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I took a short flight on a Delta Boeing 717 — here's why it's now my favorite plane (BA)

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Boeing 717

  • The Boeing 717 is a slightly offbeat aircraft that went out of production in 2006.
  • Boeing chalked it up as a failure, a result of absorbing some McDonnell Douglas planes when it acquired the planemaker in the mid-1990s.
  • But the 100-seat 717-200 is now in serious demand as carriers move away from regional jets.
  • I recently flew on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 from Newark to Detroit.


I've flown on many big aircraft and plenty of small ones. I've flown on Boeings, Airbuses, and Embraers, Bombardiers and a host of more obscure names.

But until recently I'd never set foot on a Boeing 717, a smaller aircraft that Boeing inherited when it bought McDonnell Douglas in 1995 for $13 billion.

I tend to like really small jets, tolerate regional aircraft, richly enjoy big planes — and dislike the narrow-bodies that do most of the grunt work of hauling passengers around the US on domestic routes these days.

The 717-200, in Delta livery, that I boarded last month for a flight to Detroit from Newark, New Jersey, was a mystery. I wasn't sure what I was strapping into. I had forgotten to quiz Business Insider resident aviation authority, Senior Reporter Ben Zhang, before my flight. 

But I figured out quickly what I was dealing with — and then settled back to enjoy the ride. Which was unexpectedly thrilling.

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The Boeing 717-200 is actually a rebranded McDonnell Douglas MD-95. Boeing acquired McDonnell in 1995 for $13 billion.

Sadly, as Business Insider's Ben Zhang reported, "On May 23, 2006, Boeing delivered the last two 717-200 jetliners to customers at its Long Beach, California, factory."

"It marked the end of a program filled with promise but that had ultimately failed to capture the interest of airlines. Even Boeing's well-oiled sales operation could only manage to muster up 156 orders for the little 100-seat, short-haul-airliner."



Despite being an apparent business failure with just 156 examples ever made, the 717 is now in high demand as a short-hauler, a 100-seater that can replace regional jets.



"What is this plane?" I asked myself.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 things you should know before opening an investment account

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  • You're never too young to begin investing, and you don't have to be rich to open your first investment account.
  • Don't let your emotions rule your investment decisions. When the market turns down, smart investors wait it out.
  • Understand your investment goals. That will help you decide where to put your money.
  • Angela Moore, a certified financial planner (CFP), has some advice to get you started.

 

Angela Moore's first job after college was as a finance director for a car dealership. She spent all day looking at other people's credit and, she said, "I quickly realized that there was a huge financial literacy problem in the community."

Moore decided to go back to school so she could help people close this gap. She is now a CFP and a certified financial education instructor with her own firm.

Whether you have a little money saved up or you just got a windfall, Moore thinks "everybody should look at opening some type of investment account." She noted that most bank accounts pay interest rates that don't keep up with inflation, so your savings lose value over time.

Your investment account can be an IRA, 401k, or any brokerage account that hold funds made up of stocks, bonds, and other investments. Here are six things to think about before you open your first investment account.

SEE ALSO: How to easily find a savings account that will earn you more money

Create a rainy day fund first.

"You don't want to take all your cash and put it in investments and then not have any cash in case of an emergency," Moore said. That could force you to withdraw money from your investment account when the market is down.

Instead, set aside between three and 12 months of living expenses in an emergency fund, Moore suggested, noting that "the amount that you need depends on the stability of your income." Freelancers need a bigger cushion than someone with secure employment. Plan on having at least a couple months of emergency savings before you begin investing.



Understand the costs associated with investing.

There are two primary types of costs associated with investment accounts, according to Moore: management fees, charged by your investment manager, and fees charged by the funds you invest in.  

Total fees are usually in the range of 1% to 2%. If you start investing at a young age, Moore said, those fees will "add up over time."

Don't let this discourage you from investing – just understand the costs associated with your accounts and look for low-cost alternatives.



Get investment help from a robot.

Moore has a suggestion that can save you some management fees: "There's a lot of robo-advisors where there's a very little fee or no fee at all." A robo-advisor is AI that asks you a set of questions about your goals and your tolerance for risk then uses an algorithm to recommend investments.

"For the average investor who's just getting started, a robo-advisor is great," Moore said. "I'm a financial advisor with a master's degree, and I use robo-advisors for myself."

She noted that accounts associated with robo-advisors often have lower minimums than accounts managed by humans. Some have no minimums, so you can start building your portfolio with a small monthly investment.

Nerdwallet has a list of the top robo-advisors for 2018.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 celebrities share their best pick-up line

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emily blunt john krasinski

  • Even celebrities have to use pick-up lines once in a while.
  • A good pick-up line can make or break a great relationship.
  • Here's just a few that have been used by celebrities, whether they're successful or not.

First impressions are important, and when it comes to dating, a good "pick-up line" can be important.

Even some of Hollywood's most elite have a good pick-up line to thank for their successful relationships. For others, their initial chat-ups haven't always blown over well.

Here are just 10 pick-up lines used by celebrities to give you some inspiration in your dating life.

Jason Sudeikis used a mysterious line to woo his now-fiance.

Olivia Wilde evidently looked like she was missing something when Sudeikis flagged her down at a party with the line: "Whatever you're looking for, you don't need it."

In an interview with Howard Stern, the "House" star said it wasn't long before she was "head over heels" for her comedian beau. The pair has been engaged since 2013.



Ice-T made sure his now-wife Coco Austin knew what she was getting into.

The actor and rapper told NUVOtv he "struggled to remain calm" after spotting Austin on a set they were working on together. He decided to make the "gangster" outfit he wore for the role the focus of his pick-up line.

"I said, 'Would you ever consider dating a gangster rapper?'" he explained. After Austin said she'd consider if he was "nice," he fired back: "Well, baby, you take the 'n' off 'nice,' you get Ice."



Before getting married, Bruce Willis went especially racy with his pick up lines.

In the years between his marriages to Demi Moore and his current wife, Emma Heming, the "Die Hard" star revealed to Access Hollywood the rather blunt line he liked to use.

"I'll give you my best line, my old line, my old single guy line," Willis said. "You say, 'Hey… what are you doing for sex later?'"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 of the most influential millennial women in US politics

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

  • Women are serving in larger numbers in American politics and government today than ever before. 
  • Here are some young rising stars in government. 

Women are serving in larger numbers in American politics and government today than ever before. 

A record number of women will serve in Congress next year after a surge of female candidates ran for office in this year's midterm elections. And the House's freshman class will be the most diverse in history. 

But women are also making strides in local and state government — in both elected and non-elected offices. 

Here are a handful of the most influential young women in American government, according to Apolitical's 100 most influential young people in government around the world. 

SEE ALSO: 7 things you might not know about the George HW Bush administration

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist from the Bronx and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

Bronxite Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stunned the world when the political novice and Democratic Socialist defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful and entrenched Democrats in Congress, in the New York primary last June.

In November, the 29-year-old Latina became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. 

Ocasio-Cortez campaigned on a deeply progressive platform that included supporting single-payer healthcare, abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and introducing a Green New Deal for the environment — while rejecting corporate donations to her grassroots-powered effort. 



Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican and the second-youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is, at 30, the second-youngest woman ever elected to Congress (after Ocasio-Cortez). During her four years in the House, Stefanik has voted to loosen gun control, repeal Obamacare, and expand federal Pell grants for low-income students. She also leads candidate recruitment for the National Republican Campaign Committee and has voiced frustration about the GOP's small — and shrinking — number of women in Congress. 

"I will continue speaking out about the crisis level of GOP women in Congress & will try to lead and change that by supporting strong GOP women candidates through my leadership PAC," she tweeted this week. 

After facing opposition to her efforts to diversify the Republican caucus from male colleagues, Stefanik responded that she "wasn't asking permission" to make change. 

A Harvard graduate, Stefanik got her start in politics in President George W. Bush's White House and later worked for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. 



Anna Valencia, Chicago's city clerk.

Anna Valencia was appointed Chicago's city clerk in Dec. 2016 by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. 

The 33-year-old runs an operation that serves 1.2 million Chicagoans and works to make government services more accessible to residents, championing the city's effort to provide a municipal ID card to streamline access. She's also advocated for more gender and racial diversity in government and politics. 

The first in her family to graduate from college, Valencia previously served as Emanuel's director of legislative counsel and government affairs (the second woman in Chicago's history to serve in that role) and ran US Sen. Dick Durbin's 2014 campaign. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside Hong Kong's lawless 'walled city' — the most crowded place on Earth for 40 years

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Slightly north of Hong Kong Island there once stood one of the most densely populated places on earth.

From the 1950s until 1994, over 33,000 people lived and worked in Kowloon Walled City, a massive complex of 300 interconnected buildings that took up a city block.

Caught between China and the British-run Hong Kong government, the city was essentially lawless, equally known for its opium dens and organized crime as its dentists' offices. 

Photographer Greg Girard spent years investigating and documenting the strange place before it was demolished. Girard collaborated with Ian Lambot, another photographer, on a book about Kowloon, titled "City of Darkness Revisited," available here.

Girard shared a number of photos from the project with us in 2015, and you can check out the rest at the book's website.

SEE ALSO: This is the last generation of Chinese women to endure the painful tradition of foot binding

Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, an area north of Hong Kong Island. What began as a Chinese military fort evolved into a squatters' village comprising a mass of 300 interconnected high-rise buildings.



The city began as a low-rise squatter village during the early 20th century. After World War II, Hong Kong experienced a massive influx of Chinese immigrants. This led to a lack of housing in the city. In response, entrepreneurs and those with "squatter's rights" in Kowloon built high rise buildings on the space to capitalize on the housing demand.



At its peak, more than 33,000 people lived in the 6.4-acre city. It was considered by many to be the most densely populated place on earth.



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A 101-year-old man credits his longevity to his daily Coors Light. Here's what 5 other centenarians had to say about their secret to a long life — and whether they're backed by science.

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coors light

  • Andrew E. Slavonic of Pennsylvania turned 101 on December 1.
  • He told Fox News he credits his long life to his daily Coors Light.
  • INSIDER has rounded up what other centenarians have said about their secret to longevity, and you wouldn't find their advice in many health books.

A centenarian in Pennsylvania credits his long life to cheap beer.

Andrew E. Slavonic of Pennsylvania turned 101 on December 1. In an interview with Fox News, Slavonic said his secret to health is the Coors Light he has drank every day for the past 15 years.

His son, Bob, who he moved in with two years ago, shares the daily ritual with him.

"Around 4 p.m., he tells me that it is 4 p.m., and it is time for our beer," Bob said. "He gets his Coors Light from the garage beer fridge and enjoys a nice cold one."

"The bluer the mountains are on the can, the better," Bob added.

What does science have to say about Slavonic's hoppy habit? While a recent study found that people over the age of 90 often drink moderately, severalotherstudies have shown that drinking alcohol leads to increased mortality.

Researchers have linked some lifestyle habits to longevity, such as exercising, eating a plant-based diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and maintaining a healthy weight. But a lot of aging has to do with your genes.

Here's what five other centenarians have credited as their secret to longevity, and whether their tips are backed by science.

Emma Morano, lived to 117

Former oldest person alive Emma Morano told The Independent in 2016 that her long life was due to "being single."

The Italian woman left her violent husband in 1938, shortly after their only son died in infancy. She never settled down with another man.

Among her other lifelong habits was drinking brandy and having a breakfast of two raw eggs and one cooked egg every day since the age of 20 when she was diagnosed with anemia.

She also became a vegetarian out of fear that meat causes cancer.

She died in April 2017 at the age of 117.

What the science says: The Terman Life-Cycle Study, the longest-running study ever conducted on longevity, backs up Morano's claim that singledom could have helped her live longer, according to Psychology Today.

The study, which has followed the lives of 1,528 men and women who were 11 years old in 1921, found that two groups of people tended to live the longest: Those who stayed single, and those who married and stayed married. So while being single could help, marrying someone and not divorcing could be just as beneficial.

Being a vegetarian also likely helped Morano live longer. Studies have found that vegetarianism is linked with lower chances of heart disease and cancers, and higher chances of living longer. As for Morano's egg-eating habit, nutritionists told The Express that eating six eggs a week could boost overall health, which could ultimately help you avoid an early death.

Source: The Independent, The Express, Psychology Today, The Conversation, Business Insider, Nutrients



Violet Brown, lived to 117

Violet Brown of Jamaica was the oldest living person for five months, until she died in September 2017.

In 2016, her son Harold told the Jamaica Observer that his mother had stayed healthy for so long by eating small meals and never eating pork or chicken. Her diet was made up of "fish and mutton," sweet potatoes, breadfruit, oranges and the occasional "cow foot."

She also didn't drink.

"Really and truly, when people ask what me eat and drink to live so long, I say to them that I eat everything, except pork and chicken, and I don't drink rum and dem tings. You know, sometimes I ask myself, 'Am I really 110 years old?' because I don't feel like 110," Brown told the Jamaica Gleaner in 2010.

She said she thought her longevity had more to do with her faith. The devout Baptist said in the interview that following the Ten Commandments helped her live a long life.

What the science says: A recent Ohio State University study did find that people who were religious typically lived four years longer than those who weren't. Laura Wallace, the lead author on the study, told Newsweek that "religious affiliation had nearly as strong an affect on longevity as gender does, which is a matter of years of life."

LiveScience reported that the study backed up previous research, but that the findings did need to be replicated.

Brown's focus on vegetarian foods likely helped her longevity, as well.

Sources: Jamaica Observer, Jamaica Gleaner, Social Psychological and Personality Science, Newsweek, LiveScience, TIME



Adele Dunlap, lived to 114

Adele was once the oldest living person in the US before she died in February 2017.

During her later life, the New Jersey woman told CBS New York/AP that she was baffled by her old age because she was never particularly healthy.

"She never went out jogging or anything like that," her son, Earl, said in 2016. "She smoked, and when my father had his first heart attack, they both stopped. I think she ate anything she wanted."

But among the foods she did choose to eat was nutrient-packed oatmeal, according to NJ.com.

What the science says: Many studies have shown that a sentient lifestyle and smoking can lead to an early death, but one study found eating oatmeal could help with longevity.

Sources: The Guardian, CBS New York/AP, NJ.com, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, USA Today, Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The remarkable stories behind 5 iconic photos of the Pearl Harbor attack

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Believed to be the first bomb dropped on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in the sneak-attack on Dec. 7, 1941, this picture was found torn to pieces at Yokusuka Base by photographer's mate 2/C Martin J. Shemanski of Plymouth, Pa. One Japanese plane is shown pulling out of a dive near bomb eruption (center) and another the air at upper right.

The attack on Pearl Harbor happened 77 years ago on Friday. 

The Japanese attack on the US naval base in Hawaii killed more than 2,400 American sailors and civilians and wounded 1,000 more. 

Japanese fighter planes also destroyed or damaged almost 20 naval ships and more than 300 planes during the attack. 

Several photos were captured during the attack, some of which have become iconic of that infamous day.

Here are the stories behind five of those unforgettable images.

SEE ALSO: 7 real-life heroes you’ve never heard of from the Pearl Harbor attack 77 years ago

1. The first bomb likely dropped.

The above photo, which was taken by a Japanese photographer, was found by US Navy photographer Martin J. Shemanski at Yokusuka Base near Tokyo Bay shortly after the Japanese surrendered.

The photo shows the Japanese fighter plane (the small black speck that almost looks like a bird) appearing to pull out of a dive after dropping the bomb on Battleship Row. Another Japanese fighter plane can be seen in the upper right corner.

Shemanski and four other US military photographers were ordered to go through Japanese photo processing labs after the surrender, and he found it torn up in a trash can. 

“It had a torn photo in it,” Shemanski told the Press-Enterprise in 2015.

“I picked up a couple pieces and I got a shot of a torpedo hitting the Oklahoma. I thought, ‘This is Navy intelligence,’” he added. 

The USS Oklahoma was a Nevada-class battleship that was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Shemanski told the Press-Enterprise that the picture was torn up in about 20 pieces.

Shemanski reassembled the photo and turned it over to US naval intelligence on the USS Shangri-La aircraft carrier



2. The USS Shaw explodes.

This photo shows the USS Shaw destroyer exploding while in floating dry dock. 

Between 7:55 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., the Shaw was hit by three bombs released by Japanese fighters in steep dives from approximately 1,000 feet, according to the US Navy action report. 

The Shaw immediately caught fire, and the ship was abandoned. About 20 minutes later, as sailors were trying to flood the dry dock to save the ship, the forward magazines blew up, which is pictured above.

The blast destroyed the bow and damaged the dry dock and a nearby tugboat. 

Initially thought to be a loss, the Shaw was eventually repaired and later took part in several engagements in the Pacific, including the biggest naval battle of all-time, the Battle of Leyte Gulf

 

 

 



3. Battleship Row on fire.

The picture above shows the USS West Virginia and USS Tennessee battleships on fire in Battleship Row. 

Battleship Row was where seven US Navy battleships were moored on the eastern side of Ford Island (shown in the first picture), which rests in the middle of Pearl Harbor.

These seven battleships alone (the USS Arizona, USS West Virginia, USS Oklahoma, USS Tennessee, USS Maryland, USS California, and USS Nevada) were equal to about 70% of Japan's active battleship fleet. 

As such, these ships were the main target for the Japanese fighter planes, with 29 of Japan's 40 torpedo planes ordered to attack it

Each Japanese torpedo plane carried one Type 91 aerial torpedo with a warhead of 992 pounds, and 21 of them hit their targets. Japanese bombers then flew in after the torpedo plane attacks and caused further damage. 

In total, the Japanese sunk the Oklahoma and Arizona, and damaged the other five ships.

 

 



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Meet William Barr: What you need to know about the possible once and future attorney general

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Bush Barr

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering tapping William Barr to head up the Justice Department. 

His nomination could have major implications for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference.

Here's what you need to know about the man who could potentially be the next attorney general. 

Read more: Trump is reportedly looking to nominate George H.W. Bush’s former attorney general to head up the Justice Department

William Barr, 68, is a Republican lawyer who previously served as attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993.



Barr was born in New York City and is Roman Catholic. He attended Columbia University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in government in 1971 and a master’s degree in government and Chinese studies in 1973.



He worked at the CIA as an analyst and assistant legislative counsel and studied law at night at George Washington University in Washington, DC, graduating in 1977.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 Kate Middleton-approved tips for looking more photogenic

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kate middleton

  • There are a handful of photos of Kate Middleton from royal events and family outings, and not a single one of them is bad. 
  • The Duchess of Cambridge opts for a natural makeup look when stepping in front of the cameras. 
  • Middleton often carries a purse or clutch to avoid awards hands in photos. 

 

We're starting to think Kate Middleton is incapable of taking a bad photo. (And with the number of royal events she attends, that's saying a lot.) Here, five tips we learned from (stalking) observing the Duchess of Cambridge for always taking the perfect pic.

 

She keeps it natural

Whether she’s attending a royal outing or kicking it with her kids, Middleton’s makeup is as minimal as it gets. She provides just enough coverage without looking cakey, creating a photogenic glow no highlighter can replicate.



She never makes eye contact

It’s no coincidence that Middleton rarely looks directly at the cameras. It seems the duchess purposely avoids eye contact with photographers, so her snaps appear totally candid and natural. Cue the fake laugh.



She squares her shoulders to the camera

Ever notice how Middleton’s shoulders are almost always directed toward the camera? The trick not only emphasizes her pristine posture, but it also creates an illusion, making her legs look long and lean.



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29 thoughtful and creative gifts your sister will love — especially if she's hard to shop for

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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.

atlas coffee club $60, 3 months

Depending on what you celebrate, the holidays are just around the corner — or are already here. If you've been pushing holiday gifting to the last minute, we've got your back. While last-minute holiday shopping has long had the reputation of a stressful pursuit, we're trying to change that at least a little.

We've compiled plenty of gift guides to help you find the perfect present for everyone on your list, but today we're talking about sisters — the ladies that have been your built-in-best-friends since birth. They've seen you through your highest of highs and lowest of lows, and they still love you — that deserves something special.

Keep reading for 29 gifts your sister will love.

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


A fun way for her to spice things up

Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit, $34.95, available at Uncommon Goods

If she loves her food extra spicy, there's no better way to get her perfect flavor than trying to create it herself. This DIY hot sauce kit comes with lots of spices and dried peppers, as well as bottles, labels, and other tools to help her concoct her very own blend. The process is pretty straightforward and makes for a fun activity. 



A motivating planner just in time for the new year

2019 12-Month Planner, $32, available at Ban.do

Set your sis up for success with an annual planner just in time for 2019. It has more than enough space to help her stay super organized, plus plenty of colorful stickers so she can add her own flair to the pages. 



A necklace with a meaning just for you two

Sister Morse Code Necklace, from $24.99, available at Etsy

You may have outgrown the secret language you spoke as children, but you can maintain some sort of sibling code with this necklace. Others might just see a pretty piece, but you both will know that the beads on this necklace actually spell out "sister" in Morse Code.



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8 scenic winter trains that will make you want to book a trip ASAP

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  • While flying has become the dominant way of cross-country traveling, trains have a lot to offer than airplanes don't.
  • Being able to relax, have space, and witness beautiful scenery are among the few perks of taking a train instead this winter.
  • Some examples of trains worth riding are in Norway, Switzerland, Japan, and the US.

Air travel is about getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. Rail travel, on the other hand, is about so much more, especially in the winter when you can cozy up in a blanket with a hot beverage and take in the snowcapped mountain views everywhere from the Canadian Rockies to remote stretches of Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. These are the train trips you’ll want to take this winter when you’d rather watch the world go by slowly.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder

As you make your way from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest on Amtrak’s Empire Builder, you’ll travel along a portion of the Lewis and Clark Trail. While this train operates year-round, seeing the snowy landscape from North Dakota’s late-19th-century Gassman Coulee Trestle is particularly spectacular. The scenery gets even better as you pass into Montana and by Glacier National Park. You can reserve a one-way coach ticket for the 46-hour trip directly through Amtrak, but for a more comfortable journey you’ll want to book Vacations By Rail’s Snow Train trip (from $1,109), which includes a roomette in a sleeper car, with hotels in Chicago and Seattle at the beginning and end of the voyage. From $147 one way.



Bergen Railway

The Bergen Railway connects the cities of Oslo and Bergen on a seven-hour train trip through the Norwegian wilderness. While it’s beautiful year-round, the scenery is even more dramatic in winter. You can buy a simple one-way ticket, but you’ll want to book this train ride as part of Fjordtours’s Norway in a Nutshell Winter Tour (from $190), which also includes a short detour on the Flåm Railway and a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord before connecting back to the Bergen Railway in Voss to complete the trip. From $78 one way.



Glacier Express

Express is a bit of a misnomer here. All in all, the train ride between St. Moritz and Zermatt takes eight hours, but you’ll enjoy taking it slow as you pass through the Rhône Valley, into 91 tunnels, and over the Oberalp Pass and 291 bridges along the way. You can hop aboard the Glacier Express with a Eurail pass or book single tickets anytime throughout the winter, but on March 2, 2019, Planet Rail is introducing a seven-night Luxury Glacier Express trip (from $3,250), which includes overnights at five-star hotels and passage in the brand-new Excellence carriages, where you can enjoy a five-course lunch with wine, plus afternoon tea, while you take in the late-winter scenery from the panoramic windows. From $153 one way.



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A top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei was arrested. Here's how the incident could escalate Trump's trade war

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meng wanzhou

  • Huawei, a Chinese tech giant, is making headlines after one of its top executives, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada at the request of the U.S. this week.
  • Huawei is the second-largest smartphone maker in the world, behind only Samsung. 
  • Meng was reportedly arrested on suspicion of violating U.S. trade law by exporting products from the U.S. to sanctioned countries like Iran.
  • The arrest could have bigger implications for Huawei, whose practices have been the subject of a yearslong federal investigation, as well as for the escalating trade war between U.S. and China.
  • Here's what you need to know about Huawei and Meng Wanzhou, and the events leading up to this incident.

Authorities in Canada have arrested the chief financial officer of the Chinese company Huawei, reportedly on suspicion of violating U.S. trade sanctions on Iran. 

For Americans, Huawei may not be a familiar name. But the tech giant is actually the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, behind only Samsung, after recently pulling ahead of Apple. 

This incident threatens to have major implications on the relationship between U.S. and China, which has already ordered Canada to "immediately release" Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Here's what you need to know about Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, and how this arrest could escalate the U.S. trade war with China. 

Huawei is a massive tech company producing telecommunications services, enterprise tech, and consumer devices, like smartphones. The company sells its products in more than 70 countries.

Source: Huawei



The company raked in almost $93 billion in sales last year, which puts it about on par with Microsoft. Huawei is the largest maker of telecommunications equipment in the world, and the world's second largest smartphone manufacturer behind Samsung.

Source: Business Insider, Forbes



Huawei's headquarters are located in Shenzhen, China. While the company has an estimated 180,000 employees worldwide, it has 60,000 employees at its main campus alone. One of the most unique features: a lake home to three black swans, which represent "non-complacency within the corporate culture."

Source: CNBC



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Meet the 30 women who will be competing for Colton's heart on 'The Bachelor'

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colton bachelor

  • Colton Underwood, a former NFL player, is looking for love as ‘The Bachelor.’
  • The 23rd season of the ABC show premieres January 7, 2019.
  • Colton was unlucky in love on season 14 of ‘The Bachelorette,’ but hopes to find love again in the Bachelor mansion.

Colton was announced as the new Bachelor in August, and we have been waiting ever since then to learn more about the ladies that were going to be vying for Underwood's heart.

Without further ado, here are the ladies to keep your eyes out for in January.

Alex B., 29, from Vancouver, Canada.

Alex B.’s dog rescue business has apparently saved over 5,000 dogs from slaughter.



Alex D., 23, from Boston, Massachusetts.

Alex D.’s occupation of choice is inspired by her tendency to do things very slowly.



Angelique, 28, from Hamilton, New Jersey.

Angelique says she has a super corny sense of humor.



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The 20 most-watched returning TV shows of 2018

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  • People are dedicated to their favorite TV shows.
  • Lots of TV shows returned in 2018, and some were more popular than others.
  • Shows like "Grey's Anatomy", "Brooklyn 99" and "Riverdale" continued to be fan favorites.

It's well-known that 2018 was another great year for television, with a slew of wonderful new shows and some great reboots. Still, even with all of the options out there, most people chose to stay dedicated to their returning favorite shows, whether they were tuning in week after week for new episodes, or binge watching the entire season as soon as it aired.

A seemingly endless amount of television shows returned with new episodes in 2018, but some definitely proved to be more popular than others. TV Time compiled a list of the most watched returning TV shows of 2018, and it includes some that were easy to predict, but others that are a little more surprising.

Take a look at the list below to see if your favorite made the cut -- or even to get ideas on something you can start binge watching now:

"New Girl" rounded out the last with the show's last season.

The show about quirky awkward girl Jess and her close guy friends ended in 2018 with the seventh season and finished up the list of most watched returning shows. 

 



"Jane The Virgin" had a lot of viewers as the show prepares to end.

This year, "Jane The Virgin" aired the second-to-last season of the show, which is about a woman named Jane who gets accidentally artificially inseminated even though she's a virgin who wanted to wait until marriage to have sex. All of the show's twists and turns are written in the style of a classic telenovela. 



"Once Upon a Time" was number 18 on the list.

The fantastic world of "Once Upon a Time" proved to still be popular among viewers in 2018. It tells the story of a world where fairy-tale legends and modern life come together.



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5 clothing trends you can expect to see everywhere in 2019

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  • Ahead of the new year, Pinterest shared its top five fashion Pins with INSIDER. 
  • The Pins give insight into some clothingtrends that are expected to take off in 2019.
  • Faux-leather earrings and popcorn-style cardigans are among the upcoming style trends.
  • Similarly, knit pleated skirts, sequin jumpsuits, and silk tops are likely to start appearing in the stores of various retailers.

Fashion trends are all about being one step ahead, so it's never too early to think about what will be in style next.

And if you don't have the sharpest eye for fashion, that's OK. Ahead of the new year, Pinterest shared its top five fashion Pins with INSIDER, giving some insight into what trends are expected to take off in the upcoming months. 

Of course, some of these styles have already hit store shelves, but there's a good chance that they won't be there for long.

One of the first trends to pop up in 2019 will be faux-leather earrings.

Sometimes, fashion trends come in the way of accessories. Searches for faux-leather earrings have recently increased by 2,831%, according to Pinterest. The style is expected to grow into a bigger trend in 2019 as well.



There's also a good chance that faux-leather fabric will become more popular overall this year.

After celebrities and consumers have consistently made cases for eco-friendly fashion, multiple designers ditched animal products entirely in 2018.



Meghan Markle may have also played a part in boosting eco-friendly fashion.

The duchess frequently incorporates ethical brands into her wardrobe, and therefore has caused a spike in interest of the eco-friendly brands she wears.

Read more:From bike shorts to 'naked' fashion, here are 5 trends celebrities have made popular in 2018



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21 limited-edition gifts you can only get in 2018 — or until they sell out

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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. 

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Finding a unique gift isn't easy. That's why we dig through the internet's vast offerings to suggest cool gift ideas you haven't already thought of, like thoughtful personalized gifts and gifts from a site with "uncommon" right in its name

Another way to guarantee the special feel of a gift is to find limited-edition products. Since only a certain number is made and they're often done in collaboration with other brands, they possess a cool factor that regular gifts can't replicate. Given their exclusivity, it's less likely that everyone is going to emerge in 2019 wearing the same pair of shoes or backpack. 

These 21 gifts aren't going to stick around long, and once they're gone, they're gone forever, so if you really want to impress your recipient this year, don't hesitate to pick up one of these limited-edition products. 

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

Made In x Banza cookware and pasta

Made In x Banza Kit, $79-$289, available at Made In

Brighten up their stove with a red frying pan from one of our favorite kitchen startups, then fill their stomachs with healthy but delicious pasta from Banza. The full kit also throws in a five-quart stockpot and two-quart saucepan. 



Mejuri Holiday Kit jewelry

The Minimalist Kit, $100, available at Mejuri

Mejuri's holiday kits pair some of its best sellers into curated sets that take the headache out of gifting. The pretty gold pieces are wrapped up in special packaging for the holidays. 



Sugarfina x Tipsy Elves candy

Sugarfina x Tipsy Elves Candy Bento Box, $30, available at Sugarfina

This playful collection of gummy candy and tiny cookies lets adults become kids again this Christmas. To continue the theme, wrap the box with a funny Tipsy Elves sweater

 



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The season is already over for 13 NFL teams and 4 of them are in a race for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

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  • There are still four weeks remaining in the NFL season, but there are already 13 teams with no realistic shot at the playoffs.
  • Several big-name quarterbacks are not going to be in the postseason this year.
  • If the season ended today, the San Francisco 49ers would have the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but three other teams are still in the hunt.


There are still four weeks remaining in the NFL season, but for some teams, it is already over and it is time to start looking towards the 2019 NFL Draft.

Whether it is a lack of talent, some key injuries, or just plain ol' bad luck, there are already 13 teams that have been effectively eliminated from playoff contention. Of those, four are in a race for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with the San Francisco 49ers in the lead.

Here are the 11 teams that won't make the playoffs, ranked by the chances to receive the first pick in the 2019 draft. 

1. San Francisco 49ers

Record: 2-10

538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%

DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft:  57.8%

One thing to know: If the season ended today, the 49ers would have the top pick in the draft based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker (SOS).



2. Oakland Raiders

Record: 2-10

538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%

DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft:  23.4%

One thing to know: The Raiders have three picks in the first round of the 2019 Draft. Their own will almost certainly be in the top five. In addition, they have first-rounders from the Bears and the Cowboys.



3. New York Jets

Record: 3-9

538's chance to make the playoffs: <1%

DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft:  11.2%

One thing to know: Not a lot of people are still arguing that the Giants should have drafted Sam Darnold over Saquan Barkley.



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The 15 most overhyped TV shows of the year

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  • There's often a lot of excitement about certain TV shows when they are initially announced. 
  • But sometimes, the shows don't always live up to the hype or anticipation.
  • Here are 15 overhyped shows from 2018, including HBO's "Camping," Paramount's "Heathers" reboot, and Amazon's "Jack Ryan" revival.

"Heathers" was almost never released.

Paramount's "Heathers" was supposed to be a progressive remake of the beloved cult classic movie from 1988, but instead it was a disaster, trying to flip social commentary on its head and failing. 

The series was originally supposed to premiere in the US in March, but after the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, the series was postponed until July due to its subject matter.

It was later reported in June that Paramount dropped the series completely, but after making some changes, "Heathers" went from 10 episodes down to nine and Paramount decided to release the series over a five-night event. But not even that rollout worked for the series. 

Two episodes were pulled from the TV schedule and made available only online following the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The finale aired on TV. 

 



"Rise" was supposed to be the new, more serious "Glee."

Josh Radnor, of "How I Met Your Mother" fame, played an English teacher who wanted to transform the school's drama department and stepped over the assistant director, played by Rosie Perez, to do it. He picked the inappropriate for teens musical "Spring Awakening" for the its show and faced an intense amount of backlash from the school and the parents. But the drama couldn't save the series, and it was canceled after one season. 



"Camping" isn't a beloved comedy.

"Camping" is from the minds of creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, whose "Girls" was a smash hit for HBO. The cast includes Jennifer Garner and David Tennant. But even with those talented stars, the show about friends who go on a camping trip wasn't a hit. 



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New data says Peloton now has more customers than rival SoulCycle. We tested workouts from both — here’s the verdict.

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Peloton

  • Peloton has revolutionized home fitness with its high-tech indoor bike, which enables users to stream live classes from home. The company launched in 2012 and is now valued at about $4 billion.
  • SoulCycle is an indoor cycling workout brand that launched in 2006 and now has 90 studios across the United States and Canada. It's known for inspiring a cult-like following of fans. 
  • We compared the experience of taking a class with each brand, and there was a clear winner. 

Indoor cycling is becoming the most competitive space in the fitness market. Until 2012, SoulCycle seemed to be invincible with its cult following of fans who were prepared to pay as much as $36 a class.

Then Peloton came along. The high-tech fitness company, which launched in 2012, enables users to stream live classes from anywhere, making it possible to get a SoulCycle-style experience without ever leaving your bedroom. 

And it seems to be paying off. Peloton was valued at $4 billion after it closed a $550 million financing round in August.

New data released by analytics firm Second Measure,which tracks the credit and debit purchases from a pool of four million US customers, showed that for the first time ever Peloton overtook SoulCycle with 4% more customers during the third quarter of 2018. 

A spokesperson for SoulCycle disputed the data in a statement to Business Insider. 

"The data is not only incomplete, it's wrong. SoulCycle is highly profitable. Studio revenue has increased year over year, paid rides are up, total rides are up and our active ridership has not decreased. We're also seeing an increase in the number of classes our active riders take each month," the spokesperson said.

Peloton said that its user base has doubled in the past year. 

Earlier this year, we put these two cult-favorite brands to the test to see which offered a superior experience: 

SEE ALSO: We tested the $1,500 mirror that streams exercise classes into your home and saw how it could upend the fitness world

We headed over to the Westin Hotel near Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan to trial a Peloton bike, which is available for hotel guests to use.

The first thing that struck us is how much better the size of the bike is compared to its newest product, the Tread.

This bike could easily occupy a corner of your apartment without being too intrusive. 



Each bike has a touchscreen from which you can stream live and on-demand classes. It costs $39 a month to stream these classes.

Peloton has a cycling studio in Manhattan, where you can attend these classes in person if you'd like. There are between 11 and 13 classes a day, and you can also stream these classes from home.



The touchscreen was user-friendly, and at 22 inches in size, it's easy to see.



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The 40 most incredible plays in sports of 2018

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  • This year was filled with memorable sports moments, from jaw-dropping dunks to goosebumps-inducing buzzer-beaters.
  • Our list includes the best action from the World Cup, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, college sports, and plenty more.
  • Though he doesn't own the top play, it's hard to argue that anybody else produced more highlights this year than LeBron James.
  • Our top play was the buzziest play of 2018.

With 2018 coming to a close, we compiled the best plays in sports we saw this year and arranged them in a completely subjective order.

On the list you'll find feats of athleticism from jaw-dropping jumps to clever maneuvers. Of course, the stakes of the play, the athlete, and the situation all got taken into account. A game-winner in the playoffs is cooler than a great pass — it just is.

Additionally, star power played a part. When LeBron James hits a game-winner or dunks on somebody, it simply means more than if the 8th man on the team does so. And — spoiler alert — James had a highlight-filled year.

Our top 40 plays of 2018 include action from the World Cup, Super Bowl, World Series, NHL playoffs, NBA season and more.

Check out the best plays of 2018 below.

40. Tiger Woods eagles from 95 yards out at the Memorial Tournament

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One thing to know: Was there anyone more watched or more rooted-for in 2018? Fresh off some encouraging rounds at The Players Championship and Masters, Woods continued to round into shape, sending the crowd into a frenzy with this shot.



39. LeBron James fools the entire Lakers defense

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One thing to know: James was on cruise control for half of the 2017-18 season, but in the latter part of the year, he turned it on, seemingly creating jaw-dropping highlights each night. This one was pretty, understated, and another example that he controls all parts of the game.



38. Ping pong player practices perfect paddle defense

One thing to know:According to Deadspin, this is 15-year-old Chris Chen at the Trondheim Table Tennis Club going with a last-ditch defense and coming up with the point. We're not sure he could do this again if he tried — then again, maybe he has!



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