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https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Your-Throat-from-Hurting

How to Stop Your Throat from Hurting

To stop your throat from hurting, start by drinking hot liquids like tea with honey and lemon or a broth-based soup, which will help soothe the pain while providing nutrients. For more severe sore throats, take menthol throat lozenges and over-the-counter pain medication like cough drops or sough syrup to alleviate any discomfort. If you are having trouble sleeping, run a humidifier in your room overnight.

Stay hydrated. Drink a lot of water and other liquids designed to replenish nutrients in your body. Sports drinks are normally great options. They rehydrate you fast and come in great flavors. Drinking a lot of liquids can also help wash away thin layers of mucus or other allergens that may have coated your throat, resulting in inflammation and discomfort. Drink orange juice. Orange juice is filled with vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Vitamin C is crucial to the health of bones, muscles, and blood vessels. Many people swear by vitamin C supplements, but no medical studies have proven whether or not vitamin C actually affects the length of the common cold. Try making hot tea. Chamomile tea, mixed with a little honey and lemon, is a great way to soothe your throat. Grocery stores offer teas specifically designed to combat irritated throats too. Most work equally well as normal chamomile tea with honey and lemon. Drink hot soup. Chicken soup is a classic at-home remedy for sore throats. Soups have a lot of nutrients and are soothing to your throat. Stick to soups that are primarily broth based. Chunkier soups may further irritate your throat. Make a “hot toddy”. Oftentimes, you will just have to wait until your throat gets better on its own. In order to numb the pain in the meantime, try a hot toddy. Choose a hot beverage you enjoy like coffee, tea, cider, hot chocolate, or simply hot water with lemon or honey in it. Many will add cinnamon also. What makes a hot toddy effective is the alcohol or spirits you add next. Traditionally, hot toddies are made with whiskey, brandy, or rum. The warm liquid will soothe your throat. The liquor will take your mind off of your troubles. Try garlic broth. Many believe garlic to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Many also think that garlic can build your immune system. While no firm proof exists to support this theory, many holistic practitioners prescribe drinking garlic broth. Peel and crush 2 garlic cloves. Pour a cup of boiling water over them. Add salt to improve the taste. If you prefer the taste of ginger over garlic, feel free to replace the garlic in the above recipe with ginger. Ginger helps to clear up sinuses and ease sore throats. Gargle with warm salt water. Dissolve 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water. Gargle salt water four times a day. Don't drink the salt water as it will dehydrate you faster. Don't just swish the salt water around in your mouth. Be sure to gargle it. Get it in the back of your mouth and let the salt do its job. Salt sucks all the moisture out of your throats inflamed tissue. Harmful bacteria need this moisture to survive. So salt will both reduce the inflammation in the back of your throat. You can gargle Listerine too. The antiseptics in the Listerine meant to attack plaque and harmful bacteria in your mouth will also help fight infections in your throat. It will sting at first, but will quickly get better. Dab honey and cayenne pepper on your throat. Mix some honey and cayenne pepper together. Use a Q-tip to rub the concoction on the back of your throat. Cayenne pepper is a natural anti-inflammatory, which will reduce the swelling of your throat. The honey helps the cayenne pepper stick to the back of your throat. Make a hydrogen peroxide rinse at home. You can find hydrogen peroxide at any grocery store or pharmacy. It is a mild anti-septic that will kill off most bacteria that may be irritating your throat. Take a capful of hydrogen peroxide and mix it with a tablespoon of water and a dash of lemon juice for flavor. Put it in your mouth and swish it around, making sure that it hits the back of your throat. Spit it out after a minute. Use a vapor rub on your nose or chest. Most vapor rubs are intended to help decongest your nose. The mint in the rub can also help soothe sore throats. Pick up vapor rubs at any grocery store or pharmacy. Eat marshmallows. This seems strange at first. For centuries, people have used marshmallows to soothe sore throats. The gelatin in the marshmallow coats the back of your throat, protecting it from other irritants. Soothe your throat with a warm compress. Wrap a warm compress, like a warm heating pad, a hot water bottle, or a warm, damp cloth, around the outside of your throat. We often soothe sore throats from within, but forget that we can help reduce pain and irritation from the outside too. Use a humidifier. Humidifiers increase the moisture content in the air. If your throat is dry and scratchy, a humidifier can make you more comfortable. Use one in your bedroom at night to help you sleep. You can also take longer hot showers. The moist air in the shower will act just like a humidifier. Use over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen work well. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Advil or Aleve are probably already in your medicine cabinet and will help reduce throat swelling. Find a cough syrup. Cough syrups aren't just for coughs. They treat most throat issues too. Pay close attention to cough syrup side effects. Many formulas cause drowsiness. If you are headed to work, about to get in the car, or going to operate heavy machinery, choose a non-drowsy formula. Purchase an anesthetic throat spray. Most throat sprays contain a numbing agent, which numbs your throat and reduces swelling that causes discomfort. Try using throat lozenges. Like anti-septic sprays, many “cough drops” also contain numbing agents (in this case, menthol), which will reduce swelling and numb the back of your throat. They come in all different flavors and strengths. Try a couple of different kinds to see what you like best. Be sure to read the details on the package to see how many you can take in a day. Breathe through your nose. Breathing through your nose can help to keep moisture inside of your throat, which may help to prevent your throat from hurting. Avoid breathing through your mouth and try to breathe through your nose. Avoid pollution and other allergens. Stay indoors during smog days. Limit your outdoor activities at times of the year when common allergens like pollen and ragweed saturate the air. Avoid talking. When you talk, air rushes through your throat. This added activity can further irritate your throat, leading to prolonged inflammation. Stick to foods that are easy to swallow. Try a plain popsicle, which will cool your throat, and may numb it additionally from the pain. However, if it seems to be getting worse because of the popsicle, do not continue to suck on it, and instead, some warm water with honey may soothe it. Ice cream is not recommended. Don’t smoke. The tar from cigarettes and second hand smoke can further irritate the lining of your throat. If you suffer from repeated sore throats and suspect that smoking may be the cause, visit your doctor. Consider quitting. See a doctor. In some situation, you may need to get medical treatment for a sore throat. Seek medical help if: The condition does not improve after a couple of days. There is a fever present, swollen glands, or patches of white forming in the throat. These maybe signs of strep throat. The inside of your throat is scratched or bleeding. Your sore throat is coupled with stomach pains. You may have acid reflux issues.

Stay hydrated. Drink orange juice. Try making hot tea. Drink hot soup. Make a “hot toddy”. Try garlic broth. Gargle with warm salt water. Dab honey and cayenne pepper on your throat. Make a hydrogen peroxide rinse at home. Use a vapor rub on your nose or chest. Eat marshmallows. Soothe your throat with a warm compress. Use a humidifier. Use over-the-counter pain relievers. Find a cough syrup. Purchase an anesthetic throat spray. Try using throat lozenges. Breathe through your nose. Avoid pollution and other allergens. Avoid talking. Stick to foods that are easy to swallow. Don’t smoke. See a doctor.

https://www.wikihow.com/Set-a-Household-Dog-Walking-Schedule

How to Set a Household Dog Walking Schedule

To keep your pup happy and healthy with a household walking schedule, talk with your housemates and decide how many hours of exercise your dog should get each day. Then, get a calendar and divide that time throughout the week into multiple walks and assign them to each house member. You can get a sense of how much exercise your dog needs by researching its breed online. For example, a border collie needs at least two hours of activity a day. With the schedule planned out, you can evenly assign walks to each member of the household.

Have a household meeting. Start by having a meeting with the members of your household. Arrange a time where you can all sit down and discuss the dog walking schedule as a group. You may direct the meeting so it runs smoothly and everyone participates in the discussion around the schedule. This way, everyone pays attention and agrees to the schedule. For example, you may open the meeting by saying, “We are here to discuss the dog walking schedule. Having a schedule will ensure the dog gets enough exercise every day and everyone participates in taking care of the dog.” Try to have this meeting before you bring the dog home so everyone is on the same page from the start. Agree on how many minutes of exercise the dog should get daily. Then, decide how many walks a day you want the dog to get and split the minutes up between that many walks. This will help ensure your dog is getting enough exercise every day even when different people are walking it at different times. For example, if you want your dog to get 1 hour of exercise a day, and you want it to go on 2 walks a day, each walk would need to be 30 minutes long. Compare daily schedules with your household members. Ask each household member to bring a copy of their daily schedule. They may present a physical copy or look at their weekly schedule on their cellphone. Make sure they have a copy of their schedule by week, with any important dates or events noted by date. They should also note any regular commitments or events in their calendar so it is clear they will not be available during that time and that day. Spread the schedules out so you can compare them, noting which times are blocked off for each member of the household. For example, you may have one household member who always has soccer practice on Mondays and Wednesday nights from 4-6 pm. Or you may have one household member who has a morning meeting every day for one week in March. Determine which walking times will be most convenient for members. Once you have compared the schedules of everyone in the household, you can start to figure out which walking times will work for each member of the household. Try to make the walking times equal among everyone in the household, if possible. The adults in the household may take more walking times if they have a less busy schedule than the kids in the household. For example, one household member may agree to take the early morning walking times as they tend to be busy in the evenings. Another household member may opt for taking the mid-afternoon walking times because they will be home and available at this time. Block out the dog walking times on a calendar. Get a calendar that runs several months ahead so you can block out time on each day of the week for dog walking. You can also create your own calendar using computer software like Microsoft Word or Excel. Or you may write out a schedule on a large whiteboard that you can then erase and adjust as needed. For example, you may start the day with a 7 am walk time. An early morning walk is important for dogs, as they often need to go to the bathroom early in the morning. The next walk may then be at 8 am, after the dog has eaten. This will ensure the dog has time to go to the bathroom and gets a little exercise before you go to work or school. The next walk may be at 12 pm or 1 pm. This is a good time for the dog to have a longer walk and some playtime. The next walk may then be between 5 and 7 pm. You may plan the evening walk for after your dinner time and your dog's dinner time. This walk should be the longest walk your dog gets, where they have enough play time and exercise to burn off any excess energy. The final walk of the day may be before your bedtime, between 10 and 12 pm. This may be a short walk to wear out your dog before bed and give them time to go the bathroom one last time. Write out the duration of each walk. Once you have written out the specific walk times on the schedule, you should note how long each walk will be. This will help household members get a sense of the time commitment required for each walk. This will also ensure your dog gets enough exercise throughout the day. Consider how much exercise your dog needs and make sure it is covered in the schedule. For example, you may have a Border Collie who needs at least two hours of physical activity a day. You may then make sure there is two hours of walking and playtime in the dog's schedule. For example, for the 7 am walk, you may write down, “10-15 minutes.” For the 8 am walk, write down “10-15 minutes.” For the 1 pm walk, you may write down, “30 minutes.” For the 5-7 pm walk, you may write down, “1 hour,” noting that this will be the longest walk time of the day. Assign each time to a household member. Once you have the walking times scheduled out, assign each time to a member of the household. Try to keep the times equal among members so one person does not get stuck with more walking time than others. You will also need to consider each household member's schedule to ensure they have the time to walk the dog when needed. For example, you may write down next to the 7 am and 8 am walk times: “Mom.” You may then write down “Dad” next to the 1 pm walk time and “Mark and Sara” next to the 5-7 pm walk time. Then, you may write down “Dad” next to the 10 pm walk time. Take everyone's personal schedules and preferences into mind when you're assigning the walks. Post the schedule in a spot where everyone can see it. Once you have decided on the schedule, make sure it is posted somewhere central in your home. You may put it up in the kitchen or the living room where everyone in the household has access to it. Or you may post it by the front door so everyone can glance at it when they come and go. Let everyone in the household know where the schedule is located so they have access to it at all times. This way, they cannot miss a scheduled walk time because they cannot find the schedule. Set alarms and reminders. To make sure you do not miss a walk time, or others do not miss their assigned time, set an alarm or a reminder on your phone. Set an alarm for early in the morning so you do not miss the 7 am walk on the dog walking schedule. Put a reminder in your phone for the after dinner walk so your dog gets some exercise after they eat. You should also encourage the other members of your household to set alarms and reminders so they do not miss their assigned walk times. Adjust the schedule as needed. Though you may have a solid schedule in place, you should also be flexible and adjust the schedule as needed. Everyone's schedule may not stay the same after a few months so you may need to all revisit the dog walking schedule and adjust it to reflect these changes. You may hold another household meeting so you can discuss changes to the schedule and all agree to abide by the new schedule. You should also discuss if any existing walk times are too difficult for members of the household. You may need to reassign certain walk times so everyone can fulfill their commitments and help to ensure the dog gets enough exercise every day.

Have a household meeting. Agree on how many minutes of exercise the dog should get daily. Compare daily schedules with your household members. Determine which walking times will be most convenient for members. Block out the dog walking times on a calendar. Write out the duration of each walk. Assign each time to a household member. Post the schedule in a spot where everyone can see it. Set alarms and reminders. Adjust the schedule as needed.

https://www.wikihow.com/Read-the-Wall-Street-Journal-for-Free

How to Read the Wall Street Journal for Free

To read The Wall Street Journal for free, follow Wall Street Journal reporters on Twitter since they often post links to articles that you can read for free. You can also search "Wall Street Journal" on Twitter to find links to articles that other people have posted. If you want access to more articles, visit a local library that offers free access to The Wall Street Journal.

Download a newspaper reader app or extension. Some phone apps and browser extensions currently provide access to articles for free. One such app is called Read Across The Aisle and is available on iOS or the Google Chrome desktop browser. On iOS, search for it in the play store. For Chrome, open a new page and click the Apps tab in the upper left corner of the screen to get to the web store. Open the app or extension. On an Apple device, all you have to do is tap on the icon after it finishes installing. For Chrome, open a new tab. This page displays information on the news websites you've visited. If you do not see this information when opening a new tab on Chrome, turn off the adblockers in your antivirus program or browser extensions list. Click on the Wall Street Journal link. Find the words “ Wall Street Journal ” displayed prominently on the page. Tap or click on this link to be taken to the WSJ website. Enter your email address. You can't access the website until you sign up for a 7 day trial pass. All you have to do is input your email address. As soon as you do, the site will open up and you can navigate to any article you'd like. Renew your trial subscription every 7 days. This part might be a little annoying, but after 7 days, your trial period will run out. When accessing the site, the email prompt will appear again. Input your email to gain another trial period. Through the app, you can renew your free trial every time it runs out. Find a library near you that partners with the WSJ. Some libraries provide free content access to publications. Look into the online resources your library offers. If yours provides access to newspaper publications, it'll most likely include WSJ articles. Visit the library to access the Wall Street Journal. You will most likely be restricted from using this resource unless you're standing inside the library. Make use of any computers your library has, since these are the only devices verified to access the articles. Some libraries still receive the print version of the publication, so look in the newspaper section even if your library doesn't offer the online resource. Navigate to the library’s online resources to log in. Enter “Wall Street Journal” into the library's search bar or navigate to their online resources page. Scroll down to find a link to the WSJ website or an archived edition of the paper to begin reading articles. Depending on your library's policies, you may need to get a library card from the staff and use it to log into the library website. Ask the librarians if you have any questions. Follow WSJ reporters on Twitter to read free articles. Find these reporters by searching “ WSJ staff” on Twitter or another social media platform. After performing that search on Twitter, click on the “People” tab on the top of the page to find some official profiles of WSJ employees. The staff sometimes posts article links that you can click on for a free read. These links are only good for a single article. You won't be able to go to a different article unless you find a link to it. Have WSJ subscribers send you article links. If you know someone who subscribes to the WSJ , they can provide access to the articles. Ask them to send you any article you'd like to read. After clicking the link, you'll be able to read the associated article for free. Track down news stories posted on social media. Some readers may post the article links on social media. On Twitter, search for “ WSJ.” Click on the “News” tab at the top of the page. You'll see a list of recent posts about WSJ articles. Click on a post to be taken to the article on The Wall Street Journal's site. On other sites, such as Facebook, search for the WSJ or the names of its reporters. Find the WSJ account on Snapchat. First, download the Snapchat app on your mobile device. Log in, then type “ Wall Street Journal ” into the search bar. You'll see the WSJ account along with a quick story. Scroll to the end of the story to get a link to the article itself. This only works for articles posted on Snapchat. Another way to do is to swipe right twice on the main Snapchat screen. This gets you to Snapchat Discover, where you may find a few WSJ articles posted.

Download a newspaper reader app or extension. Open the app or extension. Click on the Wall Street Journal link. Enter your email address. Renew your trial subscription every 7 days. Find a library near you that partners with the WSJ. Visit the library to access the Wall Street Journal. Navigate to the library’s online resources to log in. Follow WSJ reporters on Twitter to read free articles. Have WSJ subscribers send you article links. Track down news stories posted on social media. Find the WSJ account on Snapchat.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Teal-Paint

How to Make Teal Paint

If you don't already have the perfect shade of teal in your collection of paints, you can make it by mixing blue, green, and yellow paint. Choose a lighter or darker shade of blue depending on how intense you want your teal to be, then select a vibrant shade of green, like Kelly or emerald. Finally, pick a shade of yellow to add a hint of brightness. If you want a more warm and intense shade of teal, go for a darker yellow, such as amber or burnt yellow. You can usually create a nice teal by mixing 2 parts blue paint, 1 part green, and 1 half to 1 part yellow. If you're not satisfied with the result, play around with the proportions until you get the shade you want.

Give yourself a selection of blues. Blue is one of the primary colors you will need to find your perfect teal, and artists may differ on what shade of blue with which to start. By grabbing a brighter, lighter shade of blue, along with a deeper, darker shade of blue (sometimes referred to as a “pthalo” blue), you will give yourself a better chance of creating a color that's right for you. Choose a vibrant green paint. Green is another essential color in making greenish-blue paint. You don't want to go to dark, so choose a medium green shade of paint, akin to kelly green or emerald green. Teal tends to be a darker shade than its close cousin, turquoise, but your blues can lend that element of depth and richness. Pick a couple of yellow paints. Again, artists differ on which shade of yellow to utilize in achieving their desired teal. A bright yellow will provide a greater brightness, while a more amber or burnt yellow will help to create a bolder, deeper hue. Grab a plain white paint for touching up your tones. Perhaps you've gone a bit darker than you intended, and need to lighten it up a bit. A dab of white paint can change the intensity of the color, and allow you to make smaller tweaks and adjustments. Create a basic teal from which to work from. Mix 2 parts blue paint, with 1 part green, and ½ to 1 part yellow. You don't need to nail it on the first go. Try to get a general feeling for the color and make alterations as necessary. You can also create a basic teal by taking your pthalo blue paint, adding in some bright yellow, along with small amounts of white paint. Brushes and palette knives can both be used to mix and paint. Brushes are good for mixing large amounts of paints, while a palette knife is a smaller and finer way of incorporating paints together. Choose one (or a series) that works best for you. If you want to search through every tone and temperature of teal you can think of, you will need a large enough canvas to carry out the task. If a smaller sampling is all you desire, then a simple painter's palette should do nicely. Bolster colors by adding white. White isn't just good for achieving a lighter shade; it also affects the opacity and complexity of colors. Squeeze some colored paint directly onto your canvas, and dab in some white to see how it can make your color really pop off the canvas. Avoid adding black paint to your mixture. While adding black will certainly make your shade darker, it may also dull and dampen your desired look. Try adding a darker shade of one the colors you originally used to achieve a similar effect.

Give yourself a selection of blues. Choose a vibrant green paint. Pick a couple of yellow paints. Grab a plain white paint for touching up your tones. Create a basic teal from which to work from. Bolster colors by adding white. Avoid adding black paint to your mixture.

https://www.wikihow.com/Brush-Your-Hair

How to Brush Your Hair

If your hair is tangled, work a small amount of detangler or leave-in conditioner through your hair to help get rid of any knots. Start by brushing the bottom 2 to 3 inches of your hair, using light, gentle strokes, and work your way up to the roots. Brush your hair when it's dry to avoid breakage, and only brush long enough to remove all of the tangles. If your brush creates static in your hair, apply 2-3 spritzes of hairspray to the bristles before you start brushing.

Brush when your hair is dry to avoid breakage. For most hair types, the best time to detangle is right before you get in the shower. Work out any major tangles or knots first so you don't have to brush your hair afterwards when it's wet and more vulnerable to breakage. If you need to straighten up your hair after the shower, use a wide-tooth comb and gently comb it smooth. Curly hair is the exception to this rule! If your hair tangles easily, you should work out the tangles in the shower with some conditioner and a wide-tooth comb. If your hair is very tangled, work a deep conditioner into your hair. Let it sit for a few minutes, then comb out your hair in the shower with a wide-toothed comb. Avoid over-brushing your hair to keep it healthy. Although many women used to aim for 100 brushstrokes a day, this can actually stress the outer layer of your hair, making it look dry and dull. Limit your brushing to once a day. Instead of following a set number, just brush until you've thoroughly worked out all of the tangles and distributed natural oils through the strands. Spritz some hairspray on your brush to avoid creating static. Brushing dry hair can sometimes create static electricity, which means flyaways and frizz. To prevent this, apply 2-3 spritzes of hairspray over the surface of the brush before you start brushing. Finish with a few brushes from roots to tips for extra shine. Brushing down from the roots will distribute the scalp's natural oils throughout the hair, giving it a healthy, shiny look. These oils will strengthen your hair, and they won't look greasy or weigh hair down. This is also spreads the natural oils out so they don't stay concentrated at the roots, making your hair look neater and less greasy. Work in a detangler, leave-in conditioner, or hair oil to loosen up tangles. If you know that your hair tends to tangle easily, start by working a product through your strands. Spray the product directly onto your hair, or pour a small amount of product into your hands and finger-comb it through your hair. Detangler is usually best for fine-textured hair. Use 3-4 spritzes all over your head to loosen up tangles. Leave-in conditioners and cream conditioners work well with coarse, medium-thick, or curly hair. Use somewhere between a dime- or quarter-sized amount, depending on the length and thickness of your hair. If you choose a hair oil, such as argan oil or macadamia oil, use between 2-5 drops. Short, thin hair will only require 2 drops, while long, coarse hair may need 4-5. Comb the bottom 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of your hair. Working in small sections, start by combing the tangles out of the very ends of your hair, then work your way up. Use a wide-toothed comb to comb in downward motions. This lets you tackle knots and tangles without dragging them all down toward the tips, which can damage the hair follicle. If you start at your scalp and pull down, you could break your hair if the brush snags on a tangle. If you have curly hair, use a wide-toothed comb and your fingers to detangle curly hair, either while your hair is damp or while you're in the shower, after you've applied conditioner. This will let the curl pass through without interrupting the natural curl pattern. Brush or comb at tangles with light, gentle strokes. Don't try to pull or force out the tangle, since this will only put stress on your hair. Instead, isolate the tangled section and hold it in your hand, then gently run your brush or comb over it until it loosens up. Keep working at it until the tangle is gone and you can easily run your brush through the hair. If the tangle isn't coming out, try spraying on a few more spritzes of leave-in conditioner or detangler. Pick a brush made with quality materials. Never use a cheap brush! Low-quality plastic or metal bristles can snag and rip damaged hair at its weakest points. Instead, look for quality brushes made with boar's bristle or gentle synthetic fibers. If you invest in a high-quality brush and take good care of it, it will last for years. You can find quality brushes for sale in salons, beauty supply stores, and online. Choose a boar bristle brush for most hair types. If you're not sure what kind of brush to buy, boar bristle is generally a solid option. The bristles are gentle on your hair and can work on knots without ripping them out. They also promote your hair's health by distributing oils throughout the hair shaft, creating a polished, neat look. Use a mixed-bristle brush for medium-thick hair. The combination of boar bristle and synthetic bristle on these brushes is stiff enough to work out tangles, but gentle enough to avoid pulling out strands. The boar bristles also simultaneously provide shine by distributing your hair's natural oils. This kind of brush is also great for blow-drying and styling. Go for a brush with sparse nylon bristles if you have thick, coarse hair. The synthetic bristles will glide through your thick hair more easily than boar bristle. Look for a brush with sparse, widely spaced bristles that can work through dense sections of hair without disrupting its natural shape. If you're looking in beauty stores or salons, this option may be labeled as a “Mason Pearson” brush. Nylon-bristled brushes are also a cheaper alternative to boar bristle. Look for flexible bristles and a curved body if your hair is curly. Having kinky, curly, or frizzy hair can make the brush-shopping experience a little more complicated! You may need to shop around before finding a brush that works best with your unique hair. Overall, look for a brush made with gentle bristles and a curved design that allows you to tackle thick, curly sections of hair. For example, you could use a Denman brush, which has flexible teeth and captures hair as it sheds. Use a plastic vented brush for brushing and styling short hair. Choose a good-quality plastic brush, with gentle, knobbed bristles. This brush is perfect for blow-drying and brushing down short hair into a neat style without making it poofy. The spaces, or “vents,” in the brush allow hot air to reach your hair more easily and speed up the styling process. This brush works best on men's short haircuts, pixie cuts, and anything shorter than a bob. Knobbed bristles are also perfect for those with sensitive scalps. Clean your brush once every 2 weeks to remove product buildup. The bristles of your brush can become clogged with stray hairs and product buildup, which can spread to clean hair if you don't wash your brush regularly. This will also help your brush last longer! Mix up a bowl of shampoo and water to create a little bubble bath. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and pour in about 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of clarifying shampoo. Stir it with one finger or a plastic spoon until the water is bubbly and the shampoo has completely mixed into the water. Use a clarifying shampoo instead of a hydrating formula to remove as much buildup as possible. Let the brush soak in it for 3-4 minutes. Rest the brush in the bowl, upside down, so the entire head is submerged. Letting it soak, rather than scrubbing it clean, is gentler on the bristles. Set a timer so you don't forget about your brush and leave it soaking for too long! Wooden brushes especially shouldn't be left soaking longer than 3-4 minutes. Rinse the brush and remove hairs with the tail of a comb. Run lukewarm water over the brush to rinse away the shampoo solution. Use the tail end of a rat tail comb to gently rake through the bristles and pull away any stray hairs. If you don't have a rat tail comb, you can also use the tines of a plastic fork to clear out stray hairs. Let your brush dry upside-down on a towel. Lay out a towel on your counter and let your brush dry for an hour or 2. This will let any trapped water drain and leave your brush feeling clean and brand-new for the next time you use it! You can also leave your brush sitting in the sun to naturally speed up the drying process.

Brush when your hair is dry to avoid breakage. Avoid over-brushing your hair to keep it healthy. Spritz some hairspray on your brush to avoid creating static. Finish with a few brushes from roots to tips for extra shine. Work in a detangler, leave-in conditioner, or hair oil to loosen up tangles. Comb the bottom 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of your hair. Brush or comb at tangles with light, gentle strokes. Pick a brush made with quality materials. Choose a boar bristle brush for most hair types. Use a mixed-bristle brush for medium-thick hair. Go for a brush with sparse nylon bristles if you have thick, coarse hair. Look for flexible bristles and a curved body if your hair is curly. Use a plastic vented brush for brushing and styling short hair. Clean your brush once every 2 weeks to remove product buildup. Mix up a bowl of shampoo and water to create a little bubble bath. Let the brush soak in it for 3-4 minutes. Rinse the brush and remove hairs with the tail of a comb. Let your brush dry upside-down on a towel.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Fingernails

How to Clean Your Fingernails

To clean your fingernails, first wash your hands with soap and water. Then, soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for 3 minutes to soften them. Use a clean toothbrush to gently scrub the tops of your nails and underneath them. You can also use a nail pick to carefully clean out underneath your nails. To whiten your nails, mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and spread the paste over your nails. Leave it on for 3 minutes, then rinse it off. Finally, pat your nails dry and moisturize your hands with lotion, focusing on the skin around your nails.

Clean dirt from under your nails. Using the tip of the nail pick on a pair of clippers, clean underneath your fingernails to remove dirt and other built-up grime. Do this in the bathroom, under good lighting, so you'll be able to see your nails clearly. In general, it's easier to clean the dirt from underneath your nails before you wash your hands instead of after. The drier the better. Avoid using a pencil to clean them out, as the lead may cause them to look dirtier. Wash your hands. Use a mild, natural soap and wash your hands under warm water. You don't need to focus on your nails specifically, just wash your hands. It's generally better to use mild soap and wash your hands more regularly. Strong, harsh paraben-based soaps will make nails brittle, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers likewise weaken nails. Try a fingernail-specific soap, like OrigiNails Bubble White. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for about three minutes. Submerge the very tips of your fingers, not your whole hands, under the water and let them soften slightly. Make sure the water isn't too lukewarm or scalding hot, but a comfortable temperature somewhere in between. Soaking nails help to make them softer and more pliable, making it much less likely that you'll chip or break a nail during the cleaning process. Use a nail brush to scrub the tops. After soaking, scrub your nails hard, and all over, including underneath your nails. When you're finished, pat your hands dry. If you don't have a brush specifically for cleaning your nails, use a clean toothbrush specifically for the purpose. Remove nail polish, if necessary. Use a strengthening nail polish remover and cotton balls or wipes, and wet them with the polish remover. Scrub your nails firmly to strip the nail polish left on your nails, starting from the cuticle of the nail and working toward the fingertip, not forgetting to do the sides. Survey your nails afterwards for any more nail polish, and remove it if necessary. The remover should dry thoroughly by itself, but you can keep a tissue or dry cotton ball nearby to help scrub after applying the wet cotton ball, as well. Wash your hands again. Give your hands another quick rinse and then pat them dry, don't rub them. Rub on some rich hand cream, if you want, or go about the rest of your routine. Make sure the nails are all completely even and file or clip them if necessary. Finish off the look with a neat coat of clear polish to strengthen the nail. Apply baking soda to whiten. If you want healthy-looking, strong nails that will look clean and stay clean, mix a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, using about 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda per tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. Spread the paste on and underneath your nails, then rinse and pat dry. Applied weekly, this mixture helps to keep your nails white and luminescent, especially after having used a darker nail polish. Alternatively, try using whitening toothpaste in the same way. The active ingredients are essentially the same, if you're not interested in mixing up a batch of the home-made stuff. Moisturize your nails every week. To keep your nails pliable and free of cracks and other problems, it's a good idea to moisturize them regularly with aloe, cocoa butter lotion, or even natural oils like olive or coconut. These natural treatments won't necessarily change the look of your nails, but will help to keep them soft and pliable over the course of the week. Treat yellow nails with lemon juice or tea tree oil. If you have yellowish nails, it can be the result of either smoking, stain from polish, or a fungal infection, which can be difficult to treat and get rid of. Tea tree oil, however, is a natural fungicide with antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, while lemon juice or lemon essential oil has citric acid which helps to whiten nails back to their original luster. If you have yellow nails, try using an eye dropper to drop a small amount of tea tree oil onto each of your nails and let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Apply lemon juice in the same way, rinse, and clean your hands normally. Use denture-cleaning solution on your nails. While it might sound strange, tablets used to make denture-cleaning solutions are high in citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which can be used to clean, whiten, and otherwise improve the look of your nails. Instead of soaking false teeth, soak your fingernails. Try apple-cider vinegar. Apple-cider vinegar is rich in malic and acetic acids, which have cleansing and anti-fungal properties which can help to whiten nails and keep them from infection and discoloration. Dilute vinegar with an equal part of clean water and soak nails for up to 20 minutes. Use supplements to strengthen nails. There are a lot of misconceptions about natural remedies for strengthening your nails, but the only sure way to do it is to introduce supplements into your diet. The only supplement that has been proven to strengthen nails is biotin, which takes an average of six months to show any effects. Most home remedies like applying garlic, or eating more protein, will not help your nails to grow faster or stronger. Give yourself periodic vacations from polish. If you regularly wear nail polish, you can stain and weaken your nails in the long-term, even if you thoroughly clean them between applications. It's a good idea to let the nails build back up some strength and healthy color about once a year or so, keeping polish off them for a month or two. Instead of applying polish, use the chance to really pamper your nails, applying coats of homemade cleansers and whiteners to get your nails looking good again. It's also important to always clear-coat your nails before adding colored polish to keep them from staining as easily as they might otherwise.

Clean dirt from under your nails. Wash your hands. Soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for about three minutes. Use a nail brush to scrub the tops. Remove nail polish, if necessary. Wash your hands again. Apply baking soda to whiten. Moisturize your nails every week. Treat yellow nails with lemon juice or tea tree oil. Use denture-cleaning solution on your nails. Try apple-cider vinegar. Use supplements to strengthen nails. Give yourself periodic vacations from polish.

https://www.wikihow.com/Freeze-Cupcakes

How to Freeze Cupcakes

Don't worry if you've made more cupcakes than you can eat, since you can freeze them for another time. If you haven't frosted your cupcakes yet, all you need to do is place them in an airtight container or sealable bag and store them in the freezer. If you've already frosted them, place them in the freezer in an uncovered container for 3 to 4 hours until the frosting has frozen. Then, cover the container with a lid. If you don't have a sealable container, you can place them loose in the freezer until their frosting freezes, then wrap them in foil. That way, you won't mess up the frosting. Your cupcakes should last up to 3 months, whether they're frosted or not.

Let the cupcakes cool. If you try to freeze them while they're hot, the cupcakes will give off a steam that turns into condensation and may even cause the paper liners to peel off while they are freezing. The best way to cool cupcakes fully is to leave them on a wire rack for about an hour, until they're cool enough to touch and handle. Wire racks are recommended over a plate or chopping board because the air can circulate more easily around the cupcakes. This prevents the cupcakes from getting soggy on the bottom while they are cooling. Store the cupcakes in a container. After the cupcakes have cooled thoroughly, consider placing them in an airtight container to freeze. The container should be large enough to hold all the cupcakes you have and tall enough to prevent the cupcakes from squishing into each other. Ensure the container gives the cupcakes enough room to avoid the tops from getting sticky or touching the lid. The lid should also be able to snap tightly on top of the container. Store the cupcakes in airtight freezer bags. If you don't have a container on hand or would like another method of freezing cupcakes, you can use freezer bags. When placing the cupcakes in the airtight bag, create layers and stack the cupcakes with parchment paper to keep them from sticking to each other. Let the cupcakes cool. Before freezing the cupcakes, they must cool, to avoid the build-up of condensation and moisture in the cupcake container. The best way to cool cupcakes fully is to leave them on a wire rack for about an hour, until they are cool enough to touch and handle. Wire racks are highly more recommended so that the air can circulate more easily around the cupcakes. This prevents the cupcakes from getting soggy on the bottom while they are cooling. Frost the cupcakes. In order to freeze frosted cupcakes, they must be frosted correctly. Consider using a frosting pipe to pipe the frosting neatly on top of the cupcakes. Add a good amount of frosting for each cupcake, as once you freeze the cupcakes, you cannot frost them again. There are a variety of frosting flavors to choose from: buttercream frosting , chocolate frosting , strawberry frosting , and cream cheese frosting. Freeze the cupcakes in an uncovered container. The container should be large enough to carry all the cupcakes you have and tall enough to prevent the cupcakes from squishing into each other. Place the cupcakes to freeze in an open container so that the frosting can freeze thoroughly, usually taking about 3-4 hours. Ensure the frosting is solid before removing it from the freezer. Store the cupcakes in a container. Using the same container as before, snap the lid on tightly so the cupcakes can freeze until they are ready to be eaten. Make sure the container is large enough so that the frosting does not touch the cupcakes while freezing them. Store and cover the cupcakes with aluminum foil. Instead of a container, you can also freeze the cupcakes in foil. Freeze the frosted cupcakes without covering them for about 3-4 hours so the frosting can become solid. Cover each cupcake with aluminum foil carefully, taking care not to touch the frosting. Lay each covered cupcake on a cookie sheet or place them in a large Ziploc bag. Remove the cupcakes from the freezer. Take the cupcakes out of the freezer and place them in a safe place where they can defrost without being disturbed, such as a countertop or cooking space. Leave the cupcakes to defrost. It's not recommended to use heat to defrost your cupcakes. Avoid using an oven, microwave, or stovetop to defrost your cupcakes or they will end up soggy and/or the paper liners will peel off. Leave the cupcakes wrapped or in their container or bag when you remove them from the freezer. Remove the cupcakes from their container. After about an hour, slightly crack open the container or Ziploc bag. If the cupcakes were wrapped in foil, remove some of the foil off each cupcake, but not all of it. Too much moisture can cause the paper liners to peel off, so it's important to let out some air for the cupcakes. Leave the cupcakes to defrost until they reach room temperature. Most cupcakes will take about thirty minutes to an hour to defrost, but you can leave the cupcakes overnight so they can defrost fully. Image:Freeze Cupcakes Step 12.jpg Finished.

Let the cupcakes cool. Store the cupcakes in a container. Store the cupcakes in airtight freezer bags. Let the cupcakes cool. Frost the cupcakes. Freeze the cupcakes in an uncovered container. Store the cupcakes in a container. Store and cover the cupcakes with aluminum foil. Remove the cupcakes from the freezer. Leave the cupcakes to defrost. Remove the cupcakes from their container. Leave the cupcakes to defrost until they reach room temperature. Finished.

https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Syncing-iPhone-Contacts-to-iCloud

How to Stop Syncing iPhone Contacts to iCloud

Disable the Contacts slider in the iCloud section of the Settings menu.

Open the iPhone’s Settings. This is the grey icon with cogs located on one of the home screens. It may also be located in the “Utilities” folder on a home screen. Scroll down and tap iCloud. This is in the fourth set of options. Sign in to your iCloud account (if necessary). Enter your Apple ID and password. Tap Sign in. Scroll down and slide the Contacts button to the Off position. Contacts will no longer be synced to iCloud. Any iCloud contacts not already stored on this iPhone will be removed.

Open the iPhone’s Settings. Scroll down and tap iCloud. Sign in to your iCloud account (if necessary). Scroll down and slide the Contacts button to the Off position.

https://www.wikihow.com/Call-Italy

How to Call Italy

To call Italy, first dial 011, which is the international dialing code. Then, dial 39 for the country code. Finally, enter the area code and the phone number you're trying to call. For example, you might dial 011-39-41-555-5555.

Type the exit code. In order to dial Italy, you will need to type in the exit code (also known as the international dialing code), as well as the country code. The international dialing code for Italy is 011 and the country code is 39. These codes do not change. Input the area code. The area code you put in depends on which area you are calling. If you are calling Rome, for example, the area code is 09, but if you are calling Venice the area code is 041. The way to call a party in Italy is to dial access code + country code + area code + phone number, for example, 011-39-041-###-####. Consider time changes. At the time of your call, have an idea about the local Italy time. This will ensure that you are not calling someone in the middle of the night. You can find time converters online, or ask Google or Siri what the current time is in Italy. Type in or ask, "What time is it in Italy?" For example, Italy is six hours ahead of New York. Therefore, in order to reach your party at a reasonable time of the day, you will need to make the call at 1 or 2 p.m. You will need to place the call even earlier if you are trying to reach someone during business hours. Purchase a pre-paid phone card. You can purchase pre-paid phone cards from local convenience stores, chain pharmacies, and national retailers, like Wal-Mart or Target. The cost of a card ranges from $2 to $30 dollars. While some cards are located on wall and spinning racks near the register, other cards are located behind the register. Before purchasing the card, ask the clerk which cards they recommend. Alternatively, you can set up an online account with a provider, like Zaptel or Tel3Advantage. By setting up an account, you can choose a phone card from a variety of options and reload your card online. Input the access and PIN number. Each card has an 800 number or a local access number, as well as a PIN number. In order to make a call, first dial the access number and enter your PIN. Then, listen for the prompt and input the phone number you are calling. Make sure to manually dial the full number of the party you are calling, including the international dialing code, country code, and area code. Most cards are activated at the time of purchase at the register. While some cards have a scratch off coating that conceals the PIN number, other cards will have their PIN numbers located on the receipt. Check the fine print. Before purchasing the card, make sure to check the card's cost per minute, i.e., rate, surcharges, rounding rates, and expiration date. Rates vary depending on which country you call, as well as what kind of phone you use, for example, a cellphone versus a payphone. Furthermore, some cards have disconnect fees, maintenance fees, and surcharges of 35 cents or more. Call the toll-free number on the card to find out about rates and fees if they are not listed. Some cards employ rounding where they round up in increments, like increments of three. This means that a one minute call is charged for three minutes. Cards might also have an expiration date of 30 days meaning if you do not use the card, it will not work after that date. Other cards might charge a non-usage fee if you go a certain amount of days without using the card. Set up an international calling plan with your provider. Contact your cellphone provider to see what kind of plans they have in order for you to make international calls. Ask about the rates and coverage, specifically for Italy or Europe. Unlimited data plans can vary from an extra $50 to $100 per month depending on how many lines you have on the plane. Or, an extra $5 to $15 dollars for a reduced price per minute rate (versus the standard rate). Use a mobile app. Today, there are a variety of mobile apps that allow you to call internationally. Using a mobile app is a cost-effective option if you use Wi-Fi to place the call. If you do not use Wi-Fi, make sure you have an international calling plan before using a mobile app to place international calls. If not, you will be charged roaming fees even if you are using the app. Connect to your Wi-Fi at home or at a café before placing a call with a mobile app. Some popular mobile apps that are free when using Wi-Fi are Google Voice, Rebtel, Skype, FaceTime, Vonage, and WhatsApp. Monitor your data usage. Many international cell phone plans have limits on data usage and minutes. Therefore, keep track of your data usage, especially if you cannot find a Wi-Fi connection and do not have an international plan set up. Monitor your data usage by checking your account online. Or download your service provider's mobile app so you can monitor your data on the go.

Type the exit code. Input the area code. Consider time changes. Purchase a pre-paid phone card. Input the access and PIN number. Check the fine print. Set up an international calling plan with your provider. Use a mobile app. Monitor your data usage.

https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Notes-from-a-Textbook

How to Take Notes from a Textbook

If you want to take notes from a textbook, read through each section of the assigned chapter first, then summarize the main points. Include 1-3 of the most important details of the section, reading through the text again if you need to. Carefully read over any supplemental material like charts, pictures, and graphs and write down any important information from those. Write down the notes in your own words, since this will help you process the information better.

Know your assigned reading. Check any syllabus, calendar, or notes from class that direct you to read a section or sections from your textbook. Ideally, you should give yourself at least 5 minutes per page of assigned textbook reading. If you are a slower reader, you may need to give yourself additional time to read. Read over chapter headings and subheadings. Before you begin reading or taking notes, preview the chapter. Most textbooks are broken into more easily-digestible sections that are often topped with headings. Previewing the chapter and looking at the headings and subheadings from beginning to end can give you a sense of the length and trajectory of the chapter. You may also cue into keywords as you are reading if you have seen them in bolded subheadings later in the chapter. Also look for any words that are presented in bold. These are often key concepts or vocabulary words that are defined within the chapter or in the glossary. If there are not headings or subheadings in your textbook, read the first sentence of each paragraph. Look over supplemental charts, graphs, or informational charts. Many students ignore or skip over information in boxes or charts within the chapter. This is a bad plan, however; that information is often key to understanding or reviewing the chapter's main concepts. Looking at the supplemental material (and reading the captions below pictures or charts) can help you focus on key information while you read. Read “review questions” at the end of the chapter or section. Review questions are given to ensure that students have taken away “big picture” or essential concepts from a selection of text. Reading these review questions ahead of time can help focus your attention to the most important aspects of a chapter. Avoid distractions. Reading actively without any background noise or diversions can make it easier to focus and retain the information you learn. It is especially important to be free of distractions if you are learning new material or reading about complex ideas. Find an area that is quiet and comfortable, and settle in to read and learn. Divide your assigned text into manageable sections. If you have to read a 30-page chapter, you should try to break that chapter up into smaller focus sections. The length of the sections may depend on your attention span. Some people recommend breaking reading into 10-page chunks, but if you have difficulty focusing on and digesting large portions of text, you might want to limit your sections to 5-pages. The chapter itself may also be divided into more manageable sections. Read actively. It can be easy to passively read something that you find complex or uninteresting. Passive reading occurs when your eyes are looking at each word, but you don't retain any information or think about what you read. To read actively, try to think while you're reading. This means that you should be trying to summarize ideas, connect ideas to other concepts that you're familiar with, or ask questions to yourself or the text while you read. To read actively, do not try to take notes or highlight anything the first time you read through a section of text; instead, just focus on reading to understand. Use tools to aid your understanding. Be sure that you understand the text as you are reading it. You may need to use a dictionary or the textbook's glossary or index to define unfamiliar words. When you get to the note-taking stage, write down new key words that are important to the chapter along with the page number where you found that term and definition. That way you can refer back to the textbook easily if you need to. Summarize main points as you go. After reading through each section of text (whether it is a section you divided yourself or a division made by the textbook), think about the main points. Try to summarize the section and identify the one to three most important details of the section. Do not skim over supplemental material. Hopefully you looked at supplemental materials such as pictures, charts, and graphs when you previewed the chapter. If you did not, be sure that you read them as you progress through reading the section. Viewing these details in context will help you synthesize the information. These types of supplements may be of particular benefit to students who tend to be visual learners. When trying to recall information, you may be able to conjure the way a graph or chart looked more easily than a piece of factual information. Be selective but thorough. You should not write down every piece of information in the book. Nor should you write down one fact per page. Finding the right balance of writing enough but not too much can be a challenge, but it is the key to taking effective notes. Using the strategy of reading a paragraph and then summarizing it can help you target the right amount of information. Depending on the subject and the level of the textbook, writing 1-2 sentences of summary per paragraph may be the right ratio of information to note-taking. Paraphrase information from the text. You should write your notes in your own words. Paraphrasing information usually shows that you genuinely understood what you read (it's difficult to put something into your own words if you don't know what it means). It will likely be more meaningful to you later when you are reviewing your notes if you have written them in your own words. Use a format that works for you. Your notes may take on the form of a bulleted list of information. You might draw yourself a timeline of events so that you can see the order that things happened and not just a list of events. You may draw a kind of flow chart to emphasize a sequence. Or you might do a more traditional outline with big ideas at one level and then supporting ideas indented underneath. Ultimately, the notes are your study aid, so it's best to write them in a way that makes sense to you. Add visual elements if it helps you. Visual learners are often helped by visual representations in their own notes. You might want to jot down a brief copy of a graph instead of writing information about it. You may want to draw a simple comic strip to show a specific event or interaction between people. Don't let adding visual elements distract you from the task at hand—understanding and taking notes on the text—but add visuals if it will help you synthesize or remember the material more effectively. Organize your notes in a meaningful way. Depending on the subject, you may want to organize your notes in a particular way. History notes may be most logically taken in chronological order (or even in the format of a timeline). Science notes, however, may need to be taken in a particular sequence that shows mastery of one concept before moving on to the next. If in doubt about how to organize your notes, go with the textbook's organization. If information is written in a certain order in the textbook, and there is usually a reason for it. Pay attention to class lectures. Teachers will often specify which chapters or sections of a textbook will be most relevant for an upcoming test. Knowing this information before you read the textbook can save you time and energy, and allow you to focus on what's most important to know. Write down whatever your instructor writes on the board. These pieces of information are most likely to be relevant for future discussions and upcoming assignments or tests. Ask your instructor if he or she would allow you to use a personal recording device to record the lecture and listen to it at home. Anything that you missed while taking notes in class will be heard on the recording, and you can add that information to your notes after class. Learn to write shorthand. It may be difficult to write notes as quickly as the instructor is speaking. Learning to write shorthand is a great way to ensure that the notes you take in class cover everything the instructor expects you to know. shorthand Write down major names, places, dates, events, and concepts. If you cover these topics in your notes, it will likely be much easier to remember the specifics surrounding those people or places when you go back to the textbook. Follow major topics with brief context clues. These can be a few words or even a short sentence, but having some type of brief notes will help you make sense of the names or dates you've written down during the lecture. Review your notes from class. Now that you have notes from the in-class lecture, you'll want to review those notes to begin learning the important topics covered in class. Try to read over your notes shortly after class has ended. Reviewing your notes immediately after class is over will most likely help you retain that information for a longer period of time. Combine class notes with textbook notes. If you have notes from class and from your textbook, combine and compare them. You should identify anything that was emphasized by both the textbook and your instructor; this is likely to be a very important concept. Study your notes. Think of your notes as a study guide for your course exams. The act of writing might help you remember certain things, but you probably won't remember everything in the textbook if you're not studying the notes you've taken. Going back to review the notes can help you remember key concepts and specific terms, even months after you covered the information. Share your notes. If you work with other students in your class, you may want to exchange and share notes. This can be a helpful strategy, as different students may focus or emphasize different concepts. Additionally, if you have a friend or classmate who missed class or didn't understand a concept, you can share your notes to help her. Make flash cards. If you have an impending exam, you can convert your notes into flashcards. These can make it easier to learn and memorize names, dates, and definitions. Additionally, you can use these flashcards to collaborate and study with another student or in a study group, which improves test performance.

Know your assigned reading. Read over chapter headings and subheadings. Look over supplemental charts, graphs, or informational charts. Read “review questions” at the end of the chapter or section. Avoid distractions. Divide your assigned text into manageable sections. Read actively. Use tools to aid your understanding. Summarize main points as you go. Do not skim over supplemental material. Be selective but thorough. Paraphrase information from the text. Use a format that works for you. Add visual elements if it helps you. Organize your notes in a meaningful way. Pay attention to class lectures. Learn to write shorthand. Review your notes from class. Combine class notes with textbook notes. Study your notes. Share your notes. Make flash cards.

https://www.wikihow.com/Obtain-a-Property-Easement

How to Obtain a Property Easement

An easement is a legal right to use someone else's land or property, such as the right to use their driveway to access your home. Meet with the owner or call them to discuss your use of their land or property. If you want to use their land for something that's not a necessity, like storing your equipment there or crossing their land to go fishing, you can offer them money in exchange. You'll also need to decide the duration of your easement. Once you've worked out the details, write a contract and both sign it. Having an attorney will help but it's not required. After you've signed the contract, get it signed by a notary. Then, contact your local recorder of deeds to record your easement.

Survey your land. Before negotiating for an easement, you should check whether or not you actually own the land you want to use. For example, you might be storing equipment near the boundary line of your property. You should double check to see if the land you are using is actually part of your parcel. You can look for a survey that has already been performed. This is typically kept at your city or county office. Alternately, you could hire a surveyor to perform a survey. Surveyors can be found in your phone book or by searching online. At a minimum, get the legal description of property and try to find the precise boundaries of your property. If you actually own the land you want to use, then you don't need to obtain an easement. Meet with a real estate agent. Once you find out that a neighbor owns the land, you should begin thinking about negotiations. You will probably have to pay for the easement. To begin planning for negotiations, you should try to come up with a reasonable price to offer. You could meet with a real estate agent. Agents probably have more experience understanding the value of land in the area. They might also know how much people usually pay for your type of easement. Also ask other people in the community if they have easements. Ask how much they paid for it. You want to know what is considered standard. Contact the property owner. You should call or write the property owner and mention that you want to get an easement on their property. Ask for a time to meet so that you can discuss this possibility. It is usually more productive to negotiate face-to-face. You can read non-verbal cues when you meet in person and respond to those cues. If you want to negotiate in person, then you might want to hold off on contacting the owner until you will be around each other. For example, if you both own summer camps, then you might not want to negotiate during the winter. Instead, you could wait until June, when you both open your camps. Make an offer. To successfully negotiate, you should make a relatively low opening offer. For example, if the maximum you want to pay for the easement is $1,000, then don't open negotiations with $1,000 or even $850. You want to leave room to go up. The other side might immediately reject your offer. You should react positively and ask the other party to clarify why he or she is objecting to the offered amount. Don't immediately buckle under pressure and increase your offer. Instead, ask the other side what part of your offer they like. For example, they might agree with the size of the easement but not like the price. By finding out where you agree, you can move forward and tackle the issues you disagree with. Negotiate until you agree. Negotiation involves a process of give and take. Most negotiation will revolve around the price you pay for the easement. However, there are other variables in play: The duration of the easement. An owner can grant an easement for a limited amount of time or indefinitely. If the owner wants too much money for an indefinite easement, then offer to pay for a 15-year easement. You can always negotiate an extension after 15 years pass. The amount of use. You might want an easement to store equipment on someone's property. For example, you might like to store a fishing boat, tackle, and other gear on someone's lawn. During negotiations, you could offer to store only the equipment but not the boat. Who else can use the easement. You might want to use a driveway to access your own property. If the other party is worried about too many people using the driveway, you could agree to limit the use to you and your immediate family. You will then request that all visitors park out on the road and walk in. Be prepared to pay immediately. If you come to an agreement, then you should move quickly to seal the deal. If you wait too long, then the property owner might go back on his promise. He might even try to squeeze more money out of you. Make sure you have the money available in your checking account to pay for the easement. You want to execute the agreement as soon as possible. Meet with an attorney. You will need to draft an easement agreement. It must follow all of your state's formalities for transferring an interest in land: a written instrument, signatures, etc. If you need help drafting the agreement, then you should contact a lawyer. A qualified land use attorney can help you draft the agreement and make sure that it is recorded properly. Even if you don't want to pay a lawyer to draft the easement, you should have one look over any document you draft yourself. Many lawyers now offer “unbundled” legal services. Under this arrangement, you can hire the lawyer to perform discrete tasks for you, such as looking over your documents and pointing out mistakes. Open a word processing document. If you want to draft the easement yourself, then you should open a blank word processing document. Set the font to a legible size and style. Title the document. Give the document a simple title: “Grant of Easement” is sufficient. Identify the parties. You need to explain who the parties are to the agreement. The person granting the easement to his property is the “Grantor” and the person gaining access to the property is the “Grantee.” For example, you can begin the document: “This Grant of Easement is made and entered into as of the Fourth day of August, 2016, by and among Michael J. Smith, 'Grantor' and Alice K. Jones, 'Grantee.'” State the consideration. You need to say that the grantee gave money to the grantor in exchange for the easement. This creates a binding contract. For example, you could write: “In consideration of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and other good and valuable consideration from the Grantee, the Grantor hereby grants the following….” Explain the purpose of the easement. You can state at the beginning why you are entering into the agreement. This helps anyone who reads the document quickly understand the kind of easement you are creating. For example, “Whereas Grantee is building a house and needs access to her property, and Whereas Grantor desires to grant to Grantee an easement over the servient parcel for the uses set forth herein….” Describe the burdened parcel. The property that will be burdened with the easement is called the “servient” parcel. The property gaining the easement is called the “dominant” parcel. To describe the servient parcel, you should get the legal description of the property from the property's deed. You could also simply attach the deed to the agreement and reference it. For example, you could state, “Grantor is the owner of certain property located in Cook County, Illinois, which property is more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto.” Identify the land benefited. Your land is called the “dominant” parcel because you use the easement to benefit your property. You should also describe your property. You can attach an exhibit of the legal description of your property, just as you did for the servient estate. Call the exhibit of the dominant estate Exhibit B. For example, you could type, “Grantee is the owner of certain property also located in Cook County, Illinois, which property is more particularly described on Exhibit B attached hereto.” You might not be the neighbor. For example, you might live several towns over but want to purchase the easement to access a lake. In this situation, you do not need to describe your property. Describe the easement area. As specifically as you can, identify the piece of property you will use. If you are using the driveway, then simply call it the driveway: “The Grantor grants to Grantee the right to use the driveway on the servient parcel.” However, if you are using a certain piece of land, then you might need a surveyor to mark off the metes and bounds. Describe the right created. You can also specify the rights created. The property owner can grant an easement for any purpose or for a limited purpose. You should explain the rights created. For example, you could say, “Grantor grants Grantee the right to use the driveway for entering and exiting Grantee's property only.” State how long the easement lasts. Easements can last for a limited amount of time or indefinitely. You should specify the duration of the easement in the agreement. Easements can also last until a specified event happens. For example, if you are building your own driveway, then you might want an easement to use your neighbor's driveway until your own is completed. If the easement is to last indefinitely, then state, “The easement is a perpetual easement.” Explain whether the easement can be transferred. This is a critical part of the easement agreement. You need to explain whether the easement is something you can transfer to others, or whether it is only for your use. If the easement is something which can be transferred when you sell your property, then you need to note that it “runs with the land.” For example, you could state, “The perpetual easement is a covenant intended to run with the land and is appurtenant to the dominant parcel.” This means that when you sell the land, you sell the easement along with it. However, the easement might be intended only for your personal use. If you sell your property, then the easement doesn't get transferred. In this situation, the easement is “in gross.” In this situation, you could write, “The nature of the easement is in gross.” State whether the easement is exclusive. You might get exclusive use to the land, or others may be able to use it. State in the agreement whether the easement is exclusive or nonexclusive. If nonexclusive, then state who may also use the easement. For example, you might state, “This easement is nonexclusive and may be accessed by the owner of the servient estate.” Explain who is responsible for maintenance. You should also describe in the easement document who is responsible for maintenance. If the easement holder has the right to construct improvements, then that must be stated as well. For example, you could say, “Grantee and Grantor will share in maintaining the driveway, which shall include having it graded at least once a year.” Have the agreement notarized. You need your easement agreement to be executed in the same manner that a deed would. In most states, this means you need to have the agreement notarized. You can find notaries at most courthouses, town offices, and large banks. To find the nearest notary, you should visit the website for the American Society of Notaries. Enter your zip code on the Locator page. If you need to have the agreement notarized, then insert a notary block at the bottom of the page, underneath the signature lines. You can find acceptable notary blocks by searching the Internet. Sign the document. You should sign the document in front of the notary. Be sure to also bring sufficient personal identification to show the notary. Generally, a valid driver's license or passport should be sufficient. Depending on your state law, you may also need the agreement witnessed. Your Recorder of Deeds office should be able to tell you whether witnesses are required. Record the easement. You need to have the easement recorded on the deeds for both parcels. You should contact the Recorder of Deeds Office and ask how to record the easement. Get a copy of the updated deed. You want to make sure the easement has been recorded on the deeds. To check, get copies. You should staple your copy of the easement agreement to your copy of the deeds. Store in a safe place.

Survey your land. Meet with a real estate agent. Contact the property owner. Make an offer. Negotiate until you agree. Be prepared to pay immediately. Meet with an attorney. Open a word processing document. Title the document. Identify the parties. State the consideration. Explain the purpose of the easement. Describe the burdened parcel. Identify the land benefited. Describe the easement area. Describe the right created. State how long the easement lasts. Explain whether the easement can be transferred. State whether the easement is exclusive. Explain who is responsible for maintenance. Have the agreement notarized. Sign the document. Record the easement. Get a copy of the updated deed.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-an-Old-Cell-Phone

How to Get Rid of an Old Cell Phone

If you need to get rid of your old cell phone, start by doing a factory reset to wipe all of your personal information, including phone numbers, text messages, and images, from the phone's memory. Next, remove the SIM card and external SD card and either transfer them to your new phone or destroy them. Then, check your old phone thoroughly one last time to confirm no trace of personal information or data has been left behind. Finally, you can sell the phone online, trade it in with a cell phone provider, or recycle it through a local community organization.

Wipe your personal information through a "factory reset. " Before getting rid of your phone, remove sensitive personal information like phone numbers, addresses, account numbers, passwords, voicemails, and text messages. Most phones let you clear this information using a "factory rest" or "hard reset." These options are typically located under your phone's "Settings" menu under the "Backup and Reset" section. Check your phone's owner's manual or device manufacturer website if you're having trouble finding the reset options—devices vary in their methods. Remove SD and SIM cards. The second method of information storage for phones is through SIM cards and external SD cards. If you're maintaining the same phone number, you can remove these cards and transfer them to your new phone (if the new device fits with your specific card specifications). If you're changing numbers, destroy them or erase their information via the "Settings" menu. SIM cards and SD cards can hold information like phone numbers, photos, and other sensitive data. If you're selling your phone to someone with the cards intact, be sure to wipe them. SIM cards are located underneath the battery and slide out of a small compartment. SD cards are thicker and are usually found on top of the SIM card pocket, or inserted into the side or top of your phone. Check your phone one last time prior to selling or recycling. After deleting your personal information, do one last check to make sure everything is clear. Look in the following areas: Phone book Voicemail Emails and text messages (sent and received) Folders (downloads, pictures, music) Search history Call or visit your cellular provider to arrange for new phone service. Call or visit your provider to purchase a new phone. Once you have new phone, you will insert either a new or old SIM card connected to your account and effectively remove service from your old phone. Always get your new phone up and running before selling your old phone. If you have an online account, you can likely make arrangements to have a new phone (and a new SIM card if you're getting rid of your old one) shipped to you via your cellular provider's website. Repair your device prior to selling it. Take advantage of a cell phone repair kit to add some value to your device prior to selling it on an online marketplace. These kits provide you with the tools needed to repair your phone, although the quality of instructions varies. If you can conduct a successful repair, you can bump the price up and list the phone as repaired. Focus on fixing cracked screens, broken headphone jacks, and loose buttons. Repair kits can be purchased from most home hardware and big-box stores. Sell your old phone through an online marketplace to set your own price. Websites like eBay, Amazon, Swappa, Craigslist, and Kijiji and great for selling old phones for whatever price you want. Always provide pictures, as well as relevant information such as the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or International Mobile Equipment Indicator (IMEI) number, service compatibility, storage capacity, and whether the phone is locked or unlocked. ESN and IMEI numbers are typically found on a sticker located underneath the battery, on the outside of your phone's box, or in your phone's "Settings" or "Options" menu. Trade your device in to a cell phone shop if it's new or in good condition. Call or visit local electronics or cell phone repair stores to see what phones they accept for purchase. Payouts range from just a few dollars to well over $100 depending on the model, but you won't be able to bargain like you can when using online marketplaces. Always visit independent shops when selling your phone. Large companies like BestBuy most often pay the least for used phones. Recycle your old phone through a local community organization. Some towns and cities have their own electronics collection days. If you live in the United States, TIA E-Cycling Central ( http://www.ecyclingcentral.com/ ) provides a list of these locally sponsored events organized by state. Remember that cell phones are considered hazardous waste in some regions, such as the state of California. Disposal at an unauthorized site or landfill can be a serious crime. The site http://www.Call2Recycle.org helps residents of the United States and Canada find local drop-off locations for both cell phones and rechargeable batteries by entering a ZIP code. International residents can use Sustainable Electronics Recycling International ( https://sustainableelectronics.org/ ) to find recycling locations in regions around the world like Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, and Staples often sponsor local electronics recycling events. At these events, customers are encouraged to drop off cell phones, as well as other electronic devices (like PCs, monitors, and televisions). Send your phone to a manufacturer recycling program for free shipping. Cell phone manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, and Nokia have voluntarily implemented recycling programs. Most offer free recycling services on their website or provide postage-paid recycling envelopes with all new cell phones. Options vary depending on your product and location. Check your manufacturer's website or call their customer support for more information. Most manufacturers partner with Call2Recycle for battery recycling. Cell phone service providers like Verizon, Alltel, and AT&T offer free in-store recycling with proceeds benefiting their favorite organizations. Donate your phone to a nonprofit or charity to claim your donation at tax time. Start by checking the local recreation centers and senior organizations. Another option is The World Computer Exchange ( https://worldcomputerexchange.org/ ), which takes old phones and donates them to communities in developing countries around the world. Always ask for a receipt so you can claim your donation on your tax return next year. The 911 Cell Phone Bank ( https://www.911cellphonebank.org/ ) is a 501c3 public charity that accepts donations that are used as emergency cell phones (any inactive cell phone within the range of a cellular tower can make a 911 emergency call).

Wipe your personal information through a "factory reset. Remove SD and SIM cards. Check your phone one last time prior to selling or recycling. Call or visit your cellular provider to arrange for new phone service. Repair your device prior to selling it. Sell your old phone through an online marketplace to set your own price. Trade your device in to a cell phone shop if it's new or in good condition. Recycle your old phone through a local community organization. Send your phone to a manufacturer recycling program for free shipping. Donate your phone to a nonprofit or charity to claim your donation at tax time.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bed-Bugs-Naturally

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally

If you're trying to get rid of bed bugs naturally, put 8-10 dryer sheets between your box springs and mattress, and another 8-10 between your mattress and sheets. Use lavender-scented ones if you can, since bed bugs seem to hate that smell! You can also use lavender or another essential oil, like mint or rosemary, to get rid of bed bugs. Just rub some on your bed frame or put a few drops in with your laundry detergent the next time you wash your bedding.

De-clutter the room. Get rid of anything you no longer want or need. Put them in plastic bags, and throw them away. This will make it easier to tackle your bed bug problem. If you need to move something out of an infested room temporarily, put it into a plastic bin with a tight fitting lid first. Wash all bedding and clothing at high temperatures, and store them in plastic bags or bins to prevent re-infestation. If something cannot be laundered, see if you can take it to a dry cleaner instead. You can also sanitize it by putting it into the dryer for at 15 minutes on a high heat setting. Depending on how severe your infestation is, you may need to wash everything once or twice a week for several months—even after the bed bugs are gone. Don't forget to clean the laundry area with a sanitizing cleaner once you are done. This also includes soft toys. Be sure to put them inside a pillowcase when washing them, so that you don't damage their fur. Place everything you washed into plastic bins with tight fitting lids the instant you take them out of the dryer. You can also use plastic, zippered or resealable bags instead. Whatever container you choose to use, you must keep it closed whenever you are not handling the things inside. This will prevent the newly-cleaned items from getting re-infested. Store these bins away from the infested room. Vacuum everything several times a week. This includes anything made out of fibers, such as box springs, carpets, curtains, mattresses, and upholstered items. It also includes "hard" items, such as furniture, hardwood floors, baseboards, and anything else with nooks and crannies. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag properly. Take the bag out of the vacuum cleaner and put it into a plastic bag. Tie the plastic bag up tightly, and throw it away immediately outside your house. Do not leave the bag inside your house, or you may get another infestation. Consider using a steam cleaner. It is important that you use one which reaches at least 200°F (93.4°C) and which produces dry steam. The "dry steam" is important because you don't want everything left soaking wet, which can lead to mold and mildew. Don't keep items that you can't salvage. If something is beyond saving, get rid of it. Rip off the covers of upholstered furniture. Mark infested pieces clearly with "Infested with Bed Bugs" or "Bed Bugs" signs. Make arrangements with your city to have these items disposed of as soon as possible. This will prevent people from attempting to make treasures from your trash, and inheriting your bed bug infestation. Use fresh or dried eucalyptus, lavender, mint, and rosemary around your house. Most insects hate the smell of these plants, and bed bugs are no exception. You can use these herbs fresh or dried. Here area few ideas on how you can use eucalyptus, lavender, mint, and rosemary to ward off bed bugs: Tie up bundles of these herbs, and hang them in your wardrobe. Place sachets containing these herbs in your dresser and linen closet. Try some essential oils. The essential oils that work the best on bed bugs include: citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, mint, and rosemary. Note that if you have pets, you should use tea tree oil with care, as it can be toxic to them. Listed below are a few ways you can use essential oils to get rid of bed bugs: Rub some essential oil onto your bed frame. Add a few drops of essential oil into your laundry the next time you wash your bedding. Make a simple spray by adding a few drops essential oil into a spray bottle filled with ½ cup (120 milliliters) of water. Use this spray on your bedding, carpet, and linens. Sprinkle some pesticide grade diatomaceous earth around your room, and in doorways/windows sills. Diatomaceous earth is made from diatoms. It appears like a powder, but to bed bugs, it is like shattered glass. It not only kills bed bugs, but keeps them out. While pesticide grade diatomaceous earth is considered safe for humans and animals, you would not want to eat it or breathe it in. Avoid getting pool or food grade diatomaceous earth. The grains are too fine, and can be harmful for you. Try dryer sheets on your mattress. Find 8 to 10 dryer sheets, and place them between the box spring and the mattress. Place 8 to 10 more of these sheets on the mattress underneath your bed sheets. The strong smell of the dryer sheets will send the bedbugs scurrying. Consider stuffing a dryer sheet or two inside your pillow case, dresser drawers, and linen closet. Bed bugs seem to hate the smell of lavender in particular. Consider using some lavender-scented dryer sheets. Get some non-permeable mattress and pillow covers. These covers are special, because they don't have any seams and other crannies for the bed bugs to hide out in. They are also easy to wash, and keep bed bugs from infesting your pillows and mattress. Buy some bug interceptors, and install them beneath all four feet of your bed frame. They will keep the bed bugs from crawling onto your bed. If you can't find any, get some plastic bowls or dishes, and place them beneath all four feet of your bed. Fill them with some soapy water to drown any bed bugs who dare climb up your bed.

De-clutter the room. Wash all bedding and clothing at high temperatures, and store them in plastic bags or bins to prevent re-infestation. Place everything you washed into plastic bins with tight fitting lids the instant you take them out of the dryer. Vacuum everything several times a week. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag properly. Consider using a steam cleaner. Don't keep items that you can't salvage. Use fresh or dried eucalyptus, lavender, mint, and rosemary around your house. Try some essential oils. Sprinkle some pesticide grade diatomaceous earth around your room, and in doorways/windows sills. Try dryer sheets on your mattress. Get some non-permeable mattress and pillow covers. Buy some bug interceptors, and install them beneath all four feet of your bed frame.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Vinyl-Siding

How to Clean Vinyl Siding

To clean vinyl siding, use a high-powered garden hose or pressure washer to rinse off minor dirt and debris. Be sure to angle the sprayer downward or straight on to avoid loosening the siding. If you need to get rid of tough stains or mildew, fill a bucket with warm water and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the siding with the cleaner. Finally, rinse the solution off with a hose or pressure washer, starting at the top and working your way down.

Walk around the house, examining for any loose siding or boards. This is especially important if you plan to use a pressure washer, as you don't want to further loosen anything from the house. Keep your eye out for bigger gaps than normal between the slats, making a mental note to wash these areas by hand with lowered pressure. Cover any shrubs, bushes, or flowers with a light sheet to protect them. You'll have to do each section of the house individually, so you can just cover the side you're working on and move the sheets when you're done. While this may not be necessary if you're just using water to clean the side, it is essential if using soap or chemical cleaners. Pre-water any gardens or shrubs -- the extra water will dilute any soap that creeps in. You should also cover any electrical outlets or AC units -- anything that could be damaged by the soap. Close the windows and doors, and consider removing the screens. Make sure the house is water-tight, unless you want to be cleaning indoor mildew as well! Removing the screens will only be necessary if you want to use a pressure washer, which can damage and loosen them. Do a quick mildew check if determining whether or not to use soap or just water. Most vinyl siding is extremely easy to clean, and simply scrubbing with water will loosen and remove most dirt. However, mold and mildew is a different story. To test if something is mildew or just dirt, spray it with a drop of bleach -- mildew will turn white, dirt will remain brown.<ref. http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-vinyl-siding/ </ref> Whenever possible, refer to your manufacture's instructions for detail cleaning advice. This is usually a "better safe than sorry" tip, but you should always turn to the manufacturer for any specific tips for your siding. The solutions here will work for almost every house out there, but there could be more useful tips for your specific siding if need be. Use a high-powered garden hose for small houses, and pressure hose for larger walls. Vinyl is remarkably easy to keep clean with a simple rinse, if you do it often enough. Unless there is mold or mildew, or tough/thick stains, some high-pressure water should be more than enough. For single story houses, a garden hose with an attached nozzle should suffice. For multi-story houses, you'll likely not reach without a pressure washer, which can be rented cheaply at most hardware stores. Plan to work on a sunny day without a lot of wind, if possible. Wind will pick up dust and dirt that may stick to the walls, and slow-drying vinyl can leave streaks. Neither are serious issues, but if you work with the weather you'll have an easier, neater job. Work on only one wall or section at a time to prevent streaking. You'll be much more effective if you work in small areas, which will help you keep track of what you've done. Furthermore, you want to rinse the walls off before they dry completely to get rid of the dirt for good, which will be impossible if you try to tackle too large of an area. Start from the bottom, running the hose side to side as you move up. You don't want to wash the walls from the top down, as this will tend to lead to streaks of dirt instead of a clean wall. If using a pressure washer, do not use the highest setting -- keep it low and gentle. Spray at eye level whenever possible, preventing water from pushing in between the siding. If you have "slats," the stacked horizontal bars of vinyl, you want to try not to force the water between the layers of vinyl. As you get higher up the house, the hose will be hitting less powerfully, and this isn't as much of a concern. Still, when possible, blast at a downward angle, or straight on, to prevent loosening the vinyl siding in any way. Work way from the corners, shooting water away from any gaps. Work in the direction of curved areas, corners, or molding. Again, you're trying to prevent water from getting stuck or lodged in openings in the siding. If left in dark, cool areas, this moisture can quickly turn into mold or mildew. Consider cleaning around windows and doors by hand. You want to be careful at any junctions or areas where you can get under the siding, and you want to be especially careful near flimsy screens or windows when using a high-pressured hose. Consider using a long-handled brush, or removing the screens and scrubbing with a cloth and water from the inside of the window. These same rules apply near wiring, plumbing, and gutters as well. At the very least, lower the pressure considerably before proceeding. After you've working completely up from the bottom, rinse the whole wall from the top down. The first run will dissolved and dislodge the dirt and grime, and it will stay wet as water from above trickles down. Your rinse, which should start from the very top, then removes all of the dirty water to leave your house spick and span. Fill a large bucket with warm water and dissolve soap or cleaner in it. Pour a few tablespoons of dishwashing liquid in the bucket, until the water is soapy. Use a professional-grade cleaner, such as Vinyl Renu, if the siding surface shows excessive signs of oxidation. Soapy water may not be adequate to rub the vinyl siding clean on it's own. Other cleaning mixtures include: 2/3s water, and 1/3 white vinegar makes a gentle, natural, and safe cleaner. For tougher jobs, 2/3 cup powdered detergent, 1/3 cup powdered household cleaner (TSP), and around a quart of bleach with a gallon of water. (Note -- not safe if you have animals!) Natural cleaners like Simple Green, or oxygen bleach, can fight tough stains without damaging your lawn and landscaping. Buy a long extending pole, if you do not already have one. The best way to clean siding is by hand -- but you won't be able to reach without an extending pole. They are available at hardware stores, such as Home Depot in the U.S. You can also find a pole online on popular retail websites, such as Amazon. A typical pole costs less than US $50. Get a soft-bristle brush with a screw-on handle. The brush will be attached to your extending pole. To make sure the sizes match, you may prefer to buy the pole and the handle together. Don't use the rough or course brushes -- you want something soft to prevent scratching. Soak the brush into the warm, soapy water and scrub from the bottom up. Wash what you can reach from the starting point, re-dipping your brush whenever it starts to dry. The brush should be dripping wet at all times. Don't worry about the streaks yet -- this is why you work from the bottom up -- it keeps everything wet for the eventual rinse off. For serious cleanings, you can load a pressure washer with your soap mixture first, spraying the whole house down before attacking with the brush. Use a garden hose or pressure washer to rinse the house from the top down. This is the golden rule of cleaning vinyl -- brush from the bottom up, rinse from the top down. This ensures that the water carries all of your dirt down and away, instead of letting it dry back onto the siding. Let the house dry on its own. Once you have washed all the areas you need to, clean your equipment, put them away, and leave your house to dry on its own.

Walk around the house, examining for any loose siding or boards. Cover any shrubs, bushes, or flowers with a light sheet to protect them. Close the windows and doors, and consider removing the screens. Do a quick mildew check if determining whether or not to use soap or just water. Whenever possible, refer to your manufacture's instructions for detail cleaning advice. Use a high-powered garden hose for small houses, and pressure hose for larger walls. Plan to work on a sunny day without a lot of wind, if possible. Work on only one wall or section at a time to prevent streaking. Start from the bottom, running the hose side to side as you move up. Spray at eye level whenever possible, preventing water from pushing in between the siding. Work way from the corners, shooting water away from any gaps. Consider cleaning around windows and doors by hand. After you've working completely up from the bottom, rinse the whole wall from the top down. Fill a large bucket with warm water and dissolve soap or cleaner in it. Buy a long extending pole, if you do not already have one. Get a soft-bristle brush with a screw-on handle. Soak the brush into the warm, soapy water and scrub from the bottom up. Use a garden hose or pressure washer to rinse the house from the top down. Let the house dry on its own.

https://www.wikihow.com/Retain-Customers

How to Retain Customers

To retain customers, try offering a financial incentive for repeat customers, like a rewards program or a discount for regular business. You can also ask customers to sign up for a mailing list so you can send them deals, coupons, and promotions on a regular basis, which will encourage them to keep shopping with you. Also, collect feedback from your customers through feedback cards or email, or read online reviews, and try to work on improving the things that customers dislike.

Learn what your customers want. If you want customers to return to your business again and again, it's important that you learn to read your customer base and understand what you offer the market. Why would people choose your place of business over others? Customers return to businesses for one, and hopefully more, of three basic reasons: The perception that your business offers a deal. The perception that your business offers a service or product that they can't get elsewhere. The perception that your business treats its customers well. Know who you are and what you offer. Learning to market yourself appropriately and tailor your business to a customer base requires a certain amount of harsh honesty and self-evaluation. Businesses that come off as having identity crises, or an inflated sense of their product are unlikely to succeed. Do you need to modernize? Do you need to stay consistent to avoid losing customers who like your vintage flair? It depends on you and your business. If you're selling proverbial popsicles in a proverbial Antarctica, it's important to acknowledge that as a challenge that you need to overcome in your business strategy. How can you adapt to develop a more marketable product, or find the market for the product you already make? Compare your product with the competition, and scout them. Putting up a sign that says, "Best coffee in town!" is one thing, but how does your coffee compare with the coffee across town, really? If it really is the best in town, price it accordingly. If not, you need to market it based on value. Keep the quality of your product or service consistent. Most people will try anything once. But to go back, the product or service needs to be especially good, and the customer needs to be sure it will be the same day in and day out. The quality of your service and the value of your offering is far more important than any other aspect of your business. Simply put, customers must like and know they can trust your product, or they will not buy it again, no matter how attentive your staff, no matter how clean your store, and no matter how cheap the product. Establish strict quality standards and implement ways to keep those standards in place. If you make food, the sandwich needs to be the same on Monday as on Friday, if an experienced employee is making it, or a new worker. Collect feedback from customers. For any growing business, it's important to do first-hand research into your customers likes and dislikes in regard to your business. Provide feedback cards or e-mail customers to learn about how your business is succeeding, and how it could improve. Maintain customer complaint records to provide an accurate measure of the types of issues that arise, frequency of complaints and feedback received. In some instances complaints may decrease as the product or service improves. If complaints about the same issues come up again and again, then it is time to brainstorm and experiment with methods to further improve the business. Pay attention to your online reputation. These days, business sink or swim based on what people are saying on Yelp and other social networking platforms, especially in larger cities where the competition is increasingly fierce. You may think you're doing everything you can to appeal to customers, but don't ignore your reputation online. Join in and connect with customers, and learn from their more anonymous feedback. Business that hope to succeed must have a functional and professional website. Your website should make people feel like they absolutely need to have your product or service, and provide basic information about your hours and products. Don't write fake reviews, however strong the temptation may be. If people are saying bad things about your business online, that's your fault. Make changes to your business instead. Be willing to adapt to your market. Different businesses will need to follow their customers, not any generalized rules for retaining customers. A gluten-free speciality bakery in Los Angeles needs to follow entirely different standards and practices than a road-side diner in Montgomery, AL, because the customer base will have entirely different expectations, standards, and interests. If you offer a high-end product or a specialty service–something that appeals to a smaller niche market–you have to make sure your business is located somewhere with a high concentration of that market, or a way of attracting it. The quality of your product and the value for money will be the most important part of retaining customers. If you offer a product with wide appeal, something available at more than one place, then your marketability, your consistency, and your customer service will be the most important parts of your customer retention. Train your employees to treat customers with respect. It's important for employees to understand their role in customer retention. Your employees are sometimes the only contact your customer has with your business, so be sure that your employees have the same respect and treatment of your customers as you would yourself. Develop training manuals and methods that appeal to varied learning types of the employees, incorporating video, reading, and even customer service role-play into your training routine. Designate a more seasoned employee to mentor the new employees. Offer your employees incentives such as “employee of the month” or “customer favorite” to gain their interest in treating customers well. Set regular and accessible hours. If your business is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and every other Tuesday from 1:45 to 3:00 and 9:00pm to midnight, you're going to struggle to retain customers. Don't make it impossible to remember when you're open. Adapt to your customers and be open when they require your services. Keep in mind the average working week. If you're only open from 10a-3pm, Monday through Friday, people who work a regular 9-5 job will never be able to shop at your place. Consider staying open later, or opening on the weekends. Be flexible. If you serve breakfast until 10:30 and a customer comes in at 11:00 wanting the pancakes, it can be a tricky situation. You don't want to back your kitchen up and compromise your service just as they're shifting over for the lunch rush, but you also want to keep your customer happy. What do you do? Be as flexible as possible, given the situation. Let your customer know that you're doing them a favor in as friendly and genuine a tone as possible. "We technically stop serving breakfast at 10:30, so it might take a bit longer, but we'll have that right up for you. Deal?" Settle disputes in a timely manner. Customer issues do arise from time to time. How you handle this dispute will determine if you lose a customer or retain them. Listen to what your customer has to say about the issue at hand. Be sure to hear them out before making a conclusion. See if there is some way to appease your customer in order to have them happy to return to your business. Settle disputes amicably and with a positive attitude. Let the customer know you are more than happy to make them satisfied. Learn to sell truthfully. The customer must not only trust the product, they must trust what you have to say about the product, how you present it to them. The customer is looking to you to produce for them real reasons why the product will fulfill a need. Coach your staff to seek more information from the customer about how the customer plans to, or wishes to, use the product in a sales environment. Use probing questions to put the spotlight on the customer, showing a personal interest in who they are and what they do. Up-selling can be an important part of any business environment, but only insofar as it doesn't become obvious to customers. Nobody wants to be badgered with prompts to buy extra things they clearly don't need. Make your business clean and welcoming. There's no right way to design and organize a store. What may make one customer feel at home may turn another off. But one thing that's consistent is that your store needs to be cleaned every day and organized in a professional and welcoming way. Whatever style you go with, modern, vintage, homey, or elegant, you need to keep it consistent and clean. Form real relationships with your customers. Customers like shopping and being recognized or remembered for what they like. Even if another place has a better product, some customers are willing to shop at places they're treated better. Learn your customers names and greet them. Customers like to feel like they are important and something as simple as knowing their name or what specific product they like can make all the difference in how often they choose to return to your business. There are no "small" customers. Treat everyone who walks in the store as if they're about to drop a thousand bucks on your top shelf goods, then turn around and do it again. Then work on making that true. Offer a special financial incentive for repeat business. to repeat customers in order to make them feel like they are a value to your business. A rewards program or discount for regular customers can be an excellent way to retain customers. Keep an email or SMS list. When customers come into your store, find some way to get them to sign up for a mailing list, to keep them aware of special sales, deals, and promotions, on a semi-regular basis. Customers are more likely to return if you give them a specific reason to come back. It's also good to advertise your social networking pages, asking customers to "like" or "friend" your page. This can be a great way of keeping in touch. Under promise and over-deliver. One of the worst mistakes that a business can make is doing the opposite, and you can do a lot by striving to exceed people's expectations of what's to come. Don't make your product sound like something your customer can't do without if you know it's cheap and unreliable. You'll never retain a customer that way, even if you're friendly and your store is clean. If you know your tamales are better than any tamales in town, you don't have to say "Best tamales in town." Let them speak for themselves. Price them at a reasonable profit margin and sell them regularly for a discount to get the word out. If people know they can get a good deal and good quality, you'll be in business. Make sure your employees present themselves professionally. It's increasingly common for employees to be at one or the other end of an extreme. In some stores, employees are all aloof, ignoring the customers completely and texting or talking among themselves. In other stores, employees leech onto the customers and refuse to leave them alone. Customers dislike both. Train your employees to be "on" at all times, but also with the ability to be genuine and learn to back off. Employees also need to be well groomed and present themselves in a clean, attractive way while they're at work. Maintain a dress code of some kind at your place of business, appropriate to your product or service. Abercrombie & Fitch recently came under fire for giving preference to thin, white employees. If you want to keep your customers coming back, represent all types of people in your workforce. Cross-promote your business with complementary businesses. One excellent and underutilized way to retain customers and attract new customers is to hook up with complementary business, or nearby business who offer a different service to a similar customer base, and cross promote. Put up flyers or ads for a vintage clothes store in your laundromat, or sell a local bakery's goods in your coffee shop, in exchange for them selling your coffee at theirs. Provide free Wi-Fi. While a crowd of people plugged into laptops may not seem like the most attractive customer base, an increase in online freelance work, especially in larger cities, means that a huge segment of the workforce is looking for a place to sit and use Wi-Fi. If you run a restaurant or other place where customers congregate, establishing a policy for Wi-Fi is a great way to bring customers back. One of the problems with Wi-Fi is that sometimes customers will buy one cheap thing and sit there for six hours, taking up a space that you could turn over to new customers. Come up with a timed policy about the Wi-Fi to make it work of you.

Learn what your customers want. Know who you are and what you offer. Keep the quality of your product or service consistent. Collect feedback from customers. Pay attention to your online reputation. Be willing to adapt to your market. Train your employees to treat customers with respect. Set regular and accessible hours. Be flexible. Settle disputes in a timely manner. Learn to sell truthfully. Make your business clean and welcoming. Form real relationships with your customers. Offer a special financial incentive for repeat business. Keep an email or SMS list. Under promise and over-deliver. Make sure your employees present themselves professionally. Cross-promote your business with complementary businesses. Provide free Wi-Fi.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Vodka-Gimlet

How to Make a Vodka Gimlet

To make a vodka gimlet, start by filling a cocktail shaker with ice. Next, pour 2 ounces of vodka and 2 tablespoons of lime cordial into the shaker, and shake the mixture for 15-30 seconds. Once you've finished shaking the cocktail, strain it into a glass using a strainer or slotted spoon, then garnish the drink with a slice of lime. If you'd like a sweeter tasting drink, try adding 1/3 ounce of simple syrup to the mixture before shaking.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Vodka gimlets are typically made by shaking the ingredients rather than stirring them. Add enough ice to a cocktail shaker to completely fill it. For the best tasting gimlet, make sure to use fresh ice. You'll get a colder gimlet if you chill the cocktail shaker for 30 minutes to 1 hour before making the cocktail. If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar, sports drink bottle, or any container that has a lid. Add the vodka and lime cordial, and shake well. After you've filled the cocktail shaker with ice, pour 2 ounces (60 ml) of vodka and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lime cordial over the ice. Place the lid on the shaker, and shake the mixture well for 15 to 30 seconds. Chilled vodka will help create a colder finished gimlet. You can purchase lime cordial at the grocery store with other cocktail mixers. Some brands may sell it as sweetened lime juice. However, if you want a fresher tasting gimlet, make your own lime cordial. Strain the gimlet into a glass and garnish with lime. Once you've shook the gimlet to mix it well, use a Hawthorne or julep strainer to strain the cocktail into a martini or old-fashioned glass. Drop a lime wedge into the gimlet as a garnish. If you don't have a cocktail strainer, you can use a slotted spoon to keep the ice out of the glass as you pour. Combine the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour 2 ounces (60 ml) of vodka, 1 ounce (30 ml) of fresh lime juice, and ¾ ounce (23 ml) of simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Finish off by adding enough ice to fill the shaker. To get 1 ounce (30 ml) of lime juice, you'll need 1-2 limes. You can purchase premade simple syrup, or make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water over heat until the sugar melts. Feel free to adjust the ratio to your liking. For instance, you may prefer 2  fl oz (59 ml) of vodka, ⁄ 4 fl oz (22 ml) of lime juice, and ⁄ 4 fl oz (22 ml) of simple syrup. Shake the mixture rapidly. Once all of the ingredients are combined in the shaker, shake them well to ensure that they're fully mixed. It usually takes about 20 seconds of shaking to properly mix the gimlet. Strain the gimlet into a glass. When you're finished shaking the cocktail, use a cocktail strainer to strain it into an old-fashioned glass. You can garnish the gimlet by adding a lime wedge or slice to the glass. If you prefer, you can pour the gimlet over ice to ensure that it's cold. Mix the sugar, water, and lime zest in a pan. In a medium saucepan, combine ½ cup (100 g) of granulated sugar, ½ cup (118 ml) of water, and 1 teaspoon (2 g) of lime zest. Stir the mixture well to ensure that all of the ingredients are well blended. Simmer the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Place the pan on the stove, and turn the burner to medium-low. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, and allow it to cook until the sugar fully dissolves, which should take approximately 5 minutes. Be sure to whisk the mixture the entire time that it's cooking to ensure that the sugar crystals don't burn or stick to the pan. Cool and strain the mixture. When the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the burner, and let it to cool completely, which should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Next, strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the bits of lime zest and other clumps. Add the lime juice to the syrup. After you've strained the cooled syrup, stir in ½ cup (118 g) of fresh lime juice. Mix well, and transfer the lime cordial to an airtight jar or other container. This recipe makes enough syrup for approximately four gimlets. If you have syrup leftover, keep it refrigerated. It will last for up to a month in the fridge.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka and lime cordial, and shake well. Strain the gimlet into a glass and garnish with lime. Combine the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture rapidly. Strain the gimlet into a glass. Mix the sugar, water, and lime zest in a pan. Simmer the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Cool and strain the mixture. Add the lime juice to the syrup.

https://www.wikihow.com/Shadow-Box-For-Fun-and-Exercise

How to Shadow Box For Fun and Exercise

To shadow box, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and use both arms to punch the air in front of you. Keep your knees bent and your core muscles engaged to stay balanced while you punch. For some added intensity to your workout, add footwork by hopping from foot to foot while punching and follow your “opponent” around. Finally, be sure to rest between your workouts by drinking water and stretching your muscles to prevent injuries.

Get in the correct stance and punch slowly for 1 minute. You can use any punch you like for this warm-up. Flex your arm muscles and make the movements as slow and deliberate as possible. When you are confident that you are ready to speed up, then you can begin to move faster. Switch which leg you lead with half way through your work out so you strengthen both sides of your body equally. Punch into the air for 3 straight minutes at any speed. Set a timer for three minutes. Do the same punches as your warm-up, or use any combination you like. Keep your knees bent and your core centered to retain your balance. Avoid banging your joints when you extend your arms. When punching, extend 1 arm while the other arm guards you, unless you are doing a combination. Practice bringing 1 arm back to guard position. You can also use your torso to amp up your workout. Turn your right side forward, then your left side forward. The feet will follow. Dodges and drops can help increase your heart rate and provide interest to your workout. Add in footwork. While the timer is running, incorporate lunges, squatting, or hopping between feet. You should act like you're following your “opponent” around the ring. Footwork and hopping increases the intensity of this cardiovascular workout. You can do the punches and footwork separately, and then try adding them together. When you choose to add the footwork is up to your personal fitness level. If you're a beginner, wait until the last minute to add footwork. Rest between exercises. Take a three-minute rest between each set of exercises. You can drink water, stretch, or just sit down for a few minutes. It's okay to feel tired and sweaty--it means you're getting a workout! Speed punch for 3 minutes. After your rest, do a variety of punches as fast as you can in 3 minutes. A boxer usually aims to throw about 250 to 300 punches per 3-minute period. You will be much slower than this when you start, so count your punches and work up to this speed. Protect your joints by extending them most but not all of the way. It's important not to hyperextend your arms to avoid injury. Alternate boxing with other exercises. Punch for 3 minutes, and then do jumping jacks, jump rope or climb up and down stairs for 1 minute. Repeat this set 3 to 5 times for an excellent cardiovascular workout. Don't forget to rest between each set! Rest by shadow boxing in slow motion. Once you work up enough strength to make it through a set easily, start incorporating slow-motion punches into your rest periods. Concentrate on each punch by flexing your muscles and delivering punches as slowly and deliberately as possible for 1 to 3 minutes. Return to a faster workout once you catch your breath. Add weights to create a better aerobic and strength-training workout. Punch while using small barbells (between 1 pound (0.45 kg) 3 pounds (1.4 kg)), secure wrist weights, or weighted boxing gloves. These can all be purchased at most sporting goods supply stores. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Place your dominant foot forward slightly. Bend your knees, so that you could move your feet if you needed to, and hold your hands up near the top of your chest. If you're using a mirror or a shadow, face it. All of the basic punches will start from this position. Practice basic footwork. Practice jumping forward and backwards, then switching your weight from your right foot to your left foot. You shouldn't be moving more than 2 feet (0.61 m) away from your original position--the point is to develop agility, not to jump far. All boxing footwork is based on these maneuvers. Do a right and left jab. A jab is a swift punch aimed straight at your shadow's head. In boxing, it is used to stun, rather than deliver a knockout. You can do this with either hand, but it's best to practice both right and left jabs. Do a combination of a left jab and a right jab, while keeping your body tight and steady. Try a straight punch. This is a punch with the right or left arm that is delivered with strong power from your chest. This is a knockout punch to your shadow's head, so you can put more strength behind it than you would for a jab. Use a left and right hook. A left or right hook should start with your fist near your chin. A right hook should go slightly to the right, before turning back in a leftward motion on your shadow's chin. The left hook should go in the opposite direction. Do an uppercut. The uppercut is a little more complicated. You bend your knees enough to drop down about 6 inches (15.2 cm), and then send a swift and strong punch upwards toward the shadow's chin. You should use your dominant hand only for this punch. Practice straight punches to the body. Bend your knees slightly and aim punches to the left and right sides of your shadow's body. You should be aiming for weak points in the torso, like the side of the stomach or the kidneys. Bob and weave to avoid getting hit. Bobbing refers to bending your knees to escape from a punch. To weave, move your body towards the left or the right, with your feet in one place. This would make your shadow's punches slip past you. Find a private space to shadow box. A shadow boxing exercise program can be done almost anywhere, but most people like a little privacy during their workout. The only thing you'll need for a shadow boxing room is enough space to move around comfortably. Give yourself at least 5 feet (1.5 m) on all sides. Set up a mirror or an overhead light (optional). A large full-length mirror can help you learn to “land” your punches more effectively. You don't need to use a mirror to shadow box, but many people find it helpful to see their “opponent.” If you don't have a big mirror, many shadow boxers set up an overhead light and “fight” their own shadow. If you don't have any of these, they aren't required! Get dressed to shadow box. You can wear pretty much anything you want, as long as you can move around comfortably in it. Any comfortable shoe is okay, but athletic shoes with arch supports are the best. They let you incorporate flexible movement into your exercise routine. You don't need boxing gloves for shadow boxing!

Get in the correct stance and punch slowly for 1 minute. Punch into the air for 3 straight minutes at any speed. Add in footwork. Rest between exercises. Speed punch for 3 minutes. Alternate boxing with other exercises. Rest by shadow boxing in slow motion. Add weights to create a better aerobic and strength-training workout. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Practice basic footwork. Do a right and left jab. Try a straight punch. Use a left and right hook. Do an uppercut. Practice straight punches to the body. Bob and weave to avoid getting hit. Find a private space to shadow box. Set up a mirror or an overhead light (optional). Get dressed to shadow box.

https://www.wikihow.com/Manscape

How to Manscape

To manscape your groin area, pull the skin taut and slowly pass over your pubic hair with a good pair of sharp grooming clippers. You can stop there if you like the sculpted look, or move on to shave the area smooth. Keep the water warm, apply plenty of shaving cream to the scrotum and perineum, and shave with short strokes in the direction of hair growth. Then, rinse with cool water and apply aftershave generously.

Tidy up your eyebrows with grooming scissors and tweezers. Use a pair of grooming scissors to trim back any eyebrow hairs that are noticeably longer than the rest. Then, use tweezers to pluck out any hairs that are rooted outside the natural contour of your eyebrows. If your eyebrows are particularly bushy, comb through them before trimming so the hairs are lying properly. Or, wet your fingers a bit and smooth the eyebrows into place. You can keep plucking if you want to further thin out the natural look of your eyebrows, but that's up to you. Use the grooming scissors that come with a typical grooming kit (along with tweezers, nail clippers, etc.), not the full-size scissors you'd use for a haircut. Pluck or cut any rogue ear hairs. If you have any stray hairs growing off of the outside of your ear, either pluck them out with tweezers or cut them down as short as you can with grooming scissors. Remove each hair with a firm, quick yank of the tweezers, or pull each hair taut with the tweezers, then hold the scissors parallel to the flesh of your ear and cut the hair off at the base. Use tweezers to yank out any visible hairs growing from inside your ear canal. This will hurt a bit, but you can reduce the pain by gripping the hair shaft firmly with your tweezers and pulling quickly and firmly. Never stick grooming scissors or any other sharp object into your ears. Only pluck hairs from the inside of your ear if they're visible outside your ear. Trim long nose hairs instead of plucking them. Pull any protruding nose hairs in each nostril taut with your tweezers, then hold the scissors parallel to your nostril opening and cut each hair off as short as you can. Do not stick the scissors up into your nose to trim the hairs. Also, don't pluck hairs from out of your nose—any minor bleeding may lead to an infection. Alternatively, you can purchase an electric nose hair trimmer. Models vary, but generally you'll just turn it on and stick the rounded trimmer into each nostril. Don't stick it farther up your nose than directed. Pluck or trim any rogue hairs growing on the top or side of your nose. Shave or trim your facial hair to suit your style. If you're going for a clean-shaven look, use a manual razor. Soften your skin and open your pores by showering or washing your face, then massage in a healthy coating of shaving cream. Shave in the direction of hair growth and rinse the blade often with clean water. Finish by rinsing your face with cool water, patting it dry, and applying an aftershave lotion or balm. Use a clean, sharp razor every time you shave. If the blade is getting dull or full of gunk, replace it. If you want to keep a tidy beard, use a grooming trimmer instead. Adjust the blade setting to your desired length setting and glide the trimmer over your facial hair in even, smooth strokes. If you have sensitive skin on your face that gets easily irritated by shaving, keep in mind that the same will likely happen if you shave other areas of your body. In this case, you may want to trim your body hair instead of shaving it. Shave the front and back of your neck as well, if needed. If you're shaving your face, just include the front of your neck in the process. Shaving the back of your neck can be a bit trickier. Either use a handheld mirror in one hand and the razor in the other, or find someone who's willing to give you a quick neck shave. If you plan to shave your back (which is also much easier with a partner), you can include the back of your neck in that process. Trim your chest hair for a less drastic change from your natural look. While you can shave your chest completely, you may prefer the look of simply trimming down your chest hair with a grooming trimmer. If so, set the trimmer to the desired length and glide it down your chest in smooth, even strokes. Trimming instead of shaving your chest hair won't highlight your muscles quite as much, which may be your preference if you don't necessarily have a chiseled look. Shave your chest hair completely if you want to highlight your pecs. Start by using a grooming trimmer to shorten your chest hair as much as possible—this will make shaving much easier. Then, follow the same basic procedure you use for shaving your face (or other body parts)—shower to open your pores and soften your skin, massage in shaving cream, use a clean, sharp razor, glide it over your skin smoothly, rinse the razor often, and use aftershave when you're finished. The less hair you have on your chest, the more noticeable your chest muscles will be. So, if you've been working hard on building up your pecs (and abs), shave to show them off! Remove back hair completely (with help) by shaving or waxing. Whether you shave or trim other areas of your body, you should remove all the hair from your back if you want a sleek look. This is easier said than done, however, if you don't have a helper. See if you can get your significant other or a friend to shave your back, using standard razor procedures. If you want to try shaving alone with a clip-on "razor extender" handle (which you can buy online), stand with your back to a mirror and hold a mirror in your hand. Use the mirrors to watch as you use the extender to guide your razor over your back in smooth, even strokes. You'll get a better shave if a friend does the job, however. Alternatively, you can go to a salon and have your back waxed to remove the hair. If you have stray hairs on the tops of your shoulders, pluck them out with tweezers. Cut back your armpit hair to a less noticeable length. If your arm hair isn't visible when you have your arms to your sides, you can probably just leave it alone. If you want or need to trim it, though, use a grooming trimmer or grooming scissors to shorten the hair to the desired length. Unless you're shaving your armpit hair completely, it's probably best to leave it as long as you can while keeping it less noticeable. Otherwise, the stubbly hair will be itchy and uncomfortable. Trim or shave your arms and legs based on your preference. This part of the manscaping routine definitely comes down to personal preference. If you have thin or fair arm and leg hair, you may just want to leave it alone. If it's thick or dark, though, you may want to either trim it down to 0.125 in (3.2 mm) or less, or shave it off completely. Trim arm and leg hair with a grooming trimmer set to your desired length. Shave your arms and legs using the same razor techniques you utilize elsewhere. Use grooming scissors for any long hairs on your toes or fingers. If the knuckles on the backs of your fingers and (more commonly) your toes have a hairy, Hobbit-like appearance, trim the hair down to about 0.25 in (6.4 mm) in length with grooming scissors. This is an area of manscaping that's easy to overlook! Pull the skin taut and work carefully, no matter your strategy. Whether you're shaving or trimming “down there,” always keep in mind that you're dealing with skin that's extra-sensitive and often thinner and looser than elsewhere. Use your free hand to pull the skin taut before you pass over the hair with your trimmer or razor. This is especially important if you're grooming the hair on your scrotum. Invest in a good set of grooming clippers and maintain them according to the product instructions. Make sure your razor is clean and sharp as well. Use the same techniques as elsewhere on your body--just work even more slowly and carefully! Start with a trimmer even if you plan on shaving. Use the trimmer to cut down on the length of your pubic hair. You can either leave it trimmed for a sculpted look, move on to shaving it for a clean look, or try a part-trimmed and part-shaved combination. There are many pubic hair styles to choose from, but it mostly comes down to personal preference. Generally speaking, though, the more interested you are in highlighting your “package,” the less hair you should keep. Shave, if desired, with a sharp razor and lots of shaving cream and aftershave. Never try to shave your pubic hair without trimming it down to 0.125 in (3.2 mm) or less first. The long, dense, curly hairs will get caught in your razor and you'll end up yanking them out—ouch! Trim first, then shave using proper shaving strategies—warm water, lots of shaving cream, a sharp razor, short strokes in the direction of hair growth, a cool water rinse, and aftershave. Don't skimp on the aftershave. Your skin is sensitive in this area, and will become very irritated otherwise. Reapply the aftershave for a few days afterward if needed. Trim and/or shave your perineum as well. This is the hard-to-see (and reach) area between your scrotum and your anus. If you trim or shave the hair in your groin area, though, any hair on your perineum will become more noticeable. Cut it back to the same length as the hair in your groin area. There's no simple way to reach this area with a trimmer or razor. Standing up or sitting on the edge of the tub, the toilet, or a bench may work best for you. No matter if you're standing or sitting, spread out your legs and use your free hand to both lift your scrotum out of the way and pull the perineum skin taut. Use an epilator to deal with any problematic hair on your backside. Let's be frank here—you don't want unsightly hair growing out of your butt crack if you've gone to all the trouble of manscaping everywhere else. This, of course, isn't an ideal place for a trimmer or razor. Instead, use an epilator, a handheld device that grabs and pulls out multiple hairs at once. Yes, this will hurt a little, but remind yourself that it will complete your look! You can find epilators alongside trimmers and electric razors at major retailers. They may be located with women's razors and trimmers, but they're great for manscaping too!

Tidy up your eyebrows with grooming scissors and tweezers. Pluck or cut any rogue ear hairs. Trim long nose hairs instead of plucking them. Shave or trim your facial hair to suit your style. Shave the front and back of your neck as well, if needed. Trim your chest hair for a less drastic change from your natural look. Shave your chest hair completely if you want to highlight your pecs. Remove back hair completely (with help) by shaving or waxing. Cut back your armpit hair to a less noticeable length. Trim or shave your arms and legs based on your preference. Use grooming scissors for any long hairs on your toes or fingers. Pull the skin taut and work carefully, no matter your strategy. Start with a trimmer even if you plan on shaving. Shave, if desired, with a sharp razor and lots of shaving cream and aftershave. Trim and/or shave your perineum as well. Use an epilator to deal with any problematic hair on your backside.

https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-a-Mango-Seed

How to Plant a Mango Seed

Before you plant a mango tree, make sure to check your climate zone. Mangoes grow best in warm places that have mild winters. If your climate can support a mango tree, get a seed from your local nursery or from a local mango tree, if you can. If you can't, try planting the seed from a store bought mango. To plant the seed, bury it 8 inches deep in a container filled with rich, well-draining soil. Water the seed daily until it develops into a seedling and transplant the tree outside after 1-2 years.

Check your climate zone. Mangos are native to the hot, humid tropics of Asia and Oceana. Outside of that area, mango trees grow well in USDA hardiness zones 9B or above. In cooler areas, mangos can still be grown in containers and brought indoors during freezing weather. The Cogshall mango variety is a popular choice for growing indoors, and can be kept permanently at 8 ft (2.4 m) tall with regular pruning. Even smaller dwarf varieties exist for people with limited space. Find a parent mango tree. The best way to make sure you get a seed that will grow well in your area is to find a parent tree nearby. A nearby tree that produces good fruit will give you a seed that's the right variety for your climate. If you live in a warm climate with mild winters, you can probably find a healthy mango tree in your area. If you can't find a mango tree, you can order seeds or buy them in a shop. Make sure to choose a variety that is known to grow well where you live. You can also try to plant a seed from a store-bought mango. However, it will be a lot more difficult to make sure the seed stands a chance to survive in your climate, especially if the mango traveled to your grocery store from another state or country. Still, it's worth a try! Check the seed to see if it's viable. Cut away the mango's flesh to find the seed husk inside. Carefully cut away the husk to reveal the seeds. A healthy mango seed will look tan and fresh. Sometimes seeds shrivel up and turn grey if they're exposed to cold temperatures, and if this happens, the seeds aren't usable. Slice both cheeks off as close as possible to the seed: Place a cheek in the palm of your hand, carefully scoring the flesh side of the cheek, both ways, approximately 2cm/1 inch each way. Then turn the the cheek up, exposing cubes of delicious mango flesh. Eat as is from the skin, or scrape off with a spoon, directly into a bowl. You might want to wear gloves when handling the seed. Mango seeds produce sap that can cause skin irritation. Choose a method for preparing the seed. You can use either the drying method, or the soaking method, as noted below. The soaking method reduces germination time by one to two weeks, but increases the risk of mold. Dry the seed thoroughly with a paper towel. Place it in a sunny and airy dry place for around 3 weeks. After this time, with one hand, try to crack open the seed, trying not to let it slip in half; you just need to slightly separate the two halves, and leave for another week. Place fertile, well drained soil in a container. Dig a small hole approximately 20cm/8 inches deep. With the belly button of the seed face down, push the seed in. Water in well, and keep the water up every day, or every other day, depending on the soil. After around 4 to 6 weeks, you will have a mango tree / seedling about 100mm to 200mm high. Depending on the variety of mango you earlier devoured, it may be a deep purple, almost black, or a bright vibrant green. Grow the seedling until it has established a good, healthy root system. Many people grow mango trees indoors for one to two years before planting them outside. Scarify the seed. To "scarify" is to slightly abrade the outside of the seed, making it easier for the seed to germinate. Carefully make a small cut in the mango seed or rub the outside of the seed with sandpaper or steel wool just enough to break through the outer skin of the seed. Soak the seed. Place the seed in a small jar of water, and place the jar in a warm place such as a cupboard or on a shelf. Soak the seed for 24 hours. Remove the seed from the jar and wrap it in damp paper towels. Place the wrapped seed inside a plastic bag with one corner cut off. Keep the towels moist and wait for the seed to sprout - it usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. Make sure to keep the seed in a warm, moist place to help it germinate. Prepare a pot for the seedling. Start your seedling's growth in a pot. Choose one big enough to hold the seed and fill it with a mixture of potting soil and compost. You could plant the seed directly in the ground, but planting it in a pot first allows you to control temperature exposure during the vulnerable early stage of growth. Sun harden the seedling. Place the pot outside in partial sun; this allows the seedling to get used to the sun, or harden, before being transplanted to its final place in the full sun. Transplant the seedling to a spot in full sun. Choose an area with full sun to plant your mango seed. Be sure this is a place you want a large tree to grow — they get up to 65 feet (20 m) tall! When planting in its final position, find an area in your backyard that has good drainage. Also think about the future; it must be an area that will not interfere with any buildings, underground plumbing, or overhead power. Transfer the seedling when it has established a good, healthy root system. The thickness at the base of the trunk should be the size of an Australian 20 cent piece (about 5cm/2.5"). Most trees take about two years to reach this size. Leave the plant in a container instead. Leaving a mango tree in the pot is ideal if you live in a place with cool winters, so you can take the pot inside when the temperature drops. As the tree grows, you will either need to prune it to keep it small, or transfer it to a larger pot. Plant the seedling. Dig a hole big enough for the seedling's tiny root ball. The hole should be three times the size of the root ball. Add one third quality potting mix, one third garden sand (not loam), and the rest back filling with soil from the hole. Place the seedling in the hole, pat the soil around its base, and water it thoroughly. Be very careful not to break the seedling as you transplant it. Keep the base of the trunk clear to avoid ring barking the young Tree of the Gods. Water your mango plant regularly and use fertilizer sparingly. Most mango trees take five to eight years after planting to bear fruit. They are slow to reach maturity but worth the wait. Do not over fertilize. If you do, the tree will focus more on leaf growth than on fruiting.

Check your climate zone. Find a parent mango tree. Check the seed to see if it's viable. Choose a method for preparing the seed. Dry the seed thoroughly with a paper towel. Place fertile, well drained soil in a container. Water in well, and keep the water up every day, or every other day, depending on the soil. Grow the seedling until it has established a good, healthy root system. Scarify the seed. Soak the seed. Remove the seed from the jar and wrap it in damp paper towels. Prepare a pot for the seedling. Sun harden the seedling. Transplant the seedling to a spot in full sun. Leave the plant in a container instead. Plant the seedling. Water your mango plant regularly and use fertilizer sparingly.

https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Confident-Around-Girls-if-You%27re-Shy

How to Be Confident Around Girls if You're Shy

Being confident around girls if you're shy may feel like a big challenge, but by starting off with easy goals, it will get easier. Even just smiling, making eye contact, and saying "Hi" to a girl you want to talk to can give her the impression that you're confident. Don't be afraid to use your shyness to your advantage. Since many girls are attracted to shy guys, use the fact you're shy as a way to introduce yourself. Try saying something like, “There are so many people here. It's hard to find someone to talk to because I'm kind of shy.” As you grow your confidence, you could even poke fun at yourself over your shyness. For example, you could tell a girl, “If I weren't so shy it would be a lot easier to get to know you better."

Understand what it means to be shy. Characteristics of being shy can be manifested in different ways under different circumstances for each individual. Knowing what situations cause your feelings of shyness can help you address the symptoms of shyness when they occur: Being hesitant to speak up in social situations Mumbling or talking softly Avoiding social gatherings Being overly talkative due to nervousness. Recognize what situations make you feel shy. Understanding that almost everyone feels shy at some point can help you overcome your own feelings of shyness. It is natural to be nervous under uncertain circumstances. When you can mentally prepare for a situation it is less likely to make you nervous and shy because you know what to expect. Plan ahead and you'll be ready to take on challenges as they are no longer unknowns. Change your internal monologue. If you are constantly saying negative things about yourself in your head, then you will have an extremely hard time ever feeling confident. Even though it isn't true, telling yourself phrases like “I'm just socially awkward” or “Nobody will ever like me, I'm too weird” will make you believe you are not worthy of attention from a girl. Instead create a mantra that builds you up: “I'm awesome!” “I like talking to everyone!” “I am going to meet new people today.” Avoid over-analyzing what people are saying. Many times shyness is a result of perceived perceptions. People think that others see them a certain way and make that their reality, when in fact, no one is having the thoughts you believe they are. Take people for their word and don't worry about what someone might be thinking. Focus your attention on the people you’re talking to. Instead of centering the conversation around you, talk to and about other people. Avoid starting sentences with “I” and talk about the other person's interests instead. If you're not thinking about yourself, it is less likely you will find yourself feeling shy! Have a good time! When you are happy and enjoying yourself it is much less likely that you will feel shy. Let yourself have fun and don't be afraid to relax. Dress to impress. It is important that you feel good about your clothing and style to present yourself in the best light. It doesn't matter what you wear as long as it feels good to you. There is no one style that says “I'm confident,” but if you believe that you wear it well, you will! Educate yourself on topics you’re interested in. Being able to discuss a topic in detail will give you the confidence to begin a conversation with many different people. Learn more than just the headlines of a news story and you can discuss the details with several groups of individuals. Make eye contact when speaking to someone. Communication is about so much more than words. Sometimes what we say is less important than how we say it. Make sure that you are letting the people you talk to know you care about them by connecting with them visually throughout your conversation. Set easy goals for yourself and complete them. Start off by making a point to say “Hi” to a girl you want to talk to. Open the door for future conversations by taking small steps. Don't expect to be the head cheerleader's best friend if you've never talked to her before. You need to build up confidence by introducing yourself to lots of people to get comfortable talking to lots of girls. Practice talking in the mirror. Watch your facial expressions and think about what responses you would have in a particular conversation. Knowing what you might say can help you prepare for a great conversation. Just a simple smile at yourself each day can do wonders for your self esteem! Be honest about your shyness. When you introduce yourself to a girl, let her know that you are trying to overcome being shy. Many girls find guys who are shy extremely attractive. Let your shyness be a way in and not something that keeps you out. Try one of these opening lines: "There's so many people here, it's hard to find someone to talk to because I'm kinda shy." "Can I sit with you, I'm shy and just need a quiet place to relax." "I'm terrible at meeting new people, can we pretend we know each other so it isn't so awkward?" Make a joke about being shy. When you are having a conversation use the fact that you are shy as a way to poke fun at yourself. "Being shy always makes me feel small, do I look little to you? "I would tell you a joke, but I'm too shy and always mess up the punch lines" "If I weren't shy it would be a lot easier to find out what you like" Bring a friend to be your wingman. Sometimes having a friend by your side can make it much easier to approach a girl. Ask a friend you trust to help introduce you to new people and start conversations. Live in the moment. Don't worry about what might happen in the future of your conversation; focus on the here and now. It is easier for the conversation to flow if you are concentrating on the current topic and not planning the future.

Understand what it means to be shy. Recognize what situations make you feel shy. Change your internal monologue. Avoid over-analyzing what people are saying. Focus your attention on the people you’re talking to. Have a good time! Dress to impress. Educate yourself on topics you’re interested in. Make eye contact when speaking to someone. Set easy goals for yourself and complete them. Practice talking in the mirror. Be honest about your shyness. Make a joke about being shy. Bring a friend to be your wingman. Live in the moment.

https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yams

How to Grow Yams

To grow yams, start by cutting one in half, partially submerging it in a glass of water, and putting the glass someplace warm. When leafy sprouts form, twist them off, put them in water, and wait for them to grow roots. Once the roots are about an inch long, plant them in loose soil, in holes that are 4-5 inches deep and 8-10 inches apart. Then, cover them with soil, water them generously, and fertilize them every 2-4 weeks. About 4 weeks after you see vines begin to grow, stake the vines to provide support to your plants.

Start growing the sprouts. Yams aren't grown from seeds like most other vegetables - they grow from slips, which are derived from the sprouts of adult yams. To grow sprouts, cut a yam in half and submerge one portion in a glass of cool water. Insert toothpicks at three points around the middle of the yam and suspend it over the container, half-submerged in the water. Make sure the yam you choose looks healthy. If you notice discoloration or lesions on the skin, your yam could be diseased, which means its sprouts could be diseased, too. Choose a yam variety like TDA 291 or TDA 297 that is resistant to Scorch, a fungal disease that causes spots and lesions. Keep the sprouts warm. The growth process requires warmth, so place the glass near a heat source. If possible, position the glass near a window so that the sprouting yam gets sunlight as well. Otherwise, place it near a heater to absorb warmth that way. Let sprouts develop. Refill the water in jars or glasses if necessary to keep the submersion level of the yam consistent. Wait for sprouts to form on the yam; this will take a few weeks. Once sprouts are leafy, take each one and gently twist it off of the yam. Each yam can produce up to 50 sprouts. Root the slips. Lay each sprout in a shallow container, with the bottom half of the stem submerged in water. Allow the leaves to hang out over the rim of the container. Over the course of a few days, you should see roots emerging from the bottom of each sprout. When the roots are about an inch long, they are then slips that are ready to be planted. Slips can also be purchased online. Loosen the soil. To ensure that the roots don't meet resistance as they expand, make sure that the soil is very loose and well-drained where you want to plant the yams. When the ground starts to dry in the springtime, till the soil approximately 8 to 12 inches deep and remove debris (i.e. rocks, root pieces, etc.). Spread compost or manure over the soil and till it approximately 8 inches into the ground, to improve the soil's structure.Rake the area, spray it with water, and let it sit for 2 or 3 days before planting. Make space. Ensure that you have enough room to accommodate the slips that you'll be planting. Large tubers need a lot of space to grow, as do the vines of the plants, which grow vigorously. Ideally, you should leave approximately a meter of space between each plant. Wait for the right temperature. Yams do not grow well in cold temperatures, so it's best to wait until a few weeks after the last frost to plant your slips. Mid spring is the ideal time to do so. Yams require a long growing season, so don't wait too long into the spring or summer to get started. Bury the slips into the soil. Dig holes about 4" or 5" deep and 3" wide (approximately 10 or 12 cm deep and 7-8 cm wide). Place slips in the holes (dug about 8 to 10 inches apart), positioned with the roots pointing down and the leafy tops above the soil. Very gently fill the holes with soil, being careful not to jostle or bruise the slips too much. Press soil down lightly to get rid of any air pockets. Water the plants generously. Newly planted slips should be watered every day the first week, every second day the second week, and less and less as they grow. Be generous in hydrating them but pay careful attention to the crop to avoid waterlogging. Yams thrive in sunlight, so if the soil gets dry, adjust the watering schedule accordingly. Fertilize the plants. Use a fertilizer during the growth period to help improve the state of the produce. Purchase a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen, an element which can compromise root development, and is high in phosphorus. It is best to fertilize the crop every two to four weeks. Stake the plants. Yam plant vines are not sturdy and require support in order to produce a large yield. Keep an eye on the plants and stake the mounds approximately 4 weeks after the vines first emerge. Use bamboo canes as support for these yam vines, which can grow up to 10 ft. Watch out for diseases. Your yams may fall prey to different pests and diseases from time to time. Keep an eye out for the following conditions when growing your yams and choosing your sprouts: Yam mosaic disease. Caused by aphids, this condition results in yellow and light green discoloration on the leaves. To prevent this disease, keep the growing area free of weeds and use disease-free slips. If you notice diseased plants, remove them immediately. Dry rot disease. This condition causes light yellow lesions on the outer skin, eventually turning the entire yam black. Use disease-free slips to prevent dry rot. If your yams have this disease, soak them in hot water for an hour post-harvest to lessen the effects. Mealy bugs. This insect looks like a white, cotton-like oval. Mealy bugs can hinder growth and attract ants. Treat mealy bugs by removing infected plants and using insecticide sprays for large infestations. White scale insects. These insects create tiny white scales on the skin of yams and can slow growth. Treat infected plants with insecticidal soap. Keep an eye on the plants. Yams typically take about 14 weeks to mature. They should be harvested when the tops of plants start to go yellow and wither. Harvesting generally occurs in autumn. Remove yams from the soil. Use a pitchfork or similar gardening implement to gently dig into the soil and remove the tubers from under the surface. Start digging a safe distance from the stem. Be careful not to pierce the skin of the yams when removing them from the ground. Cure your yams. Refrain from washing yams after harvesting. Instead, sort yams into boxes or baskets to cure them before storage. Curing can be done in approximately 2 weeks. To do so, place yams in a warm, dark place with some ventilation and leave them undisturbed. This process will allow bruising and wounds on the yams to heal, and seal out rot bacteria. Store your yams. Once harvested, yams can be kept for several months. Store yams in a cool, dry spot like a kitchen cabinet. There are multiple ways to cook yams , so look up yam recipes and enjoy the fruits (or root vegetables) of your gardening.

Start growing the sprouts. Keep the sprouts warm. Let sprouts develop. Root the slips. Loosen the soil. Make space. Wait for the right temperature. Bury the slips into the soil. Water the plants generously. Fertilize the plants. Stake the plants. Watch out for diseases. Keep an eye on the plants. Remove yams from the soil. Cure your yams. Store your yams.

https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Jalapenos-in-a-Pot

How to Grow Jalapenos in a Pot

Jalapenos thrive in warm, sunny climates and grow best in pots. To start your jalapenos, fill a seed tray with a seed-starting mix, add 1 to 3 seeds per section, and cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil. Keep the seed tray somewhere sunny, like a windowsill, and mist the soil whenever it gets dry. When the plants are at least 2 inches tall, transfer them to pots at least twice as deep and filled with organic potting soil. Leave them outside or on a sunny windowsill and keep the soil moist.

Choose a pot that’s twice as wide and deep as the nursery pot. This will give the plant plenty of room to grow and spread its roots. Jalapenos need to be replanted several times, so be prepared to transfer the plant a few times. Make sure the pot you use has proper drainage holes. Fill the pot with organic potting soil. You can find organic potting soil at your local garden or home improvement store. Fill the pot at least halfway full of potting soil to start with, and then you can rearrange the soil once you add in the plant. You can add a little bit of compost to the soil for nutrients, if desired. Remove the jalapeno plant from the nursery pot. Gently pull the root ball out of the nursery container, making sure not to pull on the stem. Give the root ball a couple of squeezes with your hand to loosen up the soil and roots. Situate the plant in the new pot and add more soil. Place the root ball down in the pot, making sure the top of the root ball is almost level with the top of the pot. Add in more potting soil around the root ball using your hands or a shovel until the pot is mostly full. Be careful not to damage the roots when you're arranging the soil in the pot, especially if you're using a shovel. Water the plant after you've added soil. The water will help compress the soil naturally so you can see how much more soil you need to add. You can use a cup or small watering can to dampen the soil. Set the pot in a place with access to at least 6 hours of full sun. Jalapeno plants love being in full sunlight, so place them somewhere that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. This can be outside, or it can be on a windowsill that gets lots of indirect sunlight throughout the day. Keep the soil moist, especially during warmer weather. It's important to keep the soil damp without letting it get soggy. Water the plant whenever the soil feels dry—if it's hot outside, the plant may need water every day. Make sure the pot has proper air ventilation holes so that water can drain easily if needed. To see if the plant is too dry, try tilting the pot to the side to see how much it weighs. If it feels super light, the plant is too dry and needs more water. Use liquid fertilizer to help the jalapeno plant grow. If you want to use a fertilizer on your jalapeno plants, try out a water-soluble liquid plant food. Most organic fertilizers that you would use on tomatoes should work well with jalapeno plants. A 5-10-10 fertilizer is good for jalapeno plants. If the plant is underfed, it will have pale green leaves and won't have very much new growth. Repot the plant roughly every 2 weeks as it gets bigger. Jalapeno plants grow quickly, and you'll need to switch out the pots when the plant outgrows each one. When you do repot the plant, make sure there's at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of space on each side of the plant so that it has plenty of room in the pot. Repotting the plant each time it grows as opposed to just planting it in a large pot is important so that you prevent overwatering and/or adding too much fertilizer. Try not to damage the roots each time you repot the jalapeno plant. Purchase jalapeno seeds or use seeds from your own jalapenos. You can find jalapeno pepper seeds at a garden or home improvement store, as well as online. If you already have a jalapeno plant, you can cut open a mature pepper and use those seeds for planting. Fill a seed tray with seed-starting mix. You can find a seed-starting mix at your local garden or home improvement store, as well as seed trays perfect for starting small seedlings. Fill each space in the seed tray about ¾ of the way full with the soil. Place 1-3 seeds in each seed tray. Pour the jalapeno seeds into your palm and drop a few into each section of the seed tray. Try to space them evenly so that they're not on top of each other, even if they don't all grow. You don't need to push them down into the soil, just place each one in the soil gently. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. A fine sprinkling of soil will do—you just want the seeds covered with a light layer of soil so that water or wind doesn't move them. Use the same soil that you used to fill the seed tray. Mist the soil with water when it becomes dry. While you don't want to drench the seeds in water, they'll need to be properly hydrated in order to grow. Use a spray bottle to dampen the soil after the seeds are planted, and check the soil each day to make sure it isn't dry. Make sure the seed trays have proper air ventilation so that the soil doesn't become soggy. Expose the seeds to light for up to 16 hours a day. If you live in a climate that gets lots of warm sun, put the seed trays near a windowsill so that they can get sunlight. You can also use artificial light from lamps to heat up the seeds and help them grow, if necessary. If you're going to use artificial lighting, hang growing lights 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) above the plants. If you notice the seedling starting to wilt, the lights may be too close. Wait 3-5 weeks for the seeds to germinate. How long it takes for the seeds to germinate will depend on the growing conditions, such as the amount of sunlight, water, and soil temperature. By 5 weeks, your seeds should have started growing into small seedlings. Some types of jalapeno seeds only take about 10 days to germinate, so keep an eye on your plant daily to check for progress. Transfer the plant to a larger pot when it’s at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) tall. When it has reached this height, it's strong enough to be moved to a larger pot for more growing space. Use nutrient-rich potting soil when you transfer the plant, and make sure to give it full sunlight and plenty of water. Another way to tell if the plant is ready to be repotted is to look for at least 4 leaves.

Choose a pot that’s twice as wide and deep as the nursery pot. Fill the pot with organic potting soil. Remove the jalapeno plant from the nursery pot. Situate the plant in the new pot and add more soil. Water the plant after you've added soil. Set the pot in a place with access to at least 6 hours of full sun. Keep the soil moist, especially during warmer weather. Use liquid fertilizer to help the jalapeno plant grow. Repot the plant roughly every 2 weeks as it gets bigger. Purchase jalapeno seeds or use seeds from your own jalapenos. Fill a seed tray with seed-starting mix. Place 1-3 seeds in each seed tray. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Mist the soil with water when it becomes dry. Expose the seeds to light for up to 16 hours a day. Wait 3-5 weeks for the seeds to germinate. Transfer the plant to a larger pot when it’s at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) tall.

https://www.wikihow.com/Feed-Koi

How to Feed Koi

To feed your koi a healthy diet, give it small pellets with at least 30 percent protein content. Soak the pellets in pond water for 30 seconds to make them safer and easier to digest. You should also supplement your koi's pellet diet with natural pond plants like algae and vegetable scraps like peas, carrots, or spinach. On special occasions, you can give your koi some frozen shrimp as a protein supplement, or some worms or insect larvae.

Choose a quality pellet. When deciding what to feed your koi, think of it in two parts—base diet and supplementary diet. The base diet should provide all the essential proteins, fats, and most of the vitamins and minerals your koi need to survive. Commercial pellet food is the most reliable, convenient, and healthy option for a base diet. The protein content in food pellets should be at least 30 percent. Protein content in pellets varies greatly depending on manufacturer—usually between 25 and 36 percent—so read labels before deciding. The primary source of protein should be fish meal or soybean meal. The fat content (from fish oil) in the pellets should be at least 5 percent. Feed koi small pellets. Food pellets come in a variety of sizes and you might think the bigger the pellet, the more nutrients it contains. This, however, is not the case. Small pellets provide the same nutritional content as large ones and are easier for koi to ingest and digest, reducing the danger of intestinal impaction. Soak pellets in pond water. Before feeding your koi, soak their food pellets in pond water for at least 30 seconds to one minute. This will make them safer and easier to digest. This step is especially important when the feeding frequency is low or fish are especially hungry, otherwise, they may consume the pellets too quickly and end up eating dry pellets. Dry food can expand in the digestive track, increasing the risk for life-threatening internal blockages. Include natural pond plants and scraps. Variety is important in a well-rounded diet. While the supplemental diet provides many of the same nutrients found in the base diet, it also provides a variety of other nutrients essential to your koi's health. To increase variety, feed your koi natural pond plants and food scraps. Natural pond plants include ordinary pond algae, as well as other plants like duckweed. Vegetable scraps like peas, carrots, spinach, leaf lettuce, and so on, are also a good choice for supplementation. Provide shrimp on occasion. Frozen shrimp can be used as a protein supplement. However, they should be used sparingly. Some people also provide scraps from fish they have prepared for their own meals as an occasional dietary supplement. Add color-enhancing foods. Of course, koi are best-known for their beautiful colors. You can help preserve and enhance their color by feeding them color-enhancing foods every four weeks. Look for foods that contain spirulina, shrimp, or krill. In the wild, koi eat crayfish, which are high in carotenoids, an important nutrient for enhancing the color red. Feed koi live foods. Koi may enjoy eating live foods from time to time, like they do in the wild, as a special treat. This can also be a good way to supplement their base diet. Feed koi crustaceans, insect larvae, worms, and aquatic plants. Also include live plants to give koi some roughage and added vitamins and minerals. Keep track of age. In order to determine the correct amount to feed your koi, you need to know the age, length, and weight of each fish in your pond, in addition to the water temperature. Find out how old your koi are when you purchase them and keep track of their age over the years. Keep a notebook or file with a description of each fish next to their stats. Measure your koi’s length. As with age, keep detailed notes on the length of each fish in your pond. To do this, measure from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. Measurements should be taken in inches. Domestic koi generally grow to 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38.1 cm) long. Most koi reach 50 percent of their final adult length in 24 months, 95 percent at 10 years, and 99 percent at 14 years. Update your notes at least twice a year to ensure your calculations are accurate. Calculate your koi’s weight. Determining your koi's weight is the next step in figuring out how much to feed your fish. Use the formula (weight) = (length x length x length) / (144). In this formula, weight is in ounces and length is in inches. The most accurate way is to actually weigh your fish, although this isn't always practical. Charts can also help you determine its weight. Most give an estimate using the fish's length and build. For example, typically, a 12-inch long koi weighs around 12 ounces. Take the water temperature. The amount of food and frequency with which you feed your koi also depends on water temperature. A change in temperature impacts your koi's eating habits. Higher temperatures quicken the koi's metabolism, while lower temperatures slow it down. When water is between 60 to 85 °F (15.6 to 29.4 °C), feed your koi two to four times per day. When the temperature lowers to 50 to 60 °F (10 to 16 °C), feed them once a day or every other day. Monitor the temperature year round. If the temperature rises above 90 or below 50 °F (10 °C), it is best to stop feeding your koi as their metabolism will slow and they will not be able to properly digest their food. Koi will still have access to food in those cases where the water temperature is too high or too low. They will be able to eat the algae on the pond liner or rocks. Calculate the percentage of body weight as food per day. In order to determine how much food to feed your fish, you will also need to know what percentage of their body weight each fish must eat in food each day. Percentage of body weight as food per day is dependent upon the age of the fish, as well as the water temperature. Ask your local koi expert for a chart that lays out the percentage needed for each in relation to the other. For example, a one-year-old fish living in 72 degree Fahrenheit water needs to eat two percent of its body weight in food each day. A four-year-old koi needs one percent. Take this percentage times the weight of the fish to determine how many grams of food it needs each day. Calculate the amount of food for one fish. Once you have all your measurements and calculations, you're ready to figure out the total amount you should feed your fish each day. To do so, use this formula: (length of fish) x (percentage of body weight as food per day) = amount to feed For example, say you have a one-year-old fish that is five inches long and weighs 22 grams, living in 72 degree Fahrenheit water. According to your chart, it needs to eat two percent of its body weight per day. Your calculations would look like this: (5 in.) x (0.02 x 22 grams) = 0.44 grams per day Calculate the amount of food for multiple fish. You'll most likely have more than one fish in your pond, so you need to figure out the total amount of food you'll need to feed all your fish each day. To get this number, add together the total grams needed for each fish. For example, say you have a one-year-old koi and a four-year-old koi in your pond. The one-year-old koi is five inches long and weighs 22 grams. The four-year-old koi is ten inches long and weighs 200 grams. The water temperature is 72 °F (22.2 °C). Based on age, weight, and water temperature, your one-year-old should receive two percent of their body weight as food per day and the four-year-old should receive one percent. Using the calculations from the previous step, the one-year-old needs 0.44 grams of food per day. The four-year-old needs 2 grams per day [(10 in.) x (0.01 x 200 grams) = 2 grams per day]. Add 0.44 and 2 together to get the total grams you need for both of your fish each day (2.44 grams). Feed in small amounts. Calculating the amount of food to feed your koi is the most accurate way to determine how much food to provide, but you should also pay attention each time you feed your koi. Feed your koi small amounts at least twice a day. You want your koi to be able to eat all of the food you give them in a short amount of time (less than five minutes). Overfeeding koi can cause serious health problems like severe negative impacts on the liver and other internal functions. Pre-portion your fish food to keep from overfeeding. Choose a “feeding station. ” Establish a “feeding station” that you use each time you feed your fish. Ideally, it should be located near the edge of the water where you can keep an eye on how much they are eating and can check them for disease. Let the koi see you. In order to create a bond with your koi, they need to see you feeding them. Staying at the water's edge while your koi eat lets them know you are the food provider and that you won't hurt them. This will help you increase the bond between you and your fish. Once you have established a strong bond, you can work on hand-feeding your koi.

Choose a quality pellet. Feed koi small pellets. Soak pellets in pond water. Include natural pond plants and scraps. Provide shrimp on occasion. Add color-enhancing foods. Feed koi live foods. Keep track of age. Measure your koi’s length. Calculate your koi’s weight. Take the water temperature. Calculate the percentage of body weight as food per day. Calculate the amount of food for one fish. Calculate the amount of food for multiple fish. Feed in small amounts. Choose a “feeding station. Let the koi see you.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume

How to Make a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costume

To make a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume, first get a green sweatshirt and sweatpants for the turtle skin. Then, using yellow and brown fabric paint, paint the bottom of the shell on the front of your sweatshirt. While that's drying, make a turtle shell by covering a large foil turkey pan with paper mache, painting it brown and green, and threading a piece of ribbon through the sides so you can wear the shell on your back. Finally, make a red, blue, purple, or orange ninja turtle mask and belt to finish your costume.

Gather your materials. Your top half is what you're most concerned about. For your legs, wear green sweatpants (that ideally match your t-shirt). Those will be left mostly alone, but the shirt will need to be turtle-fied. Here's what you need: A green t-shirt or sweatshirt {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Yellow and brown fabric paint {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Paper plates {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet3.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} A foam paintbrush {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet4.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Cardboard {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet5.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-1Bullet5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Insert your cardboard inside the shirt. This will separate the sides, keeping the paint from seeping through. If you don't have cardboard, use some other sturdy material that you're not worried about getting paint on. Lay the shirt flat and smooth out all the creases. The cardboard insert needs to be the just short of the width of the shirt when laid out. If you're using a t-shirt, consider wearing a sweatshirt underneath that is your turtle's color. Paint a large yellow rectangle on the center of the shirt. For ideas or a template, go online and see artists' depictions of the Turtles or other costume designs. The yellow is the bottom of the shell -- make it fitting to your size. It's easiest to use a paper plate as your palette. You can just throw it/them away afterward and not worry about the mess. Paint brown shell lines on the yellow rectangle. Because there have been so many variations over the years, it's impossible to say 100% what the shell looks like. But a good standard design includes a thin line just inside the border of the yellow and lines separating the block into six squares, with one line down the middle. If you're going for super-strength turtle, you may want to make your lines look more like abs. Go work on the shell while you let the shirt dry. Clear an area and assemble your materials. This part is a bit ambitious and a little messy, so clear off the table, lay down some newspaper, grab a drink and sit down to work. Here's what you'll need: A large foil turkey pan {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet1.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Lots of newspaper (in addition to what's covering your workspace) {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet2.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Papier mâché supplies -- bowl, water, white glue or flour {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet3.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Scissors {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet4.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Brown and dark green paint (or duct tape) {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet5.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} A drill (or something to poke holes through the pan with) {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet6.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Wide brown ribbon {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet7.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet7.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-5Bullet7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Bend your foil pan into a shell shape. Basically, take the sides and push them out a bit and round out the inner edges, too. While you're at it, just round out the entire thing. Everything needs to be a bit more circular. Papier mâché your pan. Using 2 parts glue or 1 part flour, make a paste with water and cut 2 in (5 cm) wide strips of newspaper. The length doesn't really matter. Cover the entire outside of your shell. Go in every direction, creating an even layer. If you'd like to add texture by bunching up your strips, you can -- but the shape of the pan should already be fairly shell-like. Let dry for a couple of hours. Draw the turtle shell pattern on your pan. If it's easier, paint your shell white beforehand. Grab a hexagonal template off the internet and trace it -- the shell sort of looks like a soccer ball...sort of. But ultimately the shell is up to you -- horizontal lines work, too. You'll be painting or taping over it, so don't worry if you have dark lines. They'll get covered up. Paint or apply duct tape to the shell. Use green duct tape and brown paint (or vice versa) if you'd like to go for a more textured look. Paint is much easier to work with, but duct tape makes it look sturdier. If painting, you may have to put on several coats. Be patient. Let dry after you've finished. Poke two holes in the top and bottom of your foil pan. That's four in total. Straps are going to be attached through these holes, so place them like you would see them on a backpack. It's easiest to use a drill, but anything that can pop through the foil will do. If you don't use a drill, keep the hole to drill-size. Thread the ribbon through the top hole. Don't cut it yet -- you don't know how much you need. Place the pan on your back. Once you go through the top with the ribbon, put it over your shoulder and through the bottom. Leave 3 or 4 inches (7.5 - 10 cm) extra for making knots and cut. Then, take that length and cut another piece for the other side. Tie knots to the top and bottom. It's best if you have the pan on your back while doing this, so grab a friend to make the knots for you. Grab your materials for the belt and headband. A good TMNT costume is made up of in the details. Otherwise you're just a turtle. Grab the following: Wide brown ribbon {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet1.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} A circle of cardboard {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet2.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} White paper {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet3.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Marker in your turtle's color {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet4.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Wide ribbon in your turtle's color {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet5.jpg\/aid2007797-v4-728px-Make-a-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Costume-Step-12Bullet5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Measure a length of ribbon around your waist. Cut it so it fits like a loose belt. Cut small matching circles out of white paper and cardboard. They need only be about 3" (7.5 cm) in diameter. Draw the letter of your turtle on the white paper (in the appropriate color) and attach to the cardboard. Attach the circle to the belt. Tape is easiest, though glue and staples will do as well. If you don't want a tie in your belt, use the circle to join (and hide) the ends together. The letter should be worn front and center. Make the belt tight enough that it doesn't rotate too much. Cut a length of ribbon for your head, arms, and legs. You can identify which turtle you are by having a headband, armbands, and leg bands in your turtles color. Where the headband across your forehead, the armbands around your bicep, and the leg bands around your calf. If your ribbon is wide enough, you could always cut eye holes in it and use it as a mask instead! Make a face paint mask around your eyes. Again, do this in your turtle's color. This is a simple alternative to having to mess with a bandana wrapped around your head that you still have to see out of. Paint up to the eyebrow, just below the eye, a thin bridge around the nose, and lines to the ears. Their masks weren't that wide. Put on your costume. Now it's time to go to town with quilt batting or pillow stuffing -- unless you already have the body of a body builder. Stuff your chest, biceps, and thighs. Sculpt it to your liking. Stuffing your costume isn't necessary, no. But it will make your costume even more noticeable than it already is!

Gather your materials. Insert your cardboard inside the shirt. Paint a large yellow rectangle on the center of the shirt. Paint brown shell lines on the yellow rectangle. Clear an area and assemble your materials. Bend your foil pan into a shell shape. Papier mâché your pan. Draw the turtle shell pattern on your pan. Paint or apply duct tape to the shell. Poke two holes in the top and bottom of your foil pan. Thread the ribbon through the top hole. Grab your materials for the belt and headband. Measure a length of ribbon around your waist. Cut small matching circles out of white paper and cardboard. Attach the circle to the belt. Cut a length of ribbon for your head, arms, and legs. Make a face paint mask around your eyes. Put on your costume.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Perfect-Score-on-the-SAT

How to Get a Perfect Score on the SAT

To get a perfect score on the SAT, try to set aside 30 minutes to an hour every day for studying. It can help to focus on reading, writing, and math separately and follow up each study session with a section-specific practice test. Check out the official SAT website, which has tons of study tips, practice tests, and test day simulators that you can use to help you get ready for the big day. If you think you might benefit from a tutor, ask your school guidance counselor if they have any recommendations.

Make a list of what you need to work on. Do you struggle with quadratic equations? Do you get stuck on grammar questions? Think about what you need to improve and set aside more time for it in your study plan. Not only will this help you on that particular subject, it will also help you feel less stressed overall. Don't forget your strengths. This may seem counter-intuitive, but while it's good to give attention to weak points, you don't want to lose sight of what you can do well. Devoting all your energy to that elusive perfect score in the writing section can make you forget some of those basic math skills you had under your belt. It's also important to remind yourself that you are an intelligent person with many strengths and beating yourself up over the hard stuff is only going to make you feel stressed-out and incompetent when it comes time to take the test. Decide what kind of learner you are. Some people learn better when they read the problem, others do better when they listen to it. Some people need to visualize it in their heads. Think about how you learn information and apply it to your study program. If you learn best while listening, then listen to some lessons on CD while you drive. If you learn best by looking at the words, then go ahead and make packs of flashcards. Set aside thirty minutes to an hour every day for studying. The time for deep, focused studying is in the month (or months) before the exam, not on the night before. Studies show that studying for longer periods of time increase knowledge more than short cramming sessions. Set goals for each study session. When we try to accomplish anything long-term, be it studying or exercising or writing a novel, it can be very easy to say, "Oh, this is too much, I'll do it tomorrow." The problem with putting things off is that finding the motivation to start them again becomes twice as hard. Give yourself a short, accessible goal for each session. For example, "I will get a 75% on this practice quiz," or "I will finish taking one practice test tonight." Reward yourself. When you meet your goals, go ahead and treat yourself. Go get an ice cream cone. Play an hour of your favorite game. Go window shopping at a nearby store. This will keep your motivation high. Use study books. The College Board, the official makers of the SAT have released The Official SAT Study Guide , which is a good starting point for your SAT resources. But there is also a plethora of study books out there for students to choose from. Your local and school libraries are likely to have a good selection so flip through them and see which appeal to you. But do not merely read the book cover to cover; actually do practice questions (preferably from official tests) and analyze the ones you've missed, or you will see little or no improvement. Use the official SAT website. The College Board website ( http://www.collegeboard.org ) includes study tips, practice tests, a new SAT question of the day, and test day simulators. They also provide a feature to help you plan your own personal study guide, tailored to your needs. Find a good tutor. Private tutors can be a great resource, especially for students that don't know how to practice good study habits. There are many companies that offer private SAT tutoring, including The Princeton Review, Kaplan, and TestMasters. You can also ask your school guidance counselor which local tutoring service they recommend. Use practice tests. There's a reason that books and websites keep offering practice tests. It's because there's no better way to find out what's going to be on your test. When you take a practice test, pretend it's the real test. Sit in a quiet space where there are no distractions and time yourself. Do not look ahead to the answers at the back of the book. At the end of the test, assess what you did right and wrong. Read magazine and newspaper articles. Practice reading long, comprehensive passages on a topic that will test your understanding. Try to stretch yourself by reading up on topics that you don't find interesting or don't know much about. Then have somebody test on you what you learned or write down a short analysis. This will force you to increase your attention span, analyze a topic, and practice close reading skills. However, if you are going to take the SAT in the near future, doing the reading comprehension section on the SAT would be a much wiser use of time. Play learning games. Studying doesn't always have to feel like a chore. Cool down at the end of a long session by playing a math or vocabulary game on your computer. This will not only help your skills but will also help you relax. Do not study the night before the test. Take a night off. There is such thing as burnout. If you burn yourself out too much, you may get depressed, and begin to see major drops in your scores. Read a book, watch a movie. Go for a stroll around the block. Get a goodnight sleep before the test. Getting a good eight or nine hours of sleep is essential for feeling awake and healthy the next day. Eat a hearty breakfast with plenty of fiber and protein. Oatmeal, yogurt, granola, and eggs are all good choices. Peanut butter is a good source of protein. Fresh fruit is a nice supplement and gives lot of natural sugar. Avoid processed sugars and refined carbohydrates like those found in doughnuts, muffins, and other pastries; those are likely to give you a brief energy surge and a deep "crash" later in the day. Know exactly where your test center is and how long it takes to get there. The last thing you need is to be worrying about whether or not you'll be late for the exam. Have your destination planned out ahead of time so you can focus on staying calm and remembering your facts. Don't drink too much water or coffee. Unwanted bathroom breaks will take time away from your test so just drink enough to keep yourself hydrated. Answer the easy questions first. Get the questions you know out of the way first so that you'll have more time to focus on the challenging ones. Don't be afraid to skip questions. Sometimes you run into a particularly difficult question and before you know it, you've just spent fifteen minutes scratching out answers to that one problem. If a question is just beyond your ability to guess, then go ahead and skip it. Always be aware of the time. Even while you're working on the test, be aware of the clock. Know how much time you have left and how many questions you have to do. This will help you avoid giving too much time to a particular section or problem.

Make a list of what you need to work on. Don't forget your strengths. Decide what kind of learner you are. Set aside thirty minutes to an hour every day for studying. Set goals for each study session. Reward yourself. Use study books. Use the official SAT website. Find a good tutor. Use practice tests. Read magazine and newspaper articles. Play learning games. Do not study the night before the test. Get a goodnight sleep before the test. Eat a hearty breakfast with plenty of fiber and protein. Know exactly where your test center is and how long it takes to get there. Don't drink too much water or coffee. Answer the easy questions first. Don't be afraid to skip questions. Always be aware of the time.

https://www.wikihow.com/Distinguish-Between-Autism-and-Selective-Mutism

How to Distinguish Between Autism and Selective Mutism

To distinguish between autism and selective mutism, pay attention to how your child speaks around other people. For example, an autistic person may have a monotonous or singsong voice and speak at a strange volume, speed, or pitch. On the other hand, a person with selective mutism may only be able to whisper to others or not speak at all. An autistic person usually speaks in the same manner to everyone, so pay attention to see if their speech patterns are consistent. Alternatively, someone with selective mutism may only be able to speak regularly to very close family or friends. Besides how they talk, watch your child to see if they understand nonverbal communication. For instance, an autistic person may avoid eye contact and may not understand how other people are feeling. A person with selective mutism will probably understand nonverbal cues, but anxiety may prevent them from socializing.

Understand how the conditions can look alike. Autism and selective mutism can both share traits like... Introversion Limited speech Avoidance of eye contact Not responding to others addressing them Difficulty using nonverbal communication Difficulty expressing emotions or thoughts "Clinging to" or following certain people Difficulty forming friendships Social anxiety Consider when the person reached social milestones in infancy. As they grow, babies and toddlers are expected to meet certain social milestones at a certain pace - such as eye contact, smiling, babbling, and speaking. While a person with selective mutism will reach these milestones at the expected pace, an autistic person may have hit them early, late, or not at all. Take time to think - when did the child begin smiling? Waving? Making sounds? Responding to their name? How did they respond to being comforted? Did they ever seem to lose skills or regress? Not all autistic people experience speech delays. Some learn to speak on time, or even start speaking early. See how consistent the behavior is. A person with selective mutism can speak relatively normally, as long as they're around people they trust. However, they will become unable to speak around other people and feel quite anxious around them. Autistic people will typically display the same speech patterns around everyone, so they may not talk to anyone, or speak only minimally. Autistic people can temporarily lose the ability to speak under stress, even if the person can typically speak normally. However, they'll be able to use this skill again when the stressor is gone. Someone with selective mutism can be extremely talkative around their "safe" people, and may be described as chatterboxes. Some people with selective mutism can talk normally with a few people outside of their family, such as their peers. However, outside of this "safe group", the person will be unable to speak. Listen to the person's voice. An autistic person may have an unusual voice, or speak oddly in comparison to their peers; they may sound monotonous or singsong, speak at the "wrong" volume, speed, or pitch, reverse pronouns, or sound as though they're reading off a script. A person with selective mutism will usually not have these quirks. Some people with selective mutism might be able to whisper to others, or make brief noises in a voice that "isn't theirs". Autistic people might not be able to give "correct" responses, and might say things that don't match the context of the conversation (like saying "The puppy went outside" when there was no dog in the room). Someone with selective mutism may have a speech or language disorder, such as stuttering. (However, speech disorders are not part and parcel of selective mutism.) Consider what the person talks about. When the person does speak, consider their conversational topics. Those with selective mutism tend to converse about multiple things and have developmentally appropriate interests, whereas an autistic person may focus only on one topic and have trouble discussing something else. An autistic person may "ramble" about certain topics, including some that most people their age wouldn't be interested in (e.g. a young child "infodumping" about chromosomal deletion). They may recite a long list of information or give endless trivia about it, and not realize when the listener isn't interested or is getting bored. Even though they may be quite talkative when comfortable, a person with selective mutism will typically understand that conversations are give-and-take. An autistic person might dominate the conversation without realizing the listener wants to talk, or struggle to carry on a conversation. Analyze how the person learns social skills. Someone with selective mutism often develops social skills at a similar pace to neurotypical people. It's more intuitive to them, and they usually don't need to be taught unspoken social rules (e.g. giving people personal space). Autistic people are more likely to have trouble with these skills, and may need to be taught explicitly. Social rules such as turn-taking, manners, and "white lies" can be confusing to an autistic person, especially if the rules seem arbitrary or aren't always applied. Note whether the person expresses interest in their peers. An autistic person may seem to not be interested in their peers, or prefer to spend time with people of a different age from them. A person with selective mutism wants to interact with others, but their anxiety prevents them from speaking or joining group activities. Autistic children may prefer solitary or parallel play; playing with other children might be confusing or overwhelming to them. A child with selective mutism might opt for solitary play, but this is because they can't speak to their peers, not because they're confused by them. Autistic people may prefer to talk to people who are older or younger than them - for example, a child talking to an adult, or a teenager spending time with younger kids. To them, it's not as difficult as talking to their peers. A person with selective mutism will only talk to their "safe" people, because it's too difficult to talk to anyone else. Both autistic people and people with selective mutism usually want some friends. Autistic people may have difficulty with knowing how to make friends; someone with selective mutism struggles to overcome their anxiety about doing so. Note whether the person understands nonverbal signals. A person with selective mutism tends to understand nonverbal communication, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. An autistic person will notice these things, but may not understand what they mean. An autistic person might have difficulty trying to figure out what someone is feeling or what they're going to do next, and may get confused or upset if someone doesn't share the same thoughts or opinions as them. Autistic people may struggle with discerning sarcasm and figurative language , and frequently take things literally. For example, they may be confused by phrases like "What's up?" or "Cat got your tongue?". This is not a problem for someone with selective mutism. Children with selective mutism will usually respond to their name being called and will look in the right direction if someone points to something. Autistic children may not respond to their name or look to see what someone is pointing at. Look for use of nonverbal communication. An autistic person may not use nonverbal signals or use them unusually. A person with selective mutism knows how to communicate using nonverbal signals, and may do things like nod, point to objects or people, or read and communicate using body language. Autistic people may avoid eye contact because it's painful to them, or make too much eye contact and "stare people down". Their facial expressions or tone of voice might not match what they're thinking or feeling. Someone with selective mutism might seem rigid or have "jerky" movements or facial expressions. They may appear to be tense or anxious. In some cases, selective mutism can cause a person to freeze up; they might not be able to use body language or make eye contact, but they can still understand it. An autistic person may use some forms of nonverbal communication to communicate what they want or need, like pointing to something. Consider the person's speech processing skills. Someone with selective mutism can typically understand and process speech at a developmentally appropriate level. An autistic person may struggle to process or understand speech; they may have delayed reactions to speech, not respond to someone speaking to them, or need extra time to form a response. An autistic person might struggle with auditory processing disorder, and might need to muffle or "mute" other sounds (like turning off the ceiling fan or moving to a quieter room) to focus on and process what somebody is saying to them. Consider repetition of words or phrases (echolalia). An autistic person may use echolalia as a way of communicating, stimming, or calming down; contrastingly, a person with selective mutism is unlikely to use echolalia. Echolalia can include: Repeating what was just said to them Repeating a phrase they heard when they felt a certain emotion (e.g. saying "happy birthday" when they're excited) Repeating instructions while they do something Quoting lines from something (e.g. a book or movie) at random Note an unusual developmental timeline. Autistic people tend to reach developmental milestones and learn skills at a lopsided or out-of-order pace. Someone with selective mutism will typically reach milestones at the expected pace. An autistic person may reach milestones earlier or later than expected. Some will follow the typical developmental timeline, and be diagnosed at an older age. Consider both typical developmental milestones (vocalizing/speaking, walking, potty-training) and skill development (learning to read, tying shoes, independent self-care, driving a car). Selective mutism can make it difficult for someone to reach later-in-life milestones - like going to college, getting a job or earning their driver's license - because of the socializing required for these. Autistic people may develop anxiety about reaching later-in-life milestones, because the independence required can be difficult for them. They may try to overcompensate in areas they're good at, or attempt to "make up for" things they can't yet do. Watch to see if a child uses imaginative play. Autistic children, when playing, may not seem to engage in imaginative play; they may stack or line up their dolls rather than making them interact, or seem more focused on spinning the wheels on a toy car rather than making it go somewhere. Children with selective mutism are more likely to engage in imaginative play. This doesn't mean that autistic children have no imagination. They often imagine things and just don't act them out. Some autistic children might recite and act out scenes from books, movies, and plays they're familiar with. It may look to be imaginary play at first glance, but they typically follow the original material closely. Autistic children might be able to engage in more obvious imaginative play, like roleplaying, if another child takes the lead. Analyze differences in sensory processing. While both autistic people and people with selective mutism can have unusual responses to sensory feedback, it's more common for autistic people to have sensory processing issues. They might be extremely sensitive (hypersensitive), not sensitive enough (hyposensitive), or experience both hyper- and hyposensitivity. Sensory processing issues can affect all five senses, and may also affect someone's ability to recognize or feel things like hunger, pain, or the need to use the bathroom. Look for a preference for sameness. Autistic people often prefer to stick to routines and do things the same way repeatedly. If their routine is interrupted or changed, they may be deeply upset by it, even if the change is slight. This is not present in selective mutism. This can also apply to things unrelated to routine; for example, an autistic person might get upset if somebody moves their things around on their desk or in their room. Autistic people may dislike or resist most change, even if the change would have little effect or would be temporary (e.g. not wanting to go out for dinner even if they like food at the restaurant, because they usually eat at home). Observe passionate special interests. Many autistic people have interests that they fixate on and are very knowledgeable about. Special interests can be about anything, ranging from very broad topics (e.g. animals) to very niche topics (e.g. a specific band). While someone with selective mutism might have passions, they're closer to neurotypical people's hobbies or passions, and not quite as intense or focused as special interests. Autistic people can (and often will) recite lots of information about their special interest(s) at will, which is called infodumping. Watch for stimming. Stimming (often called "stereotyped or repetitive movements" on diagnostic criteria) is any type of behavior done to stimulate the senses. Stimming is very common in autistic people and often serves to self-regulate or help with concentration. If someone is stimming, they might be: Flapping or waving their hands or arms Flicking their fingers Rocking back and forth Spinning around in circles Watching things move around (e.g. staring at the ceiling fan) Touching or feeling textured things Vocalizing in some manner (e.g. humming, making sounds, shrieking, echolalia) Smelling things Playing with something (e.g. a fidget toy or their hair) Some people stim in harmful manners; for example, they might scratch themselves, pull their hair, hit their head, or break things. These stims can be replaced by alternatives so as not to cause harm. Look at executive functioning skills. Executive function is the ability to organize, map out, and complete tasks. While those with selective mutism tend to have typical executive functioning skills, autistic people may struggle with these. Signs of executive dysfunction include: Fixating or perseverating on activities Trouble moving from one activity to another Difficulty starting or following through on tasks Needing prompting to work on something Trouble controlling emotional reactions Messiness; difficulty keeping organized (may lose things often as a result) Poor impulse control Be alert for struggles with motor control. People with selective mutism typically have average motor skills (though they may seem clumsy when in a social situation). However, it's common for autistic people to struggle with motor control in some way, and move clumsily or awkwardly. They often know how they need to move, but their body doesn't cooperate. Struggles with motor control can look like... Poor coordination (may constantly lose their balance, run into things, drop things, or "trip on their own feet") Trouble writing or typing Difficulty getting dressed independently, and/or difficulty with zippers, buttons, and tying shoes Trouble speaking clearly; may have an unusual voice Difficulty controlling their movement (e.g. pointing to the wrong thing) Consider meltdowns and shutdowns. When overwhelmed by something (such as sensory input, a change in routine, or simply overpowering emotions), an autistic person may experience a meltdown or shutdown. How long it lasts is dependent on the situation, but the only treatment for a meltdown or shutdown is a quiet place to rest. Meltdowns and shutdowns do not occur in selective mutism. Meltdowns can involve screaming, crying, falling on the floor, and in some cases, self-injury. (If the person learned to behave aggressively, they may do things like hit, kick, or bite objects or people, but most autistic people are not violent.) They may look like temper tantrums on the surface, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns cannot be stopped. Shutdowns are essentially a meltdown turned inward. The person may struggle to speak or stop speaking, temporarily lose skills, and feel exhausted by things they would normally be able to tolerate. They're often "running on fumes", and in severe cases, may struggle to care for themselves during a shutdown. Children with selective mutism may throw tantrums in an attempt to avoid social situations, but these tantrums are under the child's control and are limited to children. Meltdowns and shutdowns are not controllable and can occur at any age. Take note of the age of onset. Autism is lifelong and develops in utero, though it's frequently recognized in early childhood or later. Selective mutism frequently develops during early childhood, often between two and four years old, though it may go undiagnosed until the child enters school. Selective mutism can't be outgrown, but it can be overcome with treatment during both childhood and adulthood. Autism is permanent and will not go away, though an autistic person can learn alternative ways to communicate and manage their environment. Research autism and selective mutism. While diagnostic criteria is a good place to start, it doesn't always explain how the conditions look in real life. Take time to research and read up on both autism and selective mutism; wikiHow's autism articles are a good place to start if you suspect autism. Read from a variety of autistic people and people who have or had selective mutism. Autism is a broad spectrum (and can go overlooked in girls and people of color), and selective mutism looks different in everyone. You or your child might relate better to one person than to another. Try posting a description of your or your child's behaviors on #AskAnAutistic or #AskingAutistics. While they can't provide an official diagnosis, autistic people can often discern whether another person is autistic, or if they might have something else. (You can use a fake name if you're worried about privacy.) Avoid fearmongering organizations such as Autism Speaks. Neither autism nor selective mutism are life-ruining, and "not speaking" doesn't mean "not intelligent". Look into similar conditions. If neither selective mutism nor autism seems like it quite fits, there might be another condition that better explains what's going on with you or your child. Don't be afraid to research other conditions and seek professional advice. Some conditions that look similar include: Social anxiety Nonverbal learning disability Reactive attachment disorder (if the child was neglected in infancy) Post-traumatic stress disorder (if trauma occurred) Social communication disorder Deafness or hearing loss Limited knowledge of the language (if the person is multilingual) Shyness (if the person starts speaking once they're comfortable) Note that the conditions cannot be diagnosed together. Under DSM-V and ICD-10 criteria, selective mutism and autism aren't considered comorbid conditions, and someone can't be diagnosed with both. However, some autistic people do report experiencing selective mutism as well. It may be possible for the person to have both, but the two cannot be diagnosed together. Talk to people involved in the child's life. If you suspect a child you know might be autistic or have selective mutism, get in touch with others who interact with them regularly (such as their teacher, babysitter, or parents). Ask how the child behaves in other environments, like in school, and don't be afraid to share your concerns. For example, you might ask your child's teacher, "How is Diana getting along with her classmates?" Pay attention to comments about social interaction (e.g. "He's a very intelligent child, but he doesn't participate in group discussions; does he speak up at home?" or "They don't seem to spend time with their peers. Do they spend time with peers at school?"). See a doctor for diagnosis. While research can help you get a grasp on what's happening with you or your child, only a professional can diagnose autism or selective mutism. Write down what you or your child experience and make an appointment with your doctor; they should be able to refer you to someone who can help with diagnosis.

Understand how the conditions can look alike. Consider when the person reached social milestones in infancy. See how consistent the behavior is. Listen to the person's voice. Consider what the person talks about. Analyze how the person learns social skills. Note whether the person expresses interest in their peers. Note whether the person understands nonverbal signals. Look for use of nonverbal communication. Consider the person's speech processing skills. Consider repetition of words or phrases (echolalia). Note an unusual developmental timeline. Watch to see if a child uses imaginative play. Analyze differences in sensory processing. Look for a preference for sameness. Observe passionate special interests. Watch for stimming. Look at executive functioning skills. Be alert for struggles with motor control. Consider meltdowns and shutdowns. Take note of the age of onset. Research autism and selective mutism. Look into similar conditions. Note that the conditions cannot be diagnosed together. Talk to people involved in the child's life. See a doctor for diagnosis.

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-%22Mother-May-I%22

How to Play "Mother May I"

To play Mother May I, pick 1 person to be the mother. It doesn't matter if the person is a boy or girl. Everyone else will be "kids." To play, have the mother stand on 1 side of the room or yard and the kids stand on the other side. The kids will take turns asking questions like "Mother, may I take 2 steps forward?" Mother gets to decide who can come toward her and may make up rules like "Only kids wearing red can take 2 hops." The first kid to reach Mother wins and gets to be Mother the next round!

Gather a group of people together. Although you can technically play Mother May I with only three people, it will be more fun if you have more. One benefit of Mother May I is that it's a game that works for the whole family. Young children enjoy it, but grandparents have also been known to participate too! However, the game is generally recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 9. The game is popular with adults because it teaches children manners. Mother May I is a game of imagination. You need more than 2 people to play it, though. The game works best with fewer than 10 participants. Designate someone as “mother. ” One player needs to be given the mother designation, and it doesn't matter whether it's a girl or boy. The game is sometimes called “Captain May I” with the word mother replaced with the word captain at all times. If the “mother” is a male, you could use the word captain and call the children "crew members." Everyone else, no matter their actual age, receives the designation of the “children” in the game. It can be fun for actual children to get to play the mother and vice versa. As an alternative, you could use the name of the player designated as the person in charge for “mother.” The goal of the Mother May I game is for the children to reach the mother first on the other side of the room, lawn or field. Whichever child reaches the mother first wins the game and then, in turn, is designated as the mother, and the game starts all over again. Stand on the opposite sides of the room. Alternatively, stand on the opposite sides of a field or in the back or front yard. The mother should be far enough away to make the game interesting but close enough that the children can hear the mother and vice versa. The mother should stand about 10–20 feet (3–6 m) away from the children. The mother should stand facing away from the line of “children” and selects a child either at random or in order. Mother May I can be played either indoors or outdoors. The game is also a great way to get children interacting with each other and adults, and to get them moving around and outside. Take turns asking a question. Each one of the “children” takes turns asking a question of the mother. The question must start with the phrase “Mother may I _____________?” Each child player must fill in the blank in the sentence with a suggested movement. A child could ask, “Mother, may I take three steps forward?” If a child forgets to say “mother may I” before the question, the child has to return to the starting line. Some people also make the rule that a certain maneuver (say baby steps or somersaults) can only be used once per round. The entire point of the game is to ask creative questions. Use your imagination! Develop interesting steps. To make the game more exciting, you should mix up the questions that you ask, when you are in the child role. For example, you could ask to take giant steps forward or baby steps forward. Other steps that can be taken include scissor steps (jumping while crossing and then uncrossing your feet), cartwheels , or bunny steps (hopping). Ask to run forward for a certain number of steps or to walk like a crab. Frog hops involve the child going on on all fours and hopping forward. Be aware that some grandparents might have physical limitations when it comes to running and kneeling, though. Respond to the question. The person designated as the “mother” in the game then responds to the child's question. The mother must reply “yes, you may” or “no, you may not, but you may take ________ instead.” The mother should fill in the blank with another suggestion. The child must do what the mother says. The goal is to lead the child closer or farther away from the goal. The mother can alter, but otherwise stick with the child's suggestion. For example, the child could ask to walk forward 5 giant steps, and the mother could reduce it to 2. The mother could ask the child to run backwards instead of forward. Run until the mother says “stop.” The game can be played slightly differently, with the mother giving the child a command, such as taking 5 baby steps forward, and the child then must respond “Mother, may I?” to which the mother says yes or no or alters the suggestion. Make Mother May I a team game. Although the game is traditionally designed for individual play, some people turn it into a game of teams. To do this, divide the children into teams of any number, perhaps into pairs or sets of three. Any number will work, really, although it gets complicated if the teams grow too big. The team must choose the request for the mother together, such as “Mother, may we take five giant steps forward?” Feel free to add your own creative twists to the game. You don't have to play it the way it's historically done. For example, some people change “Mother” to “Your Majesty” for princess parties. Add conditions to the request. When playing as teams, it can be more fun to divide the teams, so everyone on a team doesn't get to move for each question. The mother could add conditions to the request to accomplish this, such as, “If you're wearing red, you may take five giant steps forward.” The goal of the game remains the same: The children must reach the mother first. In the case of teams, all team members have to reach the mother before the team can win. The game gets boring if the mother just says yes or no all of the time. Adding conditions makes the game more interesting. Add other twists to the game. Don't think you can only play the game the traditional way. Add your own twists and originality to it. Another fun change to the game is to play music while the children are playing it, and to request or have the children request to use dance moves to reach the mother. The mother could wear a special hat or other costume item that will make it more fun for the children to play the mother. Children could disguise their voices to make it harder for the mother to know which child she is responding to.

Gather a group of people together. Designate someone as “mother. Stand on the opposite sides of the room. Take turns asking a question. Develop interesting steps. Respond to the question. Make Mother May I a team game. Add conditions to the request. Add other twists to the game.

https://www.wikihow.com/Maintain-Stubble

How to Maintain Stubble

To make sure you have an even amount of stubble, first let your facial hair grow out for about 1 week. Then, shave it down using the long setting on an electric hair trimmer. Once you have an even length to work with, trim the hair in increments to create the design you want. If you encounter any stray hairs or rough edges, clean them up using a standard safety razor.

Decide your face type. Though men may like the designer stubble look for several reasons, you should especially consider it if you're prone to shaving irritation and ingrown facial hairs. Maintaining the hairs at a short length can help clear up skin, and it can also give baby-faced men a more rugged, handsome look. Stop shaving to gauge your beard growth. Some men may think they can't pull off stubble due to sparse or patchy facial hair growth. When shaving every day or two, this can be hard to determine since some hair may simply grow more slowly. Stop shaving longer than you normally would—up to a week even—and decide then if you believe your hair growth can warrant a stubble look. Be prepared to maintain it. If you're looking for a truly low-maintenance facial hair style, then the stubble look may not be for you. Though you don't have to tend to stubble every single day, you'll still have to clean it up approximately three times a week, and the process can potentially take longer than regular shaving alone. Stop shaving. Let your stubble grow to the point of being a short beard. As with a regular haircut, you can always take more off, but you can't put back what is no longer attached. Grow your beard to a length that you know is slightly longer than you'd ever want to keep your stubble. How long this will take depends entirely on your particular beard growth. For some men this may take three or four days while for others it could be over a week. Use a long setting on your hair trimmer. Start with a slightly longer setting on your trimmer such as a 4. This will take all of your hair down to an even length. Especially for men with dark, thick beards, this setting will probably be too scruffy for the look they want, but it works for some—think Hugh Jackman. Shorten in increments. Once you have an even length to work with, begin trimming your stubble down in increments to find the right length for you. The length you decide on will ultimately depend on your hair density, hair color, and how clean of a designer stubble look you want. Remember that you may also choose to keep the stubble on different parts of your face at different lengths to achieve a cleaner look. You may decide that the best look for you is using a 3 setting along your jaw and moustache but a 2 setting on your cheeks to create a more blended look that fades rather than ends dramatically. Don't worry if taking the length down makes spots like your cheeks feel patchy. Some men such as Ryan Gosling rock the designer stubble look with barely any hair extending onto their cheeks. You'll clean up those patchy spots in the next step. Clean the edges. Once you have the length of your stubble where you want it, you can take care of stray hairs or asymmetrical spots by cleaning up around the edges. For this, you can take the setting guard off your trimmer to use it as a set of electric clippers, or you can use a plain old safety razor. Common areas to clean up while edging include the sparse hairs some men get high up on their cheek bones or upper lip hairs that might take away from the definition one wants in his moustache. Decide how you want your neckline stubble. For many men, deciding how they want the stubble look to transition to their neckline is the hardest part. If you decide on a slightly longer, more rugged look with your stubble, then you probably want to keep some stubble on your neck as well. For a cleaner look—or if the hair growth on your neck is too patchy—then you can clean it up in an easy way. Fade the hair at your neckline. If you decide to keep some of the stubble on your neck, then fade it out. Shorten the length to a 2 setting past your jawline and then to a 1 setting around your Adam's apple. This allows you to fade the hair out in a natural way without leaving a sharp contrast between stubble on your face and a smooth neck. Shave it just beyond your jawline. If you keep a shorter, cleaner stubble look and don't want the hair to extend to your neck, then you can shave it smooth just beyond your jawline. Take your fingers and feel for the spot just behind your jawbone under your chin where the skin gets soft and you can push at it; this is the spot where you want to create your natural edge for your neckline. By shaving starting at this point, you allow the stubble to extend down the visible portion of your jawline and the sharp contrast line stays hidden under your chin.

Decide your face type. Stop shaving to gauge your beard growth. Be prepared to maintain it. Stop shaving. Use a long setting on your hair trimmer. Shorten in increments. Clean the edges. Decide how you want your neckline stubble. Fade the hair at your neckline. Shave it just beyond your jawline.

https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Melon

How to Choose a Melon

To choose a melon, examine the outside of the fruit first. If you're choosing a cantaloupe, look for one that's tinted gold, with thick, coarse netting on the surface of the skin. A watermelon should be a bright green color with a dull skin and a uniform shape. To pick a honeydew, look for a melon with a rich yellow, cream, or gold color and a symmetrical shape. Whichever type of melon you're choosing, the fruit should feel heavy for its size, which indicates that it's fully ripe.

Examine the cantaloupe’s color and texture. A good, ripe cantaloupe will have a base color that's tinted gold, so avoid those that appear green. The skin shouldn't have any tears or scars, and the netting on its surface should be thick, coarse, and strongly defined. If the cantaloupe's base color still has a greenish tint, that usually means that it isn't ripe yet. It's normal for the netting on the cantaloupe's skin to be more pronounced in some areas than others. Test the cantaloupe’s weight. Once you've found a cantaloupe with skin that appears healthy, pick it up and test its weight. The melon should feel fairly heavy for its size. To determine whether it is a good weight, you may have to test several cantaloupes from the store's display. That will help you determine if one in particular feels heavy enough. Smell the cantaloupe. One of the best ways to determine if a cantaloupe is ripe and healthy is to smell it. If the melon has a sweet, musky scent, it's likely ripe and a good one to bring home. Smell the cantaloupe at the blossom end to test for ripeness. That's the end of the melon that's opposite the stem area. If the cantaloupe smells perfume, that may be an indication that it's overripe. Check out the cantaloupe’s end stem. Finally, before purchasing a cantaloupe, examine the stem area. Make sure that there aren't any tears in the skin, as these can sometimes mean that the melon was harvested too early. There should also be a slight indentation in the stem area to show that the cantaloupe separated easily from the vine when it was harvested. The stem itself shouldn't be attached to the cantaloupe. That usually indicates that the melon hasn't matured. Avoid any cantaloupes that are soft or moist in the stem area. Look for a watermelon with dull skin and a uniform shape. While a watermelon should be a bright green color, its skin shouldn't be shiny. Instead, look for one with skin that's slightly dull. It should also have a uniform shape to indicate that it's matured fully. If a watermelon's skin is shiny, it may indicate that the melon isn't ripe. Find a watermelon with a creamy patch on the underside. Next, pick the watermelon up and examine the bottom. There should be a creamy yellow spot from where the melon rested on the ground as it was growing. This field spot indicates that the watermelon spent plenty of time in the sun maturing instead of being harvested too early. The deeper the color of a watermelon's field spot is the sweeter the melon will be. A white spot is fine, but a yellow spot is best. Check the texture of the watermelon’s skin for bumps and dents. As you're holding the watermelon, run your fingers along its skin to examine the texture. There shouldn't be any dents, bumps, or irregular curves, which can indicate that the melon didn't get regular sun and water as it grew. Instead, choose a smooth, even melon. Make sure that there aren't any cuts or scars in the watermelon's skin either. Test the watermelon’s weight. With the watermelon in your hands, make sure that it has a good weight. It should feel heavy for its size, so compare it with another melon that's a similar size to see if it has a good heft to it. Tap your knuckles against the watermelon. Finally, hold the watermelon a couple of inches from your ear and knock on it with your knuckles. If the melon is ripe, it should make a hollow, tenor-like sound. The knocking test shouldn't be used as the only test for ripeness because not all watermelon farmers agree that it is accurate. Overripe watermelons can sometimes make the same sound as ripe fruit. Use it to confirm that a melon that meets all of the other criteria is ready to bring home. If the watermelon makes a thudding sound when you hit it, it is likely still full of water and not yet ripe. Examine the honeydew’s skin for a rich, creamy color. A healthy, ripe honeydew will be a cream, yellow, or gold color. Avoid melons that are overly green because they aren't ripe yet. If you choose a honeydew that's a creamy white color, it won't be ripe yet but will ripen if you leave it out at room temperature for a few days. Choose a symmetrical honeydew. A healthy ripe honeydew will have a spherical shape. More important than looking at the shape, though, is to make sure that the melon you choose is symmetrical. If one end is larger than the other, it can indicate that the honeydew didn't grow evenly and probably isn't the best choice. Feel the honeydew’s skin. Run your fingers along the skin of the honeydew to examine its texture. It should have a smooth, velvety feel with no noticeable dents or bumps. It's also normal for a honeydew's skin to have a slightly waxy feel because the sugar in the melon rises to the surface as it ripens. Check the honeydew’s scent. Just as with a cantaloupe, you can usually tell if a honeydew is ripe by sniffing it. It should give off a sweet, pleasant scent. A honeydew's scent will be most evident when the melon is at room temperature. Shake the honeydew and listen to the sound. Finally, before purchasing a honeydew, shake it gently. If you hear the seeds rattling around inside, the melon is ripe. If you shake the honeydew and it sounds soupy or slushy inside, that likely means it's overripe.

Examine the cantaloupe’s color and texture. Test the cantaloupe’s weight. Smell the cantaloupe. Check out the cantaloupe’s end stem. Look for a watermelon with dull skin and a uniform shape. Find a watermelon with a creamy patch on the underside. Check the texture of the watermelon’s skin for bumps and dents. Test the watermelon’s weight. Tap your knuckles against the watermelon. Examine the honeydew’s skin for a rich, creamy color. Choose a symmetrical honeydew. Feel the honeydew’s skin. Check the honeydew’s scent. Shake the honeydew and listen to the sound.

https://www.wikihow.life/Clean-an-Outdoor-Gas-Grill

How to Clean an Outdoor Gas Grill

If you just used your outdoor gas grill, clean it by turning the heat on high for 15 minutes, which will burn off excess food and grease. Then, once the grates are cool, use a steel grill brush to remove any food or grease particles. For a deeper clean, you can remove the grates and wipe them down with a sponge dipped in soapy water, though you don't have to do this after every use. Finally, to clean the exterior of the grill, use a rag dipped in soapy water to give it a good rinse.

Burn off excess food and grease. After you use your grill, turn the heat on high and leave for 15 minutes, or until the grill is no longer smoking from burning the food residue. Then turn off your grill. Leaving the grill burning for 15 minutes allows for any remaining grease or food particles left over from your last use to be burned into ash, and easily removed. Clean the grilling grates. When the grilling grates are no longer hot to the touch, (but still warm), turn off the gas supply, and disconnect the gas. Then brush off any loose and ashed particles of food or grease with a steel grill brush. You could also crumple up piece of aluminum foil, and use that to brush off the grates as well. For a more thorough cleaning, you can remove the grates from the grill, use a sponge dipped in soapy water to wipe them down, and then replace them in the grill once the are rinsed and dried thoroughly, but this is not required after every use. Clean the exterior of the grill. Soapy water is the safest cleaning solution for most gas grills. Just make a cleaning solution with water and a squirt or two of mild dishwashing soap. Wipe the exterior of the grill with the soapy water, use a rag dipped in clean water to remove the soap residue, and then dry the exterior of the grill thoroughly. If you have a stainless steel grill, you can use stainless steel cleaner to clean the exterior. If you have a porcelain grill, you can also use specific porcelain cleaner to clean the outside of the grill. Keep your grill covered. When you're not using your grill, keep it covered to protect it from outside elements, and prevent it from getting dirtier than it needs to be. Most grilling brands manufacture their own grill cover specific to the kind of grill purchased. Check the fuel lines for visible defects. If any fuel lines have unmistakable damage (like rips, holes, cracks), replace the parts immediately before your next use of the grill. Also be sure that any fuel lines have a smooth trail. You don't want any of your fuel lines to be bent, because that will prevent the gas from flowing correctly. Check the exterior of the gas tank for any damage as well; things like dents, erosion, punctures, or any evident signs of damage. If you find areas that have obvious damage, you could potentially have a gas leak. If you are unsure or suspicious about the condition of your gas tank, have it inspected by a professional gas supplier. A professional gas supplier would have the authoritative knowledge to assess and address a possible gas leak. Check the fuel lines for invisible openings. Create a mixture of soap and water. Make sure you stir the mixture around so it gets really sudsy. Then, use a paintbrush to brush the soapy mixture onto the fuel lines. Turn on the gas, and brush some more soapy water onto the gas lines. If any bubbles form on the gas lines, that indicates a gas leak. Immediately replace any fuel lines that exhibit signs of a gas leak. This soapy water test should be done on a monthly basis, but also depending on how often you grill. The more you use your grill, the more frequently you should perform this test. Check the ignition system. Turn the gas off, and test your ignition button to see if it creates a spark. If both the pressure regulator on the gas tank and the ignition system are running normally (meaning the pressure regulator is tracking and maintaining correct gas tank pressure, and the ignition system is sparking and lighting correctly), you can finish testing the grill by turning the gas back on and lighting the grill up as you normally would. If there is no spark, check the pressure regulator, and be sure it is secured tightly on the tank. Just like your stove at home, you can try to manually light the grill using a grill lighter. Just be sure to keep your arms and face away from the grilling area so you don't burn yourself when the burners ignite. If your grill is able to light in that manner, check the batteries in the ignition switch and wipe off the electrodes so there is no battery acid build up. The manual that came with your grill can show you how to properly deal with the batteries and electrodes. Disconnect the gas. As a safety precaution, any time you clean your grill, disconnect the propane tank. That way, you will know for sure that any possibility of a gas related injury or fire is cut out of the equation. Double check to make sure the gas is turned off at the tank before disconnecting it from the grill. You don't want gas leaking out from the tank. Check your fuel level. If your fuel tank doesn't have a gauge, you can check the fuel level by pouring some warm water onto the side of the tank. Slide your hand down the wet area of the tank (starting from the top), and note the temperature difference. The tank will feel cooler where the fuel level begins. Clean the cooking grates. Brush the cooking grates with a dry wire brush or a grill stone to keep food, grease, and bacteria from accumulating on the grates. After you have brush the top of the grilling grates, remove them from the grill and scrub the bottom of the grates as well. Consider spraying a barbecue grill cleaner on the grates before you scrub them with the wire brush. After you scrub them clean, consider spraying vegetable oil on the grates to prevent rust. If you're using a grill stone to clean the grates, you don't need to add any water before scrubbing the stone on the grates. Clean the burner protectors. Remove the burner protectors from the grill, and use soapy water and an old sponge to give them a good scrub down. The accumulated grease and grime should wash right off, leaving your burner protectors clean, and looking good as new. Burner protectors are sometimes called flame tamers, heat tents, or vaporizer bars. If you see a lot of rust or deep pitting (holes from erosion), it may be time to replace these grill parts. Any grill parts you might need can be found at your local home department store. Clean out the burners and venturi tubes. The venturi tubes are the pipes that go out from the burners and connect to the grill control valves. These tubes allow the air and gas to mix together, altering the intensity of the flame. Remove the burners and venturi tubes, and place a hose head at one end of the tube. Turn the water on to clear out any debris or insects that could have gotten inside. Insects often accumulate and nest in the venturi tubes during the grilling off season, usually around late summer and fall. If your burners are not easily removable (or you're not confident that you could properly replace your grill burners), use a sponge lightly moistened with water to wipe down the burners. Failure to re-assemble your grill burners correctly could result in a fire hazard. If the small holes in the burners are blocked and obstructed, use a small paperclip or pin to poke through the debris and clear the holes. However, if the holes are deteriorated and cracked, replace them with new burners. Clean the cook box. Remove the cooking grates and use a stainless steel cook brush to brush all the excess grease and debris from inside of the grill into the collecting bottom tray. Then, remove the bottom tray and throw out the collected grease and debris. Some of the debris will be loose and easily disposable, whereas other debris will be caked on. You might need to use a scouring pad or a sharp putty knife to remove the stuck on debris. Consider washing out the bottom tray to keep things clean and keep grease buildup from accumulating. If you do decide to clean the bottom tray, just wash it out with soapy water, rinse and dry it, and then put it back into position under the burners. Clean the exterior of your grill. If you have a stainless steel grill, you can use a stainless steel cleaner to wipe down the outside surface with a paper towel, and keep your grill looking like new. If you have a porcelain grill, you can use a specialized porcelain grill cleaner.

Burn off excess food and grease. Clean the grilling grates. Clean the exterior of the grill. Keep your grill covered. Check the fuel lines for visible defects. Check the fuel lines for invisible openings. Check the ignition system. Disconnect the gas. Check your fuel level. Clean the cooking grates. Clean the burner protectors. Clean out the burners and venturi tubes. Clean the cook box. Clean the exterior of your grill.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Teddy-Bears-Clothes

How to Make Teddy Bears Clothes

To make teddy bear clothes, all you'll need is some material, paper, scissors, and a sewing kit. To make pants, draw around your teddy's legs to make a template. For a skirt, just draw a skirt shape around its legs. Pin the template to your material, cut out the pieces, and stitch them together. To make a t-shirt, cut out a strip of fabric to go around your teddy's upper body. Then, cut 2 thin strips of fabric as overalls straps and stitch them to the main strip.

Draw a pattern for the pants or skirt on a piece of paper. Place your teddy bear on top of the piece of paper and mark along the outer and inner edges of the teddy bear's legs and waist. Add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to each edge for the seam allowance. Identify how long you want to make your pants or skirt as well, and make another mark where you want the item to begin and end, adding 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to each edge for the seam allowance. Then, finish drawing your outline for the pants or skirt. For example, if you want the pants to stop about 2 in (5.1 cm) from the bottom of the teddy bear's foot, then make a mark at this location on the paper. If you want the skirt to come only to the middle of the teddy bear's legs, then mark this location. If you do not want to make your own pattern, you can buy one in a craft supply store or find a pattern online for the size of the bear you have. Pin the pattern onto a piece of folded fabric. Cut along the edges of the paper pattern using a sharp pair of scissors. Then, fold the fabric in half and pin the paper pattern onto your fabric. Make sure that the paper pattern is inside of the folded edge of the fabric. Insert a pin about every 2 in (5.1 cm) all the way around the edges of the pattern. You may use any type of fabric you like to make your teddy bear clothes. Cut along the edges of the pattern to create 2 pieces. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to cut the fabric along the outer edges of the paper pattern to create 2 identical pieces. Make long, clean cuts to ensure that you don't end up with any jagged edges. When you are finished cutting, you will have 2 equal-sized fabric pieces. Fold over the top and bottom edges of the pants or skirt. Next, separate the 2 pieces of fabric. Fold 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of the top edge of the pants or skirt over so that the wrong (inner or non-print) sides are facing each other and the raw edges of the fabric will be hidden inside of the item. Insert 2 to 3 pins through the folded fabric to hold it in place. Then, do the same thing for the bottom edges of the pants or skirt. Sew or glue the folded edges to secure them. If you are sewing the hem, use a sewing machine or needle and thread to sew a straight stitch 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the folded edge of the fabric. Remove the pins as you sew and do not sew over them. If you are using fabric glue, dispense a line of glue in between the layers of folded fabric. Leave the pins in place until the glue dries (about 8 hours). Repeat this to secure the hem for both pieces. Make sure to cut the excess thread if you sew to create the seam. Press the fabric layers together if you are securing them with glue. Place the fabric pieces together with the right sides facing in. Next, create a fabric sandwich with your 2 fabric pieces. Place the pants or skirt pieces together so that their right (print or outer) sides are facing each other and the edges are lined up. Then, insert a pin every 2 in (5.1 cm) along the raw edges to secure them. Do not insert pins along the hem of the fabric! The top and bottom edges need to remain open to get the item onto the bear's body. Sew or glue along the edges to secure the pants or skirt. Repeat the same process as you used before to secure the edges of the pants or skirt. Sew with a machine or by hand or use fabric glue to secure the sides of the skirt or pants. If you are making pants, then you will also need to hem or glue the crotch. Position the stitches about 0.25 in (6.3 × 10 am) from the raw edges of the item. Remove the pins as you sew. Dispense the glue about 0.25 in (6.3 × 10 am) from the raw edges of the item. Allow the item to dry for at least 8 hours before removing the pins. Mark a piece of folded fabric along the sides of the teddy bear. Fold a piece of fabric in half and smooth it out to ensure there are no lumps or bumps. Lay your teddy bear on the fabric and mark the fabric on both sides of the teddy bear under the armpits and next to its waist.The fabric needs to go at least halfway up the sides of the teddy bear's waist. Remove the teddy bear and connect these 4 dots with a piece of chalk or fabric marker to form a rectangle. If you want to create a specific kind of teddy bear shirt, use a pattern instead. You can purchase teddy bear clothing patterns in a craft supply store or find free patterns online. Keep in mind that getting the right fit may be more complex depending on the shape of the bear's body. You can use any type of fabric that you want to make a teddy bear shirt. Add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the outside of the rectangle. Use a ruler to measure and mark the fabric 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the outside of the edges of the rectangle on all 4 sides. Connect these marks with a pen or fabric marker to form a new rectangle outside the first one. This extra fabric will provide the seam allowance for your teddy bear's shirt. Cut the fabric along the lines. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to cut along the second set of lines you drew after adding the seam allowance. Make sure to cut through both layers of fabric so that you end up with 2 pieces. Be careful not to create any jagged edges as you cut. Go slowly and make long, even cuts. Fold over the top and bottom edges of the fabric. Fold over about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of the fabric along the top and bottom edges. Fold the fabric so that the wrong (inner or non-print) sides are together and so that the raw edges will be hidden on the inside of the shirt. Sew or glue to secure the folded fabric. You can secure the fold by sewing a straight stitch 0.25 in (0.64 cm) away from the folded edges, or by gluing the layers of folded fabric together. Thread a needle and sew in a straight line 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the fold if sewing by hand, or select the straight stitch setting on your sewing machine and sew a straight stitch 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the folded edge. To glue the hem, dispense fabric glue in between the fabric layers about 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the raw edges. Remove the pins as you sew. Do not sew over the pins or you may damage your sewing machine. If you are using glue to secure the seams, allow the glue to dry for 8 hours before removing the pins. Cut out 2 straps from an old canvas or fabric bag. The straps off of an old canvas shopping bag or fabric purse will work well as straps for your teddy bear's shirt. Depending on the thickness of the straps, the shirt may look like a tank top or a t-shirt. Measure the distance from the top of your teddy bear's chest, then over the shoulder to the same location on its back. Add 1 in (2.5 cm) for the seam allowance. Cut out 2 straps to the desired length. Use a soft tape measure to find the desired strap length. You can also substitute ribbon for the shirt straps. Line up and pin the 2 pieces of hemmed fabric. Place the 2 hemmed fabric pieces together with the right (print or outer) sides facing each other. Line up the edges of the 2 pieces so that they are even. Insert a pin every 2 in (5.1 cm) along the raw edges. Leave the hemmed edges unpinned. The top and bottom of the shirt will be where you hemmed the fabric, so it is important to leave these areas open. Sew a straight stitch or glue along the sides of the fabric. Set your sewing machine to the straight stitch setting or thread a needle. Sew in a straight line using the machine or by hand along the pinned edge of the fabric. Position the stitches so that they are about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the raw edge of the fabric. If you are gluing the 2 pieces together, dispense a line of fabric glue between the fabric layers along the pinned edges only. Remove the pins and do not sew across them! Leave the pins in place while the glue dries (about 8 hours). Attach the straps to the inside of your fabric’s hemmed edges. Slip the top onto your bear and then experiment to find the best location for the straps. Pin 1 end of the strap to the inside of the top on the front and bring the same strap over the bear's shoulder and pin it inside the top in the back as well. Repeat this for the other side, then remove the top and sew or glue the straps into place. Make sure to avoid sewing over the pins. Leave the pins in place for at least 8 hours if you are using glue to secure the straps.

Draw a pattern for the pants or skirt on a piece of paper. Pin the pattern onto a piece of folded fabric. Cut along the edges of the pattern to create 2 pieces. Fold over the top and bottom edges of the pants or skirt. Sew or glue the folded edges to secure them. Place the fabric pieces together with the right sides facing in. Sew or glue along the edges to secure the pants or skirt. Mark a piece of folded fabric along the sides of the teddy bear. Add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the outside of the rectangle. Cut the fabric along the lines. Fold over the top and bottom edges of the fabric. Sew or glue to secure the folded fabric. Cut out 2 straps from an old canvas or fabric bag. Line up and pin the 2 pieces of hemmed fabric. Sew a straight stitch or glue along the sides of the fabric. Attach the straps to the inside of your fabric’s hemmed edges.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jawbreakers

How to Make Jawbreakers

To make jawbreakers, start by mixing sugar and water in a pot and heating it over a burner set to “high.” You'll want to stir the mixture frequently until the water is nearly gone and the syrup is very thick. Next, remove the pot from the heat and stir in liquid flavoring and food coloring. Then, pour the liquid into muffin tins or candy molds and cool it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Once completely cooled, twist each tin or mold until the contents releases.

Mix the sugar and water in a pot. Stir until the sugar is uniformly moist. If you can, use filtered water for your jawbreakers. While unfiltered tap water will work fine, the tap water in some areas has a subtle aftertaste that can very slightly affect the flavor of the final product. Heat over a stove burner set to "high. " As the ingredients heat, they will start to boil and blend together into a syrupy solution. Stir frequently — the sugar can easily burn if it's allowed to stick to the bottom of the pot. Cook sugar to the "hard-crack" stage. As you boil the syrupy mixture, the water evaporates, making a thicker and thicker syrup. Your goal is to heat the mixture until almost all of the water is gone — this is called the "hard-crack" stage. There are several ways to determine when you've reached the hard-crack stage: Use a candy thermometer — the syrup should be at 300-310 F (149-154 C) Use a cold water test — carefully drop a small dollop of the syrup into a bowl of cold water. Let it cool for a few moments, then take it out and examine it. The syrup should have formed hard, brittle threads that crack when bent (hence "hard-crack.") If it's still soft, it needs to cook longer. Remove from heat. Don't let your syrup cook past the hard-crack stage — this will cause it to start caramelizing. Though the rich, complex flavor of caramel is great for some recipes, it's not typically used for jawbreakers. Stir in flavor and coloring. Add between 2/3 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of liquid flavoring and stir thoroughly to combine. The more flavoring you add, the stronger your candy's flavor will be. You may also add a few drops of food coloring at this point if desired. However, this will not affect the taste of the candy. Pour the liquid into each of your molds or muffin tins. Though there's no "right" way to make jawbreakers, pouring your liquid more thickly will usually give a harder texture. Thin candies will be more brittle, making them easier to bite into. Cool the jawbreakers in the refrigerator. Depending on the thickness of your candies, it can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours or longer for them to cool completely. Be patient — the cooler they get, the closer they'll get to the rock-hard jawbreaker texture. When the candy has completely cooled, remove and serve. To get the candies out, twist each muffin tin or candy mold like you'd twist an ice tray to release its contents. Enjoy! Try making layered jawbreakers. Today, many jawbreakers (like, for instance, Everlasting Gobstoppers) are multilayered — if you cut the candy in half, you'll be able to see the rings made by the different layers. With a little extra work, you can get a similar effect in your homemade jawbreakers. To do this, start by making a batch of jawbreakers according to the step above. Next, prepare a second recipe's worth of syrup, but give it a different color and flavor than you used for your first batch. When the syrup is cold enough to handle, roll your cold jawbreakers in it, giving each an even coat. Put the coated jawbreakers on a piece of parchment paper and put them in the fridge to cool. Add popping candy for an interesting twist. To give your jawbreakers a little extra "bite," try stirring a generous pinch of popping candy (like Pop Rocks, etc.) into your syrup as you add the flavoring and color. When the jawbreakers are finished, the popping candy will provide a satisfying fizz as you enjoy them. Make your own custom liquid candy flavorings. It's worth noting that, if you're willing to experiment, you don't need to use commercial liquid candy flavorings. There are a number of ways to make your own flavorings for use in jawbreakers and other candies — nearly any sort of dense, strongly-flavored oil, syrup or liquid can potentially work. One cheap, easy way to make your own flavoring is to add just enough water to an individual packet of Kool-Aid powder to produce a liquid. Stir this into your mixture earlier in the cooking process than you normally would to allow the extra water to boil off. Another trick that works well for fruit flavors is to add a splash of fruit juice (plus a little grated zest if you have it) — as above, give the extra liquid a chance to boil off if you use this method. Add sticks to make lollipops. The jawbreaker recipe above is very similar to that used for a wide variety of other hard candies. In fact, if you just dip a popsicle stick in each jawbreaker as it hardens, you'll have a set of lollipops once they cool — try it! Keeping the sticks upright while the candy cools can be a challenge, so try carefully laying them on their sides. When the candies cool, just turn them 90 degrees to get your lollipops. Experiment with different-shaped molds. The shapes of your jawbreakers are only limited by the molds you have handy — try using differently-shaped molds to make exciting new designs! Getting perfectly round jawbreakers like you'd see in a store can be quite tricky. Even round molds can leave a noticeable seam around the edge of the jawbreaker. Professional candy makers use a process called "panning" which involves rolling the jawbreakers in round vats of ingredients for long periods of time to produce their round shape. Though this is beyond the reach of most amateurs, if you're serious about making jawbreakers, you may want to invest in specialized panning equipment.

Mix the sugar and water in a pot. Heat over a stove burner set to "high. Cook sugar to the "hard-crack" stage. Remove from heat. Stir in flavor and coloring. Pour the liquid into each of your molds or muffin tins. Cool the jawbreakers in the refrigerator. When the candy has completely cooled, remove and serve. Try making layered jawbreakers. Add popping candy for an interesting twist. Make your own custom liquid candy flavorings. Add sticks to make lollipops. Experiment with different-shaped molds.

https://www.wikihow.com/Achieve-Short-Term-Goals

How to Achieve Short Term Goals

To achieve short-term goals, first make sure your goals are as specific as possible so you know exactly what you need to do. For example, instead of saying, "I'm going to start writing a book," a better goal would be "I'm going to write the first draft of chapter one this month." Then, break down your goals into smaller, more-manageable steps so they're not as overwhelming. For example, if your goal is to reorganize your apartment, you could break that down into smaller steps like, "Organize kitchen pantry," and "Clean out bedroom closet." Once you've broken your goals down, write a to-do list for each goal so you can check things off as you go, which will help keep you motivated.

Make sure the goal is specific. For any goal, it is important that your goal is specific and clearly defined. The work you will do to achieve short-term goals occurs over a shorter, so it's important to avoid confusion about what you are trying to achieve. Confusion creates delay and decreases motivation. For example, imagine you are writing a book. To make the process manageable, you decide to break it down into several short term goals. You hope to achieve them over several one-month periods of time. You could set the short term goal "start writing the book" for the first month. But, that's not very specific. A better goal might be "write a first draft of chapter one this month." This is much clearer in terms of exactly what you want to achieve. Make sure the goal is realistic. It is important to set goals that you will actually be able to achieve in the available time. Failure to do so will result in discouragement, which may lead you to give up on future goals. Our brains thrive on success. Setting achievable goals and following through will create motivation to pursue the next goal. Setting a goal you can't achieve within the time frame sets you up for the opposite. Returning to the example of writing a book, you would probably not want to set a goal to complete the first six chapters in a month. Unless the chapters are very short, that's probably more writing than you can produce in that time. Failing to achieve this goal may then discourage you from doing a more reasonable amount of writing the following month. Determine the steps. Nearly every goal can be broken down into smaller steps. Knowing what those steps are can help the goal feel more manageable. It also can help you create a clear plan to follow in working toward the goal. For example, let's say you've got company coming over and your house needs a serious cleaning. You break the process down into several short-term goals: clean the bathroom, clean the kitchen, clean the living room, etc. But, you can break each of these down into steps as well. Using the kitchen as an example, you might need to wash dishes, clean the counters, clean out the fridge, and sweep and mop the floor. Estimate how long you expect each step to take. Having a timeline and deadlines for these tasks will help keep you motivated, accountable and on-task. For example, if you are starting with cleaning the bathroom, you might estimate it will take you 15 minutes to clean the tub, another 15 to clean toilet, another 10 ten to clean the sink area, ten minutes for organizing and cleaning the medicine cabinet, and another 10 minutes to clean the floor. If you can stick to this timeline, you should be able to clean the bathroom in an hour. Write your goal(s) down and sketch out a plan. Once you've determined the steps, write up a quick plan that puts them in a logical order that will be easy to follow. It may seem silly to write down the steps for a simple task like cleaning your house. Indeed, you might not need to. But doing so helps make the goal more tangible, which can build motivation. Writing the steps down also ensures you won't forget anything important. Set priorities. Often times, when dealing with short-term goals, we may have many goals at one time. It is important to decide which goals are most important so that you can achieve them first. If company is coming to visit, you may need to clean your house. But, you might also need to stock up on groceries. You might want to clean your car. It might be a good idea to make plans for things to do while your friends are staying with you. You may need to get ahead on work that you won't be able to while they are visiting. If you try to do all these things at once, you won't work as efficiently as if you picked the most important task, finished it, and moved on. In fact, by trying to do all of these things at once, you might not finish any of them. Prioritizing your goals will also avoid wasting time after you've completed a goal. You will have already figured out what you need to do next. Get to work. As with any goal, short term goals are only accomplished through putting in time and effort. Once you get started, you'll develop momentum that can help carry you through to the end. If your house is a real disaster, it may be hard to get started on the cleaning. But, look at your plan and try to dive in on the first step as soon as you can. Once you've got one room clean, the satisfaction you feel will help you fell motivated to keep going. Stay focused. To achieve any goal, you have to work on it steadily. With short-term goals, this is even more important. Because you don't have long to complete your goal, it's crucial to keep your eye on the prize and not get distracted. There are several ways to promote this. Track your progress. Keep one eye on the clock (or calendar) and one eye on the plan you wrote up for achieving your goal. The timeline you set for yourself can be a strong motivation to stay focused. No one likes to feel that they've failed. Create a good environment for success. Try to remove things from your environment that might prevent you from achieving your goals. Imagine you are trying to clean your house, but you know that your dog is likely to follow you around begging for attention all day. You might want to take it to the kennel for an afternoon so you can focus. If you don't think you'll be able to resist the temptation to play your favorite video game, put the game controllers in a drawer in another room. Don't take tem out again until you're done working on the goal. Be flexible. Sometimes, you may find that your work toward short-term goals isn't having the effect you had hoped. Or, once you've been working on something for a while, you might think of a better way to do it than you had planned. If this is the case, don't stick rigidly to the plan for its own sake. If a short-term goal is not working out as you expected, or is taking a lot more time than you thought it would, don't be afraid to revise the plan. Having a plan is important, but sometimes, you need to change the order of your steps, remove steps entirely, or add new ones. Sometimes, you might need to drop one short term goal altogether in favor of another one. Using the example of writing a book, you might have a plan to draft the first chapter in a month. But, in writing the chapter, you might come up with a new idea for the book that you hadn't thought of before. If it's a good idea, it might be worth going back and revising your outline to include it. The time this takes might prevent you from achieving your original goal, but if it means a better book, be flexible and revise the plan! Reward success. When you achieve a short term goal, give yourself a reward. This is called "reinforcement." It helps your brain associate following through on goals with good consequences. This makes it easier to motivate yourself to achieve future goals. Reinforcement comes in two types. Positive reinforcement is when you add something good to your life. For example, you might reward your success by going out for a fancy cocktail or dessert. Negative reinforcement is when something unwanted is removed from your life. For example, imagine you you don't like walking your dog. You might make a deal with someone else in your household in which they agree to walk it for you for a day if you achieve your goal. Reinforcing good behaviors is more effective than punishing bad ones. It will increase your motivation to follow through much more.

Make sure the goal is specific. Make sure the goal is realistic. Determine the steps. Estimate how long you expect each step to take. Write your goal(s) down and sketch out a plan. Set priorities. Get to work. Stay focused. Be flexible. Reward success.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Wooden-Box-for-an-AC-Unit

How to Make a Wooden Box for an AC Unit

Making a wooden box for your air conditioning unit will help to house it and make sure it doesn't fall out of your window. To make your box, you'll need a big piece of plywood and 5 strips of wood. First, measure the height and width of your unit, then cut out a hole for your unit in the bottom of your plywood. Add an extra quarter inch on all sides to make sure your unit fits. Once you've cut out the hole, cut 1 ½ inch thick wood strips to form a border around it and screw them to the plywood. Attach your air conditioning unit to the box with a single screw, then prime and paint the wood to make it weatherproof.

Measure the width of the window to know how wide your backplate should be. Prior to cutting any wood, make sure you correctly measure the width of your window to ensure that you create a backplate of the appropriate dimensions. Don't measure the entire open space of the window, rather, measure from the first inner lip on the interior frame of the window. Do this to ensure that your built box overlaps the window frame, rather than falls through it. This flush (even edges) construction also makes sure that the window remains weather-sealed. Make sure your measurements account for any abutting vinyl ridges or channels within the window frame. Double check your measurements to be safe before cutting. Prior to using any power saws, ensure that your measurements are exact and that you are safe from any debris or wood chips. If your measurements are not exact, your entire box will be a waste of effort. Follow the old adage: measure twice, cut once. Mark your measurements on your plank of wood, drawing out lines that indicate the height and width of your backplate. Cut your wood piece to fit the window. Following the lines you marked, use your saw to cut your plank of wood down to a size that will fit perfectly in your window. Choose a track saw to ensure your line is as clean and straight as possible. If you do not have a track saw available, you can use a regular circular saw. Be aware that using a circular saw will be more difficult and result in a more uneven cut. Save the excess wood, because it is the same length as your backplate and can be used later. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from any flying wood particles. Measure the air conditioning unit. Measure the width and the height of the air conditioning unit to know how large of a hole you will need to cut in the backplate. Measure the width at its widest consistent point, not where the sides of the unit begin to curve in towards its face. Take any pieces jutting off of the unit into consideration to provide enough clearance. This will make sure the unit can pass through the opening of the box you will create. Take measurements of the flanges on the bottom and top, because your wood panels will need to incorporate two indented portions to accommodate the flanges and secure them in place. Pencil these measurement marks onto your backplate with a carpenter's square and straightedge to make sure you have lines to follow when cutting. Add up your measurements and wood widths mathematically to ensure the correct dimensions for the box. Using the measurements you took from your AC unit and the widths of your boards, find the proper cutting dimensions for your wood. For example leave 3-1/4 inches at the top to catch the window and clear the flange, 11-3/8 for the height of the unit, and then 1-1/2 at the bottom for the lip. This makes a total of 16-1/8 inches for the weight of the cut hole. Add a little to ensure clearance, bumping up the cutting measurement to 16-1/2. Mark your wood with a pencil at 16-1/2 on both sides of the wood to align the track for the saw. Draw a diagram on your wood, of the hole that will accommodate your AC unit, to guide your cut. Trace the lines where you will cut, along the straight edge, to ensure that you will cut at the proper places. Make sure your measurements are accurate, using a straight edge and carpenter's square to align the measurements on both sides of the wood. If you ever realize that you made a mistake in the measurements, be sure to erase your old lines to avoid following them with the saw. Drill holes in the corners of your diagram to accommodate the jigsaw blade. Drilling holes in the corners of where you want to cut out the center of your backplate allows the jigsaw blade to get started without cutting in from the side. You can't cut in from the side, because that would cut an entire piece off of the wood that you need. Cut out the center of the backplate, from pilot hole to pilot hole. Insert your jigsaw into the first pilot hole and follow your traced line to cut out the box from your backplate. Hold the jigsaw steady to ensure a clean line. Jigsaws have a tendency to “walk”, meaning they can start moving in other directions if you aren't careful. If you have a track saw, use that for a cleaner, more stable cut. Place your backplate over the air conditioner to make sure it fits. To determine whether or not you need to make measurement adjustments, put your backplate over your AC unit and see if it bumps anything. If anything sticks, or if the AC unit doesn't fit at all, you know you need to cut a bit more from the backplate's interior edges. Cut the horizontal window catch that will house the AC's flange. The horizontal window catch is a narrow strip of wood that will abut the lower edge of the window's sliding portion, to lock the box in place. Use your carpenter's square and straightedge to measure out a strip that will be attached the backplate to provide a ridge accommodating the flange on the top of the AC unit. If you have a table saw, set it to a fenced 1-1/2 inches and cut the strip. Then, use a miter saw to cut the strip down to the length of your frame. This strip will be sandwiched between the backplate of your box and the vertical window catch, to provide an area for the window to lodge in. Attach the horizontal window catch. Using the previously drawn line that represents the flange, align the strip you just cut with its proper location on the backplate. Make sure the strip you cut for the flange and the box's backplate are even. Clamp the strip to the backplate to ensure easy attachment. On the backplate's edges, mark the location where the screws will go. Use a countersink bit to create a clean pilot hole for the screws and add a taper to let head of the screws fit flush against the wood. Once you've drilled the pilot holes, drive screws into the wood to attach the strip to the backplate. Add the vertical window catch to complete the channel for the window. The vertical window catch will ensure that the box cannot simply fall backwards and out of the window. Cut a piece of wood, equal in length to the horizontal window catch, but wider, to act as the back of the channel. Drill pilot holes through the vertical window catch, to the horizontal window catch you just attached. Space the pilot holes roughly every 6 inches (15.2 cm), and leave an inch or so at the end to provide clearance space. Look on the opposite side to make sure you won't hit any of your other screws. Use screws to attach the vertical window catch to the horizontal window catch. Cut two pieces of wood to catch the box against the plastic piece within the bottom of the windowsill. These pieces will make sure that that the bottom of the box fits snugly and securely in the bottom of the window. Measure and cut a piece of wood that will act as a gap bridger (spacer), between the backplate and the sash filler. This piece should provide just enough clearance for the sash filler to lock into the bottom channel of the window. Then measure and cut a sash filler (a small piece) that will hook inside the bottom plastic lip of the windowsill. Use your track saw for a clean cut. Make sure the piece of wood is thick enough to catch the lip or nub on the inside of the bottom of the windowsill. Attach the gap bridger and sash filler to the bottom portion of the backplate. Use screws to attach this pieces to the bottom. Attach the gap bridger directly to the bottom of the backplate, and then attach the sash filler on top of that. Make sure that the screws have at least a half-inch of bite, which will ensure that they stick properly. Now, your box should be complete. Place your box in the window to ensure a snug fit. When placing the box into your window, make sure that it fits flush and does not wiggle or fall out. Remove the screen before placing your box into the window frame. The sash filler you built into the bottom your box should accommodate the ridges of the windowsill, fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle. The catch on the top of your box (created by the vertical and horizontal window catches) should provide a snug place for the bottom edge of the window to slide down into. Attach the AC unit to the box with a single screw. If the box fits well in the window, you can now secure your AC unit to the box. On the top flange of the AC unit, there should be a single hole meant for one screw. This is usually used to attach the AC unit to the window frame, but in this case you should put a screw through the hole into your box. Fill the screw holes in with Spackle. Using a putty knife, smooth some Spackle over the screw holes to make them look natural and flush. Make the holes smooth with a putty knife. Let it dry. Sand it down to make it smooth. Caulk the edges to provide a seal against outside air. Fill the edges with caulking to provide a seal against drafts and to keep your cold air in your house. Caulking the edges makes sure that the AC unit does not leak air. Make sure you want to keep the AC in the box before you caulk, because this can make it a semi-permanent fixture. Prime every surface of the wood to make the box weatherproof. Priming and painting the box will make sure that it can withstand the test of time. Let the primer dry for an hour if there is low air humidity. This will make sure that rain and humidity do not rot your wood box.

Measure the width of the window to know how wide your backplate should be. Double check your measurements to be safe before cutting. Cut your wood piece to fit the window. Measure the air conditioning unit. Add up your measurements and wood widths mathematically to ensure the correct dimensions for the box. Draw a diagram on your wood, of the hole that will accommodate your AC unit, to guide your cut. Drill holes in the corners of your diagram to accommodate the jigsaw blade. Cut out the center of the backplate, from pilot hole to pilot hole. Place your backplate over the air conditioner to make sure it fits. Cut the horizontal window catch that will house the AC's flange. Attach the horizontal window catch. Add the vertical window catch to complete the channel for the window. Cut two pieces of wood to catch the box against the plastic piece within the bottom of the windowsill. Attach the gap bridger and sash filler to the bottom portion of the backplate. Place your box in the window to ensure a snug fit. Attach the AC unit to the box with a single screw. Fill the screw holes in with Spackle. Caulk the edges to provide a seal against outside air. Prime every surface of the wood to make the box weatherproof.

https://www.wikihow.com/Befriend-a-Horse

How to Befriend a Horse

If you want to befriend a horse, it's important to wait until the horse comes to you to introduce yourself by spending some time every day in its stall or pasture without touching. The horse will trust you even more if you spend that time talking to it with a soothing voice. You can talk to the horse about the weather, a new recipe, anything at all as long as it gets used to the sound of your voice. Once the horse approaches you, slowly move your hand and scratch the spot at the base of its mane between the shoulder blades to instantly relax it.

Wait until the horse comes to you. When you meet a horse for the first time, it's important that you give him the space and time he needs to adjust to your presence. You shouldn't just walk up to a horse and start petting and rubbing him or begin riding straight away. The horse needs time to understand that you are not a threat before he begins to trust you and see you as a friend and leader. You can begin this process by: Simply spending time with the horse in his stall, in the arena, or in the pasture. Pull up a chair and just sit with him, or walk around slowly - not getting too close - letting him get used to having you around. Soon you will see him beginning to follow your movements with his eyes and head, watching you curiously. Do this everyday, without putting any pressure on the horse to interact with you. In time, he will walk up to you of his own accord and start to investigate more closely. Allow him to smell you, nuzzle you and lick you, without attempting any contact in return. Once trust has been established, the horse may walk over to you as you approach, whinny in greeting or start following you as you move around. That's when you know you've made friends! Talk to the horse. One essential way of bonding with a horse is to let him get used to the sound of your voice. Talk to him about the weather, about share prices, about a new lasagna recipe you've been dying to try - anything at all! As long as you use a soothing, yet confident tone of voice, the horse will be happy to listen. Some people even like to read to their horses. This is particularly great for cold winter evenings, when it's too dark or too icy to ride. Pull up a chair in the horse's stall and whip out a book. Experiment with different genres and styles to see whether your horse is more of a Dr.Seuss or Tolstoy kinda guy. Others sing to their horses. This can be a nice way to bond with the horse as you groom him or bring him for a walk. Again, stick to a soothing tone of voice. No death metal please. Move slowly. Horses are naturally protective about their personal space, so try to read the horse's body language before getting too close. If the horse flinches or leans away when you reach out to touch it, you know you are moving too quickly. Approach the horse from the side, rather than head on, and touch his back or shoulder rather than his face. Try gradually moving towards the horse, step by step, before reaching out a hand to touch him. Place a hand on the horse's shoulders or back. Only do this for a few seconds, then remove your hand and back away. This is very non-threatening behavior and will help the horse to feel safe. Most horses have a "sweet spot" on their withers, which is located at the base of the mane, between the shoulder blades. A quick scratch on this spot can instantly cause the horse to relax. People unfamiliar with horses will usually reach straight for a horse's face or nose, but this is a mistake. A horse's nose is a very sensitive and private spot, and should only be touched when the horse allows it. Breathe in the horse's nostrils. If you ever watch how horses interact when they're alone, you'll notice that they greet each other by sniffing and blowing around each other's nostrils. This allows them to recognize each other's scent. You can do the same by gently blowing in your horse's nostrils to say hello. If you suck a peppermint beforehand, he'll probably like you even more! Give a treat. As you are probably already aware, horses love treats. Therefore, being the provider of treats is a great way to endear yourself to any friends of the equine variety. Things like raisins, sugar cubes, apple slices, carrots, sunflower seeds, hay cubes and peppermints are usually popular, though you should experiment with different foods to find out what your particular horse is partial to. Only give treats in moderation, as the horse's health is a priority. They should be given as a reward for good behavior after training or grooming. Make sure the horse has no medical conditions that could cause him to react badly to a particular type of food. Avoid keeping treats in your pocket or feeding the treats by hand. Over time, a horse can come to associate these places with certain tasty morsels and may begin to nip at fingers or nuzzle at pockets. Do not encourage this behavior; place treats in a feeder or bucket instead. Be patient. The amount of time it takes to befriend a horse will vary from animal to animal. It will depend on the age of the horse, the treatment he received at the hands of previous owners, as well as the horse's individual personality. Young, well-cared for horses may quickly imprint on a new owner, trusting them completely within a matter of weeks. Older horses, who may have been mistreated in the past, will be slower to adjust to a new person and their trust will need to be earned slowly over several months, or even years. It is important to have patience with the horse and avoid pushing him to do things he's not comfortable with. Like human friendships, a relationship with a horse takes time to build. But once trust is established, you will have a friend for life. Do some groundwork. You should do some groundwork with your horse before you attempt to ride him. This establishes you as the leader and teaches the horse to follow your command, while also reinforcing his trust in you. Begin by taking your horse for a walk , as you would a dog. Use a halter and lead and go on a small expedition, walking beneath trees, through water or over bridges, side by side. This will plant you firmly within your horse's comfort zone. Always walk beside the horse, never in front of it, and avoid dragging or tugging on the lead. Walk beside his head or place your hand on his shoulders, stroking him and talking to him as you walk. Think of it like holding hands! Be a leader. Horses are herd animals and like to follow a leader. Once you've gained your horse's trust and established yourself as a leader he will follow you anywhere. Train him to turn left and right, stop and and back up in response to slight movements of the lead or bridle. Training the horse to respond to such requests on the ground will benefit you hugely in the saddle. Be firm and consistent. Try to be firm and consistent in your handling of the horse. Just because you want the horse to like you, doesn't mean you should let him get away with bad behaviors. If he nips or bites, give him one firm smack on the shoulder to show him that it's not okay. If he performs an action incorrectly, make him do it again. However, it is important to understand the difference between a horse who's behaving badly and a horse that's confused or frightened. Don't expect him to perform actions he hasn't been trained to do, or to respond to conflicting requests. Make sure to be fair and consistent in your training -- use the exact same cues every time you make a request, without variation. Horses are creatures of habit and will only respond to familiar requests. Learn to read the horse's body language. Like any good relationship, befriending a horse is all about communication. With the notable exception of Mr.Ed, members of the equine species are not particularly verbose, so having an open discussion with your horse is not a viable option. Therefore, you will have to rely on body language instead. Learn to read your horses facial expressions and body movements, however subtle. These will help you to interpret how a horse is feeling, and may even allow you to head off an accident when the horse is frightened or upset. For instance, if a horse's ears are forward he is paying attention and interested in what's going on, if they're splayed to the side he's relaxed or asleep and if they're pinned back he is angry or frightened. Other body parts to pay attention to include the tail, the muzzle, the eyes and the legs. Loosen the reins. Once you have progressed to riding , the object is to become one with the horse, almost to the point where he intuitively senses which direction you want to go in. You shouldn't need to rely on tugging the reins or furiously prodding him with your heels, he should respond to the slightest nudge or shift in your seat. Aim to become like the mythical centaur; half human, half horse. This process will take time, as the horse learns to read your cues and you his. It will require patience, perseverance and, of course, frequent riding. You can't expect to become one with a horse you only ride once a week. Put time and effort into achieving oneness with your horse and the results will pay dividends. Rub and scratch hard-to-reach spots. Grooming your horse is an important bonding experience, as it shows the horse that your relationship is not all about riding and work, it's also about spending time together and finding things that make him happy. Thoroughly grooming your horse with a curry comb is a good place to start, just make sure to get all those spots that he can't reach himself, like his chest and belly. Wash with warm water. When it comes to bath time, make the experience as pleasant as possible for your horse by washing him with warm water -- not too hot, not too cold. Work a specialized horse shampoo into his coat with a soft sponge, but be sure to thoroughly rinse it out afterwards, to avoid irritation. Remove any excess water with a sweat scraper. Pick up the feet. A horses legs are very sensitive, so by allowing you to pick up his feet, a horse is displaying great trust. Let him grow accustomed to your touch by gently running your hands along his foreleg, starting above his knee and slowly working your way down towards the fetlock. If he grows skittish, stop and start again from the top. Once he allows you to touch his fetlock, lightly squeeze a few inches above it with your thumb and forefinger. This is his cue to lift his foot. Once he allows you to lift his foot, check that the shoe is intact and that there is nothing lodged in his hoof. Gently place his foot back on the ground and reward him with a pat. Learn some basic horse massage techniques. Giving your horse a massage is a great way to relax him and encourage trust. By working on any knots or sore spots, you will also be relieving pain and tension, which may also enhance his performance. Learn to recognize the feel of your horse's muscles, and be able identify which areas need the most work. In time, he will learn to lean into the massage, showing you where he needs work. Sometimes a quick mouth massage is all that's needed, other times you will really need to dig in deep, working hard to loosen his hips or shoulder muscles. Try aromatherapy. Essential oils (designed especially for horses) can work wonders for relaxing and calming your horse while you work on grooming. Rub a couple of drops of your chosen oil under his nostrils and around his muzzle and he will happily oblige your every request. As an added bonus, essential oils also work as an insect deterrent, which can be helpful during summertime treks.

Wait until the horse comes to you. Talk to the horse. Move slowly. Breathe in the horse's nostrils. Give a treat. Be patient. Do some groundwork. Be a leader. Be firm and consistent. Learn to read the horse's body language. Loosen the reins. Rub and scratch hard-to-reach spots. Wash with warm water. Pick up the feet. Learn some basic horse massage techniques. Try aromatherapy.

https://www.wikihow.com/Revive-a-Goldfish

How to Revive a Goldfish

If your goldfish jumps out of the tank and lands on the floor, you may be able to revive it if you act quickly. Fill a small container with cool water from the fish's tank, and place the goldfish into the container. Gently cup the fish in one of your hands, and use the other hand to carefully brush away any dirt or debris on the fish's sides. Also, massage the fish's underbelly to help stimulate air flow. However, you may need to oxygenate the water in the container with an air stone before the fish starts to behave normally.

Examine the goldfish for signs of life. Before you attempt to revive your goldfish, you should check for signs that he is still alive and can be saved. Signs your goldfish is dead include: He appears dried out and his skin is cracked. His eyes are concave (bulging inward) instead of convex (bulging outward). He has gray pupils. He is missing body parts, like a fin or a tail. If your goldfish displays any of these symptoms, you may need to euthanize your fish using a humane treatment like clove oil. However, if your fish looks dried out but he does not have any missing body parts or concave eyes, you may still be able to revive him. Place the goldfish in a container filled with cool water from his tank. The cool water contains oxygen and will help to revive your fish. Some experts also suggest placing your goldfish right back into the water in his tank, even if he appears dried out. Clean any dirt or debris off the fish. Hold the fish in your hand, in the tank water, and use your free hand to gently remove any dirt on the sides of the fish. You can also simply move the fish around very slowly in the water to remove any debris. Use your fingers to open the fish’s gills. This requires a steady and patient hand. You will need to open the gill coverings on either side of the fish to check that his gills appear red, which is a good sign. You can also try giving your fish's underbelly a massage to stimulate air flow. Move the goldfish close to an air bubbler or an air stone. Most aquariums have an air stone, which helps to regulate the water temperature in the tank and to aerate the water. If you have an air stone or an air bubbler, use your hand to move your goldfish close to the air source. This will help to give your fish more oxygen and hopefully revive your fish. If you do not have access to an air stone, you can continue to massage the fish's underbelly in the tank water until he starts to revive, or go purchase an air stone for the fish. Use an air pipe. Some goldfish owners will do a more extensive revival procedure that uses clean de-chlorinated water, a pure oxygen container, and an air pipe. This can be done if your fish is still alive, but appears lethargic and slow moving. To perform serious CPR on your fish, go to your local hardware store and get the following materials: An air stone. An air pipe. A pure oxygen container. A large plastic container, big enough for your fish. Plastic cling wrap. Adhesive tape. You will also need access to clean, de-chlorinated water. Place the de-chlorinated water in the container. De-chlorinated water does not contain chlorine or chloramine, and will prevent the build up of ammonia in your fish, which could lead to illness and death. Use enough de-chlorinated water to fill the container half way. To de-chlorinate water, you will need to add a chemical additive called dechlorinator into the tap water. You can buy dechlorinator for under $10 at your local pet store. Follow the instructions on the label to determine how many drops of dechlorinator you will need to add to a certain amount of water. Put your fish in the container. You will then need to connect the air stone to the oxygen container so it can pump pure oxygen into the water. Once it is connected, place the air stone into the container and make sure it sits at the bottom of the container, in the water. Turn on the pure oxygen and let oxygen into the water. Avoid over oxygenating the water by pumping too much oxygen into the air stone. There should be a steady stream of small air bubbles coming out of the air stone. During the first five minutes, the air should come out strong and steady into the water. After five minutes, turn the oxygen valve down so the air comes out softer and not as strong, but still steady. Use the cling wrap to seal the container. Take a large piece of cling wrap and place it over the container. Fold over the sides so the container is sealed and the fish is submerged in the oxygenated water. You can seal the cling wrap further using a strip of adhesive tape. Keep your fish in the container for at least two hours. Be sure to check up on your fish periodically to ensure he is getting a steady oxygen flow from the air stone. After two hours, your fish should start to breathe and swim around normally. Give your fish a salt bath. Though goldfish are freshwater fish, a salt bath can be great for your fish's overall health and help him recover from a lack of oxygen. However, if your fish is already on other medications or if you are using other treatments to revive him, you should only do a salt bath before giving him other medications or after you have completed other medications or treatments. Sea salt, kosher salt, aquarium salt and pure Morton's rock salt are all recommended for use. If possible, use natural sea salt with no additives, as it is high in minerals. Use a container that is clean and free of any contaminants. Add tank water to the container, as long as the tank water is safe to use, or add fresh water that has been de-chlorinated. Ensure the water temperature in the container is the same as the temperature of the water in the tank, or within three degrees of the same temperature. Add one teaspoon of salt per gallon of water. Mix the salt into the water to ensure all the granules have dissolved and then place your fish in the container of salt water. Keep your fish in the salt water for one to three minutes, and observe your fish during the salt bath. If your fish displays any signs of stress, like rapid swimming or jerky movements, move your fish back into his main tank. Try a garlic bath. Garlic is a natural detoxifier, and can help to purify your fish. Make your own garlic water by peeling a medium size garlic bulb and mincing it up. Then, place the minced garlic in hot water and let it sit at room temperature for up to 12 hours. You can then mash up the cloves and strain it to create garlic water. The garlic water can be kept in the fridge and is good for up to two weeks. Use the garlic water the same way you would use salt in a salt bath. Use about 1 teaspoon garlic water per 10 gallons (37.9 L) of tank water. Then, give your fish a purifying garlic bath for one to three minutes. You can also give your fish garlic water to help prevent infection. Apply it to your fish's mouth using a syringe or an eye dropper, two drops a day for 7-10 days. Add chlorophyll to the tank. Chlorophyll is considered medicine for goldfish and can help boost your fish's immune system and health. Look for pure liquid chlorophyll at your local pet store. It usually comes in drops. Give your goldfish a chlorophyll bath in his tank, following the instructions on the bottle. You can also give your goldfish chlorophyll by adding it to his gel food. Use a stress coat water conditioner. You can purchase this product at your local pet store. Most stress coat water conditioners are made with aloe, which helps to sooth stressed out fish and heal any damaged tissue on your fish. Using a stress coat water treatment can help your fish recover after being revived.

Examine the goldfish for signs of life. Place the goldfish in a container filled with cool water from his tank. Clean any dirt or debris off the fish. Use your fingers to open the fish’s gills. Move the goldfish close to an air bubbler or an air stone. Use an air pipe. Place the de-chlorinated water in the container. Put your fish in the container. Turn on the pure oxygen and let oxygen into the water. Use the cling wrap to seal the container. Keep your fish in the container for at least two hours. Give your fish a salt bath. Try a garlic bath. Add chlorophyll to the tank. Use a stress coat water conditioner.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Anime-Movies

How to Make Anime Movies

To make an anime movie, you'll need a computer animation program like Animaker or Blender. Once you have a program, use it to draw the basics of your characters. Every anime has its own style, and you can pick whatever matches your movie idea. For example, if you want it to be a playful movie, you can copy the style of Studio Ghibli movies. If you want a more serious movie, you can use something like The Ancient Magus Bride as inspiration. When you've drawn your character models, give them some movement by rigging them in the animation program. Feel free to exaggerate these movements since that's common in anime! Now you can go in and add color and textures to your models. After your artwork is complete, piece scenes together to make a cohesive story.

Select a genre for your film. Animation comes in a variety of flavors. Perhaps you want your movie to be a Shonen action romp with colorful superheroes. Maybe you would rather have a cute, subdued slice of life comedy. The genre you choose informs your decisions on the movie's plot and graphic style. Take plenty of time to think about the purpose of your movie. Some genres are more suited to ideas than others. Drama requires a lot of deep emotions from your characters, but a comedy anime needs jokes and clever dialogue. If you aren't familiar with genres, search online for descriptions of genres and popular animes that fit them. Watch the recommendations to get ideas on what makes them successful. Starting with genres you are familiar can help, but don't feel limited if you want to try something new. Combining genres is possible. A show like Psycho-Pass combines police drama, psychology, and cyberpunk elements. Stay flexible. If you discover a different genre is more true to your goals, adjust your film to fit it. Pick a conflict for your characters to experience. Let your imagination run wild to find difficult scenarios to put your characters in. You could go global and write about characters saving the world from evil, or you could go smaller and portray characters overcoming life challenges. There are many problems you can set up for your characters, so select something interesting that fits your genre. For instance, a lot of action animes like Naruto pit characters against dangerous opponents. On the other hand, a drama like Clannad may focus on interpersonal relationships. Pick a graphical style that matches your movie’s tone and conflict. Every anime has its own unique graphical style, which is determined by the artist's vision and what tools they have available. Style is a big part of anime and is reflected in character designs and backgrounds. The atmosphere of your movie can change depending on how bright the colors are or how realistic the characters look. For instance, you may prefer your comedy movie to look surreal by giving characters exaggerated features like in Pop Team Epic. A more serious anime like The Ancient Magus Bride benefits from more elaborate, detailed characters. Studio Ghibli movies, for example, are often very soft and colorful. The characters don't have complicated designs or tons of small details, making them feel welcoming to audiences of all ages. For example, horror movies are often dark and gritty. You may choose to draw realistic characters with sharp lines. For a light romance or comedy, you might draw very cute characters with soft colors. The background graphics are almost as important as the character design. A dark city with a lot of neon lights, for example, can feel both futuristic and oppressive. Create the main characters and their development arc. Your main characters change throughout their story through their involvement in the central conflict. Once you have their graphical design, decide what they are like before and after the events of the movie. Go into as much detail as possible, coming up with ideas such as what each character likes and dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they react to problems. Outlining your character's personality can help you make them feel more real as you write them into the script. If a secondary character seems to have an interesting story, explore it! It could become a great part of your movie. For a simple idea of character development, think of an anime like Naruto where the main character starts out as a bratty kid but becomes successful through struggles and perseverance. Write out the story’s script. Get a thick pad of paper or open a word processor document on your computer. Plot out your movie scene by scene. This includes character dialogue and actions you want your characters to take as well as the overarching story. When you're finished, go back and read the script. Edit weak spots and errors to make the script flow better. Do this multiple times until you are happy with your work. Draw your characters to solidify their designs. Sketch a basic design for every character you plan on using in the movie. You can do this with pencil and paper or in an art program on the computer. Your designs don't have to be perfect, but make them as detailed as you can so you know exactly who you are putting in your movie. Characters can also include animals and objects. If they play a role in your movie, you may want to sketch them out to perfect them. You may need to do multiple sketches before you get a character design you are happy with. Avoid settling for a character design that doesn't mesh well with your movie's concept and art style. For computer art, try a program such as Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint. Make model sheets to show characters in various poses. Model sheets are basically character blueprints. Each character gets their own model sheet where they are drawn in various ways. They are also drawn with different expressions to finalize their designs and make them consistent no matter where the movie's plot takes them. For example, draw your characters from the front, back, and sides. Draw them with a smile, a frown, a look of concern, and confusion. Storyboard your script by drawing out each scene. Storyboarding is like making comic strips for your movie. You sketch out the scenes in your script, each scene being a separate panel. Below the panel, write a caption describing what happens in it, including directions like camera movements. You can make your storyboard with paper and pencil or a computer art program. Storyboarding is a useful way to lay out the script's plot, finalize the story, and begin converting it to visual media. Your sketches do not have to be fully detailed, but make sure you have a clear representation of each scene. Black and white sketches are fine. Draw the background locations and costumes. Layouts are preliminary sketches establishing where the movie takes place. These drawings can be kept black and white but need to provide a good idea of the environments your characters will visit. To fully realize these environments, try to make them as detailed as possible. Backgrounds affect your characters, their designs, and their personalities. They can almost be treated as characters in their own right! Costumes are included in layouts because they are important details for background characters. For main characters, costumes are part of their designs you sketched out earlier. For example, a train in a desert can be an important setting for a western anime. Fantasy animes often have colorful backgrounds with castles, while cyberpunk animes have towering cities. Stage the scenes by putting your characters in them. Staging involves figuring out where your characters will appear in all of your scenes. Arrange all of your background sketches in chronological order, then mark where your characters will be. Try to imagine where they will go as they move through the scene. You may need to make more sketches, such as a closeup of an alley your characters stumble upon. Use staging to flesh out your backgrounds and settle upon their final designs. Choose a computer animation program. Animation work is done by stringing together scenes and character movements in a program. To do this, you need a program that is both easy to use and comprehensive. You can choose between 2D and 3D programs which will give you lots of tools to customize your own movie. For 3D work, try a program such as Blender. For 2D animation, choose a program like Animaker, Moho, Photoshop, or Pencil2D. Before computers, animation cells were hand-drawn. You can still do this, but drawing each scene takes a lot of time, especially if you work alone. Make mock-ups of complex and difficult scenes first. The toughest scenes take the most amount of work to get right, so most animators start there. If you drew your scenes by hand, you can redraw them in a graphics program or upload them with a document scanner. Add your characters into the scene to use it as a point of reference. Mock-ups, or animatics, help you plan out how a tough scene will look. Use it to determine where you will put in visual effects like lights and shadows as well as other details. You don't need to animate these scenes yet. Mock-ups are mostly for staging purposes. Model your characters in an art program. You finally get a chance to bring your characters to life. The goal of modeling is to draw a functional version of each character and scene. It is like building the basic skeleton for everything that will appear in your movie. You do not need to add intricate details like every wisp of hair yet. Arranging your models into a 3D version of your storyboard may help you imagine the characters in your movie. Rig your characters by giving them movement. If modeling gives your characters bones, rigging gives them muscles. To make movement realistic, you need to know where the joints are, like the knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders on a person. Use your animation program to give each character their proper range of motion. Remember to give mechanical objects realistic movement too! Even if they aren't alive, they need to look convincing. With anime, you can often exaggerate movements. Think of how exaggerated some hero poses are or how low eyes and mouths drop in shock. Color and add textures to your models. Begin adding details to your characters and backgrounds to improve their visual quality. Color in your character's hair color, outfit, and other details. Also add color to the world around them, including small details like the lines in wood or rust stains on metal. This can be a slow process, but the movie world will look so much livelier when you're done! You may notice that some of your models don't look right. This is a common part of the editing process. When flaws appear, go back to the modeling stage and fix them. Place light sources in your scenes. Arranging the lighting is tricky since you need to be aware of everything in the scene. A nearby window, candle, or another light source illuminates an area. The light needs to come into the scene in a realistic way and seem believable to the audience. You also need to draw in shadows, such as behind characters when light strikes them from the front. Light has an effect on the mood of a scene. A scene with low light can seem romantic, like a dinner date, or it can feel scary, like in a dingy prison. Aim for lighting that sets the proper tone. Materials can determine how light interacts. A reflective surface like a mirror may appear harsh, bright, and blinding, for instance. If you are unsure how to light up a scene, try replicating it in real life. Study the way sunlight comes in through a window, then incorporate your observations into your work. Animate your art frame by frame to turn it into a movie. After getting all the artwork done, you need to connect scenes together into a cohesive whole. This is done putting your characters and their world into motion. During each cell of animation, characters and other aspects of the world move slightly. Connect a bunch of movements together and you will have action in your movie! You can create motion by arranging your scenes in subsequent order and hitting the play button in your animation program. Think of a flipbook. If you flip the pages quickly, you create the illusion of motion from page to page. Making an anime movie is similar. Download a sound program to make sounds. Any good sound editing program allows you to both record new sounds and import pre-existing sounds. You will need the sound editing program for tasks like changing the volume and the length of sound files. Open the sound files into your animation program to add them to your movie. Purchase a program such as Adobe Audition or make use of a free program like Audacity. Record voice-overs for your character dialogue. Someone needs to read the script you painstakingly wrote. Choose a good voice actor for each character and record their voices with a microphone. Load the clips into an audio program on your computer, then listen to them to see how good they sound. Good dialogue sounds fluid and passionate. The voice actors should speak like you imagine the characters would sound. Make the dialogue believable. Expect to record portions of the dialogue multiple times. Getting it to sound right is worth it. Edit the dialogue into your movie. Match the dialogue clips to the scenes they belong in. You will need to work slowly, making sure each line syncs with the animation. If the characters open their mouths when they aren't supposed to, your movie won't feel immersive. You may need to go back and reanimate some portions to make them fit the dialogue. Add sound effects to your movie. Sounds like dogs barking, birds chirping, and trash cans rattling all add depth and atmosphere to scenes. You can usually find most of these sounds in royalty-free libraries online. However, if you want unique sounds, consider recording them yourself. For instance, if your movie has a scene with a car driving away from the character, recreate the scene. You can have someone else drive the car away from you as you capture it with a sound recorder. You may be able to make custom sounds. Use your voice or a computer program to create sounds without having to record them. Fill empty scenes with background music as needed. If you need to add more sound to your movie, get royalty-free background music or make your own in a sound editing program. Background music can be used at any time, but you have to be careful with the sound mixing. Edit the audio levels so the music does not overwhelm dialogue and sound effects. Music can be used to start and end your movie. A soaring tune can be good for a sweeping shot of a landscape, for instance. Monitor sound levels carefully. You can put music behind dialogue, such as by setting the music at a low level the audience can faintly hear as characters speak. Keep in mind ways that music affects atmosphere. A cheerful tune has a different feel than a mournful dirge, especially when you place it in a dark, violent scene. Finalize the music for the title sequences and end credits. Before publishing your movie, bookend them with intro and outro scenes. Your music choice is very important here since it starts and ends your movie. Create the scenes, type in the movie title or production credits, then give them music befitting the events of your movie. Title screens are often worked into the first scenes of the movie so they feel more natural and engaging. End credit scenes are often black backgrounds with overlaid text and music. If you want, you can add art or animation, but keep it simple so everyone can see who made the movie!

Select a genre for your film. Pick a conflict for your characters to experience. Pick a graphical style that matches your movie’s tone and conflict. Create the main characters and their development arc. Write out the story’s script. Draw your characters to solidify their designs. Make model sheets to show characters in various poses. Storyboard your script by drawing out each scene. Draw the background locations and costumes. Stage the scenes by putting your characters in them. Choose a computer animation program. Make mock-ups of complex and difficult scenes first. Model your characters in an art program. Rig your characters by giving them movement. Color and add textures to your models. Place light sources in your scenes. Animate your art frame by frame to turn it into a movie. Download a sound program to make sounds. Record voice-overs for your character dialogue. Edit the dialogue into your movie. Add sound effects to your movie. Fill empty scenes with background music as needed. Finalize the music for the title sequences and end credits.

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Business-Report

How to Write a Business Report

To write a business report, start with an introduction that presents a clear idea, problem, or objective. Next, present the facts, focusing on one main idea per paragraph, and discuss benefits and possible risks associated with your objective. Then, present your research and proposed solutions. Be sure to organize the data into separate sections based on subject matter and include section headers for readability. Finally, summarize the main points of your report in the conclusion.

Present an idea. A report that presents an idea is called a justification/recommendation report. You can use these reports to make suggestions to management or other important decision makers. This report typically contains a summary and body. The summary highlights your request. The report's body delves into the benefits, costs, risks, etc., associated with your request. For example, you want a 3D printer for your division. To convince your manager to requisition one, you would write a justification/recommendation report to formally ask the management team for the printer. Present risks involved with a specific opportunity. An investigative report helps determine the risks involved with a specific course of action. This type of report is great for helping a company anticipate repercussions. The report will contain an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction highlights the problem under investigation. The body is used to discuss the facts and results of the investigation. The conclusion is used to summarize. For instance, say pharmaceutical company X wants to partner with pharmaceutical company Y but has some concerns. Company X doesn't want to partner with a company that has current financial problems or has had financial problems in the past. Company X conducts an investigation and uses an investigative report to discuss in-depth financial information on company Y and its directors. Present compliance information to a governing body. This report, known as a compliance report, helps companies show accountability. A company will use a compliance report to show proof to a governing body (city, state, federal government, etc.) that it is following all applicable laws/rules and that it is spending money properly. The report contains an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction typically includes an overview of the report's major sections. The body contains the specific data, facts, etc., that the regulatory entity needs to know. The conclusion is used to summarize. For instance, CALPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) needed to show its board of administration that it followed all applicable laws and rules in 2010. It put together an annual compliance report to show their activities for the year. Present the feasibility of an idea or proposed project. An exploratory report to determine whether an idea will work is called a feasibility report. The report should contain a summary and body. The summary presents the idea. The body covers the benefits, potential problems, associated costs, etc., of the proposed idea. A company might use a feasibility report to explore questions such as these: Can this project be completed within its budget? Will the project be profitable? Can this project be completed within the allotted time frame? Present research found in a study. A research studies report presents research on an issue or problem. It's an in-depth look at a very specific issue. The report should contain an abstract (summary), introduction, methods, results, conclusion and recommendation. It should also cite the study or studies involved. For example, a business might conduct a company-wide study on whether to ban smoking in its employee lounge. The person who writes up the study would produce a research studies report. Help a company improve its policies, products or processes via consistent monitoring. This report, called a periodic report, is written at fixed intervals, such as weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. It may examine efficiency, profit and loss, or any other metric over the chosen interval. For instance, a pharmaceutical sales representative might provide a monthly summary of his or her sales calls. Report on a specific situation. A specific situation — as opposed to a fixed interval — calls for a situational report. The situation can be as simple as the information provided at a conference or as complex as a report on the response to a natural disaster. These reports contain an introduction, body and conclusion. Use the introduction to identify the event and briefly preview what you cover in the body of the report. The conclusion discusses the undertaken or necessary actions for the situation. As an example, a state's governing body would like a situational report after a hurricane. Present several solutions for a problem or situation. A yardstick report weighs several potential solutions for a given situation. Based on the results, the writer would recommend a particular course of action. A yardstick report should contain an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction states the report's purpose. The body presents the situation or problem followed by potential solutions/alternatives. The conclusion reveals the best solution or alternative. For instance, ABC Auto Manufacturing, Inc., wants to open a plant in Asia. The report might narrow down three country options based on the company's needs. The report would then conclude which of the three countries is the best location for the new plant. Determine your objective and format. Ask yourself what you would like the report to accomplish. Based on the desired objective, choose a type of report from the list above. Regardless of the answer, you need to make your objective concise. If it is muddled, then your report will only confuse your audience, which risks damaging the report's credibility. For instance, you may want to accomplish receiving a larger advertising budget for your department. Your report should focus on the current advertising budget and how you might effectively use a larger budget. Identify your audience. Your audience may include an outside party (someone who doesn't work within your company) or someone within your firm. Consider the knowledge or familiarity the audience already has with the intended topic. Also, think about how the audience will use the information in the report. Remember that regardless of your audience, no bottom line speaks louder than money to a company or client. For instance, say you want to implement a job-share program for your division. You decide your target audience is the company's HR director, CEO and COO. Consider how much they likely know about job-share programs already. The answer will set the tone for the report. If your company has never considered a job-share program, then the report will be both informational and strategic. If the company has considered a job-share program, then the report will be less informational and more persuasive. Identify what you need to learn. The hardest part of writing a business report isn't in the writing. It's forming a conclusion and collecting the data necessary to support that conclusion. This involves a variety of skills, including data collection and market analysis. What do you — and, in the end, management — need to know to make an informed decision about the topic? Collect the appropriate data for your report. It is important that your data is well-researched; otherwise, you risk losing credibility. Data gathering itself is going to depend on the type of report that you write. Ensure that the data parameters you choose are concise and relevant to the point of the report. Data may come internally, which means you'll be able to collect it quite quickly. Sales figures, for example, should be available from the sales department with a phone call, meaning you can receive your data and plug it into your report quickly. External data may also be available internally. If a department already performs customer analysis data collection, borrow that department's. You don't need to conduct the research on your own. This will be different for every type of business, but the writer of a business report often doesn't need to conduct firsthand research. For instance, if you are writing a justification/recommendation report, then you have to research all the benefits of your proposed idea and incorporate the research into your report. Organize and write the report. How you organize your report depends on your objective. For instance, you would organize a compliance report differently than a feasibility report. Once you have an idea of how you want to organize your report, you can write your content. Break up relevant data into separate sections. A business report can't be a big flood of figures and information. Organizing the data into separate sections is key to the success of a well-written business report. For example, keep sales data separate from customer analysis data, each with its own header. Organize the report into appropriate section headers, which may be read through quickly as standalone research, but also supporting the basic objective of the report together. Since some of the sections may depend upon analysis or input from others, you can often work on sections separately while waiting for the analysis to be completed. Draw conclusions with specific recommendations. Draw clear conclusions that follow logically from the data examined in the report. Clearly recommend the best course of action based on those conclusions, if appropriate. Any goals should include specific, measurable actions. Write out any changes in job descriptions, schedules or expenses necessary to implement the new plan. Each statement should directly indicate how the new method will help to meet the goal/solution set forth in the report. Write the executive summary. The executive summary should be the very first page of the report, but it should be the last thing that you write. The executive summary should present your findings and conclusions and give a very brief overview of what someone would read, should they choose to continue reading the entire report. It's like a trailer for a movie, or an abstract in an academic paper. The executive summary gets its name because it's likely the only thing a busy executive would read. Tell your boss everything important here, in no more than 200-300 words. The rest of the report can be perused if the boss is more curious. Use infographics for applicable data, if necessary. In some cases, you may find it helpful to include graphs or charts displaying quantitative data. Use color within the display, as it draws more attention to and helps to differentiate the information. Whenever possible, use bullet points, numbers or boxed data to help with readability. This sets your data apart from the rest of your report and helps to indicate its significance. Generally speaking, visual figures are a great idea for business reports because the writing and the data itself can be a little dry. Don't go overboard, though. All infographics should be relevant and necessary. Use boxes on pages with a lot of text and no tables or figures. A page full of text can be tiresome for a reader. Boxed information can also effectively summarize important points on the page. Cite your sources, if necessary. Depending on what kind of research you've done, you might need to explain where you obtained your information. The purpose of the bibliography or sources page in a business report is to provide a resource for others should they wish to follow up on the data and look into it. Use the appropriate formatting for the citations in your report, based on your industry. Proofread your report twice. Misspellings or basic grammatical errors may give your readers the impression that you didn't put enough effort into the report. These errors can even call into question the credibility of your findings. Also, make sure that you present your information in a clear, concise way. For example, don't overuse fancy words or make your sentences too wordy. Avoid using slang. If your report and audience are both closely tied to a specific industry, it's appropriate to use jargon or technical terms. But you have to take care to not overuse jargon and technical terms. Generally, business writing is written in the passive voice , and this is one of the few instances where passive writing is usually better than active writing. You can often miss errors while proofreading your own work due to the familiarity from writing it. Consider asking someone else in your department who wants the report to succeed to read over it as well. Be open to the feedback. It's better to hear about mistakes from a co-worker than from a boss. Review each comment from the peer review and rewrite the report, taking comments into consideration. Create a table of contents. Format the business report as formally as possible, creating a table of contents to make it easy to reference and flip through your report. Include all relevant sections, especially the executive summary and conclusions. Package your business report. The best complement to a thorough, well-researched report is polished packaging. This may include nice folders, binders or paper. The bottom line is that your business report needs to look sharp to intrigue your audience enough to read it. This applies to any graphs or charts included in the report as well.

Present an idea. Present risks involved with a specific opportunity. Present compliance information to a governing body. Present the feasibility of an idea or proposed project. Present research found in a study. Help a company improve its policies, products or processes via consistent monitoring. Report on a specific situation. Present several solutions for a problem or situation. Determine your objective and format. Identify your audience. Identify what you need to learn. Collect the appropriate data for your report. Organize and write the report. Draw conclusions with specific recommendations. Write the executive summary. Use infographics for applicable data, if necessary. Cite your sources, if necessary. Proofread your report twice. Create a table of contents. Package your business report.

https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Rubik%27s-Cube-Speed-Solver

How to Become a Rubik's Cube Speed Solver

To become a Rubik's cube speed solver, assign a letter to each side of the cube so it's easier to memorize patterns for solving it. You can also practice different finger tricks, like spinning the cube with 1 finger, which will make you faster at solving it. Try to memorize a popular speed-solving method, like the CFOP method, so you know how to solve the cube without thinking about it. Then, practice every day so you get faster and faster.

Invest in a quality Rubik’s cube. A quality cube's parts will move with ease, and they come in a variety of sizes, such as 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5. Most people start off with a 3x3 cube. Go with options like Moyu, YJ, Dayan, Shengshou, GAN, or Fangshi (Funs puzzle).For speed-cubing stay away from the actual Rubik's brand. These cubes were not build for speed-cubing and are far worse than any speed cube. You can purchase them online or in stores. A good cube used to set past records only cost $9, though typically quality Rubik's cubes cost around $15 and up (€4-20). A quality speed cube is helpful because turning takes very little force. Even if the layers aren't perfectly aligned, the cube will still turn. You don't need to be completely accurate with every turn. Disassemble your cube in order to lubricate it. Disassemble your cube by rotating the top face 45 degrees and popping out an upper edge piece. You can do this with your fingers, or use a screwdriver if you are having trouble. Apply a silicone-based spray or gel to the inside parts to lubricate your cube. Ensure you apply a light, even coat across all surfaces of your cube. Let your parts dry for about 10 minutes. You can also use petroleum jelly. Lubricating your cube can give you a move rate of 3 or 4 moves per second. Some heavy lubricants like cubicle lube, Traxis, and Lubix will make your cube slower at first, though as you break in your cube, it will move faster and smoother. It may take a little while to get used to a Rubik's cube moving this quickly. Practice moving your cube, and you'll quickly notice how much faster you can solve the cube. Reassemble your cube and test out how fast the parts move. Start with the edge pieces, popping in the pieces on one side. You can fit four pieces on the core of your cube, and then place the completed face in the down position. Slide in the four corners, then slide in the edges of the middle layer from the top. Repeat this until you have all pieces assembled, and your cube will now move really fast. To help insert the last layer, start with an edge piece slightly turned to the side. Break in your cube by practicing frequently. The more you practice, the more familiar you will be with moving around your cube's parts. And, the more you move your cube, the more you will break it in and make it easier to maneuver. Solve a cube from many different sides rather than just one color. When learning how to solve a Rubik's cube, it is helpful to start on the white side. Though, this isn't always the easiest to solve. Be flexible and try different sides. The more you can maneuver your cube, the faster you can solve it. Experiment with algorithms to help you solve your cube faster. To understand how to move the Rubik's cube, speed solvers mark every face of the cube with a letter: F- Front, U- Up, R- Right, B- Back, L- Left, and D- Down. Algorithms are codes made up of different movement combinations, and many different algorithms can be used to speed up the time it takes to solve. Master the CFOP Method. CFOP (also known as the Advanced Fridrich method) is the most popular method for speedsolving. There are four steps to this method: White cross, first two layers (F2L), orient last layer (OLL), and permute last layer (PLL). Plan ahead to reduce delays between your moves. Scramble the cube, and then take a second to notice the details before you start trying to solve. Think about your first few moves before you solve it. A little planning can help increase your speed by cutting down on the seconds spend deciding where to move next. For example, if you're using the Fridrich Method, practice your first two layers. While you're solving one pair, look ahead to find your next pair. This eliminates any pauses in between your moves. Practice as much as possible to master your cube. To be a speed solver, you must practice and practice some more. The more familiar you are with the cube and your moves, the easier it will be to speed up your solving time. Aim to solve your cube in under 10 seconds, but have patience. If you get to be this speedy, you might be a contender for some world records! However, learn at your own pace to begin with. Understand that it takes time to master the moves and solve the cube super fast. Learn finger tricks and shortcuts to perform faster moves. Finger tricks are extremely fast moves performed with only one finger. These shortcuts can reduce your solving time by up to 10 moves per second. Try U, R, L, and B moves. Finger tricks are easier to complete if your Rubik's cube is lubricated Perform U moves by using the index finger of both hands. Push the top layer in your desired direction while keeping your other fingers away from the top layer. Complete R moves by holding the right face with your right hand. Keep your thumb on the bottom edge and your first three fingers on the top three pieces. Hold the cube with your left hand. Rotate your right wrist to perform the R and R2 move. Do L moves with the same method as R, just inverted. Instead, use your left hand and hold the left face. Perform B moves by rotating the puzzle so the B face is on top. Turn the cube as if the B face was the U face, and solve from this side. This move is tricky and rare in speedsolving. Hold the cube from the middle and top layers to complete D moves. Using your thumb and first two fingers, hold the cube from the middle and top layers. Leave room for your pinky and ring finger behind the puzzle. Use either ring fingers to push the layer where you need to move it. D moves are the most difficult and take the longest to master. Watch video tutorials on the internet to learn speed techniques. Learn speed solving methods by watching other speed solvers online. There are many tutorials on YouTube. You can find videos on different techniques, algorithms, and finger tricks. Learn different methods and theories. Many of the top speed solvers offer their own methods to help other speed solvers. Learning different strategies will give you many more options as to how to solve. With some practice, these techniques can improve your time. You can find tutorials on how to solve with different methods on Google or YouTube. For beginners, try Joël van Noort's solution, Jasmine Lee's solution, or Blake O'Hare's simple solution. For intermediate or advanced cubers, try Dan Knight's Intermediate and Advanced speed solve methods. For experts, try the Lars Petrus and Jessica Fridrich solutions. Ron van Bruchem has several algorithms for the Fridrich method on speedcubing.com, as well. Use cube solving programs and software. Many speed solvers have created helpful programs and software to assist in solving the cube quickly. Cube Explorer and Cube Optimizer will help you discover the shortest algorithm for any cube. Download and install this program to try it out. Rubix Repair is an online cube solver, where you enter the colors on the cube and see a 3D representation of your cube. Dan Knights' Java Applet will show you the moves executed one step at a time, so you can follow along and learn how to solve them quicker. Join an online speedcubing community. Visit http://www.speedsolving.com or http://www.reddit.com/r/cubers , and try Facebook and Google plus. Speedcubing communities can offer help and tips for all skill levels. Start your own community. Gather some friends interested in speed solving, and learn together. Sometimes you can learn so much by teaching others. You can all practice different techniques and provide feedback on ways to improve. Attend and enter competitions to learn speed solving techniques in person. The World Cube Association organizes competitions, and attending the tournaments is a great way to see how the professionals solve their cube. You can make friends and get hands-on help as well! Competitions are often organized by states, regions, or provinces. Find competitions on worldcubeassociation.org.

Invest in a quality Rubik’s cube. Disassemble your cube in order to lubricate it. Apply a silicone-based spray or gel to the inside parts to lubricate your cube. Reassemble your cube and test out how fast the parts move. Break in your cube by practicing frequently. Solve a cube from many different sides rather than just one color. Experiment with algorithms to help you solve your cube faster. Master the CFOP Method. Plan ahead to reduce delays between your moves. Practice as much as possible to master your cube. Aim to solve your cube in under 10 seconds, but have patience. Learn finger tricks and shortcuts to perform faster moves. Perform U moves by using the index finger of both hands. Complete R moves by holding the right face with your right hand. Do L moves with the same method as R, just inverted. Perform B moves by rotating the puzzle so the B face is on top. Hold the cube from the middle and top layers to complete D moves. Watch video tutorials on the internet to learn speed techniques. Learn different methods and theories. Use cube solving programs and software. Join an online speedcubing community. Attend and enter competitions to learn speed solving techniques in person.

https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Washable-Markers

How to Dye Your Hair With Washable Markers

To dye your hair with washable markers, use a pair of scissors to grip the stopper at the end of your marker and pry it off to access the ink inside. Fill a small glass with water, then submerge the ink tube from inside your marker until the bottom of the tube turns white. Then, gently blow any remaining ink into the water. If you want to use multiple colors, repeat the process with a different glass for each ink tube. Once you've extracted the ink, add a squirt of conditioner to the inky water, and mix it together. Use an applicator brush to apply the dye to your hair. When you've finished, wrap your dyed hair in foil and leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Finally, spray your dyed hair with hairspray to help seal the color and hold the style.

Choose your color(s). If you have dark hair, your best bet is choosing a darker color. If you have very light hair, you have more options because almost all colors will show up on your hair. If you want to try a really “out there” color or don't quite know how a certain color will look on you, this DIY hair dye is perfect for you. You don't have to commit to any color for too long, and it's no big deal if you don't like your results– it will be gone in a couple of washes. Pop open the colored marker that you want to use. Crayola washable markers work well and come in a variety of different colors and shades, but any brand of marker will do as long as it is labeled "washable". Once you've chosen your color (or colors), you need to get the ink out. With just a little bit of force, you can break open the marker. Using scissors, pry the stopper off the end so that the back of the marker is completely open. Tap the front of the marker against a hard surface, so that the ink tube inside is knocked loose. Carefully extract the ink tube. Blow the ink out of the tube into a container. To do this, you'll first need to dip the tip of the tube into water. As the tip is submerged, the ink will flow out of that tip to the opposite. The tip in the water will begin turning white as the ink leaves. Continue holding the tube in the water until the tip is completely white, and thus ink-free. Once it's white, you're safe to put your lips on the tube and begin blowing. Make sure you're holding the tube over a cup or container of some sort. Once you begin blowing, ink will flow from the opposite end, You need something to catch the ink to avoid making a mess. Add your favorite hair conditioner to the dye, if you choose. You can apply the dye directly to the hair if you want a more intense color. However, some people prefer adding a squirt of hair conditioner to the extracted dye. Adding conditioner will make the dye easier to work with, but it will also dilute the color. Try both methods, and decide which one you prefer. Wear gloves and an old shirt. Washable marker dye will stain your hands and clothing just like it stains your hair. It will wash off your hands, but your hands may have a strange tint for a couple days if you don't use gloves. Put on an old t-shirt that you don't care about, because it will certainly get on your clothing (unless you're a seasoned pro). Apply the dye however you desire. Some people prefer to dip the ends of their hair into the container of dye, while others like to paint streaks throughout their hair. Maybe you want to just do a section of your hair, or maybe you want to be ambitious and dye every strand on your head. Just keep in mind how much dye you have to work with. The more hair you want to cover, the more dye you need, and the more markers you need to crack open. Some DIY hair colorists prefer cutting open the ink tube and rubbing the felt directly onto the hair. You can certainly try this method if you think it would be easier for the look you want to create. Cover your hair as you let the dye soak. If you did streaks of dye, wrap the sections in foil to prevent the dye from rubbing on the other un-dyed sections. If you dip-dyed your hair, you can wrap the tips in foil or leave them exposed. Just be extremely careful not to rub your hair on anything while the dye soaks. Unlike traditional hair dye, you will not be washing this dye out of your hair. Instead, you will let your hair dry with the ink in it. Keep the foil on until your hair is dry. Dry your freshly-inked hair. If you used foil on sections, remove after 30 minutes to an hour to let your hair air dry. It's best to let your tresses dry naturally, although you can certainly blow dry if you are short on time. While your hair is drying, be careful not to rub your hair on furniture, walls, or anything else that the ink could transfer to. If you used an ink and conditioner combo, wash the mix out with cold water. Then let air dry. Examine your results. If the color is more intense than you like, rinse with cold water. It's important to use cold water, because hot water can strip the dye from your hair completely. If you don't think your hair dye is dark enough, you can do the process again until you achieve the desired effect. The great thing about this hair dying technique is that you can really tailor it to the look you want to create. You can rinse it easily to lighten the color, and you can do it repeatedly to darken a color without damaging your hair. Unlike regular hair dye, you can play around with this method until you've figured out what works for your hair. Seal the colored section with hairspray. Style your colorful hair however you want. When you're finished, set the style with hairspray. This will both hold the style, but also sea and smooth the colored sections. Enjoy your fun new hair!

Choose your color(s). Pop open the colored marker that you want to use. Blow the ink out of the tube into a container. Add your favorite hair conditioner to the dye, if you choose. Wear gloves and an old shirt. Apply the dye however you desire. Cover your hair as you let the dye soak. Dry your freshly-inked hair. Examine your results. Seal the colored section with hairspray.

https://www.wikihow.com/Visualize

How to Visualize

To visualize, start by closing your eyes and picturing a goal that you have in mind. At first, visualize the big picture, then gradually get smaller until you can see even the most insignificant details. While you visualize, make sure to think optimistic, positive thoughts about your ability to reach your goals. Then, make your vision a reality by picturing your positive image before you perform the activity or task that you've been focusing on.

Visualize the activity, event, or result desired. Close your eyes and picture a goal that you have in mind. Let's say you want to envision that you get a promotion at work. Imagine your brand new office with your name in gold-emblazoned letters on the door. Imagine the black, swivel chair behind your huge mahogany desk. Imagine the Renoir reproduction between your diplomas. Once you cover the big stuff, get smaller. Get down to the dust in the corners and the residue of the coffee in your mug. The way the light hits the carpeting as it peeks through the slats in the blinds. Try to think of the reason behind the goals you're setting, which can help keep you motivated. For instance, if your goal is "I want to lose 10 lb (4.5 kg)," your reasons might be "I want to feel stronger," or "I want to be healthier." Visualize with optimistic, positive thoughts. Nothing is going to improve when you feel lousy about yourself and your chances in life. So, instead of thinking, “I'm terrible at basketball; there's no way I'll improve,” think something like, “I'm not great now, but I'll be much better in 6 months.” Then visualize yourself sinking some 3-point shots or dunking on the competition. Visualization is sort of like hypnosis: if you don't think it'll work, it won't. Thinking positively is the first step to making sure this visualization is actually effective. It's the first step to making these desires a part of real life. Remember that life is just as much about the journey you take to reach your goals as it is about the destination you have in mind. Visualization can make the process of reaching your goal more enjoyable by keeping you focused and motivated, making it a positive addition to your life. It's normal to have self-doubts, so don't beat yourself up about them. However, do try to be aware of them as they arise, then try to reframe them into something positive. This can take practice, though, so be patient with yourself. Move your visualization into the real world. After you have spent a moment, or a few days, visualizing your goal, make changes in your life to bring the goal about. Right before you perform the activity, task, or event that will achieve an outcome or an outcome toward your goal, focus clearly on the picture of the action you are about to make. Even if it's something intangible like “make more money” and it's applicable to the everyday, it can be used before going to work or each business possibility. For example, if you are trying to hit a baseball, picture hitting it clearly in your mind, stroke by stroke, at the right height and the right speed. Watch the ball being hit by your bat, flying through the air and landing wherever it is meant to land. Visualize the experience with all of your senses: hear the approaching ball, hear and feel the impact, and smell the grass. Think about a chain of events needed to achieve your goal. Big changes in your life take time and focus, and comprise a number of small steps. If you're visualizing attaining a specific goal or end-point, imagine how you would get there. Try to make each step as specific, achievable, and actionable as possible. So, if you want to be president, imagine aspects of your political career: running your campaign, attending fundraisers, meeting political bigwigs, and delivering your first speech. How would the version of yourself that you're visualizing handle these situations? Visualize the personality traits needed to get you where you want to be. It's not enough to want to be the vice-president of the company you work for. You need to think about the qualities that will assist you in getting there. Visualize not only the vice-presidency but also the skills of open communication, persuasiveness, sharing, listening, discussing, deflecting criticism with skill and respect, etc. Imagine yourself acting in the way that you're visualizing. So, if you realize that a vice-president needs to have confidence in their work performance, visualize yourself acting with confidence around the office. Use affirmative phrases to motivate yourself. Pictures are great, but words work well, too. If you see a healthier, fitter you, lounging around in the branch manager office at your job, say to yourself, “I have the body I dream of. I am getting healthier and it feels great.” If you want to get better at baseball, tell yourself something like, “I see the ball. I hit it with such force that it's knocked out of the park.” You can repeat this kind of phrase to yourself as many times as you need. Just make sure you believe it! Visualize while you’re calm, focused, and comfortable. Visualization only works when you are calm, at ease, and willing to give yourself time to focus in peace, free from immediate worries. Visualization is a technique very close to meditation, only it is more active and vivid. In visualization you are encouraged to think actively about the possibilities, but as with meditation, you must leave aside anything extraneous to your dreams and goals and only focus on them. If you can, make yourself comfortable when you visualize. Having very few distractions will make this process a lot easier. It'll help you think more relaxed, too, when less is going on around you. Imagine yourself overcoming setbacks. Obstacles are a normal part of life, and no one reaches success without first encountering failure. Know that you will make mistakes, but remember that you can overcome them. How you bounce back after a setback is more important than the fact that you made a mistake in the first place. Ask yourself daily, "What can I do today to make myself better tomorrow?" A great resource for learning how to overcome setbacks is the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck. Give visualizing some time to feel normal and produce results. At the very beginning, this visualization thing may feel pretty frou-frou, if you will. It'll feel weird and it'll feel foreign. You have to push past that! It does go away. At the beginning it's natural to feel uncomfortable being consumed by this dream world, but it's just a phase. If it doesn't feel a little funny, you're probably not doing it right. This is only remedied by practice, that's all. There's no other key than time. As with anything, there's a learning curve. It'll only seem steep if you don't commit. Let yourself go and it'll go away! You're the only obstacle to your visualization success. Over time, visualization can activate your brain in the same way that actually doing the activity can. Your brain may not even be able to tell the difference! For example, if you are afraid to sing in front of a crowd, you can imagine yourself doing it. This tricks your brain into thinking that you've done it, making it easier to get up and sing in front of others the next time you have the opportunity. Focus on long-term goals. Anybody who wants change overnight will be disappointed. Instead, plan to make realization of your hopes and dreams long term. Visualize where you will be in 5, 10 and 15 years and the sorts of outcomes you want. How will your situation be different and how will you be different? Allow yourself to imagine what that life will be like. For example, it's helpful to visualize going to bed earlier or taking a jog at night. But visualizing can also help you achieve more substantial goals. For example, visualize what kind of parent you want to be, the legacy you'll leave your children, and the kind of person you'll be when they're growing up. Visualize what you want to achieve as a human being and what legacies you will leave your friends and community. Create a vision board to remind you of the life you want. This will help you visualize your goals on a regular basis. To make a vision board, post a collection of photos and words that represent your future goals. That way, you can look at them every day to stay motivated as you pursue the life you want. For example, if your goal is to open a restaurant, you could include photos of restaurants you want to model yours after, as well as dishes you will serve. You might also include photos of people happily enjoying a meal. Think in the affirmative about your goals. When it comes to visualization or just positive thinking, you need to think affirmatively about what you want to achieve. Zeroing in on “not being poor” isn't exactly helpful. So instead of not wanting something or not being something or not having something, focus on what you do want, what you are, or what you have. For example, consider statements like: “I want financial security,” or “I have the guts to move across the country.” Think actively and in the present tense, too. If you are visualizing yourself not smoking anymore, don't recite the mantra, “I will try to quit.” Think along the lines of, “Cigarettes are disgusting. I don't want them. They do nothing for me.” Be realistic about the goals you visualize. When you're setting goals, avoid having an all-or-nothing mentality. If you feel like you have to do something perfectly, it can hold you back from even getting started. Instead, focus on doing the best you can, and be clear on how you're going to bounce back if you do make a mistake. If you're a boxer and you're trying to visualize your next match and you absolutely dominating, it's not going to do you any good picturing yourself as Muhammad Ali. You'll just end up in the ring not living up to the standards you set for yourself. You'll end up frustrated and exhausted with yourself. Instead, imagine your swings like the best swings you've ever had. Imagine your opponent as that bag in the gym that you pummel on a daily basis. Imagine your coach shouting praise as you give the best performance of your career. Visualize from your own first-person perspective. This will help your visualizations feel more real, tangible, and achievable. Don't picture your future successes and goals as a movie—your visualizations should be from your own perspective. In your visualizations, you are not the audience. This is your stage and your time to shine. For example, if you're visualizing your future career as a doctor, don't think of it from the perspective of a patient you're treating or a colleague across the room. Instead, visualize yourself treating a patient: imagine the stethoscope in your hands, etc. This is what it means to fully visualize. It is a reality as if seen through your very own eyes. You're not having some sort of out of body experience; it's the future.

Visualize the activity, event, or result desired. Visualize with optimistic, positive thoughts. Move your visualization into the real world. Think about a chain of events needed to achieve your goal. Visualize the personality traits needed to get you where you want to be. Use affirmative phrases to motivate yourself. Visualize while you’re calm, focused, and comfortable. Imagine yourself overcoming setbacks. Give visualizing some time to feel normal and produce results. Focus on long-term goals. Create a vision board to remind you of the life you want. Think in the affirmative about your goals. Be realistic about the goals you visualize. Visualize from your own first-person perspective.

https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Animals-with-Your-Actions

How to Protect Animals with Your Actions

To protect animals with your actions, make a one-time donation to an animal organization or set up recurring donations in the amount of your choice. You can also check out nonprofit websites and sign up to sponsor an animal in need. If you're interested in helping animals locally, try volunteering at a local shelter or even adopting a pet from the shelter.

Make a donation to an animal organization. There are local, national, and global organizations that work to protect and help all kinds of animals. Larger organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, and other nonprofits make it easy to donate to their cause online. To make a difference in your own community, donate to a local organization, such as the Humane Society. For instance, make a donation to the Palo Alto Humane Society, an organization in Northern California that aims to keep animals out of shelters. Find their website here: https://www.paloaltohumane.org/ Most organizations allow you to make a one-time donation or recurring donations in an amount you choose. If you donate to a nonprofit or charity, it's usually tax-deductible. Sponsor an animal in need online. Your support could help animals in shelters find homes, fund spay/neuter programs, provide medicine for animals with special conditions, and much more. See if your local shelter runs GoFundMe campaigns or requests sponsors on Facebook or other social media sites. For example, sponsor a horse, pig, goat, bird, cat, or dog through the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary ( https://bestfriends.org/donate/sponsor-animal ). You can also support an animal in distress by donating to the Palo Alto Humane Society's pet help program or animal rescue fund. Check their website or Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/paloaltohumane/ ) to see which animals currently need help. To sponsor a dog awaiting adoption at Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans, LA, go to https://www.vrcpitbull.com/how-you-can-help/sponsor-a-dog/. Sign a petition to support animal causes you care about. Find a cause you can support, like protecting an endangered species or stopping dog breed discrimination. Best Friends has a handy list of petitions sorted by state on their site: https://support.bestfriends.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=index. The World Wildlife Fund has national and worldwide petitions you can support: https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=can_actions. Use social media to spread awareness for animal organizations. If you follow animal organizations on social media, you can repost or retweet their content to show support. Your followers and social media circle will see it and possibly share it themselves. Make sure the content you share is accurate so you're spreading correct information. Volunteer at a local organization or shelter. Reach out to your local Humane Society or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to learn about volunteering opportunities. They may need help walking dogs, bathing animals, socializing cats, or cleaning cages. If you're in California, volunteer at the Palo Alto Humane Society ( https://www.paloaltohumane.org/ ). If you live in Texas, volunteer at the SPCA ( https://www.spca.org/volunteer ). To volunteer in Florida, check out the Florida Humane Society ( https://www.floridahumanesociety.org/volunteer.html ). In New York, volunteer for the Best Friends Animal Society ( https://ny.bestfriends.org/get-involved/volunteer ). Report animal cruelty. If you've noticed signs of animal cruelty, you should protect that animal by reporting it to your local animal control agency or law enforcement. Take notes on what you see: the location, dates and times, descriptions of the abused animal, and the owner's information. Signs of an abused animal might include open wounds, skin conditions, extreme thinness, or limping. An animal may be being abused or neglected if you notice it tied up outdoors for long periods of time, especially in dirty living conditions or during bad weather. Clean up litter at local parks or the beach. If you see an empty soda can or discarded paper bag, take a second to drop it in a nearby trash can or recycling bin. You can go even further by joining local group cleanups and encouraging your friends to come with you. Adopt an animal from a local shelter. If you're ready for a pet, consider adopting one from a shelter. By adopting a pet , you possibly save it from being put down. Giving an animal a loving home will not only benefit its life but enhance yours. Pick an animal that will match your personality, budget, schedule, and living space. Your pet will be happier if it matches your needs and lifestyle. Use fewer plastic products to limit ocean pollution. Reusable water bottles, food containers, and shopping bags help reduce the amount of plastic used that eventually ends up in the ocean. When you do use disposable plastic, recycle it when you can. Some stores charge a tax for using their disposable plastic bags, while others offer shoppers small bonuses for bringing their own. Choose safe and sustainable food to better the environment. This might mean buying local produce from the farmers' market, growing your own vegetables , buying responsibly caught fish, reducing your intake of red meat, and cooking at home rather than dining out. Storing food properly in your fridge reduces waste, too. Put food that doesn't require cooking, like yogurt or cheese, on the top shelf where it's warmest. Food that needs high-temperature cooking, such as meat and seafood, should be stored near the bottom. Reduce energy consumption and cut carbon when you can. Simple actions include using energy efficient light bulbs, and walking or biking instead of driving a car. Being more mindful of your energy use will help reduce your “carbon footprint,” positively impacting the environment. Other actions you can take include using a fan instead of the air conditioner, carpooling to your job or school, and air drying laundry instead of using the dryer. Pass emissions testing for your car. Stay up to date with emissions tests for your car if they are required by your state. Emissions inspections make sure your car is in good shape and help reduce its carbon footprint. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, you can find emissions inspection laws by state or province here: https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/emissions-inspection/.

Make a donation to an animal organization. Sponsor an animal in need online. Sign a petition to support animal causes you care about. Use social media to spread awareness for animal organizations. Volunteer at a local organization or shelter. Report animal cruelty. Clean up litter at local parks or the beach. Adopt an animal from a local shelter. Use fewer plastic products to limit ocean pollution. Choose safe and sustainable food to better the environment. Reduce energy consumption and cut carbon when you can. Pass emissions testing for your car.

https://www.wikihow.com/Lower-Eosinophils

How to Lower Eosinophils

To lower your eosinophils count, which is a type of white blood cell that helps fight off infections, try to limit your exposure to allergens. For example, if you're allergic to dogs, avoid contact with dogs as much as possible. You should also keep your home clean by dusting and vacuuming regularly, since dust mites can sometimes cause a reaction that increases your eosinophils. As well as avoiding irritants, cut down on acidic foods, like fried foods, tomatoes, alcohol, and garlic, which can cause acid reflux and raise your eosinophils count. Another way to lower your eosinophils is to increase your Vitamin D, either by spending more time in the sun or by taking a supplement.

Reduce stress in your life. Stress and anxiety may contribute to the conditions causing your eosinophilia. Taking some time to relax may help you regulate your eosinophil levels. Examine your daily routine for common causes of stress. Where possible, eliminate or reduce your contact with stressful triggers. Relaxation techniques like mediation , yoga, and muscle relaxation can help you unwind when you are feeling tense or overwhelmed. Reduce your exposure to any known allergens. Allergies are the most common cause of a high eosinophil count. Your body may be producing more eosinophils in reaction to the allergen. Treating your allergies and avoiding triggers can help you manage eosinophils in your body. Hay fever can cause eosinophil levels to surge. Treat your hay fever with over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin to reduce the eosinophil count in your body. For example, if you're allergic to dogs, try to avoid contact with dogs whenever possible. When visiting friends with dogs, ask them if they can put the dog in another room during your visit. Keep your home clean. Dust mites can irritate some people and cause a reaction that may increase eosinophils, especially if you have a dust mite allergy. To avoid this, keep your home as clean as possible. Dust at least once a week to prevent dust mites from building up in the corners of your home. Pollen can have a similar effect for some people. To prevent pollen from coming into your home, keep your doors and windows shut during high pollen seasons. Eat a healthy diet low in acidic foods. Heartburn and acid reflux can both increase the eosinophil count in your body. Eating a balanced, healthy diet is essential to preventing these conditions. Look for foods low in fat, such as lean meats, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid acidic foods, such as fried foods, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, and coffee. Being overweight can increase your chances of acid reflux and a high eosinophil count. If you're overweight, you may need to lose weight to reduce your risk. Quit smoking and minimize how much alcohol you drink. Quitting smoking can help you have healthier levels of eosinophils. While there is no different evidence of correlation between reducing alcohol and eosinophils levels, doing so will certainly make you healthier in general. When quitting smoking , ask for support and have a firm plan. Increase your daily Vitamin D intake. People with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have high eosinophil counts. There are two ways you can increase your Vitamin D intake. Go out into the sun for between 5 minutes (for people with very light complexions) and 30 minutes (for people with darker complexions) at least twice a week. Alternatively, you can take a Vitamin D3 supplement. To get Vitamin D from sun exposure, be outside. Vitamin D comes from UVB rays, which don't penetrate glass, so sitting by a sunny window won't help. Cloud cover reduces rays, so spend a little more time outside on cloudy days. Take ginger to reduce inflammation. Ginger is known to lower inflammation. While it is still being studied, ginger may be able to reduce eosinophils as well. Take daily supplements containing ginger or brew ginger tea to get the benefits. You can buy ginger tea at most grocery stores. Place the tea bag in a cup and pour hot water over it. Let it steep for a few minutes before enjoying. Use turmeric to reduce inflammation in combination with medications. Turmeric (also known as curcumin) may be able to reduce eosinophils in certain situations. To get the anti-inflammatory benefit from turmeric, you should get higher dose capsules of turmeric. Keep in mind that turmeric is quite expensive, so it might not be the best option. Try taking it for 1-2 months and if it isn't helping, stop. Visit your doctor for a full examination. Many conditions could cause your eosinophilia, including a blood disorder, allergies, digestive disorder, connective tissue disorders, parasites, or a fungal infection. Your doctor will take blood and skin samples to help find the cause. In rare cases, they may also order stool tests, CT scans, or bone marrow tests. Primary eosinophilia is when you have high eosinophils in your blood or tissue caused by a blood disorder or disease, such as leukemia. Secondary eosinophilia is caused by a medical condition other than a blood disorder, such as asthma, GERD, or eczema. Hypereosinophilia is a high eosinophil count without any apparent cause. If your eosinophilia is affecting a certain part of your body, you may be diagnosed with a specific type of eosinophilia. Esophageal eosinophilia affects your esophagus while eosinophilic asthma affects your lungs. Visit an allergist to get tested for allergies. Since allergies often increase eosinophils, your doctor may refer you to an allergist. The allergist may do a patch test, in which they place small amounts of common allergens to your skin to see if you react. They might also take a blood sample and test it for allergies. If the allergist suspects you have food allergies, they may place you on an elimination diet. You will stop eating certain types of foods and introduce them back into your diet one at a time. An allergist will perform blood tests to determine if certain foods affect your eosinophil levels. Take a corticosteroid medication. Corticosteroids are currently the only medication used to treat a high eosinophil count directly. Steroids can reduce inflammation caused by high eosinophils. Depending on the cause of your eosinophilia, your doctor may give you a prescription for a pill or inhaler. Prednisone is the most common corticosteroid prescribed for eosinophilia. Always follow your doctor's instructions for taking medications. If your doctor is unsure of the cause of your eosinophilia, you may be given a low dose of corticosteroids to start. They will then monitor your condition to see if it improves. Do not take a corticosteroid if you have a parasitic or fungal infection. Steroids could make the condition worse. If you're taking oral prednisone, never abruptly stop taking it if you've been on it for more than 3 weeks. You need to have your prescription gradually lowered. If your doctor prescribed a topical high potency steroid, don't use it for more than 2 weeks at a time. Eliminate any parasites if you have a parasitic infection. Parasitic infections come with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gas/bloating, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss.To help get rid of parasites and return your eosinophil levels to normal, your doctor will give you a medication designed to kill your specific parasite. Your doctor will not prescribe a corticosteroid, as steroids can worsen some parasite infections. Treatments for parasites can vary widely based on what is infecting you. In many cases, your doctor will prescribe a pill that must be taken daily. Get a prescription for acid reflux if you have esophageal eosinophilia. Your eosinophilia may be caused by acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or another digestive disorder. To confirm that you have esophageal eosinophilia, your doctor will give you tests such as an EGD scope, which is a scope that goes into your esophagus, and a biopsy. Your doctor may prescribe a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), such as Nexium or Prevacid, to treat the condition. Esophageal eosinophilia does not lead to an increased risk for esophageal cancer. It does have an increased risk for developing esophageal stricture (narrowing) causing food to get stuck. Undergo respiratory treatment if you have eosinophilic asthma. Your doctor may give you a corticosteroid inhaler or a biologic medication called a monoclonal antibody. You may also undergo bronchial thermoplasty. During this procedure, a doctor will insert a probe into your mouth or nose that applies heat to your airways to help soothe them. You must be sedated to undergo bronchial thermoplasty. It only takes a few hours to recover from the procedure, however. Get a prescription for imatinib if you have hypereosinophilia. Hypereosinophilia can cause blood cancer, such as eosinophilic leukemia. To reduce your risk, you may be given imatinib. It will treat your hypereosinophilia while slowing the growth of cancer cells. Your doctor may monitor you to see if any tumors form. Join a clinical trial for eosinophilia. Not much is currently known about what affects eosinophil levels. Clinical trials often need people with eosinophilia to study environmental causes and to find new treatment options. Since these are untested treatments, there is some risk to joining a clinical trial. That said, you may be able to find a treatment that works for you. You can find clinical trials by going to https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Reduce stress in your life. Reduce your exposure to any known allergens. Keep your home clean. Eat a healthy diet low in acidic foods. Quit smoking and minimize how much alcohol you drink. Increase your daily Vitamin D intake. Take ginger to reduce inflammation. Use turmeric to reduce inflammation in combination with medications. Visit your doctor for a full examination. Visit an allergist to get tested for allergies. Take a corticosteroid medication. Eliminate any parasites if you have a parasitic infection. Get a prescription for acid reflux if you have esophageal eosinophilia. Undergo respiratory treatment if you have eosinophilic asthma. Get a prescription for imatinib if you have hypereosinophilia. Join a clinical trial for eosinophilia.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Throw-Pillow

How to Make a Throw Pillow

To sew a throw pillow, start by cutting 2 pieces of fabric to the same size. Next, place 1 piece design-side up, and the other design-side town, and pin them together at the corners to keep them in place. Stitch all 4 sides together, and leave a small gap in one side to push the stuffing through later. Then, carefully clip the corners, and pull the pillow inside-out so the seams become hidden. Stuff the inside with bedding material, like polyester, and use a slip stitch to hand-sew the gap closed.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric that each measure about 15 -20 inches square. You can make the squares smaller or larger if you'd prefer. For a more interesting decorative throw pillow, use 2 different fabrics. You can opt for 1 piece of silk and 1 piece of velvet or 2 pieces of cotton fabric in contrasting colors. Place 1 piece of fabric on a table, right-side up. Set the other piece of fabric on top of the first, right-side down. Pin the fabrics together on all 4 sides. Stitch the fabrics together along the 4 edges, .5 inch (1.27 cm) from the edge. Leave a 5-inch (12.7 cm) gap on 1 side of the decorative throw pillow for turning it right-side out and stuffing it. Clip the corners of the pillow before turning it right-side out. Make sure you don't cut through the seam. Trimming the corners will make them sharp instead of rounded when the pillow is right-side out. Turn the decorative throw pillow right-side out, and stuff it with the polyester batting. Use enough batting to make the pillow slightly firm but still soft. Thread the hand sewing needle, and use a slip stitch to sew the gap on the pillow closed. Cut 2 squares of fabric that each measure between 18 to 25 inches (45.72 to 63.5 cm). Cut a length of fringe that measures 4 times the width of the fabric. Set 1 piece of fabric on a work surface, right-side up. Lay the fringe along the edges of the fabric square. The fringe should face into the center of fabric. Pin the fringe in place, and sew it to the fabric of the decorative throw pillow with a long basting stitch. Set the second piece of fabric on top of the first, right-side facing down, and pin together. Stitch along the 4 edges of the fabric, .5 inch (1.27 cm) from the edge. Leave a 5-inch (12.7 cm) gap so you can stuff the pillow. Clip the corners of the throw pillow, then turn it right-side out. Stuff the decorative throw pillow with the batting, and hand sew the gap closed. Cut 2 square pieces of fabric that measure 20 inches (50.8 cm) on each side. Set the 2 pieces of fabric on top of each other, right-sides facing in. Pin the fabrics together only along 1 side. Sew the fabric for the decorative throw pillow together along the pinned edge with a long basting stitch. Remove the pins, and press the basted seam open and flat. Place the zipper on the wrong side of the seam, and center the zipper's teeth over the sewn portion of the seam. Put the zipper foot on your sewing machine. Stitch the zipper to the seam on each side of the fabric. Remove the basting stitches from the seam, and open the zipper. The zipper needs to be open so that you can stuff the pillow when you're finished sewing. Place the fabrics on top of each other, right-sides facing in again, and pin on the 3 remaining sides. Stitch along the 3 sides of the decorative throw pillow, .25 inch (.64 cm) from the edge. Turn the pillow right-side out, and slide the pillow form in through the zippered opening. Close the zipper.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric that each measure about 15 -20 inches square. Place 1 piece of fabric on a table, right-side up. Stitch the fabrics together along the 4 edges, .5 inch (1.27 cm) from the edge. Clip the corners of the pillow before turning it right-side out. Turn the decorative throw pillow right-side out, and stuff it with the polyester batting. Thread the hand sewing needle, and use a slip stitch to sew the gap on the pillow closed. Cut 2 squares of fabric that each measure between 18 to 25 inches (45.72 to 63.5 cm). Set 1 piece of fabric on a work surface, right-side up. Pin the fringe in place, and sew it to the fabric of the decorative throw pillow with a long basting stitch. Stitch along the 4 edges of the fabric, .5 inch (1.27 cm) from the edge. Cut 2 square pieces of fabric that measure 20 inches (50.8 cm) on each side. Sew the fabric for the decorative throw pillow together along the pinned edge with a long basting stitch. Place the zipper on the wrong side of the seam, and center the zipper's teeth over the sewn portion of the seam. Put the zipper foot on your sewing machine. Remove the basting stitches from the seam, and open the zipper. Place the fabrics on top of each other, right-sides facing in again, and pin on the 3 remaining sides. Stitch along the 3 sides of the decorative throw pillow, .25 inch (.64 cm) from the edge. Turn the pillow right-side out, and slide the pillow form in through the zippered opening.

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-With-Your-Rabbit

How to Play With Your Rabbit

If you're unsure how to play with your rabbit, start by choosing toys for it, like a straw mat if it likes to chew or bowling pins if it wants to push things. When you begin the play session, get down on the rabbit's level by sitting or lying on the ground so it's not intimidated by you. Then, speak to your rabbit in a friendly voice and pet it while giving it other positive signals, such as treats to eat. Since rabbits are independent animals, end the play session when the rabbit starts losing interest.

Get to know your rabbit. A rabbit's personality determines what toys they'll like and dislike. Before you start gathering toys for your rabbit, try to get to know him and figure out his preferences. Knowing what stimuli he responds to can help you plan playtime. At first, allow your rabbit to leave his cage/pen on his own and come to you. Let him explore a rabbit safe area. Pay attention to what he interacts with, and how. Some rabbits are shredders, meaning they like to tear apart paper and tissues in play. Some like to toss toys with their teeth and chase after them. Some enjoy knocking things over. Pay attention to your rabbit's behavior and see what kind of games he likes to indulge in. Rabbits are easily scared, so try to avoid making any sudden movements. Never yell at a rabbit, as this will encourage your rabbit to stay away from you. Pick toys for when you're home. Choose a variety of toys you can use to play with your rabbit at home. Base your selection off your rabbit's specific personality. For a rabbit who enjoys throwing, you can buy rabbit safe toys at a local pet store or department store. Bird toys also work well for this kind of play, as they're made to be easy to grip. If you're on a budget, you can use cardboard tubes from paper towel or toilet paper to save money. Rabbits who like to chew and dig can funnel this behavior into play. Straw mats and boxes full of shredded or scrap paper can provide hours of entertainment. Plastic baby toys and plastic balls are also great, as they're sturdy and will withstand a lot of play before they need replacing. Logic toys are great for curious rabbits, and can be found at pet stores. These toys generally involve a plastic or cardboard box that contains an enticing item, like a rubber ball or a treat. The rabbit must figure out how to open the box in order to get his reward. As some rabbits love pushing things over, consider investing in children's bowling pins. Rabbits will love knocking them over and then having you reposition them. Pick toys for when you're away. While playing with your rabbit is great fun, you need to make sure your bunny is entertained even when you're not present. This way, rabbits won't develop undue stress while you're out and act out via biting, chewing, or being otherwise destructive. Many rabbit owners recommend building a cardboard castle for their rabbits. That means gathering old cardboard boxes and stacking them together and then cutting out holes for passageways and entrances. Rabbits who are chewers or curious rabbits particularly enjoy the cardboard castle. If you keep your rabbit in a room rather than a cage when you're away, or if you have a pen for your rabbit, this might be a good option. If your rabbit is confined to a cage during the day, this might be difficult. If your rabbit digs, provide plenty of sawdust or straw in his cage while you're away. If he gets bored, he'll be able to burrow. Schedule regular play periods. Rabbits tend to thrive on routine. The best way to encourage your rabbit to play with you is to have regularly scheduled playdates. Rabbits are generally the most active early in the morning, so this might be a good time to play with them if you're able. If not, a lot of rabbits are also active towards nighttime. Be careful when initiating playtime. Rabbits prefer to be left alone when eating, using the litter box, grooming themselves, and sleeping. If you notice your rabbit engaging in these behaviors, let him finish before initiating play. However, it's a good idea to open your rabbit's cage or pen while he's engaging in these behaviors as this signals to him that it's time to play and he can leave the cage when he's ready. Get down on the rabbit's level. You want to make sure your rabbit feels safe and comfortable with you as a playmate. You should make sure they don't perceive you as a giant. Try to get down on the rabbit's level. You can sit, crouch, or lie down on the floor. Allow the rabbit the option of sitting on your lap or interacting with you physically. Some rabbits are cuddly and become "lap rabbits" with time, but most prefer independence during playtime. Be patient. Rabbits can be timid, especially at first. You should not push playtime or certain toys if your rabbit seems uninterested. Let the rabbit adjust at his own pace. Do not engage in rough house with a rabbit the way you would with a cat or dog. Rabbits are naturally timid and this could easily result in your rabbit feeling frightened around you. Greet your rabbit cheerfully before you open his cage, saying his name and something friendly like, "Good morning." This way, she will associate you with pleasantness and be more likely to want to interact. Pet your rabbit while giving him other positive feedback, such as friendly verbal cues or treats. You want him to associate your touch with safety and happiness. Use treats to lure your rabbit. Rabbits might be nervous when they begin playing, which can lead to aggressive behaviors. To keep your rabbit happy, try using treats as a means to lure him out of the cage. Many pet store rabbit treats are high calorie and not great for a rabbit's longterm health. Opt for healthy snacks instead, such as raisins, small pieces of apples, pineapple, celery, strawberry, and shredded wheat with no frosting. While treats are a great start, do not overfeed your rabbit. Allow your rabbit to have a few snacks when he enters the play area, but do not indulge him with treats every time he asks. Deal with biting. Rabbits do sometimes bite. It's not always an overt act of aggression. Sometimes it's a response to stress or an attempt at affection, but the behavior is a problem for owners. Do not scold a rabbit. As rabbits are naturally timid, scolding does more harm than good in terms of discouraging biting. When a rabbit bites, gently push him away. Say something nice to him and pet him afterwards. Repeat this behavior as needed until a rabbit no longer acts out by biting. Allow your rabbit to decide when playtime ends. Rabbits are independent animals, and you need to respect this. Let them make decisions about playtime. Rabbits will signal when they're ready to play. They will circle their owners feet or tug at sleeves and pant legs. Wait for your rabbit to signal he's ready to play before bringing out the toys. When your rabbit loses interest in a game, and tries to return to his cage, let him. Rabbits often want to be alone and they'll resist playtime if it becomes something that feels forced. If a rabbit is engaged in another task, let him finish before trying to get him to play. Rabbits do not always want to play for the same amount of time. Some days, your rabbit might want to play for an hour and other days only 10 minutes. Do not push your rabbit to play more or less than he wants.

Get to know your rabbit. Pick toys for when you're home. Pick toys for when you're away. Schedule regular play periods. Get down on the rabbit's level. Be patient. Use treats to lure your rabbit. Deal with biting. Allow your rabbit to decide when playtime ends.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Casserole

How to Make a Casserole

To make a casserole, start by cooking a starchy base, like potatoes, pasta, rice, or grains. Then, saute some meat, vegetables, or a combination of both, and prepare a sauce or egg mixture, which will help bind all of the ingredients together. Once all of the ingredients are finished cooking, combine them in a greased casserole dish, and cover the dish with foil or a lid. Finally, bake your casserole for about 10-15 minutes at 350-425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Get a good-quality casserole dish. Casseroles are made by combining a variety of starches, meats, vegetables, and other ingredients, sometimes raw and sometimes cooked, into the dish and baking them in a casserole dish. Casserole dishes are traditionally square or rectangular baking pans, usually made of Pyrex, aluminized steel, or earthenware. Often, casseroles are quite hearty, topped with cheese or breadcrumbs. Choose a starch. Most casseroles use as their base some variety of starch, which will form the most substantial content of the casserole. Typically pre or par-cooked before being added to the casserole dish, using starches as a base is a good way to stretch a little bit of protein or vegetables into a full meal. While casseroles are amenable to any variety of ingredients, most tend to use the following: Potatoes. Pre-cooked potatoes can make an excellent base for breakfast or dinner casseroles, or as a topping to shepherd's pie in it's mashed form. If you want to use potato in your casserole, you can purchase frozen hash browns or parboil peeled and quartered raw potato until fork-tender. It goes especially well with beef, or other red meats. Pasta. From egg noodles to mostaccioli, pasta makes a perfect base for a casserole. Mixed with any variety of sauce or cheese, pasta casseroles can be made both sweet and savory, perfect for any time of the year. Lasagna is the classic of the genre, but experiment with different pastas to find what you like best. Rice. Common in both Middle Eastern and Midwestern American cuisine, rice-based casseroles go particularly well with chicken or other poultry. Basic white rice is good to start with, but wild rice, jasmine rice, or even black rice can make casseroles surprising and complex. Other grains. Why stop at rice? Quinoa, barley, wheat berries, oatmeal, or any combination of whole grains can make a substantial and healthy casserole, especially when combined with rice. Egyptian koshari, which can be made as a casserole, features pasta, lentils, and rice as an idiosyncratic base for its spices and flavors. Why not? Choose a meat, vegetable, or a combination of the two. For most casseroles, you'll sauté the proteins and vegetables briefly in a skillet, then finish them off in the casserole dish, topped with breadcrumbs or cheese. For that reason, you can almost think of a casserole like a stir fry that you bake at the end. Chicken and other meats should be cooked through before being added to the casserole dish. Casserole recipes that feature a lot of liquid, however, will sometimes call for raw meat to be added to cook everything at the same time. It's possible to do both. Carrots, onions, and other root vegetables make excellent additions to any casserole. Because everything is cooked together, casseroles are an excellent way to spice up somewhat bland vegetables. For vegetarians , green or brown lentils make an excellent substitution for the meat in most casserole recipes. Commercial meat substitutes, like seitan or tofu-based meat alternatives are amenable to the casserole as well. Choose a binder that will keep everything together. For lots of casseroles, a sauce or egg mixture will be added to the ingredients to keep everything bound together. In Midwestern cuisine, this often takes the form of Cream of Mushroom soup, but béchamel, curry, whipped egg, pasta sauce, or other ingredients are likewise common, depending on the ingredients used. Sautee the ingredients and combine in a greased casserole dish. Meats should be cooked through and vegetables should have the crunch taken off, but should still be somewhat firm before being added to the casserole dish. Before adding ingredients, it's a good idea to grease the pan with butter or oil. Depending on the casserole, you might like to layer the ingredients into separate layers, as with a lasagna or a moussaka, or mix the ingredients. Bake covered for the majority of the cooking time. Depending on the topping you use and the kind of texture you're looking for, it's common to cover your casserole with aluminum foil or a lid, and bake between 350 and 425 F. The cooking time will vary, depending on the ingredients and the amounts. For casseroles in which all the ingredients are cooked ahead of time, and you're just trying to melt cheese, you only need 10 or 15 minutes in the oven to finish the job. If you want to cook rice in liquid, you're looking at a cooking time closer to 45 minutes or an hour. Uncover the casserole and add the topping, then broil to finish it. If you want a cheesy or crunchy top to your casserole, don't add it ahead of time, or it'll be a soggy mess. Wait until you've cooked the casserole through, then remove the cover, add your topping, and broil the casserole to finish it. Common toppings include: shoestring potatoes French onions parmesan cheese potato chip crumbs cracker crumbs mashed potato Make baked macaroni and cheese. One of the easiest and most delicious simple casseroles to make is a baked macaroni and cheese. By varying the ratio of cheese-to-macaroni, you can make yours gooier or more firm, depending on how you like it. Boil half a box of macaroni for a square-shaped casserole dish and a full box for a rectangular dish. Cook until al dente, then rinse with cool water to stop them from cooking and put them in a greased casserole dish. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of butter over medium heat , then whisk in about two tablespoons of flour and brown it to make the roux , while it clumps up. Keep stirring it, or it'll burn quickly. When it browns, add 2 cups of whole milk, a little at a time, whisking vigorously, to integrate the flour and thicken things. Add salt and pepper to taste after the milk has been added, and let the roux thicken. When it bubbles, add about 8 oz. of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, or whatever kind of cheese you like, melting the cheese in. Cheddar is most common, but mix it up by adding half cheddar and half pepper jack, or mozzarella. Use your favorite kind. Pour the cheesy mixture over the noodles in the casserole dish. Common additions might include sautéed mushrooms, ground beef or sausage, raw tomato slices, onions and garlic. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, then top with breadcrumbs or parmesan cheese and broil to finish. If you like your mac and cheese creamier , add more milk at the beginning, and use fewer noodles. If you like it firmer , make less sauce, enough to just coat the noodles and add a significant amount of breadcrumbs to the top. Make tuna casserole. Tuna casserole, or tuna-noodle casserole, is Midwestern cooking at its commonest. Using egg noodles, canned tuna, and cream of mushroom soup, it's a quick and hearty meal that you can derive from cheap pantry ingredients. Boil two cups of egg noodles until al dente, and rinse them in cool water to stop the cooking. In the casserole dish , mix one can of cream of mushroom soup with a half cup of water, one drained can of solid white albacore tuna, and a cup and a half of frozen peas. Salt and pepper to taste. Alternative additions might include cheddar cheese, chopped pimento or black olive, frozen carrots, or using canned salmon instead of tuna. Bake at 400 degrees for about half an hour, then remove to add breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese for a topping. Broil to finish. . Make lasagna To make a basic lasagna, you can layer cooked lasagna noodles, mozzarella, parmesan, or ricotta cheese (or, better yet, all three) and marinara sauce in a casserole dish and bake until the cheese is melted and warm and delicious. Sauté any additional vegetables and meat you'd like in your lasagna before adding sauce to the skillet. Spinach, mushrooms, eggplant and sausage are all common additions. Layer noodles, then sauce mixture, then cheese until you fill the pan. It's common to top lasagna with a beaten egg and parmesan cheese to create a nice golden crunch on top. Lasagna should be baked covered at 375 F for 25 minutes and then remove the cover and bake an additional 25 minutes. Before cutting into it, let it stand for 15 minutes. . Make turkey with wild rice casserole A great way to revitalize leftover poultry is to cook it up as part of a casserole with fragrant wild rice and vegetables. One of the great things about cooking a rice-based casserole is that you have the option of cooking the rice in the oven, alongside the other ingredients, or you can use pre-cooked rice in the casserole if you've got it on hand. This option is available for any rice-dish you make in the oven. Sauté two strips of chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Add half a white onion, chopped, and a few cloves of minced garlic, to your taste. When the onion is translucent, stir in two chopped carrots (about a cup), a stalk of chopped celery, and about a pound of turkey breast, cut into bite-sized chunks. Brown the turkey, cooking about 2 or 3 minutes. In your casserole dish, add a cup of wild rice , or whatever kind of rice you like, with 2 1/2 cups of water, a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, and a sprinkling of a half-teaspoon each of marjoram, thyme, and rosemary. Add a teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste, then mix in the chicken mixture and stir thoroughly. Bake covered at 375 for about 30 minutes. Remove when the rice is cooked and the liquid has mostly evaporated. Additions or substitutions might include chicken or other poultry for turkey, and the addition of frozen peas, water chestnuts, pimento, fresh chopped mushrooms, green beans, or asparagus. Add whatever you like, and remove what you don't. Cream of chicken soup would also be perfectly effective to use as a thickener, or you could leave out the soup altogether and use a cup of cream or milk. Make a chicken biryani casserole. Most commonly associated with Indian cuisine, biryani is actually a Persian dish, originally. While not traditionally prepared as a casserole, mixing curried chicken and cooked basmati rice in a casserole dish can be a nice change of pace from the cream of mushroom tradition. It smells delicious and tastes even better. To make the rice , fry half a small white or yellow onion in butter (or clarified butter, called ghee) with a bay leaf, two cracked cardamom pods, and a tsp. of whole cloves (5-10 cloves). Add three cups of basmati rice and stir in the spicy butter until it becomes translucent, then add about 6 cups of water and cook over low heat, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and set the rice aside. If you don't have the whole spices, substitute two tsp. of powdered spice. To marinade the chicken , marinade 6 or 7 chicken drumsticks and thighs in a mixture of coconut milk (about a quarter cup) with chopped cilantro and mint (about a half-cup of each), a tablespoon of dried cumin, a tablespoon of dried coriander, and half a bulb of chopped garlic. Make little slits in the chicken, then rub with the marinade and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. To make the curry , fry a whole chopped white onion in butter or ghee and add 5 cloves of minced garlic and a two-inch piece of ginger, chopped. Add 5-7 whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, a tsp. of turmeric, a tablespoon of dried cumin, tablespoon of dried coriander powder, and a tsp. of gram masala. Stir the onion and dried spices together for about a minute so it doesn't burn, then add a cup of coconut milk, two cups of water, and stir everything together thoroughly to mix. When it boils, add the chicken, then cover and cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. To assemble , line the bottom of the casserole dish with half the rice, then top with the chicken and curry sauce. Add the rest of the rice on top, cover with foil, and bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes. Check about halfway through the cooking time to make sure the rice isn't drying out. Make green bean casserole. A savory staple of many a Midwestern American holiday meal, green bean casserole is a creamy baked side dish made with few ingredients. If there was ever a recipe that cream of mushroom made necessary, it is this. To mix it up , mix together about 4 cups of cooked green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces, and one can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. Stir in about a half cup of milk , a few dashes of soy sauce, to taste, and salt and pepper to taste. Line the mixture in a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes until it gets warmed through and bubbling. Top with about a cup of fried French onions and let them brown in the oven for about five minutes. Serve hot. Make summer squash casserole. Summer squash like yellow crookneck or zucchini have a tendency to be pretty bland on their own, but baked up with cheese and crunchy topping can take them to the next level. Cut up about 4 cups of squash (roughly 2 medium squash) and sauté them over medium heat in some olive or coconut oil and half a chopped onion, then combine with ¾ of a cup of water, 2 beaten eggs, a cup of shredded cheddar cheese (or whatever kind of cheese you prefer), and salt and pepper to taste. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and spread into a casserole dish. Top the mixture with crunched up cracker crumbs, or breadcrumbs if you prefer, dotted with a tablespoon of butter. Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes, or until golden and firm. Additions or substitutions might include cherry tomatoes, fresh dill, basil, or other summer herbs, and bacon. The same recipe would also work for winter squash that had been par-baked, and would be great combined with other root vegetables like sweet potato and carrot. Make broccoli-cauliflower casserole. To liven up cruciferous vegetables, you can't go wrong with cheese. Thickened with a simple roux and baked under breadcrumbs, it's a delicious, if not super-healthy, way to eat your broccoli. Start by chopping a head of broccoli and about half a head of cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, or by defrosting a package of each, if you want to use the frozen variety. Sautee half an onion over medium heat in butter, then add two tablespoons of flour to start the roux. Stir vigorously , browning the flour, then add about two cups of milk, whisking to thicken. When it bubbles and gets thick, add a quarter-cup of parmesan cheese and a half a package (about 4 oz) of cream cheese. Season with a teaspoon each of thyme, oregano, and dill. If you like a little kick, this works great with about a quarter teaspoon of cayenne, as well. Toss the broccoli and cauliflower in the cheese mixture and spoon into a casserole dish. Top with breadcrumbs and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, then bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes. Make roasted winter squash and quinoa casserole. A common complaint about vegetable casseroles is that the cheese and cream outweighs the nutritional benefits of the vegetables. While cream-of-mushroom and other varieties of cheesy casserole may taste good, there are perhaps more nutritional ways of preparing vegetables. Mixing quinoa--a perfect protein, as well as a delicious and hearty grain--with hearty roasted butternut squash fits the bill of healthy and tasty casserole. Roast one medium-sized butternut squash at 400 F, after slicing it in half and scooping out the seeds. Drizzle a little olive oil on top of the squash and roast in a roasting pan for about 20 minutes, until soft. If you'd prefer chunks of squash, rather than mashed, you can peel the squash and chop it into bite-sized chunks before roasting. In a hard-bottomed pot, sauté half an onion , chopped, with 2-3 cloves of minced garlic in olive oil. When the onion is translucent, add a teaspoon of dried sage, or a tablespoon of fresh chopped sage, and one cup of quinoa. Stir to coat the quinoa, then add a cup and a half of water. Bring the quinoa to a boil , then simmer over medium-low heat, covered, for about fifteen minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste, then stir in a cup and a half of chopped spinach or kale, a quarter cup each of dried cranberries and chopped walnuts, and two beaten eggs. In a greased casserole dish , combine the quinoa mixture with the roasted squash. If you want, you can add a half cup of shredded swiss cheese, on top or mixed in, or leave the cheese off entirely if you wish. Return to the oven and bake for about 40 minutes. Try tater-tot hotdish from the American Midwest. It doesn't get any more Midwestern than tater tots and ground beef. It also doesn't get any easier or more nostalgic. Childhood comfort food at its finest. Brown a pound of lean ground beef over medium-high , seasoning to your taste. If you like it a little spicy, add some chili powder or cayenne. It's also common to add garlic and onions. Add a can of condensed cream-of-mushroom soup , when the meat is cooked, and add two cans of whatever vegetables you like. Green beans are common, as well as peas, corn, or some combination of the above. Frozen vegetables are likewise fine. Spoon the ground beef mixture into a casserole dish and top with a bag of frozen tater-tots, then bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Serve it up with tabasco, and it's winter in Minnesota. Make Mediterranean moussaka. Moussaka is a lot like lasagna, but with potato and eggplant instead of noodles, and meat sauce and béchamel instead of marinara and mozzarella. It's delicious. Start with a basic meat sauce , made with a pound of browned ground beef, garlic, and onions, spiced with cinnamon and oregano, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Add a half cup of red wine, a half can of tomato paste, and some lemon zest. Simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, then turn off the heat. Peel 2-3 small-to-medium eggplant , and 2-3 medium-sized potatoes, then slice into equal rounds, about a quarter-inch thick. Boil the potato rounds in salted water for about 7 minutes, until fork-tender, and grill the eggplant slices, or sauté them in the skillet to cook them through. It's usually best to salt the eggplant and allow them to sit for about 15 minutes before cooking them, to release some of the moisture. In a skillet, make a roux by whisking about a half-cup of flour in about a half stick of butter over medium heat, then thicken with 3-4 cups of milk, whisking vigorously. In a separate bowl, beat two eggs, then slowly add them to the hot mixture, once thickened, to temper it. Add nutmeg and salt, to taste. Layer the bottom of a casserole dish with potato rounds, eggplant rounds, and meat sauce, alternating however you wish. Top the mixture with some parmesan cheese, if you wish, and the white sauce, then bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, until the top is nicely browned. Make Southwestern black bean casserole. For a tortillas-and-black beans variant on lasagna, you can mix up a spicy casserole with hearty black beans, chorizo, and chili sauce. Brown up a pound of chopped chorizo in a skillet over medium-high heat, then remove. If you don't like chorizo, regular sausage would be a fine alternative. In the same skillet, sauté a chopped onion and 2-3 cloves of minced garlic, adding two teaspoons of ground cumin and one of cinnamon, when the onions become translucent. Add about three cups of cooked black beans to the skillet, with a cup of chicken stock, and return the chorizo to the mix. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 or 15 minutes, testing for salt. In a casserole dish , spoon some green chili sauce on the bottom, then layer several corn tortillas in a layer on top. Spoon some of the black bean mixture over the tortillas, then add a sprinkling of shredded monterey jack cheese, or the cheese of your choice. Continue alternating layers until the dish is full, and top with extra shredded cheese. Bake covered for 20 minutes and uncovered for another 20, at 350. Serve with sour cream. . Make southern hash-brown casserole It may not be healthy, but it's the cornerstone of a country breakfast. Next to fried eggs and a bowl of hominy grits, it's hard to beat cheesy hash-brown casserole. In a mixing bowl, combine a cup of sour cream, a half cup of melted butter, a can of condensed cream-of-mushroom soup, 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese), and a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Mix together thoroughly, then stir in two pounds of shredded potatoes. It's common to use the frozen kind for this dish, but if you shred up your own, rinse the shredded potato in water and squeeze them out thoroughly before adding. Spoon the mixture into a casserole dish , and top with the secret weapon: crumbled corn flakes cereal. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. Make rice pudding in a casserole dish. Casseroles and starches don't always have to be savory. Baked rice pudding makes a wonderful finish to a meal that's spicy and light on starch. To make rice pudding: In a casserole dish, combine a cup of cooked white rice (or brown rice, if you prefer the texture), with two cups of milk and one of water, two beaten eggs, a half-cup of brown sugar, and a quarter cup each of chopped walnuts, and raisins (or whatever fruits and nuts you prefer). Season with nutmeg, a pinch of cinnamon and salt, and a half teaspoon of vanilla. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Check for doneness by sticking a kitchen knife into the center of the casserole, which should come out clean. You can substitute the spices for others as you prefer. Make baked oatmeal. Oatmeal can be prepared the night before and popped into the oven in the morning for a wonderfully warm and comforting breakfast. It's perfectly amenable to whatever fruits, nuts, and additions you like in your oatmeal. In a mixing bowl , combine a cup of raw oats, two cups of milk, and a cup of water. Mix in a half cup of brown sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Add whatever nuts and dried fruits you like, or leave them out entirely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, spoon the oatmeal into a casserole dish and bake at 350 for about half an hour, or until golden brown, with the edges bubbling. Halfway through the cooking top, remove the oatmeal, and top with slices of fresh fruit and a sparkling of cinnamon-sugar. Sliced peaches, apples, or pears are all appropriate. Make bread pudding. A great way to liven up stale bread is to mix up a bread-based casserole. While bread-puddings can be sweet or savory, the dessert variety is the most well-known, particularly in southern cuisine and BBQ cooking. In a casserole dish , tear up at least 6 slices of stale bread, or about half a loaf. In a separate bowl, beat 3 eggs and mix in 2 cups of milk, a half cup of brown sugar, and a teaspoon each of vanilla and cinnamon. Add a quarter cup each of chopped nuts, or dried fruits that you enjoy. Pour this mixture over the bread, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, or until springy. Test with a kitchen knife in the center, which should come out clean. To make a savory bread pudding , substitute your favorite shredded cheese for the sugar, and dried sage, oregano, and rosemary for the cinnamon.

Get a good-quality casserole dish. Choose a starch. Choose a meat, vegetable, or a combination of the two. Choose a binder that will keep everything together. Sautee the ingredients and combine in a greased casserole dish. Bake covered for the majority of the cooking time. Uncover the casserole and add the topping, then broil to finish it. Make baked macaroni and cheese. Make tuna casserole. . . Make a chicken biryani casserole. Make green bean casserole. Make summer squash casserole. Make broccoli-cauliflower casserole. Make roasted winter squash and quinoa casserole. Try tater-tot hotdish from the American Midwest. Make Mediterranean moussaka. Make Southwestern black bean casserole. . Make rice pudding in a casserole dish. Make baked oatmeal. Make bread pudding.

https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-a-Chipped-Tooth

How to Protect a Chipped Tooth

If you notice your tooth is missing a piece, feels rough to your tongue, or is causing you mouth pain, you may have chipped your tooth and should consult a dentist right away. Before you see your dentist, you can protect and manage your chipped tooth at home by avoiding hard foods and cold foods and drinks, which can irritate your weakened tooth. When you do see your dentist, they will most likely recommend a filling and, in some cases, a dental wax to protect the inside of your mouth from any jagged edges. However, in some extreme cases where a large part of your tooth has broken, you might need to get a crown or have your tooth removed.

Consult a dentist. When you chip a tooth, you should consult a dentist right away. If there is pain or bleeding, this is especially important. Even if you do not feel pain, but suspect you have a chipped tooth, you should call a dentist as soon as it is feasible. You may not be able to see or accurately assess the damage yourself, and even if you are not in pain at the moment, complications could develop after a few days or weeks. Look at the tooth. Visual inspection be useful, but may not reveal thin cracks. If you can, look at the tooth in a mirror to see if there is any visible reduction in tooth size. If the break is large enough, you may be able to see the damage. Small chips and cracks, however, can be much harder to identify. The upside is that small chips are easier to fix, and may only require a single visit to the dentist. Extensive damage may require many visits. Look for a darker color near the missing piece. This can indicate tooth decay. A chipped filling can also cause a chipped tooth. Look in the mirror to compare the part that is chipped to the remaining tooth. Use your tongue. If you do not see any visible damage, check for a chip by running your tongue along the tooth. If the tooth feels rough, especially if the edges are sharp and jagged, you may have a chip. Because the shape of your teeth is very familiar, you may quickly notice changes in the shape of your teeth. Sometimes, with chipped teeth, especially at night, the sharp edges of dentin and enamel might hurt your tongue. Be careful when you're checking the chip with your tongue, and see your dentist as soon as possible. Note if there is any pain. There are a number of indications that a chip has occurred, from visual signs to tactile ones. One of the most common signs is a sensation of pain or discomfort. This pain may come and go or be event specific, as when releasing the pressure from biting and when exposed to extreme temperatures. Pain from a chipped tooth can be caused by a few conditions: A fracture extending to the second layer of the tooth or to the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves are located. An indentation large enough to trap food, which will increase your chance of getting a cavity. A vertical chip positioned in such a way that it is placing added pressure on the tooth. Avoid hard foods. If your tooth is chipped, it is already weak; it can no longer support biting or chewing anything hard. Stick to soft foods to keep from exacerbating the damage. If possible, chew on the other side of your mouth. Stay away from cold foods and drinks. Chipped teeth can be very sensitive because their nerves are more exposed. Cold foods and beverages will make this problem worse. Eating cold foods may cause pain. If you find a food is irritating your tooth, stop eating it, as it may cause further damage. Consider temporary filling materials. Dental cement and other similar materials are available over the counter, and they typically come with clear instructions. You simply place them over the fractured area. If your chipped tooth is bothering you, this might be worth a try. Remember that these materials are only temporary; they are not meant to take the place of a visit to the dentist's office. Make an appointment as soon as possible. Temporary materials wear away rather quickly. When this happens, it leaves your tooth extremely vulnerable to decay. Try dental wax. If your chipped tooth has sharp and jagged edges, it can injure your cheeks and tongue. Placing dental wax over these edges will offer some protection from it. It can also help to protect your tooth from temperature sensitivity. Keep in mind that dental wax is very temporary. It falls off frequently, requiring you to replace it again and again. As with filling materials, it does not take the place of professional dental care. If you have it on hand, you can also try placing a bit of sugarless gum over any sharp edges. Apply cold compresses. If you are in pain, a cold compress can help. Simply wrap some ice in a towel and place it gently on your cheek. This will help to numb the pain. Never apply cold compresses directly to your chipped tooth; this will intensify your pain rather than relieving it. Try a bag of frozen food if you have nothing else handy. Take pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, will temporarily alleviate your discomfort. Follow the instructions on the label. Even though these should not cause any complications with pain medication your dentist may give you, you should make sure to always tell your dentist that you are taking medications. You can also try putting a corn kernel sized amount of anesthetic gel onto a piece of gauze and holding it on your painful tooth. Try not to swallow the gel or bite down too hard. Control any bleeding. If you are bleeding, get a clean piece of sterile gauze or cotton. Place it in your mouth and bite on it. The pressure should stop the bleeding until you can get to a dentist. Bleeding is serious in a tooth that is broken. Immediate dental care may be require to keep the tooth from dying. If the bleeding continues for more than fifteen minutes or seems very heavy, you need to get help immediately. Consider heading to the emergency room or an urgent care center if you cannot get in to see a dentist. Arrange to see a dentist as soon as possible. If you have a chipped tooth, you need to see a dentist – even if the fracture is small or if you have no pain. Only a dentist can properly diagnose your problem and perform the correct treatments to restore the tooth. Do not attempt to treat it yourself. Consider getting your tooth recontoured. This is the quickest and best method, assuming that the chip is very small. If the chip is small, a dentist can simply smooth the rough area and perform other small necessary adjustments. Tooth recontouring can be completed in just one appointment. Schedule an appointment for a dental filling. For small to moderate chips, a simple dental filling can fix the problem. This is more painful than having the tooth recontoured, but it can be done for medium-sized chips and can usually be completed in just one appointment. This is often an ideal fix due to the durability and cosmetic versatility of this method. This will happen under local anesthesia, which will numb the nerve of your tooth and not cause you any pain. Look into getting a dental crown for large chips. Crowns or other kinds of restorations may be necessary in extreme situations. If the fracture involves half of the tooth or more, you may need a dental crown, which carries the added benefit of protecting the remaining tooth. This treatment involves multiple dental visits. Get the tooth removed. If the tooth is extensively damaged and the root has suffered a large infection or fracture, or if the root can't be restored in order to place a crown or bridge, a dentist can simply remove it. This solution works well in the short term, but may require the patient to wear a prosthesis later on. Talk with your dentist about the best solution for your situation.

Consult a dentist. Look at the tooth. Use your tongue. Note if there is any pain. Avoid hard foods. Stay away from cold foods and drinks. Consider temporary filling materials. Try dental wax. Apply cold compresses. Take pain relievers. Control any bleeding. Arrange to see a dentist as soon as possible. Consider getting your tooth recontoured. Schedule an appointment for a dental filling. Look into getting a dental crown for large chips. Get the tooth removed.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Friends-to-Stop-Fighting-with-Each-Other

How to Get Your Friends to Stop Fighting with Each Other

If you want to get your friends to stop fighting each other, wait until they've both calmed down, then try talking to each of them separately to find out their side of the story. After you've heard their reasons, if you can see a way to help them find common ground, suggest a meeting of the three of you to talk things through. For example, you might say: “After hearing both your stories, I thought it'd help to get you together to share your feelings and put this fight behind you. And I'll happily stay to mediate.” If they agree, choose a private and neutral place to talk. When you meet, gently suggest ground rules, like sticking to “I statements” to be sure they talk about their own feelings only and don't accuse each other.

Listen to each of your friends. One of the best things you can do for both of your friends is to simply listen to what each one has to say. Sitting down with each of them individually can help them to express how they feel and it can also help you to see what the fighting is all about if you are not sure. Ask each of your friends walk you through their point-of-view and explain why they're upset. Make sure that you meet with each of your friends separately or else they may just start fighting with each other in front of you. Try inviting each one over to your house on separate days. Give your friends your full attention while they are sharing their perspectives. Put away your cell phone, turn off the TV, and remove any other distractions before you start listening. While your friend talks, make eye contact and show that you are listening by nodding and making neutral statements, such as “Uh-huh” and “I see.” If something is unclear, ask your friend to clarify. Ask questions to find out what is going on. If your friend are reluctant to share, then you may have to ask some questions to get them talking. Ask open-ended questions to get your friends talking. Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple YES or NO. For example, you might say something like, “What happened with you and Joe the other day?” Or, “It seems like you are upset at Christina. What's going on?” It may take a couple of questions for them to open up, but once they do, try not to interrupt. Clarify if something is unclear or untrue. Since you have an outsider's perspective, you may be able to clarify if something is untrue. This might be especially helpful if the argument started over a piece of gossip. If you have information that might smooth things over, then share it. For example, if one friend is mad at the other because she thinks the other person said something about her behind her back, and you know that this is not true, then you could say something like, “No, that's just a rumor someone started. I was there and she did not say that.” Keep what you have heard to yourself. After speaking with each of your friends one-on-one, you may feel tempted to call each of them up and share what was told to you. However, this is a bad idea. Remember that your friends have shared their perspectives and feelings with you in confidence. Do not share anything that you were told unless you have permission from your friend to do so. Choose a time and place to meet. When having any kind of serious discussion, it is best to do so in a semi-private place with few distractions. A neutral place is best. Don't have one friend come to the other friend's house. Look for a quiet spot outside or a have your friends meet you at a café. Make sure that your intentions for having them meet you are clear. Try saying something like, “I have heard both sides of the story. I think that if the two of you sat down and shared your feelings, then you could put this fight behind you. I will go along and mediate if you need me to.” Make sure that your friends are both calm. If your friends are still emotionally charged from the argument, then it might not be possible to resolve the conflict. Encourage both of your friends to arrive in a good state of mind. For example, you could encourage your friends to listen to their favorite “happy song” before arriving at the meeting, or ask each of them to take five minutes to breathe deeply and collect their thoughts. Encourage your friends to use “I” statements. Using “I” statements can help when two people are fighting because it reduces the chances that your friends will become defensive. “You” statements make people feel defensive. For example, if one friend says “You make me feel bad about myself!” then the other friend might feel the need to defend herself from this statement. This can start a cycle of blaming and defending that will go nowhere. Instead, your friend could say something like, “I feel bad when you criticize what I am wearing.” This statement places the emphasis on how the speaker feels while still pointing out the other person's behavior. Talk to your friends about why it is important to use “I” statements during their discussion and encourage them to do so. If you notice one of your friend using “You” statements, then gently correct him or her. Say something like, “How does that make you feel?” Help de-escalate any conflict that arises. If your friends start fighting right in front of you, it is important to defuse the situation. Do not allow it to continue. For example, if your friends start raising their voices at each other, then call a time out or suggest that you take a 15 minute break to cool off. If your friends cannot sit down and discuss the problem without arguing, then you may need to ask an adult to help mediate the conflict. Try asking a teacher or parent if he or she would be willing to mediate. Ask your friends if anything is unclear. Encourage your friends to ask each other questions during this conversation as well. It might be possible that the fight was caused by misinformation or a misunderstanding, so asking questions can be helpful. For example, if one friend thinks the other friend intentionally left her out of something, but the other friend thought she already had plans, then that information is crucial. If you are aware of any misunderstandings, then you could gently encourage one friend to ask the other friend about it. Try saying something like, “Didn't you want to ask Susie why she did not invite you to the movies last weekend?” See if your friends are ready to forgive each other. After both friends have talked for a while and shared their feelings and perspectives, they may be willing to apologize and forgive each other. However, don't try to force this. If your friends feel ready to forgive, then they will probably do so. Try saying something like, “Do you both feel better now that you have talked?” If your friends are still upset with each other and are not ready to forgive and move on, then let them go their separate ways. Depending on what has happened between them, they might just need some time apart. Look for ways to prevent a similar problem. To help your friends get along better in the future, it might also be helpful to look for a solution that might prevent a similar problem and discuss ways that your friends can put it into practice. This can come in the form of a new rule in the friendship or a pledge to do or not do something. For example, if one friend was upset because the other friend did not invite him to go to the movies over the weekend, then the other friend might agree to send him a text even if she thinks he is busy. Try not to take a side. If you have two friends who are fighting, you might find that both of them will try to convince you to be on their 'side.' In the majority of situations, your best bet is to remain neutral and not take sides. Instead, help both friends think through what they're fighting about and provide support for a possible reconciliation. There are always exceptions to this 'rule,' but it's up to you to decide when to make such an exception based on your own personal beliefs and moral judgement. Set yourself some boundaries. Before you decide to support your friends during their fight, possibly as a mediator, set yourself some boundaries. For example, make sure your friends understand that you aren't a postman and that you will not be the one to carry a message from one friend to the other. If you're friends want to pass a message to each other, they have to do it themselves Another boundary might be to tell your friends you will not help them if they simply start to rant and spew nasty comments about each other. Your goal is to help them get to a resolution, not help them be nasty to each other. Avoid offering advice. It may seem counter-intuitive, but you may want to avoid offering either friend specific advice. It's not because you're being unhelpful, it's because they need to figure out a solution on their own. You should be there to support them, but you can't provide a solution for them. Instead of offering advice, ask more questions. For example, if you realize one of your friends isn't able to see a specific point-of-view of your other friend, ask questions that lead your friend to realize and understand that point-of-view. Beware that if you do offer advice that doesn't end up working, you could end up being blamed by one or both friends for the bad situation they're in. If you feel the need to offer some sort of advice, ask first. Don't provide unsolicited advice. Your friend may already know what they're going to do about the situation and may just be looking for a shoulder to lean on, not advice.

Listen to each of your friends. Ask questions to find out what is going on. Clarify if something is unclear or untrue. Keep what you have heard to yourself. Choose a time and place to meet. Make sure that your friends are both calm. Encourage your friends to use “I” statements. Help de-escalate any conflict that arises. Ask your friends if anything is unclear. See if your friends are ready to forgive each other. Look for ways to prevent a similar problem. Try not to take a side. Set yourself some boundaries. Avoid offering advice.

https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Freekeh

How to Cook Freekeh

To cook freekeh on a stovetop, start by adding 2 1/2 cups of cold water, 1 cup of freekeh, and some salt and olive oil to a saucepan. Then, bring everything to a boil over medium-high heat, and cover the pan. Finally, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let everything simmer for 10-15 minutes if you're cooking cracked grain freekeh or 40-45 minutes if you're cooking whole grain freekeh.

Combine the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Place 2 cups (500 ml) of boiling water, 1 cup (250 ml) freekeh, 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt, and 1/2 Tbsp (7.5 ml) olive oil in a deep, glass or plastic microwave-safe bowl. Mix slightly to moisten all the freekeh granules and to spread the salt and oil. You can use either cracked grain freekeh or whole grain freekeh. Either option will work. To boil the water, fill a tea kettle or small saucepan with water and heat it on the stove over high heat until bubbles start to form. Alternatively, you can boil the water by placing it in a separate microwave-safe dish and microwaving it in 30 to 60 second intervals until bubbles start to form. Place wooden chopsticks in the water to break the surface tension as you microwave it, thereby preventing the water from super-heating and breaking the dish. Cook on high. Cover the dish and cook the freekeh on high until most of the water is absorbed. For cracked grain freekeh, this will take 10 to 15 minutes. For whole grain freekeh, this will take 30 to 35 minutes. If your microwave does not rotate, pause the microwave one to three times during the process to turn the dish manually. Doing so can ensure that the freekeh cooks evenly. Let stand. After the cooking process finishes, remove the dish from the microwave and let the freekeh stand, undisturbed and still covered, for about 5 minutes. The grains of freekeh should absorb the remaining water during this time, causing them to plump up and soften even more. Serve. At this point, the freekeh is ready to serve. You can enjoy it as is or use it in a recipe for another dish calling for pre-cooked freekeh. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) cold water, 1 cup (250 ml) freekeh, 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt, and 1/2 Tbsp (7.5 ml) olive oil to a medium or large saucepan. Mix slightly to spread the salt and olive oil and moisten all the grains of freekeh. You can use cracked grain or whole grain. The latter takes longer to cook, but either one will work. Make sure that the saucepan has a lid. The contents of the saucepan should take up half to three-quarters of the total volume. If the pan is much fuller than that, the water might boil over. Make sure that you use cool to cold water. Cool water will heat more evenly, so the grains of freekeh will cook more evenly, as well. Note that if the instructions on your box or bag of freekeh differ, it is advisable to use the instructions provided on the container rather than these. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Use a mixing spoon to stir the contents of the saucepan occasionally as they come up to temperature. Once the liquid starts to boil, cover the pan with its lid. The lid is necessary because it traps the steam inside. This prevents the water from evaporating, leaving it nowhere to go but into the grains of freekeh. Let simmer. Lower the heat to low or medium-low and let the grains simmer until the grains become tender. For cracked grain freekeh, this should take about 10 to 15 minutes. For whole grain freekeh, this should take 40 to 45 minutes. Stir the grains periodically during the process to promote even cook and limit the amount getting stuck to the pan. Stir the grains once more at the end of the process to make sure that all of the water has been absorbed and that the grains are adequately tender. Serve. The freekeh should be ready to serve now. You can enjoy it as a side dish as is, or you can opt to use it in another dish that calls for pre-cooked freekeh. Sauté the onions. Place the butter and olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan and warm them on the stove over medium heat. Add the sliced onions once the butter melts and Sauté until soft and brown. Sliced onion will take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook. You will need to stir the onions occasionally to prevent them from burning or sticking to the pan. If you want to distribute the onion flavor more evenly throughout the dish, you could use chopped onion instead of onion slices. Note that chopped onions will only take 7 to 12 minutes to cook. Soak the freekeh in cold water. Place the uncooked freekeh grains in a medium bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Let soak for 5 minutes. It is recommended that you do this while the onions are cooking to minimize the amount of time it takes to prepare the dish overall. Drain the freekeh. Pour the freekeh and water through a sieve and rinse well under cold, running water. Let drain completely. The purpose of soaking, draining, rinsing, and re-draining is to help clean the grains. Make sure that the holes in the sieve are very small to prevent the loss of grains. Add the freekeh and spices to the onion. Toss the freekeh, cinnamon, and allspice into the saucepan with the onions. Stir well to combine. Add the stock, salt, and pepper. Pour the vegetable stock into the saucepan and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and black pepper. Stir to mix and bring to a boil. Stir the contents of the saucepan periodically as they reach a boiling point to prevent uneven cooking. Simmer for 15 minutes. Once the liquid begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and let it all simmer gently for 15 minutes. Cover the saucepan as the freekeh cooks to avoid losing water through evaporation. Losing too much water can cause the freekeh to be hard and undercooked. Let stand. Once the freekeh seems tender, remove the saucepan from the stove and let it stand for 5 minutes covered and 5 more minutes uncovered. Letting the freekeh stand while covered allows the grains to finish absorbing the water. Letting it stand uncovered lets the freekeh cool down slightly. Mix the yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic. In a small, separate bowl, whisk together the three ingredients until smooth and evenly distributed. Add a sprinkle of salt, if desired, to draw out more of the flavors. Save time by doing this step as you wait for the freekeh to cool. Stir the herbs into the pilaf. Once the pilaf is warm instead of hot, stir in the parsley, mint, and coriander until evenly distributed throughout the pilaf. Taste the pilaf and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve with yogurt and pine nuts. Scoop the freekeh pilaf into individual serving dishes and garnish each portion with a spoonful of the yogurt mix. Garnish with pine nuts. The pine nuts accentuate the nutty flavor of the freekeh. You can also garnish with additional parsley or a drizzle of olive oil. Toss the cooked freekeh with oil and lemon juice. Combine 2 cups (500 ml) cooked freekeh with 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice. Toss well to evenly coat all the grains in the oil and lemon juice. Before starting this recipe, the freekeh should already be cooked using the microwave or stovetop method described in this article. Make sure that it is drained well and somewhat cooled so that it is no longer steaming hot. You will need about 1 cup (250 ml) uncooked freekeh for this recipe. Stir in the herbs and green onion. Add the chopped parsley, mint, basil, and green onions to the freekeh. Use a mixing spoon to stir these ingredients in, distributing them evenly throughout the dish. Add the tomatoes. Combine the tomatoes with the freekeh and other ingredients in your mixing bowl. Toss well to mix. At this point, you should also season the tabouleh with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss well after your initial addition, taste, and add more as needed. You can add more herbs if desired, as well. Let stand. Loosely cover the dish and let it sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes. This step will cause the flavors to combine better. It will also give the salad a chance to cool to room temperature. If you want this dish to be served cold, you can also let it stand in the refrigerator. Serve. Spoon servings into individual serving dishes and enjoy. Add more salt and pepper, if desired.

Combine the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high. Let stand. Serve. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Let simmer. Serve. Sauté the onions. Soak the freekeh in cold water. Drain the freekeh. Add the freekeh and spices to the onion. Add the stock, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes. Let stand. Mix the yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic. Stir the herbs into the pilaf. Serve with yogurt and pine nuts. Toss the cooked freekeh with oil and lemon juice. Stir in the herbs and green onion. Add the tomatoes. Let stand. Serve.

https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-for-Stairs

How to Measure for Stairs

If you're building a set of stairs, you'll need to measure the rise and the number of steps. Measure from the very bottom of the stairs to the top of the space where the stairs will be, which is the rise. Subtract 6-7 feet from the total rise to account for headroom, then divide that number by 6 or 7 inches to get the total number of stairs you'll need to build. Next, divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the rise of each individual stair.

Measure the height, or "rise," of the space you want to make stairs. Using a tape measure, make measurements of the total height of the space you want to make stairs from the bottom to the top. This is called the "rise" of your measurements and will determine how high your stairs will go. You should also measure the ceiling height. Subtract 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) from the total rise to account for headroom. Headroom refers to the height between the top of the stair to the ceiling. Add a headroom measurement of at least 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) to prevent injuries. Headroom heights usually aren't regulated by building codes, but your local building code may have recommendations for stair headroom, so be sure to check. For instance, if the total rise is 114 inches (290 cm), subtract 6 feet (1.8 m), which is 72 inches (180 cm), to account for the headroom. This will leave you with a rise of 42 inches (110 cm). Divide the rise by 6 or 7 inches (15 or 18 cm) to find the total number of stairs. For larger stairs, divide by 6 and for smaller stairs, divide by 7. The total you get is how many stairs your future staircase will have so you can plan accordingly. If the rise is 42 inches (110 cm) (after subtracting 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) for headroom) and you want larger stairs, for example, divide 42 by 6. Your staircase will have 7 stairs. If dividing the height to the second floor by your preferred height for the riser does not give you a whole number, round your calculation up if the decimal is larger than 0.5 or down if the decimal is smaller than 0.4. Divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the individual stair rise. The stair rise refers to how high each individual step is. To determine the individual stair rise, divide the overall rise by the planned number of stairs. Plan for the individual "run" of each step to be 9–10 inches (23–25 cm). The run, or tread, refers to how long each step is. Generally, a stair's run should be at least 9–10 inches (23–25 cm) so people have enough room to step, but you can make them longer if desired. The depth of each stair has to be enough for a person to safely walk up. Find the total run by multiplying the individual run by the number of steps. The total run refers to how long your overall staircase will be. To determine the overall run, multiply the step run by the planned number of steps in your staircase. Plan for the width of each stair to be 36 inches (91 cm). The stair width refers to how wide the top of each stair is, and it is perpendicular to the rise of each step. The average minimum width for each stair is 36 inches (91 cm), but you can make the stairs wider if desired. This is the same as the total width of the staircase as well. For a specific minimum width, contact your local government about the building code for stairs. Calculate your staircase's stringer length. Stringers run diagonally along the length of each stair to prevent them from collapsing. To determine their length, square the run, square the individual stair rise, and then add the 2 numbers together. From there, find the square root of the answer for the length of each stringer. For instance, if the run is 10 inches, square 10 by multiplying it by itself to get 100. If the individual stair rise is 7 inches, square 7 by multiplying it by itself to get 49 inches. Add 100 and 49 to get 149. Then, find the square root of 149, which is 12.206, meaning the length of each stringer will be 12.2 inches.

Measure the height, or "rise," of the space you want to make stairs. Subtract 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) from the total rise to account for headroom. Divide the rise by 6 or 7 inches (15 or 18 cm) to find the total number of stairs. Divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the individual stair rise. Plan for the individual "run" of each step to be 9–10 inches (23–25 cm). Find the total run by multiplying the individual run by the number of steps. Plan for the width of each stair to be 36 inches (91 cm). Calculate your staircase's stringer length.

https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Drawing

How to Teach Drawing

To teach drawing, encourage your students by saying things like, "I really like the way you shaded this drawing." Additionally, get your students to draw from their own observation rather than copying your work, since this will help improve their creativity. As they draw, tell your students to look at the object rather than the page so they learn to draw from observation instead of memory.

Start by having your students practice holding a pencil. Have them draw simple marks on a piece of paper with a pencil. Then, ask them to change their grip on the pencil and try drawing again. Repeat this a few times. Tell them there's no right or wrong way to hold a pencil when drawing, and that they should use whatever grip is the most comfortable for them. Show your students how to sketch. Sketch a simple shape in front of them, like a circle or square. As you're sketching your shape, emphasize how sketching is about making lots of short strokes with your pencil, and that the lines don't have to be perfect. You want your students to start sketching, as opposed to drawing shapes with one long continuous line without lifting their pencils. Have your students sketch a simple object. Set an apple, a coffee mug, a bottle, or some other simple object in front of your students, and ask them to sketch it using the technique you just showed them. Pay attention to how your students are drawing. If you notice they're drawing with long continuous lines instead of sketching, kindly remind them to use short strokes. Let your students know that their sketch doesn't have to look exactly like the object in front of them. It's just a sketch! Ask your students to harden and define the lines of their sketch. Now that they have a basic sketch of the object, they can go back and be more precise with their pencil. Have your students look at their sketch and tell them to pick out which lines best represent the contour of the object. Demonstrate on your sketch how they can go back in and harden those lines with long, precise strokes. Finish the exercise by having your students add detail to their drawing. Don't have them worry about shading just yet. They should add any text or small details that are on the object they sketched. You can also have them draw the surface the object is sitting on. For example, if they were referencing a bottle that has a label on it, have them go in and add the label and any text on it. Have your students place their sketchbook on their lap under a table or desk. They shouldn't be able to see the paper. Explain to them that you're going to be doing a blind contouring exercise, which will help them learn to keep their eyes on the subject in front of them, instead of on their paper. Ask your students to draw the contours of a simple object. Tell them that contour drawing and sketching are different. Sketching is about making lots of short, light strokes, whereas contouring is drawing the outline of an object with long strokes. Tell them to work slowly, and make sure no one is peeking at their paper as they're drawing. Have your students observe their contour drawings. Their drawings will probably look very different than the actual object, and that's OK. The goal is to get them comfortable with observation. Tell your students to make note of any lines or details that are way off so they can correct similar mistakes in the future. Repeat the exercise with more complex objects. Use a piece of furniture or have one of the students model for the class. Remind students to draw slowly and to really focus on the object in front of them. Set a goal for your students that with each round of the exercise, their contour drawings will look slightly more like the object. Place an object under a light source and have your students sketch it. Start with a simple object like a ball or a box. Use a lamp as a light source, or set the object next to a bright window. The highlights and shadows on the object should be obvious. Have your students start by just sketching the lines of the object, not the shading. Have your students mark where the light source is in their drawing. Explain to them that when you want to shade an object and make it look three-dimensional, you need to know where the light is coming from. Have them draw a tiny circle or an arrow next to their drawing to represent the light source so they can keep track of it. For example, if the light source is a lamp shining directly down on the object, your students would draw a circle or arrow at the top of their paper to indicate that's where the light source is. Demonstrate how to shade in a drawing based on the light source. Sketch the object yourself and shade it in while your students watch. As you're shading, explain how if the light source is on the left side of an object, the left side would be light and the right side would be dark, and vice versa. Also, explain that if the light source is hitting an object from behind, the whole front of the object would be dark, and vice versa. Let your students shade in their drawings. Watch them as they're shading and offer helpful pointers if someone seems like they're struggling. Remind everyone not to press down too hard while they're shading, and to use the side of the graphite as opposed to the tip. Ask your students to add a shadow to their drawing. Once they've finished with their shading, tell them to look at the object and note where the shadow is being cast from the light source. Then, have them lightly sketch the shadow in their drawing. Mention that adding shadows to drawings can make them seem more realistic. Focus on the things your students do right. Sometimes pointing out mistakes to new drawers can discourage them, and it may even make them lose interest in drawing altogether. When a student shows you their drawing, point out the things you like. Let them be the ones to notice mistakes and fix them. For example, you could say to a student “Nice job, I really like how you shaded this drawing. Is there anything you would change or do differently next time?” Avoid having students copy directly from your drawings. It's OK to demonstrate a technique for your students, but having them copy your own drawings can interfere with their creativity. Encourage students to draw from their own observation. They'll become better observers, and they won't think there's a right and wrong way to draw. Encourage your students to look at whatever they’re drawing. Sometimes new drawers have a tendency to look down at their paper, and not the object they're drawing. Remind students to look up at what they're drawing if you notice them sketching with their head down a lot. This will teach them to draw from observation as opposed to memory Remind your students that anyone can learn how to draw. Let them know that drawing is a learned skill, not an innate talent. If you're teaching someone to draw and they get discouraged, tell them they will get better with practice. It's important that students don't feel like they're naturally bad drawers, or they could give up on the learning process.

Start by having your students practice holding a pencil. Show your students how to sketch. Have your students sketch a simple object. Ask your students to harden and define the lines of their sketch. Finish the exercise by having your students add detail to their drawing. Have your students place their sketchbook on their lap under a table or desk. Ask your students to draw the contours of a simple object. Have your students observe their contour drawings. Repeat the exercise with more complex objects. Place an object under a light source and have your students sketch it. Have your students mark where the light source is in their drawing. Demonstrate how to shade in a drawing based on the light source. Let your students shade in their drawings. Ask your students to add a shadow to their drawing. Focus on the things your students do right. Avoid having students copy directly from your drawings. Encourage your students to look at whatever they’re drawing. Remind your students that anyone can learn how to draw.

https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Dog-from-Lunging-at-Cars-and-People

How to Keep a Dog from Lunging at Cars and People

To keep a dog from lunging at cars and people, start by keeping it on a leash made from a sturdy material, like leather or nylon, and make sure there's no more than 4-6 feet of slack. Then, try to avoid the things your dog lunges at or find a way to block your dog's view so it can't see the car or person. Next, teach your dog simple verbal commands, like "sit" and to turn to you at the sound of its name, so you can control its behavior. It's also important to stay calm when your dog lunges and never yell at or hit your dog, which can actually make the lunging worse.

Stay calm. Dogs that lunge at cars and people are reactive, meaning they are reacting to a fear or aggression it associates with the object or person. If you tense up or freak out, the dog is more likely to tense up or freak out as well. Stay calm and speak to your dog in a regular voice, don't shriek or yell. You can even act happy or excited, which shows your dog there is nothing to fear. Keep your dog on a sturdy leash. If your dog has the tendency to lunge at people or cars, you shouldn't use a retractable leash or a long line that allows your pooch to stray far from you. Choose a leash made from a sturdy material like leather or nylon, and make sure the leash is no more than 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) long. You may want to consider either a head halter or a front-clip harness to easily redirect your dog's attention from things they wish to lunge at. Don't discipline your dog when they lunge. Disciplining your dog for being reactive reinforces their behavior because it teaches the dog to associate the object (car, bicyclist, etc.) with negative consequences (your yelling or actions). The dog then thinks the car or bicyclist causes bad things to happen, so the chances of the dog lunging again the next time are incredibly high. Simply ignore naughty behavior and don't reward your pet with treats. You could also say “no” in a stern voice, but avoid physically punishing your dog. Avoid the things your dog lunges at. When you see a jogger approaching or a car heading your way while you are out walking your pet, avoid these temptations for your dog to lunge. Simply cross the street or turn a corner so you don't come in contact with them. Until your dog has been trained to react calmly to these things, avoiding them is often the easiest solution. You may choose to walk your dog at night or another time when there isn't as much commotion and traffic. Block your dog's view. One way to keep your dog from lunging is to avoid letting it see the person or thing it usually lunges at. When possible, block the pooch's view so that it cannot see the car or jogger. The dog will likely still be able to smell and sense the person or object, so it is learning to act calmly around it even when it isn't in the dog's direct line of sight. It may be enough to simply put a fence around your property or duck behind a hedge when you see the mailman coming. Redirect your dog's attention. Divert your dog's attention from an oncoming pedestrian or car to yourself. When your dog notices something or someone they would normally lunge at, call the dog's name. Then, offer the dog's favorite toy or a small treat when it looks at you. This teaches your dog to associate the person or car with attention or treats from you, which can prevent the dog from lunging. The goal is to make yourself, the treat, or the toy more interesting than whatever has gotten your dog's attention. Distract your dog with treats. Lead your dog away from trouble by creating a treat path for them to follow. Prepare several fingernail-sized pieces of a treat that your dog enjoys -- the smellier the better! When you see something about to pass by that your dog would normally lunge at, drop a treat right in front of your dog. Once the dog finds it, drop another one, then another one once that one is eaten. Continue doing this, dropping the treats along the path you wish for them to follow. Bringing along a high-value toy could also work to distract your dog. Teach your dog to turn to you at the sound of its name. To get your dog to turn and sit when distractions are present, start by calling your dog's name and rewarding it with a small treat when it turn to you. Do this throughout the day, in several different locations. To begin, you should practice this technique when no distractions, like joggers or cars, are present. If you're having a hard time getting the dog to turn to you when you say its name, use a squeaker toy or clicker in conjunction with the dog's name. Keep working on this until your dog immediately turns to you whenever you say its name. Train your dog to sit on command. Once your dog consistently turns to you when their name is called, move on to getting them to sit. To get your dog to sit, hold a treat just above nose level, say “sit,” and move the treat toward the back of its head. Reward the dog with the treat when it sits. Again, this is something you should practice at multiple times in various locations. Practice both commands together. Call your dog's name, then say sit, and reward it for complying when they turn to you then sit. Your dog will begin to associate their name with the command to sit, and before long, your dog should turn and sit when you call their name. Invite a friend over to test your dog's obedience with these commands. Ask a friend to come over and drive or walk past you and your dog while practicing this technique. Have them start a fair distance away from you, like 30 feet (9.1 m). Cue your dog to turn and sit when it notices your friend or their car. If your dog has trouble obeying in their presence, ask them to move farther away until your dog learns to ignore them and focus on your commands. Keep your dog on a leash while practicing this technique to ensure everyone remains safe. Provide small treats the entire time the dog remains sitting. Have your friend move closer gradually. Once your dog is obeying the commands to turn and sit when your friend is a fair distance away, ask them to move closer. Practice the technique at 20 feet (6.1 m), then 10 feet (3.0 m) once the father distance is mastered. Continue until your pooch obeys even when your friend is right next to you both. Put this technique to use when out and about. When you see something or someone your dog would normally lunge at, cue the dog to turn and sit. Provide treats each time your pet obeys. Eventually, people and cars should be able to pass right by the 2 of you and your dog will learn to turn and sit when they see the person or car coming. Get a professional dog trainer, if necessary. If you are having trouble teaching this technique to your pooch, if you simply want to make sure you are doing it right, or if you'd like extra support, contact a professional dog trainer. Ask your veterinarian for a referral, or do an Internet search to find reputable trainers in your area. A professional dog trainer can help you with this technique as well as provide additional tips and tricks to keep your dog from lunging at cars and people. Put your dog in a separate room. If you know people are coming over and your dog typically reacts badly to guests, put your dog in a separate room before they arrive. This will reduce the dog's anxiety and prevent it from lunging at your family members or friends. Provide treats and entertainment for your pet, such as a stuffed Kong ball along with its favorite toys, while your guests are present. Teach your dog to associate treats with guests. If you aren't keen to lock up your dog when guests are over, teach your dog to associate treats with guests. Provide your dog with a tiny treat when the doorbell is rung, and another one when the door is opened. Keep giving treats while the guests are in your dog's sight. You can lead the dog to another room, or have the guests move to a different space, but stop giving the treats when the guests are no longer visible to your pet. You can also use treats and toys to train your dog to sit when people enter your home and stay in the same place until released by your command. Utilize other calming tools. Your dog may benefit from other calming tools, such as dog appeasing pheromones. You can get a diffuser to distribute these pheromones throughout your home to help calm your pet. Alternatively, you may want to put your dog in a tight t-shirt, ThunderShirt, or Anxiety Wrap. These help your dog feel safe and secure when things that make it anxious are present.

Stay calm. Keep your dog on a sturdy leash. Don't discipline your dog when they lunge. Avoid the things your dog lunges at. Block your dog's view. Redirect your dog's attention. Distract your dog with treats. Teach your dog to turn to you at the sound of its name. Train your dog to sit on command. Practice both commands together. Invite a friend over to test your dog's obedience with these commands. Have your friend move closer gradually. Put this technique to use when out and about. Get a professional dog trainer, if necessary. Put your dog in a separate room. Teach your dog to associate treats with guests. Utilize other calming tools.

https://www.wikihow.com/Dry-Water-Under-Wood-Floor

How to Dry Water Under Wood Floor

To dry beneath wood floors which have been flooded, first you should remove any wet floor coverings such as rugs or carpet. Next, dry the floors completely by pumping out standing water, then mop and towel the surface dry. Use fans to circulate the air in your home, and have patience as your floors dry.

Remove all floor coverings. The area underneath your wood floor won't dry while the wood is still wet. If your wood flooring is covered by wet rugs, mats, or carpeting, you'll need to remove them immediately. If your carpets and rugs have been soaked and they are not immediately cleaned, they will usually need to be discarded due to mildew concerns. A professional carpet cleaning company may be able to help save your carpet and treat it for mold. Dry visible water immediately after floors get wet. You won't be able to dry water that has seeped into and underneath the floors, but you should immediately start drying the visible water on your floors. Mopping and toweling may be sufficient, but if flooding is severe, you may need to use a water pump. Many hardware stores will allow you to rent equipment, such as pumps, that is too expensive to buy for a single use. If you choose to rent a pump, you can set it up in standing water and run a hose to another area, like outside, where the water can drain. Scrub woodwork with a brush and detergent before floors are dry. If your house has flooded, there will likely be mud and silt trapped in the crevices and corners of your floor. Before the floors totally dry, take a non-abrasive but stiff brush, plenty of water, and a non-sudsing detergent, and thoroughly clean your floors. Cleaning while the floors are still wet will keep you from having to re-wet the floors after they're dried. Remove a few boards to let the others expand and dry the subfloor. When wood floorboards get wet, they swell. If you remove a few floorboards (one every 5–10 feet (1.5–3.0 m) should be fine) will allow your floorboards to expand without buckling or cracking. This will also help the subfloor to dry faster. Use fans to move the air around in your home. One of the fastest ways to help your wood floors dry out is to use large fans to circulate the air in your home. You can use regular box fans or you can purchase or rent large commercial-strength fans for faster drying. Measure the moisture content of your wood floors. Be sure your wood floors are totally dry before you refinish or recover them. You can call a professional to measure the moisture remaining in your floors, or you can buy a moisture meter to measure it yourself. The moisture content should be within 5% of the readings of a section of wood flooring that wasn't affected by flooding. You can purchase moisture meters at most hardware stores. They can range anywhere from $40-$200 depending on the brand and the features you choose, but for the most accurate readings, make sure you get one with pins that can be inserted into the wood. Have patience. Your wood floors and the area beneath them may take weeks or even months to fully dry. However, it's worth the wait, as some floors will return to their original shape once they're dried. They may need a surface sanding and re-nailing, but that's much less trouble than replacing your floor. Interlocking wood floors have a higher chance of being permanently deformed due to water damage. Open the windows and doors if the humidity is lower outside. If the air outside of your home is drier than the air inside, open all as many windows and doors as you can to help the air circulate. You should be able to feel whether the air is drier just by stepping outside, but if you're not sure, you can purchase a humidity gauge from a hardware store. If it's sunny outside, it's probably less humid outside than it is in the home. However, you'll likely need to shut the windows and doors at night, when humidity outside increases. Open closets and cabinets and remove sliding drawers. Help your home dry faster by opening up damp closets and cabinets. This will allow the air to circulate more freely and will help lower the overall humidity in the home. Sometimes drawers will swell and will be difficult to remove. If this happens, don't try to force them — just open the cabinet beneath the drawer. Pump out the crawl space if you have one and it flooded. You need air to circulate through your crawl space in order to dry underneath your wood floors. If your crawl space is flooded, use pumps to remove all of the water. You may also want to place a fan in the crawlspace to circulate the air. Avoid using the central air conditioning if your ducts were under water. If your ducts flooded, they'll be full of dirt and silt which may contain contaminants which are dangerous if you breathe them in. Clean the ducts yourself or hire a professional for a duct cleaning before you turn on your central air unit again. Run dehumidifiers if the water has seeped into the wood. You can use dehumidifiers and window air conditioners to reduce the humidity in the air, especially in closed-in areas. You can use a personal dehumidifier, but for severe flooding, you might have better results by renting commercial dehumidifiers, which remove 3-4 times more water than home models. For best results, close nearby windows and doors when you're using a dehumidifier. Use desiccants to remove moisture from closed-in areas. Desiccants are materials which are used to absorb moisture. They're especially useful when you place them in closets or other areas where air doesn't circulate, and they can be purchased at hardware, grocery, or drug stores. Examples of desiccants include clay-based cat litter, calcium chloride pellets, and chemical dehumidifier packs used to dry boats.

Remove all floor coverings. Dry visible water immediately after floors get wet. Scrub woodwork with a brush and detergent before floors are dry. Remove a few boards to let the others expand and dry the subfloor. Use fans to move the air around in your home. Measure the moisture content of your wood floors. Have patience. Open the windows and doors if the humidity is lower outside. Open closets and cabinets and remove sliding drawers. Pump out the crawl space if you have one and it flooded. Avoid using the central air conditioning if your ducts were under water. Run dehumidifiers if the water has seeped into the wood. Use desiccants to remove moisture from closed-in areas.

https://www.wikihow.life/Start-a-Manual-Car

How to Start a Manual Car

To start a manual car, start by moving the gear shift to neutral. Then, turn the key in the ignition to start the car. When you're ready to start driving, start by pressing the clutch all the way down. Next, move the gear shift into first gear. Finally, slowly lift your foot off the clutch while at the same time pressing down on the accelerator with your other foot. If you stall and the car stops running, just repeat the process to restart the car.

Insert the key into the ignition. But don't turn it just yet - if you do, nothing will happen! There are several more steps you need to take before you can safely start the car. Identify the clutch, the brake and the accelerator. In a manual transmission car there are three pedals - the clutch, the brake and the accelerator/gas. It is essential that you have a firm grasp of which pedal is which before you begin driving. The pedal on the far left is the clutch. It allows you to disengage the engine from the wheels while you are changing gears. It should be operated using your left foot. The middle pedal is the brake and the pedal on the far right is the accelerator. Both of these pedals are operated using the right foot. Remember that the order of these pedals does not change regardless of whether you are in a left hand drive or right hand drive vehicle. Make sure the car is in neutral. Before you can start the car, you will need to ensure that the car is in neutral. The car is in neutral when: The gear shift is in the neutral position. You can tell it's in the neutral position if it feels loose to the touch and you can move it easily from side to side. If the gear shift is not in neutral, you can fix this by pressing down fully on the clutch and moving the shift into the central (neutral) position. The clutch is fully depressed. If you prefer, you can also put the car in neutral by pressing down fully on the clutch with your left foot. Start the ignition. Once the car is in neutral, you are ready to turn the key in the ignition and start the car. Just remember: If you put the car into neutral by moving the gear shift into the neutral position, you can turn the key in the ignition without having to depress the clutch pedal. However, if you put the car into neutral by simply pressing down on the clutch (while the shift is still in gear), you will need to hold the clutch down as you turn the key. Otherwise the car could lunge forward. Press down fully on the clutch. Once the car is running, you will need to put the car into gear before you can start moving. (Unless your car is already in gear, in which case you can just skip to step 3). To put your car in gear, press down fully on the clutch. Move the gear shift into first gear. Keeping your foot pressed down on the clutch, move the gear shift into first gear. This is usually done by moving the gear shift to the left and then up - the number 1 should be clearly marked on the top left corner of the stick. Slowly lift your foot off the clutch. Very slowly, begin inching your foot off the clutch pedal. Keep lifting your foot until the engine speed (or RPM) begins to drop and the car begins to move slowly forward. This is known as the "biting point". Begin pressing down on the accelerator. Once you find the biting point, it's time to start pressing down on the accelerator, slowly and gently. As your right foot begins to press down on the accelerator, your left foot should continue to release the clutch, in a simultaneous motion. If you complete this action correctly, the car will start to move forward and you will be driving in first gear. Beware of stalling. Be careful - if you release the clutch too quickly, the car will stall (stop running) and you will have to start the process again. On the other hand, if you press down too hard on the accelerator before the clutch is fully released you may wear out the clutch, causing damage to your vehicle. Don't worry though - you are bound to stall at least a couple of times when you're learning to drive a manual transmission car. Finding the perfect balance between releasing the clutch and depressing the accelerator takes practice. Move into second gear. When your engine begins to race and sounds like it's under pressure (usually around 2500 to 3000 RPM - though this varies depending on the car), you will need to move up into second gear. To do this: Take your right foot off the accelerator (if necessary) and use your left foot to fully depress the clutch. Grab the gear shift and move it straight downwards into second gear - which should be clearly marked by the number 2 on the stick. Understand the hill start. You will need to follow a slightly different procedure for starting your manual transmission car if you are parked on a hill. This is necessary to prevent the car from rolling backwards. Use the brake pedal. To perform a hill start using the brake pedal, begin with your left foot depressing the clutch and your right foot depressing the brake. Put the car into gear, release the hand brake, then lift your foot off the clutch until you find the biting point. Now release the brake (keeping the clutch at the biting point will prevent the car from rolling backwards) and press down on the accelerator, using slightly more gas than usual. Continue as normal. Use the hand brake. To perform a hill start using the hand brake, put your foot on the clutch and put the car into gear. Slowly release the clutch until you find the biting point, then release the hand brake. Once you have released the hand brake, put your foot on the accelerator and proceed as normal.

Insert the key into the ignition. Identify the clutch, the brake and the accelerator. Make sure the car is in neutral. Start the ignition. Press down fully on the clutch. Move the gear shift into first gear. Slowly lift your foot off the clutch. Begin pressing down on the accelerator. Beware of stalling. Move into second gear. Understand the hill start. Use the brake pedal. Use the hand brake.

https://www.wikihow.com/Break-in-Hiking-Boots

How to Break in Hiking Boots

To break in hiking boots, put on a pair of thick socks and wear your boots around the house to get used to walking around in them. When you feel comfortable in them, start taking short walks outside in the boots to run errands. As you're walking, pay attention to any pain or discomfort you feel in your feet or ankles, which can cause blisters. When the boot has a crease along the top where your toes meet your foot, begin flexing the sole up and down to remove any stiffness, and then start taking the boots on longer walks and excursions.

Go shopping at least a month before your hike. If you schedule a specific trip in the near future, work backwards from that date. Since it can take weeks to properly break in a new pair of boots, allow yourself at least a month between the time of purchase and your first full-day hike in them. From the purchase date, work farther back in time to factor in an adequate amount for you to do some comparative shopping and test-fitting, according to your availability. Do some comparative shopping. Use the internet to research products or speak with sales staff to find the right boot for you. Consider what type of hiking you plan on doing. For instance, are you looking for an all-purpose pair of boots to wear whenever, or are you planning a specific hike along, say, the Appalachian Trail? Refine your search by factoring in the following: What distance does your average hike cover? What sort of terrain do you hike? What climate and weather conditions will you face? Handle boots personally before buying. Once you have whittled your list down to a few favorites, visit sporting good stores, shoe outlets, department stores, or anywhere else that carries those boots, even if you plan on making your final purchase online. Wear the same socks that you use for hiking to the store. Also bring your insoles if you wear those too, so you can test each boot properly. Make sure they hug your feet tightly. Take the time to lace them properly. Walk around the store as much as needed to judge how they fit. Since they will loosen up as you break them in, a brand-new pair of boots should grip your feet securely at first, but not so much that they pinch your feet to the point of causing pain, constricting movement, or interfering with blood circulation. An ideal pair of boots should fit snugly at all points, except for the toe of the boot, which should provide a little extra space in front to prevent your own toes from mashing up against the interior when descending hills. All other areas of the boots should grip your foot tightly so that your heel is kept firmly in place within the boot. Keep the receipt. If you make your purchase in-store, hold onto the receipt in case you need to return your boots. If you find a cheaper price for the same pair online, familiarize yourself with the retailer's return policy before completing your purchase. Either way, since even the most “perfect” pair of hiking boots will most likely feel uncomfortable to some degree when brand-new, hold onto whatever paperwork is needed for returns in case the boots show no signs of improving once you start breaking them in. Wear the right socks. When breaking in your boots, don't put on a pair of dress socks just because they happen to be handy. Wear socks that are appropriate for hiking so your boots conform to your feet exactly as they will be dressed when you actually go hiking. If you don't already own some, buy yourself a pair of thick socks made of wool or synthetic fibers, since thicker socks will last longer and these materials won't retain as much sweat or moisture as cotton. Also wear any insoles or arch supports that you might use for hiking. Wear your boots around the house. Treat your new hiking boots like indoor slippers for the first few days after purchase. Pad around inside the house while you cook meals, do chores, or simply pace back and forth from room to room. Avoid going outside or doing anything particularly messy or physically intensive. Keep your boots as a pristine as possible in case you need to return them if they continue to cause any severe discomfort after the first few days. Venture outside for brief walks. If padding around the house doesn't cause any excessive pinching, rubbing, or other pain, expand your horizons. Take your boots outside for short excursions. Wear them down the block to the corner shop when you need to pick something up or take a stroll around the block each night. Wherever you go, be sure to keep it short at first so that you continue to break your boots in gradually. Pay attention to any pain. Your boots need time to break in, so keep your walks short at first so you can better identify sources of pain. Venturing too far too soon may cause blisters that won't necessarily appear later on once your boots are properly broken in. For now, note where your boots seem to pinch or rub your feet the most. Pay attention to these areas over the coming days to keep tabs on how much or how little the situation improves. Flex the soles. Once a crease begins to form along the top of each boot, roughly where your toes connect with the balls of your foot, take the boots off after your walks. Bend the boots toes up and down for a little while each day. Make the soles more flexible to decrease stiffness and allow your feet a wider range of movement. Be gentle as you do so, however, so you don't overstretch the soles and tear them! Performing squats while wearing your boots will also help loosen the soles. Take longer walks. As short jaunts to the store or elsewhere become more comfortable in your boots, increase the length of your excursions bit by bit. Take 20 or 30 minute walks through the neighborhood each night. If your feet are feeling fine by the end of the week, use the weekend to take a longer hike through a nearby park. The following week, add another 10 or 15 minutes to your nightly walk. Be careful to increase the duration of each walk incrementally, so that you don't end up hobbled in the middle of nowhere. Simulate hikes. Since trails typically aren't as level or as smooth as sidewalks, take your boots off-road. Find short hills to put them through the motions of climbing. As your boots lose their stiffness, walk over rougher ground to test how they handle uneven surfaces. If you usually wear backpacks while hiking, wear them now with the typical amount of weight that you carry on hikes. Continue until you wear them all day. Gradually increase the amount of use your boots receive each day until you are comfortably wearing them all day long. At this point, consider them broken in! Set them aside for hiking only so you don't wear them out from casual use. Customize your boots if needed. If you continue to experience the same pain in the same area with no sign of improvement, bring your boots to a store that specializes in hiking equipment. Seek assistance from their boot-fitters. Describe the pain and ask what methods and/or modifications could be done to alleviate it. Learn the leading factors that caused the pain to begin with so you know what to look out for when buying future pairs.

Go shopping at least a month before your hike. Do some comparative shopping. Handle boots personally before buying. Make sure they hug your feet tightly. Keep the receipt. Wear the right socks. Wear your boots around the house. Venture outside for brief walks. Pay attention to any pain. Flex the soles. Take longer walks. Simulate hikes. Continue until you wear them all day. Customize your boots if needed.

https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-Italian-Greyhound

How to Care for an Italian Greyhound

To care for an Italian greyhound, start by giving it plenty of love and attention, since this breed is very affectionate. Italian greyhounds need a moderate amount of exercise to stay healthy, so try to go on several 15-30 minute brisk walks every day. Because they love to stalk and chase prey, be sure to provide plenty of balls, stuffed animals, and fetch toys. Italian Greyhounds are at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, so be on the lookout for symptoms like limping, hesitation when jumping, and loss of thigh muscle mass. They're also prone to dental issues like gum disease, so be sure to brush your dog's teeth once a day!

Spend a lot of time with your dog. Italian Greyhounds are affectionate, gentle, and love to spend most of their time with their owner or family. While they're sociable and get along well with children and other dogs, they might shy away at first. If you're thinking about getting an Italian Greyhound, make sure you have plenty of time for both snuggling and activities. Do your best not to leave your Italian Greyhound alone for more than a few hours. If you can, stop at home during your lunch break for a quick walk. Spend nights and weekends giving it plenty of affection if you work during the day. Give your dog the right amount of exercise. Even though they love to nap and sit on laps, Italian Greyhounds are swift and agile, and need a moderate amount of exercise. Go on a couple 15 to 30 minute brisk walks a day. Daily running or sprinting helps strengthen their legs and prevent the risk of injury. Their size makes them great apartment dogs, and they don't really have any breed-specific space requirements. However, they do benefit from having an enclosed area large enough to sprint and exercise their legs. Avoid play with young children or larger dogs and other situations that could cause your dog injury. Be especially careful about your puppy's playtime, as young Italian Greyhounds are particularly fragile. Give your Italian Greyhound toys. This breed loves to stalk and chase prey, so having balls and fetch toys is a must. Give it chew toys and stuffed animals that it can hunt and chomp on so it doesn't get bored. Making sure it has toys to chew will cut down on any possible damage to your furniture and clothing. A bored Italian Greyhound, like many breeds, can get mischievous and chew up your belongings. Make sure it has its own toys to keep it busy. Train your dog. Since they're so intelligent, Italian Greyhounds enjoy the mental exercise that comes with training. Start out with basic word commands, such as sit, stay, and come. Hold a treat out, say the command, and gently guide your dog into the proper position when just starting to train. Repeat ten or twenty time to make it automatic, and make sure to give a treat and positive encouragement when your dog follows the command. Keep training session short and fun, since Italian Greyhounds typically have short attention spans. Always make training rewards-based by using treats and incorporating it into playtime. Italian greyhounds are generally sensitive dogs, so it's important that you never strike, swat at, or yell at them. Housetrain your Italian Greyhound. While they are intelligent and are trainable, Italian Greyhounds tend to be difficult to housetrain. If you get a puppy, begin housetraining immediately, and get it on a regular food and potty schedule. Take your dog out 15 to 30 minutes after eating, and feed your dog at the same times every day. Take it out a few times a day in addition to after eating, including first thing in the morning and a half hour before bed. Consider using the crate method. Purchase a crate that allows free movement but isn't too big. Leave the dog in a crate while at work or at night, letting it out every few hours if possible. Don't scold your dog if you come home to find a mess. If the dog had the accident hours earlier, it won't make a connection between being scolded and going to the bathroom inside. Try leaving pads or paper mats out if you don't want to use a crate. Clean up any accidents promptly with an enzyme cleaner to prevent the dog from being attracted to one particular spot in the home and relieving itself there. Feed your Italian Greyhound twice a day. Two or three smaller meals a day is better for your dog's digestion than one large meal or leaving food out at all times. Consult your vet about how often and how much food is best for your dog's age and activity level. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight will help prevent potential problems. If you gently press your hands down your dog's spine and cannot feel its ribs, it might be overweight. Talk to your vet and cut down the amount your dog eats. Cut down on giving your dog treats and other food between meals. When buying food for your Italian Greyhound, look for brands marked for toy dog breeds. If you have a puppy, buy food marked specially for puppies. Three-fourths to one cup of food twice a day is typically a good amount of food for a small dog. Deciding what to feed your dog depends on what's affordable and on your personal preferences. For instance, you might prefer to make raw or homemade dog food or like the ease of store bought brands. Either way, just make sure that you're feeding your dog balanced, nutritional meals. If you want to make your own dog food or put your dog on a raw diet, consult with an animal nutrition expert first. Otherwise, the dog may quickly become unhealthy. Know the breed’s health risks. While most Italian Greyhounds are healthy, the breed is prone to a few health issues, like hip, thyroid, and eye problems. Knowing if its parents were screened for or had any genetic disorders or breed specific issues will help you keep your dog healthy. Ask the breeder or shelter where you got your dog if its parents' health records are available, preferably prior to purchasing or adopting. Many of the health issues Italian Greyhounds are prone to are detected with blood tests that your vet will provide, so regular exams are important. Look for warning signs of health issues. Get to know your dog's normal behavior. Notice unusual behavior, such as excessively restlessness, pacing, difficulty walking or hesitating to jump, and dry heaving or vomiting. Call your vet if you're concerned about a possible issue. Pay special attention to your dog's legs, especially when it's a puppy or juvenile. Note limping or if your dog doesn't put weight on a limb. Italian Greyhounds have fragile bones and are prone to leg fractures. Take your dog for regular vet exams. Your vet will provide routine screenings for potential inherited disorders, like eye and thyroid problems. They will also make sure your dog is up to date with its vaccinations and check its hips and legs or potential breed-specific concerns. Talk to your dog's vet about its diet and activity level to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Carrying too much weight will strain an Italian Greyhound's legs and hips. Ask your vet if they recommend flea and tick treatment for your location. Get it a sweater for cold weather. Keep your Italian Greyhound warm with a coat, jacket, or sweater, especially when going outside during colder months. It should be form fitting, with a curve to match their backline, but should still allow for natural movement. Stay away from full sleeves, since they typically restrict movement. Knit sweaters tend to fall down the dog's back and aren't the most warmest option. When shopping for dog attire, look for products that are designed specifically for your breed in order to select the best form and material. Look for signs of hip problems. Italian Greyhounds are at a higher risk of developing a condition called hip dysplasia. Be on the lookout for symptoms such as limping, hesitation when jumping, and loss of thigh muscle mass. It's usually inherited, so knowing if either of your dog's parents had it will help you and your dog's vet maintain its health. Keeping an eye on your dog's weight, avoiding overfeeding, and giving it regular exercise will help prevent or manage hip dysplasia. Consult your vet to decide how much and how often you should feed your dog in order to prevent obesity. Be aware dog can develop hip dysplasia at any point in its lifespan, including as a puppy. Brush your dog’s teeth every day. Since Italian Greyhounds are prone to gum disease and other dental issues, their teeth require daily brushing. Using a small dog toothbrush is preferable to using gauze or a pad wrapped around a finger. Your dog might resist brushing, but it's an essential part of keeping your dog healthy. Be confident and decisive about brushing, but do your best to avoid overwhelming or scaring your dog. Your dog will eventually accept brushing as part of its routine if you keep up with it daily. Trim your dog’s nails. Trimming nails is important, since overgrown nails can cause leg problems in dogs with fragile bones. Clip your Italian Greyhound's nails every one to two weeks, or when you notice a clicking sound when your dog walks. A dog's nails shouldn't touch the floor. Check your dog's gait, or the way it walks, to make sure it doesn't put too much weight to the backs of its paws due it overgrown nails. Using a nail grinder or hand file rather than clippers reduces the risk of removing too much nail, which can cause pain and bleeding. Keep your dog clean. Italian Greyhounds are fairly low maintenance, aside from tooth and nail care. Use a sink, basin, or tub to bathe your dog as needed, such as if it smells or just got into something messy. Keep an eye on its coat for dust or dander, and brush once a week or as needed. Check its ears a couple times a week and clean out any wax or debris using gauze wrapped around your finger. Avoid using water to clean out ears. Avoid over-bathing you dog, as this can strip the skin of natural oils, which may lead to dry and/or damaged skin.

Spend a lot of time with your dog. Give your dog the right amount of exercise. Give your Italian Greyhound toys. Train your dog. Housetrain your Italian Greyhound. Feed your Italian Greyhound twice a day. Know the breed’s health risks. Look for warning signs of health issues. Take your dog for regular vet exams. Get it a sweater for cold weather. Look for signs of hip problems. Brush your dog’s teeth every day. Trim your dog’s nails. Keep your dog clean.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Good-at-Drawing

How to Get Good at Drawing

If you want to get good at drawing, carry a sketchbook around with you and practice drawing whenever you get the chance. As you draw, experiment with different drawing tools, like charcoal and pencil, to find which ones you like the best. You can also try holding your drawing tools at different angles to see the results it produces. In addition, you can use different techniques to create a variety of effects, like cross-hatching, or drawing crisscrossing diagonal lines where you want your shading to appear.

Draw daily. Practice, practice, practice. That's the mantra of famous artists across the world, and practice is the sure-fire way to improve your drawings. Even spending a few minutes a day on sketch engages your brain with your art and helps you learn new techniques. Bring a sketchbook with you everywhere. If you always have a small notebook with you, then you open up the possibility to draw anything – from people on the bus the nature scenes to awe-inspiring city skylines. You need to practice to be a better drawer, so set yourself up to practice anytime. Purchase a variety of pencils. Pencils come in a variety of ratings that tell you how hard they are and the thickness of the mark. Pencils labeled “H” get progressively harder, and leave fine, faint lines, while those labeled “B” are good for thick, darker lines. A decent set of starter pencils, available at any art store, might include a 4H, 3H, 2H, H, HB , B, 2B 3B and 4B. Play around with your new pencils to test how each one feels. Note the differences in the lines and try to incorporate different pencils into different drawings. Experiment with texture, color, and blending. Use a couple of pages in your sketchbook to experiment with the way your pencils lay down color, how your fingers or tissues blend colors together and how to shade simple spheres. You need to understand how your materials work to improve your drawings and use the right pencil for the right lines. Make 3-4 timelines and practice transitions. How can you use each pen to shade the line from completely black to completely white? Take a local art class or study art theory. While many young artists feel like they can teach themselves how to draw, there are a variety of techniques that can only be passed on by an experienced teacher. Spend time practicing perspective, proportions, and drawing from live models. The time spent in an art studio with an art teacher can help you find mistakes and fix them far faster than you could on your own. However, you do not need to go to classes, you can find many different classes online. So if you like to draw in the comfort of your own home, online can be cheap, expensive, or even free. Check your local art store, parks department, or community college for local drawing classes. Draw from pictures or other drawings. While you should never trace another artist's work and claim it as your own, you can learn valuable techniques by copying photos or drawings you admire by hand. Since a picture is already 2-dimensional, you take away the stress of learning perspective and focus solely on the lines and angles. Practice recreating classic drawings to learn from the masters – da Vinci was the king of human anatomy, and his drawings have a lot to teach you. Never trace – you don't actually practice drawing, just making lines. Draw upside down. Drawing upside down forces you to forget about trying to make the drawing look right and instead drawing what you actually see. You can get similar results by drawing through a mirror, or practicing with distorted or Photoshopped images. Study your source material. Drawing accurate contours requires more than simply looking up an image online. The best artists and art teachers pour over books, real-life examples, and studies to understand the lines they are making. While this depends on the type of drawing you are working on. All artists can benefit from time away from the sketchbook every now and then. If you are drawing people, invest in an illustrated book of human anatomy, or sign-up for drawing classes with a live model. If you are drawing animals, spend a day with your sketchbook at the zoo or purchase an illustrated textbook on animal anatomy. If you are drawing landscapes or city scenes, you should invest in a book about perspective to help you accurately create depth in your drawings. Buy a wooden art doll. These small, standing puppets have a variety of joints that you can move into place and perfect human proportions. As such, they can be useful when trying to draw complex poses. Simply put the doll into the right position and use it to sketch out your drawing, adding the details of your character later. If you cannot get a model, use a skeleton from your school's biology department to learn proportions. They also make anatomically correct models of hands, heads, and the skeletal system as well, though they are often more expensive. Wooden dolls are a very useful tool for drawing, they are a great and cheap way of learning how to draw the body. Know that contour drawing consists only of lines. Contours are the outlines of your drawings. There is no blending or shading yet, just lines. Drawing good contour lines is essential for your final drawing, as this is where you give your drawing its shape and proportions. In general, contour lines are the first thing you do in a drawing. Give yourself guide lines. This is often overlooked by beginning artists who dive right into the work, but it is incredibly important to get accurate drawings. For example, if you are drawing a large scene, start with faint lines that break your drawing up into thirds both horizontally and vertically. You should have nine small boxes on your page. These will help you to frame your drawing and put everything where it should be, giving you reference points as you work. Focus on proportions first. Proportion is the difference in size between two objects. If you draw your arms and legs out of proportion, for example, your drawing will look crude and lopsided. Close one eye and line your pencil up with the subject. Your arm should be completely extended. Use your pencil as a ruler and mark the length of the object with your thumb. You can then compare this distance with other objects on your page, or even use your pencil to mark out the specific distance on the page for your drawing. You can also use your guidelines to help. What “box” of your guidelines does the subject fit into? Do they take up the whole page, or a third of it? Sketch out the basics of each drawing before moving on. There is no worse feeling than getting halfway done with a drawing and realizing that the arm of your character is much too short. Good drawers know how to avoid this by blocking out the drawing beforehand. Use simple shapes to mark the proportions of each object. For example, make an oval for a person's head, a rounded rectangle for the torso, and longer elbows for each arm and leg. Keep adjusting these blocks until you feel confident in the pose and proportions of each item. Make sure you make these marks lightly, so that you can easily erase them later. Make a small circle or dot for each joint to help you “move” arms and legs into accurate poses. Slowly add in the details to your contours. Add a layer of complexity with each draft. First it is guidelines and stick figures. Then you add in basic shapes and poses. Next, add in permanent lines over your outline, connecting the joints, adding facial features, etc. Think about making the final contour of the body by connecting the joints so that you have a recognizable shape. Once you're happy with your new lines, erase away your light contour marks from underneath the new drawing. Work slowly, making each line carefully and erasing when you are unhappy. You need your contour to be accurate in order for the final drawing to improve. Draw from the largest object down to the smallest. Never start a drawing at the details. Once you've finished you basic contours, it's time to move on to the details. This is where most artists get caught up early on, spending all of their time and energy on the small details while neglecting the larger proportions. Practice perspective to give scenes realistic depth. Perspective is why far away objects appear small and nearby ones appear large. To get accurate drawings, you need to have accurate perspective. One way to practice is to use a perspective point. Think of this as the farthest point on the horizon, like the sun right before it sets. Draw straight lines out from this point to match your drawings – anything closer to the dot is farther away, and thus smaller, and anything away from the dot is close to you. Draw two diagonal lines coming away from the dot. Anything that fits between those two lines is the same size in real life, though perspective makes it appear as if they are different. Know that shading give objects depth. Shading is what makes a drawing pop and prevents it from feeling flat. A big part of the illusion of three-dimensions in good drawings is the shading. But shading is tough to master, especially when you are trying to shade something from your imagination or memory. Shading can imply lines as well. Think about the two small ridges between your nose and upper lip. While you could draw lines for them, that would make them unrealistically pronounced. Try shading them in instead, darkening the areas around them lightly to make them “appear” in the middle of the dark patches. Think about the light sources. Shadows are created because they are exposed to less light then other parts of the scene. Where the light is coming from, what type of light it is, and even the time of day will all affect your shadows. Shadows are created on opposite sides of the light. For example, if you place a ball down and shine a light on it from the right, the left side of the ball will appear darker. This is where you would shade if you were drawing the ball. Note the edges of the shadow. The edge of the shadow is how quickly it disappears. Think of trying to make a shadow puppet—when your hand is close to the light and the wall, there is a hard edge where your shadow and the light meet; but when your hand is farther away you shadow softly fades into the light. Note however, the all shadows have a slightly soft edge. The difference between shading and contour drawing is the fading at the edges. Direct light, like spotlights and clear, sunny days, creates dramatic shadows with hard edges. Indirect light, light far away lights, multiple lights, or cloudy days, create softer, muted shadows with faded edges. Map your shading before beginning. Make soft, gentle lines around the edges of your shadows before starting them so that you know where you are going to. Map out the highlights: where is the light the strongest? Is there any glare? Sketch out the shading: where does the shadow on each object start and stop? Contour any hard shadows. Are there any dark shapes created by the light, like a person's shadow in the sun? Focus on gradual transitions. Shading is the art of gradually changing the amount of light from one area to the other. Start lightly, shading in the entire object with your lightest pencil strokes. Keep going over the drawing by filling in the darker areas slowly, one shade at a time. Blend your shadows. This is the best way to make realistic, gradual shadows on any drawing. Using a tissue, your finger, or light marks with your pencil, blend the darker areas into the lighter ones by rubbing from dark to light. Most pencils will blend only slightly, while drawing with charcoal allows you to dramatically blend your shadows with your fingers. Practice shading simple objects. Set up a basic “still life” to practice shading. Simply place several common, easy to draw objects (a ball, small boxes, water bottles, etc.) under a bright light and turn it on. Draw the contours of the objects, then practice shading them in exactly how you see them. As you get more advanced, add in clear objects, complex shapes, or a second light to practice more difficult shading techniques. Shade in an old children's coloring book, which are usually simple contour lines, for advanced practice. Learn the different types of shading. While the most realistic form of shading is an even, gradual blending (“smooth” shading), there are a variety of shading styles for different artists and styles of work. For example, many cartoons use cross-hatching or dots to indicate shading. The basic principle, however, is the same – more marks equals darker shadows. Test our multiple types of shading to find what works best for you. Hatching: Single, straight lines create shadows. More lines make darker shadows. Cross-hatching: Crisscrossing diagonal lines make up your shadows. The farther apart the lines are, the lighter the shadow is. This works well when shading something with lines, like hair or fur. Stippling: A collection of small, black dots make your shadows. Adding dots makes it look darker, to the point where you may not be able to tell that there are dots on the darker edges. Circular Shading: Making small, overlapping circles around with your pencil, you trace out your shadow. The longer you spend in one area overlapping circles, the darker it will become. This is often the best way to shade with colored pencils.

Draw daily. Bring a sketchbook with you everywhere. Purchase a variety of pencils. Experiment with texture, color, and blending. Take a local art class or study art theory. Draw from pictures or other drawings. Draw upside down. Study your source material. Buy a wooden art doll. Know that contour drawing consists only of lines. Give yourself guide lines. Focus on proportions first. Sketch out the basics of each drawing before moving on. Slowly add in the details to your contours. Draw from the largest object down to the smallest. Practice perspective to give scenes realistic depth. Know that shading give objects depth. Think about the light sources. Note the edges of the shadow. Map your shading before beginning. Focus on gradual transitions. Blend your shadows. Practice shading simple objects. Learn the different types of shading.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Kitchen-Burns

How to Prevent Kitchen Burns

To prevent kitchen burns, place hot pans, pots, and baking sheets on empty burners while they cool down so you don't accidentally touch them. You can also place pot holders on hot handles or lids in case you touch or bump into them. You should also stand a few feet away from pots or pans with hot oil in them since hot oil can splatter and cause burns. To help prevent scalding injuries, always drain pasta and pour hot liquids away from you with your face turned away in case anything splashes.

Make fire extinguishers accessible. Whether you're in a home or commercial kitchen, you need to have access to a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers do exactly what their name suggests – they extinguish fires with a chemical foam that prevents fires from obtaining more oxygen. These are an excellent tool and can prevent small fires turning into big fires, but remember, your food won't be edible after you use an extinguisher. Commercial kitchens will need to follow their city's code requirements about how many extinguishers are needed and where they should be located. Typically an extinguisher is kept below the kitchen sink in a home kitchen. Have a first-aid kit. You should have an accessible first-aid kit whether you're cooking in a commercial or home kitchen. At the minimum, your kit should contain plenty of sterile gauze, bandages, a first-aid burn gel, cling wrap (to cover a burn until you can get treatment), and scissors to cut away any clothing that might be touching the burned area. Periodically check your kit to make sure that the contents are still there and that they aren't expired. Cities will have requirements about what your commercial first-aid kit should contain. Set your hot water heater’s thermostat. Lower your hot water heater's thermostat to 120 – 125 degrees so that water from the faucet won't scald you. Water heated above this temperature can cause scalding burns, and is an unsafe temperature, especially if there are children in the house. Turning down the temperature on your hot water heater will also save you money. The higher the temperature, the more your water heater has to work to keep the water heated at such a high temperature. Consider installing anti-scald devices on tubs or faucets that children can access. Get trained in first-aid. Whether you're in a commercial or home kitchen, it's a great idea to have someone trained in first aid present at all times. If this is a home kitchen, that person will be you, of course. Being trained in first aid will show you a variety of life-saving techniques, and also teach you how to identify and treat burns. Tie your hair back and wear fitted clothing. Make sure that your hair is not hanging down, exposed to any sort of flame or heat, and that your clothes fit relatively close to your body. Baggy or loose clothing can ignite easily because it hangs much closer to heat sources than the rest of your body. While clothing fires aren't typical, they do account for 18% of fire-related fatalities. If you have long hair, consider keeping a head scarf, hair tie, or hair net in the kitchen to use when you cook. Avoid wearing long or loose sleeved clothing while cooking as well because the sleeves can catch on fire. Drain pasta and pour hot liquids away from you. When you drain cooked pasta or other hot liquids, you can potentially be burned from the steam or scalded by the boiling water. Make sure that the sink is empty except for the colander, and very slowly pour the pan away from your body and turn your head away from the steam. If anything splashes out, this will prevent hot water from touching you. It's a good idea to wear tall oven mitts or arm protection when you're pouring hot liquids, as they can prevent your arms from being scalded or burned. Remove lids away from your body. When you remove a lid from a pot or pan, use the handle and carefully lift the lid away from your body. This directs any steam away from you and prevents you from being scalded by hot steam. It is best to do this over the sink. If the lid handle is also hot, use an oven mitt or hot pad so that you don't burn your hand. Don’t drink or eat scalding hot foods. You may tend to think of burns happening on your hands or skin, but forget that you can also scald your throat and the inside of your mouth. To avoid these painful, and sometimes dangerous, scalding burns, let your hot food or beverage sit for a few minutes to cool down before you ingest them. Also, if you see steam coming from your food or beverage, a good indication that they're too hot to consume, you can blow on them to cool them down also. Don’t touch hot surfaces. While it may seem common sense not to touch a hot burner with your bare hand, you should always use caution when touching any surfaces that may be hot. You may forget that a pan is hot, or you may not know that someone recently turned a stove burner off and that it's still hot. Treat all pans, pots, cookie sheets, and stove burners as hot until you verify that they aren't. Put empty pans, pots, and baking sheets on empty burners while they cool down. Wrap potholders around hot handles or set them on top of lids, but make sure that you're not blocking any steam venting holes in the lid when you put the potholder on there. If you need to use your stove but have a pot or pan that needs to cool down at the same time, put your pot or pan on a trivet on the counter. Just make sure that it's out of the way so that you don't accidentally bump into it. Remove foods from the microwave carefully. Take care when using the microwave, as microwaved food may be steaming, boiling, or have reached an internal temperature that will easily burn you. Remove microwave food lids carefully to avoid being scalded. Always assume that food cooked in the microwave is just as hot as food cooked by conventional methods. Keep the microwave at a good height for you. If something spills, you will be less likely to get burnt if the item is at arm's length from you. Put a plastic spoon in a cup or other smooth vessels when heating liquid in a microwave. A plastic spoon can prevent the liquid from spattering, preventing possible scalds. Read the bottom of a container to make sure it is safe for the microwave oven before using the container to heat foods or liquids. Use only containers marked, "Microwave Safe." Purchase microwave ovens that turn off automatically when you open the oven door. Keep your distance from hot oil. When air bubbles heat up enough, they pop, and if those bubbles are in oil, the oil can “pop” and send bits of hot oil shooting out of the pan. If you're standing too close, the oil can jump on to your arm, hand, face, or clothes. To prevent yourself from being burned, stand a few feet away from a pan or pot that has hot oil in it. And use long tongs when you work with food in the hot oil. If oil or grease catches fire, slide a lid over the pan or pot. This will remove the air that the fire needs to keep burning and put the fire out quickly. Under no circumstances should you ever put water on a grease or oil fire. This will only cause the fire to flare up aggressively. Turn off the burner immediately and avoid throwing anything onto the fire. Childproof your outlets and appliances. You know to put safety caps on the exposed outlets around your home, and this is especially important in the kitchen. Whichever outlet cover you choose to use, make sure that you unplug appliances when they aren't in use and cover the outlets. Kitchen outlets are a particular concern because of the proximity of metal objects, such as skewers, forks, keys, or knives, that a child could stick in a live outlet. Put appliances away. While you don't have to lock appliances up in a cabinet, you should unplug them when they're not in use. This is especially important for any appliance that could heat up and burn your child or turn on and cut your child. Consider wrapping each appliance's cord up so that it's not only out of reach, but not easily plugged in should your child try to do so. Another safety tactic is to put a small lock through the cord's prongs, which will prevent the plug from being inserted into an outlet. It's also important to put appliances out of a child's reach, including cords, so that they can't pull anything down on top of them. Don’t hold a child while you cook. Even if your child is crying and something on the stove needs your immediate attention, such as a pot boiling over, do not hold your child while you cook. You have to choose which needs your attention more at that moment, your child or the pot on the stove. Unfortunately, when you lift the pot's lid, steam might rush up and burn the child's leg, or they might be kicking their feet and accidentally kick the pot or handle to a pan, flipping the hot contents all over both of you. Talk to your child and explain what you're doing so that they understand that you're not ignoring them. You can also talk them through what you're doing in the kitchen to satisfy their natural curiosity. Try gating the kitchen off so that they can watch you from a safe distance while you explain. Teach children to cook. From about the age of 18 months on, children's natural curiosity and desire to help you naturally lend themselves to teaching your child to cook. They will gain skills in reasoning, dexterity, critical thinking, and counting, and, most importantly, kitchen safety. Teaching children to cook allows you to teach them how not to burn themselves while also teaching them important life skills. You know best what you should teach your child regarding burn prevention and kitchen safety. Cooking together is a fun and educational way to bond with your child. Toddlers are great at stirring and spooning ingredients. Elementary school-aged children are great at cutting, folding, greasing, and mixing. Older children (8-11) can help plan meals and also cook on the stove, with supervision, of course. Allow only children who are tall enough to remove food from the microwave oven safely to use a microwave. Children who are too short to reach a microwave oven easily may risk facial burns. Keep children secured. It's best to keep children out of the kitchen and away from the oven and stove while you're cooking, unless they're helping you and you're able to supervise them. Consider putting up baby gates that block the entrance to the kitchen or putting your little one in a high chair or playpen when you're cooking. If you let your toddler in the kitchen with you, especially if they are just learning to walk or are holding on to objects to stand up, make sure to keep them away from the oven, as they might burn their hands on a hot oven door. Prevent children from pulling hot items down on themselves. Children are naturally curious, and may tug on tablecloths or towels that are hanging down within reach. This is especially true for children who are just learning to walk, as they tend to grab the first steady object to hold themselves up. Unfortunately, pulling a tablecloth or towel placed under hot cookware on a counter top or table can be dangerous because the cookware might come down on the child's head. Position hot vessels away from counter top edges so children can't touch them or grab the handles. Turn pot and pan handles inward so they're not easily reached.

Make fire extinguishers accessible. Have a first-aid kit. Set your hot water heater’s thermostat. Get trained in first-aid. Tie your hair back and wear fitted clothing. Drain pasta and pour hot liquids away from you. Remove lids away from your body. Don’t drink or eat scalding hot foods. Don’t touch hot surfaces. Remove foods from the microwave carefully. Keep your distance from hot oil. Childproof your outlets and appliances. Put appliances away. Don’t hold a child while you cook. Teach children to cook. Keep children secured. Prevent children from pulling hot items down on themselves.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-an-Energetic-Kitten-from-Hurting-Itself

How to Prevent an Energetic Kitten from Hurting Itself

If you have an energetic kitten and you're worried about it hurting itself, it's important to create a safe environment by removing any small items that can be a choking hazard, like strings, twist ties, or ribbons. Your kitten might also try to chew on electrical wires, so coat any accessible cords with a pet deterrent spray or cover them with a special cord protector. It might not seem like it, but house plants are another dangerous chewing hazard. Plants like lilies, mistletoe, and poinsettias are toxic to cats and should be removed. Your kitten might also want to play with the cords hanging from blinds and window coverings, which could cause it to get tangled up and strangled. Try tying up those cords so they are out of its reach.

Keep small items out of your kitten's reach. Remove any small items that could be a choking hazard to your kitten. Even if you think your home is clean, there are likely still objects that your kitten could choke on. Remove any: Strings Twist ties Hair ties Rubber bands Small toy accessories Small board game pieces Ribbons Spray cords with a pet deterrent spray. Energetic kittens may try to chew on electrical wires, which can be extremely dangerous. As a result, you should coat any accessible electric cords with a pet deterrent cream or spray. This will discourage your kitten from chewing on cords, as the deterrents taste bad. Before spraying the cords, unplug them for safety. Alternatively, you could purchase special cord protectors. Pull up blinds and secure all cords. Kittens may also try and play with the cords that hang down from your blinds or window coverings. Try tying up these cords so that they are out of your kitten's reach. Your kitten could strangle itself if it gets wrapped up in the cord. Alternatively, your kitten could choke on the plastic end of the cord after chewing it off. Remove poisonous household plants. Kittens like to chew on plants and grasses and although this may not seem like a potential danger, some household plants are toxic and even poisonous to cats. For example, lilies, mistletoe, poinsettia, and philodendron are all toxic household plants. Avoid giving a kitten free range of the house. There are certain, potentially dangerous areas in your home that should remain off limits to your kitten. For example, your kitten may fall into the toilet if the seat is left up. Alternatively, it may choke on a small bone while rustling through the garbage. As a result keep certain doors closed and secured so that your kitten can not enter. You should also prevent your cat from jumping up onto high surfaces such as counter tops or tables. Similarly, any cleaning products should be kept in a locked cupboard. Give your cat plenty of toys. Instead of allowing your energetic kitten to take part in potentially dangerous activities, provide your kitten with plenty of appropriate toys. There are a variety of cat toys available from pet supply stores. In many instances kittens will happily play with toys by themselves. Always supervise your kitten while it plays to keep it from ingesting any pieces that become loose. Buy a cat tree for climbing and scratching. Kittens can also expend energy by climbing and playing on a cat tree. These can be purchased at your local pet supply store and provide kittens with an opportunity to jump up to different perches. They also include scratching posts for your kitten to play with. These are fun and safe objects for kittens. Try a food puzzle toy. If your kitten is motivated by food, try giving it a food puzzle. Place a few of your kitten's favourite treats inside the puzzle. Then, your kitten will spend time playing with the toy in order to access the treats. This is a safe way to occupy and tire out an energetic kitten. Try fetch. Throw a small ball, stuffed toy, or even a rolled up piece of aluminum foil. Your cat will chase the toy and expend energy. This is a great way to tire out your cat in a non-hazardous and controlled environment. By spending time playing with your kitten, it is less likely to be destructive or get injured. Activate the prey drive with moving toys. You can tire out your kitten by playing with it in a safe manner. For example, you can activate the prey drive of your cat by using moving toys, such as wand toys. Typically, these toys will consist of a short pole with a stuffed toy or feather dangling from a string. Try slowly moving the toy across the floor in front of your kitten. The kitten will likely begin to stalk and chase the toy. A laser pointer is another fun way to incorporate movement when playing with your cat. Avoid using your hands as a toy. When kittens are small and their claws and teeth don't really hurt, many people will use their hands as a toy. You should avoid doing this because it can actually cause your kitten to learn to attack hands. As your kitten grows this may develop into aggressive behaviour. Train your kitten. You can also stimulate your kitten and even modify unwanted behaviour through training. Many people believe that kittens cannot be trained. That is actually a myth. Try clicker training your cat. Eventually you will be able to prevent your cat from going on unwanted surfaces which may be dangerous.

Keep small items out of your kitten's reach. Spray cords with a pet deterrent spray. Pull up blinds and secure all cords. Remove poisonous household plants. Avoid giving a kitten free range of the house. Give your cat plenty of toys. Buy a cat tree for climbing and scratching. Try a food puzzle toy. Try fetch. Activate the prey drive with moving toys. Avoid using your hands as a toy. Train your kitten.

https://www.wikihow.com/Pronounce-Meme

How to Pronounce Meme

To pronounce "meme," say the word with a long "e," like "meem." Remember that the last "e" is silent. Avoid common mispronunciations like "may may," "mee mee," and "mehm." If you need some help remembering how to pronounce "meme" correctly, just remember that it rhymes with words like "team," "cream," and "beam."

Pronounce “meme” with a long “e” sound, like "me me . " Although it may not look like it, “meme” should be pronounced with a long “e.” When you say it, you should only be using 1 syllable. Always use the long “e” sound, never the short “e” sound or an “a” sound. Don’t pronounce “meme” like “may may. ” While it may look like “meme” should be pronounced this way, “may may” is in fact incorrect. Remember: you should never be using an “a” sound when you're saying “meme.” It's helpful to remember that the word "meme" doesn't have the letter "a" in it, and it also isn't pronounced with an "a" sound. Avoid pronouncing "meme" like “mee mee. ” Pronouncing “meme” like “mee mee” is also a common mispronunciation. To get it right, say it like “meem” with a long “e” sound. Remember that the last “e” in “meme” is silent. Don’t say “mehm” when you’re trying to pronounce “meme. ” “Mehm” or "maim" is getting closer, but it's still incorrect. To pronounce “meme” correctly, you need to use a long “e” sound. Remember that “meme” rhymes with words like “team” and “beam. ” To keep yourself from stumbling over the pronunciation in the future, try to remember different words that “meme” rhymes with. Then, it will be easier to remember the correct way to say the word. Other words that rhyme with “meme” are: Dream Cream Seam Stream Theme Ream Beam Supreme Color scheme Switch the last 2 letters before you pronounce it. Given the way that “meme” is spelled, it's no surprise that the pronunciation is tricky. One way to overcome this is to get in the habit of switching the last 2 letters, “m” and “e,” whenever you are reading or saying the word. When you switch the last 2 letters, the word looks like “meem,” which is easier to pronounce correctly. Over time, you'll start to automatically pronounce “meme” like “meem.” Remember that the word “meme” was created to be similar to the word “gene. ” The word “meme” may have a bizarre spelling, but that's because the person who created the word, famous author and researcher Richard Dawkins, wanted it to have a similar spelling to “gene.” In the mid-1970s, Dawkins coined the term “meme” to describe ideas that spread between people, kind of like how genes replicate and get passed on to others. If you're ever struggling to remember the right pronunciation, just think about the origins of the word to help you out. The word “gene” is pronounced with a long “e” sound, and the last “e” is silent, just like how “meme” is pronounced.

Pronounce “meme” with a long “e” sound, like "me me . Don’t pronounce “meme” like “may may. Avoid pronouncing "meme" like “mee mee. Don’t say “mehm” when you’re trying to pronounce “meme. Remember that “meme” rhymes with words like “team” and “beam. Switch the last 2 letters before you pronounce it. Remember that the word “meme” was created to be similar to the word “gene.

https://www.wikihow.com/Warm-up-for-Bench-Pressing

How to Warm up for Bench Pressing

It's important that you properly warm-up for bench pressing so you can perform better and reduce the chance of injury. You can do this by using a few pre-exercise warmups that involve weights. Start with smaller weights and do 10-15 reps with light dumbbells. From there, move to 8 reps using about 55 percent of the weight you plan to use for your workout. For example, if you plan to use 200 pounds for your bench press, then use 110 pounds. After that, move to 5 reps at 75 percent of your target weight, then 3 reps at 85 percent, and finally, 1 rep at about 90-95 percent. Be sure to rest between each of the sets and use good form so your body is primed and ready to bench press your target workout weight.

Understand the importance of joint mobility and stability. Mobility is the range of uninhibited motion around a joint or joint system that's not impeded by tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Stability is the ability to maintain control of a joint in a particular movement or position. Possessing good joint mobility and stability in tandem will reduce the likelihood of injuring your joints, which you will need for bench pressing (and many other things). Understanding active vs passive mobility. Passive mobility refers to to being able to get into a position with the help of outside influence, and active mobility refers to being able to get there yourself. If you need a trainer, friend, or even a piece of equipment to assist you, that's passive mobility. It is okay to get into a position using passive mobility, but the goal is to eventually turn passive mobility into active ability through repetition. Do side-lying windmills. Start in a position lying on one side with your legs curled as though you are sitting on a chair. Extend both arms in the same direction as your knees are pointed. With the top arm, raise it in a slow, circular motion over your head until it has reached the other opposite side and extends at a 180 degree angle from your bottom arm. Then, bring it directly from that position back to its original position, this time straight over your torso instead of making the circular motion, until your hands are touching again. Do multiple repetitions of this for each arm until your muscles start to feel looser. Do arm cross-over stretches. Bring one arm all the way over to the other side across your chest. Use the opposite arm to press against it right above the elbow. This primarily assists the deltoids (the muscles around your shoulders). Hold this position for at least 10 to 15 seconds each time you do it, depending on how loose or tight your body feels. Make sure you do this exercise for both arms. Do double arm behind the back stretches. Stretch your arms directly in front of you and then with a sweeping motion, move them both out to their respective sides and all the way behind you. Lock your thumbs so that both arms will be evenly and identically elevated. With your thumbs still hooked behind your back, raise your arms to be as level with your shoulder blades as possible. Hold this position for at least 10 to 15 seconds depending on how loose or tight your body feels. Compensate your lifting habits accordingly. When you increase your range of motion, you're adding additional ranges that you have never trained your joints for. If you try to lift weights as you did before in these new ranges, you may hurt yourself. Knock your weights down and gradually work your way back up. The process will occur much faster in the newly freed areas than it did for your initial training. Understand why you do targeted warm ups. Although getting your heart rate and general body temperature up with cardio is an important part of any warm up, you want to also target specific areas of your body that will be performing the most. This will more effectively prepare you for the tasks to come, which should help you to have a better performance and prevent injury from occurring. These activities will help activate your nervous system, increase your core body temperature, and further loosen sticking joints. Do yoga push ups. Start in a basic pushup position: ideally, your weight should be supported by just your hands and toes and your face and body should only be an inch or so from the floor (not touching, but not too far away). Using your arms, push your body up as though you were doing a pushup, but continue to push further, pushing until your buttocks moves backward into what is often referred to as "downward dog" in yoga. Ideally both your hands and feet should be flat on the floor or as close to it as you can manage. Hold the position for a second before returning to the upward pushup position, then return to the downward push up position. This activity promotes scapular (shoulder) movement and loosens the shoulders. It's also helpful for the thoracic spine. Repeat this exercise 8-10 times. Do forearm wall-slides at a 135 degree angle. Stand facing a wall, about 2-3 inches from the surface, and pinch your shoulder blades together. Brace your forearms against the wall and slide them up and in a v shape. You want to go as high as possible, and then bring your hands away from the wall toward yourself while still keeping your shoulder blades depressed (that is, don't shrug). Return to the starting position and repeat 8-10 times. Like the yoga push up, this exercise targets the shoulder and spine again, but it also activates the "serratus anterior muscle," which is a muscle that goes from the ribs at the sides of your chest to meet the scapula (shoulder blades). Do chest passes with a medicine ball. Although some people say you need to have a partner for this exercise, you can use a wall to bounce a medicine ball off of instead. Stand perpendicular to a wall or a partner with one leg pointed to a 90 degree angle and the other in front at a 45 degree angle. Holding a medicine ball level to your pecs, pivot with your hips (moving your feet to go with the motion) to bring your upper body face to face with the wall or your partner. Using the momentum provided by your upper body, throw the ball, and catch it when it bounces or is tossed back to you. After catching the medicine ball, return to your original position and repeat this action 8-10 times. You do not want to stand very far from the wall or your partner; the point is not to throw the ball a great distance but to be able to throw and catch it in quick succession to loosen your body and raise your body's core temperature. Know the difference between a pre-exercise and pre-workout warm up. A general pre-workout warm up includes activities like stretching and cardio or aerobic activities. However, a pre-exercise warm up is just as important for lifting and should be used in combination with your pre-workout warm up. Even if you know you can bench press 200 lbs, it's better for you to gradually increase your weights to 200 lbs instead of doing 200 straight away. Once you get to your real work sets (that is, the actual exercise you want to do) that's when you should start off with your heaviest weight and then reduce. Understand the goals of warm up sets. Because different warm ups have different intentions they must also have different goals to achieve those purposes. In the case of the pre-exercise warm up sets, you want to continue to prepare the target muscles, joints, and nervous system, but now you also need to begin to prepare yourself mentally for actually lifting weights and accomplish all of that without exhausting yourself. This means you should now move to working with weights, ideally the bench press if it's available. Design your warm up sets to avoid fatigue. Starting with smaller weights, work your way up to the actual working weight you have in mind for your exercise. However, as the amount of weight you use goes up, the number of reps you do should go down. An example warm-up sequence might look like this: Begin with 1 very light set with light dumbbells. Do 10-15 reps at this weight. Do 8 reps at 55-60% of your target exercise weight. For example, if your target weight is 100 lbs, you would use 55-60 lbs for this set. Do 5 reps at 70-75% of your target exercise weight. Using the example from before, this would be 70-75 lbs. Do 3 reps at 80-85% of your target exercise weight. Now you'd be at 80-85 lbs. Do just 1 rep using 90-95% of your target exercise weight. Concluding with the example, this would mean 90-95 lbs. If you do not have a pair of dumbbells handy, you can use just the bench press bar by itself for your first warm up set. Rest between sets. Although you might think you can just go from one set to the other in order to get to your main focus, it is important to take a short rest between sets since you are increasing weights. This gives you a chance to breath normally, recover strength before beginning the next part of the sequence, change your weights, and even get a drink of water. Rest 45-60 seconds between every warm up set. Maintain good form. You will want to make sure that while you are doing these exercises that you are maintaining the same good form that you use during your regular bench pressing. That means that when using the bench press your feet should be on the ground and your upper back and butt are both in contact with the bench. Make sure that when you bring the bar down, it is coming down over your chest (pecs) and not your neck or head. Account for your strength level. Someone who is planning to bench press more weight is going to need a longer pre-exercise warm up. The reason for this is that there is simply a greater amount to work up to. So, if you plan to bench press 250 lbs and your friend is only bench pressing 50, you should be doing more sets to work your way up than your friend. Account for your experience level. If you're a beginner to weight lifting, you will not need to do as many reps as someone who is more advanced. That's because beginners are generally weaker than their more advanced counterparts. To compensate for this, you might be able to eliminate sets 4 and 5 from your routine because they will be less important until later on. There is no set period of time or strength level to determine if you are a beginner or advanced weight lifter, and you shouldn't feel pressured to move to something heavier faster. Decide based on the progress that you're making: if you plateau on your beginner routine for a sustained period of time, that is when you should consider moving up to a more advanced routine.

Understand the importance of joint mobility and stability. Understanding active vs passive mobility. Do side-lying windmills. Do arm cross-over stretches. Do double arm behind the back stretches. Compensate your lifting habits accordingly. Understand why you do targeted warm ups. Do yoga push ups. Do forearm wall-slides at a 135 degree angle. Do chest passes with a medicine ball. Know the difference between a pre-exercise and pre-workout warm up. Understand the goals of warm up sets. Design your warm up sets to avoid fatigue. Rest between sets. Maintain good form. Account for your strength level. Account for your experience level.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Apps-from-Auto-Starting-on-Android

How to Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android

If you're fed up with your apps auto-starting on your Android phone, open the phone's setting using the icon that looks like a cog in the app drawer. In the settings menu, scroll down and tap “About”, which will show you more information about your phone. On this screen, look for the “Build number” option. If you don't see it, try finding it under a “Software information” or “More” menu. Once you have the build number, tap it 7 times, or until you get a message that says “You are a developer now” and a Developer Options screen opens. Then, tap “Running services” to bring up a list of apps. From this list, tap the app you don't want to start automatically and hit the “Stop” button.

Open your Android’s Settings. It's the {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/6\/68\/Android7settings.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Android7settings.png\/30px-Android7settings.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an Android icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} icon that's usually in the app drawer. Scroll down and tap About. It's near the bottom of the menu. This option may also be called About this device or About this phone. Locate the “Build number” option. This may appear on the current screen, but if it doesn't, it's hiding in another menu. It may be under Software information or More on some Androids. Tap Build number 7 times. You can stop tapping once you see the message “You are a developer now.” This brings you to the Developer Options screen. If you are brought back to Settings, scroll down and tap Developer options under the “System” header. Tap Running services. A list of apps will appear. Tap the app you don’t want to start automatically. Tap Stop. The selected app will stop and will usually not restart automatically. If this method does not work for you, try another method. Open your Android’s Settings. It's the {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/6\/68\/Android7settings.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Android7settings.png\/30px-Android7settings.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an Android icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} icon that's usually in the app drawer. If you have Marshmallow or later, you might have apps that start randomly due to a lack of battery optimization. This method helps optimize apps so they stop starting automatically. Scroll down and tap Battery. It's under the “Device” header. Tap ⁝. A menu will appear. Tap Battery Optimization. If any apps appear in this list, they may be starting automatically and wasting your battery. If you don't see the app you're looking for, try another method. Tap the app you want to stop opening automatically. A pop-up menu will appear. Select “Optimize” and tap Done. This app should no longer start automatically. Search for startup manager free in the Play Store. This is a free app that allows you to customize which apps start up when you boot your rooted Android. Tap Startup Manager (Free). It's the black icon with a blue clock inside. Tap Install. The app will now install on your phone or tablet. Open Startup Manager and tap Allow. This is to give the app root access. You should now see a list of all apps configured to start automatically. Tap the blue button next to the app you want to disable. The button will turn gray, which means the app will no longer start automatically.

Open your Android’s Settings. Scroll down and tap About. Locate the “Build number” option. Tap Build number 7 times. Tap Running services. Tap the app you don’t want to start automatically. Tap Stop. Open your Android’s Settings. Scroll down and tap Battery. Tap ⁝. Tap Battery Optimization. Tap the app you want to stop opening automatically. Select “Optimize” and tap Done. Search for startup manager free in the Play Store. Tap Startup Manager (Free). Tap Install. Open Startup Manager and tap Allow. Tap the blue button next to the app you want to disable.

https://www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Driving-Record-Online

How to Check Your Driving Record Online

To check your driving record online, first find your state's department of licensing website by searching the name of your state followed by “department of licensing.” Once you're on the homepage, click on the “Driver's Information” tab or enter “driving record” into the site's search function. Then, enter your personal information, like your name, driver's license number, and the last 4 digits of your social security number to find your record. Before accessing your driving record, you'll need to submit a small fee online.

Find your state's department of licensing web page. With the help of any search engine, this page should be easy to find. Just search the name of your state (e.g. "Washington") and "department of licensing." Different states have different names for the institution that handles driver and vehicle licenses. For example, in the state of Washington, it is called the Department of Licensing. In Ohio, this institution is called the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In Pennsylvania, licensing is handled by the Department of Transportation. Consequently, you may need to try a couple of different searches to find the page you are looking for. Check that you have the right site. When you think you've found the right page, make sure it actually belongs to the appropriate state agency. In most cases, it should end in “.gov,” not “.com,” “.org,” “.biz,” or any other designation. A “.gov” website is an official government webpage, so if the page doesn't end in.gov, there is a good chance this page is not actually connect with your state's department of licensing. For a few states, the page will end in.state.xx.us, with the "xx" standing in for an abbreviation of the state. Confirm that the website offers driving records. Each state's department of licensing offers slightly different services. Today, most provide driving records through their website, but others might require you to visit their offices, call them on the phone, or request this information by mail. Florida, for example, does not have an online driving record service. Instead, you must purchase a copy of your record online from a private vendor. Conversely, Alabama requires that you go to a DMV office to get records. Additionally, you typically cannot receive a “certified” copy of your driving record online but instead must go into the DMV office. Find the link. Once on the homepage, you will still need to hunt around a bit to find a link to access your driving records. Every state's page is different, so where this information might be located will vary. For example, the Ohio webpage includes a link on the homepage under "general information" called "Copy of Driving Record (Abstract)" that will take you to a page with information about how to access your records. In Washington, this information is found under the "Drivers" tab but is not immediately apparent from the homepage. Many states' websites have a search function. It is typically located near the top of the page and often in the top right corner. Enter "driving record" or "driver's history" in this search box and press enter. Enter identifying information. Once you've accessed the part of the website where your state offers driver's history services, you'll need to provide some information about yourself. Most commonly, you will be asked for your name, driver's license number, and some or all of the digits of your social security number. Some states will require you to create an account in their system with a username and password. If you think you will need to revisit the page again, pick a username and password that you will remember, or write them down. Pay the fee. Most states require you to a pay a fee to access records through their system. For example, in Washington, the fee is $13. Typically this fee is non-refundable. In some states, the amount of the fee varies depending on what format you want your records in. For example, in Ohio, you can view an "unofficial" record on a website for no charge, have the information mailed to you for a small fee, or request an official, certified copy at a slightly higher cost. Visit the website. DMV.org is a popular website that allows you to access driving records from most states. Go to the driving record page of DMV.org, here. This website is not affiliated with any state's department of licensing, but is instead an independent, privately-owned company. The site's primary advantage is convenience. You can access the information quickly and easily in a clear, understandable format. The drawback is that it typically costs a little more than getting your records directly from the state. The driving record from DMV.org is not an official record, so if you need a certified record, you must go through your state DMV (usually by going directly to a DMV office). Choose your state. Drag your mouse over your state on the map and click on it to select the state in which you live. You can also make your selection via a drop-down menu in the top right corner and a list of states you can click on at the bottom of the page. Not every state's driving records are available through this website. In particular, the northeastern part of the United States is largely excluded. In such cases, DMV.org provides links to those states' official services. Enter your personal information. On the next page, enter your name, address, and driver's license number. If you have not lived at your current address for at least two years, click the appropriate box, and enter your previous address. If you are ever confused or need assistance, then you can click on “Contact DMV.org” toward the bottom of the page. This link will take you to a page where you can ask a question. Review the fees. Make sure the information looks correct and decide whether you want a copy of the report emailed to you. There is an additional fee for this service, which provides your driving history in a format that you can retain with your electronic records. Review the policies. After advancing to the next screen, you will need to review and agree to the privacy policies before your records can be provided. Provide your email address as needed, and advance to the payment screen to finalize your purchase. Learn the law. The Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 outlines the rights of both employers and employees with respect to accessing driving records. Among other aspects, this law forbids any state's Department of Licensing from providing personal identifying information about any driver without their consent. State statutes may govern these practices where you operate your business. It's a good idea to find out before requesting any records. This information should be available from the website of your state's government. Get consent. Getting consent will shield you from potential legal liability if an employee ever tries to sue you for violating their privacy. Documentation may be required to actually obtain the records, and written consent is a stronger legal safeguard than oral consent. An easy way to do this is to simply specify on the application that allowing you to check potential employees' driving records is a condition of employment. You can also use a driving record release form. The form should include information like the following: “I understand that driving a company vehicle (or my own vehicle) is required for this position. Furthermore, I acknowledge that having and maintaining a satisfactory driving record is a condition of employment and will remain one. Therefore, I agree to allow [insert company name] to check my driving record, both before making a hiring decision and periodically thereafter. I understand the company will use this information for employment purposes and will not furnish the information to third parties without my prior written consent. Furthermore, I agree to release [insert company name] and its employees and agents from any liability for damage which may result from furnishing the requested information.” Then include a signature block for the employee to print name and date of birth, driver's license number, and signature and date. Collect employees' personal information. Just as is the case for viewing your own driving records, you'll need to know your employees' full name, driver's license number, and possibly a variety of other information including their social security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, etc. Again, using the job application to collect this information is an efficient way to make sure you have all the information you need. Request employees' records. You can request employees' driving records through your state, as described in Method 1, above. However, this may be a slow process, especially if you need a large number of records. If time is an issue, you may wish to use a private company to obtain the records you need. DMV.org suggests using drivingrecords.com to check employees' records, but there are many other services available, too. For example, http://www.drivingrecord.net/ specializes in driving record services for businesses. If you are running a business that conducts 7 or fewer driving record checks per month, this site will allow you same-day access to the information you need for employment screening purposes. Yet another site that allows you to check both your own records and those of your employees is http://www.4safedrivers.com/. This site also provides information about additional documents required by some states to access the records of others. That information is available here.

Find your state's department of licensing web page. Check that you have the right site. Confirm that the website offers driving records. Find the link. Enter identifying information. Pay the fee. Visit the website. Choose your state. Enter your personal information. Review the fees. Review the policies. Learn the law. Get consent. Collect employees' personal information. Request employees' records.

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Epilogue

How to Write an Epilogue

To write an epilogue, start with a clear purpose in mind and focus on key information so that your epilogue feels intentional and full of meaning. For example, you could discuss the results or consequences of the story's climax. Use the same language and style as the main text so the epilogue doesn't seem out of place and try to keep the text concise. It can help to read it aloud to yourself so you can listen to how the words sound on the page!

Determine the purpose of your epilogue. You should start the epilogue with a clear purpose in mind, as this will ensure that the epilogue feels intentional and full of meaning. Decide what the main purpose for your epilogue will be, and write with that purpose in mind. Ask yourself what you want to explore in the epilogue. What has been left out of the main text that you still want to write about? You may write an epilogue to provide the reader with some closure, to wrap up loose ends, or to give the reader a glimpse of the future for the characters and the setting. Some writers also use an epilogue to expand on a major event that they did not get to explore in the climax of the novel. For example, you may decide the purpose of your epilogue is to wrap up loose ends about the fate of the main character. You may then focus on where the character ends up ten years or twenty years after the main story ends. Identify the key event or events in your epilogue. You should also decide what the key event or events are going to be in the epilogue. Outline the key events so you can get started on the epilogue and compose a draft of it. You may create a short plot outline for the epilogue or determine which events you are going to discuss based on the characters you are going to mention in the epilogue. For example, you may decide you are going to write an epilogue that flashes forward twenty years to tell the reader what happens to certain characters. You may list these characters and then write several sentences about specific moments that occur in the future. These moments could comprise the whole epilogue. Read examples of epilogues. You can read epilogues in published works to get a better sense of what works and what doesn't. You may read an epilogue for a play or a novel. You may read: The epilogue in Animal Farm by George Orwell The epilogue in Atonement by Ian McEwan The epilogue in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Discuss the results or consequences of the climax. In the epilogue, you may decide to focus on the results or consequences of the high point of the story, known as the climax. Writers will often take this approach if the ending of the story is the climax and the reader is left wondering what happens as a result of a major conflict or dramatic moment. You may opt for an epilogue that gives the reader a resolution to the climax so they are left satisfied at the very end of the book. For example, you may have a book that ends with the death of a character. Rather than leave the reader hanging, you may decide to include an epilogue that explores how the death of the character impacted the other characters in the novel. Provide key information that is not in the main text. You may write an epilogue that provides information for the reader that was not included in the story as a way to give the reader more. You may focus on information that was withheld in the main text and explore it in the epilogue. For example, in the epilogue you may discuss what happens to a character who falls ill or a character who is pregnant. Try to include information about major characters in the story, as you want the epilogue to feel important and necessary to the reader. Take the reader into the future. You may use the epilogue to do some time travel and let the reader know what happens to the characters and/or the setting of the novel in a future time. You may explore where certain characters end up in the future as well as how their relationships shift or change. You may also discuss how the setting of the novel evolves as time goes on. If you decide to jump forward in time, you should try to make the characters' stories feel realistic. Putting in details that do not seem to mesh with the main text may confuse your readers and undermine the rest of the story. Aim to keep the flash-forward details about the characters realistic and nuanced. For example, you may jump forward in time and explore the dissolution of the marriage of two characters. You may note that one character is now dating another character featured in the story. Set up a sequel in the epilogue. Some writers will use an epilogue to set up a sequel. This may be useful if you plan to write a series of books with the same characters or at least one more book in the same world in the future. You may create an epilogue that acts as a kind of preview of what will come in the sequel. Or you may end the epilogue on a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting more, preferably in the form of a sequel. For example, you may end the epilogue by having two characters get together and have a child. You may then indicate that the child has special abilities or is in grave danger, an issue to be resolved in a sequel. Keep the epilogue concise. Though you may be tempted to write on and on, try to keep the epilogue brief. Typically epilogues are the equivalent of a short chapter, running around five to ten pages or less. Avoid an overly long epilogue that tries to cover a lot of information. Leave the reader with just enough to feel satisfied. You may read over the epilogue once you have a draft of it and consider if there are any sections you can revise or cut down. You may find that you are being redundant or that there are details that can be removed. Read the epilogue out loud. Once you have completed a draft of the epilogue, you should read it aloud to yourself and listen to how the words sound on the page. Make sure the epilogue uses the same language and style as the main text so it does not seem out of place. Check that the details in the epilogue are clear and engaging for the reader. You may also show the epilogue to a sympathetic reader for a second opinion. Ask them if they feel the epilogue adds to the main text and is compelling. Get feedback on the epilogue from a friend or colleague whose opinion you trust. Show him or her a draft of the epilogue. Ask them to provide feedback on your work and suggest how you can improve it or make it stronger. You might show the draft to several friends or colleagues. Make sure the epilogue fits the tone of the rest of the book. Typically the epilogue complements the tone and mood you have already established, especially if you end the main text on a high note or a climax. Adopt a similar tone in the epilogue so it flows well and leaves the reader satisfied. An alternative is to adopt a different tone than that of the main text so the reader knows they are reading extra information or content that may complicate their initial reaction to the ending of the main story. You might do this if you want the epilogue to leave the reader wondering or unsettled.

Determine the purpose of your epilogue. Identify the key event or events in your epilogue. Read examples of epilogues. Discuss the results or consequences of the climax. Provide key information that is not in the main text. Take the reader into the future. Set up a sequel in the epilogue. Keep the epilogue concise. Read the epilogue out loud. Get feedback on the epilogue from a friend or colleague whose opinion you trust. Make sure the epilogue fits the tone of the rest of the book.

https://www.wikihow.com/Respond-to-Ghosting

How to Respond to Ghosting

Being ghosted by a friend or romantic interest can be hurtful, but by giving yourself time to grieve and working on moving forward, you can respond positively. First, take time to cry or listen to sad music, since you have a right to feel upset about what's happened. However, don't blame yourself for the situation, because people are sometimes just incompatible with each other. Instead of beating yourself up over what you could have done differently, focus on the positive side of what's happened. For example, you might tell yourself that it's better to be ghosted by someone after a few dates than to waste several months on them. Try to find a close friend to talk to about the situation, which will help you manage your feelings.

Stay calm. It's hard to keep your cool when your texts and phone calls suddenly go unanswered. However, you should take a deep breath and relax before launching a tirade of frantic texts or sending a 10-paragraph angry email. Not knowing why they won't respond is maddening, but it's better to cool off before saying something you'll regret or jumping to conclusions. Address the issue if you have an existing relationship. If you feel the need to initiate contact, stay rational. Send them a message or voicemail and say, “I haven't heard from you lately, and I hope I didn't do anything to offend you. If you want to try to resolve any issues, I'd be happy to talk. Otherwise, I wish you all the best.” Many people find ghosting acceptable in some circumstances. For example, if a match on a dating app starts ignoring your messages, your best bet is to brush it off and forget about it. Confirm that the person is intentionally ghosting you. If you just met the person or went on 1 or 2 casual dates, checking up on them probably isn't worth your time. However, if you've been friends or romantically involved for months or years, they might just have a lot on their plate. Before jumping to conclusions, see if they've simply been busy, and make sure that they're in good physical and mental health. You could check their social media profile and see if they're posting pictures or statuses. Keep in mind you shouldn't obsess over their posts for hours. Just do a quick check. If you both have a mutual friend, you could ask them if the person who's ignoring you is okay. If you think the person might be depressed or going through an emotional struggle, you could write them a message and say, “I haven't heard from you in a while, and I hope you're okay. I know you're going through a tough time, and I'm here for you.” Accept the truth instead of getting trapped in denial. If it's clear that the person is intentionally ignoring you, it might be best to cut your losses. If they post fun pictures on social media and your mutual friends say that they're doing well, the ball's in their court. There's not much more you can do beyond telling them you're willing to discuss any issues and wishing them well. As much as it hurts, do your best to stop making excuses for them or holding out hope that they'll eventually respond. If they do try to contact you in the future, use your best judgment. If they apologize and explain that they had a lot going on, they might not have had bad intentions. Give yourself permission to grieve. Whether a friend or romantic interest cut ties with you, it's tough to get over being ghosted. You have a right to be upset, so don't try to hide your grief. Allow yourself to cry, listen to sad music, or spend a day wallowing on the sofa. Even if you just went on 1 date, it's still okay to grieve. Getting rejected is tough under any circumstances, and bottling up your feelings won't do you any good. Try not to take it personally. Most romantic relationships come to an end at some point, and sometimes people just aren't suited to each other. Instead of thinking, “There's something wrong with me,” remind yourself that, sometimes, people are just incompatible. Don't beat yourself up just because it didn't work out with someone. Focus on the fact that you dodged a bullet. It's better to be ghosted after 1 or 2 dates than to waste weeks or months with someone that's not right for you. If a long-term friend or partner starts intentionally ignoring you for no reason, it might be a good thing that they're out of your life. Vent to a friend or family member. Talking to a trusted loved one can help you blow off steam and sort out your feelings. A close friend or relative can lift your spirits, and spending time with them can help take your mind off things. Call a loved one and say, “All of a sudden, Sam isn't returning my calls or texts. I thought it was going well, but I've definitely been ghosted. Can we meet up for a coffee? I'm pretty bummed, and I could use a friend right now.” Maintain your mental and physical health. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising can all help you push through your grief. Additionally, setting aside time to do activities you most enjoy can help boost your self-confidence. Avoid skipping meals or loading up on sweets. Eat nutritious foods, such as fruits and veggies, healthy proteins (such as poultry or fish), whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Do your best to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Outdoor exercise can be especially helpful, so go for brisk walks, jogs, or bike rides. Go on dates and meet new people. Don't let this experience get in the way of forming relationships in the future. Dating might seem daunting, and you might be afraid of being ghosted again. Take a deep breath, face your fears, and allow yourself to be vulnerable. Try taking a class or joining a club related to one of your interests. You could join a gardening club, sign up for an informal sports league, or take a cooking class. Remind yourself that life is full of both joy and pain. You'll face obstacles in the future, but refusing to put yourself out there is no way to live. Look for ways to grow, but don’t blame yourself. Don't kick yourself while you're down, but think about how you can learn from being ghosted. There's no way to guarantee that you won't find yourself in a similar situation, but you might find ways to be more selective of friends or dates in the future. Remember to stay positive instead of finding ways to blame yourself. Practice constructive self-criticism, such as, “I put more effort into making plans than they did, and should avoid similar situations in the future.” Ask yourself if there were any red flags that you ignored. Think about your interactions with the person, and try to remember any signs that they weren't that into the relationship. Did you get into a fight, or did they seem to gradually lose interest in talking? Were you always the one who called or asked to make plans? Again, don't get down on yourself as you think about warning signs that went unnoticed. The point is to identify red flags to look for in future relationships. View rejection as a blessing in disguise. It never feels good to be rejected, but try to see the bigger picture. Experiencing heartbreak can help you cope with grief in the future. As much as it hurts now, you'll feel better soon. The next time you're in a tough situation, think back to this, and remind yourself that things will get better. Remember your grief when you break up with people in the future. Having been ghosted yourself, you'll know that it's not the best way to end a relationship. When you have to break up with someone or end a friendship, try to be kind, but get straight to the point. For example, you might say, “I've enjoyed the time we've had together, and this is tough for me to say. I don't think it's going to work out in the long run. I hope you understand, and I wish you all the best.”

Stay calm. Address the issue if you have an existing relationship. Confirm that the person is intentionally ghosting you. Accept the truth instead of getting trapped in denial. Give yourself permission to grieve. Try not to take it personally. Vent to a friend or family member. Maintain your mental and physical health. Go on dates and meet new people. Look for ways to grow, but don’t blame yourself. Ask yourself if there were any red flags that you ignored. View rejection as a blessing in disguise. Remember your grief when you break up with people in the future.

https://www.wikihow.com/Compliment-Your-Boyfriend

How to Compliment Your Boyfriend

Complimenting your boyfriend on his looks, personality, and skills is a great way to show your love and appreciation. Guys can get insecure about their physical appearance sometimes and a compliment can go a long way. If your boyfriend's been working out more lately, say something like, “Your body looks so good. Your hard work's really paying off.” Or, even something simple like, “I love your hair today” can make him feel more confident. When you notice something you like about his personality, let him know. For example, if a stranger drops something and he picks it up for them, say “That was really nice of you. I love how kind you are.” You can also compliment his skills and talents to make him feel special.

Compliment his face. Your boyfriend's face is an important part of what makes him who he is. By complimenting his eyes, smile, or overall handsomeness, you can let him know how attractive you find him. For the most effective compliment, try to focus on something unique about his appearance. You could say, “I love the freckle next to your smile,” or “Your eyes are the most incredible shade of green.” Keep in mind that some men are uncomfortable with compliments, so it is a good idea to pay attention to his response. If he ignores the compliment or makes an odd face, then this may mean that he dislikes being complimented. Compliment his body. Pay your boyfriend a compliment on his body to stroke his ego. You can compliment him on his shoulders, abs, arms, or whatever body part you like best to show him how attractive you find him. Your boyfriend doesn't have to be a body builder for you to compliment his body. You could say, “Your shoulders look so strong today,” or “Wow. Your abs look amazing.” If your boyfriend is less fit, you might say, “I love how soft your hands feel when you rub my shoulders.” Appreciate his level of fitness. Many men work hard to chisel their bodies at the gym. Pay your boyfriend compliments on his fitness progress to let him know you appreciate his strength and health. You could say, “Your body looks amazing. Those suicide sprints are really paying off,” or “You looked really strong climbing that rock wall.” If your boyfriend has lost a lot of weight through a fitness regimen, don't be afraid to appreciate his progress. You could say, “Wow, that shirt fits you so well. I can really see your hard work.” Praise his personal style. Whether your boyfriend prefers skinny jeans or flannel (or both!), he probably puts a lot of effort into the way he looks. You can show him how attracted you are to his look by complimenting him on pieces of his wardrobe. You can also show appreciation for the way he styles his clothes. You could say, “That jacket looks amazing with those pants. Are you an off-duty model?” or “The color of that scarf really brings out your eyes. It looks great on you.” Appreciate the way he styles his hair. Some men spend a lot of time styling their hair and facial hair. If this is something you like about your boyfriend, you can let him know by paying him a compliment. You can compliment a new hair cut, part, or color to let him know you notice the little details about him. You could say, “I really like your new beard. It's hot!” or “Your new buzz cut is sexy. It makes you look like Brad Pitt.” Let him know he turns you on. Whatever physical attributes of your boyfriend's attract you, many guys just want to know they turn you on. Enhance your compliments on your boyfriend's physical appearance by telling him how sexy you find him. Be sure that compliments about him turning you on are sincere, or they may come off as awkward and forced. You could say, “Your eyes are so gorgeous. I want you to kiss me right now,” or “Your smile is such a turn on.” Tell him how he makes you feel. Your boyfriend has chosen you to be his girlfriend because he likes you. By telling him how you feel about him, you can strengthen your bond and make him feel loved. You can focus on how he communicates with you, how he takes care of you, or simply let him know that you believe in him. You could say, “I feel so safe with you. Thanks for loving me,” or “I love how we can communicate about difficult subjects. I love you and trust you completely.” Admire his talents. Whether your boyfriend's gifts are musical or culinary, compliment him on his skills to make him feel great. Think about his hobbies and passions to get ideas for your compliment. If he's used his talents to do something kind for you, that's a great opportunity to show your appreciation. You could say, “That song you played for me was beautiful. You are an incredible songwriter,” or “That birthday cake you made was the most delicious one I've ever had. Can you teach me to bake like that?” Compliment his way with others. By praising your boyfriend's way with others, you can let him know how sweet and generous you think he is. Whether the people he's great with are his family, coworkers, or friends, your attention lets him know you care about his life. It may also encourage kindness and sensitivity in your own relationship. You could say, “I know you didn't really want to drive your brother to the movies, but that was really nice of you. I love how kind you are,” or “It was really thoughtful of you to send your coworker a sympathy card when her mom died.” Appreciate his friends. Lots of guys feel like their friends are an extension of themselves. By appreciating his friends, you can let him know how much you appreciate all of him. This shows him that those who are important to him are important to you. You could say, “Your buddy Mike is so funny. I can see why you are friends with him,” or “It's so nice to meet your friends. Thanks for sharing that part of your life with me.” Acknowledge his efforts. Even when your boyfriend comes up short on an assignment or promotion, it can be nice to let him know you appreciate his efforts. Compliment how long he spent working or an area he excelled in even when things didn't work out. You could say, “I know you got passed over for the promotion, but your quarterly presentation was really brilliant,” or “I know you're disappointed you got a B on your project, but I thought your paper was amazing.” Compliment his sense of humor. Your boyfriend probably loves to make you laugh. By letting him know you find him funny, you'll boost his confidence and make him feel great. You can compliment a specific joke, an impression, or simply his comedic timing. You could say, “That joke about the spider was so funny while we were camping. I love how you make me laugh,” or “Your Robin Williams impression is spot on! You're so talented.” Be as specific as possible for the most impactful compliment. Try to use as much detail as you can when you compliment your boyfriend. Specificity will make your compliments feel more personal and specific to him rather than something that you could say to anyone. Telling your boyfriend he has nice eyes is fine, but it is not as special as telling him his beautiful blue eyes remind you of the lake you grew up on. Strive to make your compliment original. Some compliments, such as “You have a nice smile,” are very common. This doesn't mean they can't be true of your boyfriend, but the best compliments are usually ones the person you're complimenting hasn't heard before. An original twist makes the compliment seem more unique and special. Rather than, “You have a nice smile,” you might say, “I love the dimple on your right cheek when you smile.” Be sincere. Paying a compliment you don't mean can immediately come off as false and insincere. If you don't want to pay your boyfriend a compliment about something, it is best not to. A fake compliment just doesn't sound quite right to the listener. On the other hand, if you mean what you're saying, your boyfriend will appreciate the sentiment, even if you're nervous and the words don't come out right. Try not to get hung up on complimenting your boyfriend with just the right words. The sentiment of what you're saying matters most. Keep in mind that you are better off giving a general compliment than no compliment at all. This at least shows that you are looking for the right words. Avoid putting down others with your compliment. Complimenting your boyfriend by putting down someone else, especially if he cares about them, can backfire. It can also cause jealousy to compare your boyfriend, even favorably, to ex-boyfriends or other guys you have dated before. Try not to compare your boyfriend to others with your compliment. Complimenting him should be about him and make him feel good. Remember to keep compliments between yourself and your boyfriend and to make them unique to who he is. Find the right moment to deliver your compliment. Your boyfriend will best be able to appreciate your compliment when he has a moment to talk with you. Avoid delivering a compliment in the middle of a stressful project or a moment when your boyfriend needs to concentrate. A quiet time at home or in your car is an opportunity for your boyfriend to appreciate what you're saying to him. Smile as you say the compliment. Smiling lets your boyfriend know that you mean what you're saying. It also conveys warmth. Especially if you're a little nervous about delivering a compliment, a happy smile can help you feel at ease, too. Make eye contact. Look at your boyfriend as you deliver the compliment so he knows he has your full attention. This will make your boyfriend feel valued and appreciated. It also helps strengthen the connection and bond between you two. Avoid complimenting him too much, which can cheapen the gesture. If you do anything too frequently, it can lose its meaning. Try to compliment your boyfriend when the mood strikes and only when you really mean it. This will keep your compliments genuine and significant. Add physical affection to drive home the message. Kissing, touching, and hugging are all great ways of showing affection. Pairing some physical touch with your compliment lets your boyfriend know that your praise and love for him is sincere. Even a casual touch on the arm can make a passing compliment more meaningful and significant.

Compliment his face. Compliment his body. Appreciate his level of fitness. Praise his personal style. Appreciate the way he styles his hair. Let him know he turns you on. Tell him how he makes you feel. Admire his talents. Compliment his way with others. Appreciate his friends. Acknowledge his efforts. Compliment his sense of humor. Be as specific as possible for the most impactful compliment. Strive to make your compliment original. Be sincere. Avoid putting down others with your compliment. Find the right moment to deliver your compliment. Smile as you say the compliment. Make eye contact. Avoid complimenting him too much, which can cheapen the gesture. Add physical affection to drive home the message.

https://www.wikihow.com/Wear-a-Mini-Skirt

How to Wear a Mini Skirt

If you want to wear a mini skirt, pair it with a black top and black heels if the skirt has a busy pattern. Alternatively, you could try a casual look by combining your mini with a graphic t-shirt and skater shoes. You can also add contrast to your outfit by wearing a long-sleeved shirt or an oversized jacket with your mini skirt. When you're ready to choose footwear, go for a pair of flats if you want to accentuate your legs. Once your outfit is ready, accessorize it with a small handbag.

Wear a skater mini for versatility. Skater skirts, also known as circle skirts, flare out away from the body in a flattering, girly way. They're usually worn around the waist, which makes them shorter, but also versatile. You can wear skater mini skirts all year around, and when styled correctly, you can wear them to work, date night, and weekend festivities. Show off your shape with a bodycon skirt. If you go to a nightclub or bar, you'll likely see many wearing this style. Bodycon mini skirts are very form-fitting and are often made of a thin fabric. Go for this mini when you're wanting to embrace a sexy style. Wear a denim mini skirt for everyday style. Denim minis are really easy to pair with clothing and accessories. When wearing this material, be sure to pick a top based on the fit of the skirt. If you have a looser, distressed denim mini, stick with a soft, comfy shirt. If you have a tighter, form-fitting skirt, go for a fitted shirt. Wear a layered mini to achieve sophistication. Mini skirts with layers have soft folds that give off an elegant vibe. These minis are perfect for work or for brunch at a fancy restaurant with your girlfriends. Try a tasseled material in the summertime. Tassels can make an otherwise normal mini feel uniquely western. Stand out in this style when the weather is warm. Choose an embellished mini for a night out. A mini skirt made of sequins or embellished with a metallic pattern is perfect for going out. Tone the look down during the day with a simple shirt or vamp it up at night with some glamorous jewelry. Go quirky with a ruffled asymmetric skirt. If you're wanting to stand out, pick a skirt with some ruffles that has an interesting cut. An outfit with a fun piece like this can be trendy, feminine, and quirky all at the same time. Create a sleek look with a bodysuit. When wearing mini skirts, tucked in shirts can get bunched up underneath. Wear a bodysuit underneath your mini so that you don't have to worry about keeping your shirt neatly tucked in. Bodysuits also give your upper body a fitted, sleek silhouette. Pair bold colors and patterns with solid neutrals. When you've picked a mini that has a busy pattern or vibrant colors, it's best to go simple elsewhere so that your look isn't overwhelming. Try wearing a solid black top and black heels with a fun, bold skirt. Go casual with a graphic T and some skater sneakers. While skirts are easy to dress up, they can also be dressed down. If you're wanting to give off a more relaxed vibe, pair your tight mini skirt with a band t-shirt and some Chuck Taylors or Vans. Add in some menswear-inspired pieces to create contrast. Mini skirts can look very feminine on their own, so complete your outfit with some less feminine clothing if your style isn't ultra-girly. Try wearing a blazer and brown loafers with your mini. Elongate your legs with flats. Contrary to popular belief, flats will actually elongate your legs more than stilettos will. Accesorize your mini with a pair of ballerina flats instead of reaching for your heels. Add a feminine touch with nude pumps. If you want to wear heels with your skirt, try a pair of nude pointy-toe pumps. These will add femininity to the outfit in a classy way. Carry a small handbag. Stylistically, a mini hand bag fits best with a mini skirt. Stay away from bags with long handles and/or cross-body purses. These may pull your skirt up and reveal your underwear. Wear tights with your mini during winter. Stay stylish and warm during the colder months by throwing on a pair of tights underneath your favorite mini. This can be a good way of showing off your legs without showing too much skin. Cover your arms with a long-sleeve shirt. If you're going without tights and the weather isn't too warm, a long-sleeved top can complement your skirt very well. A cute long sleeve shirt with a higher neckline will keep you from feeling too exposed. Balance a mini and crop top with an oversized jacket. A crop top and a tight mini can make for a really attractive outfit, but may feel a little revealing if you're wearing it somewhere other than a late night party. Put on a stylish bulky leather jacket or wool coat over your outfit so that you can create a desirable contrast. Wear a sheer overlay. Much like tights, sheer overlays create the illusion of covering up. This is a great alternative to tights when you want to wear a mini conservatively but it's hot outside. Try throwing a flowy see-through lace dress over a black mini and black camisole.

Wear a skater mini for versatility. Show off your shape with a bodycon skirt. Wear a denim mini skirt for everyday style. Wear a layered mini to achieve sophistication. Try a tasseled material in the summertime. Choose an embellished mini for a night out. Go quirky with a ruffled asymmetric skirt. Create a sleek look with a bodysuit. Pair bold colors and patterns with solid neutrals. Go casual with a graphic T and some skater sneakers. Add in some menswear-inspired pieces to create contrast. Elongate your legs with flats. Add a feminine touch with nude pumps. Carry a small handbag. Wear tights with your mini during winter. Cover your arms with a long-sleeve shirt. Balance a mini and crop top with an oversized jacket. Wear a sheer overlay.

https://www.wikihow.com/Live-with-a-Narcissist

How to Live with a Narcissist

If you have a narcissist in your life, learn to set firm boundaries and try to make your interactions with them as pleasant as possible. To set boundaries, clearly tell them when they've crossed the line by saying something like “I can see that you're angry, but I won't tolerate insults. If you keep insulting me, I'll leave.” When interacting with a narcissist, frame things in ways that compliment them. For instance, if you want them to help you, try saying “It would be great if you could serve food at the charity dinner. I know volunteering will look good on your resume.”

Identify your boundaries. If you want to live with them, you can't realistically micromanage everything the narcissist does or says. You also can't just let them treat you however they please. So, where's your middle ground? Figure out what narcissistic behavior you can't tolerate. For example, you may be able to tolerate them dominating conversations, but you are not able to accept when they insult you. Narcissists are infamous for walking over people and abusing their goodwill, so you need to know your limits. Make a list of the things your narcissist does that cross the line. Once you've identified your boundaries, make a list of the situations in which the narcissist tends to violate them. By writing this out, you will know which contexts you need to be wary of. For instance, the narcissist may be more likely to manipulate you in front of a group. Noticing this pattern can help you learn which scenarios to be on guard against. It also helps you figure out how to phrase your boundaries. Voice your boundaries with confidence. Now that you know what you can not tolerate, communicate those boundaries when the offensive behavior happens. You might say, “I can see that you're angry, but I will not tolerate insults. If you continue to insult me, I will leave.” State your boundaries with confidence, lifting your chin, making eye contact, and keeping your voice strong and steady. That way, the narcissist knows you're serious. Enforce consequences as needed. Narcissists will cross every line you make, so it's important that you actually follow through with consequences. If you've said you'll end the conversation, disengage. If you've threatened to leave, do so. Setting consequences doesn't have to be the end of the relationship, you can tell the narcissist “I'll be happy to continue talking when you are able to communicate without insults.” Keep in mind that enforcing consequences may not cause the narcissist to change their behavior. Expect pushback, but stand firm. More than likely, the narcissist will still test your boundaries, no matter how strongly you set them. Stand firm despite any pushback. For example, the narcissist may insult you anyway just to see if you will actually do anything about it. If this happens, you must enforce the consequences to show them you mean what you say. If you waiver on setting boundaries, the narcissist won't respect you. Know how to identify a narcissist. True narcissists think highly of themselves, but they are also entitled. They believe they deserve attention and admiration and may not care who they hurt to get it. They cannot tolerate criticism, but may regularly belittle or demean others to make themselves look better, Being a little self-obsessed or high in confidence is common, but these traits are different from full-blown narcissism. Pay attention to who they spend their time with. Narcissists tend to be in relationships with people who won't speak up and stand up for themselves. Don't expect an apology. The bottom line about the narcissist is they care only about themselves. No offense, but they're not really concerned about you. If they've offended you, nurse your wounds elsewhere— they won't be apologizing. For example, if the narcissist in your life lied to you about something, they probably won't own up to the behavior. They are more likely to recall saying things differently or blame you in some way. You'll save yourself trouble by not expecting the narcissist to accept blame for any wrongdoing. Dust off your negotiation skills. The narcissist doesn't have to always get their way. Identify where your power lies with the narcissist and use it in negotiations. For example, if your narcissistic brother wants money in exchange for yard work, be sure the work gets done in advance before the cash changes hands. Otherwise, the narcissist is unlikely to follow through with their end of the bargain. Make what you want seem like what they want. Narcissists concentrate almost entirely on advancing themselves. So, if you want the narcissist to do something for you, it's best to frame it in terms of what's in it for them. For instance, say, “Hey, Sally, it'd be great if you could help out with the charity dinner. I know volunteer hours will look good on your resume.” Use “we" language. Get on the same team with the narcissist in your life by changing the way you speak. Rather than saying “you” or “me,” say “we" to bring about a feeling of cooperation. For example, instead of "I need to figure out a solution," say "We need to figure out a solution, Dave." Making this small change to your language will improve interactions with the narcissist by making it seem like you are on the same side. See bad behavior as being about them, not you. At the core of the narcissistic personality is a deep need to feel worthy. Recognize that when your narcissistic loved one acts out, it's not about you. These behaviors are driven by their innate insecurities. Try not to take them personally. For example, if your narcissistic partner cheats, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. They likely saw an opportunity and took it without considering the consequences. It wasn't done specifically to hurt you. If you must, try repeating something to yourself like, “Narcissism is about them, not me.” Confide in empathetic people who can offer their support. Being around a narcissist can really drain you of energy, so be sure to spend time with positive people who are able to pour love and attention back into you. Spend time with people who have empathy and are able to focus on you and your needs. When you need someone to talk to, reach out to loved ones and share what's going on. Talk to people who are willing to listen to your side of things and give support as needed. Try to carve out time for supportive people weekly, so that you can get the attention and nurturing that the narcissist does not give. Acknowledge your best traits when you need a self-esteem boost. The narcissist's extreme self-esteem can be a blow to your own confidence. Counter any dips to your self-esteem by identifying your strengths. Make a list of all your best character traits. Read the list aloud whenever you need an extra lift to your confidence. Make your list even more empowering by reading each trait after saying, “I am.” For example, you might say, “I am kind" or “I am a great listener.” Set aside time for self-care to manage stress. Life with a narcissist often means pouring time, affection, and resources into them nearly 24/7. However, to continue the relationship, you'll have to pour some back into you. Build a self-care routine that helps refill your cup. Visit the spa or try self-massage. Go to lunch with friends. Journal your feelings, listen to music, or take a warm bath. Talk to a counselor or join a support group. If you need extra support to live with a narcissist, consider talking to others who understand your experience. Attend a local support group for people with loved ones with narcissistic personality or consult with a therapist who has experience with narcissism. Contact a local mental health clinic to find support groups or counselors in your community. Work with your counselor and support group and ask yourself if it's worth living with the person or whether you may need to leave them.

Identify your boundaries. Make a list of the things your narcissist does that cross the line. Voice your boundaries with confidence. Enforce consequences as needed. Expect pushback, but stand firm. Know how to identify a narcissist. Don't expect an apology. Dust off your negotiation skills. Make what you want seem like what they want. Use “we" language. See bad behavior as being about them, not you. Confide in empathetic people who can offer their support. Acknowledge your best traits when you need a self-esteem boost. Set aside time for self-care to manage stress. Talk to a counselor or join a support group.

https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Fractions

How to Reduce Fractions

To reduce fractions, start by listing the factors of the numerator and denominator, which are numbers that multiply together to make another number. For example, the factors of 12 would be: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Then, find the greatest common factor between the numerator or denominator, which is the largest number that's in both lists of factors. Once you've found the greatest common factor, just divide the numerator and denominator by that number to reduce the fraction to its lowest terms!

List the factors of the numerator and denominator. Factors are numbers that you multiply together to get another number. For example, 3 and 4 are both factors of 12, because you can multiply them together to get 12. To list the factors of a number, you simply have to list all of the numbers that can be multiplied to get that number, and which therefore can be evenly divided into that number. List the factors of that number from smallest to largest, not forgetting to include 1 or that number. For example, this is how you would list the factors of the numerator and denominator of the fraction, 24/32: 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24. 32: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32. Find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numerator and denominator. The GCF is the highest number that divides evenly into two or more numbers. Once you've listed all of the factors of that number, all you have to do is find the largest number that is repeated in both lists. 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 , 12, 24. 32: 1, 2, 4, 8 , 16, 32. The GCF of 24 and 32 is 8, because 8 is the largest number that evenly divides into both 24 and 32. Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Now that you've found your GCF, all you have to do is to divide the numerator and denominator by that number to reduce your fraction to its lowest terms. Here's how to do it: 24/8 = 3 32/8 = 4 The simplified fraction is 3/4. Check your work. If you'd like to make sure that you've simplified the fraction correctly, you can simply multiply the new numerator and new denominator by the GCF to make sure that you can return to the original fraction. Here's how to do it: 3 * 8 = 24 4 * 8 = 32 You have returned to the original fraction, 24/32. You can also examine the fraction to make sure that it cannot be reduced any more. Since 3 is a prime number, it can only be divisible by 1 and itself, and four is not divisible by 3, so the fraction cannot be reduced further. Pick a small number. Using this method, you simply have to choose a small number, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7, to get started. Look at the fractions to make sure that each one is divisible by the number you choose at least once. For example, if you're looking at the fraction 24/108, don't pick the number 5, because it won't go into either number. However, if you're looking at the fraction 25/60, 5 will be a great number to use. For the fraction 24/32, the number 2 works well. Since both numbers are even, they will be divisible by 2. Divide the numerator and denominator of a fraction by that number. The new fraction will be comprised of the new numerator and denominator you get after dividing the top and bottom of the fraction 24/32 by 2. Here's how to do it: 24/2 = 12 32/2 = 16 Your new fraction is 12/16. Repeat. Continue this process. Since both numbers are still even, you can keep dividing them by 2. If just one or both of your new numerators and denominators are odd, then you can try to divide them by a new number. Here's how the process will work if you're sticking with the fraction 12/16: 12/2 = 6 16/2 = 8 Your new fraction is 6/8. Keep dividing by that number until you can't go any further. Both the new numerator and the new denominator are still even, so you can keep dividing them by 2. Here's how to do it: 6/2 = 3 8/2 = 4 Your new fraction is 3/4. Make sure the fraction cannot be reduced further. In the fraction 3/4, 3 is a prime number, so its only factors are 1 and itself, and 4 is not divisible by three, so the fraction has been simplified as much as possible. If the numerator or denominator of the fraction can no longer be divisible by the number you've chosen, you may still be able to divide it by using a new number. For example, if you have the fraction 10/40, and are dividing the numerator and denominator by 5, you will be left with 2/8. You cannot keep dividing the numerator and denominator by 5, but you can divide both by 2 to get the final answer of 1/4. Check your work. Work backwards to multiply 3/4 by 2/2 three times, to make sure that you get the original answer of 24/32. Here's how you do it: 3/4 * 2/2 = 6/8 6/8 * 2/2 = 12/16 12/16 * 2/2 = 24/32. Note that you've divided 24/32 by 2 * 2 * 2, which is the same as dividing it by 8, the greatest common factor (GCF) of 24 and 32. Write out your fraction. Leave a large space to the right hand side of your paper -- you'll need it to write out the factors. List the factors of the numerator and the denominator. Keep them in separate lists. It may be easiest if the lists line up on top of each other. Start with 1 and work your way up, listing them in pairs. For example, if your fraction is 24/60, start off with 24. You'd write: 24 -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 Then, move onto 60. You'd write: 60 -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60 Find and divide by the greatest common factor. This may be referred to as the GCF in your textbook. What's the biggest number that goes into both the numerator and the denominator? Whatever it is, divide both numbers by that. For our example, the biggest number that is a factor of both numbers is 12. Therefore, we divide 24 by 12 and 60 by 12, leaving us with 2/5 -- our reduced fraction! Find the prime factors of the numerator and the denominator. A "prime" number is a number that cannot be divided by any other number and stay whole (apart from itself and 1, of course). 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 are examples of prime numbers. Start with the numerator. From 24, branch off into 2 and 12. Since 2 is a prime number already, you're done with that branch! Then take 12 into two more numbers: 2 and 6. 2 is a prime number -- great! Now divide 6 into two numbers: 2 and 3. You now have 2, 2, 2, and 3 as your prime numbers. Move onto the denominator. From 60, branch off your tree to 2 and 30. 30 will then split into 2 and 15. Then split 15 into 3 and 5,both prime. You now have 2, 2, 3 and 5 as your prime numbers. Write the prime factorization of each number. Take the list of prime numbers you have for each number and write them out to be multiplied. You don't actually have to do the math -- this just makes it easier to see. So, for 24, you have 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 24. For 60, you have 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 60 Cancel out the common factors. Any numbers that you see that are part of both numbers can be eliminated. In this case, what we have in common is a pair of twos and a 3. Goodbye! What we are left with is 2 and 5 -- or 2/5! The same answer we got with the above method. if both numerator and denominator are even numbers, just think of splitting the number in half. keep on doing it to both until they are to small to split any more.

List the factors of the numerator and denominator. Find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numerator and denominator. Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Check your work. Pick a small number. Divide the numerator and denominator of a fraction by that number. Repeat. Keep dividing by that number until you can't go any further. Make sure the fraction cannot be reduced further. Check your work. Write out your fraction. List the factors of the numerator and the denominator. Find and divide by the greatest common factor. Find the prime factors of the numerator and the denominator. Write the prime factorization of each number. Cancel out the common factors.

https://www.wikihow.com/Divorce-in-Maryland

How to Divorce in Maryland

Divorce can be a long and stressful process, but fortunately it's relatively straightforward in Maryland. There are two types of divorce you can get in Maryland: an absolute divorce and a limited divorce. An absolute divorce completely ends your marriage, but you'll need to have been separated for at least a year. A limited divorce is like a legal separation where you continue to share property but you temporarily agree on custody arrangements, and you can get one at any time. If you can't agree between yourselves about division of money, assets, property, and child custody, you can go to mediation to help you work all of that out. Once you've agreed on your terms, download the divorce forms from the Maryland court website. You'll both need to fill them out and sign them. Then, you can file them with your local court to get the ball rolling.

Be sure this is what you want. Divorce is a serious legal proceeding that dissolves the marriage contract between two people. Most of the obligations, rights, and privileges that arose from that contract are permanently terminated. All divorces, even uncontested divorces, cost significant amounts of time and money. Therefore, a divorce proceeding is not something to enter into lightly. Have a serious and frank discussion with your spouse to make sure that a divorce is something you really want. Make sure you want a no-fault divorce. Traditionally, fault had to be attributed to one of the spouses in order for a divorce to be granted. These grounds for divorce included adultery, cruelty, abandonment, criminality, or insanity. In Maryland today, these are all viable grounds for divorce, and if you can prove any one of them, you may get a more favorable division of property and/or custody than if you were to file on no-fault grounds. However, you also have to option or pursuing a no fault divorce, which dissolves the marriage contract without assigning fault to either party. This usually makes for a quicker process. In order to prove any of these allegations for a divorce based on fault, you would need to introduce evidence of them. Therefore, if you intend to pursue a divorce which assigns fault to one party, you should use the services of an attorney. Make sure that you qualify. In order to qualify for divorce, you need to have been a resident of Maryland for one year prior to filing, and will need to affirm as much on the form you submit with the court. You must have maintained residence continuously for the year. For instance, if you were a resident of Maryland for six months, established residency in Georgia for another six months, and then established residency in Maryland for another six months, you would not have qualified. Decide that you qualify for an absolute divorce. Maryland has two types of divorce, absolute divorce, and limited divorce. An absolute divorce is what most people think of when they think of a divorce. A limited divorce is very similar to what in other states is called a legal separation. In an absolute divorce the marriage contract is fully dissolved, common property is divided, alimony is assigned, and custody, support, and visitation arrangements are hammered out. In order to qualify for an absolute divorce, you need to have been separated without sexual contact from your spouse continuously for one year. In contrast, a limited divorce does not require a year of separation. Separation without sexual relations for any length of time is sufficient. Property remains undivided, but visitation and custody arrangements are settled temporarily. If you file for a limited divorce with the intention of obtaining an absolute divorce later, you must understand that you are still legally married while the limited divorce is in effect. You may not have sexual relations with someone else without it technically constituting adultery. If your spouse can prove that you did, they can file for a divorce assigning fault to you, which could entitle them to a more favorable divorce settlement. Find the proper forms. A list of all types of forms relating to Maryland family law is available at http://www.courts.state.md.us/family/formsindex.html#domesticrelations. The divorce forms themselves are available in the second section from the top. Based on your circumstances, you could also need to fill out several financial forms, including: The Joint Statement of Marital Property (DR33). Financial Statement (DR30 or DR31). Child Support Guidelines Worksheets (DR34 or DR35). You may want to have documents like W-2s, insurance policies, deeds to real estate, car titles, and bills for tuition, medical bills, and childcare available to fill out the forms more quickly and accurately. Meet with your spouse. Once you've found and printed the forms, you need to meet with you spouse and fill them out. In the alternative, if you and your spouse are not comfortable meeting, fill out what you can and send the partially filled out forms to your spouse so they can fill them out. This is a very important step, as this is when you will discover what issues, if any, are contested. If you find that you and your spouse are in disagreement about many major issues, you need to seriously consider enlisting the services of a mediator, and failing that, a competent attorney. For help choosing a divorce lawyer, read this great wikiHow article: https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-the-Right-Divorce-Lawyer. Resolving these issues oftentimes requires more than simply stating a case, it requires introducing evidence. The procedures for submitting evidence can require more knowledge than a layman will possess. Fill out the Civil Domestic Case Information Report. The Civil Domestic Case Information Report (DCIR) is a form which describes the rough outlines of your case for the court. It tells the names and addresses of the parties, whether they will need the services of an interpreter or the accommodation of a disability, and the names and addresses of any attorneys involved in the case. It also lets the court know which issues, if any, are contested before the court. This is why you need to fill it out last. Decide where you want to file. For administrative purposes, it's probably best to file in the county where your spouse (the defendant, or respondent) resides. If for some reason you can't do that, file in your county. File the forms. The spouse that initiated the divorce (the plaintiff, or petitioner) will have to file all the above forms and pay the filing fee (check with your county clerk's office as it differs by locality). For a copy of state filing fees, look at the information contained at http://www.courts.state.md.us/circuit/feeschedule.html , on the Maryland State Courts website. The clerk will then give you a completed Writ of Summons. Hold onto this, because you need it for the next step. Serve your spouse. You need to serve your spouse, or furnish them copies, with all the forms you filed with the court. In addition, your spouse needs to sign and complete the Writ of Summons and send it back to you. You need to have a disinterested third party personally hand-deliver the forms to your spouse. After successful delivery, the person that did the "serving" will have to fill out the Affidavit of Service form (CCDR55). Make sure that you get the completed Affidavit of Service form (CCDR55). There are people called process servers who, for a fee, serve court papers professionally. If you can afford it, you should enlist the help of a process server. That way, your spouse can't say that the person who served them wasn't a "disinterested third party." If you cannot find your spouse, or your spouse is in another state, ask the judge about alternatives. They will usually allow you to execute service through certified mail or through publication. For more information, read this article about how to serve court papers. File the remaining documents. Return to the same clerk's office where you filed the original papers and file the Affidavit (CCDR55). This proves to the court that your spouse was served. The Affidavit will ask you to verify the fact that your spouse was served. You will also need to tell the court what documents you served on your spouse and who specifically you served (e.g., the spouse, their attorney, someone at their place of business). Await your spouse's response. Your spouse needs to complete, sign, and file the Civil Domestic Case Information Report (DCIR), the Answer (CCDR50), and Financial Statement (DR30 or DR31). Your spouse should then serve you with copies of the documents that they filed with the court via certified mail. They should fill out the Certificate of Service form (DR58) to show the court that they did so. The answer will ask your spouse for the following: A denial or acceptance of the divorce petition. Your spouse will have an opportunity to deny any or all of the claims you made in your petition for divorce, or he or she will have the opportunity to accept what was said and finalize the divorce. Separate property. Your spouse will have the opportunity to list the property that he or she considers to be separate, and therefore not allocatable upon divorce. A prayer. A prayer is another term for a request. This simply asks the court to believe the statements made in the answer and rule in favor of the spouse filing the answer. A certificate of service. Once your spouse files this answer, he or she will have to give you or your attorney a copy so you can see it and respond to it. Schedule a court hearing. Fill out the Request for Hearing or Proceeding (CCDR59). If you and your spouse have worked out the issues in dispute already, check the box for "uncontested hearing." If you still have issues to resolve, then check the box for "trial on the merits." If for some reason you need to work out an issue of support or custody prior to the trial (usually during a period of separation), check the box for "pendente lite hearing" (pendente lite means "pending litigation" in Latin). You will be given a court hearing date from the clerk's office. If you have enlisted the services of an attorney, they will, of course, take care of this and most other filings. They will also usually request a scheduling hearing. If you need a pendente lite hearing, then you should also request a scheduling hearing. You will need to file a different copy of the same form (just check the box for scheduling hearing) and file it with the clerk. Go to the hearing or trial. The final step in ending your marriage is the divorce hearing. If your divorce is uncontested, the judge will simply look over the uncontested complaint and issue a decree based on it. If the divorce is contested, a judge will hear both sides and decide how to end the marriage, including how to split up property and child custody rights. The judge's decisions will be formalized in the divorce decree and the judge will sign it. Obey the divorce decree. In Maryland, a divorce decree can, and usually will, cover alimony, custody, child support, division of property, and the use of last names. When the judge issues your absolute divorce decree, you will be required to follow it. Disobeying a court order can lead to fines and potential jail time. For example, if you are required to pay $500.00 per month in child support, you will need to do so. If you are required to pay your spouse $500.00 per month in alimony, you will need to do so.

Be sure this is what you want. Make sure you want a no-fault divorce. Make sure that you qualify. Decide that you qualify for an absolute divorce. Find the proper forms. Meet with your spouse. Fill out the Civil Domestic Case Information Report. Decide where you want to file. File the forms. Serve your spouse. File the remaining documents. Await your spouse's response. Schedule a court hearing. Go to the hearing or trial. Obey the divorce decree.

https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Ingrown-Hairs-on-the-Pubic-Area

How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs on the Pubic Area

Ingrown pubic hairs can be painful and irritating, but you can prevent them by being a bit more careful about how you shave. When shaving, use hypoallergenic shaving cream to moisten and soften your skin. Use a sharp, single-blade razor so it cuts the hair without having to go over it again. You'll also want to shave in the same direction as the hair is growing so the hair doesn't get stuck as it grows back, which can cause ingrown hair. Rinse your razor off after every stroke to prevent buildup so you don't have to go over the area repeatedly. After shaving, rinse the area with warm water and apply moisturizer.

Use a sharp, single-blade razor to shave. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when shaving your pubic area, is to use a dull blade. Use a razor that is sharp enough to cut the hair without having to go over it again and again. Depending on how often you shave, you may need to replace your blade every month or so. Some people switch out blades after five uses, but determine what works best for you. Use a single-blade razor. This will actually be more effective in cutting the hair, so long as it's sharp. Remember to shave in the same direction that the hair is growing. Otherwise hairs could actually get stuck as they are growing back, thus causing ingrown hairs. While electric razors may be suitable for most parts of your body, refrain from using one on your pubic area. Try hypoallergenic shaving cream. Use a shaving cream that is designed for sensitive areas. As with any product you apply to your skin, test a little bit of it on another part of your body before using it on your pubic area. Don't skip the shaving cream. Just try to avoid ones that are scented, as this could irritate your skin. Men may want to consider using women's shaving cream for the pubic region, as many of the shaving creams marketed to men contain a perfume or scent. Rinse the razor. Always make sure to rinse your blade off after every stroke. This will help to prevent buildup, which puts you at risk for ingrown hairs. As more hair and skin builds up in your blade, you are at a greater risk for cutting yourself or for having to go over the area multiple times. Use warm water and moisturizer afterwards. After shaving the area, rinse it with warm water. Next, you'll want to apply a moisturizer, but don't need to overdo it. Simply apply a very fine layer to the skin. An alternative to moisturizer is aloe vera or baby oil. However, men should remember to never use aftershave. It would be extremely painful! Fragrance free is always the way to go. Look for moisturizer that specifically targets sensitive skin as well. Don’t shave too often. Shaving too often is a sure way to develop ingrown hairs. If you don't allow your skin time to heal and give the hair time to grow, you will risk trapping hair under the skin. Wait until the hair has grown back. Never go over stubble or an ingrown hair with the razor. This will just cause further irritation. Trim the hair instead of shaving. As an alternative to shaving, try trimming the hair with scissors instead. Simply pull the hair away from your body and trim it. Do not use dull scissors. Invest in a pair of scissors that are designed specifically to cut hair. Be careful not to cut yourself though by trimming the hair in a well lit area. Exfoliate your pubic area regularly to prevent ingrown hairs. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, which contribute to issues with ingrown hairs. Get in the habit of exfoliating 2-3 times a week. Use a loofah or a wash cloth. Gently rub the area, but don't scrub too hard. You can either exfoliate in the shower or prior to showering. Stop exfoliating if you notice the area is red or irritated. Give it a week or so before resuming your exfoliating routine. Use chemical hair remover. There are various products on the market, which allow you to chemically remove your hair from home. Typically, they are inexpensive and easy to use. However, there are some risks associated with using chemicals. Always test the product on another part of your skin prior to applying it to your pubic area. Watch for a reaction or irritation and discontinue use if one occurs. Keep the product away from your genital areas. Only apply it to the hair. Be sure to read the directions prior to applying the product so that you know how long to keep it on for. Have a timer and a wash cloth on hand so that you can effectively remove the chemical when the time is up. Chemical hair removers are more effective than shaving; however, the results do wear off more quickly than if you were to wax. Try waxing as an alternative method to chemicals. If you'd like to try an alternative method to chemical hair remover consider using wax. Wax can be applied either at home or in a salon by a professional. Costs associated with waxing are typically minimal, particularly if you choose to try waxing yourself at home. In order to effectively use wax, your hair should be at least one fourth of an inch in length. There's no need to have an exact measurement, but keep in mind that the wax needs something to grab on to. If the hair is too short, the wax will not be effective. Always try a strip on another part of your body to test for any reactions prior to applying it elsewhere. Be sure to have towels and enough wax on hand. As with the chemical hair removal, wax should only be used on the hair and should not come in contact with your genitals. There are risks associated with attempting to wax yourself, such as burns and infection. Ideally, you should seek the help of an experienced professional to avoid injuries. Consider a permanent hair removal process. If your budget allows, consider removing the hair permanently. The most efficient (and costly) method for permanently removing hair is through laser hair removal. There are many benefits to laser hair removal including the precision and speed. However, be prepared for multiple visits, as it takes anywhere from 3-7 sessions to complete the process. Always do your research prior to getting the treatment. You'll want to know about the doctor's experience, treatment plan and the cost. Additionally, you'll need to understand what steps you need to take prior to the hair removal. You may need to limit how often you wax or shave in the six weeks leading up to the treatment. Typically, you need to avoid exposing the area to sun before and after as well. Don’t pluck ingrown hairs. One of the worst things you can do is to pluck or pick at ingrown hairs. Doing so will put you at risk for infection and scarring. Wait for the hair to grow out before treating it. Attempting to shave the hair will only cause further irritation. Refrain from wearing tight clothing and undergarments. You may not realize it, but your skinny jeans aren't helping an ingrown hair problem. Tight clothing and undergarments actually make it difficult for your skin to breathe, which is one of the culprits of ingrown hair. Cotton is the way to go for both undergarments and clothing, as it allows your skin to breathe properly. Monitor ingrown hairs for signs of infection. If you do spot an ingrown hair, be sure to monitor it for signs of infection. If the area is red, tender, itchy or filled with pus, that may indicate that the hair follicle is becoming infected. Call your doctor immediately if you feel a fever coming on or if the redness begins to spread to other areas. Otherwise, keep the area moisturized and let it breathe by wearing loose clothing. Do not attempt to shave the area or pick at it in any way.

Use a sharp, single-blade razor to shave. Try hypoallergenic shaving cream. Rinse the razor. Use warm water and moisturizer afterwards. Don’t shave too often. Trim the hair instead of shaving. Exfoliate your pubic area regularly to prevent ingrown hairs. Use chemical hair remover. Try waxing as an alternative method to chemicals. Consider a permanent hair removal process. Don’t pluck ingrown hairs. Refrain from wearing tight clothing and undergarments. Monitor ingrown hairs for signs of infection.

https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-You-Have-Sensitive-Skin

How to Know if You Have Sensitive Skin

If you're not sure whether you have sensitive skin, watch for common symptoms, like redness and itchiness. Also, check your skin for rashes, particularly during hot or cold weather. If you find your skin gets dry or irritated by soaps and cleansers, try to find fragrance-free products, which should be better for your skin. Similarly, if you get large red marks or a rash from shaving, try to find hair removal products that are designed for sensitive skin.

Look for redness and itchiness. Sensitive skin can become red, irritated, and itchy after using normal daily products. Basic cleansers can sometimes be too irritating for people with sensitive skin. Recognizing how your skin reacts to different products will help you to determine what products are safe to use on sensitive skin. You may notice more sensitivity on some areas of the body than others. The face, dorsum of the hands, and finger webs are more prone to irritation from chemical substances than the palms, soles, or back, for example. Pay attention to how your skin feels in extreme weather conditions. Different weather conditions, such as extreme temperatures or harsh winds, can cause problems with sensitive skin. Hot weather can cause heat rash, redness and/or tightness. Additionally, hot weather can lead to oily skin and acne, tempting you to use harsher cleansers. Sticking with gentler cleansers for sensitive skin may in fact improve your skin more so than using harsher soaps that cause further irritation and redness. Cold weather and harsh winds can cause dryness and irritation. Dry skin can cause feelings of tightness and itchiness and lotions may provide some relief. Be sure to invest in natural fragrance-free lotions to prevent any adverse reactions, while still moisturizing your skin. Determine if your skin reacts to normal soaps and cleansers. Sensitive skin can be quite dry and can become irritated by harsh soaps. If the products contain a fragrance, this can further contribute towards irritation. If you've noticed that the fancy smelling soaps leave your skin feeling funny, your skin is probably too sensitive for them, and investing in some gentle, fragrance-free soaps and washes may prove useful. Look at your skin after you’ve shaved. Sensitive skin usually does not react well to shaving or certain shaving products. Often it will turn blotchy, (large red marks), feel itchy or come up in a rash. This is a result of breaking the barrier your skin provides between the underlying layers of skin and the outside world. Shaving can cause small breaks in your skin that allow chemicals to penetrate deeper, causing more problems to sensitive skin. If this happens then you should invest in a hair removal product that is designed for sensitive skin. Notice any burning or tingling sensations after application of new creams or lotions. Most people with sensitive skin have reactions to a wide variety of products that may extend beyond redness and dryness. Some of these products will cause an immediate reaction, but some may only cause irritation after being exposed to sunlight. If your skin feels like it's burning after only a few minutes in the sun, you may be reacting to your sunscreen and not actually getting sunburned that quickly. Notice what causes symptoms. Irritant contact dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction that occurs in response to various physical and chemical stimuli. Allergic dermatitis is an immune-mediated reaction to foreign objects. Although the symptoms of each kind of reaction can be similar, understanding what kind of reaction you have will help you to deal with your sensitive skin. Irritant contact dermatitis is often caused by exposure to the following irritants: water (prolonged exposure, like dishwashing) detergents, like soap solvents, such as acetone (found in nail polish remover) oxidizing agents, like bleach acids alkalis, like ammonia or sodium hydroxide metal tools wood fiberglass plant parts, like thorns and spines paper dust or soil Allergic contact dermatitis is often caused by exposure to the following allergens: perfumes latex plant products, including leaves (example: poison ivy) glues and cements plastics nickel hair dyes soaps and detergents cosmetics Determine the onset of symptoms. Understanding how long it takes for a reaction to develop will help you to distinguish between irritant and contact dermatitis. Some reactions can take minutes to hours to develop, while other symptoms may appear days after exposure. Irritant contact dermatitis causes symptoms within minutes to hours of contact with the inciting agent. Allergic dermatitis is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that is T cell mediated. This means that the onset of symptoms is often later compared to irritant contact dermatitis. Symptoms typically appear several hours after exposure to an allergen. Determine if you have a break in your skin. A break in your skin could include a cut, burn, or removal of a layer of skin, for example by ripping off an adhesive bandage. Irritant contact dermatitis often involves disruption in the endothelial layer that protects your body from the outside world. Allergic contact dermatitis does not require a break in the skin to elicit a response; however, a break may still be present. Notice the site of reaction. Although some areas of skin may be more or less sensitive than others, some symptoms of sensitive skin can be directly localized to the area of contact, while others can spread. Irritant contact dermatitis is most often localized predominantly to the site of contact or injury. For example, if you have a reaction to adhesive in a band-aid, you may might see a band-aid-shaped rash if you have irritant contact dermatitis. Because allergic dermatitis involves influx of immune cells, the localization of the reaction can extend beyond the borders of the initial injury. This is not always the case, but transfer of the allergen to adjacent sites can cause patchiness. For example, in the case of a reaction to a band-aid, you may notice that a rash spreads past the borders of the band-aid site. This could indicate an allergic reaction. Consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a medical professional who specializes in skin conditions. There are many medical conditions that affect the skin and a dermatologist can help you rule out any serious problems. The following is a list of other possible causes of what appears to be sensitive skin: Bedbugs Basal cell carcinoma Chemical peel Acne Atopic dermatitis Dry skin Psoriasis Eczema Scabies Infection Identify products that adversely affect your skin. If you are currently using multiple skincare products and are experiencing problems, stop using all of them. Avoiding applying anything to your skin should help clear up any problems associated with application of these products within a few days. Try reintroducing each product, including creams, lotions, and makeup, one at a time. Give it a couple days before adding in a new product. Look for changes in your skin each time you re-introduce a new product (mentioned above). Do a patch test with new products. Whenever you want to try out a new cream, lotion, or makeup product, do a patch test first. Patch testing involves applying a small amount of the new product to a small patch of skin. Try patch testing on the inside of your wrist or forearm. Some areas of skin are more sensitive than others. For example, the underside of your forearm is more sensitive than the topside of your arm. Apply a small amount of product to your skin and don't wash it off. Leave creams, lotions, and makeup on for 24 to 48 hours. When testing cleansers or soaps, wash thoroughly, rinse, and then pat dry as you would with typical use. Look for signs of irritation, such as redness, itching, or rash. These signs would indicate that your skin is too sensitive for these products. Avoid products that cause irritation. Recognize common ingredients in products that cause adverse reactions with your skin. Some chemical compounds are more likely to cause problems (see above) and you may notice that several products that cause problems contain these same ingredients. For example, you may notice that your skin reacts to a variety of scented products, like lotions or perfumes. If this is the case, you may be sensitive to this particular scent or scented products in general. As a rule of thumb, people with sensitive skin should avoid using any scented products as they contain more ingredients that have the potential to cause reactions. Try topical remedies. Lotions with or without corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream, can help reduce symptoms associated with sensitive skin. These can be particularly helpful to reduce itching and pain and may reduce redness associated with allergic contact dermatitis. Some studies have shown benefit of using topical corticosteroids with irritant contact dermatitis, but these studies are controversial. No randomized trials of corticosteroid use with irritant contact dermatitis exist, but a few small observational studies show no effect or slight improvements. It is possible to have both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis simultaneously. Therefore, using corticosteroids, which do improve the symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis may be useful. Lotions help to keep the skin moisturized and reduce water loss. Studies have shown reductions in scaling, dryness, redness, and itchiness with daily moisturizer use.

Look for redness and itchiness. Pay attention to how your skin feels in extreme weather conditions. Determine if your skin reacts to normal soaps and cleansers. Look at your skin after you’ve shaved. Notice any burning or tingling sensations after application of new creams or lotions. Notice what causes symptoms. Determine the onset of symptoms. Determine if you have a break in your skin. Notice the site of reaction. Consult a dermatologist. Identify products that adversely affect your skin. Do a patch test with new products. Avoid products that cause irritation. Try topical remedies.

https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Portrait

How to Draw a Portrait

Drawing people might seem daunting, but with a little practice, you'll soon be able to make great portraits. To make a realistic portrait, start by drawing a circle for the head. Then, draw 2 lines extending into a point for the chin, and draw a curved line around this point to round out the jaw. After this, draw horizontal lines across the face to use as guides for the eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth. Once you've drawn the facial features, erase the guidelines. Then, you can add in details like the hair, neck, and shoulders.

Draw a circle for the head. Draw two lines from the left and right sides, which meet and form an open triangle. Draw a curve line connecting the ends from the circle to the tip below. Draw a vertical line which divides the figures to halves. Draw two sets of parallel lines at the lower part of the circle. Using the lines as guide, draw details for the eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth at their appropriate positions. Trace the border lines. Draw details for the woman's hair, neck, and shoulders – use curve lines. Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary lines. Color to your liking! Draw a circle for the head. Draw a vertical lines in the middle which extends outside the circle. Draw a horizontal line inside the circle at the lower part. Draw two parallel lines of different lengths below the circle. Draw a triangle using the ends from the sides of the circle and the tip of the middle line as vertices. Draw curve lines which connect the circle to the tip of the triangle. the circle. Draw a small triangle in the middle and draw the ears using curve lines. Using the lines as guide, draw details for the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth at their appropriate positions. Refine the small triangle to resemble a nose and add details. Trace with a pencil and erase unnecessary lines. Draw details for the hair and neck. Erase unnecessary lines. Color to your liking! Draw a big vertical oval. Bisect it with a vertical line and join a horizontal line across the the vertical line touching the edges of the oval for the guides to the eyes and nose. Place a couple of short lines for the nose and mouth. Add a small horizontal oval each on either side of the head for the ears. Put in symmetrical lines for the eyebrows. Create leaf-like shapes each on either side for the eye-shapes. Make lip-guides by joining a triangle on top with three lines at the bottom. Create eye-balls within the eye-shapes. Draw the hair shape-outline. On the basis of the guides, draw details of the portrait. Erase all sketchy guide lines. Color the pretty portrait. Make an oval. Bisect it with a vertical line stretching out of the circle. Draw another horizontal line off–center touching the edges of the left and right edges of the oval. Put two more horizontal lines at the bottom, one smaller than the other for the jaw and chin. Join the jaw and chin guides with straight lines. Make two symmetrical lines for the eyebrows. Then make a triangle for the nose. Join an inverted triangle at the bottom of it. Create a short horizontal line just below the nose for the mouth. Make the lips with straight lines. Draw the eyes' guide areas. Make guides to the ears by making a horizontal oval each on either side. Add lines dropping down from the jaw for the neck. Draw the details of the male portrait. Follow it with making a guide for the hair. On the basis of the hair-guide, draw every detail of the hair. Erase all sketchy guide lines. Color the portrait with appropriate shades.

Draw a circle for the head. Draw two lines from the left and right sides, which meet and form an open triangle. Draw a curve line connecting the ends from the circle to the tip below. Draw a vertical line which divides the figures to halves. Using the lines as guide, draw details for the eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth at their appropriate positions. Trace the border lines. Draw details for the woman's hair, neck, and shoulders – use curve lines. Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary lines. Color to your liking! Draw a circle for the head. Draw a vertical lines in the middle which extends outside the circle. Draw a triangle using the ends from the sides of the circle and the tip of the middle line as vertices. Draw curve lines which connect the circle to the tip of the triangle. Draw a small triangle in the middle and draw the ears using curve lines. Using the lines as guide, draw details for the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth at their appropriate positions. Refine the small triangle to resemble a nose and add details. Trace with a pencil and erase unnecessary lines. Erase unnecessary lines. Color to your liking! Draw a big vertical oval. Bisect it with a vertical line and join a horizontal line across the the vertical line touching the edges of the oval for the guides to the eyes and nose. Place a couple of short lines for the nose and mouth. Add a small horizontal oval each on either side of the head for the ears. Put in symmetrical lines for the eyebrows. Create leaf-like shapes each on either side for the eye-shapes. Make lip-guides by joining a triangle on top with three lines at the bottom. Create eye-balls within the eye-shapes. Draw the hair shape-outline. On the basis of the guides, draw details of the portrait. Erase all sketchy guide lines. Color the pretty portrait. Make an oval. Bisect it with a vertical line stretching out of the circle. Put two more horizontal lines at the bottom, one smaller than the other for the jaw and chin. Join the jaw and chin guides with straight lines. Make two symmetrical lines for the eyebrows. Then make a triangle for the nose. Join an inverted triangle at the bottom of it. Create a short horizontal line just below the nose for the mouth. Make the lips with straight lines. Draw the eyes' guide areas. Make guides to the ears by making a horizontal oval each on either side. Add lines dropping down from the jaw for the neck. Draw the details of the male portrait. On the basis of the hair-guide, draw every detail of the hair. Erase all sketchy guide lines. Color the portrait with appropriate shades.

https://www.wikihow.health/Disinfect-Toys

How to Disinfect Toys

To disinfect toys quickly, use disinfectant wipes on wooden toys, boards, books, plastic toys, and dolls. Wipe the toys down thoroughly, then leave them out to dry for at least 10 minutes before wiping the toys down with water. For a more thorough cleaning, mix bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar with water. Then, dip a cleaning rag into the solution and wipe down the toys. Allow the toys to dry thoroughly before rinsing them with water.

Buy disinfectant wipes. This is a good solution for quickly disinfecting a dirty toy. Purchase wipes that are specifically made for disinfecting. Other types of wipes may clean off the toy, but not disinfect it. A few well-known brands of disinfectant wipes are Clorox and Lysol. This method is not recommended for routine cleaning of toys, but it is effective when disinfecting needs to be done quickly. Disinfecting wipes eradicate good bacteria as well as bad bacteria. Exposure to good bacteria is necessary for a strong immune system. A couple of natural disinfectant wipe brands are CleanWell and Seventh Generation. Work in a well-ventilated area so you don't inhale the fumes the from the wipes. Use the wipes with the right type of toy. Wipes work best on wooden toys, boards, and books. Wipes still work well on plastic toys and dolls. This method will not work well on stuffed animals. Read the directions. Disinfectant wipes won't work if you do not use them properly. Different brands may have slightly different directions, but most of the directions are similar. Most wipes require about four to ten minutes of the disinfectant staying wet on the surface to work. Wipe the toy thoroughly. Take a wipe from the packaging and begin to wipe the toy. Make sure the wipe covers every part of the toy. You should not miss a corner, indentation, or cranny. Once you have wiped the toy down completely, do not put it back right away. Go over the toy more than once with a wipe if you feel that you missed a spot. If the toy is frequently put in the child's mouth, rinse it with water before putting it away. Leave the toy out to dry. The toy only needs to be wet with disinfectant for less than ten minutes, but it is better to leave the toy out to dry for longer if possible. Put it in a place that is out of reach for children. Children can become ill if they put the wet toys in their mouths. your hands. Wash It is not good to get the disinfectant on your skin, so wash your hands after using the wipes. Also, make sure to wipe down the surface and toy with water once the disinfectant has dried. At this point, the toy can be used to play with again. Choose a cleaning solution. Bleach, alcohol, and ammonium-based disinfectants are most common. Use a bleach-based product rather than alcohol or ammonium. There are, however, natural options too, like hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Most solutions need to be mixed with water. Mix ½ cup of Clorox bleach per gallon of water, or mix a tablespoon in a quart of water for a cleaning solution. To use hydrogen peroxide, mix one cup of 35% peroxide with a gallon of hot water. Add one cup of vinegar to three cups of water for a natural solution. This solution works best on most items, except toys like stuffed animals. Pour the liquid into a container. You should use a spray bottle, bucket, or very large bowel to make the cleaning solution. It is easier to make the cleaning solution in the same container you will be using to clean. A plastic bucket is the best choice for the cleaning solution. Only use the container for cleaning purposes if possible. Clean with a rag, washcloth, or sponge. You should choose something that will only be used for cleaning purposes. Either pick a new item to be used for cleaning, or pick an old cleaning item that will no longer be used for anything else. If using an old rag or sponge, make sure it's still useable and not too dirty. Dip the cleaning item into the bucket. Make sure the rag, washcloth, or sponge is saturated. Wring it out to get rid of excess cleaning solution. You may need to dip the cleaning item in the bucket more than once while cleaning, depending on the size of the toy. Wipe down the toy. Take the cleaning item of your choice and begin wiping down the toy. Wipe every part of the toy. Make sure not to miss any cranny, hole, or part that is not normally easily accessible wash. If you are using a rag or washcloth, put it around your finger, and use your finger to use the smaller parts of the toy. Leave the toy out to dry. Put the toy out on a drying rack or surface once you are done wiping it down. Make sure the toy is out of reach from children. It needs to dry completely before it can be played with again. If you can, rinse the toy with water after you've cleaned it. Wait about an hour for the toy to dry. Wash out the bucket. Wipe down the bucket and any surface that has come in contact with the cleaner with water. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you are done handling the cleaning solution, especially if you are dealing with bleach. Quickly rinse the toy with water after the cleaning solution has dried. Choose a soap. This is the best solution for fabric toys and stuffed animals. You will need to purchase an antibacterial soap. It should kill bacteria, not just rinse it off. A few good brands of antibacterial soap are Palm Olive, Dial, Lysol, and Safeguard. Find a container to mix soap and water in. You can mix soap and water in a bucket or sink. It is best to use a sink if one is available. Fill the container with warm water. Add a four or five drops of soap to the water. A lot of antibacterial soap is not need because it is strong. The water should have bubbles when you add the soap. Dunk a rag into the water. Choose a rag that absorbs water. You should use for cleaning purposes only. Dip your rag into the water until it's completely wet. Then, wring any excess water out of the rag. Scrub the toy. Disinfecting a toy with soap and water will probably taking more effort than wiping it down. Instead, gently scrub every part of the toy. Focus on scrubbing any stains, grime, and grease. The entire toy should be wet when you finish. Apply a little extra force when scrubbing difficult stains. Scrub in gentle, circular motions. it in water. Soak If the toy is still not as clean as you'd like, leave it to soak in the soapy water. The water should still be warm when you soak the toy. Soak the toy for a few hours or overnight. Allowing it to soak will loosen any stains that you could not remove by scrubbing. Scrub the toy down one more time when it is removed from the container after soaking. Dry the toy out. Allow the toy to dry out by putting it on a drying rack, or leaving it in an area where it will not be disturbed. If you want to expedite the drying process, place the toy the dryer for about fifteen minutes on a high setting. Put the toy in the dryer with a pack of fresh tennis balls to keep the stuffing from clumping. Buy a disinfectant spray. There are many brands of disinfectant spray on the market. Most of them have chemicals, but it is also possible to find sprays with natural ingredients. You can also make your own spray. Some well-known brands of disinfectant sprays are Lysol, Clorox, and Dettol. Seventh Generation and CleanWell offer natural sprays. Use spray disinfectants in a well-ventilated area. To make a natural disinfectant with hydrogen peroxide, fill a spray bottle with water and add 3% peroxide. Mix equal parts white vinegar and put it into a spray bottle for another natural alternative. Wipe the toy with a cloth. Use a cloth to wipe down the toy before spraying it with disinfectant. Wipe it dry or with water. Using disinfectant spray will not clean it, so wipe it down before spraying it. Spray disinfectant on a rag. Spray the rag a few times with the solution. You should have enough to cover the entire toy. If not, spray again any time you feel the disinfectant has run out. Then, wipe every part of the toy. Do not stop wiping until you have covered all of the toys. Allow the toy to dry. It should not take long for the toy to dry with a disinfectant spray. Place it in an area that is out of reach for children. Allow a few minutes for the toy to dry completely. There should not be any residue left on the toy. If necessary, wipe it down with a paper towel to remove any residue.

Buy disinfectant wipes. Use the wipes with the right type of toy. Read the directions. Wipe the toy thoroughly. Leave the toy out to dry. your hands. Choose a cleaning solution. Pour the liquid into a container. Clean with a rag, washcloth, or sponge. Dip the cleaning item into the bucket. Wipe down the toy. Leave the toy out to dry. Wash out the bucket. Choose a soap. Find a container to mix soap and water in. Dunk a rag into the water. Scrub the toy. it in water. Dry the toy out. Buy a disinfectant spray. Wipe the toy with a cloth. Spray disinfectant on a rag. Allow the toy to dry.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Unpoppable-Bubbles

How to Make Unpoppable Bubbles

To make unpoppable bubbles, start with 3 cups of distilled water and mix in 1 cup of dish soap. Then, add ½ cup of corn syrup and stir everything together. Make sure to stir the ingredients slowly so you don't cause any small bubbles. To blow the unpoppable bubbles, cut the tip off the wider end of a plastic pipette. Finally, quickly dip the wide end of the pipette into the liquid mixture then blow through the narrow end to create the bubble.

Measure out your liquids. Get a measuring cup and measure out the corn syrup, water, and dish soap. Measure out these liquids, pour them in small bowls, and set them aside. You can use distilled water or tap water from your sink. If you don't have dish soap, it can be purchased at the grocery store. Corn syrup can be purchased here as well or you can buy it online. Add your ingredients in the right order. The order you add your ingredients to a mixing bowl matters in this project. Add the water first. Then, add the dish soap. Add the corn syrup last. Stir your ingredients very slowly. You do not want any bubbles to form while you're mixing your ingredients. If you stir too fast, bubbles will begin to form prematurely. Stir your ingredients slowly until you have an even mixture. This means everything should be one solid color and texture. Use a spoon to stir your ingredients. Prepare your pipette. Take one plastic pipette. You can buy these objects at a local craft store or department store. Use a pair of scissors to cut off the tip of the wider end of the pipette. This is the end that is not already opened. Make sure to only trim the tip of the wide end. You do not want to cut off the entire wider part, as you'll be dipping this into your mixture. Once you're done, your pipette is now a bubble wand. If you don't have a pipette, you can use a straw. Dip the wand into the mixture. Dip the tip of the wider end of the wand into the mixture. You only need to make one, quick dabbing motion to get the bubble mixture to spread on the pipette. You should have a layer of the bubble mixture covering the end of the wand, like the glass pane of a window. Dip the wand into the mixture again if you did not get the end fully covered. Blow your bubbles. Place your lips on the opposite end of the wand. Blow gently into the wand. A bubble should form and eventually break off. Make sure to blow into the wand slowly. Blowing too fast could cause your bubble to break before it forms. Enjoy your bubbles. Once you've blown as many bubbles as you want, you can play with them. You can bounce these bubbles up and down in your hands or throw them back and forth across the room. These bubbles should not rupture or pop as fast as regular bubbles. Remember, no bubbles are completely unpoppable. The bubbles will rupture with time, but they should last much longer than normal bubbles. Distill your water. Some people find the minerals from tap water can affect the quality of bubbles. You may want to purchase distilled water for the project. If you can't find distilled water at the store, you can distill water yourself at home. Pour your water into a large pot with a glass lid. Do not fill the pot more than a third of the way full. Place a small glass bowl in the center of the pot. Then, put the pot's lid on upside down. This means the handle should be in the water. Have an adult bring the water to a boil and, once it's boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer. Cover the lid with ice cubes. This will cause water to form on the lid and drip into your bowl. Watch the pot, adding more ice cubes as they melt. Once the bowl is full, you can remove the bowl. Use the water in the bowl in your project. Experiment with different types of dish soap. Not all dish soaps will create the same effect. While making your unpoppable bubbles, be open to experimenting with a variety of brands of dish soap. If your bubbles did not turn out the way you wanted, try using a different dish soap. Set the solution aside for stronger bubbles. You can set aside your solution for up to two days and still use it. In general, the longer you set your solution aside, the longer it will last. If you were unhappy with how long your bubbles lasted, try making the solution again and letting it sit for a while before blowing bubbles. Make bubbles on warmer days. In general, warm and humid days will produce the best bubbles. While the solution will work in any weather, your bubbles should last longer during warmer months. You may want to play with your bubble solution inside on windy days. Wind can pop your bubbles.

Measure out your liquids. Add your ingredients in the right order. Stir your ingredients very slowly. Prepare your pipette. Dip the wand into the mixture. Blow your bubbles. Enjoy your bubbles. Distill your water. Experiment with different types of dish soap. Set the solution aside for stronger bubbles. Make bubbles on warmer days.

https://www.wikihow.com/Take-a-Walk

How to Take a Walk

To take a leisurely walk, relax your posture, set off walking at a slow pace, and don't worry too much about planning a route or destination. Instead, focus on looking up and around at your surroundings, enjoying nature, and even meditating as you relax on your stroll. If you want to take a walk for exercise, walk at a moderate or fast pace and aim for 30 minute walking sessions every day. Using an app or pedometer to keep track of your distance as you exercise can be a great motivator!

Keep a leisurely pace. Imagine you're walking with an elderly person. Better yet, walk with an elderly person. It's good for both of you. Relax your posture. Stick your chest out and throw your shoulders back, inhale deeply, and "relax" into that position as you exhale. Let your arms hang down freely and they'll sway as you walk. Your hips should sway from side to side as well, especially if you allow your body's weight to "sit" on one foot completely before you shift it to the other. Look up. Don't just stare at your feet. One of the benefits of taking a relaxed stroll is that you have a chance to notice things you've never noticed before. Pay attention to your surroundings. Enjoy the scenery. Take it all in. Listen. Wander. Don't plot out a route. Don't designate a destination. As long as you can find your way back, take random turns and explore new areas. Avoid checking your watch (or if you're so inclined, learn to Tell Time Without a Clock ). Meditate as you walk. Many Buddhists incorporate walking meditations into their routine. Be mindful as you walk -- be aware of what each part of your body is doing and keep your breathing even. Try to focus entirely on your body and keep your mind from being distracted by sights and sounds that dispel your mindfulness. Be aware of your path and the natural world around you. Just don't get caught up in looking at shop windows, listening to other people's conversations, etc. Some people find meditating easier to do while walking than while sitting still for extended periods of time. You can also take the opportunity to Ground and Center as you walk: Imagine that every time you put your foot down, it connects with the center of the earth. Visit a forest or park. The benefits of spending time in nature are numerous. By going outside for your walk, you may experience benefits to your mental and physical health. Studies have shown that spending time in a forest can provide far reaching health benefits including reduced stress, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, better mood, increased focus, faster recovery from surgery or illness, more energy and better sleep. If you live near a forest, then you might consider taking your walk on a trail through the woods. You could also try visiting a local park or journey to a state or national park to immerse yourself in a forest setting. If you live in the city or if the weather is bad, then you might try visiting an arboretum or even a botanical garden. Determine what you’d like to see. If you're going on a stroll, part of the goal is to see pretty things -- a beautiful tree, a flower garden, stately old houses. Figure out what would make you feel happy on that particular day, and turn toward whatever it is. Decide how much exercise you want to get. If you want a stroll, you're probably not going to want lots of hills (though the views might be lovely). For maximum effect, you're going to want to do a hike with some extreme hills. On the other end of the spectrum, you could try a walk with no hills on a paved, even surface. Think about walking to work. Many of us don't live within walking distance of work. But for those who do, walking to work can be a great way to transition from home to work and back again while getting exercise. It helps put you in the right frame of mind for each place. If you have to dress up for work, consider taking your work shoes with you and wearing walking shoes on the way to and from your destination. Be aware of dogs. Loose dogs are one of the greatest threats to walkers. Choose a route where you are unlikely to encounter dogs off lead. If you have to take a route where you know you are going to encounter loose dogs, be ready to interact. Stay calm. Walk away. Be calm, and send calm energy toward the dog. Don't act aggressively. As a last resort, pretend to pick up rocks -- most dogs will get the idea and move away. Try walking for a half hour a day. You can do it all together or break it up -- either way will give you enough exercise. You should be getting at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise, like walking. Walk at a moderate to fast pace. It depends on you and your fitness level. It's also up to you what you hope to achieve with walking. If you're doing it with someone else, do you want to be able to chat as you go? If you're pushing a stroller, do you want to move fast or slow? Keep track of your distance with an app or pedometer. Many smartphones now have pedometers built in, if you own one. There are also some great apps to help keep track of your walking and motivate you further. Check out the British Heart Foundation's website for some recommendations, including MapMyWalk, Viewranger, and Walkmeter GPS. You can also think about getting a pedometer to analyze how far you are walking daily, weekly, and monthly. Keeping track can help motivate you to continue, increase your distance, and set new walking goals. Some more elaborate fitness meters, such as the Fitbit, will also track things like your heart rate and sleep quality. Walk with a friend. Sometimes having a partner makes all the difference. Find someone who also likes to walk for exercise -- maybe even a co-worker who would like to walk to work or a neighbor who would be interested in a morning or evening walk. If you're not in the mood, knowing that you have a walking date will usually make you get out there even if you're feeling tired or lazy.

Keep a leisurely pace. Relax your posture. Look up. Wander. Meditate as you walk. Visit a forest or park. Determine what you’d like to see. Decide how much exercise you want to get. Think about walking to work. Be aware of dogs. Try walking for a half hour a day. Walk at a moderate to fast pace. Keep track of your distance with an app or pedometer. Walk with a friend.

https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Porch-Swing

How to Build a Porch Swing

To build a porch swing, start by measuring the area where you want to install your swing to determine how long you should cut your slats. Then, cut 17 slats for the seats, 15 salts for the back, and 4 to 6 back and bottom supports. Next, attach the back supports to the bottom supports with wood screws, then fasten the slats, making sure to leave a ¼ inch space between them. Afterwards, attach the arm rest supports and the armrests, and use eyebolts to fasten the chain through the armrest support and seat frame.

Measure the space where you want to install your swing. This area will determine how long your porch swing will be. If the ceiling above your porch has joists, exposed beams, or any other structural elements with cracks running between them, you may want to make the bench a length that will allow you to center the anchors for hanging the swing between the cracks. Consider how deep the seat and how tall the back will be. Measure the seat and back of a similar chair that you feel comfortable in (e.g. a dining chair). The swing built over the course of these instructions is 20 in. (508 mm) deep in the seat and 18 in. (457 mm) tall in the backrest, which is comfortable for a fairly tall individual but may not be as comfortable for a person with shorter legs. Choose the materials you will use for building your swing. Cedar, fir, cypress, juniper, or even birch will work equally well as long as the components are thick and strong enough to support the weight they will carry, though redwood would be the best choice for many projects. Avoid using treated yellow pine. Gather all the tools, fasteners, and lumber you need for the project. Here is the list broken down by type; see Things You'll Need for additional dimensions and sizes. Tools : Circular saw, jigsaw, hammer, tape measure, square, and drill with bits Fasteners : Wood screws, eye bolts Lumber : Fifteen 1x4 in. (25.4x102 mm) boards as long as the width of your swing; one 2x6 in (51x152 mm) board that is 8 feet (2.4 m). (2.44 m) long. Set a table up to work on. A pair of metal sawhorses with a sheet of plywood work great as a makeshift table, but any flat surface that provides a workspace at a comfortable working height will do. Measure and cut seven 2x4 in. (50x100 mm) boards the length you want the finished swing to be. The 2x4 used in this article is 5 feet (1.5 m) (152 cm) long. Cut these boards to length, being careful to make all cuts square (90 degrees) if you are laying all the boards together to cut them at once. Set blocks on the table to support the boards. Next, attach a stop for keeping them from sliding while you rip them to width. If you have a table saw, you can use this for ripping the slats instead. Rip the cut boards into slats for the seat and back. The seat slats need to be 3/4 in. (19 mm) wide, while the back slats (which support less weight) only need to be 3/4 in. (19mm) wide. For a seat 20 inches (508 mm) deep, you will only need about seat 17 slats (to allow for gaps between slats); for a back 18 inches (457mm) tall, you will only need 15 back slats. If your seat or back will be a different size than the one in this example and you aren't sure how many slats you'll need, make several slats fewer than the total measurement of the space in inches. Aim on the low side for now; you can always rip more later. Drill through each slat, 1 in. (25.4 mm) from both ends, with a 3/16 in. (4.76 mm) drill bit . Later, when you attach the slats to the frame with wood screws, these pre-drilled holes will keep the slats from splitting. You may also want to drill a hole in the dead center of each slat depending on whether or not you think your bench needs a center support. If you're making a short bench and/or working with hardwood, a center support may not be necessary. If in doubt, however, include one. The bench in this tutorial has a center support. Cut either four or six 2x6 in. (51x152mm) back and bottom supports. If your bench only needs outer supports, cut two back- and two bottom supports; if it also needs a center support, cut three of each. The length of the back pieces should equal the desired height of the bench; the length of the bottom pieces should equal the desired depth of the seat. Draw and cut curves into the back and bottom supports (optional). The bench in this example will have gentle curves cut into the bench supports to make the bench more comfortable, not to mention aesthetically pleasing. The amount of curvature depends on your preference, but the seat and back can actually be straight if you prefer. Choose one back support piece, draw the curve freehand with a pencil. Unless the back and bottom supports will be the same length, you will need to do this again with a bottom support piece. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/e\/e5\/Porchswing12_936.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Porchswing12_936.jpg\/448px-Porchswing12_936.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"448","bigHeight":"336","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Cut the marked back support piece with a jigsaw. Leave the narrow end a bit long for trimming to fit the joints together. Next, either trace it onto the other back supports or use it as a jig. Repeat with the bottom support pieces. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/7\/7e\/IMG_2402_182.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/IMG_2402_182.jpg\/448px-IMG_2402_182.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"448","bigHeight":"336","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Cut a miter at the ends of the back and the seat board. This is so the back and seat boards join at the correct angle for the amount of slant (recline) you want your seat to have. You can start by cutting a 45-degree angle into one of the two pieces, then laying it on top of the opposite piece and twisting it until you get the amount of angle you want. When you're satisfied, mark the angle onto the uncut piece by tracing along the edge of the top piece you just cut, then cut along the traced line. Trace the cut edge of the back support piece into all the other back supports and cut them to match, then do the same with the bottom supports. The two angles in all likelihood won't be the same, but it shouldn't matter since they are on the bottom rear of the swing, out of sight. Attach the back supports to the bottom supports. Drill pilot holes for the screws that will join each pair of supports together, then fasten them with 3 / 2 in. (89 mm), #12 gold-plated wood screws. This is a critical connection: since the screws are the only support for this joint, they will have a good bit of pressure in them. Depending on the length of the joint, you might want to insert the two screws at opposing angles. Set the completed support-piece pairs on your table and lay the innermost slat of wood you ripped earlier across them. Make sure you've spaced the supports evenly and oriented all the back supports in the same direction, then screw the central slat into place. Unless you don't mind cutting into the overhang to accommodate the armrests, don't situate your slates so that they overhang both side supports. The armrests will later attach to the side supports, meaning the overhang will just get in the way. Attach the other slats. First, use a framing square to make sure the support pieces are square with the preliminary slat, then screw on the other slats. Place the square along both the preliminary slat and one of the support pieces and measure whether or not they are square. Repeat with the other support pieces as necessary. If necessary, rack the supports (by shifting them sideways) to make a more perfect 90 degree angle. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/d\/d4\/Porchswing26_670.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d4\/Porchswing26_670.jpg\/448px-Porchswing26_670.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"448","bigHeight":"336","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Space additional slats across the seat, leaving a 1/4 in (6.35mm) space between them. (If necessary, rip more slats to get the spacing the way you like it.) You can tack these temporarily or go ahead and fasten them securely, but you may find it necessary to adjust them to get your spacing to work out uniformly. Attaching the top-most back slat and front-most seat slat first before filling in the others might make it easier to keep your frame square. Take care to use the thicker (3/4 in.) strips for the seat, and the 1/2 in. (13 mm) strips for the back. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/3\/39\/Porchswing27_744.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Porchswing27_744.jpg\/448px-Porchswing27_744.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":336,"bigWidth":"448","bigHeight":"327","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Make two armrest supports and armrests. Generally, the armrest should be about 8in (20cm) high and 18-20in (~.5 m) long. Make the armrest supports. Cut two wedge-shaped 2x4 in. (50x100 mm) boards about 13 inches (33 cm) long, tapered from 2 / 4 inches (70mm) on one end to 3/4 inch (19mm) on the other. Make the actual armrests. Cut two more boards 22in (56cm) long, tapered on one end from 1 / 2 inches (3.8cm) to full width in 10 inches (25.4cm) for each armrest itself. Attach the armrests. Locate the height you want the armrest on the back frame, then locate the position you want the support on the seat portion of the frame. Attach these with 3 in. (7.5 cm) #12 wood screws. Fasten through the top of the armrest down into the support board with two more wood screws. Drill a hole through the armrest support and the seat frame for the eyebolt. The eyebolt will attach your swing chain to the swing. Then, drill through the back frame for another eyebolt for the back chain. Screw in the eyebolts, place washers over the backs (to keep the nuts from drawing into the wood frame), and tighten the nuts over the ends with a wrench. Locate the position and height of your swing. Install eyebolts or eye-screws on a solid board for the overhead connection, and measure the length you will need your chains to hang your swing. You may find you need to adjust the chains to get the swing tilted back the proper amount to be comfortable for you.

Measure the space where you want to install your swing. Choose the materials you will use for building your swing. Gather all the tools, fasteners, and lumber you need for the project. Set a table up to work on. Measure and cut seven 2x4 in. Set blocks on the table to support the boards. Rip the cut boards into slats for the seat and back. Drill through each slat, 1 in. (25.4 mm) from both ends, with a 3/16 in. (4.76 mm) drill bit Cut either four or six 2x6 in. Draw and cut curves into the back and bottom supports (optional). Cut a miter at the ends of the back and the seat board. Attach the back supports to the bottom supports. Set the completed support-piece pairs on your table and lay the innermost slat of wood you ripped earlier across them. Attach the other slats. Make two armrest supports and armrests. Drill a hole through the armrest support and the seat frame for the eyebolt. Locate the position and height of your swing.

https://www.wikihow.life/Burn-Fat-Fast

How to Burn Fat Fast

To burn fat fast, try eating at least 3 meals a day to keep your metabolism strong and prevent you from binging when you're hungry. Focus on eating foods high in protein, like lean meats and dairy, and leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach. Additionally, drink at least 8 cups of water a day to help flush out toxins and keep yourself hydrated. You should also attempt to do at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, such as walking or hiking, preferably in the morning to kickstart your metabolism and burn more fat.

Eat regular, balanced meals. It's important to eat regular, balanced meals each day. Skipping meals or going too long without eating can increase your hunger and make it more difficult to stick to your diet plan. Eating regularly helps keep your metabolism fueled appropriately which will help support the reduction of body fat. Some studies show that when you skip meals, you can get too low on nutrients. In addition, you can get too hungry which may cause you to overeat or overindulge. Try to eat at least three meals daily. You may need to add one to two snacks especially if there are more than four or five hours between two meals. Limit your carbohydrate intake. Some carbohydrates are essential to a healthy diet. However, studies have shown that low-carb diets help you burn fat faster than other diet plans. Carbohydrates are found in many different foods. It's best to limit carbohydrates from foods like grains since the nutrients in the grain food group can be found in other foods. You don't run the risk of missing essential nutrients in your diet by limiting this particular group. Focus on high-fiber, nutrient-dense carbohydrates such as fruits, legumes, and vegetables. Avoid canned or frozen products with added sugar or sodium. If you choose to eat grains, choose 100% whole grains over refined grains. Whole grains are a much better source of fiber than refined. In addition, some studies show added heart benefits to diets rich in whole grains. Increase your protein intake. Protein provides your body with energy to help burn calories. A higher protein intake along with a lower carb diet can help you burn body fat faster than other diet plans. Include a source of protein at each meal. One serving is generally about three to four oz or 1/2 cup. Avoid fatty cuts of meat. Choose leaner options (like poultry, low-fat dairy, legumes, or lean beef) whenever possible. This will help your fat intake as well as control your cholesterol. Protein shakes can be an effective way to increase the protein in your diet, but this is typically unnecessary unless you are aiming for large muscle gains. Eat more greens. Green vegetables provide your body with a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. They are very low calories and very high in a variety of nutrients. Dark leafy greens like kale, mustard greens, spinach and swiss chard are high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and a variety of B Vitamins. In addition, dark green vegetables are known to be very high in carotenoids which are thought to be a type of antioxidant that helps block cancer cells. Limit pale colored vegetables like iceberg lettuce, as they contain very few nutrients. Avoid processed foods. When you're trying to lose weight and burn fat at a faster rate, you'll need to cut out some foods that may prevent you from reaching your goal. Processed foods often contain many preservatives and artificial additives in addition to being higher in calories and fat. Take the extra time to prepare your own meals. Not only will you know everything that you are putting in, but you will have control over how it is prepared so as to keep the most nutrients. Drink lots of water. Water is essential to the proper functioning of the body. When quick weight loss is your goal, adequate hydration is key. You need to flush toxins through the body and water is a key ingredient to this process. It also helps your body's natural filter: the liver. The average person should drink about eight to 13 cups of water a day, for a total of around 64 plus ounces. While exercising, it is recommended that you drink an additional two cups of water. This will vary depending on the intensity of your workout. As you increase your workout regimen, you increase your risk of dehydration. Measure your heart rate. While resting, place two fingers on your wrist near the center so that you can feel your heart rate pulse. Use a timer or a clock with a second hand, and count your pulse for 15 seconds. Multiply this by four to get your resting heart rate per minute. Your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) is roughly 220 minus your age. For example, if you are 30 your MHR would be about 190. Your target heart rate while exercising vigorously should be around 70–80% of your MHR. These numbers will help you gauge the intensity of your workouts. Start your routine with a low-intensity exercise. As you are getting started, you will want to ease into your workouts. In addition, studies have shown that you burn the most calories from fat at low-intensity exercises. Try to get 20–30 minutes of lower intensity physical activity in each day. Low intensity workouts will not cause your breathing to increase significantly. If you can easily carry on a conversation, then it's low intensity. Your target heart rate for a low-intensity workout should be around 40% of your MHR. Anything from a brisk walk to mowing the lawn can be a low impact activity. Incorporate these into your daily routine for a week or two before moving on. Include moderate and vigorous intensity workouts. Once you have a week or so of low-impact workouts under your belt, you can start moving a bit faster. Jogging or power walking is a great way to get into a moderate workout. Bicycling on relatively flat terrain is another good way to get moving. Your target heart rate should be around 60% of your MHR. You should start noticing a quickening of breath and sweat after about 10 minutes. Once you start noticing that your moderate workouts aren't pushing your system very hard, you can start ramping up to a more intense workout. Your target heart rate for a vigorous workout should be around 80% of your MHR. Running, cycling hills, rowing, and most competitive sports such as basketball or tennis provide a vigorous workout. Work out in the morning. If you can, try to squeeze in your workout in the morning. Some studies show that you burn more calories from fat in the morning before you've eaten your first meal. Working out in the morning tends to lead to a higher level of consistency in exercise routines. Exercising before the work or school day begins helps keep other obligations from interfering. Many people also find that working out early energizes them for the rest of the day. Exercising too close to bedtime can lead to difficulty falling asleep, as your heart rate will still be elevated. Create a food journal. This journal will track the calories you intake as well as the calories you burn. Tracking these helps guide your diet to maximize your fat loss and may help you stay on track toward your goal. For each day, track what time you eat, what you are eating, and the approximate calories of what you ate. Be sure to note which food groups, if any, dominate your diet. On the same page, note what you did for exercise, how long you did it, and how intense it was. Also, write down the approximate number of calories burned. While each person's calories burned will vary quite dramatically, average rates can be found in the chart here. Keep track of your weight for the day. This will help you track your overall progress and might give you the motivation to keep on going. Consider logging your exercise in this journal as well. Eat mindfully. Taking your time eating, paying attention to your foods and truly enjoying your meals may actually help you eat less. Sometimes, when you eat too fast or are distracted you can overeat. When it's time for a meal or snack, remove all distractions (like TV's, cell phones or computers) and take at least 20 minutes to enjoy your meal. This may help your stomach and brain communicate when you've eaten enough. Eating out of boredom is another common stumble. Try chewing a piece of gum when you're bored to take your mind off of food. Remind yourself that your meal is coming up soon. Avoid snacking while watching TV. TV and processed snacks go together so well, but next time reach for an apple instead of chips. People rarely eat while watching TV because they are hungry, but because they have formed a habit. Work to recognize and break that habit. Avoid midnight snacks. Eating before bed will increase the calories you consume for the day without giving you the opportunity to work them off. What you eat before bed doesn't turn directly into fat, but it will slow your weight loss progress down. Manage stress. Studies have shown that low levels of chronic stress release more cortisol which may make it easier to gain fat tissue and make it harder to lose it. Managing stress is not only good for weight and body fat reduction but also for your mental and emotional well-being. Try journaling, listening to music, talking to a friend or going for a walk to help you de-stress and relax. If you're having a more difficult time managing stress, try seeing a life coach or therapist. These health professionals will be able to give you more directed guidance on stress management. Track your success. Keeping track of how much weight you've lost or how much fat you lost is fun, exciting and can be motivating for you to stay on track toward your goal. Weighing yourself regularly will give you one perspective of your body fat reduction. When you lose body fat, your weight will decrease over time. You can also measure your waist, hips, thighs, and arms to see how much fat you've lost in different areas of your body. You can also keep track of your body fat percentage. Your doctor or a gym staff member can take your body fat percentage and help you keep track of it over time.

Eat regular, balanced meals. Limit your carbohydrate intake. Increase your protein intake. Eat more greens. Avoid processed foods. Drink lots of water. Measure your heart rate. Start your routine with a low-intensity exercise. Include moderate and vigorous intensity workouts. Work out in the morning. Create a food journal. Eat mindfully. Manage stress. Track your success.

https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Getting-Chicken-Pox-While-Helping-an-Infected-Person

How to Avoid Getting Chicken Pox While Helping an Infected Person

To avoid getting chicken pox while helping an infected person, wear a facemask to prevent droplets from their sneezing, coughing, or speaking from entering your mouth or nose, which is how the virus is spread. You should also wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after touching the patient. If possible, keep the patient confined to one room, such as their bedroom, to reduce the chance that the virus will spread. If they do need to leave their room, have the patient wear a facemask to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the house.

Understand how the Chickenpox virus spreads. The virus is highly contagious and spreads in the air through airborne particles that come from the lesions on the skin or from the upper respiratory tract. You can also contract the virus from contact with open lesions when you touch your face, nose, or mouth. The disease takes 10 to 21 days after exposure to develop. From studies of transmission across household members, approximately 90% of people with close contact with infected individuals will develop the disease. The person with varicella is contagious from one to two days before the rash breaks out on the skin and will continue to be contagious until ALL the lesions have crusted over. Some people who get vaccinated may suffer from breakthrough varicella, which is a mild form of the chickenpox that includes a rash of less than 50 lesions and a slight fever. These individuals are also contagious. However, those with breakthrough varicella are only one third as contagious as those who were not vaccinated. Protect yourself from droplet transmission. Take precautions when caring for an individual with chickenpox to reduce the risk of droplet infection. The varicella zoster virus is spread through droplet transmission or from direct contact with the individual or touching objects or clothing that were in contact with the infected individual. Droplets may come from a sneeze, cough, speaking, nasal secretions, and saliva. Wear a facemask to prevent secretions from entering your mouth and nose. A facemask should always be worn before being in the same room with the patient and a new mask should be used each time you wear one. Wear gloves, a gown, and goggles or a face mask if the individual is sneezing, coughing, or producing a lot of nasal secretions. Droplets from a sneeze can travel through the air for up to 200 feet, so it is crucial to protect yourself. Wash your hands before and after touching the patient. You should make sure that you wash your hands before and after touching the patient or after having any contact with the objects, materials, or secretions of the patient. Use soap and warm water to wash your hands. Lather your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. If you need a timer for 20 seconds then hum “Happy Birthday” to yourself twice. Rinse your hands well under warm water and pat dry with a clean towel or use hot air to dry them. Keep the patient confined to one room to reduce the chance that the virus will spread. The patient's bedroom is often the best room. If possible, have the patient use only one of the bathrooms in the home and be sure that no other person in the home uses that bathroom. Have the patient put on a mask when he or she leaves the bedroom to go to the bathroom. Any sneezing or coughing while out of the room may also spread the virus. Use contact precautions for extra protection. Contact precautions include wearing a gown and gloves for any physical contact with the individual or other inanimate objects that may have had contact with the patient. When changing the bed sheets, entering the room, touching the patient, or handling any other objects, make sure that you are wearing goggles, gloves, and a gown. Determine if you have ever had the chickenpox. If you don't remember whether you had the chickenpox or not, you were born after 1980, and you do not have family members who can remember, your doctor can draw a blood titer. This is a blood test that measures the antibodies in your blood for the chickenpox virus. If you were exposed to the chicken pox and had the illness, even if it was a very mild case, then you will have antibodies in your blood that will protect you from getting it again. Decide whether you should have the vaccine. There are some people who should not have the vaccine to protect from chickenpox because of other medical issues. You can discuss your medical history with your doctor to determine if you should not have the vaccine. In general, you should not get the vaccine if you: Have had an allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine Are pregnant Have allergies to gelatin or neomycin Have an immune system disease Have received a high dose of steroids Are undergoing any treatments for cancer with x-ray, drugs, or chemotherapy Have had a transfusion or received blood products within the last 5 months Ask your doctor about getting vaccinated against the chickenpox. Getting vaccinated against the chickenpox can also protect you from contracting the disease. Although most research has been done on vaccinations prior to exposure to the virus, vaccination after exposure does offer some effective protection. However, it is important to get the vaccine within five days of exposure to the illness for best results. If you have not had the chickenpox nor received the vaccination, speak with your physician about being vaccinated. Some people who get the vaccine will get a mild case of chickenpox with fewer blisters than normal and often no fever at all. The vaccine is made from live or weakened viruses. Children get the vaccine at 12-18 months and another dose between 4 to 6 years old. The most common side effects of the vaccine are pain, redness or swelling at the site of the injection. A small percentage of the children and adults who get the vaccine will also develop a mild rash around the spot where the shot was given. Recognize the risks for specific populations of people who get the chickenpox. There are several populations of people who are at higher risk of developing significant complications that can be life threatening. These people include: Newborns and infants whose mothers have not had the chickenpox or the vaccine Adults Pregnant women who haven't had the chickenpox People whose immune systems are impaired by medications People taking steroids People taking drugs that suppress the immune system Be aware of the potential complications associated with severe chickenpox. In some cases, the chickenpox can have serious complications that require emergency medical interventions. Complications from varicella infections include, but are not limited to: Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue Pneumonia Septicemia (infection in the blood) Toxic Shock Syndrome Bone infections Septic arthritis (joint infection) Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) Cerebellar ataxia (inflammation of the cerebellum in the brain) Dehydration Joint infections Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Treatments for the chickenpox are usually supportive and done at home. If you are at higher risk and develop other conditions with the chickenpox, then you may need hospitalization for treatment of the secondary infection and supportive therapy. At home treatments will help the individual to recover more comfortably. Common at home treatments for the chickenpox include: Calamine lotion and colloidal oatmeal baths to help dry out the lesions and relieve the itching. Non-aspirin medications, such as acetaminophen, to relieve fever. Aspirin products have been associated with Reye's syndrome which is a severe disease that affects the liver and brain, leading to death. Antiviral medications for people in a high risk group who may develop secondary infections. Those antiviral medications include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. Know when to seek medical attention. If the individual is being treated at home, it is important to know what situations require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor or take the individual to an emergency room if the individual: Is older than 12 years of age for preventative supportive care Has a weakened immune system Is pregnant Has a fever that lasts longer than 4 days Has a fever above 102 °F (38.9 °C) Has areas of the rash that becomes very red, warm or tender Has an area that leaks thick discolored fluid Has difficulty waking up or appears confused Has difficulty walking Has a stiff neck Has frequent vomiting Has difficulty breathing or a severe cough

Understand how the Chickenpox virus spreads. Protect yourself from droplet transmission. Wash your hands before and after touching the patient. Keep the patient confined to one room to reduce the chance that the virus will spread. Use contact precautions for extra protection. Determine if you have ever had the chickenpox. Decide whether you should have the vaccine. Ask your doctor about getting vaccinated against the chickenpox. Recognize the risks for specific populations of people who get the chickenpox. Be aware of the potential complications associated with severe chickenpox. Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Know when to seek medical attention.

https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-Off-Bold-Text-on-an-iPhone

How to Turn Off Bold Text on an iPhone

Go to the Display & Brightness section of the Settings menu and turn off Bold Text.

Open your iPhone's settings. It's a gray app icon, which contains cogs, and is usually found on one of your home screens. If you do not see it on your home screen, it may be in a folder labeled Utilities. Tap Display & Brightness. It is in the third section of the Settings menu (below "General"). Slide the button next to “Bold Text” to the “Off” position. This will un-bold any text that was bolded by the bold text feature on your iPhone. Doing this will not disable text that is bolded by default, such as the sender's name in Messages. If you want your display to capture more text, you can change your iPhone's font size.

Open your iPhone's settings. Tap Display & Brightness. Slide the button next to “Bold Text” to the “Off” position.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Wrought-Iron

How to Clean Wrought Iron

To clean wrought iron, wipe it down with warm soapy water. Then, rinse the wrought iron off with clean water to get rid of all of the soap. You can let the wrought iron air dry or dry it off with a clean cloth. If your wrought iron has rust on it, use a coarse wire brush or sandpaper to brush it off. For stubborn rust, you may need to use a phosphoric acid cleaner to get your wrought iron looking brand new again.

Clear a space to clean your item. Choose a spot either inside or outside your home that you don't mind getting a little wet and dirty. It should be an area that you'll be able to easily clean up once you're finished. This will be a messy - and wet - process. Fill two buckets or spray bottles with warm water. You'll need to both wash and rinse your wrought iron. One of your buckets or spray bottles will be reserved for just rinsing, and this one will be filled with only water. Be sure that the water isn't too hot. You don't want it to burn your hands when you begin cleaning your item. If you are cleaning large items such as furniture, a bucket may work best. For smaller items, a spray bottle may be more useful. If you are cleaning outdoor wrought iron furniture or railings, it may be easier for you to use a garden hose to rinse these items. If you have access to a hose, you'll only need to fill one bucket with water. Add soap to water. You'll want to use a mild cleanser such as dish soap or a household cleaner to gently clean the wrought iron without damaging it. Be sure to avoid antibacterial soaps or cleansers that contain bleach. Add 1 tbsp. (14 mL) of soap to 1 qt. (946 mL) of water. If using a household cleaner, use 1/4 cup (59 mL) to 1/2 gallon (1892 mL) of water. Use vinegar for a milder cleaning option. If you are cleaning wrought iron that is kept indoors, distilled white vinegar can be substituted for soap. For outdoor items, vinegar may not be a strong enough cleaner to remove the dirt. Add 1/2 cup (118 mL) white vinegar to ⁄ 2 gallon (1.9 L) (1892 mL) of water. Remove non-wrought iron materials from your item. You want your piece to be completely bare so that nothing stands in the way of the cleaning process. Take off all cushions, pillows, and coverings. If your wrought iron item is made out of multiple materials, such as a bench with a wooden seat and iron sides, you may not be able to isolate the wrought iron. If this is the case, clean carefully in the places where the two materials meet. You can also try wrapping the non-wrought iron parts of your piece in plastic wrap. Soak a sponge or washcloth with your cleaning solution. Don't worry about squeezing the excess water from your sponge. You'll want plenty of soapy water to ensure that you reach every nook and cranny of your wrought iron item. If you are using a spray bottle, spray the sponge or cloth with your cleaning solution until it's thoroughly dampened. Remove dust and dirt with the soapy sponge. Wipe the wrought iron in a circular motion, working in small sections at a time, in order to fully clean the item. Re-dampen the sponge or cloth as necessary. Rinse the wrought iron. Dip a clean sponge or cloth into your reserved bucket of water. Wipe the wrought iron again to rinse off the cleaning solution and dirt. Be sure to continue dipping the sponge or cloth in your water bucket to clean the sponge as you rinse the wrought iron. Remember that if you are washing your wrought iron outside, it may be easier to rinse with a garden hose. If the water in your bucket becomes excessively dirty, you may want to dump the dirty water and refill the bucket with fresh, clean water. Allow the iron to dry completely. Outdoor items may be left to dry in the sun. Indoor items should be wiped with a clean, dry cloth to remove all excess moisture. Remove rust with wire brush or sandpaper. Most wrought iron will periodically develop rust. If your item has rusty spots, immediately after cleaning the piece, file down the rust with a coarse wire brush or sandpaper. This restores your product, making it last longer and look like new. Attack stubborn rust with phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid converts rust that you can't remove into iron phosphate, which looks like a hard, black crust. You'll need to leave the acid on the material for a full day in order for this conversion to occur. Phosphoric acid comes in both sprays and gels. No matter which product you use, be sure to protect your hands and face from the material. Use rubber gloves, a mask, and eye protection when applying. Brush away excess flakes. After the acid has had time to penetrate, you should be able to use your wire brush to get rid of the remaining rust spots. At this point, your piece should be rust free. Repeat the cleaning process. Now that all your rust is removed, you'll need to re-clean the item. Repeat steps one through eight from part one. This will ensure that any tiny remnants of rust are removed. Apply furniture or car wax. Once your item is clean and dry again, coat your piece with wax. You can use a clean, dry, soft cloth to apply the product in small circular motions, just as you did with the soapy water. The wax will protect your iron from weather and wear. Let the wax dry. The wax needs to soak into the material, so you'll have to give it ample time to dry completely. Depending on the size of your item, this may take up to eight hours, or overnight. If you're cleaning outside, check the weather before you start the waxing process. You don't want it to rain on your item before the wax is dry. Buff your wrought iron. Once the wax is fully dry, use the reverse side of the soft cloth to polish the iron. Move in the same circular motions you've used to clean and apply wax. Dust your wrought iron regularly. In order to keep your wrought iron in good condition, use a lint-free microfiber cloth or feather duster to remove dust at least once a week. This will cut down on the number of times you'll have to fully clean or sand your items.

Clear a space to clean your item. Fill two buckets or spray bottles with warm water. Add soap to water. Use vinegar for a milder cleaning option. Remove non-wrought iron materials from your item. Soak a sponge or washcloth with your cleaning solution. Remove dust and dirt with the soapy sponge. Rinse the wrought iron. Allow the iron to dry completely. Remove rust with wire brush or sandpaper. Attack stubborn rust with phosphoric acid. Brush away excess flakes. Repeat the cleaning process. Apply furniture or car wax. Let the wax dry. Buff your wrought iron. Dust your wrought iron regularly.

https://www.wikihow.com/Cure-or-Alleviate-Edema

How to Cure or Alleviate Edema

To cure or alleviate edema, which can cause swelling in your hands, ankles, eyelids, or other body parts, take 15 to 30 minute walks several times a day, since sitting still for long periods of time can worsen your edema. You might also benefit from using a stool or pillow to prop up the part of your body that's swelling for about 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. When it comes to your diet, limit your salt intake and seek out foods that contain B-vitamins and iron, such as leafy greens, whole grains, and sea vegetables. If you want to reduce swelling with an herbal remedy, try making tea from a teaspoon of horsetail, parsley, yarrow, nettle, birch tree leaves, or watercress.

Get moving. If you sit still for too long, edema tends to worsen, since the fluids sit stagnant in your body's tissues. Getting some light exercises increases circulation and pumps the fluids back toward your heart, helping the swelling go down. Go for short walks several times a day to get your blood moving. A 15-30 minute walk several times a day or fast walking, if physically able, can help the swelling go down. In between walks, do leg and arm lifts (no weights needed) while you're sitting or lying down. Elevate your legs or arms. Use a stool or pillows to prop up the part of your body that is affected by edema. The body part should be raised to a level slightly above your heart. Elevate the body part for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a day. For severe edema, you may need to keep your body or part elevated while you sleep (a brick or similar wood piece under the foot of the bed might do the trick). Lay on your back and put your legs in the air for 1 to 3 minutes or put your legs up against the wall. Massage the swollen body part. Rub it in a gentle way in the natural direction of the fluid circulation, towards the heart. If you have severe edema, a professional masseur should be engaged to perform the massage type called "manual lymphatic drainage". Reduce your salt intake. Eating a lot of salt causes your body to retain water, making edema worse. Limit your intake of salty foods such as prepackaged snacks, fried food, and fast food. Talk to your doctor about the specific amount of sodium you should be taking in every day. Doing most of your cooking at home instead of eating out is a good way to monitor the amount of salt you take in. Most recipes will still taste great if you reduce the salt by half, or even more. Experiment with your baking and cooking to find recipes that taste good with less salt. Have a healthy diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods can help reduce inflammation. Fish, seafood, fruit, vegetables, nuts, sunflowers, beans, peas, potatoes, almonds, and whole grains are beneficial. Use oils and food that contain omega-3-fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. Eating foods high in B-vitamins and iron can help alleviate edema. Eat leafy greens, whole grains, and sea vegetables. Eat foods that act as natural diuretics, like pumpkin, asparagus, and beets. Try herbal remedies. Scientific studies have revealed that herbs or herbal extracts containing flavonoids may cause a reduction in swelling. Try the following herbal products: Bilberry extract. Use this with caution if you are on blood thinning medications. Dandelion leaf. Grape-seed extract. The following "diuretic" herbs can be made into a tea by the addition of a teaspoon of your chosen herbs to a cup of boiling water: Horsetail, Parsley, Yarrow, Nettle, Watercress, Birch tree leaves. Take care of your skin. The skin on a body part affected by severe edema should receive special care since it's particularly sensitive. Proper cleaning, daily use of moisturizing creams, and proper rinsing of skin injuries are necessary to prevent a more serious skin problem. Wear compression hose or sleeves. They put pressure on your limbs to prevent too much fluid from collecting. Compression garments may be found in most medical supply or drugstores, or you can talk to your doctor about getting one through your insurance. Use an inflatable pump. You may use inflatable garments around the swollen limb as another way to reduce swelling. These are easier to slip on than compression garments, and you have greater control over the pressure they exert. Talk to your doctor about whether using a pump is right for you. Sequential gradient pump therapy is another option in which electric pumps connected to inflatable garments are used to repeatedly and sequentially compress and decompress the swollen limb to aid fluid circulation. Talk to your doctor about taking medication. If your edema doesn't go away on its own when you make lifestyle changes, your doctor may want to prescribe a diuretic to help flush the fluid from your body. Furosemide is the most commonly prescribed drug for treating edema. Get treated for underlying causes. Edema may be caused by pregnancy or certain medications, but there are also many diseases and underlying medical conditions that can cause edema. If you experience edema without knowing the cause, it's very important to get immediate medical attention to determine what's going on. The following serious diseases and illnesses may cause edema: Infection of or injury to blood vessels Kidney, heart or liver disease Brain injury resulting in cerebral edema Allergies

Get moving. Elevate your legs or arms. Massage the swollen body part. Reduce your salt intake. Have a healthy diet. Try herbal remedies. Take care of your skin. Wear compression hose or sleeves. Use an inflatable pump. Talk to your doctor about taking medication. Get treated for underlying causes.

https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Kangkong

How to Plant Kangkong

Kangkong, or water spinach, is an edible plant that requires little maintenance to grow. If you're starting your kangkong from seeds, soak them in water for 1 day, then plant them in starter trays filled with potting mix. Place 1 or 2 seeds per hole and cover them with another thin layer of potting mix. Once they reach 5 inches tall, transplant them in the ground. Alternatively, start your kangkong from cuttings and plant them directly in the ground. Whichever method you use, wait until a few weeks after the last frost when it'll be warm enough to plant them. Plant your seedlings at least 6 inches apart in the soil. Water them generously every 1 or 2 days, since kangkong thrive in moist conditions.

Soak seeds in water a day before planting. This plant loves water, and soaking the seeds ahead of planting will start the germination process. Just place them in a shallow basin with a thin covering of water. You can find kangkong seeds online or at some gardening stores. You'll need at least 10 seeds to get a small crop of water spinach. Plants grown from seeds may not do as well as plants taken from cuttings. They also take longer to get established. Plant the seeds inside in trays to start. Place potting soil in your seedling tray. Create a small hole that's about 0.5 in (13 mm) deep. Drop in 1-2 seeds in each hole, and cover the seeds up with potting soil. The tray should be at least 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) deep so the plant can start developing roots. Transplant the seedlings when they reach 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm). These plants need a decent amount of growth before you move them outside. Once they reach this height, start checking for leaves. They should have 4 well-established leaves before you move them. Start with cuttings from another plant for a quicker method. Wait at least a day after harvesting before you take a cutting. Cuttings should be at least 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long. Place the cuttings in water, stem side down. Leave them in the water, changing it out every day or so. In a couple of days, they should start growing roots. Wait until day 9 or so before you try to plant them. They should have a well-established root system by then. Wait until nighttime temperatures rise above 50 °F (10 °C). This plant thrives in a temperature of 75 to 85 °F (24 to 29 °C). However, it can be damaged if the temperatures drop below 50 °F (10 °C). Make sure your area has warmed up enough before you move your plants outside. Definitely wait until several weeks after the last frost before taking these plants outside. Don't plant your kangkong until the nighttime temperature remains well above 50 °F (10 °C). Dig a small hole with a spade or your hand. The hole should be just big enough to fit the seedling or cutting. You can just use your hand with a gardening glove if the ground is soft enough. If it's not, you'll need to use a small spade to make the hole. Do not put plants closer than about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Plant the seedlings or cuttings. Put the seedling in the hole you've just dug. Fill in the hole with dirt, and pat down the top of the soil. Make sure the plant is solidly in the ground before moving on to the next one. Water the plants thoroughly. These plants thrive on water, so once you get them in the ground, provide enough water to soak the ground. You want to get them well established with plenty of water. You should irrigate this crop every 1-2 days. Sow seeds outside if you prefer. Start with rows that are 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) wide. For every 1 foot (30 cm), plant 6-10 seeds, spreading them out evenly along the row, spacing them out side-to-side as well as lengthwise along the row. Plant the seeds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep, and cover them with soil. Wait until the daytime temperature is consistently over 75 °F (24 °C). Choose a large pot or basin for your kangkong. Kangkong can grow in a pot of water. You can choose as large a pot as you want. However, keep in mind that you need to be able to reach to the middle of the pot to harvest your plants, so keep it under 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m). You'll also want to be able to inspect your plants for diseases, so make sure the pot is small enough for that purpose. Set a steel mesh into the top of the pot. This mesh will hold the cuttings just under the water. That way, they won't sink to the bottom, but they'll still get plenty of water. You can find steel mesh online or at home improvement stores. You'll need enough to stretch across your pot, so measure ahead of time. If your mesh is fine enough, you can actually germinate the seeds on top of the mesh. However, if it's not very fine, you'll need to use cuttings. Pick the Pak Quat or "white stem" variety for your basin. This variety grows best in aquatic situations like a large pot or basin. You might also find it under the name "water ipomea." The other variety, Ching Quat, can also be grown in water, but it can be planted in a garden, as well. Wait until your cuttings have well-established roots. Before putting them in your main growing pot, grow the roots in a cup or pitcher of water. That way, they'll start out happier and healthier in your large pot. Your roots should have about 9 days of growth on them. Place the cuttings on top of the mesh. Set the cuttings in the top of the container. You can prop the cuttings up against each other or even lightly tie a piece of string around them. Eventually, they will stand up on their own when their roots start sinking into the mesh below. Make sure the leaves are above the surface. Fertilize the water. Since you're not growing this plant in the soil, you'll need to provide nutrients. Select a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Use about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of the garden fertilizer per gallon of water in the container. If you're not using liquid fertilizer, mix the fertilizer with a little water before pouring it into the container.

Soak seeds in water a day before planting. Plant the seeds inside in trays to start. Transplant the seedlings when they reach 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm). Start with cuttings from another plant for a quicker method. Wait until nighttime temperatures rise above 50 °F (10 °C). Dig a small hole with a spade or your hand. Plant the seedlings or cuttings. Water the plants thoroughly. Sow seeds outside if you prefer. Choose a large pot or basin for your kangkong. Set a steel mesh into the top of the pot. Pick the Pak Quat or "white stem" variety for your basin. Wait until your cuttings have well-established roots. Place the cuttings on top of the mesh. Fertilize the water.

https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Panic-Attacks

How to Avoid Panic Attacks

While having panic attacks may feel like something you can't control, you can cope with them by finding ways to manage your anxiety and accepting your emotions. If you feel fear building up, take several slow, deep breaths, which can help release tension in your body. Alternatively, try a grounding exercise to help separate yourself from your fear, such as naming all of the colors you can think of. Accept all of your emotions as well, even if they're negative, since seeing your feelings as normal can help reduce your anxiety levels. For example, if something makes you feel anxious, say to yourself, “This emotion is natural, and it gives me important information about how I'm doing.” Remember that regular panic attacks require professional care from a doctor or therapist, so you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options.

Contact your doctor. Panic attacks are not something you should simply try to treat on your own. It is very important to make sure the panic attack is not a medical issue before attempting to treat it. If you do in fact experience panic attacks and not a medical condition, you can begin treatment with a general practitioner or psychiatrist (recommended) who can prescribe medication or suggest natural remedies and nutritional supplements. Early treatment is key to preventing panic attacks. Contact a general practitioner (medical doctor) or psychiatrist to discuss possible medications. Sertraline (a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-SSRI, brand name: Zoloft), Escitalopram (also an SSRI, brand name: Lexapro), and other medications have been indicated in reducing panic attacks. Consider psychological treatment. If your anxiety disrupts your daily life in that you have trouble completing your obligations or interacting socially, it may benefit you to seek professional help. A therapist or psychologist can outline a treatment plan specific to your needs that can include coping methods and techniques. Contact a therapist, social worker, or psychologist for therapy in order to help you learn new techniques to treat your panic attacks. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been indicated as a useful modality for treating panic attacks. CBT is associated with changing your thoughts in order to change your feelings and behaviors. Join a support group. Talking with others who have attacks may help you to feel in control of your condition and lead to helpful panic attack management resources. Group members can share strategies for facing and managing fear and their successes. Professionals with expertise in panic attacks may also be available to speak with you at meetings. Request a list of local support groups from your doctor. Or, locate panic attack support groups in your area by contacting the Anxiety and Depression Association of America via their website or by phone at 1-240-485-1001. There are even internet based treatments for panic attacks that have been shown to be effective. Look for support from family. Ask your family to help you face your fears instead of avoiding them, stay positive with you as you work through your anxiety, and be patient while you confront your disorder. Start by letting your family members know that you suffer from panic attacks and that you would appreciate their support in your recovery. Try being assertive and straight-forward about your panic attacks. You could say something like, "I want to talk to you about a problem I've been having. I have been experiencing panic attacks that are very scary for me. I would appreciate any help you can offer me. I need your support in my treatment of this problem." Realize that trying to avoid the attack is part of the problem. Panic attacks are the result of your body responding to a perceived trauma or threat. However, a pattern of panic attacks occurs due to the individual's anxiety related to the actual panic attack and his fear that the attack will be painful or harmful. This fear leads to increased anxiety, which can trigger another panic attack. Understand that the panic attack will pass and it will not kill you. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based treatment for panic attacks, focuses on changing thoughts in order to alter your feelings (both physiological and psychological) and actions. Ironically, the fear of having a panic attack can lead to more panic attacks. Your fear of having a panic attack is directly related to your thoughts about having an attack. If you change your thoughts to more realistic evaluations, then you can prevent or lessen future attacks by reducing your anxiety and fear. It is important to de-catastrophize the effects of a panic attack. Instead of thinking, “I'm having a heart attack, or I feel like I'm going to die,” change this thought to, “I am okay, I'm just having a panic attack, and it will pass.” Use a panic attack thought record sheet in order to track your thoughts and actively change them in order to reduce future panic. Go to www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/PanicThoughtRecord.pdf. Face your fears. Allowing fears (especially worries about having a panic attack) to build up can increase the severity and frequency of panic attacks. Thus, reducing your fears by facing them head-on could alleviate panic because instead of avoiding the issue you are dealing with it appropriately. This helps to alleviate some of the anxiety that usually builds up and causes an attack. Instead of suppressing your fears or hoping they will go away, deal with them in a straight-forward manner. Label your fear. As you feel fear coming on assign a number to it from 1 to 10. Your fear likely won't stay at a high number for long, so as the number decreases you can feel more relieved. When you fear failure, try new things you've been afraid to do in the past. If you fear social situations, meet new people and accept invitations to parties and gatherings you may have declined in the past. Accept emotions in general. Individuals who experience panic attacks may avoid emotions more often and not accept their feelings as often as those who do not experience panic attacks. Learning to accept your emotions instead of avoiding them could help to decrease the incidence of panic attacks because the more acceptance you have the less fear you might have about getting a panic attack. Since more fear and worry is associated with more panic attacks, less fear (and more acceptance) may help to reduce panic. When you feel a negative emotion - say to yourself, “This emotion is natural, and it gives me important information about how I am doing. It is okay to feel this emotion and I can get through it.” Attempt to be in tune with your emotions (anxiety, panic) instead of avoiding them. Sit with the emotion and experience how it feels in your body and what thoughts you are thinking when you have that emotion. Focus on what you can control. Sometimes we may worry about things we cannot control such as what others say or do, and what might happen in the future. However, thinking about what we cannot control is futile. Worrying about what you cannot control can increase anxiety, so avoiding this can help to decrease the fear and worry that may produce an attack. Observe your surroundings and situation and examine what is actually happening as opposed to what might happen or what you fear might happen. For example: Accept constructive criticism and praise for a job well done rather than worrying about how you could have performed better. Prepare for things that may be out of your control, whether it's a possible illness or a potential disaster. Build positive relationships with others. Let go of what others may think of you and embrace those who spend time with you. Do deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing techniques are crucial to coping with anxiety and reducing panic attacks. When you breathe deeply it can help you reduce feelings of tension, anxiety, and jitters; this is because controlling your breathing reduces your heart rate, blood pressure, and resets your autonomic nervous system. This causes a physiological reaction which makes you feel relaxed. Place yourself in a quiet and safe space. Begin by closing your eyes and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, slowly and deeply. Pay attention to how it feels in different parts of your body each time you let your breath out. Continue this exercise until you feel relaxed. Practice progressive muscle relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a very useful technique to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. PMR reduces feelings of anxiety by lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the brain. PMR is associated with contracting and relaxing different muscle groups throughout your body in a strategic manner. Begin by putting yourself in a safe place. Tense your muscles in your toes for 5 seconds, and then relax the muscles for approximately 15 seconds. Continue tensing and relaxing all the way up your body from your toes to your face muscles. Engage in mindfulness. Mindfulness is being in the here-and-now by focusing your attention on your current feelings, sensations, experiences, and surroundings. Mindfulness helps to reduce anxiety because we are concerned with what is happening right now instead of regretting the past or worrying about possible future events that have not happened yet. Mindfulness relieves anxiety in individuals who experience panic attacks. Start by being in a relaxing environment and trying a basic mindfulness exercise. One exercise is to slowly and very intentionally eat a small piece of fruit; Pay attention to how it looks, feels, and tastes. You can do a mindfulness exercise with any object in the room you are in. Simply look at the object, note its colors, shapes, and your feelings about it. Then touch it and feel its texture. Focus on the object and make any observations you can about it. Utilize grounding techniques. Grounding is called grounding because it helps “ground” us, meaning we can momentarily detach from painful emotions. It is especially useful when we have tried other relaxation techniques that may not have worked as well as we had hoped. Thus, we can healthfully avoid the emotion in the meantime, and come back to it later when it is more appropriate to deal with. One mental grounding exercise it to name all of the states or colors you can think of. A physical grounding exercise is to run cold water over your hands, or take a shower/bath and simply focus on how the water feels over your body. Find other grounding exercises online. Reduce your caffeine and cigarette intake. These stimulant substances may increase the frequency of panic attacks. Instead of drinking something that increases anxiety and can produce panic, try drinking chamomile tea. If you are used to drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages on a daily basis, you can slowly taper your use of caffeine over time instead of quitting cold-turkey. Avoid alcohol and other substances. Substance use disorders are very common in individuals with anxiety or depression. While using substances may seem to relieve your anxiety symptoms in the short term, it does not help to reduce panic attacks in the long term. In fact, some studies suggest that abstinence from alcohol can reduce anxiety. If you have a problem with alcohol or drug use, speak to your doctor. Make sure you discuss the specific drug you use and ask about the possible risks or withdrawal symptoms associated with cutting down your use. Some drugs can be very difficult or deadly to quit (including alcohol, benzodiazepine, and opiates), but a medical professional can prescribe you medication or help you through the detoxification process. Exercise. Consistent aerobic exercise can reduce symptoms of panic. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety because it releases endorphins in your brain which make you feel happy. If aerobic exercise is not your thing, try other cardiovascular workouts such as dance, running, swimming, or jumping rope. Yoga combines stretching, stationary poses and deep breathing exercise. This practice aims to create balance in your body, and is believed to be relaxing and stress-reducing. Ensure you get plenty of sleep. Sleep issues and insomnia commonly occur in individuals who suffer from panic attacks. Being excessively tired can increase anxiety because you need the adrenaline to keep you awake during the day. Additionally, sleep deprivation is associated with high blood pressure. Set a time to go to bed at night and a time to wake up. Make sure you are sleeping a minimum of 8 hours per night. If you have trouble falling asleep, try the relaxation techniques and breathing exercises detailed above.

Contact your doctor. Consider psychological treatment. Join a support group. Look for support from family. Realize that trying to avoid the attack is part of the problem. Understand that the panic attack will pass and it will not kill you. Face your fears. Accept emotions in general. Focus on what you can control. Do deep breathing exercises. Practice progressive muscle relaxation. Engage in mindfulness. Utilize grounding techniques. Reduce your caffeine and cigarette intake. Avoid alcohol and other substances. Exercise. Ensure you get plenty of sleep.

https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Sample-Size

How to Calculate Sample Size

To calculate sample size, first find the population size, or number of people taking your study, and margin of error, which is the amount of error you'll allow in your results. Then, calculate your confidence level, which is how confident you are in percentage terms that your results will fall within your margin of error, and z-score, a constant value linked to your confidence level. Next, specify your standard of deviation, which is the amount of variation you expect in your results. Finally, plug your variables into the standard formula to figure out the sample size.

Know your population size. Population size refers to the total number of people within your demographic. For larger studies, you can use an approximated value instead of the precise number. Precision has a greater statistical impact when you work with a smaller group. For instance, if you wish to perform a survey among members of a local organization or employees of a small business, the population size should be accurate within a dozen or so people. Larger surveys allow for a greater deviance in the actual population. For example, if your demographic includes everyone living in the United States, you could estimate the size to roughly 320 million people, even though the actual value may vary by hundreds of thousands. Determine your margin of error. Margin of error, also referred to as "confidence interval," refers to the amount of error you wish to allow in your results. The margin of error is a percentage the indicates how close your sample results will be to the true value of the overall population discussed in your study. Smaller margin of errors will result in more accurate answers, but choosing a smaller margin of error will also require a larger sample. When the results of a survey are presented, the margin of error usually appears as a plus or minus percentage. For example: "35% of people agree with option A , with a margin of error of +/- 5%" In this example, the margin of error essentially indicates that, if the entire population were asked the same poll question, you are “confident” that somewhere between 30% (35 - 5) and 40% (35 + 5) would agree with option A. Set your confidence level. Confidence level is closely related to confidence interval (margin of error). This value measures your degree of certainty regarding how well a sample represents the overall population within your chosen margin of error. In other words, choosing a confidence level of 95% allows you to claim that you 95% certain that your results accurately fall within your chosen margin of error. A larger confidence level indicates a greater degree of accuracy, but it will also require a larger sample. The most common confidence levels are 90% confident, 95% confident, and 99% confident. Setting a confidence level of 95% for the example stated in the margin of error step would mean that you are 95% certain that 30% to 40% of the total concerned population would agree with option A of your survey. Specify your standard of deviation. The standard of deviation indicates how much variation you expect among your responses. Extreme answers are more likely to be accurate than moderate results. Plainly stated, if 99% of your survey responses answer "Yes" and only 1% answer "No," the sample probably represents the overall population very accurately. On the other hand, if 45% answer "Yes" and 55% answer "No," there is a greater chance of error. Since this value is difficult to determine you give the actual survey, most researchers set this value at 0.5 (50%). This is the worst case scenario percentage, so sticking with this value will guarantee that your calculated sample size is large enough to accurately represent the overall population within your confidence interval and confidence level. Find your Z-score. The Z-score is a constant value automatically set based on your confidence level. It indicates the "standard normal score," or the number of standard deviations between any selected value and the average/mean of the population. You can calculate z-scores by hand, look for an online calculator, or find your z-score on a z-score table. Each of these methods can be fairly complex, however. Since confidence levels are fairly standardized, most researchers simply memorize the necessary z-score for the most common confidence levels: 80% confidence => 1.28 z-score 85% confidence => 1.44 z-score 90% confidence => 1.65 z-score 95% confidence => 1.96 z-score 99% confidence => 2.58 z-score Look at the equation. If you have a small to moderate population and know all of the key values, you should use the standard formula. The standard formula for sample size is: Sample Size = / 1 + [z * p(1-p)] / e * N ] N = population size z = z-score e = margin of error p = standard of deviation Plug in your values. Replace the variable placeholders with the numerical values that actually apply to your specific survey. Example: Determine the ideal survey size for a population size of 425 people. Use a 99% confidence level, a 50% standard of deviation, and a 5% margin of error. For 99% confidence, you would have a z-score of 2.58. This means that: N = 425 z = 2.58 e = 0.05 p = 0.5 Do the math. Solve the equation using the newly inserted numerical values. The solution represents your necessary sample size. Example: Sample Size = / 1 + [z * p(1-p)] / e * N ] = / 1 + [2.58 * 0.5(1-0.5)] / 0.05 * 425 ] = / 1 + [6.6564 * 0.25] / 1.0625 ] = 665 / 2.5663 = 259.39 (final answer) Examine the formula. If you have a very large population or an unknown one, you'll need to use a secondary formula. If you still have values for the remainder of the variables, use the equation: Sample Size = [z * p(1-p)] / e z = z-score e = margin of error p = standard of deviation Note that this equation is merely the top half of the full formula. Plug your values into the equation. Replace each variable placeholder with the numerical values chosen for your survey. Example: Determine the necessary survey size for an unknown population with a 90% confidence level, 50% standard of deviation, a 3% margin of error. For 90% confidence, use the z-score would be 1.65. This means that: z = 1.65 e = 0.03 p = 0.5 Do the math. After plugging you numbers into the formula, solve the equation. Your answer will indicate your necessary sample size. Example: Sample Size = [z * p(1-p)] / e = [1.65 * 0.5(1-0.5)] / 0.03 = [2.7225 * 0.25] / 0.0009 = 0.6806 / 0.0009 = 756.22 (final answer) Look at the formula. Slovin's formula is a very general equation used when you can estimate the population but have no idea about how a certain population behaves. The formula is described as: Sample Size = N / (1 + N*e ) N = population size e = margin of error Note that this is the least accurate formula and, as such, the least ideal. You should only use this if circumstances prevent you from determining an appropriate standard of deviation and/or confidence level (thereby preventing you from determining your z-score, as well). Plug in the numbers. Replace each variable placeholder with the numerical values that apply specifically to your survey. Example: Calculate the necessary survey size for a population of 240, allowing for a 4% margin of error. This means that: N = 240 e = 0.04 Do the math. Solve the equation using your survey-specific numbers. The answer you arrive at should be your necessary survey size. Example: Sample Size = N / (1 + N*e ) = 240 / (1 + 240 * 0.04 ) = 240 / (1 + 240 * 0.0016) = 240 / (1 + 0.384} = 240 / (1.384) = 173.41 (final answer)

Know your population size. Determine your margin of error. Set your confidence level. Specify your standard of deviation. Find your Z-score. Look at the equation. Plug in your values. Do the math. Examine the formula. Plug your values into the equation. Do the math. Look at the formula. Plug in the numbers. Do the math.

https://www.wikihow.com/Alleviate-Tailbone-Pain

How to Alleviate Tailbone Pain

To alleviate tailbone pain, start by applying an ice pack to the area to relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation. You can also take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief. If the pain doesn't ease up after a day or two, it's best to go ahead and see your doctor, since you may have a fracture or cysts around the bone. Your doctor can also suggest further treatment and prescribe stronger painkillers, if you need them.

Visit your physician for an examination. Your doctor will know what to look for when evaluating tailbone pain. He may take x-rays or order CT scans or an MRI. The two most effective tests in diagnosing coccydynia are the injection of a local anesthetic into the tailbone area, to see if that temporarily relieves the pain, and comparing x-rays taken sitting and standing, to see if the coccyx is dislocating when you sit. Your doctor could also look for pilonidal cysts, which are cysts that occur only in the tailbone region, and are caused by infection of ingrown hair follicles. Successful treatment of these kinds of cysts may help relieve pain or remove pain altogether. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms associated with tailbone injury. You will need to visit your doctor for a diagnosis, but knowing the symptoms may help you determine if your tailbone is causing the problem. Identifying symptoms could also give your doctor valuable information. Symptoms of tailbone injury include: symptoms: Pain in the tailbone or coccyx without pain in the lower back Pain when rising from a seated position to a standing position Frequent need to defecate or pain while defecating Relief of pain when sitting on legs or only on one buttock Consider potential causes of your tailbone pain. If you injured your tailbone in some way, tell your doctor about it during your appointment. It may help your doctor to determine the correct treatment for your situation. By some estimates, coccydynia is roughly five times more common in women than it is in men. This may be due to injuries to the tailbone that may occur during childbirth. Ask your doctor about prescription drugs. Some medications may help to alleviate pain in your tailbone. For example, anti-epileptics and antidepressants have been found to be effective at alleviating tailbone pain. Ask your doctor about the possibility of taking one of these medications. Keep in mind that opiates are not typically given unless there is a fracture to the tailbone. If you have fractured your tailbone, your doctor may prescribe a prescription painkiller to help alleviate the pain. An x-ray would be required to determine if you have a fracture in your tailbone. If the pain is due to a soft tissue injury in the area, your doctor may recommend injections around your tailbone to help relieve your pain. Consider surgery if all else fails. Most patients who undergo surgery to relieve coccygeal pain have already tried nonoperative treatments with little effect. Exhaust the nonoperative options before you move on to painful, and sometimes debilitating, surgery. If the pain is severe enough, occurs daily for 6 months or more, and/or it interferes with your quality of life, then request a referral to an orthopedist who specializes in removal of the coccyx. Ice the area. Apply a towel-wrapped bag of ice, an ice pack, or a bag of frozen veggies to your tailbone for 5-10 minutes at a time. This may help to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. For the first 48 hours after an injury to your tailbone, you can apply ice once per hour that you are awake. After 48 hours you may apply ice for comfort, 3-4 times daily in the same manner. Because your tailbone doesn't have a lot of padding over it, you may only be comfortable icing the area for about 5 minutes at a time. Use an over the counter painkiller. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce pain and swelling. These over-the-counter (OTC) products, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be purchased at any pharmacy or drugstore. Take 600 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours, or take 500 mg of acetaminophen every 4 hours. Do not exceed 3500 mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period. You can also try an over-the-counter topical NSAID gel like diclofenac. Just rub a small amount onto your tailbone area 3-4 times a day, or as directed on the label. Correct your posture. Poor posture may be contributing to your tailbone pain. Try to sit upright, with your core engaged, your neck straight, and your back slightly arched. If you get a sharp pain when getting up from a sitting position, lean forward and arch your back before rising. Sit on a cushion. Special cushions, with a section cut out underneath the tailbone, are designed especially for patients with tailbone pain. This may help relieve some of the pain associated with sitting down. It is possible to make your own cushion from a piece of foam rubber. Just cut out a hole in the center so it is shaped like a toilet seat. Cushions shaped like a doughnut are not found helpful by most patients, as they are designed to relieve pressure on the genitals rather than the tailbone. Talk to your doctor about use of a wedge-shaped pillow. Apply a heating pad. Studies show that applying heat to the tailbone area may decrease pain. Use a heating pad up to 4 times per day for 20 minutes each time. Try a warm compress or hot bath if you do not have a heating pad. Plan for a period of rest and recovery. If it turns out that you have a tailbone fracture, there is no cast that can be placed on the tailbone. You will just have to rest and avoid any strenuous activities for about eight to 12 weeks. If you have a physical job, you may need to arrange to take some time off from work while your body heals. Refrain from straining during bowel movements. Some people experience pain while defecating as a result of tailbone pain. Do your best to avoid constipation by getting plenty of fiber and fluids in your diet. If necessary, take a mild stool softeners while your tailbone is healing.

Visit your physician for an examination. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms associated with tailbone injury. Consider potential causes of your tailbone pain. Ask your doctor about prescription drugs. Consider surgery if all else fails. Ice the area. Use an over the counter painkiller. Correct your posture. Sit on a cushion. Apply a heating pad. Plan for a period of rest and recovery. Refrain from straining during bowel movements.

https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Short-Training-Sessions-with-Your-Hunting-Dog

How to Do Short Training Sessions with Your Hunting Dog

To do a short training session with your hunting dog, start by letting your dog smell a training treat like raw meat or cheese and taking it outside. Then, drag the treat around obstacles like bushes and release your dog to follow the scent and find it. Alternatively, you can get your dog accustomed to hunting noises by taking it outside and firing shots when it's far away, since you don't want to startle it. To prepare for hunting, teach your dog to hold prey in its mouth by saying, “Hold” and walking away. If your dog keeps the prey in its mouth, reward it with a treat.

Spend quality time with your dog. Hunting dogs and their owners need to have a special bond that is built on mutual trust and respect. In the beginning, you'll need to start building this bond by spending time with your dog. Pet your pup to make it happy. Show your dog some affection by petting it and spending time with it. Let the dog know it is your companion. Take the dog with you places, like when you go out to run errands, and put a bed for it in your bedroom to sleep in at night. Go on long walks with your dog in new places. Feed your dog regularly. Establish a regular feeding routine for your dog. If your dog learns to rely on you for its meals, it will trust you in other aspects of its life as well. This means that your dog will listen to you more effectively and follow commands, which is a very important skill for hunting dogs to learn. Feed your dog once in the morning and once in the evening, following the advice of your veterinarian. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust how much and how often you feed your dog as it grows. Talk to your veterinarian for assistance creating a meal schedule for your dog. Take your hunting dog on walks. Your dog needs plenty of exercise, especially if you want it to develop into a good hunting dog. Strengthen your bond with your dog by taking it for walks. This will let the two of you spend more time together while also teaching your dog to follow commands – like walking on a leash and following your lead. These skills will be important in the field, so you need to help your hunting dog master them early on. Most hunting dogs need about 30 minutes of exercise every day, depending on the breed. Enroll your dog in an obedience training class. A training class will teach your dog important skills and also provide an opportunity for the 2 of you to bond. It will also help your dog learn to follow your command. Take your hunting dog outside. Let your dog familiarize itself with the great outdoors by taking it outside on short excursions. Let it smell the foliage and run around off leash (if you can allow your dog to safely run off leash). This will help your dog get used to being outside like it will be when you take it on hunting trips later. Try to take your dog specifically to places you intend to hunt so it can get accustomed to the landscape. This will help your dog be less distracted once you actually take it hunting. Take your dog to a variety of landscapes so it gets used to different sights, smells, and sounds. Encourage your dog to swim. When you take a dog hunting, your dog may have to run through some creeks, rivers, or streams – or even swim out into a lake. To help your dog feel comfortable with this, you should encourage it to encounter water from an early age. Teach your dog to swim by taking it to places you can help it learn to swim. Try it at a swimming pool. Teach your dog to swim by holding it while it paddles so its head is above water. Then, slowly let go so your dog starts swimming on its own. Don't push your dog too hard at first. You may need to pick it up and carry it across the water the first few times. Let your dog go at the pace it wants. Teach your dog to go off-leash. Help your dog learn how to go off-leash by training it, teaching it to come, teaching it to stay, and by using positive reinforcement. You'll need your dog to be trained to go off-leash if you want it to work for you as a hunting dog. Buy an appropriate training treat. Use something like a small slab of raw meat, a piece of lunchmeat, or cheese. Let the dog smell the treat and figure out that it wants to eat it. Begin by using a treat on a string. Have someone hold the pup at the far end of your lawn or a large field. Put a long string on the drippy treat. Standing next to the person, let the dog smell the treat. Drag the treat along the ground – around obstacles and under bushes or crops. Make sure the dog can still smell the treat, but have the person holding the leash keeping the dog put. Be careful not to let the dog catch the treat yet; you want to make your dog practice following the scent. Let the dog find the treat. Leave the treat on the ground at the end of the trail, but make sure you remove the string. Come back to the dog and unleash it. Let your dog follow the scent trail until it finds the treat. Once the dog finds the treat, reward and praise it accordingly. Repeat this process. Do this in many short sessions, gradually moving to dry treats as the dog gets better. Frequency is more important than length of the training, as the dog will soon see the pattern and begin to expect, then know, what to do next. Focus on short, but frequent, training sessions that will help your dog learn how to react and what you expect from it. Get your dog used to gun sounds. When your pup is very young, try to make as much noise around it as possible. Start slow so as not to scare your pup and build your way up to louder noises. You want your dog to grow up being accustomed to a variety of loud noises, voices, and sounds. Once you are ready to start training your dog in the field, start bring the gun with you on walks. Then move forward to firing some shots while the dog is far away in the field looking for birds. Continue this practice while you keep getting closer and closer to the dog. Begin with a quieter handgun (like a.22 pistol) and then work your way up to a louder shotgun. Make sure your dog sees your guns on a regular basis before you start training it for hunting. You don't want the first association the dog has with the gun to be the loud noise it makes. Introduce your dog to live birds. Let your dog smell a box with a live bird in it so he gets used to the smell. Then, take the bird out of the box and hold it while your dog sniffs and inspects it. When your dog seems comfortable around the bird, let the bird go so your dog can chase it around and grab it with its mouth. Keep your gun on you when you do this so your dog starts to associate your gun with birds. Teach your dog hunting specific commands. One of the most important commands to teach a hunting dog is the “hold” command. This means that the dog should hold the prey in its mouth until you come to physically remove it. When your dog picks up a bird and holds it in its mouth, reward it with a treat. Tell your dog to "hold," and give it a treat if it keeps the bird in its mouth. Eventually, practice walking away from your dog while it's holding the bird so your dog gets used to holding game when you're far away. If your dog keeps holding the bird as you're walking away, reward it with a treat. Once he has mastered this command, you can switch to “release” which will indicate to your dog that you want it to drop the prey out of its mouth. Be sure to use positive reinforcement while teaching this command.

Spend quality time with your dog. Feed your dog regularly. Take your hunting dog on walks. Enroll your dog in an obedience training class. Take your hunting dog outside. Encourage your dog to swim. Teach your dog to go off-leash. Buy an appropriate training treat. Begin by using a treat on a string. Let the dog find the treat. Repeat this process. Get your dog used to gun sounds. Introduce your dog to live birds. Teach your dog hunting specific commands.

https://www.wikihow.com/See-Things-from-Different-Points-of-View

How to See Things from Different Points of View

To see things from a different point of view, listen carefully when other people are sharing their stories or experiences. This can help you understand their feelings and motivations, which may help you become more open-minded. To help broaden your understanding even more, attend the religious service of a different faith, or spend time volunteering to assist people who come from a different background than you.

Listen to other people carefully. Immersing yourself in someone else's story or experiences while talking one-on-one is another great way to experience a different point of view. When you talk with other people, listen closely. Make sure to listen even if you don't share their perspective and disagree with what they have to say. Instead of thinking about how you're going to respond, just focus on what they're saying. Make eye contact and face the person while they are talking. Ask them questions if anything they say is unclear to you. Let them know you are listening by rephrasing or echoing what they say now and then. Respect people's differences. Recognizing that not everyone shares your beliefs and values may help you to see things differently. Whenever you interact with someone else, take a moment to remind yourself that they may not share your worldview, and that is okay. This may make it easier for you to gain new perspective from your interactions with them. For example, you might have a coworker who performs a specific task different than you do. Their approach might be very different, but still effective. Or, you might have a classmate whose family observes a different religion than your family, so their holiday celebrations might be nothing like your family's celebrations. Read or watch videos about other people’s experiences. Exposing yourself to other people's personal experiences through books, articles, blogs, and videos may help you to gain insight into what it is like to be another person. Try reading or watching videos about people who are different from you to expose yourself to a totally new perspective. For example, you can read biographies, watch documentaries, or read/watch interviews with people who are from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, religions, or political parties. Volunteer to help other people. Exposing yourself to different people's experiences, especially people who are less fortunate than you, is another great way to gain perspective. By seeing how someone else has struggled and noting the things they lack that you often take for granted, you may start to view the world very differently. For example, if you volunteer at a local homeless shelter and hear about some of the stories people there share about sleeping on the street, then you might begin to feel fortunate for having a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in each night. Attend the religious service of a different faith. Exposing yourself to a different belief system may help you to see things from a very different perspective and gain insight into other people's experiences. Try attending a religious service at a church, synagogue, mosque, or another place of worship in your community. Aim to choose a service that will present beliefs that differ from your own. Make sure that you are respectful when you attend the service. You may even want to contact them ahead of time and ask if visitors are welcome. Try saying something like, “I am curious about your religion. Are visitors welcome to attend services?” Spend some time living and working in a foreign country. For a drastically different perspective, try traveling to a different country and living there for a few weeks or months. This will expose you to new sights, people, and experiences. You could even get a job or volunteer there for an immersive experience in a different place. As you immerse yourself in a new culture, try to avoid judging or making assumptions. Instead, go in with a curious mindset and try to learn as much as you can. Look into organizations that sponsor volunteers to travel to different countries, such as the Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, or even a local religious organization. Learn the difference between empathy and sympathy. Although these words sound similar and their meanings are often confused, they are quite different. Sympathy means that you feel sorry for someone or pity them. Empathy means that you have put yourself into the other person's situation and considered how they must feel. For example, you might feel sympathy for a homeless person on the street because their situation seems unpleasant. However, if you feel empathy for this person, you would have imagined what it is like to sleep on the hard concrete, wear the same clothes each day, beg people for money to buy food, and worry about your safety day after day. Think about how you would feel in another person’s situation. If you meet or hear about someone who has experienced a hardship, imagine how you would feel in that person's situation as a way to build empathy for them and gain a new perspective. How might you feel if you had gone through a similar experience? Why might you feel that way? What might you do to cope with the experience? For example, if the person describes what it was like to be discriminated against as an African American living in the South during the 1960s, you might imagine that they felt anger, frustration, sadness, helplessness, and hopelessness about being treated poorly due to the color of their skin. Aim to treat others how you would like to be treated. Thinking about how you would want someone to talk to you or help you if you were in their situation may also help you to develop empathy and understand other people's perspectives better. Imagine what someone could say or do to help you feel better if you were in that situation, then act accordingly. This may be as simple as acknowledging someone's pain and offering to help in any way you can. For example, if someone has just experienced the death of their family pet, then they might appreciate it if you said, “I'm so sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do to help?” Imagine that someone said or did something mean-spirited to you. Considering the worst-case scenario may also help you to see someone else's perspective. Think about what someone could say or do to really hurt you. Then, use this experience to help you understand the hurt feelings that someone else has experienced. This will help you to build empathy and expand your perspective. For example, if someone called you an insulting name, how might you feel? What would your reaction be? Use these feelings to help you understand how someone who is different from you might feel and react if they were treated poorly. Identify people who you find it hard to show empathy for. There might be just a handful of people who you have a hard time empathizing with, such as an annoying classmate or a nosy family member. It is also possible that you find it difficult to empathize with an entire group of people, such as women, Protestants, or Canadians. Try to pinpoint all of the people who you have trouble empathizing with, even if your list is long. Write out your list of people and/or groups of people. Ask yourself why it is difficult for you to empathize with certain people. Now that you have identified the groups or individual people you cannot seem to empathize with, consider why that is. What is it about these particular people or groups of people that seems so alien? Do they make you feel angry, afraid, confused, or something else? Write out your reasons for feeling alienated from these people or groups of people. Look for common ground with people who are different from you. After identifying your reasons for feeling alienated, try to think about what you have in common with that person or group of people. Even if your lives seem completely different, you probably share some important goals and interests. For example, you might feel very different from someone who comes from a different country and religious background than you, but you probably both care about your friends and families, appreciate basic human rights and freedoms, and want to be successful. Focus on these common interests and this may help you to feel empathy for the person or group of people you have identified.

Listen to other people carefully. Respect people's differences. Read or watch videos about other people’s experiences. Volunteer to help other people. Attend the religious service of a different faith. Spend some time living and working in a foreign country. Learn the difference between empathy and sympathy. Think about how you would feel in another person’s situation. Aim to treat others how you would like to be treated. Imagine that someone said or did something mean-spirited to you. Identify people who you find it hard to show empathy for. Ask yourself why it is difficult for you to empathize with certain people. Look for common ground with people who are different from you.

https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Treat-Tumors-in-Guinea-Pigs

How to Diagnose and Treat Tumors in Guinea Pigs

To diagnose and treat tumors in guinea pigs, examine your guinea pig's body closely for raised or rounded lumps. Next, brush your fingers through its fur to feel for any abnormal growths on the skin. If you notice any lumps, or symptoms like hair loss, labored breathing, or loss of appetite, take your guinea pig to a vet right away for an evaluation. The vet will biopsy any abnormal growths to find out if they're malignant or benign. Then, depending on the results, your vet may recommend medication or surgery to treat your guinea pig's tumors.

Locate any lumps on its body. Take your guinea pig out of its cage and look over its body for any raised, rounded lumps. Use your fingers to brush through its fur to feel for any abnormal growths on its skin. Lumps that appear on the belly of your guinea pig may be mammary tumors. They can appear on male or female guinea pigs. If your guinea pig has cysts on their back or on the flanks of their legs, they may have trichofolliculoma, which affects their hair follicles. Not all lumps on your guinea pig's body are tumors, but you should get them checked out by a vet regardless. Evaluate the condition of the lump. Use a ruler to measure the size of the tumor. Identify any unusual characteristics, such as discoloration, bleeding or oozing, or hair loss. These details can all help your vet make a diagnosis. If the lump is painful or uncomfortable, your guinea pig may start chewing it. This may cause bleeding. If the lump is filled with pus, it may be an abscess and not a tumor. Watch for signs of sickness. Some tumors cannot be seen or felt from the outside of the body. These internal tumors might cause other symptoms, however. Keep an eye out for: A lack of appetite. Labored breathing. Bloody urine. Hair loss. A scruffy or ruffled coat. Examine your guinea pig often. Even if your guinea pig is OK now, remember that tumors can grow quickly, and your guinea pig might hide its symptoms at first. Check it for lumps at least once a week. If you notice a new growth, get it checked out by your vet. Make an appointment as soon as possible. Tumors can grow quickly, so it is important that you make an appointment as soon as possible if you suspect something is wrong. Since surgery is usually needed to remove tumors, only your vet can treat your guinea pig. If your vet determines it is an abscess and not a tumor, they may drain it and treat it with antibiotics instead. Some growths, such as lipomas, may not be harmful, and your vet may recommend no treatment. Get a biopsy to learn if it is malignant or benign. A benign tumor can be removed with surgery while a malignant tumor may spread. To do a biopsy, your vet will take a sample of the tumor. They will examine it under a microscope to see if it is cancerous or not. If your vet determines that your guinea pig has cancer or a malignant tumor, euthanasia may be recommended. There are few treatments that can treat cancers in guinea pigs. Get an ultrasound or X-ray to identify internal tumors. Your vet may do an ultrasound or X-ray on your guinea pig to see if it has ovarian cysts, uterine tumors, or masses on their spleen. Undergo tests to check the internal organs. There are many other tests that your veterinarian may perform to see what type of problem your guinea pig has. These might include: Complete blood count: The vet will draw blood from the guinea pig to count red and white blood cells. This can help diagnose leukemia, a cancer of the blood. Urinalysis: Your vet will test your guinea pig's urine. This can help them find bladder and uterine cancers. Lymph node sampling: The vet may take a sample of the fluids from the lymph nodes to see if there is an infection there. This can help diagnose a type of cancer called lymphosarcoma. Budget for the surgery. Guinea pig surgery can be expensive. While costs vary from vet to vet, you may pay up to $800. You will also have to pay for the antibiotics afterwards. Get a quote from your vet so that you can start saving your money. Ask your vet if you should feed your guinea pig before surgery. Your vet may tell you to not feed your guinea pig anything for a certain number of hours before you bring it in. However, make sure you're not fasting your guinea pig overnight before the surgery. Bring some of your guinea pigs food to the surgery so he can start eating immediately upon recovery. Take the guinea pig in for surgery. Your guinea pig will undergo anesthesia before the tumor is removed. Afterwards, the vet will stitch up the wound with sutures, staples, or adhesive. The stitches will need to remain until the incision heals, which can take up to two weeks. Spay or neuter your guinea pig if it has a reproductive tumor. Any reproductive tumors, such as ovarian or testicular tumors, will require your guinea pig to be spayed (if it is female) or neutered (if it is male). The affected reproductive organ will be removed. Even if your guinea pig does not have a reproductive tumor, spaying and neutering can prevent these tumors from developing. Give your guinea pig its medication. Your vet may prescribe a medication for your guinea pig to take while it recovers. This may be used to prevent infection, reduce pain, or treat an underlying problem that caused the tumor in the first place. Antibiotics that your veterinarian may prescribe include Bactrim or Baytril. Some painkillers that you might be given include a narcotic like tramadol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Metacam. Not all vets will prescribe medicine following surgery. Always follow your veterinarian's recommendations. Never give your guinea pig your own medication, as most human medicines are toxic to guinea pigs. Watch for problems after the surgery. You can keep your guinea pig in its cage with other guinea pigs after surgery. They may be a little lazy, but it should still be eating and moving. Keep it clean and warm as it recovers. When picking up your guinea pig, take care not to touch their stitches. Call your vet if: The guinea pig is not eating or drinking. It appears to be in pain. It is chewing or pulling out its sutures. The wound is bleeding or oozing.

Locate any lumps on its body. Evaluate the condition of the lump. Watch for signs of sickness. Examine your guinea pig often. Make an appointment as soon as possible. Get a biopsy to learn if it is malignant or benign. Get an ultrasound or X-ray to identify internal tumors. Undergo tests to check the internal organs. Budget for the surgery. Ask your vet if you should feed your guinea pig before surgery. Take the guinea pig in for surgery. Spay or neuter your guinea pig if it has a reproductive tumor. Give your guinea pig its medication. Watch for problems after the surgery.

https://www.wikihow.com/Have-Clean,-White-Teeth

How to Have Clean, White Teeth

If brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes still isn't helping your teeth look clean and white, try replacing your toothpaste with a more effective alternative, like fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you floss daily, and rinse with mouthwash for 30-60 seconds every day. For an even whiter look, use whitening products like over-the-counter whitening strips.

Brush two to three times daily. You should brush your teeth every morning and every evening before bed. You can also add a third toothbrushing in the middle of the day if you like. Brushing your teeth properly will help prevent tooth and gum disease and can help remove food stains, leaving you with a healthier, cleaner, whiter smile. The acid in certain foods, such as sodas or some types of fruit, can weaken your teeth's enamel temporarily. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating these foods before brushing your teeth. Otherwise the brushing may have an unhealthy effect on your teeth, weakening your enamel and leading to damage and wear. Brush for two to three minutes each time. Brushing has to be done methodically and carefully, for at least two to three minutes each time. Do not skimp on your brushing. If you have a hard time brushing for the right amount of time, play one of your favorite songs that lasts two to three minutes. Use this as a guide to make sure you are brushing for long enough. Angle the toothbrush toward where your tooth meets the gum, at about a 45 degree angle, in order to get the best result. Brush the inside, outside, and chewing surface of each tooth. Make sure you brush your tongue and the back teeth as well as your front teeth. Clean the surface using rotational movements (clockwise and counter-clockwise motions) and avoid back-and-forth movements. Use fluoridated toothpaste. Toothpaste with fluoride is the most effective way to clean your teeth. There are other toothpaste options, but a fluoridated toothpaste will prevent cavities more effectively than non-fluoridated toothpastes. Replace your toothbrush every three months. Old toothbrushes become less effective at cleaning your teeth. Be sure that you buy new, fresh toothbrushes every three months or so. Replace your toothbrush when you notice the bristles bending or fraying, or after a tooth extraction or oral surgery. You should also replace your toothbrush after illness to prevent the spread of disease. Keep your toothbrush cool and dry to make sure that it doesn't breed harmful bacteria or mold. Store your toothbrush upright so that it can be exposed to the air and dry properly. Buy toothbrushes with soft bristles. Soft bristles are the best way to clean teeth without damaging them. Scraping too hard against the teeth can hurt or scratch the enamel: be gentle with your teeth. Use a soft touch and a soft brush to keep your teeth as clean, healthy, and strong as possible. An electric toothbrush can also help you to brush effectively and can reduce tooth and gum disease. Even better, invest in a sonic toothbrush. This type of electric toothbrush vibrates at a high speed, which allows fluids (saliva, water, toothpaste) to reach places where the bristles cannot. Floss daily. Flossing helps to remove plaque and bacteria that your toothbrush might miss. Flossing requires using a special waxed thread to clean tight spaces in between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. You can floss before or after brushing: both methods work well. Use at least 18 inches (46 centimeters) of floss each time. Be sure that you are using fresh, clean floss on each tooth. Floss gently in between every tooth. Do not skip any teeth, even if they are hard to reach (such as your back teeth). Make sure you gently scrape the floss against the gumline to remove plaque and buildup. Special flossing tools can be purchased to help those who have trouble getting a good angle. Use a mouthwash with fluoride once a day. If you would like to provide your teeth and mouth with extra protection, you can use an over-the-counter mouthwash. Make sure the mouthwash has fluoride. Most people do better with an alcohol-free mouthwash. Rinse your mouth with the mouthwash for 30–60 seconds using a swishing motion. Then spit out the mouthwash into the sink: never swallow mouthwash. If you find it hard to remove plaque from your teeth, try using a chlorhexidine mouthwash for two weeks, then take two weeks off. This can increase antibacterial protection and prevent brown chlorhexidine stains from forming. Irrigate your mouth to remove food particles. Some people have a particularly difficult time getting their teeth cleaned. If you have trouble brushing and flossing effectively, you can buy a special tooth irrigator to assist you, such as a water pick. These tools spray water in a directed way into your mouth, removing harmful food particles and keeping your mouth clean and healthy. See your dentist. Make sure your mouth is healthy before undertaking an at-home whitening regime. Your dentist will be able to tell you whether your teeth are discolored because of disease or other underlying causes. Your dentist should also be able to recommend safe, effective products that will not irritate your mouth. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use whitening products. Purchase whitening products with peroxide concentrations of 10% or less. Over-the-counter whitening products are all designed to place bleaching agents on the teeth for several minutes at a time in order to lift stains. Use products with a low concentration of peroxide to get a whitening effect without causing irritation. Look for products that have been approved by your national dental association to ensure their safety. Whitening products take several forms including: Strips. These strips adhere to your teeth, allowing your teeth to be exposed to whitening agents. Paint-on products. By brushing the whitening product on your teeth before bed, you can lift stains overnight. Gel trays. You fill a tray molded to your teeth with the whitening gel. You bite the gel tray and hold it in your mouth for the recommended amount of time in order to expose your teeth to the bleaching agent. You can also purchase an accelerator light, which uses LED lights to activate the gel and enhance the whitening process. Follow package instructions carefully. Each whitening product works slightly differently. Some have to be removed after just a few minutes. Others can be left overnight. Read instructions on the package carefully to make sure that you receive the maximum benefit without causing harm to your teeth or mouth. It is essential that you do not leave products on for longer than the recommended time. Avoid acidic foods and drinks after use. These can hurt the effectiveness of the whitening product as well as irritate your sensitive teeth. Repeat whitening treatments as necessary. Don't whiten your teeth too often: simply use top ups as needed every six months or so. Brush with a whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes are a gentler, slower way to whiten teeth. They will not work as quickly or effectively as other whitening methods, though they can be a great way to preserve your desired shade of teeth once you've achieved it in other ways. Whitening toothpastes do not have bleaching agents, but rather use polishing and other chemical reactions in order to remove surface stains. Look for a whitening toothpaste that has been approved by the American Dental Association or other professional dental group in order to ensure that the product is safe and effective. Consider a toothpaste with baking soda. Some studies show that toothpastes with baking soda might be more effective at cleaning teeth than other toothpastes. Baking soda has also long been used as a natural tooth-whitening agent; however, baking soda can also irritate your delicate skin around your mouth. A toothpaste with baking soda should have concentrations low enough that you will receive some benefit from the baking soda without experiencing irritation. Be cautious about natural tooth-whitening treatments. There isn't solid data about the usefulness or safety of natural tooth-whitening treatments; however, some individuals report positive effects from their use. Be wary when using these treatments, and it is a good idea to talk to your dentist first. These natural treatments include the following: Applying mashed strawberries to your teeth. Strawberries have an enzyme, malic acid, that supposedly brightens teeth. Mash fresh strawberries and apply them to your teeth. Let them sit for five minutes and then rinse. Using lemon juice and baking soda. Shake a small amount of baking soda onto a thick fresh lemon wedge. Bite into this wedge and let it sit for a few minutes, until the fizzing subsides. Note that strawberries and lemons both contain citric acid, which can cause your teeth to become weaker and predisposed to developing sensitivity. Use natural tooth whitening treatments with caution, and be suspicious of their claims. See your dentist twice a year. In order to take care of your mouth, see your dentist every six months. Your dentist will be able to give you advice about how to care for your teeth and will let you know if she sees any developing tooth problems. Moreover, your dentist and hygienist will give you a deep cleaning and air polishing of your teeth. A professional deep cleaning will help remove surface stains from your teeth as well as unsightly plaque: even without bleaching treatments, your smile will likely be brighter after a visit to a dentist. You might need to see your dentist more often than twice a year if you experience bleeding gums, tooth pain, or tooth discoloration. If these symptoms occur, make an earlier dental appointment to nip tooth decay in the bud. Ask about professional whitening treatments. Professional tooth-whitening treatments often work more quickly than at-home care; however, these treatments can be pricey and are not often covered by dental insurance. Most professional whitening treatments involve a higher concentration of a bleaching agent along with lasers or other lights to aid the whitening process. Because you will undertake these treatments in a dental office, your gums will be protected from the harsh chemicals used on your teeth. Be aware that some studies show that at-home treatments can be just as effective as professional treatments, though they do take longer to cause a positive benefit. Make sure you see only licensed dental professionals. Most developed nations have licensing systems to ensure that practicing dentists and other dental professionals are safe and responsible. Only see a fully licensed dental professional who has been trained in a certified dental program. Do not go to a salon or kiosk for tooth-whitening treatments: these might be less expensive but also carry risks. Don't eat snacks between meals. Food particles on your teeth help to lead to tooth decay and staining. For this reason, you want to minimize the amount of time that your teeth are exposed to foods. Try to avoid snacking in between meals in order to maximize the amount of time that your teeth are totally clean and particle-free. Eat less than 50 grams of sugar each day. Sugar is one of the most harmful substances for teeth, and it can hurt your mouth's health and appearance. Try to avoid products with added sugars to minimize tooth decay and staining. This includes table sugar as well as other sugars including: molasses, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, and brown sugar. Your teeth and body will thank you. Be aware of "fermentable carbohydrates," which begin to break down and turn to sugar in your mouth instead of further down your digestive tract, which can be very damaging to your teeth. Fermentable carbohydrates include crackers, bread, bananas and breakfast cereals as well as the more obvious things like cookies, cakes, and candy. Drink sugarless beverages. Beverages sweetened with sugar are particularly bad for teeth. Sipping sugary drinks exposes your teeth to harmful substances for long periods of time, hastening tooth decay. Even healthy-sounding beverages like sports drinks are chock full of sugar. Find unsweetened alternatives to sugary beverages. Plain tap water (which is treated with fluoride in most U.S. cities) is the healthiest beverage option for your mouth health and the best option for your teeth's appearance. Beware of drinks like: Sweetened teas and coffees Soda Cocktails and other alcoholic beverages Energy drinks Sports drinks Fruit juices Limit tooth-staining drinks. Coffee and tea can cause unsightly yellow stains; however, coffee and tea are not too bad for your mouth health as long as you drink them without sweeteners. Still, if you want your smile to remain bright and white, try to keep your consumption of tooth-staining drinks to a minimum. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh foods with a lot of fiber and water, such as fruits and vegetables, provide your body with essential nutrients for keeping your teeth strong. They also help naturally clean and brighten your teeth. Apples, carrots, and celery can all help remove food particles from your teeth while nourishing your mouth health. Limit citrus fruits, but don't cut them out completely. They contain citric acid, which can damage tooth enamel, but they also help create a slightly alkaline pH environment in your mouth (the bacteria that cause tooth decay thrive in acidic environment). Try to eat citrus foods as part of a larger meal instead of on their own. Don't eat sticky foods unless you rinse afterwards. Sticky foods remain on your teeth longer, leading to additional staining and decay. Stay away from sticky, chewy foods like raisins, chewy granola bars, candy bars, and caramel. Try to find healthy, natural alternatives instead; however, if you absolutely must eat sticky foods, be sure that you rinse your mouth with water soon afterwards: this can minimize the damage they can cause. Eat low-fat dairy and nuts. Low-fat dairy foods (such as yogurt and hard cheeses) and nuts help clean teeth naturally. The proteins and calcium in dairy can help strengthen teeth as well. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, try some plain yogurt and a handful of almonds instead. Do not eat before bedtime. Plaque development is the worst overnight, when your saliva flow is reduced. Refrain from eating or drinking anything (other than water) in the hours before bedtime. Not eating before bedtime can also reduce the likelihood of acid reflux, which hurts your tooth enamel. Quit tobacco products. Tobacco products can stain teeth and lead to mouth diseases, including mouth cancers. Cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco are all harmful to your smile. Quit them if at all possible, or at least cut down considerably in order to have clean, white teeth. Try sugar-free gums as an alternative to cigarettes. Gums without sugar can help clean and brighten your mouth.

Brush two to three times daily. Brush for two to three minutes each time. Use fluoridated toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three months. Buy toothbrushes with soft bristles. Floss daily. Use a mouthwash with fluoride once a day. Irrigate your mouth to remove food particles. See your dentist. Purchase whitening products with peroxide concentrations of 10% or less. Follow package instructions carefully. Brush with a whitening toothpaste. Consider a toothpaste with baking soda. Be cautious about natural tooth-whitening treatments. See your dentist twice a year. Ask about professional whitening treatments. Make sure you see only licensed dental professionals. Don't eat snacks between meals. Eat less than 50 grams of sugar each day. Drink sugarless beverages. Limit tooth-staining drinks. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't eat sticky foods unless you rinse afterwards. Eat low-fat dairy and nuts. Do not eat before bedtime. Quit tobacco products.

https://www.wikihow.life/Clean-Eyeglasses

How to Clean Eyeglasses

To clean your eyeglasses, rinse them under a gentle stream of warm tap water, making sure to wet both sides of the lens, the frame, and the earpieces. Use your fingertips to carefully lather your entire glasses with lotion-free dish soap, and clean the nose pads with a cotton swab or soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse away the soap residue, then shake off any excess water and dry your glasses with a microfiber cloth. If you're in a hurry, spray the lenses of your glasses with eyeglass cleaner and wipe them with a microfiber cloth.

before cleaning your glasses. Wash your hands Wash up for 20 seconds with lotion-free soap and warm water. You'll need to make sure your hands are free of dirt, grease, and grime before cleaning your glasses. Rinse your glasses with warm water. Run a gentle stream of tap water over your glasses. Rotate them to wet both sides of each lens, the frame, and earpieces. Hot water is bad for lenses, protective coatings, and the frame, so be sure to use warm water. Use your fingertips to carefully lather them with dish soap. Add a small drop of lotion-free dish soap to each lens. Make gentle circular motions with your fingertips to lather the soap over both sides of your lenses, around the frame, and down each earpiece. Clean the nose pads with a cotton swab or soft toothbrush. Use gentle pressure as you scrub the nose pads and the crevices between them and the frame. If you're using a toothbrush, make sure it's soft-bristled. Avoid grazing the lenses with the toothbrush, even if it's soft-bristled. If there's buildup between the lenses and the frame, use a cotton swab to loosen it. Wash away soap residue. Hold the glasses under running water again to rinse away soap suds. Make sure you've washed away all traces of soap, as any remaining residue will cause smudges. Shake off excess water and make sure your lenses are clean. Turn off the water, then give your glasses a careful shake. Check the lenses to make sure they're clear, and wash them again if you see any smudges. Dry your glasses with a microfiber cloth. Fold a clean microfiber cloth over both sides of a lens. Make soft circular motions with your fingertips to dry it, then repeat on the other lens. Wipe the nose pads, then use the cloth to dry and polish the frame and earpieces. Spray your glasses liberally with eyeglass cleaner. Spray cleaners for eyewear are available at pharmacies and eyewear retailers. If you can't get to a sink and dish soap, spray your glasses with lots of cleaner to flush away dirt and debris. Some eyewear manufacturers and optometrists also offer free samples of spray cleaner. If you have anti-reflective (AR) glasses, make sure the cleaner you use is labelled safe for the AR coating. Wipe away the cleaner with a microfiber cloth. After spraying your glasses, carefully wipe off excess cleaner. Fold the cloth over both sides of each lens, and make gentle circular motions with your fingertips to absorb the cleaner. Then use the cloth to dry the frame and earpieces. Touch up your lenses with disposable eyeglass wet wipes. You can also clean your glasses with wet wipes when you're on the go. Gently blow on them to remove dust and dirt, then gently rub them with a wet wipe using soft, circular motions. After cleaning them, dry them with a microfiber cloth. Only use wet wipes labelled for cleaning eyewear. If you have AR glasses, make sure your wipes are labelled safe for the AR coating. Clean your glasses every morning and as needed. Make cleaning your glasses part of your morning routine. Check them regularly throughout the day, and touch them up as needed. Keeping your glasses clean and smudge-free will help prevent scratches. Store your glasses in a hard case when you’re not wearing them. Don't just throw your glasses in your purse or bag, and avoid placing the lenses on hard surfaces. When they're not in use, keep them in a hard-shell case. The case should fit your glasses; if it's too big, they might roll around and get damaged. Wash your microfiber cloths frequently. Microfiber cloths collect grease and dirt, so you should wash yours after 2 or 3 uses. Some cloths are machine washable, so check the care instructions and launder them as directed. If your cloth isn't machine washable, or if you're not sure, hand wash it with dish soap, wring it out, then let it air dry. Don’t wipe your glasses with your shirt, tissue, or a paper towel. Shirts, tissues, and paper towels contain fine debris that could scratch your glasses. Additionally, never wipe your glasses when they're dry, or you'll risk damaging them. Exhaling on your glasses and wiping them with your shirt might be convenient, but that's a quick way to scratch up your lenses.

before cleaning your glasses. Rinse your glasses with warm water. Use your fingertips to carefully lather them with dish soap. Clean the nose pads with a cotton swab or soft toothbrush. Wash away soap residue. Shake off excess water and make sure your lenses are clean. Dry your glasses with a microfiber cloth. Spray your glasses liberally with eyeglass cleaner. Wipe away the cleaner with a microfiber cloth. Touch up your lenses with disposable eyeglass wet wipes. Clean your glasses every morning and as needed. Store your glasses in a hard case when you’re not wearing them. Wash your microfiber cloths frequently. Don’t wipe your glasses with your shirt, tissue, or a paper towel.

https://www.wikihow.com/See-How-Many-Songs-Are-on-Your-iPhone

How to See How Many Songs Are on Your iPhone

Go to the About section of the General menu in your Settings, and check the number listed next to Songs.

Open your iPhone’s Settings. This is an app on your device that you can open by tapping the gray cogs icon on one of your home screens. If you don't see this icon, check the Utilities folder. Scroll down and tap General. You may have to scroll down 1 or 2 screens to find it. Tap About. Find the number next to “Songs. ” The number listed here is the total count of songs on your iPhone.

Open your iPhone’s Settings. Scroll down and tap General. Tap About. Find the number next to “Songs.

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-TSA-PreCheck

How to Use TSA PreCheck

Using TSA PreCheck gives you a few extra perks when going through airport security, like leaving your shoes on, going through shorter lines, and keeping liquids in your bag. When you arrive at the airport, go to the line marked TSA PreChecked passengers. You'll need to show your boarding pass that has the TSA PreCheck approval on it. In this line, you won't have to take off a light jacket or shoes and you can keep liquids and electronics in your bag. If you want to apply for TSA PreCheck benefits, you'll have to be a U.S. citizen and fill out an online application. Be prepared to provide personal information, like your name, address, date of birth, employment history, and travel history. You'll also have to pay a non-refundable 85 dollar fee every 5 years. Once you've been initially approved, you'll have to schedule an in-person interview at an enrollment center, bring your passport with you for verification, and be fingerprinted.

Enter the security line marked for TSA PreCheck passengers. Once you get to the security line at the airport, look for the lane labeled “TSA Pre✓®.” This line should have fewer people and shorter waits as you move through security. You will be required to show your boarding pass that has the TSA PreCheck approved indicated on it. Keep your light jacket and belt on. Passengers who are TSA PreCheck approved are not required to remove most articles of clothing during the screening process as they pass through security. This means that you can leave your light jackets and belts on. In some cases, passengers may be asked to remove their belt, usually if it has large metal pieces on it. You will also be asked to remove heavy jackets, but you can keep light jackets and sweaters on. Keep your shoes on. As part of the TSA PreCheck benefits, you won't be required to remove your shoes in most cases. This can be a real time saver when you are hurrying to catch a flight. If your shoes have large metal pieces on them, you may be asked to remove them. But most people with TSA PreCheck approval are allowed to keep their shoes on. Refrain from removing items from your luggage. In the TSA PreCheck line, you are not required to remove liquids from your bag or to take out electronics, even laptops. You can keep all of these items in your luggage and simply send your bag through the X-ray machine as is. Cooperate with any additional requirements. Remember that even TSA PreCheck approved passengers are still subject to additional screening if deemed necessary by TSA personnel. You should always follow any instructions given to you by TSA employees, even if you have TSA PreCheck status. You may be asked to submit to additional X-ray screening of your luggage, body scans, or even physical pat-downs. Verify that you are a US citizen or resident. The TSA PreCheck program is only offered to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. You must be able to prove your residency standing during the application process. Canadian citizens who have enrolled in the NEXUS program are also eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits. Citizens of a few select countries may also be eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits by signing up for the Global Entry program. This program is open to citizens of India, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and Mexican nationals. Fill out the online application. To begin the application process, visit the TSA's PreCheck application webpage at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/programs/precheck. Click on “Apply Now” and start filling out the form. You will be asked to provide some personal details – like your name, address, birth date, recent employment history, and recent countries visited. Make sure that the name you enter on the application matches your name on your passport exactly. If the two differ in any way, you won't be able to use the TSA PreCheck option. As part of the application process, you'll be asked to pay a non-refundable $85 US fee. This fee must be paid every 5 years when you renew your approval. Pass TSA requirements for eligibility. The TSA has a few other requirements that must be met for PreCheck approval. Some possible reasons applications might be denied include: Incomplete or incorrect application information Violations of transportation security rules Disqualifying criminal offences Schedule an in-person interview at an enrollment center. Once you've been initially approved via the online application process, you'll need to schedule an in-person interview. Visit the TSA's online Enrollment Center Locator at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/locator to find a location near you. At the appointment, you'll need to bring your passport and any other requested documents. The TSA agent will perform a background check, fingerprint you, and ask you a few straightforward questions about your personal details during the interview. Add your Known Traveler Number to your frequent flier accounts. Once you pass the in-person interview and you've been approved for TSA PreCheck, you'll be given a Known Traveler Number (KTN) which functions as your TSA PreCheck identifying number. You should add this number to your frequent flier accounts with every airline you use. Then your TSA PreCheck approval will automatically be added to each ticket that you buy from approved airlines. If you book a flight with a carrier who participates in TSA PreCheck, but you don't have a frequent flier account with them, remember to add your KTN to your ticket order before checkout. This will ensure that you still get approved for TSA PreCheck. If you don't include your TSA PreCheck number when you book an airline ticket, you won't be allowed to use the TSA PreCheck benefits at the airport. Check to see what airports offer TSA PreCheck benefits. The TSA PreCheck program was initially available at just 4 U.S. airports, but has expanded to 160 airports nationwide in recent years. If you want to see which airports offer these services, visit the Transportation Security Administration's Airports and Airlines website at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/map. The website has an interactive map that allows you to view TSA PreCheck airport locations by state.

Enter the security line marked for TSA PreCheck passengers. Keep your light jacket and belt on. Keep your shoes on. Refrain from removing items from your luggage. Cooperate with any additional requirements. Verify that you are a US citizen or resident. Fill out the online application. Pass TSA requirements for eligibility. Schedule an in-person interview at an enrollment center. Add your Known Traveler Number to your frequent flier accounts. Check to see what airports offer TSA PreCheck benefits.

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Boss-Fired

How to Get Your Boss Fired

If your boss repeatedly crosses the line at work, you can carefully build a case against them to try to get them fired. Before bringing your case to human resources, document everything that you consider to be an infraction. Use a journal to write down the date, time, and details of each incident. If you can gather other types of evidence, like receipts, records, or emails, then that can strengthen your case. Once you've gathered all of your notes and evidence, type up your findings in a neat, cohesive report. Then, request a meeting with your human resources manager to present your report. If you aren't comfortable talking to your company about your boss, take your case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is a federal organization responsible for employment and anti-discrimination laws.

Reflect on your boss’ actions. What is your boss doing that would warrant being fired? Having a bad personality cannot be grounds to get someone fired. Talk to a trusted colleague or friend about your feelings. Do everything you can to avoid your boss from finding out your thoughts. Consider looking for another job. It may not be worth the hassle and emotional strain of building a case against your boss. Observe how your boss treats employees. Your boss is on grounds of being dismissed if they disrespect or steal from employees. There needs to be several employees to testify to the truth of this type of disrespect. Inappropriate behavior towards employees includes the following: Racial or sexual discrimination/“jokes.” Do you work for someone who calls you by a derogatory name or constantly cracks inappropriate jokes about your race, gender and/or religion? These actions are against the law and are concrete grounds for termination. Abusive behavior. Does your boss drag you into their office (or out in the middle of the office) to scream and berate you when you make an error? There is no room for abusive behavior in the workplace. Everyone should be treated with equal respect. Unfair management practices. Does your boss play favorites and leave out opportunities for other staff members? Are you and your co-workers given the shaft for certain promotional advances when you are more qualified than the boss's pet ? Intellectual theft, or stealing another employee's ideas and passing them off as their own. Stealing material items isn't the only grounds for theft. Stay organized. In your planning stages, you must take preventative steps in ensuring no one finds out what you are doing. Many corporate computers run on a shared network that your boss has access to. Plan to keep all documentation off your work computer and out of sight. Depending on how bad the case is, which it should be bad since you're making a case, you'll need pen and paper, an audio recorder, video camera, and a folder or journal. You may not need the video camera since most offices contain a security camera that could be used in an investigation. Document the behavior. Prove that the boss needs to get the heave ho to human resources by meticulously documenting every infraction as they occur. Obtain a journal and write down the time, date and incident following the encounter. Gather factual evidence such as receipts or records that demonstrate the boss doing something wrong or illegal. Get photographic or video evidence by placing a hidden camera in the area of the office where you could nab evidence. Keep in mind, however, that taping someone against their knowledge may not be used in a court of law. Having this type of documentation on video or photos will support other evidence. Practice stealth. You shouldn't bring a tripod and professional grade equipment into work. If you need to photograph or record an incident, use a smartphone. You have all the spy capabilities in your pocket. Smart phones can record video, audio, and take pictures. Write down details of your boss' actions in private. Identify a trusted co-worker(s). It is vital that you find someone you can trust and include them in on your plan. Take the divide and conquer approach because two heads (or more) are better than one. For example, if you've been the butt of numerous sexist jokes, confide in a trusted same sex colleague to see if they have experienced something similar. Start the conversation off without admitting anything. You need to determine if your colleague also feels the same way about your boss as you do. If they admit uneasy feelings about your boss, proceed in including them into your scheme. Be the best employee you can be. Don't spend all your time invested in your clandestine operation. It is important that you still do the job you're suppose to do. Make it your mission to be the best employee you can be so no one can point the blame on you. You may even have a boss that decides to try to dig up some dirt on you. Don't lose sight that you are being paid to work and must fulfill this commitment you made. Be prepared for the worst outcome. Even in a slam-dunk situation where the boss has been blatantly violating numerous codes or violations, your manager may not go away overnight, or even at all. The boss may know what you've been up to, or may suspect it, so they may have already tried to cover evidence. In the worst situation, your boss may cook up a story that would prove you wrong. In the event that it looks like your manager may not get fired, consider if you can stand to continue work at the company. Look for other jobs. While being on top of your current position will help secure your job, you might be happier working somewhere else. Search the internet for job listings calling for your position. Even if you choose not to apply, having the options could ease the tensions at work. It never hurts to look and you might find a better opportunity. Finalize your evidence. Assemble a professional report that includes documentation and factual paperwork to back up your claim. Don't hand the higher ups or human resources a fist full of scribbled cocktail napkins and sticky notes. Transfer all of your written notes into a typed and cohesive report. If you have receipts, video, or photographic evidence, present them in a binder or folder. Making a professional presentation will send a message that this is serious and goes well beyond your boss having a bad day. Request to meet with your HR. Meet with the human resources manager to present your report. When you make your appointment, let the manager know why you want to meet with them. Ask about confidentiality and whether you can submit your findings anonymously. Try to leave emotions at the door when you meet with human resources. Try to divorce yourself from the situation and approach it as if you are presenting the material on the behalf of someone else. Don't name call. During the meeting, be as professional as possible. Never say that your manager is simply a “bad person” or “evil,” but instead lay out the facts and your report in a calm, confident manner. Thank the human resources manager for their time. Be gracious with regard to the meeting. Be sure the human resource professional knows that you are thankful that your case is being heard. Follow the chain of command. If you work for a smaller firm that doesn't have a HR department, you'll need to talk to the next best thing. In many cases of a small, family run business, there are slim chance of your boss being fired. Most businesses consist of this type of structure: top-level managers, middle managers, first-level managers, and then the staff. A likely hierarchy of a small company may be the owner, manager, department manager, supervisor, and then the staff. Talk to someone in the chain of command who is higher than your boss. If your supervisor is repeatedly out of line, try talking to their manager. When dealing with smaller firms, you must insist that your hearing be confidential. Contact the EEOC. If you're uncomfortable talking to your company about a boss, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This is a federal organization responsible for employment and anti-discrimination laws. This can include incidents of managerial abuse that violates anti-discrimination laws. You'll need to file a claim with the EEOC that will include the research and reports you've prepared. The EEOC will contact you with further steps that may include a lawsuit against the company.

Reflect on your boss’ actions. Observe how your boss treats employees. Stay organized. Document the behavior. Practice stealth. Identify a trusted co-worker(s). Be the best employee you can be. Be prepared for the worst outcome. Look for other jobs. Finalize your evidence. Request to meet with your HR. Follow the chain of command. Contact the EEOC.

https://www.wikihow.com/Pull-Your-Foreskin-Back-Without-Pain

How to Pull Your Foreskin Back Without Pain

To pull your foreskin back without pain, try to gently guide the foreskin back onto the shaft of your penis during a shower or bath since the warm water will soften your skin. If your foreskin feels too tight, then work on slowly pulling it back a little bit every day for several weeks to allow the skin to stretch. If stretching doesn't help or you experience recurring redness, swelling, or discharge, then talk to your doctor about treatment options, which may include steroid cream, antifungal cream, or antibiotics.

Pull back your foreskin slowly and gently. In most cases, it's easy to use your fingers to slide your foreskin back and expose the head of your penis. If, however, you have a tighter-than-average foreskin, slide the foreskin back more slowly and deliberately to reduce pain and the chance of injury. If you feel pain (not just discomfort), stop trying to pull back your foreskin. You could cause a painful tear in the sensitive skin. Move on to trying methods to loosen the foreskin. A tight foreskin is known as phimosis. It's common for a child's uncircumcised penis to have this condition, but it typically goes away during adolescence. It can be an issue for adults as well, though. Retract your foreskin during a shower or bath. The warm water and moist air will help to soften and loosen the foreskin. Work slowly and carefully with your fingers to guide the foreskin back onto the shaft of your penis. As a teen or adult, you should clean beneath your foreskin every time you bathe anyway. Pull the foreskin back, use a mild soap and lots of water to gently clean the area, rinse thoroughly, and guide the foreskin back into position. Pull a tight foreskin back incrementally over days or weeks. If you cannot retract your foreskin fully without pain because it's too tight, try slowly stretching it out. On the first day, gently pull the foreskin back until you feel discomfort. The next day, gently pull it slightly further back, and keep doing so once or twice per day for up to several weeks. Over time, this process will typically stretch out the foreskin and make it easier and more comfortable to pull back. Try more intensive foreskin-stretching exercises if needed. If the incremental approach isn't helping enough, try a more dedicated stretching program. If the ring at the tip of your foreskin is tight, use your fingers to gently stretch it wider for 20-30 seconds at a time. If other areas of your foreskin are tight, you can similarly use your hands to gently stretch those areas. Do the exercises for 3-5 minutes, up to 3 times per day. It could take several weeks to a year or more to get noticeable results. You might also consider using a “flesh tunnel,” which is a silicone ring you place under the top ring of your foreskin for a few hours at a time each day. The device will help to incrementally stretch the foreskin. Stop the exercises if you experience pain, redness, or bleeding. Talk to your doctor for guidance. Consult your doctor for guidance on a painfully-tight foreskin. If stretching exercises don't help you retract your foreskin without pain, or if you deal with recurring redness, swelling, or discharge, talk to your doctor. They'll present you with appropriate medical treatment options. They may prescribe a topical steroid cream for you to apply daily. Topical steroids help to stretch the foreskin. If you have an infection because of a tight foreskin, you might be prescribed an antifungal cream or antibiotics. In some cases, circumcision—the surgical removal of the foreskin—might be recommended as the best option. For adults, this is typically a quick procedure done under local anesthesia, with a healing time of 1 to 2 weeks. Do not force a child's foreskin to retract. At birth, and often for several years afterward, most or all of the foreskin usually remains attached to the head of the penis. The foreskin normally detaches from the penis tip (so that it can be retracted) by age 5, but it can take until puberty in some cases. Until that time, don't try to forcibly pull back a foreskin that is still attached. Forcibly pulling back an attached foreskin will cause a great deal of pain and can lead to skin tears, bleeding, scarring, and possibly nerve damage. Don't worry about cleaning under a pre-pubescent child's foreskin. Before puberty, you generally don't need to pull back the foreskin to clean beneath it, even if it has detached from the head of the penis. Cleaning the outer surface of the penis regularly with a mild soap and clean water is sufficient under normal circumstances. If smegma buildup is causing odor or discomfort, and the foreskin has detached so that it can be pulled back, go ahead and start cleaning beneath it. If smegma buildup is creating discomfort under a foreskin that hasn't yet detached, talk to a doctor for guidance. Teach the child to keep the foreskin clean once it can be pulled back. Once the foreskin detaches from the head of the penis and can be retracted, demonstrate proper cleaning technique to the child. Advise them to slowly pull back the foreskin to expose the penis head while bathing or showering. After they pull back the foreskin, instruct them to gently wash the penis head and underside of the foreskin with a mild soap, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water, and slide the foreskin back into place. Consult a doctor if the foreskin won't retract after the onset of puberty. If a child's foreskin is still connected to the penis head after puberty begins, or if they can't retract it because it's too tight (phimosis), make an appointment with their doctor. The doctor might recommend foreskin stretching exercises, prescribe topical steroids, or simply advise a wait-and-see approach. In rare cases, circumcision may be recommended as the best course of action for severe phimosis. Get medical help if your foreskin is stuck in a retracted position. If you pull back your foreskin, exposing the head of your penis, but then are unable to slide the foreskin back over the head, you have a condition called paraphimosis. Because the retracted foreskin can cut blood flow to the tip of the penis, you should call your doctor or visit the hospital right away. Taking a warm shower may help soften and expand the foreskin enough to solve the problem, but don't be too forceful in trying to slide the foreskin back in place. You could cause the skin to tear or other damage. Wash your penis regularly to prevent a buildup of smegma. Smegma is nothing more than a buildup of shed skin cells underneath the foreskin. If you don't clean beneath your foreskin regularly, though, the smegma can develop a mucus-like texture and unpleasant odor, and can harbor bacteria that can lead to infection. Teens and adults should clean beneath their foreskins every time they bathe or shower, using a mild soap and plenty of rinsing water. Younger children generally don't have to worry about smegma buildup, unless there is inflammation or discharge. In this case, see a doctor. Use topical medications to treat redness or inflammation. If you experience redness and/or inflammation on the underside of your foreskin, the tip of your penis, or both, a fungal infection is the most likely culprit. Apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream to the area (as per the product instructions) to see if the issue clears up within a few weeks. If OTC antifungals don't help, or if the area becomes more painful, inflamed, or swollen, contact your doctor.

Pull back your foreskin slowly and gently. Retract your foreskin during a shower or bath. Pull a tight foreskin back incrementally over days or weeks. Try more intensive foreskin-stretching exercises if needed. Consult your doctor for guidance on a painfully-tight foreskin. Do not force a child's foreskin to retract. Don't worry about cleaning under a pre-pubescent child's foreskin. Teach the child to keep the foreskin clean once it can be pulled back. Consult a doctor if the foreskin won't retract after the onset of puberty. Get medical help if your foreskin is stuck in a retracted position. Wash your penis regularly to prevent a buildup of smegma. Use topical medications to treat redness or inflammation.

https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-a-Wall

How to Paint a Wall

Before you start painting your wall, remove outlet covers and light switches as well cover adjacent surfaces with painter's tape. Then, apply a primer to help the paint stick as well as cut down on the number of coats you'll have to apply. Wait 4 hours for the primer to dry, then paint the trim by hand. Once the trim is finished, use a wide roller to cover the middle section of the wall. Wait 2-3 hours for the paint to dry before applying another coat.

Remove all accessories from the wall. Start preparing the wall by locating any knobs, outlet covers, light switch faceplates, thermostats and other items along the wall and take them off. Starting with a smooth surface with no obstructions will help the project proceed much more efficiently. Most accents can simply be unscrewed and lifted off. Be sure to keep track of small pieces like faceplates and separator, and put the screws back where they belong. Any accents that you're unable to remove can be covered with painter's tape later on. Clear your work area of furniture. Find a place to store nearby furniture, appliances and other belongings until you've wrapped up your project. If space is an issue, you can also simply scoot these items away from the wall you'll be painting. Be sure to cover any remaining furniture with a drop cloth or sheet of plastic to keep it protected. Paint can be virtually impossible to get out of upholstered fabrics, so it's a good idea to safeguard your furniture even if you think it's a safe distance away from the wall. Unplug all electronics and relocate them somewhere where they won't be damaged. Lay down a drop cloth. Stretch out a canvas drop cloth or plastic tarp that will help catch spills and splatters once you begin working. For maximum protection, the drop cloth should extend all the way to the base of the wall. Pass up flimsy floor coverings like newsprint or bedsheets. These materials are usually too thin to stop wet paint from soaking through. There's no need to cover the entire floor. Just slide the drop cloth along as needed as you make your way from one end of the wall to the other. Clean the surface of the wall gently. Wet a clean cloth or sponge with warm water and a mild liquid detergent, then wring out the excess moisture. Run the cloth over the walls from top to bottom to clear away dust and other debris that can interfere with the paint's ability to set up properly. Use a light touch—you just want to clean the wall off, not totally soak it. A small amount of diluted TSP (trisodium phosphate) will be useful for removing stuck-on dirt and grime from walls in dirtier areas like the kitchen or basement. If there are any cracks or holes in the wall, fill those in before you prime or paint the wall. You may also want to sand the wall before you paint it. This will help the paint adhere to the wall. Cover adjacent surfaces with painter’s tape. Painter's tape can be used to protect the trim at the top and bottom of the wall and around doorways. It will also come in handy for putting over accents that are a pain to remove, like dimmer switches. Make sure to line up the edges of the tape precisely, or you could end up with a lopsided paint job. You can pick up painter's tape from any home improvement store, as well as most major supermarkets and pharmacies. Look for tape in different sizes. This will give you more flexibility over how to apply it and provide more coverage to keep paint from accidentally getting on other parts of the wall. Buy a bucket of primer. For most jobs, a standard white primer will be your best bet. That way, the new paint color will be able to stand out. A gallon of primer should be enough to take care of most painting projects. Always use a primer when painting interior walls. Not only will it help the paint stick, it will also cut down on the number of coats you have to apply to achieve the same depth of color. Primer is especially useful when painting a lighter color over a darker color. If you're repainting a wall and you're using a paint and primer in one, you probably don't need to use a separate primer. However, if you're painting a large section of wall that's never been painted, prime it first. Roll the primer onto the wall. Apply an even coat from the floor to the ceiling, covering the broadest areas near the center of the wall. The base coat doesn't need to be too thick—as long as it's smooth and consistent, the paint will sit easily on top of it. Try not to leave any bare patches, as this type of inconsistency can affect the final color of the paint. Use a handheld paintbrush to fill in the gaps. Work the primer into tight crevices and other hard-to-reach areas with the tip of the brush. Pay particular attention to corners, alcoves and the spaces around the trim and wall fixtures. Try to match the thickness of the rolled sections as best you can. Apply the primer using long, smooth strokes, then smooth it out by brushing it in multiple directions. Remember to use your painter's tape for more precise lines and angles. Let the primer dry completely. Give the base coat about 4 hours to set. It should be dry to the touch before you begin applying subsequent coats of paint. It may be more convenient to apply the primer in the afternoon or evening, then wait until the following day to tackle the paint. Painting over wet primer can cause clouding and smudging, effectively ruining the coat. Keeping your work area ventilated by opening a window or running an overhead fan or air conditioner will help the primer dry faster. Choose the right type of paint. When it comes to picking an interior paint, you have many options available to you. Consider not only color, but also the desired texture and finish you want for the wall. Pastels, for instance, can be used to brighten up the half-bath or sitting room, whereas darker shades can add a sense of size and dimension to communal areas like the kitchen. Stock up on enough paint to be able to finish the project without running out. A single gallon is usually enough to cover about 400 square feet of wall space. Mix the paint thoroughly. Use an electric paint mixer or handheld stirrer to blend the paint to an even consistency, even if it was mixed when you purchased it. This will prevent the oils and pigments from separating, result in better coverage and a smoother finish. Once the paint reaches a uniform texture throughout, it will be ready to go. To cut down on sloshing and splattering, pour the paint into a larger bucket before you begin mixing. Mixing your paint prior to starting a big project is essential, whether you're using a brand new can or one that's been sitting on the shelf for a while. Begin painting at the trim by hand. Dip the tip of your paintbrush about 2" into the paint, letting the excess drip off. Then, brush the paint onto the wall with the angled edge of the brush, starting at one of the room's upper corners. Follow along the painter's tape and work your way down using smooth, linear strokes until you've completed the outer perimeter of the wall. Painting 2-3” outward from the trim will allow you to easily go over the rest using a roller. Pause periodically to rewet your brush when your strokes become faint. It's a good idea to start by cutting in around the edges because this is the most difficult part of painting. If you do it first, you're still fresh, so you're less likely to make mistakes. Paint the interior of the wall. After you've painted the wall's outer edges, use a wide roller to take care of the middle. The best method for painting with a roller is to apply it in alternating "M" or “W” pattern, working back and forth over the same section until it's completely filled in. You can then move onto another section, repeating the same pattern. A extended roller handle can help you reach the upper sections of the wall nearest to the ceiling. Make sure to overlap the edges while painting. Only use as much paint as you need to cover the primer. Oversaturating your roller can result in unsightly drips in the top coat. Apply additional coats. Depending on how deep you want the new color to come out, you can roll on a second or even third coat of paint. Paint these follow-up coats the same way, starting with the outer edges of the wall and working your way inward. Be sure to wait about 2-4 hours between coats to give the fresh paint time to dry. Most walls shouldn't require more than a couple coats of paint. However, extra coats may be useful for walls with coarse textures or when painting over a darker shade. To avoid leaving obvious seams, make sure you go over the entire wall, including the area around the trim. Allow the paint to set up overnight. Take one last look over the wall to check for thin spots, lumps, drips or other problem areas before calling it a day. Be prepared to give the top coat of paint at least twice as long to dry as you did the primer. In the meantime, try to resist the urge to touch the paint in order to prevent accidental smudges. It usually takes somewhere between 24-48 hours for interior paint to cure completely. Don't forget to remove the painter's tape once you're satisfied with the look of the wall.

Remove all accessories from the wall. Clear your work area of furniture. Lay down a drop cloth. Clean the surface of the wall gently. Cover adjacent surfaces with painter’s tape. Buy a bucket of primer. Roll the primer onto the wall. Use a handheld paintbrush to fill in the gaps. Let the primer dry completely. Choose the right type of paint. Mix the paint thoroughly. Begin painting at the trim by hand. Paint the interior of the wall. Apply additional coats. Allow the paint to set up overnight.

https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Telugu

How to Learn Telugu

To learn Telugu, learn a few basic phrases so you can practice speaking, like “namaskaram,” which means hello, and “Naa paeru,” which means my name is. You should also set aside 30 to 60 minutes of time to memorize 30 new Telugu words each day. If this is difficult for you, try writing out words on flashcards and carrying them with you or posting them around your home so you can see them as you work. Once you begin to build your vocabulary, try expanding it by labelling things in your house in Telugu, or reading Telugu children's books. Additionally, consider paying for an online Telugu learning course, which will give you access to study materials or a tutor. After a month or 2, ask friends who speak Telugu to have a conversation in front of you and try to follow along, or watch an online Telugu video.

Work on some common Telugu nouns. By mastering essential everyday terms like "food" and "water," you'll begin to identify the subject matter of Telugu conversation or writing. Use Telugu workbooks or websites build a list of common nouns, such as the following: He - అతడు (athadu) She - ఆమె (aame) Boy - అబ్బయి (abbayi) Girl - అమ్మయి (ammayi) House - ఇల్లు (illu) Water - నీరు/నీళ్ళు (neeru / neelu) Food - తిండి/కూడు/అన్నం (tindi / koodu / annam) Add some common Telugu verbs to your vocabulary. Learning commonly-used verbs will help you to identify the action being described in Telugu sentences. Combine this with your growing vocabulary of common nouns, and you'll be on your way to understanding basic Telugu. For instance: Go - వెళ్ళు (vellu) Talk - మాట్లాడు (maatlaadu) Know - తెలుసు (telusu) Give / Respond - ఇవ్వు (ivvu) Take - తీసుకో (teesuko) Eat - తినడానికి (tinadaniki) Drink - పానీయం (paniyam) Keep adding basic words for communicating in Telugu. For instance, the following are useful in recognizing or asking questions: Where - ఎక్కడ (ekkada) Why - ఎందుకు (enduku) What - ఏంటి (enti) How - ఎలా (ela) When - ఎప్పుడు (eppudu) Which - ఇది (idi) Practice common phrases in Telugu. Along with picking up individual words in Telugu, start working on common phrases as well. Begin with common phrases that will help you ask basic questions and engage in rudimentary conversation in Telugu. For instance: Hello - నమస్కారం (namaskārām) How are you? - మీరు ఏలా ఉన్నారు ? (meeru aelaa unnaaru?) My name is… - నా పేరు... (naa paeru...) Goodbye - వెళ్ళొస్తాను (vellostaanu) I don't understand - నాకు అర్ధం కాలేదు (naaku ardhaṅ kaalaedhu) Do you speak English? - మీరు(నువ్వు) ఆంగ్లం(ఆంగ్ల భాష) మాట్లాడగలరా(వా)? (meeru (nuvvu) aanglam (aangla bhasha) matladagalara(va)?) Thank you - ధన్యవాదములు (dhanyavaadhamulu) Practice writing the individual Telugu vowels and consonants. The Telugu alphabet (వర్ణమాల (varnamaala)) is syllabic in nature, and all consonants have an inherent vowel. Vowels are written independently only when they begin a syllable. Start learning how to write in Telugu by focusing on the individual letters first. The individual vowels (అచ్చులు - acchulu) are: అ ఆ ఇ ఈ ఉ ఊ ఋ ౠ ఎ ఏ ఐ ఒ ఓ ఔ అం అః , pronounced respectively as a, aa, i (as in pit), ii (as in meet), u (as it put), uu (as in root), ru ( as in prude), ruu (as in crude), e (as in peck), ae (as in cake), ai (as in my), o (as in show), O (as in row), ou (as in cow), am (as in mum) and aha. The individual consonants (హల్లులు - hallulu) are: క, ఖ, గ, ఘ, ఙ -ka, kha, ga, gha; చ, ఛ, జ, ఝ, ఞ- cha, chha, ja, jha, nya; ట ఠ డ ఢ ణ - Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na; త థ ద ధ న- tha, thha, da, dhha, na; ప ఫ బ భ మ- pa, pha, ba, bha, ma; య, ర, ల , వ, శ, ష- ya, ra, la, va, Sa, sha; స హ ళ క్ష, ఱ- sa, ha La, ksha, Ra Work on writing the conjunct consonants and vowel diacritics. Conjunct consonants are special symbols used when certain consonants are combined. There are 34 of these conjunct consonants in Telugu. Additionally, there are 14 vowel diacritics—these symbols appear above, below, or after a consonant in order to change the consonant's inherent vowel. You can find a listing of these symbols at https://www.omniglot.com/writing/telugu.htm. Set aside time to write in Telugu script daily. If you're used to writing in Latin script, Telugu lettering may appear impossibly difficult. However, with daily practice, you'll get the hang of the letter formations more quickly than you might expect. The important thing is to dedicate yourself to learning by keeping your ultimate goal in mind. Grab some Telugu-language books and copy the script you see in them. Eventually, test yourself by translating texts from Latin script to Telugu script. Identify the parts of speech in Telugu grammar. To master Telugu grammar (వ్యాకరణ - vyaakarana), you'll probably need the help of a Telugu tutor or a Telugu writing class. However, you can begin by identifying the parts of speech (భాషాభాగాలు - bhaashaabhaagaalu) of Telugu words. The parts of speech are: నామవాచకం - Noun (naamavaachakam) సర్వనామం - Pronoun (sarvanaamam) క్రియ- Verb (kriya) విశేషణం - Adjective (visaeshanam) అవ్యయం - Adverb (avyayam) Practice Telugu grammar rules for prepositions, negations, and questions. Once you become comfortable writing in Telugu script and identifying the parts of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.), move on to more challenging grammatical practice. For instance, work on identifying and placing prepositions, negations, and questions in Telugu writing. Examples of prepositions: He came with his small dog - తన చిన్న కుక్క వచ్చిన - (Tana cinna kukka vaccina); I eat without a knife - నేను కత్తి లేకుండా తినడానికి - (Nēnu katti lēkuṇḍā tinaḍāniki) Examples of negation (compare the following): I understand you - నేను మీరు అర్థం - (Nēnu mīru arthaṁ); I don't understand you - నేను మీరు అర్ధం కాదు - (Nēnu mīru ardhaṁ kādu) Examples of questions: What is your name? - మీ పేరు ఏమిటి? - (Mī pēru ēmiṭi?); How much is this? - ఈ ఎంత ఉంది? - (Ī enta undi?) Set your specific goal for learning Telugu. Start by asking yourself why you want to learn Telugu—is it to get in touch with your heritage, prepare for a trip, impress someone, or just to broaden your horizons? Once you've established your goal, build your plan around achieving it. For instance, say you're taking a trip to Andhra Pradesh in 3 months and want to manage basic communication in Telugu. In this case, focus on learning the most common conversational words and phrases. Memorize 30 common Telugu words per day. The idea here is that, after 90 days, you'll have learned 2,700 of the most common Telugu words. And, as with most languages, knowing the most common 2,700 words will make you familiar with about 80% of the words used in Telugu writing or conversation. This 90-day plan may not be ideal in every situation, depending on your specific goals for learning Telugu. However, it is a broadly-useful way to learn the basics of a language in a fairly short amount of time. Schedule 30-60 minutes for your daily list of 30 Telugu words. It's important to make your plan and stick to it. To get your word list, draw from vocabulary lists found in Telugu language-learning books or websites. Or, draw from a list of the most common words in English (or your native language) and use an online tool such as Google Translate. While they may seem old-fashioned, flash cards are a tried-and-true way to pick up words in a new language. Work with a tutor or use a Telugu language program. You many manage just fine by going it alone and learning your 30 words per day. However, many people find it helpful to work with a tutor or invest in a language-learning program. There are numerous Telugu language-learning programs available online. Explore several options and choose one that suits your goals for learning the language. Hiring a Telugu tutor may be a pricier option, and it may be hard to find a Telugu tutor where you live. However, some people learn more quickly through one-on-one interaction. Integrate Telugu into your home life and daily activities. Sprinkle the language into your day-to-day activities once your vocabulary begins to grow. For example, label things in your house with their Telugu names, put on Telugu-language music as you make dinner, or practice reading kids' books in Telugu. Eventually, you might want to give yourself a greater test by switching your phone over to Telugu. Immerse yourself more fully in Telugu after about 60 days. If you're learning 30 words per day, you'll have a vocabulary of about 1,800 words after 2 months. At this point, you'll be able to “dive in” to Telugu conversations and pick up on at least some of what the Telugu speakers are saying. If you have friends who speak Telugu, ask them to carry on a conversation while you follow along--and even join in. Alternatively, watch online videos in Telugu and turn the subtitles off when you're ready to test yourself. Listen and watch native speakers use Telugu. When observing others speaking Telugu, focus not only on the words they use but their inflections, facial and hand gestures, body language, and so forth. This type of close watching and listening is very helpful in becoming conversant in everyday Telugu. Brush off your mistakes and keep practicing your Telugu. People often think kids are better at learning new languages because their brains are different. However, the real reason may be that they tend to be less self-conscious about trying things out, making mistakes, and trying again. So, free your inner child while you learn Telugu! If you mangle your words or ask a nonsensical question, laugh it off and try again. Most Telugu speakers, like native speakers of languages around the world, are happy when non-natives try to speak their language. Instead of being insulted that you messed up, they'll likely be eager to help you out.

Work on some common Telugu nouns. Add some common Telugu verbs to your vocabulary. Keep adding basic words for communicating in Telugu. Practice common phrases in Telugu. Practice writing the individual Telugu vowels and consonants. Work on writing the conjunct consonants and vowel diacritics. Set aside time to write in Telugu script daily. Identify the parts of speech in Telugu grammar. Practice Telugu grammar rules for prepositions, negations, and questions. Set your specific goal for learning Telugu. Memorize 30 common Telugu words per day. Schedule 30-60 minutes for your daily list of 30 Telugu words. Work with a tutor or use a Telugu language program. Integrate Telugu into your home life and daily activities. Immerse yourself more fully in Telugu after about 60 days. Listen and watch native speakers use Telugu. Brush off your mistakes and keep practicing your Telugu.

https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-for-a-Marriage-License-in-Nevada

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Nevada

To apply for a marriage license in Nevada, you'll need to be at least 18, not already married, and have the proper identification. The easiest way to apply for the license is to fill in the application online on the Clark County website no more than 60 days before getting married. Once you've applied, you'll receive a marriage license in the mail. After you receive this, you and your partner must appear at the county clerk's office within 60 days to have an authorized person perform the Nevada wedding ceremony. Alternatively, you may have any person who is certified to officiate perform the ceremony. Finally, make sure you, your spouse, the officiant, and a witness all sign the license before returning a copy to the County Clerk's office.

Find out who can get married in Nevada. The state of Nevada does not require couples to be residents of Nevada to marry in the state. But, marriage licenses issued in Nevada must be used within the state of Nevada. Certain restrictions do apply, such as: Age: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must have one parent or legal guardian present. A notarized written permission slip is also accepted. But it must be written in English and must state the name, birth date, age of the minor child, as well as the relationship of the person giving consent. If you are under 16, marriage can only be authorized by court order when the request has been filed by either a parent or legal guardian. Family relationship: Nevada does not grant marriage licenses to ancestors and their descendants, such as parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, or aunts/uncles and their nieces/nephews. Second cousins or first cousins may marry in the state of Nevada. Relationship status: If you were previously married, your divorce must be final. You will need to provide the date (month, year) of your divorce and the location (city, state) where you were divorced. Nevada does not do proxy marriages so both people must be present. However, Nevada's county clerk office is prohibited from issuing a new Marriage License to couples currently married, so you do not need a new marriage license to renew your vows with your partner. Have official documents with proof of your age and identity. Each person must have at least one of the following documents when applying for a marriage license. You will also need to provide your Social Security Number. Valid picture ID, such as a valid driver's license or a valid identification card from the DMV. A valid passport. A Resident Alien card. A military ID. A certified or original birth certificate. If you have a foreign birth certificate, it must be translated into English and notarized. If you are a refugee and do not have a birth certificate, you must get a signed and sealed record of your name, birth date, birthplace, and parents' names from your sponsoring agency. If the document is in a foreign language, you must provide a certified translation into English along with the original. A certified translation will be signed, dated, and contain a statement that attests the accuracy of the translation. Provide documentation of previous marriages, if any. If either you or your partner were previously married, you must provide information about those marriages on the application. You must state whether the former spouse is living and whether the marriage ended in divorce, annulment, or death. If you are divorced, you must be able to give your previous spouse's full legal name, the date the divorce was finalized, and the city, state, and country that issued the divorce. You may also be required to show a certified copy of the divorce decree or other dissolution document. Decide on your surname. If you want to change your legal surname after marriage, the easiest way to do this is to indicate it on your application for the marriage license. Once your marriage is completed, the name on the license application becomes your legal surname. Keep in mind getting a marriage license with your new name does not mean your name is automatically changed. You and your partner must choose your legal surnames. You can use an online marriage name change kit to change your names. Fill out a pre-application marriage license form online, no more than 60 days before you plan to get married. The easiest and fastest way to get a marriage license is to fill out the application online. To access the Online Marriage License Pre-Application form, click here: http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/clerk/pages/preapp.aspx. Because you are applying for a legal document, make sure the name you input matches exactly with the name on the government issued ID you will be using to pick up the license. Fill out the document very carefully to make sure you do not make any spelling errors or miss any required information on the form. Once you have completed the form online, click submit. You will need to bring your reference number and required identification for both parties to the express window at the main Marriage Bureau in Las Vegas (201 E. Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101, Northwest corner of 3rd Street and Clark) or to a Marriage Services clerk in one of the outlying locations in Nevada. Both people getting married must appear in person at the Marriage Bureau to obtain the marriage license. Go to the county clerk's office and fill out a marriage license application. If you aren't able to fill out a pre-application online, you can fill out an application in person at the county clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license. A representative cannot apply for a marriage license on your behalf, even if the person has been granted a Power of Attorney. You cannot use a notarized marriage license affidavit to substitute for your personal appearance at the office. Pay the Nevada marriage license fee. Most county clerk offices only accept cash or check. You will have to pay $35-$65 for the marriage license, depending on the county. In Las Vegas, the cost is $60 and the licensing bureau only accepts cash. The license is good for one year and can be used anywhere in the state of Nevada. Receive the marriage license as soon as the application is complete. Once you get your marriage license, you have 60 calendar days to complete the marriage ceremony. The counting period begins one day after the license is issued. Military personnel may have up to 180 days to get married. Apply for a judicial waiver, if necessary. Once you get your marriage license, you must wait a minimum of 24 hours before you can have a marriage ceremony. So, if you were issued your license at 10:48 AM, you could not marry until 10:48 AM the following day. But if you must get married before the waiting period, for example, your spouse may be deployed to the military, you may apply for a judicial waiver. You must request a waiver from the county clerk's office when you obtain your marriage license. A judge will give the waiver order. Find a person licensed or authorized to perform Nevada wedding ceremonies. Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have obtained a certificate of permissions to perform marriages and justices of the peace can perform weddings in Nevada. All ministers, religious officials, and Notaries Public who wish to perform marriage ceremonies in Nevada must obtain a Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriages from the County Clerk. You can check that the officiant has this certificate before proceeding with the marriage ceremony. The state of Nevada has created a database of all marriage officiants in the state that you can access and search for free. Have the license signed and witnessed after the ceremony. Both spouses, a witness, and an eligible officiant must all sign the license for it to be valid. There should be two copies made of the original, signed, and witnessed license. One copy of the license goes to the County Clerk's office for recording. It is Nevada State law that within 10 days after you have had a marriage ceremony performed, the minister must deliver the original marriage certificate to the recorder's office for official recording. The other copy of the license is yours. You can use your copy to change your legal surname once you are married, if you wish.

Find out who can get married in Nevada. Have official documents with proof of your age and identity. Provide documentation of previous marriages, if any. Decide on your surname. Fill out a pre-application marriage license form online, no more than 60 days before you plan to get married. Go to the county clerk's office and fill out a marriage license application. Pay the Nevada marriage license fee. Receive the marriage license as soon as the application is complete. Apply for a judicial waiver, if necessary. Find a person licensed or authorized to perform Nevada wedding ceremonies. Have the license signed and witnessed after the ceremony.

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Velvet-Shoes

How to Clean Velvet Shoes

The best way to clean velvet shoes depends on whether they are stained or just have some dirt or dust on them. If your velvet shoes are stained, add 1-2 squirts of dish soap to a bowl of water and mix it together. Apply the mixture to the stained area and scrub it lightly with a soft brush before you wipe the mixture away and pat the area dry with a cloth. To remove dust and dirt from your velvet shoes, let your shoes dry completely and then wipe them off with a cloth or brush them off with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Blot up excess liquid with a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths work well for blotting up stains before they set in because they're very absorbent. Use the cloth to lightly dab at the stained area to soak up some of the stain before it dries. Do this as soon as you can so that the stain will be as minimal as possible. If you don't have a microfiber cloth on hand when you notice the stain, try using something else absorbent, such as a regular cloth or a paper towel. Mix dishwashing soap and water to create a cleaning solution. Fill a small bowl with water. Add 1-2 squirts of dishwashing liquid to the bowl and mix the contents together to create some sudsy water. When used sparingly, this mixture can help to clean off stains on your velvet shoes. As an alternative, fill a small bowl with lemon juice and add in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of baking soda. Stir the lemon juice and baking soda together until a foam forms. Scrub the stain with a toothbrush and wipe away the mixture. Use a soft brush to apply a conservative amount of the mixture to the stained part of your shoes. Then, scrub the stain gently with the brush. Leave the shoes alone for a couple of minutes, and then wipe away the mixture with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat this process if the stain remains. Dry the area with a microfiber cloth. Gently press a fresh microfiber cloth, or a regular cloth or paper towel if you don't have one, against the stained area. The cloth should soak up the moisture from the stain-removing mixture, which may help to dry the spot. Use a hair dryer or fan if you want to quicken the drying process. Take your shoes to a professional cleaner if the stain remains. If you've tried applying a stain-removing mixture a couple of times and are still struggling to remove the stain, it may be a good idea to consider getting a professional's help. Velvet is a tricky material, so rather than taking a more aggressive approach to getting the stain out yourself, it may be best to find a professional shoe cleaner who has experience. Allow the shoes to dry completely if they’re wet. Velvet can become easily damaged when it's wet. If your velvet shoes have some mud on them, it's best to try to clean them once they're no longer wet. Wait for the shoes to air dry completely before you try to remove any mud or dirt. Use a cloth or toothbrush to remove dirt and dust. When your velvet shoes are totally dry, take a soft, clean, dry cloth and try to wipe away the dirt or dust that's on the shoes. If this doesn't work, you may have a bit more luck with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Either way, make sure you wipe or brush the velvet carefully in the same direction so that you don't accidentally damage it. Brush the velvet after every wear. To keep dirt and dust from getting caked onto your shoes, brush the velvet lightly with a clothing brush or a soft-bristled toothbrush after each time you wear your shoes. This will help keep the dirt and dust to a minimum, and should also prevent the velvet from becoming crushed. Select a product that’s safe for velvet. Contrary to popular belief, fabric and furniture protectant sprays that are made for suede or leather aren't always safe to use on velvet. Look for shoe or upholstery protectant sprays online or in general department stores. As you shop around, read the label to make sure that it's suitable for velvet. Look for a product that repels stains, waterproofs materials, or does both. Try products like Scotchgard or Vectra Furniture, Carpet and Fabric Protector Spray. Spot test a small area first. Even if you find a product that you think won't damage your velvet shoes, it's best to try it out on a small, inconspicuous part of a shoe before spraying the whole thing. Spray just a little protectant onto the back of one of your shoes. Then, observe it to make sure that the spray doesn't have a negative effect on your shoes, such as darkening the color or hardening the material. Hold the spray 6 inches (15 cm) away from the shoes and spray them. If you spray the protectant too close to the velvet, you may cause damage to your shoes. Hold it at least 6 inches (15 cm) away and then lightly mist the entire surface of each shoe. This may help to significantly minimize day-to-day staining and damage due to weather. Reapply the spray every 4-8 wears to get the best results. Let the shoes air dry before you wear them. Set your misted shoes outside underneath a covering, such as a carport, for best results. This way, your shoes can dry thoroughly in the fresh air while being protected from the elements. Touch the velvet to make sure it's totally dry before putting them on and wearing them out and about.

Blot up excess liquid with a microfiber cloth. Mix dishwashing soap and water to create a cleaning solution. Scrub the stain with a toothbrush and wipe away the mixture. Dry the area with a microfiber cloth. Take your shoes to a professional cleaner if the stain remains. Allow the shoes to dry completely if they’re wet. Use a cloth or toothbrush to remove dirt and dust. Brush the velvet after every wear. Select a product that’s safe for velvet. Spot test a small area first. Hold the spray 6 inches (15 cm) away from the shoes and spray them. Let the shoes air dry before you wear them.

https://www.wikihow.com/Develop-Social-Awareness

How to Develop Social Awareness

Social awareness can help you connect with other people and avoid awkward moments. One way to develop more social awareness is to pay attention to people's body language and facial expressions to pick up on what they're feeling. People usually show obvious signs of how they're feeling, like crossing their arms if they're upset or uncomfortable or making a lot of eye contact if they're interested in what you're saying. Similarly, someone avoiding eye contact might not want to talk right now. When you're having a conversation, focus on actively listening to the other person, rather than what you're going to say next. This will help you better understand what they're feeling and thinking.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Empathy helps you understand someone else's perspective. Being empathetic is vital for authentic relationships, genuine communication, and problem-solving. Because we are social creatures, we constantly find ourselves in situations where we could be more empathetic (or empathic - the words mean the same thing). Consider these situations: Think about being in line at the grocery store. The cashier is taking forever because he is new to his job. While you may be frustrated, you may also understand that when someone is learning something, they do not go as fast. You might picture yourself as the cashier, who is probably very stressed out that people are frustrated and grumbling. Because you are using empathy, you may decide to be patient and understanding. Imagine your friend just found out her parents are getting divorced. Maybe your parents are still married and you have no experience with this. But you can consider how it would feel to hear this news, and respond how you imagine you'd like someone to respond to you, if you were in your friend's shoes. You might say, “I'm so sorry to hear this. How are you doing?” Identify your own emotions. You can't understand what other people are feeling until you learn and label your own emotions. It isn't always easy to figure out what you are feeling, though. Here are some basic ways to help identify your feelings: Talk to someone. Sharing feelings out loud with others helps you get feedback, and also helps you sort through them as you talk. Write in a journal. Write down what's going through your mind and help process and name your feelings.< Think about your thoughts. For example, if you are thinking, “I have so much to do! The house is a mess and company is coming!” you might be feeling stressed out. Carry a list of emotions with you. If you are new to identifying your emotions, then carrying a list of different emotions may help you to identify what you are feeling. Be an active listener. Active listening helps you develop empathy because you are fully listening to the person talking (with your eyes and body language as well as your ears). You will also echo back to the person what you are hearing them say. Be focused on the person talking. Put down your phone or other distractions and point your body in the direction of the speaker. Make eye contact with the person. Paraphrase the speaker's statements. Paraphrasing is using your own words to describe what you just heard the other person say. This often helps both of you gain greater understanding. For example, if your coworker says, “I am never going to get this project done! It is never-ending!” you could say, “Wow, you sound really overwhelmed!” If you are off-base in your paraphrasing or reflecting back, the speaker will generally let you know with simple disagreement. For example, “No, I think I have control of the project. It just seems like it will never get done!” Reflect back. Let the person know how what they are sharing with you makes you feel. This helps you move towards further understanding about how the person is feeling. You can say, “I am so frustrated after hearing this story about your boss.” The other person will likely either agree with your statement (“Yes! She's driving me crazy!”) or point you more toward how they are truly feeling (“I am so angry after our last meeting”). Either way, you further understand what this person is experiencing and feeling, thus building empathy. Collect stories. Learning other people's stories helps us develop empathy for others, because we have been given a glimpse of what it is like to be that person. Human beings seem to be hard-wired to retain and learn from stories. Many powerful stories tend to resonate with us long after they are told. Listen to other people's stories. Be curious about people and ask them about their lives. Most of the time, people are willing to share about themselves, particularly if you are engaging in empathic behaviors and active listening. Read more books. Books help us become more empathic because we are often reading the character's own thoughts and motivations. For the most empathic bang for your buck, read works of literary fiction, where the relationship dynamics and character psychology are often more developed than other types of books. Find common ground. Look for common interests with another person. This can be a stepping stone toward a deeper understanding. Maybe there is a new kid at your school who is from another country. You don't know anything about his culture, but you are both on the tennis team. You could use the common sport as a starting point for conversation. From there you could talk about tennis players from his home country, then how his culture is different from yours. Share your story. Sharing your own vulnerabilities helps grown connections. Letting your guard down with someone can inspire them to share their own deeper feelings, where you are more likely to make a connection and build empathy. Sharing deeper feelings needs to be done in an appropriate setting and after some initial connection has been made. Don't run up to a person on the street and announce you want to share what it was like for you when your mom died. Get to know the person, and share deeper conversations in quieter, private settings--like driving in a car or playing a game one-on-one, not in a noisy arcade or while others may be eavesdropping. Think of a conversation as a spiral. You start at the outer loop with more superficial conversation. As you progress in your conversation and build empathy with the other person, you move closer in toward the center of the spiral and it becomes more appropriate to share those innermost, core feelings. Make a connection with the other person's story. For example, you could say, “When you told me about how you feel like nobody understands you, I got where you were coming from. I feel like that a lot, too. Sometimes I feel like I will never meet anybody who really gets me.” Watch body language. Watch people's body language in different situations. Notice how much people communicate with their bodies through gestures, posture, or head movement. Consider that the same gestures can mean different things. For example, think about someone shrugging their shoulders. This often means “I don't know” or “I don't care.” Or consider what it means when someone crosses their arms in front of them. Sometimes it means they are wanting to pull away from the conversation (think of it as a “self-protective” type of gesture), sometimes it can express anger, or sometimes it is because the person is cold! Imagine you had a mute button and could turn off the sound: Do you think you could figure out the context of the conversation by watching how people move? Listen to tone of voice. You can say the same words, but change your tone of voice, and the words will take on different meanings. A person's tone of voice conveys the emotion behind the words. For example, think about how “I'm fine” sounds when someone is saying it in a friendly tone of voice, versus saying it in an angry tone of voice. Test out your tone of voice by repeating a sentence, imagining you are feeling something different each time. How does “You scared me!” sound when you are pretending to be happy, shocked, angry, or sad? Watch facial expressions. People have very expressive faces. Even when we try our best to conceal our emotions, they are often present on our faces anyway. Look in a mirror and act out how you think you look when you are bored, happy, annoyed, or excited. Facial expressions can often be very subtle, and it can sometimes take a while to discern them. For example, when people are genuinely happy, they smile with their eyes. You can see their eyes get crinkly in the corners. In a less genuine smile, the eyes don't change as much, and oftentimes the lips remain closed. Consider how the similar facial expressions often indicate different emotions. A frown can indicate sadness or anger, for example, or an open mouth can indicate fear or surprise. If you can't figure out what the person is feeling from their facial expression, look for other nonverbal clues, like their tone of voice or body language. Examine physical distance. Watch how close or far apart people stand from each other. You can tell a lot about a relationship by the space between two people. Pay attention to your own physical distance as well. People who are in an intimate relationship may stand with no distance at all between them, while friends may stand closer together than work colleagues. If you are standing too close to someone, then you might notice that they keep moving away, turning away, leaning back, or crossing arms or legs. If you are too far away from someone, then you might notice that they are leaning in, squinting, furrowing their brow, or looking around and showing only mild interest in the conversation. Watch how people react to what you say. People's responses can help keep you aware of your behavior. Watch their nonverbal cues and listen to what they say. For example, a person who says, “That's great!” while slowly backing away probably does not want to have a conversation with you right now. A person who is leaning toward you, smiling and making eye contact, is probably genuinely interested in what you have to say, and you can take that as a cue to continue. Search for volunteer opportunities. Connect in your community. Take your empathy skills to the next level by understanding what other people experience as a group or culture, for example. This will help you be socially aware at a community, or perhaps even global, level. Find a volunteer opportunity that requires you to listen to and tend to the needs of another person or group. For example, you may wish to work at a food pantry or soup kitchen to understand the needs of people in poverty. You may wish to visit homebound senior citizens experiencing loneliness. You may wish to help new immigrants learn the language of their new country. Explore service opportunities in schools, cultural centers, political organizations, religious communities or neighborhood activities. Educate yourself about different people and their concerns. Meet people in the population you are interested in. Read books written by people in this group, or listen to podcasts with a host from this group. This will give you insight into their lives and increase your awareness of problems they face. Travel abroad. Immerse yourself in a different culture. Step out of your comfort zone to experience unfamiliar groups. Exposing yourself to diverse cultures and ways of life will expand your thinking and view of the world. Being immersed in different belief systems, cuisines and lifestyles is useful for expanding your social circle and building tolerance for diverse viewpoints. If you are a student, spend a semester or do coursework abroad. Talk to people on your travels. Many people will be friendly and willing to share their country with you. To really learn about a country, venture out of tourist areas and into local neighborhoods. This gives you a better opportunity to see day-to-day life unfold. Travel to a new part of town. If you can't afford a trip out of the country, consider local opportunities to learn about other cultures. You may be surprised at the variety of people who live near you. Visit a local museum devoted to an ethnic group or culture. Spend a day in an ethnic neighborhood in your community (or perhaps nearby larger city). Walk around the neighborhood and try a new food for lunch. Attend a religious service of a faith different from yours.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Identify your own emotions. Be an active listener. Paraphrase the speaker's statements. Reflect back. Collect stories. Find common ground. Share your story. Watch body language. Listen to tone of voice. Watch facial expressions. Examine physical distance. Watch how people react to what you say. Search for volunteer opportunities. Educate yourself about different people and their concerns. Travel abroad. Travel to a new part of town.