• The Koch brothers are two of the richest men in the world.
• Charles and David Koch each have a net worth of $53.7 billion, according to Forbes.
• Their fortunes come from their 42% stakes in the Koch family business: Koch Industries.
• Charles is currently the company's president and CEO, while David just announced that he was retiring from the firm.

The Koch brothers are two of the richest people on planet earth.

Charles and David Koch tied for eighth on Forbes' 2018 list of the wealthiest billionaires in the world.

And they're also two of the most controversial billionaires out there, at least when it comes to their political contributions. Jane Mayer's 2015 book "Dark Money" outlined how the two Kansas natives reportedly used their fortunes to forge a formidable web of political influence, with the intent of promoting their libertarian values.

Still, that hasn't stopped the Kochs from clashing with figures on the right, mostly notably US president Donald Trump. The two brothers have spoken out against Trump's tariffs.

So how did the Kochs come to amass so much wealth and wield such influence in the first place? The answer lies within the history of their family business: Koch Industries.

Here's a look at how the brothers became billionaires in the first place.

SEE ALSO: Meet the significant others of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and more of America's richest people

DON'T MISS: The Koch brothers have reportedly been secretly funding Hollywood movies — including 'Wonder Woman'

SEE ALSO: The 31-year-old Koch heir suing his ex-fiancée over a $250,000 ring is known as 'king of the wild pants' and plays tennis at Mar-a-Lago

The groundwork for the duo's wealth was laid by their father, Texas native and MIT graduate Fred C. Koch.

Source: "Sons of Wichita,""Dark Money"

The family patriarch joined the Keith-Winkler Engineering Company of Wichita, Kansas in 1925. Later that year, the firm was renamed the Winkler-Koch Engineering Company. A groundbreaking gasoline refinement technique bolstered the young company.

Source: "Dark Money," "Sons of Wichita,"Fred and Mary Koch Foundation

But lawsuits from established competitors forced Koch Sr.'s firm to look abroad for work. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Winkler-Koch Engineering Company ventured into a Europe on the verge of war, building refineries that proved crucial to the development of both the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin and Nazi Germany.

Sources: HuffPost, The New York Times, "Dark Money,"NPR

Have you ever wanted to see a baby version of Madonna? What about Queen Elizabeth? If so, look no further than three-month-old Liberty Wexler and her Instagram account @photographyofliberty.

After dressing up her son River as a burrito for Halloween and receiving a lot of positive feedback, Liberty's mom Jenelle decided to continue creating handmade costumes for her kids, she told INSIDER. Liberty's transformations into powerful female role models began once Wexler dressed up her daughter as Frida Kahlo.

If you want to see more adorable versions of important female figures, keep scrolling.

This is Liberty. She's three months old and loves to play dress-up.

You can find Liberty on Instagram here.

Her mom, Jenelle Wexler, likes to dress Liberty up as different influential women from history, like Ellen DeGeneres.

Or Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa, one of the most well-known humanitarians of the 20th century, was canonized as a saint in 2016.

Following the all-white uniformity at Wimbledon, tennis players tend to go all out on fashion when they compete at the US Open every year.

So it seems apt that Nike enlisted streetwear designer Virgil Abloh to create a new line for Serena Williams to wear at the tournament, which takes place in New York City later this month.

On Monday, the company released a series of images with Williams modeling the new line, which takes inspiration from Williams' love of ballet.

Scroll through to see the whole collection, which will also be available at select Nike stores in the coming weeks.

Abloh, who founded streetwear company Off-White and is now the artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, said he studied Williams' past looks before designing the new collection.

"I was trying to do something that I think could live up to those inspirations and move her forward," Abloh told Vogue.

He said in a press release that he hoped to "embody her spirit and bring something compelling and fresh to tennis."

Sources: Vogue, Nike

A special dress form was made to Williams’ exact measurements for Abloh to work off of during the design process. He had the tennis star give input on all the design elements she wanted to include in her Grand Slam look.

"As you can tell by her personality in her play, she's very much involved in her aesthetic," Abloh told Vogue. "She has a level of creativity with how she expresses herself in terms of clothing in any event, so I made everything with her logic in mind. We traded images and there was a lot of back-and-forth to get this done in short order"

Sources: Vogue, Nike

The final collection — which includes a tennis dress, a bomber jacket, and special edition sneakers — was inspired by both the grace and sport of Williams’ aggressive playing style. Her love of ballet and dance also take center stage with the dress' tulle skirt.

Source: Nike

Controversial school dress codes have been repeatedly in the news.

Women have gotten in trouble for not wearing a bra, or for wearing a bra when the straps are showing. Both collarbones and shoulders have been called "too distracting" for boys in the classroom, and there are more than a few reports of girls being sent home for the clothes chosen for them by a parent.

Because of these punishments, students often miss lessons to have their hemlines measured or to wait for a change of clothes to be brought to school by a parent. Now, students and parents are pushing back against school dress codes that they say objectify female students. 

Here are 14 times students got in trouble for what they were wearing — and how they took a stand.

Mallory Johnston and Grace Wood protested their school's policy of banning bra straps from showing.

Mallory Johnston and Grace Wood, students at Essex High School in Essex, Ontario, protested their school's policy of suspending girls whose bra straps were showing.

Johnston hung posters up around the school with messages like "Stop objectifying women," which were swiftly taken down by the vice principal. Both Johnston and Wood encouraged students to dress the way they wanted.

Johnston was then suspended for breaking the dress code in protest.

Mike Hawkins, the school's principal, told the CBC that "anyone needs approval to post anything around the school." 

Johnston stands by her demonstrations.

"I spoke out because it was very degrading to keep getting pulled out of my education for something so silly. I knew going forward with this would get backlash, but it was a risk I was willing to take because I believe that something should be changed," she said. "I believe in equality and women's rights. I should be able to speak my opinion without being disciplined."

A high school senior was told to retake her yearbook picture because her exposed shoulders broke the school's dress code — but she started a petition instead.

Maine South High School senior Grace Goble had worn an off-the-shoulder top to school functions before — but when she wore it for her yearbook photo, she was told she would have to retake the photo due to violating the dress code.

In response, she started a petition called "Maine South High School: end the over-sexualization of young women's bodies" on Change.org.

The day she posted the petition, her school principal told her that she wouldn't have to retake her photo and asked her to be on a team of students who will revise the dress code.

"I was pleasantly surprised [by] how willing my principal was to take actions and hear my thoughts. He's new to the school this year, so I had only briefly met him before this," she previously told INSIDER. "I'm proud that I was able to make a change, even if it was just at my school. I hope that others see the power of an individual standing up for what they believe in and do the same."

A high school principal told students not to wear leggings "unless you are a size 0 or 2," upsetting both students and parents.

Mobile phone cameras are incredibly powerful now, and although they still aren't as powerful as modern DSLR cameras, you shouldn't let your phone's photo capabilities go to waste.

However, there are still certain things mobile cameras can't do on their own. One of the advantages of having a standalone, DSLR camera is the ability to swap out lenses for different applications. You can use a wide lens to capture as much of a scene as possible, or use a tele lens to get sharp, crisp shots of subjects far away. Your phone probably only has two lenses at most — iPhones have one standard semi-wide lens (about 28mm), and a medium lens (about 56mm). These get the job done for most tasks, and they do it well, but sometimes it feels like there's something missing.

Moment, a mobile photography company, is trying to fill in the gaps where your phone camera falls short. Although phone cameras won't be replacing DSLRs anytime soon, Moment makes lenses that are designed to give your smartphone camera a wider array of possibilities, including macro, tele, and fisheye shooting. 

We tried out Moment's 60mm tele lens($89.99), the 18mm wide lens ($99.99), the 'Superfish' fisheye lens ($89.99), and the macro lens ($89.99). To attach the lenses to your phone you'll need one of Moment's phone cases— we used the 'Battery Photo Case ($99.99) for the iPhone 8 Plus (cases for other phone models are available), which provides some backup battery charge to your phone, and it has a shutter button to allow you to easily capture photos without needing to tap your screen or volume button. The cases let you attach a lens to either the 1x or 2x cameras on your phone, depending on how much additional zoom you want (Note: you'll have to manually switch which lens your phone is using in order for this to work). 

Here are the results we got from the lenses: 

Here's the 'Superfish' fisheye lens.

The fisheye lens was probably the most fun to use.

If you've watched a skateboarding video from the 90s, you're familiar with fisheye lenses. They have a super wide focal length, meaning you can capture a large amount of the scene (although it will be distorted, which is part of the charm). 

The Superfish lens works well for quick street photography — you don't have to spend a lot of time lining your shots up.

Julia Child (1912 to 2004) introduced French cooking to Americans through her famous cookbook and the subsequent TV series that evolved from her recipes. At a time when quick (often canned) meals were the norm, Child helped transform America's culinary landscape. 

In honor of her birthday, which falls on August 15th, INSIDER rounded up images of Child doing what she did best — cooking. Special thanks goes to the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for providing photos taken by Child's husband, Paul. 

Keep scrolling to see 10 vintage photos of the beloved chef and cultural icon in the kitchen and learn more about her life and legacy. 

Julia Child was born in 1912 in Pasadena, California.

Her maiden name was Julia McWilliams. 

After graduating from Smith College, one of the Seven Sisters schools, she worked in advertising.

She met her future husband, Paul Child, during World War II, while working in Asia for the Office of Strategic Services (the precursor to the CIA). 

After the war, Julia and her husband Paul Child lived in Paris for six years.

Child fell in love with French cooking while attending the famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. She also took private cooking lessons with master chef Max Bugnard. 

SpaceX allowed a few reporters into its Hawthorne, California headquarters on Monday for close-up looks at a new spaceship and spacesuit for NASA astronauts.

The aerospace company, founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, built its Crew Dragon hardware as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Boeing also designed a new seven-person space capsule for NASA called the CST-100 Starliner.

NASA launched program in 2010 to replace its (now-retired) space shuttle fleet with privately developed American spacecraft — and stop paying Russia more and more money to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.

Crewed test launches of each spaceship are slated for 2019. However, SpaceX is poised to send the first commercial astronauts into space, given that Boeing must fix leaky fuel valves on the CST-100 Starliner.

Some who climbed aboard SpaceX's mockups shared photos and videos of the event on Twitter and Instagram.

Here's a sample of some of the best footage and pictures, and what journalists said it was like inside:

SEE ALSO: This veteran NASA astronaut has tried SpaceX and Boeing's new spaceships — here's what she thinks

DON'T MISS: SpaceX is quietly planning Mars-landing missions with the help of NASA and other spaceflight experts. It's about time.

For Monday's media event, SpaceX took a full-size mockup of the Crew Dragon capsule and rolled it outside its headquarters in Greater Los Angeles.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1029077289865072643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Mockup of Crew Dragon capsule, with first-ever landed Falcon 9 first stage in background at #SpaceX HQ pic.twitter.com/5AKQkYcqns

The spaceship is reportedly identical in appearance to the ones astronauts will fly, minus the expensive rocket engines.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1029047991313682434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The @SpaceX Crew Dragon mock-up capsule and our awesome photographer Raul Marin. ⁦@CNBC⁩ pic.twitter.com/E3tstgtBjQ

Source: Twitter

Aerospace photographer Jack Beyer said he was "on the ceiling" about climbing aboard the ship. This ultra-wide-angle video he shared on Twitter shows what it's like to crawl inside.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1029054770110234624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Beyond excited to be at @SpaceX today for a Commercial Crew update! Here’s what it looks like to climb into a Crew dragon. @NASASpaceflight#SpaceXpic.twitter.com/1Ncmn98SKy

The skin is the largest and arguably the most important organ in the human body. It keeps our internal organs safe from the extremities of the outside world, along with many other functions. While some skin requires more care than others, like those with certain conditions such as eczema or acne, all skin deserves to be cared for in the best way possible, no matter how flawless.

Here are some things that you thought were good for your skin but actually aren’t.

Spending time in the sun.

The sun can wreak havoc on your skin. Having a tan can make you feel more confident, but sun exposure can be detrimental to the skin. In addition to sunburns and dehydration, exposure to the sun can cause sun rashes, and even farther down the road, skin cancer.

SPF sunscreens can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, so make sure to lather up at least 15 minutes before you take part in outdoor activities or hit the beach.

Popping pimples because they are "ready."

Popping pimples can have consequences. No one ever wants to see a pimple on their face, but think before you poke and prod at that blemish. Just because it looks poppable, doesn’t mean you should touch it.

Although it may seem like a good idea to extract or drain the contents of a pimple, doing so can leave scarring or cause the spread of bacteria leading to more breakouts. If you just can't leave it alone, make sure it's a least poppable before you start picking. 

Exfoliating dry, flaky skin.

Regular exfoliation is great for the skin, but when it gets flaky, it’s best to lay off the scrubs. Dryness and scales are some things you would want to buff away, although it’s best to focus on hydration when the skin has reached this point.

"Though exfoliating will slough away loose patches on the spot, that rough treatment can actually disrupt the barrier that balances moisture in the skin," dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, told WebMD.

Focus on hydrating the skin with proper moisturizers and save the buffing for supple skin.

Salesforce brings in billions of dollars in revenue each year from its subscription software subscriptions. But the $105 billion cloud company is also a big tech investor, especially when it comes to pouring money into other public companies that sell software to businesses. 

And those investments add up. As of April, Salesforce owned $1.02 billion of equity in other companies, according to a company filing.

In a separate filing, published Monday, Salesforce revealed the size and scope of its biggest holdings. All together, the company's four largest investments account for $452 million — just short of half the value of its entire portfolio. 

These are Salesforce's four biggest investments:

SEE ALSO: What you need to know about Keith Block, the ex-Oracle exec who Wall Street says got a 'well-deserved' promotion to co-CEO of Salesforce

Domo — $2.202 million

Domo, a data visualization software company, went public in June, under a cloud of cynicism from analysts and pundits over the company and its financial prospects. Now, Domo is valued on the public markets at $464 million — less than a quarter of the $2 billion private valuation at which it had last raised venture capital funding.

None of that has seemed to deter Salesforce, which owns 80,647 shares in Domo, worth a total of $2.202 million. It's Salesforce's fourth largest investment, according to a public filing. 

Twilio — $49.775 million

Salesforce is a big investor in Twilio, the cloud communication company that went public in 2016. Twilio stock is on something of a bull run: It's now trading at about $74 a share — up from $31 in the August of 2017. 

Salesforce owns 888,517 shares in the company, for a total investment valued at $49.775 million. That makes Twilio its third-largest investment. 

Dropbox — $160.1 million

Salesforce swooped in just before Dropbox's March IPO to make a whopping $100 million investment — one of its largest strategic investments ever. Before that, Salesforce had previously invested $5 million into the file sharing and collaboration software company. 

Now Salesforce owns 4,938,567 shares, which is worth $160.1 million, according to the filing. While Salesforce owns more stock in Dropbox than in any other company, it's only the second largest investment by value. 

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.

• Made in Adidas Speedfactory in Atlanta, Adidas created a collection of running sneakers for big cities around the world using data collected from real athletes.
• By using digital manufacturing techniques, Adidas can more accurately design shoes for athletes and cut down on production from human-operated factories in Asia.
• The collection includes shoes for London, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles, and Shanghai.
• The shoes are meant to account for the specific needs of athletes in each city, based on its terrain, weather, and more.

Making continuous strides in footwear innovation is always a top priority for sportswear brands, and Adidas may very well have come up with a model for the future of sneakers.

The brand has always been an emphasis on the specific materials and technologies that actually go into their shoes, but now the Three Stripes is putting a strong focus on advanced manufacturing processes and research to substantially improve the performance of their sneakers.

Between two state-of-the-art factories called Speedfactories (one at the Adidas HQ in Germany and the other in Atlanta, Georgia) Adidas manufactures sneakers using completely digitally automated machinery. The futuristic manufacturing process allows performance-driven ideas to become a reality without compromising the integrity of the design with more traditional production methods.

To showcase just how efficient the Adidas Speedfactory is, the brand created a collection of running sneakers inspired by major urban cities around the world and the runners that live there. The shoes are meant to account for the specific needs of athletes in each city, based on its terrain, weather, and more. The Speedfacroty AM4 sneakers include pairs for London, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles, and Shanghai. A version for Tokyo is also coming soon.

As the name suggests, the Speedfactory is all about speed — for the runner and the production process. By using sports science data collected from athletes, Adidas can turn location-specific, performance-driven ideas into a reality.

The process behind creating each sneaker begins with collecting real-world and lab data from athletes in each respective city. Next, the data digitally maps patches onto the upper to provide supportive, yet stretchy movement. The sneakers' full-length Boost midsole is fitted with redesigned Adidas Torsion technology, which provides balance and support at the bottom of the foot. Finally, to bring the upper and bottom together, the Speedfactory uses a digital bonding process, which is more efficient and longer lasting than glue.

As a result, each Adidas Speedfactory AM4 sneaker is optimized for running seamlessly between various city surfaces like asphalt, cobblestones, concrete, or grass.

Each Speedfactory AM4 shoe also comes equipped with an NFC (near field communication) chip in the tongue. By syncing your sneakers to your smartphone, you can access exclusive downloadable content, early access to releases, and more from Adidas.

In terms of the production, the Speedfactory is more sustainable than a traditional factory and allows for quicker production times. Adidas makes about 300 million sneakers per year, a majority of which are produced in countries throughout Asia. With Speedfactories in Europe and the US, Adidas can lower the cost of transporting products and ramp up manufacturing to shorten production time. This means Adidas can make more shoes faster, whether it's a new style or a restock. Over time the brand's goal is to create 50% of its shoes using digital manufacturing process.

The Adidas Speedfactory AM4 City Series is just the beginning of the brand's use of advanced manufacturing techniques. By appealing serious runners in need of footwear backed by athlete data and consumers who are against sneakers made under questionable factory conditions alike, the collection is definitely a precursor to what shoemaking will look like in the years to come.

Shop all Adidas Speedfactory sneakers now.

Learn more about each of the Speedfactory sneakers, below:

Adidas Speedfactory AM4LDN

Adidas SPEEDFACTORY AM4LDN, $200

Inspired by London, the AM4LDN features a white knit textile upper designed to hug the foot with Speedfactory patches for reinforced support in a shock green color. 

Adidas Speedfactory AM4PAR

Adidas Speedfactory AM4PAR, available on eBay, prices vary.

*sold out on Adidas*

Using a linen colorway, the AM4PAR is subtly Parisian. As the most popular colorway out of the SPEEDFACTORY bunch, it has since sold out, but can be found on eBay in various sizes.

Adidas Speedfactory AM4NYC

Adidas Speedfactory AM4NYC, $200

With a blacked out upper and reflective laces, the AM4NYC is made to take on New York City. This shoe also includes additional digital patch stripes to provide the extra support needed to navigate rough streets throughout the city.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Avengers: Infinity War."

"Avengers: Infinity War" is now available on Blu-ay and DVD. If you watch the movie again, you'll probably wonder the fates of some of your favorite characters outside of "Infinity War."

At the movie's end, Thanos snapped away half of the universe's existence. Though the movie made it very clear some characters vanished into the ether like Bucky Barnes and Black Panther, there are still a lot of characters whose fates are left up in the air. 

If you need a refresher before "Avengers 4," INSIDER put together a handy guide of over 60 Marvel Cinematic Universe characters and their current status after The Snappening.

First, here's a key to help you remember which characters belong to which franchise.

Characters who don't have their own franchise currently like Nick Fury and Maria Hill were bundled into "The Avengers."

Characters who survived the snap

It's worth noting that the original "Avengers" group — Tony Stark, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Black Widow all survived. We're not sure about Hawkeye yet, but we have a feeling we'll see him in "Avengers 4."

Angela Bassett recently confirmed her character Ramonda and daughter Shuri survived the Snap.

"Infinity War" co-director Joe Russo previously confirmed "Thor: Ragnarok" scene-stealer Valkyrie survived the events of "Infinity War"during a Q&A following the movie's release. She was able to get some Asgardians to safety before Thanos arrived on board for the soul stone.

Characters who vanished after the snap

Peter Parker and Groot's losses were among the saddest at the end of "Infinity War." 

In an interview with Huffpost, director Joe Russo said Thor's pal Sif is "gone." The actress, Jaimie Alexander currently has her own show, "Blindspot," which kept her out of "Thor: Ragnarok."

• The Plank Walk on China's Mount Hua is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous hikes in the world.
• Hikers walk across a few planks of wood bolted into the side of a 7,000-foot peak to reach a small shrine. While hikers are harnessed, it is a terrifying adventure.
• I recently tried to do the Plank Walk on a visit to Mount Hua, but encountered obstacle after obstacle that prevented me from completing it. While hiking Mount Hua was an incredible adventure, I was never able to make to the Plank Walk due to massive crowds and bad timing.

You've probably seen the photos of tourists hanging off the side of a stunning mountain. Or else, walking across a few thin planks bolted into a mountainside, their faces buzzing with adrenaline.

When I found out that the site of those photos is in China, I decided that I had to visit on an upcoming trip to the country.

Located about an hour from Xi'an, one of China's most popular cities for tourists, Mount Hua or Huashan (shan means mountain in Mandarin) is considered to be one of the world's most dangerous places to hike.

The mountain is considered to be one of China's five sacred mountains and is one of the most popular tourist attractions and pilgrimage sites for Chinese people.

The mountain actually has five main peaks — a North, South, East, West, and Center. The infamous plank walk is located on the mountain's highest peak, South, which has a height of 7,070 feet. 

But nothing went quite as planned on my trip.

Here's what happened:

SEE ALSO: I visited the viral, 1,400-foot glass bridge in China — and it was a traveler's worst nightmare

To get to Mount Hua from Xi'an, you have to take a 40-minute bullet train to a 30-minute minibus that takes you to the base of the mountain. But due to a quirk in China's train ticketing (they stop selling 30 minutes before the train departs), I couldn't get on the 8:30 a.m. train.

While a train runs every 30 minutes for most of the day, for some reason, there were no trains until 10 a.m after the 8:30 a.m. That meant that I didn't even get to the base of the mountain until a bit after 11 a.m. Some people start hiking the mountain before sunrise to see everything.

The view from the bottom of Mount Hua is lush. It looks less like a single mountain than a series of granite peaks cut into a valley laden with greenery. Knowing that hiking Mount Hua's five peaks can take between 5-7 hours depending on your fitness level, our only chance to make it to the "plank walk" was to take the cable car.

My roommate and I didn't spend a lot of time apartment hunting or researching for places or areas to live when we first decided we wanted to move in together. The four weeks that we spent looking for places were pretty quick because we thought we knew exactly what we wanted and when we wanted it. 

When my roommate found the building we now live in, we were both smitten immediately by the attractions, features, and glam of living in an old high-rise building in the middle of Center City, Philadelphia. As our lease agreement comes to an end in about two months, we've both spent time reflecting on how we can enhance our apartment hunting experience this time around.

In our search, we narrowed down ten things we wish we knew before we began our journey a year ago. 

Make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for.

As it appears online, our apartment building has an abundance of luxury features that were advertised to us when we first decided to sign on. In our rather expensive monthly rent, it is said that the following amenities are included in our check: 24-hour emergency maintenance and front desk coverage, central laundry facility with oversized equipment and waiting area, controlled access entry, package and dry clean receiving, fitness center with a cardio theater, and on-site management, among others.

Alongside those luxuries, we also pay for utilities which includes heat/air conditioning, water and electric. All of these concepts seem pretty standard, right? Except, when our bathroom ceiling is leaking at 9 p.m. on a Monday night, and we call the front desk, nobody answers for the first half hour of our incessant calling. And second to that, when we ask for our "24-hour maintenance," the man on-call has to travel from New Jersey to our apartment to even "take a look."

My advice? Read the reviews, and ask for a specific breakdown of your utility use every month.

Be realistic.

Although my roommate went and saw the place before we moved in, I didn't have the chance.  

The only view of our apartment I looked at was the blueprint. I did most of my planning according to that little box that was labeled "bedroom" without even accurate measurements of what would fit in that space. On move-in day, I had the misfortune of learning I couldn't squeeze my queen-size bed and my childhood dresser into the same living space.

Make sure to plan accordingly and go and see the place if you can. Measurements are one thing but seeing the place is a whole other story. 

If something is broken, tell someone immediately.

It took my roommate and me about four months into our vacancy to figure out that our thermostat was broken and we were overpaying for heat via our utilities bill. It took my roommate and me about three months of overpaying to actually do something about it. If something in your apartment is broken, especially when you first move in, tell your landlord or open a service request so they can look into it and fix it. You never know how long it can take to get fixed and waiting will almost certainly make things worse. 

• The Audi A4 2.0Tquattro and the Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD are two of our favorite compact luxury sedans.
• Both cars nearly won the Business Insider Car of the Year award.
• The Audi A4 is powered by a 2.0 liter, 252 horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine while the Acura TLX A-Spec has a 3.5-liter, 290 horsepower, V6 under the hood. 
• The base A4 starts at $36,000 while the top-of-the-line A4 Prestige starts at $45,000. The Acura TLX starts at $33,000 while the sporty TLX A-Spec edition costs $46,000.
• The Audi A4's superior driving dynamics, styling, and infotainment tech won out. 

With the rise of the crossover SUV, the market for compact luxury sedans isn't what it once was. Even as the segment shrinks, competition within it remains red hot. Of all the cars we've driven from this segment over the past couple of years, the Audi A4 2.oT quattro and the Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD stand out as two of our favorites.

The A4 was the runner-up for Business Insider's 2016 Car of the Year award while TLX A-Spec nearly finished in the top five of our 2017 awards.

The current, fifth-generation A4 was all-new for the 2017 model year. It's the latest in a long line of successful compact luxury sedans from the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automaker. 

The Acura TLX debuted in 2014 as a replacement for the compact TSX and the midsize TL. In 2017, Acura gave the sedan a mid-cycle refresh which included a brand new front end, updated infotainment, and the addition of a performance-oriented A-Spec trim level.

We recognize that the TLX A-Spec is a performance trim with V6 power while the A4 2.0T is Audi's mainstream trim level with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, both vehicles are similarly priced and with similar capabilities.

So, which one is better? Let's find out.

SEE ALSO: We drove a $58,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit and a $65,000 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury to see which SUV we liked better — here's the verdict

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First up is the Audi A4. The Audi A4 starts at $36,000 while our top-spec Prestige model carries a starting price of $45,500. A heavy dose of optional goodies pushed our all-wheel-drive test car to $54,275.

Styling-wise, the new A4 is elegantly understated. It's the latest evolution of the modern design language that has come to define the brand in recent years.

Up front, Audi's trademark hexagonal "Singleframe" grille has grown in magnitude to become even more prominent. It's flanked by a pair of Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lamps.

Looking to drop a few pounds? Losing weight is about so much more than looking a certain way or finally fitting into your favorite pair of jeans again — it’s about feeling great for all of the things you love to do. While regular exercise is a proven component for staying healthy and setting fitness goals can serve as helpful motivation when working to lose weight, there are a handful of small changes you can make to lose weight without hitting the gym hard.

Adopt some of these healthy habits for improved energy and yes, even weight loss, without working out.

Focus on hydration first.

Keeping your body hydrated is essential for good health, and drinking enough water can help you lose weight. In fact, science says you might actually be thirsty, so challenge yourself to drink water before reaching for a salty snack.

When you don't drink enough water, your body can confuse hunger with thirst. This is why "upping the water intake can have a huge impact on how much you eat during the day," registered dietitian-nutritionist Lisa Moskovitz previously told INSIDER.

You’ll have an easier time forming a healthy hydration habit if you keep a water bottle nearby during the day and train yourself to swap extra cups of coffee, tea, juices, and carbonated drinks for water.

Reach for water-rich foods.

Another way to keep your body hydrated and drop some weight without adding exercise to your routine is by eating more water-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, melons, cucumber, and celery.

Barbara Rolls, director of Pennsylvania State University's Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior told Very Well Fit, "Water bound into food takes longer to exit the stomach, there's more swallowing, and because the portions can appear large, there are visual cues as well that affect satiety, or satisfaction."

Get creative by adding berries to your breakfast, swapping a starchy snack for a green smoothie, and rounding out your favorite dinners with hydration-helping foods. An added bonus, you’ll likely incorporate additional fiber into your diet, helping you feel full longer and aiding your digestion while you work toward your weight loss goal.

Make sure you're not using too much oil when cooking.

While there are benefits to certain oils like olive oil or coconut oil, it's important to not ignore that they are still caloric. 

"Just because olive oil is much healthier than soybean oil, it doesn't mean that you can just liberally use oils," registered dietitian-nutritionist Whitney Stuart previously told INSIDER, pointing out that it's easy to add hundreds of calories a day just from using too much oil.

Sacha Baron Cohen's new Showtime series, "Who Is America?," caused a stir before its premiere last month, as several Republican politicians felt the need to get ahead of the show in explaining how Cohen "duped" them to appear on it.

The former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the former congressman Joe Walsh, and the former US Senate candidate Roy Moore were among those who preceded the show's premiere with statements explaining their appearances on the series and criticizing Cohen.

In the show's pilot episode, Cohen, disguised as an Israeli "anti-terror expert," roped several Republican congressmen and former elected officials into voicing their support for a program that would arm toddlers with guns to prevent school shootings.

On Sunday, in episode five, the former Milwaukee sheriff and avid Trump supporter David Clarke told Cohen, who was in character as a Finnish YouTuber, that "you don't want to take sides" regarding fascists in 1930s Germany.

Before the show's premiere, Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report tweeted a list of political and media figures he said Cohen had "finked" for the series, including Palin, Howard Dean, and David Patreus, each of whom we can expect to see in the show's final three episodes.

Here are the notable people and politicians who have appeared on "Who Is America?" so far:

SEE ALSO: Sheriff David Clarke told Sacha Baron Cohen 'you don't want to take sides' on fascists in 1930s Germany

Sen. Bernie Sanders

The show's first episode began with Cohen interviewing Sanders, the Vermont senator who was a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, as a right-wing conspiracy theorist character named Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr.

Sanders, with a perplexed expression, politely dodged and shut down various absurd questions on income inequality and other topics from Cohen's Ruddick.

Larry Pratt, executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America

In the strongest segment on the pilot episode, Cohen's Israeli "anti-terror expert" character, Col. Erran Morad, introduced Pratt and several other conservative political figures to a fake program called "Kinderguardians" that would arm children as young as 3.

Pratt endorsed the program and, reading off a teleprompter, said: "Toddlers are pure, uncorrupted by fake news or homosexuality. They don't care if it's politically correct to shoot a mentally deranged gunman. They'll just do it."

Florida congressman Matt Gaetz

Cohen's Morad character interviewed Gaetz for the pilot's segment on arming toddlers, but Gaetz wisely sidestepped the topic, saying, "Typically members of Congress don't just hear a story about a program and then indicate whether they support it or not."

Caffeinated beverages may give you the jolt of energy you desperately need in the morning, but too much caffeine consumption can actually spell trouble for your body if you aren’t careful.

Not only is caffeine a pretty addicting substance, but the University of Utah states that stimulants like caffeine can spell trouble for your heart. Caffeine also has negative implications on your sleeping habits according to the University of Michigan, as too much caffeine consumed throughout the day can lead to sleep deprivation and a handful of other unwanted setbacks including anxiety, irritability, and increased urination.

And yes, it's really important to note that regular caffeine consumption will not kill you, but you may want to decrease or limit your intake, especially if you are noticing more setbacks than normal. To help wean yourself off of a serious caffeine dependency, we spoke to some nutritionists and dietitians about some easy ways you can kiss those unwanted caffeine-induced jitters goodbye.

Below are some of the ridiculously easy suggestions they recommend keeping in mind.

Cut your usual coffee portion in half with coconut water.

"Cut your usual coffee portion in half by mixing it with the same amount of coconut water," said Lauren O'Connor, registered dietitian, and owner of Nutri Savvy Health"Add some ice, and you'll have a refreshing and tasty electrolyte drink you can enjoy in the morning," she added.

Drink more water instead.

"If you are trying to cut back on caffeine consumption, try drinking more water instead," O’Connor told INSIDER. To make your water a bit more flavorful, she recommended making your own refreshing fruit-water blends by placing mint sliced strawberries (or cucumber slices and mint) in a pitcher of water.

Prepare for some withdrawal symptoms.

Registered dietitian Jennifer Masson recommended keeping a lookout for withdrawal symptoms if you are scaling back on caffeine consumption, as she said you’ll want to make sure you hydrate often, get enough sleep, and have enough ibuprofen on hand.

Off-season travel comes with a bevy of benefits, like saving money by buying hot flight deals or scoring affordable accommodations in hotspots that would normally cost twice as much. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy some of the best sights and experiences without bumping elbows with a ton of other tourists. Sound too good to be true?

Unfortunately, sometimes it is — adventuring during an off-season can present a handful of disappointing drawbacks. In the spirit of "know before you go," here’s what to look out for.

Fan favorites could be closed.

Dying to try that restaurant your friends highly recommended or the cliffside lunch joint you wrote down while perusing your favorite travel site? It’ll be a big bummer when you realize it’s not open while you’re in town. In addition to restaurant closures, you may stumble across seasonal hotels, boarded up boutiques, and closed attractions.

Good eats may be out of season.

This might sound obvious for an off-season traveler, but people are continually dumbfounded to find that some of a place’s best produce, meats, and wine are not available during their travel dates. If farm to table fare is your thing or you’re planning to jet set for the food, do your research before you pack your bags to ensure a taste test (and all available dining options) will live up to your standards.

The weather might just rain on your parade.

Before you celebrate by officially booking a great travel deal, do yourself a favor and check the weather trends for your desired destination and date range. Though plenty of places have favorable temperatures year-round and are perfect picks for a spontaneous getaway, others are deserted for real reasons like during hurricane season. 

• Home Depot and Ace Hardware, two of the biggest home-improvement stores in the United States, offer a similar product selection and help with home-improvement projects. 
• Though the stores sell many of the same products, Home Depot's setup appears to be geared more toward professionals — like contractors and interior designers — than Ace Hardware's.
• Home Depot reported on Tuesday that sales were up 8.4% in its most recent fiscal quarter, and Ace Hardware reported in May that first-quarter sales were up 2.2%.
• We visited locations of both retailers and found that Home Depot had significantly more to offer and was nicer to shop at than Ace Hardware.

SEE ALSO: We shopped at a Walgreens, a CVS, and a Rite Aid to see which was the best drugstore, and there was a clear winner

I visited an Ace Hardware store in the East Village.

The store was small and carried a lot of household items and convenience-store products like hand soap and toys. It was a pretty random selection towards the front of the store.

The store had a ton to offer in terms of tools, and it felt more like a local shop than a massive chain store. Everything was clearly labeled in this part of the store, and most products cost under $20.

• Home prices in the United States are still rising, pushing more and more cities into $1 million territory.
• Nearly 200 cities currently have a median home value of at least $1 million, and another 23 cities are projected to join the seven-figure club by summer 2019.
• California is home to the most million-dollar real estate markets; it has 111 currently, and is expected to add 14 more cities over the next year.

Nearly two dozen real estate markets are fast-approaching million-dollar territory, according to a recent report from Zillow.

Zillow's data reveals that by June 2019, 23 cities will have median home values of at least $1 million, joining the 197 US cities where the typical home is already valued at seven-figures. (In these cities, half the homes are valued below $1 million and half are valued above.)

California and New York are currently home to the most million-dollar real estate markets. The Golden State has a significant edge, with 111 cities that have a median home value of $1 million or more as of June 2018. The San Francisco metro area has 46 $1 million cities — the most of any metro in the country. New York state has 30 cities.

Of the 23 new cities to join the million-dollar club by next summer, 14 are in California —  all in the San Francisco and Los Angeles metro areas — and three are in New York. And three cities that had a $1 million median home value before the housing bust in 2006 are set to regain their status by 2019.

Keep reading to find out which cities will soon cross the $1 million mark.

SEE ALSO: Homes have become so expensive in the Bay Area that renting is now a better deal than buying

DON'T MISS: California's housing market has reached a boiling point, and a typical home costs $600,000

Biltmore Forest, North Carolina

Metro: Asheville

Median home value, June 2018: $978,900

Projected median home value, June 2019: $1,005,018

Newark, California

Metro: San Francisco

Median home value, June 2018: $919,200

Projected median home value, June 2019: $1,005,404

Sammamish, Washington

Metro: Seattle

Median home value, June 2018: $945,000

Projected median home value, June 2019: $1,006,068