Humans have been on Earth for around 200,000 years but have only used symbols as a form of communication for a fraction of that time. Because of this, Mariano Sigman, author of "The Secret Life of The Mind: How Your Brain Thinks, Feels and Decides," explains why children must unlearn the natural way in which our brains recognize images and symbols. Following is a transcript of the video.

Mariano Sigman: We, and by we I mean modern humans, have been here on Earth for about 200,000 years. But only about 5,000 years ago, we discovered that we could convey what we were thinking using visual symbols. And this actually has been an incredible source for human cultural explosion. Suddenly, the thoughts we had could be written in a stone, later in a paper, but somewhere where it could be kept for generations and generations. This has been a major transformation of human culture. Now, this poses a very interesting puzzle for the biology of reading because 5,000 years are not long enough, to evolve or to change our brains for the capacity of reading. When we understand that, we also understand that there ought to be many ways on how the biological machinery for reading, are actually set from other domains of vision.

One of them, a very fundamental one, is that vision is essentially invariant rotations. So this is my hand, but this is also my hand, and this is also my hand, and this is also my hand. And this is true, essentially for all the objects, we deal with. Now there is an exception for that, which is letters. If you get a "p" and you rotate it, it's a "q," and if you rotate it like this it's a "b" and then a "d." Actually, letters are not rotation invariant. We've chosen visual symbols, it's just been the choice of our cultures that actually they do not have this property that the visual system outside of reading has.

So this explains something that actually seems very strange, very weird, but actually, it's very natural, very simple, and quite extraordinary. Only parents know that when children start to write, they begin doing so writing words, so to say, normally in the same sense and orientation that we write them. But also spontaneously, when they begin to write, they will write the mirror image of the same words.

Now again, this often is something that remains unnoticed, sometimes some parents will say, oh that's kind of weird, or that's kind of strange, but at the same time we have to think that it's extraordinary, because it's something we cannot do. If an adult would like to do as children do, just to write the mirror image of the words, we would see that it's extremely difficult, we cannot do it, it takes a lot of effort. So how come children so young, they are doing something which we adults cannot even think of doing? And the reason is that they're using, for letters, the visual system as we use the visual system for all other things. Understanding that an image and the mirror rotation or reflection of that image corresponds to the same thing. This is how vision always works.

So one important thing of learning to write, is unlearning this property, that the reflection of on object corresponds to the same object. This is a very specific property of writing and children, through the process of learning, need to unlearn this thing that has been a regularity of the entire evolution of human vision.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Mark Zuckerberg said at Facebook's F8 developer conference on Tuesday that the social network would soon roll out dating-app-like features.
• Zuckerberg said the dating-service features were designed to help Facebook users find long-term relationships, "not just hookups."
• Last month, Zuckerberg testified before Congress about recent data scandals — but the CEO assured the audience on Tuesday that new features had been designed "with privacy and safety in mind from the beginning."

Mark Zuckerberg just announced that Facebook is joining the dating game, trying to help its users build perhaps "the most meaningful relationship of all."

Zuckerberg made the announcement on Tuesday during his keynote speech at F8, Facebook's annual developer conference, where the executive team unveils what the company has been working on for the past year.

And it turns out that one of those things is designed to compete with dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. Zuckerberg emphasized that Facebook's intent was to help users find long-term relationships and "not just hookups."

It's unclear how developers could control that aspect of the features, but the CEO acknowledged potential security concerns, saying: "I want to be clear that we have designed this with privacy and safety in mind from the beginning."

Facebook's chief product officer, Chris Cox, said on stage that the idea stemmed from couples who had told Zuckerberg that meeting their partner was the most important thing that had happened to them on Facebook.

The goal, he said, was to make a product that would let more couples do the same "in a way that was opt-in, in a way that was safe, and in a way that took advantage of the unique properties of the platform and didn't get in the way of everyone who wasn't interested in dating."

Here's what we know so far about Facebook's new dating-service features.

The features will be available in the Facebook app, via an icon in the upper right of the screen that will take users to a portal called "Dating Home."

They can make a dating profile that uses only their first name and can't be seen by friends or in the News Feed — it's visible only to other people who have also opted into the dating service.

Here's what the top of the dating-service feed will look like.

• Money is a common source of stress and arguments for many couples.
• In a marriage, couples sometimes think that they need to share everything — including bank accounts.
• However, having separate finances allows you to be in control of your spending, reduces the stress of having a joint bank account, and allows you to have fun with your money.

When I first got married, I thought my spouse and I were supposed to be attached at the hip in all things. Over time, I found that I needed more breathing room than the close embrace of early love allowed. For me, that meant separating my money from my wife's.

"Every good marriage is based on an awful lot of separation," Steven Nock, a professor of sociology who studies marriage at the University of Virginia, told WebMD. "People need to have a separate life and existence to feel validated as individuals. They can't live solely as somebody's partner."

For many couples this happy separation extends to their finances, as well as their social lives.

Our money separation felt harsh at first. I had decided to pay down some debts and improve my financial IQ, and I knew I needed a separate checking account to learn money management. To my wife, this seemed like a slap in the face. Over the years, however, our separate accounts have given us both the freedom to have a little fun with our own money, while still being financially accountable to each other.

I’m not alone in wanting to maintain separate finances from my spouse. TD Bank’s 2017 Love and Money Survey found that 51% of the couples they surveyed combined all their finances, while 34% kept some money separate and 15% didn’t share money at all. The trend is stronger among millennials: 29% of couples under 34 have no shared accounts.

There are a number of reasons why married couples are joining the trend and keeping their finances separate from their spouses. Here’s why.

SEE ALSO: How my husband's trust fun affects my life

1. Two bank accounts are better than one

Mingling your money can add stress to your marriage, too. If you and your spouse have divergent spending habits and financial priorities, you can either fight about it or give each other some space to be different.

You might be happier if you didn’t know how much money went to piano lessons or that cute little Kate Spade backpack. That’s certainly true for some couples.

2. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing

Some couples take a “yours, mine, and ours” approach to personal finances. Each spouse has a separate account, and both contribute to a joint account to pay household bills.

My wife and I have come up with a version of this approach. We each have our own checking account as part of a jointly-owned credit union account. We have a joint savings account for reserves and another that we both contribute to for mortgage and property taxes.

In a pinch, either one of us can access the other’s checking account. Over the years, when one of us has made substantially more money, it’s been easy to transfer funds to support the other.

Best of all, I don’t have to weigh in on the new bike helmet she wants, and she doesn’t get to have an opinion about how many dresses I need to own (a lot). We can look at each other’s accounts if we want to, but we generally don’t.

I talk about money with my wife, and we make big financial decisions as a couple. But we stay in our own lanes for the day-to-day stuff. I think that’s the secret sauce for a happily married financial life.

3. Some of your finances are unavoidably intertwined — such as sharing a home together

There is a lot to be said for joint bank accounts. If one spouse dies, joint accounts usually give the survivor immediate unrestricted access, according to legal website Nolo. If your accounts are separate, then you’ll probably need documentation that proves you have a right to the money, and you might have to go through probate before you can touch the funds, Nolo reports. This can add stress to an already stressful time.

Joint accounts also foster financial transparency. According to the TD Bank survey, 13% of respondents said they concealed some part of their financial lives from their spouses. Millennials were much more likely to have undercover money (30%) than couples over 55 (4%). Secrets included clandestine bank accounts, and undisclosed credit cards and student loan debt. Worse yet, 35% of respondents said they had no plans to ever share their money secret with their spouses.

Financial cover-ups can send a marriage onto rocky shoals when they come to light. A recent "Dear Sugars" column had a term for this: financial infidelity, which associates hiding financial information as a form of betrayal to your partner.

Even if you keep your finances separate (in fact, especially if you do), there’s no way to avoid talking about money with your spouse. When you live together, your financial lives are unavoidably intertwined.

When my wife and I first separated our bank accounts, we tracked how much each of us spent on household items such as utility bills and groceries. I was surprised to find that I contributed just as much by purchasing household supplies and food as she did by paying our fixed expenses for things like car insurance and the electric bill.

Over the years, we’ve renegotiated who pays for what, as our financial and living situations have changed. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to sharing financial information with each other and making big money decisions as a team.

• Costco products are famous for being bulk-sized and cost-effective.
• Business Insider reached out to Costco employees to find out what items they would never buy at the store.
• Most workers cited the chain's bulk sizes as the reason they'd skip over certain products — especially perishables.

Costco products are known primarily for their bulk sizes.

The retail chain is also famous for selling just about everything, from giant teddy bears to enough pizza slices to qualify as the 14th largest pizza chain in the US. There are always a few surprises thrown in with the staples, too.

But Costco employees themselves know firsthand which deals are worth it — and which are best to skip.

That's why Business Insider spoke with 46 Costco employees to learn what products they never buy at the store. One of the most popular answers was the store's produce— due to its bulk quantities. But many told Business Insider that they buy everything at Costco.

Here's a look at which products other employees tend to skip:

SEE ALSO: Costco employees reveal the worst, grossest, and most bizarre things they've seen on the job

DON'T MISS: The best deals you can find at Costco, according to employees

DON'T FORGET: Why Costco food courts have charged $1.50 for hot dogs since 1985, according to employees

Produce

A number of employees told Business Insider that the bulk-sized produce orders at Costco didn't fit in with their household and lifestyle.

"While our produce department is one of the best in the business, I personally don't eat veggies fast enough to buy in bulk, so two thirds of it will spoil before I eat it," a Minnesota-based Costco worker told Business Insider.

A Costco manager that's worked all around the US said that buying produce was a "waste of money" for them, as they couldn't "eat the huge quantity fast enough."

Three additional employees from Utah, Idaho, and Hawaii agreed that they steered clear of buying produce from Costco for the same reason.

A California-based Costco employee said the large packages of meat were "too much for my household."

An employee from Florida added that Costco has to work hard to keep its fruits and vegetables fresh within the store, noting that quality control is hard but essential when dealing with such large quantities.

But not all of the Costco employees who Business Insider spoke with agreed. Three employees from Iowa, Arizona, and Minnesota, as well as one employee who just said they'd worked there "too long," said that they considered produce to be the best deal in the store.

"We get first pick before any other grocery store," an employee from Arizona told Business Insider.

Bakery products

A Costco worker from Iowa said that the "packaging is just too big" on the store's bakery items.

Another employee based in Pennsylvania added that they "don't have the necessary storage space" for the store's baked goods.

The gallon-sized mayonnaise jars

For one Costco employee from Minnesota, there's such a thing as too much mayonnaise.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg enlisted the help of Instagram star Jiff Pom to unveil Instagram's new augmented reality filters at Tuesday's F8 developer conference.

Jiff Pom, short for Jiff the Pomeranian, wasn't on stage long but that doesn't mean we weren't all basking in his cuteness and wondering who the furry guy is.  

Take a look below to meet Jiff Pom.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg rallied the troops and aimed at new frontiers in online dating and virtual reality during Facebook’s biggest event of the year

Say hello to Jiff.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BhlebBMneTH/embed
Width: 800px

He's an LA-based actor, personality, and model with 26 million followers across all social media channels.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BT8yr4sgMTd/embed
Width: 800px

He works as a personality, meeting everyone from CEOs of major tech companies to beauty influencers. Here he is with Brazilian personality Mariana Saad.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BhvDQSmnmCn/embed
Width: 800px

You probably head over to Hulu for all the TV it has to offer. But the streaming service also has a lot of great movies, too.

From classics like "A League of Their Own" and "Dirty Dancing" to modern favorites like "Zodiac" and "Creed."

Scroll down to check out the 100 best movies to watch on Hulu right now.

Note: Numerous Hulu titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

SEE ALSO: The 25 worst superhero movies of all time, ranked from bad to unwatchable

“10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016)

If “The Cloverfield Paradox” on Netflix left you with a bad taste in your mouth, rewatch the best movie in the franchise (so far).

“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” (2016)

Michael Bay turns serious for a sec as he looks back on the six members of a security team who fought to defend the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, during a terrorist attack in 2012.

“50 First Dates” (2004)

Following the box-office success of “The Wedding Singer,” Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore reteam for this cute romantic comedy.

The White House grounds were on full display in their springtime glory as President Donald Trump hosted his first state visit last week, complete with a tree planting (and disappearance).

But there's much more to the 18 acres enclosed by the White House fences that the public doesn't get to see.

Aside from special events like the Easter Egg Roll and the national Christmas tree lighting, the gardens are only officially open to visitors two weekends a year. See inside the sprawling White House grounds:

SEE ALSO: Inside the presidential guest house — the 'world's most exclusive hotel' that's bigger than the White House where Macron is staying during his official state visit

SEE ALSO: Inside Number One Observatory Circle, the often overlooked but stunning vice president's residence where the Pences live

The White House grounds are part backyard and front yard for a first family, part staging area for official events.

Source: White House

They're actually a National Park. The grounds are part of President's Park, which includes the Ellipse across the street from the South Lawn. National Park Service workers have them maintained year-round since 1933.

Sources: National Park Service, The White House Historical Association

The South Lawn is the largest part of the grounds.

Sources: National Park Service, The White House Historical Association

• 26-year-old Aileen Gilani quit her law degree to launch The Luxury Student.
• It's a digital private members club and concierge service targeted at wealthy students and bloggers living in London.
• Packages start at £20 a month and go up to £400 for a Platinum package.
• There's no application form and anyone can apply.
• The only request she has is that members love the luxury industry — and that they post about the service on Instagram.

Even when she was a student, 26-year-old Aileen Gilani spent money in a different way to her peers.

"So many times students were partying and going to clubs and I was getting a blow dry," she told Business Insider.

Gilani originally studied International Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University for four years. During her time there, she completed a placement working next to the concierge at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.

Soon after graduating, she went into a post-graduate degree in law and was surrounded by "a lot of wealthy international students."

"I wouldn't say I was a wealthy student, but I did love the luxury industry," she said. "I did understand why other students would spend that much on a Chanel bag."

Having realised she had a creative edge, half way through her degree she launched a blog called The Luxury Student, catering to this world of youngsters.

"I realised there was so much potential in creating a career out of it as well," she said. "I was quite curious to see how that would work."

Through LinkedIn, she found a mentor in entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Eric Peacock.

"After a couple of meetings here and there, he thought I had something interesting, exciting and different," she said. "He said, stop what you're doing now with law education, and focus on this."

She felt like she was already a few steps behind in the blogging world, where the successful bloggers have millions of followers.

So instead, she built a blogger platform.

"I had about 20 different bloggers — from [the likes of Kuwait and Australia] — who I found on Instagram," she said.

"I realised there was a boom in the blogger community, [and it was] the perfect type of market research."

Targeting wealthy students and bloggers

The 20 bloggers writing for her platform were all students, and she realised there was a market for wealthy students who can afford a luxury lifestyle.

"Or if they can't afford it they'll save money and choose to spend it on something more luxurious," she said.

Inspired by her brief experience working with the hotel concierge, she quit her law degree and spent most of 2017 transforming her blog, then relaunched it in September as a digital private members club and concierge service.

"There wasn't really a concierge service out there that catered to the luxury student or blogger," she said. "Both are such brilliant target markets."

Now, The Luxury Student has around 500 members, according to Gilani, and a number of membership choices.

The two main ones are standard, which is £50 a month, and events only, which is £20 a month.

"What I call the standard lifestyle membership has everything involved," Gilani said. "We say the minute you wake up to the minute you go back to bed we want to make sure you have a good lifestyle."

Every new member receives a Nespresso machine, thanks to a partnership with the brand.

Members have access to a PA/virtual assistant service...

...and they get invitations to in-store events.

They have access to exclusive clubs like Albert's Club in South Kensington, as well as priority booking and drinks deals at restaurants like Quaglinos in Mayfair.

Members also get to use Urbanologie, an invitation-only luxury lifestyle app for high net worth individuals...

...and through The Luxury Student's partnership with Quintessentially Travel they can make travel arrangements — a service that would normally be for Quintessentially members only and would cost £100, according to Gilani.

"Even towards late evening there's the concierge service for night clubs, booking tables, [and] passes to different night clubs around London," she added.

The less popular events-only membership, meanwhile, gives members the opportunity to go to monthly social drinks and in-store event but without the services listed above.

Michelin-starred meals and members' club access

There's also the lesser-known Platinum membership, which comes in a whopping £400 a month.

"It's very bespoke, we tailor it to the individual," she said. One feature for a Premium member so far has been full access to the South Kensington Club, which has its own spa and gym. For someone more into art, it has included an annual membership to the V&A.

It also apparently comes with a complimentary Michelin-starred meal for two every month.

"We rarely promote it becuase it’s even more niche than what we already have," Gilani said.

She added that with each package, there are new offers and partnerships every month.

The company is currently exploring fitness discount options with the likes of Barry's Bootcamp and yoga studios, and has also partnered with the trendy Salon 64 in Soho to give all members a complimentary blow dry or cut on their birthday.

"Our special offer for May is a complimentary blogger photoshoot, which is very trendy, very current," Gilani added.

"Many of the students that are members are trying to become professional bloggers."

She added that the site has organically attracted influencers and bloggers — and that despite the name, you don't have to be a student to join.

"We've opened it up," she said. "It was originally targeted to students, [but it's] also open to bloggers who are part-time or recently graduated.

"We don’t have any application form," she added. "We don’t want to intimidate [people] before they sign up."

Once a member registers, they are asked to create a profile answering questions about things like where they dine, where they travel, and where they shop.

All the company asked is that if you join, you truly appreciate the luxury industry.

"Whether you like to purchase products and services or you want to have a career in the industry, [you need] a genuine reason to join," she said.

"We don’t actually target anyone specific, we just want people to enjoy the industry."

Creating content for Instagram

The one other ask is that members have open Instagram accounts so they can share what they’re up to with their followers, tagging The Luxury Student all the while.

"Everyone has their own motive for using our membership, [but we] try to make it fun and Instagram-friendly," she said. "It gives people another way of creating content."

And some members certainly think outside the box.

While one impossible request involved writing an essay or dissertation on behalf of a member — "we will not be involved in any form of plagiarism," Gilani said — more extravagant demands have included getting members free private jet seats or a signed designer handbag.

"We try to make it clear what you have complimentary," she added. "We don't give people free holidays or free private jet seats."

Currently, Gilani is running the business solo alongside a PR agency, partners, and brand ambassadors at universities across London.

"It’s a very small team but it’s worked well that way," she said.

"We try to make it not so painful to enjoy the luxury lifestyle — we still want it to be accessible."

SEE ALSO: 12 things 5-star hotels don't want you to know

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a tiny camera startup is taking on Amazon and Google

• Princess Charlotte celebrates her third birthday on Wednesday.
• Last week, she helped welcome a new brother — Prince Louis — into the family.
• She remains fourth in line to the throne despite the fact the new royal is a boy.
• However, while she is a Princess, it is unlikely her children will ever have royal titles.
• To be a British Princess, you need to be born the daughter of a prince, or you have to marry one.

Princess Charlotte celebrates her third birthday on Wednesday, just over a week after welcoming her new brother Prince Louis into the family.

Thanks to a law put in place back in 2015, Princess Charlotte remains fourth in line to the throne, despite the fact the new royal is a boy. She falls behind Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George, due to birth order.

However, while Charlotte is certainly a Princess, her children are unlikely to ever have royal titles, despite the fact that Prince George will carry on the royal lineage when he has children.

According to Town & Country, there are only two ways to become a British Princess: You either need to be born the daughter of a prince (or the British sovereign), or you have to marry one.

In the same fashion, grandchildren born to the sons of the monarch receive the title of Prince or Princess, but those born to the daughters of a monarch don't.

Lucy Hume, associate director of Debrett's, told Town & Country: "Royal titles are inherited through sons, so if Princess Charlotte has children they would not automatically inherit the titles 'HRH,' 'Prince,' or 'Princess.'"

This is why the daughters of Prince Andrew are princesses, while Zara Philips, daughter of Princess Anne, is not.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Harvard professor Steven Pinker on 7 trends that show world progress

• MDMA could be used as a treatment for PTSD, according to a new study.
• Most of all 26 participants had few or no PTSD symptoms a year after taking MDMA with therapy sessions.
• The response to the results has been mixed, and some researchers are skeptical.
• Another larger clinical trial will take place in the summer.
• Researchers are hopeful that if the trial is successful, MDMA could be FDA approved by 2021.

The idea of using recreational drugs to treat health problems is picking up pace. Recent research has shown how psychedelic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms can be used to treat depressive symptoms, marijuana can treat pain and seizures, and even highly hallucinogenic drugs like DMT could have therapeutic benefits in the future.

According to a new study, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine — known as MDMA — could be given to people who suffer with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to relieve their symptoms.

MDMA is the most common ingredient in ecstasy pills, and can also be taken on its own. An MDMA high tends to give people a buzz that makes them feel things more intensely, see sounds and colours more vividly, and feel affection for people around them. It was made illegal in 1977 in the UK, and 1985 in the US.

The new study, published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry, found that MDMA affects certain brain chemicals to help people become more engaged in their PTSD therapy.

PTSD can affect people who have been through trauma from a distressing, dangerous, or shocking event. People with PTSD often experience flashbacks and nightmares, making their every day life difficult. Many people lose their jobs or turn to drugs or alcohol to relieve themselves from their thoughts.

Currently, the most common treatments for PTSD are cognitive processing therapy or antidepressants. But many people do not respond to currently available treatments, or drop out, the authors said in the study, so the need for new, more effective treatments is clear.

The researchers, who were funded by The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, recruited 26 people, 19 men and seven women, who had been suffering from PTSD for at least six months. They included 22 army veterans, three firefighters, and one police officer.

They were randomly assigned to take oral doses of MDMA of either 30, 75, or 125 milligrams for two psychotherapy sessions. Neither the participants or the therapists knew what dose of the drug they had taken.

One month later, patients in the higher-dose groups showed significantly more improvement than those who took 30 milligrams, which was believed to be too low to experience much psychoactive effect.

In fact, 68% of the patients in the two higher-dose groups were no longer diagnosed with PTSD, compared to just 29% of the lowest-dose group. After a year, 67% of all 26 participants no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. Those who did still experienced a reduction in their symptoms.

Participants reported some side effects, such as headache, fatigue, and muscle tension. A week after the study, some also experienced insomnia. But major side effects —increase in suicidal thoughts, major depression, and appendicitis — were not attributed to the MDMA itself, so the researchers concluded the treatment was safe.

Although the results look promising, it's important to remember the limitations of the study. For example, it's very small, and a larger study would be needed to clarify the long term effects of the drug. Also, there was no placebo, and some of the participants could have continued to take MDMA after the study finished.

Neil Greenberg, a professor of defence mental health at King's College London, told CNN that the results do not "fundamentally change" the current services offered for PTSD, and most of the participants were recruited from the internet so "one has to assume they were interested in taking a psychedelic drug."

David Nutt, a British neuropsychopharmacologist, saw the results differently. Nutt was the drug adviser for the government until he stated in a research paper in 2009 that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than many illegal drugs, such as ecstasy, and was sacked. Since then, his research has focused on using MDMA to treat alcoholism following trauma.

"It could revolutionise the treatment of PTSD, for which there has been almost no progress in the past 20 years," he told The Guardian.

Michael C. Mithoefer, lead author of the study and a psychiatrist in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, said the next phase of clinical trials will begin in the summer, which will be larger, involving 200 to 300 participants in the US, Canada, and Israel.

If the results find MDMA to be a safe and effective treatment for PTSD, he expects FDA approval by 2021 — but only with use in combination with therapy sessions and not as a "daily drug."

"If it is approved by FDA for clinical use, it will likely be restricted to specialised clinics with properly trained therapists, not as a take-home medicine that people get from the pharmacy," he said.

SEE ALSO: A little-known hallucinogenic drug called DMT takes people to a place that feels 'more real than real' — here's what researchers know about it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What will happen when Earth's north and south poles flip

Oman Air may not be as well known as some of its Middle Eastern competitors, but it was just crowned the region's leading airline for both business class and economy by the World Travel Awards.

As the Arab country is a destination increasingly on the radar of travellers looking for a unique adventure, we decided to find out what it's like to fly on the airline.

From Arabic coffee served from opulent-looking pots to new private first class suites, the offering looks fairly luxurious — and with an expansion programme in place, the airline is set to operate up to 70 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022.

Scroll on for a sneak peek inside some of the cabins of Oman Air's growing fleet.

SEE ALSO: Here's what it's like to fly business class on the Air India 787 Dreamliner — and for a low-ranking airline, it's pretty luxurious

Oman Air, a lesser-known carrier than some of its Middle Eastern competitors, was just crowned the region's leading airline for both business class and economy by the World Travel Awards.

Source: World Travel Awards

It comes at a time when the Arab country is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travellers looking for a unique adventure.

Oman Air is the national airline for the Sultanate of Oman.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BefSL_mg8Gc/embed
Width: 658px

Source: Instagram 

• Target store employees told Business Insider that they have a few things they wish they could ask shoppers to stop doing.
• Business Insider asked 18 Target team members to discuss the things that they wish they could tell customers — but can't.
• For the most part, their responses fell into two major categories: Don't be rude, and don't make a mess.

Target store employees have a few complaints about the behavior of certain shoppers.

Business Insider corresponded with 18 Target employees about their experiences at the retail chain. We asked them what they'd like to tell guests — but can't.

We found that the majority of the responses fell into two main categories. Some Target employees discussed rude and impatient behavior on the part on shoppers. Others said they wished that customers would stop leaving trash and unwanted products all over the stores.

Here's what the Target team members had to say:

1. Don't be rude

"Just don't be rude and I promise I'll help you find things my entire shift," an employee of eight months said.

Two Target team members explained that they don't appreciate it when customers become angry because the store doesn't have a certain item in stock.

"How many times do I have to tell you that we do not have the item that you're looking for in the back room?" an employee of seven months told Business Insider.

If the product you're looking for isn't available, then the employees said to cut your losses rather than taking out your annoyance on the Target team member.

"Quit throwing fits because we stopped carrying something," another Target employee told Business Insider. "It isn't the team members' fault."

Plus, getting aggressive might backfire. An employee with three years of experience told Business Insider, "If you are rude, and ask if there is any in the back, we don't check. We complain to other members about you and tell you, 'I'm sorry but we don't have any in the back.' Being nice pays."

Three other Target team members described creepy interactions with some store patrons.

"Don't confuse good customer service with flirting," said a Target employee with eight months of experience.

"I'm only saying hello because I'm paid to do so," a team member who's worked at the store for about a year told Business Insider.

Another Target team member with two years said they had a "stalker" who'd follow them around at the store.

Two other Target team members who've worked at the store for one year or two years added that it's always frustrating to encounter shoppers who give off an air of superiority.

2. Don't make a mess

"I cannot explain how many candles and fake plants I find in the clothes," a Target employee who's worked at the store for eight months told Business Insider. "If you decide you don't want something, give it to a team member."

They added that, "as long as you're nice about" handing the product over to a cashier, cart attendant, or other team member, Target employees "would rather you give it to us in that moment."

"Please throw your trash away," the Target team member added. "Starbucks cups, popcorn bags, wrappers of any kind: Throw them away."

Four other Target team members who've worked for the chain for five years, three years, and about two years agreed about the issue of leaving trash in the carts and store.

"Pick up after yourself," a Target employee of five years told Business Insider. "You are a guest in our domain and slobbish-ly leave garbage and products on the floor and out of place. Treat your local Target with respect."

Are you a current or former Target employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: 8 insider facts about shopping at Target that only employees know

DON'T MISS: 11 insider facts about McDonald's that employees know and most customers don't

SEE ALSO: Costco moves items around to get you to buy more — here are employees' best tips on navigating the store

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Target now sells $5 wines — here's how it compares to Trader Joe's cheap wines

• Costco's food court is home to a number of cheap and tasty menu options that members and food critics love.
• Costco employees themselves have some favorites, too.
• Business Insider reached out to 46 Costco workers and scoured the web to figure out what meals are considered standout hits with employees.

Costco food courts are famous for having cheap, yummy grub.

The food court menus are static in terms of price and offerings. You'll have to travel if you want to find any serious discrepancies between Costco food court menus.

They're definitely a good option for shoppers looking to grab a quick, post-shopping spree meal. And some Costco employees are fans too.

Business Insider recently asked a number of Costco employees to share their favorite food court menu options. We also scoured the internet for employee reviews of the food court items on social media.

"I eat at the food court more then I would like too," one Ontario-based Costco employee told Business Insider. "It's so good. The cheapest menus I have ever seen."

Here are the food court menu options Costco employees love:

SEE ALSO: 30 Costco food court items you'd never guess were on the menu

DON'T MISS: Costco employees share their best food court secrets and hacks

DON'T FORGET: 11 insider facts about shopping at Costco only employees know

Pizza

"Costco's pizzas are pretty incredible considering the price," Costco worker Stefan Winter wrote on Quora. "Crust is yummy, toppings are good quality, what's not to love?"

A total of 2o other Costco employees told Business Insider that the pizza was their favorite food court item. Of those, three employees preferred the pepperoni pizza, while three went with the combo pizza.

"You get sick of the food after awhile, but the combo pizza is always my go-to," one Costco worker in Florida told Business Insider.

"I love the pepperoni pizza," another employee said. "It's very cheesy with nice and juicy crispy pepperonis."

The rest just chose "pizza."

"Fun fact: If you are ordering a whole cheese pizza pie it actually has just over a pound of cheese on it," said one employee who said they ate at the food court on a weekly basis.

The hot dog-and-soda combo

"The hot dog soda combo for $1.50 is a classic," one San Diego-based Costco employee told Business Insider.

Two other Costco employees concurred that the hot dog was their favorite food court item. An Oregon-based employee added that it was the best deal in the whole store.

Bratwurst

One Costco employee in Illinois told Business Insider that they liked the bratwurst and felt disappointed when their store got rid of it for chili.

Another worker who's been at Costco for 12 years told Business Insider that, while they didn't often eat at the food court, when they did, they opted for the bratwurst.

• Decorating your home may seem like an impossible task if you're trying to get by with a small budget.
• Your decorating dreams are attainable even if a significant chunk of cash isn't — as long as you're willing to put in the work.
• Author Ally Spier redecorated her current apartment for less than $500 by painting it herself, decorating her walls with art, and making use of used and functional objects. Here's how. 

Unless you've been saving up or have been selected to participate in a home renovation TV show, redecorating your home without shelling out a ton of cash probably seems impossible.

I assure you, though, your decorating dreams are attainable even if a significant chunk of cash isn't. I've lived in many apartments throughout my years in New York and have personally outfitted them all on either a student's or a writer's budget.

For example, I only spent about $500 to outfit my current digs.

On a small budget, prepare to assume all necessary roles. Here's how to make it work:

SEE ALSO: 25 pieces of under-$100 home decor and furniture that you won't believe are from Overstock.com

1. Establish a color palette and do the painting yourself

A reliable approach to redecorating begins with establishing a color palette — and a great way to make a statement with minimal spending is through paint. A quality gallon of your color of choice should run you somewhere between $30 and $60.

Depending on room size and the condition of your walls before you start your project, this may be all you need, but even if you need to tack on primer and a second gallon, you shouldn’t have to spend more than $150 on supplies to dramatically change the look and feel of your space.

Instead of hiring painters, tackle the project on your own. You could also recruit a willing friend or family member to help speed up the task.

2. Decorate your walls

I’ve painted a handful of my past apartments’ walls, but my current space was in pretty good shape when I moved in. As a result, I opted to use its white walls as a backdrop for displays of art and decorative objects, but any color background can work if done thoughtfully.

Some great resources for art on a budget include sites like Etsy, Society6, Minted, 20x200, and Artfinder. You can also check out local craft fairs where artists have just begun marketing themselves.

Easy-to-come-by things like abstract wrapping paper, wallpaper samples, and maps can be framed, too. I’ve made my own pieces in some cases, but if that seems too daunting to you, try reaching out to your more artistically-inclined friends and consider commissioning them to make something one-of-a-kind.

3. Make use of functional objects

The display of functional objects can also qualify as decor when both your budget and space are limited. A bike is no longer an eyesore when it’s hung on a well-designed, wall-mounted rack, and stacked books can be a makeshift nightstand. Accessories like hats, jewelry, and bags can be arranged and hung on a wall, too — perhaps with the bonus effect of making getting dressed in the morning easier.

Plants are another great way to add significant visual interest without having to shell out. Case in point: I bought a potted plant last summer for $20 that’s tripled in size since I purchased it, and I can now take cuttings of it to put in other spots around my apartment. It’s like one plant for the price of, well, however many I can propagate. This budget-friendly approach to decorating with greenery means cleaner air, too.

• In February, Snapchat released a controversial app redesign that triggered backlash from users — including celebrity users like Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen.  
• The main complaint: The redesign separated celebrity Snapchat stories from those that came from your friends. 
• Snapchat confirmed that they were testing a new design that brings friends' "Stories" back to the "Discover" page, and announced during its quarterly earnings that the change would eventually roll out to all users.

After months of insisting that the controversial Snapchat redesign was here to stay, the ephemeral messaging app is altering its course with some design tweaks.

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, confirmed with Business Insider in April that it had begun testing a new design for the app that would walk back some of the biggest changes since the original redesign dropped in February.

Snap reported its quarterly earnings on Tuesday, and announced that those changes currently being tested would eventually roll out to everyone.

To be specific, the updated design will reunite on the same page your friends' Snapchat Stories with those that come from celebrities.

The updated design is only available to a small number of users testing it now, with no word on when, or if, it will come to all users. Details of this Snapchat design test were originally reported by Recode.

The separation of the two, across different pages of the app, was a major problem that users had with the redesign, and even frustrated celebrity power users like Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen. Many users said that they valued that Snapchat made them feel as if they were friends with celebrities. 

Following the rollout of its original redesign, Snap reported a rough quarter that sent its stock plunging as much as 20% on Wednesday morning. On Snap's earnings call, CEO Evan Spiegel referenced the redesign, and said that “a change this big to existing behavior comes with some disruption, especially given the high frequency of daily engagement of our community.”

Although this tweaked design does feel like a return of sorts to the app's popular original design, there is still one major difference. As you can see from the screenshot, while celebrity and user content will be united on the Discover page, they're still separated out in two different horizontal sliders. 

This adjustment feels like a natural compromise between the two very different previous designs. To that end, it allows Snap to continue its recent philosophy of clearly and actively distinguishing between content that comes from average users, and content that comes from celebrities and publishers.

“We are always listening to our community and will continue to test updates that we hope will give Snapchatters the best possible experience on our platform," said Snap spokesperson, in an email with Business Insider in April about the tweaked design being tested.

This reflects a dramatic change in tone since just a couple months ago, when roughly 1.2 million signed an online petition pleading with Snapchat developers to undo the update. Team Snapchat gave no indication that the petition moved them, and CEO Evan Spiegel said publicly that the uproar only gave him more confidence.

"Even the complaints we're seeing reinforce the philosophy. The frustrations we're seeing really validate those changes," said Spiegel, just weeks after the redesign rolled out. Now, it seems, he's more willing to meet users in the middle. 

SEE ALSO: How to record in Snapchat without keeping your finger on the screen

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Snapchat's VP of Content talks about the app's biggest redesign yet

"Avengers: Infinity War" earned the highest domestic box-office debut of all time over the weekend, and it did so by dethroning a record set by "Star Wars: Force Awakens" in 2015.

A Marvel film surpassing a "Star Wars" box-office record is, needless to say, music to the ears of The Walt Disney Company.

That's because both films and the lucrative franchises they fit into are pieces in Disney's ever-expanding arsenal of cinematic cash cows.

To track the Disney films that "Infinity War" will be chasing for subsequent records in the coming weeks, we turned to Box Office Mojo for data on the highest-grossing movies at the US box office that have fallen under Disney's umbrella.

Here are the 50 highest-grossing Disney movies of all time at the domestic box office, unadjusted for inflation:

Note: This list would change significantly if it were ranked by inflation, but we went with Box Office Mojo's available, unadjusted ranking, and included inflation adjustments for films that weren't shown in 2018.

SEE ALSO: Where the Marvel Cinematic Universe can go after 'Avengers: Infinity War'

50. "Cinderella" (2015)

Domestic box office: $201,151,353

Inflation adjusted: $222,649,000

49. "Armageddon" (1998)

Domestic box office: $201,578,182

Inflation adjusted: $393,700,700

48. "Thor: Dark World"

Domestic box office: $206,362,140

Inflation adjusted: $226,626,300

• Hulu announced on Wednesday that it had surpassed 20 million US subscribers, and many of its subscribers have oddly impressive viewing habits.
• The company shared that 35,000 subscribers watched all 331 episodes of the NBC medical drama "ER" in just 2 months after it debuted on its streaming service in January. 
• Hulu also said that "thousands" of customers watched every episode of "Law and Order: SVU" in 4 months, and that "South Park" was its most-watched show in 2017.

There are some serious "ER" fans among Hulu subscribers.

At its annual Upfront presentation on Wednesday, Hulu said it had surpassed 20 million US subscribers, and the streaming service also dished out some oddly impressive data on the viewing habits of its subscribers. 

Hulu CMO Kelly Campbell shared that 35,000 Hulu subscribers watched all 331 episodes of the NBC medical drama "ER" in just 2 months — at a rate of 5 episodes per day — after it debuted on Hulu in January. 

Campbell also said that "thousands" of customers watched every episode of "Law and Order: SVU" in 4 months, which would mean they were watching 100 episodes of "SVU" a month, or over three episodes per day over four months.

Campbell added that "South Park" was the service's most-watched show of 2017, as subscribers watched 135 million hours of the animated comedy last year. "South Park" re-upped its partnership with Hulu in 2015 for a 5-year, $192 million deal, and it appears to have paid off for the streaming service.

Though Hulu has touted its originals like "The Handmaid's Tale," which it renewed for a third season, these stats show that Hulu subscribers love its back catalog of TV.

In addition to surpassing 20 million subscribers, Hulu said that it had grown total audience engagement on its platform by more than 60%.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Hulu's 12 original shows, from worst to best

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why the Saudi crown prince met with Trump, Oprah, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos

• A South Korean news anchor challenged her country's beauty norms by appearing on air with glasses.
• Lim Hyeon-ju used to wear contact lenses and false lashes every day after waking up at 2:40 a.m. for an early morning shift.
• She made the change after her eyes became too dry and it was tough for her to focus.
• While male anchors often wear glasses on air, this was the first time a female presenter for a major TV network had done so.

A South Korean news anchor defied her country's stringent beauty norms for women by deciding to ditch her contact lenses and false eyelashes, and wear glasses on air instead.

Lim Hyeon-ju, who typically wakes up at 2:40 a.m. every day for her 6 a.m. broadcast, started appearing last month on the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) morning show with a pair of black-and-gold, round-framed glasses.

Male broadcasters on South Korea often appear on air wearing glasses, but this was the first time a female presenter for a major TV network had done so, according to Korea's Yonhap News agency.

Lim's eyes had become so dry and tired from wearing contact lenses and false lashes every day that she had to use artificial tears to moisten them, the anchor told Yonhap. She added that she found it difficult to work because her eyes were so dry.

She wrote in an Instagram post, which has garnered hundreds of messages of support:

"I have to wake up early in the morning for the morning news, but when I have insufficient sleeping time and short preparation time, I sometimes want to wear glasses. I felt I could focus more on the news if I reduced my time and fatigue. [...]

"Viewers are also focusing on the nature on the news, not the appearance of the anchor."

Lim added that she "needed a little courage" to wear glasses on air at first, but has since become encouraged by her thousands of messages of support that she would continue to do so. She has regularly worn glasses in her broadcasts ever since.

South Korean women are held to notoriously high standards for beauty — the country has the most cosmetic surgeries per capita in the world, with almost one million procedures every year.

Not wearing a full face of makeup to work — regardless of the industry — can also be deemed unprofessional in certain South Korean offices, Quartz reported.

A recent poll also found that more than half of 552 South Korean workers polled said they had never seen a female coworker in glasses before — even though 70% of South Korea's population under 30 are reported to be near-sighted, Quartz noted.

Furthermore, because South Korean job postings typically require photographs, as well as asking for applicants' height and weight, many applicants have said they felt pressured to appear attractive.

A 2016 survey by a national job portal found that more than 60% of human resources personnel found that an applicant's appearance affected his or her chances at getting the job.

One in three South Korean women between 19 and 29 have already undergone cosmetic surgery, Gallup Korea found in 2015.

The most popular procedure is the "double-eyelid" surgery, which creates creases in the eyelids that result in the appearance of bigger eyes. Another popular one is the "smile surgery," which makes the person look like they have a slightly upturned mouth at all times.

SEE ALSO: Why South Korea is the plastic surgery capital of the world

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Harvard professor Steven Pinker on 7 trends that show world progress

• The English language can be a lucrative language to master.
• The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) lists jobs that require English language skills.
• They found plenty of high-paying jobs for people who excel at the English language.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best jobs for people who love food

DON'T MISS: 19 high-paying jobs for people who love history

SEE ALSO: 14 high-paying jobs for people who love writing

Training and development specialists

Training and development specialists design and conduct training and development programs to improve individual and organizational performance.

Average annual salary: $60,360

English language importance level: 92

Projected growth through 2026: 10% to 14%

Copy writers

Copy writers write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

Average annual salary: $61,820

English language importance level: 94

Projected growth through 2026: 5% to 9%

Poets, lyricists, and creative writers

Poets, lyricists, and creative writers create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics.

Average annual salary: $61,820

English language importance level: 97

Projected growth through 2026: 5% to 9%

• The Met Gala 2018 theme is "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."
• It reportedly costs $30,000 for a ticket to attend the Met Gala.
• However, that's just the beginning of all the costs associated with the $3.5 million event.

The first Monday in May hosts the party of the year in the fashion world.

Dubbed the Oscars of the East, the annual Met Gala is back on May 7, themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art's newest exhibition at the Costume Institute.

With 180 pieces on display, featuring high-end, expensive designers from Versace and Valentino to Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel, the exhibition will focus on the "dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art."

Helmed by Vogue's Anna Wintour (and co-chaired this year by Rihanna, Donatella Versace, and Amal Clooney), the Met Gala is known for its best-dressed and worst-dressed celebrities, socialites, and businesspeople who walk the red carpet in their interpretation of the theme.

Anyone who is anyone is there, at least according to Wintour's handpicked and closely scrutinized guest list. 

But the cost to make an appearance during fashion's biggest night out is a steep one, and the cost to make the event happen is even bigger. For $30,000 a ticket, those who passed Wintour's approval can attend the $3.5 million event.

And that's just the beginning of all the money that goes into — and comes out of — what André Leon Talley refers to as "the Super Bowl of fashion."

Take an inside look at the money behind the Met Gala.

SEE ALSO: This $59 million penthouse in New York City's priciest zip code has a living room the size of a museum and perfect views of the Empire State Building and One World Trade

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle could wear a custom-designed tiara worth nearly $700,000 on her wedding day — here's how much the tiaras of other British royal brides are worth

It cost $3.5 million to produce the Met Gala 2016.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Tickets for the Met Gala 2017, which 550 people attended, cost $30,000 — that's enough to put a family of four over the poverty line. Some sources say tickets can even cost up to $50,000.

Source: Fortune, Page Six

Tables go for $275,000, but can go for up to $500,000. They cost even more if they're paid for by sponsors. Yahoo sponsored the Met Gala 2015 and reportedly paid $3 million for two tables.

Source: Fortune, Page Six