Facebook is a classic Silicon Valley success story: From a Harvard dorm to the top of the world.

It has made Mark Zuckerberg into a legendary figure, and turned a hoodie and tennis shoes the height of tech industry fashion.

These days, Facebook is worth $364 billion, with over 1.71 billion people using the site every month.

Here's the story behind Facebook's insane growth, from February 2004 through today.

Spoiler alert: It involves a lot of beer.

SEE ALSO: 32 photos of Apple's early days before it ruled the world

Facebook got its start at Harvard's Kirkland House dormitory — the same dorm that Wallace Shawn (who played Vizzini in "The Princess Bride" and the voice of "Toy Story's" Rex) lived in during his Harvard years.

In 2003, Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg would build a program called "Face mash." It was a Hot or Not-style app using the pictures of his classmates that he hacked from the school administration's dormitory ID files. It got 22,000 page views from 450 people in the first four hours it was up. A few days later, Harvard ordered it to be taken down, citing copyright and security concerns.

Zuckerberg faced disciplinary action from Harvard, but was allowed to stay at the school. Undeterred, he launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004.

If you have a desk job in corporate America, chances are your eyes are glued to a computer screen most of the day.

While most of us just accept this as "part of the job," it certainly isn't something everyone aspires to or enjoys.

However, if staring at a computer all day is something you find to be completely intolerable — or you're just not all that tech savvy — there are certain jobs you'll want to avoid. 

Business Insider recently combed through the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs to find positions where "using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information" is a huge part of the job.

O*NET ranks how important "interacting with computers" is to every profession, assigning each an importance score between 1 and 100. Here are the jobs with a score of 98 or higher:

SEE ALSO: The 30 highest-paying jobs for people who don't want to sit at a desk all day

Software developer (applications)

They develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. In addition, they analyze user needs and develop software solutions; design software or customize software for client use; analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team; and sometimes supervise computer programmers.

Computer importance level: 100

Median annual pay: $98,260

Web administrator

They manage web environment design, deployment, development and maintenance activities — and perform testing and quality assurance of web sites and web applications.

Computer importance level:100

Median annual pay:$85,240

Multimedia artist or animator

They create special effects, animation, or other visual images using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products or creations, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

Computer importance level:100

Median annual pay:$63,970

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been going sideways ever since the Commerce Department reported that retail sales in July came to a grinding halt (0.0%).

At the same time, companies including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Ford, Burberry, and Gap are reporting disappointing sales. That means trouble in shopping paradise.

Target just reported a Q2 drop of 1.1% in same-store sales. It expects a “challenging environment in the back half of the year.”

There are many reasons why Americans have become reluctant shoppers. I talked about this in my recent article “The Stressed-Out, Tapped-Out American Consumer.” Stagnant incomes and rising debt loads are part of the problem.

But another big factor is a change in spending psychology.

The save vs. spend mindset has shifted.

Americans are becoming big savers, according to Deutsche Bank,.

The save vs. spend mindset has shifted for all adults. But this change is most dramatic for Millennials.

Transport of goods is slowing.

Evidence of shopping fatigue is also showing up in the transportation food chain.

Truck shipments continue to decline. July shipments were down versus 2015, 2014, 2012, and 2011.

Harrison Ford hasn't been the marquee star in a giant blockbuster movie in a while, but he's still ruling Hollywood.

Thanks to "Star Wars" and other films over the years, he's one member in an exclusive group of actors whose movies have grossed $3 billion or more in total.

We've selected the stars from Box Office Mojo's ranking of actors' all-time box-office performance who have achieved status in the $3 billion club.

Some are well-known, like Ford or Cameron Diaz, while others (like C-3PO thespian Anthony Daniels) are not, but their work speaks for itself.

Check out the actors with the top box-office grosses of all time:

SEE ALSO: Meet the new young Hollywood — 30 stars under 30 whose careers are blowing up

SEE ALSO: The 15 best-selling movie soundtracks of all time

21. Cameron Diaz — $3.03 billion

Highest grossing film: "Shrek 2" ($441.2 million)

20. Robert DeNiro — $3.08 billion

Highest grossing film: "Meet the Fockers" ($279.3 million)

19. Matt Damon — $3.11 billion

Highest grossing film: "The Martian" ($228.4 million)

If you have (a couple millions worth of) expendable cash, it's worth getting a private jet so you can actually look forward to flying.

There's several to choose from, but one worth considering is the Embraer Lineage 1000E private jet, which comes with five separate rooms.

Here's an inside look at one of the best luxury private jets money can buy:

SEE ALSO: Airlines are charging a hidden fee that's increasing your plane ticket — and they won't say what it's for

The private jet comes with 10,000 cubic feet of cabin space that turns into five large cabin zones. For $53 million, the jet is all yours, but you will have to pay extra for the luxurious amenities you're about to see inside of it.

Walk inside and you will first be greeted by an entry room that comes with a nice counter area for food and cabinet space for storage.

The second room from the entrance is a spacious conference room where you can kick back and relax or eat some breakfast.

So many TED talks, so little time. It's impossible to watch them all.

If you need help figuring out which ones to watch, you're in luck. TED has curated playlists so you can dig into a particular topic.

Here are TED talks from linguists, literary critics, psychologists, dictionary editors and the word-obsessed that will pique the interest of any verbivore.

SEE ALSO: A technologist turned life coach explains why 20-somethings can't make decisions

RAW Embed

1. Anne Curzan: What makes a word "real"?

English historian Anne Curzan is fascinated by how slang becomes commonplace. She even asks all new students to teach her two new slang words. In her talk, she gives insight in how new words get introduced into the dictionary. You might be surprised to learn how the editors of dictionaries make "the rules" about language usage that we follow as standard.

RAW Embed

2. Terry Moore: Why is "x" the unknown?

Why is it that the letter "x" represents the unknown? The X-Files, Project X, even TEDx. In his pursuit to learn Arabic, director of the Radius Foundation Terry Moore found the answer.

RAW Embed

3. Parul Sehgal: An ode to envy.

In her salon-style talk, the editor of The New York Times Book Review explores one little word that drives human behavior, but hasn't been extensively studied. Parul Sehgal is fascinated by jealousy, and looks to fiction to explain why humans can so easily become overcome by envy. She poses a provocative question: "If we didn't have jealousy, would we even have literature?"

Leandra Medine is a 27-year-old fashion writer who turned her blog, Man Repeller, into a high-profile business. Man Repeller's stable of writers, artists, and social media gurus have worked in three separate offices since the blog's launch in 2010. For its previous two offices, they enlisted the help of Homepolish, a startup that has designed spaces for other startups and homeowners, and this time was no different — Man Repeller called on Homepolish designer Elisa Shankle to help create Man Repeller's best space yet. 

Man Repeller has reeled in a devoted audience: 2.2 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and an average 53% fan growth year to year. Meanwhile, a series of high-profile brand collaborations have boosted the site's bottom line; they've worked with the likes of Sunglass Hut, Fossil, NARS, and Estée Lauder.

Ahead, take a look at their previous office space compared to their newest location in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 'Man Repeller', the 27-year-old who turned her fashion hobby into a serious business

Man Repeller's last office was nearby, in SoHo. The reason for the move was simple: "We needed more space," Medine told Business Insider.

Now Medine even has her own private office, decorated with bookshelves and Gray Malin photography.

The old office was simply one room, with the two teams divided up into two rows. The editorial team was on the left.

After Obama's 2012 presidential victory, the need for a skilled technology team on a campaign seems like a must.

Following in Obama's footsteps, Hillary Clinton's campaign has amassed an impressive technology team of over 70 people, many of whom are former Silicon Valley hot-shots.

The team has an impressive resume, starting with the CTO, Stephanie Hannon, a former Google employee who worked on Gmail and Google Maps, in addition to other products. The rest of the team members hail from big names like Facebook, Adobe, and IBM in addition to many non-profits and past campaigns. There are even some former startup advisors on board.

So what exactly does Hillary Clinton's technology team do? 

Right now, the team is building projects that span almost every section of the campaign. They've done everything from coming up with creative ways to bring in donations, automate data entry to free up field organizers, and build systems that make online voter registration easier. They've launched Facebook campaigns and run the campaign's mobile app.  

Tto accomplish these projects, the team is split into 10 agile groups, complete with product directors, engineers and developers. But to really understand this team, Business Insider took a trip over to their Brooklyn office. Here's what we found.

When you walk into the Hillary for America office in Brooklyn, you're immediately greeted by a sign that shows their progress towards their goal of registering three million voters. Helping citizens register to vote online is one of the tech team's biggest projects.

The technology team takes up a big chunk of one floor of the campaign's two-floor office in Brooklyn. Here is their lounge area, where the TV screen is showing a stream of Alaskan bears.

The different teams are constantly putting out projects and content. Sarah Gray worked on the "Trump Yourself" Facebook campaign where you can attach Trump quotes to your profile picture.

Aileen Adalid entered the corporate world at age 19 after graduating from De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, with a degree in business management.

But the trilingual Philippines native quickly grew envious of the flexible lifestyles of "digital nomads" she met while freelancing on the side in Manila.

At 21, Adalid quit her entry-level job at Deutsche Bank — which paid just $300 per month — to transition to a life of perpetual travel.

For the next year, Adalid freelanced in graphic design, web design, SEO management, and online marketing, sustained largely by one stable client contract that earned her more than double her previous salary. The best part: The flexibility enabled her to travel frequently to places like France and Thailand.

In May 2014, Adalid partnered with a friend to start an online Amazon retail business called Adalid Gear, a health and outdoor accessories company, and relocated to Belgium.

She also revived her one-time teenage diary blog, I Am Aileen, fashioning it into a lifestyle and travel blog that has gained traction among online travel communities.

Adalid now earns about $5,000 a month from her online ventures, and she travels from her home base (now back in the Philippines) at least once a month to destinations throughout Europe and Asia.

You can follow her adventures on her blog, I Am Aileen, or through her Facebook or Instagram.

Adalid told Business Insider about cutting ties with the corporate world to chase after the "digital nomad" lifestyle, and finding a balance between traveling the world and running two successful ventures. Read on to find out how she did it. 

DON'T MISS: A 31-year-old who's been traveling the world for 5 years explains how she affords it

SEE ALSO: 14 things I learned when I quit my job to travel the world

Back in college, Adalid studied business management and had a combined year of training experience under her belt at huge multinational companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Siemens.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/-mAd24tZQt/embed/
Width: 658px

 In Belgium.

But after graduating college at 19 and spending two years working as a product controller at Deutsche Bank, she realized the corporate life wasn't for her. She was increasingly intrigued by both entrepreneurship and travel, so she left her job with about $600 in savings in April 2013.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BGjLE31NZY2/embed/
Width: 658px

In Dubrovnik, Croatia.

"I started working as a remote freelance graphic designer, web developer, and marketing assistant taking on different projects but with a main stable client who employed me. My pay at this point was more than double of what I earned at my office job and I was able to control my time more for working as I started to travel around more."

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BCjgFeLNZcn/embed/
Width: 658px

Apple released the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus on Friday.

They’re Apple’s 14th and 15th iPhones since the first one was launched in 2007.

Obviously, the more recently an iPhone was released, the faster it will be. Apple updates the chips, screens, and other components on an annual basis because that’s how technology works, and so they can claim the latest iPhone is the “best ever.”

But when compared to its peers, taking into account the environment it was released, and the overall aesthetics of the device, the iPhone 7 is not the best iPhone, in my opinion.

So based on design, primarily, but also influence and my personal feelings towards these devices, I’ve ranked the 15 iPhones. As we wrote the last time we did this exercise, “You might say this ranking is arbitrary. You might be right if you do. But so what.”

SEE ALSO: The top 9 ways your iPhone will change after you download iOS 10

15. Phone 5C

The iPhone 5C was perhaps Apple’s least well-received phone ever. It was supposed to be a less expensive iPhone for markets like China, but it didn’t sell well. The C stands for “color” — but some people thought it stood for “China,” and the joke was that it stood for “cheap.” When it was announced, the tagline was that it was “unapologetically plastic,” as if plastic is something to say sorry for.

14. iPhone 4S

While the iPhone 4 is a icon of modern design, the iPhone 4S was a more minor update. Its biggest claim to fame is the first iPhone to introduce Siri, and it was also the first iPhone presented by current CEO Tim Cook. 

13. iPhone 3G

The iPhone 3G is actually the second iPhone, but it’s one of the iPhone’s least-inspired designs. It had a curved plastic back that was a clear downgrade from the sold, rock-like construction of the original iPhone.

The NFL's offseason was highlighted by the end of Deflategate, the Rams' move to Los Angeles, and major trades at the top of the draft. Lost amongst those stories were the large number of players who signed enormous contracts.

In the NFL, the standard for large contracts is to forgo long-term security in exchange for huge signing bonuses up front. As a result, many of the players who will earn the most money this year signed new contracts since the end of the 2015 season.

This year's list of the highest-paid players includes 15 quarterbacks, four defensive linemen, and just one Manning. 

Here are the 30 players who will make at least $16 million this season.

28t. Dez Bryant — $16,000,000

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Position: Wide Receiver

2016 earnings breakdown: $9.0 million salary, $7.0 million signing bonus

One thing to know: Bryant signed a 5-year, $70 million extension on the eve of the 2015 season, avoiding a potential holdout. The deal was a big win for the Cowboys because it was less than Calvin Johnson was being paid, it didn't have a lot of fully guaranteed money, and it freed up cap space.

28t. Janoris Jenkins — $16,000,000

Team: New York Giants

Position: Cornerback

2016 earnings breakdown: $1.4 million salary, $10.0 million signing bonus, $4.6 million in other bonuses

One thing to know: Jenkins moved from the Rams to the Giants this past off-season on a 5-year, $62.5 million contract. The guaranteed portion was the second-highest per year for any cornerback.

28t. Jay Cutler — $16,000,000

Team: Chicago Bears

Position: Quarterback

2016 earnings breakdown: $16.0 million salary

One thing to know: At one point, Cutler's 7-year, $126.7 million contract was named the worst quarterback contract in the NFL.

When we want to wish someone a happy birthday or Valentine's day, say "congratulations" or "thank you," or tell them "I'm sorry" or "get well soon," we roam the greeting card aisle looking for the perfect way to say it.

We rely on those cards to express the thoughts and feelings so many of us have trouble articulating. 

But have you ever wondered who's actually behind those poetic, funny, or cheerful expressions? Have you thought about who is coming up with the words we so often can't? 

At Hallmark alone — the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the US, which had $3.8 billion in consolidated revenues in 2014 — there are 24 employees who are responsible for writing cards.

One of them is Diana Manning, a senior writer who has worked at the company's Kansas City headquarters for over 30 years.

Earlier this year, Business Insider spoke with Manning, who wrote her first greeting card at age 9 for her grandparent's anniversary — about what it's really like to be a card writer for Hallmark. Here's what she told us.

Some responses have been edited for clarity.

SEE ALSO: Here's what it’s REALLY like to work for the FBI

Before Hallmark

"I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I had always been interested in literature and language and stories from a young age. I wrote silly poems as a kid, and also made my own cards for family members when I was growing up. I still have the rhyming anniversary card I gave to my grandparents when I was nine.

"But I never really held out hope that I could make a living as a writer. In college, I studied to be an English teacher, and assumed that was probably what my lifetime career would be.

"While I was a senior at Iowa State University, Hallmark visited my campus but I just missed getting an interview with them.

"There were ten slots on the interview sign-up sheet, and I was the eleventh person in line. I had to wait another year before another interview opportunity came my way."

Finding the job

"I was teaching high school English in Iowa my first year out of college when I saw an ad in the paper for a greeting card writer.

"The ad didn't specifically mention Hallmark, but said the company was based in Kansas City, so I assumed that's who I'd be working for. I had already decided that teaching was not my calling after all, and jumped at the chance to become a full time writer — especially for such a prestigious company as Hallmark." 

Getting the job

"After I applied, I was sent a set of exercises to complete to see if I had some potential as a greeting card writer. Back then, it was an actual physical portfolio I had to type out and send through the mail. Today, of course, the process is all digital. But the intent is the same — can you write something clever or emotional, can you rhyme and meter?

"After a few weeks, I heard back from Hallmark and was flown in for a day of interviews, meeting with several writers and editors. People commented on the pieces of writing I'd sent in, and I guess wanted to make sure I'd fit in personality-wise.

"My grandmother didn't want me to get my hopes up and told me not to be too disappointed if I didn't get the job — she was sure lots of people applied for a job like this. But I was told later once I was hired that it was my rhyme and meter skills and sense of structure that had landed me the job. I was really excited to get started, and was assigned a mentor to train me in all the ins and outs of the business and the types of writing I'd be doing."

Technology is always moving forward; the various industries that utilize those tools typically aren’t very far behind.

And while just about every industry is shifting in some form or fashion, a few are poised to undergo significant change.

Related: How Technology Along With Innovation is Helping Entrepreneurs Build Successful Startups

4 industries in flux — the biggest kind 

No industry ever rests in place, but some clearly move faster than others.

If you’ve spent any time studying technology trends and predictions, you may be aware that the following four industries are moving forward at lightning pace. But, do you know why?

1. Home automation 

One of the fastest-moving segments in the marketplace is the home automation — or "smart" home — industry. By 2022, the home automation system market is expected to be worth roughly $78.27 billion. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.46 percent, from this year through 2022.

Much of the growth in this industry is rooted in safety, security, and environmentally friendly solutions that reduce energy dependence and keep more money in the pockets of homeowners. We’re watching companies invest billions of dollars into such items as smart locks, wireless video surveillance devices, energy-efficient appliances, customizable lighting and more.

The interesting thing about the home automation industry is that the technological infrastructure already exists. So do a flurry of companies, getting into this area. “But the biggest hurdle facing smart home companies today isn’t other companies — it’s a lack of consumer understanding and education,” Greg Roberts, vice president of marketing at Icontrol Networks, said in his guest blog on CTA Tech.

“To overcome that hurdle, companies need to band together and technologies must operate together seamlessly so consumers can pick and choose the devices that best fit their needs,” Roberts said. In other words, it’s marketplace adoption that is currently holding the industry back from the massive explosion that’s bound to happen sooner rather than later.

Just how long it will take for consumers to jump on board is yet to be seen.

Related: Shiny New Gadgets to Smart Homes and Beyond: A CES 2015 Preview

2. The sleep industry

Compared to home automation, the sleep industry may seem boring and archaic, but I can assure you that it is not. There’s a lot of technology and innovation that goes into developing sleep solutions which allow people to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed.

“I think that within the next five-to-ten years we are going to see technology play a bigger role in sleep optimization,” Michael Hughes, founder and CEO of PlushBeds said in an interview with Mattress Clarity. “More and more today, we see new technology implemented into everyday household items which improve our quality of life.”

By 2019, experts have suggested, the global market for sleep aids will reach a whopping $76.7 billion. That’s a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6 percent. The sleep apnea segment of the market alone is expected to grow at an 11.3 percent CAGR.

Entrepreneur Moe Kittaneh has been tracking the industry for some time and says he expects tools and tactics such as mobile phone apps, wearable activity trackers, customizable mattresses and even innovative medical therapies to continue to improve in the coming years.

3. Retail

The retail industry has also undergone a significant amount of change in the past decade. The introduction of ecommerce as a serious threat to brick-and-mortar shopping has caused massive ripples; and large and small companies alike are being forced to pivot and shift in new directions.

In 2016, the novelty of online shopping has worn off and the retail industry is finally able to breathe again. Ecommerce is now a staple in the industry, and we’re beginning to see new technologies and innovation respond.

For multi-channel retailers, “click-and-collect” shopping is another trend that has become quite popular. Merchants like Kohl’s, Walmart and Home Depot let customers shop online, place an order and then pick it up in store. But we’re seeing some companies take this to an entirely new level.

"Nordstrom is also looking into using mobile to streamline the in-store pickup experience," notes VendHQ.com. "In May 2015," the site pointed out, "the retailer started testing a service that lets customers text or call their Nordstrom associate as they near the store. The store employee will then head down and meet the customer outside, so they won’t even have to get out of their car."

On the ecommerce side of things, retailers are becoming increasingly reliant on analytics and finding strategic ways to utilize the information they now have. As a result, they’re able to customize shopping experiences and deliver more meaningful information and offers to individual customers.

Samsung apparently believes that people are generally nostalgic, and that a high-end clamshell phone could be a winner.

Just yesterday, we showed you some live images of such a unit, which has the nickname "Veyron" and carries the model number of SM-W2017. Today, we have some more images of the new Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 for you to look at.

SEE ALSO: Some people's iPhone 7's are making a weird hissing noise

Sunday's Emmy awards presented some really surprising wins and unexpected moments.

As with any live event, things don't always go according to plan. This year was no different.

From Jeb Bush's cameo as an Uber driver to Matt Damon's sudden appearance to heckle Jimmy Kimmel, there were several moments that caused many to gasp, laugh, boo, and celebrate.

Here are the six most surprising moments of this year's Emmys:

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' just beat an incredible all-time Emmys record

DON'T MISS: Jimmy Kimmel burns Donald Trump in fiery Emmys opening monologue

Jeb Bush appears as an Uber driver during the opening sketch.

The former Florida governor was one of the many stars who made appearances in the Emmys opening sketch in which host Jimmy Kimmel was trying to get a ride to the show. Bush showed he has a great sense of humor when he joked about his own presidential run. In the end, he refused to give Kimmel a ride.

Matt Damon kicks Jimmy Kimmel while he's down.

Matt Damon made a surprise appearance to further his "feud" with Jimmy Kimmel. The late night host had just lost in his category and Damon decided to kick the guy while he was down.

"This is so humiliating. I'm sorry," Damon said. "You lost and now you have to stand out here for the rest of the night in front of everybody."

Jimmy Kimmel put the "Stranger Things" kids to work.

The "Stranger Things" kids weren't nominated (yet) for an Emmy and they were already there, so why not put them to work? Turns out they warmed up the crowd by performing a rendition of "Uptown Funk" ahead of the televised awards.

Later, Kimmel enlisted their help in passing around peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the audience.

Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennial women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar. (Thanks, New York mag, for the inspiration.)

Today, a woman hosting a dinner party while training for a half-marathon.

Industry: Performing arts/media

Age: 30

Location: NYC

Salary: $50,000

Paycheck Amount (Every Two Weeks): $1,219 after tax, insurance, FSA, 401(k) and transit check; my husband reimburses me $450 per month to cover his portion of insurance and our phone bill

# of Roommates: 1 (dude mentioned above)

Monthly Expenses

Rent: $2,533.08, split evenly. I pay $1,266.54

Internet: $88 (my husband covers utilities, which is comparable)

Phone Bill: $200, but my husband reimburses me for half

Rock Climbing Gym Membership: $85

Netflix: $7.99

Hulu Plus: $7.99

New York Times Weekender subscription: $6 (special discount rate)

Standing donation to Karam Foundation to support a Syrian refugee family: $50

Yearly Expenses

Taxes (Accountant Fee): $162.50 for my half. My husband and I coordinate our checks for federal taxes and our accountant. We’ll get a refund from New York State that makes up for these two fees, and then some. My accountant has told me in the past that it’s better to owe than be owed when it comes to taxes, because you still get a little more money this way — but whenever he starts to go into the intricacies of withholdings on paychecks, he starts to sound like one of the teachers in Charlie Brown. I paid $467.50 extra in taxes this year.

Day One

8 a.m. — I have the same breakfast every morning: Half a cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, half a cup of pumpkin puree, one tablespoon of chia seeds.

9:15 a.m. — I'm out of coffee at home, so I stop at Le Pain Quotidien for one. I contemplate also getting a roll, because Le Pain Quotidien is basically Amsterdam’s red-light district for bread, but I essentially have exactly enough for my coffee in quarters and I hate to use my card for such a small amount. The barista is excited, as she needed quarters. $2.75

11 a.m. — Still want bread. I try to sate this craving with a Pink Lady apple and some almond butter from home. Desired effect is not achieved.

12:05 p.m. — I convince enough of my coworkers to rally around having bread with lunch, so our office manager approves the purchase of a $3 baguette from LPQ from our treats fund. I wish I had this same determination when it came to understanding my taxes.

12:30 p.m. — Lunch from home: An arugula salad with celery and broiled eye-round steak. I’m not a dressing fan, but the steak juice gives it the extra something it needs. Oh, and bread. Beautiful, free bread.

2:20 p.m. — Check my Wells Fargo and see that my Hulu and Netflix payments both went through today. It seems ridiculous to have both, but I love that Hulu has most all of the Criterion collection and I try to watch at least one new Criterion film each week. My automatic transfer of $83 from checking to savings also goes through.

4 p.m. — I bring most of my food from home, because lunch options in midtown are ridiculously expensive. I have a Pink Lady apple with almond butter, which I pack into a Ziploc bag and squeeze, pastry-bag style, onto the apple slices, because I’m classy. Also because I lost my little bento box thing that held small items like almond butter.

8:30 p.m. — Working late. I have a Tarocco blood orange on my way home.

8:45 p.m. — Improvising with what we have in the pantry, I make a frittata with eggs, plain Greek yogurt, some leftover Israeli couscous, onion, and Parm. It does the job and I eat it with my husband while watching The Americans.

9:50 p.m. — Check out on my latest Stitch Fix box; I keep a pair of culottes and a sailor-stripe shirt. $83.

Daily Total: $85.75

Day 2

7:05 a.m. — FreshDirect arrives. I buy for the week and do a lot of meal prep, but I got a little extra today, as I’m hosting a dinner party and making a seafood and radicchio risotto for eight people. $85.83

9:15 a.m. — Make the same Greek yogurt/pumpkin/chia breakfast with coffee at home. I get the La Colombe beans from FreshDirect and one bag usually lasts two weeks, as I’m the only one in the house who drinks coffee.

10:05 a.m. — My husband and I start to make our way down to the Brooklyn Ikea. He stops at the bodega near our apartment to get an iced tea and gets me a kombucha to make the card minimum.

11:50 a.m. — Go to Ikea for five of the $7.99 folding chairs to accommodate the headcount at tonight’s dinner, along with some drinking glasses, AA batteries, and paper napkins to use as guest hand towels in the bathroom. While we’re there, I break down and buy three succulents, plus pots. It’s a crowded Saturday morning and I’m un-showered and scoping out cacti alongside a crowd of Brooklyn hipsters, so basically it’s Coachella on a budget. $70.61

1:10 p.m. — Graze on the rest of last night’s frittata for lunch and have a spoonful of almond butter out of the jar.

4:15 p.m. — Run to Food Cellar near my apartment to get a baguette and some taper candles. $11.16

7 p.m. — I recently started hosting a table as part of The Dinner Party, which is a group of mainly twenty- and thirtysomethings who have experienced significant loss. TDP organizes tables of roughly eight to 10 people to have regular potluck dinners and connect over the shared bond and discuss life after loss. It’s an amazing group of people. In addition to the risotto I make, we have wine, beer, roasted broccolini, zucchini, salad, and a gluten-free chocolate cake with coconut cream. And bread.

Daily Total: $167.60

Day 3

10:30 a.m. — Standard breakfast and pack my coffee in a to-go mug to go out for the morning.

12:30 p.m. — Meet a friend at Peacefood Café on the Upper West Side for lunch. I get the Japanese pumpkin sandwich and a gingerade. $12.96

1:45 p.m. — Walk back to the N train from the Upper West Side. On my way, I stop in at Kiehl’s to restock on face wash. It’s expensive, but worth it. $31.57

1:55 p.m. — Also stop at CVS for dental floss and eyeliner. $12.50

2:20 p.m. — Swing back by Food Cellar on my way home to get some apples for the week and a few bags of Beanitos bean chips (my nutritionist got me hooked on them). My husband meets me there and I get his sandwich and a cool elderflower seltzer. We’ve been married for five years and have yet to combine our bank accounts, which is mostly on me. He’s even better with finances than I am, but I watched my mother support two deadbeat ex-husbands, so I still have some personal stuff to work through. In the meantime, we basically even out on the little things and consciously split the big things. It works out. $24.20

3 p.m. — Snack on an apple and almond butter while batch cooking steak for the week. It sounds very boring, but I’ve been working with a nutritionist since last September and it’s gotten me into a routine for breakfast and, during the workweek, lunch. I’ll switch things up from time to time, but it saves me from decision fatigue.

6:50 p.m. — Husband gets Two Boots pizza for dinner. I have a slice of the Meg and a slice of the classic cheese, plus one of the beers leftover from last night.

8:50 p.m. — I’m craving another kombucha and looking for a $5 in my wallet. My husband gives me his card and says he’ll cover the drink if I get him a rice pudding.

Daily Total: $81.23

Have you ever found yourself playing a sports video game and thought, "you know, this just looks too realistic"?

Have you ever wanted to strike fear in the hearts of your opponents by making them play against an immensely talented, but eternally miserable creature made from your own image?

Thanks to the new My NBA 2K17 mobile app, it's easier than ever to slap your own visage onto a virtual body and dunk on fools. Before, you needed a PlayStation Camera or a Kinect for Xbox, but now you can just use your phone. The whole process takes about a minute.

I had a grand adventure with the game's face scanning tech over the weekend, and I'd like to share it with you:

SEE ALSO: 'NBA 2K17' is the best looking basketball game ever made

I didn't plan on scanning my face into "NBA 2K17," but as soon as I found it was so easy, I couldn't resist. Before we get into the nitty gritty of it, here's the game's version of Draymond Green, so you know how good the players usually look.

After taking a picture with the My NBA 2K17 mobile app and linking it to my PlayStation account, the game was instantly able to get started with the scanning process. In the beginning, things were fine:

After a minute or two, it starts mapping my real face onto the wireframe bust we saw before. I love this. This is the most cyberpunk thing I've ever seen and I am here for it, let me tell you.

Watch one TED talk, and you have an interesting factoid to share with a friend at a bar.

Watch over 50 TED talks over the course of several years — as I have, obsessively — and you begin to think a little differently about the world.

Not every talk is awe-inspiring or illuminating, but the ones that stand out have changed the way I think about education, business, psychology, and human behavior.

Here are some of the insights that have stuck with me the most.

SEE ALSO: Scientists followed 5,000 genius kids for 45 years — here's what they learned about success

Some choice is better than none, but more choice isn't necessarily better than some.

In Barry Schwartz's 2005 talk, "The Paradox of Choice," he reviews the research that says people are misled in thinking they should want as much choice as possible, whether that's the expansive number of salad dressings at the supermarket or array of clothing styles at the mall.

His talk made me realize that decision-making takes a lot of effort. It can be mentally draining to weigh all those options, and we may be better off limiting our menu of choices to just a few. Usually, "good enough" is good enough.

If you want something, you have to ask for it.

Amanda Palmer, former lead singer of The Dresden Dolls, says soliciting help isn't a burden on people. It's actually a precious skill. In her 2013 talk, "The Art of Asking," she recounts asking people on Twitter for instruments, food, and couches to sleep on, all so her shows could go on.

In a similar talk, music journalist Nardwuar explains in his 2011 talk "Do It Yourself!" that if you want something, you shouldn't expect people to read your minds. You have to be tenacious and persistent.

Together, their talks helped me see asking less as a selfish act and more as a natural part of people working together.

Confidence can be faked until it becomes real.

Harvard psychologist Amy Cuddy gave a talk in 2012 called "Your body language shapes who you are," in which she gifted the world her now-famous strategy of power posing. Stand like Wonder Woman for two minutes, Cuddy's research shows, and a chemical shift in your brain will lead you to feel more confident (though skeptics have questioned the true reach of the hack).

Repeat the act as many times as you need to get that extra boost, she says, and over time you'll realize you don't need it as much. You won't need to fake being confident anymore. That's just the kind of person you'll be.

Unsurprisingly, HBO's "Game of Thrones"dominated the 2016 Emmy Awards.

But it was the stars of the series that really stole the show.

The best part about watching the red carpet was seeing how the main cast members look like in real life. Some are almost unrecognizable without the elaborate wigs and costumes that bring George R.R. Martin's books to life.

Keep reading to see what "Game of Thrones" actors look like outside of Westeros. 

After six seasons, Daenerys Targaryen is finally on her way to Westeros to seize the Iron Throne for her own.

British actress Emilia Clarke who plays Daenerys is actually a brunette in real life.

Jon Snow was resurrected and declared King in the North after an epic battle with Ramsay Bolton.

If you're looking for a near-free ride to a major university in beautiful southern California, there's one in Irvine that may be right up your alley.

The University of California-Irvine is recruiting students on partial scholarships dedicated solely to video gaming. And with the upcoming grand opening of its eSports arena on campus, the school has become a "Mecca for gamers," according to Mark Deppe.

As the acting director of UCI eSports, Deppe is the brains behind the university's new eSports facility.

Deppe has transformed the former campus pool hall into a state-of-the-art gaming arena that's set to open on September 23. The gaming arena will host regular student gamers as well as the school's 10-player team, which will compete in tournaments that include millions of dollars in prize money.

Here's what it's like:

SEE ALSO: We went to the 'post-apocalyptic' L.A. mall that will be featured in televised drone races

The eSports arena is located in UCI's student center, where you can also find the food court and conference rooms, among other things.

After you go inside and up the stairs, the eSports arena is through the courtyard, right across from the campus book store.

You'll pass an anteater typing on a computer along the way. That's the university mascot.