• Thanksgiving travel can be a headache — but the earlier you get on the road, the better, according to Google data. 
• Using Maps data from last year, Google engineers deciphered the optimum time to leave in dozens of major US cities.
• The downside: most of the optimum times are very, very early in the morning. 

More than 54 million Americans will hit the road this week to celebrate the Thanksgiving with friends and family this year, according to AAA.

And as anyone who's traveled in the days surrounding the holiday knows, all those cars on the road will only lead to one thing: traffic.

Engineers at Google took baseline data from Google Maps to find out the best times to leave in order to avoid bottlenecks  — but some of the options might be even less appealing than sitting in a freeway-turned-parking lot.

In New York, for example, the best time to leave is 4 a.m. on Wednesday. The best time to return is even worse: Friday at 4 a.m.

Traffic tends to peak at about the same time on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, in the late afternoon. There's also a slight bump near 7 a.m. as the early birds hit the road.

Read more: This image of gridlock traffic in LA makes Uber's plans for flying cars seem like a great idea

"For determining traffic conditions, we considered the 'Thanksgiving Holiday Period' to start the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and end the Sunday after Thanksgiving," the team writes. "We analyzed the total number of cars on the road at a given time, as determined by the speed and location of Android phones that have location services enabled. All traffic information is anonymous and taken in aggregate for 25 US cities and nationally."

You can use Google's interactive tool to see the best times for your city. But be warned, most of the best times are extremely early in the morning, just like New York.

Luckily, there's an option for daytime-only travel. But even then, your best off departing right at 6 a.m.

Check out the handy interactive tool here. 

SEE ALSO: This image of gridlock traffic in LA makes Uber's plans for flying cars seem like a great idea

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NOW WATCH: Why you shouldn't be afraid to fly, according to a pilot with over 20 years of experience

• Steven Caple Jr. talked to Business Insider about how he got the job to direct "Creed II" (in theaters on Wednesday).
• That included being vouched for by his friend, "Creed" director Ryan Coogler.
• Caple also described the talk with Sylvester Stallone that convinced Caple he would be allowed to put his own mark on the franchise.

Steven Caple Jr. watched “Creed” a little differently than you and I. Having studied at USC film school at the same time the movie’s filmmaker Ryan Coogler did, Caple had a specific eye for certain details his friend put in. 

“The opening of the movie, showing Creed as a kid meeting his mom, that really reminded me of this short that he did called ‘Fig,’ I was like, ‘There’s his style,’” Caple told Business Insider while sitting in a restaurant in New York City. "So when I stepped into the franchise I wondered, how do I make it mine?"

Back in 2015, when “Creed” become a critical and box-office hit — launching the “Rocky” franchise back into the public conscious, and solidifying Coogler as Hollywood's latest wunderkind — Caple was just a indie filmmaker rising up the ranks with one solid movie, Sundance entry "The Land," under his belt.

But when Coogler announced that he was stepping aside from making a "Creed" sequel to go do Marvel's "Black Panther," the continuation of the story of Adonis Creed suddenly lost its captain.

By that time, Caple was honing his craft. He'd sold a miniseries on Emmett Till to HBO and was directing episodes of the Freeform series, "Grown-ish." And it was on the set of that show a year ago he got the call: Sylvester Stallone wanted to meet about doing "Creed II."

Caple learned that Stallone had been sent a copy of "The Land," Caple's debut feature about Cleveland stakeboarding teens with dreams of going pro, and was impressed. Caple also heard Coogler went out of his way to let Stallone, star Michael B. Jordan (who is also an executive producer on the movie), and the studio behind the movie (MGM), know that Caple was ready for the big time.

That part was a shock to Caple, since he had been hanging out with Coogler just days before the call and his friend didn't mention he was in the running.

"Ryan was on the Disney lot editing 'Black Panther' and I came in and looked at stuff, and we talked about sports and other things, but no mention of 'Creed,'" Caple said. "So after I got the call about 'Creed II,' I called Ryan and was like, 'You didn't tell me!' And he said he knew they were looking at directors, but he was excited for me."

But Caple was extremely nervous that because of his inexperience, he would be more susceptible to just going along with whatever Stallone, who also co-wrote the script for the sequel along with reprising his legendary role of Rocky Balboa, wanted to do.

But Caple said those nerves quickly vanished when he got on the phone for the first time with Stallone.

"I thought I was going to talk to Rocky or Sylvester Stallone, but on the phone with me was a director and a writer," he said.

Stallone talked to Caple about the three-fight structure he came up with for the sequel that didn't just give a little homage to "Rocky III," but also touched on "Rocky IV," since the main plot point of "Creed II" would be Adonis Creed going up against the son of Ivan Drago, the man responsible for his father's death when they fought in "Rocky IV."

Caple loved what Stallone had come up with and instead of bracing for the point in the conversation when the legend told the newbie not to change a thing and just shoot what's on the page, Caple felt more like Stallone was pitching him to do the movie. That was especially true when Stallone told Caple what was needed to make the sequel as good as the first "Creed."

"He said, 'I can't capture Adonis Creed's voice,'" Caple recalled Stallone telling him. "He said, 'With Rocky, I write all the dialogue, but you tell me where you want to go with the rest of the story and I'll do it.'"

Caple realized the trust Stallone put in Coogler to bring his beloved "Rocky" franchise to today's era of moviegoers in a believable way was now being passing to him — if he wanted it.

Caple signed on.

Read more:"Creed II" escapes the sequel slump with thrilling fight scenes and a gripping performance by Michael B. Jordan

Caple said the script at first was just a straight revenge tale. Drago and his son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu), wanted payback for Ivan's loss to Rocky in "Rocky IV," and Adonis wanted to avenge his father's death.

It was Caple's talks with Jordan that elevated the story with the parts that Stallone couldn't capture.

"When I listened to him I found parallels of Adonis and what he's going through in his own life," Caple said. "Becoming the champ of the film world. I felt that was something we could play with."

Their talks led Jordan to open up about his own personal goals, and about running on the heels of the great black actors before him like Will Smith and Denzel Washington, while at the same time wanting to make his own mark. Caple felt that's also what Adonis is facing with the legacy of his father hanging over him.

So that became a theme in the movie. As Caple put it, "rewriting last names."

Now among the boxing matches and training montages that the "Rocky" fans crave, Caple felt he was bringing something fresh to the franchise that would give it some standalone qualities.

It also didn't hurt that throughout filming he would get little words of encouragement between takes from Stallone.

"We would be on set and Sly would say to me, 'You have something special,' I mean, talk about a boost of confidence!" Caple said.

And now the critics are beginning to give Caple a greater feeling that he pulled off a successful sequel, as the movie is sporting a healthy 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

But so far it's been the feedback of one person that has made Caple the happiest: Ryan Coogler.

"He had seen the movie while touring with 'Black Panther' and he called me and said, 'You did it,'" Caple said while getting choked up.

Caple also made a point of doing some shots in "Creed II" that mirrored similar ones his friend did in the first, like the point-of-view, behind-the-back shots that follow the characters.

"I wanted him to know I admire him as a filmmaker," Caple said. "But him saying, 'This is yours,' that meant a lot."

SEE ALSO: Low morale, staff firings, and new pricing plans coming: Inside the walls of MoviePass

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NOW WATCH: How 'The Price Is Right' is made

• The Ohio state legislature is considering two bills that would ban and criminalize abortion in the state.
• The Ohio House passed a bill to ban abortion after six weeks, which Gov. John Kasich says he will veto.
• The House's health committee is considering legislation that would punish abortion providers and patients with life in prison, and even the death penalty.
• A litigator with the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project told INSIDER the six-week ban is "Blanton unconstitutional," and will likely be struck down in court. 

On Thursday, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to ban patients from obtaining abortions after six weeks. Republican Governor John Kasich vetoed a similar measure in 2016 — and reproductive rights advocates say it's a clear attempt to get the Supreme Court to rule on abortion restrictions.

Passed by a vote of 58-43 and now headed to the Ohio Senate, the legislation would charge doctors with felonies if they preformed abortions after a heartbeat could be detected, which typically occurs around five or six weeks of pregnancy. 

Gov. Kasich, who leaves office in January, told reporters over the weekend that he would veto the six-week ban again if it came to his desk before the end of his term. Reproductive rights advocates argue the legislation would criminalize abortion before many women even know they're pregnant. 

Brigitte Amiri, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project called the bill — and others like it — "blatantly unconstitutional" in a phone interview with INSIDER. 

"A state can't ban abortion, which is what this has effectively done, and it would be struck down by the courts, certainly in the lower courts," Amiri said. "This is a direct attack on Roe v. Wade, this is an attempt by the other side to overrule the constitutional right to abortion." 

Meanwhile, the Ohio House's health committee is considering an even more severe abortion bill, HB 565, which would go a step further to designate fetuses as "unborn humans" statewide, allowing for women and doctors who receive and provide abortions to be punished with life in prison, and even the death penalty. 

That bill, however, has not gained much traction since lawmakers introduced it in March, and is unlikely to be voted on this year. 

Amiri explained the six-week ban is unlikely to hold up legally, since Roe v. Wade protects abortion to the point of viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Similar six-week bans in North Dakota and Iowa were either struck down by federal courts or blocked by state courts for violating either Roe, or state-level abortion protections. 

After Justice Brett Kavanaugh was nominated in July, legal experts told INSIDER that while it's unlikely for a Supreme Court even with a 5-4 conservative majority to fully overturn Roe v. Wade, the Court could uphold less extreme restrictions on the procedure. 

Read more: 23 creative ways states are keeping women from getting abortions in the US — that could erode Roe v. Wade without repealing it

"We don't know what's going to happen until the Supreme Court takes one of these cases. There are 13 cases in the pipeline right now. Whether the Supreme Court is going to take up one of those cases and what they're going to say is unknown, but we're deeply concerned."

In a Thursday statement, Amiri warned that the Ohio legislature's recent actions are a "harbinger of things to come" when it comes to states restricting abortion access. 

"We're concerned this is the first of several states that will try to ban abortion, which is why people need to stay vigilant," Amiri added. "I was a little surprised that Ohio was so quick to do so, and it makes me deeply concerned that other states will be acting quickly when the legislatures come back in session in 2019 in other states."

Amiri said she has just one message for the Ohio state government if they pass the six-week ban: "we'll see you in court." 

SEE ALSO: This is what could happen if Roe v. Wade fell

SEE ALSO: Voters in Alabama and West Virginia passed ballot initiatives to significantly limit abortion access at the state level if Roe v. Wade is overturned

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NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

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• Many major retailers are offering deals on the Apple Watch for Black Friday.
• Stores like Target, Macy's, and Best Buy have discounted the Apple Watch Series 3, which came out last year, by as much as $80.
• So far, there are very few discounts on the new Apple Watch Series 4.

Now is the best time of year to consider an Apple Watch.

Everyone from Apple itself to major retailers like Target and Macy's are launching sales for Black Friday, and there are already some great deals on the Apple Watch.

With the help of the deal-tracking website BestBlackFriday.com and sites like MacRumors,Wareable, HuffPost, USA Today, and CNET, we put together a list of the retailers offering deals on Apple Watches this Black Friday.

The deals we've seen so far are primarily for the Apple Watch Series 3, the model that came out last year, rather than the brand-new Apple Watch Series 4 or any of Apple's older watches.

But they're still great gets — especially for people who aren't necessarily looking for the latest model:

Apple Watch Series 3

• Walmart: $20 off the 38 mm GPS model and $50 off the 42 mm GPS model, plus an extra band.
• Costco: $40 off the 38 mm and 42 mm GPS models with sport bands.
• Best Buy: $50 off the 38 mm and 42 mm models of the GPS-only, GPS + cellular, Nike, and stainless-steel versions.
• Target: $80 off both the GPS-only models and the GPS + cellular models, which regularly start at $279 and $379.
• Macy's: $80 off the GPS-only models and $50 off the GPS + cellular models.
• Sprint: $100 off when you add a line onto a qualifying service plan.
• Meijer: $100 off the base model.
• B&H: $180 off the 42 mm stainless-steel GPS + cellular model.

Apple Watch Series 4

• T-Mobile: $20 a month for the 40 mm GPS + cellular model.
• AT&T: $60 off the GPS + cellular models with the purchase of an iPhone 6 or later model.
• Sprint: $100 off when you add a line onto a qualifying service plan.

Accessories

• Best Buy: 25% off select bands.

We will update this list if we stumble upon more deals, so keep checking back.

Now tell us about your holiday shopping plans!

SEE ALSO: Amazon's ambitious Fire TV Cube is on sale for $60 for Black Friday — here's what it's like to use

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NOW WATCH: A running coach explains how to get through the NYC marathon this weekend

• Rejecting someone can be really difficult to do, even if you're sure that it's the right thing to do.
• But there are a few things that you can do to soften the blow and make it easier no both you and the other person.
• Though you need to be prepared for them to react badly, if you treat them with kindness and compassion, that can go a long way.

Rejection isn't easy on anyone, whether you're the one being rejected or the one doing the rejecting. In order to get rejected, you have to put yourself out there, and learning that the other person doesn't feel the same way can make you feel deflated or even crushed. And if you're the one doing the rejecting, you know that you're responsible for making someone feel that way, which can make you feel quite guilty, even if you know that it's the right thing for you to do.

"It is always a good idea to communicate with others in a respectful and polite way,"Emily Mendez, MS, EdS, an author and mental health expert, told INSIDER. "This same advice goes for when you are rejecting a date. Carefully set and protect your boundaries. Don't agree to a date with someone just because you don't want to hurt their feelings. Be respectful, but honor your own wants and needs."

It's also very important to be clear about what you want

Being straightforward and honest — but still kind — can help them understand that the rejection isn't just due to some personal flaw, but rather because going on a date with them or being in a relationship with them isn't in line with what you want.

"Be respectful, and explain yourself clearly,"Dr. Suzanne Wallach, PsyD, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told INSIDER. "These tactics work because if you clearly explain how you feel, people usually won't argue with you, and they will hear you. It's when things get personal that these interactions go off the rails."

Insulting someone or blaming them isn't going to make things better, in fact, it could make them much, much worse. "Many people are uncomfortable, I think, with being real in these moments because it's painful and we humans don't really like to feel pain,"Dr. Sharon Saline, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist, told INSIDER. "So I think the main thing is to be able to say what you need to say clearly without blame or judgment or insults and talk about yourself."

Particularly if it's someone with whom you have some history or a relationship, you've known them a long time or have dated in the past, for instance, it's important to talk to them in person or on the phone. "I think it's really also important that you do it in person or even over the phone if you have to, but not by text or mail because you can't really take an emotional weather report from a text or an email," Saline said. There's a lot that can be misconstrued or misunderstood when you're working with text or email, and since you want to be clear, in person or over the phone might be a better way to go.

Unfortunately, you can't always predict how the other person will react

That's part of what can make rejecting someone a nerve-wracking or complicated proposition. "Everybody has their own history with rejection and the rejection that you're doing in that moment will trigger that baggage that they're dragging along in their lives that you can't see, it's invisible, but it's there, and could foster a negative reaction," Saline said. “And that reaction says so much more about the other person if you feel clean about your side of the street. So if you're kind and you're considerate, and you're clear, and the other person comes back at you with a very angry, nasty kind of comment or several comments and a bad tone, at that point what I think is appropriate is to say, 'I can see that I've upset you and I just think it's best if we separate,' and then take your leave."

If you're worried about how someone might react, taking a friend or family member along or making sure that you're in public might help a bit, but, unfortunately, there's only so much you can do to try to handle the situation as appropriately and compassionately as possible. Rejection is tough, to be sure, but being honest, clear, non-judgmental, and kind, above all else, might help you get through the situation the best that you can.

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NOW WATCH: This mind-melting thought experiment of Einstein's reveals how to manipulate time

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of financial innovation today?

Cryptocurrency might be at the top of the list. But the future of finance is about more than bitcoin and blockchain.

IGNITION will introduce you to established voices and rising stars in the world of finance. These innovators are transforming the financial landscape, from how we think about the economy to how we spend, manage, and invest our money.

Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. He predicted the 2008 financial crisis — and has predicted another economic downturn within the next few years. Hear him speak candidly about today's economy.

Sallie Krawcheck is on a professional mission to help women reach their financial and professional goals. After spending years rising through the ranks on Wall Street, she pivoted into the startup world and founded Ellevest, a digital-first investment platform designed to help women take control of their finances. Hear how she plans to close the gender investing gap as she reflects on her career shift from corporate America to entrepreneurship.

Brad Katsuyama left his high-powered role at RBC Capital Markets after uncovering that stock-exchange systems were being manipulated by predatory high-frequency-trading practices. Katsuyama cofounded the emerging stock exchange IEX in an effort to create a fairer market and level the playing field for investors. Hear more about how he's taking on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

IGNITION is just two weeks away. And it's close to selling out — don't wait to register!

To keep up with IGNITION news, join our mailing list, and you'll be the first to get updates on our speakers and agenda.

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• More than 30 million Americans are expected to fly this Thanksgiving holiday season according to Airlines For America.
• That's a 5.7% increase over 2017.
• American Airlines expects to carry seven million travelers this Thanksgiving season while Delta Air Lines expects to fly 4.7 million passengers just during the week of Thanksgiving. 
• The busiest day for air travel is expected to be Monday, November 25.
• US airports are among the busiest in the world. 

America will be traveling in droves this Thanksgiving. An estimated 30.6 million people are expected to fly this Thanksgiving holiday period, industry trade group Airlines For America (A4A) said in a release. That's up 5.7% from last year and a whopping 26% from 2010.

In fact, American Airlines, alone, expects to operate nearly 71,000 flights and fly more than seven million passengers during the 12 day period between November 16 and November 27. 

Delta expects to carry 4.7 million holiday travelers between November 19 and November 25. 

To accommodate all of this additional traffic, US airlines are expected to make an additional 158,000 seats available every day during the heavy travel period. Airlines will deploy additional aircraft and schedule extra flights to ferry holiday travelers.

According to A4A, the busiest days for air travel during this period is Monday, Nov. 25 followed by Wednesday, Nov. 21. 

If you're looking to avoid the crowds, Thanksgiving day is going to be least busy day by a wide margin. 

As a result, airports around the country are going to be packed even more so than usual. Last year, five of the 20 busiest airports in the world were located in the US. This included the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International which hosted nearly 104 million passengers. 

Read more: These are the 20 busiest airports in the world.

Los Angeles International or LAX is the second busiest airport in the US and the fifth busiest in the world with just under 85 million travelers. Chicago's O'Hare International comes in third place in the US and sixth place worldwide with nearly 80 million passengers annually. 

To give you a better idea of which US airport will likely be the most crowded, here's a breakdown of the 10 busiest airports in the US based on passenger numbers. 

SEE ALSO: Airlines are joining in on Black Friday with major flight sales

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NOW WATCH: This LEGO Bugatti Chiron is drivable — here's what it can do

• Movie-ticket subscription services have been the hottest topic in the movie-theater business this year, as MoviePass has sparked a surge in customer interest.
• But both leaders in the space that aren't tied to a specific chain, MoviePass and Sinemia, have "F" ratings from the Better Business Bureau.
• They have also both been hit with class-action lawsuits that are ongoing.
• Since I began to report on the space, I have received hundreds of angry complaints from customers, especially in recent months.

Over the last year, the rise of MoviePass has helped stoke widespread interest in movie-ticketing subscription services. But the Better Business Bureau has a message for potential customers: buyer beware.

In general, there are two main types of subscription services on the market in the US: those tied to a specific theater chain like AMC Stubs A-List (AMC Theatres), and those that can be more widely used (like MoviePass and Sinemia).

The services that offer theater flexibility can feel like the more attractive option for many consumers. But the two main competitors in that space, MoviePass and Sinemia, both sport an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau.

MoviePass has had a whopping 2,461 complaints filed against it, while smaller Sinemia has had 169.

Both also have had class-action lawsuits filed against them that are still ongoing.

MoviePass’ parent company, Helios and Matheson Analytics, had two class-action suits filed by shareholders in August, one of which alleged that some of Helios’“statements to the market were materially false or misleading.” It had a further lawsuit filed against it by a shareholder in September, alleging "breach of fiduciary duty" and "unjust enrichment" by some officers of the company.

Sinemia was hit with a class-action lawsuit this month from customers primarily over the introduction of a new $1.80 processing fee. The lawsuit claims Sinemia "lures consumers in by convincing them to purchase a purportedly cheaper movie subscription, and then adds undisclosed fees that make such purchases no bargain at all."

Read more: MoviePass competitor Sinemia is being sued by angry customers who say it ripped them off with new fees.

This year, throughout the course of reporting on both companies, I received hundreds of complaints from angry customers, and in the case of MoviePass, angry investors as well.

The common gripes about both services have been a lack of customer service and technical glitches that prevent them from seeing movies. Specifically for MoviePass, some customers have also felt cheated by the severe restrictions on movies and showtimes, which some said makes the app effectively unusable. For Sinemia, dozens complained of hidden fees, and multiple customers said they'd had trouble getting partial refunds for year-long prepaid accounts after they attempted to cancel because of major service changes (the new processing fee, for example, which is the subject of the lawsuit).

Since the summer, when MoviePass introduced unpopular restrictions and Sinemia saw a surge in new subscribers, the vast majority of people who have contacted me have had very negative experiences with both apps. Those sentiments are reflected in MoviePass and Sinemia’s abysmal ratings from the Better Business Bureau.

The takeaway I’ve had, as both a reporter and as a subscriber to both services, is that when the deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

MoviePass and Sinemia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

SEE ALSO: Low morale, staff firings, and new pricing plans coming: Inside the walls of MoviePass

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NOW WATCH: How 'The Price Is Right' is made

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• It's Zion Williamson's world and we're just living in it.
• The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Duke freshman has taken college basketball by storm with his dominant play and Earth-shaking dunks.
• In his first game of the Maui Invitational, Williamson once again sent the internet into a frenzy when he threw down a windmill dunk on a fast break.

Zion Williamson is at it again.

The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Duke freshman arrived in Durham, North Carolina surrounded by lofty expectations, but after dropping 28 points on 84.6% shooting from the floor to help annihilate the then-No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats in his first game as a Blue Devil, Williamson definitively became the face of college basketball early this season.

Through his first four games, Williamson has averaged 22.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game to rank third in the ACC in scoring, rebounds, and blocks. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native also boasts the second-highest shooting percentage in the conference.

So even though Williamson's 13-point, 6-rebound performance against San Diego State delivered a far less flashy stat line than his performances against Kentucky and Army, the most famous aspect of his game also appears to be the most consistent.

Williamson produced yet another sensational, Sports Center Top 10 caliber dunk in Duke's 90-64 win against the Aztecs Monday evening. The Blue Devils led San Diego State 69-44 with 13:35 remaining in the second half of what was already a blowout affair when the big man tipped a pass away from one of the Aztecs' players and down the court. Williamson caught up to the ball at the opposite three-point line, took a single dribble just outside of the paint, and unleashed the kind of windmill slam reserved for warm-ups and NBA dunk contests.

Let's get a closer look at this one.

A little closer still?

Witnessing the power and prowess of Williamson in-person was enough to blow some of these fans away.

And of course, the dunk went viral just as quickly as Williamson streaked down the court on the breakaway.

Even Williamson himself felt emboldened to make some jokes on the court after sailing for the slam.

Later in the night, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid tried and failed to take a page out of Williamson's book and windmill for the finish in his game against the Phoenix Suns, and Twitter took notice.

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NOW WATCH: Inside an intense training session where aspiring WWE wrestlers learn how to fight

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Market chaos will double over the next 3 years — here are some strategies to help investors stay afloat

The most popular gauge of stock-market volatility is set to double over the next three years, Bank of America Merrill Lynch strategists forecast.

The firm examined the historical relationship between the Cboe's volatility index (VIX) and the yield curve, which signals more tumultuous times ahead.

Bank of America further laid out investing strategies that have historically profited at times when the VIX was rising.

The stock market just erased all of its gains for 2018, and tech stocks are continuing to get crushed

Wall Street erased gains Tuesday as high-flying technology companies plummeted into a bear market, adding to fears about slowing growth and trade tensions.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped about 1.6%, nearing a seven-month low, while the S&P 500 shed 1.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled more than 2%, or about 500 points.

The so-called FANG stocks — Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google-parent company Alphabet — slipped further after on Monday dipping into a bear market, down more than 20% from June highs. Alphabet's descent marked its first bear market in seven years. The FANG+ Index was down about 1.3% Tuesday.

Goldman Sachs downgrades Apple for 2nd time this month, warns Apple may have 'miscalculated' iPhone XR pricing strategy

Goldman Sachs has cut its target price for Apple for the second time this month as the stock has taken a beating since the company reported earnings on November 1.

Apple's share price has declined over 20% from its October peak, costing the company over $220 billion in market value.

In the bearish note, Rod Hall and his analyst team said that it seemed as if Apple "miscalculated on the price/feature balance" for the new iPhone XR and that Apple's less-expensive premium phone might have missed the mark.

In markets news

• A $736 billion strategist is bracing for a 2019 stock-market meltdown worse than anything we've seen this year — here are his top 3 tips for profiting from it
• Joel Greenblatt's flagship fund has beaten 99% of competitors over the past 3 years — here's a peek at his Warren Buffett-inspired 'magic formula' that's crushed the market

Join the conversation about this story »

Christmastime is filled with traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. But some of these traditions are unique to certain cultures. 

For instance, children in the US believe that Santa Claus comes on Christmas night to deliver presents, while children in Iceland believe that there are 13 Santas who visit all December-long. In fact, "Santa" looks totally different in countries around the world.

These differences in celebrations from country to country can also be seen in what children leave out for "Santa." 

From rice pudding to beer, keep scrolling to find out what children leave out around Christmas. 

UNITED STATES: milk and cookies

In the US, children almost exclusively leave a glass of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa to snack on when he visits their home. But some families deviate from the norm by leaving Santa carrots, pizza, or even celery. 

AUSTRALIA: beer and cookies

Although Australians also leave cookies for Santa to snack on, they replace the glass of milk with a cold glass of beer. December is actually summer for Australia, so the glass of beer might be just what Santa needs in the hot weather. 

IRELAND: pint of Guinness

Many Irish leave a pint of Guinness for Santa on the eve of Christmas. Children usually place the cold beer near the tree to offer Old Saint Nick a quick pick-me-up for the long night ahead. 

• Apple releases a sappy advertisement around the holidays every year.
• Watch this year's tearjerker below. 

Apple has a holiday tradition — to release a sentimental ad that basically doesn't focus on products at all. Instead, it pulls at your heartstrings.

Then it plays the ad over and over during football, basketball, Charlie Brown specials, and other traditional holiday broadcasts. 

You can watch it here:

This year's ad, by TBWA Media Arts Lab, Apple's longtime ad agency, focuses on the moment when a person reveals their work to the world, and creativity more generally, which has been a theme for Apple this year. The music is an original song by Billie Ellish, a 16-year-old songwriter. 

Apple's also going to have Ellish perform at an Apple store in Santa Monica on Tuesday, alongside one of the animators of the piece.

Apple also released a behind-the-scenes video showing the making of the ad.

Check out last year's Apple holiday ad below: 

SEE ALSO: Apple Just Released This Year's Sentimental Holiday Ad

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• LumiLor is a spray on paint that illuminates in the dark.
• It's not LED light, nor is it glow-in-the-dark paint, but a special kind of paint that "turns on and off" by reacting to an electric charge.
• Watch the video above to see how the paint is applied to create pulsating light effects on cars and motorcycles.

The following is a transcript of the video.

Christian Nguyen: This car lights up with something called LumiLor. It's not LED light, but paint. And not just glow-in-the-dark paint, but a special kind of paint that turns on and off by reacting to an electric charge. It can be applied to any surface in any variety of shapes and looks and acts just like regular paint when not charged. 

This Lexus painted with LumiLor, for example, looks like it came out of the factory, that is, until you turn the LumiLor on. Electric currents excite the material. Meaning you can get modulating, pulsating light effects like this. 

Darkside Scientific intends LumiLor to be used across the world. In aftermarket shops that, once trained, receive the designation of "LumiLor Laboratories." What would you paint using LumiLor?

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• Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge is currently weighing a challenge against Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House.
• Fudge has been urged by the small group of Democratic colleagues looking to oust Pelosi from the top spot in the House.
• Fudge has been in Congress since 2008, prior to which she was the mayor of the Cleveland suburb Warrensville Heights.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Marcia Fudge, the Ohio Democrat currently mulling a challenge to Nancy Pelosi for the speaker's gavel when the new Congress forms in January, has long been a thorn in the side of the Democratic leadership.

While Fudge is waiting until after the Thanksgiving break to decide whether or not she will mount a bid against Pelosi, who has been Democratic leader for the better part of the past two decades, many of her colleagues wait anxiously as they split into factions of those who ardently back Pelosi, those who want to oust her in favor of new blood, and the small group of still-undecided members and incoming freshmen.

Fudge, 66, has represented Ohio's 11th congressional district since 2008. Prior to that, she was the mayor of Warrensville Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.

Regarding Pelosi, Fudge has often been critical, most recently calling her "elitist" in an interview with HuffPost.

She also railed against Pelosi for taking too much credit for Democrats retaking the House majority, which they had failed to capture for the last eight years.

"Everybody wants to give her such big credit for winning back the House, and she should be here because she won," Fudge said. "She didn’t win it by herself."

When Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi for minority leader shortly after the 2016 elections, Fudge nominated him on the House floor.

After Pelosi defeated Ryan, Fudge said, "We didn’t lose today." 

"We now have a leadership team that listens to us," she added. "Today, we made our caucus more representative of our members."

Potential challenge to Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House

A Fudge challenge to Pelosi would satisfy a lot of Democrats looking for an alternative.

Many of the Midwestern Democrats in Congress have lamented their lack of representation at all levels of the House leadership, and Fudge's Ohio roots would certainly fill that void.

"I think the leadership team matters," Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos told INSIDER. "I know the focus is everybody gets asked about the speaker's race, but the leadership team matters in all sorts of ways. And one of those is geographic diversity."

Bustos, who is a Pelosi backer and candidate to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is one of just two Midwesterners running for a spot on the leadership team.

Another Midwesterner, Rep. Tim Ryan, is one of the Democrats leading the charge to oust Pelosi. Ryan signed the letter released by a working group of 16 congresspeople and incoming freshmen opposed to Pelosi.

Fudge was previously a signatory on the letter, but did not appear when it became public on Monday. However, the removal of Fudge's name does not necessarily mean she is ruling out the challenge to Pelosi.

Pelosi welcomed any challengers during a Thursday press conference, noting that while she believes many Democrats have the chops to serve as speaker, she believes she is the best choice for the moment.

"I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House," Pelosi said. "And, certainly, we have many, many people in our caucus who could serve in this capacity. I happen to think at this point, I am the best person for that."

But while there is a sizable amount of ground to be gained for insurgents in the Democratic caucus, Pelosi also has to court more members if she wants to be able to secure the necessary 218 votes on the House floor to become speaker.

SEE ALSO: Jeff Flake threatens to block Trump's judicial nominees until Senate votes on bill to protect Mueller

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NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote

• Nicole Kidman talked about her relationship with Tom Cruise, who she was married to from 1990 to 2001, during an interview with Variety. 
• The Australian actress said that she moved to the US in the '90s because she fell in love with and married her "Days of Thunder" co-star. 
• "I always make choices for love, and everything kind of had to fall in place around that," she said. 

Nicole Kidman says that she relocated to the US out of love for then-husband Tom Cruise. 

"I moved here because I fell in love and got married," Kidman, who grew up in Australia, told Variety. "I always make choices for love, and everything kind of had to fall in place around that."

The actress added that despite her relationship with Cruise being highly publicized while they were a couple from 1990 to 2001, she didn't feel that they were scrutinized. 

"If I look back, it actually didn't seem like a lot of interest," Kidman said. "We didn't have social media then. We didn't have paparazzi like now. You had definite control of it."

Kidman and Cruise met on the set of the 1990 movie "Days of Thunder." Over the course of their marriage, they adopted two children together named Connor and Isabella. 

The 51-year-old has previously said that she doesn't like discussing her relationship with Cruise because she thinks it's disrespectful to the "Mission: Impossible" star and her current husband, Keith Urban.

Read more: Nicole Kidman explains why she doesn't talk about being married to Tom Cruise

Though Kidman is careful about what she says about her past marriage, she explained that being with Cruise gave her protection from being sexually harassed in Hollywood.

"I married for love, but being married to an extremely powerful man kept me from being sexually harassed," she wrote in an essay for New York Magazine. "I would work, but I was still very much cocooned. So when I came out of it at 32, 33, it's almost like I had to grow up."

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.   

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Victoria's Secret has strict requirements for its models, so much so that the brand often comes under fire for its failure to cast models with a variety of body types.

The models who get cast in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show say they abide by strict diets and exercise routines ahead of stepping onto the runway. Some cut back on carbs and rely on juice cleanses, though it should be noted that methods like these are not always healthy.

Here's what 9 Victoria's Secret models eat to prepare for the big day.

Kendall Jenner keeps things pretty simple before a show.

Jenner seems to allow herself some sugary treats before a big show. 

"I know some people ask for super crazy things backstage, but that's not my style — I'm pretty easy! I have low blood sugar, so I definitely need things to keep me going (aka lots of food!)," she wrote on her past website per Yahoo News. 

"Here's what will forever and always make my list: Twix, Justin's Peanut Butter, chips and guac, and hummus and carrots. See, pretty simple — just feed me and I'm ready to go!" she penned.

Stella Maxwell sticks to protein and greens.

Model Stella Maxwell said she takes everything in moderation.

She detailed her daily intake in an interview with Byrdie, saying, " For breakfast, I like scrambled eggs, avocado, oatmeal — I really love oatmeal — or granola and yogurt. Lunch would be a piece of fish like salmon and then maybe some salad on the side — today we had chicken and salad. And then dinner, probably the same thing — a protein and a green."

Maxwell went on to discuss the importance of knowing what works best for each individual body saying, "I don't think it's good to cut anything out 100% or go on some crazy diet. I've never really believed in that, and I think your body will respond well if you make it happy in a moderate way — kind of like portion control."

Elsa Hosk likes green smoothies ahead of a fashion show.

Angel Elsa Hosk, who modeled this year's Fantasy Bra, shared her food diary with StyleCaster ahead of the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Her daily intake has an emphasis on eating meals that will hold her until the next, as she doesn't allow for snacking. 

Before a fashion show, she revealed that she opts for green smoothies.