Behind every great man is a great woman, as they say. But who stands behind the world's biggest despots?

In good times and in bad, the ladies of the Dictators' Wives Club put up with a lot: corruption, political uprisings, and often other wives.

Some, like Rwandan first lady Jeannette Kagame, use their position to advocate for charitable causes. Others, like the president of Syria's wife, Asma al-Assad, are pros at looking the other way and smiling for official Instagram photos.

For this list, we defined a dictator as a near-absolute ruler known for human-rights abuses, restrictions on freedom of the press, and oppression of opposition.

Melissa Stanger contributed reporting to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: 9 billionaires who plan to give away the majority of their fortunes

Ana Paula dos Santos, wife of Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos

The first lady: A former fashion model, Ana Paula dos Santos knew her husband from her time as a flight attendant on the Angolan version of Air Force One. She now has a degree in teaching and law and is a member of the International Steering Committee.

A diplomat once described the president and first lady as "a handsome couple, elegantly and expensively dressed, looking for all the world as though they're living in southern California."

Her husband: During President dos Santos' 37 years in office, he has consolidated all political power under his control. Countless atrocities, including torture and mass murders, occurred under his watch during a 27-year-long civil war. There are still reports of torture and repression of ethnic minorities going on in Angola today.

President dos Santos announced earlier this year he will step down in 2018.

Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

The Queen Consort: Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa is the first wife of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Aside from being a devoted mother to their four children (one of whom is the crown prince), Ibrahim Al Khalifa is an outspoken activist for women's and children's rights, both in Bahrain and around the world, having addressed the UN General Assembly about these issues.

She serves as the head of the Higher National Committee, which works to mainstream women's needs across government and the economy and empower her gender politically. 

Her husband: The country has been run by the Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783. Hamad declared himself king in 2002, previously holding the title of Emir, meaning "commander."

After an uprising against him in 2011, Amnesty International condemned the failure of the Bahraini government amid "spiraling repression," including banning all public gatherings and rallies, revoking citizenship of those who speak out, and torturing both adults and children.

Chantal Biya, wife of Cameroonian President Paul Biya

The first lady:Known as a trendsetter (there was a Tumblr devoted to her famously tall hair-do), the first lady of Cameroon is very social and has been photographed alongside Michelle Obama, Paris Hilton, and Pope Francis. Biyasays her favorite European designers are Dior and Chanel, and many of the pieces in her wardrobe are custom-made.

Thirty-eight years her husband's junior, Biya is also a member of African Synergy, a club that addresses solutions to HIV and AIDS in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.

Her husband: President Biya has been in office for more than 30 years, and in 2008 he removed restrictions on term limits so that he could run for office indefinitely. His state security forces have been accused of executing protestors and using other means of violence and oppression to prevent political opposition. A 2015 report from Africa Review found that Biya has a salary that is nearly 229 times more than the average for his country.

Members of San Francisco's budding marijuana industry celebrated the legalization of recreational weed in their state in their natural habitat — a marijuana dispensary.

The night's festivities were marred, however, by the presidential race. Trump cinched the election in the biggest upset in political history, and the crowd was not so pleased. 

Take a look at how the night played out.

SEE ALSO: Recreational marijuana is now legal in California

By day, retailer Sparc sells medical marijuana to patients.

Election night, the pot shop transformed into a green room where patients, activists, and "ganjapreneurs" gathered to watch the results of California's Proposition 64 roll in.

Proposition 64 allows adults over the age of 21 to use, possess, and transport up to an ounce of marijuana — enough to fill a sandwich baggy — for non-medical purposes.

Californians overwhelmingly said yes to recreational marijuana on Election Day.

Those in favor of the decision owe a big thanks to billionaire Silicon Valley fixture Sean Parker.

The former Facebook president and founder of Napster contributed $8.5 million to the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in California.

Parker has been radio silent regarding Proposition 64, though his dollars said otherwise.

"If you wanted to invent the perfect funder for a California ballot measure, it would be hard to dream up one better than Sean Parker," Jason Kinney, a spokesperson for the Proposition 64 campaign, told Business Insider. "He did this for social justice, not the personal spotlight."

Over the last year, Parker became the single biggest donor of the initiative, by far, according to The Los Angeles Times. Another $4 million came from a nonprofit called the Fund for Policy Reform, which is backed by New York hedge fund billionaire George Soros.

All said, Proposition 64 raised close to $16 million, about four times the amount spent on a failed effort to legalize recreational weed in California in 2010. That money helped fund campaign literature and postage, fundraising events, polling and survey research, and professional services such as legal and accounting, according to campaign finance filings.

The winning bill, which comes 20 years after California legalized medical marijuana, will allow adults ages 21 and over to use, possess, and transport up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes. People can also grow six plants each at home.

The bill imposes a 15% tax on sales of the drug, generating up to $1 billion in new tax revenue annually, according to the Yes on Prop 64 campaign website.

Proposition 64 first got its nickname — "The Parker Initiative" — in fall 2015 when Parker's first contribution became known. The campaign claims Parker had no hand in crafting the specifics or language of the bill, though he expected a "professional and ethical campaign."

"From the outset, he made it clear that he would be supportive but that he wanted the policy experts to write the best policy and the political professionals to run the best campaign," Kinney said. "And that's exactly what we did."

This isn't the first time Parker threw his name or money behind an effort to end the prohibition on pot. He gave $100,000 to the unsuccessful California initiative from 2010 and also contributed $2 million for recreational marijuana in Oregon.

Parker was also a general partner at Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, which has invested heavily in legal marijuana. The media has suggested Parker's role meant he had material gains to make from the success of Proposition 64; however, Parker left Founders Fund in 2015, a year before the firm led a $75 million round for marijuana-focused equity firm Privateer Holdings.

Even in the days leading up to the election, Parker has kept quiet on the bill. Representatives for Parker did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Still, his name often makes the headline of news stories about legalization in California.

Kinney said the so-called Parker Initiative actually has little to do with the tech tycoon.

"This was never about him. It was about the thousands of lives shattered and the billions of taxpayers dollars squandered by a failed war on marijuana," Kinney said. "He didn't want to be a distraction. He wanted the focus where it belongs — on the measure itself."

SEE ALSO: Recreational marijuana is now legal in California

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Billionaires Sean Parker and George Soros have given millions to support marijuana legalization

Donald Trump's victory on Election Day left millions of Americans disappointed, but a few countries would like to remind people of something very important.

There's no shame in moving.

In the 18 months leading up to November 8, people in Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand all extended an invitation to Americans to relocate if they aren't happy with how the presidential race shakes out.

In most cases, people who talk about moving to another country don't follow through. (Turns out earning citizenship is a hard, time-consuming process.) But in this case, certain places want to make it as painless an experience as possible.

Canada

This past March, a website called Cape Breton If Donald Trump Wins began touting Cape Breton Island, located just off the coast of Nova Scotia, as the hot new destination for people displeased with a Republican in the Oval Office.

The site boasts the island's cheap housing — "You'll find it one of the, if not the most affordable in North America!" — and opportunities for investment.

In reality, Cape Breton is seeing an economic slowdown because people are getting older and no longer work. The threat of a Donald Trump victory might be more of a sales tactic than anything else.

"The truth is, we welcome all, no matter who you support," the website says on its homepage, "be it Democrat, Republican or Donald Trump."

Ireland

There are just 58 people who call the Irish island of Inishturk home. Mary Heanue, Inishturk's development officer, reminded people in a TV documentary earlier this year that Americans are more than welcome to help boost that number, since Inishturk is hurting economically.

"I've heard there are quite a few people in America looking to move to Ireland and other countries if Donald Trump becomes president," Heanue said, adding that kids would have near one-on-one instruction time in schools. "I'd like them to know that we'd love to see them consider moving over here."

Irish passports may be hard to come by, however, as the recent Brexit vote has led to a surge in people looking to leave the UK in search of greener pastures.

New Zealand

As Ruth Bader Ginsburg hinted this past July, New Zealand is a third option for Americans who want a warm welcome come November.

"If you're like many people who move to New Zealand from the USA, you're probably looking for a relaxed pace of life, in an unspoiled country where people are friendly and look out for each other," the country's immigration office says on its website.

The country entices Americans with its mild summers and winters, good education system, and high standard of living.

SEE ALSO: How to move to Canada and become a Canadian citizen

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'The American people have spoken': A Trump supporter reacts to his big win from the victory party

In the wake of Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections on Tuesday, half the nation is joyous right now and the other half is depressed and upset. 

To our credit as a nation, this will be yet another peaceful transition of power. But that doesn't mean that those who are opposed to Donald Trump have changed their minds. Instead, a growing number of them are taking to Twitter to protest peacefully, via a movement called #TwitterBlackout.

They are changing their profile pictures to a blank black square. Some of them are also tweeting hopeful messages of support to the people that feel particularly vulnerable now that Trump, whose campaign was marked by divisive rhetoric, has won the White House. A site called HashtagNow has created a collection of some of the best tweets involving #TwitterBlackout.

While this won't change the outcome of the election, the protest seems particularly apt. This has been called the Twitter election as everyone has taken to the social media site to share opinions, make statements, and fire insults and come-backs — especially the candidates themselves.

SEE ALSO: Out of 1 billion election tweets, one zinger from Hillary Clinton was the most popular

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How the ‘perfect body’ for men has changed over the last 150 years

"Calexit" is swiftly taking over social media.

After Donald Trump won the race to the White House, people across California took to social media Tuesday night to call for "Calexit" — California exit — recalling Brexit, Britain's push to leave the European Union.

As the topic continues to trend on Twitter, Californians in favor of seceding from the US will gather today on the steps of the capitol in Sacramento.

The group leading the charge, Yes California Independence Campaign, assembled long before Trump's surprising victory. Its aim is to hold a referendum in 2019 that, if passed, would make California an independent country.

The movement has racked up an impressive backer already. Shervin Pishevar, an early investor in Uber and well-known angel investor, said on Twitter that he would bankroll a campaign to make California its own nation if Trump won.

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, he confirmed his mission.

"It's the most patriotic thing I can do," he told CNBC. "The country is at serious crossroads. ... Calling it New California."

He expressed a desire that California, the sixth-largest economy in the world in terms of GDP, might become a catalyst for a "national dialogue" as the country reaches a "tipping point."

More Silicon Valley innovators are hopping on the bandwagon. Dave Morin, an investor and founder of the private social networking tool Path, and Marc Hemeon, a former Google employee and founder of Design Inc., also showed their support on Twitter, CNN Money reports.

The president of Yes California, Louis Marinelli, is one of the state's most unorthodox political thinkers. The Buffalo, New York, native and current California resident served as the former interim chairman of the California National Party, whose primary goal is achieving California's independence from the US. He also taught English in Russia.

In 2015, Marinelli paid $200 each for nine initiatives related to California's secession to get them on a statewide ballot. He also ran a failed campaign for a seat in the California State Assembly.

"What's going on in the US politically and culturally is so different from what's happening here," Marinelli told The Los Angeles Times in 2015. "I want California to be all it can, and our group feels the political and cultural connection to the US is holding us back from our potential."

The fringe political movement gathered steam in June, when the UK broke from the EU.

"This is the first Western secessionist movement that worked, and I think that is going to be very profound," Marinelli told Newsweek shortly after Brexit. "Are you going to say to people in the freest country in the world [you] don't have the right to self-determination?"

Twitter had this to say:

Others expressed greater uncertainty about the idea of Calexit:

SEE ALSO: How a Silicon Valley billionaire helped get marijuana legalized in California

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Trump presidency 'could stand Britain in better stead in terms of a trade agreement'

America is seeing green after a historic day for the legal marijuana industry.

Seven states in all legalized marijuana in some form on Election Day. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada showed up to support recreational marijuana, while Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota passed ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana.

A recreational legalization proposal in Arizona brought the industry's only loss on Tuesday.

Take a look at our map to see how legalization swept the nation.

"This is really day one of a decade-or-more-long process of bringing this industry into the light and getting rid of the illicit market," Richard Miadich, one of the authors of California's Proposition 64, told Business Insider on Tuesday.

The landmark election brings a few victories for the budding legal market, which is on pace to hit $20 billion in revenue by 2020, according to the Marijuana Business Daily.

California was the biggest domino to fall in the nationwide push for legalization. The passage of Proposition 64, which makes it legal for adults 21 and over to possess and carry up to an ounce of marijuana, makes the entire West Coast a legal enclave for recreational pot.

"Western states have led the way on legalizing marijuana but the victory in Massachusetts powerfully demonstrates that this movement is now bicoastal and soon to be national," Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told Business Insider. "Indeed, I'd wager that the next states to legalize marijuana will also be in the Northeast."

The new states will help create billions of dollars in tax revenue, as well as apply pressure on the federal government to abandon the failed war on drugs.

"To be honest, tonight's vote might be considered the tipping point for the industry," said Ben Larson, cofounder of Oakland-based marijuana startup accelerator Gateway.

"It will likely open up the sizable market that will put the pressure on the federal government to deal with the scheduling and banking issues, and it may be the key to unlocking much more investment and talent waiting on the sidelines," Larson told Business Insider.

It will likely take several years to get the new markets up and running.

SEE ALSO: Americans overwhelmingly said yes to marijuana on Election Day

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Legal marijuana may have several health benefits

What you eat all day doesn't affect just your health and weight — it affects your productivity, too.

High-fat, high-sugar meals and snacks make us sleepy and have low energy, says Lisa De Fazio, a healthy-lifestyle expert and registered dietitian. But thanks to things like boredom, lack of time, and sleep deprivation, people tend to make bad eating decisions during the workday.

Luckily, there are plenty of quick, easy, and inexpensive healthy snack options.

SEE ALSO: An unexpected way to prepare for your next big job interview in just 15 minutes

Almonds

Almonds are a great source of protein and healthy fat that is satisfying. "They contain nine essential nutrients; have the highest rate of proteins when compared to other nuts; have the highest rate of fiber (3.5g per 23 pieces) when compared to other nuts; are rich in Vitamin E (23 pieces provide 35% of the daily value of Vitamin E); and contain monounsaturated fats that help increase HDL levels," explains Nicole Maftoum, a Lebanese clinical dietitian. 

Low-fat popcorn

This low-calorie snack will satisfy your craving for something salty and crunchy, and it's also a good source of fiber, De Fazio says. 

If you're trying to be healthy, stay away from the buttery variety.

Fresh fruit

Fruits are packed with vitamins and minerals and are full of great natural sweetness, Maftoum says. "They are also a great source of antioxidants needed for a stronger immune system and a better performance at work."

Canada is looking like a popular destination the day after the shocking US election.

Many are looking for ways to move there and become Canadian citizens, and searches for one-way plane tickets to Canada surged 1,000% on the morning of November 9. The Government of Canada's immigration website even crashed Tuesday night as the US election results came in. 

Whether you're leaving your home country for good or just looking to get away for a while, here are 16 things to do if you opt to spend some time in the Great White North.

SEE ALSO: How to move to Canada and become a Canadian citizen

DON'T MISS: The best places for Americans to live in Canada

With a population of about 2.6 million, Toronto is Canada's largest city, with world-class restaurants, museums, universities and historic districts.

Dine on inventive small plates at Chef Lorenzo Loseto's George Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Toronto. Menu highlights include an ahi tuna wrapped in sweet potato and a Cornish hen served with goat cheese and broccoli.

If skiing is your hobby of choice, Whistler in British Columbia has some of the best slopes in the world.

Humans are wired to be on the lookout for the thing that wants to eat us next. 

But the audience at your next presentation is not, in fact, a bunch of razor-toothed animals. They generally want to see you do well.

To help you trick your brain into calming down, we've put together a series of tips for overcoming stress, fear, and anxiety.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: TONY ROBBINS: 'Trading your expectations for appreciation' will make you more attractive

A fringe political group in California wants to opt out of a Donald Trump presidency by leaving the union.

The Yes California Independence Campaign aims to put a referendum on a 2018 ballot that, if passed, would make California an independent country.

Far-fetched as it may sound, the plan started gathering steam after Tuesday night's surprising vote. The movement has an impressive backer in Shervin Pishevar, a well-known angel investor who offered to bankroll the campaign.

"As the sixth largest economy in the world, California is more economically powerful than France and has a population larger than Poland. Point by point, California compares and competes with countries, not just the 49 other states," Yes California wrote in a statement.

Louis Marinelli, an outspoken political activist and president of Yes California, envisions California as a sovereign entity within the US, much like Scotland in the United Kingdom.

There is no clear path for how California might appeal to the federal government so that it may leave. The US Constitution lays out procedures for how a new state may enter the union, but there are no pre-existing protocols for a nation to exit.

Marinelli, however, sees a workaround.

The process most likely with a ballot measure passed by California voters.

In 2015, Marinellipaid $200 each to get nine initiatives related to secession on a statewide ballot, according to The Los Angeles Times. None garnered the nearly 400,000 signatures necessary to appear on the ballot. So Marinelli and his followers are forced to start over.

Yes California now aims to gather enough signatures to put a referendum on the 2018 ballot, when Californians will choose their next governor.

Should a clear majority declare their support for a Brexit-style departure, the group may follow down one of two paths. Both lean on a significant case argued before the US Supreme Court in 1869 — Texas v. White — which touched on a state's ability to seceded.

Here's option 1, as described in a statement from Yes California:

"A member of the California federal delegation to Washington would propose an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowing the State of California to withdraw from the Union. The Amendment would have to be approved by 2/3 of the House of Representatives and 2/3 of the Senate. If the Amendment passed it would be sent to the fifty state legislatures to be considered (to satisfy the "consent of the states" requirement in Texas v. White). It would need to be accepted by at least 38 of the 50 state legislatures to be adopted.

Alternatively:

"California could call for a convention of the states (which is currently being organized to tackle other constitutional amendments as we speak) and the Amendment granting California its independence would have to be approved by 2/3 of the delegates to this convention. If it passed, the Amendment would be sent to the fifty state legislatures to be considered and 38 of the 50 states would have to approve the measure in order for it to be adopted."

No state has ever seceded from the union, despite Texas' best efforts earlier this year.

"The legality of seceding is problematic,' Eric McDaniel, associate professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin, told the Texas Tribune in June, at the height of Brexit hysteria. "The Civil War played a very big role in establishing the power of the federal government and cementing that the federal government has the final say in these issues."

Marinelli acknowledges the road ahead is long.

"What's going on in the US politically and culturally is so different from what's happening here," Marinelli told the LA Times in 2015. "I want California to be all it can, and our group feels the political and cultural connection to the US is holding us back from our potential."

SEE ALSO: People in California take to social media to call for a 'Calexit' from the US in the wake of Trump's win

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: ‘We’re actually all on one team': Watch Obama’s full remarks after Trump’s victory

The last month of the election was marked by scandal after scandal.

A lewd 2005 tape surfaced of Republican president-elect Donald Trump bragging about groping women and kissing them without permission.

Finding the courage to come forward after the video leaked, over a dozen women accused Trump of sexually assaulting them. He denied every allegation.

After appearing to finally be past the email investigation that embroiled her early campaign, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was broadsided again when FBI Director James Comey announced he was examining new emails from when Clinton used a private server while secretary of state. A week later — and only three days before the election — Comey told Congress there was no need to investigate her further.

And the widely watched, brutal debates between the two candidates only increased the divisiveness across the country. While Clinton appeared to be the overwhelming favorite in nearly all the polls, her ascension was never really certain.

It has been an emotional month. After waking up to the shock of President-elect Trump, Americans are likely still feeling raw emotions — whether they were the half who voted for him or not.

Here are 40 iconic photos from the election's bitter final month:

SEE ALSO: 'Hatred wins': Newspapers around the world are in shock over Trump upset

DON'T MISS: Here's how 2016's possibly record turnout compares to past elections

Nine-year-old Belle Shefrin holds a Clinton doll while listening to the first female presidential candidate for a major political party speak at a campaign rally in Akron, Ohio on October 3.

Trump waves to supporters outside the front door of the infamous Trump Tower where he lives in Manhattan on October 8.

Trump listens as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their second debate on October 9. He was later criticized for "lurking" behind her.

The Marine Corps, which turned 241 years old on Thursday, has served a role in every conflict in US history.

That's because the Marines operate on sea, air, and land — unlike the other service branches — and can respond to a crisis in less than 24 hours with the full force of a modern military.

To celebrate the Corps, we've pulled some of the best photos from the archives.

Semper Fi!

SEE ALSO: WELCOME TO THE SUCK: Here's what life at Marine boot camp is like

Created in 1798, the Marine Corps Band was called "The President's Own" by President Jefferson during his inaugural ball. Since then, the band has played at every presidential inauguration. Here's the band in 1893.

In the early 1900s, Marine forces were active in China and in the Philippines. This photo, from 1907, shows Marines posing in front of the Great Sphinx in Egypt.

World War I was characterized by trench warfare and the use of poison gas. Mortars were useful in muddy trenches because a mortar round could be aimed to fall directly into trenches, unlike artillery shells. These Marines are posing with a German trench mortar captured in France in 1918.

In a recent article for Wired magazine, Kristen Berman and behavioral economist Dan Ariely share their experience hosting a dinner party with one key rule: "Absolutely no small talk."

Apparently, the guests were all the happier for it — and the authors conclude in their headline that "small talk should be banned."

Whether this sounds to you like a great idea or a terrifying prospect, the fact is that most event organizers won't go so far as to prohibit small talk — so you'd best get good at it.

To help you out, we checked out Quora, Reddit, and other resources, and highlighted some of the best tips for upping your small-talk game. You can even make a habit of practicing with strangers you'll probably never see again, since research suggests that making conversation with fellow commuters leaves people happier.

Read on to impress new acquaintances — and yourself — with your masterful conversation skills.

1. Demonstrate interest in your conversation partner

Several Quora users said the best way to keep a conversation rolling was to show you care about what the other person has to say.

"If you don't fundamentally care about the person you are speaking with, that will show, and that may be the primary reason why you are running out of things to discuss," Kai Peter Chang writes.

That also means letting your conversation partner share information about himself or herself.

"Let the other person speak more," Anam Gulraiz writes. "People LOVE talking about themselves."

2. Ask open-ended questions

Instead of asking yes/no questions that lead to dead ends, encourage your conversation partner to share some more detail about his or her life.

"In general, open-ended questions lead to more conversational paths,"Craig Weiland says.

For example, instead of asking a fellow party guest, "Are you here with your family?" you might ask, "How did you meet the host?"

3. Allow your conversation partner to teach you

"If there's a subject you're not familiar with, just be honest with that person and nine out of 10 times they'll teach you about it," Michael Wong writes.

It goes back to that central idea of letting other people do most of the talking. Asking other people to explain what they mean might prompt them to talk for at least another few minutes.

Kohl's says it's starting to go after a customer that is often ignored. 

"Our focus is really on the family, so this is focusing on the family member we kind of forgot about — the millennial, who is still part of that family." Sofia Wacksman, Kohl's vice president of trend, told Business Insider.

November 14 Kohl's is launching a new initiative, targeted at the stylish urban millennial, called k/lab. It's a new collection that aims to be more fast-fashion than the brand's typical offerings. 

The collection will not be tied down to traditional fashion seasons, and, because Kohl's has worked closely with partners and distributors, has been able to cut down the time from concept to delivery to a matter of weeks.

Much of the retail industry decides fashions up to a year ahead of time, but Kohl's is looking at k/lab as more reactive, with an emphasis on speed.

The company hopes to spread what is learned during this experiment to the rest of the store and other collections.

The brand's investment comes at a time when department store stalwarts Macy's and Sears are grappling with falling traffic, aging brick-and-mortar stores, and customers who are addicted to steep discounts.  

Kohl's is aware that the millennial woman is not their core customer. The goal with k/lab, according to the company, is to get new customers in the store who may not have considered shopping at Kohl's before, but are interested in the new collection. 

To develop the collection, Kohl's trend team, along with a data scientist charged with finding what's new and now in women's fashion, in their New York City office. The data scientist will scour social media and sales numbers to help inform what pieces to bring to market next.

The pieces in k/lab will be much more fashion-forward than other more conservative Kohl's collections, Wacksman said. They're also allowed the  team to be a bit more "crazy," and Wacksman says the team is not afraid to make mistakes.

A jumpsuit made from velvet called the "Feel Me Jumpsuit," a brightly patterned bomber jacket called the "Boy Bomber," and other designs that would appeal to a younger demographic are all expected. 

Prices are expected to range from $28 - $78, with shirts and skirts selling for under $58, dresses and pants ranging from $58 - $68, and jackets $78. Wholesale orders for the items will start in low quantities, with the flexibility to ramp up or down as an item becomes more or less popular, so the collection's stock will change more frequently than Kohl's other lines. If an item becomes a huge hit, there's potential to move it to another Kohl's collection.

For the in-store experience, k/lab will be housed in a completely separate display — different from other collections and built in a way to stand out. The collection will launch in 21 stores across the nation in cities identified by Kohl's as having larger populations of the customer it's trying to reach with this initiative. Online, the collection has its own landing page separate from the rest of the Kohl's website.

K/lab plays into Kohl's greater multi-year strategy for turning around sales called the Greatness Agenda, which is a multi-pillared approach began in 2014. The hope is to take the initiatives piloted and lessons learned at k/lab and apply them to rest of the store.

"Whether [k/lab] works or not, for me, is less relevant. It's teaching us new skills and new tools on how we can approach the business," Michelle Gass, chief merchandising and customer officer for Kohl's, told Business Insider. "It's helping us think differently, so it's already is a success in my mind."

SEE ALSO: Adidas has just hit a huge milestone in its American comeback

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the best watches at every price point

If the recent upset victory for Donald Trump has you fantasizing about moving to Canada, you may be in luck — Canada is, in fact, looking for a few skilled men and women (actually, thousands of them).

As Business Insider's Chris Weller previously reported, Canada's fast-track system for immigration called Express Entry is perhaps the quickest way for skilled workers to transition into a role in the country. The Canadian government has committed to an application processing time of six months for most cases.

All applicants for Express Entryare scored based on factors including their skills, work experience, language ability, and education, and then they're ranked with other applicants. Those at the top of the rankings are then invited to become permanent residents.

Following the program's launch in 2015, the Canadian government reports that more than 31,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence have been issued to a diverse range of highly skilled immigrants.

According to the Canadian government, these are the occupations most frequently invited to apply for permanent residency as of January 3, 2016:

SEE ALSO: How to move to Canada and become a Canadian citizen

DON'T MISS: If you're upset with the election results, Canada is making it easy to move there if you work in tech

10. Financial and investment analysts

Number of successful Express Entry applicants: 446

Percent of invited applicants: 1.4%

9. Financial auditors and accountants

Number of successful Express Entry applicants: 494

Percent of invited applicants: 1.6%

8. Graphic designers and illustrators

Number of successful Express Entry applicants: 550

Percent of invited applicants: 1.8%

The newest tallest tower in the world is coming to dethrone the Burj Khalifa. The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbor will stand 3,045 feet tall, 328 feet taller than the Burj. The project is expected to be completed in 2020 and cost 1 billion dollars.

Follow Tech Insider: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

WASHINGTON, DC — Children who grow up with one or both parents in the military and spend time on or around bases — otherwise known as military brats — get used to things that seem weird to everyone else.

Since I was born at William Beaumont Army Hospital on Fort Bliss, Texas, with years spent there and subsequent deployments to Kaiserslautern, Germany and Osan, South Korea, I've become very familiar with this lifestyle.

In honor of Military Family month, here's 13 tell-tale signs you grew up in the military:

1. You learned the phonetic alphabet along with your ABCs

The phonetic alphabet is a list of specified words used to identify letters in a message transmitted by phone or radio.

For example, the word "Army" would be "Alpha Romeo Mike Yankee" when spelled using the phonetic alphabet.

Just like the military, you also refer to countless things with acronyms. Military slang and acronyms are tossed around in conversations with ease and as a child you learn to pick them up quickly.

For instance, no one ever explained the meaning of "Hooah" (pronounced WhoAh) to you but you knew that it was short for "Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged."

2. Your pantry was always stocked with rations.

The self-contained, individual ration called Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a typical military family household commodity.

MREs contain a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and a flameless ration heater.

These instant dishes, like "beef ravioli in meat sauce" and "pork chop formed in Jamaican style sauce with noodles," are designed to give service members in the field well-balanced meals.

Sometimes a packed lunch was an MRE shoved into your backpack.

3. Along with a school ID, you had a military ID.

Military ID cards are golden tickets and misplacing one meant perpetually waiting with a sponsor in a small ID card office.

The khaki-colored "identification and privilege card" is the key to a military base and all of its goodies — gym, commissary (grocery store), swimming pool, etc. 

4. People ask you where you grew up and it takes you five minutes to answer.

Not having one permanent home for more than five years can make for a lengthy response to the question, "Where are you from?" Living in different states and sometimes foreign countries makes, "I'm from all over" the simplest answer. 

That is because military families don't have much of a say as to where they go. 

Some families luck out and get amazing placements to installations like the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, with sailing and surfing classes at the on-base marina and ample views of paradise.

5. At "colors" you drop everything and look for an American flag.

The flag is raised briskly and lowered slowly on American military bases every morning and evening while a patriotic song is played through a loudspeaker, usually "To the Color" or the National Anthem, depending on the base. 

This time is referred to as "Colors." Military personnel are required to stop, face the direction of the base flagpole, stand at attention, and render a salute until the music stops.

Moreover, you're used to singing the national anthem everywhere, even in movie theaters after the previews finish.

6. Your church had an American flag inside it.

No different from an American flag hanging inside of a school classroom, America's Stars and Stripes are also recognized inside military installation chapels. 

These chapels are designed to be convertible in order to accommodate various religious beliefs of service members.

For example, the chapel may offer a Catholic Mass at 8 a.m. and then a Protestant service at 11 a.m. 

Service ended with singing "God Bless America" or "America the Beautiful."

Also, the priest was referred to as chaplain.

7. Calling everyone by last names seems normal.

It is almost as if this behavior is innate, because remarkably, military brats quickly begin to refer to anyone by their last name.

That is because troops refer to each other by their last name, a practice originating from their training in boot camp. 

Calling an adult "ma'am" or "sir" is another natural mannerism.

8. Your doctor wears combat boots.

Service members and their families largely use the hospitals and clinics on base as their primary care providers, and those clinics are staffed with military doctors and medics.

A far cry though from the white lab coat with the cold stethoscope, many of these health care providers have seen the worst of the worst. 

9. Your chores were mandatory.

Mom never had to come in and make your bed because every morning before school it was your responsibility. 

Failing a parent-conducted room inspection resulted in more chores or pushups.

So you learned how to do things the "right way" quickly.

10. If you aren't 15 minutes early, you're late.

Being "tardy" doesn't exist in the military world. You were early to school, doctor's appointments, ceremonies, and parties — no exceptions.  

11. You are a bit of a perfectionist, especially in your appearance.

Appearance represents a form of self-discipline, and in the armed forces, it is a requirement that a soldier is neat and well-groomed when in uniform.

Leaders ensure that personnel under their command present a conservative military image.

Similarly, this practice was echoed into your childhood and that meant you didn't get to sport a trendy haircut, loud fingernail polish, and especially an unsightly untucked shirt.  

12. You had holiday dinners in a chow hall.

Instead of heading over to grandma's house, military families often go to a dining facility for a cafeteria-style Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. 

This is either because travel is too difficult or expensive, or because the family lives on an installation in a foreign country. 

13. You have immediate respect for anyone in uniform.

Respect for individuals serving in the armed forces is strongly encouraged in military family upbringings.

Possibly because you catch a glimpse of your personal experiences as a military brat, and that kind of relation isn't possible with civilians.

I always look twice when a young troop is in an airport terminal — not because of the enormous rucksack, but to figure out if they're heading home, to an overseas deployment, or to a combat zone.

SEE ALSO: 31 phrases that only people in the military will understand

Join the conversation about this story »

While President-elect Donald Trump has talked at length about building a wall between the United States and Mexico, this week we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall.  

Built in 1961, the wall divided East and West Berlin. Constructed by the eastern, Soviet-ruled portion of the city, the wall was meant to keep Western "fascists" from invading the East — but it also served as a barricade to those Easterners attempting to migrate to the West, capitalist territory.

The barbed-wire-topped wall divided families and took away basic human rights, keeping the population of East Berlin trapped inside Soviet territory. At 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, the wall and its surrounding security systems were known as "The Death Strip," as nearly 100 people were killed in their attempt to cross its miles of trenches and trip-wire machine guns.

On November 9, 1989, it was announced by the East German Communist Party that citizens of the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, could cross the border whenever they pleased. That night, mayhem ensued at the border. Many who lived in the East crossed freely to the West for the first time in nearly 30 years, and citizens even began chipping away at the wall.

Ahead, see photos from that infamous night and the nights that followed.

SEE ALSO: 24 striking photos of international borders from around the world

East German soldiers act as a barricade, blocking West Berliners waiting to welcome East Berlin citizens at the Allied guardhouse "Checkpoint Charlie" November 9, 1989.

When the clock struck midnight, all the checkpoints along the wall were forced to open.

Berliners carried hammers and chisels to begin chipping away at the wall.

One in five Americans can now use marijuana legally.

Seven states legalized marijuana in some form on Election Day. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada showed up to support recreational marijuana, while Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota passed ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana.

As the governor of Colorado said at the time the state legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, users shouldn't "break out the Cheetos" just yet. Sales are still a ways away.

Here's a summary of when residents can light up legally in their states:

Arkansas

Residents with one of 17 qualifying medical conditions — including cancer, glaucoma, and fibromyalgia — may now buy marijuana legally with a doctor's recommendation.

The bad news is that there's no one to sell patients their medicine yet. A newly made state commission will start accepting licensing applications for dispensaries and cultivation facilities on June 1, 2017. It could be a year before the first retailer opens.

California

Residents of the one of the nation's most pot-friendly states may now use, possess, and transport up to an ounce of marijuana — roughly a sandwich bag full — for recreation, starting immediately.

However, there's no place to legally buy it until January 1, 2018, when the state can begin issuing licenses to marijuana dispensaries that allow them to sell nonmedical bud.

Those eager to light up before 2018 can still do so by becoming a medical marijuana patient. And if you happen to find yourself in possession of a friend's bud, that works, too.

Florida

Florida broadened access to its existing medical marijuana program by adding 10 new qualifying conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Sunshine State will begin issuing identification cards for patients and registering dispensaries and cultivation facilities by October.

Maine

The most nail-biting ballot initiative of the election gave Mainers the right to possess a whopping 2.5 ounces of marijuana, more than double the limit in most other states. It goes into effect 30 days after the governor certifies the election results.

The state has nine months to develop regulations for licensing recreational marijuana dispensaries and "marijuana social clubs," delaying retailers possibly for years.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts, which made medical marijuana legal in 2012, will allow residents to consume and carry small amounts of weed without a prescription beginning December 15.

The ballot initiative clears a path for marijuana retail stores to open in the state as early as January 1, 2018, which could bring in some $300 million in new tax revenue.

Nevada

Voters gave a resounding yes to recreational marijuana in Nevada, where it will become legal to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, effective January 1.

The ability to sell will take much longer. The measure directs Nevada's taxation office to implement regulations by the end of 2017 in preparation for a 2018 retail launch.

North Dakota

Patients with one of a dozen qualifying medical conditions may have an unprecedented 3 ounces of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. If the resident lives 40 miles from a dispensary, they may grow up to eight plants for personal use. The law takes effect in February.

SEE ALSO: How a Silicon Valley billionaire helped get marijuana legalized in California

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This animated map shows where marijuana is legal in the US