Any "Harry Potter" fan would jump at the opportunity to attend Hogwarts. Middle school teachers at Parkside, a K-8 school in Cullman County, Alabama, helped make that dream a reality for their students by decorating hallways and classrooms like the famous wizarding school.  

The project was spearheaded by Jacy Douglas, an English language arts and reading teacher, and Tracey Jones, a math teacher.

"There are several teachers in our school who are 'Harry Potter' fans, and Tracey and I had talked about this idea for several years before we actually attempted it. When we got the okay to start this project in earnest in the spring of 2017, we worked on the project for two summers in a row," Douglas told INSIDER.

Keep reading to learn more about how and why Douglas and her colleagues transformed their school into Hogwarts. 

The magic began in spring 2017 when Parkside's principal gave teachers the green light to paint their classrooms.

"The first year we transformed the inside of three classrooms," Douglas said. "We all had different visions for our rooms."

Each teacher chose a different Hogwarts house. Douglas' classroom is the Ravenclaw room.

"My vision for my Ravenclaw classroom was to make it look like the Ravenclaw students' common room from the series," she said. 

She researched the concept of flexible seating and realized it would work in her room.

"I found a fireplace, sofas, and dining tables for my students to make the room feel cozy and relaxed."

For those challenged with infertility, the most significant life updates can seem like nothing but a drag compared to gender reveal parties and baby announcements. It feels more comfortable to suffer in silence while we dole out shower gifts for our more fruitful friends than burdening our loved ones with our frustrations. If someone does sense what's going on, fears of invading our privacy or saying the wrong thing can hinder a safe space for conversation, perpetuating the cycle of secrecy and shame.

If you find yourself in a heart to heart with a pal with no brood to brag about — don't shy away from the conversation, but approach it with care. Based on my experience with diagnosed infertility, the urge not to pry can leave your friend feeling discarded and alone, but insensitivity can cause lasting damage.

When in doubt, don't be afraid to dive into your bud's baby drama, but steer clear of these 10 speaking points.

"Are you trying?"

Consider retiring this uncomfortable query from your lexicon. Unless your pal is prone to sharing their family plan, this loaded question can yield anxiety in anyone of child-bearing age, especially someone shelling out $25,000+ in order to have a baby. Instead of inquiring directly, break the ice with a general question like, "What's next for you guys?" Let them guide the conversation. 

"We had a hard time, too."

It's understandable you want to empathize with the situation, but you don't know how your experiences compare. Until you've invited multiple doctors up your vaginal canal to scope out the terrain and see what is going on, your "hard time" is just … time.

There are so many complexities associated with diagnosed infertility — finances, time away from work, health concerns, etc. — that you can't quite understand until you've gone through it too. Listening is a much better way to demonstrate empathy than inserting your history into their situation.

"You're still young."

Age is but a number for someone waiting for the next phase of their life to start. Often, it is less about the biological clock ticking than accepting the fact their body has other plans. 

It's normal to make yourself seem as impressive as possible on your résumé.

But some people go a bit too far to wow their judges. 

Hundreds of people on Reddit responded to a request asking for, "the funniest, craziest or weirdest thing you've seen on a résumé."

INSIDER is not able to independently verify these claims, but they're hilarious to read — and great lessons for what not to put on your résumé. 

Here are eight of the most outrageous things people have put on their résumés, from "please do not drug test me" to the ability to "hold bladder for extended periods."

1. Hand-drawn cartoons and Wikipedia descriptions of previous employers.

"I used to do resume screening for a large Big 4 consulting firm... it was a 24-page resume. It included hand drawn cartoons, a Dilbert cartoon, a matrix, 2 pages of acronym definitions, copy and pasted Wikipedia definitions of the companies she had worked for, and color coding." - canadian_maplesyrup

2. "Please do not drug test me."

"My manager was laughing uncontrollably one day. I asked him what was up and he just held up a resume, unable to speak through the laughter. First comment on the resume said 'please do not drug test me.'" - cjkawng

3. Ability to "hold bladder for extended periods."

"I had an applicant list super basic 'I am able to exist in society' skills on a resume. Including

• Able to work in warm or cool temperatures

• Able to take an early or late lunch

• Proficient in English (this was in a 99% English speaking area)

• Able to hold bladder for extended periods

• Able to operate computer and telephone." - ithran_dishon

For months now, "Fortnite: Battle Royale" has kept players on their toes with weekly — and sometimes daily — updates to the game, including new character skins, limited-time game modes, and fun and interesting challenges.

Some of those updates have been just for fun, and some actually change the way the game is played. For example, in the days leading up to the beginning of Season 5, the game hinted that a rocket launch would change the island forever. During the actual launch, the rocket caused a large rift in the space-time continuum to open up above the center of the map, and several items and landmarks throughout the island started disappearing. 

The developers have also introduced or removed a few truly game-changing tools throughout the game's history, including jet packs, guided missiles, fast-moving vehicles, and rifts. 

Here's everything that's been added to the island in the last two weeks:

SEE ALSO: Parents are paying as much as $35 an hour for 'Fortnite' coaches for their kids

NEW WEAPON: Double Barrel Shotgun

Epic's update notes say the newest gun can be "devastating at close range," but only allows the player to take two shots before reloading.  

NEW LIMITED-TIME MODE: Steady Storm

Fornite's newest mode features a constantly-shrinking storm that envelopes the island in exactly 15 minutes. 

The timed mode forces players to keep moving in close to one another, and leaves little time for looting or building and defending hideouts. It should make for some fast-paced firefights. 

The no-pressure, no-combat Playground Mode is back this week, as rumors swirl that the sandbox style mode will soon be dubbed a permanent addition to the game.

"Playground" is a limited-time sandbox-style mode that lets players take a break from the fast-paced battle royale formula by roaming through the island with up to three of their friends, without any opponents to shoot at or hide from.

The mode includes the island's normal amount of loot, plus ten times the normal gather rate for building materials, and a hundred llamas scattered across the island, giving players the perfect environment to hone their combat and building skills without having to worry about scavenging for weapons and resources.

With this new update, many of the game's resources are increased. Ammo cans now give ten times more ammo than they do in the regular battle royale mode, players are more likely to find the rare launch and bounce pads, and one hundred supply drops will fall to the island throughout each match.

Friendly fire will be turned on, so squad members will be able to deal damage to one another. Never fear, though — players who are killed in Playground Mode will immediately respawn and parachute back onto the island.

After 55 minutes of free play, the storm will begin to close in on the island, eventually ending each round after a full hour has gone by. Deaths outside of the eye of the storm will not result in a respawn.

As someone who follows a fairly restrictive diet, I’ve always had that extra bit of anxiety when someone asks me to go out for a meal with them. Instead of facing them head on and being honest, I would constantly make up excuses to not go. Finally, when it started to affect my relationships, I decided I had to stop hiding and work with this problem.

After trying many things, below are the best tips on how to go out to eat, while also staying on a restrictive diet.

Always ask your waiter questions.

I know it can be embarrassing, especially when you're on a date, but nowadays people are allergic to everything under the sun. The staff at most places typically has all of the answers about what is put into their food that might trigger an allergy, so even just to avoid the awkwardness, it never hurts to say "just curious, is the burger made with anything out of the ordinary, like eggs or flour?" and if the answer is yes, you can troubleshoot immediately without causing an issue.

Choose multiple items at a restaurant.

More often than not, my first choice of food at a restaurant is something I can't eat.

Always have a backup plan in case your first choice backfires and you don't want that awkward "uh" moment when the waiter is taking your order. When you have a second option, you can smoothly slip that in and move on with the ordering process.

Never arrive starving.

I do understand that the point of going out to eat is eating at the place you're going, but when you arrive somewhere absolutely starving, you're more likely to break the rules a little to fill yourself up, which can lead to more stomach discomfort.

The divorce case between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is getting only nastier.

Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on September 20, 2016, ending one of Hollywood history's most famous relationships. Brangelina was no more.

Instead of stories about a loving, jet-setting, humanitarian, filmmaking duo, the tabloids turned to details about the custody battle over their six children and the disentanglement of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets accumulated over their 12-year relationship.

The divorce and custody fight had been mostly quiet in recent months. But on Tuesday, it exploded into public view again when Jolie said in a court filing that Pitt hadn't paid any "meaningful" child support. That sparked out a series of public filings and statements between Pitt and Jolie, with Pitt saying he'd paid over $1.3 million in support and accusing Jolie of trying to "manipulate media coverage."

Here's a full timeline of what's happened between Pitt and Jolie since she filed for divorce.

September 2016: Angelina Jolie files for divorce — and petitions for full custody of their six children.

Before the divorce, there were some signals that the two had grown apart. There were disputed reports in December 2014 that Jolie had an affair with Jack O'Connell, the star of her movie "Unbroken." A few months later, Pitt appeared in public with a bruise on his face that reportedly came from a fight with Jolie. By November 2015, Jolie freely said in interviews they had relationship issues, and in January 2016 they were reportedly "living separate lives." During their separation period, Pitt reportedly had affairs with Sienna Miller and Marion Cotillard— although reports of both were hotly disputed.

Jolie filed for divorce on September 20, 2016, citing "irreconcilable differences." In her filing with the Los Angeles superior court, Jolie asked for full physical custody of the couple's six children: Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt, and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt.

September 2016: Brad Pitt is accused of physically abusing one of his children — but is later cleared by authorities.

Days after Jolie filed for divorce, news broke of an alleged episode that some thought triggered the split.

On September 14, the couple and their children flew on their private family jet from Nice, France, to Los Angeles. Pitt was reportedly "drinking heavily," which frustrated Jolie, Us reported. Early reports alleged that Pitt physically hurt Maddox Pitt-Jolie, but later reports said that Jolie separated Pitt from the kids.

The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services and FBI both investigated the incident, and both cleared Pitt of all charges in November.

January 2017: The two agree to keep the divorce discussions private.

In December 2016, Jolie's lawyers filed an important legal document that foreshadows the renewed legal dispute going on now.

The filing included intensely personal details about pending agreements between Jolie, Pitt, and their children. It had their children's therapy schedules, and a request from Jolie that Pitt undergo mandatory drug testing.

By putting those details in a court filing, she made them public — and she did it all without Pitt's knowledge.

Days later, Pitt filed to have the court retroactively seal those documents — which a judge denied.

But Pitt's position was clear from his filing and from his lawyer's communication with Jolie's lawyers: Pitt wanted to keep the divorce proceedings and custody battle private, while Jolie wanted them to be public. Pitt saw Jolie's bid to make the fight public as a way to make him look bad, and to retaliate against Pitt for wanting more custody time.

On January 4, 2017, Jolie's attorneys finally agreed to keep the documents private after all.

Almost the exact same dynamic is playing out now. The court granted Pitt a new visitation schedule in June that gave him more time with his children. Weeks later, Jolie filed a request with the court to compel Pitt to pay more in child support, and Pitt responded by saying it was "a thinly veiled effort to manipulate media coverage."

If you're investing in stocks to achieve financial security, following these 11 simple tips could help you avoid mistakes and build a bigger nest egg. 

SEE ALSO: CEO departures can wipe out billions from a company's value — here are the Wall Street banks most at risk

SEE ALSO: 7 ways to save more and invest better, according to the experts

SEE ALSO: Millennials are making what could be one of the costliest investing mistakes in history

1. Buy and hold, and hold, and hold

There's no secret sauce to stock market success, but perhaps, the best (and arguably, hardest to follow!) advice is to buy shares in great companies and hold them for decades.

Sticking with stocks through bear markets can be hard, but historically, patience has outperformed short-term trading. Why? Because it's hard to know when it's safe to buy shares after selling them, and that can lead to missing out on some of the stock market's best performing days. For example, an investor who stayed the course through thick and thin earned a 339% return between Jan. 1, 1997 and Dec. 31, 2016; however, if they missed the 30 best performing days during that period, they'd have lost money, according to JP Morgan Asset Management.

2. Keep some cash handy

If you're one of the millions of Americans without an emergency fund, you could be making a big mistake. The last thing you want to do is tap your stock portfolio for money during tough times. If you do, you could wind up selling shares when you should be buying them.

Similarly, it can pay-off to have a little cash handy in your investment account. Holding cash won't earn you much of a return, but it can allow you to take advantage of the stock market's inevitable drops. Since 1950, there have been 36 periods when the S&P 500 has fallen by over 10% and investing during those corrections improved the odds of investment success. The ability to profit from bear markets is one reason why some of the most successful investors of all time, including Warren Buffett, always keep some cash in their portfolio

3. Dive into dividend stocks

One of the easiest ways to give your stock market returns a boost is investing in dividend paying stocks and then, using your dividend payments to buy more shares. According to Schroders, reinvesting dividends nearly doubles the return of the MSCI World Index to 640% from 323% since 1993. Because reinvesting dividends can help investors benefit from compounding and dollar-cost averaging, make sure dividends are reinvested from day one.

Minimalism is taking over. Figures like Marie Kondo are becoming famous by spreading the gospel of throwing everything out and keeping just what you need.

The movement is most prominent in Japan, where the influence of Zen Buddhism instills a desire for simplicity. There, less is more.

There are also practical concerns. It's cheaper to be a minimalist, and because Japan is regularly beset by earthquakes, it doesn't always make sense to have a lot of valuable possessions lying around. Nearly half of earthquake injuries come from falling objects.

Take a look into the sparse aesthetic of minimalism:

SEE ALSO: After sleeping in a converted NYC taxi, I have a new respect for the young professionals living in vans to save money

In Japan, some bedrooms are so stripped down that they don't even have beds.

What does a minimalist keep in his fridge? Not much.

The bathrooms also keep it simple.

When it comes to looking effortlessly stylish, there’s no denying that French women have that certain je ne sais quoi, mastering the art of never looking like they’ve tried too hard … especially when it comes to their beauty routines.

If you’re interested in capturing some of that French girl cool in your own glam routine without grabbing your passport, look no further than these beauty tips from French women that are surprisingly easy to follow, yet contradict pretty much everything about the standard American makeup routine. Hint: Skip the contour, and less is always more … except when it comes to a bold red lip or a smudgy, smoky eye.

Start from the inside out.

"French women understand a glowing healthy skin is essential to their beauty regimen," French celebrity makeup artist Patrick de Fontbrune told Byrdie "They prep the skin before applying makeup with the proper serums, moisturizers, and pharmaceutical vitamins. They'll use a fine water mist all over the face followed by a rich serum and a thin moisturizer to seal moisture into the skin," noting that "in cold weather, they use a thicker moisturizer."

And that good skin care routine begins early on.

Skin care is so important to the French way of life, that French women begin thinking about their skin very early on. Mathilde Thomas, founder of beloved skin-care brand Caudalie and author of "The French Beauty Solution," told Well and Good, "French women are taught by our mothers and our grandmothers that we should always apply a good SPF, always cleanse at night with a good cleanser, and if we have the money, the product you should invest in is a serum."

Thomas added, "It’s all about prevention, treatment, and maintenance, and you’re never too young to start."

Use trusted products that make you feel good.

There’s a reason why tourists leave plenty of room in their suitcases for beauty goodies when they head to France, and it’s all because of the pharmacies that line many street corners. The French pharmacy is not exactly like our pharmacy — it’s a treasure trove of cult-favorite products at all price points, and employees can help you find everything from an ointment for rashes and burns to the perfect hair product for your mane.

No matter your skin concern or desired beauty look, choose products that feel luxurious to you. "it’s pretty simple, it means that your beauty routine should make you feel good at the same time it makes you look good," said Thomas in her book.

Lately, it seems like the earth is hotter than ever. Fires are raging in California and Greece, people are dying in Japan, and cows are getting airlifted water in Switzerland.

INSIDER has rounded up some of the most alarming photos from this summer that prove the planet is desperately in need of a cool down.

Europe — and the rest of the world — is currently experiencing an unprecedented heat wave. It's no wonder people are flocking to water.

"I have never seen this type of hot and dry weather, and I've been farming over 30 years,"one farmer in Finland told NBC.

The droughts throughout the world are also causing problems with crops.

NBC reported that a Danish government official projected that the drought would cost the country's farming industry around $944 million.

"We haven’t seen anything like this for the last 150 years or so," he told NBC.

Lakes are drying up.

National Geographic reported that lakes all over the world are drying out, due to a combination of the drought and global warming.

Rossiya Segodnya Media Group's Andrei Stenin International Photo Contest recognizes the best young photojournalists between 18 and 33 years of age from around the world. The contest is named in memory of Russian photojournalist Andrei Stenin, who died while covering the war in Ukraine in 2014.

This year, photojournalists submitted 6,000 images from 77 countries to five categories: Top News, Sports, My Planet, and Portrait. A Hero of Our Time.

"Young photojournalists have a very acute sense of what matters the most, and what is going on in the lives of people, countries, and the world in general," said Rossiya Segodnya’s Photo Service Director Alexander Shtol in a statement. "There were never as many images on social issues as this year."

Here are 27 of this year's contest winners.

"History on the Road Breakfast" by Sebnem Coskun

"Harun Reşit Göktaş and Fahri Akdag (right), who own the 'Kubbe Istanbul' in Eminonu Sagir Han, are having their breakfast in the presence of their Istanbul view, which is visible from the terrace of their workplace. From time to time, the tourists who visit can have breakfast in this unique view of Istanbul."

"Walking with Fire: Going Beyond" by Justin Sullivan

"A series depicting the brave men and women who risk their lives combatting rampant wildfires in South Africa. Going beyond the public eye, these men and women face disaster head on in the mountains, on the urban wildland interface and from the sky."

"Cranberry Heart" by Sergei Gapon

"Harvesting cranberries in Pinsk District. It is one of the regions with the highest unemployment rate in Belarus. The cranberry harvest season is the only way to earn money for locals. Employees spend about 10 hours in ice water every day. Cranberry heart symbolizes the engine of the region."

Not everyone gets to say that they genuinely love their job, but I am lucky enough to be able to do so. As a freelance writer and a former editor for a women’s lifestyles website, I get to write about topics that interest me, work from the comfort of my own home, go to cool events in New York City, test out new beauty and tech products on a regular basis, work with amazing people, and even sometimes travel to incredible locations.  

Being a member of the press obviously comes with a lot of wonderful perks, and these can often cause people to believe that my job is easy. While I certainly wouldn’t say that it’s rocket science, I also wouldn’t call it simple. In a typical day, I’ll write anywhere from six to 10 stories for the various nine websites that I work for and do all this on a deadline.

The daily work, however, doesn’t really compare to the struggle it took me to get to the position I'm in today. Being hired as a full-time editor for a women’s lifestyle website in New York City is hard. The field is extremely competitive, and as the journalism world overall dwindles in size, job openings have become less and less frequent.

I get a lot of questions about my job from everyone: how I got hired as an editor, how I continue to get work as a freelance writer, how I am able to get all of the perks that I get, and how I manage everything on my own. The short answer? It’s not easy, and it requires a lot of dedication. The long answer? There were some pretty smart things I did in the first 10 years of my career, and while some are specific to this job, others can — and should — be done by everyone.

I always made it a point to be nice to everyone I met.

While I've met a ton of really awesome people in this industry, I've also, unfortunately, had my fair share of "Devil Wears Prada" moments. Still, I always kept one thing in mind: the fact that every industry, no matter how large, is smaller than it seems. This is especially true for New York media, where it often seems that everyone knows everyone. From the day I began as an intern up until now, I have tried to be as polite, respectful, and kind to everyone I work with or meet.

It's paid off: I've made some great friends, I've learned how to network.

I took on multiple internships as I looked for full-time positions.

In college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: be an editor for a women's magazine or website. I also knew that the competitive magazine world required at least one internship on your resume. I saw these as an opportunity, and I took them seriously.

I started with an editorial internship where I worked for school credit while still in college. When I graduated college, I hoped to get a full-time job, but I was sending my resume out everywhere and hearing nothing. So, instead of giving up, I pursued more internships. I eventually completed an eight-month internship, then a nine-month internship before I was able to find a full-time job.

Without these internships, I wouldn't have gotten the full-time editor position I ended up getting. The experience and networking I gained from all of my internships were what helped me get where I am today. I strongly suggest being open to as many internships as you need before giving up.

I went to almost every event I was invited to and learned how to network.

As a shy, somewhat awkward person, I always dreaded networking. Unfortunately, it's necessary in most fields, especially in the New York media world. I had to force myself to be a little more social, especially in the beginning of my career. In the end, it paid off — many of the connections I made at brand events and parties helped me down the road when I needed new positions.

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.

Whether you dress purely for function or you have a serious obsession with fashion, you likely own at least a few pairs of jeans. These versatile, comfortable pants should last many, many years — in theory. If you're not shopping the right brands, you could be left with poorly constructed jeans that don't feel good or last very long. 

Since jeans will never go out of style (at least, we hope they won't), it's a good idea to invest in premium quality pairs. If the word "premium" scares you, don't back away just yet. Nowadays, startups are getting smarter with the way they make and sell top quality jeans.

Sourcing directly from top denim mills, using sustainable and innovative production methods, and employing the design expertise of denim industry veterans, they're able to offer customers really great jeans for less than $150, and often, less than $100. 

Once you've tried the denim from these online companies, you won't be able to go back. The jeans are stylish, incredibly comfortable, and surprisingly affordable. 

Mott & Bow

Shop premium denim at Mott & Bow here

The founder of Mott & Bow grew up learning all about jean-making in his family's denim manufacturing facility in Honduras, where Mott & Bow's jeans are still manufactured today. Likening the process to fine wine-making, where source matters, the company buys its premium denim from respected mills in Turkey and Italy, then measures and treats it to maximize comfort and style. 

We've tried its women's skinny jeans and Mom jeans, as well as the men's Wooster jeans, and had glowing things to say about their comfortable, flattering fit. But Mott & Bow knows you can't always get the perfect fit right away, which is why it lets you you add a free try-on pair in the next size up or down to your order. Its jeans range in price from $96 to $128, and you'll find slim, straight, skinny, and "mom" jeans in a variety of washes. 

Everlane

Shop premium women's denim and men's denim at Everlane here

Everlane has always espoused transparency, telling you exactly where its products are made and how much it costs to make them, from materials and labor to transport. The path to its denim apparel (which attracted a 40,000-person waitlist in 2017) is no different. Its LEED-certified factory in Vietnam recycles 98% of its water and relies on alternative energy sources to make stylish jeans you can feel good about wearing. 

The startup is always dropping new styles for men and women, but if you're not sure where to start, the Slim Fit Jean is a bestseller for men, and the High-Rise Skinny Jean is a favorite among women. Our personal favorite is the Kick Crop Jean, which looked surprisingly good on every member of the team despite our height differences. Every Everlane jean style only costs $68 or $78. 

DUER

Shop premium women's denim and men's denim at DUER here

DUER combines fashion and function, so it's no wonder the brand is a favorite among athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and commuters. The company was founded by a denim expert who spent 25 years making jeans for Levi's, Guess, and Lee, and a performance fabric expert who spent 25 years working with technical brands. 

Its unique Performance Denim is super stretchy and light, while wicking away moisture and neutralizing odor. These features are optimized for outdoor use, which is why you can find DUER jeans at retailers like REI. The easy-to-wear styles cost $120 to $140.

From sandy beaches to crystal clear waters, you may think you've seen it all when it comes to island life, even if just from photos.

But it turns out there are plenty more unique and stunning islands in the world left to discover — and many of them fly under the radar despite their spectacular beauty.

INSIDER asked some of the most influential travel bloggers and experts from the likes of HotelTonight, Secret Escapes, Topdeck Travel, and TravelSupermarket for the most breathtaking and memorable lesser-known islands they've ever visited.

Frequent travellers in our own office also contributed, and some tips were taken from digital journalists and TripAdvisor users.

From a secret, sparkling spot in Sicily to a car-free Mexican retreat, scroll down for a list of 100 under-the-radar islands everyone should visit in their lifetime.

Reunion Island.

"Reunion Island is a French Island territory located in the Indian Ocean, and is a fantastic alternative to the popular Maldives," according to holiday rental site HomeToGo.

"Surrounded by beautiful beaches, the island also hosts lush tropical rainforests and is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Reunion Island is a photographer's paradise with many impressive trails for trekking, glorious volcanoes, and turquoise blue waters. Perfect to practice your rusty French skills, the friendly local population makes the experience all the more enjoyable."

Michel Karam, CEO of müvTravel, called Reunion Island "one of the most unusual island paradises on the planet."

"The island is known for its volcanic, rain-forested interior, coral reefs and beaches," he added.

Egadi Islands, Italy.

These islands are an Italian secret, according to HomeToGo — at least until now.

"The Egadi Islands are three islands off the western coast of Sicily. Our data shows that this island is almost exclusively visited by Italians, although it includes all the features that make holidays perfect: beautiful beaches, sun, great food and fantastic wines.

"If you don't want to travel to all three different islands, we recommend you stay in Marettimo. Although it is the hardest island to reach, it offers outstanding snorkeling and is the least touristy island of the Egadi Islands."

Curaçao.

Curaçao combines the best vibes of the Caribbean and Europe, according to HomeToGo.

"On this Dutch island, you will find gorgeous beaches and beautiful European inspired architecture," a spokesperson said. "One of the most colorful parts of the island is the Pietermaai District. This vibrant neighbourhood has emerged as a trendy spot for bars and restaurants and is a must when visiting the island."

According to HomeToGo, summer (June — August) is the best time to visit Curaçao for those hoping for a deal.

Welcome to the clinic of the future. At least that's how Dr. David Stark refers to Lab100, which sits in New York City's Upper East Side. 

Stark is the director and creator of Lab100, a joint effort between Mount Sinai's research institute and Cactus design studio which serves as a hybrid clinic and research lab. 

Lab100 gives patients a comprehensive health risk assessment and biometric screening. The goal is to empower patients to track their health over time and to learn how their behavior and lifestyle are impacting their health in a very tangible way.

"This comes from the notion that health is more than just the absence of disease, it's a whole continuum," Stark told Business Insider. Prevention and health upkeep is just as important as diagnosing, screening and treating disease. 

But an elevated physical check-up is just one product to come out of this design experiment. 

"Lab100 today, this location that you're in right now, this is still a prototype," said Stark. Beyond the functions of being a clinic and a data collection point for research, Stark sees Lab100 as this live-care environment that can be used to drive new product development — new diagnostics, new therapeutics, new tools for measuring health, and ultimately, new care models and new services and ways of practicing healthcare.

Business Insider took a tour of Mount Sinai's Lab100, dubbed by its creators as the "clinic of the future." Here's what you can expect if you schedule a visit.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 29-year-old who founded a company that's using technology to find treatments for diseases thought to be incurable

"In order for Lab100 to work, we had to put the patient at the center of the design process," said Noah Waxman, the founder of Cactus, a design studio which helped create the Lab100 space.

Waxman and the design team spent a lot of time building complex technology that can make a typically tedious doctor's appointment more appealing for patients. 

They also designed the space with the physician in mind. By creating better technology for data collection and data entry, which are usually manual and time-consuming, physicians can get back to having more face-to-face interactions with patients.

Lab100 went from concept to launch over a 10 month period. It has been in private beta, or internal testing mode since October 2017.

Despite the heavy use of technology to run the clinic, the design team made sure to incorporate it in an elegant and seamless way.

The stations currently in the clinic are permeable to change. 

"By definition, no one knows what the future of healthcare is, and neither do we. We made our best initial guess, recognizing that we're going to change based on the data we collect," said Stark. "It may turn out that we jettison some of these stations and put in additional stations."

The entire clinic is built like a stage set, explained Waxman. The panels are built on a easily-reconfigurable grid system so that machines and technology can be taken out and replaced without it looking like an after-thought.

Before stepping foot into the clinic, patients create profiles, complete a set of online surveys, and decide if they want to consent to research.

The surveys include information about your general medical history, nutrition, physical activity, mental health and sleep. These online surveys are used as an upgraded replacement for the usual clipboard surveys found in the doctor's office. 

When a patient consents to research, Lab100 de-identifies the data, and makes it available to select researchers internally to power new discoveries. 

• Traveling to Greece during the peak summer months can be an expensive, busy, and crowded vacation, particularly if you frequent the two most popular islands in the country, Mykonos and Santorini.
• At the recommendation of a local, I visited Tinos, an island well-known to Greeks that's about a 30-minute ferry ride from Mykonos. While it's also in the Cyclades, Tinos feels like a completely different world.
• The island has a breathtaking landscape, untouched beaches, and historic Greek villages built into the mountainsides — all at a fraction of the cost of Mykonos and Santorini, even during the peak summer season. 

Most vacationers heading to the islands in Greece usually end up at one of two destinations: Mykonos or Santorini.

While both islands have their charms, they've undoubtedly become tourist traps, with overbooked hotels, overpriced restaurants, and beaches and sights packed with cruise-shippers and holiday-makers all summer long.

But Greece has 6,000 islands, many of which are even more beautiful, a fraction of the price — and best of all, relatively untouched by international tourists.

At the recommendation of a local, I recently headed to Tinos, an island of 9,000 people about a 30-minute ferry ride from Mykonos. While Tinos is also in the Cyclades, like Mykonos and Santorini, it feels oceans away.

Rather than packed nightclubs, resorts that tend to your every desire, and hip — some might say pretentious — restaurants and bars, Tinos is filled with breathtaking landscapes, historic Greek villages, a cuisine built on fresh, local ingredients, and beaches dotted with thatched huts and a single van selling cheap drinks and snacks.

For those looking for a taste of classic Cycladic life, Tinos may well be paradise.

I had planned on staying for only two days in Tinos; I ended up staying for five.

Here's what it's like:

SEE ALSO: I visited the glittering Greek island of Mykonos, the summer destination of choice for billionaires — and it's a very different experience if you aren't swimming in money

DON'T MISS: A local in Greece gave me a tip to visiting the country, and it's the opposite of everything you've been told

After a few days in Mykonos, I was ready for a more relaxed Greek adventure. I hopped a ferry to Tinos for €20. Just about everyone on the ferry was Greek, Italian, or French.

Immediately upon arriving in Tinos, I realized how different the island is from Santorini or Mykonos. While its town, Chora, also has cobblestone streets and white Cycladic architecture, it's far quieter. During the day, it's practically empty. At night, it gets a bit busier as Greek vacationers and some other European tourists visit the tavernas and souvenir shops on the main street.

From a distance, Chora is spectacular. I stayed about a 10-minute walk from the main square at a small hotel called Agali Bay. While the hotel was nothing special architecturally, it was only $70 a night for a room with a view of the sea. The family who've run the hotel for 30 years were incredibly kind, helpful, and accommodating.

• The Nissan Qashqai is one of the most popular subcompact crossover SUVs in the world.
• In Europe, it's Nissan's most popular model by a wide margin.
• The Qashqai is sold in the US as the Rogue Sport.
• Earlier this year, we drove a Rogue Sport in the US and found it to be a pleasant vehicle, but underpowered.
• Recently, we drove a 2018 Qashqai diesel that really impressed us with its strong performance and driving dynamics.
• In the UK, the Nissan Qashqai starts at £19,300 while the US Rogue Sports starts $22,110. 

Qashqai. Nissan Qashqai.

Pronounced Kash kai, the subcompact crossover SUV has long been both a sales and critical success in the UK and Europe. Last month, Qashqai was not only Nissan's top-selling vehicle in Europe, it out-sold the brand's next four most popular models combined. 

The Qashqai is named after the nomadic Qashqai people of Iran. 

After years of waiting, Nissan finally brought the second generation Qashqai to the US in 2017 as the Rogue Sport.  And, it's certainly been a major help to Nissan's bottom line, helping the Rogue family of crossovers reach 215,000 units sold over the first half of 2018. That's up 10% over the same period last year.

Earlier this year, I spent a few days behind the wheel of a new Rogue Sport on the roads around Nashville, Tennesee, not far from Nissan's North American headquarters. 

Unfortunately, the Rogue Sport's 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine proved to be woefully underwhelming.  The little four-cylinder just didn't have to grunt to haul around the 3,400-pound crossover.

A few weeks ago, Nissan let us borrow a diesel-powered 2018 Qashqai Pilot One Edition in the UK. The base Qashqai starts at £19,300 while our top-of-the-line test car carried an as-tested price of £34,170. 

In the US, base Rogue Sport starts at $22,110 while our SL AWD test car cost $31,380. 

Let's see if the diesel engine can make up for its gasoline-powered sibling's shortcomings:

SEE ALSO: We drove a $42,000 Toyota Highlander and a $40,000 Volkswagen Atlas to see which was the better family SUV — here's the verdict

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Earlier this year, I spent time with a new Nissan Rogue Sport in Nashville, Tennessee.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Rogue Sport.

"It's got quite a lot going for it. It looks great, it's got plenty of room, it's comfortable, it's loaded with tech, and it all comes at a very reasonable price," I wrote in my review of the Rogue Sport.

Unfortunately, its little 141 horsepower four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission proved to be an "anemic" duo that sapped the joy from the driving experience.

"The Nissan Rogue Sport is grossly underpowered," I wrote. " The 141 horsepower, 2.0 liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine tries its hardest but lacks the grunt to keep up with the needs of this 3,400-pound crossover." 

Sadly, the result is a crossover that's "loud, wheezy, and gets worse fuel economy than the big brother Rogue," I added. 

Fast forward a couple months and I found myself four thousand miles away in England behind the wheel of a 2018 Nissan Qashqai.

Growing up, it never occurred to me that my dad’s job was uncommon. I had friends whose moms and dads were teachers, police officers, retail managers, and everything in between, but nothing matched the reaction I received when I told someone my father was a pilot.

Some kids were used to their parents’ typical nine-to-five work schedules, the occasional late-night overtime, or even attending an office holiday party or two, but when you have a pilot as a parent, it’s a completely different dynamic.

It was a common occurrence to not see my dad for days at a time while he was on business trips. I would carry on with my usual day-to-day schooling and extracurriculars and he would fly from Miami to New York to Phoenix and back again, and then we’d catch up when he had a few days off in between flights. Super casual, no big deal.

To put things into even more perspective, he is literally a professional traveler and was lucky enough to share that with us kids. Some of my most cherished memories include the times he’d bring me along on his trips to Vancouver or Chicago. He’d be in the captain’s seat and I would be one of his passengers, and we’d explore a new city for just 24 hours before hightailing it back home.

Having a parent that flies planes for a living gave me access to a side of travel that not everyone is privy to, and there are definitely things that even seasoned travelers would never notice.

Keep reading for the lesser known travel secrets only a pilot’s kid would know.

There are certain times you should and should not travel.

You might already know there are certain times of year when it’s absolute chaos to travel (namely the holidays and summer vacation), but it gets a little more specific than that. If you’re already planning next year’s vacation, keep the offseason in mind when budgeting for airfare.

The latter part of winter is the optimal time to travel (think late January, February, and early March, right before spring break season) as well as that awkward time between the end of summer and the start of the holiday season: September or October. Looking for just a few days away? Fly out on Saturdays and Tuesdays for the best rates and less crowded flights, or on Wednesday if you want to take the gamble. The reason? Businesspeople don’t often travel on those days, which means emptier flights and airports.

The flight attendants aren’t just there to serve you drinks.

Sure, it’s definitely a perk to have that drink cart come around mid-flight, but flight attendants actually serve an important purpose: to keep you safe.

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has strict training programs in place that prepare flight attendants for the worst, including fire safety, survival training, and first aid skills, as mandated by the FAA’s Cabin Safety Subject Index (i.e., the complete guide to everything aviation). Flight attendants are also required by the FAA to have the ability to evacuate an aircraft in 90 seconds with 50% of the exit blocked, according to Business Insider.

Pilots’ sleep schedules are regulated.

It goes without saying that pilots are heavily trained in their specialty – it takes a ton of studying and a load of responsibility to fly a giant metal machine and keep hundreds of passengers safe at the same time – which is why pilots are required to get in their full eight hours every night.

It all changes based on how many pilots and crew members are available for each flight, but pilots are given the opportunity to get their full eight hours of sleep per night (meaning they’re never worked to the point where they aren’t able to get a good night’s sleep) and are required to have 30 consecutive hours off every seven days so they can refresh and recharge their batteries before taking another trip. So even if you’re on a red-eye flight with a super early landing time, you can feel confident that your pilot is ready to go.

We're here to make your weekend binge-watching a breeze. 

Every week, we look through the movies available on Netflix and recommend seven movies you can watch over the weekend.

Some of our selections recently came to Netflix and some have been available for awhile — you might have just missed them because of Netflix's algorithm.

From the groundbreaking superhero drama "The Dark Knight" to the bad-but-great early 2000s surf movie "Blue Crush," these are some awesome movies on Netflix you can watch this weekend.

Here are seven movies on Netflix you should check out (along with their scores from Rotten Tomatoes).

Note: Not all of these films are available in countries outside the United States. Sincere apologies!

SEE ALSO: Netflix's new show 'Insatiable' is an offensive mess that goes way beyond fat shaming

"The Dark Knight" (2008)

Netflix description: As Batman, Lt. Gordon and the district attorney continue to dismantle Gotham's criminal underground, a new villain threatens to undo their good work.

Critic score: 94%

Audience score: 94%

Superhero movies have changed a lot since "The Dark Knight" came out ten years ago (yikes!).  This movie is the epitome of the dark superhero movie that's trying to be a prestige drama. You might long for some levity when you rewatch it, but Heath Ledger's performance and the excellent cinematography will keep you as on the edge of your seat as you were when you saw this in theaters. 

"Amy" (2015)

Netflix description: Rare home videos and interviews with Amy Winehouse's inner circle offer an intimate look at her journey from charismatic teen to troubled star.

Critic score: 94%

Audience score: 87%

"Amy" is a powerful but devastating documentary that shows the rise of Amy Winehouse's career and her struggles with addiction, especially as it relates to her rise into celebrity. The doc also explores the downsides of celebrity in a new way that will really make you think. 

"Her" (2013)

Netflix description: Love comes to a lonely writer in the sleekest of packages when he finds himself falling for the advanced operating system he bought to run his life.

Critic score: 94%

Audience score: 82%

This sort-of sci-fi movie is not for people are are feeling super lonely. Joaquin Phoenix makes a ridiculous premise (basically falling in love with Siri) emotional and believable, and Scarlett Johansson does captivating voice work that she didn't get enough credit for pulling off. 

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:

• The OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Standing Paper Towel Holder lets you tear off a sheet without just one hand and makes it simple to load a fresh roll, thanks to its smart design features.

We don’t give our paper towel holders enough thought considering that we use them on a daily basis. You don’t need anything fancy for this purpose, of course, but if you’re just using any old inexpensive paper towel holder, it might be time for an upgrade.

You know when you go to pull a paper towel off the roll with one hand and the entire thing collapses because the holder is too lightweight? Or you end up unraveling half of the roll because you can’t get a close enough grip? A good paper towel holder should be secure enough to prevent both of those scenarios, allowing you to tear away to your heart’s content.

If you prefer a horizontal paper towel holder that you can mount on the wall or hang over a cabinet or drawer, there are options for you, too. Overall, the picks in this article are made with quality materials and design features that facilitate an easy-rip experience.

After all, you shouldn’t really have to think about your paper towel holder.

Here are the best paper towel holders you can buy:

• Best overall: Oxo Good Grips SimplyTear Standing Paper Towel Holder, $24.99
• Best wall-mounted: Simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder, $25.99
• Best marble: Fox Run 3831 Marble Paper Towel Holder, $13.99
• Best affordable: Threshold Marble and Beechwood Paper Towel Holder, $16.99
• Best horizontal: Spectrum Diversified Over the Cabinet Paper Towel Holder, $7.29

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best paper towel holder overall

Why you'll love it: The OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Paper Towel Holder looks attractive on your counter and makes tearing off a sheet a total breeze. What more could you need?

OXO is known for elevating everyday staples with a superior user experience — because you don’t want to dwell on the items you use over and over again. You just want them to work.

The brand’s Good Grips SimplyTear Paper Towel Holder is a no-fuss vertical paper towel stand with a brushed stainless steel finish that goes with most kitchen fixtures. A spring-loaded appendage lets you tear a single sheet of paper towel with one hand. There’s a weighted base to keep the entire thing from tipping over when you pull.

The OXO paper towel holder is highly rated, with over 2,000 customer reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 rating. It’s also been featured by New York Magazine’s The Strategist and the review website AweBtoKnow.

“This Oxo Good Grips holder works beautifully requiring no touching of the towels or the holder in order to tear off a towel [...] I particularly like the look of this holder and how little space its vertical design takes up in our small kitchen. It's also weighty enough that it doesn't tip or wobble when I tear off a towel,” writes a fan.

Pros: Able to tear with one hand, looks good on the counter, spring-loaded arm helps hold towels in place, weighted base

Cons: Reviewers say you need two hands as you get closer to the end of the roll

Buy the OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Paper Towel Holder for $24.99

The best wall-mounted paper towel holder

Why you'll love it: Save counter space with the Simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder, which can be hung vertically or horizontally to match your needs.

Another option if you don’t have a lot of counter space is to choose a paper towel holder that can be hung up on the wall. The SimpleHuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder can be mounted vertically or horizontally under a cabinet or above the counter for easy access.

A spring-loaded ring at the base of the cylinder that holds the roll makes it easy to pull one or two sheets off at a time, rather than unraveling half of it at once, which tends to happen often with less sophisticated holders. There’s also what the brand calls a “quick release knob” to facilitate changing out for a fresh a fresh roll.

SimpleHuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder has 1,600 Amazon reviews at the time of publication and a 4.6 rating. It was also featured by The Strategist.

“I know it seems odd to be excited about a paper towel rack, but this is a great design,” says one reviewer. “It is quick and easy to change rolls, it works with paper towel rolls that vary slightly in length, and best of all, it keeps just the right tension on the roll so you can pull off as many as you want with one hand without tearing them, and then just snap them off at a perforation without having any more towels unroll.”

Pros: Can be mounted vertically or horizontally, spring ring prevents you from ripping too many towels off at once, clean stainless steel look

Cons: Reviewers say the screws that come in the package won’t work with every type of cabinet

Buy the SimpleHuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder for $25.99

The best marble paper towel holder

Why you'll love it: The classy Fox Run 3831 Marble Paper Towel Holder won’t fall over every time you try to rip off a paper towel, thanks to the weighty material.

I didn’t think a paper towel holder could be considered “cult,” but since the Fox Run 3831 Marble Paper Towel Holder has 3,400+ reviews on Amazon, I stand corrected. It’s probably due to the fact that this thing is about as elegant as a paper towel holder can be: It’s basically a marble pillar that happens to be slim enough to support a roll of paper towels.

But it turns out to be pretty functional as well. In an Amazon review quoted by The Strategist, a shopper points out, “being marble it also is quite heavy and gives the paper-towel roll a strong, solid base. This makes it easier to rip these off, and much more difficult to accidentally knock them over because the weight of the marble is now adding stability.”

Made of 100% genuine marble, it’s high-quality, easy to clean, and simply pretty. As the product description points out, the grain differs slightly between each holder since its made of a naturally occurring material, which can be a pro or a con depending on how much you like the look of the one in the photo.

Pros: Elegant design, weight of the marble is effective at facilitating easy tearing

Cons: Might need two hands to tear off only one sheet, especially near the bottom of the roll

Buy the Fox Run 3831 Marble Paper Towel Holder for $13.99