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

Do you wish your home was smarter?

Do you wish your Wi-Fi was better? Or maybe that you could check in on your place when you're not there?

Renovations like those used to be a real pain. You'd have to put holes in your walls and have someone come in and install things for you.

Now, it's easier than ever to do home upgrades like that, and more. I've done four out of the five home hacks on this list myself, and I'm not the most handy person. 

Even if you're not super into DIY, these projects won't take you much longer than an afternoon. After a couple of days, you'll be happy you did them. 

DON'T MISS: I've written about a bunch of great smart-home tech, but these are the gadgets I use every day — here's why

SEE ALSO: How the Amazon Echo won me over and became the center of my smart home

Control your lights

This is the hack: Controlling your lights

Here's why you should do it: Ok, admittedly part of the reason I did this hack was because it's cool and fun. Who doesn't want to be able to control their lights from across the room, or house, for that matter? But after the novelty wore off, I was still glad I invested in some smart bulbs. 

My studio apartment only has one source of light: a two-bulb ceiling lamp. Space is at a premium, and I don't want to buy another source of light, so that's what I use when I read at night, or do any after-work chores. The light switch is on the opposite side of my apartment, so if I wanted to turn my lights off at night, or turn them back on because I forgot to do something, I had to fumble around and hit the switch. Now I can turn them on and off with a few taps on my phone, or my voice through the Amazon Echo.

People with larger houses can set geo fences, so your lights turn on and off when you leave. You can set the lights on timers, too, if you'd like to give people the impression that you're home even when you're not.

Here's what you'll need: Philips Hue Bulbs

Total spend: $147.99

Install a USB outlet

This is the hack: Installing new outlets with USB ports

Here's why you should do it: This is something I haven't done in my apartment, but will be doing in my mom's condo sometime soon.

The reason is pretty simple; we're all guilty of hogging outlets with power adapters for our phones and tablets. You can buy a multi-port USB hub (and should if you live with a lot of people, or travel often), but what if you didn't have to use any outlets at all?

Installing outlets with two USB ports built into them solves your charging problems; instead of using an adapter, just plug your device into the outlet's USB ports. They're 4AMP USB ports, too, so your devices will probably charge faster than they would through the adapter they come with. 

You can install them everywhere, but I think the best place for these outlets would be the kitchen. It's usually one of the main hubs of a house; there probably aren't a lot of outlets there and kitchen gadgets need power, too. You shouldn't have to unplug your toaster to charge your phone.

Here's what you'll need: TOPGREENER 4 Amp Dual USB Charger Outlet

Total spend: $15.29

Control your appliances

This is the hack: Controlling your dumb appliances through your smartphone

Here's why you should do it: Buying all new appliances with smart features built-in is the best way to live in "the house of the future," but it might not be necessary.

If the electric tea kettle you've been using for six years still works, do you really need to replace it with something different? That's the position I found myself in, and so instead of buying new appliances, I started using smart plugs. 

TP-Link's smart plugs are easy to set up and use. Just plug the smart plug into an outlet, plug your appliance into the smart plug, and you're done. You can now turn your appliance on and off through an app, the same way you can control your smart lights. Now, the only control these smart plugs give you is the ability to turn your appliances on and off. Smarter appliances will let you do fancier actions, but if you think about it, turning something on and off is pretty powerful.

I use my smart plug with an electric tea kettle, and can start boiling water for tea from my bed. By the time I've brushed my teeth the water is ready. If you use it with something potentially dangerous, like an iron, you can check to make sure you turned it off if you left the house in a hurry. Better safe than sorry. Like the Hue bulbs, you can connect these smart plugs to an Echo and control your appliances with your voice.

Here's what you'll need: TP-Link Smart Plug

Total spend: $28.85

That's something awfully satisfying about putting things in order by color. 

This may not be the case for everyone. But when things are arranged by color, I feel organized and relaxed. My closet and even my smartphone apps are almost always arranged that way. 

So when I stumbled upon "I Love Hue," I knew I was about to be hooked. 

The smartphone game — which is available for iOS and Android devices — has a super-simple premise: Choose a puzzle and arrange the blocks by color and shade. 

I've been playing "I Love Hue" non-stop for the past 36 hours — I even have a game going on two separate devices at this point — and can safely say it's my new favorite app.

Here's how to play:

SEE ALSO: Here are all 69 emojis arriving on iPhones this fall

There is only one rule you need to worry about in "I Love Hue:" Everything needs to be in color order.

The game presents you with several different puzzles made up of blocks in a range of colors. When you start a puzzle, the blocks will be scrambled and your job is to put everything back in order in as few moves as possible. 

The game has a distinct, New-Age tone to it: When you succeed, it will give you a compliment like, "You're an iridescent moonbeam!" and the various levels are named Mystic, Prophet, Guru, and so on. While a little odd at first, I eventually found the magical language comforting. Plus, the name of the game itself is pretty cute. 

One important thing to note: "I Love Hue" is entirely based on color, so if you have trouble discerning between two very similar colors or have color blindness, this is not the game for you. 

When you first start a puzzle, everything will be in color order for a brief second before the game scrambles it. The squares with black dots in the center are immobile and help you figure out the order the blocks should go in.

Once things get scrambled, you have an unlimited amount of time to put the puzzle back in order. To move a block, just place your finger on it and drag it where you want it to go. Once the puzzle starts to come together, it gets easier.

The fact that Apple is still selling the iPhone 6s, a two-year-old phone, is a testament of how good the iPhone 6s is.

Usually, Apple only offers the previous-generation iPhone when it announces a new model. 

But if you compare the specs of the iPhone 8 or iPhone X on Apple's website, you'll notice that the phones look pretty similar. You'll be telling yourself: "Yep, the iPhone 6s has this, and that, and that." 

The main differences are the chips that dictate performance and certain features, as well as a few incremental improvements to things like the display and camera. These are hugely important factors when deciding which iPhone to buy, but the iPhone 6s is still a top contender, especially for its new price starting at $450.

Here's why you should consider buying the iPhone 6s instead of the iPhone 8:

SEE ALSO: Forget the iPhone 8 and iPhone X — here are 7 reasons you should buy the iPhone 7 instead

The iPhone 6s phones are more affordable.

It should go without saying that Apple's older iPhones are going to be cheaper than their new ones.

Here's what the new iPhones cost:

- iPhone 8 with 64GB of storage: $700

- iPhone 8 Plus with 64GB of storage: $800

- iPhone X with 64GB of storage: $1,000

To compare, Apple is still selling the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus for significantly less than the new iPhones:

- iPhone 6s with 32GB of storage: $450

- iPhone 6s Plus with 32GB of storage: $550

You can even get refurbished models of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus straight from Apple for an even better deal:

- Refurbished iPhone 6s with 64GB os storage: $430

- Refurbished iPhone 6s Plus with 64GB of storage: $510

The iPhone 6s phones come in a color that's not available on the iPhone 8 or iPhone X.

The new iPhone 8 phones only come in silver, gold, and space gray. The new iPhone X only comes in silver and space gray.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come in silver, gold, space gray, as well as rose gold. You can't get an iPhone 8 or iPhone X in rose gold.

The iPhone 6s phones look nearly identical to the new iPhone 8.

If you value design above everything else, the iPhone X would be the iPhone of choice. It's the freshest iPhone design since the iPhone 6 was released in 2014, and it looks downright gorgeous. But the iPhone 6s has an excellent design — and you'll find comfort in knowing that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus look nearly identical to the new iPhone 8 models. Both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 8 have the same bezels around the display, same overall shape, and their screens are the same size and same resolution.

On Tuesday night, Bob Weinstein made his first public statement after allegations of sexual harassment and assault by his brother, movie producer Harvey Weinstein, surfaced in stories from The New York Times and The New Yorker last week.

"My brother Harvey is obviously a very sick man," Bob told TMZ. "I've urged him to seek immediate professional help because he is in dire need of it. His remorse and apologies to the victims of his abuse are hollow."

Harvey was fired from The Weinstein Company by its board, which includes Bob, who is a cofounder, on October 8. Two days before, however, Page Six reported that tension had been rising between the siblings, referring to them as the "Cain and Abel" of Hollywood.

"Bob's wanted Harvey out for years," a former staffer told Page Six. Bob Weinstein has denied these allegations. 

Together, the brothers owned 42% of the company, and while it has not yet been determined what will happen to Harvey's share, Bob is now currently the head of the company.    

TMZ reported that Harvey believes it was his younger brother who fed information to The New York Times, and it was reported today that The Weinstein Company had known of Harvey's payoffs to women since 2015. 

SEE ALSO: Bob Weinstein calls his brother Harvey 'a very sick man' and a 'world class liar'

Harvey and Bob Weinstein are from New York City, and as Bob wrote in a Vanity Fair article in 2003, the two "grew up in a small two-bedroom apartment in a lower-middle-class housing development called Elechester." In that same article, Bob referred to himself as the "quiet brother."

Source: Vanity Fair

Harvey and Bob Weinstein founded Miramax in 1979 and sold it to Disney for around $70 million in 1997. The name was a nod to their parents, Miriam and Max.

Source: New York magazine

In 2005, the brothers left the company and began The Weinstein Company with a $1 billion investment from Goldman Sachs.

Source: Forbes

The INSIDER Summary:

• Being on the inside of a fast food company can teach you a lot of shocking things about how they operate. 
• Selling combo meals for less money is actually making fast food companies more in the long run. 
• Certain ingredients used at your favorite fast food chain may also be questionable. 
• Here are 25 secrets fast food employees don't want you to know. 

Before I started Eat This, Not That!, I worked at a KFC.

There were a lot of steps in between, of course, but KFC was a great place for a fast-food addict like myself. Still, being on the inside taught me a lot about how fast-food companies operate, and most of what I learned would shock you.

See, for fast food companies, it actually pays to sell us more food for less money. We think we’re getting a bargain when we order the combo meal; in fact, it costs just pennies for a chain to produce the actual food that’s coming out of the window. The real costs are in the marketing, so the more money they can wring from each purchase, the better — regardless of how many empty calories they have to stick in the bag.

Here are some of the secrets the fast-food industry doesn’t want you to know. Learn them, lose weight and then don’t miss these new 50 ways to lose 10 pounds—fast.

They want to be in charge of what you order

At hamburger chains, “combination meals” make up a whopping 31 percent of all purchases. The average combo packs 1,200 calories, and about ⅓ of those are from predetermined sides that the chain decided on for you.

They all taste the same for a reason

Ever notice how different parts of a fast-food meal kinda taste the same? The burger, the fries, the onion rings, even the shake—they all taste like “fast food.” That’s because they’re all calibrated to appeal to our taste buds in a way that inspires us to keep eating—not too meaty, not too vegetable-like. The part of our brains called the hypothalamus that responds to food evolved to crave a variety of sweet, salty, and bitter tastes, so we would munch on a variety of foods. But fast food is designed to satisfy all of these taste desires, so you never crave anything else (like a grapefruit, for example).

Fast food is made to be eaten fast

It takes 20 minutes for the “I’m full” signal to get from your belly to your brain. So the faster you eat that food, the more of that food you need to buy, and eat, because your brain doesn’t know you’re stuffed.

Slow down to speed up fat burning! Chewing slowly is one of the 55 best ways to boost your metabolism!

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.

If there's one accessory every man must own, it's an elegant wrist watch.

The watch market is undeniably huge. Whether you're looking for an automatic movement, a diver, or a luxury watch, you can find dozens of choices. While options are plentiful, many watchmakers tend to pack on gaudy bezels, bulky hands, and crowded sub-dials.

For the most part, smartphones and other tech devices have eliminated the need for such intricate time tellers, but the added style of a nice wrist watch can never be replaced.

You can elevate your look on a daily basis with a minimal watch and Crownarch is one of the best brands you can check out.

Founded in 2016, the UK based startup aims to create watches for everyday wear that are stylish, durable, and affordable. Its first collection, the Chrono series, does an amazing job at encompassing all three elements. 

Each watch in the five-piece collection features a 43mm case, a large easy-to-read sun ray dial, sleek and slender hands, a date display at 3 o'clock, and two sub-dials. The most stand-out feature is the Milanese mesh band. Its cross hatch design is a fresh take on watch bands compared to traditional leather straps or linked metal bracelets.

Crownarch sent over the Chrono-S2 watch and I couldn't be happier with it. 

This watch, in particular, uses a stainless steel silver construction, a grey steel dial, silver hands and hour markers, and blue accents on the subdials and second hand. 

My first impression was how well made and packaged the watch was. It comes in an elegant black box and includes a small tool to adjust the strap. Once adjusted, its extremely comfortable on the wrist. What I like most about the watch is the size. At 43mm, it's sized to make a statement, but not to be overbearing and unattractive.

Whether wearing it to the office or casually, I've been able to incorporate the Chrono-S2 into my outfits. 

If you're looking for a high-quality minimalistic watch for under $200, Crownarch is the way to go.

Shop all watches at Crownarch now.

Check out the Chrono series, below:

Crownarch Crono-R1

Crownarch Crono-R1, $191.96

Crownarch Crono-R2

Crownarch Crono-R2, $191.96

Crownarch Crono-R3

Crownarch Crono-R3, $191.96

Week 6 offers a lot of excitement across the NFL, including division rivalries, teams coming off of bye weeks, and a battle for NFC supremacy.

For gamblers, it once again presents a few conundrums. Long favorites, home underdogs, and two-faced teams who can't decide which version of themselves will show up from week to week.

This week, we'll once again go through every game on the board hoping to find the right side of the action.

Below are our picks against the spread for Week 6 of the NFL season. All lines come courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.

LAST WEEK: 8-5-1
OVERALL: 43-33-1

Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) at Carolina Panthers (Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET)

The pick: Eagles +3.5

The logic: Shockingly, one of the best matchups of the week comes to us on Thursday Night Football, with two 4-1 teams battling in what could be a highly consequential game for future playoff positioning. I'm a homer, and knowing how screwy Thursdays can be on football teams, am backing the Eagles and the points in this spot, and praying that Philadelphia can survive the day without Lane Johnson.

Miami Dolphins (+11.5) at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

The pick: Falcons -11.5

The logic: Atlanta is coming off of a bye week and playing at home against a Dolphins team that has looked dead in the water it's past three games despite beating the Titans last week. I'm always wary of a double-digit favorite, but Jay Cutler hasn't sniffed a successful drive since Week 1 and the Falcons are working on getting back to the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

The pick: Packers -3

The logic: Aaron Rodgers proved once again last week why he's the most dangerous player in the NFL. As road favorites against a division rival, plenty of signs point towards taking the Vikings here, and I'm sure that's where the professional bettors will be putting their money on Sunday. But I can't bear to do it here.

An entire neighborhood in Santa Rosa, California, was leveled after a massive wildfire incinerated swaths of wine country early this week.

Nearly two dozen fires, whipped by powerful winds, blew through Napa, Sonoma, and elsewhere on Monday morning.  The blaze torched at least 3,500 homes, businesses, and other structures. The situation is being called one of the deadliest firestorms in state history.

Santa Rosa was among the cities hit the hardest. The neighborhood of Coffey Park — a small, close-knit community made up of single-family homes — has been reduced to rubble.

Thse photos show the scale of the destruction.

SEE ALSO: New satellite photos reveal the California wildfire's shocking damage from space

DON'T MISS: 3 key reasons explain how the massive firestorm in California became one of the worst in state history

Here's what Coffey Park looks like on Google Earth.

An aerial photo taken on Monday shows the devastation left behind.

As the hot zones cool and smoke clears, residents have begun to return to Coffey Park.

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.

Living in New York City, you eventually get creative about turning shallow, small closets into impressive storage solutions.

Clutter creates stress, and when it’s at home in the one room you can potentially really call your own, that’s not a good thing.

Having a mess bombards your senses with excessive stimuli, distracts us, makes it hard for the brain to relax (there is always work to be done), makes us anxious and guilty, and inhibits creativity and productivity. It also means you can only find one of your gym socks.

Fortunately, there are a few inexpensive ways to maximize your space and therefore your relaxation time at home. It can be as simple as making the decision now and spending half your Saturday (maybe not even) going through your things and stacking them into smarter organizational tools that make use of your space.

Below you’ll find 10 ways you can get started right now by turning even the smallest of closets into an organizational dream (or at the least, enough space to store all the stuff you can’t part with):

DON'T MISS: The 10 best purchases I've made to save space in my small apartment

1. Invest in a closet organization system to add shelf and hanger space.

It might seem like a big upfront investment, but a closet organizer can address all of your needs in one sitting.

ClosetMaid ShelfTrack Adjustable Closet Organizer Kit, $97.99 - $124

2. Make use of awkward spaces purposefully.

This is especially useful if you can't trust yourself to fold sweaters perfectly each time. It's going to save you a lot of time and energy by divvying up space for you already. Even if they aren't perfectly folded, they'll stay in their zone.

Evelots Closet Shelf Dividers, Set of 4, $22.99

3. Use all available space, especially if it's space easily hidden from the main room.

Especially if it's the backside of a door you won't be seeing from the bedroom, why on earth wouldn't you want to maximize and use that space? You can throw a mirror on the front and a shoe organizer or shelves on the back, keeping your shoes as flat and vertically strapped as possible, so they take up less room in general.

UnjumblyOver the Door Shoe Organizer, $20.99

Thanks to Free Enterprise for providing this content.

Tech startups are the small but mighty heroes of the innovation revolution. They create jobs, stimulate the economy and bring bold, often life-changing new ideas and inventions to the fore. Reflecting this rising trend, cities all across America are home to an ever-growing crop of transformative startups — and the next generation of skilled tech talent propelling them forward.

To better understand the U.S. cities driving the digital revolution — and to highlight exemplary patterns within their startup ecosystems that entrepreneurs and civic leaders can learn from to bolster their region’s competitive edge — 1776, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the U.S. Chamber Technology Engagement Center and FreeEnterprise.com developed the Innovation That Matters (ITM) report.

Drawing off of survey data collected from local tech startup founders and public and private sector leaders, the annual extensive research project, now in its third year, ranks 25 American cities’ readiness to capitalize on the shift to the digital economy.

The 413 entrepreneurs and business influencers polled (via an 18-point questionnaire) are working to solve problems in the healthcare, energy, education and smart cities sectors through technology and innovation. The information and feedback they provided centered around six key areas — startup capital, connectivity, culture, density, industry specialization and talent — was used to rank the various metropolitan areas.

“We’re in the midst of a digital revolution has the potential to make winners of some cities and leave others behind,” said J.D. Harrison, senior director of strategic communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The cities that embrace this shift to a digital economy and actively support technology startups will be best positioned to unleash the power of high-impact innovation and cultivate vibrant, thriving communities.”

Of the many tech hubs examined, 10 rose to the top as the hottest American cities to launch a tech startup from right now. They are:

10. Portland, Ore.

Nicknamed “Silicon Forest” and home to a booming green tech sector, Portland jumped up two spots in the overall ITM report rankings this year to nab the 10th spot. This ascent is mainly due to significant gains in startup density. Additionally, the city saw a two-place improvement in startup culture, as well as a one-place upward jump in availability of skilled talent.

9. New York City

Coming in at 9th in this year’s ITM report, New York City’s technology ecosystem, sometimes called “Silicon Alley,” is home to just about every startup niche imaginable, with notable sectors including education tech, health tech and financial tech playing a big role. Specifically, over the past year, the largest East Coast technology hub saw a 10-place increase in availability of skilled tech talent and a 10-place increase in startup culture.

8. Seattle

Seattle, increasingly known as “Silicon Canal,” climbed from 11th on the ITM report to 8th this year in the overall rankings. Washington state’s largest metropolis — home to Amazon.com and several other prominent tech firms, with Microsoft headquartered out of nearby Redmond — saw a 7-place improvement in startup density, a 3-place improvement in access to talent and a 1-place improvement in venture capital.

Warning: There are potential spoilers ahead for "Star Wars."

One of the biggest questions "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" left unanswered was the identity of Rey, the young scavenger from the desert planet of Jakku.

Since 2015, "Star Wars" fans have come up with a lot of theories on who the young girl can possibly be. And the speculation goes way beyond whether Rey's a Solo or a Skywalker (or even a Kenobi).

With "The Last Jedi" upon us in December, the question will certainly come back to the forefront. INSIDER searched through the many theories we could find about the mystery girl – some are pretty feasible and some of them are truly out there. We'll have to wait until "The Last Jedi" or beyond, to find out whether or not any of these theories pan out. 

Keep reading to see 11 theories fans have to explain Rey's heritage.

Rey is Luke Skywalker's daughter.

Let's start off with one of the biggest theories. If you've been following anything "Star Wars"-related, you've heard this one by now.

How the theory goes: Rey is Luke's daughter. She's a natural pilot, just like the other Skywalkers, is naturally strong in the Force, and Luke's lightsaber calls out to her in "The Force Awakens." At the film's end, it looks like Luke instantly recognizes Rey and has a connection with the young girl.

Why people don't buy it: Some fans think this is too obvious of an answer for Rey's heritage. Then there's the fact that Rey doesn't seem to be aware of Luke Skywalker at all when Finn mentions him.

You can read more on Rey possibly being a Skywalker, here.

Rey is Han Solo and Leia's daughter.

Another big theory is that Rey is the daughter of Han and Leia, making her Kylo Ren's sister.

How the theory goes: Prior to Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012, the accepted "Star Wars" canon included one of many novels which featured Han and Leia's twin children named Jaina and Jacen. The one twin, Jacen, fell to the dark side. Though the novelizations are no longer canon, many believe Lucasfilm may be loosely adapting Jaina and Jacen as Rey and Kylo Ren.

As well, Rey and Han seem very similar. Not only were the two finishing each other's sentences in "The Force Awakens," but Rey also had a knack for mechanical engineering similar to Han.

Why people don't buy it: It's extremely strange that Leia and Han never mention having a daughter in "TFA." Sure, maybe they never speak of her because they thought they lost her long ago, but in the novelization the two refer to Rey as no one special but "the girl." 

You can read more on Rey being a Solo here.

She's Obi-Wan Kenobi's granddaughter.

The last major theory that has been growing on us in the past few months is that Rey is a Kenobi. 

How the theory goes: There's a lot of time in between "Star Wars: Episode III" and "Episode IV" and some think that after Obi-Wan went into hiding that he may have had a love interest. There's some evidence to support this since he falls for Duchess Satine in the animated series "The Clone Wars." A lot of people also point out that she has an accent similar to Obi-Wan's.

Fans think there are a lot of hints to Kenobi and Rey's connection. For instance, when Rey first comes in possession of Luke's lightsaber she hears a multitude of voices including Obi-Wan's (both Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness). Sure, Anakin's lightsaber may have called to Rey, but Obi-Wan was in possession of it the longest. People also see her use of a Jedi mind trick eerily similar to the delivery of Kenobi throughout the "Star Wars" saga.

Furthering the theory is that Disney reportedly has plans for an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie and it's been hinted we could see the character pop up in December's "The Last Jedi."

Why people don't buy it: Kenobi doesn't seem like the kind of person to break the Jedi code for a woman. It would also be weird for the series to skip over an entire generation of the character's history.

You can read more on Rey being a Kenobi here.

It's been almost five months since Robert Mueller became the special counsel in the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 elections and whether President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with the Kremlin.

In Washington, Mueller has a reputation for being a tenacious investigator. Both Republicans and Democrats welcomed his appointment in May with bipartisan backing.

The increasing breadth of his investigation, however, has irked some Trump supporters.

Mueller's colleagues, meanwhile, say he has proven his bipartisan bona fides over the years. After all, he served under both Republican and Democratic presidents as FBI director and as an attorney in the Department of Justice.

As the probe into Trump and his associates heats up, here's a look at Mueller's history:

SEE ALSO: Raids, warrants, and wiretaps: The Trump-Russia probe 'has reached a critical stage'

DON'T MISS: Meet the all-star team of lawyers Robert Mueller has assembled for the Trump-Russia investigation

Born Robert Swan Mueller III in New York City in 1944, "Bob" grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the elder brother to four younger sisters. Their father was an executive at DuPont. He captained the soccer, hockey, and lacrosse teams in high school.

Sources: FBI, St. Paul's School

Mueller went to undergrad at Princeton University, got his Master's in international relations from New York University, and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1973.

Source: FBI

When one of his friends died in the Vietnam War, Mueller was inspired to join the military. He had been previously pursuing a career in the medical field.

Source: Princeton Alumni Weekly

A series of fires that have ravaged Northern California since Sunday has now been called the deadliest wildfire disaster in state history. The death toll reached 29 on Thursday.

Seven fires ignited near Highway 128 in the Napa Valley late Sunday, and grew as gusty winds spread the flames over fields and freeways. Now, nearly two dozen fires across eight California counties have destroyed 3,500 buildings and burned more than 191,000 acres— a collective area nearly the size of New York City. Firefighters were still battling the flames on Thursday.

After the smoke cleared, helicopters and drones flew over the most devastated areas of Northern California to survey the damage. Here are the aerial photos.

SEE ALSO: Photos show how wildfires are ravaging parts of California's wine country

SEE ALSO: This map shows the devastating impact of fires ravaging parts of California's wine country

An entire neighborhood was leveled in the fires in Santa Rosa. The neighborhood of Coffey Park — a small community made up of single-family homes — lost hundreds of homes.

Coffey Park has been described as a "little slice of the American dream," where a vibrant mix of Latinos, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Indians, and white people lived in modest homes.

From above, you can make out the erratic nature of the burn. In a cul-de-sac, homes on one side of the street were charred in the flames, but a colorful few appeared to be unscathed.

The Trump administration's tax plan is once again at the forefront of the news cycle.

New tax reform framework released by the "The Big Six" offers insight into the types of cuts the White House wants. 

Meanwhile, analysts at Credit Suisse have compiled a list of the companies that currently stand the most to gain from a reduced tax burden.

Here are the 13 companies with the highest effective US tax rate, according to Credit Suisse.

13. TechnipFMC

Ticker: FTI

Effective Tax Rate: 40.7%

Sector: Energy

Year-to-Date Performance: -23.3%

Source: Standard & Poor's, FactSet, Credit Suisse

12. Quintiles IMS Holdings

Ticker: Q

Effective Tax Rate: 40.8%

Sector: Health Care

Year-to-Date Performance: 

Source: Standard & Poor's, FactSet, Credit Suisse

11. Williams Companies

Ticker: WMB

Effective Tax Rate: 41.6%

Sector: Energy

Year-to-Date Performance: -3.88%

Source: Standard & Poor's, FactSet, Credit Suisse

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

There are very good reasons why our collective consciousness has turned to being more energy-savvy.

Energy costs are an expensive necessity that only seem to be getting pricier, and most of the population has come around to the fact that decades of burning fossil fuels has negatively impacted the environment, making weather more volatile and endangering our future as humans living on this planet.

Whether it’s the here and now of a high energy bill or the daunting concerns of tomorrow, millions of people are turning their attention to decreasing their own footprint.

One of the best ways to do this is by swapping some of the energy-suckers in your house for more efficient options. You don’t have to throw yourself into the Dark Ages and rely on candles or the light coming off a burning woodpile to survive (save that for later); you can enjoy all the regular things you love but at a fraction of the energy footprint, and it’s cheaper than you’d think.

If you want to take a look at the energy used by each appliance in your house, there’s a free calculator online here.

Something as ubiquitous as lighting makes up about 10% of home energy costs, so if you replace all those standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, you can save up to 75% of that energy — keeping more money in your pocket without forgoing anything you need or skipping a beat.

Some of the efficiency fixes are simple: turn off the lights if you’re not in the room, insulate your windows, wash the dishes by hand if you can, don’t do a load of laundry for a pair of socks, and unplug your devices when you’re not using them (they're likely still using a substantial amount of energy). Some fixes like smart thermostats are more expensive upfront but make up for that by how much they save both you and the planet in the long run.

Article originally published on 09/13/2017

Below are 13 things that might help you cut down on your energy footprint, making your bill and environmental impact smaller without losing any convenience.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best purchases I've made to save space in my small apartment

An energy-saving power switch

This energy-saving power switch draws zero energy when the switch is flipped off. Plus, it declutters the kitchen from the wandering cords of unplugged devices. 

Belkin Conserve Energy Saving Power Switch, $10.07

An LED night light

Lunara is UL approved and rated to last 40,000 hours. So, according to Lunara, if you use the night light for 10 hours a day, it'll last more than 10 years.

LEDs are around 10x more energy-efficient than typical incandescent lights, so the company estimates the cost of the Lunara at $0.25 to operate.

Lunara LED Night Light with Smart Light Sensor, Pack of 2, $14.99

Bright, energy-efficient light bulbs

These Philips' light bulbs are bright and energy-saving alternatives to traditional 100W incandescent bulbs that use more energy. The company estimates you'll save $336 in energy costs. The bulb should last a little over nine years (based on three hours per day on).

These GE 13-Watt bulbs are also a great option.

Philips 433557 23W 100-watt T2 Twister 6500K CFL Light Bulb, Pack of 4, $9.94

In Russia, a chain serving traditional Russian fare dukes it out with the likes of McDonald's and KFC— and now it's coming to the US.

In 1998, Mikhail Goncharov was inspired by the immense popularity of McDonald's in his home country and decided to start a fast-food chain, Teremok, which serves Russian classics instead of burgers and fries.

Goncharov, the CEO of the chain, adapted his mother's recipes for Teremok's menu, which features blini, soups, and kasha. Today, there are more than 300 Teremok locations in Russia.

In the past year, two Teremok locations have opened in New York City as the chain plants a flag on American soil.

We stopped by the nearest Teremok to see if the Russian chain could compete with the hegemony of American classics like the Big Mac and the Crunchwrap Supreme.

SEE ALSO: We visited the Filipino fast-food chain which serves spaghetti and fried chicken alongside its burgers — here's the verdict

This Teremok, one of two in New York, is at Sixth Avenue and 16th Street.

Inside, the atmosphere is familiar — the typical, minimal fast-casual vibes of white tile, blond wood, and a pop of color.

Teremok is all about promoting its heritage. For those who aren't familiar with Russian cuisine and terminology, there are numerous posters on the walls explaining what you're ordering.

Bitcoin hit a record high of $5,866 on Friday, October 13, after a dismal September in which the cryptocurrency fell to $2,900 a coin on September 15.

Two years ago, the idea of buying the virtual currency even at that price was laughable. After a rapid rise in value in 2013, the cryptocurrency's value more than halved by mid-2015.

At its lowest point, one bitcoin was equal to about $230.

Given the currency's covert nature, the average person still may not understand how buying and selling actually works.

Using the app Coinbase, which lets anyone trade bitcoins for a small fee, we decided to find out.

A brief warning: If you're going to do this, tell your bank you're about to buy bitcoin. More on that later.

SEE ALSO: Bitcoin is trying to make a comeback

This is what the Coinbase app looks like on an iPhone.

When you first open the app, you're presented with the latest price of bitcoin and its change within a certain period. You can see in the chart below how wild the latest moves have been. (We bought the bitcoin in January 2017.)

I happen to be one of the many who have never traded bitcoin before. There's a certain level of wariness in buying into the cryptocurrency world.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Cooking and hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful.
• Between turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and many more side dishes, it can be overwhelming to determine an efficient cooking schedule. 
• INSIDER worked with Dan Holzman, chef and co-owner of The Meatball Shop, to come up with a Thanksgiving timeline that will help you figure out when to start cooking every dish.
• Keep reading for our detailed timeline and prep schedule. 

Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year in the US, at least when it comes to food.

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful no matter how many guests you're expecting, given that there's a seemingly endless menu of classic side dishes, pies, and of course, a huge turkey. 

INSIDER spoke with Dan Holzman, chef and co-owner of The Meatball Shop mini chain in New York City, about the best way to plan out your Thanksgiving menu, as well as when you should start cooking each dish.

"If you are the type of person that loves to get stuff out of the way, there are a bunch of dishes and prep work that you can do ahead of time," Holzman said. "But from an efficiency perspective, there's a lot of down time in between roasting a turkey or even making mashed potatoes." 

Here's what you should be prepping beforehand: 

One week before:

• Make and refrigerate cranberry sauce.
• Prepare turkey or vegetable stock (if you are using homemade).

The day before:

• Bake all desserts, including pies.
• For stuffing, prepare dried bread one to two days in advance.

With proper planning, however, it's possible to make a full dinner primarily the day of. It's also possible to avoid most of the hassle and stress typically associated with the food-centric holiday.  

With that being said, keep reading for our timeline of when you should cook every dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Cranberry sauce

When you should start cooking: About a week before Thanksgiving.

Cranberry sauce will last up to a week and a half in the refrigerator, so it's the perfect dish to prepare in advance.

Plus, making cranberry sauce requires giving it several hours to cool down to achieve the right texture, as "the thickening process happens when [cranberry sauce] cools," according to Holzman. 

2. Pies

When you should start cooking: The day before Thanksgiving.

Pies may be the last dish that you'll eat on Thanksgiving, but they can be one of the first menu items that you prepare. Baking pies the night before Thanksgiving is an easy way to get ahead and avoid stress on Thanksgiving day. 

"The oven space on Thanksgiving is the number one commodity," Holzman said.

Since pies require precious oven space and very specific temperatures, it's best to prepare desserts ahead of time.

3. Turkey

When you should start cooking: Season the turkey the night before, and start cooking it Thanksgiving morning.

While it's best to actually cook your turkey on Thanksgiving day, Holzman recommends seasoning your turkey the night before. Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning. 

"The resting process is an absolutely imperative part of the cooking process," Holzman said. Most people overcook their turkeys in the oven and overlook letting them rest, rendering the final product dry and rubbery.

By taking your turkey out of the oven before it is fully cooked, you'll allow the heat to redistribute, allowing heat from the outside to seep in, leaving you with a perfectly cooked, juicy turkey, Holzman explained. 

To finish off the process, Holzman suggests carving the turkey, and then broiling it in the oven to complete cooking and crisp the skin.

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.

If your MacBook has been acting up or feeling sluggish, you may think it's time to upgrade.

But the truth is, unless you're doing very intense work — audio or video editing, graphics work, etc. — you may be able to extend the life of your machine for years. 

Whether you're running out of storage or dealing with a battery that can't hold a charge, this guide has you covered.

Article originally published on 9/13/2017

DON'T MISS: 10 practical iPhone accessories under $20

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is less upgradable than older MacBook Pros, but there are still a couple of ways to extend its life. 

Every MacBook Air model made since 2011 has an SSD inside, but they used to be significantly smaller so it's possible you're running out of space. Transcend's JetDrives are available for certain MacBook Air models, and can potentially double the storage you currently have in your machine. 

If you've seen your battery life start to slip, Egoway's replacement option will fit most 13" MacBook Air models, and comes with all of the tools you'll need to open it.

Egoway Replacement Battery for Apple 13 inch MacBook Air, $69.99, available at Amazon

**Works with 13" MacBook Air Late 2010 through early 2014**

Transcend JetDrive 500 (240GB), $186.42, available at Amazon

**Works with 13" MacBook Air Late 2010 through Mid 2011**

Transcend JetDrive 520 (240GB), $186.42, available at Amazon

**Works with 13" MacBook Air Mid 2012** 

Non-retina MacBook Pro

Ironically, because of the changes Apple made to the way it makes its laptops, older MacBook Pros are the most upgradable computers on this list.

Getting into them is tricky though, which is why I'm recommending iFixit's 64-bit driver kit, which will make it easy to deal with the proprietary screws Apple uses on the inside and outside of its machines.

Once inside, you can swap out your traditional hard drive with an SSD (Solid State Drive), which will make everything you do on your computer significantly faster. You'll notice the difference whether you're loading apps, copying files, or even rebooting your machine.

I've performed this upgrade for a couple people, and they're always amazed at the improvement. Because older machines came with disk drives, you can also opt to remove that and use OWC's converter bracket to add an additional SSD for even more storage.

The next upgrade you should consider is increasing the amount of memory in your computer. Apple ships its current, top-of-the-line MacBook Pro with 16GB, but you can match that on a computer that's six-years-old for under $100. Having more memory lets you use more applications at once without lag.

Finally, if your computer's battery life has fallen sharply over the past few years, you can swap it out for a new one. Computer batteries typically last hundreds of "cycles," so if you've been using your computer constantly for years, there's a good chance it's at least started to hold less of a charge.

iFixit 64-bit Driver Kit, $29.99, available at Amazon

OWC Data Doubler Converter Bracket, $25, available at Amazon

Samsung 850 PRO (256GB), $129.00, available at Amazon

Crucial RAM (8GB), $59.99, available at Amazon 

**Works with MacBook Pro 13" or 15" Early 2011 through Mid 2012**

iFixit 15" MacBook Pro Battery, $99.95, available at Amazon

**Works with 15" MacBook Pro Early 2011 through Mid 2012**

Retina MacBook Pro

The upgrade story for the retina MacBook Pro is similar to the MacBook Air's. Apple engineered these machines to be thin and light, which unfortunately means they left little room for after market upgrades. 

You can still replace the battery for most models and upgrade their storage, but that's it. Thankfully, upgrades for these machines have become less expensive over the past couple of years. 

iFixit 13" Retina MacBook Pro Battery, $79.95, available at Amazon

**Works with late 2012 and early 2013 retina MacBook Pro**

iFixit 13" Retina MacBook Pro Battery, $109.95, available at Amazon

**Works with 2015 13" retina MacBook Pro**

iFixit 15" MacBook Pro Battery, $79.95, available at Amazon

**Works with Mid 2012 and early 2013 15" retina MacBook Pro**

iFixit 15" MacBook Pro Battery, $79.95, available at Amazon

**Works with late 2013 and mid 2014 15" retina MacBook Pro**

Transcend JetDrive 720 (240gb), $209.99, available at Amazon

**Works with mid 2012 and late 2013 13" retina MacBook Pro**

Transcend JetDrive 725 (240gb), $192.76, available at Amazon

**Works with mid 2012 and late 2013 15" retina MacBook Pro** 

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:

• There's nothing like freshly ground pepper and salt to season a meal to perfection. The best pepper mills and salt grinders use steel or ceramic gears to grind spices to the exact size you want. Of all the pepper mills and salt grinders we've tested, Peugot's Paris u'Select 9-inch Pepper Mill and Paris U'Select 9-inch Salt Mill are the very best you can buy.

If you've never had freshly ground pepper or salt, you may wonder why on Earth you'd want to have to do all that work to season your food. However, once you've tasted the beauty of freshly ground salt and pepper, you'll never want to go back to pre-packaged spices. 

Pepper, in particular, loses its flavor and strength when it's packaged already ground. It goes stale and loses its bite quickly. Salt can also take on a special flavor when you grind it freshly — especially if you're using sea salt and a grinder that lets you determine how fine you want it. 

The best pepper mills and salt grinders last a lifetime. They're made with high-end steel or ceramic gears that grind your spices as finely or as coarsely as you want them. Mills should also be easy to fill up and pretty enough to grace your dining room table or kitchen counter.

A few years ago, I was on a mission to find a great pepper mill and salt grinder. I tried several different brands before I finally settled on the best set for my needs. The picks in this guide are based on personal testing and research into the best grinders and mills you can buy. Read on to see which of our picks is best for you.

Although Peugeot's Paris u'Select 9-inch Pepper Mill and Paris U'Select 9-inch Salt Mill are our top picks, you should also consider the Peugeot Paris U'Select 7-inch Salt and Pepper Mill Set, the Fletchers' Mill Border Grill Salt or Pepper Mills, the Cole & Mason Derwent Salt and Pepper Grinder Set, and the OXO Good Grips Lua Salt and Pepper Mill Set.

SEE ALSO: The best KitchenAid mixers you can buy

The best pepper mill and salt grinder overall

Why you'll love them: Peugeot's Paris u'Select 9-inch Pepper and Salt Mills set the gold standard with their gorgeous, durable design and adjustable grind settings.

Peugeot has been making pepper and salt mills since 1840, so the French company knows what it's doing. When I first started my hunt for pepper mills, I was trying very hard not to buy from Peugeot because of the high price tag. However, having tried many others before I finally caved and bought these exact mills, I can confidently say that they are the very best you can buy. 

The Paris u'Select mills have six different settings, so you can grind your pepper as coarsely or as finely as you wish. To change your grind settings, simply twist the bottom half of the mill to your preferred setting. Both the pepper and salt mills are made from beechwood and you can choose between a few finishes. I have the dark chocolate colored ones, and they develop a nice polished patina from the oils in your hands over time.

A two-stage burr-style system made from case-hardened steel grinds the peppercorns. Helix-shaped grooves inside the mill crack the peppercorns before grinding to ensure that all the oils and flavors survive the process. The finer settings are really nice for most use cases, I've found.

The salt grinder works a bit differently: Two ribbed plates break and crush sea salt to whatever size you choose. The salt grinding mechanism is made of corrosion resistant stainless steel for added durability. I've found that the middle setting is best for sea salt so that you don't have to grind for ages to get enough fine sea salt to season your dish. Go easy, though, because sea salt is strong.

These mills will last you a lifetime. I've had mine for several years now, and they're still going strong. Peugeot has a lifetime guarantee on the grinding mechanism and a two-year warranty on the mill itself.

Pros: Gorgeous wood construction, strong steel grinding mechanism, durable, adjustable settings, lifetime guarantee for grinding mechanism

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Peugeot Paris u'Select 9-inch Pepper Mill on Amazon for $42.26 (originally $48.00)

Buy the Peugeot Paris U'Select 9-inch Salt Mill on Amazon for $46.95

The best pepper mill and salt grinder set

Why you'll love it: The Peugeot Paris U'Select 7-inch Salt and Pepper Mill Set is a great idea if you want to buy a matching set for your dining table.

If you're thoroughly convinced that Peugeot is the way to go and you want both the salt and pepper mill, the Peugeot Paris U'Select 7-inch Salt and Pepper Mill Set is a brilliant idea. You get both mills in one package for less than $80. These ones are two inches smaller than our top pick, so you'll have to refill them more often, but they're more than adequate for most people's needs.

The two mills are made from beechwood and their grinding mechanisms are the same as the ones you'll find on our top pick. They also have the six different settings, so you can go from coarse to fine with a simple twist of the wrist. The warranty is the same as our top pick, too, so you know these will last you forever.

Since they're a bit smaller than our top pick, this set of mills is ideal for your dining room table. they'll look lovely and artistic on your table in the same way a nice candlestick holder does.

Pros: Gorgeous wood construction, strong steel grinding mechanism, durable, adjustable settings, lifetime guarantee for grinding mechanism

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Peugeot Paris U'Select 7-inch Salt and Pepper Mill Set on Amazon for $74.95 (originally $79.95)

The best pepper mill and salt grinder made in America

Why you'll love them: Fletchers' Mill Border Grill Salt and Pepper Mills are proudly made in America with a lifetime guarantee, variable grind settings, and a gorgeous wooden design.

Fletchers' Mill makes beautiful wooden pepper mills, salt mills, and rolling pins right in New Vineyard, Maine. It's a family run business that uses sustainable wood to craft beautiful products that are guaranteed to last a lifetime. The company's pepper and salt mills are terrific.

Fletchers' Border Grill Salt and Pepper Mills are made from cherry, mahogany, or walnut wood, and you can buy them in fun colors, too. They look classy and simple on any kitchen counter or dining room table.

The mills use a special lock and grind system that allows you to adjust the grind to the exact level of coarseness or fineness that you want. The metal nut on the top is used to adjust the grind. The grind level is a bit less precise than our top pick from Peugeot, but it's perfectly adequate.

Its pepper mills use a stainless steel two-step mechanism that crushes the peppercorns before it grinds them so as to enhance the flavor and keep the natural oils in the pepper. Meanwhile, the salt mills use an adjustable nylon crushing system to pulverize sea salt.

Fletchers' Mill makes the second best mills around, so if you prefer something that's made in America to the Peugeots that come from France, these are your mills. 

Pros: Strong wooden construction, attractive design, adjustable grind settings

Cons: Expensive

Buy Fletchers' Mill Border Grill Salt and Pepper Mills on Amazon for $40 and up (price varies by color)