• Salesforce announced Microsoft Azure will be its public cloud vendor for Salesforce's cloud software for marketing professionals.
• It's the latest in a long history of disputes and partnerships, and the first formal announcement between the two companies since their relationship soured after a contentious battle for LinkedIn in 2016.
• The two tech giants have had a rocky history, with their CEOs exchanging public barbs and suing each other for patent infringement. 
• When Satya Nadella became Microsoft's CEO he introduced a friendlier Microsoft. Nadella "opened a door that was closed. And locked. And barricaded," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said around that time. Salesforce and Microsoft announced their first partnership in 2014 and continued to work together.
• Then tensions rose again after Microsoft reportedly tried to buy Salesforce and came to a head after both companies bid on LinkedIn. Benioff even complained about the deal to regulators after Microsoft announced it would acquire LinkedIn. The companies partnered with their rivals after that.
• The latest deal is indicative of Nadella's strategy to do whatever it takes to make Microsoft the top cloud company as it tries to catch up to market-leading Amazon and helps Salesforce stay relevant, analysts say.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Salesforce's surprise announcement that Microsoft Azure will be its public cloud vendor for Salesforce's cloud software for marketing professionals is the latest twist in a long history of partnerships and disputes.

The two tech giants have had a complicated relationship over the years, perhaps starting in the mid-2000s when former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff traded public jabs. The animosity continued for nearly a decade until Microsoft named a new CEO, Satya Nadella, who introduced a friendlier Microsoft.

Nadella "opened a door that was closed. And locked. And barricaded," Benioff said at the time. The companies partnered for the first time and Nadella even appeared at Salesforce's big Dreamforce conference. But tensions started to rise once again as Microsoft reportedly tried to buy Salesforce, and later beat Salesforce in a contentious bid to acquire LinkedIn.

Thursday's announcement is the first formal partnership between Microsoft and Salesforce since that deal soured their relationship in 2016.

The latest back-and-forth is indicative of Nadella's strategy to do whatever it takes to make Microsoft the top cloud company as it tries to catch up to market-leading Amazon, Rob Oliver, a senior research analyst at Baird Equity Research, told Business Insider.

"If you look at the way that Satya Nadella has approached his job since he took the helm, he ran the Azure business," Oliver said. "And he has approached this job as, 'Microsoft is the No. 1 enterprise incumbent globally. What do we need to do to be the No. 1 cloud enterprise incumbent?"

The deal means Microsoft is putting aside competition in the customer relationship management space, where its Dynamics 365 competes with Salesforce, in order to grow its cloud business, Seth Lippincott, director of research at Nucleus Research said. That indicates the cloud is what Microsoft expects to drive the company's growth, Lippincott said.

It also reveals Microsoft's strategy to catch up to the market-leading Amazon Web Services is to go after market share through big partnerships, Gartner analyst Sid Nag said.

Microsoft has a big gap to close to catch up with AWS. Gartner in a report released over the summer pegged the 2018 market share for AWS at 47.8% and that of Microsoft Azure at 15.5%. It seems clear that Microsoft has realized that it can't close that distance without a little help from some frenemies.

"Organic growth is an extremely hard way to catch up with the market leader three times the size of the nearest competitor," Nag said. "Their best bet to grow is through these partnerships and catch up with AWS."

Meanwhile, the deal helps Salesforce stay relevant, said Baird's Oliver. The company been looking to move its data to public cloud providers versus its own data centers, he said. As part of the deal Salesforce will also build an integration across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Microsoft Teams. Having these integrations with Microsoft's suite of productivity tools as part of that, which many enterprise customers use.

The takeaway: The deal is mutually beneficial. "It's pretty clear that there was a little something for everyone in this deal," Oliver said. 

Here's a look back at the complicated history between Salesforce and Microsoft:

2005: CEOs trade barbs

The first time Microsoft and Salesforce publicly traded barbs appears to be when then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer – known for having a "hard time" getting along with other CEOs – took aim at Salesforce during a conference in Redmond.

Ballmer said Microsoft would give Salesforce a "very effective run for its money" and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff quickly responded by issuing the following statement:

"Microsoft's failed enterprise software strategy has let the industry down. We have competed against them in the CRM market since 2002, and they have failed to deliver a competitive product. They just cancelled version two of that legacy application and skipped ahead to three. In the meantime, we are on the 18th generation of our service in just six years. Customers are tired of waiting for Microsoft to innovate."

Source: ZDNet

2010: Microsoft and Salesforce sue each other for patent infringement

Microsoft sued Salesforce for patent infringement in May 2010 and Salesforce filed a countersuit a little more than a month later.

The patents in question included systems for things like displaying a webpage with an embedded menu and automated website creation using a template.

The companies settled the dispute by August when Salesforce agreed to pay Microsoft an undisclosed amount. 

"Microsoft's patent portfolio is the strongest in the software industry and is the result of decades of software innovation. Today's agreement is an example of how companies can compete vigorously in the marketplace while respecting each other's intellectual property rights," Microsoft deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez said in a statement at the time.

Source: CNET and TechCrunch

2013: Benioff tells Ballmer it's time to go

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced plans to step down, pondering whether he was "an emblem of an old era."

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's response, in an earnings conference call at the time: You're right Steve. It's time to go. 

"The world has changed," Benioff said. "The companies that are struggling in the market today have not gone cloud. They have not gone social. They have not gone mobile. They are still trying to sell the same old stuff."

Source: Business Insider

2014: Tensions start to fade as Satya Nadella is named as Microsoft's CEO

Microsoft named Satya Nadella as Steve Ballmer's replacement in February 2014, kicking off a series of partnerships.

Benioff would later say Nadella is the "opposite" of Ballmer.

"I think one of the reasons Steve Ballmer is not the CEO of Microsoft and Satya Nadella is is because Steve had a hard time having relationships with other CEOs," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said in an interview on Bloomberg TV's Bloomberg "Go" in 2015. "I know that from my personal experience, and Satya's the opposite."

Source: Business Insider

2014: Microsoft strikes its first deal with Salesforce

Less than three months after Satya Nadella became Microsoft CEO, the company inked its first deal with Salesforce, teaming up to bring Salesforce's customer relationship management apps and platform to Microsoft's Azure cloud.

The companies followed up the deal with another partnership in October of that year with new joint products.

"We're committed to working with Microsoft to further our mutual customers' success," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said at the time.

Source: Business Insider

2015: Microsoft reportedly tries to buy Salesforce

Microsoft was in "significant talks" to acquire Salesforce, CNBC reported in May 2015 based on "a number of people familiar with the situation," but the companies couldn't agree on a price. 

Microsoft wanted to pay around $55 billion, but Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff was said to have continually raised his expectations as high as $70 billion.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, freshly into his new role, was said to be reluctant to pull the trigger.

Source: CNBC

2015: Nadella appears at Salesforce's Dreamforce conference

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared at Salesforce's Dreamforce conference in August 2015, its biggest event of the year. It was the first time Dreamforce ever had a notable guest from Microsoft.

It was seen as a sign of a shifting attitude of a friendlier Microsoft.

"Satya has opened a door that was closed. And locked. And barricaded," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said around that time.

Salesforce and Microsoft deepened their partnership shortly after.

Source: Business Insider and Wired

2016: The relationship sours as Microsoft beats Salesforce to buy LinkedIn

Microsoft outmaneuvered Salesforce and acquired professional social network LinkedIn for $26.2 billion, souring the new-found friendship between the two longtime rivals. 

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff after the deal was announced said he'd be willing to pay "much more" for LinkedIn and later complained to regulators about the deal.

Until now, this year marked the last time Microsoft and Salesforce publicly announced formal partnership agreements.

Source: Business Insider and Baird analysis

2016: Microsoft and Salesforce partner with each others' rivals

Salesforce picked Amazon's cloud computing service as its "preferred public cloud infrastructure provider," meaning the company would start using AWS across all of its core products. 

"There is no public cloud infrastructure provider that is more sophisticated or has more robust enterprise capabilities for supporting the needs of our growing global customer base," Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said in a statement at the time. Salesforce later announced deals with other Microsoft rivals including Google Cloud and IBM and in 2018 said it was running a "vast majority" of workloads on AWS.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has inked big deals with Adobe, including as recently as March 2019.

Source: Business Insider and Baird analysis

Nov. 14, 2019: Microsoft and Salesforce announce another big deal

Salesforce chose Microsoft Azure as the public cloud to power Marketing Cloud, its cloud software for marketing professionals. The companies are also working together to allow customers to share information from Salesforce within the Microsoft Teams chat app.

The deal marks their first formal partnership agreement since 2016, the year their relationship soured over Microsoft's LinkedIn acquisition.

Source: Business Insider and Baird

What's next...

Undoubtedly, Salesforce and Microsoft will still compete. But the partnership represents a change in strategy, Daniel Newman, the founding partner and principal analyst at Futurum Research, told Business Insider. 

"I feel like Microsoft has this very strong collaboration strategy, and frankly Salesforce really does too," Newman said. "Benioff is more outspoken about his competitive wares but the company has a very strong ecosystem of integrations to applications that are also competitive." 

The deal underscores the increasing prominence of Microsoft in the cloud market. Inking big partnerships like this one with Salesforce, indicates that it could be catching up to AWS in the cloud wars, analysts say. 

"What were seeing more and more which each wave, is that perception of parity, that both clouds are of equal choice and equal capability," Newman said. "AWS started as the leader and there's still work to be done from Azure's standpoint but Azure's continued mounting wins continue to put pressure on AWS to innovate harder."  

Newman said it will be interesting to watch Salesforce and Microsoft's partnership and how it drives adoption of Microsoft products by Salesforce customers and how much business it generates for Microsoft Azure.  

• Jaclyn Hill announced in a YouTube video on Thursday that her brand, Jaclyn Cosmetics, will be launching a holiday collection of highlighters.
• The collection includes three makeup brushes, as well as three highlighter formulas.
• Products can be purchased individually or in bundles for prices ranging between $20 and $120.
• The holiday makeup range launches November 26 at 9 a.m. PST on the Jaclyn Cosmetics website.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jaclyn Hill is celebrating the holidays with a brand new makeup collection.

On Thursday, the YouTuber announced in a YouTube video that her beauty brand, Jaclyn Cosmetics, will be releasing a holiday range of highlighters. The line includes three different formulas of highlighters, as well as three brushes to apply each product. 

Here's a look at everything in the collection.

Jaclyn Hill included two highlighter palettes in her holiday collection.

The Flash and Flare palettes retail for $49, and contain four baked highlighters each. $59 bundles — which include a palette and matching brush — will also be sold.

According to Hill, both palettes are "handcrafted in Italy," meaning no two products are exactly alike.

In her recent YouTube video, Hill described the Flash version as being suitable for 'light to medium' skin tones.

Hill also said the palette could work as eye shadows for those with darker skin.

According to the YouTuber, her highlighter formula is "so buttery and so beautiful" that it feels like a "second layer of skin."

From left to right, there's Gleam, Iced, Sparks, and Mesmerized.

The Flare Palette, on the other hand, is meant to be used on deeper skin tones.

Hill particularly loves the mirror inside the Flash and Flare Palettes.

"The mirror inside of this component is amazing," Hill said on YouTube. "It's the kind of mirror where you're like 'Oh my god, that's really how I look right now?'"

Hill said she hired "40 people with deep skin tones" to create the darkest shades in the palette.

From left to right, there's Glow Up, Made Ya Look, Exposure, and Turned On.

The collection also includes five shades of Hill's Mood Light Highlighters.

According to the YouTuber, this formula was designed to make people of "any age" with "any skin" have an "inner glow." However, they shouldn't be applied like traditional highlighters — instead, Hill says they can be used all over the face, almost like setting powder.

Each shade retails for $32, and is said to be made with mica, which helps create a blurring effect on the skin. The brand's $49 bundle also allows you to choose one shade and its matching brush for a discounted price.

The Beaming Light Highlighters are the third and final formula included in this collection.

Five shades of the formula are included, and each one retails for $24. Bundles with a single shade and matching brush are also available for $39.

The highlighters are said to apply as a powder, but turn into a cream as they sit on the skin.

From left to right, there's Extra, Bomb, Amped, High Volt, and Megawatt. 

These highlighters will be sold individually, though Jaclyn Cosmetics will also offer a bundle — which includes all five shades and a brush — for $120.

In terms of brushes, Hill created the Mood Light Powder Brush to apply the matching highlighters.

According to Hill, these brushes work best for the brand's Mood Light Highlighters because they're "fatter and thicker" than the other two makeup tools in the collection. 

Each mood light brush retails for $24.

Hill's Beaming Light version is essentially a mini fan brush.

Hill said in her video that the $20 brush is not "too dense," but is instead "super fluffy." She also confirmed that none of her brushes are made with animal hair.

Finally, there's the Accent Highlighter Brush.

This brush was made to be used with the Flash and Flare Highlighter Palettes, according to Hill. Each brush retails for $20.

If interested in purchasing all three brushes, a bundle will be available for $54.

The Jaclyn Cosmetics holiday highlighter collection launches November 26.

The products will be sold on the Jaclyn Cosmetics website starting at 9 a.m. PST.

• Read more:
• Jaclyn Hill says it's fine if her new makeup 'barely sells' because she believes her products are 'so damn good'
• Jaclyn Hill is teasing the launch of a new beauty product following her disastrous lipstick line
• Disney and Colourpop are releasing a 'Frozen 2' makeup line for those who want to channel Anna and Elsa
• 16 of the most shocking beauty YouTube transformations of all time

• Multiple reports have said White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller was the architect behind Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's abrupt resignation, a sign of the adviser's continued influence over President Donald Trump's policies. 
• Miller was on the front lines as the Trump administration butted heads with Democratic lawmakers over Trump's wishes for a $5-billion border wall.
• The 34-year-old was previously identified as the driving force behind the Trump administration's controversial immigration policies. 
• A rising star on the far right for years, Miller has been making headlines because of his polarizing demeanor and statements long before his time in the administration. 
• Recently he's faced calls for resignation after the Southern Poverty Law Center published emails from Miller referencing and linking to publications known for supporting white nationalist ideology. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller was on the front lines as President Donald Trump's administration butted heads with Democratic lawmakers over Trump's wishes for a $5-billion wall along the US-Mexico border.

The 34-year-old was also previously identified as the driving force behind the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy that separated immigrant children from their families at the southern border.

He has been a rising star on the far right for years, often making headlines because of his polarizing demeanor and statements long before The New York Times reported June 16 that he was the origin of the controversial policy.

After Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's abrupt resignation, multiple reports said Miller was behind the department's shake-up in favor of harsher border policies, a sign of the adviser's continued influence on Trump's policies. 

After leaked emails showed Miller exchanging links to publications known to support white-nationalist ideology with a Breitbart editor, Miller was called a "bonafide white nationalist" and faced calls from several House committees for his resignation. 

One of the few remaining staffers from Trump's 2016 campaign, Miller has also written some of the president's biggest speeches, including Trump's first State of the Union address.

His hard-line positions and knack for policy have made him a force to be reckoned with. But before Miller became a major figure in the Trump administration, he was an outspoken, conservative activist in high school and college who worked on congressional campaigns.

Here's how Miller became Trump's right-hand policy man:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Miller had to be escorted off CNN's set after his interview with Jake Tapper went off the rails

DON'T MISS: A far-right darling in the White House was the one who convinced Trump the US should separate parents from their children at the border

Stephen Miller was born in Santa Monica, California, on August 23, 1985, to a Jewish family whose ancestors fled persecution in what is now Belarus. His family was liberal-leaning, but Miller says he became a stalwart conservative at an early age.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

In 2002, at age 16, Miller wrote in a letter to the editor that "Osama Bin Laden would feel very welcome at Santa Monica High School" because of the student body's anti-war attitude after 9/11. Soon enough, Miller began appearing on conservative talk radio in the Los Angeles area.

Sources: The LookOut, Univision, Politico Magazine

A video emerged in 2017 of his giving a student-government campaign speech at Santa Monica High in which he argued that students shouldn't have to pick up their own trash because there are "plenty of janitors who are paid to do it" for them. The audience quickly booed him off the stage.

Sources: The Washington Post, Politico Magazine

Miller went on to attend Duke University, where he continued to garner controversy as a prominent conservative ideologue. He appeared on CNN and "The O'Reilly Factor" to defend Duke lacrosse players accused of rape, and he sparred with the university's Chicano alliance.

Sources: The Duke Chronicle, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker

At Duke, Miller interacted with the white nationalist Richard Spencer. While Spencer claimed he had mentored Miller during their time at the university, Miller has denied these claims, saying he merely helped him raise money for an immigration debate.

Source: Mother Jones

After graduating with a political-science degree in 2007, Miller worked as a spokesman for the conservative Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and John Shadegg of Arizona.

Sources: Politico Magazine, Vanity Fair

In 2009 he began working for Jeff Sessions, the senator who would later become attorney general, as a policy adviser and communications director.

Sources: Politico Magazine, Vanity Fair

In 2013, the pair led the charge against a bipartisan bill that would have created a path to citizenship for all immigrants living in the US illegally.

Sources: Politico Magazine, Vanity Fair

Alongside Sessions, Miller formulated what he termed "nation-state populism," and he helped other members of Congress campaign. During this period, he also grew close to the Fox News host Tucker Carlson, frequently working with his publication The Daily Caller.

Source: Politico Magazine

Miller joined the Trump campaign in January 2016 as a senior policy adviser.

Sources: Politico Magazine, Washington Post

He quickly cemented his position on the campaign team by writing speeches for Trump, often speaking at rallies himself. He was later appointed to Trump's economic-policy team.

Sources: Politico Magazine, Washington Post

Throughout the campaign, Miller also grew close with the future White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. Miller later invited a host of editors and writers from Breitbart News, which Bannon once headed, for a discussion on immigration at the White House.

Sources: Politico, The Washington Post

After sitting on Trump's transition team, Miller was formally appointed to Trump's policy team in January 2017.

Source: Politico

In his early days in the White House, Miller played a part in enacting Trump's travel ban, which restricted immigration and refugee resettlement, and in cracking down on sanctuary cities. He also lashed out at courts for blocking elements of these policies.

Sources: Politico, Vanity Fair

He has also helped write some of Trump's biggest speeches, including the State of the Union address, his inaugural address, and the keynote he gave at the Republican National Convention in July 2016.

Sources: Politico, The Duke Chronicle, The Washington Post

"Stephen really knows how to capture his voice," the former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.

Source: The Washington Post

In August, Miller had a combative exchange with the CNN correspondent Jim Acosta at a press conference on limiting immigration and eliminating the visa lottery program. Their back-and-forth on — among other things — the Statue of Liberty, went viral.

Source: Business Insider

Miller had another contentious moment on national television when the CNN host Jake Tapper interviewed him in January 2018. Tapper challenged him on a variety of issues before ending the interview early, and security had to escort Miller out of the studio.

Source: Business Insider

During the government-shutdown negotiations in January, Miller's important role in crafting White House policy was widely acknowledged, but his intractability was criticized.

Source: Politico

"As long as Stephen Miller is in charge of negotiating immigration, we are going nowhere," Sen. Lindsey Graham said at the time.

Source: Politico

In June, The New York Times reported Miller was behind Trump's controversial immigration policy that separates children from their families at the US-Mexico border.

Source: The New York Times

The policy, which separated almost 2,000 children from their families in six weeks, has drawn backlash from both sides of the aisle and Trump administration officials.

Source: Business Insider

Miller told The Times the zero-tolerance policy was a "simple decision" and "the message is that no one is exempt from immigration law."

Source: The New York Times

Miller came back into the spotlight in December as Trump insisted he would force Congress into funding the wall, saying he would be "proud" to shut down the government if they didn't agree to divert $5 billion by the 21st.

Source: Business Insider

In an appearance on Face the Nation, Miller doubled down on Trump's warning, saying the administration was "absolutely" willing to shut down the government if Congress doesn't authorize spending for the wall.

Source: CBS

"If it comes to it, absolutely. This is a very fundamental issue," Miller said of chances for a shutdown. "At stake is the question of whether or not the United States remains a sovereign country. Whether or not we can establish and enforce rules for entrance into our country."

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Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the administration's comments "a temper tantrum" and warned Trump was "not going to get the wall in any form."

Source: NBC News

Amid gridlock between the administration and Senate Democrats, the government entered a partial shutdown on December 22, 2018.

For the next few weeks, talks about border security among Pelosi, Schumer, Trump, and even Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen proved unproductive as the administration dug its heels in over the wall.

Source: Business Insider

After accepting a deal from congressional Democrats that ended the shutdown but provided no money for the wall, Trump declared a national emergency to divert military funds for construction along the border.

Source: Business Insider

These hardline moves match Miller's signature uncompromising policy style. Reports indicated that Nielsen's April 7 resignation was the result of Miller's handiwork to pave the way for harsher policies to curb immigration.

Source: Business Insider

Nielsen's departure raised flags about what appeared to be Miller's ever-growing influence over Trump.

Source: Business Insider

On November 4, it was reported that Miller was engaged to Katie Waldman, Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, just over six weeks after the couple attended Trumps' second state dinner.

Source: Vanity Fair, Business Insider 

Waldman previously served as deputy press secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, where she defended the administration's policy of family separations and made several controversial and unproven claims about immigrants.

Source: Business Insider

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Miller as a "bonafide white nationalist" after leaked emails showed him exchanging links to white-nationalist websites with a Breitbart editor.

Source: Business Insider 

Congressional lawmakers, including leaders from the House Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued a joint statement urging Miller to resign.

Source: Business Insider

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham waved off the calls for Miller's resignation and took aim at the Southern Poverty Law Center for publishing the emails.

Source: Axios 

After almost two years as a controversial figure who has been vocally pursuing hard-line conservative agendas since his teens, Miller shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

• Aside from Disney dominance, this year's box office has struggled to keep up with the record-breaking 2018.
• Next year's box office is expected to be more evenly distributed among studios, as Disney has no "Avengers" or "Star Wars" movies on its schedule.
• But 2021 could be another record-breaking year, with anticipated entries in mega popular franchises hitting theaters.
• A showdown between Marvel and DC will be at its center, but new movies in the "Avatar,""Fast and Furious," and "Jurassic World" franchises are also on the year's slate.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney is almost single-handedly keeping the box office afloat this year with over 40% of the domestic market share.

But after a record-breaking 2018 at both the domestic and global box offices, 2019 has struggled to keep up, even with Disney's dominance.

Next year's box office looks like it will be more evenly distributed across movie studios, as Disney has no "Avengers,""Star Wars," or Pixar sequel on the release schedule. It could also be the "calm before the storm," as popular franchises will release new installments in 2021, with Marvel and DC facing off like never before.

Four Marvel Cinematic Universe movies will be released to theaters for the first time in 2021. With the announcement this week that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "Black Adam" is set for a December 2021 release, Warner Bros. has three DC movies set. All of them have the chance to be successful. The MCU is at the top of its game and DC movies have rebounded after "Justice League" disappointed in 2017.

Beyond Marvel and DC, though, new entries in the "Avatar,""Fast and Furious," and "Jurassic World" franchises are slated for 2021, as well. 

Below are 13 movies that could lift the 2021 box office to a record-breaking year after a calm 2020:

SEE ALSO: The Rock's first superhero movie, DC's 'Black Adam,' now has a release date. But he's been teasing the project for years.

"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"— February 12, 2021

"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" will star the MCU's first Asian superhero to lead a solo film, played by Simu Liu. The character is unknown to non-comic readers, but that hasn't stopped Marvel from delivering success stories with the likes of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Doctor Strange." And the milestone in diversity in the franchise could give the movie added attention.

"Fast and Furious 10"— April 2, 2021

The ninth "Fast and Furious" movie hits theaters next year and audiences won't have to wait long before its follow-up. The "Fast" franchise has grown into a worldwide sensation, with "Furious 7" and "The Fate of the Furious" both making over $1 billion worldwide. This year's spinoff, "Hobbs and Shaw," didn't rise to those heights, but still earned a respectable $760 million globally. There's reason to think that this series still has gas in it.

"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"— May 7, 2021

The first "Doctor Strange" wasn't one of Marvel's biggest movies, but it didn't need to be. It introduced a relatively unknown character who has only grown in popularity since thanks to his appearances in "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame." His solo debut still made $$678 million worldwide and there's no reason to think that a sequel wouldn't further capitalize on the popularity of the MCU.

"John Wick: Chapter 4"— May 21, 2021

The "John Wick" series has grown from a low-budget action movie in 2014 to a hit franchise going on to its fourth entry (with a TV spin-off in development at Starz, as well). And each movie has earned nearly double at the box office what its predecessor did, which is extremely rare in Hollywood. This year's "Chapter 3 – Parabellum" grossed $327 million worldwide off of a $75 million production budget and the series shows no signs of slowing down.

"Jurassic World 3"— June 11, 2021

2015's "Jurassic World" and its 2018 sequel, "Fallen Kingdom," earned $3 billion globally combined. The third entry is expected to close out its trilogy in a big way and the three stars of the original "Jurassic Park"— Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum — are all returning alongside "Jurassic World" stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.

"The Batman"— June 25, 2021

"The Batman" will be the second take on Batman in five years (Ben Affleck first debuted as the character in 2016's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"), but if the movie is good enough, audiences might not care. And Batman is one of the most bankable superheroes of all time, no matter who is donning the cape and cowl. With an intriguing cast that includes Robert Pattinson in the title role and Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and an acclaimed filmmaker in Matt Reeves ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") behind the camera, "The Batman" is shaping up to be a hit.

"Indiana Jones 5"— July 9, 2021

It will be 13 years between "Indiana Jones 5" and the last entry in the series, 2008's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Ford will be just shy of 80 years old when the movie is released, meaning it will likely be heavily pushed as his last hurrah in the iconic role. Will it work? "Kingdom of the Cyrstal Skull" overcame bad reviews to earn $787 million worldwide.

Third MCU "Spider-Man" movie — July 16, 2021

Sony, which owns the film rights to Spider-Man and retains distribution rights, and Disney struck a new deal in September after a brief tussle over the character's future film appearances. Tom Holland's Spider-Man will star in one more solo movie and appear in one other MCU movie. This year's "Spider-Man: Far From Home" was the first Spider-Man movie to reach $1 billion at the global box office and with the major cliffhanger it ended on, its sequel should be a huge hit, as well.

"Mission: Impossible 7"— July 23, 2021

The "Mission: Impossible" franchise has never been a juggernaut at the box office, but last year's sixth entry, "Fallout," was the series' highest grossing yet with $791 million worldwide. It was also hailed as one of the best movies of 2018 by critics, with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. With star Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie returning, the seventh installment could keep up the momentum.

"The Suicide Squad"— August 6, 2021

"The Suicide Squad" is a semi-sequel to 2016's "Suicide Squad," which earned $747 million worldwide despite terrible reviews. The movie made headlines last year when Warner Bros. hired James Gunn to write and direct following his firing from Disney/Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy 3." Disney eventually rehired him, but he'll release "The Suicide Squad" first with an ensemble that includes returning favorite Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and new faces like Idris Elba and John Cena.

"Thor: Love and Thunder"— November 5, 2021

2017's "Thor: Ragnarok" breathed new life into Chris Hemsworth's Thor with $854 million worldwide and a 93% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. Since then, Thor has only grown in popularity thanks to standout roles in "Infinity War" and "Endgame." He's the first character to get a fourth solo movie in the MCU, so Marvel Studios is confident in not only Hemsworth's ability to carry the movie, but also in "Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi to capture similar magic.

"Avatar 2"— December 17, 2021

James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi adventure "Avatar" was the highest-grossing movie of all time for a decade, until it was dethroned this year by "Endgame." It remains to be seen whether audiences will turn out again for the movie's long-delayed sequel, but Cameron has proven he should never be underestimated.

"Black Adam"— December 22, 2021

Black Adam is a DC Comics villain (and sometimes anti-hero) who is a frequent nemesis of Shazam, who starred in a solo movie earlier this year. It's Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's first superhero movie, which should give it a boost to make up for the character's lack of popularity with general audiences. Johnson is the highest-paid actor in the world for a reason and he regularly carries would-be duds to international success (see "Rampage" and "Skyscraper"). The studios Warner Bros. and New Line are probably hoping that his star power, combined with the DC brand, will make the movie a box-office winner. It will have to be, as it opens just five days after "Avatar 2."

• Sneaker culture has greatly evolved in the last 10 years. 
• Celebrity collaborations, brands, colorways, and styles have faded in and out of fashion. 
• Business Insider consulted with sneaker resale marketplace Stadium Goods to find the most popular sneakers of each year of the last decade.
• From the 2011 Nike Mags to the 2017 Off-White x Air Jordan 1, here are the most popular sneakers of the last decade.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The last decade was all about footwear. 

Sneakers, in particular, have stood out as cultural indicators since as far back as the 1800s.

In the last decade, athletic brands like Nike and Adidas have dominated the sneaker world with their innovative and modern designs. And each year, one pair has stood out from the rest.

Business Insider consulted with sneaker resale marketplace Stadium Goods to find the most popular sneakers of each year throughout the last decade. In formulating the list, Stadium Goods store manager Fresco Wilson and senior writer Zack Schlemmer looked at the hype behind each sneaker release as well as the cultural relevance and significance of each pair to this day. 

From celebrity collaborations to long-awaited releases, the reasons for each shoe's popularity vary.

Here are the most popular sneakers from every year of the last decade:

SEE ALSO: These are the 10 best-selling sneakers of the year so far

SEE ALSO: The 9 most valuable sneakers with the highest resale value right now, according to the data

2010: Nike LeBron 8 "South Beach"

The shoes were released in 2010 as a welcome to LeBron James as he began playing for the Miami Heat. The sneaker sold out instantly.

2011: Nike Mag

This first iteration of the shoes that were worn by Marty McFly in the 1989 film "Back To the Future Part II" was released in 2011 after much anticipation. A product description on the Stadium Goods website describes the shoe as "perhaps the most sought-after sneaker of all time."

2012: Nike Air Yeezy 2

This sneaker was the second edition of Kanye West's collaboration with Nike and his last before heading to Adidas. 

2013: Air Jordan 3 OG '88 White/Cement

This pair was wildly popular when it was released in 2013 because of its iconic colorway and silhouette that brought the Nike Air Jordan 3 back to its original form.

2014: Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1

This collaboration between Hiroshi Fujiwara and Nike had a very limited release at the end of 2014 in December. The shoe combined an iconic colorway and shape that made this pair one of the most sought-after versions of the silhouette.

2015: Adidas Ultra Boost

These sneakers were originally released in 2015 and then re-rereleased in 2018. The sneaker was popular for its blend of performance and style, Wilson and Schlemmer said, adding that Kanye West has also worn this pair before.

2016: Adidas Yeezy 350 V2 "Beluga"

Kanye's second collaboration with Adidas was the Yeezy Beluga, which was considered to be the most iconic colorway of the most popular Yeezy sneaker, Wilson and Schlemmer said.

2017: Off-White x Air Jordan 1

This shoe was considered the sneaker of the year for 2017, according to a product description from Stadium Goods. This shoe garnered hype for the collaboration between Nike and Virgil Abloh and was considered the shoe that made the off-white colorway popular.

2018: Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97

Some pairs were given away at the end of 2017, though the official release was in 2018.

The pair merged two classic Nike styles — the Air Max 1 and Air Max 97 — and was considered one of the most popular sneakers of 2018.

2019: Nike x Sacai LDWaffle

This shoe, released in 2019, became popular because it combined two vintage Nike running shoes: the LDV and the Waffle Racer.

• If they're looking to jumpstart a new fitness routine or want to tone up, useful workout gear that helps them get closer to their goal will be much more appreciated than a set of candles.
• Whether they're into running or need something they can use at their desk, they'll love these thoughtful fitness gifts.
• Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides here.

Everyone has a fitness goal whether it's to gain muscle, tone up their core, or increase their flexibility. No matter what goal they have for 2020, we've got a gift that'll help them get there. 

From ugly Christmas sweater-inspired running sneakers to a quiet elliptical they can use at their desk, there are plenty of gift ideas that work within your budget and their fitness level. And if their fitness level is nonexistent, there's a ClassPass membership to get them started too.

Help them achieve their fitness goals for 2020 — or at least until the end of January — with these gift ideas:

A monthly membership to try different local gyms and classes

ClassPass Membership, starting at $9/month after free trial, available at ClassPass

A ClassPass membership gives them the freedom to switch up their routine and try new workout classes and gyms in their city without long-term commitments.

An ugly Christmas sweater shoe they'll wear every time they run

Brooks Revel 3, $100, available at Brooks

It's the ugly Christmas sweater but in sneaker form. The shoe itself is Brooks' Revel 3 with all kinds of festive style upgrades like Fair Isle stitching with heat-activated yarn that helps the shoe keep its shape, metallic laces, and even a glittery logo.  

An elliptical machine they can use at their desk

Cubii Pro Seated Under-Desk Elliptical, $349, available at Amazon

This little elliptical machine fits under their desks so even the biggest workaholic won't have an excuse this year. From personal experience, it's really quiet and actually kind of fun. It also syncs with their Apple or Android phones, Apple Health, and Fitbit to track their performance.

Grippy socks perfect for pilates or barre

Gaiam Grippy Yoga Socks, from $7.98-$16.99, available at Amazon

These socks have durable grips along the bottom for stability during pilates or lounging around the apartment. No judgments here.

Delicious ready-to-blend smoothies

Daily Harvest Subscription, $6.99-$7.99 per cup, available at Daily Harvest

If they're not switching up their diet along with their workout regimen, all that cardio and weightlifting might just be going to waste. Encourage them to eat healthier with a membership to Daily Harvest for delicious smoothies, harvest bowls, chia bowls, and more.

A neoprene duffel that works for the office and the gym

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall, starting at $95, available at Dagne Dover

The beauty of this duffel is in its small, but mighty stature. It can hold their laptop, gym shoes and clothes, and tons of accessories without looking bulky. There's also a thoughtfully-designed water bottle pocket to keep their drink upright, avoiding spills and leaks.

An Alexa-enabled fitness tracker

Fitbit Versa 2, $198.95, available at Amazon

FitBit's newest fitness tracker has built-in Amazon Alexa so you can check your daily fitness, heart rate, weather, and even set alarms all via voice. 

A two-in-one foam roller for sore muscles

Lululemon Double Roller, $58, available at Lululemon

This foam roller is actually a two-in-one surprise. The outer roller has a wavy texture to release tension in their arms and legs, while the interior roller has deeper grooves to massage their back.  

A colorful water bottle

Takeya Actives 18 oz. Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Insulated Spout Lid, $29.99, available at Macy's

This insulated water bottle keeps their drink cool while they work up a sweat, and the bright shade means they won't forget it at the gym either.

A balance board that fires up their core muscles

URBNFit Balance Board Trainer, $79.99, available at Amazon

For those looking to practice snowboarding or surfboarding without snow or waves, or just tone up their core, try gifting them a balance board. The two-piece set comes with a board and roller; the board also has wooden stops on the base for beginners.  

Wireless headphones with built-in artificial technology

Soul Electronics Run Free Pro Bio, $109.99, available at Soul Electronics

This pair of wireless earbuds have built-in artificial technology that acts as a running coach to provide real-time adjustments and suggestions to improve your posture, gait, and more. 

Read our full review and see how the headphones helped shave three minutes off our mile time here.

A cooling yoga mat

Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel, $9.99, available at Amazon

This cooling towel will be so appreciated after a serious hot yoga or cardio class. They can just rinse the towel in cold water, wring it out, and it'll stay cool for hours.

A sweat-wicking headband

Lululemon Cardio Cross Trainer Headband, $14, available at Lululemon

No one really thinks about fitness headbands — until their hair starts getting into their eyes and mouth as they're doing burpees. This thin style from Lululemon is an easy way to combat that annoyance, and it comes in a bunch of lovely pastel and neutral colors.

Weight training gloves

C9 Champion Women's Workout Gloves, $14.49, available at Target

These fingerless gloves will help them avoid calluses and make them look badass as they reach their deadlift goals.

A backpack for all their gym gear

Aer Fit Pack 2, $150, available at Aer

If they like to carry all of the things to the gym, this backpack is a great option.

It has an extra-large opening for easy access, a ventilated shoe compartment, and a padded laptop sleeve. Best of all, the overall look is so sleek that it doesn't scream "This is my gym bag!"

Meal prep containers they'll actually use

Tone It Up Meal Prep Collapsible Container 2pk Set, $15.99, available at Target

If they love prepping healthy-ish meals in advance, they need this set of collapsible containers from the Insta-famous Tone It Up duo.

Cleansing body wipes to avoid post-gym B.O.

Yuni Shower Sheets Large Body Wipes, $15, available at Amazon

These large body wipes clean, deodorize, and calm skin so they can avoid cramped gym showers. The wipes are also waterless so they won't make a mess if the packaging pops open in their duffel bag. 

New running sneakers because theirs have more than a few holes

Saucony Kinvara, $110 for men's and women's styles, available at Saucony

Upgrade their running shoe to this pair from Saucony. It has lots of cushioning and heel support but is still super light, so it doesn't feel like they're running with leg weights around their ankles.

A shaker bottle for easy protein drinks

BlenderBottle Radian Insulated Stainless Steel Shaker Bottle, $21.97, available at Amazon

If they make a protein shake after working out, they'll love a shaker bottle like this one. The stainless steel whisk is great for mixing smooth drinks, and the copper shade is a style upgrade from the plastic one they've been using for years. 

Their own boxing gloves so they can stop renting sweaty ones at the gym

Sanabul Essential Gel Boxing Kickboxing Training Gloves, $19.99-$29.99, available at Amazon

Sorry, but using boxing gloves that many, many other people have used before isn't hygienic at all. Get your favorite boxer their own pair of gloves, and choose from eight different colors for the one that matches their personal style best.

An extra-long mat with a lifetime guarantee

Manduka PRO Yoga and Pilates Mat, $90-$146, available at Amazon

For yogis who hate having to adjust their poses to fit on standard-length mats, this extra-long style from Manduka is perfect. It's definitely much more expensive than other mats out there, but it does come with a lifetime guarantee so they'll never need to buy another mat again.

Dice that'll determine the day's workout routine

Strength Stack 52 Fitness Dice, $37.97, available at Amazon

Instead of doing the same routine every day, they can switch it up by rolling these fitness dice and leaving it up to chance. There are three levels of intensity — beginner, normal, advanced — and then several exercises on each side of the dice, so they can create a new routine every day.

A yoga set for beginners or those who want to deepen their practice

Clever Yoga Yoga Set Kit 7-Piece, $56.49, available at Amazon

Whether they're a yoga newbie or expert who wants to deepen their practice, they're going to appreciate this seven-piece yoga set. It includes an extra-thick mat, two microfiber towels, two yoga blocks, a yoga strap, and a carrying case to stash everything inside.

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our master list of every gift guide you'll ever need
• Creative gift ideas under $25
• Thoughtful gift ideas under $50
• Clever gift ideas under $100
• Cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
• Affordable tech gifts under $25
• Thoughtful gifts for her, all under $50
• Cool gifts for him on Amazon

• Marie Yovanovitch, the US's former ambassador to Ukraine, is the third official to testify in the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump.
• Yovanovitch was abruptly recalled from her position in May after what she characterized as a smear campaign against her by Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
• She vividly detailed the shadow campaign Giuliani conducted to strong-arm Ukraine into acceding to Trump's demands for politically motivated investigations. She also took aim at top brass at the State Department for failing to shield her from Trump and Giuliani's pressure campaign.
• Scroll down to watch the hearing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The public on Friday heard from one of the most significant witnesses to President Donald Trump's shadow foreign policy campaign in Ukraine.

Marie Yovanovitch served as the US ambassador to Ukraine until she was abruptly recalled in May following what she has characterized as a smear campaign against her based on "false claims by people with clearly questionable motives."

Yovanovitch's testimony threw the spotlight on Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer who is accused of engineering her ouster.

Yovanovitch arrived to testify to the House Intelligence Committee as part of its public impeachment hearings beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Friday.

You can watch the hearing here:

SEE ALSO: Who's scheduled to publicly testify next in Trump's impeachment hearings

GOP Rep. Mike Turner refuses to let Yovanovitch answer his questions: 'Not on my time. You're done.'

Some Republican lawmakers, like Rep. Mike Turner, struck a more hostile tone when questioning the witness.

Turner asked Yovanovitch a series of questions but refused to let her answer. When Schiff cut in to allow Yovanovitch to respond, Turner shot back, pointing at Yovanovitch, "Not on my time. You're done. OK?"

Yovanovitch raised her eyebrows in response.

Republicans embark on a bizarre line of questioning about Yovanovitch's life after being ousted

Several Republican lawmakers asked Yovanovitch about her life after she was recalled as ambassador to Ukraine.

GOP Rep. Mike Conaway opened by saying that instead of focusing on the events that led to her ouster, he wanted to focus on her life since then.

Yovanovitch detailed how, after arriving back in the US, she asked whether she could take on a fellowship at Georgetown University.

"Was that your only choice?" Conaway asked.

"I'm not sure, we didn't really discuss other options," Yovanovitch replied.

Conaway went on to ask Yovanovitch about how many classes she teaches, the attendance per class, and whether her compensation at the State Department has been negatively affected since she was recalled.

"No, it has not," Yovanovitch said of her earnings.

The Republican lawmaker also asked Yovanovitch about whether she faced retaliation from fellow employees at the State Department, and Yovanovitch replied she instead received "an outpouring of support from my colleagues."

"OK, so, the folks that you respect the most still respect you and appear to hold you in high regard and high affection," Conaway said.

The congressman's line of questioning appeared to be geared toward establishing that because Yovanovitch didn't face financial or emotional retaliation after being recalled, her ouster may not have been that bad.

It all goes back to Gordon Sondland

When Castor's 45 minutes were up, the hearing's format shifted to allow each lawmaker on the panel five minutes to question the witness.

Schiff was up first and embarked on an interesting line of questioning in which he alluded to Gordon Sondland, the US's ambassador to the European Union.

"In pushing you out of the way, ultimately, Ambassador Taylor got appointed," Schiff said, referring to Bill Taylor, a longtime career diplomat who took over as the US's chief envoy in Ukraine after Yovanovitch's ouster.

Taylor is a decorated veteran and foreign service officer. He, as well as multiple other career officials, forcefully defended Yovanovitch when he testified in the impeachment inquiry.

"Is Ambassador Taylor the kind of person that would further Giuliani's aims?" Schiff asked. "I think we can all agree that Ambassador Taylor is a remarkable public servant."

"Absolutely," Yovanovitch said.

"But what if the president could put someone else in place that wasn't a career diplomat? What if he could put in place, say, a substantial donor to his inaugural?" Schiff said. Here, he appeared to be referencing Sondland, a hotel executive who donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee.

"What if he could put in place someone with no diplomatic experience at all? What if he could put in place someone whose portfolio doesn't even include Ukraine? Might that person be willing to work with Rudy Giuliani in pursuit of these investigations?" Schiff asked.

"Yeah, maybe," Yovanovitch said.

"That's exactly what happened, wasn't it?" the California Democrat said.

Yovanovitch nodded and replied, "Yes."

Sondland was one of several officials who were in charge of what Taylor described as the "irregular" foreign policy channel in Ukraine. This channel involved carrying out Trump's orders to pressure Ukrainian officials to publicly commit to launching the investigations Trump wanted while holding up military aid and a White House meeting.

Of all the people involved — Giuliani, Sondland, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, former Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker, and outgoing energy secretary Rick Perry — Sondland and Giuliani had the largest roles in conducting the shadow foreign policy campaign.

Yovanovitch refuses to take Republicans' bait

Steve Castor, the Republican counsel, was then recognized to begin questioning Yovanovich. He repeated Nunes' argument that Yovanovich doesn't have first-hand knowledge of Trump's attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political opponents. 

Castor dove into a series of questions concerning Yovanovich's claim that Giuliani's associates tried to get her removed. The attorney appeared to be attempting to imply that Yovanovich didn't do enough to "push back" against the "concerted campaign" against her. 

Yovanovich insisted that the State Department, including Secretary Mike Pompeo, were well aware of Giuliani and his associates' "smear campaign" against her. 

Castor then brought up Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company that Hunter Biden sat on the baord of. Yovanovich said she was aware of the "perception" issues surrounding Biden's work for the Ukrainian company, but she never met or spoke with the vice president's son. 

Next, Castor began building a line of questioning that appeared to imply that there was a Ukrainian effort to advocate against then-candidate Trump.

He repeatedly asked Yovanovitch about the decision by a Ukrainian investigative journalist to publish a series of "black ledgers," which showed former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Russia Party of Regions engaging in billions of dollars of illicit business dealings. The ledgers also implicated Paul Manafort, who at the time was the chairman of Trump's campaign.

Castor asked Yovanovitch to acknowledge several times that the publication of the black ledgers meant "elements of the Ukrainian establishment" were anti-Trump.

Yovanovitch refused to take the bait.

Following the break, Republicans took control of questioning Yovanovich. 

Nunes began the questioning and used his time to argue that Yovanovich shouldn't be testifying in the impeachment proceedings. 

"You admitted in your opening statement that you don't have any firsthand knowledge of any of the issues we're looking into," Nunes told Yovanovich. 

Nunes yielded the remainder of his time to Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican of New York. But Schiff denied Nunes the ability to yield his time to Stefanik, citing rules that govern who the ranking minority committeemember can yield his time to.

Schiff hits back at Trump for tweeting attacks on Yovanovitch while she testified: 'Some of us here take witness intimidation very, very seriously'

Trump took to Twitter to lob attacks at Yovanovitch while she testified on Friday.

"Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad," he tweeted. "She started off in Somalia, how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukraine, where the new Ukrainian President spoke unfavorably about her in my second phone call with him. It is a U.S. President's absolute right to appoint ambassadors."

He continued: "....They call it "serving at the pleasure of the President." The U.S. now has a very strong and powerful foreign policy, much different than proceeding administrations. It is called, quite simply, America First! With all of that, however, I have done FAR more for Ukraine than [Obama]."

Schiff weighed in on the president's tweets in a notable fashion, saying, "Some of us here take witness intimidation very, very seriously."

Yovanovitch: 'I was shocked, absolutely shocked, and devastated' by what Trump said in July 25 call with Ukraine's president

Yovanovitch vividly detailed her reaction when she read a White House summary of the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During that conversation, Trump repeatedly pressured Zelensky to pursue politically motivated investigations that would benefit his reelection campaign.

Trump also mentioned Yovanovitch and said she was "bad news," adding that "she's going to go through some things."

Testifying on Friday, Yovanovitch said she was "shocked, absolutely shocked, and devastated, frankly," by what Trump said about her.

"I was shocked and devastated that I would feature in a phone call between two heads of state in such a manner where President Trump said that I was bad news to another world leader, and that I would be going through some things," the former ambassador said. "It was a terrible moment."

She continued, saying that a person who saw her reading the memo of the call said "the color drained from my face. I think I even had a physical reaction. Even now, words fail me."

Daniel Goldman, a veteran former federal prosecutor who is leading Democrats' questioning in the impeachment hearings, asked Yovanovitch if she felt threatened by Trump's words.

"I did," she replied.

Yovanovitch said she was giving an award to the father of a deceased anticorruption activist when she was abruptly recalled

In a stunning exchange, Yovanovitch testified that she was recalled in May while she was in the middle of hosting an event honoring an anti-corruption activist in Ukraine who died last month.

"She died because she was attacked by acid and died a painful death," Yovanovitch said of the activist, Kateryna Handziuk. "We thought it was important that justice be done, for her and for others who fight corruption in Ukraine. It's not a table-top exercise there, lives are in the balance. So we wanted to bring attention to this, and we gave her father that [Woman of Courage] award."

Yovanovitch went on to say that Carol Perez, the director general of the State Department, called her around 8 p.m. that day and told her there were issues with her staying on as ambassador. Five hours later, around 1 a.m., Perez called Yovanovitch again and said "there were great concerns" about her from the White House and that she "needed to come home immediately and get on the next plane."

Yovanovitch takes aim at State Department leadership for allowing corrupt interests to 'hijack' Ukraine policy

Yovanovitch also slammed State Department leadership amid what she described as the "degradation" of US foreign service.

She took aim at the department's top brass for failing "to push back as foreign and corrupt interests apparently hijacked our Ukraine policy."

"I remain disappointed that the department's leadership and others have declined to acknowledge that the attacks against me and others are dangerously wrong," she said.

Yovanovitch makes a powerful opening statement: 'How could our system fail like this?'

Yovanovitch began by highlighting her record as a career foreign service officer. She, like other witnesses, emphasized the importance of continued US support for Ukraine as it fends of Russian aggression at its eastern border.

The former US ambassador went on to detail efforts by corrupt Ukrainian interests to engineer her removal.

"What continues to amaze me is that they found Americans willing to partner with them, and working together, they apparently succeeded in orchestrating the removal of a US ambassador," Yovanovitch said.

"How could our system fail like this? How is it that foreign corrupt interests can manipulate our government?" she added. "Which country's interests are served when the very corrupt behavior we have been criticizing is allowed to prevail?"

Yovanovitch said that such conduct "undermines the US, exposes our friends, and widens the playing field for autocrats like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."

"Our leadership depends on the power of our example, on the consistency of our purpose," she continued. "Both have now been opened to questions."

Ranking member Devin Nunes called Democrats a 'basement cult,' accused them of orchestrating a coup against Trump, and pushed conspiracy theories

Nunes made an opening statement that carried many of the same undertones as his performance on Wednesday.

• The California Republican went to bat for the president.
• He accused Democrats of being a "basement cult."
• He repeated a bizarre allegation that Democrats tried to get nude photos of Trump.
• Nunes suggested again, as he has many times before, that the real issue is Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election.
• He also name-dropped Alexandra Chalupa, a DNC worker whom Republicans have painted as the key link between Democrats and Ukraine.

There is no evidence that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff describes Yovanovitch as a straight shooter and principled public servant

Schiff said in his opening statement that Yovanovitch is a "highly regarded career diplomat" who was doing "a remarkable job fighting corruption in Ukraine" before she was recalled earlier this year.

"She is an exemplary officer, who is widely praised and respected by her colleagues. She is known as an anti-corruption champion whose tour in Kyiv was viewed as very successful," Schiff added.

The California Democrat went on to detail the smear campaign that Giuliani and his Ukrainian associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, carried out against her. Schiff also said Giuliani worked with Yuriy Lutsenko to oust Yovanovitch. Lutsenko is Ukraine's former prosecutor general whom Yovanovitch and the majority of other western nations have accused of being corrupt.

At the time that the smear campaign was happening, Schiff said, "there was an effort [at the State Department] to push back, to obtain a statement of support from Secretary Pompeo, but those efforts failed, when it became clear that President Trump wanted her gone."

Ultimately, Schiff added, Yovanovitch was "smeared and driven from her post" because she refused to help the president strongarm Ukraine into delivering politically motivated investigations that would aid Trump's reelection effort.

What Yovanovitch told Congress behind closed doors

Yovanovitch testified behind closed doors that Trump and Giuliani wanted her removed since the summer of 2018 because she refused to let Giuliani use the US Embassy in Ukraine in his efforts to obtain political dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

She said she felt "shocked" and "threatened" by the attacks leveled against her.

Yovanovitch also told Congress a top State Department official confirmed to her that her recall in May came despite her having "done nothing wrong."

Multiple witnesses, including Bill Taylor, now the US's chief envoy in Ukraine, and George Kent, a senior State Department official, have corroborated Yovanovitch's claims.

Yovanovitch raised concerns with senior State Department officials about Giuliani before her ouster, but despite having their own concerns, they didn't think they could stop him. After Yovanovitch was recalled, the acting assistant secretary of state, Philip T. Reeker, told her Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "was no longer able" to protect her from Trump.

Michael McKinley, who served as a top deputy to Pompeo, quit a few days before his testimony to Congress because of the State Department's unwillingness to issue a statement supporting Yovanovitch. He also testified that several department employees had their careers derailed for political reasons.

Several government officials, including Taylor and Kent, have already testified to Congress behind closed doors, and their revelations paint a damaging portrait of a concerted effort across the administration to leverage US foreign policy to pressure Ukraine into acceding to Trump's demands.

Specifically, the president wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make a public statement committing to investigate the Bidens and a bogus conspiracy theory suggesting it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

Officials also outlined the lengths White House officials went to in order to conceal records of a July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky.

Witnesses have testified that five men were part of an effort to condition security assistance to Ukraine and a White House meeting on Zelensky publicly announcing the investigations Trump wanted.

The men are Giuliani; the US ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland; the special representative to Ukraine at the time, Kurt Volker; the acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney; and the outgoing energy secretary, Rick Perry.

The president's defenders have said he did nothing wrong and that this is a normal part of how diplomacy and foreign policy are conducted.

But national security veterans, legal scholars, and at times Trump's own officials who have testified have suggested his actions open him up to a variety of charges including abuse of power, bribery, extortion, misappropriation of taxpayer funds, and soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election.

Eight more diplomats and national security officials are expected to testify publicly in the next week. Here's the latest impeachment hearings schedule.

• Read more of Insider's impeachment coverage:
• Think Trump will get impeached? Gambling sites say the odds are in your favor
• Trump could be impeached and removed from office but still win reelection in 2020
• Over half of the House of Representatives support the impeachment inquiry against Trump — see all of them here
• Everything you need to know about Trump's impeachment process: What's happened, who the players are, and what comes next

• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson confirmed the release date for his first superhero movie via Instagram on Thursday, sharing concept art of him as Black Adam by DC Comics' Jim Lee.
• The movie is set to hit theaters on December 22, 2021.
• Forbes named him the world's highest-paid actor this year, estimating that he's collected about $89.4 million in earnings between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's official: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the highest-paid actor in the world, is starring in his first-ever superhero movie.

Johnson took to Instagram to share the first look at concept art of him as the DC antihero Black Adam, revealing the release date (December 22, 2021) for the movie of the same name. As Business Insider's Travis Clark reported, the project has been years in the making— The Rock first revealed that he'd been cast as Black Adam back in 2014, and rumors about his negotiations with Warner Bros. for a superhero flick go as far back as 2012.

While Johnson has no shortage of blockbuster hit movies, the upcoming DC movie will undoubtedly boost his earnings higher than ever.

The Rock ranked No. 15 on Forbes' 2019 list of the world's highest-paid celebrities, topping the list of the highest-paid actors in the world. According to Forbes, the former WWE star earned $89.4 million over the course of the year. He's been called a movie "franchise unto himself."

One of the hardest-working people in show business, Johnson stars in blockbuster movies and TV shows, runs his own production company, and gets a few extra bucks from endorsements. Yet the actor also knows how to enjoy himself and spend his hard-earned cash in his downtime.

Here's how The Rock made and spends his millions.

SEE ALSO: Tiger Woods staged one of the biggest sports comebacks ever at the Masters — here's how he spends his millions and lives his life off the course

DON'T MISS: Conor McGregor just claimed he's a billionaire in an Instagram post — but the numbers likely don’t check out. Here's how the UFC fighter makes and spends his fortune, from Lamborghinis and yachts to outrageous designer suits

Forbes named Johnson the world's highest-paid actor for 2019, putting his annual earnings at $89.4 million. The former wrestler works hard for his millions.

Source: Forbes

Johnson is a box-office juggernaut. Past successes have led to him commanding bigger pay days for upcoming films.

A few recent hits include:

• "Rampage" (2018): grossed $428 million worldwide
• "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017): grossed $962 million worldwide
• "The Fate of the Furious" (2017): grossed $1.24 billion worldwide

Source: Forbes

His most recent film, "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw," was released in August.

"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" has brought in an estimated $758 million worldwide.

Source: Forbes, IMDb

The movie star has also made a name for himself on TV with HBO's "Ballers." The show's fifth season concluded on October 13.

Source: HBO

In early 2016, he teamed up with Under Armour for a global sponsorship, which also allows him to help create a line of footwear and other apparel.

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Source: Maxim

Johnson has been running Seven Bucks Productions with ex-wife Dany Garcia since 2012. Through it, they've produced "Ballers" and Johnson's upcoming "Jungle Cruise" movie, among many other titles in his filmography.

Source: Fortune

He named his production company Seven Bucks for a reason. After flying from Canada to Miami after his football career ended, he emptied his pockets and found just $7.00.

His path to success is inspiring.

Source: Fortune

Johnson also gives back. In 2006, he founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity that works with at-risk and terminally ill children.

Source: GuideStar

The 47-year-old has a very particular and demanding diet. Sometimes, he has massive "carb up" nights.

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Source: Business Insider

He especially loves pancakes.

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He also famously eats — or ate — tons of cod.

In 2015, he revealed his diet to Muscle & Fitness. FiveThirtyEight counted it all up and found that Johnson consumes 821 pounds of cod in a year. Given that cod goes for about $1.75 per pound, that means he was spending about $1,400 per year on fish.

However, in early 2016, Johnson revealed via Business Insider's Dave Mosher that he cut cod out of his diet.

To stay in tip top shape, Johnson works with several personal trainers. As of 2016, one of them was Aaron Williamson, who has also worked with J.K. Simmons and Jai Courtney. His programs range from $100-$250 per month.

Source: GQ, Aaron Williamson Fitness

He can almost always be spotted in the gym, even on a rare day off.

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When he's not in the gym, the man loves to wear a suit. He's got a wide collection in an array of colors. In January 2016, he wore a crushed-velvet suit to the 73rd Annual Golden Globes Awards.

Source: The Daily Mail

Seriously, look at these suits.

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We're great friends, but we're better enemies. Welcome Andy Garcia to our family. #BALLERS#Season2@HBO Ball out.. pic.twitter.com/nJDp9OcTXi

The man also loves his cars. In 2016, Johnson showed up to the premiere of "Ballers" in a Pagani Huayra. This car is custom made, so the price can vary, but the regular Pagani clocks in at around $1 million.

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Source: Car and Driver

The same type of car can also be spotted in his HBO show.

Johnson also sports a lot of ink. His chest and arm tattoos represent different parts of his heritage. He's gotten some of his tattoos done by a famed Tahitian tattoo artist named Po’oino Yrondi.

Source: Inked Magazine

Johnson is almost always on the go and working. During his travels, he stays in luxury, like in this posh place on Central Park West in New York City while doing press for "Central Intelligence."

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He gets from place to place in a Gulfstream G650. He can often be seen bringing his family along for rides. It's unclear whether Johnson owns or rents the jet, but one of these planes can cost up to $65 million.

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Source: Business Insider

As a kid, Johnson always dreamed of owning a Rolex. The first one he ever bought, while still a wrestler, cost $35,000.

Source: Fortune

The Rock is also into the real-estate game. He's owned a few million-dollar mansions, and, according to Zillow, he sold at least 10 homes between 2006 and 2016 — in Florida alone.

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Source: Zillow

Among those homes is this five-bedroom, seven-bath mansion in Southwest Ranches, Florida, he bought in 2012 for $3.4 million. He sold it a year later for $3 million.

Sources: TMZ, RadarOnline

He also sold a six-bedroom home in Hidden Hills, California, for $4.9 million in 2012.

Source: TMZ

In 2014, Johnson paid $4.5 million for a massive 13,700-square-foot mansion in Southwest Ranches, Florida. He paid an additional $1 million for additions. He had sold the property by 2016.

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Source: The Real Deal, Curbed, Curbed

Johnson also owns a farm just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. He's tweeted about his farm as far back as 2011.

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Source: Instagram, WTKR

Rural life apparently agrees with the actor — Architectural Digest reported in early November that The Rock purchased a $9.5 million farm in Georgia. The estate spans 46 acres and has a 14,791-square-foot main house.

Source: Architectural Digest

And like most movie stars, he also has a home somewhere in Los Angeles.

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Source: Instagram

But he doesn't just spend his millions on lavish homes for himself. In March 2019, Johnson shared with fans via Instagram that he'd surprised his dad, former pro-wrestler Rocky Johnson, with the news that he intended to buy him a new house.

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Source: People

He did the same for his mom several months earlier, surprising her with a new home for Christmas.

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Source: People

Johnson also spends plenty of time (and likely money) doting on his children.

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He's welcomed two daughters with his longtime partner, singer and music producer Lauren Hashian. Jasmine was born in December 2015, and Tiana was born in April 2018.

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Johnson and Hashian finally married on August 18, 2019 in Hawaii, after about a decade together.

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Source: Hollywood Life

The actor also has one older daughter, Simone, with his first wife.

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With a number of high-profile movies on the horizon — including the big screen adaptation of "Jungle Cruise," a "Jumanji" sequel, and now DC's "Black Adam"— it looks like The Rock will have plenty more spending money for years to come.

Source: Business Insider, IMDb

• There are many common misconceptions about proper cat care.
• You should be brushing your cat's teeth regularly as it's common for animals to experience dental issues.
• Veterinarians have said it's not normal or healthy for cats to cough up hairballs.
• No cats are 100% hypoallergenic cats, but some low-shedding breeds are better for allergy sufferers.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Whether you're dreaming of adopting a cat or are already surrounded by a squad of feline friends, it's important to know that caring for kitties isn't always straightforward.

Everything from a healthy diet to proper grooming contributes to keeping a cat happy, but there are some common misconceptions and dangerous habits that might thwart your best attempts to care for your pet. 

Insider consulted with veterinarians to spotlight some key things that every cat owner should know. 

One litter box per cat is not enough.

If your cat is prone to having accidents around the house, they may just need an additional litter box.

 Amanda Landis-Hanna, a veterinarian with PetSmart Charities, told Insider that solving the problem could be as easy as placing another litter box in the right spot.

"You should always have more litter boxes than you do cats. For example, if you have one cat, make sure you have at least two litter boxes," said Landis-Hanna. 

"Free-feeding" your cat isn't healthy.

Veterinarian Sara Ochoa told Insider that you shouldn't refill your cat's food bowl whenever they want or leave out un-portioned food for them to graze on throughout the day. 

"By free-feeding your cat, you're increasing the likelihood that they will get fat. Always measure your cat's food and give them the appropriate amount," said Ochoa. 

If you're concerned that your work or social life may prevent you from making it home in time to feed your cat on schedule, investing in an automatic feeder can ensure your kitty isn't left with a growling belly … or an unhealthily pudgy one.

There's no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic cat.

It may be heartbreaking news to animal-loving allergy sufferers, but there are no cat breeds that are completely hypoallergenic. 

People who are allergic to cats are not actually allergic to their fur, but to a protein in their saliva, skin, and urine. That protein is transferred to the fur when a cat grooms itself.

Fluffier breeds tend to shed more, spreading that protein-laden fur around and making them more likely to trigger an allergy attack in sufferers. Fortunately, there is hope. 

"Though no cat is fully hypoallergenic, you can consider getting a cat that doesn't shed much, or even a hairless cat like a Sphynx," said Landis-Hanna. 

Some other low-shedding cat breeds include Siberian, Russian Blue, Bengal, and Burmese cats, according to Blue Cross for Pets.

It's not normal or healthy for cats to cough up hairballs.

Despite what you may have seen in cartoons, coughing up hairballs isn't a normal or healthy cat behavior.

Ochoa explained that hairballs are actually a sign that the cat has either swallowed too much hair through over-grooming or that their digestive system isn't correctly processing the small amount of hair that they do typically swallow. 

"There are special diets and supplements that you can give to help decrease hairballs. Brushing your cat daily will also help decrease the amount of hair they take in while grooming," Ochoa told Insider. 

If you notice your cat struggling with hairballs, talk to your vet to help identify the problem before radically changing your cat's diet or giving them medicine. 

Dental disease is a big problem in cats, so regular brushing is a must.

Landis-Hanna told Insider that although most cat owners don't think to brush their pet's teeth, cats need regular dental care just as we do. 

"One of the most common diseases in cats is dental disease. Most cats over the age of three have gingivitis or periodontal disease and can benefit from regular oral health care," she said. 

Be sure to always brush your cat's teeth with specially formulated pet toothpaste, as some ingredients in human toothpaste, such as artificial sweeteners, can be toxic to animals.

New cat owners should pet-proof their home's vertical spaces.

"Cats enjoy vertical spaces, including climbing curtains and jumping on top of electronics or appliances," said Landis-Hanna. "It's important to make sure all electronics and shelved objects are secure and can't fall on your pet."

Before bringing a cat home, make sure there aren't any free-hanging cords, tassels, or fabric strips that could spell trouble for a climbing kitty.

Landis-Hanna also told Insider that owners might want to get a cat tree or other safe vertical climbing structure to keep their pet occupied and away from things they shouldn't be climbing on. 

Indoor cats can get fleas and ticks.

Keeping your kitty from roaming outside won't necessarily prevent them from picking up pesky hitchhikers like fleas and ticks. 

"Cats can get fleas and ticks even if they do not go outside. Your dog can bring fleas and ticks inside and give them to your cat. Because of this, be sure to also keep your cat on flea and tick medication," said Ochoa. 

Because of this, you may want to speak to your vet about getting your cat on flea and tick medication and regularly check all of your pets for parasites. 

You should never give human medication to a cat.

Although certain human medications may be safely given to dogs under vet supervision, such is not the case for felines. 

"Giving a cat medication for people can be deadly. Cats do not tolerate medication like dogs do and need special consideration when prescribed medications," warned Ochoa. 

 It's always best to check with your vet before administering any oral or topical medications to your pet, especially if you have any doubts as to the cause of their symptoms. 

If your cat regularly vomits, it's probably not because they have a sensitive stomach.

It's not normal for cats to vomit regularly, Ochoa told Insider.

Rather than assuming your cat just has a sensitive stomach, you should have any recurrent vomiting checked out by a vet. 

"Sometimes this may just be due to hairballs, but there are diseases and medical conditions that can cause your cat to vomit that need to be addressed," said Ochoa. 

Cats and dogs have different needs.

Though they may both share space in your heart and home, cats and dogs are very different creatures who must be groomed, fed, and cared for in different ways. 

"Many people treat their cat as if it is a small dog, but this is incorrect. Cats have many different requirements than dogs. For example, your cat will sleep much more and need a different type of diet than your dog," said Ochoa. 

If you're used to caring for dogs, it's especially important to read up on proper cat care and consult with a vet to make sure you're meeting all your feline's individual needs.

Read More:

• 6 signs your cat secretly hates you
• 8 ways to get your pets to drink more water
• 11 surprising signs your cat actually likes you
• 6 weird things your cat does, explained by experts

• I've traveled to around 50 countries, but had never set foot on a cruise ship before — until now.
• Despite being a seasoned traveler, a lot about cruise ship life surprised me.
• I was shocked to feel the rocking of the waves as much as I did, didn't realize there was such a thing as "ship time," was surprised to find that formal nights are still a thing, and was blown away by the quality of the entertainment.
• I was also taken aback by the cost of WiFi, the fact that bottled water was extra, and by the daily gratuity fee added to my bill.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

I spent three months living in a tent while driving across Australia, have attempted (with mediocre success) to surf the longest wave in the world in Peru, have biked across Italy, and have skied mountains from the Rockies to the Alps. I've been on planes, trains, buses, and automobiles, but have never once set foot on a cruise ship.

Until now.

In the name of journalism, I spent a week cruising in the Caribbean. And I wasn't on just any cruise ship, I was on the world's largest cruise ship: Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas.

As a seasoned traveler but cruising newbie, a lot surprised me during this week.

Keep scrolling for the things every first-time cruiser should know, but keep in mind that these may have been unique to my cruise ship and personal experience.

You can actually feel the ship rocking.

For some reason, I was not expecting to feel the ship's movements as much as I did. I assumed that a ship of that size (the world's largest!) would feel stable despite the ocean's waves, but boy was I wrong.

I felt it the most at night when lying in my bed, though the rocking put me right to sleep.

Tip: While Dramamine is sold on the ship, you can get it for free at guest services.

There's something called "ship time."

Turns out, ship time can be different from "time time."

Since traveling across time zones can be tricky, cruise ships tend to stick to the time zone of their port of departure (Miami in my case). I learned this the hard way when I arrived to a 9 a.m. rendezvous at 8 a.m., as my phone and Fitbit watch had both automatically switched to Atlantic Standard Time when we approached St. Maarten, which is an hour off Miami's Eastern Standard Time. 

Tip: Bring an analog watch. While you can turn off your phone's automatic time zone updates, it still gets confusing.

The safety screening in the beginning is just a movie.

Maybe I have an outdated idea of cruising, but I sort of expected to stand around outside and go through the actual physical process of what to do and where to go in an emergency.

Instead, we were simply ushered into the ship's theater to watch an (admittedly Hollywood-level) short film on the ship's dos and don'ts.

Water stations are few and far between.

As someone who usually hydrates intensely, the water situation on board made me deeply uncomfortable. Water stations were surprisingly few and far between, and health regulations dictated that guests can't fill their water bottles at them (once a bottle has touched a person's lips, it's no longer sterile enough to be refilled from a communal spout).

Furthermore, bottled water was not included in your standard package, nor was it included in the soda package that cost extra.

Tip: A very thirsty night already settled into my room had me Googling whether the ship's tap water is OK to drink: it is, and I drank lots of it. 

But hand sanitizer stations and sinks are everywhere.

You'd run into hand sanitizer stations every few feet on the ship (as well as on CocoCay), as well as free-standing sinks. Sinks were also at the entrance of every buffet.

Since hand hygiene is widely considered the best way to stop the spread of infectious diseases, this makes sense.

There's a Starbucks on the Symphony of the Seas.

I don't know why seeing a Starbucks had me so shook, but it did.

Despite the world's largest cruise ship having an ice skating rink, a zip line, rock climbing walls, and 23 places to eat, seeing the familiar Starbucks logo in the middle of the ocean surprised me the most.

That said, it didn't stop me from occasionally forgoing the ship's free coffee for a cold brew.

There's no regular cell-phone coverage.

Of course, you're in the middle of the ocean, so this makes sense, but as a tech-addicted millennial usually glued to her smartphone it was still a shock to the system to have 0 bars.

Tip: While the WiFi works well, you have to pay for it. Bringing walkie talkies could save you some cash (though may garner you some looks).

You not only have to pay for WiFi, but you also have to pay for it per device.

Paying for internet access seems incredibly antiquated to me, but I suppose we are on a ship in the middle of the ocean. What truly floored me, however, was the fact that when you purchase WiFi you are purchasing it per device. 

Tip: Buying it for just one device doesn't mean it can only be used on that device. It just means that it can only be used on one device at a time, meaning that I could switch between having WiFi on my phone and on my laptop. Save your money and just buy it for one device.

The size of the ship was enormous.

I know, I know, it's not called the world's largest cruise ship for nothing. But its sheer size still shocked me, and according to my Fitbit I regularly walked ~17,000 steps a day. To me, it truly felt like a floating mall.

The quality of the performances was amazing.

Aside from the fact that Hall & Oates performed on the last evening of our cruise (I know, what?), the performances I went to — "Hiro" and "Flight — were truly Broadway caliber. I was blown away by the performers' talent, as well as the incredibly intricate set designs.

There's duty-free shopping on board, but it's only available when in international waters.

There are a ton of duty-free shops onboard as well as in ports peddling the usual watches, jewelry, alcohol, cigarettes, etc., much like at an airport. Duty-free means that you can buy items without paying the local VAT (value added tax), basically, it allows you to circumvent paying local taxes.

What surprised me even more, however, was that the stores are only allowed to open their doors when the ship is in international waters: shops must remain closed when the ship is in territorial waters, aka close to ports.

The diversity of the crew.

As an international school kid, I felt right at home among the ~65 different nationalities represented by the crew alone.

The diversity of the passengers, for that matter.

As a Caribbean cruise that started in Miami, Florida, I expected most passengers to be American, and was surprised by the medley of languages I was hearing.

Seeing familiar faces pop up in different jobs.

Turns out that many crew members work multiple jobs on the ship: one waiter I had at the Wonderland restaurant one night popped up at El Loco Fresh at lunch the next day and handed me a funnel cake at one of the eateries on Perfect Day at CocoCay the day after that.

Because not all restaurants are open all day long, he said that he has three or four different roles on an average cruise.

Formal night is still a thing.

I was astounded to find that formal night still existed — that felt very cruise ship of yore to me. In fact, for an average seven-day cruise, there are two formal nights.

The outfits ranged quite a bit: I saw short-sleeved collared shirts and summer dresses, but also Oscars-worthy gold gowns, tuxes, and even bedazzled kilts. People were loving it, and taking prom-like photos at the various professional photography studios that were set up around the ship. 

There are a ton of professional photographers onboard.

Professional setups with green screens and various backgrounds dotted the ship, and at dinner, ports, or any other event it was hard to avoid the avid photographers trying to get a picture of you (which you'd have to pay $14.99 for if you wanted it).

Turns out you can even hire a photographer for $85 an hour. 

People truly fangirl over the captain and his officers.

When the captain stepped out to take photos with passengers on formal night, the line got long. And an officer I walked around with couldn't go two steps without being chatted up or asked for a photo by guests.

You can spend a lot of money if you don't watch out.

While your standard cruise ship package includes your room, most activities on board, and plenty of restaurants, I was astounded by the many things that weren't included, and how quickly those costs could add up.

Of course, alcohol and spa services aren't included, but neither is bottled water or soda, and there are 14 specialty restaurants on the Symphony of the Seas that cost extra. Most activities on CocoCay, from access to the waterpark to the zip line and even snorkeling gear, also cost extra. Not to mention the internet and gratuity fee. This can add up fast.

Tip: According to a Royal Caribbean representative, reservations, purchases, and bookings can be made up to six months in advance, and really pay off in terms of discounts and savings.

You are charged a daily gratuity fee … per person.

While the crew on board could not have been any friendlier or more helpful, a daily $14.50 gratuity fee feels steep. That's an extra $101.50 a week, per person, no matter their age (yes, kids too). It's even more for guests staying in grand suites or above, for whom the fee is $17.50 a day on Royal Caribbean.

Plus, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa and salon purchases.

Tip: You can pre-pay your gratuity, that way at least you don't have to be reminded of it every day.

The cost of toiletries and medication is astronomical.

I guess the fact that these items are sold at a marked up rate is to be expected, but just how high the markup turned out to be was a surprise: my friend spent over $6.25 on a single toothbrush.

Tip: If you can, wait for a port excursion to stock up.

Getting on and off the ship was a breeze.

The boarding process was similar to that at an airport, but easier.

What surprised me was that I really only showed my passport once, when boarding in Miami. After that, my SeaPass became not only my room key, but also my sole ID and my credit card.

Even at ports, all I had to do to get back on the ship was show my SeaPass (albeit at two different stations).

Ships are a cashless society.

My room key doubled as a credit card, which I could tap to pay for anything on board. At the end of the cruise, I was presented with a folio of all the costs I had racked up during my stay.

• Read more:
• I stayed in a 182-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship, where no space was left unused. Here's what it's like inside.
• The world's largest cruise ship has a bar with robot bartenders. Here's how my margarita compared to one made by a human.
• The world's largest cruise ship has everything from an ice rink to a zip line, but it's the Starbucks that surprised me most
• I went on the world's largest cruise and found getting onto a giant ship similar to boarding a flight — but way more efficient
•  

• Business Insider teamed up with Jonathan Miller, the president and CEO of the real estate and consulting firm Miller Samuel Inc., to gather a list of the 15 most expensive home sales the US has seen since November 2009.
• Home sales on the list include single-family homes and condos and range from $99 million to nearly $240 million.
• Of the 15 homes that made the list, 14 of them are located in either Florida, New York, or California. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

The US has long been home to jaw-dropping real estate with expensive price tags.

Jonathan Miller, the president and CEO of real estate and consulting firm Miller Samuel Inc., has spent the past few years compiling all the sales of single-family homes and condos at or above $50 million in the US. He shared his list with Business Insider so that we could round up the 15 most expensive residential sales the country has seen over the past 10 years.

From a number of $100 million mansions to one nearly $240 million penthouse, 14 out of the 15 homes that made the list are located in either Florida, New York, or California— three states with notoriously expensive housing markets.

The only sale that didn't take place in those markets was a 50-acre property in Greenwich, Connecticut; that home sold for $120 million in 2014.

Keep reading to see the list of the 15 most expensive home sales the country has seen since November 2009.

SEE ALSO: The biggest metro areas with the most million-dollar homes in the US

DON'T MISS: The 10 most expensive NYC neighborhoods to live in right now, ranked

15. This massive estate in Palm Beach, Florida, sold for $99,130,000 in 2019.

The estate, which is located at 60 Blossom Way, was completed in 2000 and bought by its previous owner in 2017 for $77,060,000.

According to a report by the Palm Beach Daily News, the property spans 3.7 acres and boasts about 320 feet of beachfront access.

T11. This 25,000-square-foot mansion in Los Altos Hills, California, sold in 2011 for $100 million.

This mansion on La Paloma Road, called Palo Alto Loire Chateau, was built to mirror an 18th-century French chateau.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, at the time of the purchase, the home featured indoor and outdoor pools, a ballroom, and a wine cellar.

T11. This mansion in Holmby Hills — a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2016 for $100 million.

Also known as the Playboy Mansion, 10236 Charing Cross Road was originally listed for $200 million in January 2016. 

As Business Insider previously reported, the property was sold a few months later (for half its asking price) to the next-door neighbor who, at the time of the sale, expressed interest in connecting the two properties.

T11. This property in Malibu, California, sold in 2019 for $100 million.

This property, 27600 Pacific Coast Highway, is located along the legendarily scenic state highway. It includes two guest houses, a tennis court, a spa house, a two-story library, a theater, a gym, and a pool, along with other amenities.

It fell just $10 million short of matching the most expensive home sale in Malibu.

T11. This 10-bedroom mansion in Holmby Hills — a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2016 for $100 million.

As Business Insider previously reported, this mansion, which is located at 301 North Carolwood Drive, was built on speculation and originally listed for $150 million.

The home spans 38,000 square feet and includes everything from private hiking trails to a movie theater complex.

10. A penthouse in Manhattan, New York, sold in 2014 for $100,471,452.

This penthouse is located on the 89th and 90th floors of One57, a residential skyscraper in the Midtown area referred to as Billionaire's Row.

It spans 11,000 square feet and boasts six bedrooms. Up until 2019, it was the most expensive home ever sold in New York City.

T8. A compound in Malibu, California, sold in 2018 for $110 million.

As Business Insider previously reported, this beachfront home is located on Carbon Beach, also called "Billionaire's Beach," which is known for its multimillion-dollar homes and ultra-wealthy residents. 

The home, which was designed by Richard Meier, includes a main residence and a guest house.

T8. Three properties on Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton, New York, sold in a single sale in 2016 for $110 million.

Before this sale, the three properties — 93, 97, and 101 Lily Pond Lane — were bought in 2014 for $93.9 million.

According to a report by the New York Post, the properties total 6.4 acres and include 284 feet of oceanfront access.

7. An oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, sold in 2019 for $110,250,000.

This 13-bedroom property, also known as La Follia, is located at 1295 S. Ocean Blvd, only half a mile from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

As Business Insider previously reported, it was originally listed in 2018 for $135 million. The property includes 210 feet of private beach, lush gardens, and a private boat dock.

6. A 9-acre estate in Woodside, California, sold in 2012 for $117,500,000.

Until 2019, this home, which is located at 360 Mountain Home Road, was the most expensive residence ever sold in California.

As Business Insider previously reported, the off-market deal took place in November 2012.

5. A massive mansion in Holmby Hills — a ritzy neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2019 for $119,750,000.

Also known as The Manor, this home, which is located at 594 S. Mapleton Drive, is the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Times.

4. A 51-acre estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, sold in 2014 for $120 million.

Known as Copper Beech Farm, this property, which is located at 499 Indian Field Road, was originally listed in May 2013 for $190 million.

According to a report by Forbes, the price was cut by $50 million in September 2013, and then dropped another $10 million before it closed for $120 million in 2014.

It's the only home on this list in a state that's not California, Florida, or New York.

3. Four oceanfront properties in Palm Beach, Florida, sold in 2013 for a total of $129,600,000.

These four properties are located at 20, 30, 40 and 50 Blossom Way.

According to a report by The Real Deal, the buyer owns all the properties along that street. The report also states that many of the properties have been demolished.

2. A massive estate in East Hampton, New York, sold in 2014 for $137 million.

This 18-acre property, located at 60 Further Lanes, was the most expensive home ever sold in the US until 2019.

The sale price was first mistakenly reported as $147 million by several publications in 2014 (though either amount qualified it as the priciest real estate in the country at the time of the sale).

1. The penthouse atop 220 Central Park South, a residential tower in Manhattan, New York, sold in January 2019 for $239,958,219.

This New York City penthouse spans the 50th through the 53rd floor of 220 Central Park South. It currently holds the title as the most expensive home ever sold in the US.

Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin bought the property in a record-breaking sale.

• Supermarket sushi is usually far from gourmet.
• But when I sampled all the fresh food at the new Wegmans supermarket in Brooklyn, the sushi absolutely blew me away.
• With its generous cuts of fresh, high-quality fish for supermarket prices, I'd go back to Wegmans again and again, just for its sushi.
• Sign up for Business Insider's retail newsletter, The Drive-Thru, to get more stories like this in your inbox. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

One doesn't expect much from a box of supermarket sushi.

Along with gas stations and convenience stores, supermarkets don't inspire much confidence when it comes to the quality of their raw fish. 

But Wegmans is all about shattering expectations of what a supermarket can offer. I'm no sushi expert, but I do love a nice hunk of raw fish on some vinegary rice now and then. Maybe slap on some seaweed. My price range is cheap to medium-cheap sushi, so it's not like I've had the of top-of-the-line stuff.  This is the review of a sushi lover who can't really afford to love sushi.

I recently made my first sojourn to the family-owned supermarket chain Wegmans, a New England cult favorite that opened its first New York location in September. After traipsing through aisles filled with affordable quality goods, I ended my trip with a five-course food court fiesta culminating in, of course, sushi.

SEE ALSO: I ate everything at Ikea's restaurant, and this was by far the best dish

The sushi fridge was filled with rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and even tataki — a high-end touch. Chefs will make you fresh sushi if you ask, but I was impatient.

I grabbed a sushi deluxe set for $21, which is a lot more than I'd normally pay for a supermarket sushi set.

But this one had a couple of certified stunners, like a piece of uni, or sea urchin — one of the most highly prized sushi.

The quality of the fish also looked incredible. Each piece was shiny and smooth, and it looked quite fresh.

Real wasabi is so expensive it's almost never served at American sushi restaurants. Wegmans clearly takes pride that it does serve it.

At most American sushi restaurants, the "wasabi" isn't made out of Japanese horseradish. It's usually made with cheaper kinds of horseradish and green dye.

This is in line with Wegmans' ethos, which is very focused on local and sustainable food. Its Japanese culinary team is stacked with Japanese culinary talent.

Source: Wegmans website

And I could taste the difference. The fish roe were not at all fishy. They were fresh.

I'd only had uni once before at a Japanese restaurant, and it tasted like trash water. But this uni was delicate, subtle, and reminiscent of sea foam.

Every single piece of fish was fresh, butter-soft, and completely sinew-free. The sushi beds were compact, and the rice was perfectly seasoned.

There was fatty tuna, lean maguro, wild salmon, farmed salmon, squid, and many other fish I couldn't identify. They were all perfect.

I cleaned my plate. At $21, it wasn't cheap. But it was incredible value for the caliber of sushi I was getting. Next time when I crave some raw fish, I might skip the restaurants and just head to my local Wegmans.

• Uber, now a decade old, went public back in May on the New York Stock exchange, but has disappointed investors in the five months since. 
• Co-founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp began cashing out hundreds of millions of dollars worth of stock this month as the company's lockup period expired. 
• The cash outs provide a perfect opportunity to revisit "UberCab"'s original pitch to investors more than 10 years ago. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Uber founder Garrett Camp cashed out roughly $13 million of his massive stake in the company this week, according to regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The sale of 8,462,352 shares was worth $13,538,023, the filing shows, and will still leave the entrepreneur with a roughly 4.75% stake in the company. Camp also sits on the board, and remains the largest individual shareholder after Japan's SoftBank and the venture capital firm Benchmark, according to Bloomberg data. 

Last week, Camp's co-founder and Ubers famously ousted former chief executive Travis Kalanick began selling some of his stake as well, on a much grander scale. Kalanick, who's working to build a "virtual restaurant," or delivery-only kitchen business, sold $711 million worth of shares. 

The sales by both Camp and Kalanick came after the expiration of Uber's "lockup period," a set amount of time that's common in initial public offerings in which insiders are not allowed to sell their existing shares in the company. When Uber's period expired last week, heavy selling sent the stock down some 9% to record lows.

And as Uber fights to turn its first profit in the face of that falling stock price, the company looks very little like it did ten years ago when Camp self-financed some of the company's first rounds. "UberCab" wasn't always a network of more than 2 million drivers providing rides at the tap of a button in 165 countries around the world.

Instead, in those days of August 2008, the dream of a "next generation car service" was merely a slideshow presentation on founder Garrett Camp's computer.

Business Insider has covered the original pitch deck before, when Camp first published it on Medium in 2017, but we felt it deserved a fresh look in light of a the company's underwhelming May IPO, the launch of its freight business, an aggressive push into food delivery, flying cars, autonomous vehicles, and more. 

Here's how the founders envisioned Uber 10 years ago:

SEE ALSO: Leaked Uber employee survey shows what it's really like to work at the company ahead of its massive IPO

The very first slide is a time capsule from 2008. Yes, that's a BlackBerry.

10 years ago, hailing a cab was a very different affair.

While Camp highlighted "dead-time" with cabs, a 2018 report by Schaller Consulting found that for-hire vehicles drive an average of 2.1 miles without passengers between fares.

Also, most New York cabs are now Toyota Camrys, which the city estimates to have an environmental rating of 25 miles per gallon.

Uber has decimated the value of taxi medallions.

After the expansion of Uber in New York, the value of taxi medallions — limited amounts of which are sold at auction by the city — has plummeted by nearly 75%. And, of course, street-hailing is vital for those without smartphones or a credit/debit card.

Camp said Uber would be the "NetJets of car services."

This, in a nutshell, was — and still is — Uber's value proposition. NetJets, a company that allows you to buy fractional ownership in a private jet — has been owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway since 1998.

Uber originally wanted to screen its customers.

Today, anyone with a credit or debit card and a smartphone can instantly be connected with a driver. GPS and photos make finding your driver much easier — something that hasn't changed today.

It's not just luxury Mercedes sedans these days, either.

According to the original pitch, Uber cars would be luxury Mercedes sedans. Today the most popular cars are Toyota Priuses, Honda Civics, and Toyota Camrys.

Uber would be "Profitable by design."

Uber has yet to turn a profit. In its most recent self-reported quarterly financials, the company said its growth had slowed while losses were continuing to increase.

A car could be summoned using GPS or texting.

GPS is obviously still a main tenet of the app. SMS summoning, on the other hand, seems to have gone by the wayside.

Saving destinations with specific labels would have been much more important for text-hailing.

Still, saving addresses into the app for easy selection is a big time-saver.

All of Uber's projected use cases still hold up today.

Uber would be cheaper than a limo but safer than a cab.

Not all of Uber's projected eco-friendly benefits have played out.

The same 2018 consulting report found that an average of only 63% of for-hire miles driven are with passengers.

The fleet looks very different today than originally planned.

Today, a majority of the Uber fleet consists of Toyota Priuses and Camrys, Honda Accords, and Ford Fusions, as well as the luxury models it mentioned in 2008.

Uber now operates in more than 60 countries around the world.

Camp had a plan for surge pricing.

Though traditional surge pricing is now largely gone, Uber had long foreseen its ability to use trip data to forecast demand and incentivize drivers in areas of increased trip requests.

Knowing where riders and drivers are — and what areas will be popular in the future— is still one of Uber's most valuable products.

It all comes down to data.

Uber could be worth up to $120 billion on public markets — a far cry from the $4.2 billion market estimate it had 10 years ago.

Airport trips still make up a large chunk of Uber rides

In many cases, Uber rides have become so popular at airports that some cities have altered their pick-up and drop-off lanes to better facilitate ride-hailing. There are still cab lines, though.

Today, Uber operates in 400 cities worldwide. But its original ambitions were much smaller.

And the company easily hit its best-case scenario.

In the third quarter of 2018, Uber brought in $2.95 billion in revenue.

The market breakdown of smartphones in 2008 is another great example of just how ephemeral tech can be.

Today, Samsung makes up the largest smartphone-market segment, with Nokia's market share just a fraction of what it was then.

Most of the company's "Future Optimizations" have played out as well.

Referrals are still a big part of Uber's business, but not all of these caught on.

Uber had its eyes on medical or governmental transportation, but its exploration ended up going in other directions.

Healthcare is still around, though. Uber Health was announced in March 2018 as a way to provide "reliable, comfortable transportation for patients." It could be a big area for both Uber and its competitor Lyft, which recently announced the hire of a vice president for healthcare.

The rest is history.

Uber launched an Android version of its app two years later in 2010, when it began to rebrand from UberCab to Uber.

• Michigan couple Samantha Roberts and Jeff Gilleland celebrated their love with an Olive Garden-themedwedding, complete with a late-night breadstick bar. 
• Also on the menu was Olive Garden's bruschetta, mushroom ravioli, spaghetti with meatballs, and more. 
• Gilleland proposed to Roberts while they were on Olive Garden's Pasta Passport to Italy trip, which he won in 2017. 
• The couple also took their engagement pictures at an Olive Garden. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

From their first dates to their proposal and engagement photo shoot, Olive Garden has always played a huge part in Samantha Roberts and Jeff Gilleland's love story. 

So when it came time to finally tie the knot, the Michigan couple knew they had to make Olive Garden a part of their wedding as well. 

The couple surprised their guests with an Olive Garden menu, including a late-night breadstick bar complete with marinara and Alfredo dipping sauces. 

Insider spoke to Roberts and Gilleland about their love for each other and for Olive Garden, as well as their breadstick-fueled wedding day. 

Samantha Roberts and Jeff Gilleland first met on a blind date.

"At the time, Samantha's roommate's mother was also my physical therapist for all my sports-related injuries," Gilleland told Insider. 

"One day, she asked if I was single because she knew the perfect girl, and thought we would be a good match for each other. Turns out she was right!" 

Both Roberts and Gilleland grew up with Olive Garden, and often went there on their dates.

"For Samantha, it was a time to have a nice dinner with her mother or grandparents," Gilleland said. "For me, I traveled for soccer quite a bit and we would always go as a team. It was a time for all of us friends and family to have a nice dinner and relax together." 

And when they first started dating, Roberts and Gilleland often met at Olive Garden. 

"When you love the chicken parm as much as we do, it becomes a pretty easy decision where to eat," the couple told Insider. 

Gilleland was one of 50 people to win Olive Garden's Pasta Passport to Italy in 2017, and he knew it would be the perfect place to propose to Roberts.

That year, Olive Garden offered 50 customers the chance to purchase a seven-night, all-inclusive trip to Italy for two — along with an eight-week unlimited pasta pass at Olive Garden — at the cost of just $200. 

After Gilleland won the trip, he decided to reach out to the organizers and see if they had recommendations for where he could propose to Roberts in Italy. 

"They looped in the rest of the Olive Garden team and we hatched a fantastic plan for a proposal at a vineyard in Tuscany," Gilleland added. 

After Olive Garden played such a huge role in the proposal, Roberts and Gilleland knew they wanted to have their engagement photo shoot at the restaurant.

"Doing engagement photos with Olive Garden was the perfect way to not only commemorate our love for each other, but also the special role that Olive Garden has played all along," the couple said. 

"Everyone at the restaurant made us feel right at home. We also got to eat for a solid two hours straight, just like we did consistently throughout our trip to Italy. Neither of us complained about that!" 

The restaurant chain had been part of their love story from the beginning, so Roberts and Gilleland also decided to go all-out with an Olive Garden wedding.

The couple worked with the Olive Garden team on everything from the menu to a special surprise for their guests. 

Olive Garden provided all of the food for the wedding, including everything from spaghetti and fettuccine Alfredo to chicken parmigiana.

Also included on the menu was bruschetta, mushroom ravioli, and chicken and cheese piadina. 

For dessert, guests could enjoy Olive Garden's Dolcini.

Olive Garden offers five Dolcini flavors: Chocolate Mousse, Amaretto Tiramisu, Limoncello Mousse, Dark Chocolate Cake, and Strawberry and White Chocolate Cream Cake. 

But the biggest hit of the night was the surprise late-night breadstick bar.

The bar came with Olive Garden's famous breadsticks, as well as marinara and Alfredo dipping sauces. 

Roberts and Gilleland said their guests were extremely thankful when the breadsticks appeared.

"It was exactly what we needed to keep the party going," the couple told Insider. 

And Roberts and Gilleland made sure they got to enjoy the breadsticks as well.

"There wasn't much that was going to get in between us and a late-night breadstick bar by Olive Garden," the couple said. "It was perfectly timed around the dance parties that were going on." 

The bar even featured two special chalk signs that read "I'll happily marinara you" and "To never ending love and breadsticks."

"We will keep and cherish those signs forever," the couple said. 

During the reception, Olive Garden surprised all of the couple's guests with their own Pasta Pass.

The Pasta Pass allows customers to eat at any Olive Garden as much as they would like for nine weeks. It includes unlimited pasta, sauce, soup, salad, and breadsticks. 

Saugatuck, Michigan, is now the city with the most Pasta Passes in America, an Olive Garden spokesperson told Insider. 

Roberts and Gilleland said they were surrounded by family and friends on the first day that everyone could use their Pasta Pass. 

"When we took our seats at the restaurant, we saw so many people we knew sharing meals together," the couple said. "It was great to look around the restaurant and see so many people we love together again." 

After an Olive Garden proposal, engagement, and wedding, the newlyweds believe they're definitely Olive Garden's biggest superfans.

"We know there are a ton of people out there who really do love Olive Garden," they added. "So we're sure we have some serious competition."

• Read more:
• We tried every single appetizer at Olive Garden and ranked them from worst to best
• 11 surprising things you didn't know about Olive Garden
• I put Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta Pass to the test to see if it's really never-ending. Here's what I found.
• Olive Garden is selling a new pass that will entitle holders to unlimited pasta for life — here's how to get one

• OnePlus phones have long offered excellent value for money.
• Its phones have high-end flagship specs and a sleek design that rivals many phones that cost nearly double the price.
• OnePlus has announced some impressive deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including $150 off its latest-and-greatest phones, the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7 Pro. You can also save $150 on the slightly older OnePlus 6T.
• The deals run from November 18 through December 2, but knowing how popular OnePlus phones are, the deals may sell out fast.
• Be sure to check out our other Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal coverage and Business Insider Coupons for more chances to save.

OnePlus is getting into the Black Friday and Cyber Monday spirit with some great phone deals, which is great news for those who want an awesome phone at an affordable price. The company has announced some impressive discounts on its most popular phones.

You can save $150 on the new OnePlus 7T, the slightly older OnePlus 6T, and the new OnePlus 7 Pro. These deals are available from November 18 to December 2. 

OnePlus 7T Deal

The OnePlus 7T is the brand's latest phone for North America, and with this sale price of $449, it's an absolute steal.

It has a beautiful edge-to-edge display on the front with a small teardrop-shaped notch at the top, along with top-tier specs — like a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The display is 90Hz, so it refreshes quickly to give you ultra-smooth transitions. On the back, you'll get a triple-lens camera similar to the one on the OnePlus 7 Pro, and that helps you get excellent shots in most situations.

Get the OnePlus 7T from OnePlus, $449 (originally $599) [You save $150] 

One Plus 7 Pro Deal

The OnePlus 7 Pro may not be OnePlus' latest phone, but it's still arguably the best — especially at this sale price of $549.

It has a modern design, powerful specs, and a great display. The device boasts an impressive edge-to-edge display, with a pop-up camera at the top, which activates when you open up the camera app. Under the hood, you'll get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, along with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The camera is nice too. Sure, it's not quite as high-quality as the Pixel 4's camera, but it has a triple-sensor lens and should be able to take decent shots in any situation.

Get the OnePlus 7 Pro from OnePlus, $549 (originally $699) [You save $150]

OnePlus 6T Deal

The OnePlus 6T is getting a $ 150 discount too, bringing the price down to $449, which while affordable, makes it the same price as the newer OnePlus 7T, which is a better deal.

The device was among the best phones of its time, and offers a nice design with a teardrop notch at the top, along with pretty powerful specs. You'll get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, along with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and a dual-sensor lens on the back. Sure, it's not quite as powerful or impressive as other OnePlus phones, but it still has a lot to offer.

Get the OnePlus 6T from OnePlus, $449 (originally $599) [You save $150]

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

See more Cyber Monday 2019 sales and deals

• The absolute best Cyber Monday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Cyber Monday 2019
• Amazon Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Target Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2019
• Macy's Cyber Monday deals 2019
• What is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know

• Canopy Growth, Aurora Cannabis, Cronos Group, and Tilray all reported quarterly earnings this week. 
• All reports fell short of analyst expectations and sent shares falling amid a difficult year for the cannabis industry. 
• Here's how each company did, and how much the stock was affected. 
• Read more on Business Insider. 

It was a rough week for cannabis companies. Four of the biggest businesses in the game — Canopy Growth, Aurora Cannabis, Cronos Group, and Tilray— reported earnings that fell short of analyst expectations. 

That led to stock declines across the board for the marijuana producers, ranging from a 2% slide for Tilray shares Wednesday to a 17.5% slide for Canopy Growth Friday. 

Now, shares of each company are a far cry from highs seen over the last year. In that time, the cannabis industry has dealt with a number of hurdles that have sent stock prices tumbling.  

"The headwinds around delayed retail development and corresponding bottlenecks at the wholesale level are likely to weigh heavily on results," wrote W. Andrew Carter, an analyst at Stifel, in an earnings primer November 3. 

Injuries related to vaping have been a drag for the industry. And, regulatory issues have led at least one company to destroy millions of dollars of weed inventory. 

Going forward, cannabis companies will need to spend heavily to grow, an "underappreciated aspect of the nascent, highly regulated, and quickly evolving category," according to Carter. 

This is apparent for companies looking to capture the legal market in Canada, as well as those looking to capitalize on the CBD market in the US, Carter said. According to Stifel, the US CBD category could be worth $5 billion over the next few years. 

Here's what four of the top cannabis companies reported in their quarterly earnings this week, and what effect that had on their stock prices a day after each earnings release:

1. Tilray Inc.

Ticker:TLRY

Reported earnings: November 12, 2019 

Here's what the company reported (in Canadian dollars), versus what analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expected:

• Adjusted Ebitda loss: $23.5 million reported, versus $19.3 million (expected) 
• Revenue: $51.1 million reported, versus $48.9 million (expected) 

Stock reaction post-earnings: -3%

2. Cronos Group

Ticker:CRON

Reported earnings: November 12, 2019 

Here's what the company reported (in Canadian dollars), versus what analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expected:

• Adjusted Ebitda loss: $23.9 million reported, versus $19.7 million (expected) 
• Revenue: $12.7 million reported, versus $13.7 million (expected) 

Stock reaction post-earnings: -7.3% 

3. Aurora Cannabis

Ticker:ACB

Reported earnings: November 14, 2019 

Here's what the company reported (in Canadian dollars), versus what analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expected:

• Adjusted Ebitda loss: $39.7 million reported, versus $20.8 million (expected) 
• Revenue: $75.2 million reported, versus $90.6 million (expected) 

Stock reaction post-earnings: -17.3%  

4. Canopy Growth Corp.

Ticker:CGC

Reported earnings: November 14, 2019 

Here's what the company reported (in Canadian dollars), versus what analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expected:

• Adjusted Ebitda loss: $155.7 million reported versus $96.1 million (expected)
• Revenue: $76.6 million reported versus $102.3 million (expected)

Stock reaction post-earnings: -14.4%  

• Black Friday is on November 29, 2019. 
• Even though that's the official start day, many retailers will actually launch deals a few days earlier.
• Black Friday deals often run through the weekend until Cyber Monday brings a fresh wave of deals.
• The Insider Picks team will be reporting the best Black Friday deals in real-time from big-box retailers — like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Nordstrom — and direct-to-consumer startups like Casper, Leesa, and Brooklinen.  
• To potentially save more on Black Friday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date coupons and promo codes.

Thanksgiving is coming up, and with it, Black Friday. Black Friday marks the beginning of the busiest shopping season of the year when shoppers pursue their gift-shopping list with increased urgency. 

When is Black Friday? 

Officially, Black Friday lands on Friday, November 29. 

But like many other retail holidays, Black "Friday" really starts a few days, or even earlier at some stores, before the real event. The high levels of anticipation for deals are enough to make retailers launch their sales early. 

That's probably better for shoppers anyway. It means they have extra time to shop the countless online sales at their leisure, rather than try to cram all their shopping into one hectic day. 

What time does Black Friday start? 

Here's when Black Friday starts at various retailers. While a handful will start their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day, there are also many that won't be open on the holiday. We will share the start dates and times of more stores as they're announced. 

Amazon: Device deals start online at 12 a.m. November 22. 

Best Buy: Stores will open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 1 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 8 a.m. November 29. Sales start online at 12 a.m. November 29. 

GameStop: Stores will open at 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 9 p.m. ET Thanksgiving Day. 

JCPenney: Stores will open at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. 

Kohl's: Stores will open at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 12:01 a.m. CT November 25. 

Macy's: Stores will be open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 2 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 6 a.m. November 29. 

Nordstrom: Stores will be open at 10 a.m. November 29. Sales start online on November 27. 

Target: Stores will be open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 1 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 7 a.m. November 29. RedCard holders get first access to over 100 online deals on November 27, while Target Circle members get access to select deals at 6 p.m. CT November 27. 

The Home Depot: Appliance Special Buys and early Black Friday deals are live now in participating stores and online. 

Walmart: Stores will open at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 10 p.m. ET November 27. 

What time does Black Friday end?

In stores, most Black Friday sales end after November 29. However, sales will continue online through Cyber Monday and beyond. In past years, we've seen sales last the entire week afterward. This year, that means Black Friday and Cyber Week sales should end around December 6. 

Once we learn the exact Black Friday 2019 end dates and times of the most popular retailers, like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, we will share them below. 

Best Buy: Stores close at 10 p.m. November 29. 

The Home Depot: Appliance Special Buys end at 11:59 p.m. December 5. 

How long do Black Friday sales last? 

Again, don't be fooled by the name that suggests it's a single day. Black Friday sales usually last at least a few days, whether they start early or continue on until Cyber Monday. 

What else can I learn about Black Friday? 

• These are the best tech deals and sales to expect on Black Friday 2019
• These are the best overall deals and sales to expect on Black Friday 2019
• Black Friday is coming — here are the 5 best things to buy and 6 things you should skip
• We asked the experts to find out if Black Friday or Cyber Monday is the better day to shop — here's what they said

Here are some of the best Black Friday deals you can shop by store. 

Best Black Friday deals from Amazon

• Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote, $25 with code "4KFIRETV" (originally $50) [You save $25]
• 23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry, $99 (originally $199) [You save $100] 
• Fire HD 10 Tablet, $100 (originally $150) [You save $50] - available November 22
• Kindle Paperwhite, $85 (originally $130) [You save $45] - available November 22

Learn more about Amazon's Black Friday deals

Best Black Friday deals from Best Buy

• Buy the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max with AppleCare+ and get $25 off the latest iPhone in 12 months
• Buy an unlocked iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max and get 3 free months of Apple Music (new subscribers only) and one free month of iCloud storage (new subscribers only)
• Samsung 75-inch NU6900 TV, $749.99 (originally $1,099.99) [You save $350]
• MacBook Air 13.3-inch laptop, $899.99 (originally $1,099) [You save $200]

Learn more about Best Buy's Black Friday deals

Best Black Friday deals from Target

• SodaStream Fizzi Classic, $49.99 (originally $89.99) [You save $40]  
• Instant Pot 6-Quart 7-in-1 Duo Nova, $64.95 (originally $99.95) [You save $35]
• Keurig K-Mini, $49.99 (originally $89.99) [You save $40]

Learn more about Target's Black Friday deals

Best Black Friday deals from Walmart

• Lenovo ideapad S145 15.6" Laptop, $189 (originally $269) [You save $80] 
• Apple iPad (6th Gen) 128GB Wi-Fi, $299 (originally $429) [You save $130] 
• Bose SoundSport In-Ear Android Headphones, $34 (originally $99) [You save $65]  
• Instant Pot LUX60 V3 6-in-1 Pressure Cooker, $65 (originally $99) [You save $34] 

Learn more about Walmart's Black Friday deals

See more Black Friday sales and deals

• The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019
• The best tech deals of Black Friday 2019
• Kohl's Black Friday deals 2019
• Amazon Black Friday deals 2019
• Walmart Black Friday deals 2019
• Target Black Friday deals 2019
• The best mattress deals on Black Friday 2019

• Rotten Tomatoes published a list of 104 TV shows beloved by critics, earning them a perfect 100% rating.
• Only 18 shows on the list premiered in 2019, so let's see what the best series of the year were. 
• NBC's "The Good Place," HBO's "Los Espookys" and "A Black Lady Sketch Show," plus Amazon Prime's "Fleabag" are among the top series.
• The list also includes Netflix's "Tuca and Bertie" and "One Day at a Time," which were both cancelled this year.
• Keep reading to see the full list. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rotten Tomatoes keeps a running list of the top television shows of all time based on critics' scores. Eighteen of the "Certified Fresh" series with 100% ratings premiered in 2019. From NBC sitcoms like "The Good Place" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" to the final season of "Jane the Virgin," we've rounded up all the best shows of the year according to critics.

Keep scrolling to see the 18 shows that received a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes this year.

"Better Things" (season three)

Synopsis: "A single mom struggles to raise three girls while trying to maintain her career as an actor."

Number of reviews: 31

Critics' Consensus: Pamela Adlon fully asserts her authorial voice over "Better Things" in a triumphant third season that examines the exhaustion of motherhood with exhilarating artistry.

Where to watch it: Hulu, FX

"Big Mouth" (season three)

Synopsis:"Growth spurts, or the lack of it, add to the usual tensions faced daily by the middle schoolers of 'Big Mouth.'" 

Number of reviews: 24

Critics' Consensus: Like the characters at its center, "Big Mouth's" third season continues to grow, taking on complicated new issues with the same gross-but-utterly-empathetic eye that made it so lovable in the first place.

Where to watch it: Netflix

"A Black Lady Sketch Show" (season one)

Synopsis: "'A Black Lady Sketch Show' is a narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests. The show presents sketches performed by a core cast of black women, including Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis and Quinta Brunson."

Number of reviews: 20

Critics' Consensus: Singular, subversive, and simply hilarious, "A Black Lady Sketch Show" finds universal humor in specific spaces to craft quick-witted sketches that perfectly showcase Robin Thede and her talented cast.

Where to watch it: HBO Now

"BoJack Horseman" (season six)

Synopsis: "Will Arnett voices BoJack, the failed legendary 90's sitcom star from the favorite family sitcom Horsin? Around, who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. Now, in the presence of his human sidekick Todd (Aaron Paul) and his feline agent and ex-paramour Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), BoJack is primed for his comeback..."

Number of reviews: 28

Critics' Consensus:Bittersweet and brilliant to the very end, "BoJack Horseman's" final season manages to keep surprising viewers with its empathy and depth, solidifying its place as one of TV's greatest offerings.

Where to watch it:Netflix

"Broad City" (season five)

Synopsis:"The cult hit web series Broad City comes compliments of the collective brains of Abbi Jacobson + Ilana Glazer (both UCB alum). Called "sneak attack feminism" by the Wall Street Journal, the series follows two friends in New York City navigating their way though the minutiae that is life."

Number of reviews: 25

Critics' Consensus: Glazer and Jacobson give the people exactly what they want in Broad City's final season - relatable content, questionable intimacy, and ingenious escapades through the glorious squalor of IRL NYC.

Where to watch it: Hulu, Comedy Central

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (season six)

Synopsis: "A sitcom following the lives of a group of detectives in a New York precinct, including one slacker who is forced to shape up when he gets a new boss."

Number of reviews: 26

Critics' Consensus:"Following a period of uncertainty and a shift to NBC, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' reemerges with its cast and tone wholly intact."

Where to watch it: NBC, Hulu

"David Makes Man" (season one)

Synopsis: "Centering on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out."

Number of reviews: 20

Critics' Consensus: Powerful, beautiful, and like nothing else on TV, "David Makes Man" blends dreamy aesthetics with an empathetically crafted story to create a truly unique viewing experience.

Where to watch it: OWN

"A Discovery of Witches" (season one)

Synopsis: "A contemporary love story that begins against the backdrop of Oxford academic life, in a world where small numbers of witches, vampires and daemons live and work, unseen amongst humans, hiding in plain sight. Teresa Palmer is the brilliant historian Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch denying her heritage. The discovery of a bewitched manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian Library throws her into the heart of a dangerous mystery — and into the path of the enigmatic vampire and geneticist, Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode), who hides a dark family secret."

Number of reviews: 27

Critics' Consensus:"A Discovery of Witches" smartly grounds its flights of fancy with a lived-in authenticity and harnesses the chemistry between its two star-crossed leads to make for a promising foray into the occult.

Where to watch it: AMC

"Documentary Now!" (season three)

Synopsis: "Featuring mockumentaries about faux people and events."

Number of reviews: 21

Critics' Consensus:Incisively critical of the genre and equally delighted by its subjects, "Documentary Now!" nails mockumentary under the deft direction of Rhys Thomas and Alex Buono.

Where to watch it: IFC, Netflix

"Fleabag" (season two)

Synopsis: "A sexually-liberated, irritable woman navigates modern life in London in this comedy. Based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge's play of the same name."

Number of reviews: 82

Critics' Consensus:"Fleabag" jumps back into the fray with a bracing second season that upholds its predecessor's frenzied wit and delicate heart, replete with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's indefatigable charisma.

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime Video

"The Good Place" (season four)

Synopsis: "Follows Eleanor Shellstrop, an ordinary woman who enters the afterlife, and thanks to some kind of error, is sent to the Good Place instead of the Bad Place (which is definitely where she belongs). While hiding in plain sight from Good Place Architect Michael, she's determined to shed her old way of living and earn her spot."

Number of reviews: 21

Critics' Consensus:A wild philosophical ride to the very end, "The Good Place" brings it home with a forking good final season.

Where to watch it:NBC

"Jane the Virgin" (season five)

Synopsis: "A comedy-drama following a chaste young woman who is accidentally impregnated via artificial insemination as she struggles to inform her devoutly religious family and make the right choices concerning the child. Based on the telenovela 'Juana la virgen.'"

Number of reviews: 21

Critics' Consensus: Gina Rodriguez delivers a stellar performance in "Jane the Virgin's" final season, grounding the series in humanity amidst all its quirky telenovela humor.

Where to watch it: Netflix

"Los Espookys" (season one)

Synopsis: "From Julio Torres and Ana Fabrega, alongside Fred Armisen and Lorne Michaels of 'Saturday Night Live,' the primarily Spanish-language show follows a group of friends who turn their love for horror into a peculiar business, providing horror to those who need it, in a dreamy Latin American country where the strange and eerie are just part of daily life."

Number of reviews: 25

Critics' Consensus:Igualmente hilarante y horripilante, "Los Espookys" is an espooky good time.

Where to watch it: HBO Now

"One Day at a Time" (season three)

Synopsis: "A remake of Norman Lear's classic 1975 sitcom revolves around a Cuban-American family headed by a recently separated military mom who's navigating a new single life while raising two children with the 'help' of her own mother and a building manager named Schneider."

Number of reviews: 29

Critics' Consensus:As timely and tender as ever, "One Day at a Time's" third season manages to up to comedy ante without losing the intimate family moments that help it hit so close to home.

Where to watch it: Netflix

"Sherman's Showcase" (season one)

Synopsis: "A sketch variety show like none before, 'Sherman's Showcase' travels through time via music and clips drawn from the forty-year library of a legendary (fictional) musical variety show."

Number of reviews: 20

Critics' Consensus: Bold, brisk, and beautiful, "Sherman's Showcase" is a delightful and stylish sketch show that moves to its own groove and invites everyone to laugh along.

Where to watch it:IFC 

"South Side" (season one)

Synopsis: "Two friends just graduated community college and are now ready to take over the world! But until they do they're stuck at Rent-T-Own, a retail-rental crossroads where the South Side's vast ensemble of characters come together."

Number of reviews: 21

Critics' Consensus: Absurdly funny and fearless, "South Side" successfully captures the spirit of a community and confronts tough social constructs with smart writing, a spectacular cast, and just the right amount of silliness.

Where to watch it: Comedy Central

"Tuca and Bertie" (season one)

Synopsis: "Free-spirited toucan Tuca and self-doubting song thrush Bertie are best friends -- and birds — who guide each other through life's ups and downs."

Number of reviews: 31

Critics' Consensus:"Tuca & Bertie" skips right past "Bojack Horseman's" shadow with its chipper sensibility and madcap sight gags, bringing plenty of laughs as it addresses adulting anxiety and exalts the joys of friendship.

Where to watch it: Netflix

"Undone" (season one)

Synopsis: "From acclaimed creators Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg (BoJack Horseman) comes 'Undone,' a groundbreaking and genre bending animated series about a young woman's complex journey to unlock her past and solve the mystery of her father's death."

Number of reviews: 42

Critics' Consensus: A kaleidoscopic existential crisis, "Undone" bends the rules of space, time, and rotoscoping to weave a beautifully surreal tapestry that is at once fantastical and utterly relatable.

Where to watch it: Amazon Prime

You can find the complete list of all 104 TV shows with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes here.

• US B-52 bombers and airmen deployed to the UK in October for Bomber Task Force 20-1.
• Bomber Task Force deployments are meant train US aircrews while reassuring partners and deterring foes.
• This rotation, which ended this week, was no different, as US bombers flew all over Europe and into the high north.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Four US Air Force B-52 bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana arrived in England with about 300 airmen on October 10 for a bomber task force deployment.

The bombers were deployed to RAF Fairford to "conduct integration and interoperability training" with partners in the region and to "exercise Air Force Global Strike Command's ability to conduct bomber operations from a forward operating location" in support of US Air Forces in Europe and US European Command.

Amid heightened tensions with Russia after its 2014 seizure of Crimea, bomber task force exercises over Europe are also meant to reassure US partners and to be a deterrent to Moscow — this deployment, like others before it, also saw US bombers fly close to Russia in Eastern Europe and the high north.

Below, you can see what US airmen and bombers did during the month they were in Europe.

SEE ALSO: Russia is finding new islands in the Arctic, while the US is still trying to figure out how to get up there

Bomber Task Force 20-1 was "part of a routine forward deployment of bomber aircraft in the European theater that demonstrates the US commitment to the collective defense of the NATO alliance," a US Air Forces Europe-Africa spokeswoman said.

The Barksdale B-52s' deployment to RAF Fairford was their first since this spring, the spokeswoman said, and comes not long after a B-2 Spirit bomber task force deployment in August and September that saw the stealth bomber accomplish several firsts over Europe.

BTF 20-1 missions kicked off a few days after the bombers landed in England.

The exercises were not only for aircrews. Munitions specialists deployed with the task force also practiced assembling BDU-50s — inert, unguided bombs.

Maintainers from the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, part of the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Barksdale, also provided routine and unscheduled maintenance for the B-52s to make sure they were ready at a moment's notice.

"Back home, people are focused on their job and will occasionally help out here and there," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Crowe, a B-52 expediter with the 2nd AMXS.

"Here, what seems to work is that everyone is all hands on deck. You may have an electronic countermeasures airman change an engine or an electrical environmental airman helping crew chiefs change brakes," Crowe added.

When the bomber is scheduled to land somewhere that doesn't have maintenance support for B-52s, a maintainer will go along as a "flying crew chief" to make sure the aircraft arrives safely and is ready to fly once it lands.

For a crew chief to qualify for that job, they must be at the top of their career field and complete hanging-harness training, a flight-equipment course, and go through the altitude chamber.

"We are essentially passengers on the aircraft, though we help the aircrew troubleshoot some things,"said Tech. Sgt. Gregory Oliver, a communications navigations technician. "However, when we land, we hit the ground running. We service the jet and get it ready to fly again."

On October 21, the B-52s ventured east to the Black Sea, flying a 12-hour, extended-duration sortie to train with counterparts from Romania, Ukraine and Georgia.

A few days later, B-52s from Fairford headed to the Baltic Sea, teaming up with Czech fighters for exercises over another European hotspot.

NATO's Baltic members, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are between Russia proper and its Baltic Sea exclave, Kaliningrad, where ground and naval forces are based, as well as air-defense systems, ballistic missiles, and what are thought to be nuclear weapons.

The final days of October saw the Barksdale B-52s conduct interoperability training with the French air force over France.

And with Polish F-16s over Poland.

The B-52s also exercised with British Typhoon fighter jets, which practiced intercepting the bombers over the North Sea.

At the end of October, B-52s at Fairford joined US Strategic Command's Global Thunder 20, an annual command-and-control exercise to train for Stratcom-specific missions, with a focus on nuclear readiness.

The B-52s also headed out over the Norwegian Sea to train with Norwegian F-16s.

BTF 20-1 started November with a change of scenery, heading to Saudi Arabia, flying with Saudi F-15s and US F-22 stealth fighters in support of US Central Command.

By November 6, three B-52s were back in the high north, flying into the Arctic Circle over the Barents Sea with Norwegian F-16s and with US Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

One flight-tracker showed the B-52s flying into the Barents, turning south near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic and then flying west near the Kola Peninsula. Both are home to Russian military facilities, including the Northern Fleet's home base.

The Russian navy and scientists recently mapped five new islands near Novaya Zemlya that were revealed by receding glacier ice.

The US Air Forces Europe-Africa spokeswoman declined to elaborate on where the B-52s flew while they were over the Barents.

"The mission in the Barents Sea region served as an opportunity to integrate with our Norwegian allies to improve interoperability as well as act as a visible demonstration of the US capability of extended deterrence," the spokeswoman said.

Two days after returning from the Barents exercise, the B-52s took off from Fairford on their way back to Barksdale.

BTF 20-1 finally concluded on November 13, after four weeks of continuous bomber presence in England that included flying 32 sorties with other bombers, tankers, and fighters; exercising with 13 other partner forces; and dropping 60 practice munitions in four countries.

BTF "rotations provide us with a consistent and near-continuous long-range weapon capability, and represent our ability to project air power around the globe," said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces Europe-Africa.

"Being here and talking with [our allies and partner militaries] on their ranges makes us more lethal,"said Lt. Col. John Baker, BTF commander and 96th Bomb Squadron commander.

• Rotten Tomatoes provided Insider with critic score data for movies reviewed in 2019.
• "Chained for Life,""One Cut of the Dead," and "The Chambermaid (La Camarista)" were among the highest-rated movies, earning scores of 100%.
• With a 4% score, "Mary" was deemed the worst movie of the year so far.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Using critic score data provided by Rotten Tomatoes, Insider rounded up this year's best and worst films. Only three movies have recieved a perfect score of 100% positive reviews, while a thriller movie called "Mary" is (so far) the worst film of 2019 with just a 4% score.

Keep reading to see the top 10 and bottom 10 movies of 2019 so far, according to critics.

BEST: "Chained for Life"— 100%

Synopsis: "A beautiful actress struggles to connect with her disfigured co-star on the set of a European auteur's English-language debut. Through pitch-black satire, 'Chained for Life' examines the treatment of disability on screen and on set."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:100%

Critics' consensus: Darkly funny and impressively ambitious, "Chained for Life" is as unpredictable as it is original.

"One Cut of the Dead"— 100%

Synopsis: "A cast of relative unknowns, a brilliantly disguised low budget and an epic, 37-minute opening single take makes Shin'ichirô Ueda's feature debut a bright, breezy and laugh-out-loud hilarious zombie comedy. A film crew is shooting a zombie horror flick in an abandoned water filtration plant, allegedly used for human experiments by the military. Just as the director browbeats his actors and demands more special effects blood, a real zombie apocalypse erupts, much to his auteur delight."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 100%

Critics' consensus: Brainy and bloody in equal measure, "One Cut of the Dead" reanimates the moribund zombie genre with a refreshing blend of formal daring and clever satire.

"The Chambermaid (La Camarista)"— 100%

Synopsis: "Eve, a young chambermaid at a luxurious Mexico City hotel, confronts the monotony of long workdays with quiet examinations of forgotten belongings and budding friendships that nourish her newfound and determined dream for a better life."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 100%

Critics' consensus: "The Chambermaid (La Camarista)" uses one woman's experiences to take audiences inside a life — and a culture — that's as bracingly unique as it is hauntingly relatable.

"The Farewell"— 99%

Synopsis:"The film follows a Chinese family who, when they discover their beloved Grandmother has only a short while left to live, decide to keep her in the dark and schedule an impromptu wedding to gather before she passes. Billi, feeling like a fish out of water in her home country, struggles with the family's decision to hide the truth from her grandmother."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:99%

Critics' consensus: "The Farewell" deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.

"Parasite (Gisaengchung)"— 99%

Synopsis: "Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:99%

Critics' consensus: An urgent, brilliantly layered look at timely social themes, "Parasite" finds writer-director Bong Joon Ho in near-total command of his craft.

"Apollo 11"— 99%

Synopsis: "'Apollo 11' is a cinematic space event film fifty years in the making. Featuring never-before-seen large-format film footage of one of humanity's greatest accomplishments.."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:99%

Critics' consensus: Edifying and inspiring in equal measure, "Apollo 11" uses artfully repurposed archival footage to send audiences soaring back to a pivotal time in American history.

"Ash is the Purest White"— 99%

Synopsis: "A tragicomedy initially set in the jianghu-criminal underworld-setting, 'Ash is the Purest White' is less a gangster movie than a melodrama. With a three-part structure, it begins by following the quick-witted Qiao (Tao Zhao) and her mobster boyfriend Bin (Fan Liao) as they stake out their turf against rivals and upstarts in 2001 postindustrial Datong before expanding out into an epic narrative of how abstract forces shape individual lives."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 99%

Critics' consensus: "Ash Is Purest White" finds writer-director Zhangke Jia revisiting familiar themes while continuing to observe modern Chinese society with an urgent, empathetic eye.

"Amazing Grace"— 99%

Synopsis: "Concert footage from 1972 of Aretha Franklin performing songs from the best-selling gospel album at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 

Critics' consensus: Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, "Amazing Grace" is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.

"Honeyland"— 99%

Synopsis: "Nestled in an isolated mountain region deep within the Balkans, Hatidze Muratova lives with her ailing mother in a village without roads, electricity or running water. She's the last in a long line of Macedonian wild beekeepers, eking out a living farming honey in small batches to be sold in the closest city — a mere four hours' walk away."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 99%

Critics' consensus: "Honeyland" uses life in a remote village to offer an eye-opening perspective on experiences that should resonate even for audiences halfway around the world.

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire"— 98%

Synopsis: "France, 1760. Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. Because she is a reluctant bride-to-be, Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night. As the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow as they share Héloïse's first moments of freedom. Héloïse's portrait soon becomes a collaborative act of and testament to their love."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 98%

Critics' consensus: A singularly rich period piece, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" finds stirring, thought-provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance.

WORST: "Mary"— 4%

Synopsis: "David is a struggling blue-collar captain looking to make a better life for his family. Strangely drawn to an abandoned ship that is up for auction, David impulsively buys the boat, believing it will be his family's ticket to happiness and prosperity. But soon after they embark on their maiden journey, strange and frightening events begin to terrorize David and his family, causing them to turn on one another and doubt their own sanity."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 4%

Critics' consensus: Misguided from stem to stern, "Mary" wastes the talents of an outstanding cast — and makes a soggy mess of its supernatural horror story.

"Jacob's Ladder"— 5%

Synopsis: "After the death of his brother in Afghanistan, Jacob Singer is finally getting his life back together. He has a beautiful wife, a new born child and a successful career as surgeon in a VA hospital. When a stranger approaches him and tells him that his brother is actually alive and living in an underground shelter with other homeless vets, Jacob's life starts to unravel."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:5%

Critics' consensus: N/A

"Replicas"— 9%

Synopsis: "After a car accident kills his family, a daring synthetic biologist (Reeves) will stop at nothing to bring them back, even if it means pitting himself against a government-controlled laboratory, a police task force, and the physical laws of science."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:9%

Critics' consensus: Equal parts plot holes and unintentional laughs, "Replicas" is a ponderously lame sci-fi outing that isn't even bad enough to be so bad it's good.

"The Professor"— 10%

Synopsis: "Richard, a buttoned-down college lecturer who, after learning he has six months to live, transforms into a rebellious party animal. To the shock of his wife and school chancellor — and the delight of his students— Richard leads a hilarious crusade against authority and hypocrisy in this dark comedy costarring Zoey Deutch."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 10%

Critics' consensus: A muddled story populated with thinly written characters and arranged around a misguided Johnny Depp performance, "The Professor" fails early and often.

"Jexi"— 11%

Synopsis: "Phil has a major dependency issue — he's addicted to his phone. He has no friends, he has a job writing pop culture 'Top 10' lists, and his love life is non-existent. But his Facebook status is about to change. When he is forced to upgrade his phone, the latest model comes with an unexpected feature ... Jexi — an A.I. life coach, virtual assistant and cheerleader."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 11%

Critics' consensus: It's hard to tell whether the lack of laughs in "Jexi" is a bug or a feature, but this AI rom-com is sorely in need of an OS update.

"A Madea Family Funeral"— 12%

Synopsis: "A joyous family reunion turns into a hilarious nightmare as Madea and the crew travel to backwoods Georgia and unexpectedly plan a funeral, which threatens to reveal sordid family secrets."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 12%

Critics' consensus: A lackluster conclusion to Tyler Perry's long-running franchise, "A Madea Family Funeral" proves saying goodbye can be painful for all the wrong reasons.

"An Acceptable Loss"— 13%

Synopsis: "She was the ultimate patriot. Now, what she knows could bring down the government. Libby Lamm is a former top national security advisor who, while working with Rachel Burke, a ruthless, steely-willed political veteran, signed off on a controversial military action that was supposed to end the war on terror. The problem: thousands died under false pretenses."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 13%

Critics' consensus: "An Acceptable Loss" attempts a political thriller approach to a serious issue, but ends up sacrificing thrills — as well as a satisfying story — in the bargain.

"The Hustle"— 14%

Synopsis: "Josephine Chesterfield is a glamorous, seductive Brit with a sprawling home in Beaumont-sur-Mer and a penchant for defrauding gullible wealthy men from all corners of the world. Into her well-ordered, meticulously moneyed world bursts Penny Rust, an Aussie who is as free-form and fun-loving as Josephine is calculated and cunning."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 14%

Critics' consensus: "The Hustle's" stars might make an effective comedy team in a different setting, but this gender-flipped remake of a remake adds little beyond its feminine twist.

"Night Hunter (Nomis)"— 15%

Synopsis: "A weathered lieutenant, his police force, and a local vigilante are all caught up in a dangerous scheme involving a recently arrested, troubled man who's linked to years of female abductions and murders."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score: 15%

Critics' consensus: Contrived and cliched, "Night Hunter" wastes a solid cast in pursuit of action-adventure thrills that stubbornly refuse to materialize.

"A Score to Settle"— 15%

Synopsis: "Diagnosed with a fatal condition, Frankie Carver is released from prison after serving 19 years of hard time. With only a short time left to live, Frankie must desperately try to make amends with the son he left behind while he plots a bloody course of revenge — tracking down his old gang to make them pay one by one."

Rotten Tomatoes critics' score:15%

Critics' consensus: N/A

• Read more:
• 13 fantastic movies you probably didn't watch this year, but should
• 9 of the best and 9 of the worst TV shows that came out this year, so far
• The best movies of 2019 so far that you absolutely need to see
• The 12 most disappointing movies of 2019, so far