• Sears is reportedly preparing for a bankruptcy filing that could come as soon as this week
• Sears has said that it is in the process of a transformation that will lead the company back to profitability. But conditions inside some of Sears' stores tell a different story.
• We visited a Sears store in Glen Allen, Virginia, and found empty shelves, broken merchandise displays, torn and stained carpet, evidence of water damage, and active ceiling leaks.

Sears is reportedly preparing for a bankruptcy filing that could come as soon as this week, The Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday.

The company has a debt repayment coming due on Monday, and it's short on cash following a years-long downward spiral in sales and customer traffic. 

Wall Street analysts have speculated for years that a Sears bankruptcy was imminent. But the retailer has managed to stay afloat with loans from its CEO, the sale of valuable real estate, and the slow dismantling of its exclusivity over some big American brands.

The company had cut its store count to 866 stores as of September 13, down from 1,980 stores in 2013.

Sears has said that it is in the process of a transformation that will lead the company back to profitability. But conditions inside some of Sears' stores tell a different story.

We visited a Sears store in Glen Allen, Virginia, and found empty shelves, broken merchandise displays, torn and stained carpet, evidence of water damage, active ceiling leaks, and curtains hanging from the ceiling that hid empty parts of the store. 

Here's what we saw:

SEE ALSO: Retail defaults are at an all-time high — here are all the bankruptcies and liquidations so far in 2018

The window displays outside the store — which are meant to entice shoppers passing by — were mostly empty when we visited in July 2017.

This is what greeted shoppers upon entering: an empty table and an empty box.

At another store entrance, we found an active ceiling leak with a bucket to catch dripping water.

This fall TV season already has a few standout shows that are good now, and have the potential to get into a great groove. So they're worth investing in now before you have dozens of episodes to catch up on.  

While the networks certainly have some stinkers this season, some also have new shows with a lot of potential, like ABC's "Single Parents" and CBS' "God Friended Me."

If you've run out of good TV to watch, or just want to be up on new shows people are talking about, we took to ratings aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to rank the best shows of fall 2018. Along with the critic ranking, we included the Rotten Tomatoes audience ranking, a sample of what critics have said so far, and show descriptions courtesy of IMDB. 

Here are the best TV shows of fall 2018 (so far), ranked according to critics:

SEE ALSO: The 8 worst new network TV shows this fall, from 'FBI' to 'New Amsterdam'

No 7. — "Happy Together" (CBS)

Description: Claire and Jake's married life is mired in routine, but when megastar Cooper shows up at their door, they get dragged into his life of fame.

Critic Score: 60%

Audience Score: 57%

"Given the opportunity to sing, dance and flail around ridiculously in the pilot, Wayans and West try hard and I smiled frequently at their effort." -The Hollywood Reporter 

No. 6 — "God Friended Me" (CBS)

Description: An atheist's life is turned upside down when God adds him as a friend on Facebook.

Critic Score: 63%

Audience Score: 81%

"It's definitely not the worst drama you could find on network TV, and Hall is a likable, charismatic actor. Give it a one-episode trial and see how you feel." -The Ringer

No. 5 — "The Cool Kids" (Fox)

Description: Three friends at a retirement center have their comfortable existence rattled by a newcomer to the community.

Critic Score: 69%

Audience Score: 86%

"It's not particularly ambitious, in form or content, but it hits the marks it assigns itself." -Los Angeles Times

• Waze is launching a new feature called Carpool that will enable drivers to give people a ride for money.
• Riders can filter drivers by a range of criteria, including gender, star ratings, or whether they are a coworker.
• Waze Carpool charges riders 54 cents per mile. 

Google-owned Waze announced on Wednesday that it plans to expand its carpool service to all 50 states, directly competing with ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber. 

Starting on Wednesday, the Waze Carpool app will enable users to find rides from Waze drivers that are headed in the same direction, not unlike Lyft Line and Uber Pool, the startups' respective carpooling features. 

Payment for the ride will be handed inside the app. For the rest of October, rides are $2. After that, the cost will be determined on a per-mile basis at 54 cents per mile, Waze said. 

One key difference from Uber or Lyft is that Waze Carpool drivers are regular people with day jobs, not professional drivers. Drivers can only drive two carpools per day, for example. Waze will verify people's workplaces through their email, Waze said. 

Waze has already partnered with a bunch of schools and workplaces, including Amazon, to get people to use the feature. Waze Carpool will be available at 50 Amazon warehouses, "making it even easier for Amazon employees to save time and money by carpooling to work together," according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

"We’ve been working with Amazon Fulfillment Centers throughout the US," Waze CEO Noam Bardin said at a press conference in New York. "They say one of the biggest reasons people stop working is they can’t get to work."

Drivers will be able to choose riders based on a number of criteria inside the app, including profiles, star ratings, gender, whether you have mutual friends, or whether they are a coworker.

Waze Carpool was previously available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Israel, where Waze is based. 

Here's how the feature works: 

Drivers will be able to turn on the feature in the Waze app. People who want a ride, however, will need to download the Waze Carpool app. Here's what it looks like:

Here's what drivers see:

You can filter who gives you a ride by a range of criteria.

When Disney fired James Gunn from directing "Guardians of the Galaxy 3" in July, it came as a shock to many, and was the result of offensive tweets from years ago resurfacing online. However, fans have hoped for the last three months that Disney would change its mind.

On Tuesday, Warner Bros. confirmed that Gunn will write DC's "Suicide Squad 2," putting to rest any hopes fans had that Gunn would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gunn managed to turn the little-known Guardians into fan favorites of the MCU, and the two movies he directed — "Guardians of the Galaxy" in 2014 and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" in 2017 — grossed a combined $1.6 billion at the global box office. In other words, Gunn left his mark on the MCU. If Disney goes forward with "Guardians 3" (it's on hold for the time being), any director who follows him will have big shoes to fill. 

Luckily, there are a handful of worthy filmmakers who could be ready for the challenge. We've gathered together a list below of some who could take on "Guardians 3" based on their previous work and Marvel's own tendencies when hiring directors. 

There are the obvious choices such as Brad Bird, who already has a relationship with Disney having directed the "Incredibles" movies, and Taika Waititi, whose "Thor: Ragnarok" featured slapstick comedy and space adventure similar to the "Guardians" movies.

There are also less-obvious choices, but Marvel has found success in lesser-known filmmakers like the Russo Brothers ("Avengers: Infinity War") and Jon Watts ("Spider-Man: Homecoming"). Kay Cannon, for instance, proved she has a great understanding of comedy with this year's "Blockers," and Marvel values comedic chops just as much as the ability to direct an action sequence.

And then there are the long shots, the directors who would be more than capable but the studio probably wouldn't consider, or would likely pass given their history or current schedule.

Below are directors who could replace James Gunn on "Guardians of the Galaxy 3":

SEE ALSO: 'Guardians of the Galaxy' star Dave Bautista wants to join James Gunn on 'Suicide Squad 2'

Obvious choice: Brad Bird

Credits include:"The Iron Giant,""The Incredibles,""Ratatouille,""Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,""Tommorowland,""Incredibles 2"

Bird already has a working relationship with Disney, having directed "Ratatouille" and both "Incredibles" movies, whose themes of family superheroics are on par with the "Guardians" movies. He's also proven he can handle a live-action set-piece or two with "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol," one of the best movies in the franchise. 

Obvious choice: Peyton Reed

Credits include:"Bring It On,""Yes Man,""Ant-Man,""Ant-Man and the Wasp"

Reed came on the first "Ant-Man" late after original director Edgar Wright left, but he showed a better handling of the Marvel universe and its blend of action and comedy with "Ant-Man and the Wasp." One could assume he'd be right at home if he were to direct a "Guardians" movie. 

Obvious choice: Taika Waititi

Credits include:"What We Do In The Shadows,""Hunt for the Wilderpeople,""Thor: Ragnarok"

Waititi's "Thor: Ragnarok" is as close to a "Guardians" movie in tone as any other Marvel movie, which makes him a no-brainer. The only problem is that he's currently filming war-comedy "Jojo Rabbit," which could cause scheduling conflicts.

It can be pretty nerve-wracking getting a tattoo for the first time.

Getting something written or drawn on you in indelible ink is not a decision that should be made lightly. It also hurts, unless you're David Beckham, obviously.

Luckily, INSIDER spoke to the 'High Priest of Hollywood tattoo artists' Mark Mahoney during his residency at The Mandrake hotel in London to get some sage advice on all things body art.

Mahoney started out tattooing biker gangs in his native Massachusetts back when tattooing was illegal and now counts the likes of Beckham and Johnny Depp among his close friends. He's even been cast as the muse in Lana Del Rey's music videos.

He's also known as the founding father of single needle black-n-grey tattooing. Basically, there's not a lot this veteran doesn't know about tattoos.

So, whether it's your first tattoo or you're covered in ink from head to toe, scroll down to see what Mahoney said were the biggest mistakes people made before getting a tattoo.

You don't have a clear idea of what you want

A tattooer of Mahoney's calibre has people who come to him and just say: "You decide."

But he hates that.

To formulate a piece of art that will stay on someone's body forever with no guidance, "that's a crushing responsibility," Mahoney says.

"With just an idea I can make it happen but not without a little bit of form."

Even if the artist is incredibly talented, you might end up with something you don't really like, and there's no going back without paying for expensive laser removal treatment.

To avoid disappointment, work through an idea with your artist beforehand or even come with a photograph if you want a portrait.

You choose your artist through Instagram

While there's absolutely no harm in finding artists and inspiration on Instagram and other platforms, sometimes the old ways are best for finding reputable parlors.

"Photographs can be photoshopped and stuff like that so you want to talk to someone that's been tattooed by the person," Mahoney says. "Is it a cool guy or a cool girl? Is it a good experience being there?"

The celebrity tattooer also reminded us that as soon as you sit in the artist's chair, you're in it for the long haul — so you better make sure that person is ok to talk to.

"You've got to be hanging out in close quarters with somebody for 4 or 5 hours. You don't want them to be mean or something," he says.

"I think word of mouth is the original and the best way of finding that out."

You choose something colorful

Mahoney stipulates that this is just his personal preference and that there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting a colorful tattoo.

However, "it's never more vivid and beautiful than when it first heals up," he says. After that, the sun begins to fade those colors and you end up with quite a worn-looking piece of body art.

Meanwhile, "black and grey seems to just be a part of your skin," Mahoney says, "[it's] in it rather than on it."

In terms of longevity, black and grey art will continue looking fresh for longer.

"I think if you get black and grey early in the game you'd probably end up sticking with that," Mahoney adds.

• Chinese electric-car startup Nio, which has been touted as the Tesla of China, went public in the US last month.
• The company is competing with Tesla in China, where the American automaker generated $2 billion in sales last year.
• Nio is trying to win over customers with perks like its exclusive clubhouses for customers known as Nio Houses, which are a cross between a co-working space, a cafe, a daycare center, and an event space.
• I recently a got a look inside the Nio House in the heart of Beijing. It was a calm, inviting space that would be a great place to stop by for a breather before or after a long day at work.

Chinese electric-car startup Nio, which has been touted as the Tesla of China, went public in the US last month. The company raised $1 billion from the offering, falling short of the $1.8 billion target it had set.

While the company held its initial public offering in the US, NIO's main target market is in China, where it is attempting to beat out Tesla to become the country's top electric vehicle manufacturer. Last year, Tesla generated $2 billion in sales, double what it made in 2016.

But Nio officially launched its $67,000 ES8 electric SUV last December and began shipping it to customers in June. It's officially game on.

Tesla has a nearly five-year headstart in China, but NIO is hoping that it can steal a page out of Apple's playbook to win over wealthy Chinese consumers. Namely, it wants to center its company and its cars around the tech industry idea of "user experience."

"If we believe the car itself is a user touchpoint — one of many touchpoints a company can provide with its users — I think the mobile internet would be the applicable business model in the auto industry," CEO William Li told Business Insider this past spring.

A major part of that strategy is offering its customers numerous perks to get them hooked on the company. The biggest perk they've come up with yet is a network of swanky clubhouses called NIO Houses so that NIO drivers home away from home wherever they take their cars.

I recently got a look inside the company's NIO House in the heart of Beijing. Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: The Elon Musk of China explains why its 'Tesla killer' won’t fall into the same trap as troubled electric car startup Faraday Future

SEE ALSO: Chinese consumers don't idealize American products the way they used to — and that's bad news for Apple and Tesla

In December, Nio launched its first production car, the ES8, a seven-seat electric SUV with 220 miles of range. The first shipment of cars went out to customers who pre-ordered in June. It sells for around $68,000 before subsidies provided by the Chinese government.

While the company said it plans to launch a car in the US in 2020, its main goal is beating out Tesla in China, where the company generated $2 billion in sales last year. Nio is working on a number of other cars, including the more affordable ES6 and this EVE autonomous concept car.

But a huge part of the company's strategy is focusing on "user experience," Izzy Zhu, vice president of user development at Nio, told Business Insider. Like Tesla, Nio sells directly to customers at its locations, rather than third-party dealerships.

From an outsider's perspective, Hollywood seems like a close-knit friend group, a lunch table full of A-list stars who all know one another and hit the same parties. Although that, of course, isn't the case, it is true that a number of stars rub shoulders with each other at industry events — and many even go out of their way to help one another's careers. From co-workers to mentors to friends, we rounded up a number of celebrities who have made a positive impact on other celebrities' careers.

Usher helped launch Justin Bieber's staggering career.

The R&B singer famously helped usher then-preteen-Bieber out of oblivion, with the help of manager Scooter Braun. After hearing Bieber's voice, Usher was instantly smitten, signing him to Island Def Jam Recordings.

"I didn't know what he would be but I knew I wanted to be involved," he told "Good Morning America Weekend.""And when I finally got the chance to hear him sing, I knew that this was a kid that was going to go very far. And I felt like I could offer him a lot."

Jane Fonda mentored Meryl Streep.

It's hard to fathom Meryl Streep needing any help, but if someone was going to guide the young actress, of course it was "Grace & Frankie" star Jane Fonda. Streep commended her mentor in a speech at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony in 2014, thanking her for her advice and guidance.

"All of the young actors I've worked with subsequently, in the years following, thank you too, because that lesson and kindness got passed down," she said. "And it does keep going."

Shonda Rhimes encouraged Ellen Pompeo to know her worth.

Ellen Pompeo is now the highest-paid actress on a prime-time drama — and Shonda Rhimes has a lot to do with that.

"Decide what you think you're worth and then ask for what you think you're worth," Rhimes recalled telling the TV doctor. "Nobody's going to just give it to you."

• Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 storm, is heading toward Florida's Gulf Coast, where it's expected to make landfall Wednesday.
• I used to live in Florida and have a few Category 4 hurricane experiences under my belt that left me with a few lessons learned along the way.
• Here's what you should know when it comes to protecting your money during a hurricane.

Hurricane Michael is heading toward Florida's Gulf Coast, where it's expected to make landfall Wednesday. It's currently a Category 4, which the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale defines as a storm with winds running 130 to 156 miles per hour.

As someone who grew up in hurricane territory — otherwise known as Florida — I can tell you this much: A Cat 4 hurricane is nothing to take lightly, especially when it's heading for an area that isn't usually faced with storms of that force. 

I've been through two Category 4 storms myself. The first, Hurricane Charley in 2004, was a beast with winds of 145 mph— and the eye passed right through where I was taking shelter.

The second, Hurricane Irma in 2017, was hard to avoid and I was forced to evacuate; after much debated prediction about which side of Florida it would land on, it hit the west side of Florida. I was taking shelter on the east coast, but the hurricane was so monstrous that I still experienced the effects from the right-front side of the storm, where the strongest winds are.

As a hurricane veteran, I've picked up a thing or two on how to prepare for and deal with the aftermath of a hurricane, particularly when it comes to the most important and vulnerable aspects — your finances.

Here, seven things you should know about financially preparing for Hurricane Michael.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Michael just got more dangerous — here are the states in its path

Manage bills and paychecks in advance

First things first, set up automatic payments for your bills and direct deposits for your checks if you don't have them already — there could be mail delays or you may not have Internet access to pay online.

You don't want to become "seriously delinquent" if you fall behind on your mortgage payment in the hurricane's aftermath, although some companies and financial institutions may extend grace periods or defer payments considering the circumstances.

You'll need cash

In addition to having an emergency fund, you'll also want backup cash in small bills — when the power is out, there will be no other way to pay for supplies or gas (if there's any available), and you won't have access to an ATM for withdrawals. 

There's no rule of thumb on how much money you'll need; it's up to your discretion. But after my first hurricane, my neighborhood was without power for nearly three weeks — it's better to overestimate.

Don't safeguard important documents in the dishwasher

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the trick floating around the Internet about storing your valuables and documents in the dishwasher during a hurricane isn't one you should heed. If flooding occurs, a dishwasher won't keep things dry.

You should have photocopies or electronic copies of your personal, home and property, estate, medical, and financial documents stored on a flash drive or on a cloud. Think things like Social Security card, stock and bond certificates, home deeds, passport, and estate planning paperwork.

But if you're down to the chase and don't have time, you should put all documents and cash in tightly sealed Ziploc bags to be placed in a grab-and-go lock box. If you've evacuated or are taking shelter away from your home, you may not be able to get back for days — and you'll need these things on your person.

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.

• Body pillows provide a combination of support and comfort, so you can sleep like a baby.

• The Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Full Body Pillow is the best one you can buy because it's incredibly comfortable, hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and machine washable.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sleeping on your stomach isn’t good for you. Think about it this way: Would you stand and look to your right or left for three hours at a time? Probably not. If you did, you probably wouldn’t like how your neck felt afterward.

This is where a body pillow comes in handy. It allows you to sleep on your stomach while still providing sufficient support and alignment for your neck. Body pillows are generally best for people who like to sleep on their side or stomach, but there are some styles that work well for back sleepers, too. Pregnant women seem to get the most benefit from this cushioning since stomach sleeping is no longer an option. People who are recovering from surgery, seniors, and athletes can find relief from aches and pains with the right body pillow as well.

What to Look for When Shopping for Body Pillows

Unless you have previous experience sleeping on a specific pillow, you will want to choose a brand that offers a trial period and a full refund if you are not satisfied. For instance, our top pick, the Snuggle-Pedic Full Body Pillow, comes with a 120-night, no-questions-asked return policy.

Fill and cover material are also important considerations. In our research, we found the highest-rated pillows had a fill that is hypoallergenic and breathes well, such as shredded memory foam, microbeads, and synthetic down. Cover material is a matter of preference, but we found that polyester and bamboo seemed to offer the most comfort to buyers.

Many pillows have some off-gassing when you first take them out of the packaging. This is harmless, but you may want to let your pillow sit in a well-ventilated area for a few days before you use it. This will also allow tightly-packaged pillows to expand to full size. Although, you can also help the fill expand and release some of its odor by tossing the pillow in the dryer and running it at a low temperature for about 20 minutes or so.

We looked at hundreds of expert and buyer ratings and reviews for dozens of models before choosing five body pillows that were comfortable and cool, moldable and supportive, and versatile.

Here are the best body pillows you can buy:

• Best body pillow overall: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Full Body Pillow 
• Best pregnancy body pillow: Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow
• Best customizable firmness body pillow: Coop Home Goods - Memory Foam Body Pillow
• Best U-shaped, total body pillow: Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow
• Best for recovering from surgery: Microbead Body Pillow by Squishy Deluxe
• Best affordable body pillow: PharMeDoc Full Body Pregnancy Pillow

Updated on 10/10/2018 by James Brains: Added testing notes for the Snuggle-Pedic and Coop Home Goods body pillows and added the PharMeDoc pillow for affordable comfort.

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

SEE ALSO: The best pillows you can buy for your bed

The best body pillow overall

Why you'll love it: The Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Full Body Pillow will give your muscles and joints support and relief while you sleep soundly.

The Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Full Body Pillow is filled with a combination of CertiPUR-US certified foam and low VOC hypoallergenic Biogreen memory foam. The foam is shredded, which provides for better breathability and the much-sought-after "cool pillow" feel.

The non-removable cover is 56.4% polyester, 43% viscose of bamboo, and 0.6% Lycra. The pillow is 54 inches long by 20 inches wide, and it weighs around seven pounds. This product is designed to conform to the contours of your body and comes with a 120-night no-hassle refund guarantee. Snuggle-Pedic also offers a 20-year warranty, so you know it's made to last.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Snuggle-Pedic body pillow for a couple of months. I was surprised how odor-free it was, and within 10 hours of opening the vacuum seal, the pillow had expanded to its full size.

As a side-sleeper with a history of back pain, I found this pillow did an excellent job of balancing comfort and support while keeping my back aligned and knees from knocking together. The only negatives I found with this option is it weighs more than seven pounds, which is a bit much to move around when you want to switch sides in the night.

Also, the sheer size of the pillow is like having an extra person in the bed. Snuggle-Pedic does offer a mail-in customization service if you want to add or remove fill from your pillow.

Expert reviewers rate this pillow highly. Consumer Search recommends the Snuggle-Pedic body pillow to side sleepers who are looking for a good balance of comfort and support. However, the reviewers caution that this model may be too fluffy or big for some. FeelPainRelief appreciated that this pillow is machine washable, stays cool, and helps ease back pain but would have liked if it came with an extra cover.

More than 3,300 buyers left five-star reviews of the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Body Pillow on Amazon. Vinny Falcone posted the most helpful review in which he calls the Snuggle-Pedic the "most amazing body pillow in the world." He appreciated that it was big enough to provide comfort for his hefty 6'4" frame.

A common thread among many of the comments is that this product provides a "one pillow solution." Several people mention previously using up to seven pillows to achieve a comfort level that allowed them to sleep. Many shoppers were also surprised by the sheer size and weight of the pillow.

Pros: Excellent airflow, orthopedic support, machine washable, hypoallergenic

Cons: Quite bulky

Buy the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Combination Shredded Memory Foam Full Body Pillow on Amazon for $69.99

The best pregnancy body pillow

Why you'll love it: The Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow offers full-body support while keeping pregnant ladies in a healthy, stationary side position.

Designed by a registered nurse and mother, the Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow features a sham-style removable cover made from a 65/35 polyester/cotton blend. The cover is machine washable, but the pillow itself is not and should be spot cleaned with a soapy cloth instead. The overall dimensions of the pillow are 60 by 24.8 by 7.2 inches.

Described as both C- and horseshoe-shaped, the Snoogle has a bit of a hook on one end for head and neck support, a long body for tummy or total back support, and a slightly-curved end that tucks between your knees. It also comes with a user manual featuring six different ways to align the pillow. There are six different colors to pick from, including ivory, mauve, grey, and sage.

Alpha Mom was immediately turned off by the C-shape of the Snoogle Total Body Pillow but found it served as an incredibly comfortable pregnancy pillow. She appreciated how it supports the belly, legs, and head without the need for other pillows. The Sleep Advisor gave this pillow an 8.6 out of 10 because of its versatility and durability. The Sleep Judge also recommends this Leachco body pillow.

The Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow has more than 6,900 four- or five-star reviews on Amazon. The most helpful review is a humorous one from Jordan B. who purchased this pillow for his pregnant wife because she was struggling to find a comfortable sleeping position. The Snoogle helped and also provided a heat barrier between the two.

These comments were fairly common among reviewers, who also noted that the pillow serves as a wall that separates partners in bed. This was seen as a plus and a minus.

Pros: Terrific for keeping pregnant women in a stationary sleeping position, designed for belly, leg, and head support

Cons: Very large, may make intimacy hard, not machine washable

Buy the Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow on Amazon for $46.55 to $59.99

The best body pillow for customizable firmness

Why you'll love it: The fully-adjustable Coop Home Goods - Memory Foam Body Pillow makes it easy to create the perfect pillow density for your needs.

The Memory Foam Body Pillow from Coop Home Goods is filled with CertiPUR-US Certified shredded gel-infused memory foam. The cover is a 60/40 blend of polyester and viscose rayon from bamboo. The pillow is dust mite resistant and hypoallergenic, so if you have allergies, you are safe with this pillow. Coop Home Goods also makes our favorite normal bed pillow.

To adjust the firmness of your pillow, you simply unzip the end and remove some of the memory foam. Be sure to save the foam you remove — preferably in an airtight container for hygienic and durability reasons — so you can make further adjustments down the road.

The overall size of the pillow is 20 by 54 inches, and it weighs nearly 7 pounds. Coop Home Goods offers a 100-day guarantee making it easy for you to return the Memory Foam Body Pillow if you are not completely satisfied. There is also a five-year warranty.

Coop Home Goods recently sent me this body pillow for free to test. And, I was very close to recommending it as the best overall body pillow. Compared to the Snuggle-Pedic pillow, this option has less fill, takes up less room in the bed, and I’ve just found it more comfortable out of the package. I also like that I don’t have to ship the Coop Home Goods body pillow elsewhere to adjust the filling. I can just unzip and remove the extra stuffing.

So, why isn’t it #1? There are a few reasons. The Snuggle-Pedic pillow has a longer risk-free trial period (120 days vs. 100 days), a longer warranty (20 years vs. 5 years), and it’s more washing machine-friendly since it doesn’t have a zipper. If the benefits outlined in the previous paragraph are more important to you than the differences in trial periods, warranties, and the presence of a zipper, then the Coop Home Good body pillow may be your best solution.

The Coop Home Goods Total Body Pillow was runner-up in Wirecutter's review of the best body pillows. The Sleep Advisor also recommends this pillow and gives it a 9.3 out of 10 because it's fully customizable, has a comfortable and washable cover, and comes with a five-year guarantee.

Around 80% of the Amazon buyers who reviewed the Memory Foam Body Pillow gave it five stars. People like that the shredded memory foam allows you to customize the fit in different areas of the pillow. For example, side sleepers may prefer minimal fluff near their knees but more in the neck area.

Buyers report that this is easy to achieve with the Coop Home Goods pillow. Buyers were also impressed with the air circulation provided by the memory foam, which reduces the chance of hot spots.

Pros: Adjustable firmness, moldable, excellent air circulation, five-year warranty

Cons: Bulky

Buy the Coop Home Goods - Memory Foam Body Pillow on Amazon for $69.99 

Buy the body pillow from Coop Home Goods for $69.99

Every US region has its own special words and phrases, and the Northeast is no different.

An object that already has a name can become unique to an area through language — in New England, grocery carts are "carriages," water fountains are "bubblers," and soft-serve ice cream is a "creemee."

Check out this list of 14 things you probably won't hear people say anywhere but the Northeast.

"Jimmies" are synonymous with sprinkles.

In the Philadelphia-Boston area, people don't dare call these ice cream toppers "sprinkles."

According to legend, the name "jimmies" came from the Brooklyn company Just Born, who in the 1930s claimed to have invented the treat and named them after the factory worker who operated the "jimmy" machine, Jimmy Bartholomew.

The nickname still sparks debate, as the Northeast is divided between two types of people: those who call only chocolate sprinkles "jimmies," and those who consider chocolate and multi-colored ones "jimmies."

Thirsty? Take a sip from the "bubbler."

Bubbler is a slang term for a water fountain, or drinking fountain, and it's only used in the Boston-Providence areas. 

A linguistics survey conducted by North Carolina State University shows that the majority of America prefers "water fountain," and only about 18.3% of the country says "bubbler."

Strangely, the slang has trickled into Wisconsin — but "bubbler" (or "bubblah," as some say) is forever native to the Northeast. 

If you need to make a quick turn, just "bang a 'uey!"

If you miss your turn while driving, the answer is simple in New England — "bang a 'uey!" 

"'Uey," of course, refers to a U-turn. And "bang" has to do with the quickness of it — banging on the steering wheel and changing direction. Mark Wahlberg, a Boston native, describes it as "turning around." 

It's a pretty big deal to earn the first perfect score of the season on "Dancing with the Stars."Depending on the number of judges, it could be a 30 or 40, but what we do know for sure is that it's quite impressive.

Here are all of the stars who were the first on their season to earn a perfect score. 

Kelly Monaco impressed judges in season one.

The season's eventual winner Kelly Monaco, and her partner Alec Mazzo, finally captured that elusive perfect score during their finale freestyle to JLo's "Let's Get Loud."

The judges thought Stacy Keibler did a phenomenal samba in season two.

Week five was very good to former wrestler Stacy Keibler and her pro partner Tony Dovolani after they delivered a flawless samba. However, it was not enough to topple Drew Lachey who went on to win with Cheryl Burke.

Mario Lopez earned the first perfect score in season three.

"Saved by the Bell" star and "Extra" host Mario Lopez broke through with the first perfect score of season three after a scintillating tango with his partner, Karina Smirnoff.

• Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases most people will make.
• There are many things millennials must consider when buying a home, like speaking with a mortgage broker rather than relying on real estate websites, finding an inspector, and sticking to a budget.
• After a year and a half of searching, my partner and I finally bought a house, though there are a number of things I wish we had known before starting the process.

I've always thought buying a house was a milestone I would reach by 30. I'd own that perfect, stately colonial on a beautiful tree-lined street in a nice suburban town.

I'm turning 30 this year, and the search for my perfect home has been complicated beyond measure, with the foremost obstacle being affordability. It turns out I'm not alone among people of my generation — according to CNBC, a growing number of millennials are struggling to save any money at all, nevermind enough for a down payment.

And it doesn't help that, as of 2018, US home prices are the least affordable since 2008, according to Attom Data Solutions.

I live in New Jersey, and looking for a home in a town with a good school district that's within a reasonable commuting distance to New York City is a tall order at any budget. According to the 2019 Best School Districts in New Jersey list from Niche, only a handful of towns within a 30-40 mile radius of NYC rank in the top 25 school districts. When you cross reference that list with the average sales price of homes in the area, affordability plummets.

After a year and a half of searching through half a dozen New Jersey towns, my husband and I are finally ready to close on our first home.

As a millennial, here's what I learned about buying a house that I wish I knew when I started the process.

SEE ALSO: 10 things people deal with in the city that people in the suburbs don't understand

1. Review your finances and talk with a mortgage broker before you start hunting

With websites like Zillow just a click away, it's easy to start shopping for a house immediately. But it can be helpful to get realistic by reviewing your finances and your credit score and talking with a mortgage broker first to see what you can actually afford with your income and lifestyle.

I became self-employed about a year before my husband and I started looking for a house, but our lender required that I have two years of self-employment before we could use my income for our mortgage. This meant we would be reliant on a single income to look for a home, which didn’t allow us to afford the towns we were looking to purchase in.

Our broker's advice at this point was invaluable, and while we could have purchased something, we decided to wait until we had a better story to tell through our finances. The numbers are the numbers, and we appreciated the candid conversations and wouldn't have known to wait had we not had a reputable mortgage broker to talk with.

2. Check your credit score

When you want to buy a home, your credit score is more important than ever. Sites like Credit Karma offer lets you see where you stand for free.

This way, you'll know if there's anything wild on your credit report, like a fraudulent credit card or outstanding utility bills from an old apartment, that you weren't aware of. These are things you should address before moving forward in your search.

3. Go to as many open houses as possible

We saw nearly a hundred homes, both with and without our agent. Every weekend, we would drive out of the city and hop from one open house to another.

Zillow is a great resource for finding potential homes, but until you see a house in person, you may not know if it's the right fit. For instance, a number of homes we viewed were seemingly perfect online but completely disappointing in person.

Lastly, you never know what you'll fall in love with — our new home was one of those open houses that we ended up visiting but perhaps wouldn’t have gone to see with our agent because it was priced outside of our budget.

It was only after visiting and talking with the agent that we were compelled to make an offer we were comfortable with. We wouldn’t have wanted to waste our agent's time, but were totally fine doing the legwork on our own.

• Several vulnerable Democratic senators, including Bill Nelson of Florida, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, saw net drops in their approval ratings in the third quarter of this year. 
• Nelson and Sen. Bob Menendez, who's expected to win reelection in New Jersey after being acquitted of federal corruption charges this year, saw the biggest drops in approval. 
• Sens. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader from Kentucky, held on to their titles as the most and least popular senators, respectively. 

As 26 Democratic and nine Republican senators seek reelection in November, the chamber's most vulnerable members made few gains in their approval ratings in the last quarter, according to a new Morning Consult poll. 

Sen. Bill Nelson, the Florida Democrat running for reelection in a competitive race against Republican Gov. Rick Scott (R), saw the biggest drop in approval numbers of any senator: 12 points since last quarter's poll. It's also the first underwater rating for Nelson — 39% approve of him and 41% disapprove — since Morning Consult began conducting this quarterly poll in 2015.

Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana — all up for reelection — also saw steep drops in their approval ratings, while Sen. Dean Heller, the Nevada Republican facing a strong challenge, saw a four-point drop. 

Sens. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader from Kentucky, held on to their titles as the most and least popular senators, respectively. The pair held these titles throughout 2017 and 2018, but McConnell saw his approval rating increase by eight points since last quarter's poll. 

The poll surveyed 359,057 registered voters between July 1 and Sept. 25 nationwide.

Check out the top five most and least popular senators below.

SEE ALSO: A Republican candidate accused his Democratic opponent of 'shouting him down' at a town hall — but she did nothing of the sort

LEAST POPULAR: 1. Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell

Approve: 33%

Disapprove: 52%

2. Arizona Republican Jeff Flake

Approve: 32%

Disapprove: 49%

3. Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill

Approve: 37%

Disapprove: 48%

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.

• When it’s raining outside and you’re staring at a closed garage door from inside your dry vehicle, you’re going to wish you had an automatic garage door opener installed.

• The Chamberlain WD832KEV garage door opener is reliable, works well, and doesn’t have a bunch of extra features you don't need.

Some people think they can live without an automatic garage door opener. They tell themselves they don’t need the extra expense. They might go so far as to convince themselves opening and closing a garage door is good exercise.

Then they’re driving home in the middle of a storm, realizing as they pull into the driveway that someone is going to have to step out in the rain to open the garage door.

After a storm soaks you to the bone once or twice as you’re participating in your garage door “exercise,” you’ll be ready to install that garage door opener immediately. Few things feel quite as good as watching that garage door open automatically as you sit inside the dry car.

If you haven’t shopped for a garage door opener lately, manufacturers have made a lot of advancements in these units in recent years. They’re safer to operate, easier to install, and run more quietly than in the past. We’ve rounded up some of the best garage door openers you can buy.

Here are the best garage door openers you can buy:

• Best garage door opener overall: Chamberlain WD832KEV
• Best versatile garage door opener: Ryobi Ultra Quiet
  
• Best garage door opener for heavy doors: Chamberlain B970
• Best with advanced features: Chamberlain B730/WD962
  
• Best garage door opener on a budget: Genie 1035-V

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

The best garage door opener overall

Why you'll love it: When you want a reliable, quiet garage door opener without extra bells and whistles, the Chamberlain WD832KEV is a smart choice and a good value.

The Chamberlain WD832KEV gives you all the most important features you need in a garage door opener, without jacking up the price for features that may not be as useful. It simply opens the door quickly and quietly.

Chamberlain says the WD832KEV has “whisper” quiet operation. That’s probably a bit much to expect from a garage door opener, but Smart Home Reviewer says this opener runs very quietly compared to other units, which is great if your garage is right under a bedroom or another part of the house that demands quiet.

One of the nicer high-tech features in this garage door opener is the inclusion of MyQ technology, which allows you to control the operation of the door with a smartphone app. 

This Chamberlain opener includes a timer, so you can have the garage door automatically close after 1, 5, or 10 minutes. Amazon reviewer John n Leigh really likes this feature.

Garage Door Opener Pro says this Chamberlain opener is easy to install, and it requires a minimal amount of power in standby mode, so you won't waste money on increased electricity costs.

Note that the WD832KEV is only made to work on doors that measure up to seven feet high. If you have a taller garage door, you must purchase an extension kit. You’ll have to buy the light bulb separately as well.

Additionally, with a 1/2-horsepower motor, the WD832KEV isn’t the most powerful opener available, so it will struggle with heavy wood or steel doors.

Pros: Reliable opener with only the most important features, runs very quietly, includes an automatic timer, offered at a good price point

Cons: Only works with doors up to 7 feet in height, motor could be more powerful

Buy the Chamberlain WD832KEV Garage Door Opener on Amazon for $238

The best versatile garage door opener

Why you'll love it: The Ryobi Ultra Quiet garage door opener runs quietly and can even charge an 18V Ryobi cordless battery if you have the brand's power tools.

If you own any Ryobi cordless power tools that were bought in the last decade or so, you are familiar with the yellow/green color that differentiates these tools. They stand out from the crowd, making it easier to find your tools when you need them.

Now, whether you want that same yellow/green color hanging from your garage ceiling with the Ryobi Ultra Quiet garage door opener is a matter of personal preference. But if you don’t mind the color, this opener has a host of cool features to go with a powerful motor that delivers excellent levels of performance.

Tools in Action says the Ryobi Ultra Quiet has plenty of versatility, as you can plug devices into the opener hardware, like a Bluetooth speaker, a fan, or even an 18V Ryobi cordless tool battery. When the opener has power, it will charge the battery. But if your home ever loses power, the 18V battery works as a backup to the garage door opener, allowing it to operate normally.

Even with all of the add-on options, installation is easier than you’d think, according to Shop Tool Reviews. You'll use a technique similar to what you’d use for most garage door openers.

This opener uses a rubber belt with steel reinforcement instead of a chain, which means it runs with very little noise. Home Depot reviewer JBootheGreat like the quiet operation and says programming the unit doesn’t take very long.

A few Home Depot shoppers say the Ryobi garage door opener sometimes struggles to move the door up and down properly. Jack said the problem appears to be related to the safety sensors, which causes the door to fail to close fully sometimes.

Pros: Garage door opener with multiple options for adding plug-in devices, will charge an 18V Ryobi cordless tool battery, easy installation, will run quietly

Cons: Odd yellow/green color, some potential problems with the door sensors

Buy the Ryobi Ultra Quiet Garage Door Opener at Home Depot for $248

The best opener for heavy garage doors

Why you'll love it: The Chamberlain B970 has the horsepower needed to handle older garage doors, while still running more quietly than other heavy-duty openers.

One problem people have with large, heavy wooden garage doors at older homes is that many openers can't handle the weight. The Chamberlain B970 has a 1.25-horsepower motor, which is quite a bit more powerful than some other models, giving it the power to raise heavy doors.

The B970 is belt-driven with steel reinforcement, which allows it to run more quietly than other styles of heavy-duty garage door openers. Beyond its powerful motor, this Chamberlain model has a battery backup system, smartphone access, and long-range remote controls, all of which simplify the operation of the opener.

Additionally, the B970 includes encryption features that prevent others from hacking the system to gain entry to your garage. Expert reviewers like this garage door opener a lot. The Tool Spy says the Chamberlain B970 justifies its higher price point by delivering excellent build quality and anti-vibration features. Consumer Search and Garage How To also approve of this unit.

One Home Depot shopper says this garage door opener performs reliably and quietly, but it needs an extra component that’s not included to use the HomeLink feature that’s built into many newer vehicles.

Amazon reviewer Finny says the opener works well when you only need to close and open the garage. But if you want to use the extra Internet-related features, such as having the system sense when your vehicle is nearby and automatically open, you might run into trouble while setting them up.

Pros: Handles over-sized and heavy wooden or metal garage doors easily, good anti-vibration features, carries a 1.25-horsepower motor, steel-reinforced belt runs quietly

Cons: Carries an above-average price point, some tech connectivity features are difficult to set up

Buy the Chamberlain B970 Garage Door Opener on Amazon for $254

Timothée Chalamet's roles in critically-acclaimed films like "Call Me by Your Name" and "Lady Bird" have earned him plenty of recognition within the past year. He has previously starred alongside Matthew McConaughey and Ansel Elgort, and plays Steve Carell's son in his latest movie, "Beautiful Boy."

At this point, Chalamet's passionate fans are probably aware of the correct way to pronounce his first name (it's "Timo-tay," but he thinks it's "pretentious" to ask people to say his name that way). But there might be a few lesser-known details about the Oscar-nominated actor.

Here are nine things you probably didn't know about Chalamet.

He was a mascot for his middle school basketball team because he didn’t make the cut to be a player.

He explained that being in a costume is hot, "but at halftime, you can take it off and just relax." He also joked that "if the whole acting thing doesn't work out," he's open to being a mascot again. 

He went to high school with Ansel Elgort.

Chalamet and Elgort both grew up in New York City and attended LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts. According to Elgort, they played on the same basketball team and had the same teachers. 

"No one disliked Timmy," Elgort added during an interview with MTV. "Some people disliked me."

The actor had a rap alter ego known as "Timmy Tim" or "Timmy T."

His most popular song involved statistics and was created during his high school days. The music video has since been popularized by Ellen DeGeneres, who questioned Chalamet about it during an appearance on her talk show in November 2017.

According to Armie Hammer, Chalamet turned in the rap as part of an assignment and "the teacher only gave him a D+ or something."

"I am never going to live this down,"he told James Corden a month later. "This is going to follow me everywhere."

Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, before touching down near Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday morning. The storm has since moved on to Georgia, and is expected to head northeast through the Carolinas and Virginia. 

Even experts were surprised by how quickly the hurricane picked up speed. The storm began as a small tropical depression before escalating to a record-breaking Category 4 hurricane in just 72 hours. 

Officials report that two people have died as a result of Hurricane Michael, while hundreds of thousands have been left without power. 

Though the hurricane has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, it has already wreaked havoc in many Florida Panhandle neighborhoods.

Since the storm hit, residents of Panama City have seen their homes collapse, their roads flooded, and their storefront windows shattered. Officials say that four Florida hospitals have closed due to the storm, including two in Panama City, which have been forced to evacuate patients. 

Take a look at the destruction captured by these before-and-after photos.

SEE ALSO: Photos show the devastation left in Florida by Hurricane Michael

Before: Bo Lynn's Grocery in Saint Marks, Florida

After: The market is submerged in water

Saints Marks witnessed minor flooding on Tuesday, which forced some roads to shut down. This included the only road that leads into and out of the town, which was blocked off ahead of the hurricane. 

Before: The Cooter Stew Cafe in Saint Marks

Hurricane Michael made landfall near the Florida town of Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon. The storm brought winds up to 155 mph, and flooding of over 7 feet was recorded in some areas. 

The combination of those devastating conditions left homes in Mexico Beach destroyed and submerged in water. Florida Gov. Rick Scott said damage along the state's coast from Mexico Beach to Panama City was "way worse than anybody ever anticipated,"according to Reuters.

Based on its extremely low central pressure — a key measurement of a hurricane's intensity — Michael was the third-strongest hurricane in US history. Two people were reported dead due to the storm as of Thursday morning: A man in Florida was killed when a tree fell on top of his house, and an 11-year-old child was killed in Georgia when debris fell on a home.

CNN published an aerial video showing the hurricane's damage to homes in Mexico Beach, which Federal Emergency Management Agency head Brock Long called "ground zero" for the storm.

The following photos show how severe the destruction in Mexico Beach is.

SEE ALSO: 280 unaccounted for in Hurricane Michael as FEMA warns 'people do not live to tell the tale' of storm surges

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Michael battered Florida and is moving through Georgia and South Carolina — here's where it's heading

In Hurricane Michael's wake on Thursday, search-and-rescue teams fanned out across the Florida Panhandle to reach trapped people.

Here, firefighter Austin Schlarb performs a door-to-door search in Mexico Beach.

According to the Red Cross, as many as 320,000 people did not evacuate despite official orders and dire warnings.

Although some people chose to remain in their homes, others were unable to get out in time for financial reasons or due to disability or illness.

The storm intensified rapidly — it grew from a tropical depression into a Category 4 hurricane in just 72 hours, which gave residents little time to make plans.

Sugar cravings are some of the hardest to ignore, and a lot of foods you might be craving are surprisingly high in sugar. Luckily, there are ways to have a sweet snack without consuming a bunch of extra sugar. 

Here are some snacks that are fairly low-sugar to enjoy the next time a sugar craving hits. 

Strawberries or blackberries a tasty option.

Although fruit might seem like a healthy snacking choice, some fruits can be fairly high in sugar. Mangoes, for example, contain 23 grams of sugar per cup.

If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit, opt for low-sugar fruits like strawberries or blackberries, which contain about 7 grams of sugar per cup.

Iced coffee with whole milk is a great choice if you opt out of added sweetener.

Although you may be used to adding sweet creamers and artificial syrups to your coffee, it's not always the best low-sugar option.

A solid choice is iced coffee with whole milk. "Unsweetened iced coffee is much more palatable than unsweetened hot coffee," Brooke Alpert, RD, and author of The Diet Detox told INSIDER. Although a cup of whole milk is typically 13 grams of sugar, adding a splash of it to your 0 grams of sugar coffee won't add too much sugar to your drink. 

The whole milk won't make your coffee overly sweet, but it will add a creaminess, which may help you forget about the sugar altogether.

Greek yogurt and berries can help satisfy cravings.

This is a great choice for those looking to add protein to their diet. Although, Alpert warns that you should always make sure the yogurt has no added sugar.

Oftentimes, it comes down to the brand you choose. Some Greek yogurt brands have as little as 4 grams of sugar, while others can have 21 grams of added sugar. 

If it's not sweet enough, you can add some strawberries or blackberries.

• Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie were married in 1993, after meeting at D.E. Shaw & Co.
• Shortly afterward, the couple relocated to Seattle to found Amazon.
• MacKenzie was one of the company's first employees.
• Today, Jeff Bezos is worth $145 billion, making him the richest person in history.

Jeff Bezos wasn't alone when he made his cross-county road trip to Seattle in 1994. And he wasn't alone when he founded Amazon, the online retail giant some analysts now believe will be the world's first trillion-dollar company.

His wife, MacKenzie, was there for the whole journey.

In an interview with CBS, she described watching her husband build Amazon up from scratch: "To me, watching your spouse, somebody that you love, have an adventure — what is better than that?"

Today, Bloomberg estimates Bezos is worth $145 billion— making him the richest person in history, according to CNN. He's also topped Forbes' annual list of the richest people on the planet for the first time ever. And, recently, Amazon followed Apple to become the second-ever US company to reach a $1 trillion valuation — although the company has since dropped back to a $913 billion market cap.

Here's a look inside the marriage of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos.

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of the world's richest person, Jeff Bezos — who made $6.44 billion in one day, wakes up without an alarm, and washes dishes after dinner

DON'T MISS: Inside billionaire Warren Buffett's unconventional marriage, which included an open arrangement and 3-way Christmas cards

SEE ALSO: Inside the marriage of Bill and Melinda Gates, who met at work, live in a $124 million home, and will leave their children only a small fraction of their fortune

MacKenzie and Jeff first met at investment management firm D.E. Shaw. MacKenzie was a research associate and Jeff was a vice president. Jeff was the first person to interview MacKenzie — a fellow Princeton grad — at the firm.

Source: Business Insider, Forbes, Vogue

"I think my wife is resourceful, smart, brainy, and hot, but I had the good fortune of having seen her résumé before I met her, so I knew exactly what her SATs were," he joked to Vogue.

Source: Vogue

After she landed the job, they became office neighbors. "All day long I listened to that fabulous laugh," she told Vogue. "How could you not fall in love with that laugh?"

Source: Vogue

Some people go above and beyond to make sure their animal friends are healthy, happy, and (occasionally) spoiled.

As these Reddit users prove, people will do extraordinary things for the animals they love. Of course, this is just for fun, as INSIDER cannot independently authenticate these stories.

They taught their dog how to FaceTime.

"I taught my dog [how] to accept FaceTime calls through my laptop at home while I'm at work. Then, we just talk."— Reddit user araghar

They gave their dog her own Netflix profile.

"She has her own Netflix profile full of nature documentaries, and I leave them on for her when I leave the house. And yes, she does actually watch … sometimes."— Reddit user alicemonster

They built their hamster a Lego maze.

"Well, I just made a tiny maze out of Legos for my hamster."— Reddit user gallifreyisreal