If we take our cue from Silicon Valley, there's no reason to fear dying — or even think about death — because soon enough we'll all live forever.

By the headlines, it might seem like Peter Thiel is on the cusp of finding the key to eternal life and that startups will soon succeed in making us immortal. One of the co-founders of Google hopes to "cure death" and the tycoon behind Oracle finds the idea of accepting our mortality as "incomprehensible."

Not only we will live forever, they seem to believe, but we will be part of "the Singularity," merging with artificial intelligence and transcending our mere human limitations. And, God forbid we don't get there soon enough, if we do die, we will be frozen in liquid nitrogen and re-awaken when the quest to immortality has been reached.

The rest of us, even if we don't believe that humans will suddenly be merged with computers, would still rather avoid thinking about death. It's unpleasant. It's scary. It's sad. Why would anyone want to think about the thing they don't want to happen.

The truly wise know that both those mindsets are misguided. They know the secret: that death is not something to be avoided or fought, but embraced. And that doing so is actually a formula for great insights, breakthroughs and wisdom.

Memento Mori: Remember you are mortal. It was this powerful idea that fueled the ancient Stoics, that transformed Montaigne from an indulgent rich man to a great writer and thinker who would write volumes of popular essays, who'd serve two terms as mayor, travel internationally as a dignitary, and serve as a confidante of the king. It's the motivation of the great forms of the 17th century artwork called vanitas.

Death doesn't make life pointless; knowing it's there creates priority and thinking about it gives you perspective. So you can focus on what's important. Below are seven reminders adapted from "The Daily Stoic" to help you find inspiration in your own mortality and think differently about death.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways billionaires like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates demonstrate the ancient philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

Spendthrifts of time.

"Were all the geniuses of history to focus on this single theme, they could never fully express their bafflement at the darkness of the human mind. No person would give up even an inch of their estate, and the slightest dispute with a neighbor can mean hell to pay; yet we easily let others encroach on our lives — worse, we often pave the way for those who will take it over. No person hands out their money to passersby, but to how many do each of us hand out our lives! We're tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers."— Seneca

Each day there will be endless interruptions: phone calls, emails, visitors, unexpected events. Booker T. Washington observed that "the number of people who stand ready to consume one's time, to no purpose, is almost countless." A philosopher, on the other hand, knows that these intrusions prevent us from doing the thinking and work we were put here to do. This is why they so diligently protect their personal space and thoughts from trespassers and needy neighbors. They know that a few minutes of contemplation are worth more than any meeting or report. They also know how little time we're actually given in life — and how quickly our stores can be depleted.

It was the passing of a friend that reminded entrepreneur and investor Tim Ferriss how "too often, we spend time focusing on the trivial with people who contribute nothing but their own self-interest." We must resist this, and instead prioritize and shun distractions — as Peter Drucker, one of the greatest business minds of the last century put it, "Force yourself to set priorities. Do first things first – and second things not at all." Why would you do that if you think time is infinite? If you think you have time for it all, you'll end up doing a lot of things you don't need to do.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca reminds us that while we might be good at protecting our physical property, we are far too lax at enforcing our mental boundaries. Property can be regained; there is quite a bit of it out there — some of it still untouched by man. But time? Time is our most irreplaceable asset—instead of striving to make more of it, we can far more easily just stop wasting so much of it.

The prophecy that never fails.

"Let each thing you would do, say or intend be like that of a dying person."— Marcus Aurelius

Have you ever heard someone ask: "What would you do if you found out tomorrow that you had cancer?" The question is designed to make you consider how different life might be if you were suddenly given just a few months or weeks to live. There's nothing like a terminal illness to wake people up.

But here's the thing: You already have a terminal diagnosis. We all do! As the writer Edmund Wilson put it, "Death is one prophecy that never fails." Every person is born with a death sentence. Elon Musk joked after his near-death experience on a vacation, "That's my lesson for taking a vacation: Vacation will kill you." You never know when it can happen but you know it will happen.

Steve Jobs, in his famous commencement speech, said that "death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life's change agent." As he would put it later in the speech, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

So far, no one has ever escaped it — though a lot of people have spent incredible amounts of their time trying to (only to end up like all the others). Meanwhile, the people who were given a wakeup call about their mortality? They squeezed more life into those remaining years than they had in all the others before.

Pretend today is the end.

"Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day ... The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time."— Seneca

"Live each day as if it were your last" is a cliché. Plenty say it, few actually do it. How reasonable would that be anyway? Surely Seneca isn't saying to forsake laws and considerations — to find some orgy to join because the world is ending.

A better analogy would be a soldier about to leave on deployment. Not knowing whether they'll return or not, what do they do?

They get their affairs in order. They handle their business. They tell their children or their family that they love them. They don't have time for quarreling or petty matters. And then in the morning they are ready to go — hoping to come back in one piece but prepared for the possibility that they might not.

Let us live today the same way. Because as Steve Jobs put it, "If you live each day as it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." And even if somehow, you weren't, it would still be a better existence than the person who makes the risky bet on living forever.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• Bath mats soak up any water from your wet feet and make sure you don't slip on any water when you leave the shower or tub. Of all the bath mats we've researched, the Vdomus Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat is our top pick because it soaks up moisture, dries quickly, and is designed to last for years through heavy use and machine washing.

Bath mats may seem like just another household item that you don’t typically notice. But with a variety of materials, styles, and purposes available, choosing the right one can require some deliberation. Innocuous as they may seem, bath mats need to do a lot of things at once: They need to soak up or deal with moisture, self-dry before mold and bacteria can set in, and stay in one place without slipping and sliding around the bathroom — all while looking nice, smelling fresh, and staying clean.

There are some fundamentals to consider when it comes to selecting the perfect bath mat. Our top picks include microfiber, all cotton, and even wooden options to suit your design preferences. We also take into account your bathroom needs with bath mats that are quick-to-dry, extra absorbent, long-lasting, washable, and eco-friendly.

Whatever your bathroom priorities are, we’ve got a pick for you. We searched the web for user reviews and top-ranked selections in the bath mat category to bring you this Insider Picks guide to finding the perfect bath mat.

If you're outfitting your new home or apartment, check out more of our great buying guides like the best alarm clocks, the best bar stools, the best light bulbs, the best coffee tables, the best area rugs, the best mattress toppers, the best sheets, the best mattresses, thebest pillows, the best clothes hangers, the best cordless vacuum cleaners, the best laundry baskets and hampers, the best home security cameras you can buy, and more on Insider Picks.

Although the Vdomus Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Momentum Home Modern Bath Premium Bathroom Rug with Non-slip Backing, the Magnificent Large Non-Slip Memory Foam Bath Mat, the Luxury Cotton Hotel-Spa Tub-Shower Bath Mat Set, and the InterDesign Bamboo Floor Mat.

The best bath mat overall

Why you'll love it: The Vdomus Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat absorbs moisture, dries quickly, won’t slip, and is built to last.

It’s one thing that the Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat is one of Vdomus’ best-sellers and another thing entirely that it tops the charts of Amazon’s best-selling bath mats overall. This bath mat covers all the bases with its soft, quick-drying material and anti-skid backing layer. Best of all, Vdomus covers its Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat with a satisfaction guarantee and full customer support team.

The chenille microfiber material of the Vdomus bathroom mat absorbs water to keep your floor dry and clean. Since the mat is made from thousands of individual shag microfibers, the mat also dries quickly after absorbing all that bathroom moisture. When bath mats skimp on the quick-dry function, mold and bacteria eventually develop, so the material starts to smell when it does eventually dry.

On the safety side, the Vdomus bath mat is backed with a non-skid latex layer so that it will grip any bathroom floor. Step out of the shower or tub without fear of sliding around or totally wiping out on your way to the towel rack. 

Luckily, both the chenille microfiber and the anti-skid latex used in this bath mat are designed to be machine washable to get out stains and freshen up the mat after heavy use. Instructions suggest a cold laundry cycle in your washing machine and hanging it flat to dry. Best of all, there are various sizes and colors to choose from to match the size and décor of your bathroom. 

Pros: Quick-dry, super absorbent, anti-skid backing — what more could you ask for in a bath mat?

Cons: Synthetic microfiber isn’t a great choice for eco-conscious purchasers or those with skin allergies

Buy the Vdomus Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bathroom Mat on Amazon for $12.95

The best quick drying bath mat

Why you'll love it: Great absorption and quick drying fabric make the Momentum Home premium bath mat a great pick, and the extra long plush shag puts it over the edge.

The Momentum Home premium bath mat also nails both water absorption and quick-drying once it has been used. The mat absorbs water by trapping the moisture into the deep pile of its chenille microfiber shag, and thousands of threads woven independently into the mat allow the material to dry quickly and cleanly. The Momentum Home mat is made from 100% polyester chenille, so the synthetic material will weigh into the decision-making for many customers.

With a non-slip backing to keep your slippery self in place once you’ve stepped out of the shower, the Momentum Home bath mat looks a lot like our number one pick, the Vdomus non-slip mat. They’re also both machine washable on cold and can hang or lay flat to dry, and they both come in a variety of color and size combinations.

The key difference is this mat uses seriously plush shag material. With longer microfiber threads, the Momentum Home bath mat is softer and more comfortable underfoot, regardless of whether you’re standing on it to get to the sink or just passing over it for a quick dry on your way out of the shower.

With this added comfort comes the higher price tag as well, although if comfort and luxury are your priorities, it’s definitely worth it.

Pros: Plush shag material feels great to the touch, dries quickly, and is completely machine washable

Cons: Synthetic fibers could be a concern for eco-conscious buyers, and they don’t seem to offer a satisfaction guarantee or warranty

Buy the Momentum Home Modern Bath Premium Bathroom Rug with Non-slip Backing on Amazon for $23.99

The best bath mat for foot relief

Why you'll love it: Magnificent's Large Soft Non-Slip Memory Foam Bath Mat provides comfortable cushioning for your feet, while still absorbing moisture and drying quickly to keep your bathroom clean.

Magnificent’s alternative to chenille shag is this microfiber bath mat which is more soft and smooth over the surface than our other bath mat picks so far. The memory foam surface is supremely soft and cushions feet for a great feel that’s comforting and secure. Switching to smooth memory foam doesn’t mean that Magnificent’s bath mat gives up on what matters, though. The material is hypoallergenic, and it still absorbs water and moisture and dries quickly to keep your bathroom floor clean and tidy.

The Magnificent bath mat also includes a non-slip backing layer so you’ll feel secure when you step out of the bath or shower, and anyone with foot, leg, or back injuries opting for microfiber for extra comfort will have the added peace of mind of knowing that skids and slips are out of the question.

Magnificent’s smooth microfiber surface material is machine washable and promises to dry faster than other mats on the market. It also helps that without the shag threads to take care of, you can toss this bath mat in the dryer without having to worry about the integrity of the fabric. Even though the Magnificent non-slip memory foam bath mat is one of the most affordable options, it does come with a satisfaction guarantee to make sure you’re pleased with your purchase.

Pros: Memory foam is soft, smooth microfiber surface, easy to clean, affordable

Cons: May not dry as quickly or feel as plush as some mats

Buy the Magnificent Large Soft Non-Slip Memory Foam Bath Mat on Amazon for $10.99

The INSIDER Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Instead of buying a house and being weighed down with a morgage right after graduating from college, most young professionals choose to save their money and rent an apartment for a few years.

Most apartment buildings set strict rules to ensure their tenants leave their space in pristine condition — no pets, holes in walls, and fresh coats of paint are a few that come to mind. So it's easy for the temporary space to feel, well, temporary, and lacking in personality.

I asked Emily Henderson, interior designer and author of the blog "Style by Emily Henderson," to share her tips for how to make a rented apartment feel cozier. Henderson's tips are easy to DIY over a weekend and all under $100. 

Add temporary wallpaper to your walls

"If you are looking to infuse some color and pattern into your space but your landlord has waved his finger at painting the walls, then think about using temporary wallpaper," Henderson said.

"It comes ready to go, is peel and stick, and can be hung in just a few hours, which means you can completely transform your space before you have your friends over for brunch this weekend. I love this simple black and white dot pattern, which can work with a lot of different styles."

Devine Color Speckled Dot Peel & Stick Wallpaper, $29.99

Don't underestimate the power of Command Strips

"Most landlords are not big fans of Swiss cheese walls after you move out and take all your art with you. So rather than using nails, grab yourself some command hooks and use them to hang your art, leaving your walls in pristine condition and your landlord happy."

Command Forever Classic Metal Hook, from $3.89 each

Apply peel-and-stick tiles to your floors

"Brady in our office did this in his rental kitchen for around $50 and completely transformed his kitchen with them," Henderson said. "Most likely your landlord will appreciate the upgrade to the floors, but because they are peel-andstick you can always peel them up before you leave and give your floors a good scrub to get them back to their original state."

Achim Nexus Black 12x12 Self Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tile, from $11.59

The modern bathing suit has a fascinating legacy. In the past, women wore swimming costumes that covered nearly every inch of their skin, but over the years swimsuits have trimmed down to the popular bikinis we wear now.

Many current swimsuit trends like high-waisted bottoms, G-strings, and one-piece suits aren't as original as you may think; they're actually inspired by past styles that have been around since the 1950s.

We've compiled a list of 13 influential swimsuits that have made a lasting impact, from the first ever bikini designed in 1946 to Ashley Graham's two-piece on the 2016 cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue.

The first ever bikini was designed in 1946.

In the summer of 1946, French designer Louis Reard debuted the first two-piece bathing suit, according to Slate.

The bikini was made of newsprint and featured a G-string strap, which was considered scandalous at the time. In fact, the suit was so controversial that fashion models wouldn't wear it. Instead, Reard enlisted Micheline Bernardini, a dancer, to wear it.

After Bernardini wore the strappy two-piece, bikinis became increasingly popular.

In 1948, Elizabeth Taylor posed for a portrait in a halter-top bathing suit.

Compared to Reard's bikini, Taylor's suit is conservative. However, this popular style of bathing suit was considered revealing at the time.

Wearing a polka dot one-piece with built-in shorts, Taylor looks like a classic pin-up girl.

Actress Brigitte Bardot embraced the bikini in the 1952 film, "The Girl in the Bikini."

In the French film "The Girl in the Bikini," Bardot plays a woman named Manina, who — as the film's title suggests — wears a bikini. Her low-waisted two-piece exposes a lot of skin and was a shocking fashion choice at the time.

While France and other European countries embraced the bikini in the mid-20th century, the style was slow to catch on in the US.

It's hot outside, and calling it a trend would be an understatement. The warming of the planet has been relentless, according to scientific surveys.

Miserably hot summers are not the worst problem we face in the coming decades. Rising seas, an uptick in hurricanes and wildfires, and more invasive insects are already beginning to transform the United States. 

Ali Sundermier contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: 9 important foods you aren't eating that you should be this summer

DON'T MISS: This disturbing map reveals how climate change is already affecting your health, based on the state you live in

As oceans get warmer and northern sea ice begins to melt, sea levels will rise, increasing the frequency of floods. Rising temperatures will also cause land ice, such as mountain glaciers and giant ice sheets, to melt.

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Sources: "IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007," NASA

Summers will be extreme, since climate change lengthens summer months and makes them hotter. By the 2050s, New York City could see as many as seven heat waves per year, with maximum temperatures at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for about two months' worth of days — twice what we currently experience.

Sources: "Shifting Cities" by Climate Central, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

As climate change drives up temperatures, wildfire seasons in the western US will begin earlier. Fires will also last longer and burn more intensely.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

The INSIDER Summary:

• There are benefits from eating brown rice that you weren't aware of.
• The oil found in brown rice can help lower your cholesterol and it contains 21 percent of the daily value of magnesium you should eat per day, which helps regulate blood pressure.

Although I abhorred sushi as a kid (wow, how my tastebuds have changed), my mom has always instilled in me that when you can, order brown rice. At first I wasn't sure why and thought sticky white rice tasted awesome, which it does.

But now that I'm older, and hopefully wiser, I've learned to respect what my mom says because as we all know, our moms are usually right--well, about most things. Here are some benefits of brown rice that'll make you think twice about sticking with regular white rice on your next sushi outing.

1. A true whole grain

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Dude, just look at these Buddha bowls. Veggies and brown rice? Yes, please, if they look like that thrown together. Brown rice has significantly more layers than white rice, thereby qualifying it as a whole grain that's a lot more nutritious for your bodily functions--and making it a much healthier carb to feature in your Buddha bowl. Let's break down the reasons why.

The process that makes brown rice only removes the outermost layer of the rice kernel called the hull and is the least damaging to nutritional value. Conversely, to convert brown rice into white rice by removing the branand most of the germ layer, you lose 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.

According to U.S. law, white rice must be enriched with vitamins B1, B3, and iron once it's fully milled and polished--but not without at least 11 lost nutrients in total. So basically, just like most sequels, white rice is not as good for your well-being as the original. 

2. Manganese

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Just one cup of cooked brown rice contains 88 percent of the amount of the mineral manganese you should consume daily. Manganese helps to glean the most from the carbohydrates and proteins you eat by turning them into energy to keep you moving.

Additionally, manganese helps to lower the risk of cancer by forming part of an antioxidant enzymecalled superoxide dismutase to protect you against free radicals, which are cancer-causing agents.

3. Fiber and Selenium

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High in dietary fiber, brown rice helps to aid digestionand very may well help to reduce the risk of breast cancer. A study of over 35,000 women confirmed that in pre-menopausal women, fiber from whole grains like brown rice was significant in protecting against breast cancer.

The dietary fiber and mineral selenium found in brown rice also work to prevent colon cancer. Selenium works with Vitamin E in antioxidant systems throughout your body to not only prevent cancer, but also heart disease, and to decrease the symptoms of asthma and the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Craft brewers are working to make sure shoppers know which beers are made by independent brewers and which brands are actually owned by industry giants.

On Tuesday, the Brewers Association — a group of 5,300 small and independent American craft brewers — announced the launch of an "independent craft" seal to designate which beers are produced by independent craft brewers.

Only beer-centric brands that produce less than 6 million barrels annually and are mostly independent from non-craft alcohol players can use the seal. Big conglomerates can only have an up to 25% stake in a brand for it to be considered independent. 

"Beer lovers want to know who is brewing their beer," Bob Pease, the president and CEO of the Brewers Association, told Business Insider. "The seal will help beer drinkers differentiate independent brewers from Big Beer in the marketplace and help them be a deciding voice in what will be on the shelf, rather than the largest beer companies who have tremendous distribution power."

Many brewers who have been acquired by beer giants have pushed back on accusations that deals with companies like AB InBev, the maker of brands including Budweiser and Stella Artois, dilute their craft credentials. 

"To say our beers are 'imposter' craft ignores the intense skill, time and meticulous attention to detail that goes into making any great beer," Steve Crandall, founder and CEO of Devils Backbone, told Business Insider in May. According to Crandall, a 2016 deal with AB InBev means greater investments in local communities and hiring more employees — not tearing down craft. 

While the battle between craft and Big Beer is a hotly contested one, many Americans don't realize which trendy brands are independent and which have been acquired. Brew Studs, a blog dedicated to craft beer, recently published a list of brands acquired in part or completely by AB InBev, encouraging craft-beer lovers to boycott them. 

Here's the list of 14 beers with roots in craft brewing that would no longer qualify for the Brewers Association seal. 

SEE ALSO: People are furious that this craft brewer 'sold out' to Anheuser-Busch — here's why the founders say they're wrong

1. Goose Island

AB InBev acquired the maker of beers including Goose IPA and Honkers Ale in 2011.

2. Kona

The Craft Brew Alliance acquired Kona in 2010. Three years later, AB InBev acquired a 32.2% stake in CBA's business — Brew Studs argues tarnishes the alliance's "craft" credentials.

3. Omission

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Omission, a gluten-removed beer that launched in 2012, is another CBA brand.

Robots could kill off huge swaths of jobs in the future — but at least they come bearing pizza.

Founded in 2015, Zume Pizza uses robotics and artificial intelligence to make pizza more quickly. The startup has expanded its delivery area across Silicon Valley since its retail launch last fall and added new team members including a former UberEats executive and a robot that can press a mound of dough into the perfect pizza crust five times faster than a human.

An increasing number of pizza eaters are ditching legacy brands like Domino's and Pizza Hut for newer fast-casual and delivery chains. Business Insider took a tour of Zume's headquarters in Mountain View, California, to see if the pizza is as good as its tech.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco is getting tiny self-driving robots that could put delivery people out of a job

This is no ordinary pizza. It was made by robots.

The concept of a robot-powered pizza delivery service came from friends and cofounders Julia Collins and Alex Garden, who wanted to make high-quality pizza more affordable.

Collins graduated from Stanford Business School, worked as an analyst under Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, and helped launch New York City fast-casual chain Mexicue. She knew pumping pies full of chemical adulterants wasn't the answer — tech was.

The US has a long history of scientific discoveries.

From the invention of the steam-powered boat engine in the 18th Century to the sequencing of the human genome at the turn of the 21st, each state can claim its own scientific advancements.

To celebrate those achievements, we've compiled a list of important science discoveries in every state. Scroll through to find out more.

Tanya Lewis and Melissa Stanger contributed reporting. 

SEE ALSO: 15 ways to stay focused all day, according to scientists

DON'T MISS: What extreme heat does to your body and brain

ALABAMA: The first rocket to send Americans to the moon was built in this state.

The Saturn V rocket that sent the first Americans to the moon in 1969 was primarily designed and built at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The rocket was used to ferry astronauts on all 13 Apollo missions between 1967 and 1973.

ALASKA: Paleontologists spotted a T Rex subspecies.

A new T Rex subspecies was discovered in 2014 on the Pine Creek Formation of Alaska by paleontologists Anthony Fiorillo and Ronald Tykoski. They named it Nanuqsaurus hoglundi. 

ARIZONA: Clyde Tombaugh picked Pluto out of the sky.

In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, a young astronomer at Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory discovered Pluto, which was our solar system's ninth planet before it was demoted to a "dwarf planet." And in 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto for the first time, snapping this stunning image.

Republicans have enjoyed majorities in both houses of Congress since 2014, but many of their key initiatives — deregulation, antiabortion policies, states rights — have stalled in the past because the executive branch was under Democratic control.

Then President Donald Trump's victory brought new energy to Republican efforts to reshape federal government.

Since Trump took office in January, he and Congress have taken a number of steps to rollback regulations that former President Barack Obama put in place.

The Washington Post put together a database tracking the erosion of Obama's legacy.

Here are seven notable measures Republicans have rolled back so far:

SEE ALSO: Every law Trump signed in his first 100 days

DON'T MISS: The New York Times used a full page to print 'Trump's lies' since taking office

Congress repealed a rule preventing hunters from using certain methods to capture and kill predators on Alaskan wildlife refuges — including shooting them from helicopters. The rule also prohibited hunters from killing bears and wolves while they were near their dens or cubs.

Source: NPR

Trump signed a congressional action repealing an Obama-era regulation that prevented coal mining companies from dumping debris and toxic waste into nearby streams and waterways.

Source: The White House

Trump's Food and Drug Administration delayed launching nutrition fact labels geared toward helping Americans eat healthier, but hasn't yet said when companies will have to comply with the Obama-era rule.

Source: The Washington Post, FDA

Howard University, one of the nation's largest historically black colleges, is granting 25 to 30 students the chance to spend their summer as Googlers.

For three months starting this summer, rising juniors and seniors will take classes at the new Howard West campus in Mountain View, California.

Students at Howard West will learn from Google employees and Howard faculty with the goal of establishing themselves in an industry where black engineers are largely absent.

In 2016, just 1% of Google's technical engineering staff identified as black. Meanwhile, 37% identified as Asian and 57% identified as white.

Howard West was designed by Kurani, a design firm specializing in learning spaces. The firm's founder, Danish Kurani, gave Business Insider a virtual tour of the new space.

Here's what it's all about.

SEE ALSO: Howard University is opening a campus at Google headquarters to get more black engineers in tech

Kurani says Howard West is meant to blend seamlessly with the existing Google campus in order to produce "collisions" with actual Google employees and foster conversations.

For that reason, Howard West sits in one of the landmark buildings at the Googleplex. It occupies two floors.

"We decided to give the students a balance between the professional and the academic," Kurani told Business Insider, "so that they feel that collegiate vibe as well as that professional vibe."

One of the staples is the faux-grassy "quad," complete with tall windows, comfortable seating, and a ping-pong table.

"All of the spaces upstairs are very collegiate," Kurani said.

Already, he's seen Google staff playing against students in games of ping pong. "So there's a lot of bonding and relationship-building that happens," he said.

The upstairs includes a small workout room with Howard's mascot, the Bison, painted across a wall.

You've probably seen those roadside signs stapled to telephone poles advertising big bucks for dubious work-from-home tasks.

"Hiring students! Up to $1,000 a month! Call this number!" the "snipe signs" read.

But one can only assemble so much furniture and stuff so many envelopes, and the payout is rarely what's been promised, if anything at all.

Luckily for those without bachelor's degrees, not every high-paying, work-from-home job you qualify for is a scam.

FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, recently sifted through its listings for legitimate remote jobs that don't require four years of college.

Each of the below positions pay more than $45,000 a year, according to median annual salary data from PayScale, and does not require a bachelor's degree.

SEE ALSO: The 25 highest-paying jobs you can get without a bachelor's degree

DON'T MISS: 37 jobs that are quickly disappearing in the US

Web content editor

Pay: $46,147

Sample job description: Edit original content with a focus on keywords provided by clients that help them achieve higher search engine rankings. Content includes blog posts, press releases, SEO articles, and others. Freelance, remote position.

Copywriter

Pay: $47,790

Sample job description: Verify that the correct category keywords are present, consistently meet deadlines, and generate at least 60 word design-focused copies at 80-to-100 words each. Prior copywriting experience is required. Remote position.

Clinical research coordinator

Pay: $48,848

Sample job description: Assist in the management of daily clinical trials operations; provide oversight of all organization, clinical, site, and vendor activities; and manage trial master files. Freelance, long-term temporary position.

The last six months have been huge for Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. 

The tennis superstar and the Reddit cofounder, respectively, found out they were expecting a child and got engaged — all since December. 

But things weren't always perfect. In fact, when they first met, Williams tried to get Ohanian to go away by telling him there was a rat nearby. 

In the July cover story of Vanity Fair, writer Buzz Bissinger got the inside look at their love story. That, along with Instagram sleuthing, helped us compile the story of Ohanian and Williams' whirlwind romance. 

Here's how this power couple from opposite worlds fell in love. 

SEE ALSO: Reddit's founder thought people in Silicon Valley were the hardest workers — until he met his fiancée, Serena Williams

The pair met in May 2015 at the Hotel Cavalieri Hilton in Rome, when Ohanian sat down at the table next to Williams' outside by the pool, according to Vanity Fair. Williams and her friends tried to get him to leave by telling him there was a rat at his table. When it didn't work, they invited him to join them.

Source: Vanity Fair

Williams had never heard of Reddit before, and Ohanian had never watched Williams play tennis, but he agreed to come to the match later that day. He knew so little about the sport that the first photo he shared publicly of Williams shows her committing a foot fault.

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Source: Instagram, Vanity Fair

When they met, Ohanian had just gotten out of a five-year relationship with his college sweetheart, microbiologist Sabriya Stukes.

Source: The New York Times, Vanity Fair

The INSIDER Summary:

• It is definitely not a secret that Hollywood actresses are sometimes pressured to lose weight for rolls.
• Women are now fighting back against the unrealistic body image they are asked to portray.
• Individuals including Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis and Amy Schumer are some of the few who have taken a stand. 

It's no secret that actresses are regularly asked to lose weight so they can better fit the absurd body standards that still pervade Hollywood. But they're not the only women in the entertainment business who feel that pressure.

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of long-running shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, wrote a newsletter about her weight loss, and how she hates that it's automatically linked to attractiveness.

"Women I barely knew gushed. And I mean GUSHED. Like I was holding-a-new-baby-gushed. Only there was no new baby. It was just me. In a dress. With makeup on and my hair all did, yes. But … still the same me.

But even more disconcerting was that all these people suddenly felt completely comfortable talking to me about my body. Telling me I looked 'pretty' or that they were 'proud of me' or that 'wow, you are so hot now' or 'you look amazing!' After I lost weight, I discovered that people found me valuable. Worthy of conversation. A person one could look at. A person one could compliment. A person one could admire."

Rhimes hits the problem right on the head — thinner and fitter equals better looking in the public eye, especially in Hollywood where looks seem to matter most. While no one requested Rhimes lose weight, she's obviously not immune to the pressures other women in Hollywood — and everywhere — regularly face.

Even though body image isn't an easy subject to open up about, that hasn't stopped Rhimes. Regardless of her reason for doing it, it's inspiring, because it affects everyone, not just people in entertainment. Projecting an unrealistic body image as the standard of beautiful can trigger low self-esteem and eating disorders in children and adults.

Her candor about the ugly side of weight loss makes her one of a handful of women who are getting real about Hollywood's unhealthy obsession with skinniness.

Here are seven other women in entertainment who pushed back on body expectations. 

1. Viola Davis

When Viola Davis won the first ever #SeeHer Award at the 2017 Critics Choice Awards, her speech directly addressed her struggle with body image and acceptance.

Interestingly, the example she gave had to do with her role on Shonda Rhimes' "How to Get Away With Murder," but her message is no doubt one with which Rhimes would agree.

"You know, when I was handed Annalise Keating, I said, 'She’s sexy, she's mysterious, you know?' I'm used to playing women who gotta gain 40 pounds and have to wear an apron. So I said, 'Oh God, I gotta to lose weight, I gotta learn how to walk like Kerry Washington in heels, you know, I gotta lose my belly.' And then I asked myself, 'Well, why do I have to do all that?'

I truly believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are, and I just recently embraced that at 51."

2. Betty Gilpin

Looking at Betty Gilpin, it's hard to imagine she grapples with the size and shape of her body. But, thanks to a piece she wrote for Glamour, she made it clear that even girls who look "perfect" to the outside world can be screaming on the inside.

Gilpin spent her adolescence and much of her adulthood wanting to disappear inside her body, which was hard to do when she "gained 30 pounds of thigh, booty and certified American jugs."

When she started acting, her body image was always on her mind, largely because of the often sexist working environments.

"Sometimes a TV set can be a shame-and-fear obstacle course for an actress. Ten points if the sexist-gargoyle producer tries to flirt with you after you've gone through hair and makeup, so you don't disgust him. Don't make eye contact with the Philly cheesesteaks they bring out for the crew."

Then she got cast on "GLOW" and everything changed.

"I saw power and care together for the first time. Seeing women possess those two things simultaneously was a huge lesson for me ... This created the constant sense of: You are loved and celebrated — and now that you're comfortable, please give us your goddamn guts and soul so we can make the best thing possible."

3. Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer also struggled with her body image throughout her life. However, being a comedian, the issue was front and center on stage in front of a live audience all the time. Still, she's not afraid to talk bluntly about it, as she did with host Maria Shriver in an on-camera interview in 2015.

"It's an emotional thing. It's been a struggle for me my whole life, and especially just being in the entertainment industry. Standing on a stage in front of people, I can't perform my best or be confident if I'm not sure — if I'm pulling at something [I'm wearing]. Sometimes I would just want to throw in the towel and be like, 'I'm not gonna go do standup tonight.'"

As such, she's made it her mission to dispel the myth that everyone in Hollywood is naturally, or comfortably, skinny. She might go a little farsometimes, but hey, that's a comedian's prerogative.

The INSIDER Summary: 

• Trader Joe's is known for frequently launching new products, and 2017's are amazing so far.
• Matcha Joe Joe's and Pepperoni Mac & Cheese are new takes on old favorites.
• The new Simpler Canned Wines are sure to be a summer hit.

Trader Joe's is my go to store all year round. But, in January of 2016, a giant snow storm hit my hometown and caused the roof the local Trader Joe's to break through. The store had to shut down for nearly a year. Yes, all of the Westfield, NJ moms were literally devastated and many were driving 20-40 minutes to other nearby Joe's establishments. My mom drove an hour to the Princeton location because it's the only other store that offered her favorite wine. So extra. But thank god, the new store opened just in time to bring us the new 2017 products. And they are so much better than I could've imagined. These are my top 10 must-have products. So, run don't walk to the nearest TJ's.

1. Cauliflower Pizza

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Finding substitutes for bread is all the rage right now. And chopped/ground cauliflower is taking the spotlight. This cauliflower pizza is everyone's Pinterest dream without all the fuss with actually... making a homemade pizza. I'm in. 

2. Simpler Canned Wines

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Like I mentioned above, Trader Joe's signature wine is an all time fan favorite. But these new canned wines really change the game. They're going for $1 a can. Yeah you read that right... 1 dollar. Sold in packs of 4, the wine can is your answer to every BBQ, picnic, beach trip, pool trip.. basically the answer to every summer event. 

3. Everything Bagel Seasoning

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This one might seem a little confusing but I am truly addicted. I love everything bagel's just as much as the next gal, but for half the carbs and half the guilt I sprinkle this season on top of some avo toast and all my dreams come true. 

The INSIDER Summary:

• The summer is the best time to experiment with your style and become the most stylish you.
• These 16 rules will help change the way you dress this summer.
• Embrace color this summer, rock all white outfits or even style a tropical shirt with jean cutoffs.

Summer is practically an open invitation to embrace a more laid-back ‘tude and test-drive a slew of trends that are slightly outside of your comfort zone. Armed with a checklist of fashion essentials to snag ahead of all your upcoming adventures, there’s nothing standing between you and best-dressed status. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let a case of the outfit blahs deter you from putting your most stylish foot forward. While we don’t normally like to be dictated by age-old “rules,” these 16 Instababe-approved summer style commandments are about to change the way you dress.

1. Don’t leave home without the It bag of the season.

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If not Cult Gaia’s ubiquitous bamboo ark bag, then one of newcomer Bembien’s handwoven rattan bags is guaranteed to make a splash poolside. Perfect for a stint in paradise or rooftop sips in the city, this hero piece calls for a cold-shoulder frock and your best dancin’ shoes.

2. Wear your one-piece as a bodysuit.

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Blair Eadie strikes again! Not only is Bee fulfilling our millennial pink dreams, but it’s her makeshift use of a striped one-piece as a bodysuit that’s resulting in an “aha” moment of sorts. That and her island girl-inspired palm leaf skirt. We digress.

3. Embrace COLOR.

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You don’t have to tell us (or blogger babe Courtney Quinn) twice. When in doubt, sashay into the boardroom wearing hot pink trousers and canary yellow ankle-strap steppers. No regrets.

The INSIDER Summary: 

• Cheetos now come in a variety of flavors.
• The highest ranked include Crunchy, Flamin' Hot Chipotle Ranch, and Paprika Spinners.
• The lowest ranked include XXtra Flamin' Hot, Flamin' Hot Puffs, and original Puffs.

Anyone who knows me, knows that Cheetos are very important. When I attempted to copy a super model's diet, the food that my body craved the most was Cheetos. I tend to eat Cheetos at least 3 times a week and they are truly an integral part of my diet. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to try 11 different Cheetos flavors.

In order to write this ranking I went to 7-Eleven and my local grocery store and was able to find 7 different flavors of Cheetos. I have tried 4 other flavors before, so when I combined my previous Cheetos tasting experience with the flavors that I bought, I came up with 11 flavors.

There are 16 total types of Cheetos on their site, but since I couldn't find them at the stores I went to, I figure they aren't that popular.

After an afternoon (and a lifetime) filled with Cheetos, I feel qualified to give you this ranking.

11. XXtra Flamin' Hot

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This may be an unpopular opinion, but XXtra Flamin' Hot Cheetos are too damn hot. I love spicy foods but these sacrifice all the flavor for the hotness. One of the best parts of Cheetos is the tangy, cheesy flavor and these have none of that and a ton of heat.

10. Flamin' Hot Puffs

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The Flamin' Hot Puff is very rare. I found these a few months ago and decided to give them a try. These are low on the list for two reasons: flavor and texture. There's no denying that puffy Cheetos get stuck in your teeth which is not fun. Also, once again the spicy flavor overpowered the cheesy flavor.

9. Puffs

I'm not trying to offend my Puff-loving friends, but Puffs will never rank higher than Crunchy Cheetos. As evidenced by this HuffPost ranking, there are a lot of Puff lovers out there; however, the texture is too much for me to get over.

I simply can't handle having to go to the bathroom to pick Cheetos out of my teeth every time I crack open a bag. 

Ansel Elgort is trying to be Hollywood's new young star.

He's in "Baby Driver" as a getaway driver trying to escape a life of crime, so he can go on a road trip with a girl he just met. And you might also know him from his roles co-starring with Shailene Woodley in "The Fault in Our Stars" and the "Divergent" series. If his profile gets high enough, he can join the constellation of young male actors like Robert Pattinson and Liam Hemsworth as teen heartthrobs who also hold some box office clout.

In any case, you're probably going to be hearing Ansel Elgort's name a lot more now, so you should know more about him.

Here are five things you probably didn't know about the "Baby Driver" star.

His father was a Vogue photographer for 30 years.

Ansel's dad, Arthur Elgort, is a world-renown photographer. His work is in galleries all over the world, and he's frequently published in Vogue.

Years ago, Arthur would take his son on photo shoots.

"My dad would throw me in the picture if they needed an extra. From an early age, I understood the concept that, if you’re not the star, then your job is to not pull attention away from the star,"Ansel told Vogue. "Picture-taking is an ensemble art-like theater."

Elgort makes EDM music under the stage name "Ansølo."

It's... interesting. His highest-profile song to date is the single "Thief." He also worked with Logic and has a Bar Mitzvah-themed EDM anthem called "To Life." His "Baby Driver" character has a similar love for music; he makes mixtapes.

His grandmother survived a Nazi concentration camp

Elgort's father is of Russian and Jewish descent, and his maternal grandmother had a personal experience with the Holocaust. She worked in the Norwegian resistance during the Nazi occupation of Norway and smuggled Norwegian-Jewish children to safety in Sweden, according to a New York Times obituary. The Nazis found out and sent her to a Norwegian concentration camp.

She got out after 18 months, escaped to Sweden, then England, and then finally settled in New York after World War II.

It’s no secret that we’re in the midst of a student loan crisis. Student loan debt has grown more than auto loan, credit card and home equity loan debt combined since 2003, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the cost of higher education has skyrocketed and more students have flocked to get degrees.

The proliferation of high-interest student loans has outpaced inflation and earnings growth for college graduates, and delinquency rates for student loans are now higher than those for credit cards, auto loans, home equity loans and mortgages, Federal Reserve Bank of New York data show.   What doesn’t get mentioned as much, however, is that today’s student loan crisis isn’t just a negative for graduates struggling to pay off debts. Rather, it also has under-appreciated negative side effects for the U.S. economy as a whole.

It represents a headwind to U.S. economic growth and may also worsen the class divide. When faced with today’s high college costs coupled with the prospect of taking on significant debt, more students from lower-income households will likely choose not to attend college. This, in turn, may make it harder for them to attain the skills required for thriving in a mature, service-oriented and technology-driven U.S. economy.

The three charts below show how the crisis is likely to be a major drag on the U.S. economy for years to come if it remains unaddressed by fiscal policy, potentially providing fuel to superficial arguments for why the U.S. economy doesn’t appear to be performing as well as it could be. Such arguments will potentially cite factors such as a productivity deficiency, rather than the real underlying dynamics like rising student loan debt.

Homeownership by age 30

The home ownership rate in the U.S. has fallen each year over the last six years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is despite a solid economic recovery. Our take on what’s behind the declining home ownership rate: Student loans are making it harder for first-time home buyers to buy homes.

Those struggling to pay off loans often lack the savings to make down payments and have lower credit scores than those with no student loan debt, and it’s unlikely mortgage lenders would want to have them as customers. More than 70% of would-be first-time home buyers said student loan debt is delaying their home purchase, according to a National Association of Realtors survey. Indeed, home ownership levels by age 30 are much lower among those with college debt than those without, and they’ve generally been on a downward trajectory in recent years. See the chart above.

As for what this means for the broader economy, less home buying can mean less demand for home building, and this in turn can mean fewer jobs available. According to the National Association of Home Builders, one permanent job is created for every two homes built.

Home buying is also just one example of how the student loan burden is curtailing young adults’ consumption, and as a result, posing a headwind to U.S. economic growth. Young adults have traditionally been one of the primary drivers of U.S. economic growth, as they significantly ramp up their productivity and consumption post-graduation and into their 30s and 40s. They may spend and produce less than those in their 50s, but their spending and productivity levels have typically grown faster than those of older adults, fueling gross domestic product (GDP) growth. However, when young adults are saddled with disproportionate amounts of student debt, their consumption overall grows at a lower level than it would otherwise. With consumption making up 70% of U.S. GDP, economic growth also grows below its potential.

Total student loan balances by age group

Student loan debt is also now increasingly on the balance sheets of older and older Americans, as the chart above shows. This debt is likely forcing borrowers to stay in the workforce longer than they might otherwise have done, potentially making it harder for younger workers to find jobs. Beyond forcing shorter retirements and backlogging jobs and career mobility for younger generations, the debt burden also may increasingly mean lower consumption for more than just young adults.

Earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment, 2016

A college degree is still a must for ensuring better future employment and earnings prospects. Those without higher education face higher unemployment rates and lower earnings power, as the chart above shows. Some who can’t afford college without loans, however, may be discouraged from seeking a higher education due to the even higher cost of a degree when loan burdens are factored in. This may render them grossly unprepared for workplace-skill requirements of the future. The end result: a worsening of the class divide.

In short, the growing student loan burden is a hardship for much more than just the borrowers. It’s a major, long-term headwind to the broad U.S. economy that needs an elegant fiscal-policy solution, the sooner the better.

Flat tires are no fun. And with advancements in tire technology, they happen less frequently than they once did. In fact, some tires don't even need to be changed if they blow out — they can "run flat" for a short period of time.

Still, flats and blowouts do occur, and most motorists dread the next step: changing the tire. A lot of people will actually sit in their car with the flat unattended, call a roadside-assistance service, and wait for a pro to do the dirty work.

That's fine, but there are several things you can do to make changing a tire much easier and less intimidating. Obviously, you need to be acquainted with the process of jacking up the car, loosening the lug nuts, and removing the tire and wheel. But if you know how to do that and are still reluctant to make the change, here are some tips.

1. Know your jack

On most cars, the jack has to be assembled before it can be used to raise the car enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with the "donut," or temporary spare — a small tire that is designed to get you to a service station for a proper tire repair or replacement.

You don't want to wait until you have a flat to figure out the jack. It only takes about five minutes to put one together, so spend some prep time on it one afternoon. You'll be glad you did if you have a blowout on a dark, rainy night.

2. Make sure the temporary spare is in good shape

The donut needs to be checked every so often. You don't want it to also be flat — kind of defeats the purpose of having a backup.

The best way to do this is to make it a routine when you check your tire pressure. On modern cars, you'll know you have tire pressure issues because the car will alert you via a warning light. So when you investigate that problem, take a few extra minutes to check out your temporary spare.

You don't even have to do it yourself — you can have it done at almost any gas station and even some car washes.

The same applies if you have a full-size spare tire.

3. Prevent the flat in the first place

Speaking of checking your tire pressure, if you do it once a month or so, you'll always know if your tires are in decent shape and not under- or overinflated.

It's also a good practice to monitor wear and tear on your tires. Have a look at the condition of the tread. If it looks bad or uneven, you might need to replace one or more tires. But you also might need to rotate or realign your tires to even out the wear.

And be aware of how old your tires are. No tire lasts forever, and once it's at the end of its life it's far more likely to fail.