Now that Steve Bannon has left, perhaps one of the most polarizing figures in President Donald Trump's White House is senior policy adviser Stephen Miller.

At 32-years-old, he's been a rising star on the far right for years, making headlines precisely because of his controversial demeanor and statements.

Miller's importance in Washington, DC politics has grown even further as he emerged as a key player in talks to end the government shutdown, effectively serving as Trump's surrogate for crafting the White House position on immigration policy.

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

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

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

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

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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

Sources: The LookOut, Univision, Politico Magazine

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

Sources: The Washington Post, Politico Magazine

• Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are the two richest people in the world.
• Bezos and Gates, both founders of massive tech companies, own homes less than one mile from each other in Medina, Washington.
• At least five other tech and retail billionaires own homes in Seattle suburbs.

Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates— the world's two richest people — are neighbors.

The tech titans live less than one mile from each other in Medina, Washington, a secretive and exclusive suburb located just across Lake Washington from Seattle where the median home value is over $2.7 million.

Gates isn't the only Microsoft executive to call the Seattle area home — though his $125 million state-of-the-art tech compound may take the cake. Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and Charles Simonyi, the creator of Microsoft Word and Excel — and noted space tourist— all own multi-million dollar properties within a stone's throw of Seattle.

Jim Jannard, the founder and chairman of eyewear company Oakley, and Starbucks chairman and former CEO Howard Schultz also live in the area.

Perhaps the easy commute is part of the draw of Medina for Bezos and Gates.

About 10 years before Bezos and Amazon descended upon Seattle, Gates brought Microsoft's headquarters to Redmond, Washington, a town 20 minutes from his house.

Over the past two decades, Bezos has transformed Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood into "Amazonia," occupying more square feet of office space than the next 40 largest employers in the city combined, reports the Seattle Times. Blue Origin, the space company owned by Bezos, is about 25 miles south of Medina.

But Bezos may soon become bi-coastal, as he hunts for a city to host Amazon's second headquarters — nicknamed HQ2. There's speculation he'll choose Washington, DC, where he owns a $23 million mansion in the high-profile Kalorama neighborhood. Plus, the Bezos-owned newspaper The Washington Post is based nearby. 

SEE ALSO: One walk through Seattle's 'Amazonia' neighborhood made me very uneasy for whatever city gets HQ2

DON'T MISS: Jeff Bezos has passed Bill Gates to become the richest person in history — here’s the secretive waterfront town where both billionaires live

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It's almost time for the biggest night of the year in Hollywood!

The nominees for the 90th Academy Awards ceremony were unveiled Tuesday morning by Tiffany Haddish ("Girls Trip") and Andy Serkis ("The Force Awakens").

2017 was a great year for film, leaving many of the categories open, and no clear frontrunners for best picture.

"Get Out" surprised with four nominations including best actor for Daniel Kaluuya, best original screenplay, and best director for Jordan Peele.

Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" earned him his first nomination for directing, and has the second-most nominations (eight) next to "The Shape of Water" (13).

Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird" made her the fifth woman ever to be nominated for best director, and got a few other nominations including best actress for Saoirse Ronan, best original screenplay, and best picture. 

The ceremony itself will take place Sunday, March 4, on ABC, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Here are all the nominees for the 2018 Oscars:

Best Picture

"Call Me by Your Name"

"Darkest Hour"

"Dunkirk"

"Get Out"

"Lady Bird"

"Phantom Thread"

"The Post"

"The Shape of Water"

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Best Director

Christopher Nolan, “Dunkirk”
Jordan Peele, “Get Out”
Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread” 
Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water”

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”
Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”
Meryl Streep, “The Post”

21st century relationships are a minefield.

While you're already worrying about building a successful and genuine connection with someone you care about, you also have to maneuver past modern — and often cruel — dating trends such as ghosting and benching.

But not every relationship is destined to fail.

In an attempt to prove that love can prosper even in the modern day, Business Insider staff asked their parents for their number one piece of relationship advice — because who are you more likely to turn to in the throes of heartbreak than mum and dad?

The resulting advice — collated from parents that are married, in long-term relationships, and divorced — all seemed to fall into five categories: listening, being kind, understanding your self-worth, spending time together, and nurturing your connection.

Scroll on to discover the 13 pieces of crucial relationship advice we learned from our parents:

SEE ALSO: You've heard of 'ghosting' — here are the 14 modern dating terms you need to know

Respect each other's space — and talk about things that matter.

Mandy, who has been married for 24 years, said: "Give each other space to be who you are and always try to talk about the stuff that matters — your hopes, dreams, and worries — not just the day-to-day things."

Never hide your emotions — and listen to your partner's.

"Always, always talk openly with your partner and be a good listener," said Lucy, who is divorced.

"Never hide emotions or bury what irritates or upsets you and why. You'll understand each other better if you talk honestly. Honest and open conversation builds trust and strengthens love."

Don't let animosity dwell.

"Never go to bed on an argument," said Andrea, who has been with her husband for 32 years.

• Yoga is a healthy form of exercise that works your muscles, heart, and mind — but do you really need the extra heat?
• A new study suggests that as far as your heart is concerned, the temperature of the yoga class doesn't really matter.
• Previous research has also suggested that some of the other benefits of hot yoga could be overstated, such as the number of calories burned per class.

I could always tell I'd arrived at my hot yoga studio by the smell.

Unlike the rooms of a regular yoga class, those housing hot yoga classes were like sponges for the aroma of hundreds of determined, sweaty humans.

I started practicing yoga in a heated environment after hearing about its dozens of alleged health benefits — including being better for your heart and muscles, and boosting your overall calorie burn — but I was never a sworn devotee. Something about sweating enough to create puddles on your mat didn't win me over.

So I felt somewhat vindicated after reading a new study that suggests that as far as your heart is concerned, the temperature of the yoga class doesn't really matter. Other research has also suggested that some of the other benefits of hot yoga could be overstated, such as the number of calories burned per class.

For the new study, published this month in the journal Experimental Physiology, researchers compared three groups of people aged 40-60. Participants either attended a 1.5-hour hot Bikram yoga class, did the same class at room temperature, or did no yoga. The yoga-practicing participants went to three classes per week for roughly three months.

At the end of the study, the researchers looked at participants' heart health with a particular focus on the endothelium, a thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels and is thought to play a key role in heart disease and function. They found that participants in both yoga groups — regardless of the temperature at which they practiced — saw similar benefits when it came to preserving the lining of their heart and blood vessels.

"This is the first publication to date to show a beneficial effect of the practice [of yoga] in the absence of the heat," Stacy D. Hunter, the lead author on the study and a professor of exercise and sports science at Texas State University, said in a statement. "The heated practice environment did not seem to play a role in eliciting [these] improvements."

Another key benefit of yoga is providing a good workout and overall calorie burn. It's long been thought that adding heat and humidity to the mix enhances those benefits, but a small study from researchers at Colorado State University cast doubt on that logic.

Brian Tracy, a health and exercise science professor at Colorado State University, presented that research at the 2014 American College of Sports Medicine's national meeting. For his study, he had 19 people aged 18-40 practice hot Bikram yoga while he measured their metabolic rate. Rather than the "thousands" of calories that practitioners often boast of burning in a single 1.5-hour class, Tracy's Bikram participants typically burned about 400 — roughly the equivalent of walking briskly for the same amount of time.

Simply adding heat to yoga, in other words, may not ramp up its calorie-burning power. What's likely more important for physical health are the poses, the dynamic nature of the class, and the length of time students are holding the postures. 

Although these limitations are important to keep in mind, they certainly shouldn't be seen as a reason to stop practicing yoga. Despite giving up on hot yoga, I continue to do regular yoga nearly every day. The practice quiets my mind, makes me feel strong, and challenges me to do things I'd never thought physically possible.

The science backs me up here — dozens of studies have linked a regular yoga practice to stronger, more flexible muscles, a healthier heart and, in people with depression and anxiety, a decrease in negative symptoms.

So whatever your fitness preference, keep moving. Your body and mind will thank you.

SEE ALSO: Everything I wish I'd known when I started doing yoga

DON'T MISS: I tried the science-backed 7-minute routine that was one of 2017's hottest workouts, and it actually works

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• Empaths and narcissists are often drawn to each other.
• This is because empaths have a lot of compassion and understanding to give, while narcissists thrive on someone worshipping them.
• But this isn't a good match, because empaths tend to forgive everything the narcissist does.
• This results in them being completely used and degraded, while the narcissist creates more and more chaos.

Opposites attract — or so we are told. While this rule has potential to broaden your horizons, people who are poles apart might be drawn together for all the wrong reasons.

Narcissists, for example, are attracted to people they will get the greatest use from. Often, this means they pursue and target empaths.

Empaths are the opposite of narcissists. While people with narcissistic personality disorder have no empathy, and thrive on the need for admiration, empaths are highly sensitive and in tune with other people's emotions.

Empaths are "emotional sponges," who can absorb feelings from other people very easily. This makes them them very attractive to narcissists, because they see someone who will fulfill their every need in a selfless way.

A 'toxic' attraction destined for disaster

Judith Orloff, a psychiatrist and author of "The Empath's Survival Guide," told Business Insider that this is a toxic attraction which is destined for disaster.

"What narcissists see in empaths is a giving, loving person who is going to try and be devoted to you and love you and listen to you," she said. "But unfortunately empaths are attracted to narcissists, because at first this is about a false self. Narcissists present a false self, where they can seem charming and intelligent, and even giving, until you don't do things their way, and then they get cold, withholding and punishing."

When a narcissist is trying to hook someone in, they will be loving and attentive, but their mask soon starts to slip. At the beginning they only see the good qualities, and believe the relationship will make them look good. This doesn't last because narcissists are full of contempt, and they see most people as below them. Once they start to notice their partner's flaws, they no longer idealise them, and they start to blame them for not being perfect.

It can sometimes take a while for the true colours to show, Orloff said, so she tells her clients to never fall in love with a narcissist. But this goes against an empath's instincts, as they believe they can fix people and heal anything with compassion.

"If only they just listened more, if only they could give more," said Orloff. "That is just not the case with a narcissist. It's so hard for many empaths to believe that somebody just doesn't have empathy, and that they can't heal the other person with their love."

Narcissists love drama and chaos

Shannon Thomas, a therapist and author of the book "Healing from Hidden Abuse," told Business Insider that empaths work hard for harmony, whereas narcissists are looking to do the opposite. They enjoy chaos, and like to know they can pull people's strings.

Narcissists manipulate empaths by stringing them along with intermittent hope. They will integrate compliments and kindness into their behaviour, making their victim believe that if they behave in the correct manner, they will get the loving person back who they once knew.

"Empathetic people have the tendency to understand that we're all human, we all have defects, and they're willing to be patient with someone else's personal growth," Thomas said. "Empathetic people will be very long suffering if a narcissist says 'I really want to change, I know I'm not perfect.' They have these moments where they sort of admit fault, but they never actually follow through or believe it."

This is simply a tactic narcissists use to reel their partner back in. With empaths, it is very effective, because they want to support their partner and help them grow. Ultimately, they are just being exploited further.

The empath can form a trauma bond

The push and pull nature of the narcissistic relationship can generate a trauma bond between the victim and the abuser, where it can feel almost impossible to leave the relationship, no matter how much damage it is doing.

"With empathy comes the ability and willingness to look at ourselves and look at our own faults, and that gets taken advantage of while the trauma bond is happening," Thomas said. "It becomes a cycle for an empath who has been trauma bonded because they start looking at themselves, and what do they need to do to change, and what do they need to do different, and what their character flaws are. It's the perfect set up, unfortunately."

It can be difficult to comprehend the fact your are in a narcissistic relationship at first, but there are many red flags you can look out for as you get to know each other better. Thomas said to keep yourself safe from narcissistic abuse, you should understand we are responsible for our own personal growth, and other people are responsible for theirs.

"When you meet people or are in relationships with them, you have to be very careful that you're not doing their work, or wanting their growth more than they do," she said. "You have to see what they actually do to get better."

Also, realise that boundaries are healthy for all relationships. For empaths, boundaries can feel harsh, but once they are aware of the strength of saying "no," they can protect themselves from people who are looking to take advantage of them.

"Empaths don't have to become hard or hard-hearted to be able to be healthy," Thomas said. "It's important to recognise that not everybody needs to be in our lives. We're going to come across people who we realise might not be healthy for us, and you have to be okay with letting them go."

SEE ALSO: The opposite of a narcissist is called an 'empath'— here are the signs you could be one

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Ruth Westheimer, a psychosexual therapist, started the public-radio program "Sexually Speaking" in 1980.
• Westheimer, widely known as Dr. Ruth, says too many people have unreasonably high expectations for their relationships and sex lives — and that it hasn't changed since the 1980s.
• Westheimer emphasized the importance of being realistic while still being hopeful.

The world of sex and relationships has changed a lot since 1980 (see: Tinder).

And yet, in some ways, it's stayed very much the same.

I recently spoke with Ruth Westheimer — better known as Dr. Ruth — and she told me that as long as she's been a psychosexual therapist, people's expectations for their relationships have been too high.

Westheimer, 89, started the public-radio program "Sexually Speaking" in 1980, and it catapulted her to international fame. She's now an adjunct professor at Columbia University's Teachers College and the author of dozens of books, including, most recently, "Stay or Go: Dr. Ruth's Rules for Real Relationships."

Too many people have "expectations that cannot be met," Westheimer said, adding that those expectations often are influenced by media.

"Hollywood and the movies tell us that the stars have to be twinkling every night," Westheimer said. "That's not reality of life."

Westheimer's thoughts on tempering your expectations echo those of Diane Sollee, a marriage educator who was interviewed by Ellen McCarthy for the book "The Real Thing." McCarthy writes:

"[Sollee] wants couples who are getting ready to walk down the aisle to know — really know— that it will be hard. That there will be times when one or both of them want out and can barely stand the sight of each other. That they'll be bored, then frustrated, angry, and perhaps resentful."

These unattainable expectations play into people's sex lives as well. Westheimer said people tend to expect multiple orgasms or think that "a man can have an erection like you see in sexually explicit movies" — though she says she hears these complaints slightly less often today than she did 37 years ago.

It's crucial, she said, for people to be "sexually literate."

That said, Westheimer isn't advocating low expectations for relationships or sex lives. Her philosophy? It's important "to be realistic, but to still have hope."

SEE ALSO: A researcher who interviewed hundreds of married women found the happiest 'never bought into' a 'dangerous fantasy'

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Several cases of dog flu have been reported across the United States.
• Just like in humans, the virus presents with symptoms like sneezing and coughing.
• Canine flu cannot spread to other animals or to people, but it is contagious between dogs. It most often spreads in areas where large numbers of dogs are kept together, like boarding facilities or kennels.
• Some veterinarians recommend the vaccine; others encourage pet owners to simply watch for symptoms.

Just like their two-legged owners, dogs can come down with a serious case of the sniffles.

Several states including Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado, Washington, and some parts of California are currently reporting a number of cases of canine influenza. 

Canine flu is highly contagious — infecting about 80% of all dogs who come into contact with it, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Fortunately, the virus is rarely deadly and cannot spread to people.

Stephanie Duarte, a registered veterinary technician at the East Bay Pet Clinic in Oakland, California, told Business Insider she recommends that dog owners watch for symptoms, especially if a dog is frequently in contact with other dogs. Just like in people, the most common symptoms of flu in pups include sneezing, nasal discharge, and frequent coughing. 

"If you see things like discharge or coughing and sneezing, it's best to keep your dog away from them," Duarte said.

How to help a sick pooch

If you suspect your dog may be sick, veterinarians say the best course of action is to give your pup lots of water and ensure they have time to rest. In severe cases, a vet may prescribe medications to reduce swelling linked with the virus.

There is a dog flu vaccine, but Duarte said she hasn't been suggesting it to clients since her clinic hasn't seen any cases yet.

"We don't generally do it because it's not as common in this area," she said.

Meanwhile, veterinarians in other parts of the Bay Area are recommending the vaccine.

“We used to think that we really didn’t have the flu here in California, but ... once it gets started it just spreads. About six days ago we started getting calls about dogs with the flu from kennels and boarding facilities; now many of them have shut down to limit the spread. In the meantime, we are vaccinating dogs as quickly as we can," Kyle Frandle, a veterinarian at the Los Gatos Dog & Cat Hospital in Silicon Valley, told the Mercury News.

Where did dog flu come from?

There are two strains of canine flu — the most common, H3N2, has been circulating in the US for a couple of years. A rarer and more severe form of the virus, H3N8, was first observed among a group of racing greyhounds at a track in Florida in 2004.

The first recognized US outbreak of H3N2 dog flu occurred in Chicago in 2015 and spread to several other Midwestern states.

At least four cases of that strain in dogs have been confirmed via blood test over the last month in California alone, Shadi Ireifej, a veterinarian at United Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital in Campbell, California, told SF Gate. Still, many pet owners opt out of the blood test due to cost, so the actual number of cases could be higher.

Outbreaks are generally more common in in situations where dogs are kept in close quarters, such as in shelters or boarding facilities, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

When to see the vet

Symptoms of canine flu can linger for a few days or last as long as a week. In some rare situations, the virus can be fatal, but this usually only occurs in severe cases or as a result of another infection that develops.

If you suspect your dog might have a severe case, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine advises calling your pet's veterinarian before taking them in for treatment.

Keep in mind that if your dog is sick, he or she could still be contagious after the symptoms disappear. If your pooch gets the flu, the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests staying away from other pups for at least three weeks.

SEE ALSO: I tested my dog's DNA and learned she's not even close to the breed I thought

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• Instagram is adding GIF stickers to its Stories feature. 
• You'll now be able to overlay your photos and videos with animated stamps like accessories, sparkles, or word art. 
• The new feature is available on iOS and Android starting Tuesday.

Starting Tuesday, you'll be able to add GIFs to your Instagram story. 

Instagram has teamed up with Giphy to add GIF stickers as a new feature on Instagram Stories. You'll now be able to add moving sparkles, word art, or accessories like hats and sunglasses to your story, overlaid on photos, videos, or Boomerangs. 

Here's the new feature in action:

The GIF feature is located next to Instagram's other sticker options, like temperature stickers or hashtags. After you take a photo or video, tap the smiley face button on the top right of the screen. A blinking button that says "GIF" should appear directly beneath the "Location" button.  

From there, you can either peruse the "trending" options Giphy offers, or search for something specific. The GIFs generally appear pretty small on the screen, but you can adjust their size and orientation by pinching and dragging. 

Instagram is also making some changes to how you can upload photos and videos into Stories, which most users will start to see in the coming weeks. In the past, images and videos would automatically adjust to the size of the screen, regardless of how you cropped ahead of time. Soon, you'll be able to share images at their original dimensions by pinching and adjusting the size. You'll then be able to fill in the excess space with a customizable color gradient. 

In order to check out the new features, make sure your Instagram app is up-to-date. GIF stickers are available Tuesday for both Android and iOS users. 

SEE ALSO: How to play '2048,' the addicting smartphone game Travis Kalanick is obsessed with

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• "Ghosting" is disappearing without a trace from someone you were dating.
• It's normally thought of as the cowardly thing to do, but one Reddit user has changed the game.
• She told the subreddit r/Confession about how she ghosted her boyfriend of five years, and everyone is on board with it.

Ghosting can happen to anyone. In fact, a reported 80% of millennials have had someone they were dating completely disappear on them without a trace.

The ghosting scale ranges from the just-about-acceptable — when you've been on one date and aren't really feeling it — to the downright cruel — ignoring someone's texts and calls when you've been seeing them for a while.

Either way, it's the coward's way out of an awkward situation, so it might be hard to think of the circumstances where it would be the best option.

That is, until you've read this Reddit post.

The user shared her experience on the subreddit r/Confession, where people are encouraged to share their deepest secrets. She told the story about how she ghosted her boyfriend of five years.

"I came over to his house one morning to surprise him with breakfast and a video game he wanted, only to find him naked, asleep, and with his ex curled up in his arms," the post reads. "He didn't hear me come in, so I closed his bedroom door, and left his breakfast and game on the kitchen counter along with my key to his house."

Rather than wake her boyfriend up and confront him, she showed clear signs she had been there and caught him red handed. The post goes on to describe the most thorough and ruthless ghosting of all time.

"I went to my car, deactivated my Facebook, and blocked him on all other forms of social media. I then called my phone provider to change my number before driving off," she wrote. "I texted family members and close friends that we were no longer together and to block him on social media, as well. I didn't tell them why."

She also ended the lease at her apartment and started a new job in a different city later that week. In other words, there is absolutely no way this man could easily contact her again.

"I completely removed myself from him and didn't offer a shred of explanation or opportunity for dialogue," she wrote. "I disappeared from his life after his betrayal and I think it'll not only help me to focus on myself without his presence, but I think completely shutting myself off from him will hurt worse than anything when he thinks on how good he had it with me these last 5 years."

Many people have been cheated on or betrayed in relationships, and so are familiar with the feelings that it conjures up. It's incredibly hard to keep this calm and collected, and many of us probably wish we would have been able to behave the same way in hindsight.

So overall, perhaps ghosting isn't so bad after all. In extreme circumstances, it may help you move on with your life in an easier way, as long as you don't have the desire for closure.

The thread is full of supportive comments from other users, who applaud her attitude and wish her luck for the future.

"From everything I know about you so far, you are ultimate," one user wrote. "Go as far as you can and move right on past the haters, nobody who hates is anywhere close to your league.

"Find someone with a fine, powerful, noble spirit and don't settle for less. Or don't. Just be a boss yourself and let them find you."

Meanwhile, the most popular comment on the thread asks what game she left behind. It was Super Mario Odyssey.

SEE ALSO: You've heard of 'ghosting' — here are the 14 modern dating terms you need to know

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I quit social media for a month — and it was the best choice I've ever made

Yoga has so many different forms and passionate devotees that it can be intimidating if you're just getting started. 

But whether you're aiming to nail a handstand or simply looking for a place to find some balance, yoga is a great form of mental and physical exercise.

To access the benefits yoga has to offer, it's important to figure out which type — vinyasa, hatha, heated— is the right match for you. You'll also need to find the right level of class to fit your skills so that you avoid injury and still get a challenge.

Here's what I wish I'd known when I got started.

UP NEXT: 11 fitness myths that are doing more harm than good

SEE ALSO: How long you need to do cardio to reap the benefits for your body and brain

I love yoga because it quiets my mind, makes me feel strong, and challenges me to do things I'd never thought physically possible.

Research shows these benefits aren't all in my head.

Dozens of studies have linked a regular yoga practice to stronger, more flexible muscles, a healthier heart and, a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety.

One of the reasons yoga is so good for you is because it can be a form of aerobic exercise, or "cardio."

A wealth of recent research suggests that any type of exercise that raises your heart rate and gets you moving and sweating for a sustained period — known as aerobic exercise — has a significant, beneficial effect on the brain and body.

"Aerobic exercise is key for your head, just as it is for your heart," says an article in a Harvard Medical School blog.

The Oscar nominations are finally here.

2017 was a competitive year in film, with a lot of great movies and performances.

While some of the nominations were surprising in a good way — like Jordan Peele's directing nomination for "Get Out," and the best original screenplay nomination for "The Big Sick" — there were still some favorites left out.

Comedy and action movies are largely ignored by the Academy, and this year was no different.

"Wonder Woman," one of the best-reviewed movies of the year and a box-office hit, got zero nominations. The coming-of-age comedy "Lady Bird" secured five nominations and is a frontrunner in categories including best actress, best director, and best picture. But many comedies got much less recognition, including no nominations besides screenplay for "The Big Sick."

The Oscars ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air Sunday, March 4, on ABC.

So here are all the major Oscar snubs this year, from best picture and best director to best original song.

SEE ALSO: Here's the complete list of the 2018 Oscar nominations

Best Picture

"Wonder Woman"

"Wonder Woman" was great, and a box-office hit. It was the ninth highest grossing film of 2017. Action movies need more recognition at awards shows, and we were hoping this one would make the cut. 

"Thor: Ragnarok"

This was obviously a long shot, but we have to include it in the snubs anyway. The third film in the "Thor" franchise was a tonal departure from the first two, and all the better for it. It was one of the most delightful movies of 2017, and one of the funniest comedies of the year. It deserves a little more respect than it's gotten.

• Restaurant Week is happening in a bunch of cities right now, including New York and Los Angeles.
• Restaurant Week offers a price fixed menu at participating restaurants, more than 1,000 across the country.
• The promotion allows people to try new foods at the best restaurants without paying high prices.

Every city has its local cuisine and right now, you can try gourmet dishes at first-class restaurants for a set price during Restaurant Week.

While different cities hold the popular annual event at various points throughout the year, all of the country's biggest cities — including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — have Restaurant Week concurrently. 

Some smaller locations throughout the country have followed suit. For example, Long Island and Hudson County, New Jersey, are holding the gourmand festivals at the same time as neighboring New York.

New York City hosted its first restaurant week in 1992, but the movement didn't catch widespread attention and followers for another decade.

Now, cities far and wide have picked up on the idea to attract local foodies. Many large cities have had such profound success with the program that they have made it semi-annual. New York now hosts Restaurant Week in the winter and the summer, providing urbanites with double the opportunity to dine at discounted prices.

The general concept is that participating restaurants offer price fixed menus so attendees can consume a three-course meal while knowing exactly how much they'll pay ahead of time. Prices and dates vary by city and some restaurants may have their own rules, so check the listings before making a reservation.

Keep reading to see nine cities currently holding Restaurant Week, and what the prix fixe meal will cost you.

SEE ALSO: 11 restaurants worth trying during Restaurant Week in New York City

SEE ALSO: These are the 10 highest-grossing restaurants in America

New York City

376 restaurants in all five boroughs are participating

Dates: January 22—February 9

Prices: $29 for lunch; $42 for dinner 

Los Angeles

295 restaurants participating

Dates: January 12—January 26

Prices: $15, 20, or $25 for lunch; $29, $39, $49, or $95 for dinner

Chicago

Over 370 restaurants are participating

Dates: January 26—February 9

Prices: $22 for brunch or lunch; $33 or $44 for dinner

• Security robots are being used to patrol the streets of Silicon Valley.
• The startup behind the fleet, Knightscope, has raised $25 million in funding.
• Knightscope drew sharp criticism in 2017 after a robot was used to prevent homeless people from setting up camp in San Francisco.

The startup behind the autonomous, crime-fighting robots used to patrol the streets of Silicon Valley has received new financing to create its RoboCop fleet of the future.

On Tuesday, Knightscope announced over $25 million in new funding from Konica Minolta, Bright Success Capital, and 5,000 other investors through crowdfunding website SeedInvest. This brings the company's total funding to $39 million.

Founded in 2013, Knightscope makes intelligent robots that patrol malls, parking lots, and corporate campuses for tech companies like Microsoft and Juniper Networks. The robots don't fight humans; they use an array of lasers, cameras, thermal sensors, and GPS to detect criminal activity and alert the authorities.

Their goal is to give human security guards "superhuman" eyes and ears, according to Bill Santana Li, CEO of Knightscope, who spoke with Business Insider in 2017.

Knightscope has been surrounded by controversy since its founding.

In December, the San Francisco SPCA, an animal welfare group, put a security robot to work outside its facilities in order to prevent homeless people from setting up camps along the sidewalks. The group said the number of camps dwindled and there were fewer car break-ins.

But the move drew sharp criticism from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and others who said the SF SPCA showed "a lack of compassion" for its homeless neighbors.

The SF SPCA pulled the robot from the streets in December. Jennifer Scarlett, the group's president, said in a statement that the SF SPCA received hundreds of messages "inciting violence and vandalism" against the facility and "encouraging people to take retribution."

In 2016, a Knightscope robot allegedly ran over a toddler's foot while monitoring a mall in Palo Alto. The boy's foot swelled and he got a scrape on his leg, though he was fine otherwise, ABC7 News reported. A small number of parents took to social media to rail against the company.

Knightscope rents out the robots for $7 an hour — less than a security guard's hourly wage. The company has 50 robots deployed in 14 states, though it would not disclose revenue figures.

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• Over-demand for homes is ruling the housing market in many cities.
• Buyers in the best position to buy a home typically have mortgage financing in place, a credit score above 680, and a down payment above 15%.
• But many markets, like San Francisco and San Jose, have an oversaturation of these buyers, leading to heightened competition.

It's a tough time for Americans to buy a home.

US housing supply remains low and prices keep rising, making the competition among buyers the fiercest it has been in years.

Over-demand is ruling the market in many cities. In San Francisco, a home sold for nearly $1 million over its asking price last October in order to pre-empt a bidding war.

In a recent report, LendingTree identified the most competitive markets for buyers right now based on 2017 mortgage loan data. LendingTree looked at 1.5 million mortgage requests for new home purchases across the 100 largest US cities and then ranked each city based on three criteria:

1. The share of buyers who shop for a mortgage before they find the house they want. It's more appealing to sellers when a buyer is pre-approved for financing well before making an offer.
2. The average down payment as a percentage of the purchase price. A high down payment can help buyers qualify for an even larger mortgage amount or a lower interest rate on the loan.
3. The percentage of buyers who have a credit score above 680. Someone with a prime credit score has more financing options available to them.

The cities where the most buyers have financing in place, a down payment above 15% of the purchase price, and a prime credit score were ranked by LendingTree as the most competitive.

Below, check out the 15 most competitive places to buy a home in the US right now:

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15. Las Vegas, Nevada

Average down payment: 14%

Buyers with prime credit: 49%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 62%

14. Madison, Wisconsin

Average down payment: 15%

Buyers with prime credit: 54%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 58%

13. Phoenix, Arizona

Average down payment: 15%

Buyers with prime credit: 50%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 60%

• Melania Trump says she is hard at work as the first lady of the US. 
• Prior to President Donald Trump's election, Melania Trump's schedule was dominated by socializing with celebrities and luxury vacations. 
• Scrolling through Trump's social media posts shows how much the first lady's life has changed — and how glamorous her life was before the election.

Melania Trump's life has changed a lot in the last year. 

Since President Donald Trump's election, Melania Trump's day-to-day has transformed from a glamorous romp — filled with luxury homes, expensive vacations, and relaxing with her son — to managing a staff of roughly nine as first lady. She has traveled around the world, met with foreign leaders, and begun to take on causes of her own such as bullying and the opiod crisis.  

The transformation is even more remarkable when you take a look into the life Trump was living before her husband decided to run for president. 

Here's a glimpse into Trump's pre-White House life, as documented by the first lady herself on social media. 

SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of first lady Melania Trump, a former supermodel who is the subject of fashion scandals and bizarre conspiracy theories

Pre-election, Trump's social media presence was defined by glamour.

Her days, as documented on Twitter and Instagram, were dominated by various classy events and luxury vacations.

The now-first lady documented many trips to West Palm Beach, where Donald Trump's resort Mar-a-Lago is located.

Behold: The small, cheap device that's disrupting the $7 billion legal cannabis business.

This tiny combination of plastic, glass, and metal is a disposable cannabis oil cartridge. It costs anywhere from $30 to $70 (depending on the oil inside), is easily carried in your pocket, and produces little-to-no smell when consumed. You simply screw it into an inexpensive, rechargeable pen and inhale. That's it.

It's this tiny device that's quickly taking over cannabis consumption in America's largest cannabis market: California. Nearly a quarter of sales from 2016, tracked by marijuana delivery service Eaze, were for cartridges:

Similar growth rates are showing up outside of California as well.

States like Colorado, Washington, and Oregon — where cannabis is legal — are showing massive percentage growth for "concentrates" (cannabis oil), according to BDS Analytics.

Notably, this seems to be a growth trend connected to convenience. 

As "flower" (traditional marijuana buds) is messy, complicated, and requires preparation to be smoked, it's no surprise that easier forms of marijuana product are growing so quickly.

Though cannabis oil ("concentrates") are making huge gains, the same can be said for pre-rolled and edibles. Edibles are simply eaten, and can be "dosed" out so you don't overdo it; pre-rolled joints are as simple as lighting a cigarette — no rolling skills required. Cannabis oil marries the convenience of both.

On top of those conveniences, oil cartridges are inexpensive and travel easily. Best of all, using a cannabis oil vape produces none of the characteristic smells or clouds of smoke associated with traditional cannabis consumption.

All that growth has led to tens of millions of dollars in sales thus far, with an even brighter future expected as the market expands — despite huge wins for recreational cannabis sales in November 2016, regulation and implementation doesn't kick in until January 2018 in many states. As commercial sales begin and more of the public tries these easy-to-use, disposable cartridges, expect even more explosive growth.

SEE ALSO: The future of cannabis is vaping — here's how it works

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• First Lady Melania Trump has said she doesn't have a nanny to help raise her son, Barron. Donald Trump has said they do have a live-in nanny.
• Melania Trump says she wants to be a "full-time" and "hands-on" mom.
• Many rich and powerful people seem to avoid addressing the fact that they've hired help with childcare.

Melania Trump reportedly won't hire a nanny to help raise her 11-year-old son, Barron.

In 2015, the First Lady told People magazine, "I like to be hands-on. I think it's very important." Donald Trump agreed: "If you have too much help, you don't get to know your children."

That same year, Melania Trump shared her parenting philosophy with Parenting.com: "I am a full time mom; that is my first job. The most important job ever. I started my business when he started school."

At that point, her parenting duties included preparing breakfast and lunch for Barron (even though the Trumps reportedly have a personal chef), dropping him off and picking him up from school, and spending the afternoon with him.

The New York Post, meanwhile, reported that the Trumps do, in fact, have a live-in nanny for Barron.

Regardless of whether the Trumps have a nanny, the larger trend here is that many rich and powerful people flaunt their parenting prowess, ignoring or downplaying the role that hired help might play.

Ivanka Trump, for example, received some criticism for barely acknowledging the fact that she has two nannies in her book "Women Who Work."

Interestingly, Vanity Fair reports that Ivanka Trump, along with her siblings Donald, Jr. and Eric, had two nannies to help take care of them before they were sent to boarding school. (They also spent a lot of time with their maternal grandparents, according to Vanity Fair.)

Many celebrities avoid publicizing the fact that they've hired help with childcare

It's unclear whether Barack and Michelle Obama hired help raising Malia and Sasha during their time in the White House; same goes for George and Laura Bush. But according to Newsweek, Bill and Hillary Clinton had a nanny when Chelsea was growing up.

A recent article in The New York Times, titled, "Where Are All the Nannies on Instagram?" suggests that nannies are the "forgotten faces" (as one family therapist put it) of celebrity lifestyles.

"I think many of us on social media, probably subconsciously, want to perpetuate this idea that we're doing it all on our own," Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, an associate professor of history at the New School and a mother of two, told The Times.

"Celebrities like to look hands-on and that kind of thing," Beth Torre, a spokeswoman for Celebrities Staffing Services, told Forbes, referring specifically to celebrities in Hollywood.

Melania Trump also told Parenting.com that parenting responsibilities fall primarily on her, and not on her husband. Noting that Barron and his father have a "beautiful relationship," she said:

"[Donald Trump] didn't change diapers and I am completely fine with that. It is not important to me. It's all about what works for you. It's very important to know the person you're with. And we know our roles. I didn't want him to change the diapers or put Barron to bed. I love every minute of it."

SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of first lady Melania Trump, a former supermodel who is the subject of fashion scandals and bizarre conspiracy theories

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There's a reason why the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright is a household name.

From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, he pioneered the Prairie School movement of architecture, characterized by horizontal lines, flat roofs with broad eaves, and an integration with the natural landscape. The style was part of many single-family home designs across the country during this time.

Wright's final home was designed for a couple, Norman and Aimee Lykes of Phoenix, Arizona, in 1957. They lived there until the mid-1980s, when another family moved in.

Now it's back on the market for a whopping $3.25 million.

Here's a look inside the home, one of 14 circular residences Wright designed in his lifetime.

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In 1959, Frank Lloyd Wright designed this 2,900-square-foot home for the Lykes in Phoenix, where he died that year.

Source: USA Today

Completed in 1967, the three-bedroom home is now asking $3.25 million.

Large windows wrap around the living room ...

• Recreational marijuana is legal in nine states and medical marijuana is legal in 29 states.
• Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislature, rather than a ballot initiative, in January 2018.
• A recent Gallup poll showed that 64% of Americans support legalization.

One of the world's biggest cash crops — marijuana— is sweeping the US.

It's legal for adults over the age of 21 to smoke marijuana without a doctor's letter in nine states. Medical marijuana is legal in 29 states. Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislature, rather than a ballot initiative when Republican Governor Phil Scott signed the bill into law in January.

Marijuana prohibition began 80 years ago when the federal government put a ban on the sale, cultivation, and use of the cannabis plant. It remains illegal on the federal level.

Despite the efforts of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has been on a crusade to stamp out legal marijuana since his appointment, the industry is exploding.

Legal marijuana sales were expected to hit $9.7 billion in North America in 2017, according to a report from Arcview Market Research. Arcview has not yet released final numbers for the year, but its forecast represents a 33% increase over 2016, shattering previous expectations about how quickly the industry could grow in the face of federal prohibition.

The report also predicted that the entire legal marijuana market will reach $24.5 billion in sales — a 28% annual growth rate — by 2021, as more state-legal markets come online.

Support for marijuana legalization reached new highs in 2017. A Gallup poll showed that 64% of Americans favor legalization, and a majority of Republicans back it for the first time.

SEE ALSO: We went inside the best marijuana shop in America — here's what it was like

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