This is a preview of a research report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about BI Intelligence, click here.

Social media is becoming increasingly influential in shoppers' purchasing decisions. In fact, the top 500 retailers earned an estimated $6.5 billion from social shopping in 2017, up 24% from 2016, according to BI Intelligence estimates.

In addition to influencing purchase decisions, social media is a large part of the product discovery and research phase of the shopping journey. And with more and more retailers offering quick access to their sites via social media pages, and shoppable content becoming more popular, it's likely that social media will play an even larger role in e-commerce. 

In this report, BI Intelligence examines the advantages and disadvantages of each platform, and reviews case studies of successful campaigns that helped boost conversion and increase brand awareness. Additionally, we explore how retailers can bring social aspects into their own sites and apps to capitalize on consumers' desire for social shopping experiences.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Social media is becoming more influential in all aspects of the purchasing journey.
• Facebook is the clear winner in social commerce, with its huge user base and wide-ranging demographics.
• However, retailers should have a presence on every platform their target market is on. Each platform will require a different strategy for retailers to resonate with its users.
• Retailers can also benefit from bringing social aspects in-house. They can do this by building their own in-house social networks, or by embedding social media posts into their sites.

In full, the report: 

• Provides an overview of the top social media platforms — Facebook, YouTube, Instagram — that retailers should be using, the demographics of each platform, as well as their individual advantages and disadvantages. 
• Reviews tools recently developed by these platforms that help retailers create engaging content.
• Outlines case studies and specific strategies to use on each platform.
• Examines how retailers like Sephora, Amazon, and Poshmark are capitalizing on consumers' affinity for social shopping by creating their own in-house social networks.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now
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• Amazon has finally chosen where it will be developing its second headquarters, which it calls HQ2. 
• It has taken criticism from all sides in the aftermath.
• The criticism over its HQ2 decision comes at a perilous time for Amazon, which has seen its reputation take numerous hits over the past several months.

Amazon is — predictably — getting blowback for its HQ2 selection.

The company announced on November 13 that it would split its second-headquarters project, which it calls HQ2, in two. The two locations — the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York, and the newly formed National Landing area of Arlington, Virginia — will each get roughly half of the 50,000 employees promised and about half of the promised investment, the company said.

While politicians from both states and cities have touted the plan as a win for their constituents, the blowback has been both quick and severe.

Much of the focus was on Amazon's deal with New York, which is projected to total over $1.5 billion in tax incentives from the city and state. There are provisions in New York's deal with Amazon that could double that.

That's much larger than the over $500 million that Alexandria, Virginia, is projected to give Amazon.

The criticism included a statement from Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who will soon represent constituents in Queens and the Bronx in the US House of Representatives.

Read more: Amazon has finally revealed where it will develop its HQ2 — here's where in Arlington and New York City it will be

"Amazon is a billion-dollar company," she tweeted around the time of the announcement. "The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here."

She wasn't the only one. New York City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and New York State Senator Michael Gianaris said in a scathing joint statement that "offering massive corporate welfare from scarce public resources to one of the wealthiest corporations in the world at a time of great need in our state is just wrong."

Both politicians represent Long Island City. A rally organized by the two mobilized in Long Island City on November 14, which drew community members in opposition. 

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also released a statement echoing Ocasio-Cortez's sentiments.

"While I'm glad that Amazon recognizes that Queens is a great place to do business, I'm concerned about the the lack of community input and the incentivizes that Amazon received in order to convince them to bring these jobs to New York," Gillibrand said in a statement on Twitter. "One of the wealthiest companies in history should not be receiving financial assistance from the taxpayers while too many New York families struggle to make ends meet."

Other voices, like editorials in the nation's largest newspapers, have also made their concerns known.

"We rarely agree with socialist Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but she's right to call billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for Amazon 'extremely concerning,'" wrote the Wall Street Journal's editorial board."These handouts to one of the richest companies in the history of the world, with an essentially zero cost of capital, is crony capitalism at its worst."

The New York Times' board wrote its own editorial calling the HQ2 deal "a bad bargain."

"Mr. Bezos has owned a home here for years," the board wrote. "He knows what our city has to offer; and as the web’s biggest retailer, he knows what he’s getting in setting up shop in Long Island City: a discount."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has defended his decision to lure Amazon to New York. In an op-ed that he self-published on Monday, he called the HQ2 deal a "historic transformative moment for the entire New York City region."

He also slammed his critics, including the Times.

"The New York Times also argues that New York was wrong. The New York Times is also being totally hypocritical," Cuomo argued. "The New York Times itself makes the same economic decisions and has also received significant tax benefits from New York State and New York City in making decisions on their locations."

The Times did include a disclaimer in its editorial that it drew benefit from New York's tax incentive programs.

The criticism over its HQ2 decision comes at a perilous time for Amazon, which has seen its reputation take numerous hits over the past several months.

Sen. Bernie Sanders frequently made an example of Amazon, pointing to high-profile news stories describing strenuous working conditions and low pay. Amazon fought back against this characterization before eventually raising its starting wage to $15.

Read more about Amazon's HQ2 project:

• Amazon officially announces its HQ2 will be split between New York and Virginia
• Amazon finally explains why it's cutting its second headquarters in half
• Amazon gained a huge perk from its HQ2 contest that's worth far more than any tax break
• Arlington, Virginia, lured in Amazon with promises of a helipad and a cash grant of up to $550 million
• We walked around Long Island City, the New York neighborhood where Amazon is planning to bring HQ2, and saw why it'd be appealing to the e-commerce giant

SEE ALSO: Trump says Amazon 'took the best deals' for HQ2

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How ketchup started as a fish sauce from Asia

• NASA's InSight lander is scheduled to land on the red planet Monday, November 26. This is the first mission to Mars since 2012.
• Once there, the lander will study Mars' temperature and check for "marsquakes."
• The landing is expected to be difficult because of the planet's thin atmosphere and potential dust storms.

NASA's InSight lander is scheduled to complete its six-month trip to the red planet on Monday afternoon to carry out the first mission to study the deep interior of Mars. 

InSight, the first spacecraft NASA has sent to Mars since the Curiosity rover landed there in 2012, will drill down about 16 feet into the planet's crust to check the red planet's temperature and insert a seismometer into Martian soil to study "marsquakes."

But before it can do any of that, the spacecraft has to land. 

It won't be easy — the atmosphere on Mars is very thin compared to Earth's, so it does not produce enough friction for a spacecraft to slow down to a safe landing speed. Only 40% of missions to Mars have survived the landing; the United States is the only country to have successfully landed anything on the red planet.

According to NASA, the InSight lander will enter the Martian atmosphere at about 12,300 mph. It will only have about six-and-a-half minutes to slow down to about 5 mph, which it will do by using a parachute and firing descent thrusters. If everything goes according to plan, the spacecraft is expected to land on a flat, stable surface at Elysium Planitia — a broad Martian plain with few rocks or boulders — at about 3 p.m. EST on Monday. 

InSight's design, including its heat shield and parachute, is very similar to that of NASA's Phoenix spacecraft, which successfully landed near Mars' north pole in 2008. However, InSight will have more mass when it enters the Martian atmosphere than Phoenix did, which makes the landing more challenging. The new spacecraft is also expected to touch down at a higher elevation than Phoenix did, which means it will have less atmosphere to rely on for slowing down. 

The InSight mission is led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. InSight, which set off from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base in May, was the first interplanetary rocket that NASA has launched from the West Coast. The lander, when it left Earth, was accompanied by two small, Mars-bound satellites that are collectively called Mars Cube One.

Read more:A tiny satellite bound for Mars just snapped a picture that makes the red planet look puny and insignificant

Once set up, InSight will stretch 20 feet long and weigh about 800 pounds. It'll be powered by two 7-foot-wide solar arrays. To measure marsquakes (which are similar to earthquakes but, of course, not on Earth), the lander has antennas that can record how much the planet shakes and wobbles. This data could help scientists determine whether Mars' core is solid or liquid. 

The lander is supposed to collect data on Mars until at least November 2020. NASA hopes to use this information to draw new comparisons between the interiors of Earth and the red planet. Eventually, the research could be used to learn more about which types of Earth-like exoplanets could support life. 

On Monday, NASA will be relying on other spacecraft and radio telescopes on Earth to monitor InSight's radio signals and determine when it reaches the red planet. The lander's design should allow it to touch down safely on Monday, even if it reaches Elysium Planitia during a dust storm — thanks to the thick heat shield that protects InSight from dust. 

Although the entire landing won't be captured on video, NASA will broadcast live commentary and updates, along with photos showing InSight's descent.

You can watch the landing commentary live on NASA's stream below, starting around 2 p.m. EST on Monday:

SEE ALSO: NASA is about to launch a new solar-powered lander to Mars — here's what the InSight will do on the red planet

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NOW WATCH: What it's like to pretend to live on Mars for 8 months

• Chief Justice John G. Roberts defended the federal judiciary and rebuked President Donald Trump in a rare statement.
• This came a day after Trump suggested a federal judge, who he called "an Obama judge," let political bias determine his decision to halt his administration's ban on granting asylum to migrants who illegally cross the border.
• "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts said.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts defended the federal judiciary in a remarkable statement just a day after President Donald Trump suggested a federal judge, who he called "an Obama judge," let political bias determine his decision to halt his administration's ban on granting asylum to migrants who illegally cross the border. 

"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts said in an unusual Wednesday statement. "What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them."

Roberts, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2003, suggested that politicizing the courts is harmful to American democracy.

"That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for," he wrote in the statement, which was made in response to a request for comment about Trump's remarks froom the Associated Press. 

Trump lashed out at the federal judge when talking with reporters on Tuesday. 

"This was an Obama judge. And I'll tell you what, it's not going to happen like this anymore," the president said. "It means an automatic loss no matter what you do. ... People should not be allowed to immediately run to this very friendly circuit and file their case."

Trump has also repeatedly singled out the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which is generally regarded as more left-leaning than other federal appeals courts, calling it a "disgrace" for blocking his immigration ban targeting Muslim countries last year. 

Other Supreme Court justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, have also recently defended the judiciary against charges that it is increasingly a political branch of government. 

"Conservative, liberal, those are political terms," Sotomayor said in a recent interview, arguing that the terms don't apply to federal judges, who rule based on their individual interpretations of the law. 

SEE ALSO: 'Another black eye': Accusations of racism swirl in contentious Mississippi Senate runoff

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NOW WATCH: Fox News' Harris Faulkner is the only black woman in cable news with a daily show: 'It's a tremendous amount of responsibility'

• President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled to the world he feels the US-Saudi relationship is so utterly indispensable that he's willing to give Riyadh a pass on the brutal killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
• Trump touted Saudi Arabia's efforts to thwart Iran, as well as US arms sales and low oil prices in his controversial, forceful defense of the kingdom. 
• Foreign policy and national security experts feel Trump has greatly embellished the extent to which the US needs Saudi Arabia as a partner.
• At the end of the day, Saudi Arabia now needs the US more than it needs the kingdom, but Trump's policy in the region does not reflect this reality whatsoever.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled to the world he feels the US-Saudi relationship is so utterly indispensable that he's willing to give Riyadh a pass on the brutal killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

The foreign policy community in the US was floored by the statement Trump released to this effect, characterizing it as antithetical to America's values and interests. Foreign policy and national security experts also feel Trump has greatly embellished the extent to which the US needs Saudi Arabia as a partner.

"The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone,"Trump said in the controversial statement."In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region."

The president in his statement also touted the purported economic benefits of the US partnership with Saudi Arabia, making inaccurate claims about US arms sales while emphasizing low oil prices. 

'We are being played'

Aaron David Miller, who helped shape US policy in the Middle East for decades while serving as an adviser to six secretaries of state, told INSIDER that Trump's statement was "astonishing."

"I worked for Republicans and Democrats through five administrations, and there has never been such a statement," Miller said, accusing Trump of "draining" US foreign policy of "any moral or ethical principles."

If put in the same position as Trump, Miller does not believe any of the administrations he advised would have done anything that "would fundamentally undermine the relationship" between Washington and Riyadh, but they would have at least signaled to the Saudis they "cannot have carte blanche to trample all over American interests and have us continue to support them."

Miller, who's now the vice president and Middle East program director at the Wilson Center, said Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed have succeeded in "bamboozling" the president. "We are being played," he said. 

Saudi Arabia is an "important security partner," Miller said, but not a true American ally as Trump said given it doesn't share US values. 

With that said, the strategic partnership between the US and Saudis that dates back to the 1940s has begun to crumble in recent years.

For decades, the US has provided security, while the Saudis have provided oil. But the US no longer needs Saudi oil, Miller said, as the shale revolution has made it virtually energy independent.

Indeed, it's the US, not Saudi Arabia, that is now the world's largest crude-oil producer. 

'Saudi Arabia needs us a lot more than we need them'

At the end of the day, Saudi Arabia now needs the US "a lot more than we need them," Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, told CNN on Tuesday in response to the president's statement.

Clark said that the Saudis "need" US protection but the US no longer needs their oil, adding that though it might be "inconvenient" in the short-run for the US government to take actions that hurt the royal family there's also important strategic value in upholding American ideals.

"If we're going to have America in the world that we want to see, we have to stand up for our values, and we have to put those values up front," Clark said. "We need to help the Saudis come in our direction. And calling it like it is on this would help them." 

'We've allowed the US-Saudi relationship to get out of control'

Miller said Trump's obstinate support for Saudi Arabia is linked to his desire to be fundamentally anti-Obama.

The president felt his predecessor undermined two historically key partnerships with his policy toward Saudi Arabia and Israel and has been "determined to show that these are our core partners in the region and we are going to build policy around them," Miller said.

It's no coincidence that Trump's first trip abroad involved visits to Riyadh and Jerusalem. In the past, presidents often traveled closer to home, visiting neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico, on their initial foreign trips.

Miller said what's required moving forward is more balance in terms of US policy in the Middle East, contending the Trump administration needs to take advantage of the leverage it has over the Saudis in the region. This would involve cooperating with Iran when it serves US interests, but standing against it when it doesn't. 

"We've allowed the US-Saudi relationship to get out of control... and Khashoggi's murder is just the most extreme manifestation of a relationship that's out of control," Miller said.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is suspected of ordering Khashoggi's killing, but Trump is standing by him

Khashoggi, a journalist and US resident who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The Saudi leadership's narrative on Khashoggi's disturbing killing has taken numerous twists and turns, shifting from outright denial to acknowledging that members of the government ended his life. 

Read more: Here's everything we know about the troubling disappearance and death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The CIA has reportedly concluded with "high confidence" that Khashoggi's killing was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the country.

Trump in his statement on Tuesday said "maybe" Prince Mohammed orchestrated the killing, but "maybe he didn't." He's subsequently been accused of once again undermining the US intelligence community.

SEE ALSO: Jamal Khashoggi was barred from writing in Saudi Arabia after he criticized Trump, then left his native country

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Elon Musk, CEO and cofounder of Tesla, said in a tweet on November 15 that Tesla has "acquired trucking capacity" to ensure that Model 3 units can be delivered by the end of 2018.
• Musk detailed that Tesla "bought some trucking companies & secured contracts with major haulers."
• However, several leaders within the auto hauling industry told Business Insider that they had not heard of any Tesla acquisitions in the industry. 

Bottlenecks in trucking have aggravated industries ranging from food to personal care to e-commerce this year.

Tesla has been hit, too. Elon Musk, CEO and cofounder of the electric carmaker, said in September that "delivery logistics hell" was delaying orders. 

However, on November 15, Musk said on Twitter that Tesla "just acquired trucking capacity" and "bought some trucking companies and secured contracts with major haulers." He didn't specify which companies were purchased or entered a contract, or how much equipment was acquired.

Now, customers have until November 30 to guarantee receipt of a Model 3 by the end of 2018, replacing the previous order-by date of October 15.

A Tesla spokesperson told Business Insider that the carmaker is focused on continually improving its delivery process, noting that its inventory levels are the lowest in the industry when measured in days of sales. 

The spokesperson said, to maintain this level, Tesla has acquired trucking businesses, purchasing or leasing additional equipment, or forming contracts with hauling companies. These moves are all confidential, according to Tesla. 

However, five executives in auto hauling trucking told Business Insider that they had not heard of Tesla purchasing a car hauler in the past few months, as Musk's tweets describe. 

"I haven’t heard any of our members being sold out or anyone else in the industry," Guy Young, general manager of the Auto Haulers Association of America, told Business Insider.

"I have never been approached and I don't know anybody who has been approached," Don Carney, CEO of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania-based Brothers Auto Transport, which was founded in 1996, told Business Insider. Carney added that he is connected with "a couple hundred carriers across the country."

Read more:One of the biggest problems facing self-driving trucks has little to do with the technology

"I haven't heard anything about Tesla and I follow as much as I can in this industry," John Shank, cofounder of Shank Bros. Auto Transport, told Business Insider.

One auto hauler, who didn't want his name or company printed, said he heard Tesla has purchased additional trucking equipment, but not a company.

Young said it's not unusual to buy additional equipment — but not an entire company. "That's generally what to do when you need to move cars," he said.

This isn't the first time Musk's statements on Twitter have confused industry insiders. Musk attracted controversy when he said on Twitter in August that he had "funding secured" to take Tesla private at $420 a share.

Following that, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Elon Musk in September for making "false and misleading statements" about Tesla, a public company. Musk settled later that month. 

SEE ALSO: Tesla just had the worst year in its history, but now it's starting to look like the best tech company in the world

DON'T MISS: Driverless technology might actually add as many jobs as it destroys, but the new roles will be 'the worst trucking jobs around'

Join the conversation about this story »

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

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• KitchenAid's iconic stand mixers are on sale for Black Friday, and these are likely the lowest prices we'll see on them all year.
• Check back at this link for more Black Friday deals to watch on a rolling basis.
• To potentially save more on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

Black Friday 2018 is almost here, and we're keeping a running log of the best deals in categories across the board so you can optimize your shopping with little effort.

You can see our full list of the best Black Friday deals we've found here, but there's some deals that have been on our minds for a while now — KitchenAid stand mixers.

While models and sizes vary, a KitchenAid stand mixer allows you to make everything from mincemeat to salsa, and whip up enough dough for more than 13 dozen cookies in no time one of —  making it one of those coveted kitchen items that home cooks dream of having on their countertop. 

Given their quality design and multitude of uses, KitchenAid stand mixers are undeniably pricey. If you, or any chef on your gift list, has been eyeing one of these devices, you're in luck. Right now, you can find plenty of great deals on KitchenAid stand mixers from retailers across the web, just in time for Black Friday. 

To make it easier for you to shop, we're going to break it down.

If you're new to the KitchenAid game, but are still interested in the product, check out this guide to get a sense of which model is right for you. If you know what you want, keep scrolling. You'll find the best deals on KitchenAid stand mixers, including tilt-head and bowl-lift models, organized by size.

We've scoured the web for the best KitchenAid stand mixer deals around — and we're pretty happy with what we've found.

3.5-Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

At the time of publication, Best Buy has the lowest price by $50.

• KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Best Buy, $199.99 (originally $329.99) [You save $130]
• KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Williams Sonoma, $249.95 (originally $430) [You save $180.05]
• KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Amazon, $249.95 (originally $399.99) [You save $150.04]
• KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Jet.com, $249.99 (originally $329.99) [You save $80]
• KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $249.99 (originally $329.99) [You save $80]

4.5-Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

At the time of publication, Walmart has the lowest price by $1.

• KitchenAid Classic Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Walmart, $189 (originally $229) [You save $70]
• KitchenAid Classic Plus Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Amazon, $189.99 (originally $321.99) [You save $132]
• KitchenAid Classic Plus Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Macy's, $189.99 (originally $324.99) [You save $135]
• KitchenAid Classic Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Best Buy, $189.99 (originally $259.99) [You save $70]
• KitchenAid Classic Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Target, $189.99 (originally $259.99) [You save $70]

5-Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

At the time of publication, Macy's and Best Buy have the lowest price by $60.

• KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Macy's, $219.99 (originally $374.99) [You save $155]
• KitchenAid Professional Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Best Buy, $219.99 (originally $499.99) [You save $280]
• KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Williams Sonoma, $279.95 (originally $500) [You save $220.05]
• KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, available at Amazon, $279.95 (originally $429.99) [You save $150.04]
• KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Glass Bowl, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $299.99 (originally $429.99) [You save $130]

6-Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

At the time of publication, Macy's has the lowest price by $50.

• KitchenAid Professional 600 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Macy's, $299.99 (originally $624.99) [You save $325]
• KitchenAid Professional 600 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Amazon, $349.95 (originally $499.99) [You save $150.04]
• KitchenAid Professional 600 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Williams Sonoma, $349.95 (originally $650) [You save $300.05]
• KitchenAid Professional 600 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $349.99 (originally $499.99) [You save $100]
• KitchenAid Professional 6500 Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Williams Sonoma, $449.95 (originally $760) [You save $310.05]

7-Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixers

At the time of publication, Amazon has the lowest price by $5.

• KitchenAid Pro Line Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Amazon, $475 (originally $779.99) [You save $304.99]
• KitchenAid Pro Line Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $479.99 (originally $599.99) [You save $120]
• KitchenAid Pro Line Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, available at Williams Sonoma, $749.95 (originally $1,300) [You save $550.05]

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the internet.

Join the conversation about this story »

• An Amazon worker has begun writing a column in The Guardian about the working conditions and corporate culture at Amazon's warehouses.
• The worker is a "fulfilment associate," and said that while management pays lipservice to staff welfare, workers are treated like "disposable parts."
• Working conditions at Amazon's fulfilment centres have increasingly come under fire following reports of staff being put under immense pressure to hit targets.
• Amazon has always insisted it provides a safe and positive workplace for workers, while a top executive said last month that warehouse horror stories are a "myth."

An anonymous Amazon worker has begun writing a column for The Guardian about the working conditions at Amazon's warehouses, or fulfilment centres.

The column, titled "Amazon Diaries," will publish every other week. In its first instalment, the writer described their first day as an Amazon fulfilment associate.

They were shown an inverted pyramid chart, which signified how important different people are to the company. They were told at the top were customers, just underneath were warehouse workers, and right at the bottom was Amazon CEO and the world's richest man, Jeff Bezos.

The anonymous worker went on to destroy this image of worker care. "After a few months at the company, it becomes clear to most of us that management doesn’t regard us a [sic] crucial contributors to its success. In reality, they treat us like disposable parts," they wrote.

The insider described various worker injuries — listing things including "blown backs" and "balky knees"— that go ignored by management, discrimination, and an "emotionally toxic culture."

It is far from the first time reports have emerged of poor working conditions at Amazon.

British journalist James Bloodworth went undercover at a fulfilment center, and told Business Insider that the atmosphere was like a "prison." He said he came across a bottle of urine because workers were under such pressure to meet targets, they would pee in bottles to save time.

Read more:The undercover author who discovered Amazon warehouse workers were peeing in bottles tells us the culture was like a "prison"

At the time, Amazon said it "provides a safe and positive workplace for thousands of people across the UK with competitive pay and benefits from day one. We are committed to treating every one of our associates with dignity and respect. We don't recognise these allegations as an accurate portrayal of activities in our buildings."

Similar reports also drew the ire of Senator Bernie Sanders, who said in August that he would call for an investigation into "unsafe working conditions" at Amazon's warehouses. This was before Sanders helped convince Bezos to raise Amazon's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

A top Amazon executive subsequently refuted horror stories about working conditions at Amazon, calling them "myths."

Business Insider contacted Amazon for comment.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's decision to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour means Bernie Sanders' strategy worked brilliantly

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Blade, an aviation startup that offers on-demand private flights on helicopters and seaplanes, is providing its employees with an unusual perk: electric scooters for all.
• Blade says it's providing employees with electric scooters to save them money on transportation and ease commutes to their office.
• The office already has a helipad, but em
• Scooters will be dockless and available for employees to check out for 24 hours at a time.

Employees of Blade, an on-demand helicopter ride startup, may not be able to fly to work like some of its posh clientele, but at least they'll be able to commute in style thanks to the company's latest work perk: electric scooters.

The Manhattan-based Blade will soon provide electric scooters to its 25-full time employees, chief financial officer Sean Grennan told Business Insider in an email. The "scooter-sharing pilot program" is meant to ease the back-and-forth commute to work for employees and save money on transportation costs, Grennan said.

Under the Blade pilot program, electric scooters can be checked out for up to 24 hours from the company's helipad-equipped headquarters, which is located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Like many electric scooter startups run by Lime, Bird and Spin, the Blade scooters will be dockless, meaning that they can be left anywhere — an app will tell the users, in this case Blade employees, where the closest available scooter can be found. 

Grennan says that the scooters, pictured below, are being provided by "various manufacturers," giving Blade the opportunity to test out their models.

The company notes that the scooters would help "a number of Brooklyn based employees" impacted by next year's shutdown of the L subway line, a popular route for connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Even as transportation startups are entering the scooter ride-share industry, Blade doesn't have any intention of expanding beyond helicopters and into the fast-growing scooter sector, Greenan said.

Blade, a startup founded in 2015, offers on-demand private flights on helicopters, seaplanes, and jets. Through its app, customers can book seats on daily scheduled flights, or charter their own on-demand flights. 

Read more:'Uber-for-helicopters' startup Blade just raised $38 million — here's what it's like to fly to the Hamptons

The company initially offered flights only between Manhattan and nearby destination spots, like the Hamptons, Nantucket, Westchester, and the Jersey Shore. Blade has since then expanded its offerings to five-minute Blade Bounce helicopter flights to New York area airports, commercial-sized aircraft flights to Miami, and jet planes to Vermont ski resorts.

Blade started off with its one helipad located at its office headquarters, but now has four private helipads (as well as customer lounges for pre-takeoff imbibing) located around the city. Take a look:

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NOW WATCH: A cybersecurity expert showed us how hackers can tap into an office phone and listen to everything you're saying

• LeBron James and his business partner Maverick Carter formed SpringHill Entertainment years ago to get involved in show business.
• James' move to Los Angeles has seemingly helped SpringHill Entertainment, which has taken on several projects in recent months.
• Below is a list of James' current projects, from documentaries to scripted comedy series.

LeBron James has been involved in Hollywood for some time, and though he says his move to the Los Angeles Lakers wasn't about the entertainment business, it didn't hurt.

James and his business partner Maverick Carter founded SpringHill Entertainment together and have already produced several projects, from "The Wall" to "Survivor's Remorse" to "Cleveland Hustles."

Now that James is in LA, though, the production company has taken off, with James producing and co-producing several documentaries, docu-series, and scripted series, from dramas to comedies. He's even had some time to be involved in the filmmaking.

Here are all of the projects James is and has been working on, according to IMDB and SpringHill Entertainment's website.

1. "Space Jam 2"

Release date: Unclear; filming begins in 2019

What to know: The long-awaited sequel to Michael Jordan's 1996 hit is finally here, with LeBron starring in the movie. James' business partner Maverick Carter has said it won't be a sequel to the first film.

2. "The Shop"

Release date: On air now

What to know: James and company brought "The Shop" over from Uninterrupted to HBO this year, with two episodes airing this fall. Set in a barbershop, James, other athletes, musicians, and celebrities discuss sports, politics, race, and more.

3. "Shut Up and Dribble"

Release date: Out now

What to know: The three-part documentary, directed by Gotham Chopra ("Tom vs. Time") came out on Showtime in October and has received praise for its examination of the effect of the NBA on race relations and politics.

• An outbreak of chicken pox has sickened at least 36 children who attend a private school in North Carolina's Buncombe county. 
• Last year, the school's kindergarten class had a high rate of religious exemptions from vaccines, county medical director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore told CNN. 
• Chicken pox is a very contagious illness, but two doses of the chicken pox vaccine are 90% effective at preventing it. 

At least 36 children who attend a North Carolina private school have developed chicken pox in an outbreak that appears to be linked with religious exemptions for vaccines, CNN reported Tuesday. 

All affected children are students at Asheville Waldorf School, according to a statement from the Health and Human Services Department of Buncombe County, where the school is located. 

North Carolina law requires all students to get certain vaccinations, including the one for chicken pox, before they start school. But the state also allows for medical and religious exemptions from the required shots. 

Buncombe County medical director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore told CNN that, last year, a kindergarten class at Asheville Waldorf School had the highest percentage of religious exemptions in the county and one of the highest in the state. (Data from the 2018–2019 school year have not yet been gathered, she added.)

Mullendore told CNN that the outbreak "demonstrates what happens when we have a population that is not immunized, that has not gotten the vaccine. It offers an opportunity for the infection to get into that community and spread easily."

And it's possible the outbreak may worsen. 

"The size of this outbreak and the fact that this school continues to have a large number of unvaccinated students makes it very likely there will be continued spread of chickenpox within the school," Mullendore told the New York Times. 

On Wednesday, the school was closed for Thanksgiving and not able to provide a comment. 

Chicken pox is "very contagious" and can cause serious complications

Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Its symptoms include an itchy, blister-like rash, fever, and tiredness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes it as "very contagious." The disease spreads primarily through touching or breathing in virus particles that come from chicken pox blisters. 

Though complications are not common in healthy people who get chicken pox, they can happen. 

Read more: More than half of parents in the US think the flu shots cause the flu — here's why that's wrong

Some possible complications include bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, infection or inflammation of the brain, blood stream infections, bleeding problems, and dehydration, according to the CDC. In certain cases, chickenpox may cause death.

"It is important to understand that even healthy children and adults may develop serious complications from varicella," Dr. Mullendore told the New York Times.

Infants, teenagers, adults, pregnant women, and people whose immune systems are compromised by illness or medication may be at higher risk for these serious issues, the CDC website said.

The vaccine against chicken pox is effective

Two doses of the chicken pox vaccine are about 90% effective at preventing the disease, according to the CDC. If a vaccinated person does get the disease, it's usually milder with fewer blisters and minimal fever.

Getting vaccinated also helps protect others who may be at higher risk for chicken pox and its possible complications, including those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.

"We want to be clear: vaccination is the best protection from chickenpox," Mullendore said in the Buncombe County statement. "When we see high numbers of unimmunized children and adults, we know that an illness like chickenpox can spread easily throughout the community — into our playgrounds, grocery stores, and sports teams."

The CDC recommends the chicken pox vaccine for kids, adolescents, and adults. Children should get two doses of the vaccine, according to the CDC: The first at 12 to 15 months old and the second at 4 to 6 years old. 

There have been other concerning outbreaks of vaccine-preventable measles

While this cluster of chicken pox cases is limited in scope, a number of recent outbreaks of measles — a disease that's also preventable with a vaccine — show how illnesses can spread in communities with low vaccination rates.  

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but outbreaks have continued since then.

In November, 17 children in New York City came down with measles. City health officials said the virus spread in schools with unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children. Last year, 75 people came down with measles in a Minnesota Somali-American community with "poor vaccination coverage," according to the CDC. And in 2014, the US saw 23 measles outbreaks, including one that sickened 383 people primairly in unvaccinated Amish communities. 

Currently, the US has very low rates of vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the CDC. But there's some research to suggest more parents are opting not to vaccinate their children as the anti-vaccine movement continues. A study published earlier this year in the journal PLOS One found that, since 2009, there has been an increase in kindergarteners with non-medical vaccine exemptions in 12 of the 18 US states that allow these exemptions. 

"As larger unvaccinated populations grow ... the potential for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks grows," the authors of the PLOS One Study said in a statement. 

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NOW WATCH: This is why you have to get a new flu shot every year

• Many stores have already launched their video game sales for Black Friday and the holiday season.
• Sony's main offerings are a discounted PlayStation 4 bundle with "Marvel's Spider-Man," and a big price drop on PlayStation VR headset bundles.
• Plenty of PlayStation 4 games will be on sale during the weekend too, including PS4 exclusive titles like "God of War" and "Horizon: Zero Dawn."

With Black Friday just a few days away, early video game sales have begun.

Sony recently announced that the PlayStation 4 has sold 86 million units worldwide, making it the most popular video game console on the market. That number will certainly grow during this year's holiday sales with a special bundle dropping the PlayStation 4 to its lowest price ever and steep discounts on the console's virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR.

Here are the lowest prices for PlayStation consoles and games this holiday season:

SEE ALSO: Here are all the best deals for Xbox One consoles and games this holiday season

SEE ALSO: There's only one really good deal on the Nintendo Switch this holiday shopping season

This $200 PlayStation 4 bundle is the cheapest the system has ever been.

This $200 PlayStation 4 bundle with "Marvel's Spider-Man" will be one of the most sought after video game gifts this holiday season. Sony is offering the redesigned slim model with the year's most popular PS4 exclusive. "Marvel's Spider-Man" broke sales records with a massive launch in September; the game is a open-world adventure for gamers of all ages.

PlayStation VR bundles are $100 cheaper for the holidays.

The PlayStation VR is one of the most well-received virtual reality headsets, and it's reached its lowest price point so far. There are a few PSVR bundles out there offering different games, but I'd recommend the "Astrobot: Rescue Mission" and Moss" bundle pictured above. Both games came out this year and offer a wonderfully immersive VR experience.

If you're willing to pay a bit more, the "Creed: Rise to Glory" and "SUPERHOT VR" bundle comes with two PlayStation Move controllers, a slightly better value for the price. "SUPERHOT VR" is also one of the most exciting VR games I've played, making full use of the motion controls and VR headset.

Keep in mind that the headset must be hooked up to a PlayStation 4 to work, and games with motion controls may require the PlayStation Move controllers, which are not included in every bundle. Here are the available PlayStation VR bundles:

• PlayStation VR ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission and Moss Bundle - $199 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg
• PlayStation VR "Creed: Rise to Glory" and "SUPERHOT VR" Bundle (Comes with 2 PlayStation Move Controllers) - $249 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg
• PlayStation VR "Doom VFR" Bundle - $199 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg
  
• PlayStation VR "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR" Bundle (Comes with 2 PlayStation Move Controllers) - $249.99 at GameStop and Target (only available in stores).

You'll find deals on PlayStation games new and old in stores and online.

Hundreds of PlayStation games will be on sale for Black Friday and throughout the holiday season, including new games released during the last few months.

Here are more than 20 discounted games to look out for, at the cheapest prices we could find (Keep in mind that most major stores will have sales on the same games, even if the prices are a few dollars apart):

• "Assassin’s Creed Odyssey"— $27 at GameStop
• "Call of Duty Black Ops 4"— $38 at GameStop
• "Dragon Ball FighterZ"— $17 at Walmart
• "Fallout 76"— $39.99 at GameStop
• "Far Cry 5"— $19.99 at Best Buy
• "Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
• "God of War"— $17 at GameStop
• "Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
• Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition"— $9.99 at GameStop
• "Injustice 2: Legendary Edition"— $19.99 at GameStop and Best Buy
• "Marvel's Spider-Man"— $39.59 in the PlayStation Store
• "Madden 19"— $27 at GameStop
• "Middle Earth: Shadow of War"— $9.99 at GameStop
• "Monster Hunter: World"— $17 at Walmart
• "NBA 2K19"— $29.99 at Best Buy, Walmart, and Target
• "No Man's Sky —$24.99 at Best Buy
• "Onrush"— $19.99 at Best Buy
• "Overwatch: Origins Edition"— $15 at Target
• "Persona 5"— $19.99 in the PlayStation Store
• "Red Dead Redemption II"— $59.99 with $10 gift card at GameStop
• "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition"— $17 at Walmart
• "Shadow of the Tomb Raider"— $27 at GameStop
• "Soulcalibur VI"— $35 at Walmart and Target
• "Star Wars Battlefront II"— $7.99 at Best Buy
• "Starlink: Battle for Atlas — $34.99 at Best Buy
• "Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
• "We Happy Few"— $35 at Walmart and Target
• "WWE 2K19"— $27 at GameStop

If you're interested in getting digital copies of your games, Sony is also offering a bunch more sales in the PlayStation Store.

• The special counsel Robert Mueller focused on two key areas in his questions to President Donald Trump about potential Russian collusion.
• Mueller asked Trump about the Russian government's hack of the Democratic National Committee and whether he knew anything about it at the time.
• Mueller also asked the president whether he knew at the time about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between top campaign officials and two Russian lobbyists offering dirt on then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
• The questions indicate Mueller is homing in on the pivotal time period between June and August 2016.

The special counsel Robert Mueller focused on two specific areas in his questions to President Donald Trump about potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to Trump's lead defense lawyer.

Rudy Giuliani told Axios on Wednesday that Mueller asked about the Russian government's hack of the Democratic National Committee and then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign during the summer of 2016. He also reportedly asked the president whether he knew at the time about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between his son, Donald Trump Jr., and two Russian lobbyists offering kompromat on the Clinton campaign.

Giuliani did not elaborate when asked about what specific questions the special counsel asked Trump, and he did not immediately respond to a request for comment from INSIDER. But his revelations indicate Mueller is homing in, specifically, on the period between June and August 2016, which was arguably the most pivotal time in the 2016 campaign season.

Mueller has long been focused on the Russian-backed campaign to hack into the DNC and distribute stolen emails via the Russia-linked hacker Guccifer 2.0 and the radical pro-transparency group WikiLeaks.

Trump has had no known contacts with WikiLeaks or Russians connected to the hack. But as a candidate, he expressed support for the group. He also famously made a public appeal directly to Russia during a July 27, 2016 press conference, saying he hoped they would be "able to find" the 33,000 emails Clinton deleted from her private server.

Meanwhile, Trump Jr. and the longtime GOP strategist Roger Stone, who was an informal adviser to the Trump campaign, were in direct contact with WikiLeaks during the election.

Both Trump Jr. and Stone have reportedly worried in recent days that they will soon be indicted by Mueller.

Trump Jr. arguably faces the most legal exposure from his involvement in the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, which he attended with then campaign manager Paul Manafort and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction earlier this year and is cooperating with Mueller.

When news of the meeting first surfaced last year, Trump Jr. said it was focused on the issue of "Russian adoptions"— which is related to the 2012 Magnitsky Act — and did not involve campaign business.

Later, it emerged that Trump Jr. took the meeting after he was offered dirt on Clinton, and that the meeting was pitched to him as "part of Russia and its government's support" for Trump's candidacy.

"I love it," Trump Jr. replied when he first got the offer from the British music publicist Rob Goldstone.

Trump and his lawyers have said the president had no knowledge of the meeting at the time.

But at least three Trump associates, including Giuliani, have hinted that he may know more than he's letting on about the meeting.

And in May, the Senate Judiciary Committee released testimony from Trump Jr. and Goldstone that raised additional questions about whether, and how much, Trump knew about the meeting in advance.

In particular, observers have pointed to a series of phone calls Trump Jr. made and received on June 6, after he got the offer.

Before taking the meeting, Trump Jr. told Goldstone he wanted to make sure it was legitimate and "just speak to Emin [Agalarov] first," referring to the Russian pop star with whom Goldstone worked and pitched the meeting on behalf of.

After talking to Goldstone, Trump Jr. got a phone call from Russia that lasted a minute or two. Then, he was in contact with a blocked number for three or four minutes. Immediately after ending that call, Trump Jr. called Agalarov back and the two spoke for a few minutes.

It's unclear who Trump Jr. spoke to in between his calls to Agalarov. But former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said Trump's private residence at Trump Tower has a blocked number.

In addition to questions about whether he knew about the meeting itself, Trump is also under scrutiny for his role in "dictating" an initially misleading statement Trump Jr. put out when news of the meeting first emerged last July. Prosecutors have said that if Trump knew the true purpose of the meeting and acted to conceal it, it could add to Mueller's growing obstruction case against him.

Trump's lawyers sent back their answers to Mueller's first round of questions on Tuesday.

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NOW WATCH: Fox News' Harris Faulkner is the only black woman in cable news with a daily show: 'It's a tremendous amount of responsibility'

• Thanksgiving is a day for family, mediocre NFL games, voracious caloric consumption, and quite often,  political arguments that quickly devolve into fruitless acrimony. 
• The internet is filled with advice takes on how to politically engage your adversarial relatives at dinner. 
• The advice runs the gamut from meditation and deference to call-outs and conflict escalation.

Thanksgiving is a day for family, mediocre NFL games, voracious caloric consumption, and quite often — political arguments that quickly devolve into fruitless acrimony. 

In what has become a pre-Thanksgiving tradition, the interwebs are awash with advice on how to politically engage your adversarial relatives at dinner. 

ABC News correspondent Dan Harris recommends in Men's Health meditation before entering the Turkey Day family maelstrom, followed by a three-step process:

1. "Don't try to change minds. ... Instead, go in with the goal of simply trying to understand where people are coming from."
2. "Make 'I' statements rather than truth statements. ... For example, a Democrat might have better luck saying to a Trump supporter, 'I'm worried that President Trump may be violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution' rather than 'The president is irredeemably corrupt, and you're a horrible person for supporting him.'"
3. "Don't characterize the other side's opinion; just characterize your own. ... For instance, a pro-Trumper would be advised to say, 'I'm worried about higher taxes damaging the economy' rather than 'You Democrats just want to feed at the trough of a bloated welfare state.'"

Writing in The New York Times, Lisa Lerer also dispenses some peacekeeping advice. 

1. "Don't mention President Trump," Lerer advises, citing a SurveyMonkey poll showing "37% of respondents saying mention of the president was most likely to start an argument"— regardless of the respondents' political party.
2. "Focus on the food."
3. "Lay down the law," by declaring some topics off-limits and "starting the night with a toast to civility."
4. "Forget about winning."

Read more: How liberals and conservatives do Thanksgiving dinner differently

But not all Thanksgiving survival advice is conciliatory. Also in The New York Times, Karen Tamerius introduces an interactive bot representing your dreaded "angry uncle," and a game plan on how to convince him that you are right and he is wrong — but only if he's conservative. If he's liberal, you should defer to his wisdom.

Amy McCarthy writes in Eater.com that "you have an obligation to push back against harmful rhetoric simply because others do not," which in McCarthy's view includes calling out problematic relatives not just for odious racism and homophobia, but also controversial yet mainstream political positions such as support for the Second Amendment. 

Clearly no one-size-fits-all advice will be practicable for every family, but if you're someone who would rather avoid the strum und drung of maximalist political warfare among "loved ones" assembled for a mere few hours, Conor Friedersdorf at The Atlantic offers a tongue-in-cheek 13-step guide to handling every political issue likely to cause resentment among any faction of the family. Point six is the one I'm most inclined to abide by this Thanksgiving:

"Every family has a patriotic duty to debate the most important unsettled political question of our era: Is President Donald Trump a sexually predatory Nazi who praises murderous tyrants while normalizing a Margaret Atwood dystopia? Or is he a latter-day Midas who beds porn stars only with their consent … with the same manly hands he used to romance North Korea’s leader out of his nukes? At my house, each faction will nominate a champion to argue its position, those of us who remembered to bring IDs will vote on who won, and absent unanimity, we’ll settle the matter by combat."

SEE ALSO: How liberals and conservatives do Thanksgiving dinner differently

SEE ALSO: More people are going to be shopping on their phones under the Thanksgiving dinner table this year

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NOW WATCH: Trump once won a lawsuit against the NFL — but the result was an embarrassment

• The Trump administration has placed import taxes on hundred of billions worth of products so far.
• Meanwhile, some key measures of American business conditions have weakened.
• As tariffs raise costs and create uncertainty, economists say conditions could worsen.

As President Donald Trump maintains a flurry of protectionist policies, key gauges of American business conditions are cooling off.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for long-lasting goods fell 4.4% in October, the largest month-to-month drop in more than a year. The measure excluding military and aircraft equipment was mostly flat, compared with economists' expectations for a modest gain. 

The deceleration is at least partially due to rising protectionism and the uncertainty surrounding it, economists say. Trump has clashed with several countries on trade, including China and other big business partners. His administration has placed import taxes on $300 billion worth of products so far, prompting retaliatory measures from major economies.

"Ignore the headline; the real story is that tariffs are hurting the core," said Ian Sheperdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. "In short, the administration is playing with fire, and we’re beginning to detect the smell of burning in the air."

The duties have rearranged global business relationships, with importers and exporters scrambling to minimize any negative effects of 10-25% tax increases. Trade tensions can also make it difficult for companies to forecast costs and demand, thus delaying investment decisions.

Trump, however, asserts tariffs will ultimately help defend the US against trade practices perceived as unfair. Reducing the trade deficit has been one of his signature promises since the campaign trail.

Moody's economist Ryan Sweet noted trade isn't the only reason for the recent slump in core capital durable goods orders. The measure could also be correcting after a run of strong results.

"Core capital goods orders were on a strong run over the past couple of years, therefore it was only a matter of time before they softened some," he said.

Still, an Institute of Supply Management survey out earlier this month suggested October's sharp slowdown in manufacturing activity was largely thanks to tariffs, as companies cited rising costs and shipment delays.

"We doubt the ISM survey will weaken much further in the short-term, but we can’t be sure, and any further intensification of the trade war would be potentially disastrous," Sheperdson said in an email.

SEE ALSO: The farm-equipment maker Deere slumps after missing on earnings and signaling slower sales growth amid the trade war with China (DE)

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NOW WATCH: A sleep expert explains what happens to your body and brain if you don't get enough sleep

Cracking an egg is a pretty simple concept, but it's not always trouble-free. However, there are some ways you can crack an egg while reducing the chances of getting eggshells in your food.

Here are five hacks for perfectly cracking an egg.

Crack the egg against a flat surface to give you more control over the break.

When you whack an egg against a ridged surface (like the edge of a bowl, for instance), you'll break both the shell and the protective membrane separating the shell and the yolk, which could make it easy for shards of the shell to make it into your bowl.

But, by holding your egg in one hand and tapping it on a flat surface (like a cutting board or a countertop) until you see one vertical crack and an indentation in the shell, you'll be able to use your fingers to gently separate the two halves of the shell and pour the whites and yolks into a bowl.

If you do want to crack your egg on the rim of a bowl, make sure you're making contact with the egg's center.

Cracking an egg on the rim of your bowl isn't ideal for achieving a mess-free egg split, but sometimes it's your most convenient surface option.

In this situation, Food Republic said it's helpful to crack your egg as close to its center as possible. That way, you can use your fingers to create a neat split and separate the two halves with as little shell debris as possible.

For a perfect combination of speed and precision, try the one-handed crack.

A technique popular among professional chefs, the one-handed crack is an excellent technique when you need to crack several eggs quickly. 

According to Serious Eats, this technique involves using your dominant hand's pinky and ring fingers to grip the bottom of the egg.  Then, use your thumb, pointer, and middle fingers to pry off the top. Serious Eats also has helpful visuals of this method.

• Mall owner CBL Properties is closing all of its locations for Thanksgiving, the company announced in October.
• It owns 66 malls around the country and operates 62.
• CBL joins stores like TJ Maxx, Nordstrom, and Costco taking a stand against Black Friday creep.

CBL Properties is taking a stand against Black Friday creep.

For the third year in a row, the company, which operates 62 malls across the country, will close all of its locations for the entirety of Thanksgiving Day, according to a press release it issued in October.

"The support that we've received over the last two years from our customers and retailers has been overwhelming," Stephen Lebovitz, CEO of CBL Properties, said in a statement. "It is based on this feedback that we made the decision to close yet again this year."

Read more:Amazon is starting Black Friday a week early

Retailers that have an exterior entrance in malls will be allowed to open early, however, even if the mall itself is closed until 6 a.m. on Black Friday.

The move is in response to "Black Friday creep," which sees retailers opening earlier and earlier every year on Thanksgiving to capture crowds for "doorbuster" sales. Some retailers, like TJ Maxx, Nordstrom, and Costco, have announced that they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Here's the full list of CBL malls that will be closed:

• Parkway Place in Huntsville, Alabama
• Park Plaza in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro, California
• Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach, Florida
• Arbor Place in Douglasville, Georgia
• CherryVale Mall in Rockford, Illinois
• Eastland Mall in Bloomington,Illinois
• Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, Illinois
• St Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois
• Honey Creek Mall in Terre Haute, Indiana
• Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas
• Fayette Mall in Lexington, Kentucky
• Jefferson Mall in Louisville, Kentucky
• Ambassador Town Center in Lafayette, Louisiana
• Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, Louisiana
• Harford Mall in Bel Air, Maryland
• Laurel Park Place in Livonia, Michigan
• Meridian Mall in Okemos, Michigan
• Burnsville Center in Burnsville, Minnesota
• Southaven Towne Center in Southaven, Mississippi
• Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
• Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, Missouri
• Northpark Mall in Joplin, Missouri
• South County Center in St. Louis, Missouri
• West County Center in St. Louis, Missouri
• Alamance Crossing in Burlington, North Carolina
• Asheville Mall in Asheville, North Carolina
• Cary Towne Center in Cary, North Carolina
• Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Friendly Center in Greensboro, North Carolina
• Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Mayfaire Town Center in Wilmington, North Carolina
• Triangle Town Center in Raleigh, North Carolina
• Dakota Square Mall in Minot, North Dakota
• Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck, North Dakota
• EastGate Mall in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania
• Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
• Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• York Galleria in York, Pennsylvania
• Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Northwoods Mall in North Charleston, South Carolina
• WestGate Mall in Spartanburg, South Carolina
• CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin, Tennessee  
• Hamilton Place in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Northgate Mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tennessee
• Shoppes at Eagle Point in Cookeville, Tennessee
• Mall del Norte in Laredo, Texas
• Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, Texas
• Pearland Town Center in Pearland, Texas
• Post Oak Mall in College Station, Texas
• Richland Mall in Waco, Texas
• Sunrise Mall in Brownsville, Texas
• Layton Hills Mall in Layton, Utah
• Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Virginia
• Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights, Virginia
• Valley View Mall in Roanoke, Virginia
• Brookfield Square in Brookfield, Wisconsin
• East Towne Mall in Madison, Wisconsin
• West Towne Mall in Madison, Wisconsin
• Frontier Mall in Cheyenne, Wyoming

SEE ALSO: Best Buy will kick off Black Friday early and open again on Thanksgiving

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NOW WATCH: How Alibaba turned a fake holiday into a $25 billion shopping extravaganza that's bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Fintech hubs — cities where startups, talent, and funding congregate — are proliferating globally in tandem with ongoing disruption in financial services. 

These hubs are all vying to become established fintech centers in their own right, and want to contribute to the broader financial services ecosystem of the future. Their success depends on a variety of factors, including access to funding and talent, as well as the approach of relevant regulators.

This report compiles various fintech snapshots, which together highlight the global spread of fintech, and show where governments and regulatory bodies are shaping the development of national fintech industries. Each provides an overview of the fintech industry in a particular country or state in Asia or Europe, and details what is contributing to, or hindering its further development. We also include notable fintechs in each geography, and discuss what the opportunities or challenges are for that particular domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Most countries in Europe have made some formal attempt to foster the development of domestic fintech industries, with Germany and Ireland seeing the best results so far. France, meanwhile, got off to a slow start, but that's starting to change. 
• The Asian fintech scene took off later than in the US or Europe, but it's seen rapid growth lately, particularly in India, China, and Singapore.
• The increasing importance of technology-enabled products and services within the financial services ecosystem means the global fintech industry isn't going anywhere. 
• Fintech hubs will continue to proliferate, with leaders emerging in each region.
• The future fintech landscape will be molded by regulatory bodies — national and international — as they seek to mitigate the risks, and leverage the opportunities, presented by fintech. 

 In full, the report:

• Explores the fintech industry in six countries or states, and identifies individual fintech hubs.
• Highlights successful fintechs in each region.
• Outlines the challenges and opportunities each country or state faces. 
• Gives insight into the future of the global fintech industry. 

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• Utqiaġvik, Alaska, had its last sunrise on Sunday, November 18.  
• Previously known as Barrow, this northern Alaskan city won’t see the sun again for 65 days.
• Utqiaġvik has about 4,400 residents who are used to the polar night.  

Utqiaġvik, the northernmost city in the US, had its last sunrise on Sunday, November 18.

Previously known as Barrow, this Alaskan city won’t see the sun again for 65 days. The next sunrise will appear on January 23.

Utqiaġvik experiences polar night, which is a period of darkness in the winter with no sunrises that occurs in cities inside the polar circles.  

According to Weather.com, "From mid-November through late January, the sun doesn't rise north of the Arctic Circle due to the tilt of the Earth away from the sun's most direct radiation."

Located 330 miles above the Arctic Circle, Utqiaġvik won’t be plunged into complete darkness for the next two months. Instead, it will experience "civil twilight," which happens when the sun is six degrees below the horizon and creates a little illumination to see things outside. Civil twilight lasts for six hours per night, but it will decrease to three hours per night by the end of December.  

Utqiaġvik’s 4,400 residents are used to the polar night. The city is home to a large population of indigenous Iñupiaq people, and also houses several research stations. 

After 65 days without sunlight this winter, residents can look forward to 80 days without a sunset starting in May.

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• Though Black Friday became one of the biggest and busiest shopping days of the year, it hasn't always been that way.
• Before it exploded into the national, post-Thanksgiving event we know today, it was reportedly a quirky tradition unique to Philadelphians.
• And now, the holiday is experiencing more changes.
• Here's the evolution of Black Friday, from its 19th-century namesake to the shopping phenomenon it is today.

Black Friday has long been associated with turkey dinner and bargain-priced holiday shopping.

It's turned into one of the most profitable days for retailers, who raked in $8 billion from Black Friday and Thanksgiving sales in 2017.

But it wasn't always that way.

Here's how Black Friday has evolved over the last two centuries.

SEE ALSO: Photos show what 'Black Friday' looks like around the world

DON'T MISS: 11 insider facts most Black Friday workers know — and you probably don't

The day after Thanksgiving has long marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season, starting with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.

Source: Business Insider

The behemoth retailer used the event as a living and breathing advertisement ahead of the holiday season.

Source: Business Insider

It helped cement the Friday after Thanksgiving as the ultimate holiday shopping day.

Source: INSIDER