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I stayed at a tiny house resort in the Catskills for three days, and it was the perfect getaway for burned-out NYC millennials who need to recharge

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the little bear tiny house

When I think luxury, I don't usually think of 300-square foot dwellings in the woods, but one luxury tiny house resort proved me wrong.

That would be Think Big! A Tiny House Resort, located in the Catskills in upstate New York, about a two-hour drive north of Manhattan.

The name comes from the "Think Big!" retail store of oversized pop art that owner Bob Malkin used to run in Soho, New York City. When his granddaughter, Melissa Juszczak, age 29, asked him to finance a tiny house for her, he sold "Think Big!" and opened the tiny house resort in 2017. Today, Melissa and her mother, Marjorie (who goes by Margie) run the resort. They both live on site.

The question this resort, and others like it, may raise is: How is this any different from a cabin? Admittedly, tiny houses and cabins alike are small, often rustic houses, but a cabin can be any size the owner desires and is built on a foundation. Tiny houses are usually built on wheels so they can be moved around and typically are a mere 100 to 400 square feet.

During my time at the resort, Melissa and Margie told me that the tiny house resort attracts a lot of millennials who want to escape the bustle of New York City and turn off the stress. I left feeling like I had done just that.

Here's why it was the perfect getaway for the city millennial looking to recharge.

SEE ALSO: Here's what living in a tiny house is really like, according to people who traded their homes for minimalism

DON'T MISS: An architect who built his dream tiny home in Colorado shares 30 photos that go behind the scenes of designing a tiny house

Think Big! A Tiny House Resort is located in South Cairo, New York, about two hours north of Manhattan.

South Cairo is technically a hamlet in Hudson Valley. On my drive through it, I spotted a gas station and a tanning salon.



Just north of South Cairo is Cairo. Like many towns in the Catskills, Cairo is small — but its Main Street was especially desolate compared to the other towns I visited.

Despite its quiet appearance, Margie told me that it's slowly seeing a revival. I spotted a gas station and a big grocery store.

I also visited the towns of Catskill and Hudson, which are about 20 minutes from the resort. Like Cairo, each town had a Main Street. Notably, though, both had more life to them. 

 



But it didn't matter, because I really had no desire or need to leave the resort once I arrived. As you'll soon see, everything I needed was right at my fingertips.

The resort attracts all kinds of visitors. Margie told me that they'll typically get couples and 20- and 30-something friend groups visiting during fall, winter, and spring, while older generations and families like to visit during the summer

It's also been discovered by some Instagram influencers. Margie told me that influencers helped expand their reach.

About 60% of the resort's visitors come from New York City and Long Island and 20 to 30% of visitors are from New Jersey, according to Margie.



I arrived on a perfect fall Sunday afternoon. After checking in at the front office, I was immediately whisked away via golf cart to my tiny house, The Little Bear.

It was about a 30-second golf cart ride, but I loved every second of it.

I stayed Sunday through Monday. Rates range from $250 to $350 a night depending on the season and the time of week. If you want to sleep more than two guests per home, there is an extra charge of $25 to $45 per person. There's also an $85 cleaning fee — which is all to say, it's not exactly a cheap experience.

My total, for a 2-night stay, came out to $685, or $300 a night.

The Catskills are a place where it's best to get around by car, as the towns are all connected via highway. While the downtown — or Main Street — areas of the towns are walkable, getting there is more difficult. Rideshares do exist in the Catskills, but they may take as long as 20 minutes to show up, so you have to order one in advance.

Most guests arrive at the resort via car and park in their tiny house driveway, Margie told me.

I, however, live in Manhattan and do not have a car, so my trip consisted of a train ride from NYC's Grand Central Station to the Hudson station ($55 one-way), and an Uber from the station to the resort. 



It didn't take long for me to explore the 269 square feet of living space inside my tiny house.

Tiny houses are typically 100 to 400 square feet. When I booked, there were three tiny houses left for the dates of my visit, ranging from 175 square feet to 360 square feet. I chose The Little Bear since its square footage was in the middle of the range.

Inside was a bathroom, full working kitchen, amazing panoramic windows, and three beds (I took this photo from one of the lofted beds) — it sleeps six, but I was a party of one.



The Little Bear also has its own fire pit outside. Throughout the resort, there are a few outposts where you can buy wood and fire-starters for the fire pits.

The resort operates off of an honesty policy: Guests take whatever fire supplies they need and either Venmo the money or leave it in a cash bucket.

I didn't use the fire pit because I've never started a fire before, and I was too scared to do it the first time by myself. There's no way around it: My survival skills are severely lacking.



There are eight tiny houses on the property in total.

Margie and Melissa work with a designer and builder to design the tiny houses themselves. They originally opened the resort with four tiny houses and were only going to be open seasonally — but people who ski in the Catskills wanted them to be open during the winter.

So, they had the infrastructure of the tiny houses fully winterized and they expanded to eight homes. Each unit has a minimum of two heat sources, and they're currently adding radiant heated flooring to the smaller units.



Even though the place was nearly fully booked that Sunday, it seemed pretty empty as I walked around. I saw people here and there but felt like I was the only guest.

Margie told me that the resort is technically zoned to a campground. "Campgrounds are stacked, but this isn't," she said.

They could technically have 50 tiny houses in the same spots where there are four, but they left open space to focus on the views and privacy — the point is to not see your neighbor, Melissa added.



A series of pathways, gravel roads, and trails form a big loop around the property.

Hand-painted arrow signs were posted at every key area so guests can't get lost.

 

 



The Little Bear looks out toward Catskill Creek, which runs along the back of the property. I was eager to get a lay of the land and set off to explore after checking out my tiny house.

The trail winds along Catskill Creek, and there are plenty of stopping points to enjoy the views. It's not a long trail, but it took me a while to explore — I kept pausing to take photos of the scenery and changing leaves.

I'm from Florida and still new to the concept of seasons, so I navigated the trail like a tourist visiting NYC for the first time.



I took a strong liking to the creekside hammock. To my left were views of the woods and to my right were views of the water.

My whole trail adventure was quiet. I only passed one pair of guests while exploring. I felt very zen with nature.



But you can do more than enjoy waterfront views — you can also experience the creek itself. The resort provides free kayaks to take out on the water.

I stayed away from the water sports because it was pretty chilly, but if I had visited during the summer, I definitely would have taken advantage of them.



If water sports aren't your speed, the resort has some luxury wellness offerings — like a cedar soaking tub and a wellness tent, where you can get a massage.

The most popular offering is a 60-minute massage, plus an hour-long private soak in the outdoor soaking tub. It'll run you $160 per person, which seemed a bit steep for my budget.

The wellness area has the tranquil vibes of an indoor spa. It was set back in the woods and strung with bistro lighting for a soothing ambiance. If it weren't for the price tag, I would have been tempted to try it out.

There's also a heated pool onsite. It's open from May through October and includes a gas fireplace.



After less than 10 minutes of walking, I came across a luxury of another sort. The creek trail leads to a woodsy area and ends up at what I consider to be the resort's highlight: a waterfall.

The waterfall area reminded me of riverbeds I've explored in the Great Smoky Mountains.



There's also a viewing area overlooking the waterfall, which the resort bills as a "romantic waterfall proposal site."

The resort seems to be a romantic attraction in itself. A lot of the visitors I saw there were couples, and Margie told me they get many couples celebrating anniversaries or getting engaged.

A few weeks before I arrived, the resort hosted its first wedding.



This brings me to my other favorite part of the resort: the farm animals.

I found the goats to be totally adorable — which is saying something, considering my last encounter with a goat involved one eating my brochure circa 2006.

They're also a hit with guests, Margie and Melissa told me. They let the goats out of their pen daily to go on goat walks. They also offer goat yoga, which is exactly what it sounds like. Unfortunately, there were no goat yoga sessions during my stay.



There are also ducks, bunnies, and free-ranging chickens. They all have designated residences.

The chickens had been laying, so the resort had fresh eggs available in the office. I took a couple and made scrambled eggs one morning. It gave a whole new meaning to complimentary breakfast.



The Snack Shack is one of the resort's most memorable touches — the 24/7 store has just about everything you need, from dry and refrigerated food and drinks to games and movies.

It's stocked with drugstore necessities like toothpaste and pain relievers. That's not to mention locally made delights like jams and the staple ingredients for a perfect campfire — s'mores. 

Again, the honesty policy shows up here. The games and movies are free — you just have to return them. For food and supplies, you can either Venmo money or leave cash in a money bucket.

When I asked Margie and Melissa about the policy, they said they had no doubt that guests abide by it. 



It's kind of perfect if you don't feel like heading into town to pick up a forgotten supply, or if you — like me — don't have a car.

The Snack Shack came in handy for me Sunday night. Some nearby restaurants in the area deliver food, but many were already closed by the time I was hungry. So instead, I headed to the Snack Shack and stocked up.

I dropped a total of $8 on a very healthy meal that consisted of two Rice Krispie treats (my weakness), one water, one orange juice, and a frozen dinner.

If you're a healthy eater, you might not find much to your taste here. It's mostly processed snacks and frozen meals. That said, I loved my $8 meal.



Outside the shack, there are plenty of toys available, like Hula Hoops and balls. There are also bigger yard games nearby, like a ping pong table and corn hole.

I had no one to play with, so I just took a picture.



In the front of the property, there's a fenced-in garden where guests can pick in-season vegetables and herbs.

It's a better option for healthy eaters or those who prefer to cook.



The resort lets guests bring dogs. I don't have a dog of my own, but I was happy to see a few good boys prancing around with their owners.

Dogs must have tick protection and be leashed, since there are free-ranging animals on site. But there's a dedicated dog park where they can roam around and play with tennis balls and tug toys.



Nearby, there's a jungle gym for kids and an Airstream that serves as an arts and crafts studio, where you can work with an instructor.



My tiny house had a (tiny) deck out front, which I mainly used for reading and animal watching in the evenings.

The resort is teeming with all kinds of wildlife, from turkeys and foxes to deer and bald eagles — but I only ever spotted squirrels and birds.



By the end of my trip, I felt recharged. I came for the tiny house, but the best part was trading in the concrete of NYC for the countryside of the Catskills.

I didn't realize how much I missed the outdoors and how much I needed a weekend getaway until I got both in a single dose. The resort is clearly designed with a range of guests in mind, but more than anything, I'd recommend it to any burned-out millennial who needs to recharge. The resort combines two things — an experience and a focus on wellness— that millennials love. It's also highly Instagrammable, which doesn't hurt. 

But as much as I liked it, I was ready to get back to the city by the time I left. To me, that was a sign that my three-day visit was just what I needed.

Pricewise, $300 a night seems like a lot for one person; that being said, if you split with friends — as most people seem to — it starts to feel a bit more reasonable. I would suggest that guests rent a car and drive up there instead of taking the train like I did.



I would definitely come back — especially since the tiny houses might not be the only dwellings on the property for long.

Margie and Melissa told me they hope to build a tiny house community next door.

But right now, they're working on expanding the property to include stick-built houses with glass and decks overlooking the creek. They also want to eventually build tiny treehouses.

Now, those I'd like to try.




The richest person in every US state

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Jeff Bezos

In June, Forbes determined the richest person in each state by net worth. There are billionaires and centimillionaires on the coveted list, with some of the wealthiest hailing from the technology sector.

Several siblings appear on the list, including the heirs of the Mars candy and Walmart fortunes, proving the endurance of American dynastic wealth. The siblings within these ultrawealthy families live in different states, thereby earning multiple spots on the list.

Most of the millionaires and billionaires on the list earned their fortunes in finance, real estate, tech, and retail.

Some notable billionaires — including Bill Gates— are absent from the list. Gates made the cut in previous years, but Jeff Bezos has long since surpassed him as the wealthiest person in the state of Washington — and the world. Michael Bloomberg also returns to the list, taking the top spot in New York City, after previously losing his spot to David Koch, who passed away earlier this year.

Keep reading to see who the richest person is in each US State.

Note: All net worths are estimates by Forbes using the most current available data.

Matthew Michaels contributed to an earlier version of this report. 

SEE ALSO: The billionaire who dished out $34 million to pay off student loans for an entire college class says America's student loan system is a 'catastrophe'

DON'T MISS: Harvard has produced more ultra-wealthy people than any other college in the world — but only 7% are women. Here are the top 20 US colleges with the highest proportions of female millionaires among their rich alumni.

Alabama: Jimmy Rane

Net worth: $900 million

Industry: Lumber

Source of wealth: Founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving

Residence: Abbeville, Alabama

Source: Forbes



Alaska: Leonard Hyde, Jonathan Rubini, and families

Net worth: $300 million each

Industry: Real estate

Source of wealth: Cofounded and co-own JL Properties

Residence: Anchorage, Alaska

Source: Forbes



Arizona: Ernest Garcia II

Net worth: $5.6 billion 

Industry: Used cars

Source of wealth: Largest shareholder of Carvana, which is an online platform used to sell cars and provide auto loans. The company was founded by his son, Ernest Garcia III. He is also the owner of DriveTime Automotive. 

Residence: Tempe, Arizona

Source: Forbes

 



Arkansas: Jim Walton

Net worth: $52.7 billion

Industry: Retail

Source of wealth: Heir to part of the Walmart fortune and holds an estimated 44% stake in Arvest Bank

Residence: Bentonville, Arkansas

Source: Forbes



California: Mark Zuckerberg

Net worth: $71.3 billion

Industry: Technology

Source of wealth: Founded Facebook

Residence: Palo Alto, California

Source: Forbes



Colorado: Philip Anschutz

Net worth: $11.4 billion

Industry: Investments

Source of wealth: Made money in oil, real estate, telecom, railroads and owns an entertainment group

Residence: Denver, Colorado

Source: Forbes



Connecticut: Ray Dalio

Net worth: $18.7 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Founded Bridgewater Associates

Residence: Greenwich, Connecticut

Source: Forbes



Delaware: Robert Gore and Elizabeth Snyder

Net worth: $885 million each

Industry: Manufacturing

Source of wealth: Brother and sister who inherited W.L. Gore & Associates, founded by their parents; Robert created Gore-Tex

Residence: Newark and Wilmington, Delaware

Source: Forbes, Forbes



Florida: Thomas Peterffy

Net worth: $17.1 billion 

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Founded Interactive Brokers

Residence: Palm Beach, Florida

Source: Forbes



Georgia: Jim Kennedy

Net worth: $9.6 billion

Industry: Media

Source of wealth: Inherited and serves as chair for Cox Enterprises

Residence: Atlanta, Georgia

Source: Forbes



Hawaii: Pierre Omidyar

Net worth: $12.5 billion

Industry: Technology

Source of wealth: Founded eBay and develops real estate

Residence: Honolulu, Hawaii

Source: Forbes



Idaho: Frank VanderSloot

Net worth: $3.7 billion

Industry: Nutrition and wellness

Source of wealth: Founded and operates Melaleuca

Residence: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Source: Forbes



Illinois: Ken Griffin

Net worth: $12.8 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Founded and runs Citadel, a large hedge fund

Residence: Chicago, Illinois

Source: Forbes



Indiana: Carl Cook

Net worth: $9.6 billion

Industry: Medical devices

Source of wealth: Inherited and became CEO of Cook Group

Residence: Bloomington, Indiana

Source: Forbes



Iowa: Harry Stine

Net worth: $5 billion

Industry: Agriculture

Source of wealth: Licensed genetics to multinational corporations

Residence: Adel, Iowa

Source: Forbes



Kansas: Charles Koch

Net worth: $41 billion

Industry: Conglomerate

Source of wealth: Inherited Koch Industries and serves as CEO

Residence: Wichita, Kansas

Source: Forbes



Kentucky: Tamara Gustavson

Net worth: $5 billion

Industry: Self storage

Source of wealth: Gustavson is the largest shareholder in Public Storage, the company founded by her father B. Wayne Hughes in 1972. 

Residence: Lexington, Kentucky

Source: Forbes



Louisiana: Gayle Benson

Net worth: $3.1 billion

Industry: Professional sports

Source of wealth: Inherited NFL's New Orleans Saints, NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, and an outdoor entertainment venue

Residence: New Orleans, Louisiana

Source: Forbes



Maine: Susan Alfond

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Industry: Shoes

Source of wealth: Inherited stock of Berkshire Hathaway her father had sold for his shoe company

Residence: Scarborough, Maine

Source: Forbes



Maryland: Ted Lerner & family

Net worth: $5.3 billion

Industry: Real estate

Source of wealth: Sold 22,000 houses and owns 20 million square feet of space

Residence: Chevy Chase, Maryland

Source: Forbes



Massachusetts: Abigail Johnson

Net worth: $14.9 billion

Industry: Money management 

Source of wealth: Inherited part of Fidelity Investments and serves as CEO and president

Residence: Milton, Massachusetts

Source: Forbes



Michigan: Hank and Doug Meijer

Net worth: $9.4 billion

Industry: Supermarkets

Source of wealth: Brothers who inherited grocery chain Meijer from their father and grandfather; former co-chairmen, now on the company's board of directors

Residence: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Source: Forbes



Minnesota: Glen Taylor

Net worth: $3 billion

Industry: Printing

Source of wealth: Bought the company that became Taylor Corp. and owns sports teams

Residence: Mankato, Minnesota

Source: Forbes



Mississippi: James and Thomas Duff

Net worth: $1.4 billion

Industry: Tires, diversity

Source of wealth: Founded and co-own Duff Capital Investors and inherited a commercial tire dealer

Residence: Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Source: Forbes, Forbes



Missouri: Pauline MacMillan Keinath

Net worth: $6.5 billion

Industry: Agriculture

Source of wealth: Believed to hold the most shares of Cargill, the largest food company in the world

Residence: St. Louis, Missouri

Source: Forbes



Montana: Dennis Washington

Net worth: $6.5 billion

Industry: Construction and mining

Source of wealth: Created a diversified group of businesses under the Washington Company

Residence: Missoula, Montana

Source: Forbes



Nebraska: Warren Buffett

Net worth: $85.1 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Founder and Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway

Residence: Omaha, Nebraska

Source: Forbes



Nevada: Sheldon Adelson

Net worth: $37.4 billion

Industry: Casinos

Source of wealth: Chairman and CEO of the casino company, Las Vegas Sands.

Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada

Source: Forbes



New Hampshire: Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli

Net worth: $720 million

Industry: Consumer goods 

Source of wealth: Heir to the Reimann family fortune; sold her shares in the family's Luxembourg-based investment firm, JAB, to relatives in 2003

Residence: Hanover, New Hampshire

Source: Forbes



New Jersey: John Overdeck

Net worth: $6.1 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Cofounded Two Sigma Investments

Residence: Millburn, New Jersey

Source: Forbes

 



New Mexico: Mack C. Chase

Net worth: $700 million

Industry: Oil and natural gas

Source of wealth: Cofounded Marbob Energy and invested assets in Mack Energy Corporation

Residence: Artesia, New Mexico

Source: Forbes



New York: Michael Bloomberg

Net worth: $52.5 billion

Industry: Finance and media

Source of wealth: Bloomberg cofounded the financial and media company Bloomberg LP, which he holds an 88% ownership stake in. 

Residence: New York, New York

Source: Forbes



North Carolina: James Goodnight

Net worth: $7.2 billion

Industry: Technology

Source of wealth: Cofounded software firm SAS

Residence: Cary, North Carolina

Source: Forbes



North Dakota: Gary Tharaldson

Net worth: $1 billion

Industry: Hotels

Source of wealth: Purchasing hotel properties and developing land

Residence: Fargo, North Dakota

Source: Forbes



Ohio: Les Wexner and family

Net worth: $4.4 billion

Industry: Retail

Source of wealth: Founded L Brands, a company that owns retailers including Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works

Residence: New Albany, Ohio

Source: Forbes



Oklahoma: Harold Hamm and family

Net worth: $8.7 billion

Industry: Oil and gas

Source of wealth: CEO of Continental Resources

Residence: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Source: Forbes



Oregon: Phil Knight and family

Net worth: $36.1 billion

Industry: Retail

Source of wealth: Founded Nike

Residence: Hillsboro, Oregon

Source: Forbes



Pennsylvania: Victoria Mars

Net worth: $7.3 billion

Industry: Food

Source of wealth: Inherited Mars Incorporated, a company that manufactures food, candy, and pet food

Residence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Source: Forbes



Rhode Island: Jonathan Nelson

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Founded Providence Equity Partners and serves as CEO

Residence: Providence, Rhode Island

Source: Forbes



South Carolina: Anita Zucker

Net worth: $1.8 billion

Industry: Chemicals

Source of wealth: Inherited InterTech Group upon death of her husband

Residence: Charleston, South Carolina

Source: Forbes



South Dakota: T. Denny Sanford

Net worth: $2.4 billion

Industry: Financial

Source of wealth: Owns First Premier Bank

Residence: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Source: Forbes



Tennessee: Thomas Frist Jr. and family

Net worth: $12.1 billion

Industry: Health care

Source of wealth: Cofounded Hospital Corporation of America

Residence: Nashville, Tennessee

Source: Forbes



Texas: Alice Walton

Net worth: $52.4 billion

Industry: Retail

Source of wealth: Inherited part of Walmart fortune

Residence: Fort Worth, Texas

Source: Forbes



Utah: Gail Miller

Net worth: $1.6 billion

Industry: Automobile

Source of wealth: Created Larry H. Miller Group and bought the basketball team, Utah Jazz, with her late husband, Larry

Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah

Source: Forbes



Vermont: John Abele

Net worth: $640 million

Industry: Health care

Source of wealth: Cofounded medical device developer Boston Scientific

Residence: Shelburne, Vermont

Source: Forbes



Virginia: Jacqueline Mars

Net worth: $29.1 billion

Industry: Food

Source of wealth: Inherited Mars Incorporated, a company that manufactures food, candy, and pet food

Residence: The Plains, Virginia

Source: Forbes



Washington: Jeff Bezos

Net worth: $111.4 billion

Industry: Technology

Source of wealth: Founded Amazon

Residence: Seattle, Washington

Source: Forbes



West Virginia: Jim Justice II

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Industry: Coal

Source of wealth: Inherited coal business; current Governor of West Virginia

Residence: Lewisburg, West Virginia

Source: Forbes



Wisconsin: John Menard Jr.

Net worth: $11.9 billion

Industry: Retail

Source of wealth: Founded home improvement chain Menards

Residence: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Source: Forbes



Wyoming: John Mars

Net worth: $29.1  billion

Industry: Food

Source of wealth: Inherited Mars Incorporated, a company that manufactures food, candy, and pet food

Residence: Jackson, Wyoming

Source: Forbes



Here's what college professors get paid at the 50 best public universities in America

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university of michigan

  • We took a look into how much professors at the 50 best public colleges in the US earn for their work.
  • Using rankings from US News and data from the Department of Education, we found the average salary for non-medical instructional staff.
  • Top-ranked UCLA has the highest average professor salary at just over $162,000.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

College professors at the top public universities in the United States tend to do pretty well for themselves. That is to say, most of them are at least earning more money than the average K-12 public school teacher.

We took a look at the 2020 50 best public colleges and universities as ranked by US News and World Report and gathered data on the average salary for non-medical instructional staff normalized to a standard nine-month contract for the 2017-2018 school year from the Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System survey results. Many school rankings are tied. 

We found that average salaries for professors tended to be higher at schools closer to the top of the rankings, with top-ranked UCLA also having the highest average professor salary at $162,148. 

Here are the average salaries for instructional staff at the top 50 public universities and colleges in the US, ranked in ascending order:

SEE ALSO: Here are the most common ancestries in every US state

DON'T MISS: The salary you need to comfortably afford a 2-bedroom apartment in the 25 biggest US cities

Auburn University

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $91,861



Temple University

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $96,861



University of California-Merced

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $95,315



University of Colorado-Boulder

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $101,847



University of Oregon

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $89,123



University of South Carolina

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $96,576



University of South Florida

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $91,188



University of Tennessee

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $98,069



University of Utah

US News national rank: 44 (TIE)

Average salary: $90,405



New Jersey Institute of Technology

US News national rank: 43

Average salary: $114,220



Miami University-Oxford

US News national rank: 39 (TIE)

Average salary: $84,557



Stony Brook University-SUNY

US News national rank: 39 (TIE)

Average salary: $101,513



University of California-Riverside

US News national rank: 39 (TIE)

Average salary: $115,251



University of Delaware

US News national rank: 39 (TIE)

Average salary: $114,057



Colorado School of Mines

US News national rank: 34 (TIE)

Average salary: $102,643



Michigan State University

US News national rank: 34 (TIE)

Average salary: $106,253



North Carolina State University-Raleigh

US News national rank: 34 (TIE)

Average salary: $98,011



University of California-Santa Cruz

US News national rank: 34 (TIE)

Average salary: $125,225



University of Iowa

US News national rank: 34 (TIE)

Average salary: $99,670



Binghamton University-SUNY

US News national rank: 31 (TIE)

Average salary: $83,269



Indiana University-Bloomington

US News national rank: 31 (TIE)

Average salary: $93,585



University at Buffalo-SUNY

US News national rank: 31 (TIE)

Average salary: $91,312



Virginia Tech

US News national rank: 30

Average salary: $101,535



Clemson University

US News national rank: 27 (TIE)

Average salary: $92,589



Texas A&M University-College Station

US News national rank: 27 (TIE)

Average salary: $102,767



University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

US News national rank: 27 (TIE)

Average salary: $106,604



University of Connecticut

US News national rank: 24 (TIE)

Average salary: $108,246



University of Maryland-College Park

US News national rank: 24 (TIE)

Average salary: $116, 219



University of Massachusetts-Amherst

US News national rank: 24 (TIE)

Average salary: $111,840



Rutgers University-New Brunswick

US News national rank: 22 (TIE)

Average salary: $107,178



University of Washington

US News national rank: 22 (TIE)

Average salary: $114,011



Florida State University

US News national rank: 18 (TIE)

Average salary: $99,450



Pennsylvania State University-University Park

US News national rank: 18 (TIE)

Average salary: $102,273



Purdue University-West Lafayette

US News national rank: 18 (TIE)

Average salary: $109,552



University of Pittsburgh

US News national rank: 18 (TIE)

Average salary: $97,541



Ohio State University-Columbus

US News national rank: 17

Average salary: $111,006



University of Georgia

US News national rank: 16

Average salary: $100,687



University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign

US News national rank: 14 (TIE)

Average salary: $110,178



University of Texas-Austin

US News national rank: 14 (TIE)

Average salary: $112,283



University of Wisconsin-Madison

US News national rank: 13

Average salary: $108,135



College of William and Mary

US News national rank: 12

Average salary: $100,829



University of California-Davis

US News national rank: 11

Average salary: $125,263



University of California-San Diego

US News national rank: 10

Average salary: $142,951



University of California-Irvine

US News national rank: 

Average salary: $135,936



University of California-Santa Barbara

US News national rank: 7 (TIE)

Average salary: $136,700



University of Florida

US News national rank: 7 (TIE)

Average salary: $107,263



Georgia Institute of Technology

US News national rank: 5 (TIE)

Average salary: $110,397



University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

US News national rank: 5 (TIE)

Average salary: $113,524



University of Virginia

US News national rank: 4

Average salary: $124,710



University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

US News national rank: 3

Average salary: $105,317



University of California-Berkeley

US News national rank: 2

Average salary: $149,427



University of California-Los Angeles

US News national rank: 1

Average salary: $162,148



I built a multimillion-dollar business with zero full-time employees. Here are my top 4 tips for running a lean business.

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Luisa Zhou

  • Luisa Zhou is an entrepreneur and the creator of the Employee to Entrepreneur system, which teaches people how to leave their day job and start their own six-figure-plus business working for themselves.
  • When she launched her business, she wanted the freedom to live her life while earning a great income — which is why she chose to keep her company lean.
  • She shared with Business Insider the four strategies she used to run a business without any full-time staff, including hiring the right players, streamlining her product lineup, systemizing everything, and having a clear accountability layout.
  • It took her time to set this all up, but it paid off — she can enjoy a balanced life where her work functions smoothly whether or not she's there.
  • Click here for more BI Prime stories.

When I started my current business, I had a clear idea of the type of business — and lifestyle — I wanted to build. 

After having managed a seven-person team in my last corporate job and built a mobile payments startup with a multimillion-dollar valuation before that, I was burned out on big teams and office politics.

What I really wanted was flexibility — the freedom to live my life while earning a great income and not being tied to managing a team or complicated business.

Today, five years into my current business teaching ambitious employees how to turn their skills and experience into their own online businesses, I've essentially built a multiple-million-dollar system that runs without any full-time employees (except for me). 

Here are my top four tips for running a lean business.

1. Hire the right people. (Hint: It's not A++ players.)

While I don't have full-time employees, I do work with a small but mighty team of contractors. And my "secret" for hiring the right people goes against the grain of a lot of the common advice on hiring. 

I didn't look for traditional A++ players who are driven and want to be a "superstar" or climb the corporate ladder. Because my business doesn't have one. 

Instead, I looked for A players who had different priorities. Don't get me wrong: The people I hired were self-motivated, experienced, and good at what they did. However, they get satisfaction not out of having a certain title or team size, but out of earning a great income and having a flexible lifestyle themselves.

2. Streamline your product lineup

Over the last five years one core product, a course called "Employee to Entrepreneur," has brought in over 80% of my business revenue. 

And it didn't happen by accident. With my goals and priorities in mind, I designed my business around this product from day one. 

That allowed me to systematize my business in a few ways.

I was able to focus on building, testing, and improving the course over many years to make sure it was truly robust and best in class.

I was also able to drive a higher volume of students into the course, which allowed me to build more content and coaching calls, as well as a bigger community to support the course and make it self-sustaining.

Finally, because of how long we've been selling this product, my customer support knows it inside out and is well versed in handling questions and delivering the best client support possible.

As a result, instead of constantly scrambling to create and deliver new products, we've been able to build a robust system that supports our community, delivers great customer service, and offers a top-notch product, and then live our lives.

We do sell other courses and offers, and while we have similar delivery, customer support, and sales systems (more on this in a bit) set up for them, they're mainly designed to complement our main offering.

This doesn't mean that we have all of our eggs in one basket. Instead of diversifying our product offerings, we've instead diversified our traffic sources and partnerships, which I felt was easier to do (because we have systems for those as well) and more enjoyable than constantly creating new products.

3. Systematize, systematize, systematize

If no business can occur when you're not working, then you don't really have a business. That's why even though my business is branded around my name, it doesn't rely on any one person (me included). Instead, it runs on a series of systems.

Here are the five main categories of systems that my business runs on: 

  • Marketing (which consists of content, design, and client acquisition, including paid traffic, partnerships, social media, and organic traffic)
  • Sales
  • Operations (for example, customer support)
  • Coaching
  • Finance

Our content creation process is one example of what I mean by a system.  

With the goal of creating content to drive organic traffic, we publish one to two blog posts a month. So we have a documented, step-by-step system for determining how to choose the blog topic, guidelines, and format and how to write the content, publish it, and promote it. 

We have similar documentation and processes for every piece of the business, from setting up an email to send to my email list to helping a client reset their course membership site password.

This way, independent of who specifically is and isn't working on a particular day, the business can continue to run smoothly.

4. Have a clear accountability layout 

This tip is taken from Gino Wickman's book, "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business." When I first read this a few years ago, it was a huge "aha" moment for me.

Wickman suggests that instead of having an organization chart, which focuses on who reports to whom, it's better to have an accountability chart, which lays out what each person is individually accountable for. This way, it's clear who is responsible for what and there's no "passing the buck."

Here's a quick overview of what my main accountability structure looks like:

  • Within marketing, individual contractors are responsible for content, paid advertising, partnerships, and design.
  • Within sales, I have contracted salespeople.
  • Within operations, a few contractors are accountable for customer support and technology.
  • Within coaching, I personally coach a small group of clients, and I have program coaches for my Employee to Entrepreneur program.
  • And last but definitely not least, within finance I have a bookkeeper, accountant, and payment collections team.

Note that the accountability structure supports the systems I laid out in the previous step. In other words, this is system-centric: I hired the right people to support the systems. I didn't first hire and then create systems around the people I hired.

What's also important to note is that each role has clear processes and metrics for success. And it's not complicated! For example, customer support's number-one metric is to help clients resolve their questions within 24 business hours. 

This way, we're able to operate like a well-run machine. Because we have the right systems, which create the right roles and the right people in those roles. 

As a result of all the above, my contractors mostly only work a few hours a week for my business. And I don't have to spend much time managing them, either. 

Plus, this also frees up my time to focus on driving the business via partnerships and strategy, and of course supporting my coaching clients.

As you can imagine, it took a lot of work upfront to set all of this up. (And it's still a work in progress because there's always room for improvement and we aren't perfect.) But the work was well worth it. It helped me build an amazing business that I love, that allows me to do what I love, work with people (contractors and clients) I love working with, and live a life that I love.

And here's the thing: After having helped thousands of people do something similar for themselves in so many different industries, what I've seen time and time again is that if you're willing to put in the work, you can do it, too.

Luisa Zhou is the creator of the Employee to Entrepreneur system, which teaches people how to leave their day job and start their own six-figure-plus business working for themselves. She's been featured in Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and more. Read her comprehensive guide on how to start your own online business today.

SEE ALSO: I built a multimillion-dollar business in two years. Here are 3 templates I used to make my first $10,000 in 3 months.

READ MORE: There are 11 types of emails you'll send when you launch a business. Here's a template for each that will help you gain new clients and keep your old ones loyal.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Under Armour is under federal investigation over its accounting practices. Here's how the company's billionaire founder, Kevin Plank, makes and spends his money.

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under armour ceo kevin plank

  • Kevin Plank founded Under Armour, a leading athletic-wear brand, 23 years ago in his grandmother's basement.
  • On October 22, Under Armour announced that Plank would be stepping down from his role as CEO and will be replaced by COO Patrik Frisk on January 1. Plank will become the executive chairman and brand chief.
  • On November 4, the Wall Street Journal reported that Under Armour is under federal investigation to determine whether the brand altered its recorded revenue to bolster its healthy appearance. In a statement, Under Armour said it is cooperating with the probe.
  • Plank has a net worth of $1.8 billion. Here's a look at how he built Under Armour and how he spends his money.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

On October 22, Under Armour announced that founder Kevin Plank would be stepping down from his role as CEO. Effective January 1, he will be replaced by Patrik Frisk, the company's current president and chief operating officer.

According to the statement, Plank will become the executive chairman and brand chief at Under Armour, a company he founded in his grandmother's Washington D.C. basement in 1996.

"Patrik is the right person to serve as Under Armour's next CEO," Plank said in a statement. "As my partner during the most transformative chapter in our history, he has been exceptional in his ability to translate our brand's vision into world-class execution by focusing on our long-term strategy and re-engineering our ecosystem through a strategic, operational and cultural transformation."

Two weeks after the announcement of Plank's departure from his role, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal authorities are investigating Under Armour's accounting practices. According to the Journal's November 4 report, the company has been under Justice Department and SEC investigations since 2017 for its revenue disclosure practices.

"The company firmly believes that its accounting practices and disclosures were appropriate," a representative for Under Armour told the Journal. Under Armour is reportedly cooperating with the investigations.

Keep reading for a look at how Kevin Plank, who is worth $1.8 billion, built Under Armour and established his wealth — and how he spends it.

SEE ALSO: Kevin Plank is stepping down as CEO of Under Armour

NOW READ: Under Armour climbs after founder Kevin Plank steps down as CEO

According to Forbes, Kevin Plank has a net worth of $1.8 billion. In 1996, Plank founded Under Armour; on October 22, he announced that he would be stepping down from his role as the company's CEO.

According to an April 2017 report from The Wall Street Journal's Sara Germano, Plank has taken an annual nominal salary of $26,000. According to the same report, Under Armour paid more than $73 million in 2016 to companies controlled by Plank.

Source:Under Armour, Forbes



Plank's road to Under Armour began after getting kicked out of a Washington D.C. prep school.

Plank, the youngest of five brothers, was kicked out of Georgetown Prep, a private Jesuit high school outside Washington D.C., for being involved in "an alcohol-fueled brawl" during his sophomore year.

He then attended St. John's College High, another Catholic prep school in the area, where he played football. He graduated at 17, and instead of going directly to college, he went to a military academy known for producing top football talent for one year. 



Plank became a walk-on at the University of Maryland in College Park; it was there that he started focusing on the material of his football uniform.

As Business Insider previously reported, he couldn't stand the way his cotton T-shirts became drenched up with sweat and bunched up under his gear, even though they were on trend for the 1990s.



In 1996, Plank developed the first prototype of a skin-tight base layer made from a sweat-wicking synthetic fabric. He started the entire operation in his grandmother's D.C. basement.

In a 2014 interview with the Washington Post, Plank said "I had about $15,000 in cash, and I had established pretty good credit. I had about $40,000 in credit cards," when asked about how he financed the company early on.

Source:Business Insider



Plank was able to get his business off the ground by selling his shirts to his football-playing contacts.

In the company's first year, 1996, it saw $17,000 in sales.

It wasn't long before college and professional players were wearing Under Armour; the company sales exceeded $200 million by 2004.



As the brand grew, Plank successfully positioned Under Armour through a variety of celebrity endorsements. Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, Cam Newton, and Misty Copeland are all tied to Under Armour.

Source: The New Yorker



As Business Insider has previously reported, Plank has been known not to name his competition directly. However, Under Armour has grown to be comparable to other mainstay athletic brands like Nike and Adidas.

While Under Armour's initial growth was rapid, it has slowed as of recent.

As Haley Peterson reported for BI, the company's revenue in 2018 grew just 4% over the previous year to $5.2 billion. For comparison, Nike grew 7.5% to $39.1 billion in its 2019 fiscal year.

Read more: We visited Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour to see which store does athletic-wear the best — the winner shocked us



Recently, Plank worked directly with Richard Branson to design and develop spacesuits for Virgin Galactic.

"I have followed Under Armour's progress through a personal friendship with its CEO, Kevin Plank and via the great relationships it has established over the years with various Virgin companies," Branson explained of the partnership in a January statement.

"I've loved its determination to push technical boundaries in order to improve performance, so could not have been more pleased when Kevin and his talented teams stepped up to the considerable task of creating a range of space apparel and performance programmes for Virgin Galactic," Branson continued.

Read more:Take a look at the Under Armour-designed spacesuits Virgin Galactic wants to send people to space in



In 2017, Plank sparked controversy after he praised President Trump in an interview.

In an interview with CNBC, Plank said: "To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country."

The comment caused waves and Under Armour ultimately issued a statement saying: "We engage in policy, not politics."

On other topics, however, Plank publicly disagreed with Trump. When the president referred to Baltimore as a "rodent infested mess," Plank took to Instagram to defend Under Armour's homebase.



Plank lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of 16 years and their two children.

In February, The Wall Street Journal reported that sources had indicated that Plank had a very close relationship with an MSNBC anchor, Stephanie Ruhle. Ruhle and Plank had traveled together on his private jet and she had given him input on business matters, The Journal reported, citing executives and people familiar with the matter.

Plank and Ruhle alike declined to comment for the Journal's article. "Mr. Plank and Ms. Ruhle are friends," Under Armour's senior vice president of communications, told The Wall Street Journal at the time.



At one point, Plank's family listed the most expensive home in Washington D.C.

The completely renovated, 12,200-square-foot, eight-bedroom Georgetown mansion was put on the market in 2015 for $29.5 million, making it the most expensive home in D.C. 

It did not sell and was put back on the market earlier this month at a 17% price cut for $24.5 million. The family does not live in the home and is selling, according to the Washington Business Journal, because they do not use it as often as initially anticipated.

The family lives outside of Baltimore, near Under Armour's headquarters. According to the Baltimore Sun, they were also building a home nearby, but construction was halted for unknown reasons last fall.



As The Wall Street Journal reported in February, Plank owns a company that leases a black Gulfstream jet to Under Armour.

According to The Wall Street Journal's Khadeeja Safdar, Plank "also uses the same aircraft for private travels."

While it's unclear what model Gulfstream the company owns, a new Gulfstream G700 just revealed in Las Vegas will have a list price of $75 million



The family also has a privately held investment company called Plank Industries. Its holdings include an award-winning whiskey company.

According to the company's website, Plank Industries has holdings across several industries, including thoroughbred racing, hospitality, food and beverage, and commercial real estate.

Their company's key holding is Sagamore Spirit, a rye whiskey company that was named the world's best rye whiskey at San Francisco's World Spirits Competition.



Plank also owns Sagamore Racing Farm, a thoroughbred farm and training ground in Maryland previously owned by the Vanderbilts. He purchased and restored the farm in 2007.

Source: Sagamore Racing



Plank is stepping down as CEO but will act as the executive chairman and brand chief at Under Armour. Current COO Patrik Frisk will take up the duties of CEO on January 1, 2020.

Source: Business Insider



Frisk will helm a company that is currently under federal investigation.

On November 4, the Wall Street Journal's Aruna Viswanatha and Khadeeja Safdar reported that the Justice Department and the SEC are investigating Under Armour for its accounting and revenue disclosure practices. The main question is whether the company altered recorded revenue from quarter to quarter to maintain a healthy appearance. The company told The Journal it is cooperating with the investigation.

The company began responding to requests for accounting related documents in July 2017. A company representative told the Journal: "The company firmly believes that its accounting practices and disclosures were appropriate."



Saudi Arabia has launched the IPO of the world's most profitable company. Meet Mohammed bin Salman, the 34-year-old crown prince who's at the center of human rights issues and drops millions on yachts and mansions.

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Mohammed bin Salman

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud, known as MBS, is the future king of Saudi Arabia.

The 34-year-old heir will ascend to the throne after the death of his father, 83-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. 

Prince Mohammed is known for his lavish spending. He has bought a $500 million yacht, a $300 million French chateau, and a $450 million Leonardo da Vinci painting. According to one estimate, the Saudi royal family — which has about 15,000 members — is worth up to $1.4 trillion.

The royal family's empire includes Saudi Aramco, the massive, state-owned oil company that just announced its plans to go public in December 2019.

The crown prince has become a controversial global political figure, particularly in the fall of 2018, when he faced global outcry over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who the CIA later concluded was assassinated on the prince's orders

Here's a look at the lavish — and controversial — lifestyle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

SEE ALSO: Meet Vladimir Potanin, the richest documented man in Russia, who made his $22 billion fortune in the nickel industry, has owned at least 3 yachts, and plays ice hockey with Vladimir Putin

DON'T MISS: Saudi Arabia runs a huge, sinister online database of women that men use to track them and stop them from running away

Mohammed bin Salman is the 34-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

He was born to King Salman and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah, in 1985.

He was named crown price in June 2017 after his father, King Salman, decided to remove Muhammad bin Nayef from the position.

Rumors later emerged that Mohammed bin Salman had secretly plotted to oust bin Nayef and take his place, The New York Times reported.



The prince has a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University, the oldest university in Saudi Arabia.

After graduating, he worked for several state agencies before being appointed as a special adviser to his father in 2009, who was serving as governor of Riyadh at the time.

In 2012, Prince Mohammed's father was named crown prince after the death of Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. Three years later, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz died and the prince's father took the throne at the age of 79.



Prince Mohammed is not yet king, but he "essentially runs the country for his father," 83-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz, according to Bloomberg.

The prince is known to be a "workaholic" who spends 18 hours of the day in his office, according to The Guardian.

But he reportedly doesn't take criticism well.

"People who tried to say no even gently and diplomatically faced consequences," one source from Saudi Arabia told The Guardian.



The total wealth of the Saudi royal family is unknown, but it could be worth as much as $1.4 trillion, according to House of Saud, an English language Saudi Royal Family news resource.

The royal wealth has been accumulated over decades of oil revenue-generated expansion.

There are about 15,000 members of the Saudi royal family, but the majority of the vast fortune is distributed among 2,000 of them, according to CNBC.

The British royal family, for comparison, is worth an estimated $88 billion.



The Saudi royal family's empire includes Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant that just announced plans to go public in December 2019.

The long-awaited IPO is likely to set records, with Saudi officials valuing the company at $2 trillion, Bloomberg reported.

The banks' estimates have varied, with several pegging their valuations much lower. Bank of America's valuation ranges from $1.22 trillion to $2.27 trillion, while Goldman Sachs valued Aramco at $1.6 trillion to $2.3 trillion.

Aramco announced revenue of $68 billion in the first nine months of 2019, making it the most profitable company in the world.



Prince Mohammed and his father, King Salman, are often found in "a network of marble-columned palaces and countryside retreats" in Riyadh, according to The New York Times.

Foreign dignitaries and politicians are often hosted at the Al-Yamamah Palace.

During a visit from President Obama to the opulent Erga Palace, reporters spotted gold-plated Kleenex dispensers and gold chairs, according to CBS News.

The royal family is rumored to own several other lavish residences around the world, including in Switzerland, London, France, and Morocco.



Prince Mohammed is known for his extravagant purchases.

He's spent hundreds of millions on superyachts, private jets, helicopters, French chateaus, and rare paintings.



The crown prince reportedly owns a $500 million, 440-foot yacht named Serene, which includes multiple swimming pools and hot tubs, two helipads, a helicopter hangar, a gym, and a movie theater.

The yacht can sleep 24 guests in 15 cabins.

The prince reportedly bought the superyacht after spotting it while vacationing in the south of France.



In 2015, Prince Mohammed bought a chateau in France for $300 million, which was dubbed "the world's most expensive home" by Fortune at the time.

It wasn't until 2017 that news broke that it was the Saudi prince who had bought the Chateau Louis XIV in Louveciennes, which is located west of Paris.

The 17th-century chateau reportedly includes fountains, a sound system, lights, and air conditioning that can all be controlled by an iPhone.

The lavish property also has a wine cellar, a movie theater, and a moat with a transparent underwater chamber.



The prince also picked up a Leonardo da Vinci painting for $450 million at a Christie's auction in 2017.

Prince Mohammed made the winning bid on da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" anonymously by phone.

The painting had been estimated to sell for around $100 million leading into the auction.



Prince Mohammed has been in the news in recent years for a variety of scandals.

Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for human rights abuses and repressive laws, such as the one that says all Saudi women must have a male guardian.

In February 2019, INSIDER published an investigation detailing how a Saudi app called Absherallows men in Saudi Arabia to track and control where women travel. The reporting prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to launch an investigation into the app, which is sold on the App Store.

In the fall of 2017, the crown prince was reportedly behind a corruption crackdown that saw more than 200 people arrested and some detained for weeks in a Ritz-Carlton hotel.Saudi Arabia reportedly use coercion and physical abuse during the interrogations.

And according to Al Jazeera, the number of executions in Saudi Arabia has been on the rise: 133 people were executed in the first eight months after MBS became crown prince.



In the fall of 2018, the crown prince faced global outcry over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

In November 2018, the CIA concluded the journalist was assassinated on the prince's orders.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied that the crown prince had any role in Khashoggi's death.

The Saudis denied for weeks that Khashoggi had been killed and repeatedly changed their story. The kingdom later announced that 18 people had been arrested in connection with the killing and said in January 2019 that prosecutors would be seeking the death penalty for five suspects.



While many world leaders have publicly condemned Prince Mohammed after Khashoggi's death, President Trump has said we may never know if Prince Mohammed ordered the killing of the journalist or not.

After the CIA concluded that MBS ordered the killing of Khashoggi, Trump expressed support for MBS, Al Jazeera reported in December 2018.

As Business Insider previously reported, Trump has had deep business ties with the Saudi Arabian court for more than two decades.

And Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has reportedly pushed for closer ties with Saudi Arabia and particularly with Prince Mohammed.

Kushner and the crown prince have had a close relationship for more than two years, Business Insider's Ellen Cranley reported.



At the G20 Summit in Argentina in December 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen enthusiastically greeting the Saudi prince.

Putin's enthusiastic greeting of the Saudi prince at G20 came right after other world leaders had condemned Saudi Arabia for the killing of Khashoggi.

Other world leaders appeared to ignore the crown prince in a group photo at the summit.



Beyond politics, the prince has ties to top US technology companies and has toured some of Silicon Valley's top firms, including Google and Apple.

In the spring of 2018, Prince Mohammed met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

His west coast tour also included a stop in Seattle to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund owns 5% of Uber, according to the ride-sharing company's most recent S-1 filing. The fund is also a top investor in Softbank's massive Vision Fund, which owns 16% of Uber as well as sizable stakes in companies like Slack, WeWork, and DoorDash.



How to find the IMEI and serial number on an iPad in 4 different ways

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iPad 2018

All iOS and iPadOS devices have a serial number, and ones with cellular connection also have a 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity — or IMEI number. 

This number is not only useful for getting cellular service on your device, but also for warranty and registration purposes, as well as securing a lost device. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (64GB), available at Best Buy, from $799.99

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

How to find the IMEI and serial number on your iPad

Your iPad will have an IMEI number only if it's a cellular model. Otherwise, most iPads only have a serial number, and don't have an IMEI number. 

There are several ways to find the IMEI number and the serial number on your iPad. Here's how to do it. 



On the back of your iPad

1. Turn your iPad over.

2. Just underneath where it says "iPad" you'll find small writing. You may need a magnifying glass to read it. Your serial number will be included there, as well as the IMEI, if it's an iPad cellular model. 



In the Settings app on your iPad

1. Open Settings. 

2. Scroll down to and tap on General.

3. Tap on About.

4. The serial number will be there (and IMEI if you have an iPad cellular model). 

 



Log into your Apple ID account online

1. You can find your IMEI number online at appleid.apple.com. Log into your account with your Apple ID. 

2. Scroll down to your devices.

3. Click on your iPad. You may have to authenticate your identity.

4. It will show both your IMEI and serial number for your iPad, if you have a cellular model. 

 

 



Connect your iPad to iTunes or Finder

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac or PC.

2. Open iTunes on your computer (on a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, or a PC), or open your Finder (on a Mac running macOS Catalina).

3. You may have to permit your computer access to your iPad by punching in your password in your iPad.

4. When you first connect it, iTunes will default to your iPad's summary page. If it's already connected, tap on the iPad icon in the top (it will be a small rectangle) and that will bring up the Summary page. Finder on macOS Catalina will open onto a "General" page with the same information when you tap the icon for your iPad

5. You should see your iPad's serial number. Click on the serial number to show your iPad's other identifying numbers (including IMEI with cellular model).

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:



How to connect to Wi-Fi on a Windows 10 device in 4 steps

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Windows 10

While connecting to the internet used to require a cable hooked up to a telephone line or ethernet box, these days, pretty much everything is going wireless. 

Using Wi-Fi allows you to get online wherever you are, without cumbersome cords getting in the way and without having to worry about staying close to the main router. 

Better yet, many Wi-Fi connections offer the high speeds you'd experience with a wired connection, which makes using Wi-Fi even more of a no-brainer. 

If you want to connect your Windows 10 computer to Wi-Fi, doing so is quick and easy. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to connect to Wi-Fi on Windows 10

1. In the Windows taskbar, click the Network icon, which looks like a radio signal coming out of a tiny dot. 

2. Locate the name of the network you want to join and click on it. wifi_1

3. When prompted, enter the network security key, which is the password for the Wi-Fi network you're attempting to join. Note that this may be printed on the back of the router or may be uniquely chosen by the owner of the network, in which case you'll need to ask them for the password. 

wifi_2

4. Hit "Next" once you've finished entering the password. You should then be connected to the Wi-Fi network. 

In addition, your Windows 10 operating system will remember every Wi-Fi network you ever join, storing the login information so that you can rejoin easily without having to re-enter a password the next time you want to use it.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best all-in-one PCs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to search in Windows 10 to find a file, folder, or program faster, using 2 different methods

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Dell XPS 15 2019

With hard drive storage space getting bigger and bigger these days — even the most basic models of computers tend to come with at least 250 GB — we're filling up our PCs with endless apps, documents, photos, and other files. 

It's great for information pack rats who like to keep everything, but it can also make it really hard to locate a particular file or folder on your computer when you're looking for it. 

Thankfully, Windows 10 makes it easy to search your computer, and you can do it in two different ways. 

Whether by utilizing the Taskbar's Cortana search feature or using the Windows File Explorer, both methods make locating your stuff simple, straightforward, and most of all, quick. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to search on a Windows 10 computer via the taskbar 

1. In the search bar located on the left-hand side of your taskbar, next to the Windows button, type the name of the app, document, or file that you're looking for. 

How to search in Windows 10

2. From the search results listed, click on the one that matches what you're looking for. 

Note that you can narrow down your search results using the menu bar across the top of the search box, which allows you to see only Apps, Documents, Settings, or Web Results, among other categories.

How to search on a Windows 10 computer via File Explorer 

1. Click on the Windows key and type "File Explorer," clicking the top app result that appears. 

How to search in Windows 10

2. If you know which drive or folder the file you're looking for exists in, choose that location via the Quick Access menu on the left-hand side of the File Explorer screen. 

3. Once you're ready to search, use the search box in the upper right-hand corner of the File Explorer screen to type in any identifying information about the file in question, including the file name or file type. Search results should then begin to auto-populate in the box below. 

How to search in Windows 10

4. Once you've located the file you've been searching for, click to open it. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best all-in-one PCs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How autopilot on an airplane works

How to enable JavaScript on your iPad to make websites and videos work properly in Safari

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ipad mini

Most websites are programmed using JavaScript, which is essential for more advanced or complex operations and functions. 

JavaScript can also be used to program, and there are a lot of resources for learning to use JavaScript for amateur programmers up to high-end web developers. 

If JavaScript is not enabled in a browser, your iPad will inhibit functionality on some sites and prevent you from even accessing others. 

That can also limit your ability to access certain features of websites. Some programs and applications from the web, which use JavaScript as well, will also have trouble working.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (64GB), available at Best Buy, from $799.99

How to enable JavaScript on your iPad

1. Tap the "Settings" app.

2. Scroll down until you see "Safari," or any other web browser that you'd like to enable JavaScript in.

3. Tap on the "Safari" icon.

4. Scroll down and tap "Advanced," at the very bottom.

5. JavaScript should be one of the few items you see. Tap on the "JavaScript" toggle so that it turns green.

How to enable Javascript on iPad

6. JavaScript is now enabled in Safari. 

7. If you have other browsers you use, you will have to go back, select those in "Settings" and repeat the process for them as well.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How autopilot on an airplane works

27 unique holiday gifts that can be personalized in thoughtful and unexpected ways

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vnyl membership

  • Most gifts are vaguely personalized in that they might address an interest, hobby, or style preference of your recipient. 
  • However, these 27 gifts are personalized in the true sense of the word. Whether they sport your recipient's name or stem from other aspects of their background, they're far from generic. 
  • Need more gift ideas? Check out of all Insider Picks' holiday gift guides here.

Ideally, every gift you give would tick the boxes of thoughtful, unique, and custom-made. The recipient would feel that you had done your research, and that you had cared enough to spend the extra time required for something customized to ensure it would adequately represent them. It shows attention, care, and appreciation — most of what we're trying to communicate in our gift-giving, anyway.

Below you'll find 28 personalized gifts that feel a bit more 'personal' than many others. You can pay homage to their interests (their dog, their college town, their sports team) at the same time you gift them something useful to enjoy. It's the best of both worlds, and a great gifting strategy. 

Below are 27 personalized gifts that feel special and unique to give:

Plan a trip for $25 per day that caters to their special interests

Plan a personalized trip, available at Journy, from $25 per day

Journy is an online concierge system that makes personalized travel itineraries — complete with booking hotels and making restaurant reservations — and takes your personal suggestions, preferences, and feedback into account. It takes an incredible amount of stress out of travel, and it allows you to enjoy the anticipation of a trip without missing out on adventures. Use it as the perfect way to surprise a loved one with a trip catered to things they love. Read more in-depth about the service here.



A thoughtful map of their favorite place on earth

Customized Poster, available at Grafomap, from $49

Grafomap is a website that lets you design posters with maps of any place in the world. You can make one of their hometown, college town, or favorite travel destination — you're only limited by your imagination.



A pillow that's a permanent reminder of their best friend

Canvas Print Pillow, available at CanvasPop, from $39

If they love their pet more than pretty much anything in the world, a pillow immortalizing them is a pretty thoughtful gift they're unlikely to already have. It's also bound to be good for some future entertainment. You can also get them a custom painting if that's more their style.



A gold letter charm from an ethical jewelry startup

Mini Gold Letter Charm Pendant, available at AUrate, $200

AUrate makes beautiful, personalized letter charms that are meant to represent a no-compromise mix of quality, price, and ethical practices. They use luxury materials like 14-karat gold, original designs, transparent pricing, and sustainable production. In partnership with Mastery Charter, the startup has also given thousands of books to NYC students and schools.



A leather toiletry case they can take with them on trips for years to come

Double Zip Toiletry Bag, available at Leatherology, $120 [add monogram for $10 and up]

This luxe Double Zip bag is one accessory I never travel without. The dual compartments keep all essentials close, and the leather ages into something soft and personal over time. If you're looking for wallets, travel gift sets, or duffels instead, you can find pretty much any leather good at a good price and superior quality here— most available for monogramming. 



A membership that hand selects new vinyl records based on their music tastes each month

Three-Month VNYL Gift Membership Subscription, available at VNYL, $99.97 (originally $120)

VNYL's team of curators studies your music profile — assembled via a quiz and connected Spotify, Soundcloud, Instagram, etc. — to hand-pick new albums that they think you'll love. Then, they send you a vinyl of their tailored pick to your door. If your giftee is a music-lover and has a record player, this is a cool subscription that will help them discover even more music to love. 



Customizable Nikes, available at Nike, from $90

Customizable Nikes, available at Nike, from $90 (originally $95)

Nike makes great stuff, and they're popular for that reason. But it's nice to get the benefits of the big budget, years of product development, and design team without forsaking what makes something unique. You can customize a pair of Nike's for them, or gift them a gift card so they can get creative making something one-of-a-kind on their own. 



A personal styling service that helps them build their closet

Gift Card, available at Stitch Fix, from $20

Shopping can be difficult and time-consuming, which is where the stylists at Stitch Fix come in. A great gift for busy people, the service delivers the newest trends and styles to fit any occasion and price point. 



Tumblers personalized for family members' hobbies

Personalized Hobby Tumblers, available at Uncommon Goods, from $32

These fun tumblers celebrate each family member's unique passions — letting them feel seen and appreciated by you as well as enjoy seeing themselves in fun illustrations. 



A silk cashmere robe from a cool startup, paired with tools for a day off

Khimori Silk Cashmere Robe, available at Naadam, $175 [add a monogram for $10]

Naadam makes some of the best (and best priced) cashmere we've tried, and they've got a unique and feel-good origin story that makes for good background on the gift itself. This silk cashmere robe looks and feels luxurious — and like it should cost more than $175. Get it monogrammed for $10, and pair it with their favorite creature comforts for a well-deserved self-care day.



An engraved shave set

Winston Set, available at Harry's, from $25 [add engraving for $15]

If he takes pride in having nice tools or taking the necessary grooming routine as time for himself, he'll appreciate Harry's luxe gift set. It can be engraved for $15, and the special Winston handle is weighty, die-cast zinc with a polished chrome finish. The German-engineered blades come with a travel cover so they don't dull during travel, and the Foaming Shave Gel works up to a rich lather. 



A custom Xbox controller

Customized Xbox Controller, available at Xbox Design Lab, from $69.99

Design a personalized Xbox controller for them that no one else will have, getting as granular as deciding the style of the ABXY keys. There are 19 standard body color options, and each step comes with more opportunities for customization.



A coffee subscription that caters to their taste preferences

Three-Month Subscription, available at Driftaway, from $44

Driftaway is a gourmet coffee subscription that gets smarter the longer you use it — remembering your preferences and steering you towards increasingly accurate brews for your palette. The first shipment is a tasting kit with four coffee profiles, which users rate online or in the app for the site to use as a flavor baseline. If they love coffee, this is a great way to ensure they'll discover new favorites and enjoy each morning cup.



A made-to-measure suit

Gift Card, available at Indochino, from $50

Nothing feels quite as bespoke as a custom-made suit. The startup Indochino just makes that gift a bit more achievable, and a lot less expensive. 



Bath towels embroidered with a monogram or full word

Piped Edge Starter Pack, available at Weezie, $230 [add embroidery for $15 per towel]

Weezie's soft and fluffy organic cotton towels are already gift-worthy on their own. To make them even more covetable, add embroidery. You can go with the classic monogram in a variety of eye-catching styles, or spell out an entire name in a cursive script. There are a few embroidery colors that are more unique, like bright pink and mint.  



A leather passport case that's perfectly sized for airplane tickets

Classic Passport Case, available at Cuyana, $95 [add monogram for $10]

I call this relatively simple passport holder one of my best travel buys. It's sized a bit longer than traditional cases to fit airplane tickets, so its owner can keep everything from business cards, their passport, and their ticket all in one easy-to-find spot. Like all of Cuyana's leather pieces, the pebbled passport case looks and feels high-end. It comes in four classic colors: black, navy, red, and stone, and can be monogrammed for $10 to add personalization.



A print of their favorite lyric, poem, or quote

Custom Quotes, available at Minted, from $32

Get their favorite lyric, poem, or quote printed for them so they can be reminded often of something that inspires or brings them joy. It's especially special that you remembered what it was. Minted is a cool company that curates what it carries based on design competitions, with the Minted community voting on what is eventually sold — but, if you'd like more options, Etsy also has great ones



A zodiac necklace that mixes luxury with personalization

Capricorn Necklace, available at Mejuri, $79

Mejuri's popular zodiac necklaces are a great way to gift jewelry that manages to feel both luxurious and intimate — something that can be lacking in refined gifts. The Canadian startup as a whole is a unique mix of approachability and elegance, which may be why they're known for wait lists that top out at 40,000 people. 



A box of fan gear that honors their favorite sports team

Boston Bruins Fanchest 3, available at Fanchest, from $59

Whether this means you'll be attending frigid tailgates with them or releases you from it, a box of team gear is a great gift for any avid sports fan. 



Personalized Suitcase, available at Away, from $250

These monogrammed suitcases are hand-painted by a lettering artist in New York City and take two to three weeks to ship, so plan accordingly. With their smart features, compact design, and variety of color options, they're worth the wait. 



Another type of customized travel gear

Gift a Roam Gift Card, from $55

If monograms aren't their style, they might be better off with a Roam carry-on. Nine parts of the lightweight hardshell suitcase are customizable, allowing them to flex their creative color chops. 



A wine subscription that sends high-end wine by the glass based on their preferences

Six-Month Gift subscription, available at Vinebox, $158

Vinebox sends a personalized wine flight to their door that's curated based on their personal tastes and preferences. It comes four times per year (so, a six-month membership means two boxes). Each vial is portioned to be one full glass of fine wine, and members get $15 towards full-sized bottles each quarter.

 



A nice marble cutting board with their initial at the top

Marble and Copper Monogram Boards, available at Williams-Sonoma, from $26.99 (originally $39.95)

If they love to cook, or they love Williams-Sonoma, you can't go wrong with a marble cutting board with their initial in copper at the top. It's useful, modern, and personal without being over-the-top. Pair the gift with a nice wine and cheese for their next night in. 



A photo calendar

 Brass Easel and Calendar, available at Artifact Uprising, from $55

This classy, solid brass piece makes a beautiful desktop display. The personalized selection of photos makes an ordinary calendar feel more special — but choosing only 12 of your favorite photos could prove to be difficult. 



An embroidered T-shirt

Women's Fitted Crew, available at Known Supply, $28 [add monogram for $10] 

Men's Crew Neck, available at Known Supply, $32 [add monogram for $10]

Known Supply's ultra-soft tees are the perfect addition to their basics drawer. They're made from Pima cotton, which only gets more comfortable with each wash. 

 



A vitamin-and-supplement subscription

Gift Card, available at Care/of, from $30

Before Care/of, gifting a pack of vitamins would be strange, but the company has somehow normalized the process with its personalized packaging and even more personalized vitamin plans. After taking a quiz, they'll learn which vitamins and supplements they need the most and get them conveniently delivered to their house. 



Shampoo and conditioner designed for their specific hair needs

Gift Card, available at Function of Beauty, from $39

To get their personalized hair care, they'll start with a quiz that asks them about their hair concerns and needs. The final formulation they receive addresses those needs, and is also free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and GMOs. Plus, the bottle labels will feature their name. 



These are the 32 biggest stars on TikTok, the viral video app teens can't get enough of

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tiktok stars

  • TikTok is one of the most popular social platforms, particularly among Gen Z, where users can watch short-form video clips and create something that could go viral.
  • Some of the most popular creators have millions of followers, who watch them lip-sync, dance, and produce comedy skits as they grow into high-profile influencers.
  • These are the 32 most popular TikTok stars, who found fame on the platform and have all shot past 10 million followers.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

To teens, the most popular figures on social media platforms like TikTok are well beyond mega-celebrity status in their eyes.

These TikTok stars claim millions of followers — many who are of Gen Z age themselves — and found fame by creating short video clips lip-syncing to soundbites, showing off viral dances, and crafting comedy skits that get shared thousands of times. 

The hottest accounts on the two-year-old TikTok don't have nearly as many followers as the top channels on the more-established YouTube (where T-Series has blown past 100 million subscribers). However, TikTok has now been downloaded more than 1.2 billion times, and can be credited as the launchpad for many of the memes criss-crossing the internet, including Lil Nas X's chart-smashing hit "Old Town Road." 

At one point, a pair of German twins named Lisa and Lena had the most popular account on TikTok, but they deleted their account at the end of this March to "break new ground." There are also a few Indian stars — part of a squad dubbed Team 07— who were once among the top accounts on TikTok, but they were suspended this year for violating TikTok community guidelines.

Note that this list consists of independent creators who got their starts as influencers on TikTok or its predecessor, Musical.ly. The rankings exclude accounts run by companies, and those from users who got famous first through other means — like former Vine stars Cameron Dallas and Zach King, and JoJo Siwa of "Dance Moms" fame.

Read more:Inside the rise of TikTok, the video-sharing app with 1 billion downloads that's owned by a massive Chinese internet company

These are the 32 biggest stars on TikTok, all of whom have amassed more than 10 million followers:

SEE ALSO: How to use TikTok, the short-form video app Gen Z loves and that's ushering in a new era of influencers

32. Burak Özdemir (Czn Burak) — 10 million

Burak Özdemir, aka CZNBurak, is the most famous chef on TikTok. He's known for cooking elaborate Turkish meals while his face features a seemingly permanent, unmoving smile.



31. Saloni Singh — 10.8 million

Saloni Singh is a 16-year-old who still lives at home with her parents in India, but that hasn't prevented her from rising to become one of the most popular teenagers in the country through TikTok. There's not a lot of information about Singh online, but her TikTok account features tons of comedic lip-sync videos and voiceovers.



28. Nagma Mirajkar — 11 million

Nagma Mirajkar was the first "regular" Indian woman to be crowned a verified creator on TikTok — that is, her fame came sheerly from the platform. Mirajkar, 27, creates videos raging from comedy skits to fashion and style tutorials.



28. Maverick Baker — 11 million

Maverick Baker is an 18-year-old TikTok star living in Oklahoma who produces popular lipsync and dance videos. He releases music with his brother Cash, a fellow TikTok star, under the name "Cash and Maverick," whose joint TikTok account has 6.3 million followers itself.

The Baker family is a team of social media famous siblings: Maverick, Cash, and their sister Lani collectively have 26.2 million followers on their TikTok accounts.



28. Adnaan Shaikh — 11 million

Adnaan Shaikh (@adnaan07) is one of the members of a five-person group of Indian social media influencers called Team 07, whose members are among the most popular accounts on the platform. The team, including 23-year-old Shaikh, often release comedic sketch videos featuring each other on their accounts.



27. The Stokes Twins — 11.4 million

Alex and Alan Stokes are 22-year-old twins who have channeled the internet's obsession with twin pairings to go viral and garner a following on YouTube and Instagram.

"It's the same reason why couples channels do well," Alan Stokes told The Atlantic this year. "Twins are the closest you can get to someone without it being a couple thing."



26. Aashika Bhatia — 11.6 million

Aashika Bhatia's claim to fame is a handful of popular roles as a child actress, but she's moved that following at age 19 over to TikTok, where she shares videos of herself dancing and lip-syncing.



25. Rebecca Zamolo — 11.7 million

Rebecca Zamolo is a former gymnast who often shows off her talents in videos on her popular TikTok and YouTube channels. She also produces comedic content with her husband, social media star Matt Slays, including scripted videos where they "fight off" a YouTube hacker through a series of games and challenges.



24. Jason Coffee & Family — 11.9 million

Jason Coffee has shared the antics of his family online to gain a massive following for him and his children: Peyton, Isaac, and Caleb. Coffee's online pseudonym comes from his time as a Starbucks barista before he started making videos on Vine, and later TikTok.



22. Cash Baker — 12.6 million

Cash Baker is the slightly younger brother of fellow TikTok star Maverick, with who he releases music. The 16-year-old rose to fame with the song "The Way You Move," a collaboration with his brother, which went viral on TikTok.

The Baker family is a team of social media famous siblings: Maverick, Cash, and their sister Lani collectively have 26.2 million followers on their TikTok accounts.



22. Manjul Khattar — 12.6 million

Manjul Khattar, a 21-year-old social media star living in India, has found most of his popularity on TikTok, but it's not where he started. Khattar has popular channels on Instagram and YouTube, but he blew up on TikTok where his comedy sketches have gotten attention.



21. Sameeksha Sud — 12.7 million

Sameeksha Sud is known for her comedic sketches alongside two other India TikTok stars, and the three of them altogether run a successful YouTube channel called TeenTigada. The 28-year-old Sud is also an actress, but has gained in popularity thanks to TikTok.



20. Lucky Dancer — 13.7 million

Lucky Dancer— whose real name is Arhan Khan— has been posting TikTok videos showing off his dance moves since he was 14. Khan, now 17, also runs dance workshops in India in his spare time.



19. Danielle Cohn — 14 million

At the age of 13, Danielle Cohn became one of the most popular creators  on Musical.ly, the American version of TikTok, before the two merged last year. Cohn, now 15, was the subject of much anger and concern earlier this month after she produced a video saying she was married to her 16-year-old boyfriend, fellow influencer Mikey Tua, and pregnant with his child.  Cohn later revealed that the video was just a joke for attention, but it has helped to bring more followers to her YouTube channel and Instagram account.



18. Annie LeBlanc — 14.1 million

Annie LeBlanc's brand was first tied to her family, since she got her start as one of children in her family's YouTube channel Bratayley, which has over 7.2 million subscribers. The 14-year-old was propelled to Gen Z fame, however, after starting her Musical.ly channel and landing a role as one of the lead cast members on the popular YouTube series "Chicken Girls," produced by teen-beloved media company Brat.



17. Savannah Soutas & the LaBrant Family — 15.3 million

Savannah Soutas is the matriarch of a family with an insanely popular social media presence. Her husband, Cole LaBrant, is a former Vine star known as part of a dancing trio dubbed "Dem White Boyz." The couple's YouTube channel about their family has nearly 10 million subscribers, and their two children — age 6 and 7 months— each have Instagram followings over 1 million.



16. Holly H — 16 million

Holly H had a moderate following on Vine, but has built most of her fanbase through TikTok. The 23-year-old is Britain's biggest TikTok star, and The Times referred to her in a recent profile as the "virtual best friend/big sister/confidante/girl crush" to millions.



15. Lauren Godwin — 16.5 million

Lauren Godwin frequently produces comedic content based on life as a "normal gal going to school in Houston," the 19-year-old told Business Insider in July. She is dating fellow TikTok star Sebastian Bails, and the two often produce prank and challenge videos together.



14. Garima Chaurasia — 16.6 million

Garima Chaurasia (aka Gima Ashi) is a 21-year-old Indian TikTok star and model. She went viral in February for a TikTok video dancing and lip-syncing to an India song titled "Boht Hard."



13. Avneet Kaur — 16.8 million

Avneet Kaur first emerged on the scene as a contestant on an Indian reality dance competition in 2010 at nine years old, but has since went on to be a popular actress and choreographer. The 17-year-old Kaur frequently features on her TikTok behind-the-scenes footage from her time on set, and lipsync videos with family and friends.



12. Arishfa Khan — 17.8 million

Arishfa Khan is a 16-year-old girl from India who got her start as a child actress at age 9. However, she gained a major following for her lip-syncing videos on her TikTok account, and has since created a beauty and makeup-centric YouTube channel. Her videos often feature fellow TikTok star Lucky Dancer.



11. The Dobre Twins — 18 million

Lucas and Marcus Dobre are a pair of 20-year-old twins whose TikTok videos comprise of comedic skits, pranks, gymnastics, and vlogs. The twin brothers also create content for YouTube with their older brothers Cyrus and Darius, and the four are embarking on a cross-country tour this summer to meet fans.



10. Jayden Croes — 18.4 million

Jay Croes, 20, is the younger half of popular social media sibling duo Croes Bros. The two brothers grew up in Aruba, where life was "pure and simple," then started to grow their fanbase on Musical.ly in 2015.



9. Awez Darbar — 18.7 million

Awez Darbar is a 26-year-old from India known for posting videos showing his original choreography and dancing to viral hits.



8. JiffPom — 19.4 million

JiffPom is a tiny Pomeranian dog who holds two Guinness world records for his speed on only two of his four tiny legs. He's often spotted in trendy outfits in his multiple celebrity appearances, including in the music video for Katy Perry's song "Dark Horse."



7. Jannat Zubair Rahmani — 19.9 million

Jannat Zubair Rahmani is a 17-year-old actress whose career started at eight years old. She has since found success on TikTok as one of India's most popular accounts, where she shares music she produces and shares lip-syncing videos.



6. Jacob Sartorius — 21.2 million

Jacob Sartorius was one of the most popular stars on Musical.ly, which has helped the 16-year-old launch a mildly successful career in music. Sartorius also graced headlines in 2018 as part of a much-publicized relationship with "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown. 



5. Gilmher Croes — 21.8 million

Gil Croes is the other half of the wildly popular Croes Brothers, and is one of the older stars on TikTok at age 26. Croes told Business Insider last month that since starting to make videos in 2015, the brothers have been forced to change and adapt in order to maintain popularity on the platform.

"We never get comfortable, can never do the same thing that we were doing before," Croes said. "You can't please everyone, but we try to adapt in a way where people enjoy our content."



3. Riyaz Afreen — 23 million

Riyaz Afreen (@riyaz.14) is only 15, but has established himself as an actor and star through going viral on TikTok. He often features other popular Indian TikTok stars on his accounts, including Mr. Faisu and Aashika Bhatia.



3. Kristen Hancher — 23 million

Kristen Hancher has gained an incredibly large fanbase who have watched the 20-year-old through years of lip-syncing videos and dozens of hair color changes. Now, Hancher is a member of Jake Paul's Team 10 squad, and lives in the infamous Los Angeles mansion full of social media stars.



2. Baby Ariel — 29.8 million

Baby Ariel, aka Ariel Martin, was the first individual to surpass the 20-million-followers mark on Musical.ly, and her fame has only grown from there. The 18-year-old's illustrious TikTok fame has led to multiple gigs on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon TV shows.



1. Loren Gray — 34.7 million

At age 17, Loren Gray is the most-followed person on TikTok. At one point, she hosted her own Snapchat show called "Glow Up," and has garnered nominations for her social media presence at the Teen Choice Awards and People's Choice Awards. She has also been producing music since 2017, and most recently released the single "Can't Do It" in May.



A Florida mansion designed to look like the former home of the Romanov Tsars just hit the market for $13.5 million. Here's a look inside Fort Lauderdale's 'Golden Palace.'

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  • A Florida mansion nicknamed "The Golden Palace" has hit the market for $13.5 million, Business Insider learned from Douglas Elliman.
  • The lavish seven-bedroom waterfront estate was inspired by the world's second-largest art museum, the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
  • The 9,000-square-foot mansion sits on 0.45 acres of waterfront property in Lighthouse Point, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
  • It features a gold-plated and Swarovski crystal chandelier and gold-leafed ornamentation throughout the home.
  • The home comes with a 100-foot boat dock and a heated saltwater pool. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Florida mansion nicknamed "The Golden Palace" has hit the market for $13.5 million, Business Insider learned from Douglas Elliman.

The lavish seven-bedroom waterfront estate was inspired by the world's second-largest art museum, the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The Golden Palace, which is an off-market exclusive listing with Carol Cassis and Stephan Burke of Douglas Elliman, features a gold-plated and Swarovski crystal chandelier and gold leafed ornamentation throughout the home. Outside is a 100-foot boat dock and a saltwater heated pool.

Take a look inside the Russian-inspired "Golden Palace."

SEE ALSO: The penthouse of NYC's Woolworth Building just got a $31 million price cut. Check out 'The Pinnacle,' which occupies the top 5 floors of the iconic, green-roofed skyscraper.

DON'T MISS: An NYC penthouse once owned by Demi Moore just hit the market for $50 million, and she's just one of the celebs who have called the iconic Central Park building home. Here's a look inside.

A Florida mansion nicknamed "The Golden Palace" has hit the market for $13.5 million, Business Insider learned from Douglas Elliman.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The 9,000-square-foot mansion sits on 0.45 acres of waterfront property in Lighthouse Point, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.

The median price of currently listed homes in Lighthouse Point is $712,000, according to Zillow.



The seven-bedroom waterfront estate was inspired by the world's second-largest art museum, the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The lavishly decorated State Hermitage Museum was once the official residence of the Romanov Tsars.

Source: Saint Petersburg



The opulent Florida mansion features a gold-plated and Swarovski crystal chandelier.

Source:Douglas Elliman



Gold leafed ornamentation can be found throughout the home.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The interiors were created by artists from Russia, Italy and Miami.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The kitchen features a marble-topped center island and golden hardware.

Source:Douglas Elliman



A formal dining room can comfortably seat 10 people.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The home has seven bedrooms ...

Source:Douglas Elliman



... and seven bathrooms, as well as two additional half-bathrooms.

Source:Douglas Elliman



Each bedroom has views of the water.

Source:Douglas Elliman



Outside is a heated saltwater pool and expansive lounge space.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The home's 100-foot boat dock comes with a double jet ski platform and yet another swimming pool.

Source:Douglas Elliman



The Golden Palace is one of many extravagant mansions in the Fort Lauderdale area.

The most expensive current listing is a $32 million, 11-bedroom home that's almost twice the size of the Golden Palace.

And there are at least 16 other homes asking even more than the Golden Palace's $13.5 million price tag.



How to find the Control Panel on a Windows 10 computer in 2 ways, or access the Settings app

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  • Knowing how to find the Control Panel in Windows 10 gives you access to most of the tools you'll use to customize or adjust your computer.
  • You'll need to use the Control Panel to edit your Windows computer's graphics settings, hardware settings, user account features, and more.
  • You can find the Control Panel in a few ways, or access your Settings app for other features. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In previous editions of Windows, you could find the Control Panel menu easily, through the Start Menu or through the File Explorer. Windows 10, however, doesn't display it in these places anymore, which might leave you a bit confused on how to find it.

Fortunately, it's just a case of knowing where it was moved to — and what keys to press.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to find the Control Panel in Windows 10

Press the Windows logo on your keyboard, or click the Windows icon in the lower-left of your screen to open the Start Menu. There, search for "Control Panel." Once it appears in the search results, just click its icon.

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Alternatively, in some versions of Windows 10, you can right click the Windows icon at the bottom-left of the screen to bring up the Quick Access menu. It's listed in this menu underneath the Task Manager.

  • In the Quick Access menu, you can also click "Run" (or press Windows Key+R) to open the Run menu. There, type in "control panel" and click "OK," and it should open.

In newer versions of Windows 10, many functions of the Task Manager have been replaced by the Settings app.

  • You can find the Settings app by selecting it in the Quick Access menu if it appears, or by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard.

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Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best keyboards you can buy

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The best art supplies for your studio

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  • The best art supplies can cost a pretty penny, but you don't have to spend all your savings to get great materials.
  • We've rounded up the best traditional art supplies you can buy online, including graphite, charcoal, pastels, watercolors, acrylic, oil paints, sketchbooks, canvas, and more.

If you're going off to art school or you just love to create, you need quality art supplies. While artists who've made it past the "starving artist" stage may use incredibly expensive supplies to create their masterpieces, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on top-tier materials. Often, more affordable options will serve you just as well, provided you have the know-how to make them work to your advantage. We've rounded up many of the basic art supplies you need in your studio in one handy guide. 

As someone who's been drawing since I could hold a crayon, I've been through my fair share of graphite pencils, charcoal, sketchbooks, erasers, and paint sets. I've tried dozens of different brands over the years, and some are still my favorites.

Here are the best art supplies you can buy:

Updated on 11/04/2019 by Remi Rosmarin: Updated prices, links, and formatting. We will update this guide soon with more great art supplies.

The best sketchbook

Strathmore makes excellent sketchbooks with all kinds of paper, including drawing, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and more.

I've used Strathmore sketchbooks for years. I typically buy the ones with recycled paper, but I've also used the pastel, charcoal, and watercolor pads for when I need a different texture of paper. No matter what media you choose, these sketchbooks can handle it. 

Of course, the standard paper will warp if you do watercolors on it, but for any kind of pen, pencil, marker, or another drawing implement, it will do the job. The paper is a good thickness and weight. 

When it comes to the watercolor paper, it's sturdy and strong enough to stand up to lots of water. The charcoal and pastel paper have a wonderful texture to them that really works for the softer media and good blending. Strathmore's prices are fairly reasonable, too, so you can sketch away.

Pros: Sturdy sketchbooks, great paper quality, paper types for different media, affordable

Cons: Larger sizes cost more, specialty papers have less pages

Besides the product shown at the top, here are other Strathmore products we recommend:

Product Embed:
Product Name: Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Pad (9 x 12, white bound)
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Product Name: Strathmore 300 Series Charcoal Pad (11 x 17, wire bound)
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The best graphite pencils

The Staedtler Pencil Mars Lumograph 12-Piece Set comes with all the graphite pencils you need to draw like a pro.

If you draw with graphite pencils, you know that not all graphite is the same. This Staedtler set comes with 12 pencils in different hardnesses from 8B to 6H. For the uninitiated, the higher the number in front of the B, the softer the lead. Conversely, the higher the number in front of the H, the harder the lead.

Most people will use 2B, HB, and B the most, but if you need deep dark blacks that blend well, you'll need 4B and up. For hard, light lines, H pencils are perfect. 

The pencils come in a tin for safe keeping, they're easy to sharpen, and they're comfortable to hold — even when you draw for hours on end. I've used dozens of graphite pencils, but Staedtler's are the best for the price.

Pros: Bold graphite pencils, 8B to 6H range, affordable, long lasting

Cons: None



The best charcoal drawing set

General 33-Piece Classic Charcoal Drawing Set has every kind of charcoal you need to create beautiful work.

If you're just getting started with charcoal or you want to try a new medium, this General charcoal set has everything you need, including 18 pencils, 12 sticks, a sharpener, an eraser, and a drawing pad.

Each pencil is labeled with its hardness level, and the set has white charcoal pencils for highlights, too. The kneaded eraser is a great blending tool, but it can also erase any mistakes fairly well. The charcoal sticks come in various thicknesses, so you can work big or small.

The only charcoal types that are missing are powder and vine charcoal, but those are specific tools that most people won't need right away. I've used General charcoal pencils for years, and they can produce some great sketches, even though they're relatively affordable.

Pros: Big set with many pieces, includes white and black charcoal, comes with eraser, charcoal sticks and pencils, affordable

Cons: None



The best colored pencils

The Prismacolor Quality Art Set includes 48 colored pencils that are rich in color.

The Prismacolor Quality Art Set comes with 48 colored pencils in beautiful, bright shades. You'll also get a sharpener and a Latex-Free Scholar Eraser in the set. 

These colored pencils aren't like the basic Crayola ones you used in elementary school — They're high-quality, soft lead pencils with rich colors. You can create extraordinary drawings with these Prismacolor pencils or you can color in an adult coloring book to make a black and white design come to life.

These are the colored pencils I turn to when I'm not interested in black and white images anymore.

Pros: Bold colors, lots of variety, long lasting, eraser and sharpener included, affordable

Cons: None



The best erasers

The Prismacolor Premier Kneaded, ArtGum and Plastic Erasers will erase any mistake you make.

To err is human, and here to fix your mistakes are Prismacolor's erasers. This three-pack gives you a Kneaded rubber eraser, an artist gum eraser, and a plastic eraser that's latex-free. 

I personally only use kneaded erasers, because they work with all media and they don't shed eraser bits everywhere, but the ArtGum eraser is great for stubborn graphite and the Plastic eraser doesn't shed, either.

Since this set gives you all three, you can pick and choose which one you need based on the medium you're working with.

Pros: Three types of eraser, affordable

Cons: None



The best pastels

Sennelier makes the absolute best oil and soft pastels, but Van Gogh, Koh-i-noor, and Prismacolor are fine alternatives.

One of my favorite mediums is pastel. The rich, bold colors and easy blending make for the perfect drawing experience. Of all the pastels I've used, Sennelier's are the best. Its oil pastels, in particular, are stunning. The richness of the colors is unparalleled and you can feel the oiliness of the pastel. I lust over them every time I got to the art store. 

However, Sennelier's wares are very expensive, because they are among the best in the business at pastels. Since not everyone can spend hundreds on pastels — myself included, alas — Van Gogh makes great oil pastels for much less, Koh-i-noor sells wonderful soft pastel pencils, and Prismacolor makes great soft pastels for an affordable price.

I mostly use soft pastel pencils, because the fine tip gives you more control over your drawing and fine detail. However, when you're working big and you need to blend, Prismacolor's pastels are perfect. Van Gogh's oil pastels are nearly as pigmented and rich as Sennelier's and they blend very well. You can even thin them with linseed oil, just like you would oil paint if you want a painterly look.

Pros: Beautiful oil and soft pastels, good variety of colors, strong pigments

Cons: Sennelier's pastels are expensive

Here are the best pastels we recommend:

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Product Name: Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Soft Pastel Pencil (set of 12)
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The best watercolors

Winsor & Newton makes wonderful watercolor paints and sets, while Derwent makes excellent watercolor pencils.

Watercolor is a beautiful medium, and while you may think about those plastic sets from elementary school, the best watercolors come in tubes like acrylic and oil paint. You can get good sets in plastic, of course, and there are wonderful watercolor pencils, too. We've got picks for all three.

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color 12-Tube Set is best for the serious watercolor addict who wants a nice set of colors, while the Sketcher's Pocket Box is great for watercolor artists on the go who want a travel-friendly plastic set. Both provide rich, lovely color.

My favorite watercolor pencils are by Derwent because you can get a nice variety of colors without paying too much. The watercolor pencils give you more control over fine details in your paintings, so they may be a fun addition to your supplies if you're more used to the liquid paint of watercolors.

Pros: Bright colors, good variety in the sets, sturdy pencils

Cons: High-end tubes are pricey

Here are the best watercolor art supplies we recommend:

Product Embed:
Product Name: Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color (set of 12)
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Product Name: Derwent Water Color Pencils (12-count)
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The best acrylic paint

Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube 12-Piece Set and the Winsor & Newton 2190517 Galeria Acrylic Paint 10 Tube Set are great starter kits for painting.

My first set of acrylic paints was the BASICS set by Liquitex. The set comes with 12 colors that you can mix to your heart's content to create more shades. You really only need these basic colors to create every shade of the rainbow.

Of course, this budget set isn't that high-end, so if you're looking for something a bit better, the Winsor & Newton 10-tube set is a great option. You'll pay more for higher quality paint and strong pigments. You can't go wrong with either one, really.

Pros: Strong colors, affordable options, high-quality options, sets offer good value

Cons: Small tubes, can get expensive

Here are the best acrylic paint sets we recommend:

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Product Name: Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube (set of 12)
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Product Name: Winsor & Newton 2190517 Galeria Acrylic Paint (set of 10)
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The best oil paint

Winsor & Newton, Gamblin, and Williamsburg Handmade oil paints represent very different price points to satisfy any budget.

The most expensive art you can get into is oil painting, but it's also one of the most powerful forms of art. Oil paint is richer than acrylic and it stays wet longer for better mixing, blending, and use over the course of long-term projects.

Winsor & Newton make a good oil paint that's suitable for beginners or artists on a budget. Gamblin falls in the middle, while Williamsburg's handmade oils are considered among the best. They're sold by tubes and not by sets, so you can pick the colors you need.

The differences are in the richness of the pigments, the oils used to make the paints, and the process by which the paint is made. You can spend hundreds on small tubes of the best oils, but these three options will serve you well until you become as famous as Picasso.

Pros: Strong colors, affordable options, high-quality options, sets offer good value

Cons: Small tubes, can get expensive if you go with the high-end paint

Here are the best oil paints we recommend:

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Product Name: Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colors Set (set of 10)
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The best brushes

Da Vinci makes great brushes for watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting.

No matter what medium you paint in, da Vinci Brushes has the brush you need. There are more brushes out there than can be put in a simple guide like this, but da Vinci's wares are relatively affordable and long-lasting, so we've included them here.

Some of the brushes are synthetic, but others are made from real animal hair and bristle. There is a lot of argument over what materials are best, but we've included a mix at different price points.

The main advice we have on brushes is don't get cheap terrible ones that shed all over your canvas.

Pros: Brushes for all media, relatively affordable, no shedding, sets offer good value

Cons: Real hair and bristle cost more

Here are the best da Vinci brushes we recommend:

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Product Name: da Vinci Brushes Student Series 3502 Beginner Paint Brush Set
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Product Name: da Vinci Brushes 5359 Artist Brushes
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Product Name: da Vinci Brushes Oil & Acrylic Series 4240 Maestro Oil Brush (set of 5)
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The best canvas

Fredrix makes good canvas, and it's almost always cheaper to stretch your own canvas than to buy pre-made ones.

If you're working in oil or acrylic, it's tempting to buy pre-stretched canvases and have it done. However, you can save loads of money — especially if you paint on huge canvases — if you make your own canvases. 

To do it yourself, you'll need wood for the frame, canvas, a staple gun, and canvas pliers to stretch it properly. I've made canvases before, and it may be hard work, but it's worth it. Plus, you can say you made it in the end.

Fredrix sells canvas in many forms and sizes. You can get it primed or unprimed if you prefer to do it yourself with a giant bucket of gesso or if you just want a raw canvas.

Pros: Canvas is cheaper when you make your own, good quality canvas material, primed or unprimed

Cons: Canvas is expensive, time-consuming to make

Here are the canvases and accessories we recommend:

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Product Name: Fredrix Red Lion Polyflax Primed Canvas (56 inches x 6 yards)
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Product Name: Fredrix Tara Unprimed Cotton Canvas (52 inches x 6 yards)
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Check out our guide to the best college supplies and dorm essentials

The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

Sending your kid off to college is nerve-wracking. The best you can do is impart a few life lessons and outfit your kid's dorm room with all the essentials. We've rounded up everything your kid needs for their dorm room from bedding and decor to tech and school supplies.




The best beer brewing kits

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  • While it's unfortunately not true that Benjamin Franklin once said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy," it's certainly a sentiment that most of us would agree with.
  • If you'd like to brew a cold one yourself, our top recommendation for home brewing kits is the Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter Kit.

While it's true that there is a nearly endless choice of craft beers these days — along with the ol' standbys on the supermarket shelf — it's a fact that there is something supremely satisfying about brewing up your own beer. Admittedly, you might not end up with results quite as tasty as those from the pros, but that's not really the point.

It's the joy of taking on an endeavor that's part science experiment, part art, part a whole lot of patience (be aware that the entire process takes at least a month). The best part is, of course, ending up with a refreshing glass of beer straight from your very own home brewery when all's said and done. 

Like many hobbies, home brewing requires a fair amount of equipment before you can get started and that equipment — or at least a portion of it — is what beer-making starter kits come with in the box. With the majority of kits, you'll need to add a few extra pieces yourself, but a kit is still a very convenient, and generally cost-efficient, way to gather up supplies.

You'll need the following items to brew beer at home:

  • A large stockpot, typically 5 gallons in size, but can be smaller if you're brewing less beer
  • A large plastic fermenter bucket (often referred to as a carboy), usually 5 gallons in size with an airlock that allows excess CO2 to escape during fermentation and a stopper to secure the airlock
  • A large plastic bottling bucket with a spigot at the bottom
  • A metal spoon that's long enough to reach the bottom of your stockpot
  • A racking cane and tubing to create a siphon for transferring your beer out of the fermenter and into the bottling bucket
  • A no-rinse sanitizer, which is used to clean your equipment before brewing
  • A waterproof thermometer like a candy thermometer
  • A hydrometer if you are brewing from grain instead of from an extract
  • A bottle cleaning brush, filler, and capper
  • Bottles and bottle caps, which you'll normally need to supply these yourself

Finally, you need beer ingredients: This is where the fun really starts. While you can visit a local brew shop and browse a vast assortment of ingredients, most beginners prefer to start with a kit. Ingredient kits typically contain the grain, sugar extracts, hops, flavorings, and yeast needed for beer production. You can find ingredient kits for a wide range of beer varieties, including many IPAs, but be aware that you'll need to restock for each batch of brew.

With all that in mind, we sorted through the many homebrew kits out there to find you five of the best for the newbie on the brewing scene. Read on to see which of our top picks are best for your needs.

Here are the best homebrew beer kits you can buy:

Updated 11/04/2019 by Owen Burke: Updated prices, and we're currently testing and considering the PicoBrew home brewing kit.

The best homebrew beer kit overall

The Northern Brewer's Brew Share Enjoy Homebrew Starter Kit comes with practically everything you need to brew five gallons of Block Party Amber Ale.

If you're eager to get up and brewing, the Brew Share Enjoy kit from Northern Brewer has everything you need (including a 5-gallon stainless kettle) to brew up five gallons of delicious Block Party Amber Ale. This rosy beer has a hint of floral and herbal flavor on top of the hops. All you'll need to add are the bottles and the water.

The best thing about this kit is that it truly has everything you need to brew beer at home. In addition to the 5-gallon stainless steel kettle, it comes with an auto-siphon instead of the more-difficult-to-use racking cane. The kit also includes very clear easy-to-follow instructions that are laminated. Beer brewing can be a messy business, so believe us — You'll appreciate the lamination when it's time to wipe those instructions clean.

The ingredients kit that accompanies the equipment includes the hops, yeast, pre-milled malted steeping grains, liquid malt extract, priming sugar, sanitizer, and a muslin bag for the steeping grains. Note that as is typical with homebrew kits, the beer ingredients are sufficient to brew one 5-gallon batch of beer. You'll need to buy another ingredient kit, or assemble your own ingredients, for your next batch. Northern Brewer offers many such ingredient kits, however, including a variety of IPAs, stouts, and lagers.

The Wirecutter chose this kit as its number-one choice for beginners' homebrew kits, and it's very popular on Amazon, where it has more than 100 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars. Says one satisfied customer, "This is a great basic starter home brewing kit. I brewed the Block Party Amber Ale that came with the kit, and it surpassed my expectations... delicious!"

Includes: Block Party Amber Ale recipe kit, 6.5 gallon fermentor w/ lid & Bubbler airlock, Bottling Bucket w/Spigot assembly, Fermenter's Favorites Bottle filler, 5 Gallon Stainless Brew Kettle, 21" Stainless Spoon Auto Siphon, 5 ft. Siphon Tubing & Siphon Tube Holder, Cleaner/Sanitizer - Fermenter's Favorites Oxygen Wash, Bottle Brush, Royal Crown Bottle Capper & Caps (60ct.)

Pros: Comes with just about everything you need, including a stainless kettle and stirring spoon, the components are good quality

Cons: None to speak of unless you aren't a fan of the amber ale



The best small-batch homebrew beer kit

With the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit, you'll brew smaller batches of beer in a space-saving system.

Brewing a full-size batch of beer takes up quite a bit of room. Not only do you need a 5-gallon cook pot, but you also need equally sized fermenting and bottling buckets, plus space to store the many bottles and other required equipment. Luckily, some brewers are taking this plight to heart, and creating homebrew kits that turn out smaller batches of beer — in this case, one gallon.

Brooklyn Brew Shop's Everyday IPA Starter Kit has nearly everything you need to brew up that gallon of oh-so-good IPA. You'll just need to add the stockpot, strainer, funnel, bottle caps, and bottles. When it's time to replenish, you'll appreciate the company's very wide range of beer ingredient kits, including Grapefruit Honey Ale, Chocolate Maple Porter, Chestnut Brown Ale, Pumpkin Beer, and many other tasty brews.

Along with the equipment, you'll get the recipe kit for the Everyday IPA, which includes actual grains, not extracts. That gives you full-bodied, tasty beer that you'll be proud to offer your friends. If you're willing to part with any of your hard-earned bottles, that is.

Reviewed highly recommends Brooklyn Brew Shop, saying, "Brooklyn Brew Shop distinguishes itself from the other brew kits by selling all-grain kits. For beginners looking for a small-batch kit, this is our top recommendation."

This is another very popular homebrew starter kit on Amazon, where the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Starter Kit has more than 250 reviews and an average of 4 stars. Buyers enjoyed the fun of home brewing and were by-and-large very pleased with the kit and the resulting beer, which has a citrusy top note that perfectly balances the bitterness of the hops.

Includes: Everyday IPA making mix (grain, hops and yeast), 1-gallon reusable glass fermenter, glass spirit-filled thermometer, vinyl tubing, racking cane & tip, chambered airlock, Brooklyn Brew Shop cleanser, and screw-cap stopper

Not included: Strainer, funnel, pot, and bottles

Pros: Includes real grain, not extract, doesn't require a lot of space, many ingredient kit refills to choose from

Cons: You'll need to come up with a few pieces of equipment yourself



The best homebrew beer kit for beginners

If you prefer to dabble in home brewing as a hobby before getting serious, you'll love the simplicity of the Mr. Beer Premium Gold Craft Beer Making Kit.

If you're looking for the easiest introduction to home brewing, you can't go wrong with Mr. Beer's Premium Gold Craft Making Kit. Like all of the many Mr. Beer starter kits, this comes with everything you need — even the bottles. Of course, the bottles are reusable plastic, as are their caps, and you'll get a plastic, 2-gallon jug that serves to mix, ferment, and bottle your beer. There's no need for separate fermenting and bottling buckets, or the various equipment required to move beer between them.

Admittedly, if you are a beer purist, this might not be your cup of brew, but if you just want to have some fun, brew some decent-tasting beer, and make it all as easy as possible, this is a terrific and inexpensive way to do it.

The Gold Craft Beer Making Kit comes with the ingredients for two batches of beer: one a classic American light, and the other an Oktoberfest lager. There's no complicated mixing or measuring with Mr. Beer: The ingredients are already measured, mixed, and extracted to make it easy for you.

Thrillist and 52 Brews praise just how easy Mr. Beer's kits are to use at home. The Mr. Beer Premium Gold Craft Beer Making Kit is the number-one homebrew starter kit on Amazon, with more than 825 reviews and an average of 3.8 stars. Buyers, of course, praise the ease of the process, but more importantly, most are pleased with the taste of the finished product. Mr. Beer offers a variety of ingredient refills, so you can try something new each time you brew.

Includes: A reusable Little Brown Keg fermenter, two brewing extracts to brew 2 batches (4 gallons/32 pints) of beer, 11 25 oz. shatterproof reusable bottles, pre-measured carbonation drops, No-Rinse Cleanser, instructions

Pros: Includes everything you need to brew a 2-gallon batch of beer, very easy to use, two ingredient kits included

Cons: Some buyers complained that the fermenting jug leaked



The best home brew kit for root beer

If you're brewing with your kids, or you just want to cut down on your alcohol intake, make a delicious creamy root beer with the Mr. Root Beer Home Brewing Kit.

Sure, technically this is not beer, it's soda. But sometimes, you need a cold, delicious drink that isn't alcoholic, and for those times, it's a lot more fun to brew your own root beer than simply drive to the store and buy some, especially when the Mr. Root Beer Home Brewing Kit makes it so simple.

Brewing up a couple gallons of root beer doesn't take nearly as long as beer. You can be sipping your non-alcoholic beverage in as little as three days, as opposed to the month or longer for beer. It's not nearly as complicated, either. Just pour the packets of ingredients and water into the included bottles, cap, and wait a few days while natural carbonation takes place. Then enjoy creamy, old-fashioned root beer with an excellent head of foam, just like you remember.

The Mr. Root Beer Home Brewing Kit has more than 300 reviews on Amazon and an average of 3.8 stars. Many buyers commented that they purchased the kit for their child, or to make along with their child, and that it was a lot of fun. As for the results, as you'd expect, they are mixed. Most people like the root beer, but some feel it isn't carbonated enough or doesn't have the root beer taste they are used to.

The majority, however, echo one pleased buyer's comment, "Bought this to make with my boys. Kit comes with enough supplies to make two full batches of root beer. I really like the unique flavor of this soda. It's more complex than commercial root beer with notes of vanilla."

Mr. Root Beer includes enough mix for two 1-gallon batches of root beer. All you need to add is sugar and water.

Includes: 2 Packets Root Beer Mix, 2 Packets Flavor Crystals, 1 Packet Root Beer Yeast, 1 Packet No-Rinse Cleanser, 4 Plastic 1-liter Bottles (PET), 4 Bottle Caps and Gaskets, 1 Plastic Funnel, 4 Root Beer Bottle Labels, 1 Easy to follow Instructions/Science Fun

Pros: It's a fun project for kids, doesn't take a lot of time, and produces tasty root beer

Cons: Some buyers felt the root beer was too yeasty, and some had trouble with carbonation



The best deluxe beer starter kit

If you expect to stay serious about brewing beer, or are ready for the next step up from Mr. Beer, the Northern Brewer Deluxe Home Brewing Starter Kit has everything you'll need for a lifetime of homemade beer.

When you're serious about crafting quality beer, you can't skimp on the steps. And that generally means a two-step fermenting process. Sure, it's a little more complicated, and yes, it takes a little longer, and okay, it means you'll need more equipment. But with the Northern Brewer Deluxe Home Brewing Starter Kit, you'll get the equipment you need, along with an ingredient kit for a 5-gallon batch of Chinook IPA. All you need to add is a 5-gallon stockpot and bottles.

52 Brews loves this kit, saying, "This is truly one of the highest quality home brew beer kits on the market. With this, you will be set up for years to come." The reviewer loves the two included glass carboys, the auto-siphon instead of racking cane, and the DVD that guides you through every step of the beer-making process.

On Amazon, the kit receives high praise and has an average of 4.7 stars. Buyers love the kit, the quality, the instructional DVD, and most of all, the finished beer. "Came with the Chinook IPA - great starter kit beer came out delicious. Instructions are great. Northern Brewer site also has a learning page with tons of videos. Thumbs up!" says one happy home brewer.

And of course, once you finish the included Chinook IPA ingredient kit, you can try a different kit, or go all-out and buy your own ingredients to brew a recipe of your choosing.

Includes: Instructional DVD, Chinook IPA Recipe Kit, 6 Gallon Glass Carboy (Primary Fermentor), Bung & Airlock, 5 Gallon Glass Carboy (Secondary Fermentor), Bung & Airlock, Blowoff Hose, Funnel & Adhesive Thermometers, Auto-Siphon & Tubing, Bottling Bucket & Spigot, Bottle Filler & Tubing, Bottle Capper & Caps, Carboy Brush & Bottle Cleaning Brush, Brewery Cleaner & Carboy Dryer

Required but not included: 4 to 5-gallon kettle and roughly 50 empty 12oz beer bottles that accept pry-off caps.

Pros: Includes two glass carboys for two-step fermentation, excellent instructional DVD, auto-siphon

Cons: It's expensive



7 nannies who work for the rich and powerful share the worst things they've ever been asked to do on the job

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  • Business Insider spoke to nannies who work for wealthy families across the United States to find out what their jobs are really like.
  • As it turns out, the job isn't always as glamorous as it may seem.
  • Several of the nannies interviewed were asked to do things well beyond their job descriptions — like cleaning out a rat's nest or sorting M&Ms by hand.
  • Many elite nannies get to travel the world for free in addition to getting paid as much as $150,000, but the job's high personal costs cause many to change careers after three to five years, Katie Provinziano, the managing director of Los Angeles staffing agency Westside Nannies, told Business Insider.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Traveling all over the world to care for the children of the rich and powerful may seem like a glamorous job, but it's not as easy as it looks, seven nannies who work for wealthy families across the US told Business Insider.

The nannies agreed that the perks and pay were unparalleled. Elite nannies can make up to $150,000 with full benefits, according to Katie Provinziano, the managing director of Los Angeles staffing agency Westside Nannies — but the costs are steep too. As a result, many elite nannies change careers after three to five years, Provinziano told Business Insider.

Keep reading to learn more about what it's really like to be an elite nanny.

Note: Business Insider was able to verify each nanny's identity, but we refrained from publishing some of their full names to protect their privacy.

Do you nanny for a wealthy family and have a story to share? Contact the reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-4725 using a non-work phone, email at trogers@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @TaylorNRogers. (PR pitches by email only, please.)

SEE ALSO: 13 billionaires who dropped out of college before making their fortunes

DON'T MISS: 7 defining differences between the ultra-wealthy and the 'millionaires next door'

Professional nanny Stephanie Felzenberg once had to work through a hurricane.

There was "flooding in house and no power for two weeks during the hurricane," Felzenberg told Business Insider.

Felzenberg was hired through an agency to care for the children of executives in Manhattan. Felzenberg served as the parent's personal assistant, housekeeper, and chef, she told Business Insider.

"I make it look easy, but it's not," Felzenberg said.



One former nanny said the family made whoever was on the overnight shift sleep in a closet.

"This was a very wealthy family but they had their overnight help sleep in a storage room that was not even on a proper bed," the former nanny told Business Insider. "It was like a couch with plastic wrap on it, and the bathroom was the shared bathroom in the kid's playroom. I think if you're going out of your way to hire someone to sleep overnight, wake up early and take care of your kids, you could at least provide some kind of bed."

The family lived in a large apartment in New York City's Upper East Side, the former nanny told Business Insider. The children's father was an executive at an investment banking firm, and hired multiple cooks and part-time nannies to help the family. The nanny who spoke to Business Insider found the job through Care.com to supplement her salary from her day job.



One elite nanny said she had to manually clear out a toddler's bowels.

"When the baby was about a year old, I stayed the night while the parents were out of town," the nanny told Business Insider. "The baby was screaming in pain the whole night from constipation. At about 3 in the morning, I put on a glove and manually dis-impacted his bowels trying to make him more comfortable. I got about two hours of sleep that night."

The nanny was hired through an agency after posting her resume on Care.com, they told Business Insider. The father was the CEO of a Durham, North Carolina based company and the mother was a doctor.



Frequent "poop disasters" also plagued another elite nanny based in Missouri.

"They didn't ask me to do it, but one of the poop disasters involved poop allllll over the carpet, walls, crib, stuffed animals, etc," the nanny told Business Insider. "I cleaned it all up before they got home."

Keeping the family's house clean was part of this nanny's daily responsibilities, in addition to grocery shopping for the family, and entertaining the children, the nanny told Business Insider.



One Chicago-based nanny had an uncomfortable situation with a pizza delivery guy and a $100 bill.

"One time I was left a $100 bill to order dinner while the parents were at a charity fundraiser," the nanny told Business Insider. "When the delivery guy arrived, he couldn't break the $100. We didn't know what to do, so we kinda stood there for a while, trying to contact the parents and his store. Eventually, the store had him return to his route and the mom had to call the store later to charge her card."



One family asked their nanny to clean out a rat's nest by herself.

It was the single most extreme thing this nanny was ever asked by a family to do, the nanny told Business Insider.



Another nanny told Business Insider she spent "back-breaking hours" sorting M&Ms by color, according to a child's preferences.

The nanny, named Genevieve, regularly picked out the child's two favorite colors from "monstrous" bags of M&Ms and put them in ziplock bags to have on hand whenever he wanted candy, she told Business Insider.



The best TV stands

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  • A great TV stand offers plenty of storage for your devices and media, and blends in with your home decor. 
  • We think that the Progressive Furniture Willow 74-inch TV Stand is the best one you can buy because it provides ample storage, looks great, and fits in with decorating styles. 

Building a home theater requires a lot of pieces. Not only will you want a good TV, but you also might have streaming boxes, gaming consoles, audio tuners, soundbars, and so on. You'll want to store all of those devices in a piece of furniture that looks good, feels organized, and fits in your home.

Of course, as with any product, there are a ton of TV stands out there, and some of them are simply better made than others. Sure, furniture often comes down to personal preference, but there are still certain features that make one TV stand different from another. Some are better suited to soundbars, have more compartments than others, or are easier to build, for example.

You'll want to think about size first of all. Be sure to measure not only the size of the space where the stand is going to be but also the size of your TV. After all, if your TV is huge, you'll probably want a TV stand that's at least as wide, if not a whole lot wider, plus, it should be very sturdy. You'll also want to consider how much space you want to store things, especially if you have a lot of streaming boxes and gaming consoles, along with accompanying media.

Budget is also a concern, so we've rounded up TV stands in a wide range of prices.

Here are the best TV stands you can buy: 

Updated on 11/1/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best TVs you can buy for less than $500

The best TV stand overall

The Progressive Furniture Willow 74-Inch Console is big, well-designed, and good-looking, plus, it offers plenty of storage for your devices and media.

Looking for a standard-size TV stand with ample storage for your boxes and media? The Progressive Furniture Willow 74-inch TV stand may be the best one for you. It's well-built, looks great, and it's nice and big.

This piece is built to look a little rustic, but we think it will fit in with a variety of decor styles. It also has a space for a soundbar, though it's a little narrow, so if you have a wide soundbar you may want to look elsewhere. If you don't have a soundbar at all, of course, you can just use that space as an extra shelf.

Cupboard doors cover all the shelving, so the TV stand is nice and streamlined. You can hide your messy stack of DVDs and many cables safely behind closed doors. It's made from pinewood and medium-density fibreboard (MDF).

So what are the downsides? Well, its size isn't really a downside, but if you have a smaller space for a TV stand, this 74-inch wide piece of furniture may be a little large for your home. It's also a bit expensive, and you'll have to assemble it yourself.

Pros: Beautifully designed, lots of storage, room for soundbar

Cons: Size won't work for everyone, a little expensive



The best TV stand with space for a soundbar

The South Shore Adrian TV Stand looks cool, has lots of storage, and boasts room for a soundbar.

Soundbars are becoming increasingly popular, and as such, you might want a TV stand that has ample room for a nice, wide soundbar. Like, for example, the South Shore Adrian 75-inch TV Stand. This TV stand can support TVs up to 75 inches and 100 pounds, so you know it's sturdy.

The TV stand has six shelves, four of which will be found behind nice, glass doors. South Shore also included a super-wide soundbar shelf, which can be used for other things if you don't have a soundbar.

The piece is available in two colors — black oak and gray maple — but those colors will likely suit most homes.

Like a lot of other furniture these days, you will need to assemble the piece yourself, but while we recommend taking a few hours to assemble it, and doing it with someone else, the instructions are very easy to follow, especially if you've assembled furniture before.

So what are the downsides? South Shore aims to make affordable furniture, and sometimes the result is that you'll find a few small blemishes on some of the pieces. Despite that, South Shore's customer service seems to be pretty good, and the company will likely send out replacement parts if you find any big dents on your TV stand.

Pros: Inexpensive, big soundbar shelf, lots of storage, good customer service

Cons: Not as high-quality as some others



The best budget TV stand

The super affordable Vivo VESA TV Stand is simple, minimalistic, and should look great in any home.

Perhaps you don't need a ton of storage and want a TV stand that looks sleek in a minimalistic home. If that's you, then the Vivo VESA Mount Stand is a great buy. This TV stand does away with the furniture part of the equation in favor of two legs that you'll screw into the holes on the back of your TV so that the TV can stand on any old table.

The legs accommodate TVs from 22-inches to 65-inches, though there are versions of the legs for larger TVs if you have one. The stand supports the universal VESA standard of screw holes on the back of your TV, but while chances are your TV conforms to that standard, you should check to be sure before you buy.

The downside? Well, it may not be the best choice for those with heavier TVs, so keep that in mind when you're mounting your TV.

Pros: Simple, minimalistic, inexpensive

Cons: May not be the best for heavier TVs



The best wall-mounted TV stand

The South Shore Floating Wall-Mounted Media Console is well-built and offers plenty of storage, plus, the floating design will help eliminate the clutter in your home.

Wall-mounted TV stands look great, especially if you wall-mount your TV, too. If you're looking for a great wall-mounted TV stand, then we recommend the South Shore 56-inch TV Stand. It's well-designed, plus it looks like it's floating.

Thankfully, there's a solid amount of room for storage, too. The TV stand features six storage spaces, which can be accessed using sliding doors on the front of the piece. There are three sections in total, each with two shelves. On top of that, the TV stand is available in a few different colors. We love the design and think that at least one of these color choices will fit perfectly in any home.

So what are the downsides? Because the TV stand is wall-mounted, you'll want to be careful with the amount of weight you put on it. Not only that, but as we mentioned before South Shore is a budget furniture company, and as such it's not uncommon to find a few small nicks on your furniture when it arrives.

As many customers note, however, South Shore customer service seems to be pretty good, and the company will likely send out replacements for any defective parts you receive.

Pros: Nice floating design, lots of storage, a few color options

Cons: Can't support as much weight, not necessarily as high-quality as other companies



Check out our other great furniture guides

The best armchairs 

Armchairs come in all shapes and sizes, from large overstuffed behemoths that command the room and deliver big on comfort to slim accent chairs that add color and style. When shopping for an armchair, it's as important to know where it will be placed in a room as it is to consider how it will mesh with the rest of your room's decor. With all of that in mind, here's where to buy the best armchairs: 


The best ottomans

Adding an ottoman to a living room may seem superfluous, but if you have space for one, it is actually a genius piece of furniture. Ottomans not only offer comfort, but some also work as great storage solutions, especially for small spaces. These are the best ottomans you can buy: 



How to convert a JPG file to a PDF on a Windows 10 computer using the default Photos app

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laptop working studying

  • You can convert a JPG file into a PDF in Windows 10 by changing some of the settings in your Print menu.
  • Although most programs can use either a JPG or PDF, some apps and websites can only take PDFs.
  • A JPG is an image format, while a PDF is a more print-friendly document format. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Many websites only accept certain file types when you try to upload something. This is pretty common for resumes, cover letters, and writing samples.

Screenshots you take on your Windows 10computer, whether with the Snipping Tool or otherwise, are likely to be saved as a JPG or PNG filetype. 

Because PDFs aren't an image format, the way you need to convert is a bit strange, which means it's not so obvious how you're supposed to do it.

Fortunately, it's still completely doable with just a few clicks.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to convert JPGs to PDFs in Windows 10

1. Open the JPG by double-clicking on it. By default, this should open it in the Photos app. If for some reason you've changed the default program, right-click the file, roll over "Open with," and select "Photos" from the list.

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2. Once it's loaded, press Ctrl + P to print, or use the print icon at the top-right of the Photos app.

3. In the menu that appears, you'll be able to choose where you want to print your picture to. Select "Microsoft print to PDF" as your printer.

turtle replacement 2

4. When you press "Print," you'll be asked where you want to save the new PDF file to. Pick a folder and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Your JPG should now be saved as a PDF, and can be opened in any PDF reading software available. If you're unsure of how to view it, know that most browsers support PDF files natively — just right-click the file, roll over "Open with," and select your browser of choice. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best speakers with Google Chromecast built-in you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best fish food

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best fish food buying guide

  • There are hundreds of species of aquarium fish, each with unique nutritional needs. After doing some research, we've determined the best fish food you can buy, including options for fish with special diets.
  • New Life Spectrum Thera+A is our top pick for freshwater and saltwater fish because it uses high-quality ingredients and can feed many different species.

Aquarium fish are a unique pet because they live in a self-contained environment and you can't directly interact with them. This being said, keeping a home aquarium offers a number of unique benefits over other pets. Having a home aquarium has been shown to reduce stress and lower blood pressure, plus you'll receive a certain sense of satisfaction from designing, creating, and cultivating a thriving aquatic ecosystem right in your own home.

Like any other pet, aquarium fish require a balanced diet in order to thrive. What many people do not realize is that different species have unique nutritional requirements. You can't just walk into a pet store, grab a can of fish food, and expect it to work for every species. Different species may require herbivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous diets and you may also have to account for differences in terms of what level of the tank a particular species swims in.

We've done the research to determine the types of diets required by the most popular aquarium fish to bring you our top picks in each category.

Here is the best fish food you can buy:

Updated on 11/04/2019 by Lisa Sabatini: Updated links, prices, formatting, and text.

The best fish food overall

New Life Spectrum Thera+A uses high-quality ingredients to feed a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish.

Many novice aquarium hobbyists make the mistake of thinking that all fish food is created equal. Not only do different species of fish have different nutritional needs, but different types of fish food offer different benefits. Our top pick for a high-quality fish food that meets the nutritional needs of a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater fish is New Life Spectrum Thera+A fish food.

This New Life Spectrum Thera+A formula combines the brand's high-density Spectrum Nutrition Formula with extra nutrients and healthy oils to nourish both freshwater and saltwater fish. Made with high-quality ingredients like whole Antarctic krill, whole fish, spirulina, and garlic, this recipe is nutritionally balanced and fortified to support the health, condition, and color of aquarium fish. Plus, it is easy to digest and comes in several different pellet sizes.

Fishtank Advisor includes New Life Spectrum Thera+A in its top 10 picks for the best fish food, commenting that the formula appeals to a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater fish, including cichlids. A review from Home Aquaponics System gives the formula a 4.5-star rating, commenting on its versatility and the fact that the pellets sink slowly enough to make them suitable for fish that swim at all levels of the aquarium.

Pros: Made from high-quality ingredients, easy to digest formula, fortified with color-enhancing nutrients, appeals to a wide variety of fish, suitable for freshwater and saltwater, pellets sink slowly, available in several different sizes

Cons: May need to buy different sizes for different fish, may not appeal to fish used to a flake food diet, may cloud tank water if overfed

Buy New Life Spectrum Thera+A on Amazon for $10.20



The best betta fish food

Loaded with whole fish proteins and color-enhancing nutrients, Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets will help your betta fish look and feel their best.

Also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, betta fish are some of the most brightly colored fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. These fish are best kept in tanks by themselves (at least for males of the species) and they require a nutrient-rich, carnivorous diet. Our top pick for the best betta fish food is Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets.

Made with fresh Alaskan seafoods, Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets offer unmatched nutrition for betta fish. These pellets are designed to float on the surface of the tank where your betta can easily see them, though they may sink to the bottom as they take on water. In addition to salmon, herring, and shrimp, these pellets contain color-enhancing nutrients to help your betta fish look their best.

Build Your Aquarium includes Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets in its list of the best betta fish pellets, commenting on the quality of the whole fish ingredients and the lack of both fillers and plant-based ingredients (aside from wheat as a thickener). Dr. Fox Magazine also recommends this food, noting that it contains a whopping 42% crude protein and very little ash, so it is unlikely to cloud or pollute your tank water.

Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets are a popular choice among betta fish owners. Customers love the nutrient-rich formula, though there are some comments about the pellets sinking too quickly. As long as you have your betta's attention at feeding time, this shouldn't be a problem.

Pros: Made with protein-rich ingredients for a carnivorous diet, includes color-enhancing nutrients, does not cloud tank water, rich in healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, easy to feed

Cons: Pellets may sink too quickly, pellets may break down if they sink to the bottom, may be too large for very young betta fish

Buy Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets on Amazon for $4.98

Buy Omega One Betta Buffet Pellets on Petco for $4.09



The best herbivore fish food

Rich in plant-based protein from fresh-harvested kelp, Omega One Veggie Rounds appeal to a wide variety of herbivorous fish.

Herbivorous species of aquarium fish require a plant-based diet, but that doesn't mean that you can skimp on protein. Kelp is a high-quality protein option for plant-eating aquarium fish, as long as it is harvested from a quality source. Our top pick for the best fish food for herbivores is Omega One Veggie Rounds because they are made with quality ingredients and appeals to a variety of species.

Omega One Veggie Rounds come in three sizes. Made with fresh-harvested kelp and supplemented with omega fatty acids and other healthy nutrients, this food appeals to a wide variety of fish, both freshwater and saltwater. The food comes in sinking wafers that work well for bottom-feeders and it won't cloud your tank water.

Pros: Made from fresh-harvested kelp for maximum nutrition, large size prevents wafers from being swallow whole, sinking wafer appeals to bottom-feeders, rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, high in plant-based proteins

Cons: Wafers may not always sink quickly, uneaten food should be removed after an hour to prevent breakdown, may not appeal to surface-feeding fish

Buy Omega One Veggie Rounds on Amazon for $8.49

Buy Omega One Veggie Rounds on Petco for $8.49

Buy Omega One Veggie Rounds on Chewy for $8.49



The best carnivore fish food

Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze-Dried Bloodworms are freeze-dried to preserve nutritional quality and they don't have harmful parasites or bacteria.

Many people don't think of aquarium fish as carnivorous but many of the most popular species are. Betta fish, discus fish, and tetras are all examples of aquarium fish that require a carnivorous diet made up of meat-based foods like worms and other insects. Our top pick for the best fish food for carnivores is Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze-Dried Bloodworms.

Bloodworms are nothing more than mosquito larvae, and they are one of the most popular foods for carnivorous species of fish. The problem with this type of food, however, is that they are often harvested from waters contaminated with parasites. Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze-Dried Bloodworms are guaranteed free from harmful parasites and bacteria, so they are safe for your aquarium fish. The bloodworms are rich in protein and supplemented with essential nutrients.

A review from B4 Best Reviews comments on the bloodworms' versatility as a meat-based food for all types of tropical fish. The writer also notes that the container features a convenient dispenser top. Desima also reviews the food favorably, noting that the bloodworms are fortified with essential nutrients and the product does not cloud tank water. 

Pros: Freeze-dried to preserve nutritional quality, 100% bloodworms plus essential nutrients, free from parasites and bacteria, easy dispenser top, high in protein and healthy fats, appeals to most carnivorous species of aquarium fish

Cons: Should be used as a supplement to a nutritionally balanced staple diet, some fish may not accept freeze-dried foods, somewhat expensive

Buy Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze-Dried Bloodworms on Amazon for $7.64

Buy Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze-Dried Bloodworms on Petco for $6.99



The best fish food for mid-level swimmers

The Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets are a nutritious food that appeals specifically to mid-level swimmers.

Different species of aquarium fish tend to swim at different levels of the tank. There are plenty of sinking foods for bottom-feeders and floating flakes for surface swimmers, but mid-level swimmers are often left in the lurch. Mid-level swimmers like tetras and barbs need a semi-floating food — a pellet that floats on the surface for a little while before it starts to sink. Our top pick for the best semi-floating food for mid-level swimmers is Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets.

Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets feature a scientifically-proven formula designed to nourish smaller species of fish that tend to swim in the middle level of the tank. These micro pellets are made with fish meal, krill meal, and fish oil as well as dried seaweed, spirulina, and a variety of healthy nutrients to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, these pellets will also help your fish reach their maximum coloration.

B4 Best Reviews describes this food as the "ideal balanced fish food for most tropical fish" and comments that the semi-floating pellet works well for both surface and mid-level swimmers. Best Automatic Fish Feeders says the pellets are rich in vegetable fiber as well as protein and essential nutrients.

Pros: Made with a blend of high-quality ingredients, includes both vegetables and protein, fortified with essential nutrients for balance and color enhancement, small pellet size is ideal for smaller species, sinking pellet works well for surface and mid-level swimmers

Cons: May be too small for larger species of fish, pellets may not always sink quickly, not ideal for bottom-dwelling species

Buy Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets on Amazon for $5.19

Buy Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets on Petco for $3.74



The best saltwater fish food

Designed specifically for saltwater species, New Life Spectrum's Marine Fish Formula features high-quality ingredients in a slow-sinking pellet.

Saltwater fish receive a highly varied diet in the wild that consists of both plant and animal foods. A high-quality saltwater fish food formula must appeal to the dietary needs of numerous species without sacrificing quality, and that is exactly what New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula offers.

Made with plenty of whole food ingredients, this recipe is highly concentrated and appealing to a wide variety of marine species. New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula features quality ingredients like whole Antarctic krill, Ulva seaweed, spirulina, and omega-3 fish oil to provide a balanced diet for a wide variety of saltwater species.

The 1mm pellets sink slowly enough that fish feeding at all levels of the tank have access to it. Fortified with color-enhancing nutrients and designed for digestibility, this food is an excellent all-purpose fish food for saltwater tanks.

The Mandarin Garden commented on the quality of the whole food ingredients and the fact that the formula is hormone-free. The reviewer also notes that the pellets are sized right for fish of all sizes and species, plus, the pellets sink slowly enough that fish swimming at all levels of the tank can catch them.

Pros: Made with high-quality whole food ingredients, fortified with color-enhancing nutrients, made in the USA, slow-sinking pellets for fish that feed at all levels, suitable for all diet types

Cons: Pellets may sink too quickly for top-feeders, fish used to flake food may transition slowly, somewhat pricey compared to other products

Buy New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula on Amazon for $13.99



The best fish food for algae eaters

Hikari Algae Wafers are scientifically formulated for algae-eating fish and other herbivorous species.

If your aquarium has a problem with algae growth, you might consider adding an algae-eating species of fish such as a Plecostomus to your tank. Keep in mind, however, that most fish will require supplemental feeding in addition to the algae they eat. Algae wafers are an excellent source of supplemental nutrition for algae-eaters and other omnivorous bottom-dwellers and our top pick is Hikari Algae Wafers.

Hikari Algae Wafers are made from a blend of high-quality algae and proteins for balanced nutrition that appeals to omnivorous species of fish. While this food is specifically designed for Plecostomus and other bottom-feeders, mid-level swimmers and even some surface dwellers may pick at the wafers as well. They are generously sized to prevent them from being swallow whole and they sink quickly so they won't be eaten before your bottom-feeders can get to them.

A review from Fishxperts notes that Hikari Algae Wafers offers the perfect balance of vegetables and proteins for Plecostomus and other bottom-feeders and species of algae-eating fish. Pet Keepers Guide comments that the wafers are generously sized to feed a small school of algae eaters or bottom feeders and they sink quickly.

Pros: Provides a blend of vegetable and protein ingredients, fortified with nutrients for nutritional balance, generously sized to feed a small school, sinks quickly, too large to be swallowed whole, appeals to a variety of omnivorous fish

Cons: Not recommended for surface feeders, uneaten portion should be removed after two hours

Buy Hikari Algae Wafers on Amazon for $12.99

Buy Hikari Algae Wafers on Petco for $12.99

Buy Hikari Algae Wafers on Chewy for $12.99



The best fish food for bottom feeders

Made with fresh shrimp and other whole food ingredients, Omega One Shrimp Pellets sink quickly to provide bottom feeders with a nutrient-rich diet.

Bottom feeders like Corydoras catfish play an important role in the home aquarium by consuming the leftover fish food that sinks to the bottom of the tank. In doing so, bottom feeders help keep the water column free from detritus and keep ammonia levels under control by consuming extra food before it breaks down.

While bottom feeders will eat leftover fish food and other debris, they still need a balanced diet. Our top pick for the best fish food for bottom feeders is Omega One Shrimp Pellets.

A high-quality fish food for bottom feeders needs to satisfy two requirements. It needs to sink quickly so other fish do not eat it and it needs to be nutritionally rich. Omega One Shrimp Pellets are made with fresh whole shrimp as well as salmon, cod, and herring to provide a protein-rich diet for bottom-feeding species. This recipe also contains natural fats and plenty of color-enhancing vitamins and minerals.

In its review, Aquascape Addiction says these shrimp pellets are loaded with protein and made with fresh shrimp, but the recipe is fairly low on plant ingredients, so you may need to supplement with algae wafers depending what kind of bottom feeders you have in your tank. Pet Keepers Guide liked that the pellets sink quickly enough to make it to the bottom of the tank before they can be picked up by other fish.

Pros: Made with fresh shrimp, numerous protein-rich ingredients, color-enhancing nutrients, fast sinking formula, rich in healthy fats, doesn't break down too quickly, small enough for most fish

Cons: Difficult to break into smaller pieces, herbivorous species may require supplemental feeding

Buy Omega One Shrimp Pellets on Amazon for $5.87

Buy Omega One Shrimp Pellets on Petco for $4.24

Buy Omega One Shrimp Pellets on Chewy for $4.24



Check out our other fish gear buying guides

The best fish tanks and accessories for beginners

Keeping pet fish is something of a science. To build a great aquarium for your fishy friends, you need a good fish tank and a few accessories. Here are the best fish tanks and accessories you can buy:



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