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If the items crossed off your bucket list are, well, just a scant drop in the bucket, make it your New Year’s resolution to get a few more adventures accomplished in 2018.

As a shrewd bucket-eer, don’t focus on one item at a time. Reward all your hard work and holiday spending by combining a few “want to do's” into one turbocharged experience. Here are a few bucket list combos that can start your year off with a “go big or go home” bang:

• Winter Games and Asia. If you’ve never visited the world’s largest and most populous continent, or seen the Winter Games in person, head for South Korea in February. The Games will take place over 17 days in the beautiful Gangwon Province, in the host city of Pyeongchang.
• Once you’ve had your fill of curling and ice dancing, the capital city of Seoul is just an hour west by high-speed train. No doubt you can scratch off a few more bucket list items amid the Buddhist temples, skyscrapers and street markets of the world’s 17th largest city.
• Snorkeling and the Caribbean. You can truly commune with nature beneath the deep blue sea by giving snorkeling a try. Easier to learn than scuba diving, snorkeling is no less satisfying — especially if you’re floating with colorful butterfly fish or languid turtles in the 80-degree turquoise waters along the coast of Jamaica or neighboring Caribbean islands.
• More adventurous types can book a chartered offshore cruise on a catamaran or sailboat, a great way to meet new friends … above and below the surface.
• Oh, Canada. If you’re a warm-weather city slicker who’s never ventured north of the border after Labor Day, a wintry adventure to the Great White North is a satisfying entry on any bucket list.
• The capital city of Ottawa is a delight year-round, especially the always-hopping Byward Market shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment district. Hundreds of artisans sell their wares at outdoor stalls, so be sure to bundle up. Of course, there’s powder aplenty in just about every Canadian province, including the snowy mountains of Quebec. Night skiing is available less than an hour from Montreal, so you can still enjoy the mountain-scape and make it back to your hotel in the city with time to sip hot toddies by the fire before bedtime.
• Bungee jump in Orlando. So, you’ve never mustered up the courage to bungee jump, nor have you made the pilgrimage to America’s favorite theme park destination. Try them both in central Florida this winter, especially if you’re eager to escape winter’s grip.
• Flat-as-a-pancake Orlando takes a bungee-inspired twist; there, you can enjoy a bungee slingshot, which propels you skyward instead of downward. After that death-defying adventure, a pleasant afternoon at one of Orlando’s popular theme parks will reveal simpler pleasures — and, likely, at cheaper-than-usual rates if you visit after the holiday break.

If you’re worried that one of these multi-bucket list extravaganzas will weigh heavy on the wallet, consider applying for a credit card that can make it easier to earn reward points that you can cash in on your next adventure.

You’re going to spend plenty on holiday gifts for friends and family, so why not use a card that will truly reward you? For example, the Hyatt Credit Card from Chase enables new cardmembers to get 40,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Plus, three Bonus Points are earned for every dollar spent at all Hyatt hotels and resorts — which are conveniently located at all the destinations suggested above — and two Bonus Points for purchases at restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, and car rentals. So even your first bucket list adventure of the year can help you earn points for the next travel destination on your list.

This post is sponsored by Chase. | Content written and provided by Chase.

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• Ridley Scott says he's "too dangerous" to make a "Star Wars" movie. 
• The legendary director believes the recent "Star Wars" movies cost so much money because they are hiring filmmakers who don't know how to make a big budget movie.

Ridley Scott is behind some of the most memorable science-fiction movies of all time, like "Alien" and "Blade Runner." And some fans have been curious whether Scott would ever make a "Star Wars" movie in the new era.

The answer, according to Scott, is he's "too dangerous."

The 80-year-old filmmaker recently pulled off the tricky feat of successfully replacing Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer in his latest movie, "All the Money in the World," following sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey. Scott did the reshoots in such a timely fashion that the movie still made its original Christmas release date.

In doing interviews on how he pulled it off, the director said that if you know what you're doing, most challenges on movies can be overcome quicker than outsiders think. 

Scott has proven over his career that he can do the work with speed and talent that most in the business can't. While most Hollywood blockbusters take over 100 days of principal photography (plus reshoots), Scott's movies are often on or under budget, and his shoots are very quick (he did "Alien: Covenant" in just 73 days!). 

So when Vulture caught up with Scott in a recent interview they posed the question most great ones get — has he ever been offered a "Star Wars" movie? And in typical Scott fashion, he was very honest with his answer.

"No, no. I'm too dangerous for that," Scott said. 

When asked why, he said, "Because I know what I’m doing. I think they like to be in control, and I like to be in control myself." (Scott was referring to working with Lucasfilm and Disney.)

Scott said that preference for control is why Lucasfilm likes to recruit young directors from the indie film world to make the movies collaboratively. But, Scott said, that can backfire.  

"When you get a guy who’s done a low-budget movie and you suddenly give him $180 million, it makes no sense whatsoever. It’s f---in’ stupid," he said. "You know what the reshoots cost? Millions! Millions. You can get me for my fee, which is heavy, but I’ll be under budget and on time. This is where experience does matter, it’s as simple as that! It can make you dull as dishwater, but if you’re really experienced and you know what you’re doing, it’s f---ing essential. Grow into it, little by little. Start low-budget, get a little bit bigger, maybe after $20 million, you can go to 80. But don’t suddenly go to 160."

Lucasfilm/Disney has had to learn this the hard way. 

Veteran director Tony Gilroy had to come in and take over reshoots of "Rogue One" from director Gareth Edwards; Colin Trevorrow walked away from directing "Star Wars: Episode IX" and was replaced with "The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams; and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were fired from "Solo" and replaced by Ron Howard.

Out of this group, only Edwards had made a movie over $100 million previously (2014's "Godzilla," $160 million).   

SEE ALSO: All 36 notable characters in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," ranked from worst to best

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything we know about 'porgs' — the penguin-like creatures from 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'

• Britain's Prince Harry sidestepped political controversy by refusing to reveal whether former President Barack Obama would be on his wedding guest list.
• There had been speculation in British media that officials within the government were nervous about inviting Obama but not President Donald Trump, fearing it could cause stressed US-UK relations.
• Trump found himself in hot water with the British government after he retweeted several videos by an anti-Muslim, far-right British nationalist group in November.

Prince Harry managed to avoid political drama on Wednesday when he refused to reveal the guest list for his wedding during an interview with BBC radio, following speculation that the prince could offend President Donald Trump if he invited former President Barack Obama but not him.

"We haven't put the invites or the guest list together yet, so who knows whether he's going to be invited or not," Harry said when asked if Obama was going to be there. "I wouldn't want to ruin that surprise."

A Christmas Day report from British tabloid The Sun claimed UK government officials were worried that extending an invitation to Obama but not Trump could cause UK relations with the US to deteriorate even further.

"Harry has made it clear he wants the Obamas at the wedding, so it's causing a lot of nervousness," a senior government official reportedly told The Sun. "Trump could react very badly if the Obamas get to a Royal wedding before he has had a chance to meet the Queen."

Following massive protests in June, the UK government put Trump's official state visit on hold for the foreseeable future.

Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, so the two have a few months to get the guest list together. Though the Queen may not attend the wedding, Buckingham Palace will still play a sizeable role in its planning.

How a Trump snub could worsen relations

Fears about the political fallout from a Trump snub in the UK come amid a deepening rift between the two allies.

In November, British Prime Minister Theresa May said "it was wrong" for Trump to retweet several anti-Muslim videos from a British far-right nationalist group. He responded by attacking her on Twitter.

The spat even fueled speculation that the US president might be be arrested for violating British law if he were to arrive. UK House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said Trump would be barred from speaking in parliament because of the retweets.

Prince Harry, who is fifth in line for the throne (for now), made the reserved comments about his wedding to the BBC after he conducted an interview with Obama last week, during which the pair exchanged common views on social media use, and discussed Obama's thoughts on the day his term ended.

SEE ALSO: Obama told Prince Harry he felt 'serene' the day he left the White House

DON'T MISS: Barack Obama tells Prince Harry 'irresponsible' social-media use risks fragmenting our society

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'It was bulls---': Megyn Kelly responds to being called Trump's 'chew toy'

• Body language is a major part of how we communicate.

• It's important to cultivate positive body language habits and avoid other behaviors that diminish how you appear to others.

• Slouching, shuffling, and aggressive eye contact are all body language habits that are best to drop.

It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

It's a cliché, but it's true. Body language is a crucial part of communicating. The way you act can warp the entire meaning of what you're saying.

That being said, bad body language habits are the often hardest habits to break. We become so accustomed to slouching, averting our eyes, or folding our arms that we barely even notice what we're doing.

Here are several body language mistakes that are going to be tough to ditch. Still, if you're able to quit them, you'll definitely thank yourself later.

SEE ALSO: 6 body language tricks that are hard to master but will pay off forever

DON'T MISS: You can tell someone's lying to you by watching their face — here are 12 dead giveaways

Fidgeting

If you've gotten into the habit of fidgeting, it can be difficult to snap out of it. But it's important to take steps to reigning in this nervous habit.

Fidgeting demonstrates nervousness and a lack of power, as body-language expert and "The Power of Body Language" author Tonya Reiman previously told Business Insider.

Playing with your hair

Leave your hair alone. Constantly running your hands across your scalp and twirling your locks is pretty distracting. Plus, as ABC reported, it can damage your hair overtime. It can be hard to quit, so try playing around a stress ball instead of your hair.

Adopting a defensive pose

Many people naturally cross their arms or hunch over a bit just because they don't know what to do with their hands.

However, this posture can make you look uncomfortable, defensive, or untrustworthy.

"You should always keep your hands in view when you are talking," Patti Wood, a body- language expert and author of " SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma," previously told Business Insider. When a listener can't see your hands, they wonder what you are hiding."

We sure have discovered a lot of things that are bad for us over the last 50 years.

When today's grandparents were growing up, the world was a Wild West of unhealthy choices.

You could smoke, drink, and eat with abandon.

These days, we have a lot more laws designed to nudge Americans to live their lives in a healthier way.

Here are 10 things today's grandparents probably did back in their day — some of which many of us still do — before science figured out they were bad for us:

SEE ALSO: What the science says about every popular diet — and whether they can work for you

DON'T MISS: How to fix all of your sleep problems with science

1. Smoked

In 1950, almost half of Americans smoked.

Cigarette companies advertised that doctors smoked, and a majority of them did.

But over the decades, scientists realized that smoking was causing cancer (most notably lung cancer) and heart disease. It can also cause birth defects if women smoke while they're pregnant.

Today, one in five American adults still use tobacco products. But now they probably know about all the risks.

2. Ate processed meats

While the health effects of eating unprocessed red meat like fresh beef and pork in moderation are contested, scientists have found that processed red meat is not good for us.

Hot dogs, ham, salami, bacon, and sausage are delicious, but researchers have found eating them is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.

This is likely because processed meat contains a lot of salt, which can raise your blood pressure and cholesterol, eventually leading to heart problems.

Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death in the US, and we still haven't kicked the carnivorous habit. In fact, we've gotten worse.

In 1950, an average American ate 138 pounds of meat per year. Today, that number's risen to over 195 pounds.

3. Drove drunk

While the overall drinking rate has steadily increased in the US since the 1930s, drunk driving deaths have plummeted.

That's thanks to driving under the influence laws across the country. New York passed the first one in 1910, and the rest of the states soon followed, but the laws didn't get specific enough to really make a difference until the '70s.

Raising the drinking age to 21 in the 1980s and '90s helped, too.

Since 1982, drunk driving fatalities have declined 53%, though today around 10,000 people still die every year in crashes caused by a drunk driver.

Carrie Fisher will always be remembered most for playing the iconic role of Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise, but she was so much more than just a princess in a galaxy far, far away.

Along with being a best-selling author and script doctor, she also had close to 90 screen credits over a 41-year career. It's a wide-range selection from the supportive girlfriend in "When Harry Met Sally" to playing Peter's boss in "Family Guy."  

On the one year anniversary of her death, we highlight the roles Fisher played in both movies and TV outside of the "Star Wars" saga. 

SEE ALSO: The awesome life and career of "Star Wars" icon Carrie Fisher

"Shampoo" (1975)

In her first movie role, Fisher plays one of the girls who can't resist the looks and charm of hairdresser George (played by Warren Beatty).

"The Blues Brothers" (1980)

Fisher plays a woman determined to kill her ex-fiancée Jake Blues (John Belushi) in the most sensational ways possible. She never succeeds, and left instead are some outrageous moments in a comedy classic.   

"Under the Rainbow" (1981)

Never shy to star in movies that went against the grain ("Star Wars" certainly was that), here Fisher stars opposite Chevy Chase in an outlandish comedy set in a LA hotel where auditions for "The Wizard of Oz" are being done. (Yeah, this one is out there!) 

• Walt Disney World resorts are replacing "Do Not Disturb" door signs with signs that say "Room Occupied."
• Resort employees are now required to enter each room at least once per day.
• There is speculation that the changes were put into effect to prevent events like the October shooting at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

If you stay at a Walt Disney World resort in the coming months, you may have less control over when cleaning and maintenance staff enter your room. 

Some resorts are beginning to replace "Do Not Disturb" signs on guest rooms with signs that say "Room Occupied," Walt Disney World News Today reports. The change means that resort employees can enter your room while you're in it, but will attempt to alert you before doing so. Employees are now required to enter every room at least once per day. 

These changes have gone into effect at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Village Resort, and Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom, with other Walt Disney World resorts to follow soon, according to Walt Disney World News Today.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but there is speculation that the changes were put into effect to prevent events like the October shooting that killed 58 people at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Many Walt Disney World resorts have rooms that give guests views of crowded areas below.

The Mandalay Bay and its parent company, MGM Resorts International, are facing a number of lawsuits that claim the resort didn't implement preventive measures that could have stopped the shooting.

SEE ALSO: MGM is in crisis as hundreds of Las Vegas shooting victims accuse the Mandalay Bay of missing red flags

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why most jeans are blue

It can be tough keeping plants alive indoors, especially during the dark, dry, winter months. 

But if they can thrive, indoor plants have all sorts of benefits. Plants can regulate indoor humidity, and they've been shown to make people feel content and peaceful around the world. In Norway, office workers report that having plants at work helps them stay productive and healthy. In Japan, plants literally fight crime — a Tokyo neighborhood dealing with a spate of break-ins planted flowers and saw its burglary rates fall 80%. 

Even rocket scientists agree: when NASA studied houseplants in the 1980s, the space agency found that they can remove dangerous organic chemicals from indoor air, like formaldehyde, benzene, and the industrial solvent trichloroethylene.

Business Insider spoke to New York City plant expert Matthew Schechter, who's worked in a family plant business his whole life. 

Here are his top five "idiot-proof" plants that are perfect for anyone who lacks a green thumb. None of these need to be watered unless the dirt they're in feels dry to the touch. They are built to survive for up to a month without watering.

SEE ALSO: The 23 best science movies and shows streaming on Netflix that will make you smarter

The low-lying Cast Iron Plant has evolved to adapt to "basically any kind of climate," Schechter said.

The bush plant is native to Taiwan and Japan, but was brought to Victorian England in the 1800s, where it became a status symbol plant for the rich.

The glossy leaves on this Janet Craig plant are super-hardy. Schechter said a tough Janet Craig plant once lived in a dark closet for two months and survived to see the light of day.

Schechter says this one is known as a "workhorse plant" because "not all plants have that big, bushy look, but can tolerate low levels of light."

The Mexican Ponytail Palm is pet-friendly and used to dry, arid conditions. It can live for two to three weeks without water.

It's ASPCA approved as non-toxic for dogs, cats, and horses.

• Renowned French chef Jérôme Brochot owns a restaurant in a former coal mining town in the Burgundy region of France.
• His restaurant, Le France, was awarded a Michelin Star in 2011. 
• In November, Brochot voluntarily dropped his Michelin Star because diners in the working-class town couldn't afford to eat there.
  

Jérôme Brochot, a renowned French chef, has decided to return his Michelin Star, the highest honor bestowed upon chefs around the world.

Brochot is the owner of hotel-restaurant Le France in Montceau-les-Mines, France, a former coal mining town with a population around 18,000, according to the New York Times.

In 2011, he was awarded a Michelin Star, a sign that he had succeeded at the highest level as a chef. But after a costly kitchen renovation put him in debt and Brochot couldn't keep a steady stream of high-paying customers in the restaurant, he wrote to the Michelin Guide to give up his star, a symbol of fine dining with prices to match.

"It's been catastrophic for the last three years," Brochot told the Times. "We're reacting here. We are going to do everything to keep this place going," he said. "I'm looking for ideas to survive." 

Keep scrolling to peek inside Brochot's restaurant.

SEE ALSO: This dining club treats toddlers to fancy meals at Michelin-starred restaurants — here's what it's like to eat with them

DON'T MISS: The New York Times just declared this power-lunching spot the No. 1 New York restaurant of the year

Le France restaurant and hotel is located in Montceau-les-Mines, Burgundy, one of France's primary wine-producing regions.

Source: The New York Times

Brochot was raised in a family of cattle farmers. After training under French chefs like Bernard Loiseau, Brochot returned to his hometown to begin cooking professionally nearly 20 years ago.

Source: The New York Times

Six years later, he was awarded his first Michelin Star for the restaurant, which also offers cooking classes. "A star in a workingman’s town, what a beautiful symbol," he recalled to the Times.

Source: The New York Times

Suppliers selling to doomsday preppers are making a fortune off fears that the world is coming to an end.

Rising S Company sells underground doomsday bunkers at every price point. The Texas-based manufacturer says its business has soared over 500% since the election of President Trump, with about 230 units sold and $12 million in sales in 2017.

The bunkers are made of steel and set 11 feet underground, which makes them useful in natural disasters, nuclear attacks, and other doomsday scenarios, according to the company.

"Anybody can put containers in the ground and sell them to people. What Rising S sells is safety," Gary Lynch, general manager of the company, told Business Insider.

Take a look inside some of Rising S Company's most popular models.

SEE ALSO: This couple shunned traditional vacations for traveling the country in a converted van — here's how they made it work on $30 a day

These days, you can't turn on the news without thinking the world is coming to an end.

In the fall, two major hurricanes swept through the US, an 8.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Mexico, and wildfires blazed through Canada, Oregon, Montana, and California.

There's a psychological reason the world seems like it's ending right now — and it should give people hope »

A rising number of Americans are taking precautions for a future apocalypse.

In the wake of recent natural disasters and continued nuclear threats from North Korea, more people are stocking their homes with survival supplies, picking up new skills at the shooting range, and buying units in massive underground shelters built to protect entire communities.

Rising S Company started out as a storm shelter manufacturer.

About a decade ago, a woman approached owner Clyde Scott about building her a much larger storm shelter — around 40 feet long — that came with all the creature comforts of home.

"She wanted the whole works — bathrooms, beds, sinks, camera systems — and it got me thinking, she isn't wanting no ordinary storm shelter, but a survival shelter," Scott told Dazed.

He used $3 million from his storm-shelter business to create a bunker company, and the move has kept him busy ever since. According to Lynch, the company's client list includes tech moguls, professional athletes, politicians, and celebrities.

• Young couples are increasingly fighting about social media use.
• Sometimes one partner is more private than the other, or sometimes one partner is concerned that their partner is following an ex on social media.
• Yet research also suggests that social media can help bring couples together.

In the days when I was single and dating, I used to do this thing where I'd refuse to tell my friends the name of the guy I was currently seeing. Instead I'd give him code names like, say, "X" or "the doctor." The logic being, of course, that if I gave him a concrete identity, I'd "jinx" any chance of the romance blossoming into something lasting.

Weird, I know. But my general philosophy — even today — is not to spend too much time gushing about how great my life is, as though I'm extending a direct invitation to Disaster. Which is why I'm hard pressed to imagine being in a serious relationship with someone who lives to find the perfect Instagram filter through which to flaunt our comings and goings.

This imagined rift between partners who approach relationships and social media differently is, as it turns out, a very real thing. I recently spoke to Rachel Sussman, a relationship expert and marriage counselor in New York City, and she cited social media use as a growing source of concern among the couples she sees.

The last five years, Sussman said, have brought a big spike in the number of social-media-related problems, which typically come from couples in their 20s and 30s. Specifically, one person might complain "that their life is plastered all over social media."

Indeed, Vanessa Marin, a psychotherapist specializing in sex therapy, wrote in The New York Times that "[o]ften in relationships, one person is more private than the other, a difference that can lead to fights."

Yet other complaints Sussman hears extend beyond the domain of over-sharing. For example, one partner might think the other is addicted to their phone. Or, jealousy might arise if one person is following a ton of models on Instagram or staying in touch with an ex on social media.

It's hard to say that social media is universally bad or good for romantic relationships

Meanwhile, research on the role of social media in romantic relationships has hardly yielded straightforward conclusions.

A 2014 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 45% of millennials in relationships say the internet has had an impact on their relationship, compared to 10% of adults 65 and older. But that "impact" isn't necessarily destructive: 74% of people who said the internet has had an impact on their relationship said the impact was positive; 20% said it was negative; and 4% said it was both good and bad.

And a 2015 study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking found that undergrad, heterosexual couples who post more about their relationships on Facebook are more committed to each other and more likely to stay together. (The researchers say they ruled out the possibility that couples who posted on Facebook were more committed to each other in the first instance.)

Twostudies did find that conflict over Twitter and Facebook usage was related to relationship issues — yet as Amanda Hess at Slate pointed out, those issues would probably exist anyway. Social media may simply provide another platform for problematic behaviors to take place.

In the New York Times article, Marin suggests checking in with your partner before sharing anything about them on social media. And as for people who are suspicious about their partner's social media activity, Marin recommends not "snooping" — and possibly not even following your partner on social media at all.

SEE ALSO: A relationship therapist breaks down the 10 most common fights couples have

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The key to long-lasting relationships is more simple than you think

• As many as 25% of malls may close in the next five years, according to a recent report.
• We visited Seattle's Northgate Mall, which originally opened in 1950, and is now trying to reinvent itself as a new downtown for Seattleites fleeing skyrocketing rents.
• Though intended to form an affordable neighborhood, the area lacks the public spaces, density, and pedestrian walkways that would make it attractive to urban millennials.

Opened in 1950, Northgate Mall has survived for nearly 70 years as a hub of commerce for the outer neighborhoods of Seattle, Washington.

But, like all malls today, Northgate faces tremendous headwinds as American consumers shift their spending patterns.

Real-estate research firm Cushman & Wakefieldestimated that visits to malls have declined by as much as 50% in recent years. In a recent report, analysts from Credit Suisse predicted that 20% to 25% of malls — about 220 to 275 shopping centers — would shutter over the next five years, largely because of store closures.

Simon Property Group, Northgate's owner, and the city of Seattle have responded to recent trends by attempting to reinvent the mall as the center of a new downtown.

We visited recently to see how one mall is trying to buck the "retail apocalypse."

SEE ALSO: These photos show even the oldest mall in America isn't immune to the 'retail apocalypse'

Northgate Mall is located in northwest Seattle just off Interstate 5, the highway that forms the backbone of the city.

Google Maps

The earliest designers of malls like Northgate saw them as the suburban replacement for a vibrant downtown. Ironically, 70 years later, the "retail apocalypse" and larger urban trends may make that dream a reality in Northgate.

The city is hoping to turn suburban Northgate into a thriving urban neighborhood. Currently only reachable by car and bus, Seattle is in the midst of a a $1.9 billion transit project that will connect Northgate to downtown via light rail by 2021.

• Seven women who have accused Dustin Hoffman of sexual misconduct signed an open letter thanking John Oliver for confronting him.
• "While the questions you asked may not have led to the constructive conversation you hoped for, the fact that you asked them at all is what matters most," they wrote in the letter.

Seven women who have accused Dustin Hoffman of sexual misconduct signed on open letter thanking John Oliver for confronting the actor over his alleged behavior.

Oliver brought up the allegations against Hoffman earlier this month at a panel discussion with the actor for the 20th anniversary of "Wag the Dog." The exchange between Oliver and Hoffman went viral as the two went back and forth about the allegations.

A few days ago, Oliver spoke for the first time about his confrontation with Hoffman, saying, "It didn’t really go anywhere constructive, so the whole thing just made me feel sad."

The women who have accused Hoffman have a different take.

"We want to thank you for confronting Dustin Hoffman," the letter from the women says. "While the questions you asked may not have led to the constructive conversation you hoped for, the fact that you asked them at all is what matters most."

Here's the entire letter sent out from the Twitter account of Anna Graham Hunter, who was the first woman to come forward with allegations against Hoffman in a guest column in The Hollywood Reporter. In the column, she alleged that Hoffman groped and sexually harassed her on the set of the 1985 movie "Death Of A Salesman" when she was 17.

Hoffman addressed Hunter's account specifically in his exchange with Oliver.

"First of all, it didn't happen the way she reported," Hoffman said to Oliver during the panel. "I still don't know who this woman is. I never met her. If I met her, it was in concert with other people." (Hoffman and his representatives have denied some of the other allegations against him as well.)

Here is a list of the allegations against Hoffman and his various responses. 

SEE ALSO: "Phantom Thread" star Vicky Krieps opens up about the movie's grueling shoot and working with Daniel Day-Lewis

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet Scott Rogowsky — the host of the hot new mobile game show HQ Trivia

There’s nothing better than a movie moment you immediately know will be stuck in your mind forever.

It might be the emotion of the moment, the way the music matches the powerful visuals, or a line that’s delivered just the right way. Whatever it is, it’s the moment when you are hooked on the movie not just for the rest of the year, but for many more to come.

With 2017 coming to a close, I looked back on 11 moments in the movies this year that I won’t forget anytime soon.

Warning: Some spoilers are also included. 

SEE ALSO: All 36 notable characters in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," ranked from worst to best

11. The K-Ci & JoJo scene in “Ingrid Goes West”

I've pretty much been cracking up about this scene since I first saw it at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) befriends Taylor (Elizabeth Olsen), the person she's been stalking on Instagram, and they take a girls' trip to Joshua Tree. 

During the car ride they play the late 1990s hit "All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo. Ingrid gets so into the song that she begins to stare at Taylor as she sings the lyrics, "I pray for someone like you, and I hope that you feel the same way too." This leads to her slamming into the guardrail.

Plaza's lust stare for Taylor makes the entire moment incredibly funny. 

10. Paz de la Huerta interrupts “My Scientology Movie”

This is definitely one of the top bats--t moments I have ever seen in a documentary. 

Louis Theroux is having a serious chat with former Scientology member Marty Rathbun in a hotel room when out of nowhere a bikini-clad Paz de le Huerta knocks on the window of their room. Theroux opens the door and the actress walks in demanding not to be filmed, though goes on to brag that she's been in over 45 films (there's a lot more to this story). And as quickly as she appears she's gone, and the two men are left wondering if somehow Scientology was behind the encounter.

The randomness of the encounter and Theroux's handling of the situation is something I can watch on a loop for days (and perhaps I have!).

9. Rachael reunites with Deckard in “Blade Runner 2049”

The appearance of a CGI version of Sean Young, as she looked in the original "Blade Runner" movie in 1982, filled me with nostalgia and a burning desire to find out how they did it. 

She looks flawless (though Deckard finds a flaw) and the moment beautifully links both movies. 

• Ivanka Trump sparked controversy on social media this week when she posted a photo of her husband and son on a boat in Florida with a Confederate flag in the background.
• It is unclear whether the inclusion of the flag, which was flying from a neighboring boat, was intentional.
• Critics lashed out at Ivanka, pointing to her father's controversial defense of Confederate monuments, which many view as a celebration of the country's white supremacist history.

Ivanka Trump is being criticized on social media after posting a photo of her husband, Jared Kusher, and young son on a boat in Florida with a Confederate flag in the distant background.

After the president's eldest daughter and top White House adviser tweeted out the photo, along with three others of the pair fishing, Twitter users immediately spotted the controversial flag flying on neighboring boat.

Some made light of the apparent oversight, while others questioned whether the photo expressed subtle support for the flag, which is widely viewed as a symbol of white supremacy.

"Couldn't find four photos without one? Or is this a dogwhistle?" Walter Shaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics under President Barack Obama, tweeted.

Critics pointed to President Donald Trump's controversial statements about Confederate monuments and defense of white supremacists who protested to protect the monuments in Charlottesville this August.

Trump argued at a Phoenix rally in August that those in favor of removing monuments to Confederate leaders from public spaces are "trying to take away our culture" and history, calling them "weak, weak people."

The White House has not responded to the Twitter furor.

SEE ALSO: Black civil rights leaders say Trump judicial nominee is 'a product of the modern white supremacist machine'

DON'T MISS: Ivanka Trump says most Americans will now be able to file taxes on a 'postcard' — experts disagree

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NOW WATCH: Ivanka Trump's Instagram put her at the center of a controversy over her lavish art collection

This year, 600 award-winning Reuters photojournalists worked across the world to document both major historic moments and the human stories that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

The team won the Pulitzer Prize in the Breaking News Photography category in 2016, and in 2017, their efforts have only continued.

Ahead, take a look at 50 of the most amazing photos captured by Reuters in 2017.

Editor's note: Many of the images in this slideshow depict graphic violence and injury, and many are upsetting. All captions are by Reuters. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what goes on behind the scenes of the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which reportedly costs millions to produce each year

School children attend a yoga session at a camp in Ahmedabad, India, on January 5, 2017.

Kashmiri Muslims raise their arms upon seeing a relic of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, a Sufi saint, being displayed at his shrine on the occasion of his death anniversary, on a cold winter morning in Srinagar, on January 10, 2017.

A commuter jumps between trains upon arrival at a station, to attend Akheri Munajat, the final supplication during Biswa Ijtema in Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on January 15, 2017.

• New Jersey residents who commute to New York may have to pay $0.90 more per trip starting in 2020 under a new proposal by outgoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. 
• The fare increase would jump to $1.70 in 2028 and $2.20 in 2038.
• The new revenue would go toward a plan to build a new tunnel between New Jersey and New York and repair the Amtrak North River Tunnel. 
• The projects would cut commute times and increase reliability.

New Jersey residents who commute to New York will see their daily transportation expenses increase dramatically over the next two decades, according to a new plan proposed by outgoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The plan would raise New Jersey Transit rail fees by $0.90 per trip starting in 2020, $1.70 in 2028, and $2.20 in 2038, according to a letter from Steven Santoro, the agency's executive director. This would amount to daily cost increases of $1.80, $3.40, and $4.40, respectively, for round-trip commuters.

The cost increases would fund a new tunnel running under the Hudson River and repair the 107-year-old Amtrak North River Tunnel, which was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to a statement released by Christie. The projects would cut travel times and increase reliability between New Jersey and New York. Christie cancelled an initial proposal for the new tunnel in 2010, as he feared that New Jersey taxpayers would have to pay for cost overruns.

Bloomberg projected that some commuters would have to pay almost $30 per day once the rate hike went into full effect in 2038.

The current proposal is projected to cost $12.7 billion and relies on federal funding to fill in the gaps left by the $5.55 billion in combined funding pledged by the governments of New Jersey and New York.

While the plan is currently under review at the US Department of Transportation, the new tunnel wouldn't open until 2025 at the earliest if federal funding is approved, Bloomberg reported.

SEE ALSO: Chris Christie's fall from grace: How a presidential frontrunner became the country's least popular governor

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NOW WATCH: We talked to Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman about tax reform, Trump, and bitcoin

• Whole Foods has released its predictions of the 10 food and drink trends that will be big in 2018.
• It includes the likes of super powders and mushroom-based dishes.
• The list is based on the experiences of global buyers and experts.

Whole Foods Market has revealed its predictions on what the biggest food trends will be in 2018— and some of them are pretty out there.

The retailer's global buyers and experts compiled the list based on their combined experience in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences.

From functional mushrooms and floral flavours to seaweed tacos and sparkling drinks, scroll down to see the 10 things everyone will be eating and drinking in 2018, according to Whole Foods.

1. Floral flavours

"Foragers and culinary stars have embraced edible petals for years, but floral inspiration is finally in full bloom," according to the report. "From adding whole flowers and petals into dishes to infusing botanical flavors into drinks and snacks, this top trend makes for a subtly sweet taste and fresh aromatics.

"Look for flowers used like herbs in things like lavender lattés and rose-flavored everything. Bright pink hibiscus teas are a hot (and iced) part of the trend, while elderflower is the new MVP (most valuable petal) of cocktails and bubbly drinks."

2. Super powders

"Powders are serious power players," according to Whole Foods. "Because they’re so easy to incorporate, they’ve found their way into lattés, smoothies, nutrition bars, soups, and baked goods.

"For an energy boost or an alternative to coffee, powders like matcha, maca root, and cacao are showing up in mugs everywhere. Ground turmeric powder is still on the rise, the ever-popular spice used in Ayurvedic medicine. Smoothie fans are raising a glass to powders like spirulina, kale, herbs and roots for an oh-so-green vibrancy that needs no Instagram filter. Even protein powders have evolved beyond bodybuilders to pack in new nutrients like skin- and hair-enhancing collagen."

3. Functional mushrooms

"Shoppers are buzzing about functional mushrooms, which are traditionally used to support wellness as an ingredient in dietary supplements," Whole Foods reported. "Now, varieties like reishi, chaga, cordyceps, and lion’s mane star in products across categories.

"Bottled drinks, coffees, smoothies and teas are leading the way. The rich flavors also lend themselves to mushroom broths, while the earthy, creamy notes pair well with cocoa, chocolate, or coffee flavors. Body care is hot on this mushroom trend too, so look for a new crop of soaps, hair care, and more."

4. Feasts from the Middle East

"Middle Eastern culinary influences have made their way west for years, and 2018 will bring these tasty traditions into the mainstream. Things like hummus, pita, and falafel were tasty entry points, but now consumers are ready to explore the deep traditions, regional nuances, and classic ingredients of Middle Eastern cultures, with Persian, Israeli, Moroccan, Syrian, and Lebanese influences rising to the top.

"Spices like harissa, cardamom, and za’atar are hitting more menus, as well as dishes like shakshuka, grilled halloumi, and lamb. Other trending Middle Eastern ingredients include pomegranate, eggplant, cucumber, parsley, mint, tahini, tomato jam, and dried fruits."

5. Well-labelled products

More is more when it comes to product labeling, according to Whole Foods, with consumers wanting to know "the real story behind their food, and how that item made its way from the source to the store."

"GMO transparency is top-of-mind, but shoppers seek out other details, too, such as Fair Trade certification, responsible production, and animal welfare standards," according to the report.

"The FDA’s deadline for nutrition labeling is among the first regulatory steps for greater transparency, but expect consumers and brands to continue leading the way into a new era of product intel."

6. High-tech plant-based dishes

"Plant-based diets and dishes continue to dominate the food world, and now the tech industry has a seat at the table, too. By using science to advance recipes and manipulate plant-based ingredients and proteins, these techniques are creating mind-bending alternatives like "bleeding" vegan burgers or sushi-grade "not-tuna" made from tomatoes.

"These new production techniques are also bringing some new varieties of nut milks and yogurts made from pili nuts, peas, bananas, macadamia nuts, and pecans. Dairy-free indulgences like vegan frosting, brownies, ice cream, brioche, and crème brûlée are getting so delicious, non-vegans won’t know the difference – or they might choose them anyway!"

7. Puffed and popped snacks

"Crunchy snacks are perennial favorites, but new technology is revolutionizing all things puffed, popped, dried, and crisped," according to Whole Foods. "New extrusion methods (ways of processing and combining ingredients) have paved the way for popped cassava chips, puffed pasta bow ties, seaweed fava chips, and puffed rice clusters.

"Good-old-fashioned chips also get an upgrade as part of the trend, with better-for-you bites like jicama, parsnip, or Brussels sprout crisps."

8. Alternative tacos

"There’s no slowing down the craze for all things Latin American, but the taco trend has a life of its own. This street-food star is no longer limited to a tortilla, or to savory recipes: Tacos are showing up for breakfast, and trendy restaurants across the country have dessert variations.

"Most of all, tacos are shedding their shell for new kinds of wrappers and fillings too — think seaweed wrappers with poke filling. Classic tacos aren’t going anywhere, but greater attention to ingredients is upping their game.

"One end of the spectrum is hyper-authentic cooking with things like heirloom corn tortillas or classic barbacoa.'

9. Root-to-stem cooking

Whole Foods reported: "Between nose-to-tail butchery and reducing food waste, a few forces are combining to inspire root-to-stem cooking, which makes use of the entire fruit or vegetable, including the stems or leaves that are less commonly eaten. Recipes like pickled watermelon rinds, beet-green pesto, or broccoli-stem slaw have introduced consumers to new flavors and textures from old favourites."

10. Another kind of bubbly

There’s an entire booming category of non-alcoholic sparkling beverages ready to compete for the attention of customers, according to Whole Foods. "These drinks are a far cry from their sugary predecessors. Flavoured sparkling waters like plant-derived options from Sap! (made with maple and birch) and sparkling cold brew from Stumptown are shaking up a fizzy fix."

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NOW WATCH: I tried a diet that celebrities are obsessed with, but I'll never try it again

LONDON – A lazy, indulgent brunch is the perfect way to catch up with family and friends throughout the chillier months.

If you're living in a big city like London, bottomless beverages, such as all-you-can-drink prosecco and Bloody Marys, are often part of the deal.

We've compiled a list of the best bottomless brunch deals in London to make sure you get the most out of your money – and your time limit.

Of the many restaurants in the capital that serve free-flowing booze with brunch, the food menus vary from Japanese steamed buns to a classic full English breakfast.

Here are 36 of the best-value and most popular bottomless brunch spots around London, from Hackney to Chelsea, ranked by price from the most expensive to the cheapest:

Will Heilpern originally contributed to this article. Some restaurants charge food and bottomless drink separately, in which case we have listed a combined price.

36. Roka Aldwych – £59

The weekend "hen setto brunch" at Roka Aldwych includes 10 sharing plates like edamame and sashimi, a main course including the likes of sake teriyaki, a dessert and unlimited red or white wine – but it'll cost you, at £59 per person.

When: 11.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, 11.30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday.

=34. The Montagu at Hyatt Regency London – £55

If you really want to splash out, try The Montagu near Hyde Park. It offers a "New York Italian Style Brunch," including unlimited white and red Italian wines, Bloody Marys, American lagers, and bellinis for £55.

When: 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

=34. Quaglino's, St. James's – £55

Have brunch in style at Quaglino's, where two courses are £33 and three courses are £38 on the Saturday Q Brunch. Bottomless prosecco costs £22 extra.

When: 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Much of what the media report can seem negative or downright depressing.

That's because two of the main objectives of journalists, especially those covering people in power, is to expose wrongdoing and shine a light on problems in society so they can be fixed.

But it's also important to highlight the good that happens around the world — stories of triumph and courage, community and giving back.

This year was more divided than most, but Americans still came together to lift each other up. Here are nine heartwarming news stories from 2017:

SEE ALSO: 15 of the most heartwarming pictures from the Rio Olympics

DON'T MISS: From glowing orbs to putting 'America first' with world leaders: Here are the most memorable photos from Trump's wild first year in office

Hurricane Harvey brings out the best in Americans.

Amid the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey in parts of Texas and Louisiana in August, many people came together to support the victims most in need.

Residents loaded up rowboats, pontoons, and fishing vessels to rescue survivors stranded on their roofs because the floodwaters in the Houston area were so high.

Miguel Juarez and others from the Texas Rio Grande Valley created a make-shift aid station, where people could pick through supplies like hygiene products and cereal. Juarez also set up a free water station at his truck.

One family near the Barker Reservoir in Houston escaped flooding on an air mattress. When journalists from the local news station ABC13 found them, they pulled them to safety aboard their vessel.

And grocery chain H-E-B, which is based in San Antonio, deployed a convoy of disaster-relief vehicles, including mobile kitchens and pharmacies, to Victoria, Texas. Grateful residents poured into the parking lot for a hot meal.

A Philadelphia man giving free haircuts to the homeless gets a free barbershop of his own — from a complete stranger.

In January, 29-year-old Philadelphia native Brennon Jones started a the charity "Haircuts 4 Homeless", helping the homeless clean up so they could get jobs. His goodwill caught the attention of a Philly-area barber shop owner, who decided to donate a fully-furnished barbershop space for Jones to continue his work.

"I decided what other way to help another brother out than to donate the shop," Sean Johnson, the owner of Taper's Barber Shop, told CBS Philly. "What he was doing down there, I was very impressed."

Jones says it's more than just a haircut. Cleaning up, and talking to a barber can boost morale and confidence, too.

“My very first haircut, his name is Braden," he told CBS. "I cut his hair on 15th & Walnut [Streets]. A few days later, I went to check up on him and he wasn’t there. I was hoping nothing bad happened to him. When we did catch up weeks later, he got offered a full-time job."

A wounded Las Vegas shooting victim fights his injuries to stand when Trump comes to shake his hand.

When President Donald Trump toured a Las Vegas hospital in October after the US's deadliest mass shooting in living memory, 28-year-old Thomas Gunderson pushed through his injuries to stand up and shake his hand when he entered his hospital room.

"Hey, this guy looks tough to me," Trump said of Gunderson, who was recovering from a fresh gunshot wound to the leg.

"I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand!" Gunderson wrote in a video of the encounter he posted to Facebook, which has since garnered 26 million views.