Olivia Beavers was a chief of staff intern at the White House in the beginning of 2015. She describes the reality of what life was like inside the west wing.
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Growing up in a big Italian family, Jimmy Kimmel says he has always struggled with portion control, but the late night host decided to take control by going on an extreme diet called 5:2.
Story by Aly Weisman and editing by Kristen Griffin
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Going to any social gathering involving alcohol inevitably clues you in to who is the sommelier and who is the amateur.
And if the latter happens to fit your description, have no fear. Here's a handy guide to 14 of your slightly embarrassing and nerdy questions about wine that will increase your wine expertise.
NEXT: 14 of your most embarrassing questions about wine answered with science
SEE ALSO: 15 simple ways to relax, according to scientists
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A good high-school education should not only provide students with a solid academic foundation, but also equip them for the rigors of college.
Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, just released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the country, specifically highlighting the best schools that prepare students for elite colleges.
To determine college readiness, Niche evaluated more than 8,000 schools on composite SAT and ACT scores, the caliber of colleges graduates attend, the percentage of students who matriculate to four-year colleges, and survey responses from students and parents. You can read the full breakdown of the methodology here.
Read on see the top 25 private schools that prepare students for life at a top college and beyond:
SEE ALSO: The 25 best colleges for landing a high-paying job right out of school
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Location: Bronx, New York
Average SAT score: 2130
Popular college choices: Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Wesleyan University
"Each teacher has their individual style but they all make the courses as engaging as possible," one senior said. "They are available to meet outside the class and are reachable by email. Students are encouraged to develop new ideas and present them to staff, such as a new class, club, or activity."
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Average SAT score: 2120
Popular college choices: University of Georgia, Vanderbilt University, University of Pennsylvania
"This is a great school academically, teachers are great in their subjects and are usually well-known individuals, hard curriculum, but has variety," a former student noted. "Be prepared to work. Also be prepared for that work to pay off once you graduate — college is extremely easy once you have graduated from Westminster!"
Location: Pasadena, California
Average SAT score: 2100
Popular college choices: Stanford University, University of Southern California, University of California at Los Angeles
"Poly's academics are world-renowned and completely prepare students for the future that lays ahead of them," one Niche user said. "While academics are difficult, they are also both manageable, with a proper work ethic, and incredibly rewarding."
I'm no stranger to money-saving challenges.
I've ditched my credit cards and tried the "cash-only diet," completed the food-stamp challenge, and even taken the "Elon Musk Challenge," which entailed a $2-a-day food budget.
When I set out to do free things in New York City for the month of February, the "challenge" seemed simple enough.
Not quite.
The issue wasn't finding free things to do (ironically, the most expensive US city offers an abundance of free things to do). It was actually going out and doing them. Part of it was the February weather; part of it was not wanting to break up my day-to-day routine; and part of it was laziness. I will say that every time I did motivate myself to trade in my warm apartment for an adventure, it was 100% worth it.
I made the goal of checking off 14 freebies — one every other day — and I fell short by three activities. Here's what I did, what I wished I did, and what I'm saving for sunny spring days.
Keep in mind that this is far from a comprehensive list and only scratches the surface. If you put in a bit of effort, you can easily experience this glamorous city on the cheap many times over.
SEE ALSO: I've lived in New York City for 22 years, and here are my favorite places to eat for less than $20
I started in my neighborhood of Chelsea, where there is a maze of free art galleries of all shapes and sizes. I wandered in and out of about 10 of them, but there are hundreds to choose from and you can easily fill a morning or afternoon gallery hopping.
I've also heard that if you plan your gallery crawl for a Thursday night, you may stumble upon free wine and cheese.
Check out the Chelsea gallery map.
I spent an evening at the Museum at FIT — also in Chelsea — which is the only museum in New York City dedicated exclusively to the art of fashion. There's a permanent collection of garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to today, as well as rotating exhibitions. Admission is free to all.
Learn more about the Museum at FIT.
I'd been told that the views from the Brooklyn Bridge, which links the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, are one-of-a-kind. I wasn't disappointed.
A perk of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on a winter evening is that you have the entire place to yourself, a rare luxury at the popular tourist attraction. We made a night out of it, walking over the bridge into Dumbo, Brooklyn for a view of the Manhattan skyline, and returning via the Manhattan Bridge. If you're doing the round-trip on foot, I would suggest skipping the Manhattan Bridge and crossing the Brooklyn Bridge twice. Its views and architecture are unmatched.
If you're crossing the bridge during the day, learn more about the Brooklyn Bridge Park.
An international team of economists just released its fourth World Happiness Report, which measures well-being in countries around the world to help guide public policy.
Denmark topped the list of the happiest nations, and all of the top seven countries were in the global north. Denmark was followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands.
The United States ranked 13th, a slight improvement from the last report, in which we ranked 15th.
The World Happiness Report isn't without a scientific basis.
One of its key findings, based on decades of economic, sociological, and psychological research, is that being happy seems to rely on at least six main factors: 1) being mindful and allowing ourselves to feel "captured" by emotions like awe or joy, 2) access to necessary material resources, 3) stimulating work and decent work conditions, 4) personal freedoms, 5) good governance, and 6) strong social ties and the opportunity to spend time with family and friends.
Here are the 30 happiest countries from the study. Each color represents one of the six key factors (key below):
Happiness helps us live longer, healthier, and more productive lives, and cultivating that emotion early in life is key, according the 2016 report.
But not to worry: it's never too late to start.
Research shows that people who participate in meditation and mindfulness training programs (some as short as two weeks) tend to display changes in key areas of the brain connected to memory, perspective, and self-awareness. And a handful of recent studies have found a link between experiencing a sense of awe and feeling happier and more satisfied.
"We need to explore in much more detail how the cultivation of mindfulness ... may contribute to long-term happiness," the researchers write in their report.
With that in mind, here are the 10 least-happy countries, with Burundi topping the list. Liberia is also a new addition to the bottom-10 list. Beginning in Sept. 2014, Ebola virus swept through the country, claiming 4,809 lives.
1. Burundi
2. Syria
3. Togo
4. Afghanistan
5. Benin
6. Rwanda
7. Guinea
8. Liberia
9. Tanzania
10. Madagascar
UP NEXT: Psychologists discover the simplest way to boost your mood
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The Champagne Gun— invented in France and sold by a Miami-based company — is the easiest way to waste bubbly. The device looks like a machine gun, and can spray champagne up to 23 feet.
Story by Sophie-Claire Hoeller and editing by A.C. Fowler
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Ahead of President Barack Obama's landmark visit to Cuba this weekend, Business Insider sent three reporters to step back in time on the stagnant island nation.
Instead of booking rooms in one of the state-run hotels, we decided to stay in a three-bedroom "casa particular," a traditional Cuban home we found through Airbnb, which started offering accommodations in Havana in June.
Our apartment was just a few steps away from the infamous Habana Libre hotel, the beautiful seaside views of Malecón, and Havana's main drag, "La Rampa."
SEE ALSO: We sent 3 reporters to Cuba for a week, and it was a wild adventure from the moment they arrived
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Eggs have gotten a bad reputation over the years, but research by scientists and nutritionists shows they have tremendous positive effects on your health.
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In 2015, the embargo was lifted between the US and Cuba — and once again, Cuban cigars were available to export. Cuba's tobacco production can be compared to Napa Valley's wine culture — it's taken seriously, and can be a big draw for tourists.
The recipe for a Cuban cigar is the country's climate, as well as the soil which makes for a rich harvest.
While foreign sales in cigars rose steadily through 2015, some Cuban tobacco farmers also gained income by hosting international visitors, giving guided tours through the beautiful countryside, and an inside look at how the cigars are produced.
One such farm is the family-run and owned Montesino. Located in Pinar del Rio, a little over an hour west of Havana, the farm is one of Cuba's most renowned tobacco producers. Here's how it makes a fine Cuban cigar.
SEE ALSO: 19 gorgeous photos of daily life in Cuba
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is looking to offload his Manhattan penthouse, listing the four-bedroom lower Fifth Avenue aerie for $12.2 million.
The duplex, in an iconic co-op, looks out over historic Greenwich Village and boasts intriguing design details like a leather-wrapped bronze handrail on the staircase and a sliding glass exterior wall for breezy indoor-outdoor living. Richards and his wife Pattie Hansen bought the spot in 2014 for $10.5 million, but it looks like they aren't getting much satisfaction from the purchase after all.
It's now listed with Sotheby's. Take a look at Richards' pad.
SEE ALSO: You can live in one of New York's most iconic hotels for $26 million
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More than 2,000 years after the original Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was destroyed in an earthquake, a group of architects wants to build a 21st-century version of it.
Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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Sure, you could buy a new watch for spring — but there's a much cheaper and even more stylish way to wake sure your wrist wear is ready for warmer weather.
A shocking number of watch-wearing men aren't aware that the watch strap their timepieces come with are quickly and easily replaceable. No, you're not stuck with that subpar leather strap.
This opens up an endless number of replacement straps, and we think the best one for spring is the colorful nylon NATO watch strap, which adds a pop of color to any wrist it's put on.
NATO, unsurprisingly, is derived from military style in WW2 and the name comes from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This kind of strap can both dress down a Rolex and dial up a Seiko.
The best part? They're dirt cheap, and can be found on any number of sites from $9 to $15 normally. So you can get any combination of colors, stripes, patterns, and even solid colors to match your entire watch wardrobe to your outfits. They even come in leather, but those are usually a bit more expensive.
They're also easy to install, following these simple steps.
Some of our favorites come from Crown and Buckle, which sell for $12 for regular straps, and $15 for premium ones of slightly higher quality. Other brands include Cheapest Nato Straps (around $9), and even Amazon.
SEE ALSO: 14 apps every modern gentleman should have on his phone
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NOW WATCH: The real estate trick billionaires use to sell their penthouses faster and for more money
Big cities aren't for everyone. But America's best metropolises have become magnets for people looking to find a great job and start a new, exciting life.
In its recently released ranking of the best places to live in America, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on the 100 most populous US cities. Among the factors they considered: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare (you can read U.S. News' full methodology here).
U.S. News separately ranked the best mega-cities on their list, defined as the major metros with populations above 2.5 million people. Business Insider has included the top-12 big cities from that list.
Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city’s population and median annual salary.
Keep reading to discover America's 12 best big cities to live in right now.
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Population: 5,455,053
Median annual salary: $48,750
Quality of life: 5.8
Overall value: 7.1
The premier metropolis of southeastern America, Atlanta blends southern charm and big-city hustle and bustle. It offers residents a below-average cost of living and access to major employers like CNN, Delta, The Home Depot, and Coca-Cola.
Parks are plentiful, and other popular attractions include Civil War museums, the Georgia Aquarium, and the city's beloved professional baseball team, the Atlanta Braves.
Population: 4,337,542
Median annual salary: $45,840
Quality of life: 6.2
Overall value: 6.8
Come for the weather, stay for the city: Phoenix boasts more sunny days per year than any other city in the US, according to a local expert. But it’s the thriving job market, variety of shops and restaurants, and easy access to numerous outdoor activities — think everything from hiking to paddleboarding — that keep residents happy long-term.
Population: 2,851,235
Median annual salary: $43,420
Quality of life: 6.7
Overall value: 5.4
Tampa’s laid-back atmosphere, warm weather, and barrage of entertainment options make it feel like a trip to paradise. “Living in the Tampa Bay is like being on vacation all year,” said a local expert.
Tampa hasn’t been overtaken by tourists, however. It retains several niche communities, including a strong Cuban influence in historic Ybor City, formerly known as the “cigar capital of the world.”
Before age 13, Gavin de Becker had suffered countless beatings, seen his younger sister subjected to the same abuse, and witnessed his heroin addicted mother shoot his father.
Instead of turning to violence himself as an adult, de Becker used his horrific childhood experiences to become one of the world's foremost experts on how to predict, and potentially prevent, violent, criminal activity.
Though he's written four books over the course of his successful career, de Becker is most famous for his first best-seller "The Gift of Fear," wherein he describes seven tell-tale signs to watch out for when someone is trying to control you.
Whether it's a con artist after your money or a violent criminal after something far worse, these signs are as true now as they were when de Becker first wrote them, and they can help you to identify a predator and protect yourself from becoming a victim.
READ MORE: 8 astounding facts about a great scientific mystery that affects only 10% of the population
De Becker calls forced teaming one of the most sophisticated manipulations.
You can clearly identify it when a stranger conjures a shared experience with you where none exists by using the pronouns "we" and "us" in phrases like "Now we've done it" or "We're some team."
Criminals use it to get closer to their victims by creating the illusion that you're both in the same boat. Moreover, most people are reluctant to deflect forced teaming because it's difficult to do so without seeming rude. This only adds to the criminal's advantage.
Typecasting is a technique con artists generally use to get someone's full attention.
It always involves a slight insult, de Becker writes, that is easy to refute. For example, a man at a bar tells a woman that she's probably too snobbish to talk to him.
She could easily prove him wrong by sparking a conversation, but the best defense against typecasting is to ignore the remark entirely because acknowledging it is exactly what the typecaster wants.
Charm is always a tool people use to attain a certain goal, according to de Becker.
Most charmers aren't a threat, but many criminals will use charm to deceive you of their harmful intentions. A good defense, which helps you see around the charmer for who they really are, is to consciously tell yourself:
"'This person is trying to charm me,'" as opposed to, 'This person is charming,'" de Becker writes.
One Google employee brings new meaning to the term "company man": For nearly two years, he and his wife lived in a small RV in the parking lot of the tech giant's Mountain View, California, headquarters.
They're not the only people to live on the company's campus— which is known for perks like free meals and fitness classes — and they claim to be the longest-running residents of the lot.
Pete, 33, will have been at Google for five years this April. He started as a temp and now works as a program manager for the research-and-development team. Nearly two of those five years, from January 2012 to October 2013, were spent living in the Google parking lot with his wife, Kara, 28.
They had no electricity or water during their parking-lot stint. It was basically "glorified camping," Kara described on their blog, "Pete and Kara Living," but it allowed them to save 80% of their take-home pay, despite living in the notoriously pricey Bay Area.
Today their "mini Winnie" is still alive and kicking, but now it's parked in the driveway of their home, which they bought with their sizable savings in the summer of 2013.
Business Insider talked to the couple about their unique experience and their transition to traditional home ownership.
The couple purchased their 21-foot 1985 Winnebago Lesharo in September 2010. At the time, they were based in Chicago, where Pete was finishing up a summer contract with the Chicago Park District and Kara was teaching at a Montessori school.
They found the lightly used Winnebago Lesharo for sale in Warrenville, Illinois, Kara wrote on their blog. "We went to see it, took it for a test drive, and made him an offer. It was ours for $1,900, about half of what we originally expected to pay."
Shortly after, they quit their jobs, sold all of their belongings, and moved to Pete's parents' home in Attica, Michigan, to prepare the Winnebago before setting out on the next chapter of their lives: living as full-time RV residents in Austin, Texas.
They kept renovations cheap — under $100 — which consisted of ripping out the back passenger seats to build a twin bed with storage underneath and installing "a peel-and-stick wood-looking floor," Pete tells Business Insider.
While renovations cost next to nothing, repairs ultimately became one of their biggest expenses. Pete estimates that over time, they've put $10,000 into the RV, mainly for repairs.
Measuring a little less than 100 square feet, the Winnebago came with a small kitchen area with a propane stove top and sink, a kitchen table surrounded by two booths, and enough storage to accommodate their two bikes, clothes, and spare parts for the RV. It also had a shower and toilet, which they didn't use often.
After finishing preparations, they left for Austin in early December 2010. They set up camp in an RV park and started looking for work. "There was quite a bit of uncertainty at this time because we had no jobs and only $10,000," Pete tells Business Insider.
Four months later and in the nick of time, Pete got a call about a temp position at Google. "We were on our last $50, shopping at Walmart for rice and beans," Pete remembers. "There was some legitimate fear and uncertainty at that time and we were a few weeks — if not days — from losing everything."
The call turned into a job, which he started right away in April 2011. He worked remotely until January 2012, at which point Pete, Kara, and their Winnebago left Austin and headed west to Google's headquarters.
