Buildings may be some of the most impressive works of art we have.

After sinking untold sums of money into their construction, we can walk through the finished products and even live inside them.

Here are some of the most ambitious projects from architects around the world, and whose works span thousands of years.

Drake Baer contributed to an earlier version of this article.

SEE ALSO: 16 of the most beautiful schools in the world

The oldest building we know of is Göbekli Tepe in present-day Turkey. Built somewhere around 9500 B.C., archaeologists aren't certain of its function, but it was probably religious.

Since then, humans have built some pretty rad structures. In the past year, we've seen futuristic openings like the Fulton Center in New York ...

... and the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia.

With Sebastian Kurz expected to become Austria's next chancellor, Europe is about to have its first millennial leader.

The young generation, though, has already made itself known around the world.

Roughly defined as people born between 1980 and 2000, millennials have risen to influential roles in government, business, and activism.

Meet the most powerful millennials in the world, which we've ranked according to their actual and perceived power in the world:

SEE ALSO: Meet the 31-year-old Austrian politician who's likely to become the youngest world leader

DON'T MISS: 'Psychologically scarred' millennials are killing countless industries from napkins to Applebee's — here are the businesses they like the least

15. Enrico Carattoni, 32, is the recently elected co-Captain Regent of San Marino, a tiny republic surrounded by Italy. His six-month term will last until April 2018.

14. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, 25, is the king of Toro, a kingdom in Uganda. He has been the kingdom's ruler since he was a toddler, after his father died in 1995.

13. Malala Yousafzai, 20, is a Pakistani activist and the youngest ever Nobel Prize winner. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work towards women's education rights, Malala is currently attending the University of Oxford.

Headspace is a startup with one simple goal: Make meditation accessible to everyone. 

It does this through a smartphone app full of "guided meditations" — audio sessions where one of the company's co-creators leads listeners on a journey of contemplation.

Headspace's app is designed for the totally uninitiated. It expects that you've never meditated before and that you may not understand the "point" of meditation practice. Its goal is to teach you the foundational aspects of meditation in your first 10 days of using the app.

The company is banking that at least some users will like the app enough to shell out for a pricey monthly or annual subscription. 

So, does it succeed? Yes and no. This is how my first 10 days with Headspace went:

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley is obsessed with meditation, and there’s new evidence it changes the brain for the better

Headspace is focused on secular, mindfulness-based meditation.

The history of meditation is deep, stretching back to before the beginning of the Current Era. Without going too far into the weeds, it's important to understand the difference between meditation as part of Hindu and Buddhist traditions on the one hand and secular mindfulness meditation on the other.

Headspace doesn't purport to offer enlightenment or to explain the concept of Samsara — the endless cycle of suffering, death and rebirth that is at the center of those Indian religions. Instead, the app aims to teach "the essentials of living a healthier, happier life." 

Though the principle of the practice is very similar — watching your breath — the underpinnings of each are drastically different. Headspace is based in modern science, while Buddhist and Hindu meditation is based on the writings and teachings of various spiritual leaders.

In many ways, Headspace feels like Buddhism-lite. It's got all the flavor of spiritual meditation with none of the religious underpinnings. That's not a huge surprise, as one of the app's founders is an ordained Buddhist monk. His goal with the app is to bring meditation to people who might not have tried it otherwise.

You can come to Headspace with zero meditation experience — In fact, it's probably better if you do.

Headspace's first 10 sessions, which are part of the app's "Basics" pack of guided meditations, are aimed at people who haven't ever meditated. Rather than getting into the historic roots of meditation, the app immediately aims to simplify the concept into something palatable for everyone.

It starts off explaining how to meditate: 

— Find a place to sit, either on a cushion or a chair.

— Straighten your back, sitting comfortably without slouching.

— Close your eyes, and breathe.

Though these steps also apply to Buddhist meditation teaching, Headspace puts them in the context of mindfulness meditation.

The app doesn't offer escape from the endless cycle of suffering of Samsara, as Buddhists might put it. Instead it promises something more grounded in everyday live — to give you "some headspace."

Headspace uses a simple reminder system to help beginners remember to meditate.

Before taking on the challenge of a meditation practice, the initial barrier to overcome is setting aside time every day. It's easy to forget to meditate or to put it off. 

The first thing the app does is to help users schedule a time for meditation — and to set up a notification that reminds them each day at that time. This is an especially smart feature for beginners. It helps you establish a routine, and it can be easily stopped if you no longer require the heads-up.

Beginning in January 2019, California pet stores will only be able to sell puppies, rabbits, and kittens they obtain from animal shelters and rescue centers. If they don't, they'll face a $500 fine.

California residents will still have the option to purchase their pets from individual breeders, according to The New York Times.

Though California is the first state to pass this kind of legislation, it is following a precedent set by many of its cities and counties, which have enacted similar regulations.

But pet store owners fear the law will threaten their already-struggling businesses.

"Their heart is in the right place, but their thinking is a little shortsighted," pet store owner Boris Jang told The New York Times. While he gets about half of the dogs he sells from shelters or rescue centers, he fears the law will make him unable to pay his lease.

Mike Bober, president of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, expressed similar feelings toward the law, saying it is "well-intentioned but misguided" in a recent video. He also believes the law could threaten the jobs of pet store owners and their employees.

The law received support from animal welfare activists, who have long been concerned about the conditions animals face before being sold to pet stores. A fact sheet written by the California legislature claimed that "in many cases, puppy mills house animals in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions without adequate food, water, socialization or veterinary care," and that animals raised in these conditions "often face an array of health problems."

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals echoed this sentiment in a recent post on its blog, writing: "This law demonstrates how legislative action on animal welfare in general can advance from the local level to the state level, furthering the hope of creating a culture that values compassion over cruelty."

SEE ALSO: Here's how the devastating wildfires will affect Northern California's wine industry

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NOW WATCH: The head of investment themes at UBS explains the big trends every investor should know

Starbucks is hoping to recreate the madness of the Unicorn Frappuccino with a spooky, Halloween-themed beverage. 

From Thursday, October 26 to Tuesday, October 31, Starbucks is serving a "Zombie Frappuccino," the website Day of the Human reported.

The cream-based Frappuccino will use green caramel apple powder and pink powder. Pink "brains" whipped cream and pink mocha drizzle will complete the classic Frankenstein coloring. 

While Starbucks hasn't confirmed its plan to roll out the Zombie Frappuccino, some baristas are already talking about the drink on social media — and not all of them are excited. 

The super-limited-time offering of the Zombie Frappuccino is reminiscent of the Unicorn Frappuccino, which Starbucks released in April. The Unicorn Frappuccino was only on Starbucks' menu for five days, but it went viral online, netted a huge amount of press for Starbucks, and paid off in actual sales. 

However, the Unicorn Frappuccino also put immense pressure on in-store workers, especially baristas. Making the Unicorn Frappuccino was messy and time-intensive. Many locations had used up ingredients by the end of the first day, and had to face angry customers. 

"Our Halloween plans are still under [mummy] wraps, but we look forward to sharing more details with the living soon," a Starbucks spokesperson told Business Insider in an email. 

For more fast food coverage, follow us on Instagram!

SEE ALSO: The Unicorn Frappuccino infuriated baristas — but it was one of Starbucks' best decisions in a long time

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NOW WATCH: The man who co-created the legendary club Studio 54 built a massive luxury hotel that's trying to kill Airbnb

Americans work a lot.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Americans logged on average 1,783 hours of work in 2016. That's at least 100 more hours a year than the average worker in other OECD countries like the UK, France, Germany, or Sweden.

And when looking at US census data, that number could be higher, since the average working American logs almost 40 hours a week.

So where do people work the hardest?

To find out, personal-finance site WalletHub recently analyzed and ranked 116 of the most populated cities based on six metrics related directly or indirectly to work, including average workweek hours, average commute time, and average leisure time per day. To read more about the study's methodology, check out the full report here.

It may come as a surprise to some that New York did not make the top 15. Overall, the city ranked as the 29th hardest-working city in the US. According to WalletHub, New Yorkers commute the most, clocking an average of 39.9 minutes on their commute to work. And they put in almost 40 hours a week, which puts them in the top 25 for average hours worked a week. But New Yorkers also play as hard as they work — on average, they spend about 345 hours a week on leisure. Only 11 of the other cities WalletHub analyzed spend more time on leisure.

Here's where some of the hardest-working Americans live:

SEE ALSO: The 16 highest-paying jobs for people who want to work less than 40 hours a week

DON'T MISS: 27 signs you're burned out at work

15. Jersey City, New Jersey

Average hours worked per week: 39.4

Average minutes spent commuting to work: 36.2

Average minutes of leisure time in a day: 344.2

14. Gilbertt, Arizona

Average hours worked per week: 39.3

Average minutes spent commuting to work: 27.4

Average minutes of leisure time in a day: 343.3

13. Charlotte, North Carolina

Average hours worked per week: 39.5

Average minutes spent commuting to work: 24.9

Average minutes of leisure time in a day: 316.8

• California wildfires have hit the state's marijuana industry, burning dozens of farms and leaving many more engulfed in smoke.
• The price of marijuana could spike as much as 20% in the aftermath of the fires.
• The full extent of the damage will be unclear until growers send crop samples for testing.

Marijuana could get more expensive after a series of massive fires in Northern California wiped out as much as a year's supply for some industry growers.

Nearly two dozen wildfires spread through the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and six others last week, destroying an estimated 5,700 structures, and burning over 200,000 acres of land — a collective area roughly the size of New York City. Forty people are dead.

The fires scorched dozens of the region's marijuana farms, including those in Sonoma County and in Mendocino County  — part of the Emerald Triangle, which is considered the marijuana-growing capital of the US. The number of farms burned is expected to "increase significantly" as evacuation orders are lifted and growers return to their homes.

The crop harvested later this month would have supplied California dispensaries through the end of 2018. The situation could create a shortage of marijuana in the state just months ahead of California's launch of a recreational marijuana market. Tamar Maritz, regional director for California at marijuana data insights company BDS Analytics, said Californians could expect to see prices rise as much as 10 to 20% in the aftermath of the fires.

BDS Analytics found that in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, a "major disruption in the supply chain" created price increases in a magnitude of 10% to 20%, according to Maritz. Those breakdowns varied from regulatory changes that shorted supply, to the debut of a recreational market.

She added that those states saw prices return to normal one to three months after the event.

The going rate nationwide for legal, non-medical marijuana is about $11 per gram or $34 for an eighth of an ounce, according to MJCharts. Using case studies from states with fully legalized marijuana, California could see the price of pot increase roughly $2 more per gram or $7 more per eighth of an ounce after the price hikes set in.

The fires came at one of the worst times for the marijuana industry. Harvest takes place between the months of September and November, and most grows provide crop for the entire year. Many farmers had only just begun cutting their plants, according to Forbes.

California produces over half of the marijuana consumed in the US. According to county surveys, there are between 3,000 and 9,000 marijuana farms in Sonoma County, where the fires hit hard. The number of farms in Mendocino County, where the illicit market thrives, is unknown.

Both the California Cannabis Industry Association and the California Growers Association reported "several dozen" members that have lost their farms in the blazes. It's too soon to say what percent of grows in California were affected by the fires, though it appears to be a minority.

Smoke also blanketed huge swaths of Northern California last week, which presents a more widespread concern for the marijuana industry, according to Nick DiNicola, whose company, DiNicola Insurance Services, brokers insurance for companies in the cannabis space.

"A lot of the farms weren't destroyed but may not be able to sell their product because of all the pollution that came down from the fires," DiNicola told Business Insider.

Smoke-exposed crops are more vulnerable to disease, which could lead to unhealthy levels of mold, mildew, and fungus. The marijuana might also smell like fire, which causes it to lose value if it's meant to smell like "lemon haze" or "blueberry kush," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Still, the fires reached only a small section of the Emerald Triangle, which also includes Humboldt County and Trinity County. Local dispensaries that source their inventory from the counties affected by the fires are more likely to experience higher prices.

Marijuana extraction companies, which process marijuana plant material for oils and concentrates, could also have trouble getting their products to market, according to Forbes.

Maritz, of BDS Analytics, added that the full extent of the damage will be unclear until farmers collect what's left of their grow and send samples to marijuana testing facilities.

SEE ALSO: 3 key reasons explain how the massive firestorm in California became one of the worst in state history

SEE ALSO: Photos show how wildfires are ravaging parts of California's wine country

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the badass fire fighters who parachute directly into the flames

• Jose Andrés is a celebrity chef who helped popularize tapas in the United States. He has 26 restaurants and two Michelin stars.
• Andrés says he reads Yelp every morning and takes the criticism seriously — even when it hurts.
• This strategy is in line with one expert's advice to place a high value on unsolicited feedback.

Restaurant critics have always been a fearsome bunch. But the advent of Yelp, and the handing over of the reins to everyday people who can hide behind a username, has made the situation much, much scarier for chefs.

Jose Andrés doesn't see it that way. At least, not exactly.

On an episode of Business Insider's podcast, "Success! How I Did It!" Andrés told Business Insider US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell that he's developed a thick skin against criticism of his restaurants by reading Yelp every single morning.

Andrés is known for helping to popularize tapas — or Spanish small plates — in the United States. He has 26 restaurants and has won awards including two Michelin stars and the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama.

Andrés gave Shontell an example of the kind of criticism he might receive:

"Someone comes to my restaurant, Jaleo Paella, and because the press and everybody expects the paella to look like Mount Everest with rice to the top, they expect to be full of things like chorizo — no, no, no— scallops and shrimp and lobster and the bigger mountain keeps growing. And the rice needs to be very yellow.

"And so somebody comes to my restaurant where I try to make a rice that is very thin, crunchy in the bottom, soft in the top, with very big flavor in the rice and only a few pieces of chicken or rabbit or artichokes or lobster, depends on the one but we don't put 50 things and so they will complain, 'Your rice was not yellow, your rice was very thin, your rice was crispy on the bottom.' I'm, like, 'Really? That's all the things we were trying to achieve.'"

To be sure, reviewers' words can sting. But Andrés explained how he tries to depersonalize the criticism:

"Thicker skin is something like, José the person, José the chef, inside me, I'm, like, 'What the heck do those people think? Who are they? I don't want them in my restaurant anymore,' which is good to have, but it's good that you do that internally.

"And then he's José the businessman, who says, 'Man, this is free advice that I should thank the person for, taking the time, and this we will use to communicate.' Every day on my phone, I receive reports of every restaurant, social media, comments in-house by the guests. We use them. We don't use them every day, but sometimes maybe something needs immediate attention and other things is information you put together and then three, six months later, you say, 'Listen, look at the pattern here.'"

Andrés' insight calls to mind advice from executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, who recommends taking criticism from others — especially unsolicited criticism — seriously. In fact, Goldsmith goes so far as to suggest that the way other people see you is more important than the way you see yourself. In his 2007 book, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There," Goldsmith writes: "Less me. More them. Equals success."

Andrés told Shontell how much he values even the harshest customer reviews on Yelp:

"You're in partnership with them to a degree. They are your partners. When they invest money in your restaurant, they are your partner. So you want to believe that they have the best intentions when they tell you something. We cannot keep seeing the people coming to our business as the guests or the customers: They are our partners. They don't know it, but we need to take them like they are the best partner we have out there.

"And then the business model changes completely because you don't see what they say as bad criticism but you are trying to see if there's a partner that is trying to make the business better. And then is wonderful the things you can accomplish."

SEE ALSO: José Andrés came to the US with just $50 in his pocket — here's how he became a celebrity chef with 26 restaurants and 2 Michelin stars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Marine explains why friends and colleagues 'hold the key to how we can be more successful'

Ji Seong-ho sat down to talk with Business Insider about his 6,000 mile journey from North Korea after his inspiring speech at the Oslo Freedom Forum. Following is a transcript of the video.

Since coming to South Korea, I've been living with a prosthetic arm and leg. Originally, I was missing a part of my arm and leg and it was very difficult living in North Korea with such a disability because I didn't get any food or support from the government.

I think maybe they just wanted me to die. So I crossed the border to China and begged for food but was arrested when I returned. They confiscated everything and tortured me and heard them say things like, "cripples like you should just die." So I decided that I should escape.

In 2006, I defected from North Korea, crossed the Duman River and travelled through China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand for 10,000 km (6,200 miles) on nothing but crutches. I really think it was a miracle. I really think God helped me. 

During the journey, I was so tired that I collapsed in the jungle with no one around me. Everyone who was traveling with me had abandoned me because they couldn't take care of me. I remember lying down in that jungle, crying and I wanted to survive so that I could later help those who are in my situation.

Thankfully, I was able to get help from some people and I was able to cross the border. 

Just as my life is important, everyone's life is important. When you are arrested while defecting, you get sent back to get publicly executed in North Korea or sent to a labor camp.

So a lot of effort goes into getting one person across the border. Right now, it costs about $2,000 for one person to defect from North Korea. It pays for food and everything else needed to make the trip and it costs that much because they aren't taking a plane but crossing multiple countries illegally.

About 90% of the cost is funded by South Koreans and we were able to save 260 people so far. There are more people who want to defect than we can help with the money we have funded so sometimes we are forced to choose among them based on who is in a more dire situation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on September 22, 2017.

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Piper Jaffray's semiannual survey of teen spending habits found that younger consumers are spending more online and opting for smaller, boutique brands at the expense of larger brands like Nike and Target.

While teen spending decreased by 2% in the past year, fashion remained a priority, accounting for 38% of their shopping budgets. They also exhibited a greater preference for online shopping options, with 17% of respondents reporting that they shopped online — a 2% increase from last year.

The survey also indicated that teens are rejecting large, legacy brands in favor of smaller, more specialized options.

Here are the 10 most popular apparel brands among teens, according to Piper Jaffray's survey.

SEE ALSO: Teens say that Under Armour isn't cool anymore — and it's a huge crisis

10. Supreme

The streetwear brand has exploded in popularity over the past five years, collaborating with popular artists like Gucci Mane and designers like Louis Vuitton. It was recently valued at $1 billion and cracked the top 10 of Piper Jaffray's list for the first time. 

9. Urban Outfitters

As the brand has grown, it has struggled to maintain its edgy reputation, and sales have sagged. Urban Outfitters has fallen four spots in the survey in the past year.

8. H&M

The retailer has faced criticism for its inconsistent sizing, confusing and frustrating customers with clothes that are much smaller than their printed size indicates. It claimed 3% of market share among the teens who were surveyed by Piper Jaffray. 

Burger Joint opened in Le Parker Meridien hotel in 2002. Since then, nine more locations have opened across the world. This one is the original, and it's the only one that's hidden. Following is the text of the video.

Le Parker Meridien hotel is hiding something. Behind the red curtain, down a dark corridor, is a delicious burger in a secret dive restaurant called Burger Joint. The menu is simple— it's just burgers, fries, and coleslaw. You can choose your burger toppings. Or just get it with "the works" — cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and mustard. The walls are covered in graffiti. It's dimly lit— a contrast to the bright, sparkling lobby. Burger Joint has been open for 15 years so word has certainly gotten around. But some hotel guests still don't know it's there. It's a little hard to spot. If you look closely, the hints are there. For a classic burger at $8.96 in midtown Manhattan, it's worth the hunt.

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Andy Donaldson has been running the Tumblr "Terrible Real Estate Agent Photos" since 2013.

Ever since he went through his own house-hunting experience, Donaldson has been blogging about the most unflattering photos of homes he comes across online.

Below, see a collection of this year's worst photos, showing sellers what they shouldn't do while prepping their home for a photo shoot by realtors. 

SEE ALSO: An enormous ranch that's bigger than New York City just hit the market for $100 million

Homeowners, you can't trick potential buyers into thinking your garage is a dining room.

Four walls around a bathroom are usually considered an essential part of a home.

You may want to clean up a bit before pulling out the camera.

Neiman Marcus' multi-million-dollar Christmas list is back — and it's as opulent as ever. 

The retailer has released its 2017 Christmas Book, an annual collection of suggested gifts from the storied department store.

One major highlight of the Christmas Book is its "Fantasy Gifts" section, which offers billionaires who have everything the chance to buy one-of-a-kind luxury items, travel packages, and experiences that cost thousands — and even millions — of dollars. 

Neiman Marcus is careful to highlight its philanthropic efforts alongside the decadence. A portion of every Fantasy Gift purchase is donated to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, which funds art programs across the US. 

Here's what's on the Fantasy Gifts list in 2017. 

SEE ALSO: Walmart's latest move confirms the death of the American middle class as we know it

CHAMPAGNE AND PERSONALIZED CUVÉE WITH ARMAND DE BRIGNAC

Price: $150,000

This four-person experience includes a trip to the Armand de Brignac vineyards, where you tend to the grapes, sample reserves, and create a personalized cuvée. Plus, there's a first-class trip to Paris, helicopter flyover of the Champagne region, dinner at L'Assiette Champenoise, and a night in the Chateau Domaine Les Crayères. 

GRAY MALIN AERIAL PHOTO ADVENTURE

Price: $35,000

Photographer Gray Malin will host a one-hour helicopter ride for two over Los Angeles and Malibu, taking photos along the way. A two-night hotel stay is also included. 

19 MADAME ALEXANDER DOLLS AND DOLLHOUSE BY KIDKRAFT

Price: $8,000

In December, you'll get eight Madame Alexander dolls and a Grand Anniversary Dollhouse from KidKraft. Another doll is delivered every month for the next 11 months, including a customized doll next November. 

The holiday shopping season is just around the corner.

Amazon is helping parents stay on top of the gifts their kids will be begging for with its predictions for this year's 100 most popular holiday toys.

If Amazon's predictions are correct, kids will be looking for products from traditional favorites like Lego and Play-Doh, as well as gifts inspired by newer properties like "Moana" and Hatchimals, one of last year's hottest toys. 

These are the toys Amazon thinks will be the biggest sellers this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Walmart says these will be the 25 toys every kid wants this holiday

25. Paw Patrol – My Size Lookout Tower with Exclusive Vehicle, Rotating Periscope and Lights and Sounds

Price:$89.99

24. Star Wars R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid by Sphero

Price:$169

23. Osmo Genius Kit

Price: $99.99

While on a recent trip to my hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I paid a visit to an Alabama fast food institution: Milo's Hamburgers. With 15 locations, Milo's stands out as one of the unique fast food options available in the Yellowhammer state.

The restaurant's signature burgers and fries are supplemented by a unique menu that includes chicken tenders, "fried pies," a variety of original sauces, and sweet tea that is so beloved the company created a slushie version that's beginning to roll out in Alabama convenience stores.

With an exclusively regional presence and a devoted cult following, Milo's just might be worthy of being considered the In-N-Out Burger of the South. Following is a transcript of the video:

[We tried the "In-N-Out Burger" of Alabama]

[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]

[All 15 Milo's locations are in Alabama]

[The chain is famous for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries, a variety of sauces, chicken tenders,  "fried pies," and its beloved sweet tea]

Milo's Employee: Thank you, sir!

Graham Flanagan: Appreciate it!

This is really important — the sauces that you get. They've got five sauces, five original sauces. Too much sauce? I don't think so. 

I'm gonna start with the double cheeseburger. It's caked in this Milo's sauce, onions, pickles – it's kind of got that vibe of like, a barbecue cheeseburger.  So good! There's something about that sauce with the burger.

Look at these fries. Beautiful. Crinkle-cut fries. Comparable to something you'd get at Shake Shack. Let's try that with the sauces. You know, they call me the "Big Dipper." Mix it up, baby!

This my cousin Jon. 

Jon Tyler: Hello.

Flanagan: What makes Milo's unique?

Tyler: The chicken.

Flanagan: Look at that! Man! You're on chicken cam!

They also have what they call "fried pies." I'm just gonna take a bite out of it like a Pop-Tart. That is so delicious. Flaky and sweet. Today is my cheat day.

Milo's is famous for its sweet tea. People buy it by the gallon. It's a phenomenon. Just to give you an idea of how popular Milo's sweet tea is, there's a gas station sort of on the outskirts of Tuscaloosa that sells a Milo's slushie, but they call it a "Freezey." And this is the only place you can get it. Wow. It's already got lemon in it. It tastes like the tea, but it's a slushie. This is like the greatest invention of all time!

I bet a lot of Alabamians would be ready to take this up against In-N-Out Burger any day. I think the rest of the nation would be in luck if they ever decided to expand.

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Wildfires have now spread to about 200,000 acres across at least eight counties in the northern part of California. The events are now being called the deadliest wildfire in state history, with at least 40 people dead as a result. 

Since October 8, when the fires began, 5,700 homes and other structures have been destroyed, and an estimated 90,000 people have been evacuated. 

One of those destroyed homes is the $17 million "Glass House," which earned its nickname from locals because of its large windows and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Diablo. The home sits on one of the Bay Area's highest privately owned peaks.

Below, see what the house looked like before and after its destruction. 

SEE ALSO: 3 key reasons explain how the massive firestorm in California became one of the worst in state history

The property is located in Fairfield, California, on the border of Solano and Napa counties.

The house sat on 13,500 square feet of land, which includes a helicopter pad and 50-foot swimming pool. It cost the original owner, John Roscoe, $17 million to buy the plot and build the home in 2003.

Source: SF Gate

Roscoe started the discount chain "Cigarettes Cheaper!"

It seems that every local official across the US and Canada is trying to lure Amazon to his or her city or town.

To state their case for the company's second headquarters, officials tout their region's benefits, potential tax breaks, and local opportunities. But what does Amazon really want in a potential location? The financial-services arm of Moody's looked at what Amazon may want in a city — both stated and inferred — to come up with a list of the best candidate cities for HQ2.

Moody's looked at five factors: business environment, human capital, cost, quality of life, and transportation. It then assigned a number to each city and a weight to each factor to come up with its list of 10 cities. An additional category, geogrpahy, was considered, but was not factored into the rankings. Moody's excluded Seattle, the site of Amazon's current headquarters, from consideration. 

Amazon said it would invest $5 billion in the construction of its new headquarters, and it hopes to eventually house 50,000 Amazon staff members there, gradually building up its workforce. The deadline for cities to submit a proposal is Thursday.

Here's where Amazon is most likely to put down roots, according to the data. All quotes are from Moody's.

SEE ALSO Amazon has triggered a $5 billion bidding war — here are the cities that are in competition for its new HQ

10. Salt Lake City

"Salt Lake has a burgeoning tech industry, a deep and young talent pool, low business costs, and a high quality of life score."

9. Boston

"The metro division is one of only a few places nationally with a talent pool deep enough to provide the tens of thousands of highly skilled workers sought by Amazon. Boston shares a common labor pool with Cambridge and together the two boast one of the country's largest tech industries and a world-class system of higher education, anchored by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

8. Portland, Oregon

"Favorably located near the scenic Cascades Mountains, Portland has an arguably higher-than-average quality of life: There are low crime rates, more arts theaters, a hub of microbreweries, and biker-friendly streets. With costs relatively cheaper than the Bay Area, Portland stands to attract more tech entrepreneurs and job seekers over the coming years, too."

• Menswear retailer Bonobos is launching an underwear line.
• It comes with numerical sizing, similar to pants sizing.
• The company promises a better fit, which executives say speaks to its core mission.
• The underwear is $34 for one pair or $50 for two, and sales launch today.

Walmart-owned Bonobos is hoping to take over a greater share of its customers' closets by offering a pair of underwear unlike any other on the market.

The new garment, which launches today, is made with a soft cotton-synthetic blend with moisture-wicking properties. It comes in both trunk and boxer-brief styles. The back panels also give the garment "butt-lifting properties," according to the brand, and there are mesh panels for breathability.

It also comes with a horizontal fly, which "a lot of guys didn't even know that they preferred until they tried it," Bonobos' chief creative officer, Dwight Fenton, told Business Insider.

But by far the most unique aspect of the underwear is that it comes with numerical sizing, just like pants. That means that instead of small, medium, and large sizes, it comes in sizes 28 through 40. If you're a 32 in Bonobos pants, you're a 32 in Bonobos underwear, too. 

Bonobos previously offered numerical sizing in its athletic shorts — another category that does not traditionally offer such specificity. 

"Fit is our wheelhouse," Mickey Onvural, Bonobos' chief marketing officer, said. "At the end of the day, if you're wearing a better-fitting pair of underwear, you're going to be more comfortable."

The brand, which got its start offering guys better-fitting pants, sees the new underwear as emblematic of its mission and a chance to expand the share of closet that Bonobos can offer its most loyal customers.

"As we expand into each category, we're always thinking of: 'What is the fit problem we're trying to solve?'" Brad Andrews, Bonobos' chief merchandising officer, said. "Where do we see an opportunity to do something different?"

That doesn't mean Bonobos will sell a version of every single kind of garment, however. "I don't think we're going to do kilts," Onvural joked.

Bonobos is only offering one pair of underwear, though customers can buy it in two lengths: 3-inch inseam and 5-inch inseam. The underwear will sell for $34 a pair, or $50 for two pairs. 

Guys are notoriously loyal to their favorite undies brand, but Bonobos hopes that the trust it has with consumers will convince them to give the new product a shot.

"There is a lot of loyalty [with guys' underwear brands], but it's usually out of convenience, routine, or price," Andrews said.

Since a pair of underwear is more intimate than anything the brand has released previously, and it's trying to "have some fun with it," according to Onvural, Bonobos is holding a two-mile "undie run" in New York City and Chicago on October 21, to benefit cancer awareness. 

It was announced in June that Walmart would be acquiring Bonobos. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon is on its way to becoming America's favorite clothing store

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Following is a transcript of the video.

Thinking of going on a cruise for the fresh ocean air? Think again. A recent undercover investigation on P&O Cruises' ship Oceana revealed ultra-fine particles in the air emitted from burning fuel.

On deck, downwind of the smokestacks, the investigative team measured 84,000 particulates per cubic cm. Closer to the smokestacks, the numbers rocketed to 144,000.

Sometimes even peaking at 226,000. According to Dr. Matthew Loxham, a research fellow in respiratory biology and air pollution toxicology in University of Southampton, "These are levels that you would expect to see in the most polluted cities."

These pollutants can get lodged in the lungs. Over time, it can cause asthma and chronic lung disease. The risk for health problems is greatest among crew members but passengers should also be careful. 

Each day, the average cruise ship produces as much air pollution as one million cars.

P&O Cruises is currently taking action. It says it's installing cleaning systems to reduce exhaust. It also reports that since 2005, it has reduced fuel consumption by 28%.

That's good news for future cruise passengers.

When asked for comment, P&O Cruises responded with the following.

“We continue to invest heavily in environmental technology for Oceana and for all ships across the fleet. In keeping with this environmental strategy, EGCS will be fitted on Oceana in dry dock later this year. These EGCS will significantly reduce sulphur oxides (SOX), soot and particulate matter … We are actively engaging scientists and independent third party groups to carry out similar studies using accredited equipment and methods and once complete we will share these results with the industry in order to understand and execute best practice.”

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• Every year, Neiman Marcus releases a Fantasy Gift list with some items costing more than $1 million. 
• In recent years, gifts on the list have been coupled with charity donations. 
• The coupling of charity with absurdly pricey luxuries reveals the discomfort felt by extremely wealthy Americans in an economically divided nation. 

Neiman Marcus' annual Christmas list for billionaires reveals the growing sense of guilt among the richest of the rich in America. 

The Fantasy Gift section has been one of the highlights of the retailer's "Christmas Book" for more than 50 years. Since the 2008 financial crisis and Great Recession, however, there's been a growing layer of guilt impinging on the fantasy of buying gifts that cost thousands — or even millions — of dollars. 

Buying the items on the Fantasy Gift list requires paying up significantly more than the average American makes in a year, with prices topping out at $1.6 million for a 300-person New Year's Eve party.

Neiman Marcus has emphasized the charitable aspects of the Fantasy Gift list more and more in recent years. The 2017 list spells out exactly how much money will be given to charity for each item. No need to feel uncomfortable about spending $300,000 on customized jewelry and a trip to an emerald mine in Zambia if $40,000 of that goes to charity, right? 

While you could take the charitable donations at face value, it's clear that the retailer has realized that the feel-good aspects of the Fantasy Gift list are necessary to avoid bad press — and to appease customers' guilt. 

"In 2008, we did get backlash," recently retired Neiman Marcus executive Ginger Reeder told Racked in 2014. "We launched the Christmas Book a week after Lehman Brothers folded. That was a tough thing for us."

Reeder continued: "We do a charitable donation for each fantasy gift, which takes a little bit of the sting out of it.  But even if all you do is pick up the catalog and it makes you smile, then it's great — Neiman Marcus has brought a smile to your face."

While Reeder doesn't specify, that "sting" could be relevant both for people who can't afford to shop from the Fantasy Gift list and those who can. 

"Rather than brag about their money or show it off, they kept quiet about their advantages," Rachel Sherman wrote in The New York Times after interviewing more than 50 extremely wealthy people. "They described themselves as 'normal' people who worked hard and spent prudently, distancing themselves from common stereotypes of the wealthy as ostentatious, selfish, snobby and entitled."

Public fury against the 1%, which surged with the Occupy Wall Street movement, may have faded, but the division between the wealthiest in the US and the rest of the country remains stark. The top 1% of wages grew 138% from 1979 to 2013, while wages of the bottom 90% grew just 15%, according to the Economic Policy Institute. 

The majority (58%) of income gains between 2009 and 2014 went to the top 1%, CNN reported. The Great Recession and Occupy Wall Street left wealthy Americans feeling uncomfortable yet misunderstood — after all, incomes of the top 1% still haven't returned to pre-Recession levels.

An attempt to address this discomfort has led to the coupling of absurdly expensive items with charity, as seen in Neiman Marcus' Fantasy Gift list. 

Maybe it's modesty, maybe it's guilt. Either way, it means that if a billionaire wants to spend $1.6 million on a New Year's Eve party planned by Neiman Marcus, everyone is going to feel better if some of that money goes to charity. 

SEE ALSO: Here's everything on Neiman Marcus' Christmas gift list for billionaires

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