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The rise of David Dobrik, a 23-year-old YouTuber worth over $7 million who got his start making 6-second videos

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david dobrik

A 23-year-old YouTuber by the name of David Dobrik was recently named Generation Z's favorite social media personality in a survey from financial analyst firm Piper Jaffray.

If you're not a teen, it's possible you've never heard of the star. He's a celebrity that's risen to fame thanks to social media: He got launched into the spotlight on the video-sharing app Vine, and has since turned to YouTube, where he has more than 14 million subscribers.

Now, Dobrik has turned his empire into a net worth estimated at $7 million. His elaborate stunts and vlogs have earned him movie roles, a gig hosting the Teen Choice Awards, and a loyal fanbase.

Here's everything you need to know about David Dobrik, a Vine star-turned-YouTuber:

SEE ALSO: People are mourning the loss of Instagram's Following tab, which let users snoop on partners and keep tabs on celebrities

David Dobrik was born in Kosice, Slovakia on July 23, 1996. He has three siblings named Ester, Sarah, and Toby.

Source: Famous Birthdays



Dobrik and his family immigrated to a suburb of Chicago when Dobrik was six years old. He attended Vernon Hills High School, where he played tennis.

Source: Famous Birthdays, Chicago Tribune



Because he moved to the US when he was six, Dobrik is protected from deportation under the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, that allows undocumented minors to live and work in the country. However, under President Donald Trump, those protections could be revoked.

Source: Tubefilter



After Dobrik graduated high school, his parents gave him a choice: go to college or move out. Dobrik chose to move to Los Angeles in 2013 with a few of his friends, and the group struggled to survive on cheap groceries like peanut butter and bread.

Source: Forbes



Around this time, Dobrik discovered an app called Vine, where users could create short six-second looping videos to share with others. He started out running a few different sports accounts from which he would upload sports highlights and clips. At that point, Dobrik estimates he was making $1,500 to $2,000 a month.

Source: Forbes



But Dobrik soon transitioned over to creating comedic Vine videos. He started teaming up with other funny people on Vine — a group that's come to be dubbed as the Vlog Squad. This includes other big-name former Vine stars and YouTubers like Scotty Sire, Toddy Smith, Gabbie Hanna, Josh Peck, and Zane Hijazi.

Source: We the Unicorns



As he continued to produce videos on Vine, Dobrik followed some of the platform's creators over to YouTube in 2015. But he couldn't afford to create elaborate productions and rent out massive sets like other lucrative influencers were doing in order to produce content.

Source: Forbes



That's when Dobrik met fellow Vine star Liza Koshy, who introduced him to vlogging — essentially, online video journals. "I really liked that it was a small camera and you could just record your whole day," Dobrik told Forbes. "I filmed my first vlog and I think it worked because I wasn’t trying to make it work. I was just doing it for my own enjoyment."

Source: Forbes



By November 2015, Dobrik and Koshy were dating. "Never have I ever gotten so comfortable being around a person as quickly as I did with her," Dobrik said on the couple's one-year anniversary. "I probably sound so repetitive talking about how lucky I am."

Source: Instagram



When Vine shut down in late 2016, Dobrik switched over full-time to YouTube, where he has two channels: David Dobrik, home to vlogs, and David Dobrik Too, where he puts his content featuring members of his Vlog Squad. Between the two channels, Dobrik has over 20 million subscribers.



Dobrik launched a podcast in mid-2017 with fellow Vlog Squad member Jason Nash. Called "Views," the podcast takes people behind the scenes of their vlogs and just features the crazy antics between the two.

Source: Tubefilter



Dobrik and Koshy announced in June 2018 they had split. They filmed an emotional video on YouTube about the mutual breakup, and told fans they couldn't be together because of personal issues. Despite no longer dating, the two remain best friends and still film videos together.

Source: Insider



Dobrik has turned his success on YouTube into big-screen gigs. He starred in the animated film "Angry Birds Movie 2," and hosted the Teen Choice Awards in August 2019 alongside "Pretty Little Liars" star Lucy Hale.



Dobrik and his Vlog Squad are known for the wild pranks they play on each other, and general mayhem wherever they go. Just this year, Dobrik married the mother of Vlog Squad member Jason Nash to successfully pull off a long-standing joke of becoming Nash's stepdad. The marriage lasted a full month.

Source: E! Online



Dobrik is worth an estimated $7 million. He owns a $2.5 million home in Los Angeles, which features an in-house recording studio and a multitude of cars, including a Tesla and Ferrari.

Source: Celebrity Net Worth, Architectural Digest



Dobrik has a full-time live-in assistant, his longtime best friend Natalie Noel. Rumors have swirled that the two are dating, but the two haven't confirmed that.

Source: Cosmopolitan



It's unclear what the future holds for Dobrik, although he's said in past interviews he hopes to remain in the entertainment business. Dobrik told J-14 this year he would love to do late-night television.

Source: J-14




Kroger workers say firings and job changes have sparked fear and 'chaos' in some stores (KR)

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kroger grocery store

  • A Kroger store management overhaul involving hundreds of firings, demotions, and transfers has sparked fear and uncertainty in some stores, current and former employees told Business Insider. 
  • Some Kroger employees are worried that the company could be planning additional cuts to jobs and labor hours.
  • "The chaos in the stores right now is not giving the impression that they are lightly restructuring," said an employee of Smith's, which is owned by Kroger.
  • In a statement to Business Insider, a Kroger spokesperson said the staffing changes were designed to keep resources close to the customer and help deliver a better store experience. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Kroger store management overhaul involving hundreds of firings, demotions, and transfers has sparked fear, uncertainty, and "chaos" in some stores, according to current and recent employees.

The restructuring, which Business Insider first reported, has affected hundreds of people in management positions, some of whom had worked for the company for decades, sources said. Store managers and assistant store managers are among the roles impacted by the cuts.

"This is a huge shock," one fired store manager told Business Insider. "I'm the breadwinner of the family. Now I'm back on the street trying to figure out how I'm going to feed my family."

This worker and 10 others spoke to Business Insider on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. 

Kroger representatives delivered the news to affected employees over the course of several days through private meetings, some lasting about 15 minutes, which were held at corporate offices, hotels, and other meeting spaces outside stores, employees said.

Read more:Kroger is laying off hundreds of store managers

In some cases, fired employees were told they were prohibited from returning to the stores where they worked without an approved escort. 

Kroger said the staffing changes were designed to keep resources close to the customer and help deliver a better store experience. 

"Like many industries, grocery retail is navigating through disruptive change," a Kroger spokesperson told Business Insider. "These are not easy decisions, but we do believe they are necessary to ensure the Kroger family of companies can continue to deliver fresh, affordable food for customers, jobs with good benefits and growth opportunities, and our commitment to ending hunger in our communities."

Kroger employees fear additional cuts

"They met us at a hotel," said one former assistant manager, describing the meetings where workers learned whether they still had a job. Employees whose roles were impacted by the changes were generally given at least one of four directives: "you were going to be laid off, fired, transferred, or demoted," she said.

This person found out in one of these meetings that she would be demoted from her salaried position earning more than $60,000 annually to an hourly job in another store. She said the change, which was effective immediately, was expected to wipe out one-third of her annual income.

"I was in shock," she said. "I just wanted to get out of that meeting, go to my car and call my husband and cry."

Kroger Apeel Avocados

Some workers whose jobs haven't been directly impacted by the changes said they are fearful that the company could be planning additional cuts or reshuffling more positions. 

"The chaos in the stores right now is not giving the impression that they are lightly restructuring," said an employee of Smith's, which is owned by Kroger. "From an employee's point of view, this feels like they're either being bought out, having extreme financial trouble, or trying to save money by cutting out their store-level employees who are already running thin as it is."

A former Kroger employee with close ties to current workers described the cuts as a "nightmare."

"The store employees are all uptight and scared, everyone feels threatened," this person said.  

Kroger did not directly address a question from Business Insider on whether the company was planning additional layoffs or firings. 

Restructuring targets middle-management roles

Kroger is the largest traditional grocer in the US with more than 450,000 employees across more than 2,700 stores under banners including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Smith's, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Mariano's, and King Soopers.

Many of Kroger's hourly employees are unionized. The recent restructuring has largely targeted salaried, non-union middle-management roles. 

Some of the positions that have been affected by the changes include store managers, assistant store managers, and district coordinators, who oversee specific departments across multiple stores, sources said.

The company said the changes were made "with an eye toward keeping resources close to the customer."

"Our focus on the store experience is why our stores continue to hire for hourly positions today," the Kroger spokesperson said. "Today, we have more than 10,000 hourly store positions open across our family of stores. These are not management roles but front-line associates."

Kroger CEO says transformation is 'incredibly difficult'

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen

Kroger is making these staffing changes after announcing last month that it wouldn't hit its three-year target of $400 million in incremental operating profit as part of the transformation plan that it calls "Restock Kroger."

"Transformation is incredibly difficult, and that's the journey we are on with Restock Kroger," Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said on a call with analysts in September. "As we reflect on this journey, we want to be transparent about what went according to plan and what didn't go as anticipated."

Read more:Meet the 45-year-old executive helping Kroger take on Amazon, Walmart, and Aldi

Restock Kroger is a three-year plan focused in part on investing in online grocery and improving profitability. While the company recently delivered disappointing news on its profitability goals, Kroger also announced improvements in other metrics. 

For example, in the most recent quarter, same-store sales grew 2.2% excluding fuel, compared to a 1.6% gain in the previous year, and digital sales grew 31% year-over-year.

"Kroger delivered our best identical-sales results since the launch of our transformational plan," McMullen said on the analyst call. "Our internal customer measures are improving even faster than our identical sales growth."

'More and more hours cut, more and more piled on our plates'

Customer feedback may be improving, but some employees say they are feeling pinched.

A Midwest Kroger employee said morale in her store prior to the cuts was already low, with many people complaining that they didn't have enough time to complete all the work assigned to them within their shifts.

"Morale…  has been on a steady decline for quite a while, this was just an additional 'kick 'em while they're down,'" she said. "More and more hours cut, more and more piled on our plates yet we are still expected to give our customers unsurpassable customer service."

Read more: Whole Foods is cutting medical benefits for hundreds of part-time workers

A Kroger employee at a Southeast store said resentment is growing among their coworkers, and that turnover rates are disturbingly high. 

"People leave because there's not enough hours and that's because the budget has been reduced, in my opinion," this person said. "When you don't have enough people to keep the stores going, that's when customer service suffers."

Kroger did not address a question on whether it has cut labor hours in stores. The company instead highlighted its investments in workers' wages.

"In addition to creating more than 100,000 new American jobs over the past decade, we are investing more than half a billion dollars in associate wages, and today, our average hourly rate is over $20 with comprehensive benefits factored in – benefits that many of our competitors don't offer their employees," the Kroger spokesperson said.

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-4757 using a non-work phone, email at hpeterson@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @hcpeterson.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 45-year-old executive helping Kroger take on Amazon, Walmart, and Aldi

Join the conversation about this story »

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A 75-year-old cruise ship passenger jumped overboard a Carnival-owned ship between Portugal and Spain (CCL)

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Costa Cruises Costa Pacifica

  • A 75-year-old Costa Cruises passenger jumped overboard, a Costa representative told Business Insider.
  • The representative said the woman "voluntarily" jumped from the balcony in her cabin on the Costa Pacifica ship.
  • The woman's body was found on the morning of October 11 off the coast of Spain, the NATO Allied Maritime Command said in a statement.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A 75-year-old Costa Cruises passenger jumped overboard, a Costa representative told Business Insider.

The representative said the woman "voluntarily" jumped from the balcony in her cabin on the Costa Pacifica ship. The ship was sailing between Portugal and Spain at the time of the incident. After the woman's cabin mate alerted the ship's crew, the captain turned the ship around to search for the passenger and alerted authorities.

Read more:A lawyer who represents cruise-ship workers reveals one thing passengers do that's terrible for some crew members

The woman's body was found on the morning of October 11 off the coast of Spain, the NATO Allied Maritime Command said in a statement.

"The Costa care team moved to provide full assistance to the travel partner and parents of the missing guest," the Costa representative said. "Her family is in our thoughts and prayers."

See also: Apply here to attend IGNITION: Transportation, an event focused on the future of transportation, in San Francisco on October 22

Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: 8 times cruise ship workers heroically saved lives

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to track an iPhone using a Find My app or iCloud's website, and locate it even when its battery is dead

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iPhone XR

  • You can track an iPhone using any iteration of the Find My app, which gives you the last known location of your iPhone.
  • The Find My or Find My iPhone app is installed on every iPhone and iPad by default, and you can also access the feature through the iCloud website.
  • Using a Find My app, you can track up to five Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Thanks to the Find My feature (an iOS 13 combination of the apps Find My iPhone and Find My Friends), it's possible to know exactly where your iPhone is at any time — which is great for those occasions when you misplace your phone, but is even more critical if it's ever stolen.

And phone tracking isn't limited to your own iPhone. Using Family Sharing, you can check on the location of up to five important people in your life as well. If that prospect sounds a bit creepy, don't worry; everyone has to opt into this feature, so you can't track a spouse or kid without their permission.

Here's how to set up and use Find My and Family Sharing to track your iPhone, no matter which iOS version you have.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

How to track your iPhone using the Find My app iterations 

In iOS 13 or later

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap your name at the top of the page to open your Apple ID page.

3. Tap the tab that reads "Find My."

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4. On the next page, tap the switch next to "Share My Location" so it turns green.

5. Tap the the "Find My iPhone" tab at the top of the screen.

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6. On the next page, tap the switch next to "Find My iPhone" to activate it and reveal two more options.

7. Tap the switches next to "Enable Offline Finding" and "Send Last Location."

IMG_4346.PNG

You'll now be able to track your iPhone using the Find My app on another Apple device, or iCloud's website (as depicted below). 

In iOS 12 and earlier

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.

3. Tap "iCloud" and then tap "Find My iPhone."

iphone 1

4. Tap "Find My iPhone" to turn the feature on.

5. Make sure that "Send Last Location" is also turned on.

tracking 2

Now that Find My iPhone is turned on, you can see the location of your phone in the Find My iPhone app on another one of your iOS devices, or in any web browser. By turning on Send Last Location, you'll be able to see the phone's last known location even if it was turned off or the battery died.

How to find your iPhone using iCloud's website

1. In any web browser, navigate to https://www.icloud.com/#find. You may need to log in with your Apple ID and password, but you won't need to enter a two-factor authentication code, because the intent here is that you don't have the phone and therefore can't retrieve the code.

2. Click "All Devices" to see a list of all of your devices.

3. Click your lost device to see where it's located.

tracking 3

At this point, you can zoom in or out on the map to get a better look at the location, or you can use the controls on-screen to play a sound (if the phone is powered on, it will play a siren-like sound), enter Lost Mode (which can display a message on the screen for anyone who finds it) or erase the phone's contents (which you'll only want to do if it's stolen or presumed lost forever).

How to track someone else's iPhone with Family Sharing

With their permission, you can track the phones of up to five other people using Family Sharing. This is handy to keep tabs on kids or for partners to quickly see where the other person is. Setting it up is easy, but whoever you track will need to perform some steps and enter their password.

1. On your iPhone, tap the Settings app.

2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.

3. Tap "Family Sharing."

iphone 3

4. Tap "Add Family Member…" and then choose how you want to invite them to be tracked. "Invite via iMessage" is easy and takes place over text messages. If you choose "Invite in Person," your family member will be invited to enter their Apple ID and password directly into your iPhone.

After accepting the invitation, your family member will also need to turn on Location Sharing (they'll be prompted to do this).  

Now, everyone whom you have added to your Family Sharing list will appear when you use the Find My or Find My iPhone app or website.

Tracking 5

 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone accessories from cases to lightning cables

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to get free stuff on Amazon in 5 different ways, even without an Amazon Prime membership

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Amazon has always aspired to be the world's largest retailer, even back when the site's very first slogan was "Earth's Biggest Bookstore." And hand-in-hand with the site's growth as a store has been its apparent generosity at giving away free stuff to keep customers happy.

Sure, some programs have disappeared — there used to be a way to get free sample-size products included with your shipments, for example — and the company's flagship Amazon Prime program has steadily increased in cost, making some people question if it's still worthwhile.

Read more:How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership

Still, perhaps the single best reason to subscribe to Amazon Prime is its free shipping, as Amazon offers free two-day shipping on all in-stock Amazon Prime products within the US.

But if you're looking for ways to make your dollar go further and get free stuff from the biggest store on earth, and in particular without making the plunge into an Amazon Prime membership, there are still a lot of options.

Check out the products mentioned in this article: 

Amazon Prime membership (From $12.99/month)

Kindle Paperwhite (From $129.99 at Amazon)

SEE ALSO: 31 clever gifts from Amazon that work for everyone on your list — all under $50

Download free Kindle books and magazines

Amazon makes thousands of its Kindle books available for free to everyone (even non-Prime members).

If you happen to be an Amazon Prime member, you get to download one free Kindle book per month in the Amazon First Reads program — non-Prime members will have to pay $1.99.

Prime Members can also read short stories from the Amazon Original Stories collection for free.

And that's not all: You can "borrow" up to 10 titles at a time — which includes both books and magazines — with Amazon Prime Reading. Dozens of these titles have Audible audio narration.

But even if you're not a Prime member, just go to the Kindle store, search for "free," and then use the genre browsing tools on the left side of the page to sort for free books you might like.



Win free stuff with Amazon Giveaway (until Oct. 17)

While most of the free stuff you can get on Amazon requires you to invest $119 in an annual Amazon Prime subscription, there's a way to potentially win free merchandise on Amazon without spending a penny.

One of Amazon's best-kept secrets, Amazon runs thousands of giveaways every week on the Amazon Giveaway page. Unfortunately, Amazon Giveaway will only be available until Oct. 17. 

For a few final days, you can enter for a chance to win free products with just a click (and you may need to watch a promotional video). And even if you don't win, simply entering the giveaway often guarantees you a discount that can range as high as 40% off the retail price.

 



Download free music

There's so much free music online these days (Spotify has a free ad-supported player, for example) that it hardly seems worth mentioning, but if you're a music lover, you shouldn't pass up the free tracks on tap at Amazon.

If you're a Prime subscriber, you get access to Amazon Prime Music, which includes 2 million tracks (the more comprehensive Amazon Music Unlimited has 50 million tracks for an additional cost).

But regardless of whether you are a Prime member, you can download and listen to thousands of free songs at Amazon Music.



Get $5 by signing up for Amazon Cash

This promotion might not last forever — you'll have to take advantage of it before December 31st, 2019 — but you can get a $5 Amazon credit when you sign up for Amazon Cash and charge the account with $20.

Amazon Cash is a program that lets you add money to your Amazon balance by buying Amazon gift cards at a large number of retail locations around the country. It's aimed at customers who don't want to use a credit card or debit card online.

Once you get the credit, you'll have until January 31, 2020 to use it.



Review free products as an Amazon Vine reviewer

If you've never heard of Amazon Vine, don't worry — most people haven't. But if you like to write product reviews on Amazon, you should be aware of Vine, which awards free products to members in exchange for honest and accurate reviews.

Unfortunately, Amazon Vine is by invitation only — you can't even apply for consideration. But Amazon keeps an eye on prolific reviewers, and sometimes reaches out to offer them an opportunity to join the Vine program.  

You can read about the Amazon Vine program here, and learn ways to improve your reputation as a reviewer on Amazon.

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21 unique kitchen gifts from Sur la Table that foodies and bakers will love

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  • With its wide selection all things cooking, kitchen, and food-related, Sur La Table is a great place to find gifts for the home cook in your life. 
  • We hand-picked 21 gifts from the site that we think anyone will love, whether they're a serious chef, an aspiring one, or someone who'd rather eat than cook. 
  • Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' 2019 holiday gift guides.

If you've ever searched for cookware, specialty ingredients, or kitchen gadgets online, you've probably stumbled upon Sur La Table. The retailer offers a variety of kitchen products from legacy brands like Le Creuset and KitchenAid to their own in-house label

Whether they've been cooking for years or are a newbie in the kitchen, Sur La Table has a great selection for cooks of all levels. If you're looking for a nice gift for a foodie in your life this holiday season, Sur La Table has got you covered. 

From cookbooks that help them learn new recipes to professional coffee machines that'll turn them into a barista at home, our gift guide has it all. We combed through the site's huge selection and picked out 21 gifts that we think anyone who loves cooking and eating will love. 

Find more food and kitchen holiday gift guides here: 

21 of the best gifts from Sur La Table:

A popcorn maker

Cuisinart Easypop Hot Air Popcorn Maker, $39.95

There's nothing like the buttery taste of freshly popped popcorn to up the ante on movie night. All they have to do is load this easy-to-use popcorn maker with kernels and they'll have a delicious, healthy snack in no time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Quirky, but practical eyewear

Onion Goggles, $22.95

Make the home cook in your life laugh with this quirky gift that'll actually come in handy when it comes time to chop up some tear-inducing onions. 



The perfect serving pair

Soup and Sandwich Serving Set, $11.96

Grilled cheese and tomato, turkey club and chicken noodle ... This minimalist serveware duo is the perfect canvas for endless soup and sandwich combinations. 

 



A shucking gadget

Zyliss Oyster Tool, $14.95

This little gadget will make shucking oysters safer and easier than using their bare hands. Throw in some little oyster forks and they have everything they need to enjoy eating them.



A smart cheese board

Slate Cheese Board with Slicer, $35

Putting together a cheese plate is made easier with this thoughtful board. The combination of slate and bamboo makes a nice backdrop for your favorite cheeses, meats, and snacks, plus the built-in wire slicer cuts hard cheese easily.



An informative cocktail shaker

Recipe Cocktail Shaker, $11.99

With seven popular drink recipes printed right on the glass, this cocktail shaker is an essential that'll make taking drink requests at their next party a breeze. 



A quick and easy way to get a chopped salad

Chef'n Saladshears Salad Chopper, $9.95

Chopped salads are delicious, but chopping lettuce is tedious and can wilt the leaves in the process. That is, unless you have this gadget that slices lettuce and veggies quickly. Thanks to the round shape, they can use it on a cutting board or in a bowl to make meal prep a breeze. 

 



A pretty way to show off their dry goods

Glass Canister with Olivewood Lid, $22- $28

Whether it's beans, pasta, rice, or flour, these sleek glass canisters will make even the most simple ingredients look elegant. Plus, the silicone seal locks out air and moisture so everything stays fresh. 



An eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags

Stasher Reusable Storage Bags, set of 3, $39.95

Help them save money and use less plastic with these reusable silicone bags. The temperature-resistant silicone can be used in the freezer and microwave.   



A beloved dutch oven from a heritage brand

Le Creuset Signature Deep Round Dutch Oven, 5.25 quart, $199.96

Enameled cast iron is Le Creuset's specialty— it works well for making everything from braised meats to deep-fried doughnuts. While pricey, people swear by the brand and this versatile Dutch oven in particular. It'll last a lifetime in their kitchen as a vessel for delicious meals and treats. 



A pizza stone

Emile Henry Flame Burgundy Pizza Stone, $44.95

This clay pizza stone gives you the authentic taste of wood-fired pizza from any stovetop, grill, or plain oven. The stone can be heated to high temperatures for a soft, chewy pie surrounded by crispy, crunchy crust. 

 



A cold-brew coffee maker

KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $84.96

Coffee grounds, cold water, and 24 hours are all they need to make a smooth cold brew with this easy-to-use countertop coffee maker. 



A classic pre-seasoned cast iron skillet

Lodge Chef Collection Skillet, $29.95- $39.95

Cast iron skillets are virtually indestructible and they only get better with age (as long as you take care of them properly). Lodge's option is affordable and can be used everywhere, from a kitchen stovetop to an open fire. 



A kitchen towel that lists all different types of pasta

Pasta Red Jacquard Kitchen Towel, $15

A practical and cute addition to any kitchen, this tea towel is covered in illustrations of different pasta shapes. It's not a comprehensive list, but it's a good start. 



Egg poachers that brunch fans will appreciate

Fusion Brands PoachPods, set of 2, $9.95

Making poached eggs may seem complicated, but these easy-to-use pods are anything but. All they have to do is crack an egg into the non-stick pod, drop it in boiling water, and wait a few minutes while the eggs cook. 



A set of electric salt and pepper mills

Cole & Mason Hampstead Electric Salt And Pepper Mills, $55

At the press of a button they can have freshly ground salt and pepper. They can even set their preferred grinding consistency, whether it's coarse or fine, so they have the exact texture they need for any given dish.

 



A pan to make cute mini bundt cakes

Nordic Ware Geo Mini Bundt Pan, $29.96

Six mini Bundt cake pans in one make for endless baking opportunities. The little cakes make sweet holiday gifts or single-serving desserts. 



A classic santoku knife

Shun Classic Santoku Knife, $134.95

Constructed using the same method that's traditionally used to create samurai swords, this classic Japanese knife is sharp and durable. It can be used to slice and dice all sorts of things, making it a versatile addition to any knife set. 



A set of rustic coasters

Wood Slice Coasters, set of 4, $19.95

Cut from mango wood, these simple coasters are sure to add a unique touch to their space. 



A cooking class

In-store classes, from $49

If they love learning new skills, take advantage of Sur La Table's affordable cooking classes. Depending on their nearest location, they can find everything from knife skills to pasta making— and prices start at just $49. 

 



A tabletop grill that makes for easy entertaining

Swissmar Fusion Table Grill, $109.99

Whether they're lacking the outdoor space for a grill or would enjoy trying a fun, new way to cook, this tabletop grill makes a great gift. It even comes with six grilling spatulas, so they can invite some friends over and have a fun, interactive dinner party where everyone's involved. 



12 white Christmas trees that give you a blank canvas for ornaments and decor

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  • A white Christmas tree is a sophisticated option that adds a wintry feel to any space.
  • To simplify your search for the perfect one, we curated a list of 12 white Christmas trees that range in size, shape, and decorative touches like built-in lights.

The traditional Christmas tree is a holiday classic, but it can be nice to shake things up every once and a while. That's where the white Christmas tree comes in, bringing a decorative touch that's a little more unique.

White Christmas trees can be striking and elegant, and the neutral color palette gives you total freedom to get creative. We've even seen them decorated with purple and orange ornaments, cobwebs, and witchy accessories for Halloween. They're also fairly simple to assemble and collapse for storage. 

To avoid endless searching on your end, we rounded up 12 picks based on solid customer reviews and features included.

If you're on the hunt for Christmas décor or inspiration, we have plenty of buying guides on topics like ornaments, tree skirts, and lights.

A 7-foot tree that is surprisingly affordable

$62.99, available on Amazon

This tree is composed of PVC, which is resistant to weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock, and abrasion. These features mean it's likely to last you quite a few years, making it more cost-effective over time. It's also tall and full at the base, good for large spaces.

Tree height: 7 feet 

Base diameter: 52 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: 100% warranty-refund or replacement

 



A realistic winter tree that works for both indoor and outdoor settings

$129.99, available on Amazon

This tree is full, plush, and simple, allowing you to leverage your imagination when it comes time to decorate. The 9-foot height makes it the tallest on our list, though it's available in other sizes as well. Plus, it's compatible in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Tree height: 9 feet 

Base diameter: 60 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty



A short and narrow tree that's easy to assemble and store

$29.99, available on Amazon

This waterproof tree fits nicely in small spaces, like studio apartments, dens, or classrooms. It arrives in three pieces for easy assembly. 

Tree height: 5 feet 

Base diameter: 30 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty



An 8-foot Spruce tree with sturdy metal legs and plastic pads to protect your floor

$54.99, available on Amazon

This full tree features durable metal legs and plastic pads, providing balance, stability, and protection against damage on both your tree and floor. It's made with 1,138 lush branch tips, which create the illusion of a genuine spruce tree. 

Tree height: 8 feet

Base diameter: not mentioned

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty



A 6-foot tree that has a good amount of clearance for decor or presents underneath

$44.99, available on Amazon

This tree has 1,000 branch tips to ensure that you'll create a full-body look. It arrives with a sturdy metal stand, and only takes a few minutes to set up. The branch-fluffing process takes a little extra time, but it'll result in a tree that looks full and lush. It also seems to have a decent amount of clearance underneath so you can fit gifts or decorative items without issue.

Tree height: 6 feet

Base diameter: 44 inches 

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: 90-day return policy

 

 



A glittery tree with bright, clear lights

$161.70, available on Home Depot

This tree is adorned with glittery branches and 550 clear lights for a bright, shimmery look. It's also packed in a reusable storage container, and comes with easy-to-follow assembly instructions and a metal stand.

Tree height: 7 feet 

Base diameter: 47 inches 

Light count: 550 clear lights

Other considerations: 90-day return policy applies

 



A snow-flocked tree that's wrapped in 550 warm white lights

$174.99, available on Amazon

Though it technically isn't a white tree, its thick layer of faux snow gives it a nearly all-white canvas to work with. It has all the natural characteristics of a winter Pine tree, but comes with warm white lights. Its hinge branches and wide base provide volume and body.

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 52 inches

Light count: 550 warm white lights

Other considerations: 90-day return policy applies



A lush tree that's an ideal centerpiece for large rooms

$231.96, available on Amazon

This full-body tree is 59 inches wide, making it ideal for large living and dining rooms, foyers, or offices. Its size and simplistic design provide a blank canvas, offering you endless decorating possibilities. It's also prelit so you don't have to worry about lights.

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 59 inches

Light count: 750 warm white lights

Other considerations: 2-year limited warranty

 



A tree that comes with a huge selection of blue ornaments

$159.99, available on Amazon

If monochrome trees are your thing, then this option is ideal. This tree includes a pack of 135 blue Christmas ornaments and decorative items for a color-blocked look, but you can also fleck it with your own ornaments for a personal touch. The lights included have to be manually wrapped; the tree comes with two sets of 39-foot strings. 

Tree height: 6 feet

Base diameter: 42 inches 

Light count: 120 clear LED lights

Other considerations: No warranty information provided

 

 

 

 



A 2-foot twig tree that's perfect for desks and tabletops

$8, available on Target

This all-white tree Charlie Brown tree provides a clean and minimalist look. Its light weight and small size make it easy to bring it to work or fit on your desk or tabletop at home. 

Tree height: 2 feet 

Base diameter: 14 inches 

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: 30-day return policy



A fuller mini tree that works as a table centerpiece

$13.65, available on Walmart

This tree is compact, but full-bodied. It comes prelit with clear lights for subtle glow, making it a perfect centerpiece for any table.

Tree height: 2 feet 

Base diameter: 16 inches

Light count: 35 clear lights

Other considerations: 1-year limited manufacturer warranty



A pencil-like tree that's perfect for narrow spaces

$139.99, available on Michael's

By design, this tree is tall and thin, fitting perfectly in tight, narrow spaces. It has 210 clear lights, so all you need to do is deck it out in decorations. 

Tree height: 7 feet 

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: 210 clear lights

Other considerations: 5-year warranty for the tree and 2-year warranty for the lights

 

 

 



'Why won't my iPad screen rotate?': How to turn off the Orientation Lock on an iPad or troubleshoot its screen

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  • If your iPad screen won't rotate, you might have to turn off the Orientation Lock or do some other troubleshooting.
  • If you have an older iPad with a side button that toggles up and down, it might be set to Orientation Lock. 
  • Some apps are designed not to rotate, so test the Home screen and other apps to see if the problem is fixed. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The iPad is designed to rotate the screen automatically in response to how you hold it. 

However, sometimes, the screen doesn't rotate the way it should. 

There are a few things you can do to make sure your iPad screen rotates properly. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

How to troubleshoot an iPad screen that won't rotate

Turn off the iPad's Orientation Lock 

For times when you don't want the screen to rotate, you can enable the Orientation Lock. On the other hand, here's how to make sure it's turned off: 

1.Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen on an iPad running iOS 12 or later, or by swiping up from the bottom of the screen on an older iPad. 

2. Check the status of the Orientation Lock icon, which looks like a padlock with an arrow curving around it. If the icon is white and the padlock and arrow are red, it's enabled, and that's probably your problem.

Why won't my iPad screen rotate

3. Tap the Orientation Lock icon to turn it off. The icon should turn transparent and the padlock and arrow will turn white. 

4. If it was already off, toggle the  Orientation Lock on and then off again by tapping it twice. Some older iPads have a side switch that can be used to enable the Orientation Lock as well. Check to see if your iPad has a switch, and try to toggle it to see if that affects rotation. 

Another way to do this is to start the Settings app. 

1. Tap the "General" tab. 

2. Check to see if the "Use Side Switch to" section is set to lock rotation or mute. 

3. Try switching it to mute to see if that resolves the problem.

Why won't my iPad screen rotate

Test apps on your iPad to see if they rotate

If the Orientation Lock wasn't your problem, make sure you're using an app that actually rotates. Some apps — especially many games — are designed to work with a single orientation, and will not rotate no matter how you hold the iPad

1. To check, press the Home button to go to the Home screen.

2. Start a built-in Apple app, like Safari or Mail. 

3. These should all rotate normally. If they do — and the app you were trying to use does not — then that app isn't designed to rotate.

Restart your iPad

If you've had no luck so far, it's possible that a software glitch is preventing your iPad from rotating and you need to restart your iPad. To see how to do that, follow the instructions in the article "How to restart and force-restart any iPad model."

Get your iPad serviced

If none of those troubleshooting tips fixed your iPad's screen rotation issue, you probably have a problem with your iPad's hardware. Contact Apple customer support to have it inspected and repaired or replaced.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos is worth over $160 billion — here's how the world's richest man makes and spends his money


Billionaire Marc Benioff is asking for higher taxes on America's wealthiest people — and he's just the latest in the chorus of ultra-wealthy people with the same demand

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Marc Benioff is joining the chorus of billionaires asking for higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy to combat the United States' growing wealth inequality problem.

In an essay published by The New York Times on October 14, Benioff advocates for a new capitalistic system that is better equipped to combat inequality and writes that "higher taxes on the wealthiest among us" could pay for it.

"Local efforts — like the tax I supported last year on San Francisco's largest companies to address our city's urgent homelessness crisis — will help," Benioff wrote in the New York Times. "Nationally, increasing taxes on high-income individuals like myself would help generate the trillions of dollars that we desperately need to improve education and health care and fight climate change."

Benioff built a $6.5 billion fortune after founding software developer Salesforce. Benioff currently serves as the company's co-CEO.

Benioff's essay comes less than two weeks after fellow tech founder Mark Zuckerberg said he partially agreed with Sen. Bernie Sanders' declaration that billionaires should not exist at an employee Q&A session livestreamed by Facebook on October 3.

"On some level, no one deserves to have that much money," Zuckerberg said. "I think if you do something that's good, you get rewarded. But I do think some of the wealth that can be accumulated is unreasonable."

Billionaires Bill Gates, financier George Soros, investor Warren Buffett, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio, Kaufman & Broad cofounder Eli Broad, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have all spoken out in favor of higher taxes for the 1%, according to Forbes. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has said the current levels of inequality are unsustainable but come short of advocating for a tax, Business Insider previously reported.

America's wealth gap is widening

An analysis of tax data by the University of California at Berkeley's Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman for their upcoming book "The Triumph of Injustice" found that billionaires paid a smaller portion of their income in taxes in 2018 than average Americans. Billionaires paid 23% of their income in federal, state, and local taxes in 2018 while the average American paid 28%, Business Insider previously reported.

The top 1% of Americans own 40% of the country's wealth, Zucman wrote in a paper circulated by the National Bureau of Economic Research in February.

Read more: Here's how much money America's 10 wealthiest people would have if the US had a moderate wealth tax

In this climate of a widening wealth gap, presidential candidates and ultra-wealthy Americans alike have expressed support for a wealth tax.

Though Benioff did not name a specific tax proposal, Sen. Elizabeth Warren's "Ultra-Millionaire Tax" is one of the most frequently cited proposals. The plan calls for a 2% annual tax on households with a net worth between $50 million and $1 billion, and a 3% annual tax on households with a net worth over $1 billion.

The idea has support from ultrawealthy and ordinary Americans alike: An Insider poll from January 2019 showed that more than half of the Americans surveyed support Warren's wealth tax proposal.

Saez and Zucman found in a study published by the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity that if a moderate wealth tax had been introduced in 1982, Jeff Bezos' fortune would be half what it was in 2018. Bill Gates, meanwhile, would be $61 billion less rich.

SEE ALSO: Wealth tax explainer: Why Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and billionaires like George Soros alike are calling for a specialized tax on the ultra-wealthy

DON'T MISS: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren both rolled out tax proposals in hopes of closing the wealth gap. Here's a side-by-side comparison that shows exactly how they stack up.

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NOW WATCH: Animated map shows where American accents came from

The most outrageous splurges of tech billionaires, from Richard Branson's private island to Jeff Bezos' $65 million private jet

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  • Tech billionaires have been known to make extravagant purchases from time to time. 
  • Amazon founder Jeff Bezos spent $65 million dollars on an eight-seater private jet, while Elon Musk splurged on the submarine car from the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me." 
  • Check out 23 of the most outrageous purchases made by tech billionaires. 

The richest people in tech are some of the world's biggest billionaires — and have plenty of money to spare for extravagant purchases.

While many of these tech billionaires — including Microsoft's Bill Gates and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg— focus on philanthropy, these moguls have still indulged in luxuries over the years.

Read more: An entrepreneur who interviewed 21 billionaires says there's a common misconception about how the world's richest people spend their money

Big splurges include impressive forms of transportation, from superyachts and private jets to custom car collections. Real-estate portfolios are made up of elaborate homes for those based in Silicon Valley, along with private ranches and island getaways. Additionally, atypical indulgences range from Michael Dell's rare photo collection to Sergey Brin's private trapeze lessons.

Keep reading for a look at some of tech billionaires' most outrageous indulgences.

SEE ALSO: Jay-Z has a net worth of $1 billion — see how the rapper-turned-mogul makes and spends his fortune

NOW READ: Bill Gates is no longer the 2nd-richest person in the world. Here's how he spends his $107 billion fortune, from a luxury-car collection to incredible real estate.

The richest person in the world, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, spent $65 million on a private jet.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, officially named the richest person in the world earlier this year, spent $65 million on a Gulfstream G650ER — a private jet that seats eight people. Last year, the jet made many flights to Washington, DC, which ended up being a clue to the new Amazon headquarters.



Meanwhile, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk spent $70 million on his private aircraft.

Elon Musk's Gulfstream G650ER made headlines after Tesla paid $700,000 to help cover the cost of the 150,000 miles logged last year.



Like many tech billionaires, Musk has also indulged in properties to build an impressive real-estate portfolio.

One of Elon Musk's residences — a $17 million Bel Air estate — includes a two-story library and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. Other tech billionaires are also known for their impressive housing collections, including Michael Dell's "Castle" in Texas and Bill Gates's Xanadu 2.0 in Medina, Washington.



While Musk is known for typically driving one of his company’s more affordable cars, he did splurge on a submarine car that appeared in a James Bond movie.

Elon Musk spent close to $100,000 at a London auction to purchase the 1976 Lotus Esprit. The submarine car appeared in the 1977 James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me." In addition to this purchase, Musk also owns a Ford Model T and other vehicles.



Fellow tech billionaire Larry Ellison's planes are more abnormal: two military fighter jets.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison owns both a decommissioned Soviet MiG-29 and an Italian air force SIAI-Marchetti S.211.



Ellison is known for other extravagant purchases. He also owns a yacht-racing team — not to mention several of his own yachts.

Larry Ellison's current yacht is named Musashi, and is 288 feet long. He previously owned a much larger, 454-foot yacht named Rising Sun. Ellison reportedly sold the vessel for $300 million.



Additionally, Ellison owns one of the Hawaiian islands.

Larry Ellison paid "an estimated $600 million for 98% of Lana'i." Additional properties of Ellison's include luxury residences in Japan and Silicon Valley.



Microsoft's Bill Gates also owns a private jet, a purchase he has referred to as his “big splurge.”

Unlike Jeff Bezos' jet, which only seats eight, Bill Gates' $40 million plane reportedly seats 19 passengers.



Bill Gates also collects luxury sports cars.

Bill Gates' sports car collection, worth an estimated $650,000, includes a Jaguar XJ6 and a Ferrari 348. It also includes several Porsches — a Porsche 911, a Porsche Carrera Cabriolet 964, and a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe.



Gates also contributed to the $161 million purchase of the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco.

The Microsoft CEO purchased the property in 2013 along with "several unnamed buyers."



Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies, and Rob Walton co-own a luxury hotel — the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii.

Purchased by Michael Dell and Walmart billionaire Rob Walton in 2006, the resort ranked No. 1 on US News & World Report's annual list of top hotels in the United States this year. The resort boasts seven swimming pools, luxury oceanfront villas that rent for $18,000 a night, and an impressive art collection. Dell also owns a Four Seasons penthouse in Boston in addition to his Austin home, known as "The Castle."



In addition to real estate, Dell spent $100 million on a private collection of photographs.

Through his holding company MSD, Dell purchased an archive of 185,000 rare and vintage photos. The purchase remains "one of the largest photography transactions in history." He has since loaned the photos to the University of Texas at Austin.



Gates, meanwhile, spent $36 million on a Winslow Homer painting and $30 million on a Leonardo da Vinci manuscript.

Both historic items are kept in Gates' Washington mansion, which is known as Xanadu 2.0. Gates purchased the Homer painting back in 1988, and bought the da Vinci manuscript six years later. Dating back to the 16th century, the valuable artifact is kept in his mansion's 2,100-square-foot library.



Mogul Richard Branson famously owns Necker Island, a purchase he made back in 1978.

Purchased for just $180,000, the British Virgin Island location's worth was estimated to be $60 million in 2006. Branson has also indulged in several expensive island toys — including a catamaran called the Necker Belle and a mini-submarine called the Necker Nymph — which he rents to guests staying at the resort. For this reason, Branson's indulgences are more often considered investments.



Jeff Bezos also spent three weeks on a submarine to collect Apollo artifacts.

In 2013, the Amazon founder spent three weeks aboard a submarine. The excursion successfully collected the booster rockets from the Apollo 11 mission.



Google cofounder Larry Page owns a $7.2 million home that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Old Palo Alto home was built for artist Pedro de Lemos. Construction took place over a decade from 1931 to 1941. Page also owns the surrounding properties, contributing to an impressive estate.



Both Page and fellow cofounder Sergey Brin own superyachts.

Superyachts are a popular indulgence for billionaires, and both Google cofounders splurged for their own vessel. Brin owns an $80 million yacht called Dragonfly, which was used for the pair's Fiji vacation in 2012. Page, meanwhile, owns a six-deck vessel that comes with five waverunners.



The billionaires also share a private jet — and a private airport.

The cofounders purchased a Boeing 767-200 that seats 50 people in 2005. Additionally, Google started construction on a private airport in 2014 for an estimated $82 million.



Brin also reportedly spends money on private trapeze lessons.

Advanced trapeze lessons at New York City's Circus Warehouse — where Brin has been spotted — cost $1,760 per month.



Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg owns a $1.3 million sports car in addition to his practical vehicles.

Alongside Gates, Zuckerberg has been seen driving practical vehicles such as a Honda Fit and Volkswagen GTI — both of which cost around $30,000. However, there is one luxury vehicle amongst these affordable cars: an Italian Pagani Huayra sports car, worth about $1.3 million.



Zuckerberg also spent $100 million on a former sugarcane plantation and a white-sand beach.

Zuckerberg bought a plantation and white-sand beach in 2014. Both properties, the Kahua'aina Plantation and Pila'a Beach, are located on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The two make up a combined 750 acres of island property that includes both farmland and beaches.



Tech billionaires also spend money on vacations, like the yearlong trip taken by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.

After selling his first company Red Swoosh, Kalanick took a year off in 2007 for a trip around the world, with destinations including Japan, Iceland, and Senegal. After leaving Uber amid scandals in 2017, Kalanick sailed around Tahiti in a $70 million sailing vessel.



WeWork founder Adam Neumann has an impressive real estate portfolio, including a $21 million home with a guitar-shaped room.

Like other tech billionaires before him, Neumann has amassed plenty of properties. These real estate purchases include a San Francisco home with a guitar-shaped room, a 60-acre farm estate in upstate New York, a Hamptons mansion, and a $10.5 million Greenwich Village townhouse.



How to flip a picture on your iPhone using the Photos app in iOS 13, or a third-party app

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The iPhone is an extremely powerful handheld tool, and when you add in some third-party apps, the possibilities are near-endless.

One feature added in iOS 13 is that you can now flip any picture straight from your Photos app. This is great if you need a picture's mirror image — for example, if you're trying to read some backwards text.

Not every phone can download iOS 13, however; if you have an iPhone 6 or earlier, you'll need a third-party app. Given Photoshop's reputation as the gold standard for editing pictures, Photoshop Express is a great free app to download for this purpose. 

With Photoshop Express, you'll be able to edit your photos in ways more advanced than with the standard iPhone editing package. This includes flipping an image to its mirror.

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to flip a picture on an iPhone running iOS 13

1. Open the Photos app.

2. Find the photo that you want to flip, and tap it to enlarge it.

3. In the top-left of the screen (or bottom if you're holding your phone in landscape mode), tap "Edit."

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4. The picture will zoom out, and a variety of editing options will appear. Tap the icon that looks like a square with arrows circling it.

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5. This will bring up new options. Tap the icon in the very top-right, which looks like a pyramid that's been split in half. As soon as you tap it, your photo will flip.

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6. Tap "Done" in the bottom-left.

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And just like that, you've now got a flipped photo.

How to flip a picture on an iPhone using Photoshop Express

If you can't use iOS 13 or haven't downloaded it, this is the option for you.

1. If you haven't already, download the Photoshop Express app.

2. Sign into the app using one of several accounts (I chose my Gmail). Allow Photoshop Express to access your photos.

3. Scroll through your photos in the app and tap on the one you want to flip.

4. Tap on the crop icon (two right-angles overlapping). The crop function seems to be a standard technique utilized by many third-party apps for flipping photos.

Flip_photo1

5. Tap on Rotate. Once in the rotate screen, you'll see several options at the bottom of it: Straighten, Rotate, Flip Horizontal, and Flip Vertical.

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6. Tap "Flip Horizontal."

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7. There are other editing tools you can play around with, but if you only want to flip your picture, tap the Share button at the top (the box with an arrow pointing upwards).

8. Tap "Camera Roll." The flipped picture will be added to your iPhone's Photos app.

Read more coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone accessories from cases to lightning cables

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The incredible story behind Slack, the app that's taken over offices everywhere

Everything you need to know about when Cyber Monday deals start and end in 2019

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  • Cyber Monday is on December 2, 2019. 
  • Cyber Monday sales could start as early as on Black Friday as part of a larger "Cyber Week" promotion, and last through the end of the week (ending December 6 or 7). 
  • The Insider Picks team will be reporting the best Black Friday deals in real-time from big-box retailers — like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Nordstrom— and direct-to-consumer startups like Casper, Leesa, and Brooklinen.  
  • To potentially save more on Cyber Monday 2019, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date coupons and promo codes.

Black Friday is coming up, and close on its heels, Cyber Monday. These two retail holidays tell us that it's time to get serious about gift shopping— but the process doesn't have to cost a lot thanks to the abundance of deals offered by retailers. 

When is Cyber Monday? 

Cyber Monday takes place this year on the Monday after Thanksgiving, December 2, 2019. 

In recent years, however, the term "Cyber Monday" is slowly being phased out in favor of the longer and more intensive "Cyber Week." Previously, the main differentiation between Black Friday and Cyber Monday was that Black Friday focused on in-store sales and Cyber Monday on online sales. 

However, as shopping habits increasingly favor the internet, Cyber Monday seems to be edging out Black Friday as the premier holiday shopping event of the season. 

What time does Cyber Monday start? 

Once we learn the exact Cyber Monday 2019 start dates and times of the most popular retailers, like AmazonBest Buy, Walmart, and Target, we will share them below. 

And what time does Cyber Monday end?

Once we learn the exact Cyber Monday 2019 end dates and times of the most popular retailers, like AmazonBest Buy, Walmart, and Target, we will share them below. 

How long do Cyber Monday sales last? 

Cyber Monday sales could start as early as on Black Friday as part of a larger Cyber Week promotion. Though Cyber Monday sales once only took place on Monday, we've been seeing them extend to longer and longer durations. 

Cyber Monday sales could last throughout the end of the week (ending December 6 or 7). 

What else can I learn about Cyber Monday? 

Join the conversation about this story »

I dropped my laptop and accidentally drenched it in coffee, but this neoprene sleeve made it look like nothing ever happened

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Dagne Dover Laptop Case

  • I'd been using a purely functional $20 laptop case for two or three years before I started using one of Dagne Dover's new laptop sleeves— and I'm so annoyed with myself for being too practical.
  • The Dagne Dover laptop sleeves are functional but sleeker, slimmer, and more stylish than my previous case. It's also water-resistant, well-padded, and comes with a detachable shoulder strap in case you want to carry it without a tote bag.
  • Knowing how long I used my previous case, the $90 price tag is a worthwhile investment for something I know I'll use every day for the next few years. 
  • Updated 10/15/19: Three months later with daily use, this laptop case still looks brand-new and has even survived several cold brew baths after my travel thermos leaked. The thick neoprene kept my laptop dry and was easy to rinse and hang dry too. 

I've always thought of laptop cases as more functional than fashionable, so I bought this one from Amazon within five seconds of seeing more than 1,000 5-star reviews a few years ago. It's something that I need purely to protect my laptop, so I didn't want to waste my last two brain cells thinking about the style or color. 

Well, it wasn't until I started testing the new Dagne Dover laptop sleeves that I realized function and fashion could — and should — co-exist in something so mundane and practical as a laptop case.

I have the 13-inch Laptop Sleeve in Black, which doesn't come cheap at $89.95. It's definitely a lot more than what I paid for my previous case and what I'd want to pay for a laptop sleeve in general, but the specs, design, and durability sold me. 

The laptop sleeve is durable and water-resistant, it kept my laptop dry even after it took a bath in chicken teriyaki sauce and coffee 

Like most other Dagne Dover bags, the laptop sleeve is made with incredibly durable and water-resistant neoprene. I've spilled juice from leftover chicken teriyaki on it, and while there was a puddle at my bottom of my Cuyana tote, my laptop remained dry — which is great, because the sleeve was holding my work laptop.

I also accidentally drenched it in cold brew after my thermos leaked. I didn't have anywhere to offload the coffee until I got to the office 30 minutes later, but the neoprene fabric was able to keep my laptop dry. Being able to avoid a stern talk with IT is worth the $90 price.

There's a mesh pocket inside to carry pens or notebooks, with a Velcro closure so nothing falls out. 

The black colorway required no thought on my end, though if I was more stylish, I'd have gone with one of cooler colors like Dune or Dark Moss. The zipper is also the same shade as the sleeve, so the entire look is very monochromatic. 

It's slim at 1.13 inches when zipped and super lightweight at 12.8 ounces

The 13-inch fit my MacBook Pro perfectly, and the sleeve is only 1.13 inches thick when zipped. It's ever so slightly thicker than my old TomToc, which is 1.10 inches, but the cloth fabric on that one isn't flush against the case itself so it always looks and feels thicker than the stated specs.

The Dagne Dover sleeve is made with neoprene and is super lightweight at 12.8 ounces. There's no extra decorative fabric that would add more weight or thickness; it remains slim and sleek with or without my laptop inside. 

Dagne Dover Pouch

The slimmer design also means it gives me extra room in my Cuyana tote bag to schlep more things around — though I don't know if that's a good idea. At least I've been using the Large Arlo Tech Pouch in Storm to organize things more, like charging cables, bandages, and hand sanitizer. I love that it unzips the entire length of the bag so it opens flat and I can see everything instantly. No more digging around the pouch only to poke myself with the tweezer that I never use but think is super important to have. 

And if I don't want to carry my tote bag around, the Dagne Dover sleeves comes with detachable shoulder straps. I use it when I'm heading to a local coffee shop to do some work or chill, or when I'm trying to force myself to streamline things.

Despite the overall design of the sleeve being really slick, that's not to say it's flimsy — it's padded really well. In fact, I dropped my laptop a split second after I put it into the case and it made a soft thudding noise when it hit the ground — no dents, scratches, or bumps that'd indicate what just happened. This was also with my work laptop inside — sorry.  

Buy the Dagne Dover Laptop Sleeve for $89.95 (12-, 13-, or 15-inch)

Buy the Dagne Dover Arlo Tech Pouch for $45 (Small) or $65 (Large)

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How to restore your Mac computer using Time Machine and an external hard drive

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Macbook Pro

There are many ways to backup your Mac computer and restore all of its data: cloud-based software, third-party apps, external hard drives. 

Time Machine is a software that's built into your Mac, and uses an external drive to save versions of your computer, taken hourly everyday. (You can delete old Time Machine backups once your disk is full to free up space.)

If you've connected an external drive and selected it as your backup disk, Time Machine will automatically make backups and you'll be able to restore older versions of your Mac, where things like music, photos, and applications are saved.

Here's what you need to know to restore older versions of your Mac using Time Machine:

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

MacBook Pro (From $1,299 at Apple)

How to restore a Mac from a Time Machine backup

Before you start, make sure that your Time Machine backup drive is connected to your Mac and that it's turned on.

1. Turn on your Mac.

2. If your computer starts in the Finder, you'll have to open the Migration Assistant, which is located in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder — if it starts in the setup assistant, you can skip this step.

1 HOW TO RESTORE MAC

3. Within the Migration Assistant, select the option to restore "from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk" when it asks how you want to transfer your information. 

4. Select your Time Machine backup and click "Continue."

  • If your backup disk is encrypted, you may also have to input your password.
  • You may also have to choose between several different backup versions, which are organized by date and time to help you choose the most recent version if that's what you want. 

5. Check the box to the right of the folder you'd like to transfer, such as your Applications and other files, then click "Continue."

Depending on the amount of information that you choose to restore, it may take several hours for you to complete this process and get your Mac up and running again.

If, for some reason, your computer doesn't start in either the Finder or setup assistant, you'll have to restore both your MacOS and your files. Here's how to do that:

1. Immediately after turning your Mac on, press and hold Command and "R" to restart your computer from MacOS Recovery.

2. Then, when you see the MacOS utilities window, select "Restore from Time Machine backup."

3. Continue through the prompts, selecting the backup version and save location.

4. Finally, restart your computer, and your Mac will be restored.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: These 2 cases will keep any MacBook protected for under $25

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 lesser-known benefits of Amazon Prime

17 ex-celebrities who ended up with completely different careers

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willy wonka and the chocolate factory

  • Not all stars are destined to be lifelong celebrities.
  • Some give up on show business entirely and go on to pursue fulfilling careers in other lines of work.
  • See if you recognize any of these stars who've moved on to become lawyers, hairdressers, and business magnates.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fame can be quite fleeting, and show business comes with a lot of pressure.

So it's no surprise that celebrity can have an adverse effect on people, especially child stars, USA Today reported. The plight of Hollywood icons who achieved success, only to fall from grace due to drug use or erratic behavior, is well-documented.

But not all stars fall. Some just fade into a less visible line of work after their brush with fame.

Here's a look at some former stars who ended up in completely different careers:

SEE ALSO: 'It's not worth losing your job over': Bachelor, Amazing Race, and Survivor alums explain how reality stardom affected their careers

Jeff Cohen — Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen from 'The Goonies'

Claim to fame: Cohen shot to fame for his turn as clumsy, bad-luck-prone Chunk in the classic 1985 adventure film "The Goonies."

What he does now: Growing up, he was able to use his stint as a child actor to land roles at movie studios, according to the ABA Journal. He decided to go into law, earning his J.D. from UCLA after attending Berkeley.

Cohen went on to cofound the entertainment-oriented law firm Gardner Cohen LLP.



Crystal McKellar — Becky Slater from 'The Wonder Years'

Claim to fame: McKellar acted alongside her sister Danica in the television series "The Wonder Years."

Both sisters had been considered for the main role of Winnie, but Danica won out, and Crystal was brought on to play Becky Slater instead.

What she does now: During their time in show business, education was always a priority for the McKellars, according to Biography.com. McKellar went on to study at Yale and Oxford, and she earned her J.D. at Harvard.

Today, she's the managing director and legal counsel for Mithril Capital Management.



Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter — Guitarist for Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Spirit

Claim to fame: Baxter was a founding member of Steely Dan and later joined the Doobie Brothers.

The guitarist has led quite a lengthy career in rock and roll, working with acts and artists like Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, and others as a session guitarist.

What he does now: The storied guitar-for-hire now has top security clearances. In the 1980s, his interest in recording technology prompted him to research and become fascinated with military software and hardware.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a paper Baxter wrote on missile defense attracted the attention of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. He became a defense consultant for the US Department of Defense and other defense entities, Guitar Player reported.



Peter Ostrum — Charlie Bucket from 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'

Claim to fame: Ostrum appeared in the 1971 classic"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" as protagonist Charlie Bucket. After the film, he declined to sign on for any more movies and left show business, according to IMDb.

What he does now: After leaving acting, Ostrum found a new calling when he purchased a horse with some of the money he'd made from the film, according to Express.

He decided he wanted to work with animals and went on to earn his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Cornell. Today, Ostrum practices at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic in upstate New York.



Charles Korsmo — Jack Banning from 'Hook'

Claim to fame: The North Dakota native achieved success as a child actor, landing roles such as "the kid" in "Dick Tracy," Siggy in "What About Bob?" and Peter Pan's son in "Hook."

What he does now: After leaving Hollywood, he ended up attending MIT, graduating with a B.S. in physics, and then earned his J.D. from Yale, according to Cleveland.com.

In 2011, US President Barack Obama nominated him to the board of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. He now teaches law at Case Western Reserve University.



Danny Lloyd — Danny Torrance from 'The Shining'

Claim to fame: At the age of six, Lloyd portrayed "Danny Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."

The young actor was "closely guarded by Kubrick," according to IMDb, and did not realize the film was a horror movie.

What he does now: Lloyd quit acting in high school and told the New York Daily News he leads "a pretty normal life now." The former child star is a biology professor at a Kentucky community college.



Josh Saviano — Paul Pfeiffer from 'The Wonder Years'

Claim to fame: Saviano's biggest role was that of the geeky Paul Pfeiffer in "The Wonder Years."

What he does now:Like his co-star McKellar, Saviano chose not to pursue acting shortly after "The Wonder Years" ended. And while his best-known character may have attended Harvard, Saviano chose to study political science at Yale, according to IMDb.

He earned his J.D. at Yeshiva's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and worked as a partner at international law firm Morrison Cohen for 11 years before founding the entertainment startup Act 3 Advisors.



Michael Schoeffling — Jake Ryan from 'Sixteen Candles'

Claim to fame:Schoeffling is best known for playing popular jock Jake Ryan in eighties comedy "Sixteen Candles."

What he does now: Shortly after his turn as Molly Ringwald's love interest, Schoeffling quit acting altogether, citing his need to support his two kids.

He largely disappeared from the public eye, but opened up his own woodworking shop in rural Pennsylvania in the nineties, according to IMDb.



Carrie Henn — Rebecca 'Newt Jorden from 'Aliens'

Claim to fame: Henn was discovered by "Aliens" casting agents in the school cafeteria of a US Air Force Base, according to People.

She ultimately landed the role of Newt, the sole survivor of an alien attack who forms a close bond with Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley.

What she does now: Despite receiving accolades for her performance, Henn chose to forego an acting career. Wired reported she instead went into teaching in Northern California.



Omri Katz — Max Dennison from 'Hocus Pocus'

Claim to fame: Katz is most famous for his portrayal of candle-lighting virgin Max in Disney's spooky cult classic "Hocus Pocus."

What he does now: According to IMDb, Katz has left the world of acting to work as a hairdresser.



Peter Billingsley — Ralphie Parker from 'A Christmas Story'

Claim to fame: Billingsley has appeared in numerous films and television shows over the years.

His most famous role is that of Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get his hands on an "official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time" in the 1983 Yuletide classic "A Christmas Story."

What he does now: Billingsley never left the entertainment world. Now he just works behind the scenes, with a few cameos here and there (like his brief appearance in "Elf"). He's been able to transition from child actor to what Buzzfeed calls "a steady and successful Hollywood player."

According to IMDb, he's worked as a producer on "Iron Man," "Dinner for Five," "Zathura," and "Made." He also directed the romantic comedy "Couples Retreat."

Buzzfeed reported that Billingsley has also cofounded Wild West Picture Show Productions with friend and frequent collaborator Vince Vaughn.



Barret Oliver — Bastian Balthazar Bux from 'The NeverEnding Story'

Claim to fame: Oliver is most known for his role as the alliteratively-named Bastian Balthazar Bux in "The NeverEnding Story."

What he does now: IMDb reports Oliver is now working on the other side of the camera. He teaches photography and even authored a book on the nineteenth century photo process, "A History of the Woodburytype."



Steven Anthony Lawrence — Bernard 'Beans' Aranguren from 'Even Stevens'

Claim to fame: Lawrence played the irritating, bacon-loving Beans in Disney's "Even Stevens," which ran from 2001 to 2003.

What he does now:The Daily Mail reported Lawrence now teaches seminars at USC, Berkeley, and in California high schools while acting in the odd commercial.

According to the Mercury News, he also surprised fans when he appeared as one of Santa's helpers at a California mall in 2015.



Isaac Lidsky — Barton 'Weasel' Wyzell from 'Saved by the Bell: The New Class'

Claim to fame: Lidsky portrayed the nerdy Weasel during the first season of "Saved By the Bell: The New Class." Shortly after, he received news he had retinitis pigmentosa and would ultimately lose his vision, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

What he does now: There's a reason TED invited the former child actor to discuss his "eclectic résumé" in 2016. Lidsky left Hollywood in order to pursue his education, enrolling at Harvard at the age of 15 and graduating with degrees in computer science and applied mathematics, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

He went on to pursue a legal career, clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as the first legally blind law clerk in the history of the US Supreme Court, according to CNN.

In 1999, he also co-founded a business that would become x+1, which Ad Age reported Rocket Fuel bought for $230 million in 2014. Inc. reported that Lidsky's also established a construction firm in Florida.



Dylan Sprouse — Zack from 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'

Claim to fame: Acting alongside his twin brother Cole, Dylan Sprouse starred in the Disney Channel series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" as Zack Martin. Sprouse was cast at age 13 and continued the lead role on the sequel series "The Suite Life on Deck," which concluded in 2011. Previously, Sprouse and his brother shared the role of Julian 'Frankenstein' McGrath opposite Adam Sandler in the movie "Big Daddy" when they were six years old, along with small television appearances such as an episode of "That '70s Show."

What he does now: While his brother returned to acting on the hit show Riverdale, Dylan Sprouse stopped pursuing lead roles following his Disney Channel run. After graduating from New York University in 2015, he opened a brewery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn called All-Wise Meadery where he works today.



Travis Tedford — Spanky from 'The Little Rascals'

Claim to fame: Travis Tedford became a child star after playing the role of Spanky in the 1994 film "The Little Rascals." Additionally, he appeared on a Welch's commercial when he was five years old as a "spokes-tyke" for the juice brand.

What he does now:According to IMDb, Tedford stopped acting in 2010 after appearing in the horror film "The Final." Reports say he now works as an inbound marketing specialist in his home state of Texas.



Nikki Blonsky — Tracy Turnblad from "Hairspray"

Claim to fame: Best known for her lead role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky landed a few small roles following the film's success.

What she does now:According to reports in 2011, Blonsky worked at a shoe store in New York City and later as a hairdresser in her hometown on Long Island.

 

Where are they now: What all your favorite '90s stars are doing today

THEN AND NOW: Here's what all your favorite '90s singers are doing today




You can connect Bluetooth headphones to your Nintendo Switch with a special transmitter — here's how

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Nintendo Switch

One would think that with all the features built into a Nintendo Switch console, it would be possible to connect a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones. However, you can't — at least, not without special equipment.

While you can't directly pair Bluetooth headphones to a Nintendo Switch, there is a relatively easy way to work around the issue: a Bluetooth transmitter.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Nintendo Switch (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

Scosche Bluetooth Transmitter (For $39.99 at Amazon)

How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your Nintendo Switch

The solution is to convert the Switch's regular 3.5 mm headphone jack into a Bluetooth transmitter by using a special dongle.

IMG_5935

You can get a good Bluetooth transmitter on Amazon, and the dongle can convert any device with an audio jack into a Bluetooth-friendly system.

Just plug the transmitter into the audio output jack on the top of the Nintendo Switch, and then pair it with your Bluetooth headphones.

Here's an example of how to do so with the transmitter linked above:

1. With the dongle inserted into the Switch, hold the pair button for several seconds to place it into pairing mode. Most will flash once in this mode.

2. Now hold down the pair button on your headphones. When the light on the dongle becomes solid, you have successfully paired the devices.

IMG_5936

Be sure to follow the pairing instructions included in your specific transmitter's manual.

The audio will now play just as it would through a pair of headphones connected by wire.

Of course, an even easier solution here is to simply use headphones with a physical wire, and plug them into the 3.5 mm jack. But this option won't give you nearly as much flexibility.

 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best true wireless earbuds you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 lesser-known benefits of Amazon Prime

8 silver Christmas trees to give your space a fun, festive look into the New Year

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SILVERTREEHEAD

  • Silver Christmas trees aren't mainstream. However, they're highly versatile and fitting for more than one holiday.
  • As a unique holiday alternative, silver Christmas trees come in various styles, sizes, shapes, and more.
  • To make your life easier, we've rounded up eight of our favorites that you can buy online or in-store, including an easy-to-assemble popup tree ($30.89).

With many of us still holding onto holiday nostalgia and tradition, the silver Christmas tree is still considered unconventional. However, the idea of owning one becomes far less absurd when you consider its versatility.

As a festive mainstay, a silver Christmas tree is a more fun, lively, and retro option than the evergreen classic. But unlike other trendy, single-colored alternatives, its distinctive shade doubles as a centerpiece for New Year's. Not to mention, there are a ton of high-quality options available, ranging in size, style, shape, price, and more.

To cut to the chase, we rounded up eight of our top picks based on overall style and features included. And if you want to get your creative juices flowing with Christmas decor, check out some of our buying guides:

A glossy tree that's covered by a 5-year foliage warranty

$139.99, available on Amazon

This shiny tree provides elevated shimmer, thanks to its silver needles and 300 clear lights that double as decoration. It also features a black stand, an on/off foot pedal, extra bulbs, and fuses for added convenience.

Tree height: 6 feet 

Base diameter: 32 inches

Light count: 300 

Other considerations: 5-year foliage warranty and 2-year light warranty

 



A slim tree that comes with a matching stand

$45.21, available on Amazon

Perfect for indoor or covered outdoor display, this silver tinsel tree will add some sparkle to your seasonal decor. It comes with a matching silver metal tree stand for a cohesive look.

Tree height: 6 feet (also available in 2 feet, 3 feet, and 7 feet)

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty



A pop-up tree that makes assembly a breeze

$30.89, available on Amazon

This sparkly tree can be leveraged for its compact build, especially when it comes to filling out tight empty corners. And its pop-up design means you don't have to put the tree together piece-by-piece — it can be assembled in three simple steps.

Tree height: 5 feet 

Base diameter: 13.77 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty

 

 



A sparkling tree that's relatively affordable

$36.49, available on Amazon

For those on a tight budget, this tree is cost-effective, pricing in at under $40. Its tinsel design provides a vintage and retro feel, adding a unique festive touch to your decor.

Tree height: 6 feet 

Base diameter: base diameter not mentioned

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: no warranty



A sterling tinsel tree that's available in-store and online

$216.29, available on Home Depot

This curly tinsel tree comes equipped with 550 clear bright lights and assembly instructions (on-paper and online). It features a 72-inch cord for added convenience.

Since it's sold at Home Depot, you can purchase one at a physical storefront nearby, or order from the comfort of your home.

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 48 inches

Light count: 550

Other considerations: 90-day return policy applies

 

 



A full-bodied tree that includes a clever light replacement feature

$394.99 on sale (originally $506.99), available on Target [you save  $112]

This tree arrives with everything you need to get started: 700 clear lights that only require four-piece assembly, hinge branches, and a sturdy white tree stand. Most notably, it includes a lamp-lock feature, meaning even if a bulb goes out, the rest stay on. This feature also ensures that every light is replaceable and interchangeable.

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 50 inches

Light count: 700

Other considerations: 30-day return policy applies



A lightweight tree that's just 7 pounds

$94.99 on sale (originally $119.99), available on Target [you save $25]

This slender tree weighs in at just 7 pounds, eliminating the need for heavy-duty lifting and setup. For this reason, it's perfect for apartments, office cubicles, and other tight spaces.

It also comes with replacement bulbs, a spare fuse, and a white plastic tree stand.

Tree height: 6 feet

Base diameter: 24 inches

Light count: 250

Other considerations: 30-day return policy applies

 



A mini tree that's a perfect tabletop centerpiece

$17.49 (originally $34.99), available on Michaels [you save $17.50]

This small glittering tree is an ideal tabletop display for your desk, kitchen table, and more — just attach the tree stand legs, and you're good to go.

Tree height: 3 feet 

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: unlit

Other considerations: 180-day return policy applies

 



Here's Michael Jordan's 56,000-square-foot house in Chicago, and why it's still on the market after 6 years

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Michael Jordan house

  • Michael Jordan has been unable to sell his 56,000-square-foot house in Chicago.
  • The house has gone through multiple price cuts and an unsuccessful auction.
  • At one point, Jordan even offered to include a complete set of Air Jordans with the house.
  • Several factors are working against MJ, including the personal modifications and the location.

Michael Jordan's enormous house in Chicago is still on the market after six years despite cutting the price nearly in half and still paying more than $100,000 in annual property taxes.

The house was originally listed for $29 million and has every bell and whistle you can think of. There's a pool with a grass island in the middle of it, a door from the Playboy Mansion, a table based on the streets of Baghdad, and MJ-branded golf flags.

Below, we take a closer look at the house, and why it's struggling to find a buyer. Most images are from footage provided by Concierge Auctions.

Tony Manfred contributed to this post.

The 56,000-square-foot, 7-acre compound from the air.



The gate to get in, fittingly.



The price on the house has dropped several times and is now going for $14.9 million, or about $265 per square foot. That is a far cry from the original price of $517 per square foot. The exact price is $14,855,000, and the numbers in that price add up to 23 — because of course they do.



The long drive from the gate and full-grown trees ensure that the house has complete privacy.



Jordan had the house built from scratch to his personal tastes.



The outdoor space is spectacular. There's a tennis court.



An infinity pool with a grass island in the middle.



A putting green.



Complete with Jordan Brand flag sticks.



In 2015, the agent working to sell the house at the time promised that the buyer would also receive every edition of Air Jordans in his or her size.

Source: Maxim



There's a pond stocked with fish.



The patio is enormous.



MJ lived in the house for 19 years.



Here is the view when you first walk in the front door with a piano in the background.



A view of the piano room.



He has the door from the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago. Let's go inside ...



Those are the doors to the room with the pool table.



The full-court basketball court is the centerpiece of the house.



The court has his name at both ends.



And the Jumpman logo at center court includes the names of his children (his daughter's name is out of view).



The sitting area outside the court where you wait to play.



Adam Rosenfeld, of the luxury-real-estate startup Mercer Vine, told Marketwatch in 2016 that Jordan was likely struggling to sell the house because of all of the personalized customizations. In addition, the house is not in an area where wealthy celebs are looking for houses.

From Marketwatch:

But despite the appeal the home may hold for Chicago Bulls fans and other sports lovers, its sheer size and personalized features are likely what’s making it difficult to find the right buyer, some in the business say. And while it is located in one of Chicago’s higher-end suburbs, Highland Park, it’s not situated in a place where celebrities are commonly looking for homes — Beverly Hills, for example.

“Kofi is brilliant with marketing strategies,” and playing up Jordan’s celebrity is wise, said Adam Rosenfeld, founding principal of luxury-real-estate startup Mercer Vine, in the Los Angeles area. “But when you have such a specific property that is so customized, it’s going to be an uphill battle.”



The dining room comes with a "Baghdad table."



That grid on the table is the based on the streets of Baghdad.



A skylight over the kitchen table.



There is no need to worry about the house rotting while remaining unsold. The house is still occupied by staff who are employed by Jordan to keep the house looking fresh.

Source: The Real Deal



Jordan is also still paying a lot in property taxes. The annual bill is more than $100,000, and he has paid nearly $700,000 in property taxes since he put it on the market six years ago.

Source: Zillow



One of the dining areas off the kitchen comes with a large aquarium built into the wall.



The house has nine bedrooms.



And 19 bathrooms.



The house comes fully furnished, although some of the pieces may be a tad dated.



The cigar room.



The cigar room also has plenty of card tables where we're guessing Jordan undoubtedly played some high-stakes poker games.



Even the railing in the cigar room is ornate.



There's a full gym.



Jordan's Bulls teammates used to work out here every morning.



One problem is that Jordan may feel his celebrity status adds value to the house, but, according to one expert, people do not pay more for a house just because somebody famous owned it.

From The Real Deal:

Stephen Shapiro, of the Westside Agency, a Los Angeles-based luxury brokerage, said “almost without exception” people won’t pay more for a house just because it’s owned by a celebrity.

“But you know who tends to think a property is worth more because a celebrity lived there? The celebrity trying to sell it,” Shapiro said.



The wine cellar.



The house remains unsold despite attempts to get creative, including marketing to wealthy people in basketball-crazed China.

Source: Maxim



One of the many "great rooms" around the house.



The library upstairs was said to be MJ's favorite room, with a drop-down movie screen.



Even the seemingly random nooks have TVs.



Between the house and the patio there's another TV room with a 110-inch TV.



This area used to be an indoor pool. Jordan renovated it after he moved in and added sliding walls to both sides that can make the gathering room either indoor or outdoor depending on the mood and the weather.



Just one section of the patio.



Jordan did try to auction the house in 2013, but the minimum bid of $13 million was never met.



Here is what Jordan said about the auction at the time.



Another view from above of the house and the island pool.



There's also a three-bedroom guest house.



The family room of the guest house.



The guest house kitchen.



One issue is the location. Most of the homes in this price range in this area are closer to Lake Michigan, a few miles east of this house.

"Buyers at that level in that area tend to want to be closer to the lake," Missy Jerfita of Berkshire Hathaway HomesServices told The Real Deal.



Since Jordan put his Chicago home on the market, he has since purchased a lakefront house in North Carolina that's in a golf-course community.



The house is in Cornelius, about a 30-minute drive from the Charlotte Hornets' arena. MJ purchased the house for $2.8 million after it was originally listed for $4 million.

Source: Fox Sports



Jordan also reportedly bought a house on a golf course in Jupiter, Florida, for $4.8 million in 2013 and spent $7.6 million on renovations.

Source: Jeff Realty



He also owns a condo in downtown Charlotte, in the same building as Cam Newton. The condos reportedly go for between $1.5 and $3.5 million.

Source: Charlotte Agenda



He continues to wait for a buyer for the Chicago-area home. Of course MJ is estimated to be worth $1.65 billion, so he can afford to wait for the right owner to come along on his old Chicago digs.

Source: Forbes



Now check out the fabulous lifestyle of MJ.

MICHAEL JORDAN: How the richest NBA player ever spends his $1.65 billion



These 6.7-ounce, waterproof sneakers are more than just the perfect adventure shoes — they're comfortable and versatile enough to be your everyday pair

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Vessi CityScape

  • Founded in 2018, Vessi is a Vancouver-based startup specializing in sneakers that are lightweight, breathable, and 100% waterproof.
  • Their shoes use a proprietary knit material called Dyma-tex, which allows heat and moisture in the form of sweat to escape, but prevents water from entering.
  • In less than a year, the brand saw a 900% increase in sales and eventually sold out completely. Now the sneakers are back in stock, and we tested them out to see if they lived up to the hype and demand.
  • Spoiler: they absolutely did.

As consumers, we all hate when the things we want are sold out. But as a retailer, a completely sold out stock is actually a good problem to have — and it's one that Vancouver-based sneaker brand Vessi knows all too well.

Founded in 2018 by Andy Wang, Tony Yu, and Mikaella Go, Vessi has gained notoriety for its 100% waterproof sneakers. We recently named them the best waterproof sneakers in our buying guide for waterproof footwear, and apparently we're not the only ones who like them so much.

In less than one year, the startup went from selling 5,000 pairs a month to 50,000 pairs a month, accounting for a 900% increase in sales. The demand became so overwhelming that Vessi decided to shut down its website for a few weeks in August to catch up on orders and learn more about the thousands of customers who had already bought pairs. 

Vessi

"During the period of halting orders, we answered all consumer queries, got on the phone to listen to direct feedback, and we were able to learn even more about what our core customers crave — from seamless policies to product improvements." Yu told Business Insider.

Now, the shoes are back in stock, and Vessi is back in business.

Vessi Everyday Sneaker

What makes Vessi's shoes different

What separates Vessi from other sneaker brands is the innovative waterproofing technology it uses, and the fact that each pair only weighs 6.7 ounces.

Vessi's are the lightest waterproof shoes in the world, making them far more versatile than clunky rain boots, heavy winter boots, or a lightweight shoe that's only water resistant. Its shoes are truly waterproof thanks to a proprietary knit material the brand created called Dyma-tex, which allows for breathability in a way most waterproof materials don't.

Essentially, the Dyma-tex material has millions of tiny holes in the membrane to allow heat and moisture in the form of sweat to leave the shoe, while preventing water from seeping in. For good measure, the shoes are also treated with a water-repellent layer to allow dirt, stains, and water to bead right off the surface.

Vessi

Vessi sneakers have become a cult favorite among travelers in need of versatile, waterproof shoes, but they're equally as popular among everyday comfort seekers who would rather rely on a single pair of shoes for all types of weather.

Shop all Vessi waterproof sneakers now

Check out our full review of Vessi sneakers:

Vessi Everyday Sneaker

Men's Everyday Sneaker, $135, available in three colors

Women's Everyday Sneaker, $135, available in three colors

The Vessi Everyday Sneaker has all of the basic elements of a knit sneaker from a sportswear brand, which makes it very easy to wear regularly. I've worn my pair a handful of times in New York City, but luckily didn't come in contact with any rain or puddles. So, to put them to the test, I submerged them in a bucket of water and the inside stayed completely dry. I'm confident that the only way your feet would get wet while wearing these is if they were fully submerged and water made its way in from the top.

I think it's worth emphasizing that these are not just overpriced water shoes. Vessi sneakers are designed to keep water out, while water shoes typically welcome water. I probably wouldn't wear these in the snowy winter (I actually appreciate the bulkiness of boots when it's freezing cold outside), but I wouldn't hesitate to travel with these as my only pair of shoes for both walking and adventuring. —  Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter



Vessi Cityscape

Men's Vessi Cityscape, $129, available in three colors

Women's Vessi Cityscape, $129, available in three colors

I wore my Vessi sneakers on a trip to Austin, Texas with the knowledge that I was going to be exploring springs and pools. I wanted to pack light, so they were the only pair of shoes I brought, and I crossed my fingers that they would work as they said. They turned out to be a great travel shoe because they were as comfortable as regular sneakers, but as practical as rain boots. I stepped my entire foot into a pool and no water seeped in. As it rained the entire weekend, the shoes also repelled the water effectively. It's a major plus that the soft and cushioned shoes don't have an obnoxious or obvious waterproof design. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks senior reporter



Vessi Everyday Slip On

Men's Everyday Slip On, $135, available in three colors

Women's Everyday Slip On, $135, available in three colors

The Vessi Everyday Slip On shoes are designed to function as lightweight, waterproof, versatile sneakers — and they deliver on all three. They held up well to New York City's brackish puddles without letting the water seep in, but they have great airflow despite the solid insulation. All in all, they'll stack up to expectations. Compared to the other two styles with laces, the Everyday Slip On is easy to put on and take off, and it's slightly less bulky. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter



The best cookie cutters you can buy

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  • A great set of cookie cutters makes those delicious holiday treats even more of a pleasure to make and share.

  • The Ann Clark Cookie Cutter Set is our top choice because this well-made 11-piece kit comes with every holiday cookie shape we could think of and then some.

People have been enjoying Christmas cookies for hundreds of years. There are myriad mentions of sweet biscuits enjoyed during the holidays dating back to the Medieval period, and by the 1500s, cookies not unlike those still enjoyed today could be found in various parts of Europe. The first such sweets came to America as early as the 17th Century, the recipes traveling with Dutch and English colonists.

While homemade cookies have long been popular in America, the use of cookie cutters to create carefully shaped confections at home has only been a regular practice for a little more than a century. By the early years of the 1900s, however, cookie cutters saw regular use throughout the year, with a marked increase in cookie production around the winter holidays.

It's certainly the case in my house that the holidays see an increase in cookie production, and therefore an increased use of cookie cutters. (And also an increase in calorie consumption.) We have several sets of cookie cutters that have blended over the years, so it can take some time to separate the Halloween pumpkins from the Valentine's Day hearts from the winter snowflakes and so on. For our purposes, we'll assume you're starting with a fresh slate and are in need of a decent set of cookie cutters, not just one or two shapes to complete a set.

While some of the sets on our list have a definite Christmas feel, we've also made sure to include sets that are appropriate for other winter holidays, for the winter season more generally, and also some suitable for all-year use. Because while many people make most of their cookies close to the winter holidays, plenty more folks keep right on baking in the spring, summer, and fall, too.

Here are the best cookie cutters you can buy:

Updated on 10/15/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

SEE ALSO: The best KitchenAid mixers you can buy

The best cookie cutter set overall

The cookie cutters in the Ann Clark Cookie Cutter Set are durable, easy-to-use, and come in multiple charming shapes that are just perfect for holiday treats.

Ann Clark Cookie Cutters is the largest domestic cooking cutter manufacturing company, so it's safe to assume they're doing something right. These Vermont-made baking tools are crafted out of tin-plated steel, so they maintain a smooth, polished exterior that allows for easy release of dough.

The cutters can also be used as pancake molds, bread or cheese cutters, and more. But of course, they're at their best when creating Christmas cookies. Amazon customer reviews say that the cutters are "very sturdy" and the "cutting edges are clean and sharp." 

This set includes a gingerbread man, a pine tree, a mitten, a snowman, a snowflake, and many more classic holiday shapes. In fact, you will be hard-pressed to think of any common Christmas cookie that you can't create using this set. 

That broad range of selection is really a secondary reason for promoting these Ann Clark Cookie Cutters as the top of the line, though. Their best selling point is their longevity. If handled properly (which basically means just hand-washing), these cutters should last a lifetime and then on into the next generation. Using them is a great way to start a tradition.

Pros: Designed to last a lifetime, great selection of holiday shapes, made in America

Cons: Not dishwasher safe, pricier than other options



The best affordable cookie cutter set

Do the math, and you'll realize that each cookie cutter in the 40-Piece Winblo Cookie Cutter Set costs just 52 cents.

Yes, the best reason to buy the 40-Piece Winblo Cookie Cutter Set is probably the fact that it's an amazing value. After all, each of the food-grade aluminum cutters costs you about half a dollar. But the amazing variety of shapes included in this set is certainly a close second.

There are a plethora of great Christmas cookie designs, from a pine tree to a gingerbread man to an angel. But the set also includes shapes perfect for other holidays, like a shamrock ideal for St. Patrick's Day and a heart for Valentine's Day cookies, along with myriad cutters ideal for cookies served on any day of the year.

Adults will love the set's unique and clever inclusions like a martini glass and the outline of a house, while kids will get a kick out of the many animal shapes — such as a dolphin, butterfly, and cat. There are also crisp, simple cookie cutters in the shape of squares, circles, triangles, and more. In short, this cookie cutter set pretty much has something for everyone. There is even a dog bone cookie cutter perfect for making canine cookies.

One Amazon reviewer said she was "pleasantly surprised by the quality of these cutters" given that they were "so inexpensive," while another customer wrote that she loved having "a cookie cutter for every occasion."

Pros: Great price for a large set, wide variety of shapes, easy to use

Cons: Cookie cutters are rather small



The best cookie cutters for Chanukah

Rite Lite LTD Metal Chanukah Cookie Cutters prove that Christmas cookies don't get to have all the fun. This set comes with cutters in the shape of a dreidel, a menorah, and a Star of David.

Too often, Christmas overshadows the other winter holidays, getting all the focus in terms of decorations, music, and even stealing the show when it comes to baked goods. Well no more! With the Rite Lite LTD Metal Chanukah Cookie Cutters, the Jewish Festival of Light gets the holiday cheer it deserves, because nothing brightens the spirit like tasty baked goods.

The set has three durable stainless steel cookie cutters in three classic Chanukah-themed shapes: the dreidel, the menorah, and the Star of David. Each of the cookie cutters measures about three inches in height and between two and three inches across, allowing you to make cookies that are just the right size for having two or maybe three at a time. Or more.

This Chanukah cookie cutter set makes a great gift for Chanukah, as do the cookies you can make using it.

Pros: Welcome alternative to Christmas shapes, makes perfectly-sized cookies

Cons: Metal is too flimsy and flexible



The best 3D cookie cutter set

Who said cookies have to be flat, two-dimensional objects? With the 3D Christmas Cookie Cutters Set, you can make cookies that stand up on their own and look great from all angles.

The 3D Christmas Cookie Cutters Set allows you to make a selection of truly unique Christmas decorations. The whimsical curios you can create using this set are notable for how good they look, of course, but also because people can eat them.

Each cookie cutter in this set is, in fact, part of a two-piece package. When used in tandem, these two-piece sets create a snowman, a Christmas tree, a sled, and a reindeer. You simply slot the two notched cookie halves together, and they stand up on their own. 

These striking 3D cookies are perfect for decorating an elaborate gingerbread house, setting up on a well-appointed holiday table, or passing around on a platter that is sure to leave an impression.

With a bit of practice using various types of icing, sprinkles, and other decorative flourishes, the 3D Christmas Cookie Cutters Set will allow you to make the handsomest holiday cookies you've baked up yet.

Pros: Unique 3D design, good price, great for making edible decorations

Cons: Many types of dough not suitable for 3D cookie baking



The best indestructible cookie cutters

If you're looking for cookie cutters that won't bend and break under the pressure of the holiday season, then Ateco is the way to go.

Cookie cutters aren't necessarily known for their sturdiness. After all, they're just bent pieces of metal in the first place. But there's nothing more disappointing than pulling out your favorite snowman cookie cutter from last year, only to find that his body is now somewhat deflated. Luckily, with Ateco's cookie cutters, you won't have to worry about such a sad fate befalling Mr. Snowman.

The cake decorating and baking company has a wide range of cookie cutting patterns to choose from, but one of my personal favorites is the Ateco 4843 Plain Edge Snowflake Cutter Set. Made of stainless steel, this five-piece set produces beautiful snowflake cookies that range from 1.5 to 5 inches.

Sure, you're not going to be getting enormous sweets using these cutters, but their form will be delicate and true. What more could you want from a holiday cookie? The designs are also surprisingly intricate for a cutter. Whereas most patterns will give you a cookie that vaguely resembles a tree or a shooting star, these snowflakes look seriously professional, both before and after they go into the oven.

As a whole, Ateco cookie cutters use some of the heaviest-gauge metal when compared to other popular cutter sets. And as it turns out, that really matters. If you're used to flimsy tin or tin-plated cutters, you'll immediately feel the difference with the Ateco set. They're not only heavier, but also distinctly tougher to bend. Plus, the seams of their cutters are more closely welded, which means that breaking an Ateco in two would require quite a bit more force.

And because Ateco's products are made with stainless steel, you won't have to worry about your cookie cutters rusting over time. These snowflakes will stay as special and as shiny as the day you got them.

Pros: Durable, won't rust, intricate designs, stainless steel material is much harder to bend and break

Cons: Some customers may not like the comparatively diminutive size of the Ateco cutters



The best cookie cutters to use with your kids

If you're baking with children and want to ensure that little hands are kept safe, then the Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set is surely the way to go.

For kitchens where six-year-olds prefer to play sous chef, there are few tasks more exciting than baking holiday cookies. And while cutting out creative shapes and designs seems like the perfect job for less experienced hands, using traditional metal cookie cutters can be a bit dangerous.

The solution comes in the form of the Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set. Not only is it an absolute steal at under $15 for all 101 shapes, but the set is also made of plastic, which makes it safer and easier for young chefs to use.

Included in the 101 designs are letters, animals, and of course, holiday motifs. So while this set may get the most use between November and December, you could just as easily pull out these cutters for a wide range of occasions throughout the year. After all, who doesn't want birthday cookies that spell out their name?

The designs are all color-coded so that you know instantly whether you're working with a letter or something more holiday-themed, which makes separating these cutters into categories much easier and less time consuming than you might think.

Alas, because these cutters are made of plastic, they're not quite as strong or sharp as some of their metal counterparts, which means that working with frozen dough is a little tougher. Plus, for added safety, these cutters aren't particularly deep, so you'll want to make sure that your dough is rolled fairly thin before trying to implement any designs.

Pros: Affordable, safe for kids, easy to use, easy to clean

Cons: Not as deep as other cutters, nor as strong



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