• The biggest news this weekend was about the now record-breaking partial government shutdown and its expanding fallout.
• President Donald Trump was particularly active on Twitter over the weekend after learning the FBI had investigated him as a possible Russian agent.
• The president also reportedly hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.
• Investigators say the man suspected of kidnapping Jayme Closs killed her parents so he could get to her.
• The oceans are heating up 40% faster than scientists realized — which means we should prepare for more disastrous flooding and storms.
• Huawei says it fired an executive charged with espionage in Poland for bringing the company accused of global espionage and fraud into disrepute.

The second weekend of 2019 was a record breaker for a government in shutdown and the increasingly far-reaching consequences as it pushes past 23 days.

President Donald Trump had more to contend with though, as more reports emerged of possibly damaging ties to Russia.

Here are the news stories you may have missed this weekend, January 12-13.

SEE ALSO: Trump ties undocumented immigrants to sex crimes against children, but he's not telling the full story

The partial government shutdown became the longest in US history and it is starting to bite.

• A partial shutdown of the federal government entered its fourth week Saturday, making it the longest on record. From jobs to food stamps, an impasse over border security has put large swaths of the economy in jeopardy.
• Republican lawmakers are adamant that the president is not going to weaken or crack when it comes to backing down on the longest shutdown in US history.
• Most Americans are pointing the finger at the president for the government shutdown. According to weekend polls, they say it's all about a border "crisis" that they don't see.
• The shutdown could have widespread consequences for the US economy— for example, employment could fall for the first time since 2010.
• But that's not as ugly as it gets — the government reportedly accidentally paid a bunch of federal employees and then told them not to touch the money.
• And as the sticking point of a border wall grinds the gears of government to a halt, it's the right time to take a journey along the entire 1,933-mile US-Mexico border and get a better grasp of what a monumental job it is to secure it, with or without a barrier.  

The New York Times reported that the FBI had investigated Trump as a possible Russian agent.

• President Donald Trump was particularly active on Twitter over the weekend after learning FBI investigated him as a possible Russian agent.
• The New York Times reported Saturday that the FBI was looking into the possibility he was a Russian agent right after the president fired former FBI Director James Comey.
• In a tweetstorm later, the president called Comey a "Crooked Cop" and attacked special counsel Robert Mueller, along with his former opponent Hillary Clinton.
• Trump then added that he has been tougher on Russia than maybe any president, saying that it would be good if Russia and the US had better relations.
• And then he called Comey a "total sleaze."

The Washington Post reported that the president hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.

• The president also reportedly hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.
• Trump went to some pains to hide the details of his chats with Putin— even going so far as to yank the notes from his interpreter and order the linguist to stay silent. 
• When asked on Saturday whether he is working for Russia or has worked for Russia, Trump did not directly answer, and called the question his most insulting ever.
• The president has previously repeatedly denied colluding with the Russians.

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.

• High-quality pizza cutters come with a sharp blade that stays sharp, have comfortable non-slip grips, and are simple to clean.
• The OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter is our top pick because it comes apart for effortless cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher, has a safety cover to protect your fingers, and is backed by OXO’s satisfaction guarantee.

Whether you like your pizza frozen, homemade, or delivered, a good pizza cutter is a must to keep toppings in place and to eat pizza like a normal human being: by the slice. Sure, there are ultra-efficient hungry people out there who — like my giant (6 foot 5 inch) teenage son — just fold the pizza in half and eat it taco style. For the rest of us, we want a tool that can slice our pie into manageable portions. Fortunately, there are several excellent options available.

The two main types of pizza cutters are wheels and rockers. Pizza wheels are what you commonly find in most American homes. They usually consist of a sharp blade wheel that is attached to a long handle. However, direct-grip pizza wheels are becoming more popular. They don’t have the long handle. Instead, the wheel has a cover that you grip it by. This can give some users more leverage than the long-handled wheel, but it’s also harder to see where you are cutting since the cover and your hand may obstruct your vision. A direct-grip wheel tops our list.

Also called a mezzaluna, which is Italian for "half moon," rocker cutters are what you typically find in a commercial kitchen. These have a long, curved blade that you "rock" across the pizza to cut it in half. Rockers are efficient, easy to clean, and toppings are less likely to stick to the blade and end up where you don’t want them. Yet, since the blades are generally 14 inches or longer, rockers tend to take up a lot of drawer space.

Scissor-style and pie server-shaped cutters are less common but growing in popularity. We didn’t include any of these in our guide because they require you to make a series of shorter cuts in order to slice your pizza, and we found this to be inefficient compared to wheels and rockers.

Many pizza cutters advertise that they are dishwasher safe. However, like other cutlery, we strongly recommend washing your pizza cutter by hand. This is because the banging around during the wash cycle can dull the knife and dishwasher detergent is incredibly abrasive.

While researching the best pizza cutters, we read through hundreds of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of models. Our guide features cutters that seamlessly cut through several types of pizza, are durable, and clean up easily.

Here are the best pizza cutters you can buy:

• Best pizza cutter overall: OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter
• Best novelty pizza cutter: ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter
• Best rocker-style pizza cutter: Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter
• Best easy-to-clean pizza cutter: OXO Good Grips 4-Inch Pizza Wheel
• Best high-end pizza cutter: Rösle Stainless Steel Ergonomic Pizza Wheel

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

The best pizza cutter overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a tool that not only makes quick work of your pizza but also cleans up effortlessly and has a safety cover, the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter is your best choice.

OXO has a number of excellent pizza cutters, but the Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutterappears to be the best. Since you are pressing down against the blade instead of at an angle, this wheel gives you extra leverage to get through a variety of crusts.

The handle opens up so you can remove the blade and clean it easier — by hand or in the dishwasher. And, the blade cover and circular design allow for compact and safe storage.

MomDot recommends the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter because the reviewer found it to be easy to clean and use. She liked how comfy the non-slip handle was to grip. And, it came apart effortlessly for cleaning. Her only complaint was that it felt weird to use at first since she was used to the long-handled wheel cutters.

The Spruce Eats and Cooking Detective both recommend this model as the best overall pizza cutter. And, it’s the cutter that many of the staffers at The Kitchn use in their kitchens.

About 92% of the buyers who reviewed the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter on Amazon gave it a positive rating. There are several comments about how this model lives up to its name.

Buyers appreciate that they can just pop the blade out and put the unit in the dishwasher to clean. The safety cover is also a hit since it protects fingers as they rummage through drawers. The only consistent complaints seem to be from commenters who couldn’t seem to get the hang of using this style of pizza cutter.

Pros: Comes apart for easy cleaning, features safety blade cover, comfortable handle

Cons: Has a little bit of a learning curve for people used to long-handled cutters

Buy the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter on Amazon for $12.99

The best novelty pizza cutter

Why you'll love it: The ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter is not only a great gift for the sci-fi fan in your life, it also works well.

Whether you are a fan of the more popular The Next Generation Series or prefer the old-school The Original Series (TOS), you are likely to appreciate the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter.

This blade is made of stainless steel and has "U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701" from TOS laser-etched on it. The body is chromium-plated zinc alloy. The cutting wheel is a standard 4 inches in diameter, and at 8.5 inches in total length, the cutter offers plenty of leverage for an easy cut.

The ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter is perhaps the only model reviewed by most of the top tech websites. But, it is also recommended by sites that specialize in kitchen tools, including Best Advisor and Food Shark Marfa.

The reviewer at ZDNet tested out this wheel cutter and found it was one of the sharpest he’d ever used. He had his six-year-old use it and was impressed with how even a child could make quick work of a pizza with it.

Approximately 91% of the people who reviewed the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter on Amazon gave it four or five stars. Bob Joiner, the most helpful reviewer, purchased this utensil as a gift and found his friend absolutely loves it and uses it all the time.

Another reviewer liked that the cutter isn’t just a gimmick: The blade and primary hull are sharp and solid, the handle is made of durable metal and is comfortable in the hand, and it comes in a collectible box. Others mention that they now ask pizza parlors to leave their delivered pizza uncut so they can use this gadget.

Pros: Made of durable metals, has unique stylish shape, comfortable grip

Cons: Not dishwasher safe

Buy the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter on Amazon for $19.63 (originally $29.99)

The best rocker-style pizza cutter

Why you'll love it: The long sharp blade of the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter lends itself to fast and efficient pizza cutting as well as easy cleanup.

The Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter is great because it simply has one long blade made of commercial-quality 18/0 stainless steel. The blade is long enough to cut a 14-inch pizza in half with just one rocking motion. This helps you avoid dragging the toppings across the pizza, which can sometimes be a problem with wheel cutters.

A plastic sheath comes with the blade to ensure you don't cut yourself while rummaging through a drawer. The unit is dishwasher safe, or you can easily wipe off the single blade by hand.

Epicurious recommends the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter because it works well and looks great. The reviewer was accustomed to pizza wheels and was surprised how quickly she got the hang of this device. In her tests, it was one of only a few blades that got through the crust on the first go. And, she was impressed with how easy it is to clean the blade. However, the reviewer noted that this is a larger cutter that takes up significant space in the kitchen. 

Approximately 83% of the Amazon buyers who reviewed the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter gave it five stars. The most common comment about this model is that the blade is incredibly sharp, which allows for the quick and efficient cutting of pizza and other items. In fact, buyers report using this for quickly cutting up paninis, sandwiches, waffles, and more.

The blade guard is another popular feature since many users keep the cutter in a utensil drawer. Reviewers with arthritis also noted that they were able to use this item without a problem.

Pros: Affordable, snug-fitting safety blade guard, sharp blade for clean cuts, easy to use

Cons: Is larger than other models and may demand more drawer space

Buy the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter (Large) on Amazon for $12.95

Buy the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter (X-Large) on Amazon for $19.95

• Some successful people take long breaks from email and digital technology (or don't use them at all).
• Still, they manage to be rockstars in fields like tech, finance, and fashion.
• Below, see nine of those people, including John Paul DeJoria, who doesn't use computers, and Karlie Kloss, who takes a weekly digital detox.

When you're the founder or CEO of a company, it's a given that people are going to be vying for your time and attention. It's your choice how to respond.

Some of those CEOs and founders opt to be glued to their phones all day, checking email and the news. Others opt to limit the energy they devote to digital technology, going hours, days, and sometimes weeks without checking in.

Below, we've listed nine successful people who have spoken publicly about digital detoxing, checking out, and going off the grid. Read on to find out how and why they do it: 

SEE ALSO: 6 executives who make a point of leaving the office before dark

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod disconnects from work for a week or two at a time

McLeod, who founded dating app Hinge, recently deleted the email app from his phone. He's found himself to be a happier person.

"I'm a much better decision-maker, I'm a much better strategist, I'm a much better leader when I'm not wrapped up in the minutia of what's going on in the company and what's going on in the world," McLeod told Business Insider. "I'm giving myself the space."

He also tries to disconnect from work for one or two weeks every year. "That helps me clarify my thoughts, when I'm not sucked up in the instant day-to-day operations of Hinge," McLeod said.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff completely unplugged for 2 weeks

CNBC reports that in July 2018, Benioff mailed his iPhone and iPad to his summer home in Hawaii — then left for a two-week vacation in the Galapagos Islands, Bora Bora and Easter Island.

Benioff has long been a proponent of meditation, mindfulness, and seeing the world with a "beginner's mind," a concept from Zen Buddhism that describes constantly seeing the world anew, as if you didn't know anything about it.

While meditating and taking calls exclusively by landline that summer, Benioff realized he was too busy and decided to bring on a co-CEO.

Thrive Global CEO Arianna Huffington tucks her phone into bed at night

Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global (and previously, HuffPost) has for years been championing sleep as the key to success. So perhaps it's no surprise that she advocates keeping your phone out of your bedroom, like she does.

In a Medium interview, Huffington said she puts her phone "to bed." She added, "Our phones are repositories of everything we need to put away in order to sleep: our to-do lists, our inboxes, the demands of the world. Charging your phone away from your bed makes you more likely to wake up as fully charged as your phone."

And she never checks her phone first thing in the morning.

• Stars walked the blue carpet on Sunday night for the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards.
• Black-and-white looks dominated the evening's fashion.
• Here are some of our favorite looks, from Constance Wu's feminine, sparkly, white gown to Claire Foy's bold, modern, black ensemble.

Sophisticated, monochromatic style dominated the blue carpet at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards, which took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on Sunday night.

The stars in attendance may have flaunted every variation of black-and-white fashion known to mankind.

Here are 27 of those stars wearing some of our favorite looks from the evening.

Chrissy Teigen looked stunning in a strapless white dress.

Chrissy Teigen's dress featured a daring leg slit — one of Teigen's famous looks— and an embellished, cinched waist. She topped the look with dark lipstick that appeared to match her husband's suit.

Nicole Kidman balanced black and white with an asymmetrical design.

Nicole Kidman accessorized with a black cubic purse.

Sandra Oh wore white on top and black on bottom.

Sandra Oh went for full coverage, save for a classy keyhole plunge.

• CES 2019, the biggest tech show of the year, was light on funky, futuristic laptops that will likely never come to market.
• What it did have were some great-looking laptops that are either already available for sale or will come out later this year.
• Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Huawei all had strong outings this year, with new models that look great and offer great specs — and that are often cheaper than a comparable Mac from Apple.

CES 2019, the largest tech convention of the year, got me excited about laptops in 2019. 

I didn't see any crazy concept laptops, with weird designs and funky features that are unlikely to make it to store shelves — unusual, because those are usually out in full force at CES. 

What I did see was a good range of perfectly reasonable and practical models that we're definitely going to see come to market in 2019. In a way, these "reasonable" new laptops are actually more exciting than the far-out concepts, mostly because they'll actually be available to buy at some point this year.

This year, there was a great showing by Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Huawei.

Check out our favorite laptops of CES 2019 that we can't wait to try:

SEE ALSO: Laptops with the 'holy grail' of screens are finally coming this year

Huawei MateBook 13

The latest MateBook 13 from Huawei sports a beautifully minimal design, great specs, and a price tag that'll make anyone question Apple's $1,200 asking price for the new MacBook Air.

The $1,000 base model of the MateBook 13 comes with an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a fingerprint scanner, and a sharp 13-inch 1440p display. Overall, those are very similar to — if not better than —  the specs in the 2018 MacBook Air, but for $200 less. 

The $1,200 MateBook 13 model comes with a powerful 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a fingerprint scanner, and a sharp 13-inch 1440p display. Essentially, for the same price as the MacBook Air, you're getting a significantly more powerful processor and more storage.

The MateBook 13 series comes with only USB-C ports, which isn't ideal. However, Huawei is including a USB-C adapter for more traditional USB ports, which is something that Apple expects you to buy separately. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th generation

In several respects, Lenovo's 7th generation of its ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop is just another great Lenovo laptop with that beautifully classic, IBM-inspired design and a fantastic keyboard. What makes this specific laptop special is just how lightweight it is. The new 7th-generation X1 Carbon weighs in at 2.4 pounds, which is 0.35 pounds lighter than the 2018 MacBook Air's 2.75 pounds.

Once available in June 2019, the 7th-gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon can be had with an 8th-generation Intel Core processor, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 2 terabytes of SSD storage, a 15-hour battery life (or so Lenovo says), a fingerprint sensor, and all the ports that the MacBook Air should, but doesn't, have. That includes two regular USB 3.1 ports, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, and an HDMI port.

Lenovo estimates a starting price of $1,710, which seems on the high side, but we'll have to wait to see what specs come with the asking price when it's fully released in June this year. 

Frost White Dell XPS 13 9380

The new Dell XPS 13 comes in a new color scheme — white on the inside with a rose-gold exterior. In this photo, it all looks pretty pink, but that's because of the lighting ... trust me, it's white. 

It looks absolutely stunning, and it makes a strong case for other laptop models to offer their wares in white, too. Dell also moved the camera from the bottom of the screen to the top, which fixes the XPS series' webcam viewing angle that used to look up a user's nostrils. 

As with other top laptops, the Dell XPS 13 is moving up to an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, up to a 4K display, and is available in various storage options when it's available in February 2019. Its starting price is $900.

• Have trouble deciding where to eat? Pick one of the US's top 100 restaurants.
• Most of Yelp's top 100 US restaurants are less than $30 per person.
• 90% of the picks are 5-star restaurants.

Finding a great place to eat can be tough unless you have some insight into the restaurant you can to try. 

Luckily, Yelp has just released its top 100 restaurants for 2019 based on user reviews and volume of reviews. We rounded them up here. 

Mariscos Jalisco in Pamona, California

This taco joint in Pamona, California is famous for its shrimp tacos. Best of all, this fresh fare will cost you $10 or less for a meal on average.

Guy's For Lunch in Roseville, California

What's not to love about soup, salad, and sandwiches? The portions are apparently huge — so you might want to order a half sandwich when you stop by or bring the rest home for later. 

Everyday Thai in Springfield, Missouri

Everyday Thai offers delicious Thai cuisine in the Midwestern US. Spring rolls, Pad Thai, and papaya salad are all popular choices.

• There's nothing wrong with satisfying your cravings, but if you're trying to be a little more mindful, there are plenty of ways to do so in a healthier way. 
• If you're craving something with a creamy texture, replace cheese with avocado. 
• Eating mixed nuts or roasted chickpeas can be a healthier alternative to eating heavily processed potato chips. 

There is nothing wrong with indulging in your favorite fast food and snack cravings in small doses. But sometimes these cravings can be tough to ignore, even if you are trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes you might want to curb your cravings with something that's lower in fat, calories, sugar, carbohydrates, or sodium. 

Here are healthier ways to satisfy some common cravings.

If you're craving something cold and sweet, try blending up frozen bananas.

Frozen, blended bananas can be a healthier way to satisfy cravings for something cold and sweet.

"Peel a very ripe banana and freeze it in foil," said Caroline Apovian, director, Center for Nutrition and Weight Management, Boston Medical Center. She said once it's completely frozen, put your banana in a blender with vanilla extract and vanilla yogurt, blend, and you have yourself some delicious faux banana ice cream.

Craving flavorful popcorn? Swap out butter for olive oil and powdered seasoning.

"Throw some popcorn kernels and a light coating of olive oil in a pot,"registered dietitian Laura N. Brown, MS, RD/LD, ACMS-CPT told INSIDER. She said once the corn is popped, top it with a very light dusting of salt or seasonings like garlic, onion, or chili powder to add flavor.

Popcorn is a whole grain, she added, meaning it is high in fiber, which will leave you full and satisfied.

If you're craving something salty and crunchy, make roasted chickpeas.

"Roasted chickpeas are a simple-to-make snack that makes a perfect substitute for croutons, high-calorie finger foods like salted peanuts, and more,"registered dietitian Becky Garrison told INSIDER. Generally, it involves seasoning chickpeas to your liking, splashing them with an oil of your choice, and then baking them in the oven until crispy.

• Kumbh Mela, an eight-week religious festival, begins Tuesday in in Prayagraj, India.
• Authorities expect 150 million people to make a pilgrimage to bathe at the confluence of three rivers: the Ganges, Yamuma, and a third mythical river, the Saraswati. 
• Devout Hindus believe that bathing in the waters of the Ganges absolves people of sins and bathing at the time of the Kumbh Mela.
• More than 80% of India’s 1.3 billion people are Hindus, and this year's event comes at a critical time for Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Modi is expected to face a tough contest in a general election due by May. He and his rival, Rahul Gandhi, are both expected to attend the festival before it wraps up in March.

PRAYAGRAJ, India (Reuters) - Pilgrims from across the world are gathering in India for the Kumbh Mela, a heady mix of spirituality, politics and tourism that begins on Tuesday, garnering extra attention ahead of a general election in the Hindu-majority country this year.

During the eight-week festival at Prayagraj in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities expect up to 150 million people, including a million foreign visitors, to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and a mythical third river, the Saraswati.

Devout Hindus believe that bathing in the waters of the Ganges absolves people of sins and bathing at the time of the Kumbh Mela, or the "festival of the pot", brings salvation from the cycle of life and death.

"Belief is what brings us here, to bathe in the waters despite the cold," said Ram Krishna Dwivedi, making his way back from the shore dressed in flowing white robes.

More than 80 percent of India’s 1.3 billion people are Hindus, many of them deeply religious despite an increasingly Westernized middle class.

• The partial shutdown of the federal government is now in day 24 and has complicated things for several government agencies and services.
• Though all essential government services remain open, Americans may feel the shutdown's wide-ranging effects.
• From airport lines and food inspections to paychecks and parks, check out the ways the shutdown is affecting average Americans.

The government shutdown is dragging into its record-breaking 24th day, with both President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders showing no signs of backing down.

With the two sides unable to reach an agreement on funding for Trump's long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border, the shutdown is now the longest of the modern budgeting era, which began in 1974. While shorter funding lapses have typically resulted in minor disruptions, the near-record length of the current shutdown is starting to cause major problems for many Americans.

Read more:The government shutdown is in its 24th day and the fight between Trump and Democrats is only getting uglier. Here's everything you missed.

While the shutdown does not close the entire federal government — Congress passed bills to fund some departments like Defense and Helath and Human Services — the closure does still impact a slew of agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.

This means that the shutdown directly affects the families of around 800,000 federal employees who are either working without pay or are forced to stay home on furlough. But beyond the struggles that those federal employees are going through, average Americans who do not work for the government are also likely to see some strains.

Longer lines at airports, fewer food safety inspections, and a build up of trash in national parks are only a few ways that the government shutdown is taking its toll on typical Americans. We've compiled a list of a ways that you may feel the effects of the shutdown.

Around 800,000 Americans who are employed by the government are currently furloughed or working without pay until the shutdown ends.

420,000 of those employees are deemed "essential" and are forced to work during the shutdown, while 380,000 are on furlough — meaning they are forced to stay home.

On Friday, federal employees affected by the shutdown received their first paycheck of $0 as the pay period occurred entirely during the shutdown.

The essential workers will automatically be paid back pay when the shutdown ends, but furloughed workers will need Congress to pass a bill to pay them for the lost days.

Source: Business Insider

• Read more:

Senior Trump administration officials get raises during government shutdown as hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain without paychecks

Government agency says letter advising furloughed employees to perform chores for landlords in lieu of paying rent was posted by accident

Some government contractors could go unpaid even after the shutdown ends

Tens of thousands of employees working without pay are in law enforcement departments including the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and the Secret Service.

• Read more:
• Over 1,500 federal workers affected by the government shutdown are asking for donations on GoFundMe to help pay their bills
• SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Trump threatens to close the government for 'months or even years' to get border-wall funding
• The government shutdown is in its 24th day and there's no end in sight. Here's how Trump and Congress got into this mess.

Employees with the Transportation Security Administration were deemed essential and are currently being forced to work without pay, but the quality of security may be slipping.

A CNN report said "hundreds" of TSA officers were calling out of the unpaid work, potentially compromising airport security and increasing wait times to get through security at airports.

Business Insider reporter Benjamin Zhang reported that some TSA agents are even quitting.

Sources: CNN, Business Insider

• From iconic paintings in the Louvre to fan-favorite sculptures in New York City, notable artwork can be found all across the globe.
• But while famous art often looks stunning in photographs, it doesn't always look the same in real life.
• We've rounded up 51 disappointing photos that show what famous artwork actually looks like.
• The photos reveal everything from large museum crowds to smaller-than-expected paintings and weather-affected art.

Over the years, paintings such as "Mona Lisa" and "The Scream" have become iconic pieces of history. Similarly, artistic landmarks like "The Bean" in Chicago have become pop-culture staples. But the images we constantly see of these famous artworks don't always represent reality.

For example, photos of famous paintings rarely show the massive crowds that line up to see them. And photographs of outdoor sculptures don't often show what it's like to visit in poor weather conditions.

Below, we've rounded up 51 photos that show the disappointing reality of what famous art really looks like.

"The Little Mermaid" is a staple landmark in Copenhagen.

The bronze statue was created by Edvard Eriksen, and has been a favorite attraction among tourists since it was first displayed in 1913.

But up close, the statue doesn't look as picturesque.

The statue, which was once completely bronze, is now discolored from years of weather and vandalism.

It can also be pretty difficult to get close to the art.

Considering that "The Little Mermaid" is one of Copenhagen's most popular tourist attractions, large crowds are almost always formed in front of it.

• "Veronica Mars," the noir-style drama starring Kristen Bell as a teenage private eye, is returning to screens as a Hulu series in 2019.
• The original series aired from 2004 to 2007, and was made into a fan-funded movie in 2014. 
• During those years, a number of A-list celebrities made guest appearances and cameos. 
• Tessa Thompson, Paul Rudd, and Leighton Meester are a few of the famous faces to find their way onto the "Veronica Mars" set. 

In September 2004, "Veronica Mars" aired on the now defunct WB. Viewers immediately fell in love with the titular character (played by Kristen Bell), a teenage private investigator who uses savvy and smarts to solved crimes throughout her high school as well as her class-divided hometown of Neptune, California. 

Though the show aired for only three seasons, it was a favorite among fans. So much so that when creator Rob Thomas launched a Kickstarter to fund a film version, the fans managed to raise the required $2 million in 12 hours. (In total, the Kickstarter raised $5.7 million.) So it wasn't a surprise when Hulu announced it would be creating a "Veronica Mars" mini-series in 2019. 

Throughout the show's three season (and a movie) run, many celebrities made appearances on the noir drama.

From Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain to A-listers like Tessa Thompson and Paul Rudd, here are all the celebrities you probably forgot appeared on "Veronica Mars."

"Mamma Mia" star Amanda Seyfried was crucial to the first season's storyline.

Seyfried portrayed Lily Kane, Veronica's best friend whose murder is the focal point for season one. Veronica spends the entire first season trying to figure out who really murdered Lily. Along the way, other discoveries are made that affect the lives of many people in Neptune.

Aaron Ashmore, of "Smallville," played one of Veronica's (very short-term) boyfriends.

Ashmore took on the role of Troy Vandegraff, a love-interest of Veronica's who, unbeknownst to her, tried to get her to smuggle steroids from Mexico into the US.

Ashmore appeared on four episodes during the first season, and a fifth on the second.

Hotel heiress and reality star Paris Hilton played a rich classmate with a scandalous secret.

The "Simple Life" star portrayed Caitlin Ford, an 09er who was dating Logan Echolls while also seeing a member of the PCH Biker Gang in secret. This side-relationship eventually leads to credit card fraud and Caitlin's rejection from the elite group for life.

• Instagram influencer Caroline Calloway cancelled her planned tour of "creativity" workshops after she was called out in a viral Twitter thread for backing away from her promises.
• This isn't the first time Calloway courted controversy — her publishers cancelled a reported $500,000 memoir after she lost interest in writing it.
• Here's what we know about her.

On Monday, Caroline Calloway — an Instagram influencer with nearly 1 million followers — cancelled her planned tour of "creativity workshops," where for $165 a ticket she'd teach aspiring influencers and creative types about how to find their voice.

Her plans blew up after Twitter thread chronicled how her promises shrunk from an expansive four-hour seminar where she'd bare her soul about the creative process and make a salad lunch for attendees, into a briefer lesson that included an hour-long meet-and-greet.

The thread isn't the first time she courted controversy. Calloway rose to fame in 2013, blogging about her life at the University of Cambridge on Instagram. Her posts turned into a reported $500,000 book deal that her publisher ultimately cancelled after she lost interest in finishing it.

Here's what we know about Caroline Calloway.

Calloway first got widespread attention for her Instagram blogs about the University of Cambridge.

Calloway was born in Washington, D.C. and attended elite schools private schools, including Phillips Exeter Academy for high school and New York University for her first two years of college.

She transferred to the University of Cambridge in 2013, where she began blogging on Instagram in earnest. Her idealized descriptions of the Cambridge campus and her confessional posts about her romantic life started gathering a substantial following. By spring 2015, she had 300,000 followers, according to The Daily Mail. People made fan accounts that tracked her every move.

At Cambridge, she told Broadly, she gained a reputation as "the Instagram girl," saying people were dismissive about her blog.

"I would never say people are hostile, but people are a little condescending about [the blog] sometimes," she told Broadly.

She also said her art history professors at Cambridge were snobbish about her work as an Instagram blogger.

"I could say with pretty much one hundred percent certainty that no one's thrilled that I'll be the first one to be a professional Instagram blogger with my degree," Calloway told Broadly. "Like whenever they talk about Caravaggio's use of chiaroscuro or the use of contrapposto marble sculpture, I'm sure they would hate to know [they're] being used to filter Instagram pictures."

To her fans online, though, Calloway represented something rare — a life of both authenticity and aspiration.

"I enjoyed her prose and her openness in the beginning. It felt authentic that she so willing to share the good AND the bad in more than just an image," one fan, Abigail Hope, told INSIDER. "I appreciated her vulnerability in her heartbreak and was drawn to her in some weird way I couldn’t exactly explain."

Calloway graduated with her art history degree in 2016— with a book deal in hand.

She signed a reported $500,000 book deal in 2015.

By November 2015, Calloway's reputation as a literary voice on the Internet helped her nab a deal with Flatiron Books for a memoir called "And We Were Like." The total price tag for the deal was $500,000, with her receiving a third of the funds in advance, she told Man Repeller.

The book was supposed to be similar to her Instagram posts: A memoir about her life at Cambridge and the relationships she had with different men.

Calloway was represented by Byrd Leavell, the high-profile agent who also represented Tiffany Haddish, Drew Magary, "S--- My Dad Says" author Justin Halpern, and blogger Cat Marnell.

Her publisher withdrew the deal after she lost interest in writing the book.

Before long, Calloway decided she couldn't finish the book.

"I promised a memoir where the only thing that happened to me were boyfriends and where the climax of my entire life experience to date was boy-related,"she told Man Repeller in 2018. "It wasn’t long before I realized the boy-obsessed version of myself I planned to depict as my memoir’s protagonist was not one I could stand behind."

Her publishers withdrew her contract, she said, and asked her to repay her advance. But by then, Calloway had already spent her entire book advance: roughly $165,000, according to her own figures. She said she spent it on rent for a London apartment, and on meals, and gave much of it away to friends.

Flatiron Books didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

• Artist Future Punk Photoshops contemporary celebs into '80s and '90s get-ups.
• He gets inspiration not just from television but from famous, vintage ads as well.
• Everyone from Drake to Taylor Swift to Kylie Jenner has made the retro list.

Future Punk, an artist who specializes in retro design, is using Photoshop to help us imagine what our favorite celebs in 2018 might look like if they were popular a couple decades ago.

Sometimes he uses generic photo shoots or ads from the '80s and '90s as a base. Our favorites, though, are when he combines '90s icons with 2018 stars like Kylie Jenner and "Saved by the Bell" star Tiffani Amber Thiessen.

Keep scrolling to get a glimpse of what the stars of this day and age might have looked like 30 years ago.

Future Punk is sharing his creations on Instagram, including this one of Katy Perry in a vintage Versace campaign.

This photo is taken from one of supermodel Linda Evangelista's Versace campaigns from the 1991 collection.

He uses Photoshop to take the biggest celebs of 2018, like Childish Gambino, and transport them back a few decades.

You can check out more of his work on Twitter, Instagram, or his website.

Sometimes he combines two famous faces, like when he merged Ed Sheeran and Kurt Cobain together.

You can watch how he combines the two in this video.

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California's biggest utility provider, has seen its value plunge by 80% after last November's deadly California wildfire. 
• The utility on Monday said it intends to file bankruptcypetitions at the end of the month to reorganize under Chapter 11.
• Eight hedge funds snapped up shares in the third quarter — before the wildfire broke out.
• Including Monday's loss, those eight firms would have lost $1.8 billion over the past three months if they held on to their positions, according to Markets Insider's calculations.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), California's biggest utility provider, has seen its value plunge after last November's wildfire, the deadliest and most destructive in California history. And eight hedge funds, which loaded up on PG&E shares in the third quarter, could be have lost billions as a result. 

The past three months have been a tough time for PG&E:

• On November 8, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history broke out. PG&E said it was having trouble with its transmission lines when the blaze erupted, and that it may be responsible. 
• In mid-November, people who lost their homes in the fire sued the company, alleging it was a "direct and legal result of the negligence, carelessness, recklessness, and/or unlawfulness."
• A month later, The California Public Utilities Commission opened a proceeding into the company falsifying safety documents for natural gas pipelines between 2012 and 2017.
• PG&E announced on January 4 that its board of directors would review the company's management, finances, governance, and structural options, prompting media to speculate that it was considering filing for bankruptcy protection, as it feared a massive charge related to billions in costs associated with the wildfire.
• All the bad news led the credit-rating agency Standard and Poor's to downgrade the PG&E to junk last Tuesday.
• And things have gone from bad to worse this week. On Monday, PG&E tanked 48% to $9.04 a share after the company said it intends to file bankruptcy petitions at the end of the month to reorganize under Chapter 11. The utility is also searching for a new CEO following the departure of its previous executive leader Geisha William.

Millennium Management

Position: 2,381,220 shares

Percent of PG&E outstanding: 0.46%

Position change in the third quarter: +1,494,725

Potential loss: $86.4 million

Millennium Management declined to comment on its investment in PG&E.

Source: Bloomberg

Citadel Advisors

Position: 2,864,617 shares (Hedge fund owns 1,943,982 shares; Market-making business owns 920,635 shares)

Percent of PG&E outstanding: 0.55% (Hedge fund owns 0.37%; Market-making business owns 0.18%)

Position change in the third quarter: +915,781 (Hedge fund: +806,121; Market-making business: +109,660) 

Potential loss: $104 million (Hedge fund: $70.6 million; Market-making business $33.4 million)

Source: Bloomberg, Citadel Advisors

Appaloosa Management

Position: 3,991,033 shares

Percent of PG&E outstanding: 0.77%

Position change in the third quarter: +2,197,066

Potential loss: $144.9 million

Appaloosa did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Source: Bloomberg

• Two hotly anticipated TV shows documenting the wild Fyre Festival saga begin streaming this week. Hulu's version debuted on Monday, while Netflix's will follow on Friday. 
• Billy McFarland, the organizer of the festival, was sentenced to six years in prison in October and ordered to forfeit $26 million.
• McFarland pleaded guilty in March 2018 to wire-fraud charges in relation to Fyre Festival, which became infamous after hundreds of attendees were left stranded in the Bahamas last year.
• In June 2018, McFarland was arrested again on charges of selling fake tickets through a different company, called NYC VIP Access, starting in late 2017. He pleaded guilty to those charges in July.
• Here's a look back at what happened at Fyre Festival.

After much anticipation, two documentaries that give a behind-the-scenes look into 2017's hellish Fyre Festival will finally air on our screens.

Hulu's version launched on Monday, and Netflix's will follow on Friday. 

Billy McFarland, the 27-year-old founder of the company behind the festival, was sentenced to six years in prison in October and faces a $26 million forfeiture order. He is featured in an exclusive interview in the Hulu documentary.

Read more: Fyre Festival founder sentenced to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors out of millions of dollars in various ticketing schemes

Fyre Festival, which promised a VIP experience on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas, turned into a nightmare situation as attendees were stranded with half-built huts to sleep in and cold cheese sandwiches to eat.

Here's what happened:

SEE ALSO: Netflix and Hulu are releasing competing documentaries on the Fyre Festival debacle, but Netflix is dominating Google search interest

The three-day party was supposed to be on a private beach on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas.

It was supposed to be over two weekends in 2017: April 28-30 and May 5-7.

It was described as an "immersive music festival."

• Much to the chagrin of the undefeated No. 2 Michigan Wolverines and No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers, the Duke Blue Devils sit at the top of the AP Top 25 Poll for the fourth consecutive week.
• The ACC leads all conferences with six teams in the rankings, followed closely by the Big 10 and SEC with five teams apiece. The Pac-12, meanwhile, has no representation in the AP Top 25 Poll for the third consecutive week.
• Here are the six biggest winners and losers of Week 11 of the college basketball season.

Winners

▲ No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats — Up 6 spots in the AP Top 25 Poll

The Kentucky Wildcats have been taking care of business in SEC play, taking down the Texas A&M Aggies and Vanderbilt Commodores by decisive margins this week to move up six spots in the AP Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats still have a lot to prove after their tumultuous non-conference slate, but they'll have their first significant chance to do so when they travel to No. 14 Auburn Saturday afternoon.

▲ No. 15 Marquette Golden Eagles — Up 6 spots in the AP Top 25 Poll

The Marquette Golden Eagles arguably have the best, most prolific scorer in the nation in point guard Markus Howard, which is enough to make them winners in my book. Howard dropped a cool 39 on the Creighton Bluejays in regulation Wednesday before erupting for another 14 points in overtime to give the Golden Eagles the win and become the only Division I player to notch multiple 50-point performances in the last 20 seasons. The 19-year-old then posted 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against Seton Hall to hold off the Pirates' upset bid later in the week. Marquette has Georgetown and Providence coming up this week, but something tells me Howard will find a way to take care of business no matter who he's facing. 

• Dominique Davis co-runs the ever-popular Instagram account @allthatisshe.
• In summer 2018, she and her family took a vacation to Malaysia, volunteering to clean up a beach and discovering just how much trash litters our neighborhoods, streets, and beaches.
• Her recent initiative, Project Litter Critter, creates adorable creatures out of the litter they find to raise awareness about this very problem.

Dominique Davis and her partner, Dominic, run the uber-successful Instagram account @allthatisshe. Amassing as many as 547,000 followers, it's mainly filled with adorable photos of Davis and their two daughters, with hilarious captions about their daily lives.

During a recent vacation to Malaysia, the family participated in a beach clean-up and discovered a harrowing amount of litter. Davis decided to create an adorable "critter" made up entirely of the trash they cleaned up, and posted it with the hashtag #ProjectLitterCritter.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Project Litter Critter, and why Davis decided it was time to use her platform to raise awareness.

Dominique Davis, better known as @allthatisshe, is using her platform to make a difference with a new project she's called Project Litter Critter.

Davis started her Instagram account in 2015 when she was on maternity leave. "It was a creative outlet and a way to 'meet' other like-minded people during a time when my days were repetitive, and my only companion was a baby (and she wasn't much of a conversationalist)," she told INSIDER.

Now, her and her partner Dominic, a.k.a. Boy Dom, work together to create content for the Instagram.

Project Litter Critter was born in summer 2018. Her family was on vacation at a Malaysian resort, Batu Batu, and they volunteered to participate in a beach clean-up.

"In just 30 minutes," Davis told INSIDER, "along with the other volunteers and the conservation team, we had amassed around 20 large bags full of waste — anything from fishing nets to toothbrushes and plastic straws."

This led to the creation of the first Litter Critter, this turtle, which also happens to be Davis' favorite.

"There's a real juxtaposition between these seemingly cute animals and the more sinister connotations behind them. The cuteness draws people in, but it's the message that keeps them interested," she said.

They chose a turtle because it is "a critically endangered animal that the conservation team on Batu Batu island work tirelessly to protect."

• Three nuclear-capable stealth B-2 Spirit bombers recently deployed to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
• As a part of US "extended deterrence operations," the deployment is intended to remind adversaries and allies alike that "the B-2 is on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week ready to protect our country and its allies."

Three B-2 Spirit bombers and more than 200 Airmen, belonging to 509th Bomb Wing from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, deployed to Hawaii in support of U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission, on Jan. 10, 2019.

This is the second time the Spirit stealth bombers have deployed to Hawaii supporting the BTF mission in a few months.

Although bombers regularly rotate through the Indo-Pacific region “to integrate capabilities with key regional partners and maintain a high state of aircrew proficiency”, utilizing Andersen AFB in Guam, this is the second time the Spirit stealth bombers have deployed to Hawaii supporting the BTF mission in a few months: in August 2018, during the B-2’s first deployment to JBPH-H, the stealth bombers flew multiple local and long-duration sorties, conducted hot pit refueling at Wake Island and integrated with the local-based Hawaii Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron’s F-22 Raptor 5th generation aircraft.

On Jan. 14, one of the three B-2s deployed to Hickam flew its first mission from Hawaii.

On Jan. 14, one of the three B-2s deployed to Hickam flew its first mission from Hawaii. The amazing shots of the aircraft taxiing and taking off from JBPH-H can be seen in this article.

“The B-2 is on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week ready to protect our country and its allies.”

“Deploying to Hawaii enables us to showcase to a large American and international audience that the B-2 is on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week ready to protect our country and its allies,” Lt. Col. Joshua Dorr, 393rd Bomb Squadron director of operation, said in a recent release.

“This training is crucial to maintaining our regional interoperability; It affords us the opportunity to work with our allies in joint exercises and validates our always-ready global strike capability.”

• Teachers in Los Angeles have gone on strike for the first time in 30 years to demand salary increases, smaller class sizes, and more support staff at schools, following the lead of other states last year.
• The average salary for a public school teacher was $59,850 during the 2016-2017 academic year, the most recent for which data is available.
• With nearly 31,000 school staff members on strike, the LA teacher strike is affecting nearly half a million students and their families, the LA Times reports.
• Here's a look at how much teachers make in every state in the US.

Los Angeles teachers have gone on strike for the first time in 30 years to protest low wages and large class sizes and to demand more support staff.

The Los Angeles school district is the second largest school district in the US, behind New York City. According to the Los Angeles Times, almost half a million students and their families are currently affected by the strike. The New York Times reports that its effects can be felt in over 900 schools.

The city’s last strike, in 1989, lasted over a week, and this one is expected to last at least two days.

Read more: 35,000 teachers in Los Angeles are ready to strike for the first time in 30 years, which could bankrupt the LA school system

Last February, West Virginia's public school teachers went on strike to protest the 1% and 2% salary increases scheduled over the next few years. After nine days, state legislators approved a 5% raise.

The West Virginia teacher walkout encouraged other states — such as Oklahoma and Kentucky — to follow suit. Technically, these are referred to as "walkouts" because, in many states, teacher strikes are illegal.

Nationwide, the average public school teacher salary for the 2016-2017 school year was $59,850. While the nominal teacher salary has increased, when adjusted for inflation, average salary has dropped over time — about 1.6% lower than the $41,407 average in the 1999-2000 school year.

Below, find out how much teachers make in each state. Salary data comes from the NEA, and inflation-adjusted salary increases were calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics. The amount spent per student comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 total public school spending per state.

SEE ALSO: Arming teachers is a ridiculously bad idea where even the best-case result is horrific

DON'T MISS: Here's the salary of every governor in the United States

51. South Dakota

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $42,668

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 2.4%

State spending per student: $8,937

50. Mississippi

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $42,925

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.0%

State spending per student: $8,456

49. Oklahoma

2016-2017 average teacher salary: $45,245

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.9%

State spending per student: $8,082

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.

It's easy to set fitness goals for yourself at the beginning of the year, but the hard part is working to actually achieve them. In addition to needing the personal drive, attention span, and dedication, you're also going to need the right gear for your workouts — and, unless you're a kickboxer, what's on your feet is the most important consideration.

Instead of telling yourself you can work out or train in the same athletic sneakers you love to wear casually, you'll need to invest in footwear designed for your specific fitness needs. You'll be more likely to reach your goal without injury or discomfort as a result of wearing improper shoes or badly beaten sneakers you refuse to replace. In the long run, it'll pay off.

Whether you're into running, cross training, weight lifting, or cycling, you should be able to find the perfect pair of shoes to help you reach your fitness goals in the list below. We researched, tested, and read reviews far and wide on the best sneakers for different types of workouts and put that information all in one place. Of course, everyone's needs are different, and the pair that's right for you won't always be the same as what's right for your neighbor. But this list should at least guide you in the right direction. 

Learn more about each pair below:

Brooks Ghost 11 for all types of running

Brooks Ghost 11, available in nine colors on Amazon, $120

In 2018, Runner's World awarded the Brooks Ghost 11 its seventh Editor's Choice award as the best running sneaker for all types of runners. According to their review, the shoe is loved by amateur runners for its cushioning, by marathon runners for its ability to handle extended use, and by road runners for its smooth ride on any terrain. 

Under Armour Project Rock 1 for strength and agility training

Under Armour Project Rock 1, available in four colors, $120

As a WWE and big-screen movie superstar, it only takes one look at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to know that he takes his training sessions seriously. Rather than putting his branding and likeness on it, the Under Armour Project Rock 1 was thoroughly designed in collaboration with Johnson to meet his and other athletes' training demands. The high-top trainer features a fully knit upper, synthetic overlays for support and durability, and a bootie construction for ankle support. The outsole uses a wrap-around textured pattern for traction and durability.

According to WearTesters' in-depth review, the Project Rock 1 is an evolution of a classic wrestling shoe, making it especially good for strength and agility training. It excels in traction, cushion, and support with sizing being the only concern. You'll want to go a full size down for an accurate fit.

Nike VaporFly 4% Flyknit for running track and speed training

Nike VaporFly 4% Flyknit, available in two colors, $250

Debuted in 2017, the VaporFly 4% Flyknit was designed specifically for running speed. The shoes feature Flyknit upper, an ultra-light ZoomX foam midsole, and a carbon fiber plate built into the tooling designed to propel you forward.

To prove just how innovative the design was, it was worn by Nike-sponsored runner Eluid Kipchoge, as he attempted to break the sub-two-hour marathon mark. Despite falling short by seconds, running 26.2 miles in two hours and 25 seconds, Kipchoge crushed the existing world record by more than two minutes. The Nike Vapor Fly 4% effectively claimed its stake as the fastest, most efficient shoe ever made.