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:

• Tech rules every aspect of our lives now, so you're going to need a lot of gadgets to get you through college. Whether you need a laptop, a smartphone, a charger, a speaker, or some other gadget; we've put all our top picks together in one place to help you find the best tech for college.

When you head off to college, you need all the homey necessities to make your dorm room beautiful and comfortable, but in this day and age, you also need the best tech you can get. We've rounded up all the top picks from our many buying guides to give you the best pieces of tech for every college student.

At the very least, you'll need a laptop, printer, and chargers to make it through your first semester, but it's always nice to have fun tech like headphones, speakers, smart home gadgets, and more in your home away from home. Read on to see our top picks. You can also click on any link below to jump to the gadget you're looking for.

Also, check out our guide to the best dorm room essentials and more back to school content on Insider Picks.

CLICK HERE: Laptops | Monitors | Portable Hard Drives | Bluetooth Speakers | Bluetooth Headphones | Chargers | Battery Packs | Cheap Smartphones | Wearables | Smart Home | Printers | Our College Dorm Room Supplies Guide | More Back to School

SEE ALSO: The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

The best laptops

Picking the best laptop is impossible. Every student has different needs and priorities. We've rounded up our favorites in multiple categories to help you narrow it down a bit. 

1. Best overall: HP Spectre x360 13t ($859.95 to $1,799.99)

The HP Spectre x360 13t is well-designed, high-powered, and versatile thanks to its convertible design.

2. Best under $500: HP Pavilion x36o ($461.62)

If you’re looking for a great computer on a budget, then the HP Pavilion x360 is for you, thanks to its decent specs and two-in-one form factor.

3. Best MacBooks: Apple MacBook Pro 13 and 15 ($1,099.99 or $1,299.99)

The 13-and-15-inch MacBook Pro models boast top-tier specs, a beautiful design, and Apple’s excellent macOS operating system.

4. Best Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Flip C302A ($460.00)

The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is the most high-end Chromebook you can buy with a classy aluminum build, a powerful processor, and access to Android apps.

5. Best Chromebook with Stylus: Samsung Chromebook Pro ($547.99)

The Samsung Chromebook Pro is a gorgeous 2-in-1 that runs Android apps, comes with a stylus, and boasts respectable processing power.

6. Best cheap Chromebook: Dell Chromebook 11 ($224.99 to $243.99)

If you're looking for a small, portable, cheap laptop, the Dell Chromebook 11 is just right for you with its sturdy design and low price.

7. Best 15-inch laptop: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro ($1,499.97)

If you want a computer with a slightly larger screen and killer specs, then the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is for you.

8. Best 15-inch laptop under $500: Dell Inspiron 15 5000 ($496.99 to $524.00)

The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 has a giant 15-inch screen and decent specs for less than $500.

Read our guides to the best laptops, the best Chromebooks, and the best budget laptops on Insider Picks.

The best monitors

Whether you need a computer monitor for your dorm room or home office, we've got a pick for you. We've included a great all-around monitor, a small one for tight spaces, a curved monitor for special use cases, a big-screen option, and a 4K monitor for those of you who need an incredibly high-resolution display.

1. Best overall: Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-inch LED Lit Monitor ($469.99)

For all around quality in a computer monitor that works for everyone, the Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-Inch LED Lit Monitor is an outstanding choice.

2. Best small monitor: ASUS 18.5-inch WXGA Backlit LED Monitor ($79.99)

If you need to save money or you need a small screen to fit your limited desk space, the ASUS 18.5-inch WXGA Backlit LED Monitor is just right.

3. Best curved monitor: HP Pavilion 27c Curved Monitor ($229.00)

If you want a bit more of an immersive experience than a traditional flat monitor, the HP Pavilion 27c Curved Monitor is an affordable curved option.

4. Best big monitor: Dell 34-inch Screen LED Lit Monitor ($741.00)

If you have the room for an extra widescreen computer monitor, the Dell 34-inch Screen LED Lit Monitor is the best one you can get.

5. Best 4K monitor: LG 24-inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor ($339.99)

4K resolution hasn’t quite reached widespread use yet, but it’s coming, and the LG 24-inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor is a great option if you need 4K now.

Read our guide to the best computer monitors on Insider Picks.

The best external hard drives and flash drives

A portable hard drive can make it much easier to transfer your data from place to place. It's also good to have a back up of your most important files so you don't lose your senior thesis when your roommate spills orange juice on your laptop.

1. Best overall: Western Digital Elements 2TB Hard Drive ($74.99)

The Western Digital Elements 2TB Hard Drive offers a relatively high storage capacity and USB 3.0 connectivity, but it only costs $75.

2. Best high-capacity drive: Seagate Expansion 4TB Hard Drive ($119.99)

The Seagate Expansion 4TB hard drive is built by a well-known and generally reliable company, and it offers a massive 4TB of data.

3. Best fast drive: G-Technology 1TB G-Drive ($79.95)

The G-Technology G-Drive has 1TB of storage and a USB 3.0 connection, but its best feature is its fast 7,200RPM speed.

4. Best solid state drive:  Samsung T3 500GB Hard Drive ($99.99+)

The Samsung T3 isn’t just sleek and fast – it’s also solid state, meaning it’ll be a little more reliable and a lot faster than the disk drives out there.

5. Best drive for Macs: Seagate Backup Plus 4TB Hard Drive ($59.97+)

The Seagate Backup Plus 4TB Hard Drive is pre-formatted to work well on macOS, Windows, and even the PlayStation 4.

 Read our guide to the best external hard drives on Insider Picks.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Trader Joe's may be a beloved grocery store chain, but so many of its in-store products are actually other brands in disguise.
• Eater did an investigative dive into the real brands behind the Trader Joe's products using FOIA requests of FDA recalls.
• Trader Joe's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are basically identical to Tate's cookies.

Trader Joe's may be famous for its unique, organic, and often gluten-free in-house branded products, but news flash: their products aren't actually that unique.

In fact, many Trader Joe's food and drink items are just other familiar products in disguise. 

Trader Joe's orders many of its products from third-party manufacturers, but who those manufacturers are had never been revealed — only guessed at — until now.  

Eater just rolled out an investigative report uncovering some of the brands behind beloved Trader Joe's products, from fruit smoothies to cookies. The reporting team submitted FOIA requests for all of the recent FDA recalls with Trader Joe's in the name. An official recall has to list all of the information of the product, including the manufacturer, so Eater was able to use this workaround to come up with a list of dozens of companies who, at some point, have supplied Trader Joe's with products.

Trader Joe's refused to comment on the information uncovered by Eater. 

Keep scrolling to see 9 of your favorite TJ's products unmasked:

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Pretzel Slims vs. Snack Factory Dark Chocolate Crunch Pretzel Crisps

Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies vs. Tate's Bake Shop Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Trader Joe's Organic Animal Crackers vs. Stauffer's Original Animal Crackers

On of the biggest challenges for Scott Beiser, the CEO of $2.4 billion boutique global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, is making sure the company's employees stay engaged and energized. 

The firm — which specializes in corporate finance business, restructuring, and financial advisory services — has grown significantly since it went public two years ago, boosting revenue from $681 million in fiscal 2015 to $872 in fiscal 2017.

That growth means Beiser, who has been at the firm 33 years, has more employees to retain and keep engaged, but also more opportunities for recruiting young Wall Street talent. 

So what does Beiser want from fresh college graduates? 

Business Insider recently sat down with Beiser, who highlighted three key elements that he looks for when hiring young investment bankers.

Responses have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. 

SEE ALSO: The CEO of a $2.4 billion investment bank explains what really keeps him up at night

1. You have to love finance — it has to be in your blood.

Talent and ambition can take you far, even if you're not in the perfect job. But if you don't truly live and breathe investment banking, there may be a ceiling on how far you can go.

"One, they have to actually want to at some level enjoy or love finance. It is what we do," Beiser said. "Whether it's you need to read the FT or the Journal or you need to want to care what's going on in the news, that just has to be part of your DNA and blood."

2. Data and computer wizardry are great. But can you articulate?

Being a whiz with Microsoft Excel can't hurt. But you won't last long in the world of investment banking if you don't know how to talk to people. 

Here's Beiser:

"Two, you need to have some level of presence. There are a lot of people we can hire that have much higher IQs than myself and other people and just brilliant people coming out of schools, and they're great behind the computers and they can do spreadsheets and analyst things all day long. But at the end of the day what we and our peers do is we take a lot of information and analysis and we need to be able to articulate it and communicate it to the other side. And whether that's the client, whether that's the seller versus the buyer, the lender versus the borrower, it's a judge ... or some other constituency. So you have to be successful in articulating what is important and how to convey that whether it's your side or the other side. And that's not necessarily a talent I believe they teach you in the schools anymore. So some people just have it, are born with it, or maybe they developed it through some other work experience."

3. How well do you work with people and answer to multiple bosses?

Investment banking is a service business, and you'll have to coexist productively — if not happily — with many different people, both on your own team and on the client side. 

Here's Beiser:

"And then I'd also say they need to be good to be able to work with other people. In the service industry ... you have multiple bosses. You typically working for multiple clients at any given time. You have multiple managing directors, you may be working for multiple VPs. So you have to have a talent to be able to juggle your schedule and work well with multiple people. And you may not get along with every single one of your fellow employees and every single one of your clients, but you need to be able to get along and in sync with the vast majority of them. And some people I don't think are geared to be in the service industry, because they're much better to work for one client, one boss, one task at a time."

The White House is undergoing major renovations while President Donald Trump spends 17 days away, mostly at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf resort. 

Just an hour after Air Force One took off for New Jersey last Friday, the Oval Office had been cleared of furniture and, since then, West Wing staffers have been relocated as construction workers have flooded in.  

The renovations, which were approved during President Barack Obama's administration, will include an overhaul of the White House's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, as well upgrades to the building's IT system, mess hall, and outdoor spaces.

The White House has been plagued with issues including ceiling leaks and a house-fly infestation, according to CNN. (The insects have been an issue for several years — a video of Obama killing one of the White House flies went viral in 2009, and Trump reportedly tasked his former chief of staff with killing one earlier this year.) 

For the time being, West Wing staffers are working out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door. 

According to one account, Trump told staffers and members of his New Jersey golf resort that his new home is "a real dump"— a remark he later denied making. 

"I love the White House, one of the most beautiful buildings (homes) I have ever seen. But Fake News said I called it a dump - TOTALLY UNTRUE,"he tweeted last week. 

After announcing his planned stay in Bedminster, the president said it did not constitute a vacation. He tweeted last week that he will be conducting meetings and taking calls while in New Jersey. Trump has mixed work with leisure so far, holding a meeting on the opioid crisis but also being photographed on the golf course.

Here are some photos of the White House under construction: 

SEE ALSO: A deep look inside the White House — the US' best-known residential address

SEE ALSO: Trump is getting ready to take his first vacation since inauguration

Tourists pose on Tuesday outside of a White House under construction.

Outgoing White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer snaps a shot of an empty Oval Office.

The Oval Office blocked off for renovation on Friday.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Disney World has a FastPass system that allows park-goers to skip long lines.
• You should reserves FastPasses at least 30 days in advance.
• Choose wisely, because some rides will book up quickly for FastPasses.
• The top rides you should FastPass are the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Avatar: Flight of Passage.

Long lines are a given during any Walt Disney World vacation, but there are smart ways parkgoers can avoid standing in queues for hours. For some rides, like the new Avatar: Flight of Passage ride, reserving a FastPass can save you up to three hours of waiting time. 

Everyone who goes to Disney World should take advantage of the FastPass system, which allows you to skip the standby lines of at least three rides or attractions each day. Depending on whether or not you're staying at a Disney World hotel, a FastPass reservation can be made either 60 or 30 days in advance. That means you need to do some serious planning ahead.

Keep reading to see the rides in each of the four parks that you should prioritize when booking FastPasses.

Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

This is a newer attraction, which means people are lining up for hours to get the "Snow White" roller coaster experience. The ride's thrill level is somewhere between Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain – it's super smooth and fun. Plus it has one of the best on-ride pictures of any attraction. 

Peter Pan's Flight

Peter Pan's Flight is a family-friendly classic, but the slow pace of the ride plus the small number of people it accommodates at any time means lines for this ride get very lengthy. If you plan on riding it, you should definitely get a FastPass and skip the hours-long wait.

Splash Mountain

The hot Florida climate makes this water ride a very popular stop, plus the catchy tunes and thrilling drop are all part of the classic Disney World experience. Either book a FastPass for this ride around midday or in the afternoon, or make it your first stop of the morning to avoid a wait.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

We nearly put Space Mountain on this list instead, but since that line is mostly indoors and has interactive features throughout, it's a much more bearable line to wait in. Big Thunder is a fantastic Disney roller coaster that's gentle enough for younger kids to ride. But since the line is mostly outdoors, we recommend FastPass-ing it.

Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Mania

This is an absolute must when it comes to FastPass. Toy Story Mania is a 3D experience ride that pits groups of riders against each other in arcade-style games (but with the added fun of being in 3D).

Tower of Terror

Now that California Adventure has rebranded its Tower of Terror ride to be "Guardians of the Galaxy"-themed, the Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror is once again a rare attraction. This thrill ride simulates an elevator free fall and the kitschy "old Hollywood" glam design is a must-see.

Star Tours

Another 3D classic, Star Tours is a great family ride made all the more enjoyable by skipping a line and walking right on. While we wait for more "Star Wars" rides to come with the new section of the Hollywood Studios being built, Star Tours will remain a fan favorite.

Animal Kingdom

Avatar: Flight of Passage

This is a no-brainer. Assuming you don't have an issue with virtual reality experiences, you absolutely need to get a FastPass for Avatar: Flight of Passage. This is arguably the best Disney ride ever created (so far), and line wait times are reaching upwards of three hours. That wait is still worth it, but save yourself the time and FastPass it.

Kilimanjaro Safari

Animal Kingdom's namesake comes from the vast expanse of animal habitats built into the back end of the park and the Kilimanjaro Safari is the only way to see the many creatures living on the park's property. Reserve a FastPass for this attraction and then build the rest of your day around it.

Expedition Everest

This is the only roller coaster in Animal Kingdom and it's a fantastic ride with a twist halfway through — the cars go backwards for the last chunk of the ride! If you're a roller coaster fan, Expedition Everest is the Disney World ride for you.

Netflix has done some housecleaning in the last few months, cutting two high-profile shows, "Sense8" and "The Get Down."

It also canceled "Girlboss" and "Gypsy" after only one season.

"Gypsy," which starred Oscar nominee Naomi Watts is the most recent cancellation. Netflix canceled it on Friday. 

Netflix historically has canceled very few shows — only about eight (or up to 10, depending on how you count). But if CEO Reed Hastings gets his way, expect more in the future.

"We've canceled very few shows," Hastings said at the Code Conference in May. "I'm always pushing the content team. We have to take more risk. You have to try more crazy things. Because we should have a higher cancel rate overall."

Here are the eight shows Netflix has killed, along with their critic and audience ratings from Metacritic.

Additional reporting by Jethro Nededog.

SEE ALSO: Netflix shared the first trailer for season 2 of 'The Crown,' which is coming December 8

"Longmire": Canceled after six seasons (three on Netflix)

Netflix description:"This contemporary crime thriller focuses on a Wyoming sheriff who's rebuilding his life and career following the death of his wife."

Critic rating: 75/100

Audience rating: 9.2/10

"Lilyhammer": Canceled after three seasons

Netflix description:"They killed his dog. They made him run. Now he's living a new life in a strange land ... like a boss."

Critic rating: 68/100

Audience rating: 7.6/10

"Hemlock Grove": Canceled after three seasons

Netflix description:"A quaint town links a mangled corpse to a dark outsider with a carnivorous secret. But monsters come in many forms."

Critic rating: 37/100

Audience rating: 6.7/10

One of President Donald Trump's closest personal assistants is about to be questioned by congressional investigators.

Though 64-year-old Rhona Graff has managed to stay out of the limelight for nearly 30 years of working at Trump Tower, she has remained the go-to source for high-profile officials who wanted to arrange a meeting with Trump outside his regular hours — and is now being questioned for potential knowledge on the administration's meetings with Russian officials.

Here's what is known about the assistant who has been setting up some of Trump's most private meetings for years:

SEE ALSO: Congress wants to question a woman known as Trump's 'right hand'

Graff, a senior vice president at the Trump Organization, has been working for Trump for nearly thirty years.

Source: Business Insider

She started her career as Trump's secretary in 1987 and has advanced through the ranks to more senior positions on his team.

Source: Business Insider

Graff has been an important conduit between Trump and various high-profile officials.

Source: Business Insider

This week, Avicii collaborated with English electronic duo AlunaGeorge on a new track, and The National dropped a contemplative new single.

Here are the 5 best songs from the past week that you can stream right now:

SEE ALSO: The best new songs from last week — The Weeknd, Four Tet, and more

The National — "Carin at the Liquor Store"

Indie rock band The National brings anguish, introspection, and a wailing guitar solo to its piano-ballad single "Carin at the Liquor Store"— the third release from its upcoming album, "Sleep Well Beast." 

Cut Copy — "Standing In The Middle Of The Field"

Leading up to its fifth LP, "Haiku from Zero," Australian electro-rock band Cut Copy lights up its latest single, "Standing In The Middle Of The Field," with a panorama of ebullient synths and a stellar chorus.

Destroyer — "Sky's Grey"

Destroyer — the Canadian rock band led by eccentric songwriter Dan Bejar — returns with the minimalist "Sky's Grey," a showcase for Bejar's humorously cryptic and poetic meditations, sung from the perspective of a foundering actor.

The much-anticipated fourth season of "Bachelor in Paradise" is set to premiere on Monday, after a misconduct scandal threatened to not only cancel the show, but forever change ABC's long-running hit "Bachelor" franchise going forward.

Even though an investigation into the incident by show producer Warner Bros. concluded that that there was no misconduct, there continues to be more to the story.

The alleged "sexual misconduct" incident occurred in early June while taping in Mexico. It temporarily shut down production, but has since resumed after Warner Bros. wrapped its investigation.

But both "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants who are at the center of the scandal, DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, have claimed that they're victims and have sought legal counsel. They've since announced their continuing participation with the show.

How did we get here? and what's next? Ahead of Monday's premiere, catch yourself up on all the twists and turns.

Here's a rundown of all the events so far:

SEE ALSO: 'Bachelor in Paradise' has been suspended over alleged misconduct

SEE ALSO: 

Sunday, June 4: Day of the alleged sexual assault.

With three seasons under its belt, taping on its fourth season started on this day in Mexico. Taping was slated to last three weeks. It also happened to be the day when the reported incident occurred.

Sources told news outlets that a sexual encounter between Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) and Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21) occurred when she was too drunk to give proper consent and the show's cameras were rolling.

TMZ published a graphic description of the alleged sexual encounter between the contestants in a hot tub.

Tuesday, June 6: An investigation was underway, production halted, and the contestants were placed on lockdown.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, production continued on the show Monday. But at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, a producer filed a complaint of potential sexual misconduct. It isn't clear whether that producer was present while the incident was being taped.

On the condition of anonymity, a contestant told People that taping was being suspended and the cast members were placed on lockdown Tuesday, meaning they were sent to separate rooms, couldn't contact one another, and were under constant supervision by production.

"We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened,” the contestant said “We knew something bad had happened; there was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren’t even there a week. The game hadn’t even really begun yet."

THR reported that Jackson and Olympios had been questioned ahead of the other contestants after the complaint was filed and were sent home.

Thursday, June 8: The cast members were informed of the investigation and told that the season will probably be canceled.

The anonymous cast member told People that the producers officially informed the contestants that an investigation was underway and it didn't look like they show would be returning this season.

"One of them was crying. She told us that it was over and we'd all be going home,"the contestant said of a meeting with a producer held after the lockdown.

"[The producer] was like, 'I don't think that's realistic,'" the cast member continued of the likelihood that production would resume. "She said that there was an investigation going on, and that could take days, weeks, or even months. And by that time, we all have lives and jobs and things to go back to, so it just wasn't going to work out. They told us that we'd be considered for future seasons and opportunities in the franchise, but that this adventure was probably over."

Over the next few days, the cast and crew were questioned individually, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Any battle-hardened individual will talk about the darkness before the dawn — those make-or-break moments when they could have quit but held on with stunning success. Here are nine ways to stay optimistic when your life hits a speed bump.

SEE ALSO: 6 tips from top entrepreneurs on turning real estate into real wealth — even if you start with nothing

1. Know that you're probably about to succeed.

Tai Lopez, investor and advisor to many multimillion-dollar businesses, who has built an eight-figure online empire; connect with Tai on Facebook or Snapchat:

Years ago, I read this Chinese saying, "The temptation to give up is the greatest right before you're about to succeed."

There's something magical about the saying. I don't know if something deep in our subconscious mind realizes we're about to succeed. But the 11th hour is when the pressure builds and things seem to go wrong; once you hit midnight, things start to go well.

Remember this dichotomy: When you don't feel much pressure, you're often not close to success. Feeling despondent is a sign you've made it all the way to 11 p.m. When you feel kind of jolly, you're probably further back at 2 p.m., with a long way to go. It's almost a double-edged sword.

2. Keep a calm head.

Kevin Harrington, inventor of the infomercial, pioneer of the "As Seen on TV" industry, and original Shark on Shark Tank:

I've had many dark moments over the years; everyone has. The key is understanding these are essential for building yourself or something significant, like a business.

Nothing grows without a make-or-break moment. Understanding that challenges are part of growth gives you the calmness to handle what might normally be a very stressful time. When problems arise, assemble your dream team of experts to look at the problem and work together to find a solution.

Go after solving the problem with the same tenacity, vision and effort that you used to build yourself and the business. Then move on in a positive way.

3. Weather the storm.

Scott Oldford, founder of INFINITUS; helps six-figure businesses scale to seven figures using online marketing:

I've experienced many failures, including once being $750,000 in debt.

• First, realize that "this too shall pass." The tides will rise eventually.

• Then surround yourself with friends, mentors, coaches and people who tell you how it is. Be open to criticism; it's the only way to develop.

• Build your emotional immune system. Get used to extreme highs and lows. Don't freak out during a "low low" or overcompensate (i.e. party like it's Friday) during a "high high."

• Visualize your ideal day and life. Every night, I visualize my life. Every morning, I visualize my entire day in the shower for five minutes, including what I'll say and how I'll react. It's super-powerful.

• By default, humans want to keep everyone around them but cut the energy vampires. Some people will never serve you, regardless of how much you serve them. They'll suck your ideas, strength, and enthusiasm when you need it most.

• Finally, don't take yourself seriously. Always ask: "Are you doing something to impact and serve others or serve your own emotions and ego?" It's harder to quit when people are counting on you.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Royal wedding cakes have been enormous over the years, with multiple layers weighing hundreds of pounds.
• At the wedding, the first piece is often cut with a ceremonial sword.
• Here are 11 incredible wedding cakes from royal weddings around the world.

Royal weddings are extravagant affairs, and the cakes are no exception. Baked by hardworking teams of the finest chefs, they're often made of multiple layers weighing hundreds of pounds, decorated with intricate flowers and delicate swirls of icing, and displayed on artful stands.

We've already looked at how gorgeous royal wedding dresses look around the world.  Now, here are 11 of the most incredible royal wedding cakes.

Royals definitely don't skimp on any aspect of their weddings — including the cakes.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip's wedding cake in 1947 weighed 500 pounds, stood at nine feet tall, and took two weeks to make.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's cake was a little more understated, but no less intricate.

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.

No matter where you live, what you do for a living, or how old you are, there's a great chance that you own a pair of sneakers — if not several. 

Sneakers are easily one of the most popular style of shoes, and for good reason. While most are designed for performance in athletics, their looks and comfort have transcended sports into fashion.

Despite an abundance of options, the demand for certain sneaker styles greatly exceeds the supply, causing them to sell out almost immediately. Clicking a link a minute after it's posted, or fumbling to pull out your debit card during checkout can be the difference between getting the sneakers or not.

Most people don't have the time, energy, or patience to closely monitor release dates or sit next to a computer all day in anticipation of a randomly timed online launch, so getting the highly sought after models can prove to be difficult. Trust me, diehard sneaker collectors have done their due diligence to secure a pair before the average person.

Luckily, looking good in a nice pair of sneakers isn't limited to fanatics, as there are many stylish sneaker that don't incite such urgency to purchase. Whether you're into Nike, Adidas, New Balance, or Puma, there are many options available.

If you want to buy a new pair of sneakers without jumping through hoops, check out 10 stylish options that won't sell out in seconds below. 

SEE ALSO: 5 new dress shoe companies every guy should know

Adidas NMD_R1 Primeknit

Designed for the urban nomad, the Adidas NMD is the perfect sneaker for a person who's walking, traveling, and generally active. This particular pair features a Triple White colorway with Japanese characters reading "The Brand with the Three Stripes." A full-length Boost midsole gives these shoes unbeatable comfort.

Adidas NMD_R1 Primeknit, $170

New Balance 247 Sport

The New Balance 247 Sport is a sneaker that you'll want to keep on your feet 24/7. Drawing from classic New Balance sneakers, the 247 is a modernized lifestyle sneaker optimized for comfort. It uses an engineered knit for a super lightweight feel.

New Balance 247 Sport, $89.99

Adidas Iniki Runner

The Adidas Iniki Runner is another sneaker that uses the brand's innovative Boost technology, so comfort isn't sacrificed. While the silhouette new to Adidas' line of products, it has many old school design cues like serrated Three Stripes branding, gold flake lettering, and gum outsole.

Adidas Iniki Runner, $120

Most days we barely give the giant, searing-hot ball of plasma in the sky a second thought.

That will change dramatically on Monday, August 21: when the total solar eclipse sweeps across the continental United States for the first time in nearly 100 years.

If you're not careful, though, the sun can still rapidly scorch your eyeballs.

While the moon will at least partially block the sun for the entire nation, the glowing crescent left behind will emit ultraviolet rays — the same light that causes sunburn — and could damage the light-sensing cells of your eyes' retinas. Even looking with normal sunglasses can lead to solar retinopathy, a condition that can temporarily blind you, lead to missing spots in your vision, or even cause permanent blindness.

The only safe time to look at the solar eclipse with the naked eye, according to NASA, is during totality: where the moon's fullest, darkest umbral shadow touches. But only a small piece of America will experience its magic (and for less than three minutes of the entire two- to three-hour eclipse, depending on the location).

The good news is that there are several easy ways to safely watch the eclipse — even if you're not in the path of totality, or you are and want to look at the sun beforehand.

Here are seven of the best methods.

SEE ALSO: Solar eclipse die-hards use this clever trick to watch totality longer than anyone on Earth

DON'T MISS: Total solar eclipses are going extinct

1. Solar glasses or viewers

If you're just now reading this and hope to buy a pair of eclipse sunglasses, or a one-sheet viewer, you may be out of luck — many online retailers are selling out.

If you have a friend who's an astronomy buff, though, chances are high they'll have an extra pair collecting dust. You might also stop into your local library, astronomy club, or NASA event site and try to grab a free solar viewer.

NASA has also compiled a list of reputable manufacturers, sellers, and brands that meet strict standards — but beware of unscrupulous sellers pushing knock-off eclipse glasses to make a buck off desperate buyers. (If something seems fishy, it probably is.)

2. Welder's glass rated shade-12 or higher

Welder's glass is designed to protect a worker's eyes from bursts of UV light that acetylene torches give off. This is also what makes it great to look at the sun.

NASA recommends shades 12, 13, or 14, with shade 12 being the least-opaque of the three grades. "Many people find the Sun too bright even in a Shade 12 filter, and some find the Sun too dim in a Shade 14 filter — but Shade 13 filters are uncommon and can be hard to find," NASA wrote at its eclipse safety website.

But the space agency urges extra caution if you find and want to use an older welder's helmet or glass. "If it's less than 12 (and it probably is), don't even think about using it to look at the Sun," it said. 

3. Pinhole camera

Pinhole cameras can get pretty advanced with boxes and tripods, but NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has instructions for an incredibly simple version that you can build in a few minutes.

Grab some scissors, tin foil, a piece of thick card stock (or paper), tape, and a needle. Cut a hole in the middle of one sheet of card stock, tape the edges of a tin foil section over it, then carefully pierce the center of the foil with the needle — presto, you've made a pinhole camera. Hover your device over something white, ideally a piece of paper, and move it up and down until you figure out where the ideal focus point is.

But you don't even need to even build something. Any object with tiny holes that will let light through works. A kitchen strainer, for example — or just closing your fist to barely let a point of light through — can make for a proper pinhole camera.

The INSIDER Summary: 

• Star Wars fans have endlessly debated which Sith Lord is cooler.
• Darth Vader may be the most recognizable character of the two, but Darth Maul is better than Darth Vader for a variety of reasons. 
• Both Darth Maul and Darth Vader remain iconic characters to the franchise.

Ever since "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" debuted (for better or worse), fans have endlessly debated on important question: which Sith Lord is cooler?

The original recipe Darth Vader, scourge of the Jedi, murderer of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and father to a pair of Force Sensitive galactic heroes? Or Darth Maul, the mysterious, titular Phantom Menace who strikes from the shadows, wields the coolest lightsaber in "Star Wars" history, and sports devilish red and black tattoos all over his body?

There’s no easy answer to this questions, but that hasn’t stopped fans from arguing the point back and forth over the years and years that have passed since Maul’s very brief appearance in a "Star Wars" movie. While the character is only a brief blip on the cinematic history of the franchise, Darth Maul has turned up in countless comics, video games, and TV shows, all helping to build up his legacy as a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, of course, Darth Vader has continued to be the face of the franchise, appearing in some form or other (even if it’s just as a burnt mask) in every "Star Wars" movie to date (unless you count "Caravan of Courage"). Vader’s fame and notoriety have reached far over the years, and he is without a doubt the more recognizable character of the two.

However, fame isn’t everything, and while Darth Maul’s appearance in the movies is short and sweet, this also means that he’s not weighed down by a cinematic backstory that amounts to little more than character assassination.

With that in mind, here are the 15 Reasons Darth Maul Is Better Than Darth Vader.

15. Darth Maul looks cooler

There are few sights in "Star Wars" lore as instantly recognizable as Darth Vader. The imposing black mask is etched into the minds of fans across the world the moment he first appears on screen in the original "Star Wars: A New Hope," and even his clunky, rattling breathing noise has passed into mainstream cultural legend.

That said, as iconic as Darth Vader might be, Darth Maul genuinely looks cooler. His red and black markings, glowing yellow eyes, sharp teeth, and pointed horns all create a far more eye-catching design.

Even when trying to conceal his face behind a hood, Maul’s striking appearance gleams out from underneath, making for some of the coolest visuals in "The Phantom Menace" (and let’s face it: the visuals are the best thing about that movie).

Darth Maul might not be as instantly recognizable as Darth Vader, but he’s definitely more eye-catching, even for those who might not be familiar with "Star Wars" canon.

14. Darth Maul is motivated by revenge, not mommy issues

One of the big downsides of the prequel trilogy of "Star Wars" films is the backstory that we get for Darth Vader. Once an imposing, terrifying monster who is “more machine now than man,”Vader has been reduced to a figure of ridicule, with many memes bouncing around among fans that center on the character’s hatred of sand, and horrendous insecurities surrounding his mother.

George Lucas attempted to make Vader a tragic figure by building up his family relationship, but all it did was make fans want to punch Anakin Skywalker for being so whiney.

By contrast, Darth Maul’s entire motivation is vengeance – a far more suitable desire for an evil villain. In "The Phantom Menace," Maul is eager to at last have revenge on the Jedi, and when that doesn’t go his way, his subsequent appearances in animated TV shows "Clone Wars" and "Rebels" are defined by a desire for revenge on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Sidious.

It’s easier to root for a villain who wants revenge, than to suffer through watching baby Darth Vader pine for his dead mother.

13. Darth Maul is far more impressive in a fight

Back before the prequel movies, it was easy to see Darth Vader as an exciting, dangerous adversary in a lightsaber fight – his battle with Obi Wan in "A New Hope" felt tense at the time, while his fights with Luke Skywalker, particularly in "The Empire Strikes Back" when Luke is hopelessly outmatched, show Vader as a force to be reckoned with.

Then, of course, that iconic scene in "The Phantom Menace" blew audiences away. Here, instead, we got a Sith Lord who was fast, agile, and very skilled with a double-sided lightsaber, and Vader’s slow, stumbling swordfighting quickly became obsolete in the eyes of many fans.

To this day, Maul’s lightsaber fight is one of the most impressive, well-choreographed fights in the "Star Wars" saga, and it’s safe to say that, without any bulky armor and machinery weighing him down, Maul is far more fun to watch flip and slash his way through a fight scene.

Harry Potter's childhood home in the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is on sale for 995,000 euros, or about $1.2 million. 

The house, which is located in Suffolk, England, is listed with the UK-based real-estate agency Carter Jonas.

Here's a closer look at the enchanting home.

SEE ALSO: Take a rare look at the enormous mansions hidden behind the Hamptons' famously high hedges

The official name of the property is the "De Vere House."

According to the listing, the home is believed to have been built by the De Vere family, which was an aristocratic family during Medieval times. 

The home is approximately 3,165 square feet and is broken into two wings.

According to the listing, the home has a number of Medieval and Tudor features including a timber frame ...

With staggering student loans, fewer affordable starter homes and lower earnings than the previous generation, young adults own fewer homes than ever.

Considering the reputation millennials have in the media for poor financial skills — avocado toast, anyone? — it's no surprise the millennial generation is very slowly entering the home buying market. Although millennials are the largest generation of adults, they only account for 7.5% of the value of all U.S. homes.

ABODO, an apartment listing company, analyzed the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas by population from the U.S. Census Bureau 2015 American Community Survey to find the highest and lowest percentage of all millennial householders who are owners.

Home buying among adults ages 18 to 35 has slowed. In 2005, 39.5% of this age group owned homes. That share fell to 32.1% in 2015. (Remember, when buying a home, your credit plays a major part. Before stepping into the home buying market, it's a good idea to check your credit. You can see a free snapshot of your credit reports on Credit.com.)

This trend might reverse. Recently, more millennials have been entering the home-buying market. Only time will tell if this trend will stick, but for now, here are the 10 cities millennials are buying homes — and the 10 where they aren't.

SEE ALSO: A self-made millionaire who retired at 37 says buying a home was 'probably the worst financial decision' he ever made

DON'T MISS: The hidden costs of owning a home in the 16 biggest cities in America

The 10 cities where millennials are buying homes:

1. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah

Percent of millennials who own homes: 51.0%

2. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan

Percent of millennials who own homes: 45.3%

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is worth $9.2 billion — which makes him the 139th richest person in the world according to Forbes.

This month, he and wife Dasha Zhukova announced their plans to separate after ten years of marriage. The couple has two children, joint businesses in Russia, an extensive art collection, a mega-mansion on the Upper East Side, as well as other assets that could make this one of the most expensive splits in history.

Below, a look at the couple's life.

SEE ALSO: Tinder threw a Hamptons party on 'billionaire's row' that ended when police showed up — here's what it was like

Abramovich and Zhukova kept their marriage a secret for many years. The couple was often referred to as boyfriend and girlfriend after meeting in 2005. However in 2015, Zhukova revealed during a Wall Street Journal interview that the two had gotten married "a few years" after meeting.

Source: Wall Street Journal

In 2010 Abramovich purchased his yacht, the $250 million Eclipse, which is the third largest yacht in the world.

Source: Forbes, Super Yacht

The boat played an integral role in the birth of the couple's second child, Leah Lou, in 2013. So that the child could be born in New York City, the boat stayed docked on the Hudson for two months, and Forbes estimated that the birth cost an estimated several hundred million.

Source: Forbes

Attending a top private high school provides a solid academic foundation, helps students gain entrance into first-rate colleges, and prepares them for the challenges of the real world.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, released its newest rankings of the best private high schools in the country.

The ranking looked at nearly 3,500 private high schools across the US, rating a number of factors including SAT and ACT scores, graduation rate, school culture and diversity, and college enrollment. You can read the full breakdown of the methodology here.

Below Business Insider has included each school's location, student body population, annual tuition, and because each school scored incredibly high on Niche's metrics, the category where the private school scored lowest.

Read on to learn more about what makes these 25 schools the best in America:

SEE ALSO: The 25 best public high schools in America

25. Stanford Online High School

Location: Stanford, California

Students: 704

Tuition: $19,950

Lowest "Niche Grade": A "C+" rating for diversity

24. Ransom Everglades School

Location: Coconut Grove, Florida

Students: 1,084

Tuition: $35,900

Lowest "Niche Grade": A "B+" rating in diversity

23. The Hotchkiss School

Location: Lakeville, Connecticut

Students: 632

Tuition: $48,080

Lowest "Niche Grade": "A-" ratings in diversity and sports

The second season of "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" is set to premiere on Tuesday at 9 p.m. But before you tune in, you'll want to get caught up on all the revelations about the notorious church from the show's first season.

After splitting from the church in 2013, "King of Queens" star Leah Remini gave other former Scientologists a platform with the A&E series to discuss their experiences.

She was joined by former high-ranking people in the organization, who each have stories about secretive teachings, alleged shady business dealings, and purported abuses of its followers, former members, and their families.

In the upcoming season, Remini is stepping up the stakes. She hopes to provide enough evidence of wrongdoing to prompt a federal investigation into the religion.

"I'm talking about the FBI, the police, the Department of Justice, the IRS," Remini said. "If the FBI ever wanted to get anywhere, all they would need to do is do a raid. Everybody who's ever gone to Scientology has folders, and anything you've ever said is contained in those folders."

The church declined to take part in the series. It said that the statements Remini and the other contributors to the show have made about Scientology are false and driven by a desire to profit or gain publicity from their time in the religion.

To prepare you for the season two premiere, here are all the most shocking revelations about Scientology, according to the show:

SEE ALSO: Conan O'Brien says Scientology is 'not happy' about his revealing Leah Remini interview

DON'T MISS: Scientology created a website to bash Leah Remini and her new TV show of 'liars'

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was under investigation in multiple countries and lived on a ship supposedly to evade any one country's jurisdiction.

Scientology's former international spokesman Mike Rinder explained that in the early years of Scientology, the church was under investigation for being a cult. In fact, Australia banned the church in 1965 after an investigation.

L. Ron Hubbard lived on a ship called the Apollo. Rinder described it as the "floating headquarters for Scientology." Since he was being investigated by the UK and other countries, Hubbard found that he could sail away into international waters when necessary and away from the jurisdiction of any one country.

Hubbard based Scientology on his claim that he healed himself from war injuries — a claim that "Going Clear" author Lawrence Wright says is fabricated.

Lawrence Wright, the author of the best-selling book on Scientology, "Going Clear," says his research found that Scientology's documentation of Hubbard's injuries and military service was faked.

Wright said his research into Navy documents found that Hubbard had no serious injuries, which Wright sees as a major fault in the church's foundation.

Additionally, Wright said he found that Scientology's claims that Hubbard received many military service awards and records were false. In response, Wright said, the church told him that the records were "sheep-dipped"— that the military created a whole set of fake documents to cover up Hubbard's covert military duties.

"That's the person that the church has to protect," Wright said. "With encasing [Hubbard] in this myth, they try to cover the efforts of people like me and others to uncover the truth."

David Miscavige rose to lead Scientology by capitalizing on Hubbard's death.

After steadily rising through the ranks and becoming Hubbard's adviser, David Miscavige announced the founder's death in 1986. Hubbard's passing was framed as an intentional decision by him to leave his body to go onto even higher levels of spiritual being.

"The core belief of Scientology is that you are a spiritual being," Remini said. "L. Ron Hubbard had reached, obviously, the highest level of Scientology there was to reach, promoting this idea that there's an afterlife, and he found the answer to it by deciding to discard this body to go explore new OT levels. All of this is bulls---. L. Ron Hubbard died of a stroke."

As Hubbard's closest adviser, Miscavige assumed the leadership of Scientology. His official title is chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center. But according to Rinder, Miscavige likes to refer to himself as "the pope of Scientology."

Those who make up Generation Z — generally defined as those born after 1995 — are coming of age after the Great Recession and the September 11, 2001 attacks. They do not remember a US president before Barack Obama, or life without the iPhone. Everything has always been one tap away.

At approximately 60 million, Generation Z Americans outnumber millennials by nearly 1 million. Compared with their predecessors, members of Gen Z are true digital natives, with 92% having a digital footprint on social media and the web. But that doesn't mean they overshare. Teens are more likely to curate their profiles than their parents, who just put everything up.

They're also highly entrepreneurial (72% of teens say they want to start a business someday) and are working and driving less than past generations. Nearly half of Gen Z is also not white, making it the most ethnically diverse generation in history.

And while many American adults identify as being on either the right or the left on the political spectrum, a 2016 survey of 150,000 teens found that most say they are both: socially liberal and moderate but also moderate to conservative financially.

"They want a balanced budget, but they want universal healthcare — things that other generations have seen as opposing or a choice. They see them as one or want both," Corey Seemiller, a Wright State University professor who studies Gen Z, told Business Insider.

But, as with any generation, there's a great amount of diversity within teenage America, too.

Business Insider spoke with teens from across the US with different hometowns, political views, and socioeconomic backgrounds about their lifestyles, hopes, and worries.

Below, check out personal stories from 10 American teens, who are trying to create America's future right now.

SEE ALSO: Teens from across the country reveal the 11 companies they think are cool

Max Doocy, 17 — A male, Catholic feminist with two moms

In his conservative town of Omaha, Nebraska, Max helps lead a club that started in the '70s, called Prep Accepts, at his Catholic high school. The club acts as a space where students discuss how to make the school more inclusive. Topics include abortion, racism, and same-sex marriage — the latter of which is personally significant to Max, who has two gay moms, Carol and Laura.

But in 2015, the school threatened to shut the club down after wealthy donors in the area said they would withdraw funding. Max immediately sent a letter to the local archbishop and met with the school president, who reinstated Prep Accepts. This school year, Max said more white, non-LGBT students showed up to meetings.

Tell me about where you live. What do you like most about it?

"There's a lot of businesspeople and a lot of old money and not as many cornfields as people think. Omaha is known for mansions, because they're much cheaper here. Coming from California, we bought a 7,000-square-foot house with seven bedrooms for the amount of money a down payment was in Alameda ... I like that it has a small-town feel. People are really nice to each other — and let you cut them off in traffic and not freak out."

Do you feel like you fit in?

"I don't like how conservative it is. People are usually open-minded, but religion is used as a basis for being judgmental."

Have you ever faced discrimination? 

"I went to a Catholic elementary school. When it went public that I have two moms, it was a big problem. [The students] were called to the church on campus, and the archbishop of our area talked about how homosexuality and homosexual actions are against God and that as a church community they needed to come together and act against it and not support families who support it, and that was pretty much me ... I remember sitting there thinking, 'What does this mean for my family? How do I deal with it?'" 

Are you a feminist?

"Yep. It's something that makes a lot of guys uncomfortable, but I would not think twice about answering that as a 'yes.'"

Do you think the American dream is still alive?

"Yeah, I think so. I think it is what you make of it. If you want to think that it's not, it won't be. But if you think it is and work for it, anything is open."

Kai Morton, 18 — A coder who wants to make social change

Kai programmed her first video game when she was 11 years old on a big, purple, clunky laptop. In the game, players jump from platform to platform to collect bugs.

Today, at 18, she knows 15 coding languages and is learning how to develop iOS apps. She is focusing on making apps for social change in San Francisco, including one that connects restaurants that have excess food with food banks. Kai was also the inspiration for Black Girls Code, a national organization founded by her mother that encourages young African-American women to pursue tech careers.

Tell me about where you live. What does your bedroom look like?

"I live in an apartment on the fourth floor. My bedroom has a bed in the middle with lights over it. And then I have a desk with a giant computer with three monitors. Under my desk, I have my old laptop, iPad Pro, an iPad mini, a gigantic drawing tablet, another drawing tablet that's portable, and a huge pile of books. Next to my bed, I have a bass guitar, an amp, and two Xboxes. And in my closet I have every 'Goosebumps' book in existence."

How much time do you spend online per day?

"A lot. At least 70% of the day I think."

How do you use social media? What do you try to portray to people online?

"When I first got my Instagram account, it was all about posting what I was doing. But now, it's about creating your own aesthetic for your page and thinking when and what you want to post and what you want your image to be and how you want people to view you ... I want my photos to be good and portray my image and personality well. I see my mom's generation post a lot more random stuff ... I don't have a finsta [a secret, less curated Instagram account], but all my friends do."

What are you worried most about for your future?

"Getting into tech, I'm realizing that things are never going to be easy as a black woman. In STEM, and especially in the tech world, it's harder for women to have a voice, because it's been dominated by this white, male stereotype for so long ... But I'm not taking it as a disadvantage. I'm taking it as an opportunity to be the first and change the image that it's not just this white, male field. Hopefully a little girl interested in STEM will see me and feel inspired to not give up their dreams."

What would an ideal world would look like to you, 10 years from now?

"Finding a way to get humanity back into having moral values. Of course, it's hard to say 'no discrimination, no racism, and no prejudice,' because those are hard things. If we're talking about a utopia, I'd love to see less discrimination and diversity in all fields where anyone can see themselves reflected."

Joseph Touma, 19 — A conservative who wants to bridge the nation's political divide

One afternoon at a summer program, Joseph and his friend Clara Nevins were in a heated debate about climate change. Joseph, a West Virginia Republican, wants limited government regulations, while Clara, a California Democrat, values environmental regulation. They realized though, after they listened to each other, that they were able to understand each other's point of view more clearly.

Clara and Joseph founded an organization, called Bridge the Divide, that aims to make an increasingly polarized America recognize common ground. Its site features message boards where young people can debate political issues, and BTD has 100 student ambassadors in 22 countries.

Tell me about where you live.

"I've lived since I can remember in Huntington [West Virginia]. One of most notable, negative things about it is that there's an opioid epidemic. Some people call it the 'heroin capital of the world.' Just the other day, I was downtown, and the police pulled up and there were 50 or 60 needles all over the street. You see more and more of that every day. But we're also a community of resiliency and bouncing back."

How did you form your political views?

"My parents are very moderate but more recently have been becoming more conservative. I think they played a big role in me having the beliefs I have today, but they don't have all the same beliefs I do ... For example, I think that legalizing marijuana is not a bad thing. I don't plan on smoking marijuana, but it would be a great source of income for our state ... That's something my parents don't agree with me on."

What do you and your friends disagree on?

"I was talking with someone who was saying, 'We need to remember, members of ISIS are people too, and they have reasons behind their demands.' And I didn't see it the way she's seeing it, and she didn't change my perspective, but it was definitely a revelation to me."

What would an ideal world look like to you, 10 years from now?

"[Right now] while our leaders are at each other's throats, it's interesting how [teens] can be so loving to one other and civil. But for some reason, in the grander scheme of things, we are enemies ... In an ideal world, there would be an end to violence of any type, whether it's country-versus-country or individuals on the street."