a Republican even before he ran for president.

Before winning the US presidency in 2016, Donald Trump was both a businessman and television personality. He hosted the "The Apprentice"from 2004 to 2015.

He's a member of the Republican party. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Republican governor of California.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger first launched his political career in 2003 when he became the Republican governor of California. The "Terminator"actor served two consecutive terms.

But even though Schwarzenegger is an outspoken Republican, he doesn't necessarily support President Trump's politics. In March of 2018, the entertainer told Deadline that the President isn't doing California any favors.

"I'm so happy that he's only made one trip," Schwarzenegger said. "Look, I mean the very fact that he doesn't want us to write-off our state tax is a direct attack on Californians. So I don't think that he's been good for California. I don't think he cares about California and I think California doesn't care about him."

Read More: 14 politicians who admitted to cheating on their partners

Kelsey Grammer leans right.

"Fraiser" starKelsey Grammer has said that being a self-declared Republican in the acting industry is like having "a target on your back."

He said knowing this hasn't dissuaded him from the party, but it has prevented him from dipping his toes in a political career.

"I don't think [I'd go into politics], it's just too nasty now. I guess you could always rise above it, but just don't think it's really cut out for me anymore," Grammer told Kirsty Young during an episode of BBC Radio 4's "Deserted Island Discs."

• The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe is a compact luxury crossover SUV with the sloping rear end look of a sports coupe.
• The top-spec performance variant of the GLC lineup is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe.
• The Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe is powered by the 4.0 liter, biturbo V8 that produces 503 horsepower. 
• According to Mercedes, the GLC 63 S Coupe can do 0-60 in just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph.
• The base 2018 GLC 300 Coupe starts at $47,300 while our GLC 63 S Coupe starts at $80,750. With fees and options, our top-of-the-line test car came to an as-tested price of $97,330.

In all honesty, I've never been a huge fan of the SUV coupe. It's a vehicle that is, to me, compromised at its very core. The need to be an SUV raises its center of gravity and thereby spoils its capabilities as a performance machine. While the performance-oriented tires and fastback rear end detract from its ability to go off road and carry cargo — two core competencies of SUVs. 

This unholy union of luxury coupe and SUV is a somewhat recent phenomenon. Even though there had been a few oddball mashups in the 1980s and 1990s, the SUV coupe did reach mainstream status until the latter part of the last decade when BMW released the X6. 

To my dismay, it proved to be a success. Especially in what are arguably BMW's two most important markets — the US and China. 

Since then, Bimmer followed up with a second-generation mid-size X6 and a compact X4 coupe. 

Naturally, Mercedes-Benz couldn't let its arch nemesis go on unchallenged. Which is why Mercedes answered with the new compact GLC Coupe and the mid-size GLE Coupe.

Both vehicles are sleeker coupe variants of MB's existing GLC and GLE SUVs. 

Recently, the good folks down at Mercedes drop off a brand new 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe for Business Insider to check out. 

We were able to spend a week with the performance flagship of the GLC lineup with hopes that its excellence will force me to reconsider my disdain for the SUV coupe genre.

The base 2018 GLC Coupe starts at $47,300 while our GLC 63 S Coupe starts at $80,750. With fees and options, our top-of-the-line test car came to an as-tested price of $97,330. 

Here's a closer look at the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe:

SEE ALSO: We drove an $81,000 Porsche Macan GTS to see if it's a sports car in an SUV body — here's the verdict

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

The four-door SUV coupe rose to prominence with the first generation BMW X6 that debuted for the 2008 model year.

Since then, BMW has followed up with a second generation X6 and...

... A new compact X4.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The average person spends roughly a third of their life sleeping. Whether or not they're getting quality sleep is a different story.

If you can't quite figure out gifts your friends and family will actually use while they're awake, giving them something that will improve their quality of sleep is a priceless alternative.

From simple items like cozy flannel sheets, travel pillows, and soothing herbal teas to special items like cell-repairing sheets and sleepwear, sleep-tracking smart mattresses, and sleep sound machines, the possibilities are in great abundance.

Whether you're shopping for a hard worker who could use some rest or someone who could be a professional napper, you'll find the sleep-aiding gift they've been dreaming of here.

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

Warm flannel sheets made to last for years

Boll & Branch Flannel Patterned Sheet Set, starting at $245

There's nothing better than getting into a soft and warm bed when it's cold outside. Boll & Branch's organic cotton flannel sheets are made to last for years.

Comfortable Bluetooth sleeping headphones

AcousticSheep Wireless Bluetooth Sleep Headphones, available on Amazon, $99.95

Sleeping with normal headphones can be uncomfortable, and they'll likely come out in the middle of the night anyway. The AcousticSheep Bluetooth Sleep Headphones feature a wide headband design so the wearer can comfortably fall asleep listening to music or white noise.

A pillow for sleeping on planes, trains, and anywhere else you can get a nap in

Ostrich Pillow Original, available in two colors on Amazon, $99

Though it looks pretty ridiculous, the Ostrich Pillow creates a personal space to make sleeping outside of your bed more comfortable. Whether sleeping on an airplane or under a desk during their lunch break, they'll be able to peacefully catch some Z's.

Apple released three new iPhones this year: the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and the more affordable iPhone XR.

The iPhone XS and XS Max are the spiritual successors to last year's iPhone X, which eliminated the traditional home button from previous iPhone designs in favor of a display that takes up the entire front of the phone. But just because the iPhone XR is cheaper than the iPhone XS doesn't mean it's inferior. Quite the contrary.

Here are 9 reasons you should buy an iPhone XR instead of the iPhone XS or XS Max:

SEE ALSO: Don't buy any of the new iPhones announced this week until you've downloaded iOS 12 to your current iPhone

1. The iPhone XR is $250 cheaper than the iPhone XS to start.

Price is probably the biggest consideration for most people, and the iPhone XR has the iPhone XS beat in terms of price.

The iPhone XR starts at $749 for 64 GB of storage, but can cost up to $899 for 256 GB of storage.

The iPhone XS starts at $999 for 64 GB of storage, but can cost up to $1,349 for 512 GB of storage.

The iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 for 64 GB of storage, but can cost up to $1,449 for 512 GB of storage.

Not many people need 512 GB of storage on their phones — I'm only using 62 GB of my available 256 GB on my iPhone X, and I have over 200 apps, plus tons of old photos and texts. Even if you opt for less storage though, you're still saving more money with the iPhone XR compared to the iPhone XS.

2. The iPhone XR is available in more colors than the iPhone XS.

Apple sells the iPhone XS and XS Max in three color options: silver, space grey, and a new gold option.

The iPhone XR, meanwhile, comes in six different colors: black, white, yellow, red, blue, and coral, which is like orange.

3. The iPhone XR has a larger screen than the iPhone XS.

While it doesn't come close to the gargantuan 6.5-inch display on the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone XR actually has a larger display than the normal iPhone XS.

The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch LCD display, which should show you more of your content compared to the 5.8-inch OLED display on the iPhone XS.

• Black Friday, the day after American Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping extravaganzas in the US.
• Retailers in other parts of the world have also gotten in on Black Friday game, while other countries have their own version of holiday shopping mania altogether. 
• Here's what 'Black Friday' looks like around the world.

Black Friday is one of the biggest and busiest shopping extravaganzas in the US.

In American culture, turkey dinner and bargain hunting go hand-in-hand during the third week of November.

Black Friday has become so popular that retailers in other countries that don't traditionally celebrate American Thanksgiving, like in Spain and Canada, have embraced the shopping extravaganza.

The annual event isn't observed everywhere, though — some corners of the globe have their own version of holiday shopping madness.

Here's what some of the biggest shopping days of the year look like around the world.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday has been dethroned — there's a new biggest shopping day of the year

Black Friday is one of the biggest — and wildest — shopping days of the year in the US.

Source: Business Insider

It unofficially kicks off the holiday shopping season ...

Source: Business Insider

... and is traditionally marked by deep discounts and large crowds of eager shoppers.

Source: Business Insider

While there are many notable male celebrities who served, less focus seems to be on the women — of both today and throughout history — who have fought for their countries. 

"Golden Girl" Bea Arthur was a staff sergeant for the Marines, and Gal Gadot was in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years, which actually led to her big break in Hollywood.

Keep scrolling to see other famous females who have served — and learn how it helped them succeed in the long run. 

"Wonder Woman" Gal Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years.

After Gal Gadot was crowned Miss Israel in 2004, and before she became Wonder Woman in 2017, she served her mandatory two years in the Israeli Defense Forces. During Gadot's assignment, she worked as a "physical fitness specialist," teaching things like gymnastics and calisthenics to the soldiers.

Gadot actually credits her big break in the acting world to her military service, claiming that Justin Lin, the director of "Fast Five" and "Fast & Furious 6," cast her in the role of Gisele because he was impressed with her military background, and her "knowledge of weapons."

"Golden Girl" Bea Arthur was one of the first members of the Marine Corps’ Women’s Reserve.

Before she was Dorothy Zbornak on "The Golden Girls," Emmy award-winning actress Bea Arthur was a Marine.

Arthur enlisted into the Women's Reserve when she was just 21 years old, first serving as a typist and truck driver. She worked her way up to staff sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1945. 

According to The Daily Beast, official documents show that Arthur's supervisors thought she was "argumentative" — which is not a far cry from the feisty persona she became known for on both "The Golden Girls" and "Maude."

Harriet Tubman was a military leader and Union spy during the Civil War.

• If you're trying to build trust amongst your colleagues, there are certain phrases you can use to show that you have their best interest at heart. 
• One way to build trust among your coworkers is by showing gratitude for their time and efforts. That demonstrates you understand their viewpoint.  
• Experts suggest using phrases like "I'm in your corner" and "You and I share a common goal."

You can't fake trust.

"Trust is earned by being authentic," Cindy Ballard, Chief Human Resources Officer of ICM Partners, told Business Insider. "Authenticity is believed by your employees when you listen, communicate transparently and honestly, genuinely care about, champion and develop them in both good and challenging times."

Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc. and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results," agreed — the first step to seeming trustworthy is actually being trustworthy. And that's crucial for any professional relationship. 

"The basis for a healthy, productive relationship is trust,"Price told Business Insider. "As a professional, it's critical to earn the trust of those with whom you work."

For example, as an employee, you need your boss to have confidence in your abilities before he or she will promote you. As a manager, you need your team to rely on your leadership before they'll follow. And as a speaker or presenter, you need your audience to believe in your message before they'll act on your recommendation. 

"When people trust you, they're much more likely to believe in you, bond with you, and buy from you," Price said.

Here are some phrases to build trust among your colleagues:

SEE ALSO: Science says people decide these 11 things within seconds of meeting you

DON'T MISS: 17 signs someone might be about to quit their job

'Thank you'

"Simple words that show you value the person generate positive emotions and set the stage for trust," says Price.

'I appreciate your effort on this'

This phrase has much the same effect as saying "thank you."

Take the time to sincerely say to another, "Thank you, I really appreciate your efforts," or to a group, "Thank you for attending today's presentation. I appreciate your time and attention."

'Your time invested in our meeting is invaluable'

Expressing to others that you value their time is important to show you understand their busy days.

"For those who see time as money, this simple statement goes a long way,"Résumé Writers' Ink founder Tina Nicolai told Business Insider.

Sure, all that drama on "Riverdale" keeps us on the edge of our seats, but as fashion lovers, it's impossible to ignore the outfits worn by Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. Both characters gravitate toward pieces that are best described as vintage-inspired and feminine, yet their senses of style are still completely different. Betty's closet mostly consists of colorful sweaters and pairs of jeans. Veronica, on the other hand, prefers full skirts and, of course, her pearls.

Just as the show's third season kicks off, we're rounding up some of our favorite looks the besties have worn so far. Here's hoping that costume designer Rebekka Sorensen-Kjelstrup has plenty more hits like these up her sleeve.

Betty proved that collared shirts don't have to be boring.

Betty's uniform pretty much consists of sweaters, collared shirts, and sweaters paired with collared shirts. But in this episode, she amped things up with an embroidered option.

Veronica mastered the art of accessorizing.

That tiny black bow-tie added a little something extra to her floral look.

Betty went for something sweet and tailored for her speech.

Her words inspired The Black Hood. The sleeveless shirt inspired our next purchase.

It happens to everyone: you go into your cabinet and pull out a loaf of bread to find a green fuzzy spot on one of the slices. You'll probably do one of two things. Either you cut off the moldy part and eat it anyway or just throw it out.

According to theUSDA, mold can cause allergic reactions or respiratory problems and certain kinds of molds produce poisonous mycotoxins that make people sick or cause infections. Invisible bacteria can also grow alongside mold, which makes it even more dangerous to consume.

Even though you should definitely toss your moldy bread in the trash, there are a four types of foods you can still eat as long as you cut off the mold, according to theUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

But be careful, the USDA also keeps a list of other foods you should always throw away if you spot mold.

Hard salami and dry-cured country hams are OK to eat if they seem a bit moldy.

The white coating around certain hard salamis is actually a dusting of a benign mold which helps cure the salami and preserve it from bacteria.

It is also normal for dry-cured hams to develop some surface molds. As long as you scrub the mold off your cured ham, it is safe to eat.

Firm fruits and vegetables with low moisture such as carrots, cabbage, and bell peppers can handle a little bit of mold.

Molds have a harder time growing roots in dense foods, so if you cut off at least 1 inch around the spot of mold, you should be fine to eat your firm fruits and vegetables. Just make sure to keep the knife out of the mold to avoid cross-contaminating your produce.

You can eat hard cheeses made without mold such as cheddar cheese.

As long as you cut off at least 1 inch around the moldy spot and re-cover the cheese in a clean wrapping, your hard cheeses should be safe to eat.

When Soviet troops marched through Moscow on November 7, 1941, they were marking the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution that swept communists into power and led to the creation of the Soviet Union.

Those troops didn't stop in Moscow, however. They continued on to meet Nazi troops, whose leading elements were closing in on the Soviet capital after invading in June that year.

The November 7 parade has continued in the decades since. Under Russian President Vladimir Putin, the occasion has been used to mark the Soviet triumph in World War II more so than the October 1917 uprising — part of what has been called the Kremlin's selective remembrance of Russia's 20th-century history.

The victory that began at Moscow was significant. Rodric Braithwaite, the UK's ambassador in Moscow between 1988 and 1992, has said the "first defeat of the German army came in the Battle of Moscow in 1941."

Moscow's mayor on Wednesday called the 1941 parade "a symbol of courage and faith" that led to "the first difficult step toward victory over the Nazis."

Below, you can see how Russia marked the occasion this year.

SEE ALSO: How Soviet troops taunted the Nazis during their final drive to Berlin in World War II

The 2018 reenactment included about 5,000 troops dressed in uniforms from the period. Vintage Soviet T-34 tanks and other World War II-era weapons were also on hand.

Source: The Associated Press

Despite the threat posed by Nazi aircraft, about 28,500 people took part in the 1941 parade, according to Russian state media, which said the parade that year "represented the Soviet Union's first ideological victory over Nazi Germany."

Source: Sputnik

The Nazi Wehrmacht had swept across western Russia after the invasion, called Operation Barbarossa, in late June 1941. By early October, German forces were within 200 miles of Moscow and had inflicted nearly 4 million Soviet casualties.

Source: The National Interest

No one has more insider knowledge about Black Friday than the sales associates working that day.

To unearth 11 lesser-known facts about Black Friday, Business Insider surveyed more than 40 Black Friday workers.

Whether you want to know what's a terrible deal or how to not get duped, read on for the inside scoop:

SEE ALSO: 14 things Black Friday workers wish shoppers would stop doing

DON'T MISS: Black Friday workers confess 9 things they'd love to tell shoppers but can't

The mall doesn't open until its 'anchor stores' do

"Anchor stores such as Macy's, Nordstrom, and Target make the decision for the entire mall. The mall opens when they open, and those that don't comply are fined by the mall for every hour they stay closed. Some stores like Apple acknowledge this and happily pay those fines."

Black Friday sales are usually on older models and are often the same deal as last year

"Most of the bigger deals are actually outdated products. Yeah, you have your new tablets and phones, but those will be very limited in both how many there are and how much you can save. Most of the biggest and most tempting savings come from products that are at least a year old or more and they have to clear out the inventory in the warehouses."

According to a study from NerdWallet, 93% of stores offered customers at least one product for the exact same price in 2014 as in their 2013 Black Friday ad. 

These products would probably have gone on sale anyway

"New product lines come out a couple weeks after Black Friday, so those older items that are on sale on Black Friday would go on sale anyway."

• Taco Bueno, a popular Southern taco fast-food chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
• We visited the chain on a recent trip through the South, and we were impressed.
• The food straddles the line between decadent and fresh — it feels like a grown-up Taco Bell.

In the southern half of the country, taco chains seem to be a dime a dozen: Del Taco, Taco John's, Taco Bell ... the list goes on. But during a recent food-focused field trip to the South, one chain stood out to us among the Tex-Mex clatter: Taco Bueno. 

It seemed to be the best of both worlds. It's got both the decadent playfulness of Taco Bell and the fresh touch of Del Taco or Qdoba. 

Yet as with most good things in the world, it's not always easy. The chain announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, and that it had been by acquired by Taco Supremo, an affiliate of Sun Holdings. 

In a statement about the bankruptcy filing, Taco Bueno CEO Omar Junjua emphasized that the chain wasn't going anywhere: "We are implementing this plan through a court-supervised financial restructuring, and I want to emphasize that during this process, your local Taco Bueno restaurants are open and eager to serve you."

It may be experiencing some financial woes, but Taco Bueno absolutely charmed us when we visited. Here's why we're hoping it'll pull through and keep on serving tacos for years to come:

SEE ALSO: We stayed in one of the largest pyramids in the world, a Bass Pro Shops-owned lodge filled with alligators, swamps, and rumors of an ancient curse. Here's what it was like.

At an unassuming mall outside Shawnee, Oklahoma, we stopped to rest — and to feast.

The inside followed the same faux-Spanish Mission aesthetic as the outside, with a more cafeteria-esque charm. Everything was clean and orderly, with bright lights and lots of seating.

The menu is a comfortable size — big enough for everyone to have options, but not overwhelmingly complex.

A few months ago, Noah Centineo's career seemed to blow up overnight. The actor had scored leading roles in not one but two of Netflix's newest original rom-coms, "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" and "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser," and both ended up becoming massive hits.

But while many wondered where exactly this handsome 22-year-old had come from, the truth is, he's been doing his thing right along since 2009 — and won't be stopping anytime soon, thanks to that upcoming "Charlie's Angels" reboot.

Ahead, we're listing Noah's little-known past projects, which had him flying just under the radar before his big break.

"The Gold Retrievers" was Centineo's first role at 11 years old.

Yes, it's a kids movie about a boy (plus his dog and "the new girl") who's hoping to help his financially-struggling family by finding hidden treasure. But the fact that Noah was a lead, and it starred Steve Guttenberg and Billy Zane? Well, that's too shabby for his first major gig.

Centineo starred in "Turkles," a low-budget comedy when he was 15.

Early on in his career, Noah starred in this low-budget comedy about camp kids on a mission to find out who has been stealing (or, rather, poaching) sea turtle eggs. The trailer alone is worth a watch.

"Austin & Ally" came to Disney when he was 15.

It was 2011 when he played Ally's crush, Dallas— the guy who works at the cell phone accessories kiosk — on the Disney Channel series.

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats took back control of the House of Representatives, ending a two-year streak in which Republicans controlled the White House and both houses of Congress.

Meanwhile, Republicans gained seats in the Senate in a highly anticipated referendum on the leadership of President Donald Trump.

These elections broke major records for:

• Fundraising for congressional elections
• Early-voter turnout in a non-presidential election
• The number of candidates running
• The number of female candidates running
• The number of female candidates elected
• The number of LGBT candidates running
• The number of women of color running
• The youngest woman ever elected to Congress
• The first Native American women elected to Congress
• The first Muslim women elected to Congress
• The first Korean-American woman elected to Congress
• The first openly LGBT governor

Here a closer look at all the major records this year's midterm elections have broken.

SEE ALSO: Midterms 2018: Democrats take the House, GOP holds the Senate in a wild election night

DON'T MISS: Diversity wins: All the people who made history in the 2018 midterm elections

Fundraising in a congressional election

This year's midterms are the most expensive congressional elections in US history, with the Center for Responsive Politics projecting that a total of $5.2 billion will be spent when all is said and done, far outdoing the previous record of $4.4 billion set in 2016.

Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic Senate candidate who ultimately lost to Ted Cruz in Texas, broke an all-time quarterly fundraising record in the 3rd quarter of 2018, raking in $38 million from individual donors.

In the House, the July 2017 special election in Georgia's 6th congressional district set a record for the most expensive House race in history with $56 million spent.

Other wealthy House and Senate candidates such as Gil Cisneros in California, Scott Wallace in Pennsylvania, and Rick Scott in Florida poured tens of millions of dollars into their own campaigns.

Read more: Here are the candidates who have raised and spent the most money since Trump's election

Early-voter turnout in a non-presidential election

Voter turnout is typically quite low in non presidential elections, but this year saw record levels of early voter turnout, with 39 million Americans estimated to have voted early, according to the Election Project.

Over 40 million Americans are expected to have voted between absentee in the 2018 midterm elections when all ballots are counted, a stunning 32% increase over the 27.2 million who voted in 2014, according to Michael McDonald, Director of the Florida Elections Project. 

Multiple states have shattered their previous records for early-voter turnout, leading experts to project that this year's midterm elections could have the highest turnout in a non presidential year in at least 52 years. Just 36% of eligible voters voted in 2014. 

In 27 states, the total number of early ballots cast was greater the total number cast in the 2014 midterms, with the biggest leaps in turnout rates occurring in Florida, Texas, and Georgia–which set a historical record for the highest-ever early voter turnout in a midterm election.

Voter turnout especially spiked among young voters under 30, a historically unreliable voting bloc. 2018 youth voter turnout exceeds 2014 levels in at least 12 states, with those rates doubling in Texas, Nevada, New Jersey, and Georgia.

When all is said and done, the 2018 midterm elections could set a new record high for total voter turnout in a midterm election, too.

The New York Times estimated that roughly 114 million ballots were cast this year — way ahead of the 83 million that were cast in the 2014 midterms.

The number of candidates running

A record number of people filed to run for office this election season, according to NPR — perhaps because Americans started paying closer attention to politics after Trump took office.

Beloved "Toy Story" characters Woody and Buzz will soon have their final adventure together nearly 25 years after their first escapade. After facing many delays, the fourth movie in the series will hit theaters in June 2019.

Here are 10 surprising things you probably didn't know about "Toy Story" to hold you over until the next movie is released. 

"Toy Story" is in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The animated film broke a record for being the first feature-length computer-animated movie ever made. 

Buzz Lightyear is named after a famous astronaut.

The animated space ranger is named after Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon. Aldrin even gave toy Buzz space travel advice in 2008.

Pixar's "Tin Toy" short helped lead to the creation of "Toy Story."

In 1998,"'Tin Toy' developed the idea of toys being alive, which eventually led to 'Toy Story,'" John Lasseter, Pixar's chief creative officer told Entertainment Weekly.

"Tin Toy" also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short.

• In a Reddit thread, people shared the smartest loopholes they've found to save money. 
• The hacks encompass everything from making a sandwich using the salad bar to making the most out of coupon codes.
• Someone even found a way to cut the cost of Ubers and Lyfts at airports.

No one's ever turned down an opportunity to save a buck. We live in an expensive world, and because of that, people have to find ways to be resourceful. 

In an informative Reddit thread, people shared the smartest ways in which they "gamed the system" to save money. Be it strategically taking an airport shuttle or using ingredients from the salad bar to make what would've been an overpriced sandwich, here's how intrepid Redditors cut back on their spending. 

Taking the airport shuttle to another location and then calling a ride saves both time and money.

"I still use the loophole of jumping on a shuttle bus out of LAX to a parking garage (or hotel) and then calling an Uber/Lyft from there to avoid the airport prices. Brings the ride home down to $10 from $40." -Redditor spacerock_rider

Using the salad bar could mean paying a lot less for the same ingredients.

"My college campus had a cafe with a deli and salad bar. The deli sandwiches were way overpriced, like $8 for a standard turkey sandwich. But the salad bar was very reasonable (subsidized to promote healthy eating).

So I found that the salad bar had all the same ingredients as the sandwiches, the meat was just shredded. The deli would sell slices of bread for $0.25 each, so I would just buy the bread, load up and weigh my "salad," grab some free mayo and mustard packets, then build my own sandwiches for under $2. Used that trick for my last two years." -Redditor hear2fear

Planning your birthday around businesses that give out birthday freebies could snag you a ton of free things.

"My friend made a spreadsheet of all the restaurants in town that gave you free stuff for your birthday, and mapped out the shortest route to take you to all of them." - Redditor zephyrcoco

The end of the year is typically a drought for television, but Hulu is releasing some exciting TV in November. 

Most people turn to Netflix for their streaming options, but we looked at the exciting list of what's coming to Hulu in November and picked the best shows you can binge, or watch at a normal pace.

Read more: The 35 most notable TV shows this winter — and whether you should watch or skip them

Hulu has a small but fun line-up this month, which includes a clever and poignant new original series called "The Bisexual," as well as some full seasons of extremely binge-able shows like "Top Chef" and "Vanderpump Rules."

Here are five TV shows worth watching on Hulu this month.

"Dietland" season one

Release date: Dropped Friday, November 2

This brilliant AMC series was canceled after one season, but we're glad it has a home on Hulu now, where it can hopefully gain an audience that can demand another season. The show is timely, scathing, but impressively funny as it tells unconventional stories of complex women filled with rage. 

"Vanderpump Rules" season six

Release date: Dropped Saturday, November 3

Need some mindless reality television in your life? This wild and dramatic reality show is, ironically, a pleasant escape from reality. The seventh season comes out in early December, so you have some time to catch up. 

"Top Chef" season 15

Release date: Dropped Tuesday, November 6

"Top Chef" hasn't lost its spark after all these years, and it's such a great show to binge. To change things up a bit for its Colorado-based 15th season, a few former contestants had the opportunity to join the competition. This spiced up the show without giving the people who had already been on the culinary contest too much of an edge. 

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.

There are plenty of good looking winter coats out there, but finding one that will also keep you from freezing this winter should be your number one priority.

Brands like Patagonia, L.L.Bean, The North Face, Columbia, United By Blue, and more are known for creating heavy-duty jackets to keep you warm without sacrificing your sense of style.

While shopping, keep in mind that fill power is an important indication of warmth. Ranging from 450 to around 1,000 for apparel, fill power measures the fluffiness and volume of the down. Jackets with a higher fill power (fluffier down) can trap more air, which means they're more capable of insulating. 

Whether you're looking for a coat that's filled with goose down, bison down, lined with sherpa, or features a fur-trimmed hood, you'll find it here.

Check out the best heavy-duty winter coats, below:

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Parka

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Jacket, available in three colors, $349

Fill power rating: 800

The Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Parka can definitely get the job done this winter. It uses a 100% nylon Pertex Quantum fabric with a durable water repellent finish and 800 fill power Traceable Down to make for a jacket that's lightweight and warm. Features like hand-warming pockets and a high collar add even more practicality to the jacket.

The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket

The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket, available in eight colors, $249

Fill power rating: 700

The North Face's Nuptse Jacket has consistently been a best-seller for decades, but the 1996 version stands out as a fan favorite. Inspired by the popular mid-90s puffer, this new take on a retro style features a throwback look with updated warmth technology. Built to perform equally for the mountain and the city, it has a 700 fill power rating, a durable water-resistant finish, and the ability to stow into its own front pocket.

L.L.Bean Baxter State Parka

L.L.Bean Baxter State Parka, available in four colors, $299

Fill power rating: 650

While L.L.Bean got its start with the extremely popular Bean Boots, the Maine-based brand is one of the best at making quality outwear, too. The Baxter State Parka uses TEK2 fabric, L.L. Bean's proprietary waterproof, windproof, and breathable material. Its 650-fill goose down will keep you warm down to 45 degrees below Farenheit. An abundance of pockets and a detachable fur hood add functionality and style.

The US military's special operators are the most elite in the world. 

Depending on the unit, special operators are charged with a variety of missions: counterterrorism, direct action (small raids and ambushes), unconventional warfare (supporting resistence against a government), hostage rescue and recovery, special reconnaissance (reconnaissance that avoids contact behind enemy lines), and more. 

They're also very secretive. 

As such, it can be difficult to tell certain operators apart, especially since most units wear the standard fatigues within their military branch — and sometimes they don't wear uniforms at all to disguise themselves.

So we found out how to tell six of the most elite special operators apart. 

Check them out below. 

SEE ALSO: Why Green Berets are the smartest, most lethal fighters in the world

SEE ALSO: 11 weapons used by Russia's elite Spetsnaz operators

1. Army Rangers.

The 75th Ranger Regiment "is the Army's premier direct-action raid force,"according to the Rangers. 

Consisting of four battalions, their "capabilities include conducting airborne and air assault operations, seizing key terrain such as airfields, destroying strategic facilities, and capturing or killing enemies of the nation."

They wear the same fatigues as regular soldiers, but there's some ways to distinguish them.

The first sign is the yellow Ranger tab on the shoulder seen above, which they receive after graduating from Ranger school. But this tab alone does not mean they're a member of the Army's special operations regiment. 

Soldiers don't actually become 75th Ranger Regiment special operators until they finish the eight-week Ranger Assessment and Selection Program.

After finishing the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, they receive a tan beret and black Ranger scroll (seen on the Rangers left arm above), and are now official members of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Read more about Ranger school here, and Ranger Assessment and Selection Program here. 

2. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

Founded in February 2006, MARSOC operators are rather new.

Consisting of three battalions, MARSOC operators conduct "foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and direct action,"according to MARSOC. 

Foreign internal defense means training and equipping foreign allied military forces against internal threats, such as terrorism. 

MARSOC operators wear the same fatigues as Marine infantrymen, and therefore, the only way to tell them apart is the MARSOC emblem seen above, which is worn on their chest.

Unveiled in 2016, the emblem is an eagle clutching a knife. 

You can read more about the emblem here.