• In a new advice column for Insider, Jillian Michaels is answering reader questions on subjects like diet, exercise, and health.
• Jillian Michaels is a leading health and fitness expert, author, and creator of the My Fitness app.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Question: When, if ever, is it OK to work out when you're sick? What do you recommend for a modified workout that will keep up your routine without worsening the illness?

Jillian Michaels: No. Sorry to be so blunt, but really, no. 

I get that exercise may be your your stress relief, your mood enhancer, your sanity. Or maybe you're on a roll and don't want anything tipping you off the wagon. However, if we look at this with a purely physiological perspective in mind, it's simply not advantageous. 

We know that over time, exercise improves our physical fitness pretty much in every way from cardiovascular health to bone density, muscle strength to endurance, and so on. 

How is exercise doing this? By exploiting your body's stress adaptation response. For example: You blister your hand, and over time, your body adapts by thickening the skin into a callous. Or you lift weights and it stresses your bones, and over time, your body sends cells and nutrients to heal them, making them denser. That's a stress adaptation response.

Why is this relevant to the question of exercising while you're injured or sick?

Because the point is that exercise inherently is stress. When you are sick, your body is already stressed by infection and needs all its resources to focus on fighting that infection, not recovering from the stress of physical fitness. 

While I admire your dedication to yourself and your health, if your focus is taking the best possible care of yourself, you will allow your body the time it needs to rest and recover. And under no circumstances is this a time to get down on yourself about being disciplined and going to the gym — quite the contrary. It's the time to be extra nurturing, caring, and loving with yourself.

One area where you can be extremely proactive is with your nutrition. While you may lose several days of "gains" in the gym, if you aren't overeating or eating garbage, there really isn't that much ground to lose from a short time off with regard to your level of fitness and overall well-being.

In fact, you will find your body will bounce right back — hence the term "muscle memory." Which is actually the truth. Your body, using your epigenome, essentially "remembers" your level of fitness. Almost like a blueprint if you will — which is why getting back in shape is easier than getting in shape for the first time. 

Plus, you can be extra cognizant of eating incredibly well. Take all that energy you channel into your workouts and pour it into eating healthy foods that help boost your immunity, like tea with manuka honey, ginger, and lemon, or fresh turmeric shots with a splash of oregano oil, bone broth with freshly chopped garlic. You get the idea. 

And consider practicing some meditations to help your body rejuvenate during the time you might be at the gym. Take a nap or a warm bath. Basically, get your chill on.

These types of habits should be practiced all the time, but if you are sick and can't work out, take advantage of the down time. Put it to good use by practicing other components of wellness that will not only help you heal, but will help keep you healthy in the years to come.

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If you're thinking about starting a business in 2020, it will help to be in a growing industry and in a location with a lot of opportunity.

Business Insider used data from the Census Small Business Survey, the US Small Business Administration, the NAICS, financial market performance, and employment forecasts, in conjunction with analyses from Fundera, Office Depot, and MoneyPenny to generate our own rankings.

For the top 10 industries, we examined reported revenues, business size, capital requirements, and economic forecasts to find out which are the best categories to start a business in 2020.

Our top 10 locations were chosen based on past growth, diversity, and economic trends to find out which are the best US states to start a business in 2020, and the leading small business categories in each.

Equality of opportunity is an essential consideration in our rankings. Research from the Federal Reserve finds that businesses profit when they are located in places with greater equality of opportunity.

Other reporting and research shows that women- and minority-owned businesses are an important indicator of the overall health of the economy, and women are more likely to identify a market need and start a company.

Read BI Prime's exclusive analysis of the best industries and locations to start a business in the New Year.

Subscribe now to read our features:

The 10 best industries in 2020 for entrepreneurs to start million-dollar businesses

The top local industries for entrepreneurs to start million-dollar businesses in 2020

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NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

2019 will be a year of opportunities and challenges in the world of digital media.

The digital duopoly of Google and Facebook will face unprecedented regulatory scrutiny, as Amazon muscles its way into the digital ad space.

Meanwhile, pay-TV companies will continue to struggle as cord-cutting accelerates and TV consumption shifts to digital, and millennials and Gen Z will drive explosive growth in eSports.

Find out about these transformational trends and more in Business Insider Intelligence’s Top 10 Trends in Digital Media slide deck.

As an added bonus, you will gain immediate access to our exclusive Business Insider Intelligence Daily newsletter.

To get your copy of this FREE slide deck, simply click here.

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• We spoke to a range of experts to find out common things that could be damaging or warping your furniture.
• Overcleaning your furniture can make it look worse over time. 
• Not being proactive about furniture upkeep, like checking for damage, can also reduce the lifespan of your furniture.
• You should always store your furniture in climate-controlled spaces and bring outdoor furniture cushions indoors during wet, cold weather. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Furniture is oftentimes a major investment, so it's important to take proper care of it if you want it to last. 

Here are some common mistakes that could be ruining your furniture and how to avoid them, according to experts.

Overcleaning your furniture can cause it to look worse over time.

Jennifer Litwin, author of "Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!" and "Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Websites Coast to Coast," told Insider it's possible to go overboard with cleaning — and it can harm your furniture.

"The problem is that overcleaning or professional cleaning can pull the surface off the fabrics, including supple leathers that naturally develop a beautiful patina over time," she said.

Instead, she suggests you try spot cleaning pieces using mild dish soap and a soft rag.

Keeping outdoor cushions outside during cold or wet weather isn't always a wise idea.

Litwin told Insider that even if you have protective covers on your outdoor cushions, the elements can wreak havoc on them.

"Moisture can stay trapped inside and stain or mildew perfectly great cushions," she said, adding that you might want to store them indoors. 

You should always have your upholstered pieces treated with a stain protector.

Whenever you purchase a piece of upholstered furniture, you may want to pay a bit extra and get it treated with a special stain protector.

"These items should be looked at as investments and to get the most for your money, a fabric treatment will prolong the lifespan of the item," Iantha Carley, owner and principal designer at Iantha Carley Interiors in Silver Springs, Maryland, told Insider. 

Placing real plants too close to or on top of your furniture may not be the best idea.

Christophe Pourny, author of "The Furniture Bible," told Insider that even though plants look good on furniture, they can seriously wreak havoc on it. 

To avoid this damage, he recommends watering your plants over the sink and away from furniture, buying plant pots that won't leak, and thoroughly drying plant pots before placing them back near your furniture.

Additionally, he suggests placing a waterproof, soft coaster beneath potted plants to avoid damaging your furniture surfaces or floors.  

Regularly checking your furniture for loose screws or small tears can save you trouble in the future.

Pourny said you should regularly inspect your furniture, for loose screws, small tears, and other minor issues.

"You should look around and under furniture, check stability and joinery, and look for any damage," he said. "The sooner you catch a problem, the better chance you have at fixing it. Damage undetected only gets more severe with time."

Using cleaning sprays on your furniture is usually not necessary.

Pourny said you really don't need to use a chemical spray or polish as long as you're regularly dusting off your furniture. 

"There is no need for any cleaning product when you are dusting your furniture on a regular basis," he told Insider. "Oils, even the natural ones, silicones, and dusting sprays will create build-up, attract and catch more dust, and end up ruining your finish at long term by seeping through down to the wood."

You could be damaging furniture by storing it in your basement, garage, or attic.

Pourny told Insider that basements, attics, and garages usually aren't climate-controlled, which could damage your furniture. 

"Basically any place you will store your furniture can be a recipe for disaster since those places are usually too humid, too dry, too hot, or too cold," he told Insider.

For example, humidity can warp wooden furniture and certain high temperatures can cause fabrics to fade. 

To avoid this, you may want to keep furniture in a climate-controlled storage facility or have it specially treated by professionals before stowing it away for a long period.

Read More:

• Interior designers reveal the 8 things you should always buy at the thrift store
• 14 things an interior designer would buy from the Disney Store right now
• Interior designers reveal the 10 decorating rules you should never break
• Interior designers reveal the 11 things that will ruin the look of your kitchen

• Insider spoke to stylists about the common fashion mistakes people make when they get dressed in the morning. 
• One expert told Insider that tucking in your sweaters all the way around can make your outfit seem bulky and lumpy.
• Skipping accessories and jewelry can make your look seem plain, according to one stylist. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more.

Unfortunately, it's easy to unwittingly sabotage your outfit with a single fashion misstep.

But there are also plenty of easy ways you can level up your style game while avoiding wardrobe faux pas. 

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when getting dressed and how to avoid them, according to stylists.

Rolling your sleeves instead of folding them can make your overall look appear sloppy.

TV fashion stylist Dawn Del Russo told Insider that rolling isn't actually the best way to adjust your sleeves.

"Don't roll your sleeves —fold them. The best rolled sleeve look is attained when you unbutton the cuff and fold it up two cuff lengths. Then fold the bottom up halfway and fold the cuff over that," said Del Russo. 

Try to remove wrinkles or scuffs before wearing something.

"If you can't steam it, buff it, or cover it, don't wear it. Details differentiate the good from the great," said Nicole Russo, a New York-based personal stylist. 

Tucking your sweater or blouse all the way around might make your look appear chunky.

Tucking in your top can be a shortcut to looking polished, but there's a catch. 

"Most people will tuck a top in all around, which creates bulk in weird places. For sweaters, use a skinny belt worn high up and pull the sweater over to create the illusion of a tuck," said Del Russo. 

And for a blouse or thinner top, Del Russo told Insider that you should pull most of the shirt's fabric toward the back and tuck that into your pants or skirt. 

Proper fit is important and should not be overlooked.

Samantha Brown, a New York-based wardrobe stylist, told Insider that one of the biggest mistakes people make when getting dressed is not appreciating the necessity of a good fit. 

"Wearing something that's too large or too small will never look stylish and pulled together," she told Insider. 

Short of having all your clothing made to measure, you can achieve a near-perfect fit with off-the-rack garments simply by taking them to a tailor for alterations.

Pairing flared pants with flats might make your look seem unpolished.

"A common mistake is wearing flats with any pant silhouette that flares at the bottom, e.g. wide-leg, bell-bottom, boot-cut, or cropped flare pants. This usually makes legs look shorter," said Andrea Seemayer, stylist and founder of A.Lynn apparel. 

She said she recommends wearing these types of pants with a heel, but if you don't like heels you can also try wearing a platform shoe, or a low wedge that can add a hint of height without sacrificing comfort. 

Skipping accessories and jewelry could lead to a boring look.

Though some people may be worried about going overboard with accouterments, Brown told Insider that most people could stand to add a bauble or two to their ensembles. 

"I find that most people are under-accessorized. The proper jewelry, scarf, [or] handbag can completely elevate an outfit. Don't skip the completer piece," said Brown. 

An outfit that's tight or loose all over might give you an imbalanced look.

Though you should always wear what makes you feel confident, Russo told Insider that outfit that sits close to the skin all over the body can end up looking unbalanced. 

"Think proportions — don't mix tight with tight. If the top is tight, go looser on the bottom and vice-versa," she said. In the same vein, pairing a boxy top with a flowy skirt or wide pants can end up creating a bulky look.

If you choose to wear a bra, make sure it functions well with your outfit.

"Wearing the wrong bra under a top can look bulky and distract from the style of the top. And of course, a bra strap showing is always a no," said Del Russo. 

Ideally, a bra should disappear beneath the fabric of your top while supporting your bust and preventing any accidental skin exposure. 

Silk and wool might look great together, but the combo could feel uncomfortable.

Although it may look great, wearing a silk blouse with a wool blazer might feel like you're rubbing a static balloon on your stomach all day.

"Wool is a common cause of static electricity with silk. Wearing the two together causes the silk to cling and become uncomfortable," said Seemayer.

You may want to pair your silk garments wth cotton or another textile instead. 

Always check the transparency of your clothes before you wear them.

"Lighting can play tricks on you. Even though a garment looks opaque in the dressing room, when you arrive at the office with the fluorescent lights, it could be completely transparent," fashion stylist Soneca Guadara told Insider. 

To guard against wardrobe malfunctions, check your outfit under different lighting before leaving the house and reach for an undershirt, camisole, or slip when in doubt. 

You should always check the weather before getting dressed.

Checking the weather before selecting your outfit can help you feel as comfortable as possible. 

"Sweating in too many layers? Ruined your suede shoes in the rain? Getting insight into temperatures will keep you more comfortable and looking better," said Russo. 

If you live somewhere with unpredictable weather, it may be worth stashing an extra pair of waterproof shoes or a lighter layer in your car, bag, or office for sartorial emergencies. 

Dress shirts should almost always be tucked in unless you want a super casual look.

Unless you're going for a particular kind of ultra-casual look, Guadara told Insider that you should never leave a dress shirt untucked. 

"Dress shirts were designed to be tucked in ... leaving your button-up dress shirt hanging out of your pants or skirt just looks sloppy and very unprofessional," said Guadara. 

If you can't bring yourself to completely tuck your shirt in, try a half-tuck down the front of your pants or skirt. This style appears slightly more intentional than leaving the shirt hanging down freely. 

Waiting until right before you have to leave to select an outfit might lead to a sloppy overall look.

"Planning an outfit the night before or even thinking through these factors as you shower in the morning can help streamline the process of getting dressed," Brown told Insider.

Doing so also gives you time to consider factors like the weather, where you plan on going, and what garments you have clean and ready to wear.

Read More:

• 11 times members of the royal family caused a stir with their outfits
• Stylists and designers reveal the 11 trends we'll be seeing everywhere in 2020
• What 20 celebrities wore for their first red-carpet appearances

• Christmas celebrations at the White House date back to 1800, but Hanukkah wasn't acknowledged until much later.
• President Jimmy Carter was the first president to recognize Hanukkah with a menorah lighting in 1979.
• The first official White House Hanukkah party took place in 2001, hosted by President George W. Bush.
• There are now two official Hanukkah receptions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, plus a National Menorah Lighting outside the White House.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The White House hasn't always marked the Festival of Lights with menorah lightings and musical performances.

Celebrating Hanukkah at the White House is a fairly recent development in US history. President Jimmy Carter was the first president to light a menorah in 1979, and the first official White House Hanukkah party didn't take place until 2001.

US presidents now host two Hanukkah receptions every year, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. There's also an annual National Menorah Lighting on the lawn of the White House.

Here's how Hanukkah celebrations at the White House came to be.

Christmas celebrations at the White House date back to 1800, but Hanukkah wasn't acknowledged until much later.

President John Adams hosted the first White House Christmas party in December 1800, and President Calvin Coolidge held the first National Christmas Tree lighting in 1923. Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of choosing a theme for the White House Christmas decorations in 1961.

President Jimmy Carter was the first president to recognize Hanukkah with a menorah lighting in 1979.

The menorah lighting was held on the Ellipse, a lawn south of the White House.

The secretary of the interior under Carter initially refused to issue a permit for a menorah on the White House lawn, citing the First Amendment, according to the Washington Post. But Stu Eizenstat, one of Carter's advisers, argued that the National Christmas Tree's permit should also be denied on the same grounds, and the event was allowed to proceed.

Since then, every US president has marked Hanukkah in one way or another.

A delegation of rabbis brought President Ronald Reagan a menorah during a Hanukkah visit in 1984.

Reagan kept in touch with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, leader of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement, throughout his presidency, even declaring his 80th birthday a National Day of Reflection.

President George Bush and first lady Barbara Bush learned to play dreidel at the White House in 1990.

The president invited children to light Hanukkah candles and play dreidel at the Old Executive Building, which sits adjacent to the White House.

President Bill Clinton also celebrated Hanukkah by hosting groups of children in the Oval Office.

Children from local schools and synagogues were welcomed into the Oval Office to light the menorah and play dreidel with Clinton.

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush hosted the first White House Hanukkah party in 2001. It was the first time a menorah lighting was held in the White House residence.

The Bushes invited members of their staff and their children to participate in the ceremony. The menorah was lit in the Booksellers room on the ground floor, and a kosher buffet was served upstairs, the New York Times reported.

"Tonight, for the first time in American history, the Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House residence," Bush said at the ceremony. "It's a symbol that this house may be a temporary home for Laura and me, but it's the people's house, and it belongs to people of all faiths."

The White House kitchen was made kosher for the occasion starting in 2005.

Making the White House kitchen kosher involves Saran wrap, tin foil, and vats of boiling water to cover and purify non-kosher surfaces. The chefs use only certified kosher ingredients.

Matt Nosanchuk served as the White House's associate director of public engagement and liaison to the American Jewish community during Obama's second term. He told Insider that there used to be separate tables for kosher and non-kosher food at Bush's Hanukkah parties, but one year the labels were accidentally switched.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, a Chabad rabbi in Washington, DC, who works closely with the White House staff to prepare kosher food, suggested making the entire reception kosher to avoid confusion in the future.

"Apparently President Bush said, 'Do whatever you need to do, it's fine,' and Rabbi Shemtov was like, 'Well, you're going to have to stay out of the kitchen for 24 hours before the party,'" Nosanchuk said. 

Bush also began inviting different Jewish choirs and a cappella groups to perform at the event.

The Kol Zimra a cappella choir performed at a menorah lighting ceremony before the White House Hanukkah reception in 2004.

President Barack Obama continued hosting the White House Hanukkah party every year. In 2013, the party was split into two receptions — one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.

"Given how crowded the previous parties had become, they decided to have two," Nosanchuk said.

The two identical receptions are hosted on the same day so that the White House kitchen only has to be made kosher once.

That was also the year Thanksgiving coincided with Hanukkah. Obama was presented with a turkey-shaped menorah known as a "menurkey."

In 2013, then-10-year-old Asher Weintraub invented a "menurkey," a menorah in the shape of a turkey. He raised over $48,000 on Kickstarter to produce and sell them.

"Of course, I said we gotta invite this kid to the White House Hanukkah party," Nosanchuk said. "We didn't use the menurkey onstage, but we made sure the kid was up front on the rope line so that he could say hello to President Obama and present him with a menurkey. And President Obama loved the menurkey."

Obama continued the tradition of inviting college and professional a cappella groups to sing at the event.

Mike Boxer performed with Jewish a cappella group Six13 at the White House Hanukkah reception in 2016. He told Insider the performers usually sing in the foyer outside the party for about an hour, welcoming guests as they enter, and then have a private audience with the president and first lady.

Before meeting the Obamas, Boxer and his group were told to prepare 45 seconds of a song to perform for them. They chose a snippet from "A Hamilton Chanukah," a remix of songs from the Broadway musical "Hamilton" rewritten with Hanukkah-themed lyrics.

Boxer said that their private concert featured some unexpected guests.

"We look over, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor are peering through the door," he said. "Barack Obama goes, 'Come in, come in.' One of them said, 'I love this stuff.'"

Notable American Jewish leaders and rabbis were also invited to deliver remarks at the two ceremonies.

In his public engagement role at the White House, Nosanchuk was in charge of the Hanukkah reception guest list. Every year, the list was built from scratch to include as many new people as possible.

"I went out of my way to invite people who had never been before, who had done interesting and important and valuable work in the Jewish community or in their broader community," he said. "There were a wide array of constituencies and groups and individuals who we wanted to engage with and touch during these holiday receptions. The Hanukkah receptions were a subset of that larger group."

Mordechai Levovitz attended the White House Hanukkah party twice during Obama's presidency, and was impressed with the event's broad representation of the Jewish community.

Levovitz is the founder of Jewish Queer Youth, an nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ youth from Orthodox, Hasidic, and Sephardic homes. He was invited as a representative of the Jewish LGBTQ+ community, along with other leaders of Jewish LGBTQ+ organizations.

"It was really nice to see great LGBTQ representation there," he said of the Hanukkah parties he attended. "I felt seen. I saw leaders of every Jewish LGBTQ organization there, and they saw me."

He told Insider that the White House knows how to throw a good Hanukkah party.

"Any Orthodox Jew knows that kosher food can really go either way, especially kosher catering. This caterer does an amazing job," he said. "There's a room with a huge smorgasbord of food, and then there's a cutting board on the side giving out the lamb chops, and that's where the line is. They are delicious."

President Donald Trump has continued hosting Hanukkah receptions at the White House.

Arabella Kushner, the president's granddaughter, lit the menorah in 2017 with her parents, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

Ivanka Trump converted to Orthodox Judaism before marrying Kushner in 2009.

Outside the White House, menorah lightings are still held on the Ellipse, and the event has continued to grow in scale.

The National Menorah is now a 30-foot-tall structure that requires a lift from a cherry picker to light, and the event is broadcast on C-SPAN.

• Read more:
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• 27 Hanukkah gifts for everyone on your list
• You can now get latkes and jelly doughnuts at Disney World's holiday pop-up for Hanukkah

• As tempting as it might be to treat your pets to something extra over the holidays, you should be careful about what you're feeding them.
• There are several foods that could harm them. Decorations can also be a hazard.
• Dr Jessica May, the lead vet at FirstVet, told Insider December is the month they receive the highest number of calls from worried pet owners.
• She gave Insider a list of the foods and other festive items you should be careful about leaving around when you have an animal.
• With dogs, it's mostly food you have to worry about. Whereas with cats and small rodents, it's the decorations that will get them in trouble.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The festive holidays are time for everyone to over-indulge. But if you're going to treat your pet to something extra this year, there are some foods you should avoid because they are not good for our furry friends' health.

Dr Jessica May, the lead vet at FirstVet, told Insider December is the month they receive the highest number of calls from worried pet owners.

She said you don't always have to worry, but to avoid unwanted surprises, these are the foods and other festive items you should be careful about leaving around when you have an animal.

It's mostly food you have to worry about if you have a dog

"Chocolate, as many of us know, is toxic to dogs," said May. "As dogs are excellent at finding their way to food items they shouldn't, extra care should be taken when storing chocolatey Christmas treats or presents around the house."

Dried fruit is a lesser-known poison for dogs. Grapes, raisins, sultanas, and currants are particularly toxic, May said.

"As many of these are found in common Christmas treats, such as festive cakes or stuffing, take extra care to keep dogs away from them," she said. "We advise against leaving a mince pie out for Santa, too. Even if your dog is carefully locked in their crate overnight, they can be brilliant escape artists, especially when they can smell nose-level foods."

Be careful about disposing of bones as well. As smaller ones can splinter and break when chewed, it's best not to treat dogs to the leftover turkey carcass because it could lead to dental problems, or even hurt their intestines.

With cats, it's the decorations that are more problematic

It's well known that cats love to climb Christmas trees. But May said this can be dangerous if their claws get stuck or they fall.

They're also known to be drawn to decorations light tinsel and hanging lights.

"These are usually fine to play with, but can be dangerous if eaten, especially if the decoration has a high metal content," May said. "To avoid your cat playing with these items whilst you are out of the house, it is best to discourage them from interacting with them at all, placing them safely out of reach."

You should also be careful about any flowers you receive from friends and family. If a bouquet contains lilies, you shouldn't leave them out because they are toxic to cats and can cause kidney issues.

"Inquisitive cats may also find their way towards scented candles or reed diffusers," said May. "The liquid in reed diffusers can be a particularly big risk, as it often contains a variety of dangerous ingredients, including essential oils and ethanol."

If you do find your cat with their paws deep in the liquid, you should rinse it straight away with soap and warm water, but it's likely to still cause a reaction to their skin.

The safest place for small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits is their hutch

It might be tempting to decorate your small pet's cage with tinsel, but May said this is a bad idea because they might pull it through through the cars and nibble on it.

It's also important to watch them at all times when they're outside their enclosure, because they'll investigate any decorations you have lying around.

"Be mindful about letting any rodent pets near your Christmas tree because pine sap is toxic to small rodents, meaning that they shouldn't come into contact with it," May added.

Birds may try to escape during the Christmas madness

If you have a bird, you should be careful letting them near Christmas trees because it might have been sprayed in toxic insecticides.

"Tree sap can also get stuck to feathers, which can cause distress," said May. "So it's best to keep birds away from them from day one."

With family and friends coming and going, birds might take the opportunity to escape, so you should make sure windows are left closed, May said. You should also be careful about the kinds of nibbles that are left around, she added.

"Salty nuts can be harmful and pose a choking hazard, and alcohol could leave you with an intoxicated parrot and a vet bill," she said. "If your parrot will be exploring the household over Christmas, be sure to keep edible items covered."

Read more:

9 reasons why you shouldn't give your kids a pet as a present this holiday

Can you find the hidden puppy in this holiday brainteaser?

Once a year, Berlin delivers unused Christmas trees to animals at the zoo, and the elephants, tigers, and monkeys love them

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• Financial planners are fantastic, but not everyone can afford to hire one.
• I certainly fall into that camp — I'm earning a decent living, but I can't afford to keep a CFP on retainer. Instead, I've learned a few strategies to grow my money on my own.
• I opened a SEP IRA because I'm self-employed, and I invest in the stock market with Robinhood. I also read about financial planning constantly, and actively evaluate my financial health and goals.
• Read more personal finance coverage.

While financial planners are necessary consultants for many people, especially those with significant wealth and diversified accounts, having your own financial planner is a luxury you can probably do without if you are new to building your finances or don't yet have a ton of assets.

It's no secret that financial planners are professionals who make a living off of managing money intelligently, and it's great to have one in your corner. They are especially helpful if you want to start investing wisely and need additional insight. But the cost of keeping a financial planner on retainer may not necessarily be worth it for you. 

You may think you could never manage your finances by yourself, but with a few tips and tricks, you could be on top of your financial health in no time.

As a relatively young person without a ton of savings, hiring a financial planner doesn't yet make a lot of sense for me. Instead, I do a couple of simple things with the money I have, and by exploring multiple investment and savings opportunities, I have managed to build a nice portfolio that serves as my financial foundation moving forward. 

Here are a few of my tips to help you start taking charge of your financial well-being.

Contribute to a SEP IRA

Since I am a small business owner, I don't have an automatic pension deduction from my quarterly taxes or access to a company-sponsored 401(k). Instead, I've set up a Self-Employed Person Individual Retirement Arrangement (SEP IRA) that allows me to save for retirement. 

The money in my SEP IRA is invested in a Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMIF), which, hopefully, means my money will make more money.

Instead of choosing to buy shares of specific publicly-traded companies, VTSMIF gives me shared access to the entire US stock market, which includes large and small company stocks. It's a low-cost way to enter the stock market game. 

As the market fluctuates as a whole, my retirement fund follows. This is a simple way to start investing and save for retirement without having to invest a ton of time into research. 

Invest with Robinhood 

Even though saving for retirement is important, it's fun to have a play portfolio that is accessible if I need the cash. For me, my play portfolio is my investment account with Robinhood. 

I got into Robinhood because I wanted to learn the ins and outs of the stock market and play around a little bit with day trading. Now, I have a Robinhood brokerage account that I can use to buy stocks and funds, options, gold, and even cryptocurrency. 

This has taught me about the stability and volatility of the market, and I like that Robinhood aims to democratize the markets by ending trading commissions that folks on Wall Street never had to pay in the first place. 

Read 

It's the final fiscal quarter of 2019, and you can bet that financial literature is out there and available on the internet for free. Even though the material is available, though, many people are not as financially literate as they could be — either because they don't know where to look, or because financial health isn't their biggest priority.

As understandable as that may be, it is up to you to take control of your financial health in any way you can. You can start with a simple internet search; whenever I have a specific question or don't understand the jargon in economic writing, I make sure to look up those acronyms and terms. 

To educate myself, I read books and blogs on personal finance, investing, and saving for the future. By reading this article, you're already on the right track!

Some of my favorite books for financial advice and philosophy include, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad,""The Millionaire Next Door,""The Intelligent Investor," and "A Random Walk Down Wall Street."

Reflect

Chances are your financial circumstances either change regularly or will change in the future. You may be building your family, going back to school, changing jobs, benefiting from an inheritance, or experiencing any number of relevant situations. In these cases, it's important to reevaluate your financial health and make any necessary changes.

For me, I consider my overall financial situation on a regular basis so that I can make sure that my choices still make sense. 

As I monitor my investment profiles and watch my savings grow, it may eventually make sense to hire a financial planner so that I can make sure everything is managed as intelligently as possible. 

I'm no expert, and there will likely be a certain threshold of wealth where it makes sense to delegate to a professional. For now, though, I stay financially healthy by monitoring my wealth and diversifying my accounts in order to maximize any potential growth.

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• Google's annual "Year in Search" list included a "how to wear" section of various clothing items people were most interested in learning how to style. 
• Some searches that made the list were how to wear a beret, suspenders, beanies, and duck boots. 
• Here are some ideas on the best way to style the most searched "how to wear" clothing items and accessories. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Google released its annual "Year in Search" list, which included a "how to wear" section of various clothing items people were most interested in learning how to style. 

Some of the inquiries included how to wear a beret, fanny pack, beanies, and more. While celebrities have stylists to help them pull off these clothes and accessories, it's not as hard as you might think to style each one on your own. 

Whether you want to wear an infinity scarf wrapped twice around your neck or just once, here are the most searched "how to wear" items on Google, and the best way to style each one.

Berets first became popular in the 19th century.

In the last two years, the beret has made a comeback as the ultimate fashion accessory. The best part about this chic hat is that you can wear it in so many different ways. 

Making sure it's the same color as the rest of your outfit like Olivia Culpo did during Paris Fashion Week in 2019 is a modern trend, but you can also make a statement by wearing a brightly-colored beret that stands out.

"Flannel" is actually the fabric and weave of a shirt, while "plaid" refers to the pattern.

Flannels are the epitome of casual. You can dress them up by wearing them on their own with a pair of jeans, or layer up with a T-shirt underneath as Gisele Bündchen did during the 2015 Super Bowl.

Duck boots are perfect for rainy and snowy weather.

Duck boots might not be the cutest pair of shoes, but they will protect your feet from the elements during colder months.

Pair them with jeans like Elizabeth Olsen did during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, or wear them with a dress or skirt. It adds a casual touch to any outfit. 

Infinity scarves are great to wear all year round.

An infinity scarf can be worn in so many different ways because it's a large, closed loop of fabric. You can wear it around your neck in a single loop or wrap it around twice to create a more snug fit. The accessory can also be worn as a hood or a shawl. 

Booties are the ultimate way to dress up any outfit.

Whether it's a pair of skinny jeans or ankle cut pants, booties will instantly dress up anything you have on. A classic flat or heeled black bootie can be worn with any pair of jeans.

You could also make a statement with a more patterned bootie like the floral ones above.

Suspenders have been around since the 1800s.

Suspenders are one accessory that can easily take any outfit to the next level. Whether you want to wear them down like Channing Tatum did at a press conference for his 2009 film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," or up and around your shoulders, suspenders can be a fun addition to your wardrobe.

Beanies look cool and keep your head warm at the same time.

Beanies can be worn all the way on your head or left a bit slouchy up top as Ciara styled hers at the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You can also cuff them at the front and further behind your hairline for a cooler look.

Plus, you can't forget the classic way to wear the accessory, which is to have the beanie come all the way down so your ears and most of your forehead are covered.

Everyone should have a jean jacket in their closet.

Jean jackets are a wardrobe staple because you can throw it over anything. Wear them over a crop top and leggings like Ashley Graham did during a 2019 basketball game in New York City, or over a dress to make it more casual. 

Fanny packs became popular again in the last decade.

Fanny packs have been around since the '80s, but in the last decade, higher-end brands have made them cool again. Case in point, Sarah Jessica Parker's Chanel bag.

In the last two years, celebrities and influencers have started wearing fanny packs across their chests for a more updated look on an old trend. 

Headbands are one accessory that you can wear any time of the year.

Thicker headbands have made a resurgence in the last year or so. They are easy to throw on and add something extra to any outfit. You can wear them right on the crown of your head as Jessica Alba did during a photo call for her show "LA's Finest," or closer to your hairline.

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• Tana Mongeau's Coachella outfit was the top trending female celebrity look on Google in 2019

• "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" earned an estimated $176 million at the domestic box office this weekend.
• That figure marks the third best opening of the year.
• It is also the third-best opening ever for the month of December, below the openings of "The Last Jedi" and "The Force Awakens."
• Though the opening is a huge figure, for the "Star Wars" saga it is underwhelming and is another indication that audiences are tiring of the constant barrage of the franchise.
• "Cats" only brought in $6.5 million, domestically.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Though "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" may have one of the worst Rotten Tomatoes scores in the franchise (57%), and CinemaScore, which surveys opening weekend moviegoers, gave the movie a B+ score (the first time ever a "Star Wars" movie didn't score an A), the movie is still dominating the box office.

"The Rise of Skywalker" brought in an estimated $176 million over the weekend at the domestic box office, which is the third-best opening of the year, behind fellow Disney titles "The Lion King" ($191.7 million) and "Avengers: Endgame" ($357.1 million).

It is also the third-best opening ever for a December release. Ahead of it are the two other Disney releases in the Skywalker saga, "The Last Jedi" ($220 million) and "The Force Awakens" ($247.9 million).

Any studio would love to have a movie bring in the coin "Rise of Skywalker" did this weekend, but things are a little different when you look at a Disney release, especially from the "Star Wars" franchise.

Lucasfilm clearly felt the best way to close things out with the Skywalkers was to have a movie that basically answered every question the fans have been asking since 2015's "Force Awakens." They even brought back that movie's director, J. J. Abrams, for the final chapter. But the reaction seems to have fans torn. They certainly are going to see the movie, but some are leaving dissatisfied. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger has already addressed the sobering realization that "Star Wars" fans are getting burnt out. Since "The Force Awakens" opened there has been a "Star Wars" movie released every year ("Rogue One" in 2016, "The Last Jedi" in 2017, "Solo" in 2018, and "Rise of Skywalker" in 2019), both Disneyland and Disney World opened "Star Wars" amusement parks, and when Disney Plus launched, its standout original show was a "Star Wars" property, "The Mandalorian."

On top of that, the drama behind the scenes has been well publicized. There were the drastic reshoots for "Rogue One" that had director Gareth Edwards have to hand over the movie to another filmmaker, Tony Gilroy. The original directors for "Solo,"Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, were fired. The original director of "The Rise of Skywalker," Colin Trevorrow, left the project over creative differences (opening the door for Abrams' return). And most recently, the showrunners of "Game of Thrones," David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, walked away from creating a new trilogy for the franchise reportedly over the toxic fanbase. Oh, and don't bother asking"The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson about the status of his previously planned trilogy.

This has all led to "Star Wars" disfunction, which "Rise of Skywalker" had to walk right into.

The movie had the fifth best Thursday preview screenings take ever with $40 million, and then had a $90 million opening day, sixth best of all time. But it did all this on 4,406 screens, more than "The Last Jedi" (4,232) or "The Force Awakens" (4,134).

Globally, the movie has a $373.5 million take with $198 million coming from the international box office.

Both "Solo" and "The Last Jedi" had a second weekend dip in box office of over 65% at the domestic box office. But the results were very different as 2017's "Last Jedi" went on to earn $620.1 million domestically (over $1 billion worldwide) and a year later "Solo" finished with $213.7 million domestic ($392.9 million worldwide). The box office result of "Rise of Skywalker" might be an indication of how long the hiatus will be until we see another "Star Wars" in theaters.

Box office highlights:

• The big screen adaptation of the Broadway hit "Cats," from Universal/Amblin/Working Title, had a disastrous opening with the movie taking in just $6.5 million domestically on 3,380 screens. It's below the industry projection of $15 million. The global total is $10.9 million.
• Sony's "Jumanji: The Next Level" brought in $26.1 million, giving the movie a domestic total of $101.9 million in its second weekend in theaters (it has a worldwide total of $312 million). This will be the fiercest competition for "Rise of Skywalker" at the box office through the new year.

SEE ALSO: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is so busy making unnecessry references to the franchise it forgets to tell a good story

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• This is a preview of The Evolution of the US Neobank Market research report from Business Insider Intelligence.
• Purchase this report.
• Business Insider Intelligence offers even more insights like this with our brand new Banking coverage. Subscribe today to receive industry-changing banking news and analysis to your inbox.

What is a neobank?

Neobanks, digital-only banks that aren't saddled by traditional banking technology and costly networks of physical branches, have been working to redefine retail banking in major markets around the world.

Top neobanks in the US & EU

The top neobanks in the US and EU include:

• OakNorth (EU)
• N26 (EU)
• Atom Bank (EU)
• Revolut (EU)
• Monzo (EU)
• Chime (US)
• Starling Bank (EU)
• Varo (US)
• Aspiration (US)

Driven by innovation-friendly regulatory reforms, these companies have especially gained traction in Europe over the last three years. While the US is home to some of the oldest neobanks — including Simple, which set up shop in 2009, and Moven, which was founded in 2011 — the country's neobank ecosystem has lagged behind its European counterpart.

That's largely because of an onerous regulatory regime, which has made it very difficult to obtain a banking license, and the entrenched position incumbents hold in the financial lives of US consumers. Navigating the tedious and costly scheme for obtaining a banking charter and appropriate approvals has been a major stumbling block for the country's digital banking upstarts. However, developments over the past year suggest these startups are finally poised for the spotlight in the US. 

Neobanks vs Traditional banks

Consumers', particularly millennials', growing frustration with legacy banking service providers, combined with their increased appetite for digital solutions, has accelerated the shift to digital-only banking. Startups and tech-savvy players are redefining the retail banking space and forcing incumbents to either evolve or lose out on this key business segment.

In The Evolution of the US Neobank Market, Business Insider Intelligence maps out the factors contributing to this shifting tide, examines how key players are positioning themselves to take advantage, and explores how incumbents can embark on their own digital transformations to stave off disruption.

The companies mentioned in this report include: Aspiration, Chime, Goldman Sachs' Marcus, JPMorgan Chase's Finn, N26, and Revolut.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Despite lagging behind Europe, recent developments suggest that neobanks are finally ready for the spotlight in the US.
• Three distinct influences are responsible for creating the fertile ground for this evolution: regulation, shifting consumer attitudes, and the activity of incumbent banks.
• Among those driving this evolution in the US are foreign neobanks including Germany's N26 and UK-based Revolut.
• Meanwhile, two notable incumbent-owned outfits have deployed amid great fanfare: Marcus by Goldman Sachs and Finn by Chase. 
• In this increasingly competitive landscape, incumbent banks have a range of strategic options at their disposal, including overhauling their entire business for the digital era.

 In full, the report:

• Details the factors contributing to a shift in the US' neobank market.
• Explains the different operating models neobanks in the US are deploying to roll out their services and meet consumer demands.
• Highlights how incumbent banks are tapping into the advantages offered by stand-alone digital outfits. 
• Discusses the key strategies established players need to deploy to remain relevant in the US' increasingly digital banking landscape.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are four ways to get access:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now
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SEE ALSO: Latest fintech industry trends, technologies and research from our ecosystem report

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• Shopping for life insurance can be intimidating. There's so much information out there that it's hard to know where to start.
• If you want to learn more about life insurance, figure out if it's for you, and get some tips on where to start (comparison site Policygenius is usually a good move), you've come to the right place.
• We've gathered some of Business Insider's most helpful articles to answer your burning questions, from who needs life insurance, to how much, to where to get it.

Life insurance seems like a big deal.

But setting it up is surprisingly easy, and paying for it can be surprisingly affordable.

If you think you might need life insurance, but you're intimidated by the seriousness of it all or don't know where to start, we've gathered some of Business Insider's most helpful articles in one place. If you want to learn more about life insurance, figure out if it's for you, and get some tips on where to start, you've come to the right place.

Who needs life insurance?

If you have dependents — that's people who rely on your income, like children, a non-working spouse, or aging parents you support — you need life insurance. If you don't have dependents but do have debt or own a business, you might also want to consider it.

Read more »

How much life insurance do I need?

Traditionally, the rule of thumb is to get life insurance worth 10 times your annual income — so if you make $75,000 a year, you'd get $750,000 worth of coverage. However, some experts consider that to be a low estimate, especially if you'd want your life insurance payout to cover your child's college tuition, or if you have a mortgage on your home you'd want to pay off. Some people choose to get millions in coverage.

Read more »

I already have life insurance through work. Is that enough?

As financial adviser Jeff Rose says, "the only people who have enough life insurance through work are the ones who don't need it." Employer-sponsored life insurance policies tend to offer limited coverage, and their chief drawback is that generally you won't be covered any longer if you leave your job.

That's not to say you shouldn't sign up for the policy offered by your job — only that you'll want to strongly consider adding an independent policy as well.

Read more »

How much does life insurance cost?

There are two types of life insurance: term life and whole life. Term life, which covers policyholders for a set term (like 30 years), is recommended for most people primarily because it's much more affordable than whole life.

Depending on your profile and your coverage needs, it's possible to get term life insurance coverage for as little as $25 a month or less. When you sign up for a term policy, your payment is fixed, meaning unless you change your coverage needs, you'll be paying that $25 a month for the entire 30 years.

Read more »

I'm going to have a baby — when should I get life insurance?

For life insurance, the sooner, the better. Life insurance coverage gets more expensive as you age and become riskier — in the eyes of an insurance company — to cover. If you can, you'll want to get life insurance before you have a child, if only because you're currently younger and presumably healthier than you'll ever be (plus, it's nice to cross a chore off the list before you have a newborn).

Read more »

What if I don't have children? Should I have life insurance?

Most people think about life insurance in terms of leaving money to their children should they die, but really it's for leaving money to dependents. That's anyone relying on your income to live, including aging parents you support or non-working spouses.

Some people choose to get life insurance even if they don't have dependents, for a variety of reasons:

• They have debt they don't want their family members or cosigners to have to assume
• They want to leave money to pay the full cost of a funeral and burial so their loved ones don't have to pay for it
• They own a business and want to use the policy as collateral to borrow money or to keep things running if they die
• They want to make sure their same-sex spouse is taken care of, even if the courts overturn their marriage in the future

Read more »

Where should I get life insurance?

Every insurer evaluates potential borrowers slightly differently, so you'll want to get multiple quotes to see who can offer the most coverage at the best monthly price. You can start by getting quotes from:

• Policygenius, a life-insurance comparison site. Read more about Policygenius »
• Bestow, an online insurer which offers term life policies for as little as two years at a time. Read more about Bestow »
• Haven Life, an online insurer which offers coverage without a medical exam Read more about Haven Life »
• Fabric, an online insurer geared toward parents with kids living at home. Read more about Fabric »

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• When to save money in high-yield savings
• Best rewards credit cards
• 7 reasons you may need life insurance, even if you think you don't

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NOW WATCH: Behind the scenes with Shepard Smith — the Fox News star who just announced his resignation from the network

• Officials in the Office of Management and Budget reportedly began ordering the Pentagon to freeze aid agreements to Ukraine around 90 minutes after President Donald Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
• The phone call first came under harsh scrutiny in an anonymous whistleblower report, and was at the center of the House's successful vote to impeach President Donald Trump on December 18 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
• The order to freeze aid was revealed in a new trove of documents that were released by a court in response to a FOIA lawsuit after the impeachment vote, detailing an email sent shortly after the call in which OMB official Mike Duffey ordered Pentagon officials to not install new defense aid obligations. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump's budget office appointees reportedly began ordering the Pentagon to hold aide to Ukraine approximately 90 minutes after Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to newly released documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

The newly released documents show a budget official's email to select budget and Pentagon officials shortly after Trump's July 25 phone call with Zelensky, in which Trump discussed former Vice President and fellow 2020 contender Joe Biden and his son and asked Zelensky to "do us a favor."

Mike Duffey, Trump's appointed associate director for national security programs in the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in an email that the administration was reviewing its plan to provide assistance to Ukraine, and ordered officials to not install new defense aid obligations. 

"Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction," Duffey wrote in an added note of concern.

The email was among 146 pages of heavily redacted emails obtained through a court order responding to a Freedom of Information Act request. 

Duffey was subpoenaed in October after he declined to testify voluntarily. Duffey defied the subpoena. 

However, he was at the center of testimony from Mark Sandy, the only OMB official to testify in the impeachment inquiry, who said Duffey had abruptly taken over authority in signing off on documents that concerned aid for Ukraine, which he said made his staff "surprised and they were concerned."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on Twitter that the revelation of the email "is all the more reason why" Duffey should testify before the Senate as part of the impeachment inquiry.

The pause on aid was first introduced in a July 18 interagency meeting, in which Trump first announced the freeze and the administration told Congress the aid wasn't granted because of an "interagency delay." However, it's unclear if Duffey's email was an official action that would officially advance the announced hold based on the call.

The documents were released on December 20, in response to multiple Freedom of Information Act lawsuits from members of the public and third-party groups.

Impeachment proceedings will now continue in the Republican-majority Senate, which will hold a trial, and almost certainly acquit the president. Lawmakers have differed on how to approach the trial, but by law Trump will continue to hold office, only to be removed if at least two-thirds of the Senate vote to convict him. 

Read more:

Impeachment explained: No, it won't nullify an election or allow a 3rd term

The best memes from Trump's impeachment so far

Here's what's next for the Senate vote on impeachment

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A majority of Americans support President Trump's impeachment and believe that he should be removed from office, a new poll by Politico and Morning Consult found.
• Public support for Trump's removal has increased since the House's impeachment vote on Wednesday, according to Politico.
• Trump now awaits trial for abuse of power and obstruction of justice in the Senate, after which he is expected to be acquitted.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A majority of Americans support believe President Trump should be removed from office, a new poll by Politico and Morning Consult found.

The share of Americans who want Trump removed from office has climbed since the House's impeachment proceedings concluded on Wednesday. Another Politico/Morning Consult poll taken before the impeachment vote on December 14-15 found that 50% of Americans supported Trump's impeachment, compared with 52% in the most recent poll.

Like the impeachment vote itself, public support for Trump's removal falls largely along party lines. Eighty-five percent of Democrats agree with the House's decision to impeach, compared with only 16% of Republicans.

Trump became the third president in US history to be impeached following a vote in the House on Wednesday. The president now faces trial in the Senate, during which he is expected to be acquitted and maintain his post. The timing of the Senate trial is unclear as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has yet to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which charge the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The voters polled by Politico and Morning Consult were more divided on Trump's reelection prospects. Sixty-four percent of Republicans surveyed said the impeachment would strengthen Trump's reelection bid, while 55% said the inquiry would hurt his campaign. The Virginia-based news outlet and the marketing researching firm interviewed 1,991 registered voters online between December 19 and 20.

The poll's margin of error is plus or minus two percentage points.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Trump's impeachment process: What's happened, who the players are, and what comes next

DON'T MISS: Donald Trump is the first billionaire to serve as president of the United States — here's how he spends his $3.1 billion fortune, from his 24-karat gold-plated helicopter to the $350,000 in annual alimony to his first wife

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NOW WATCH: Extremists turned a frog meme into a hate symbol, but Hong Kong protesters revived it as an emblem of hope

Digital disruption is affecting every aspect of the fintech industry. Over the past five years, fintech has established itself as a fundamental part of the global financial services ecosystem.

Fintech startups have raised, and continue to raise, billions of dollars annually. At the same time, incumbent financial institutions are getting in on the act, and using fintech to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape. So what's next?

Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has the answer in our brand new exclusive slide deck The Future of Fintech. In this deck, we explore what's next for fintech, how it will reach new heights, and the developments that will help it get there.

Join the conversation about this story »

• "Saturday Night Live" took on the sixth Democratic presidential debate days after the 2020 hopefuls faced off in Los Angeles.
• Moderator Judy Woodruff, played by Heidi Gardner, opened the debate by noting the lack of diversity on the stage as only one candidate of color, Andrew Yang, met the debate's participation bar, making it "Just like the Bachelor," Gardner said, "the further we go the less diverse it gets."
• Kate McKinnon played on Sen. Elizabeth Warren's enthusiasm, by opening with "I am in my element — PBS is my safe word!"
• Pete Buttigieg, played by Colin Jost, cautiously warned his competitors that "tonight I will be in attack mode — as long as that's okay with you guys."
• Rachel Dratch made a surprise return as Amy Klobuchar, insisting that, "Tonight my voice will be as solid as my carefully rehearsed Midwestern mom jokes."
• After some minutes of the debate, President Donald Trump, played by Alec Baldwin, is revealed as waiting backstage the entire debate, complete with large hoop earrings, to face off with McKinnon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was delivering Trump's Christmas present articles of impeachment.
• Watch the whole video below.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Eddie Murphy's historic return to 'Saturday Night Live' after 35 years was interrupted by three of his long-time peers for a hilarious opening monologue

DON'T MISS: Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar won Thursday's Democratic presidential debate

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A teacher at a California school has been placed on leave after allegedly making a series of racially charged remarks. 
• The unnamed educator, who works at the Space and Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy in Palmdale, California, allegedly told her students she would "bring back slavery" and frequently gave them assignments pertaining to immigration and Donald Trump. 
• The school is comprised of primarily black and Latino students, who allege that the teacher also displayed Trump memorabilia in her room and spoke highly of the president's proposed plan for a border wall. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 

A teacher at a California magnet school has been placed on leave after allegedly telling her students she wanted to "bring back slavery," among other racially-charged remarks.

Students at the Space and Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy in Palmdale, California, allege that the unnamed educator is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and displayed Trump memorabilia in her classroom, the Los Angeles Times reports.

According to students, the teacher frequently gave them assignments pertaining to Trump and immigration, and praised the president's proposed plan for a border wall between the US and Mexico. The students also allege that the teacher said she wanted to "bring back slavery."

The school district is comprised of primarily Latino students (70%), the Los Angeles Times reports. Counselors are being made available to students.

According to the Los Angeles Times, this is the second time the teacher in question has been placed on leave for her remarks. She was previously put on leave in late October, and just returned to the school on December 13. An independent investigator is looking into the recent allegations, Ryan Beardsley, assistant superintendent of human resources at the Palmdale School District, told the Los Angeles Times.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 9 items to avoid buying at Costco

• Tom Brady threw an impressive block for wide receiver N'Keal Harry during Saturday night's win over the Buffalo Bills.
• After the game, Brady joked about the play, telling reporters, "I'm pretty poor at just about everything other than throwing the ball, so I was just trying to get in his way."
• But on Sunday morning, Brady couldn't keep from having a little fun with the play, posting an image of his block on Instagram with an NSFW caption.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tom Brady had his best game of the season on Saturday night, leading the New England Patriots to a 24-17 win over the Buffalo Bill to secure their 11th straight AFC East division title.

Brady looked better than he has in months, completing a season-high 78.8% of his passes for 271 yards and a touchdown, keeping the Patriots offense moving against the stout defense of the Bills. It was Brady's first game with a passer rating above 100 since Week 5, giving Patriots fans a bit of relief after a few stagnant weeks from the New England offense.

But while Brady was brilliant with the ball, his best highlight of the day came on a block he threw for wide receiver N'Keal Harry on a double-reverse.

To start the play, Brady handed the ball off to running back Rex Burkhead, who then tossed the ball to Harry running the other way. As Harry came around the edge, Brady was ahead of him and threw his 42-year-old shoulder into Bills corner Tre'Davious White to send the play forward for a few extra yards.

After the game, Brady joked that his blocking skills are not the strongest part of his game.

"I'm pretty poor at just about everything other than throwing the ball, so I was just trying to get in his way," Brady said. "It was a good, hard run by N'Keal and it was a good play in the game."

On Instagram on Sunday morning, Brady expressed a bit more pride in his block, posting an image of the play with the caption "I'll run through a ************* face.. offense, defense, special teams.. don't matter," a quote that Patriots fullback Elandon Roberts had dropped after the game.

Brady's block was certainly an impressive highlight, but chances are the Patriots would prefer he didn't repeat it in the near future, as New England is once again poised for a deep run through the postseason.

• Read more:

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• At age 26, I just watched "Love Actually" for the first time. It's one of the first holiday films I've ever seen.
• The film wasn't unbearable, however many parts of it have clearly not aged well, including its sexist and stereotypical treatment of female characters.
• Some elements of the film did stand the test of time, though, including the turtlenecks, the ability of Dido's music to transform a scene, and Keira Knightley's newsboy cap. Oh, and Colin Firth.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's that stomach-turning time of the year when Netflix is releasing holiday films faster than it can churn out vegan documentaries, teen soap operas, or unholy content that exists purely to serve the algorithm.

I also seemingly can't ride the tube without being confronted by posters of "Last Christmas," with Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding ruminating in eyebrow bliss at every stop.

These festive film cues reminded me of how behind I am in the Christmas movie stakes.

The concept of holiday movies don't sit well with me. They exist in a lawless realm of cinema, immune to the kind of scrutiny reserved for beloved musicals created by Oscar-winning filmmakers— meow — or space sagas with lifelong fans.

Still, Christmas is a time for nostalgia on tap, a time for people to ditch their regular entertainment habits in favor of mindless, mulled wine-fuelled viewing.

I decided it was probably time I allowed myself to try it out to see if it would exorcise my inner Grinch.

I began my journey into holiday films with one of the pre-Netflix alleged greats, "Love Actually," long considered to be one of the best Christmas films.

Fortunately, I crawled from this 2.5 hour flick having learned two vital lessons — the first being that I will never watch this film again, and the second being that guys should really wear more turtlenecks these days.

Here are 33 thoughts I had during my first viewing.

1. One minute into the film and Hugh Grant brings up 9/11. This is a shock. I am further transported back in time with a glimpse of a Nokia 3310.

2. Not two minutes in and the title of the movie has been mentioned, reminding me of a "Family Guy" scene.

Watch the scene from "Family Guy" here.

3. Is this footage of real people? If so, I feel quite fragile because I've never actually been greeted at Heathrow before, and I really struggle to navigate the London tube system alone with my car-sized suitcase.

4. Bill Nighy is sporting one of those patchwork blouses that every basic boy in Shoreditch wears. Chuck on a crop beanie and needle in some tats.

5. I like the mischievous smile Nighy gives when he mentions his Christmas track is a dumpster fire. This kind of self-awareness gives me hope for the sentimental cash-grab to follow.

6. Colin Firth mentions he loves his cozy sweater-wearing, effortlessly tousled girlfriend even when she's sick and looks "disgusting." There is nothing remotely gross about her. Her nose is just red.

7. Not five minutes in and we're presented with a third storyline. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up at this point. I have white face blindness and will forget these characters instantly.

8. Say, is there a name for that idiosyncratic flute trill that sounds during every rom-com to signal light sexual intrigue? I hear it now, and guess what? It's not arousing me in the slightest.

9. Where in Dick Curtis' name were they hiding an entire New Orleans parade of brass instruments? Are all guests musically trained? Was that a requirement for an invite? I only ask this because if it were my wedding, my friends and family would struggle to produce something other than a guitar that hasn't been tuned in a while.

10. Laura Linney and this boy look like siblings.

11. You'll find this character in most hostels. He'll be spending most of his time in his bunk watching "The Big Bang Theory," dining heavily on his conviction that chicks apparently dig his accent.

12. I get that it's said in tough love, but Emma Thompson's character saying: "Get a grip, people hate sissies" was hard to hear. A turtleneck-clad Liam Neeson is grieving his very dead wife yet he's not permitted to cry. Even Neeson isn't free from the burdens of toxic masculinity, it would appear.

13. There's no denying that Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Alan Rickman had the same hair stylist on set. A lot of tress twinning happening here.

14. I spy a half-complete Gherkin! The building in its cucumber phase. This reminds me of hummus, so I take my first snack break. I didn't know it yet, but this would be the first of six during the film.

15. I'm going to need a little insight into Linney's butterfly brooches. Are these for some kind of awareness day, or is she just keen on heinous clothing trinkets? Wardrobe, are we sure these touches enhance her character?

16. Who is seriously planning an office Christmas party three weeks before Christmas? Get it together!

17. Firth's massive cardigan here exudes noticeable BDE*.

*Explanation of BDE can be found here.

18. There I was prematurely thinking the cardigan was Best Supporting Knit of the film, and then this big daddy, hygge-the-halls turtleneck swaggers in!

19. "Our special relationship is still very special." Really? I know the filmmakers didn't want to bore rom-com lovers with foreign affairs chat, but surely they could have written the US president to sound more convincing and less like he was being paid $10 to deliver a testimonial in a matchmaking infomercial.

20. The radio station is blasting a song by a Californian R&B group after saying it would like to play something "patriotic" for Britain?

Watch Hugh Grant dance to The Pointer Sisters here.

21. Firth's jumbo cardigan returns and the typewriter gets some much-deserved screen time. Seconds later, the turtleneck returns. What is the rhyme or reason to these alternating knits? Is it weather dependent or something more connected to mood and sexual tension?

22. Keira Knightley's sartorial energy here is dangerously close to a young Robert De Niro in "Godfather II." Also, Knightley's character has no other traits aside from simply being nice. She's been written to simply be cute to the boys and to deliver some career-defining chin acting. Besides, is she even of legal age to wed?

See De Niro here.

23. Knightley legitimately just said: "I'm nice. I really am," proving I am an oracle.

24. I love Dido. I can't wait to stride to work through the frigid January air and blast "Here With Me." I'm pleased this movie has given me at least that. However, I'm not convinced this bloke and Knightley's story arc merited this fire track quite so soon. Still, I'm grateful that the guy zips up his sweater right on the beat. I'm imagining a thunderous round of high-fiving in the editing suite.

25. Wait wait wait. Natalie is being called "chubby?" What is with British rom-coms really hammering the opinion that average-sized women are chubby? "Bridget Jones's Diary," I am looking at you.

26. Did this elf just call his dad Daniel? Oh. Only now just realizing Neeson is the stepdad. In an alternate cinematic universe is his blood daughter in "Taken" the child he has with Claudia Schiffer?

27. Who is driving around central London in their own car after a big Christmas party? Also, I'm so erotically confused that this hunk is the bejewelled king Xerxes in "300."

See him in "300" here.

28. What is with this gratuitous and morose strip scene that involves far too much red (we get it, she's the archetypal temptress! Scarlet lingerie = slut!) and a bedroom that looks like an Ikea display room that didn't quite make it to store? This film is obsessed with reducing its female characters to submissive stereotypes.

29. Before the May Queen scene in "Midsommar," this was cinema's most suspenseful scene involving florals.

See the scene I'm talking about here.

30. The Emma Thompson weeping to Joni Mitchell scene could have been three to four hours shorter.

31. I notice that one of Neeson's fingers is the size of his on-screen son's head. Moreover, their familial bond is the only love story I'm vouching for in this movie.

32. How the hell does Mr. Darcy know exactly where his crush's family lives?

33. Films like "Memento" and "The Prestige" have mastered the cinematic technique of beginning the film with the ending. When "Love Actually" tries this with the airport arrivals scene, it's feloniously sappy and overdone. There is more swelling music than dialogue.

• In 2018, over 600,000 people in the US were charged with possessing marijuana.
• Despite making up only about 31% of the population, blacks and Latinos accounted for nearly half of all weed arrests, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.
• The legal cannabis industry is exploding, but overwhelmingly run by white owners.
• A long history of targeted arrests against minorities, laws preventing former inmates from operating legal dispensaries, and high application, and operation costs make it difficult for people of color to enter into the industry. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The following is a transcript of the video.

Alana Yzola: In 2018, over 600,000 people in the United States were charged for possessing marijuana. Not for running some massive weed drug cartel. For simply having it on them. And despite making up only 31% of the population, blacks and Latinos accounted for nearly half of all weed arrests.

At the same time, the US cannabis industry was and still is exploding. And between 80% to 90% of the industry is run by white owners. So, not only are blacks and Latinos more likely to get in trouble for selling and having weed, now that it's becoming legal, they're nearly shut out of the industry. Somewhere along the line, legal weed became a rich white business.

So, how did this happen?

Cannabis' history of legality is deep-rooted in racism. Back in the 1800s, the plant was used for paper, textiles, and medicine. But when Mexican migrants sought refuge in the United States in the early 1900s, they brought with them the practice of smoking the plant, which they called marijuana. A xenophobic campaign followed suit. The Great Depression's widespread unemployment heightened fears of Mexican immigrants, and poor research linked cannabis with violence and social deviance.

In 1936, a film titled "Reefer Madness" depicted the drug as the cause of sexual assault, murder, and basically complete teenage destruction.

[Clip from "Reefer Madness"]: Marijuana, the burning weed with its roots in hell.

Yzola: In 1937, Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner Harry Anslinger brought forth the Marihuana Tax Act. Yeah, he spelled it with an H. He used unsupported claims to blame weed for the cause of social destruction and linked it with blacks and Latinos. The 1951 Boggs Act created mandatory sentencing for drug-related offenses. Congress repealed them in 1970, but Presidents Nixon and Reagan reintroduced them in new ways in the later '70s and '80s. During those decades, minority communities were hit extra hard by over-policing. One of Nixon's top advisers admitted that the war on drugs was a tactic to bring down "the antiwar left and black people." And heavy policing in minority communities is still rampant.

Queen Adesuyi: We know that the case with Philando Castile, part of the justification for the officer claiming fear for his life was because the car smelled like marijuana. How can we in the same breath bring forth an industry that's making extremely wealthy white men more wealthy without considering how we can repair those harms?

Yzola: Making matters worse, people who've gone to prison for weed are barred from selling it. Even legally. That's a huge problem for someone like Edward Forchion.

Edward Forchion: They're making it legal for corporations. Guys like me, who went to prison for selling weed, are watching as rich white guys are now making millions doing the exact same thing I went to prison for.

Yzola: Forchion has been a weed enthusiast for decades, seeing its potential long before medical marijuana became legal in New Jersey. He's opened a weed-themed restaurant with a smoke shop next door. He also ran for the 2019 New Jersey State Assembly under his self-made Legalize Marijuana Party. He got 4.2% of the vote. But he's been arrested for weed-related offenses in the past.

Forchion: On November 24, 1997, I was arrested. It was a first-degree charge for possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy. Narrator: He took a plea deal, but he was facing 20 years. Forchion: In 2010, I was convicted of simple possession. And, normally, no one goes to prison for simple possession, but I got nine months.

Yzola: Now that medical weed is legal in his state, he's completely shut out of the business.

Forchion: So, Debbie Madaio's my partner. Debbie, she has no felonies, I have a felony. Debbie could probably go through the process to get ownership, but just my name, just the fact that I would be on the paperwork, would invalidate her application. Just the fact that I'm a felon, I can't be on the paperwork.

Yzola: In other words, if his name can't be on the dispensary paperwork, he wouldn't have official ownership. In protest, Forchion is selling cannabis illegally out of his adjacent smoke shop, which is right across the street from City Hall. He's using the hashtag #SellingWeedLikeImWhite, practically daring the city to arrest him.

Forchion: You know, you can't change laws or move the line without stepping over the line. I'm a big believer in civil disobedience. I welcome whatever challenge the state comes at me with.

Yzola:  But what about states that are more weed-friendly, like Colorado? They legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, and by 2017, they passed a law that made it possible for felons with marijuana convictions to get their records cleared. That's great, right? Turns out getting the record scrubbed clean isn't as simple as it seems, and that's something dispensary owner Wanda James knows all about.

Wanda James: For us, it became more of a political statement. There have been members of my family that have been arrested. My brother did 10 years because of a small amount of cannabis, 4 ounces, and for that he ended up picking cotton every day for four years in Texas. This was shocking to me when I learned this. While we've always known it was illegal, I'd never known that it was punitive. In other words, everybody that I've ever known that's been caught here in Colorado, i.e. white folks, it's been mostly, "Give us that, we're gonna throw it away," you know, "Don't let me catch you smoking pot anymore." You know, it's always been a warning.

Yzola: The shock of her brother's arrest and sentencing inspired her not only to open a dispensary, but to help other minorities trying to break into the business. Out of the over 2,000 licensed dispensaries in Colorado, James estimates that less than 20 are owned by blacks and Latinos. And, as the first African American to own a dispensary in the state, James says one of the biggest roadblocks is getting weed convictions cleared.

In 2017, Colorado passed a bill that could seal records of misdemeanor cannabis use and possession convictions. But sealing the records wouldn't completely erase them. It would just make them unavailable to the public. In other words, a potential employer could see that you were convicted of a misdemeanor but wouldn't know why. Colorado's Turn Over a New Leaf Program allows those with past convictions to apply to have their records vacated, which would dismiss the charges and seal the record.

But Colorado's processes are in no way automatic. Out of the 17,000 people eligible, only 71 people have cleared their records as of October 2019. The process requires digging into all of your records, which can be difficult to track down. Not to mention, any cases that don't specifically consist of marijuana charges would be ineligible. So, if your charge is for drug paraphernalia possession and you can't find the record that says "marijuana" paraphernalia possession, the record itself would be unclear and you could have a hard time getting the record erased.

Adesuyi: The biggest issues faced by people of color in the industry is that when people are rolling back prohibition, there hasn't been a focus on censoring of communities most impacted.

James: All of those people that want to have their records expunged or sealed have to go through a process to do so. You have to hire an attorney; you have to meet with the AG of the state that you are in to see if they will seal or expunge your record.

Yzola: Legal fees are just one of the many costs associated with starting a legal cannabis business. For communities that haven't benefited from generational wealth and support, securing the necessary capital is difficult. Throughout American history, minority communities have been heavily policed, denied equal pay and job opportunities, forced into neighborhoods through redlining, and then forced out of those same neighborhoods through gentrification.

Amber Littlejohn: What we see as the biggest stumbling block is actually access to capital and necessary to fund the exorbitant costs of participating in this industry.

Yzola: Since weed is still illegal on the federal level, prospective dispensary owners can't get a bank loan to open a business. Meanwhile, big hedge funds have been investing in weed since before it was even officially legal. And this has set up the biggest players in the game for success.

Take MedMen, for instance. MedMen is a high-end dispensary operating mainly out of California, where recreational cannabis is legal. It prides itself on basically being the Apple store of weed. Attentive staff, sleek paraphernalia, glass display cases, and a superhigh price tag. MedMen was founded back in 2010, eight years before California allowed licensed shops to sell recreational weed.

Before the company went public, it made $110 million in private placement investments. When profits dipped because of high taxes and dispensary restrictions, it was able to secure a $100 million loan from a cannabis-focused investment company.

Today, the $1.6 billion company is continuing to expand at rates faster than the legal system. Out of the six states it has offices in, only three of those states have made recreational cannabis legal.

If we look at small minority businesses as a whole, they're statistically less likely to receive investments. Out of all venture-capital-backed businesses in the US, only 1% were black-owned and 1.8% were Latino owned. This makes it hard for owners to hire more employees, expand, or deal with unexpected profit losses. For the weed industry, charges pile up long before you're even approved for a license. By the time your application goes through, you're looking at costs within the millions.

Littlejohn: Starting simply from the point of application, we have some states where the application fees themselves, for a single facility, are tens of thousands of dollars. Now, that doesn't include the additional capitalization requirements that many states have that can enter into hundreds of thousands of dollars per location and per license.

James: When you're giving out less than 60 licenses in a state or five licenses in a state, it's going to cost you anywhere between $50,000 and $250,000 to have a technical writer write your application for you.

Yzola: While the application is processing, you're also required to either own or rent a commercial property. This means, for the time it takes for you to get approved, you're paying rent or mortgage on a space you can't even legally use for profit yet.

Littlejohn: I talked to a woman who lost her home because she was trying to finance her cannabis business and had to wait so long.

Yzola: Current owners, activists, and nonprofits are working to eliminate these roadblocks. But it all starts with people in communities of color at the forefront of policy change.

James: The reason why it's extremely important that we have black and brown ownership is because this industry was built on our back. So when you have 800,000 arrests a year and 85% of them were black and brown and we were targeted by police departments to work in privatized prison systems as slave labor, we are owed these licenses. We are owed the opportunity to be owners in this industry. And states need to make that so.

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