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https://www.wikihow.com/Convert-Square-Feet-to-Cubic-Feet | How to Convert Square Feet to Cubic Feet | To convert square feet to cubic feet for regular shapes, multiply the base by the height. The volume of a regular shape is found by multiplying length by width by height, and since square footage is found by multiplying length and width, all you have to do is account for the height! This same principle applies no matter what the base is. Don't forget to express your answer in cubic feet after solving! | Make sure that all of your measurements are in feet. If you make one measurement in feet, you need to make them all in feet. You cannot measure the length in inches and the width in feet, otherwise your answer won't have any meaning. If you need to make the measurements yourself, make sure they are in the same scale. If you've been given different units, you can convert them as follows: If given inches... divide the measurement by 12 (ex. 24 i n 12 = 2 f t {\displaystyle {\frac {24in}{12}}=2ft} ). If given centimeters... divide by 30.48 (ex. 150 c m 30.48 = 4.92126 f t {\displaystyle {\frac {150cm}{30.48}}=4.92126ft} ). If given yards... multiply the measurement by 3 (ex. 3 y d s ∗ 3 = 9 f t {\displaystyle 3yds*3=9ft} ). Convert to cubic feet easily for any regular, right prisms by multiplying by the height. A regular, right prism is simply a basic 3D shape like a rectangular box, a cylinder, etc: any shape with two even shapes on the ends and a smooth, regular connection between them. Finding an area's total cubic feet is a way to measure its volume, or how much room the three-dimensional space takes up. For regular prisms, such as rectangles, cylinders, and triangular prisms, all you have to know is the area of the base and the height. The area of the base is always in square footage, such as 2 f t 2 {\displaystyle 2ft^{2}}. If you've got a room you want cubic footage off, the base is the square footage of the floor. The height, or how tall the space is, is always measured from base to base, at the same point on each. So if you measure from the corner of the floor, you need to go to the same corner in the ceiling. A regular prism is one where the two bases are even and equal polygons, such as triangles, squares, circles, diamonds, etc. Multiply the base by the height to get the cubic footage of regular shapes. The easiest way to see this is to think of the volume of a rectangle, found using the basic formula L e n g t h ∗ W i d t h ∗ H e i g h t {\displaystyle Length*Width*Height}. Since square footage is found by multiplying length and width, all you have to do now is account for the height. This same principle applies no matter what the base is -- simply multiply square footage by height. Square Footage = 12 f t 2 {\displaystyle 12ft^{2}} , Height = 3 f t {\displaystyle 3ft} 12 f t 2 ∗ 3 f t = {\displaystyle 12ft^{2}*3ft=} 36 cubic feet Square Footage = 4 f t 2 {\displaystyle 4ft^{2}} , Height = 6 f t {\displaystyle 6ft} 4 f t 2 ∗ 6 f t = {\displaystyle 4ft^{2}*6ft=} 24 cubic feet Square Footage = 1.5 π f t 2 {\displaystyle 1.5\pi ft^{2}} , Height = 2 f t {\displaystyle 2ft} 1.5 π f t 2 ∗ 2 f t = {\displaystyle 1.5\pi ft^{2}*2ft=} 9.42 cubic feet Convert the square footage of a sphere by multiplying the surface area by r3{\displaystyle {\frac {r}{3}}}, where r is the sphere's radius. If you're given the surface area of a sphere and the radius, you can convert to cubic footage with ease. Simply multiply the surface area by the radius, then divide by three: Surface Area = 314.16 f t 2 {\displaystyle 314.16ft^{2}} , Radius= 5 f t {\displaystyle 5ft} 314.16 f t 2 ∗ 5 3 = {\displaystyle 314.16ft^{2}*{\frac {5}{3}}=} 523.6 cubic feet Note, however, that the formula for the volume of a sphere is simply V = 4 3 π ∗ r 3 {\displaystyle V={\frac {4}{3}}\pi *r^{3}} It is often easier to plug in "r" for this equation than to try and convert from square footage. Always express your answer in cubic feet after solving. This is a simple way to keep track of measurements whether you're building a garden or finishing up your homework. To finish you answer, you must denote the type of measurements so that a builder, teacher, or friend knows whether "523.6" refers to inches, yards, feet, miles, etc. Remember: volume is always cubed. There are three acceptable ways to write the units for cubic feet. 523.6 f t 3 {\displaystyle 523.6ft^{3}} 523.6 {\displaystyle 523.6} cubic feet. 523.6 {\displaystyle 523.6} feet cubed Practice with an example. The following question should not be difficult, as long as you remember how the correct equation. The answer can be found by clicking and highlighting after the second bullet. You have a carrot and potato garden with a square footage of 120 f t 2 {\displaystyle 120ft^{2}}. The bed is two feet deep. What is the volume of the garden in cubic feet? The cubic feet measurement is 240 f t 3 {\displaystyle 240ft^{3}} ( 120 f t 2 x 2 f t = 240 f t 3 ) {\displaystyle (120ft^{2}x2ft=240ft^{3})} Know how to spot questions asking for cubic footage. Not all questions are going to tell you outright that they want you to find cubic footage. What you need to remember is that cubic footage is just a measurement of volume -- so any volume question you're asked with feet in the measurements ( f t 3 {\displaystyle ft^{3}} ), is likely asking for cubic feet. Some example problems might ask: If the square footage is 10 f t 2 {\displaystyle 10ft^{2}} , and the height is 5 f t {\displaystyle 5ft} , what is the volume? What is the volume, in feet, of the garden? How many cubic feet of water could fit in a square box with a base of 23 f t 2 {\displaystyle 23ft^{2}} and a height of 2 f t {\displaystyle 2ft} ? (Note: "base" means the flat bottom, or square footage. Purchase mulch, soil, and other commodities sold by cubic footage only after you know the thickness you need for your project. This is best seen in an example. Say you have a 100 square foot backyard area to plant a garden and need to know how much topsoil to buy. Before buying anything, you need to know how deep your soil will go. This is your "height" measurement, telling you how high the soil must go. For example, say you need, at minimum 6-inch holes for each plant: Make sure all units are in feet: 6 i n 12 =.5 f t {\displaystyle {\frac {6in}{12}}=.5ft} Multiply square footage by height: 100 ∗.5 = 50 {\displaystyle 100*.5=50} Express answer in cubic feet You must purchase at least 50 f t 3 {\displaystyle 50ft^{3}} of soil to fill your garden. Convert cubic feet back into square footage by dividing the height from the cubic footage. Since it is such a simple conversion to get to square footage, it is simple to undo. For example, you might have a heater capable of filling a 6800 f t 3 {\displaystyle 6800ft^{3}} , but you want to know how much floor-space that covers in your room. To find out, simply divide 6800 by the height of the room, found by simply measuring floor to ceiling: Example height of the room = 12 f t {\displaystyle 12ft} 6800 f t 3 12 f r = 566.67 f t 2 {\displaystyle {\frac {6800ft^{3}}{12fr}}=566.67ft^{2}} The heater will heat a room with a square footage is 566.67 f t 2 {\displaystyle 566.67ft^{2}} and a height of 12ft. This strategy is purely for rectangular or cylindrical volumes. It is much more complex for pyramids and spheres. Remember that this conversion only works for regular prisms and spheres. If your shape curves, bends, twists, or is otherwise irregular, you cannot simply convert from square footage to cubic footage. If the object changes size or thickness as it gains height than the measurement of the base -- your square footage -- will no longer be accurate. These types of problems usually require the integral calculus to solve. Imagine buying a heater for a room with a pointed ceiling. Now imagine how much more of the room you'd have to heat if the room was perfectly square, instead of pointed at the top. While the square footage of the floor is important, it isn't the only thing determining the cubic footage. | Make sure that all of your measurements are in feet. Convert to cubic feet easily for any regular, right prisms by multiplying by the height. Multiply the base by the height to get the cubic footage of regular shapes. Convert the square footage of a sphere by multiplying the surface area by r3{\displaystyle {\frac {r}{3}}}, where r is the sphere's radius. Always express your answer in cubic feet after solving. Practice with an example. Know how to spot questions asking for cubic footage. Purchase mulch, soil, and other commodities sold by cubic footage only after you know the thickness you need for your project. Convert cubic feet back into square footage by dividing the height from the cubic footage. Remember that this conversion only works for regular prisms and spheres. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Introduce-a-New-Dog-to-Your-House-and-Other-Dogs | How to Introduce a New Dog to Your House and Other Dogs | It can be a challenge to introduce a new dog to your hose and your other dogs, but if you're patient, it can go smoothly. Set up a crate for the new dog in a quiet room, and include a blanket from its original home so it will feel comfortable. It can help to place a t-shirt with your scent, and even your other dogs' scents, in the crate as well. Place the dog in the crate as soon as you bring it home, but leave the door open so it can come out if it wants. Leave the dog in that room for about the first day, then slowly start introducing him to new rooms, and the other animals. | Gather new supplies for the new dog. Get separate food and water bowls, a new bed, collar and leash, and a dog crate. Your new dog should not eat or drink from an established dog's bowls. Likewise, it should not sleep in an established dog's bed. Buy puppy pads. Puppy pads are moisture absorbent mats that can be placed on the floor or in a dog crate. They are used when the dog has accidents during its housetraining. Puppy pads can be helpful to have around even if the new dog is not a puppy. Choose a toilet area for the new dog. Your new dog will need an outdoor place to relieve himself. If you have a dog already, this can be the same location that he uses. Find a spot in your yard or at a nearby grassy area. Plan to use this place regularly so that your dog will expect to relieve himself at this location when he goes outside. Prepare an old t-shirt with your scent for each dog. A few days before you plan to bring the new dog home, wear one t-shirt for a day. This will put your scent on the shirt for the established dog. The next day, wear another t-shirt to put your scent on it for the new dog. The goal here will be to eventually have your own scent mingle with scents from your new dog and established dog on each t-shirt. You can also sleep with the t-shirts to get your scent on them. The t-shirts should be prepared a day or two ahead of when you are giving them to the dogs. Rub one t-shirt over your established dog. Take one of the t-shirts that you've worn and rub it over the dog you already have. You can also let your dog sleep with the t-shirt for a night. Give the other t-shirt to your breeder or rescue organization. Ask your breeder or rescue organization to have the new dog sleep on the other t-shirt for at least one night. This also helps your new dog get familiar with your scent. Exchange the t-shirts. Give the established dog the shirt the new dog slept on, and vice versa. This way the two dogs become familiar with each other prior to meeting. Since dogs communicate by scent, it is helpful to have them recognize each other's scents and associate it with your scent. Use a dog pheromone spray. Dog appeasing pheromone sprays (DAP) can boost the scent recognition process. These can be purchased from your veterinarian or at major pet retailers. DAP contains a synthetic version of the pheromone that a nursing bitch gives off in order to make her pups feel safe and content. If so desired, spritz the t-shirts with DAP at each stage, giving it as bedding to the first dog, then spritz again when it's transferred to the second dog. Get a blanket that smells familiar to the dog. If you are getting a puppy, you should have something that smells familiar to it. When you pick up the puppy, ask the breeder for a blanket that smells of the puppy's mother and littermates. Put the blanket in the puppy's crate. This gives him something familiar to snuggle with. Set up the new dog’s crate. Your new dog needs a space where he feels safe. Set aside one room that contains his crate, food, water and puppy pads. Place the bedding in the crate. Lay a blanket over one end so that the crate can be dark and secluded. If you collected one, include the new dog's familiar-smelling blanket. Include the t-shirt that has your scent and the established dog's scent on it. This helps to blend the smells together and makes a link between the familiar and the new. Plan a park visit. Dogs, especially adult ones, will benefit from being introduced in a neutral territory away from home. Many rescue shelters will facilitate these meetings to see if the dogs will get along. Plan this visit to take place several days before the new dog is scheduled to come home with you. Choose a park you don't normally visit so that your dog isn't territorial about the location. This step can be especially important before making a final decision about taking a rescue dog home. Ask a friend to bring the new dog on a walk. The rescue shelter or owner should walk the dog in the same park where you are. Plan to meet at the same time so that the dogs can interact. Allow the dogs to meet. Set off on a walk in the park as if it's just a normal walk. Allow the dogs to meet up. Meeting on neutral territory lowers the stakes because neither dog has anything to defend there. Ideally, the dogs will meet in this type of situation a couple of times before the newcomer arrives at your home. If the two dogs get along and play well together in the park, chances are they will have a good relationship when they are at home together. This bodes well for their future relationship. Likewise, if the dogs hate each other on sight, you are forewarned about a clash of personalities. If this is the case, you should rethink getting that particular dog. Reward the established dog’s good behavior. Give positive reinforcement to your dog by giving it a treat or some extra attention. Always speak to your dog first when introducing it to a new dog. Take the new dog to its toilet area. When you first arrive home, take the new dog straight to the place you want him to use as a toilet. This is the first step in house-training your dog. Show the crate to the new dog. Bring the dog to his crate and place him inside. Leave the door open so that he can come out if he wants to. Keep the new dog isolated for the first 24 hours. When you bring the dog home, introduce him steadily to new rooms in your house. Limit him to the first room for at least 24 hours, keeping him in that room with his crate open. Allow the new dog a bit of time to get used to his new surroundings. He will slowly get accustomed to new scents, such as the scents in your house and the scent of the established dog from the t-shirt in his crate. Do not give him the range of the house straight away. This will overwhelm him. Praise your dog. Give your dog positive reinforcement by telling him that he's a good dog. Give him a pet and scratch behind the ears. Take your new dog to the toilet area every few hours. Make sure your new dog knows where to go when he needs to relieve himself. Take him to the toileting area every few hours during the first 24 hours. Ignore accidents today. The new dog may still need to be housetrained, and he will need to learn where to go. Take him out to his toilet area often. If he does have an accident, simply ignore the behavior. Punishing him will only confuse and distress him. Keep the crate available. After every toilet visit, take the new dog back to its crate. This will help him feel safe and he won't get so overwhelmed. Let the new dog explore one room at a time. Starting with the second day, introduce your new dog to a new room every day. Do not give him the range of the house straight away. This will overwhelm him. Let the new dog explore new rooms for 20 minutes. If the new dog seems inquisitive, you can start to show him other rooms, one at a time. Take him to each new room and let him explore for about 20 minutes at a time. If the dog seems overwhelmed, limit him to one room for a few days. Make sure the new dog always has ready access to his crate. Follow up exploring rooms with a toilet stop. Once the new dog has explored a room for 20 minutes, take him out to the toilet spot. This maximizes the chance of him toileting outside and establishing this habit. Praise your dog. Give your dog positive reinforcement by telling him that he's a good dog. Give him a pet and scratch behind the ears. Return the dog to its crate. After every exploratory session and toilet visit, take the new dog back to its crate. This will help him feel safe and he won't get so overwhelmed. Ignore accidents for the first several days. The new dog may still need to be housetrained, and he will need to learn where to go. Take him out to his toilet area often. If he does have an accident, simply ignore the behavior. Punishing him will only confuse and distress him. Introduce the dogs in the new dog’s room. After the new dog has spent at least 24 hours at your home, you can start introducing the new and established dogs to each other. To do this, place the new dog in his crate and close the crate door. Bring the established dog into the room and let him sniff around. Don't point out the new dog. Let the dog find the new dog for himself. The established dog will be able to investigate by sniffing the crate and finding the new dog himself. Give the dogs about 20 minutes to interact. Allow the two dogs to interact through the bars of the crate for up to 20 minutes. Remove the established dog from the room. Let the new dog out of the crate and take him to his toilet area. Reward the established dog’s behavior. If the established dog behaves positively and approaches the new dog in a friendly manner, reward his good behavior with a treat. Do your best to ignore the new dog during this time, so that the older dog is not jealous. Instead, speak to the established dog first. For the first few days, only praise the new dog when the established dog isn't around. Give your dog positive reinforcement by telling him that he's a good dog. Give him a pet and scratch behind the ears. Repeat the dogs’ introduction several times a day. The two dogs will start to get used to each other, either by being happy in each other's company, or by ignoring one another. Continue this introduction for a few days. Put a leash on the new dog. After the dogs have had a chance to get to know each other a bit, introduce the two dogs by putting the new dog on a leash and bringing him out of the crate. Monitor the dogs' reactions to each other. The established dog may have one of several reactions: he will accept the new dog and want to play; cold-shoulder the new dog; or growl and threaten him. Give the dogs about 5 minutes to interact. Keeping the new dog restrained on a leash is important during these first meetings. If the new dog chases your established dog on its home territory, your dog is more likely to dislike the newcomer. After they have interacted, remove the established dog and take the new dog out to the toilet area. Gradually increase contact time between the dogs. Depending on how well the dogs are getting along, gradually extend these contact times to 20 minutes in duration. After each session, lead the established dog out of the room and take the new dog out to the toilet area. It is fine to take this step more slowly if necessary. Start taking the dogs on walks together. As the two dogs get used to one another, stretch out the 20 minute segments by taking them for walks together. When going for walks, always put on the established dog's leash first. Let him through the door ahead of the newcomer. He is less likely to challenge the newcomer if he is assured that he is top dog. Supervise the dogs at all times. Keep your eye on both dogs when they are together. However, do not be too alarmed if the established dog growls. Despite any growling or signs of aggression, the established dog is extremely unlikely to harm the new dog and is more likely to make a fuss and then wander off in disgust. You should, however, keep an eye on the dogs at all times until you are confident that they are used to each other. Keep the new dog away from the other dog’s things. To avoid having the established dog feeling territorial, do not allow the new dog to eat or drink from the other dog's bowls. Also, prevent the new dog from playing with the other's toys. Ignore accidents for the first several days. The new dog may still need to be housetrained, and he is learning where to go. Take him out to his toilet area often. If he does have an accident, simply ignore the behavior. Punishing him will only confuse and distress him. | Gather new supplies for the new dog. Buy puppy pads. Choose a toilet area for the new dog. Prepare an old t-shirt with your scent for each dog. Rub one t-shirt over your established dog. Give the other t-shirt to your breeder or rescue organization. Exchange the t-shirts. Use a dog pheromone spray. Get a blanket that smells familiar to the dog. Set up the new dog’s crate. Plan a park visit. Ask a friend to bring the new dog on a walk. Allow the dogs to meet. Reward the established dog’s good behavior. Take the new dog to its toilet area. Show the crate to the new dog. Keep the new dog isolated for the first 24 hours. Praise your dog. Take your new dog to the toilet area every few hours. Keep the crate available. Let the new dog explore one room at a time. Let the new dog explore new rooms for 20 minutes. Follow up exploring rooms with a toilet stop. Praise your dog. Return the dog to its crate. Ignore accidents for the first several days. Introduce the dogs in the new dog’s room. Give the dogs about 20 minutes to interact. Reward the established dog’s behavior. Repeat the dogs’ introduction several times a day. Put a leash on the new dog. Gradually increase contact time between the dogs. Start taking the dogs on walks together. Supervise the dogs at all times. Keep the new dog away from the other dog’s things. Ignore accidents for the first several days. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Seagrass-Rug | How to Clean a Seagrass Rug | To clean spills on your seagrass rug, blot the liquid with a paper towel or undyed cloth. Next, prepare a solution of equal parts water and mild dish soap. Sponge the cleaner onto the stain, starting from the outside of the stain and working towards the center. Then, blot the rug with a paper towel and repeat the sponging process again. After sponging and blotting the stain a few times, dry the area quickly with a hair dryer or another heat source. | Vacuum the rug regularly. Natural rugs must not be washed regularly, since they absorb moisture. Instead, vacuum the rug a few times per week using a suction brush. Pass over it several times, moving in a different direction each time to help dislodge the dirt. Do this before treating spots and a few times per week to keep your rug clean. Scrape up solid spillage. This should only be done for food, makeup, chalk, soot, and other substances too solid to be blotted. Use a dull knife or nail file. Hold the knife flat against the rug and use it to scrape up the substance without spreading it. Blot liquid spills with a paper towel. Any food or liquid spills need to be absorbed immediately using a paper towel or undyed cloth. Dab the area with the towels to remove as much of the liquid as possible. Mix detergent and water. In a small bowl, add a small amount of a neutral dish detergent, such as Dawn, to an equal amount of lukewarm water. Stir the mixture until it is soapy. Avoid using laundry soap and other cleaners, as these can change the rug's color. Another option for cleaning seagrass rugs is commercial cleaner such as HOST Dry Cleaner. Follow the directions on the label to treat the spill. Sponge the cleaner onto the stain. Dip a sponge or a brush into the detergent mixture. Apply small amounts of the cleaner onto the outside of the stain, working towards the center. This will help get rid of food, drink, and pet stains. Dissolvers such as Tetra and petroleum solvent for oil and acetone polish remover for nail polish can be substituted to combat specific stains. Apply sparingly the same way you would detergent. Blot the rug with a paper towel. Again, only use paper towels or undyed cloths to avoid staining the rug. Use these to remove excess moisture before it gets absorbed into the rug. Repeat stain cleaning. When the stain persists, you may still be able to remove it. Add more of your cleaner and apply it the same way you did before. Follow it up by blotting off the excess using paper towels or undyed cloth. Do this a few times. Dry the rug quickly. Once the stain is treated, remove the moisture before the rug absorbs it. Apply a heat source, such as that from a hair dryer. Focus heat onto the wet area and dry it quickly. Use spray-extraction for deep cleaning. As a last resort for a soiled rug, find a machine that has a spray-extraction setting. Set the machine to the lowest moisture setting. In this method, the machine applies liquid cleaner and then quickly removes it. Blot the urine. Quickly apply paper towels or white, undyed cloth on top of the spill. Pick up as much moisture off the rug as possible. Mix ammonia and water. In a bowl, combine 4 fl oz (120 mL) of water and 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of ammonia. Stir the mixture as thoroughly as possible. Dab the solution onto the stain. Use an undyed white cloth or paper towel. Dip the cloth into the ammonia solution, wringing out excess moisture before patting the stain with the cloth. Cover the area with as little cleaner as possible to avoid damaging the rug. Wash the area with a damp towel. Get a clean, undyed cloth or paper towel. Dip it in clean water, not the cleaning solution. Wring out the cloth to remove excess moisture, then blot the ammonia-treated area to pick up any ammonia left on the rug. Mix vinegar and water. In a clean bowl, add 2 fl oz (59 mL) white vinegar to 2 fl oz (59 mL) water. Stir the mixture thoroughly. The vinegar solution will remove the smell of urine. Vinegar is for removing the smell of urine, so it is only necessary when the scent lingers after normal spot cleaning. Apply the solution to the rug. Use another dry, undyed cloth or paper towel. Dip it into the solution, and wring out excess moisture. Then, pat the stained area with the cloth or paper towel. Wash the treated area again. Only use a clean, undyed cloth or paper towel. Dip it into clean water, then wring out the excess moisture and dab it onto the treated area. This will remove the vinegar on the rug. Dry the wet areas. Once the ammonia or vinegar is washed from the rug, blot the treated areas on the rug with a paper towel or undyed cloth. To dry the rug quickly, use a hair dryer. Mix water and bleach. Add a cup of chlorine bleach to a bowl. Dilute the bleach with 48 fl oz (1,400 mL) of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly to minimize the rug's exposure to the bleach. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Since adding too much bleach to the rug can discolor it, do not apply it directly. Instead, get a spray bottle from the store. Pour the bleach into the bottle and mist a thin coating on the moldy areas. Spray the mixture over the rug. Spray as lightly as possible, covering the rug in an even coating. Do this only on the rug itself, not the binding. You may want to test the spray in a single area first to see if it discolors the rug. If it does, add more water to the mixture. Blot the rug after 10 minutes. Allow the bleach mixture to work on the mold for 10 minutes. When the time is up, take paper towels and blot the rug to remove moisture. Make sure you blot up as much of the bleach as possible. Dry the rug. Allow the rug to air dry, or dry it quickly using a hair dryer. This ensures that none of the moisture or bleach soaks into the rug, minimizing damage from treatment. | Vacuum the rug regularly. Scrape up solid spillage. Blot liquid spills with a paper towel. Mix detergent and water. Sponge the cleaner onto the stain. Blot the rug with a paper towel. Repeat stain cleaning. Dry the rug quickly. Use spray-extraction for deep cleaning. Blot the urine. Mix ammonia and water. Dab the solution onto the stain. Wash the area with a damp towel. Mix vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the rug. Wash the treated area again. Dry the wet areas. Mix water and bleach. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over the rug. Blot the rug after 10 minutes. Dry the rug. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-a-Wild-Squirrel | How to Take Care of a Wild Squirrel | To take care of a wild squirrel, start by creating a shelter out of a small box, like a shoe box. Next, fill the box with old cotton or fleece clothing to act as nesting material. Then, feed your squirrel a balanced diet of commercial squirrel food, which you may have to order online. If the squirrel is a baby or if it's injured, don't try to feed or rehabilitate it yourself. Instead, take the squirrel to a vet or wildlife rescue as soon as you can so that it can get the care it needs to survive. | Be aware of the laws in your country or state first. Laws regarding care of wild animals vary widely from state to state in the US and by country. Make sure that you learn whether or not it is legal for you to set up an environment for a squirrel before you begin. For example, while red squirrels are a protected species in the UK, it is illegal to rehabilitate an injured grey squirrel because they are considered an invasive species. Anyone who finds an injured grey squirrel in the UK is required by law to humanely destroy the squirrel. In some states in the US, you may only be allowed to provide care for a wild animal if you have a permit to do so. You may also be required to alert the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Try calling your local animal control center to ask about whether or not it is legal for you to care for a wild squirrel. Make a shelter for your squirrel. If you find a wild squirrel injured outside and it is legal for you to help the squirrel, then make sure to provide him with a proper shelter. Wild squirrels do not carry rabies as a rule, but it is possible for any warm-blooded animal to be infected so be careful. If you are bitten, clean the wound out with some water and call your doctor for further treatment. Having the squirrel tested for diseases will result in the squirrel's death. However, if you don't have a cage there are other options. Injured squirrels found in the wild tend to be babies. They often fall from nests or get lost from their mothers. A baby squirrel can be comfortable housed in a small box, such as a shoe box. You should leave the shoebox outside, away from other predators, and keep it open. This way, if he's lost his mother will be able to find him and retrieve him. However, you can keep the shoebox in your garage or a closed off room in your home if leaving the squirrel outdoors is not an option. If you intend the keep the squirrel long-term because a rehabber or wildlife rescue is not an option, you're going to need a lot of time and money. The first step is to get a cage. Adult squirrels need tall cages so they can move around and play. Baby squirrels need smaller cages so they don't climb and end up falling and hurting themselves. If you have an old cat cage or pet carrier, you could use this for a baby squirrel. If it's plastic, the squirrel will chew through it quickly. An old bird cage, at least 3 feet tall, might work very temporarily for an adult squirrel. You can also purchase animal cages of a variety of shapes and sizes at your local pet store. Critter/Ferret nations are recommended for the small bar spacings and size. Provide a nest box and bedding material. After finding a suitable container for the squirrel, you'll need to give him nest and bedding material. This helps him stay warm and comfortable and also mimics some of the conditions of his natural habitat. Squirrels enjoy building a nest for sleeping. Do not use cardboard as it dries out the skin and mucous membranes. Many pet stores sell nest boxes for birds for relatively low prices. These could work to keep your squirrel feeling warm and safe. Squirrels need to have a lot of bedding and padding to keep warm. However, be careful of what kind of materials you're using. Use old clothing, like old cotton or fleece shirts. However, stay away from towels or other items made of terrycloth or something similar. Squirrels can easily get their claws stuck in such materials, leading to injury. Keep baby squirrels warm. If you found an injured baby squirrel, he needs to stay warm in order to survive. Wrap a hot water bottle or a heating pad in flannel or a similar material. Place it in the box or cage where you're keeping the baby squirrel. Do not cover the squirrel in any fabrics and do not put water in without wrapping it up first. This could cause the squirrel to overheat. If you use a heating pad, ensure it is non-auto-shut-off and place it half UNDER the box. Provide toys and other supplies. After your squirrel has settled in, it's nice to give him some toys and other supplies for his entertainment. The transition from the wild to someone's home will be jarring. You want to make sure your squirrel is entertained. Small stuffed toys for children can be great toys for squirrels. Just make sure to remove any plastic parts, like plastic eyes or noses, before letting the squirrel play with it. Only give a squirrel stuffed toys that use natural stuffing. Squirrels can choke on beans or bead-like materials sometimes used to stuff toys. Hanging toys, like mobiles or cat toys with feathers on the end, can also be fun for squirrels. If you're keeping your squirrel until release, consider installing some kind of perch in his cage if he's older. Squirrels like to be able to climb. You can buy bird perches at a local pet store and install them in your squirrel's cage. Feed your squirrel a proper diet. You need to make sure your squirrel has a healthy, balanced diet. As squirrels are not traditionally kept as pets, this can be somewhat tricky. Do not attempt to feed a baby squirrel on your own. Baby squirrels need specific vitamins and minerals. Feeding a baby squirrel formula or milk could result in the squirrel dying. Take your baby squirrel to a vet or wildlife rescue as soon as you can. The workers there will know how to feed him properly. In the event you take him back home with you, you can learn how to care for the baby online at TheSquirrelBoard.com. They do make specially designed food for squirrels. It can be tricky to find, however, as it may be sold at your local pet store. Some states do not allow people to keep squirrels as pets. You may be able to order squirrel food online, but it might take a few days. In the event you cannot get squirrel food quickly, TheSquirrelBoard.com has recipes to make temporary formula. Provide plenty of water. Keep a bowl of water in your squirrels cage or enclosure. Squirrels need plenty of water for their health and wellbeing. You can either leave water in a bowl or use a bottle, like you would in a hamster cage. If you're getting a bottle, make sure you use a glass bottle. Some squirrels chew through plastic. If you're giving water to a baby squirrel, make sure any bowls you use are not too big. You would not want a baby squirrel to accidentally drown in his water bottle. You can place rocks or marbles at the bottom and fill the bowl to just halfway up to the marbles so he doesn't drown. Check your squirrel for wounds and injuries. If you found a squirrel in the wild, he may be injured. You should carefully assess a squirrel for injury and get him veterinary care if you see any injuries. Find a safe spot in your home with good lighting. Stay away from children or other pets. Wear heavy, protective gloves when handling a wild animal. You should also wear a long sleeve coat. If a squirrel has not been handled before, he may bite or scratch. Squirrels are cleaner than most other animals. Just rinse out the cut and go about your business. Keep a basin of warm water and a few clean washcloths on hand. Check the face, nose, and mouth for dried blood. If you see any parasites, like fleas or ticks, remove them. Parasites should be killed if still alive to avoid infecting other pets in your home. If you need to wash any blood, wring out the rag thoroughly and move it gently over the squirrel's fur. Pay attention to your squirrel's limbs. Lets and feet may be twisted awkwardly or limp. Baby squirrels are especially prone to injury from falling out of a tree or nest. If your squirrel is injured, contact a wildlife rehabber and/or vet IMMEDIATELY. Encourage exercise. Squirrels need a lot of exercise. If you plan to keep your squirrel for awhile, you need to make sure he spends time building his muscles. Allow your squirrel access to one room of your house for at least an hour a day. Make sure you remove anything breakable or anything you do not want damaged. Allow your squirrels to run, climb, and play in this room. Do not allow the squirrel outside without a cage. Hawks and other predators are faster than you and can make a meal out of the baby before you can react. Also, the baby may get spooked and run away, to never return, and thus die due to not knowing how to fend for himself. If you're keeping your squirrel longer than a week or so, install some perches in his cage. As stated earlier, bird perches work well for a squirrel cage. They should come with manufacturer's instructions for set up. Take your squirrel to a wildlife rescue as soon as you can. You should not attempt to rehabilitate an injured squirrel on your own. In the event you take in an injured or abandoned squirrel, find a nearby wildlife rescue. Take the squirrel in as soon as possible. Seek regular veterinary care if you can't place your squirrel in a rescue. If there is not a rescue near you, seek regular veterinary care for your squirrel as he recovers. Look for an exotic veterinarian in your area and take your squirrel in for regular checkups. Start building your release cage ASAP. Great guidelines can be found online at TheSquirrelBoard.com. Check the legality of owning a squirrel in your state. Not every state allows squirrels as pets or even to be raised by someone non licensed. Some states may allow squirrels to be kept domestically but may have laws or regulations forbidding you from taking a squirrel out of the wild. You also might need a permit in some states to own a squirrel. Make sure you check your state's government website for specifics about the laws in your state. Understand the risks of keeping a wild squirrel as a pet. It is not recommended that you try to keep a wild squirrel as a pet. Squirrels are not domesticated and do not do well in captivity. They can be high energy and destructive if taken in from the wild and kept as pets. It's strongly recommended you make every effort to get your squirrel to a wildlife rescue as soon as you can. They are also very expensive – plan to invest A LOT of money into the squirrel before release. Talk to a wildlife rescue, if possible. Re-releasing an injured animal into the wild requires a certain level of expertise. If there is a wildlife rescue in your area, it's best to contact the rescue before attempting to rehabilitate a squirrel by yourself. Even simply talking to a worker on the phone can be invaluable as you'll be provided with important information on safely releasing your squirrel. Place your cage outdoors. If you want to eventually release a wild squirrel, you need to make sure you do not domesticate him too much. If your squirrel is injured, you should keep his cage inside your home or garage until he's strong again. However, once he seems to be recovering steadily you should place the cage outside. This way, he won't get too used to human contact. When he's fully healed, you can develop a plan to release him. Place a tarp over his cage. This will provide him protection from the rain as well as shade from the sun. You might want to transfer him to a cage with a feeding door if you're not already using one. You do not want to release your squirrel prematurely. He may escape during feeding without the proper door. Keep the cage in a place that's easily reachable for you. However, keep it far away from other humans. If your squirrel gets too used to human contact, it may be difficult to release him back into the wild. Lessen contact. You should still provide your squirrel with food. However, lessen your contact with him as time goes on. Spend less time interacting with the squirrel on a day-to-day basis. If you have friends or neighbors nearby, advise them to leave the squirrel alone. Release the squirrel at least five miles from where he was found. If you've been caring for a squirrel, he may return to your home after being released. Squirrels can be pests, especially if they're trying to get into your home. When you decide to release your squirrel, pick a location that is at least 5 miles from the sight where you originally found him. More distance is generally better. If 10 miles is possible, release him 10 miles away. Choose a safe location. The location where you release your squirrel is important. You should take a few things into consideration before re-releasing a squirrel. Do a little research on the type of animals typically found in the area you're considering. You should choose an area with a low population of potential predators, like house cats. Even if his injuries have healed, it may take your squirrel a few days to readjust to the wild. This can make him vulnerable to predators. Make sure there are other wild squirrels in the area you choose. You want to release the squirrel into his natural habitat. You should not release a squirrel near a busy street, intersection, or highway. You should also double check the legality of releasing a squirrel in the area you chose. Some states may have restrictions on re-releasing wild animals in certain regions. | Be aware of the laws in your country or state first. Make a shelter for your squirrel. Provide a nest box and bedding material. Keep baby squirrels warm. Provide toys and other supplies. Feed your squirrel a proper diet. Provide plenty of water. Check your squirrel for wounds and injuries. Encourage exercise. Take your squirrel to a wildlife rescue as soon as you can. Seek regular veterinary care if you can't place your squirrel in a rescue. Check the legality of owning a squirrel in your state. Understand the risks of keeping a wild squirrel as a pet. Talk to a wildlife rescue, if possible. Place your cage outdoors. Lessen contact. Release the squirrel at least five miles from where he was found. Choose a safe location. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job-at-FedEx | How to Get a Job at FedEx | If you want to get a job at FedEx, visit the company's job site by clicking on "Careers" near the bottom of the FedEx homepage. Next, type in the search criteria you want to use, which could be the state where you live or the type of job you want. When the results appear, pick a job you're interested in and read through the job description. You'll want to make sure you have the qualifications and skills for the role before applying. When you're ready to apply, create a career profile on the FedEx website before filling out the application form. | Find a location where you can access the internet. FedEx posts jobs online, and you will also need to submit your application online. Therefore, you will need to access the internet. If you do not have access to the internet at home, try visiting your local library where you can often use the internet free of charge. In some cities, there are also internet cafes where you can pay a small fee to use their computers and internet. Access the FedEx careers website. Go to FedEx's website , select your country, if necessary, and scroll to the very bottom of the page. Under “Company Information”, you will find “Careers”. Click this link to access the careers page. Be aware that some browsers may display information differently. Ultimately this information will be in about the same place, but if you can't find it, try searching for “Careers” in the FedEx search box. Enter your FedEx job search criteria. You can search for jobs by location (country and state), operating company (e.g. if you want to work for a specific division of FedEx), job category (e.g. Accounting, Human Resources, Warehouse and Distribution, etc.), or keyword if are looking for a very specific job. If you want to see all of the jobs available in a specific country or state, you can select only the country (and state, if you wish) to see every job available in that location. Alternatively, if you want to see all the locations where a specific job is available you can leave country and state locations empty and select only the job category. Browse the results. A list of available jobs based on your criteria will come up. Go through these jobs carefully, and make note of those you find interesting. If you find a particular job interesting, click on the link for any job within the “Job Title” column. This will take you to an overview of the job; including the job responsibilities, minimum qualifications and requirements, essential functions of the job, and the guidelines for driving quality in that specific position (if applicable). Open a browser window for each of the jobs you have found interesting. If there are many jobs you are potentially interested in applying for it might be difficult to keep all of the information straight. Having each job in a browser window of its own will allow you to look at each job individually. This will also keep you from having to start your search over again when you apply for each job. Read the job details of each job carefully. There is a lot of information to take in, but reading each one carefully will help you weed out jobs that are not suitable for you. For example, if you find a job interesting, but it is located in another country, and you are not willing to relocate, you can easily cross that job off your list. Thus, you save yourself time in the end. You can also weed out unwanted jobs by narrowing your initial search criteria. Determine which jobs you are qualified for. To be considered for a specific FedEx job, you must be at least 18 years of age and possess the qualifications and skills outlined in the job overview and description. For example, if the job requires a specific degree that you do not possess, you are unlikely to be considered for that job. Log in to or create your FedEx Career profile. In order to apply for any FedEx jobs, you must create a profile on the FedEx website. Click on the "Apply Now" button, which can be found by scrolling to the very bottom or very top of the webpage that displays the description of a particular FedEx job. Enter your log-in and password into the fields provided, then click on the "Login" button. If this is your first time applying for a FedEx position, click instead on "Fill out an online form" to begin creating your profile. If you are creating a new account, enter your personal information into the fields provided to create the account; including your name, address, email address, phone number, and resume. Complete the FedEx job application. The website will lead you through the application process. Be sure to read all instructions carefully, and proof read your answers to make sure everything is correct. Enter your personal and employment history into the fields on the resume provided. You will be asked to provide information including the hours and days you are available to work, any felony or criminal history you may have, your educational background, personal and professional references, and details regarding your most recent employers. Click on the "Submit" button to proceed to the next step of the application process. You will then be asked to indicate if you want to provide voluntary information about your gender and race. Click on the "Submit" button once again after you have provided any voluntary information you wish to provide. Your resume and application will then be sent to the FedEx recruitment office presiding over the department of the position you applied for. Apply for the next job. If you want to apply for more than one job, you can now move on to the next application. You will have to fill out an application for each individual job, but you can use the same account you created for the first job. Make sure that the details are accurate for each job you apply for! Wait for the FedEx recruitment office to contact you for a job. Your application will remain on file with FedEx for one full year from the date of its original submission. If you are being considered for the position you applied for, you will be contacted by the FedEx recruitment office for an interview. Prepare for the Interview. If you are contacted for an interview, you will need to prepare for the interview process. Do not underestimate the importance of preparation! Make sure you have taken time to learn about FedEx's mission statement and values. Dress appropriately for your interview. If you want to be taken seriously, you'll need to look nice. Have good hygiene. Show up freshly bathed and well-groomed. Be confident, but courteous. It is important to be confident, but being confident does not mean that you should be rude or arrogant. Be polite to each person you come in contact with during the interview process. You never know who might be making the final decision. | Find a location where you can access the internet. Access the FedEx careers website. Enter your FedEx job search criteria. Browse the results. Open a browser window for each of the jobs you have found interesting. Read the job details of each job carefully. Determine which jobs you are qualified for. Log in to or create your FedEx Career profile. Complete the FedEx job application. Apply for the next job. Wait for the FedEx recruitment office to contact you for a job. Prepare for the Interview. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Fence-Posts | How to Remove Fence Posts | To remove a fence post, start by digging a trench around the post that's about 1-foot deep. Then, fill the trench with water to loosen the soil so it's easier to get the post out. Next, rock the post back and forth to start to loosen it in the hole. Once you've rocked it back and forth a few times, drive a nail into each face of the post about 1 foot up from ground level. After that, loop some rope around the nails and tie it to the fence post. When you're done tying it, make a lever by stacking some concrete blocks next to the post and laying a wooden plank over them. Then, tie the rope to the plank. Finally, step on the opposite side the plank to pull the post up and out of the ground. | Assess the status of the fence post. A wooden post that is sunk into the surrounding soil will be relatively easy to remove, while one that is sunk into concrete will require additional equipment. Any wooden fence post that is severely deteriorated may also require additional tools to manage the extraction. Dig a trench around the post using a shovel. The trench does not have to be any deeper than about 1 foot (0.3 m). Remove the dirt directly around the post, or around the concrete plug that is holding the post in position. Wear eye protection when digging around concrete, to protect against chipped concrete fragments. Soak the remaining soil. Watering the soil around the post will loosen it and make it easier to remove the post. Rock the post in place. Push it backward and forward several times to help loosen the post and plug as the hole is enlarged slightly. Try not to break the post. Nail it. Drive four nails into each face of the post. Position the nails so they are driven into the surface of the post at roughly 1 foot (0.3 m) from the ground level. Make sure the nails are driven at least halfway into the wood, creating a firm hold. Tie it up. Secure a length of strong rope to the series of nails on the post. This can be accomplished by wrapping the rope around and under each exposed nail head in succession, finally tying the rope tightly around the body of the fence post. Create a lever to help extract the post. This can be accomplished by placing one to two layers of concrete blocks on one side of the trench, and then laying a thick plank or board across the blocks. Attach the rope to the end of the board closest to the post. Drive a couple of nails into the board to create a means of securing the rope into position. Stand on the opposite end of the board. The effect will be somewhat like a seesaw, in that as your end moves toward the ground, the tension on the rope increases and pulls the post upward, slowly extracting the buried portion of the post. Remove the post from the hole. Once the post is pulled upward, detach the rope and move the post away from the open hole. Dig out soil around the post. If the fence post has a large concrete base or is very firmly anchored in soil, you may need to use a farm jack (Hi-Lift jack) and chain to pull it out. To prepare for this, dig out the soil around the post to a depth of 1 to 1½ feet (0.3 to 0.46 meters). A posthole digger will make this easier. Break up the soil or concrete further. Use a pointed digging bar or rock bar to further loosen the soil, or to break up the concrete if possible. Wear eye protection to protect against flying concrete fragments. Lay a thick block across the hole. Use a block at least 4 inches (10 cm) thick, with a flat top that can support your jack. Place it across the hole next to the base of the post. Position the block securely so it will not shift during construction. Make sure it is located far enough from the post that the concrete base will not strike the block on its way up. Wrap a chain around the post. Wrap a 3 to 5 foot (0.9 to 1.5 m) length of chain several times around the post, as low to the ground as possible. Secure the chain to the jack. Place the jack on top of the block. Loop the chain tightly around the jack's runner and secure it in place. Operate the jack. Put on a pair of heavy leather gloves and stand to the side of the jack's handle. Operate the jack to lift the chain and gradually tug the fence post up and out of the ground. | Assess the status of the fence post. Dig a trench around the post using a shovel. Soak the remaining soil. Rock the post in place. Nail it. Tie it up. Create a lever to help extract the post. Attach the rope to the end of the board closest to the post. Stand on the opposite end of the board. Remove the post from the hole. Dig out soil around the post. Break up the soil or concrete further. Lay a thick block across the hole. Wrap a chain around the post. Secure the chain to the jack. Operate the jack. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Throw-a-New-Year%27s-Eve-Party | How to Throw a New Year's Eve Party | If you want to throw a New Year's Eve party, invite your guests several weeks ahead of time to ensure they don't make other plans. Set out snack trays, with food like fresh fruit, crackers, dips, and other light food. In addition, plan for each guest to drink at least 1 beverage an hour. Many adults enjoy a few alcoholic drinks on New Year's Eve, but be sure to provide non-alcoholic options for designated drivers or younger guests. During the party, don't forget to count down to midnight! | Think of the location. Before you can start planning the party, you will need to think of a location to have it in. You'll need to find a space that you can easily access and that has enough space for everyone you're thinking of inviting. Take some time to think of the perfect space for your New Year's Eve party. If the party is at a club, and there will be admission charges, make sure that is on the invitation as well. Even if there is no charge, some people like to dedicate the party proceeds to a friend in need or a charity. You can host the party in your home. This can help cut down on costs. Try asking a friend to co-host the party in their home if they have the space. You might rent a party hall if you need a lot of room for guests. Consider who should attend the party. It's not a party unless there are guests. You'll want to consider who you want to invite to your party and how many people should come. Thinking of the perfect guest list can help make your party a good one. Make sure the uppers (party animals) and downers (wallflowers) ratio is balanced so that nothing will get broken and nobody injured, but everybody will have a good time. Generally you'll want to have 1 downer for every 5 uppers, but you may want to adjust this based on the location and availability of security and emergency services. Consider how many people can comfortably fit in the space you are hosting the party in. Inviting less people can help you keep the cost of the party low and let you connect better with your guests. Think of when you want guests to arrive and leave. Once you know who is coming and where you will host the party, you can begin to plan the party schedule. You'll need to consider when you want your guests to begin arriving and when they should expect the party to end. Creating this schedule will give you time to prepare before the party and will let your guests know what to expect. Not all New Year's Eve parties need to run late. You can end the party whenever you would like. If your guests are staying late, you should be prepared to offer them a bed or some place to sleep. Send the invitations. Make them lively looking, and make sure to write down any necessary gear or things they should bring, such as swimsuits, food, drinks, after Christmas sale gifts, or whatever. Plan the party for everyone. Try to keep each guest in mind when you are planning your party. Ideally, your party will have something for everyone. It's important to think of all the ages, tastes, and preferences of your guests when planning your party. Take some time and review your guest list to make sure everyone will have a good time at your party. If there are children coming, make sure you have things that they may enjoy. You might leave out a video game or other fun activity for them. Think about what kinds of food and music all of your guests might like. Your guests may not have the same tastes, so try to pick things that you think everyone would agree on. Think about food and drink options. Before you throw your New Year's Eve party, you will want to consider how you are going to handle food and drink. You may choose to offer all the food and drinks for your guests or ask them to bring something to share. Whichever option you go with, knowing what to expect in regards to refreshments can help make your party a success. If you want to provide all food and drink yourself, think about which items your guests might prefer. Try to provide something you think everyone would enjoy. It can help cut down on costs if you ask your guests to bring something to pass. Plan out activities. It can be a good idea to tell your guests what they can expect to be doing during the party. Most New Year's Eve parties are centered around the ball drop and the midnight countdown. However, you can plan whatever fun events you might want to include in your party. Planning an evening of music, food, and good conversation can make for a simple and fun party. You might try offering board games for your guests to play together. Your party might feature a fun competition. For example, the best dressed guest could win a prize. Tell your guests what activities they can expect in the invitations. Send out invitations. Once you've planned the location, the guest list, and the schedule, you can create and send out invitations. The invitation will list all the information about the party and will let your guest know that they are welcome. Consider some of these methods of sending the invitations: By mail. By email. Making an e-card. Using social media. By phone call. Set out drinks. Most every party has some kind of beverage available to guests. Exactly what kind of beverages you offer will depend on your guest's preferences. Think about what your friends and family would like to drink and put them out during the party. Keep some of these tips in mind when considering which beverages might be a good idea: You should always provide water for your guests. Most adults will enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Try to provide some beer or wine for guests. It can be a good idea to have soft drinks available at your party. Your guests might enjoy coffee and tea. If there are children coming, you may want to have something like juice or milk ready. You can ask your friends and family to bring some drinks to the party. Offer the right food. Nearly all parties will offer some kind of food to guests. Exactly what kind of food will depend on how many people are attending, how much you can budget for the food, and how long the party goes on for. You can make a meal or just offer snacks, depending on what you think will be best for your guests. Consider some of these tips when providing food for your guests: A simple snack tray is usually provided at parties. This snack tray may have things like crackers, cheese slices, and fruit or vegetables. You might try making a group meal for everyone. This might be a big pot of soup or stew, something that can feed a lot of people at once. You could try asking your guests to bring something for everyone to eat. Provide tableware. Although food and drink are big parts of a party, you'll need to give your guests a way to enjoy them. Providing things like plates, cups, napkins, and silverware are just as important as providing the food and drink itself. Make sure you have enough supplies to help keep your party running smoothly. You should have enough plates and cups for everyone at the party. You might want to buy paper or plastic tableware. However, these can make the party more costly. Make sure you have napkins or paper towels handy. It can be helpful to have a trashcan out for everyone to use. Decorate. To help make your party feel complete, it can be a good idea to add some decorations. These decorations can be as extravagant or simple as you would like. Try using some of these simple decoration tips for your New Year's eve party: Keep your Christmas decorations up to maintain the holiday look. Make your own decorations. For example, you can make a gold bow tie garland by painting bow-tie pasta noodles gold and stringing them together. Wrap tinsel around the end of a toothpick or drink stirrer. Have a way to watch the ball drop if applicable. A big part of New Year's Eve celebrations in the US is watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight. It can be a good idea to have some way for your guests to watch the ball as it descends at midnight. You might try using some of these methods to bring the ball drop to your guests: Make sure you subscribe to a television channel that covers the event. You can find live streaming coverage of the ball drop online. You might move the party to a local bar around midnight to watch the countdown together. Play some music. A great party is often not complete without music. Music can help any party to feel alive, and your New Year's Eve celebration isn't any different. Think about what kind of music you and your guests might want to listen to and build a great playlist for the party. Consider the musical taste of those attending your party. Avoid songs that might make some guests uncomfortable. Make sure you have enough music to cover the length of the party. You could try streaming services like Pandora to play music during your party. Try to find a good volume level for your party. Make sure everyone is engaged. The point of a party is to celebrate. During the party, it's a good idea to spend some time with everyone who attended. This can help make them feel welcome and included in the celebration. Always keep an eye on guests to make sure they are having the best time possible. Plan fun group activities. For example, you might build a photo booth or offer some games for people to play. If someone looks alone or bored, bring them into a conversation or start one up with them. Introduce new people to one another. Countdown. The focus of the evening will be on the countdown to midnight and the new year. As the clock approaches 12, you'll want to gather everyone around and get ready for the countdown. This can be a great way to bring everyone together and end your New Year's Eve party on a high note. Most people start counting down around 10 seconds from midnight. Some people enjoy opening a bottle of champagne once the clock strikes 12. Feel free to make up your own traditions for the countdown. Wrap things up. Once your guests have enjoyed ringing in the New Year with you, it's time to bring the party to a close. Make sure your guests all have a safe way home or are comfortable with the accommodations that you have provided. You may also want to clean up a bit while the party is coming to a close. After the party is over, get some sleep and enjoy the new year. Before going to bed, it's a good idea to make sure that all the leftover food and drink are put away. You may also want to put all the trash in a bin or bag. Removing decorations, sweeping, and other cleaning can probably wait until the morning. Never let someone drive drunk. If your guests are driving home, make sure they are sober. | Think of the location. Consider who should attend the party. Think of when you want guests to arrive and leave. Send the invitations. Plan the party for everyone. Think about food and drink options. Plan out activities. Send out invitations. Set out drinks. Offer the right food. Provide tableware. Decorate. Have a way to watch the ball drop if applicable. Play some music. Make sure everyone is engaged. Countdown. Wrap things up. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Peel-a-Kiwi | How to Peel a Kiwi | To peel a kiwi, start by holding it in your non-dominant hand. Then, grab a knife with your other hand and place the blade at the top of the kiwi. Using a sawing motion, peel a section of the skin off the kiwi, going from the top of the kiwi to the bottom. Repeat around the entire kiwi until all of the skin is off! | Hold the kiwifruit firmly in your non-dominant hand. Place the blade of the knife or peeler at the top of the kiwifruit. Use your dominant hand to hold the peeler or knife. Apply gentle pressure until you feel the skin give under the blade. You may need to make a small nick in the skin to get a hold. Use a sawing motion to peel from the bottom to the top of the kiwifruit - peeling away from your hand to avoid accidentally cutting yourself. Peel gently – don't cut deeply or you'll remove too much of the flesh of the fruit. Work your way around the whole kiwifruit using the gentle sawing motion. Cut off both ends of the kiwifruit using a serrated paring knife. Slip a spoon in between the skin and the flesh of the fruit (a tablespoon is usually a good size of spoon to use). The back of the spoon should rest against the inside of the skin. Apply a small amount of pressure against the skin and gently turn the kiwifruit with your other hand, scooping the flesh away from the skin. When the spoon gets back to the starting point, the kiwifruit should pop out of the skin. Fill a pot with enough water to cover the kiwifruit. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Drop the whole kiwifruit into the boiling water and blanch it for 20 to 30 seconds. Scoop the kiwifruit out of the boiling water and run it under cold water. When it's cool to the touch, you should be able to peel the skin off with your fingers. Finished. | Hold the kiwifruit firmly in your non-dominant hand. Place the blade of the knife or peeler at the top of the kiwifruit. Apply gentle pressure until you feel the skin give under the blade. Use a sawing motion to peel from the bottom to the top of the kiwifruit - peeling away from your hand to avoid accidentally cutting yourself. Work your way around the whole kiwifruit using the gentle sawing motion. Cut off both ends of the kiwifruit using a serrated paring knife. Slip a spoon in between the skin and the flesh of the fruit (a tablespoon is usually a good size of spoon to use). Apply a small amount of pressure against the skin and gently turn the kiwifruit with your other hand, scooping the flesh away from the skin. Fill a pot with enough water to cover the kiwifruit. Drop the whole kiwifruit into the boiling water and blanch it for 20 to 30 seconds. Scoop the kiwifruit out of the boiling water and run it under cold water. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Razor-Blade | How to Clean a Razor Blade | To clean a razor blade, rinse it under the tap and rotate it as you do so to flush out any hair or shaving cream that's stuck in it. If anything's really stuck, gently tap it against the edge of the sink to shake out the debris. Once you've rinsed it out, leave it razor-side up to dry, so rust doesn't form on the blades. If you want to sterilize your razor, fill a shallow container with rubbing alcohol. Then, swish the head of the razor in the alcohol for a few seconds to clean it. For a deep clean, leave it to soak in the alcohol for 5-10 minutes. | Rinse off the razor blade. Hold the head of the razor under a powerful stream of water. If it's necessary to remove the blade in order to clean it, do so very carefully. Direct the water over the backside of the head, where it will help flush out hair, shaving cream residue and other gunk that's stuck on the blade (or blades). It may help to rotate the razor as you rinse to help the water hit it from different angles. Hot water works better than cold for loosening dried messes. Most of the time, a simple rinse is all you'll need to renew your razor blades. Tap the razor against the edge of the sink. A couple quick jolts can help shake off compacted debris. Give the razor a light tap periodically as you rinse. Be careful not to be too forceful, or you may break the head or frame of the razor. Continue tapping and flushing until there are no particles left on or around the blade. Never use your hand to tap or manipulate the blade in any way. It can be very easy to cut yourself if you're not careful. Use a brush to dislodge any remaining debris. If water alone isn't enough to clear out the blades, a special razor brush may come in handy. Glide the brush over the blade vertically using smooth strokes. The bristles of one of these brushes can reach deep into the spaces between blades to sweep out grime that's otherwise inaccessible. Razor brushes can usually be found at most pharmacies, supermarkets or wherever hygiene products are sold. If you don't own a dedicated razor brush, an unused toothbrush will also do the trick. Just make sure it's clean before using it on your razor blades. Allow the razor blade to dry completely. Once you're removed as much buildup as possible, set the razor aside somewhere out in the open to dry. It's best to leave it in a well-ventilated space where it can be exposed to constant airflow. You can then put the razor away in its usual storage area. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause rust to form on the blade, which is both a safety concern and makes for a far less efficient shave. Water-logged razors can also lead to unsanitary mold growth. Accelerate the drying process by dabbing the blade with an absorbent microfiber towel or blasting it with a hair dryer on a low heat setting. Fill a shallow container with rubbing alcohol. The natural antimicrobial properties of standard isopropyl alcohol make it useful for eliminating bacteria on personal hygiene products like razors. Pour in enough alcohol to completely cover the head of the razor. For best results, use an alcohol that's at least 70% pure. Rubbing alcohol is readily available, convenient and safe to use—to go the extra mile in disinfecting your razor, you'll often have to look no further than your own medicine cabinet. Distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide will also make acceptable alternatives if you don't have any alcohol on hand. Submerge the head of the razor in the alcohol. Swish the razor back and forth vigorously. A few seconds should be all that's needed to rid the blade of most pesky bacteria. The movement of the alcohol through the blades will also help clear out any remaining debris. Leave the blade to soak for 5-10 minutes. If it's been awhile since the last time you cleaned your razor, or it's suffering from extensive buildup, it may be a good idea to give it a more thorough treatment. The longer you let the razor soak, the more time the alcohol will have to break down serious messes. It's okay to soak an entire shaving razor in the alcohol, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution. This will eat away at dried gunk around the handle and base of the blades, effectively cleaning it all over. Dry the razor. There's no need to rinse the blade after an alcohol soak. Instead, simply shake off the excess alcohol and place it on an open surface until dry, which shouldn't take long. Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly, which will allow your razor to dry out that much faster. Unlike water, alcohol will actually stop rust from developing on the metal. Find a safe place to stash your razor blades to prevent accidents. Clean the razor regularly. Get in the habit of rinsing your razor blades after each use. This will keep skin and hair particles, soap scum and other debris from building up in the first place. Consistent cleaning will go a long way in extending a razor's lifespan, even if it's of the disposable variety. Once a week or so, disinfect your razor by soaking it in rubbing alcohol. Keep your razor in a clean, dry environment. The best way to store loose razor blades is in an enclosed case or similar container that shuts securely. If you use the razor to shave, you can rest it on a separate base or stand or position it upright in a cup to allow water to drain out of it. Keep the blade ventilated until it's dry, then put it away where it won't become damaged or cause an accident. Don't leave your razor sitting on the edge of the sink or on the alcove in a dingy shower, where they'll be in direct contact with soap scum and bacteria. These places also tend to be more humid, which increases the likelihood of rusty blades. Replace dull or rusty razors. To get an idea of what kind of condition your razor is in, pay attention to the way it handles. If it doesn't provide a clean cut on the first pass, or you experience any pulling, friction or irritation, it's probably time to get rid of it. A good rule of thumb is to throw out your old razors every couple weeks and stock up on new blades or cartridges. Some hygiene experts go as far as to recommend that you purchase replacement blades after every 6-8 uses. Even non-disposable razors will need restoring or replacing once they begin to show signs of wear. | Rinse off the razor blade. Tap the razor against the edge of the sink. Use a brush to dislodge any remaining debris. Allow the razor blade to dry completely. Fill a shallow container with rubbing alcohol. Submerge the head of the razor in the alcohol. Leave the blade to soak for 5-10 minutes. Dry the razor. Clean the razor regularly. Keep your razor in a clean, dry environment. Replace dull or rusty razors. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Successful-Muslim-Wife | How to Be a Successful Muslim Wife | If you want to be a successful Muslim wife, be open about what you expect from your spouse and encourage them to do the same, so you can build trust and strengthen your relationship. You should also make sure to share responsibilities around the house. For example, if your husband doesn't notice when things are messy, consider asking him to be in charge of certain chores. In addition to working well together, have fun together by exploring activities you both like or trying something new. As you spend time with your spouse, look for Allah's love in his words, deeds, and appearance. To improve both of your relationships with Islam, consider studying it together. At the same time, don't be afraid to ask Allah for guidance when you run into problems with your husband. | Be open with your husband. Build trust by sharing your thoughts and feelings freely with him. Ask the same of him. Your relationship will grow in strength and health if you are honest with one another. Communicate your expectations with your spouse. Tell him what you need from him, and ask him to tell you the same. Understand that men and women have been created to be different, physically and emotionally, and each has a distinct role within a Muslim marriage. Study the Qur'an and Sunnah to better understand your and your husband's rights and responsibilities to each other. Share responsibilities around the house. You don't both have to do all the same work, but make sure that you both take on the responsibility of making your home a clean and pleasant place. The Prophet ﷺ used to help with chores. Some partners may need to be reminded to help around the house. If your husband does not notice when things are messy, consider asking him to be in charge of particular chores. Have fun together. Get out and enjoy life! A good friendship makes for a happy partnership. Share what you like with your spouse, and explore what he enjoys as well. Find things you both like, and make regular dates to do those activities. Try new things together. You probably both have games, trips, sports or adventures you've wanted to do but haven't yet done. Take turns leading expeditions and organizing new activities. Have fun at home. If you have kids, play with them together. Think up new ways to entertain them with your husband. Encourage your kids to learn about Islam and teach them to pray. Argue gently. All couples have occasional arguments. Try not to let them escalate into yelling or name-calling. Take deep breaths, stay calm, and use "I" statements when you are in an argument. For instance, if you are angry, say "I feel upset that…" instead of saying "You're mean and you make me angry!" The Prophet ﷺ said to his wife Hazrat Ayesha, "Show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it and when it is taken out from anything it damages it.” Break rising tension by reminding yourself (and your husband) to avoid the influence of the Shaytan. Say something like, "Love, let's not give in to the Shaytan. Can we discuss this when we are both calm?" Pick your battles. Not everything that annoys you is worth a confrontation. Discuss children. Develop a shared understanding with your partner about the desired size of your family. Procreation is encouraged in order to build the Muslim population, but if you do not want children, you are not required by Allah to have them. If you decide to have children, discuss with your spouse how best to raise your children in the love and service of Allah. Use birth control if you do not want to get pregnant. You may be interested in using an IUD, Dep-Provera, an implant, or condoms. Show your affection. Everyone needs tenderness from others. Express your affection to your husband in the ways that come naturally to you. Find out what your loved one responds to, and show him love in this way. If your husband likes physical affection, kiss and hug him when you greet him. If he likes to be told that you love him, tell him freely. If your spouse responds to compliments, look for something to compliment him about every day. Some husbands love gifts. Arrange treats that are special to him. Communicate your appreciation. Show your gratitude for everything he does for you. Express your pleasure in his company. When he accomplishes something he is proud of, congratulate them and tell him that he made you proud too. Affirm his feelings. Leave him love notes and thank-you notes, but remember that all blessings come from Allah, so say "Alhamdulillah" when you see something that makes you feel grateful. Consider other ways of showing appreciation, such as helping him out with a task he is stuck on. Enjoy your physical intimacy. The Qur'an strictly forbids all sexual activity outside marriage but encourages lawful spouses to invest in a mutually satisfying physical relationship. Explore your desires with your spouse, and encourage them to be open with you about what they enjoy. Lovemaking should be undertaken with three intentions in mind—to avoid Zina (adultery), to protect from the gaze of strangers and to procreate pious young Muslims to serve Allah. With these three intentions in mind, making love is not only an act of enjoyment but an act of worship that pleases Allah and brings reward. Flirt and enjoy foreplay, as Allah encourages you to do. Establish consent with your partner. You may speak while you share intimate moments, although excessive talk should be avoided. Ask for permission before initiating something new. Say what you enjoy, and ask your husband to stop if they are doing something you don't like. At the time of commencing intercourse both husband and wife should recite "Bismillaah, Allahuma jannabnash shayTaana wa jannabish shayTaana maa razaqtanaa" - In the name of Allah, O Allah! Save us from the Shaytaan and prevent Shaytaan from that which you grant us (i.e. children). At the time of ejaculation, both husband and wife should say in their mind (but not out loud) "Allaahumma laa taj,'Al lish shayTaani feemaa razaqtanee naSeebaa" - O Allah! Do not grant Shaytaan any share of that which you have granted me". These duas are important as they will help protect any progeny from harm. Both husband and wife must perform Ghusl (major ritual bath) as soon as possible after intercourse. Be loving during breaks from sexual intimacy. While sexual intimacy is encouraged between spouses, there are some activities and times when it is forbidden by the Qur'an. During Ramadan, abstain from sexual intimacy except at night between iftar and suhoor. Make sure you are rested and well-fed enough to enjoy the exertion! Islam prohibits intercourse during menstruation. However, cuddling, kissing, and playing are still allowed. There's no reason to avoid your husband during your time of the month. He will always appreciate your affection. If your husband is away for an extended period, for example on business or on an outreach program, then maintain your chastity by busying your mind and protecting yourself from Shaytaan by reciting the Qur'an, praying and remembering Allah. Otherwise, when in good health the wife is normally required to fulfill the husband's right to conjugal relations (and similarly for the husband towards the wife). See Allah in your spouse. Look for Allah's love in your spouse's words, deeds, and appearance. Appreciate the work your spouse does to remain close to Allah, and everything they do to bring you closer to Allah as well. Remind your husband to stick to practices that brings him closer to Allah. Ask your husband to remind you about the natural world, hygiene, exercise and other practices that help you feel in step with your faith. Study Islam together with your husband and try to implement what you learn in your marriage. Avoid unnecessary gender interaction and never chit-chat with unrelated men. Pray. Prayer is an vital part of every Muslims daily routine of worship. Make dua for the health of your relationship. Ask Allah for guidance when you are experiencing difficulties with your spouse. Ask Allah for ideas on how to please your husband, and think about these questions actively when you are not in prayer. Remember that Allah loves to be asked for help and guidance, so always pray when you approach an important decision in your life. Allah will hear your prayer and will answer it in the way that is best for you, even though this may sometimes seem to involve hardship. Greet your husband with the salaam. When you encounter your spouse, say "As-salaamu 'alaikum." Greet one another in this way to share your faith and celebrate your shared identity. Dress in a way that reflects your relationship with Allah, with your husband and with yourself. Modesty, cleanliness, and elegance are important in Islam and will be appreciated by a good husband. Dress to express your own faith and demonstrate your commitment to Islam. Familiarize yourself with the Islamic dress code and dress to please Allah by identifying yourself as a Muslimah. Some wives choose to take the additional step of covering the face (niqaab). This is something that many husbands will appreciate but it must be the wife's own decision. Brush your teeth with a miswak and gently wash your face every day. Protect yourself. The Qur'an emphasizes the importance of compassion, respect, and equity in marriages. Being a dutiful and obedient wife does not mean that you must suffer abuse. The Qur'an and Sunnah set out very clear limits on how the husband must treat his wife. If you are being badly treated, suffering emotional, verbal, sexual, or physical abuse, you can divorce your partner. The Qur'an states that Allah dislikes divorce, but allows for it in the name of justice: "If a woman fears ill-treatment (mushuz) or indifference (i'radh) from her husband, it is not wrong if (at her initiative) the two set things peacefully to right between themselves… If the two break up, Allah provides everyone out of His abundance, for Allah is resourceful, wise." (4:128-130) Whilst the Muslim wife is normally required to obey her husband, this requirement is suspended in the case of a husband who is behaving in a way that opposes the will of Allah. 4:34 is not an excuse for violence. | Be open with your husband. Share responsibilities around the house. Have fun together. Argue gently. Discuss children. Show your affection. Communicate your appreciation. Enjoy your physical intimacy. Be loving during breaks from sexual intimacy. See Allah in your spouse. Pray. Greet your husband with the salaam. Dress in a way that reflects your relationship with Allah, with your husband and with yourself. Protect yourself. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Ferret-Happy | How to Make Your Ferret Happy | To make your ferret happy, add fun toys and accessories to your ferret's cage so it doesn't get bored, and switch them up every few days to keep your ferret interested. You should also take your ferret out of its cage for at least 4 hours a day so it can run around and explore. Also, give your ferret kitten treats, chicken, or eggs once a day as a nice treat. If you only have one ferret, consider getting another one since ferrets can get bored and lonely without a companion. | Keep ferrets in pairs so they don’t get lonely and bored. Ferrets will be very glad to have other ferrets as companions. A pair of ferrets will keep each other company and play together while you are away or when you don't have time to play with them. You shouldn't keep male ferrets that have not been neutered with other ferrets because they can become aggressive and start fights during mating season. Provide a cage that's 2 by 3 ft (0.61 by 0.91 m) for a pair of ferrets. Ferrets need a lot of space to play and move around in their cage. Cages with multiple levels are the best so that your ferrets can climb around inside their cage. Use a wire cage with a metal or plastic bottom for your ferrets. You can get multi-level ferret cages at your local pet store. Put elevated beds or hammocks in the cage for your ferrets to sleep in. Ferrets like to be able to climb above ground level to sleep. Put hammocks or beds on higher levels of the cage for them to climb in and out of when they want to. You can get a ferret hammock at a pet store, or buy a small cat bed to put on a higher level of the cage. Make sure that any bed you buy is easily washable. Ferrets spend 16-20 hours a day sleeping, so make sure they have comfortable beds! Put lots of accessories and toys in the cage and switch them up every few days. Purchase toys like hard plastic balls with bells in the middle, plush toys with squeakers, and tunnels that they can climb through. Ferrets get bored with toys easily, so rotate new toys in and out every 2-3 days to keep them entertained. Make sure that any toys you give them are durable and won't break or fall apart and cause a choking hazard. You can buy ferret toys at a pet store, or use small cat and dog toys. Plush chew toys for small dogs, or the kinds of balls and other toys for cats that have bells inside are good choices. If you see that your ferrets seem to have lost interest in a toy or accessory, then replace it! Make a dig box for your ferrets with a large plastic bin and clean dirt. Get a plastic tub or bin that's at least 2 ft (0.61 m) tall and fill it with 1 ft (0.30 m) of dirt that has not been treated with any chemicals. Your ferrets will love to dig around in the bin during playtime. If your ferrets use the dirt as a litter box, simply clean out the messy parts and add some fresh dirt. You can get dirt that has not been treated with chemicals at a garden supply shop. Adding plastic balls to a box, tub, or kiddie pool is another great way to entertain your ferrets. Get an exercise pen for your ferrets if you can't let them roam your home. Many people don't have a safe space in their home to let a ferret run free. If this is the case, buy an exercise pen at a pet store to create a safe space outside of your ferrets' cage for them to play in. Put different toys like balls, tunnels, and chew toys in the exercise pen for your ferrets to interact with during play time. You can connect multiple ferret play pens to create a larger space for them to run around in. Let your ferrets run free in your home if you have a safe, enclosed area. You will need to ferret-proof the room or area by removing everything that the ferrets could destroy or that could harm them. Fill the room with lots of ferret toys to keep them entertained and discourage them from damaging your home. Ferrets will dig into furniture like sofas, dig at the carpet, and scratch at closed doors. This is why you need to make sure they have lots of toys and other distractions in the room you let them free in. Take your ferrets out of their cage for at least 4 hours a day. Ferrets need to be out of their cage for at least 4 hours a day to stay fit and mentally stimulated. Split this time between solo playtime in a safe area like a play pen or enclosed room, and personal interaction between you and your ferret. Ferrets who spend too much time in their cage will become lazy, overweight, and lose their muscle tone. Provide lots of variety of activities for your ferrets. Try building mazes out of cardboard tubes and boxes for them to explore and exercise in. Play and interact with your ferrets for at least 2 hours a day. Chase your ferrets around in a safe space in your home, drag chew toys around for them to chase, throw balls, or take your ferrets for a walk with a harness and a leash. It's important to interact with your ferrets to establish a bond and to keep them fit and happy. Ferrets love playing on stairs, so if you have a safe room in your house with stairs this is a great place to play with them and chase them around. Ferrets like to play tug of war. You can buy a rope chew toy meant for dogs and use it to play with your ferrets. If your ferrets seem uninterested in playing or spends most of their time sleeping, they are probably bored with their daily routine and toys. Try new games and toys to find something that interests them. Feed your ferrets pellets that are made for them or no-carb kitten food. Ferret pellets don't have any carbohydrates and are formulated to contain the right amount of protein to keep ferrets healthy. Use soft, carb-free kitten food as an alternative if you cannot find ferret pellets. Ferrets should always have food available. Put 1.5 cups (~150 g) in the dish for 2 ferrets and change it out every day. If they are leaving a lot of food then you can lower the amount you give them, but make sure they never have an empty food bowl. Adult cat food does not work as an alternative to ferret food. Make sure any kitten food you use does not contain fish as an ingredient. Ferrets only eat meat-based food or animal products like eggs. Give your ferret kitten treats, chicken, or eggs as a daily treat. Purchase soft kitten treats with chicken or lamb as the first ingredient to give to your ferret. Chop up chicken or cooked eggs as another treat option. Give your ferrets a treat when you are handling and playing with them daily. Give each ferret an individual kitten treat, an egg, or a piece of cooked chicken cut into a 1 in (2.5 cm) chunk at least once a day during playtime. You should not give your ferrets fruits, vegetables, or bread because these are not part of a ferret's natural diet. Check and refill your ferrets’ water bottle 2 times a day. Make sure there is always fresh, clean water available for your ferrets. Refill the water bottle anytime that you see it is not full or looks dirty. You can provide a bowl of water in the ferrets' cage in addition to a water bottle. Some ferrets like to have a variety of water sources. Just make sure to clean out the bowl and fill it with fresh water whenever you see anything floating in it because it will get dirty quickly. Put a litter box in your ferrets’ cage and clean it every day. Fix a ferret litter tray or litter pan to the side of the cage on the lowest level. A ferret litter pan has one lowered side so that the ferret can easily walk in and out, and is designed to fit into a corner and hook onto the bars of the cage. You can use regular cat litter as ferret litter. Whenever the litter is dirty, scoop out the dirty parts and refill the litter pan with some fresh litter. Keep your ferret in a room that stays below 80 °F (27 °C). Ferrets like to stay at cool temperatures and cannot tolerate heat higher than this. Keep their cage away from heat sources or windows that receive direct sunlight. Temperatures higher than 86 °F (30 °C) can cause immediate health problems such as heat stroke in ferrets, and can even lead to death. Take your ferrets to the vet at least once a year. It's important for ferrets to have annual vet checkups, even if they seem healthy, to monitor for any health problems. Always keep an eye on your ferrets' appearance and behavior, and take them to the vet if you notice anything that seems unusual. A ferret's eyes should always be bright and clear, their whiskers should be long and soft, and they should have clean teeth and pink gums. If you notice any problems with the appearance of these, take your ferret to the vet for an exam. | Keep ferrets in pairs so they don’t get lonely and bored. Provide a cage that's 2 by 3 ft (0.61 by 0.91 m) for a pair of ferrets. Put elevated beds or hammocks in the cage for your ferrets to sleep in. Put lots of accessories and toys in the cage and switch them up every few days. Make a dig box for your ferrets with a large plastic bin and clean dirt. Get an exercise pen for your ferrets if you can't let them roam your home. Let your ferrets run free in your home if you have a safe, enclosed area. Take your ferrets out of their cage for at least 4 hours a day. Play and interact with your ferrets for at least 2 hours a day. Feed your ferrets pellets that are made for them or no-carb kitten food. Give your ferret kitten treats, chicken, or eggs as a daily treat. Check and refill your ferrets’ water bottle 2 times a day. Put a litter box in your ferrets’ cage and clean it every day. Keep your ferret in a room that stays below 80 °F (27 °C). Take your ferrets to the vet at least once a year. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-a-Child-to-Write-Their-Name | How to Teach a Child to Write Their Name | Teaching your child to write their name can take some time, but if you keep it fun and praise them along the way, they'll get the hang of it. Start by writing their name yourself and getting them to say the letters with you. If they have a short version of their name, start with that to make it easier. Once your child can name all the letters in their name, get them to trace the letters over the top of yours. You can also write the letters in dotted lines and get your child to connect them. Try mixing things up by using crayons, chalk, or forming letters out of play dough to write their name. This will keep it fun and stop them from getting frustrated so easily. Make sure you reward them with praise and treats as they make progress. | Point out letters in your child’s name. Before they can write their name, children need to understand the connection between individual letters and the word. Draw their attention to the letters they need to recognize by saying things like: ”See that 'E'? That's the first letter in your name.” ”'Veronica' ends in an 'a' just like that one. Can you find the 'a'?” Write your child’s name, saying the letters as you do. Set an example by writing for your child. Make sure to work slowly, and stop to say each letter as you do: Veronica, your name, is spelled V-E-R-O-N-I-C-A.” Ask your child to say the letters as you write them. Slowly write your child's name. Pause after each letter and ask them to say it. Be patient, and don't worry if your child mixes some letters up at first. Try a letter scavenger hunt. When you're out and about or even just reading with your child, help them hunt for their letters. They'll have fun making spelling a game, and it will give them practice thinking about the order of letters in their name. Make it simple by asking questions like “Ok, Natasha, can you find an 'N'? How about an 'A'?” Have your child trace the letters of their name. Write out your child's name in large, clear letters. Encourage them to take their favorite writing utensil and follow the strokes of the letters. Don't worry if the strokes are a little shaky at first! When your child is ready for more of a challenge, write the name in dotted lines. See if they can connect the dots to form the letters. Let your child copy their name. Write out the child's name on a large sheet of paper, leaving enough room for them to write the letters underneath. Ask them to try and copy their name just below your writing. That way, they can build confidence writing their name while still having a "cheat sheet" if they need help remembering how to form any letters. See if your child would like to take a turn on their own. Ask your kid if they want to try writing out the letters. Start with the first letter of their name, then see if they're able to get the next one. They may not get any or all of them the first time around. If not, don't push them, just keep practicing saying the letters of the name and try again later. Give your child “real” opportunities to write their name. Sometimes children get a little bored or confused when they're asked to write their name just for practice. Letting them do things like sign birthday cards or gift tags gives them a real context for writing. They'll feel like their name is important and have fun! Even if your child doesn't write their name correctly at first, they'll still develop a sense for why we write our names. Let your child experiment with different media. Pencils, crayons, and markers are obvious choices for kids to practice writing. Some might respond better to non-traditional media, however. It's easy to mix in some fun while still teaching your child! Try things like: Letting your kid write their name outside with sidewalk chalk. Writing with dry erase markers on a board or windows. Using cooked spaghetti to create the letters of your child's name. Rolling out Play Doh and using it to form letters. Don’t worry if they make letters the “wrong way. ” It's normal for kids to mix up letters like “d” and “b” or “E” and “F” when they're just learning to write. You might also notice that your child writes certain letters with upstrokes when downstrokes are the norm, and vice versa. When they're just starting out, however, focus more on getting them in the habit of writing their name rather than getting everything one hundred percent perfect. The more your child practices, the better they will get at writing correctly. Once children reach school age, the work they do there will also help standardize the mechanics of writing. Try offering rewards when the child makes progress. A little motivation, like a piece of candy, can be helpful if the child seems reluctant to try writing their name. You could also tell the child that once they've learned to write their whole name, they can get a reward, like a trip to the ice cream shop. Or better yet, to the library! Many libraries will allow children to get their own library card as soon as they can sign their own name. Keep the rewards small and don't put too much emphasis on them. A child can become discouraged if they are struggling to write correctly and fail to get the reward. Show your child the tripod grasp to improve hand control. Some children struggle to write their name because simply holding a pencil, crayon, etc. is something new. If your child is struggling to keep a pencil in their hand, teach them the tripod grasp, which just means keeping it between the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Give your child plenty of opportunities to scribble and draw even before they start to write their name. This will help them develop the fine motor skills they need to control a writing instrument. Try just a few letters at a time. If your child has trouble writing out their whole name, don't push them too much at first. Instead, give them just two or three letters to start with. This is really helpful if your kid has a long name. For instance, say “Ok, Antonio. Let's see if you can get the first part of your name: A-N-T. Just like the bug!” Try practicing on a sloped surface. Children learning their name are probably also learning to hold paper down as they write. This can be a little tricky. Starting on a sloped table, an easel, or similar surface can make things easier. You can also try a clipboard or something else that can hold the paper down. Once your kid is more confident writing their name, let them try on a flat surface. | Point out letters in your child’s name. Write your child’s name, saying the letters as you do. Ask your child to say the letters as you write them. Try a letter scavenger hunt. Have your child trace the letters of their name. Let your child copy their name. See if your child would like to take a turn on their own. Give your child “real” opportunities to write their name. Let your child experiment with different media. Don’t worry if they make letters the “wrong way. Try offering rewards when the child makes progress. Show your child the tripod grasp to improve hand control. Try just a few letters at a time. Try practicing on a sloped surface. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Manage-Time-for-Tests | How to Manage Time for Tests | It's important to manage your time during tests to make sure you have a chance to work on each section. Before your test begins, make sure you have a watch or that you can see the clock on the wall so you can budget your time. While taking the test, answer the easy questions first to allow you extra time to work on the more difficult sections. Just make sure to return to the questions you skip. Another tactic is to focus on a question's worth. After you've answered the easy questions, spend your time on the questions that are worth more points. For example, spend 10 minutes on 1 question worth 20 points instead of the same amount of time on 10 questions worth 1 point each. While you'll want to budget your time effectively, you should also take a breath or two between each section to help you relax and transition. You'll also want to avoid rushing yourself as this can lead to critical mistakes. | Answer the easy questions first. A sound time-management strategy during tests is to answer the easy questions first. The idea is that you will quickly work through these questions, probably quicker than you had budgeted for, allowing you extra time to work on the more difficult sections. The issue with this strategy, versus working through every section as budgeted, is that you might skip a question thinking that it's more difficult than it is. You also run the risk of not returning to questions that you've skipped. Focus on a question’s worth. After you've answered the easy questions, focus your time on the questions that are worth the most points. It makes more sense to spend 10 minutes on 1 question worth 20 points than to spend 10 minutes on 10 questions worth only 1 point each. In other words, 20 points for one question is worth more time than 10 points for 10 questions. Your exam should clearly state the value or percentage of each question or section. If you're unsure, ask your proctor. Keep an eye on the clock. Make sure that you wear a watch so that you can stick to your time budget. You won't be able to bring a cell phone in the test with you, and there may not be a clock on the wall, so you'll need to remember your own time piece. Don’t rush yourself. You've studied, you've practiced, you've read through the test, you've budgeted your time, and there is no reason to rush yourself. You might be feeling a little anxious or want to hurry up and get the test over with, but time management is about pacing yourself. Focus on accuracy instead of speed. Don't rush, as you'll run the risk of making a critical mistake, and stick to your game plan. Take a breath or two. After you complete a section, give yourself a few seconds to pause and breathe before you move on. This helps you pace yourself, allows you to make sure that you're managing your time effectively, and helps you mentally move from one task to another. Prepare for the unexpected. No matter how prepared you are for this test and how well you've planned to manage your time, something can go wrong. This isn't the end of the world, though, and shouldn't derail your schedule at all. Plan for some problems, and be ready for any issues. Bring at least two pens or pencils with you. If you're allowed to use a calculator, bring spare batteries. Bring an extra blue book or paper. You might even pack a little emergency kit with throat lozenges, gum, a bandage, and lip balm. Find out the test’s format. Whether you're taking a standardized test or a classroom examination, you will likely be able to find out the format of the test beforehand. Knowing the test's format will help you study, as well as give you ideas about how to approach the materials. If you're told that there will be three essay questions, for example, that will ask you to connect the larger theme of the course to specific texts that you've read in the class, you know to begin thinking about thesis statements. Or if your instructor says that there will be 15 multiple choice questions and 15 true/false questions, you understand that your focus should be much more specific, probably focusing on facts and dates. Get a study guide. If you're taking a standardized test such as the GRE or the SAT, there are plenty of study guides available. Almost every current study guide will have practice tests, study materials, and approaches to taking the test. Typically these guides offer simulated exams as well, so that you can simulate the examination and your performance. Your school or local library may have study guides available for use within the library. You might find used copies of these guides online for a dramatically reduced price. You can also make your own study guide by compiling your notes and homework from class. Taking practice exams is a great way to familiarize yourself with the layout of the test and the kind of questions you'll be asked. Practice your essays. Practice answering essay questions well before your test if you have a good source of feedback available, such as a writing center or your professor has agreed to look over your essays for you. Doing so will show you what part of your essay writing you need to develop, as well as help you get comfortable answering a question in prose. The more you practice, the more efficient and quick you will become. Your instructor might give you example essay questions if you ask for them. These might include questions from previous exams or simply questions that they think would serve as good practice. Do no assume that your institution's writing center or your professor will look over practice essays for you. Instead, respectfully ask if they are willing to review your practice essays and offer feedback. Review your weakest points. Devote extra study time to working on your weakest areas. This will help you out in a few ways. You'll be better prepared for material that isn't your strong suit, and you'll also spend much less time worrying about the information when you encounter it on the exam. Additionally, by studying your weakest areas, you'll develop strategies for handling the material efficiently and quickly. A good example is the GRE's verbal portion of the examination. Many people find this component especially challenging and devote extra time to studying flash cards, as well as developing strategies for word meanings, antonyms, and synonyms. If you make your own study guide, devote a lot of it to your weakest points so that you're focusing on these areas the most when you study. Develop a study schedule. Create a study schedule that is realistic and is one to which you will commit. This ensures that you're devoting enough time to studying, and also establishes a pattern for you, which will help you manage your time when you get into the actual examination. There are free study calendar templates available for download from the internet. Some printed student calendars also have a study schedule feature built in to the calendar itself. Read every question. When you receive the test, skim through every question before you even pick up your pen. Skimming the test allows you to find important information that might be tucked away in the exam, as well as figure out which questions you want to answer if you're given a choice (choose one of the following three questions, for example). Skimming the test also shows you the exact format of the exam, which allows you to solidify your game plan. Create a budget. You've read through the test and now know how the test is organized. Give yourself a minute to divide the test into its smaller parts, and decide how much time you'll allow yourself on each section. Generally speaking, you want to allow more time for essay questions than anything else. True/false and multiple choice questions will take the least time to answer. At the most give yourself one minute per question, although 30 seconds is probably more realistic. Allow at least half of the allotted test time for any essay questions. Budget a few minutes to review your answers before submitting the test. You'd hate to turn in the test only to find out that your were one slot off on your Scan-tron sheet. Strategize your approach. You've read every question and come up with a realistic budget on how you'll spend your time. Now you need to decide how you'll tackle the test. You might want to begin with any essay questions first, as writing answers out by hand tends to take longer than simply circling a correct answer. On the other hand, you might want to handle the fill-in-the blank portion first because they require the most recall skills. Because you have been practicing, you should generally have an idea of your strategy before you arrive to take the exam. If you're taking a standardized test, the study guides that you use will guide you through the exact strategy that you should use to maximize your time management. | Answer the easy questions first. Focus on a question’s worth. Keep an eye on the clock. Don’t rush yourself. Take a breath or two. Prepare for the unexpected. Find out the test’s format. Get a study guide. Practice your essays. Review your weakest points. Develop a study schedule. Read every question. Create a budget. Strategize your approach. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Select-and-Store-Cabbage | How to Select and Store Cabbage | To store cabbage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap if it's been cut already, or put it in a sealable plastic bag if it's still whole. Then, store the cabbage in the crisper drawer in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. When you're ready to use the cabbage, peel off the outer leaves so you're only eating the freshest parts of the vegetable. | Look for cabbages that have bright colour to them. Cabbage comes in either a green or red color. When picking out green cabbages, look for those that are shiny and bright, almost lime, green. Red cabbages should be a deep maroonish-purple color. Feel the outside to make sure that the cabbage is firm to the touch. If you feel a cabbage and it feels soft and spongy rather than firm and dense, your cabbage might be rotten on the inside. Only pick out cabbages that are firm or hard to the touch. Pay attention to the leaves. When you are picking out a cabbage, look for cabbages that only have a few leaves hanging free from the rest of the head. If your whole cabbage looks like its come a little undone, and there are many leaves that are not tightly pressed to the stem (or center) of the cabbage, that cabbage might have a weird texture or flavor. You should also look for leaves that are crisp rather than soft. Soft leaves means that the cabbage is a little old or has had damage done to it. Avoid any cabbages that show signs of discoloration or rotting. If the leaves are heavily damaged or there are a lot of blemishes (dark spots) on the cabbage, you should not buy it. These characteristics are generally associated with worm damage. Know the difference between large and small heads of cabbage. Generally, larger heads of cabbage will have a milder flavor than smaller, more compact heads of cabbage. If you are new to eating cabbage or are trying to get yourself to like it, pick larger heads that will hit you with less of that cabbage-y flavor. You should also keep in mind that a cabbage picked after a frost will be sweeter than one picked before a frost. If you are purchasing your cabbage from a farmer's market, ask the person selling cabbage if their farm has had a frost yet. Keep your cabbage whole until you plan to use it. When you cut cabbage, it begins to lose its vitamin C. If you absolutely must store part of a cabbage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Select-and-Store-Cabbage-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Select-and-Store-Cabbage-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Select-and-Store-Cabbage-Step-6Bullet1.jpg\/aid1215219-v4-728px-Select-and-Store-Cabbage-Step-6Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Store the cabbage in the crisper of your fridge. Keeping your cabbage cold will help it retain its nutrients and crisp texture. Place it inside a plastic bag first. It should stay in satisfactory condition for up to two weeks. If you have purchased Savoy cabbage, store it in your refrigerator for no more than one week. Use it after the week is up or else it will begin to go bad. Discard the outer leaves before you use your cabbage. This is especially important if any of the leaves have withered during storage or travel. Rinse the leaves and use as required. Enjoy! Try making cabbage soup. Not only is cabbage soup tasty, it is also the center of a new diet trend. Make stuffed cabbage for dinner. Gołąbki, or golumpki in English, is a traditional Polish dish that will want to make you want to say hurrah (hooray in Polish). Try some Halwa. Are you looking for something sweet? Look no further than cabbage Halwa. Halwa is a type of sweet confection that can be found in Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, India, and the Balkans. Try some braised cabbage. Not only is braised cabbage delicious, nutritious and vegan, it's also Russian! You should try it. Pair pork chops with red cabbage. These two go together like salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard, or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Make your own sauerkraut. Why settle for the store bought, processed sauerkraut when you could make your own out of fresh cabbage? | Look for cabbages that have bright colour to them. Feel the outside to make sure that the cabbage is firm to the touch. Pay attention to the leaves. Avoid any cabbages that show signs of discoloration or rotting. Know the difference between large and small heads of cabbage. Keep your cabbage whole until you plan to use it. Store the cabbage in the crisper of your fridge. Discard the outer leaves before you use your cabbage. Try making cabbage soup. Make stuffed cabbage for dinner. Try some braised cabbage. Pair pork chops with red cabbage. Make your own sauerkraut. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Protest-and-Complain-to-Receive-a-Refund | How to Protest and Complain to Receive a Refund | If you're unhappy with a product or service and you want to receive a refund, contact the business with your complaint as soon as possible. You could call, email, or visit in-person. Then, find someone who can help you, such as a supervisor or manager. State politely but firmly what your issue is and make sure to include that you would like a refund. For example, you could say, “This coffee pot doesn't work. Could I please have a refund?” If you don't get a refund, try writing a letter to the business or contacting the manufacturer of the product instead. | Identify why you are unhappy. Before complaining, you should know why you are unhappy with the product or service you received. Why you want a refund will potentially determine whether you get one. Was the product defective? If so, the merchant should give you a refund. Was the product not as advertised? If so, you should get a refund. Did you simply change your mind? If so, then whether you get a refund will depend on the store's policies. However, in the U.K., you have up to 14 days to change your mind if you purchased something online or over the phone. Contact the business. Call up the business or visit and tell them that you are unhappy with the product or service. If necessary, you can send an email instead of calling on the phone. Don't delay, since some retailers have time limits on returns (e.g., 14 days). Be clear with your complaint. State why you are unhappy. For example, you can say, “This coffee pot doesn't work.” Also state you want a refund. The company might try to give you something else, such as store credit, if you aren't clear. Realize that the first person you speak to might not be able to help you. Chances are they are reading from a script and have limited authority to give refunds. Work your way up the chain of command. Ask to speak with a supervisor if a clerk can't help you. Politely tell the clerk, “Is there someone else can I speak with?” Wait patiently for the clerk to get the supervisor or manager. Explain again that you want a refund and why. Be consistent with your story. Don't tell one person one thing and then tell another person something else. When you complain, be as brief as possible. Longer stories sound suspicious. Write down the name of every person you speak to and provide a short summary of what they tell you. Remain polite but firm. You will get the best results if you avoid becoming too angry. Nevertheless, you should remain firm in your convictions. Remind yourself: “I have the right to quality service” and don't let a “No” scare you away. Avoid personal insults or any complaint that you spend a lot of money at the store. Staff is unlikely to take you seriously, and you may be escorted from the premises. Calm yourself, if necessary. It helps to remember that the clerk you talk with probably would like to help you but doesn't have the power. If possible, try to show empathy to the person on the other end of the phone. You can say something like, “I bet you've had plenty of people complain today.” The clerk may see you as a friend and go the extra mile for you. You might strike out and not get a refund. If so, thank the person you have spoken with and plan your next move. Learn your rights. Your rights will depend on the law where you purchased the item. Before going any further, you should analyze whether you have a right to the refund. Consider the following: Did the store have a return policy? It should have been clearly stated, either on a sign in the store or on your receipt. Check to make sure. Some retailers won't allow returns unless the item is defective. Does your law allow the seller to provide the service again instead of giving a refund? This is the law in the U.K. unless it's impossible to provide the service again, or it would take too long or otherwise be inconvenient. Is there a warranty? If so, take it out and read whether the defect is covered by the warranty. Does your state have automatic warranties? In the U.S., every product you buy is guaranteed to work as you would expect it to. Also, it must work as promised if you bought it for a particular purpose. Did the seller disclaim warranties? For example, they may have sold the goods “as is.” If so, you might not have the right to a refund, depending on your state. Did the seller lie to you? This is very different than purchasing defective goods or inadequate services. When someone lies, they have committed fraud and you can sue for any financial injury you have suffered. Write a letter of complaint to the business. If you can't get help over the phone or in person, you should write a letter to the business. Remember to get to the point. If you have the legal right to a refund, mention it in the letter. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission has a sample letter you can use. It is available here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/how-write-effective-complaint-letter. In the U.K., you should use a sample letter provided by Citizens Advice, which is available here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/template-letters/letters/problems-with-services/letter-to-complain-about-the-poor-standard-of-a-service/. This letter is for services or goods you purchased after October 1, 2015. If you live in a different country, remember to include the following information in your complaint letter: details about the purchase (date, amount, etc.), why you are unhappy, and what you want (a full refund). When you mail your letter, request a signed receipt. Always keep a copy of the letter for your records. Contact the manufacturer instead. You might need to notify the person who manufactured the product. You can find the phone number on the product's packaging or on the receipt. You might also need to go online to check the number. Tell the manufacturer what is wrong with the item and when you purchased it. Also ask for a full refund. Dispute the charge with your credit card company. If you paid with a credit or charge card, you should contact the company and tell them what happened. You may be able to get a “chargeback.” In effect, a chargeback undoes a credit card transaction. Generally, you must meet the following requirements: The charge must be for more than $50. You must have bought the item in the state where you live or within 100 miles of your mailing address. Larger credit card issuers will waive both of the above requirements. Call up your credit card company (or visit online) immediately. You can't get a chargeback once you pay your bill. Consider mediation. The business might be willing to attend mediation. In mediation, you meet with a mediator, who is a neutral third party who listens to both sides. The mediator doesn't act as a judge. Instead, they guide the discussion and try to get each side to compromise. If you would like to mediate the dispute, then mention this fact in your complaint letter to the company. Your Attorney General's Office might have a mediation program you can use. Check their website. Pursue arbitration. Arbitration is like a trial. Each side presents information to an arbitrator instead of a judge, who decides the case. The TV show “Judge Judy” is arbitration, though she dresses up like a judge (and used to be a judge in real life). The business might be willing to arbitrate the dispute. Typically, you sign an agreement to arbitrate. As part of the agreement, you waive any right to bring a lawsuit or appeal the arbitrator's decision. You might have already agreed to arbitrate a dispute when you purchased the product or service. Check your receipt and other paperwork that you received. Look for any arbitration or dispute provision. Sue in small claims court. Each state has a small claims court which hears cases for a low dollar amount. The dollar limit varies, depending on the state. For example, Alaska has a $10,000 limit, whereas Arkansas has a $5,000 limit. Small claims courts are ideal for people who don't have a lawyer. Typically, the process is streamlined and you can use pre-printed forms for court filings. If you have a big claim against a business, you should consider suing in regular civil court. Contact a lawyer to discuss your options. Civil court cases can be drawn out, but you can win more money. Complain to the Better Business Bureau. Complain to the BBB in the city where the merchant does business. You can find the address by visiting the BBB website here: https://www.bbb.org/. Search for the business by name. Provide details about the dispute. BBB will send a copy of your complaint to the business. Your complaint will also be posted on the BBB website. You can't complain anonymously. Instead, you must provide your name, address, phone number, and other contact information. For this reason, always use appropriate language in your complaint. Contact a consumer protection agency. Your state or city may have a consumer protection agency. These agencies investigate consumer complaints and can enforce an violation of consumer protection laws. You can find your nearest agency by visiting this website: https://www.usa.gov/state-consumer. Select your state from the drop-down box. The agency can sue or bring another enforcement action against the retailer. Complain to the Attorney General. If someone committed fraud, then you should complain to your state's Attorney General's office. You can find the phone number online. There may also be an online complaint form. The Attorney General won't represent you in a lawsuit. However, they can investigate the business and bring an enforcement action if necessary. The Attorney General also shares information with other enforcement agencies so that they can find and catch scammers. Report fraud to other government agencies. Many agencies gather information on fraud. You should file complaints with as many as necessary. For example, consider contacting the following: Federal Trade Commission. You can report scams using the FTC's Complaint Assistant. econsumer.gov. You can report international Internet fraud to this website: https://www.econsumer.gov/en/Home/FileAComplaint/1#crnt. IC3. The Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts complaints about Internet fraud. Either the victim or a third party can file a complaint. | Identify why you are unhappy. Contact the business. Work your way up the chain of command. Remain polite but firm. Learn your rights. Write a letter of complaint to the business. Contact the manufacturer instead. Dispute the charge with your credit card company. Consider mediation. Pursue arbitration. Sue in small claims court. Complain to the Better Business Bureau. Contact a consumer protection agency. Complain to the Attorney General. Report fraud to other government agencies. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Fresh-Looking-Face | How to Have a Fresh Looking Face | You can have a fresh looking face by keeping your skin healthy and using light, natural-looking makeup. Whenever you're in the sun, make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from damaging UV rays. When you wash your face, use a gentle cleanser, which will clean your skin without removing your natural oils. Always apply a moisturizer after you wash your face to keep it hydrated and soft. If you like to wear makeup, try wearing a tinted moisturizer to smooth out your skin tone. If you don't have a tinted moisturizer, you can mix a little bit of liquid foundation with moisturizer and apply a light layer to your skin. Use a brush to put a little setting powder on top, which will prevent your face from looking oily. To finish your look, apply a sheer lip balm and just a hint of blush to give your skin a nice glow. | Wear a hat. One way to protect your skin is to keep it out of the sun's rays. When you head outside, especially in the harsh light of summer, try wearing a hat to protect your face. Sun damage makes your skin look older over time. It can make it appear leathery, dry, or discolored. Take shorter showers. Showers that are too hot or too long can make your skin dry because they wash away your skin's natural oils. Try to take as short a shower as you can. Also, instead of very hot water, stick with warm water to protect your facial skin. Choose gentle soaps. Strong soaps, like hot showers, can take too much oil from your skin. These oils keep you naturally hydrated. Without them, your face appears older. Look for soaps that say "moisturizing" or for "sensitive skin." Blot your skin dry. When you get out of the shower, it's tempting to scrub your face and body dry with your towel. However, being too rough isn't good for your skin, plus blotting helps moisture stay on your skin, where it can be absorbed. Use sunscreen religiously. To protect yourself against the sun, it's important to put on sunscreen every day. Every time you go outside, the sun has a chance to damage your skin, so putting sunscreen on in the morning can help protect you against that damage. Pick one that has an SPF of at least 30 and protects against UVB and UVA rays. Moisturize your skin. Pick a moisturizer designed for your skin type. That is, if you have oily skin, pick one for oily skin; on the other hand, if you have dry skin, choose one that is labelled for dry skin. Apply it to your face after you shower. It can also be helpful to apply it at night. You can also choose a daily moisturizer that has an SPF, meaning you only have to put on one cream in the morning. Break your smoking habit. You already know that smoking is bad for your lungs, but you may not know that it's also hard on your skin. It can make your skin look older because it causes problems with the elastin and collagen in your skin. Treat acne. If you have acne, you may feel like it keeps your face from being fresh-looking. By treating your acne, you'll help your skin look smoother and fresh. To treat acne, you can start by washing your face twice a day with a mild acne cleanser. You can also use acne lotions or creams. If you're still having problems, ask your doctor about prescription creams or cleansers to help clear up your acne. Also, ask about birth control if you have flare-ups around your period. Sometimes, acne is caused by a rise in hormones, so using birth control can help even out your hormones and reduce acne. Use sunlight to your advantage. To create a fresh-looking face, you need to apply your makeup as lightly as possible. Doing your makeup in sunlight, such as by a window, can help you see how much you're applying and what looks heavy-handed. Apply foundation and concealer sparingly. If you put on too much foundation, it can backfire, making your skin appear thick and leathery. Try applying a light layer of liquid foundation. In fact, you can also mix it with your moisturizer to lighten it up even more. Another option is a tinted lotion, as it helps smooth out your skin without adding too much weight. Use a brush for powder. Using a brush to apply powder helps keep it light. A sponge can cake the powder on, making you look older. Try one that absorbs oils, which can keep your skin from looking shiny. Apply a hint of blush. Blush can help make your cheeks look rosy, but if you apply it too heavily, it can make you look like a doll instead of a person. Apply a light dusting of a faint pink to give yourself a nice glow without making you look like a clown. In addition, use bronzer along the bottom of your cheekbones to add shadow and shape. Pick an eyeliner that blends with your skin. That is, you don't want to pick an eyeliner that's too dark if you are fair skinned, while a black liner will be perfect if you have darker skin. Choose a brown if you have lighter skin. Also, apply it thinly, as being too heavy-handed can make the liner look unnatural. Picking a gel eyeliner can make it easier to apply in a thin line. Use a sheer balm. Lipstick can look like, well, makeup. Balms, on the other hand, can help keep your face looking fresh. Pick a sheer color, so that it picks up your skin tones underneath it while adding a hint of pink. Pick a slightly darker eye shadow. When choosing an eye shadow, make sure to pick one in a brown shade that's a bit darker than your skin tone. By using it in the creases of your eyelids, as well as just under your eyelashes, you can brighten up your eyes, but it won't actually look like you're wearing eye shadow. You can also use bronzer in place of eye shadow for a similar effect. Smile. The simple act of smiling can make you appear younger, according to one study. Participants underestimated the age more often of those who smile than those who didn't. Therefore, if you want to appear fresh and young, don't forget to add a smile. | Wear a hat. Take shorter showers. Choose gentle soaps. Blot your skin dry. Use sunscreen religiously. Moisturize your skin. Break your smoking habit. Treat acne. Use sunlight to your advantage. Apply foundation and concealer sparingly. Use a brush for powder. Apply a hint of blush. Pick an eyeliner that blends with your skin. Use a sheer balm. Pick a slightly darker eye shadow. Smile. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Sheet-Metal | How to Cut Sheet Metal | The method you choose to cut sheet metal depends on the thickness of the metal and the type of cut you plan to make. To cut straight lines, use an electric saw. Start by taping both sides of the sheet metal directly over the line you want to cut and clamp the metal to a work station so it doesn't move. Then, grip the saw with both hands and push the blade through the metal to cut it. For thin sheets of metal, you can use tin snips to cut through it. To make detailed cuts in sheet metal, use a Dremel blade. Clamp the sheet metal to a work table and press the Dremel blade against it. Move the blade along the intended line until you reach the end of your cut. | Wax your saw blade before cutting sheet metal. Metal is difficult for saws to cut, and rubbing wax along the blade helps prolong its sharpness. Apply a thin layer of paraffin or saw wax to the blade, just enough to cover the surface, before making any cuts in the metal. Put on a pair of work gloves before you wax the saw to protect your hands. Choose a saw with a tooth number of at least 24tip (teeth per inch) to ensure even cuts in the metal. Tape the sheet metal and secure it in place. Apply masking tape to both sides of the sheet metal directly over the line you want to make. This ensures a cleaner cut and prevents metal chips from scratching the sheet while you cut. Clamp the sheet metal against your desk to hold it in place while you work. Electric saws are best for making straight cuts only. If you need to make a curved cut, try tin snips, a dremel, or a metal nibbler instead. Press the saw blade against the sheet metal. Position the saw blade against the metal's edge so the teeth point forward. If you're not sure where the teeth are pointed, run your finger carefully against the blade. The teeth should lightly touch or "grip" your finger if they point in the right direction. If the teeth are dull and you can't feel them no matter how you touch the blade, replace the blade first. Before making the first cut, put on a pair of safety goggles, a respirator, and earplugs for protection. Begin your stroke in the metal. Grip the saw with both hands and push the blade forward with your dominant hand. Push slowly, especially if you're unfamiliar with electric saws, to prevent injuries or an uneven cut. Do not use your non-dominant hand to push. It should only be used to steady the blade and guide its direction. Continue making the stroke and pull your blade back at the end. Push your saw through the blade until you reach the end of the line. After finishing the first stroke, pull the saw back with your dominant hand and remove it from the metal sheet. One stroke should be enough to cut through the metal. If not, repeat the process by following the first cut you made with your saw. Don't put any pressure on the saw during the return stroke, as this can wear out the blade. Choose between red, blue, or yellow snips based on the cut direction. Most tin snip manufacturers color-code their products based on the direction that you need to cut. Depending on your project, prepare 1 or several of the following tin snips: Red-handled snips: Cutting left Green-handled snips: Cutting right Yellow-handled snips: Cutting straight Align the tin snips with the sheet metal. Clamp the sheet metal in place on your work table to hold it in place while you work. Align the snips with the line you want to cut, with the upper blade of the tin snips touching the sheet metal. Tin snips are primarily used for cutting thin sheet metal like tin, aluminum, brass, and thin-gauge stainless steel. Before cutting, put on a pair of safety goggles and work gloves to prevent injuries. Make your first cut in the sheet metal. Once your tin snips make contact with the sheet metal, squeeze the handles with your fingers to make the first cut. Work slowly and inspect the metal afterward for an even cut before making subsequent cuts in the metal. Continue cutting through the sheet metal as needed. Hold your tin snips level against the sheet metal and keep making cuts in its surface until you reach the end of the prospective cut's line. If you need to change directions, switch your pair of tin snips for the corresponding direction. If you need to switch from straight to left, for example, swap your yellow-handled snips for a pair of red-handled snips. Use a dremel for short, detailed cuts. Because dremel blades are small and easy to maneuver, they're best at cutting small or detailed incisions in metal. If you want to make larger cuts, however, you may be better off with tin snips or an electric saw—dremels generally take too much time for big cuts. Dremels are also great for making both straight and curved cuts. Place the metal on a secure surface and turn on the dremel. Secure the metal to your table with clamps to keep it from moving around. Turn your dremel on to a medium or high speed so it has enough power to cut through the metal. Put on safety goggles, respirator, and earplugs before handling the dremel to protect your eyes, ears, and lungs. Press the dremel blade against the sheet metal. Hold the blade down on the sheet metal's surface at the edge of the intended cut. Using firm pressure, dig into the surface until you reach the ideal depth of your cut, then move forward along the line of your intended incision. Continue working from one end of the cut to the other. Move your blade along the intended line until you reach the end end of your cut. Use slow, steady pressure to prevent accidents and keep your lines as precise as possible. If you notice any light smoking coming from the dremel, turn it off and, after contacting the manufacturers, turn the machine to a lower setting. Most of the time, smoking indicates that the pressure setting is too high. Use nibblers for thin, short cuts. Nibblers can allow a better range of control over the cut but with a thinner line width than other methods. Because it is a more methodical tool than some methods, it is also best for smaller cuts. Metal nibblers are the best option for making curved cuts because of its increased range of control. Although you can use a metal nibbler for long cuts in sheet metal, it takes more time and is generally less convenient. Secure the sheet metal and position the metal nibbler against the line edge. Use clamps to secure the sheet metal on your work bench. Align the nibbler so the blade is level and the middle just touches the edge of the line you want to cut. Put on a pair of safety goggles and ear plugs before turning on the metal nibbler to protect your eyes and ears. Turn on the nibbler and begin the cut. Switch the nibbler on and push the nibbler slowly through the line. Nibblers generally cut more slowly than other methods, so avoid putting too much pressure on the instrument as you work. Keep the blade upright while you cut, and avoid leaning it at an angle. In general, nibblers may take several minutes longer than other methods to cut metal. Work your way slowly to the end of the line. Continue putting pressure on the nibbler as you push through the metal until you reach the end of the line. If you need to change direction, do so slowly to avoid making an accidental cut in the wrong direction. If you've never worked with a metal nibbler before, you can also cut the line in short spurts and turn it off between sections in the cut. | Wax your saw blade before cutting sheet metal. Tape the sheet metal and secure it in place. Press the saw blade against the sheet metal. Begin your stroke in the metal. Continue making the stroke and pull your blade back at the end. Choose between red, blue, or yellow snips based on the cut direction. Align the tin snips with the sheet metal. Make your first cut in the sheet metal. Continue cutting through the sheet metal as needed. Use a dremel for short, detailed cuts. Place the metal on a secure surface and turn on the dremel. Press the dremel blade against the sheet metal. Continue working from one end of the cut to the other. Use nibblers for thin, short cuts. Secure the sheet metal and position the metal nibbler against the line edge. Turn on the nibbler and begin the cut. Work your way slowly to the end of the line. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-Livebearing-Tropical-Fish | How to Breed Livebearing Tropical Fish | To breed livebearing tropical fish, start by getting an even mix of male and female fish. Then, introduce them to their new tank, and wait for them to breed. To tell if the females are pregnant, wait for their bellies to swell or a black mark to appear on the side of their body. If you spot a pregnant female, move it to a separate tank or set up a birthing net inside the existing tank to protect the fry from other fish. It should take around 28-48 days for the fish to give birth. | Select the species you would like to breed. Several varieties of livebearers are available from most pet stores, including guppies, platies, mollies, swordtails, and Endlers. All of these have similar needs. Whichever variety you select, ask for a 50/50 mix of males and females. Livebearers will do well in a standard 20-30 gallon tank setup. Ask your pet store if you are unsure of how to set up an aquarium. Sex your fish. Even if your store promises an even mix of females and males, you will need to know the gender of each fish so you can separate them later on. Livebearers have a few characteristics that you can use to sex the fish: Females have triangular anal fins located under the belly. Males have a modified anal fin that appears spiky. It is used to inseminate females. Females tend to be larger than males, since they will carry live young. Sometimes, males are more colorful and patterned than females. Let the fish do their thing. If you place male and female livebearers in a tank together, there is a good chance they will mate before too long. You shouldn't have to do anything to help the process. If you want to selectively breed fish of a particular color or pattern, be sure to place a roughly equal number of males and females of that type only in your aquarium. If necessary, you can separate various colors and patterns into different tanks. Watch for females to become pregnant. Most of the time, you will be able to tell that a livebearer female is pregnant because its belly will swell. Sometimes, you will also see a black mark (called a gravid spot) on the side of the fish if it is pregnant. Don't be surprised if some of your fish are already pregnant when you bring them home, or if they mate very quickly. Place a pregnant female in a birthing tank. Newborn fish (fry) are at risk of being eaten by other fish. To prevent this from happening, place a pregnant female in a special birthing tank shortly before she gives birth. This can be a smaller tank (5-20 gallons), but it should have all of the features of a regular tank. You will need to Acclimate Your Fish to a New Aquarium by slowly transferring water between the old (regular) and new (birthing) tanks. This is necessary so that your fish isn't shocked by changes in temperature or water conditions. Put some plants and other objects in the birthing tank. The female will be able to hide behind these and feel safe enough to give birth. Only place one pregnant female in each birthing tank, since the fish will not necessarily give birth at the same time. Use a birthing enclosure if desired. These are clear boxes that clip inside the birthing tank to further reduce the chances of the fry being eaten. They have small slits in them that the fry can escape through after birth. Look for one at your local pet store. Try a birthing net instead of a separate tank. Birthing nets sit inside the regular tank, and have mesh sides that protect the fry from other fish. However, you will have to scoop the female out of the net (using a dip net) shortly after birth. This is a good option if you can't or don't want to set up a birthing tank. Wait and watch for the birth. The exact amount of time it takes for livebearers to give birth varies based on species. The gestation period ranges from about 28 days for guppies to about 48 days for mollies. Just before she gives birth, a female may rub her abdomen back and forth on a plant in the aquarium. The number of fry a livebearer will produce varies based on species, the age of the fish, and other factors. It can range from just a few to well over 100. Livebearer females can store sperm, producing several groups of fry after mating just once. Remove the female from the birthing tank or net after the fry are born. If you did not use a birthing enclosure, you will have to get the female out of the birthing tank (or net, if you used one) as soon as possible so that the fry are not eaten. You can use a dip net to scoop the female out of the birthing tank, then place her back into a regular tank. Feed your fish well. Livebearers can be fed a regular diet of fish flakes, available at your pet store. You can also supplement with dried blood worms, flies, or other treats. Most fry will begin eating regular food right away, although you can buy specially marked fry food if you want. This is formulated to encourage growth. Spread the fry out when they’re grown. Once fry have grown larger than the mouths of adult fish, they can be moved out of the birthing tank into a regular one. If you have a large number of fish, you will need to separate them out into multiple tanks to prevent overcrowding. Make sure to acclimate the fish to the new tank when transferring them. If you have lots of fry, expect scooping them out of the old tank into the new one to be labor intensive and time consuming. Talk to a pet store or consult a species guide if you aren't sure how many of your type of livebearer can be housed per tank. Prepare to have lots of fish. Livebearers produce fry frequently, and in large numbers. This means you can quickly become overrun with more fish than you can handle. Pet stores are not usually interested in buying fish from you, since there is such a huge supply, but you could ask. You could also try to give fish away to other people looking for a pet. Most people do not want to see fish get eaten by other fish, but if you are not squeamish, one option is to let larger fish feed on any excess fry and mature livebearers you have. | Select the species you would like to breed. Sex your fish. Let the fish do their thing. Watch for females to become pregnant. Place a pregnant female in a birthing tank. Use a birthing enclosure if desired. Try a birthing net instead of a separate tank. Wait and watch for the birth. Remove the female from the birthing tank or net after the fry are born. Feed your fish well. Spread the fry out when they’re grown. Prepare to have lots of fish. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Successful-Lawyer | How to Be a Successful Lawyer | To be a successful lawyer, work on improving your written and verbal communication skills. You can draft pleadings and have other lawyers give you suggestions for making them more persuasive. You can also practice oral arguments in front of colleagues to get feedback on how to be more convincing. Additionally, join a bar association so you can learn from more experienced attorneys. Finally, try to maintain high professional standards by speaking honestly and respectfully to everyone you deal with. | Know your information. Keep yourself up-to-date on your area of law. Be aware of new developments, as laws and rules often change and new cases are being decided every day. States introduce new legislation that affect your area of law practice every day. Federal laws also regularly change. Conduct research when needed. If you have a non-routine case involving issues that you have not dealt with before, take the time to do the legal research and find the answers. Don't assume that you know everything, even if you have practiced in the same area of the law for several years. New issues and cases arise every day, and you have to do the research to find the solution to your case. Legal research methods have changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Ensure that you are familiar with the most up-to-date electronic research methods. If you have a subscription to Lexis-Nexis or Westlaw, which are the two most well-known online legal research companies, then you also can get extensive training in using their applications. Attend continuing legal education (CLE) seminars. Not only are you required to earn a certain number of CLE hours each year in order to maintain your law license, but you gain valuable legal knowledge at these seminars. You often will hear from experts in their respective areas of the law at these seminars and have the change to ask questions that you may have. Additionally, attending CLE seminars gives you a chance to network and exchange information with other attorneys in your area of practice. Practice critical thinking. In order to be a successful lawyer, you must be able to look at a legal issue from all sides in order to come up with the best solution. Proper analysis will not only help you to identify the legal issue, but help you to develop a sound legal argument to support your client's position. Make sure you have a clear grasp of all of the pertinent facts before you form your conclusion. Don't always rely on your client to tell you everything up front. Clients often will not volunteer information because they don't know what is important and what is not. Ask the questions that are necessary to find out the information that you need. Develop your writing skills. Lawyer often underestimate the writing skills that are needed to be a successful lawyer. The reality is that lawyers spend a great deal of their time filing pleadings and other documents with the court. Almost all of these documents require some degree of writing expertise. You are much more likely to advance your client's position if you can effectively write. As a general rule, you should create a written argument as follows: Clarify the facts of your case. Identify the legal issue. Determine which laws or regulations apply to your issue. Apply the laws to the facts of your case. Draw a conclusion based on the laws that you have applied to the facts of your case. Work on your oral communication skills. All successful lawyers have excellent communication skills, whether speaking to the court, other lawyers, a jury, or their clients. They must be able to articulate a client's position to the court, effectively question a witness, argue to a jury, and convince clients to hire them. With respect to clients, a lawyer must be able to obtain all information from a client that is necessary to represent him or her with sensitivity and tact. Lawyers must be able to convince a potential client that they are the right attorney to represent him or her. Attorneys also should be able to effectively communicate with other lawyers. In doing so, they can work toward settlements that are acceptable for all parties involved and effective negotiate on behalf of their clients. In dealing with the court, attorneys should be able to effectively and concisely argue their clients' positions without any disrespect to opposing counsel or to the court, who may not always embrace their clients' positions. Familiarize yourself with the courts in which you regularly practice. Every court has its unique practices, and court staff can be very valuable in giving you information that you would not know otherwise. Although you cannot discuss specific cases with judges, they are often willing to discuss different fact scenarios and points of law with you and give you their opinions. Complete a trial practice seminar. Some national organizations offer trial training for those lawyers who regularly represent clients in the courtroom. While all judges and courtrooms are different to some degree, there are certain trial techniques that can be invaluable to you in any court setting. A trial practice seminar can help you learn and improve your trial practice skills. Join a local, state, or national bar association. When you are with other lawyers, you will be able to learn from other more experienced attorneys and exchange ideas. Bar associations often sponsor CLE seminars and other opportunities for learning that can be very valuable to your professional development. You also develop a network of lawyers whom you consult if you have questions about handling particular cases. You also may be able to engage in community service opportunities through your bar association. Find a mentor. Every lawyer, no matter how old, needs a more experienced attorney with whom to discuss cases, try out arguments, and get answers to your questions. This relationship will give you the chance to further your knowledge and try out your ideas on someone else before you take them before the court. Speak respectfully to judges and court staff. Listen to them without interrupting. Your professionalism depends on how you present yourself. Being rude to judges or staff will not help you or your client. Use tact and grace when dealing with clients. They may get agitated or not like what you have to say, but try to look at the situation from their point of view. However, don't allow your clients to verbally abuse you or make unreasonable demands of you. You don't have to represent every client that comes along, and you probably shouldn't! Listen to your client. Never judge, just listen and advise. Even if your client has made a bad decision, which he or she will undoubtedly do at some point throughout the course of your representation, figure out how to best handle the situation and move on. Be honest with the court, your colleagues, and your clients. Being untruthful will get you nowhere and give you a reputation of dishonesty. Plus, your clients will not trust you, which does not translate into repeat business from clients. In extreme cases, dishonesty can put your law license at risk if your state's disciplinary commission finds that you have violated the professional rules of conduct that govern all lawyers. Question witnesses appropriately. When interrogating a witness, ask appropriate questions relevant to the trial. Don't ridicule the witness if he or she becomes emotional, but maintain professional distance. Keep in mind that special care should be applied to witnesses who are minors or victims of a violent crime. A judge and/or jury will be judging you by the way you treat others during a court proceeding. Keep up attorney-client confidentiality. A client's case is nobody's business but yours. Disclose that information to the court and to opposing counsel only to the extent that you are required to do so and that is necessary to effectively representing your client. Follow your state’s rules of professional conduct for lawyers. Every state has a set of rules of professional conduct that govern lawyers' behavior. If you fail to follow these rules, you run the risk of being disciplined, which can result in a suspension or revocation of your law license. Comply with the law. If you commit a crime, you not only will be subject to penalties through the criminal justice system, but also to professional discipline. Depending on the nature of your crime, you also are likely to lose your job. Remember that your success is not always measured by your paycheck. Sometimes, it's that pro bono case or that case where you charge a reduced fee in which you can make the most difference. And earning six figures isn't necessarily success for every lawyer. Many attorneys who work at legal aid offices, government offices, and other lower-paying jobs are perfectly happy with their careers and make a huge difference in other peoples' lives. Know that there are many different paths to a successful career. Some lawyers consider themselves successful when they make partner at a high-powered law firm. Others are content to make a living in their solo practices. Still others consider non-profit or public interest work to be the key to success in their lives. In the end, a successful career as a lawyer is what you consider it to be, not others. Manage stress. Attorneys often work long hours and deal with stressful situations on a daily basis. Learn how to let go of stress and manage it on a day-to-day basis. This step will allow you think more clearly and calmly and be more effective in your job. Be happy with your career choice. It is difficult to enjoy or be successful at a career that you do not enjoy. If you don't enjoy your job, find a job that better suits you and that you can truly enjoy. | Know your information. Conduct research when needed. Attend continuing legal education (CLE) seminars. Practice critical thinking. Develop your writing skills. Work on your oral communication skills. Familiarize yourself with the courts in which you regularly practice. Complete a trial practice seminar. Join a local, state, or national bar association. Find a mentor. Speak respectfully to judges and court staff. Use tact and grace when dealing with clients. Listen to your client. Be honest with the court, your colleagues, and your clients. Question witnesses appropriately. Keep up attorney-client confidentiality. Follow your state’s rules of professional conduct for lawyers. Comply with the law. Remember that your success is not always measured by your paycheck. Know that there are many different paths to a successful career. Manage stress. Be happy with your career choice. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-High-Gutters | How to Clean High Gutters | To clean a high gutter, first set up a ladder against the wall of your house and attach a bucket to it to put debris in. Use a garden trowel to scoop dirt out of the gutter, or put on gloves so you can clear it out with your hand. After you've cleaned one section of the gutter, climb down and move the ladder to the side so you can safely reach the next section. Once you've removed all of the debris, spray the gutter with water from your garden hose to finish off. If a downspout is blocked, remove it from the gutter and clear the blockage with a leaf blower or a stick. | Put on work clothes and rubber gloves. Cleaning gutters can be dirty work. Additionally, gutters can be quite sharp. For these reasons, wear work clothes that you won't mind getting stained and durable rubber gloves. Even in hot weather, wear a long sleeve shirt while cleaning. This will provide additional protection from insects and from the sharp edges of gutters. When cleaning gutters on dry days, especially in dusty areas, wear eye protection and a face mask to prevent dust and pollen from aggravating your eyes and lungs. Set up the ladder. Position the ladder where you plan to begin cleaning. Lean the ladder against the wall of your house, if possible. Otherwise, lean the ladder on the gutter where it is attached to the house with a fastener, like a nail. Be sure the ladder is at the correct angle, especially if you're using an extension ladder. Put your toes against the feet of the ladder and extend your arms out straight. The ladder is in the proper position when your palms can comfortably reach the rungs. Before climbing your ladder, test it for stability by carefully climbing a step or two. If the ladder leans or wobbles, reposition it until it is sturdy. If the ground is soft, the ladder may dangerously sink. Place same-sized pieces of scrap wood under the feet of your ladder to prevent sinking, then test the ladder again for stability. Reposition the ladder as needed. Uneven or sloping ground may cause your ladder to lean. Level out the ladder by putting pieces of scrap wood underneath the leg on the leaning side of the ladder. Test the ladder for stability and make any necessary adjustments. Attach a bucket to your ladder for debris disposal. Straighten the body of a wire coat hanger but leave the hooked end as is. This should form a straight piece of metal ending in a hook. Bend the hook-opposite end around the handle of your bucket. Hang the bucket from the second rung from the top. Most of the debris in your gutters will be biodegradable. Should you desire to do so, debris can be thrown on the ground and left to decompose or composted. If more convenient, place a large garbage can, tarp, or wheelbarrow beside your ladder. Throw cleared debris in/on these receptacles. A plastic bag will work in a pinch as a substitute, but these can be awkward and dangerous to manage, especially if there is wind. Remove debris from the gutter by hand or with an air compressor. Scoop buildup and debris from your gutters with your gloved hand or blow it out using the nozzle on an air compressor. Alternatively, use a tool to clean the gutters, like a garden trowel, hand spade, or plastic spatula. Do not reach for debris. Only remove debris from areas comfortably within your reach. For the safest gutter cleaning, have a friend or relative hold the ladder for you while you work to provide additional stability. Over reaching while on a ladder could compromise its stability and cause it to fall, potentially causing a serious injury. Reposition the ladder and continue removing debris. When a section is clear of debris, descend the ladder and move it so you can reach the neighboring section of gutter. Clear the gutter as described. Continue repositioning and cleaning until your gutters are completely clean. Flush your gutters with water. Fasten a garden hose to a pole, tree trimmer, or a sturdy branch. Attach a nozzle, turn on the hose, and raise it to the gutter. In this fashion, flush the entire gutter to finish your cleaning. Note downspouts that flow unevenly or weakly; these may still have blockages. If you suspect a downspout blockage, set up your ladder beside the spout. Tap along its length with a screwdriver from the top down. A dull thudding sound usually indicates a blockage. Downspouts can also be unfastened from the house and gutter. Lay the spout on the ground and clear blockages with a long stick, leaf blower, or pressure washer. Equip your vacuum with a rigid extension attachment. Only use vacuums that can handle wet and dry materials, like a chipper vacuum or a wet/dry shop vacuum. Position the vacuum where you plan to start cleaning your gutters. Insert the longest hose into the vacuum and fasten the longest rigid extension attachment to the hose. The power cord for your vacuum may not be long enough to reach a power outlet. Use an extension cord to supply your vacuum with power in these cases. Choose a vacuum that has a strong motor for this project. Vacuums with weak suction will not be as effective. Calculate the measurement of the secondary extension. Measure the total length of the rigid extension attachment. When measuring gutter height, measure from the top of the gutter to about knee height. Subtract the attachment length from the gutter height. This measurement is the total length of your secondary extension. While using the gutter vacuum, you'll likely hold the attachment at about chest height. Measuring the gutter from its top to the ground will likely result in a gutter vacuum that is longer than necessary, making it more unwieldy. Cut a rigid plastic tube or pipe with a hack saw. Mark the secondary extension measurement (gutter height – attachment length) on the rigid plastic tube or pipe. Use a hacksaw to cut the plastic to secondary extension length. Excess tube/pipe can be reused or thrown away. Cutting your tube/pipe may have left behind burrs. These can cause slivers or cuts. Remove burrs with a file when necessary. Assemble the gutter vacuum. Slide the end of the extension attachment into the secondary extension. Join these pieces together firmly with aluminum tape. Do the same at the opposite end of the secondary extension with a duct elbow. When the first elbow is in place, similarly add the second elbow to it. Putting these pieces together will result in a long, straight, rigid extension that ends in a hook. The hook formed by the elbows should curve so it is facing roughly downwards. So the tool fits inside the gutter, use a nozzle or flatten the end piece. Be sure to tape the connections of your homemade gutter vacuum thoroughly. Gaps may cause suction to decrease, making the vacuum less effective. Clean the gutters. Hold your gutter vacuum at roughly the base of the extension attachment. Switch on your vacuum. Pass the downward-facing end of the hook slowly over the gutter to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris. If your gutters are especially clogged, you may need to empty your vacuum while cleaning. Overly full vacuums may have decreased suction and leave behind gutter buildup. Inspect the gutters for missed debris. Although most of the buildup will likely be gone after vacuuming, stubborn blockages may remain. Lean a suitable ladder against your home and climb it to visually inspect the gutters. Dismount the ladder, then target remaining clogs with your gutter vacuum. Some obstructions may still remain even after being targeted with your gutter vacuum. Use a tree trimmer, pole, or a sturdy stick to poke at and loosen these obstructions. Suck up loosened material with your vacuum. Remove small bits of remaining debris and check downspout flow. Tie a garden hose to a pole or long stick. Turn on the hose and lift it up to the gutter. Rinse the entire gutter with water to remove any small debris remaining. Poor water flow at the downspout may indicate a blockage in the spout. Clogs can be removed from downspouts with a plumbing snake. Use the snake in the same fashion you would to remove a clogged drain. | Put on work clothes and rubber gloves. Set up the ladder. Attach a bucket to your ladder for debris disposal. Remove debris from the gutter by hand or with an air compressor. Reposition the ladder and continue removing debris. Flush your gutters with water. Equip your vacuum with a rigid extension attachment. Calculate the measurement of the secondary extension. Cut a rigid plastic tube or pipe with a hack saw. Assemble the gutter vacuum. Clean the gutters. Inspect the gutters for missed debris. Remove small bits of remaining debris and check downspout flow. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Seduce-a-Woman | How to Seduce a Woman | To seduce a woman, start by putting on some flattering clothes that you feel confident in. Then, when you see her, stand up straight and keep your shoulders pulled back so she knows you're confident and receptive to talking. As you're talking to her, try to break the touch barrier by gently touching her hand or placing your hand on her knee. If things start to heat up, remember to take your time and go slowly so she doesn't feel rushed. | Go slow. Seduction is all about timing. Part of what makes a person want another person is the anticipation. When you meet a woman you're interested in, proceed slowly. Wait a bit to approach her and start off by listening more than you talk. Do not reveal your intention right away as this might be off-putting. Move slowly, at least at first. Dress up. If you want a woman to notice you, you'll have to dress your best. Work on dressing up if you expect to see someone you're attracted to at a bar, party, or other event. Choose nice, flattering clothing. If you're worried your current wardrobe is too drab, go to a department store. You can ask a sales consultant to help you choose an outfit that's flattering for your body. Remember, it's sexy to be yourself. Strive to look your best on your own terms. That is, do not shave if you enjoy having a beard or dress in a suit where you're more of a button down guy. You won't feel comfortable if you're not behaving like yourself. This is something your date can easily sense and confidence is key to seduction. Take a shower before you go out and consider using a bit of cologne. Too much could be overpowering, but a dab of a classy scent can help. Listen to her. When you approach a woman, try to listen. People tend to be attracted to those who seem interested in them. Rather than boasting about your own accomplishment and telling all your own stories, try listening instead. Try to ask more questions than you answer. Simple ice breaking questions are nice. Try things like "What do you do for living?" and "Where did you grow up?" Always convey that you're listening. Smile, nod, and occasionally offer commentary like "Uh-huh" or "Yeah." Ask follow up questions as well. Ask for clarification or further details on stories and personal information. Sexual attraction is tied to personality. Getting to know a person well can actually enhance your sexual feelings for that person. If you do end up successfully seducing a woman, you might enjoy the sexual encounter more if you know the person well. Be confident. Confidence is something most people are attracted to. Being comfortable with yourself will draw other people to you. Try to proceed with confidence while you interact with the women you' desire. Remember, there's a fine line between confidence and egomania. Dominating the conversation to brag is off-putting. However, it's fine to take pride in what you do for a living, where you're from, and other details about yourself she might ask for. Make her laugh. Many people are attracted to people with a healthy sense of humor. Try to crack an appropriate joke during your encounter to see if you can impress her with your comedic side. Use body language to flirt. Direct and confident body language can signal your interest. Try using cues to show a woman you're attracted to her and interested in getting physical. Stand up straight. Keep your head up and with your shoulders pulled back. Do not fold your arms or hold a drink across your chest. Signal in every way you're feeling confident. Find ways to break the touch barrier flirtatiously and create some sexual tension. Take a woman's hand to lead her around a bar or wherever you meet her. Guide her by placing your hand on the small of her back. Try and slowly get a woman more comfortable with your touch. Try an appropriate pick-up line. Pick-up lines have a bad rap. However, if you choose a pick-up line that's not overused or sleazy, it can actually highlight your charm and get a woman interested. Research on pick-up lines shows that this is a situation where highlighting your good qualities--that is, bragging a little--can help. Women respond less favorably to pick-up lines that are empty compliments or sexual in nature. They tend to be more interested in pick-up lines that allow them to learn something about a stranger that helps them stand out amongst other potential matches. For example, if you're a nurse, you could try something like, "Wow, this party is pretty lifeless, huh? As a nurse I think I'm pronouncing this DOA." Or, if you're a firefighter, you could try something like, "Is it just me or is it hot in here? As a firefighter I think you might be the source of the fire here." If you want to choose a pick-up line, think of something clever that highlights an aspect of your own personality or life. Work in your occupation, if it's interesting, or some of your hobbies or positive qualities. Do not leave it at a pick-up line, however. Research indicates pick-up lines work best when they're followed by conversation. Use smell to your advantage. When you invite a woman over, a pleasant aroma is key to successful seduction. Try opening the windows for a few hours before she comes, letting any bad smells out. Light some incense. Choose a smell that's pleasant without being overpowering, like a light vanilla scent or something like sandalwood. Try to do a little research into what she likes beforehand. Try to work questions about smell into a conversation. Ask her about types of perfumes she likes or body washes to get a sense of the kind of smells she prefers. Try music. A little music can help get her in the mood. Remember, keep the focus on her and not you. Choose a type of music she'd like but also songs that are slow, soothing, and sensual. Ask her about her musical tastes beforehand. Try putting on a band she likes, but choose songs that are slower. Quicker pop tunes are more likely to put someone in a dancing mood than a sexual mood. Classic choices, like Barry White, run the risk of coming off as cheesy. Stick to somewhat non-traditional choices so your date won't end up rolling her eyes. Decorate. Ambiance is important when it comes to seduction. Try to set the mood with a little decoration. Candles and mood lighting can go a long way. If you're sleeping with someone for the first time, she might be a little insecure. Dimming the lights and using candles can help her feel more comfortable getting undressed. Candles are also viewed as romantic and exciting by many. Try to clean up a bit before she comes over. A nice, clean house can make you come off as put together and responsible, which can be a turn on for many. Initiate touch. Initiate touch. When starting to initiate things, move slowly. Initiate touch by sitting close, placing your hand on her knee or shoulder. Seduction, once again, is all about pacing. Going too fast can be a turn off. The first kiss should be gentle, more than a peck but not full on making out. Leave her wanting more. Try to figure out her kissing style as well. How did she kiss back? That gives you a clue as to what she might enjoy. If you're trying to seduce someone you've been with a long time, try to initiate things in unexpected places. People fall into routines in longterm relationships, which can get boring. Try making out, say, in the kitchen or hopping in the shower with your wife or girlfriend. Focus on her erogenous zones. Erogenous zones are parts of the body that stimulate sexual desire when touched, kissed, licked, or otherwise caressed. Not everyone's erogenous zones are the same, but certain areas of the body tend to be sensitive for many women. The neck and ears have many nerve endings and are generally not touched during the day. They might respond well to kissing, sucking, licking, and gentle biting. The head and feet are major erogenous zones for many. A gentle scalp or foot massage might help get things moving. When kissing, focus on the lips. Try licking, biting, and sucking on the lips. The abdomen, lower back, and inner thighs are also sensitive to the touch. Many women derive sexual pleasure from being touched here. Move forward slowly. Seduction is all about maintaining momentum. Moving too fast can make a person uncomfortable or turned off. As you proceed, do so slowly. Pay attention to what a woman wants and what pleases her. Try to be in tune with her needs so the experience is mutually pleasurable experience. Occasionally stop and ask if something feels good and pay close attention to how she responds. | Go slow. Dress up. Listen to her. Be confident. Use body language to flirt. Try an appropriate pick-up line. Use smell to your advantage. Try music. Decorate. Initiate touch. Focus on her erogenous zones. Move forward slowly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cure-Sleep-Apnea | How to Cure Sleep Apnea | To cure sleep apnea, try sleeping on your side rather than your back or stomach to help reduce breathing problems. Additionally, try to maintain a regular sleep schedule to improve the quality of your sleep. You should also avoid eating large meals 2 hours before going to bed, as eating late at night can increase breathing problems. If you're overweight, try exercising on a daily basis, since being overweight is a common cause of sleep apnea. | See your doctor. Sleep apnea can have many different symptoms, so it is difficult to diagnose based on the symptoms alone. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, then see your doctor as soon as possible. Some serious symptoms to watch for include: Snoring or breathing interruptions while asleep, observed by your partner Waking up gasping for air or choking Shortness of breath upon waking Having pauses in your breathing (noticed by your partner) Feeling drowsy during the day, or like your sleep has not been restful or restorative Any of the following health issues: hypertension, mood disorder, cognitive dysfunction, coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or type 2 diabetes mellitus Undergo a sleep study. To diagnose sleep apnea, your doctor will consider your symptoms along with the results of a sleep study. You can undergo a sleep study in a clinical setting or at home. In both situations, your vital signs (breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) will be monitored. Clinical setting. If you decide to have a sleep study done in a clinical setting, then you will have to stay overnight at a sleep clinic. You will be monitored by medical technicians while you sleep. Home-based portable monitor. If you decide to have a sleep study done at home, then you will need to use a portable monitor to monitor your vital signs. Determine what type of sleep apnea you have. There are a three different types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Your doctor should be able to tell you which type you have by considering factors such as your medical history, medications, and sleep study results. Obstructive sleep apnea. This is the most common type of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when the tissues in your throat relax while you are asleep and block your airway. Central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is less common. This type of sleep apnea is when your brain fails to send a signal to your body to breathe. Complex sleep apnea. This form of sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. Ask about your treatment options. After you have undergone testing and received a diagnosis from your doctor, you will be able to talk about treatment options. Your doctor will likely recommend some lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, as well as some special exercises and devices, including a CPAP, that may help. These are described later in the article. In some cases, your sleep apnea may be caused by something that can be corrected with surgery, such as very large tonsils or facial malformations. Surgery to remove these obstructions may provide a long-term cure for severe obstructive sleep apnea. Start a sleep diary. Keeping a sleep diary can help you to determine if your sleep apnea is getting better or worse. To start a sleep diary, record as many details as possible about the quantity and quality of your sleep to help you monitor your condition. Some things to record in a sleep diary include: How long you sleep each night How many times you wake up during the night and at what time How you feel in the morning Anything your partner noticed during the night — this is vital, as many people don't wake up enough to realize they have had an apneic (a temporary suspension of breathing) episode, but your partner may notice Lose weight. Being overweight is one of the main risk factors for sleep apnea. If you are overweight, then do what you can to get to a healthy weight (defined as a BMI between 18.5 – 25). Losing weight involves reducing the number of calories you take in while increasing the number of calories you burn. To achieve this ratio, you will need to eat less and move more. Some other things that may help you to lose weight include: Drinking more water Keeping a food diary Developing an exercise routine Exercise every day. Exercise will help you to lose weight and it can also improve your lung function and strengthen your breathing muscles. It has also been shown to improve concentration, critical thinking, mood, and a number of other positive benefits. Try to incorporate moderate-intensity exercise five times a week for 30 minutes. Start with some light cardiovascular exercise such as walking, biking, or swimming. Even if you can only do 10 minutes at first, keep at it and increase the length and intensity of your workouts over time. Include some yoga in your daily routine to tone muscles and improve your breath control as well. Quit smoking. Smoking is bad for your lungs and it can contribute to all kinds of health problems such as cancer, emphysema, and high blood pressure. Smoking also triples your risk of developing sleep apnea, but you can eliminate this risk factor by not smoking. There are medications and smoking cessation programs that can help you quit. Talk to your doctor for help. Drink alcohol-free beverages. Alcohol depresses your nervous system, which can interfere with normal breathing. To avoid this potential cause of sleep apnea, do not drink any alcoholic beverages. Instead, choose alcohol-free beverages, such as sparkling water, juice, and tea. If you are used to having an alcoholic beverage before bed to help you sleep, then try switching to herbal tea, such as chamomile. Chamomile can help to relieve anxiety and improve sleep. Sleep on your side. Sleeping on your side rather than on your back or stomach may help stop snoring and breathing problems associated with sleep apnea. Sleeping on your side or on your back does not cure sleep apnea, but it prevents it from happening as long as your stay on your side while you sleep. To make sure that you stay on your side while you sleep, you can use a wedge or place some pillows behind your back to keep you from rolling over during the night. You can also sew a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas to prevent you from rolling onto your back. This, however, may lead to backaches. Avoid certain medications. Some medications can make OSA worse. Specifically, benzodiazepines, opiates and other sedatives, and some antidepressants. If you have a new diagnosis of OSA and are already taking one of these medications, talk to your doctor about the risk/benefit of continuing. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Having a regular sleep schedule may also reduce your risk of sleep apnea. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. For example, you might go to bed every night at 11:30pm and wake up every morning at 7:00am. Use an alarm and don't hit snooze! Stop eating about two hours before you go to bed. Heavy or spicy meals before bedtime may increase your risk of sleep disruption. To eliminate this risk, stop eating two to three hours before you go to bed. If you are hungry, try a light snack like a piece of fruit or a cup of herbal tea. Use a CPAP machine. Constant positive air pressure (CPAP) machines are meant to keep you breathing normally throughout the night. CPAP machines send a puff of positive pressure into your airway at the end of each breath in order to keep the airway open throughout the breathing cycle. as a result, apneas due to the airway collapsing as occurs in OSA are prevented. Talk to your doctor if you are having problems using your CPAP machine. Do not stop using your CPAP machine without your doctor's permission. Using your CPAP machine may improve daytime sleepiness, blood pressure, glucose levels, and quality of life. If you do not use the CPAP machine regularly or use it for a while and then stop, you will lose any positive gains you made (such as improving your blood pressure). Wear a mouthpiece. A dentist or orthodontist can make you a custom-made mouthpiece to keep your jaw aligned and your airways open as you sleep. While studies are very clear that CPAP is more effective than oral appliances, there is still strong evidence that oral appliances provide a significant treatment effect compared to nothing at all. Many patients find CPAP intolerable to use regularly but are able to wear oral appliances, and for these patients an oral appliance would be appropriate. Keep in mind that mouthpieces require regular adjustments by your dentist or orthodontist or they may stop working. Keep track of adjustments and change every three months or so. Elevate the head of your bed or use a foam wedge. If you do not like sleeping on your side, then try sleeping on your back in a slightly upright position. You can use a foam wedge to prop yourself up while you sleep, raise your mattress if you have an adjustable bed, or use bricks to elevate the head of your bed. Only a slight elevation of 2 – 3 inches is needed. To use bricks to elevate the head of your bed, place them under the feet at the head of your bed. You can also use sturdy pieces of wood. Eliminate sedative medicines. Sedatives depress your nervous system, which may stop your brain from telling your body to breathe. If you often use sleeping pills or other sedatives to help you sleep, stop using these medicines. Talk to your doctor about alternatives that will not put you at risk of sleep apnea, such as melatonin or valerian. Try taking an allergy medicine before bedtime. If your airways are blocked due to allergies, then taking an antihistamine pill or using a nasal spray prior to bedtime may help to open up your nasal passages and make breathing easier. Make sure that you ask your doctor first before starting this treatment. Ask your doctor about modafinil. Modafinil is an FDA-approved drug that may help to combat the daytime fatigue associated with sleep apnea. You need a prescription for modafinil and it should not be used as a replacement for other therapies. Modafinil should be used as part of a treatment regimen that includes using a CPAP device and other sleep apnea treatments. It should be used only after the patient has been consistently using CPAP correctly and its still having problems Modafinil may cause weight gain. Talk to your doctor about other conditions. While OSA is a common cause of daytime sleepiness, there are other medical conditions that can cause daytime fatigue and sleepiness that often mimic the symptoms of OSA. This includes hypothyroidism, sleep disorders, depression, and a number of other things. It is important that your doctor rule out these causes through history taking and other tests. Add vitamin C. In a small study, vitamin C injections were shown to be an effective way to reduce the cell damage associated with sleep apnea. There is not enough evidence for use of vitamin C to be a conclusive treatment for sleep apnea, but you may wish to talk to your doctor about adding a vitamin C supplement to your diet. Consider taking 500mg of vitamin C daily as part of your treatment regimen. Sing a song once per day. Singing can help to improve muscle control in your throat and in the soft tissues in your throat. Toning these muscles can reduce your chance of sleep apnea. Try singing along to a favorite song once per day or more often to give these muscles a workout. Hold a pencil between your teeth. Jaw muscles can also contribute to sleep apnea, so it is important to strengthen these as well. To strengthen your jaw muscles, hold a pencil between your teeth for about five to 10 minutes per day. Purse your lips. The muscles in and around your mouth also play an important role in breathing, so strengthening these muscles may also help cure your sleep apnea. Try pursing your lips as if you are going to give someone a kiss. Then, hold your lips like that for about 30 to 60 seconds and release. Repeat this exercise a few times per day. Blow up balloons. Blowing up balloons can improve your lung capacity and give the muscles in your mouth and throat a good workout as well. Try blowing up a few balloons each day to strengthen your breathing muscles. Run, jog, or swim to lessen sleep apnea. There is some evidence that exercising can reduce the severity of sleep apnea. Even if you don't experience weight loss from your exercise, you may still experience some relief. Gargle some water. Gargling water can help to tone the muscles in the back of your throat as well. Try gargling with water a few times per day to build up these muscles. You can also gargle mouthwash after you brush your teeth in the morning and at night. This is not proven to help with sleep apnea, but it may be worth trying. | See your doctor. Undergo a sleep study. Determine what type of sleep apnea you have. Ask about your treatment options. Start a sleep diary. Lose weight. Exercise every day. Quit smoking. Drink alcohol-free beverages. Sleep on your side. Avoid certain medications. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Stop eating about two hours before you go to bed. Use a CPAP machine. Wear a mouthpiece. Elevate the head of your bed or use a foam wedge. Eliminate sedative medicines. Try taking an allergy medicine before bedtime. Ask your doctor about modafinil. Talk to your doctor about other conditions. Add vitamin C. Sing a song once per day. Hold a pencil between your teeth. Purse your lips. Blow up balloons. Run, jog, or swim to lessen sleep apnea. Gargle some water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Where-Your-Hen-Lays-Eggs | How to Find Where Your Hen Lays Eggs | If you need to find where your hen lays eggs, get up before sunrise so you can watch where she goes. When you see your hen acting restless, keep a close eye on her, since she may be about to lay an egg. If you lose sight of the hen, wait until you hear her cackling loudly, which may mean she's just laid her egg, then try to follow the sound. If you're still not sure, check secure areas like under bushes, at the base of trees, along a fence line, or nestled down in the grass. | Get up early in the morning to watch your hens. Hens most often lay early in the morning, so if you're going to catch one the act, you'll need to beat it to the punch. Try getting up before sunrise to observe your hens' behavior. Keep in mind, some hens will lay in the afternoon, too, so you may need to observe your hens throughout the day. Watch for restlessness and other egg-laying behavior. Hens tend to get restless when they're about to lay an egg. They'll start actively looking around for a nest at this point, as they feel the egg coming on. Watch your hens for this behavior. Your hens may seem extra cranky, too. Listen for loud cackling. Often, a hen will let off a loud cackle when she's laid an egg. You may be able to follow the sound of the cackling to find the egg or eggs she's laid away from the main nesting box. Hens will often start cackling early in the morning to indicate they're laying eggs. Keep an eye on where your hens go. Watch any hens that leave the coop and nesting area. Observe where they go so you can search for their nests later. Try following at a distance so as not to alarm your hen. While it's time-consuming to keep an eye on your chickens, it's one of the sure-fire ways to find a nest. Look under bushes and logs. Chickens like a secure nesting area, and often, areas underneath things like bushes can look appealing. Get down on a chicken's level and look around. You may find some eggs! You may also find them at the base of trees or nestled down in the grass. Check in warm, semi-indoor areas. If you have places in your yard like a barn or a shed that have openings for your hens to get in, check in there for eggs. Your hen may decide a hayloft or a manger is a great place to lay, especially since it's out of the elements! Make sure to look in all the hidden holes you can find in these buildings! Search high and low in places you might not expect. Hens aren't particularly rational about where they lay their eggs. While they typically pick a shaded area for protection, yours might decide to lay on top of a freezer or in a tractor seat. It really depends on the chicken! So make sure to search the area from all angles, as you never know where you'll find eggs. Some may even lay eggs in the middle of the yard. If you have kids, get them to help you look! They can spot things down low you might not see. Walk along the fence line. Chickens often like to lay eggs next to a barrier or in a corner, so check your fence line for hidden nests. You may find one in a far back corner, for instance. The same is true around your house. Walk around the outside of your house to see if your chickens have laid eggs around the border. Make sure the eggs aren't in the coop. Have a good look inside your chicken coop, including the run and under the housing, as your chickens may have laid their eggs in the coop but not in the nesting area. You may find them in corners, in the roosting area, or even in the middle of the floor. Position your nests in a lower area than your roosting area. Hens need separate areas for roosting and nesting. If they roost in an area, they may not lay there. Since they prefer higher areas for roosting, make sure that the nests are lower to the ground. However, try not to put nests directly below roosting areas, as you'll end up with feces all over your eggs. Clean the nesting area out at least once a week. It may be tempting to just to add more pine shavings to the top of the nest. However, it's best to sweep out all of the litter and scrub down the nesting area if it has a layer of feces. Then, add fresh litter back to the area. A clean nest will encourage your chickens to use it. Try using dish soap and warm water if you need to scrub down the coop. Ensure you have enough nests for your hens. You don't need 1 nest per hen, as hens will use the same nest. Make sure to have at least 1 nesting spot for every 4 hens or so and at least 2 if you just have 5 or 6 hens. Nesting spots are the individual cubbyholes where chickens lay their eggs. Use pine shavings instead of hay for nesting material. You need nesting material to encourage your chickens to lay there. However, hay can harbor bacteria and parasites, and it is more likely to stay damp. Instead, use pine shavings, which is equally cheap but more hygienic overall. You can find pine shavings at most tractor supply stores. Place golf balls or fake eggs in the nest. Most hens will lay in places where there are already eggs. You can fake out a chicken by using egg replacements. When the chicken sees these fake eggs, she'll lay in the nest, too. Try wooden eggs, for instance. Move real eggs to the nest. If you find eggs outside the nest, you can just pick them up and put them in the nest. That will encourage the hens to lay in that area instead of elsewhere. Mark the egg with a permanent marker, making an "X." That way, you can leave it there for a few days without picking up a rotten egg to take inside. Just gather the other eggs around it. Eggs don't go "bad" for quite awhile, as hens may need up to 2 weeks to create a clutch of eggs to sit on and hatch. However, if bacteria has gotten into the eggs, they can go bad much faster. Close your hens in the coop for a few days. If several of your hens are laying elsewhere, simply shutting them in the coop may solve the problem. They'll have to lay inside, and once they get in the habit, they may not wander off to find new nesting places again. You may not want to do this when it gets too hot outside, such as when it gets 90 °F (32 °C) or above, as it may get too warm for your hens. Place a nest where your hen is laying and move it towards the coop. If your hen is laying close by, set up a nest for her. Almost anything will work for a nest, such as a bucket on its side, a plastic bin, or a pet carrier, as long as you place some nesting material in the bottom. If your hen lays in it, slowly move it towards the coop each day. Once you get to the coop, you should be able to encourage your hen to lay inside the coop in the nesting area. | Get up early in the morning to watch your hens. Watch for restlessness and other egg-laying behavior. Listen for loud cackling. Keep an eye on where your hens go. Look under bushes and logs. Check in warm, semi-indoor areas. Search high and low in places you might not expect. Walk along the fence line. Make sure the eggs aren't in the coop. Position your nests in a lower area than your roosting area. Clean the nesting area out at least once a week. Ensure you have enough nests for your hens. Use pine shavings instead of hay for nesting material. Place golf balls or fake eggs in the nest. Move real eggs to the nest. Close your hens in the coop for a few days. Place a nest where your hen is laying and move it towards the coop. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-an-Ink-Stain-from-Auto-Upholstery | How to Remove an Ink Stain from Auto Upholstery | To remove an ink stain from fabric and PVC auto upholstery, spray the stain with hairspray and wipe it away with a clean, dry cloth. Alternatively, cover the stain with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap and 2 teaspoons of white vinegar. Next, rub the area gently with a soft cloth, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe everything off with a damp cloth. You can also try blotting the stain with a white cloth soaked in 90 percent rubbing alcohol to absorb the ink. | Blot excess ink immediately. You will have a harder task removing the stain once it sets in and drys. First focus on removing the excess ink using a dry towel or a paper towel to absorb the excess liquid. Blot the ink spill gently, putting a little to no pressure on the area. Try to remove as much ink as you can working from the outside towards the center. This will prevent the stain from spreading. Don't rub or scrub the area, which can spread the stain and work it into the fibers more deeply. Instead, blot gently to get as much of the ink out as possible before you clean it more deeply. Try isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Ink stains often come out with rubbing alcohol, regardless of the style of upholstery in the car. 90% isopropyl alcohol is preferable, but you can use 70% if that's the only variety available. First, test the alcohol in an inconspicuous place of the car upholstery to make sure that it won't damage the upholstery material. Apply rubbing alcohol on a clean white cloth. Do not pour alcohol directly on the stain. Dab the ink stain with the cloth carefully and gently. Do not rub or wipe. Rubbing will cause the stain to spread. Repeat the process again until the cloth is not absorbing any more of the ink. Make sure to change the cloth when it is saturated with ink. Don't use alcohol on acetate, rayon, or triacetate. These fabrics will stain and leave bleach-like spots if treated with alcohol. Consider using vinegar on the ink stain. Its acidic properties make it remove stains effectively. Plus, it's safe to use, gentle on hands and environment friendly. Combine 1 tablespoon of dish washing soap and 2 teaspoons of white vinegar in a cup of water. Dab the solution on the stained area using a soft cloth and rub the area gently. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then wipe it with cold water using a soft cloth. Rinse the affected area thoroughly. Repeat until the solution is gone. Try hairspray. Not just for hair anymore. Hairspray is a strong and somewhat volatile solvent that can be an effective ink remover, used in small doses on both cloth and leather. As soon as you see the stain, spray a little of the hairspray over the top and quickly wipe away gently, using a clean, dry cloth. Repeat the process until the ink has gone. Some people report that stronger hairspray has better stain removing properties, though it's difficult to verify. Try whatever hairspray you've got on hand and use in conjunction with other cleaning solutions, if necessary. Try a commercial stain remover. If you want to make a run to the store to get up the stain, many cleaning products are available which should gently help to lift the stain out of the fabric and leave your upholstery looking clean. If you don't want to use a home remedy, try any of the following products: Oxi-Clean Kaboom Dry-cleaning solvent Motsenbocker's Liftoff Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water. After using a cleaning product of your choice on the stained area, try to go back over it with clean water. Wet your cloth with water and re-blot the area thoroughly with water, dampening it gently if possible. Do a few rinsing passes with your cloth to get as much of it out as possible. Extract the water by putting a dry towel on the affected area. Use a clean towel and line it over the stained area, pushing down hard with your hands to absorb the water. Repeat cleaning process if necessary. Let the area dry and re-examine the stain in a few hours. If there's still a significant amount affected, repeat the steps above, trying another cleaning product if necessary. It usually will take several attempts to get a stain out completely, so don't get frustrated. Be persistent and try again if you don't get the stain out the very first time. Blot up the ink as quickly as possible. Stains that have a chance to settle into leather are extremely difficult to remove. Leather's surface is porous and very delicate, so it requires a very small amount of cleaner and extreme care. To give yourself the best possible chance of getting the ink cleaned out of the leather, don't give it a chance to set in. Use a clean rag to blot up the ink from the outside of the stain, working your way in. Gently dab at the ink to get as much of it up as possible before you try to use something to clean it more thoroughly. Try using dish soap and water. If the stain is still fresh, warm soapy water can do the trick. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish washing soap with a small amount of hot water to make a solution. Stir the solution until lots of soap suds are formed. Dip a soft cloth on the soap suds and gently wipe the ink stain with the soapy cloth, gently working the suds into the upholstery and the ink stain. Be careful not to scrub, but to work by blotting gently. Use pressure to push down and absorb as much of it as possible. Try using a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol can be used to remove the ink stain from your leather upholstery, particular fresh ink stains. Older stains that have had a while to set might need multiple cleanings to get the stain out more thoroughly, so you might need to repeat as needed. Do a spot test first. Test first the alcohol in an inconspicuous place of the upholstery to see how the leather will handle the alcohol. Damp a white cotton cloth with alcohol and use a small amount of it in a corner of the upholstery where a stain won't be obvious. Let it dry and check to make sure it hasn't left a serious secondary stain in the leather. Blot the stain with the cloth. The ink will start transferring to the cloth. Do not rub, just blot the cloth. Repeat the process until the ink stain is gone. Make sure to change the cloth when it becomes saturated with ink to prevent re-staining the upholstery. Never pour alcohol directly on the leather. Wet the cloth and wet it very sparingly. Try peanut butter and window cleaner. Believe it or not, many people have had success using a combination of sandwich spread and Windex to get ink out of car upholstery. Spray a small amount of window cleaner on the stain, enough to dampen it gently, then apply about a teaspoon of peanut butter on the stain and let it sit for several minutes. Wipe up the mixture thoroughly with a clean rag and go about rinsing the upholstery more thoroughly. Use a clean damp cloth to rinse off the solution. Whatever you've used to remove the ink from the leather upholstery, you need to take steps to remove excess moisture from the area. Make sure to wipe down the area thoroughly with a very slightly damp cloth, and go back over the area with a dry towel to extract any excess moisture. Follow up with a leather conditioner. This will help prevent future stains and seal some added moisture into the leather to prevent it from cracking over time. It's essential that you treat your leather seats with conditioner immediately after removing the stain. Use a clean, soft, cotton towel and apply a small dab of leather conditioner to the affected area. | Blot excess ink immediately. Try isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Consider using vinegar on the ink stain. Try hairspray. Try a commercial stain remover. Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water. Repeat cleaning process if necessary. Blot up the ink as quickly as possible. Try using dish soap and water. Try using a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Try peanut butter and window cleaner. Use a clean damp cloth to rinse off the solution. Follow up with a leather conditioner. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Salamanders | How to Care for Salamanders | To care for salamanders, feed them live worms, crickets, and slugs 2-3 times a week. You also need to provide filtered water for salamanders to swim in, along with some hiding places in case they get scared or need to relax. Depending on the species of salamander, they might need a heating pad or lamp to keep their tank warm enough. Also, try to avoid handling salamanders since the oils on your hands could make them sick. | Use an aquarium or tank to house your salamander. Aquariums or reptile tanks are the best way to house your dear sal. You should use a 10 gallon (37.9 L) tank, as this will provide enough room for your sal to hide, dig, and doze his days away. Aquariums tanks are best used for aquatic and semi-aquatic salamanders. Make sure you clean your tank before you create your salamander's home. You can also use plastic or acrylic tanks if you do not want to purchase a glass tank. Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid. Salamanders are excellent climbers--they will make quick work of the sides of 10 gallon (37.9 L) tank. Because of this, it is important to have a lid that fits tightly on your tank so that your salamander cannot escape. Screen lids are best, as they provide your salamander with excellent ventilation. If you cannot purchase a screen top, a hood top will also work. Determine if your sal needs an aquatic, semi-aquatic, or terrestrial home. This will depend on the type of salamander you have or are going to purchase. If you are not sure what your salamander prefers, ask your pet shop or run an online search. Aquatic salamanders, like the Axolotl, spend their whole lives in the water. Semi-aquatic salamanders should have a tank that is half water, half land. Terrestrial salamanders should not have a water area in their tank. Setup your tank. Again this will depend on the kind of salamander you have. Remember, the substeps listed here are just rough guidelines--you can be as creative as you like with your tanks. Aquatic tank: You should use an aquarium to house your sal in. Layer the bottom of the tank with two inches of washed aquarium gravel. Gradually slope the tank so that the layered gravel goes from two inches to three inches deep. Plant some aquatic plants but know that you will have to replace them every so often because salamanders can be rough on aquatic plants. Semi-aquatic tank: Divide your tank with a half sheet of plexiglass so that one side is aquatic, and one side is terrestrial. Lay two inches of aquarium gravel on the aquatic side, along with some aquatic plants. Create a sloping gradient with the gravel so that the salamander can walk from the water to the land. On the land side, place two inches of aquarium gravel, then top it with substrate (ground covering). This substrate should be mulch-like soil like shredded bark or coconut fiber. Top this with sterile potting soil or garden loam. Terrestrial tank: Do the same as the land side of the semi-aquatic tank, only throughout the whole tank. Add plants, moss and a log Provide your terrestrial salamander with a water bowl. You will want to keep this dish relatively small and shallow, as terrestrial salamanders tend to not be very good swimmers, and some could even drown in a deep water bowl. Add some hiding places. No matter what type of salamander you have, you should provide them with some good hiding places. Salamanders can get pretty stressed out, so it is good for them to have some locations to relax in. Rock caves, large shards of pottery, large pieces of bark, and store-bought 'hiding spots' will make your sal very happy. Clean the cage weekly. Take out the sal in gloved hands and put him in a secure place while you're cleaning so you don't hurt your sal. Then scrub the tank and furnishings with hot water and dry before putting your sal back in. Use a broad-spectrum light for your sal. Do not put your salamander's tank in direct sunlight, as the sunlight can heat the tank up too much. Use an appliance timer to switch the light on and off according to the natural light found in your salamander's native environment. This means making the 'days' and 'nights' longer or shorter based on what season you are in so your sal can live like it would out in the wild. Give your sal the temperature they want. The temperature you set up will depend on the type of sal you have. Salamanders from temperate climates, like the tiger salamander, will not need any form of heating. Sals from tropical and semi-tropical locales will need heat. Ask your pet store or run an internet search on what temperatures your sal should be exposed to. Always provide a temperature gradient--one side of the tank should be warmer than the other side. To give them the heat they like use one of the following : Aquarium water heater: These are submersible heaters that will warm the temperature of the water and increase the humidity in the tank. Heating pad: This can be placed under one side of the tank. Heat lamp: You should monitor these because they may kill the plants in your tank. You will also have to regulate how hot the heat lamp makes the tank. Provide your salamander with filtered water. You will have to regularly filter your salamander's water. You can purchase a recirculating water filter, or set up your filter in some other way. Give your terrestrial salamanders filtered water. You can give them tap water that has been treated to remove chlorine and chloramine. You can also use bottled spring water. Do not handle your salamander. Despite the fact that their cute little faces might inspire you to want to pick them up, you should try to avoid handling your salamander. The oils on human hands can actually make salamanders sick. In turn, salamanders can also carry or make secretions that can make people sick. So, it is best for everyone involved if you simply watch your sal, rather than handle them. If you do have to handle a sal, like when picking one out or if yours is injured, wash your hands with very hot, soapy water. Take care to rinse off all of the soap. Allow your salamander to hibernate. Sals from cooler climates bury themselves underground for the winter months. While it may be a bummer to have an 'empty' tank sitting around, if salamanders don't hibernate, they generally die at a younger age. Know that salamanders are nocturnal. Because of this fact, it is best to feed salamanders at night, when they are most active. Set an alarm for yourself when you first bring your salamander home, or else you might forget to feed him at night. Feed your salamander two to three times a week. Keep in mind that your salamander might not eat during the first few days that he is in his new home. Salamanders get nervously easily and when they are introduced to a new environment, they tend to take a few days to adjust to his new surroundings. Other salamanders, however, will cozy right up to their new home and will eat heartily on day one. If you bought a juvenile salamander, you should feed them daily until they stop growing and mature into an adult. Provide your salamander with a well-balanced meal. Salamanders are carnivores--they like to hunt their prey. Because of this preference, you will need to feed your salamander live prey. If you have to purchase dead prey, frozen prey is better than dry prey. Salamanders love : Live earthworms, nightcrawlers (from a bait shop), bloodworms and crickets (which can be purchased at pet stores), live waxworms, live slugs, live white worms and tubifex worms.They will also eat frozen bloodworms, though you may have to move the bloodworm around to catch your salamanders attention. Give your aquatic salamanders brine shrimp. You can also feed them Daphnia and water fleas. Monitor the amount your salamander eats. In general, salamanders will simply stop eating when they are full. The amount you feed your salamander really depends on him. During the first couple of days that you feed it, provide him with a set amount of prey (you choose the number) and then check back on them in the next couple of hours. If there are any worms or crickets left, you will know that your salamander doesn't need that much food. Note that fire salamanders and tiger salamanders can become obese if overfed. Remove uneaten food from your salamander's home. If your salamander has not eaten all of their food in the couple of hours after you feed them, it means that they are full. Remove the live prey that is still in his home--if you do not, the live prey could try to bite or irritate your salamander. If you have an aquatic species of salamander, always remember to clean out uneaten food from his water or else you run the risk of dirtying the water or causing mold to grow. | Use an aquarium or tank to house your salamander. Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid. Determine if your sal needs an aquatic, semi-aquatic, or terrestrial home. Setup your tank. Provide your terrestrial salamander with a water bowl. Add some hiding places. Clean the cage weekly. Use a broad-spectrum light for your sal. Give your sal the temperature they want. Provide your salamander with filtered water. Do not handle your salamander. Allow your salamander to hibernate. Know that salamanders are nocturnal. Feed your salamander two to three times a week. Provide your salamander with a well-balanced meal. Monitor the amount your salamander eats. Remove uneaten food from your salamander's home. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Download-on-Android | How to Stop a Download on Android | To stop a web download, swipe down from the top of the screen and select Pause or Cancel. To stop a Play Store download, tap X on the progress bar. | Open your mobile internet browser. You can use any mobile browser available on Android, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Opera. Find the file you want to download on your Android. It could be a document, link, or any type of file. Start your file download. Tap the download button on a web page, or tap and hold a link and select Download link on the pop-up menu. You will see a download icon on the status bar in the upper-left corner of your screen. Swipe down from the top of your screen. This will open your Notification Center in a drop-down panel. Your file download will appear at the top of your notifications. Tap the Pause button. This button is located below the name of the file you're downloading. It will pause your download until you decide to resume. You can resume the download anytime by pressing Resume. Tap the Cancel button. This button is located next to Pause below the name of the file you're downloading. It will stop and cancel your file download. The download box will disappear from Notification Center. Open the Play Store on your Android. The Play Store icon looks like a colored arrowhead icon on your Apps menu. Find and tap the app you want to download. You can browse menu categories, or use the search bar at the top to quickly find an app. Tapping will open the app page. Tap the green INSTALL button. This button is located below the app name in the upper-right corner of the app page. It will start downloading this app on your Android. Tap the "X" icon. The INSTALL button will be replaced by an "X" icon when you start downloading an app. Tap this icon to stop and cancel the app download. When you cancel an app download, you can't resume it later. You will have to start the download again from the beginning. | Open your mobile internet browser. Find the file you want to download on your Android. Start your file download. Swipe down from the top of your screen. Tap the Pause button. Tap the Cancel button. Open the Play Store on your Android. Find and tap the app you want to download. Tap the green INSTALL button. Tap the "X" icon. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Pepper-Spray-Out-of-Eyes | How to Get Pepper Spray Out of Eyes | To get pepper spray out of your eyes, start by flushing your face and eyes with cool water for at least 15 minutes, then keeping your eyes open so the air can help evaporate the irritant. Once the burning sensation subsides, you can use saline eye drops to flush out any remaining irritants. If you continue to feel the effects of the pepper spray, try soaking a towel in whole milk, closing your eyes, and laying the towel over your face to relieve the pain and irritation. Once you remove the towel, make sure to rinse your face thoroughly with cool water. | Don't touch your eyes. Pepper spray is an oil-based substance that causes severe irritation to your eyes and skin. If you get pepper spray in your eyes, resist the temptation to touch your face or rub your eyes. Touching your face will just spread the oil around and increase the affected area. Don't touch your face, but do tear up your eyes by blinking a lot. Blinking produces liquid that helps start the process of flushing the spray residue from your eyes. Take out any contact lenses. If you are wearing contact lenses when you get pepper spray in your eyes, take these out immediately. The spray residues will stick to the lenses and continue to irritate your eyes. Throw the lenses away. Even cleaning them will not remove the residue. After taking out your lenses, submerge your face in cool, clean water. Open and close your eyes underwater several times. Expect the burning to last for a while. Even if you manage to flush out your eyes, the symptoms may persist. Irritation to the eyes can continue anywhere from 30 minutes to over 2 hours. Inflammation of the throat lining can also cause breathing difficulties for up to an hour. If your symptoms are particularly severe or last longer than this, you should go to a hospital or walk-in centre. If you have asthma, pepper spray can cause serious breathing difficulties and you should get emergency medical treatment. Flush your eyes with water. Pepper spray leaves an oily residue on your skin and in your eyes which you need to clean off as quickly as possible. The most straightforward way to do this is just by flushing your face and eyes with cool water. You should do this for at least 15 minutes. After doing this, keep the affected areas open to the air. Being exposed to the air helps the irritant evaporate after you've flushed your eyes with water. If you have access to a sink or drinking fountain use this. Otherwise, use any clean water you can get hold of. You can also stand under a cold shower to rinse off. Wash your skin with soapy water. Flushing your face and eyes with water can help to wash off the oily pepper spray residue. To help remove it from your skin, you can add some mild, non-oil-based soap or dish detergent. Make a solution of one-quarter mild detergent with three-quarters cool water. Keeping your eyes firmly shut, dip your face into the solution for twenty seconds. Rinse off your face and repeat ten times. Refresh the solution after each rinse, so you are not putting your face back into pepper spray water. Use saline eye drops. There may be some oily residue left in your eyes after the burning sensation has begun to subside. To tackle this you can use some saline eye drops to flush out any final irritants. Just apply a few drops directly to your eyes and blink continuously. You can buy these drops in drug stores, supermarkets and pharmacies. Remember to not to rub your eyes even after doing this. Splash milk onto your face. Milk is often used by people hit with pepper spray. The milk can ease the burn from the spray, but will not clean off the oils and residue. You can use milk to relieve the burn on your skin to make it easier to effectively flush out your eyes. Splash whole milk onto your face, keeping your eyes closed. Milk is less effective than washing with water or saline at getting rid of the pepper spray remnants. Experts also caution that it is not sterile. Another way to apply milk is to pour some into a clean spray bottle. Keeping your eyes closed, squirt it over your face. This can lessen the irritation experienced by your skin, which in turn can make it easier for you to then go and flush out your eyes with water more effectively. However, be aware that the pain from pepper spray is immediate and intense, and you may not have time for this extra step. Research found little effective difference in pain relief between the use of milk and that of water. Use a towel soaked in milk as an alternative. Soaking a towel in milk and then placing this on your skin can help to relieve the burn of pepper spray. Soak a towel in whole milk, sit back, close your eyes and lay the towel over your face. This will not get the pepper spray out of your eyes, but it can relieve pain and irritation on your eyelids and the skin around your eyes. You can also submerge your face in milk to produce a similar effect. Rinse off the milk with water. After applying milk to your face it's important to rinse it thoroughly with cool clean water. The milk method shouldn't replace the use of water to flush out your eyes, but it can help to relieve the other painful symptoms which will exacerbate your discomfort. After rinsing, remember not to cover your face and eyes with any bandages or cloth, leave it exposed to the air. | Don't touch your eyes. Take out any contact lenses. Expect the burning to last for a while. Flush your eyes with water. Wash your skin with soapy water. Use saline eye drops. Splash milk onto your face. Use a towel soaked in milk as an alternative. Rinse off the milk with water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Paint-MDF | How to Paint MDF | To paint MDF, start by coating the edges with joint compound and sanding it down, which will help the finish look smoother. Then, use water or solvent-based paint to paint your MDF with long, overlapping brush strokes. Next, allow the paint to dry, then add a second or third coat until you're happy with the finish. Make sure to let each coat dry completely before applying the next one for the best results. | Apply joint compound to the edges of the MDF board. By coating the porous edges of the MDF with joint or drywall compound, you'll create a smooth edge. With your clean finger or an applicator, like a putty knife, apply a thin, even layer of the compound to all edges on the MDF. Your compound application doesn't have to be perfect. After the compound dries, you'll sand it so the finish is smooth and even. Sand the edges after the compound dries. Allow the compound to dry completely. The time this takes should be listed on the joint compound's label instructions. When dry, put on a mask and googles. Use a medium grit silicon-carbide sandpaper, like 220-grit. Use light to moderate pressure to sand the areas with compound until it is smooth and even. Sanding the joint compound should create a fine dust. Use a clean rag to wipe all dust away. Do this carefully; any leftover dust will negatively impact the finish of your paint job. Sand the remainder of the MDF board. With your dust mask and protective goggles still on, use a fine grit sandpaper, like one rated 120-grit, to lightly sand all the surfaces you will paint on the MDF board. Sanding will produce fine wood dust. Clean the MDF. Use a clean rag to wipe away dust and any other dirtiness from the MDF. If your MDF is especially dirty, you may need to dampen your rag with water. However, if you do, you'll need to allow your MDF to dry completely before moving on in the painting process. For MDF that is particularly dusty, use a vacuum to suck up any that remains following your rag wipe down. Apply primer to the MDF. Take your paintbrush and dip it into the primer. Wipe excess primer onto the inner lip of the paint can. Using long, overlapping strokes, cover the surfaces of your MDF that you will paint with primer. Apply the primer in a thin coat. The edges of MDF can be difficult to finish smoothly and professionally. Be sure you prime the edges completely. Corners of edges can be easily missed. After applying your first layer of primer, in many cases it may not even appear as though you've barely primed. The first layer of primer is often thin enough for you to clearly see the original finish through it. Note that most of the MDF already comes primed, in which case you won't need to prime it. However, pre-primed MDF becomes simple pressed wood when it gets wet, so you might want to use something else. Coat the MDF in a solvent based primer, alternatively. A solvent based primer, like oil-, alcohol-, or lacquer-based ones, will not be as drastically affected by the MDF's poor water absorption. Dip your brush into the primer and wipe excess off on the inner lip of its can. Apply a thin, even layer of primer with long, overlapping strokes. When you finish priming, the primer will likely look thin. You may be able to clearly see the original finish through the primer. This is completely natural. With a solvent based primer, one layer should be enough to improve the finish of your paint. However, for best results, use two or three thin layers of primer. Allow the primer to dry and lightly sand it between applications. Sand the MDF after priming. Wait the time indicated on your primer usage instructions until the primer is dry. When sanding primer, use gentle pressure with your fine-grit sandpaper. When you are finished, the surface should be silky to the touch. Wipe dust from sanding away with a clean rag. The primer may lighten in color when sanding, but should still be visible. Using too much force with your sandpaper will strip the primer away. In this case, you'll have to replace the stripped layer of primer. Sanding will smooth the outer layer of the primer. This will help subsequent layers that will be added later to adhere to the initial primer layer smoothly. Add two more coats of primer. In the fashion previously described, continue to prime your MDF until it has three coats total. Alternate between priming and sanding. Remember to wipe down the MDF with a clean rag after sanding. Multiple thin layers of primer will form a stronger, more professional looking finish than one thick layer or several thick layers. Paint the MDF with a water based paint. Open your paint and prepare it according to its instructions. In most cases, this will involve stirring the paint. Once open, dip your paintbrush into the can. Wipe excess paint on the inner lip of the can. Use long, overlapping strokes to apply the paint to the MDF. If using a roller to apply paint to your MDF, use one with low nap. “Nap” refers to the fuzziness of the roller. For the best looking and most resilient finish, use two to three thin layers of paint. In between applications, allow the paint to dry completely according to its usage directions. Use a solvent based paint, alternatively. A paint that is oil-, alcohol-, or lacquer based can be used in place of one that is water based. After primer has been suitably applied, both water and solvent bases should adhere to the surface. Apply the paint in the fashion previously described for water based paint. Allow the paint to dry and enjoy your finished MDF. Your paint should list a recommended drying time in its label instructions. A single layer of paint may be enough to satisfactorily coat your MDF. Although one coat may be sufficient, two to three thin coats will create a stronger, more polished finish. Allow the paint to dry completely between applications. | Apply joint compound to the edges of the MDF board. Sand the edges after the compound dries. Sand the remainder of the MDF board. Clean the MDF. Apply primer to the MDF. Coat the MDF in a solvent based primer, alternatively. Sand the MDF after priming. Add two more coats of primer. Paint the MDF with a water based paint. Use a solvent based paint, alternatively. Allow the paint to dry and enjoy your finished MDF. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Crush-to-Talk-to-You | How to Get Your Crush to Talk to You | Getting your crush to talk to you can be nerve-wracking, but if you find a natural conversation starter, it should be easier. For example, you can compliment them by saying something like, “I really like your necklace. How long have you had that?” Or, you can ask them a question. For instance, if they're reading a book, ask them if it's good, or if they're part of a club, ask them for details about it. After they reply, you can ask a few more related questions to keep the conversation going. If they keep looking away or give you several brief answers, they might not be in the mood to talk, so it's best to cut the conversation short. Say something like, “Awesome, well I'll see you around.” | Catch their eye. Make eye contact with them. This will immediately show a little interest. Hold their gaze when you make eye contact. Holding their gaze will establish a connection. Look away and then make eye contact again. This will keep them interested. Say hi. Simply say “hello.” Make an effort to greet them whenever you see them. Smile when you greet them. You can also ask “how are you?” By greeting them, you're already talking and making a little connection. Ask a favor. Make a small request to break the ice. Ask “could you please watch my stuff for a second?” if you're in the library or a coffee shop together. Or if you're in the cafeteria or a cafe, try asking for a napkin or a straw. This will get the person to notice you and might lead to a conversation. If you sit near them in class, try asking them to repeat what the teacher said, for example: “I didn't catch that. What was the last question?” Make a statement. Say something positive. Don't say very much, just a short comment. Try saying something about the weather or someone you both know or your schoolwork. Your crush will usually respond and then you can talk some more. State something like: “It's so beautiful out today.” If something funny happens, you could say: “I love getting to laugh like that.” Comment on something you’ve observed. Ask your crush about something you've observed about them. For example, if they wear a uniform, ask them about that. Try to find something to ask about that other people might not. Don't be too obvious or intrusive when you're observing them. For example, if they are reading a book, you could ask: “Do you like that author?” Try to combine your observation with a compliment. For example: “That's a really nice ring. Could I look more closely?” Get involved in the same things. Make an excuse to talk to your crush by joining an activity they do. Use this opportunity to ask questions or just to make eye contact and smile at them. Make a short comment about something that happened during the activity. Your questions and comments will be easy ways to break the ice. Try starting a comment with something like: “Wasn't it great when...?” or “It was so funny when...!” Get to know them better by doing the same activities. Ask questions. Find out what they're interested in. Show an interest in their interests. If they like something you don't know about, ask them to explain it. This will get them talking to you. For example, you can say: “Hey, it's March Madness. What's your favorite team?” Or if you need an explanation, you could say: “That sounds really cool. I don't know much about it though. Can you explain it some more?” They'll talk to you more enthusiastically if you share the same interests. Listen attentively. Once they do talk to you, don't interrupt. Listen carefully and respond when it's your turn to talk. Be kind and show that you care about what they are saying. This will help them open up more. Say things like: “That's really interesting. Please tell me more.” Also thank them when they talk to you. For example: “Thanks for telling me about that.” Look for signs that your crush is interested in you. Pay attention to how much they talk to you. See if they take the time to always greet you when they see you. Notice if they regularly compliment you or treat you especially nicely. Talk to them more and compliment them more if you see these signs of interest from them. Look for signs that they aren’t into you. See if they don't respond with interest when you make comments. Observe if they talk to other people just as much as they talk to you. Notice if they don't treat you nicely all the time or if they are inconsiderate or inconsistent when they interact with you. Act friendly. Make it easy to be with you and to talk to you by being casual and friendly. But stay a little reserved so you're not too obvious about your feelings. For example, don't always answer your texts or calls from them immediately. Don't be too transparent about your feelings or you might scare them away. Look your best. Make sure you always look good. Dress well and keep up your hygiene. You'll want to be attractive to your crush whenever you see them. People are likely to talk to people they find attractive. Act confident. Being confident is attractive. Be sure to smile. Flirt. Compliment them and tease them a bit. Make sure you're never hurtful when you tease. Make an effort to smile at them in a flirty way. You can even try winking. Flirting will get them talking, especially when they're interested. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. You want to make sure your crush likes you for who you are. Be honest about what interests you. For example, don't pretend to like something just because your crush likes it. Keep things upbeat, but you don't always have to be positive if you're not feeling that way. Joke around, but don't overdo it so they know they can take you seriously. Tell them how you feel. If you have a good friendship and have been talking a lot, and if you know you want to take it further, be direct. Ask your crush out for a coffee or to an activity you both like. If you're getting positive signals, tell them how you feel and tell them that you'd like to take your relationship to the next step. | Catch their eye. Say hi. Ask a favor. Make a statement. Comment on something you’ve observed. Get involved in the same things. Ask questions. Listen attentively. Look for signs that your crush is interested in you. Look for signs that they aren’t into you. Act friendly. Look your best. Flirt. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Tell them how you feel. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Probiotic | How to Choose a Probiotic | To choose a probiotic, check the supplement's label to find out the bacteria type, since different strains address specific health concerns, like irritable bowel syndrome or upper respiratory problems. If you're looking for an effective general-use probiotic, go with a supplement that has 30-40 strains of bacteria and at least 5 billion CFU. Finally, read the packaging carefully to confirm that the product was tested and the studies were ethically performed. | Find a probiotic supplement that treats the issue you want to target. Probiotics contain various strains of healthy, gut-friendly bacteria, which means that they don't all treat the same gut or body condition. Before purchasing a probiotic, read the probiotic pill or supplement box to confirm that it contains bacteria which target the issues you want it to. For example, different probiotics will treat health issues as varied as: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Upper respiratory problems. General gut health. Frequent vaginosis. Refer to an online 'cheat sheet' describing the effects of various probiotic bacteria here: http://usprobioticguide.com. For example, bacteria strains which increase overall illness immunity may be useless when dealing with abdominal pain. Opt for a probiotic with 30-40 strains of bacteria. If you're looking for an effective general-use probiotic supplement, choose one with many strains. Since different bacterial strains will treat different gut and health conditions, increasing the number of strains will maximize the health benefits that the probiotic can deliver. The most helpful probiotic labels will provide the genus, species, and strain of all bacteria included. For example, 1 specific strain of bacteria will read: “Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730.” Read the packaging to make sure that the product was tested. Probiotics are unregulated and do not undergo testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any medical organization. This means that many probiotics are untested, and offer no guarantee that the product can meet the claims made on its packaging or advertisements. You can avoid buying a potentially useless product by confirming that the supplements or pills were tested. If you have extra time to invest in researching probiotics, you could look at the probiotic company's website. Read the “About Us” page (or a similar page) to find out if the probiotic has been tested. Since they are not regulated, some products labeled as probiotics may not contain as much bacteria as they claim to. Confirm that the studies were ethically performed. The most reliable probiotics are those that have been double-blind tested. Probiotic testing may be subject to bias if it's not performed double-blind tests. This information should be clearly printed on the packaging. Also look to see if the packaging confirms that the probiotic manufacturer wasn't able to inform the test results. This will indicate that the tests were ethically performed and that the manufacturer didn't meddle with the scientific results. Select a probiotic supplement with at least 5 billion CFU. The number of bacteria in probiotic supplements can vary widely, from a couple million to several billion. As a general rule of thumb, the more living bacteria that have been packed into a probiotic, the more effective the supplement will be. When reading bottles of probiotic supplements, you'll notice that many include the acronym “CFU.” This stands for “colony forming unit,” and refers to the approximate number of live bacteria within a pill or supplement. Pay attention to your body’s digestion. The major effect of nearly all probiotics is to improve your gut and digestive health (in addition to whatever other benefits the bacteria provide). If you've been using a certain probiotic supplement for a couple of weeks and don't notice an improvement in your digestive health, it's time to try a new probiotic. Signs of an ineffective probiotic include: Stomach cramps. Intestinal pain. Constipation or diarrhea. Revise your probiotic supplement as needed. Keep in mind that, since most probiotics are sold as dietary supplements, they aren't guaranteed to produce the results they advertise. Fortunately, another probiotic may fix your health concern. If the first probiotic you tried isn't helping, switch to another type. Unlike medication, you can change your probiotic supplement without experiencing major side-effects. The only side-effect you're somewhat likely to experience as a result of switching is mildly upset stomach. Choose studied strains of probiotic to help with frequent health concerns. Most medical studies on probiotics have been performed on strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics containing these strains are most likely to match the claims made on the label. Choose well-known strains of these bacteria to help with common health ailments. These include: Lactobacillus bulgaricus , which helps with lactose intolerance and various resultant digestive problems. Lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2 , which improves dental hygiene and prevents tooth plaque from forming. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 or MIMBb75 , which decreases bloating and discomfort from IBS. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your digestion. If you have frequent moderate to severe abdominal pain, or chronic constipation or diarrhea, the problem may be more severe than a probiotic can handle. Talk to your physician and explain your condition to them. Also ask your doctor if they recommend any specific probiotics or know of any to avoid. You may be suffering from an undiagnosed case of IBS, or you may be lactose intolerant or have Celiac disease without knowing it. | Find a probiotic supplement that treats the issue you want to target. Opt for a probiotic with 30-40 strains of bacteria. Read the packaging to make sure that the product was tested. Confirm that the studies were ethically performed. Select a probiotic supplement with at least 5 billion CFU. Pay attention to your body’s digestion. Revise your probiotic supplement as needed. Choose studied strains of probiotic to help with frequent health concerns. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your digestion. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Your-Hair-Pink | How to Dye Your Hair Pink | To dye your hair pink, start by choosing a shade that will flatter your skin tone. For example, if your skin has a warm or yellow undertone, pick a warm shade of pink that has orange or yellow tints. Next, bleach your hair while it's still dry, then wash the bleach out with shampoo as soon as it reaches the desired level of lightness. After giving your hair a few days to rest, dye your hair pink by brushing the color on in sections, letting it rest for 15-20 minutes, then rinsing your hair with cool water. | Decide how light or dark you want your hair to be. Pink comes in many different shades, ranging from very pale to very dark. Each shade has its own benefits and will do different things for your overall look. For example: Try a light shade if you want something that is easy to work with and maintain. Examples include: baby, cotton candy, pale, and pastel. Try a bright, neon-shade if you want a longer-lasting dye job. Examples include: atomic, carnation, cupcake, flamingo, magenta, and shocking. Stick with a deep shade if you have dark hair and can't bleach it light enough. Examples include: bordeaux, eggplant, violet gem, and virgin rose. Choose a shade that flatters your skin's undertones. In most cases, you should match your hair's tone to your skin's undertone. For example, if your skin has warm (yellow) undertones, choose a warm shade of pink that has orange or yellow tints to it. If your skin has cool (pink) undertones, stick with a cool shade of pink with hints of violet or blue. If you can't decide on a color, go to a wig shop and try on wigs in various shades. Be willing to compromise and choose a darker shade if you have dark hair. In most cases, you will need to bleach your hair. Keep in mind, however, that you can only bleach your hair so much. In these cases, you may have to settle for a darker shade of pink. For example, if you have dark brown or black hair, you may not be able to bleach it light enough in order to get a pastel pink shade. You may have to settle for a darker shade of pink instead. Select a shade that complies with your school or work dress code. If you work in a professional environment with a strict dress code, that bright shade of pink may not be the best choice and may earn you a citation--the same goes for schools. If you work in an environment that allows for creativity (i.e. an art studio or an art school), then you might look right at home with your hot pink locks. If your school or job has a strict dress code, consider a more natural shade of pink, such as rose gold. Ask your principal/employer if the color your want will be acceptable. Start with healthy hair. Damaged hair will not take the dye very well. Also, the bleaching process will damage your hair to some extent, so you want it to be as healthy as possible. If you try to bleach hair that is already damaged, you'll only damage it further. If you have damaged hair but still want to dye your hair pink, consider going with an ombre instead. This way, you won't bleach all of your hair. It would be best if your hair hasn't been washed for a few days before you start bleaching it. This may sound gross, but the accumulated oils will help protect your hair. Decide between bleaching your hair all the way or partially. If you have red hair or blond hair, you can bleach all of your hair. If you have dark brown or black hair, however, consider getting an ombre instead. This way, you won't have to retouch your color as often, because the roots will be their natural color. It will be less damaging in the end. If you have light hair between levels 8 and 10, you may not need to bleach it at all. Speak to a stylist to find out what level your hair color is. Protect your skin, clothing, and work surface. Put on an old shirt, or cover it with a dyeing cape or an old towel. Apply petroleum jelly to the skin around your hairline, nape, and ears. Cover your floor and counter with newspaper, then put on a pair of plastic hair dyeing gloves. Prepare your bleach using the right developer. High levels of developer lighten the hair more quickly, but are also more damaging. In general, if you have light-colored hair, a 10 or 20 volume developer should be enough. If you have dark-colored hair, a 30 volume developer would be the better choice. Avoid using a 40 volume developer. They act very fast and are very damaging. Perform a strand test. While not absolutely necessary, this is highly recommended. The times on the packaging are guidelines. This means that your hair may bleach faster than the time recommended for your starting hair color and desired lightness. Never go over the recommended bleaching time, however. Select a strand from an inconspicuous area, such as your nape or from behind your ear. If your hair is not light enough, you will need to do a second bleaching session. If it is healthy, you could do it the same day. If your hair is damaged, though, you should wait a couple of weeks before bleaching it again. Bleach your hair while it is dry, starting from the ends. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Working 1 section at a time, apply the bleach to ⁄ 2 –1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) thin strands of hair, starting from the ends and finishing at the mid-lengths. Once you have applied the bleach to all your hair, go back through your hair and apply the bleach to the roots. The heat from your scalp will cause the bleach to process faster than the bleach on the ends of your hair. You must apply the bleach to your roots last. Be thorough when applying the bleach to each section. It can be especially easy to miss spots along the back of your hair , so pay close attention when bleaching the hair there. If you are going for pastel pink hair, aim to bleach your hair to a level 10, or platinum. Be careful when bleaching hair that has already been dyed. Your hair may not bleach evenly, and the dye may react with the bleach. Allow your hair to bleach, then wash it with shampoo. Once again, everyone's hair reacts to bleach differently. Your hair may reach your desired lightness level sooner than the time written on the package. As soon as your hair hits that desired lightness, wash the bleach out with shampoo. If the time is up and your hair still hasn't turned the right color, wash the bleach out anyways and plan to do a second treatment. Check for signs of damage from the bleach, like excessive shedding or breakage. If you see these signs, wait a few weeks before bleaching your hair again. Bleach your hair a second time, if necessary. Sometimes, a single bleaching session is not enough to get your hair to the right level. If you have brown hair and wish to go pastel pink, you may need to bleach it a second time. Keep in mind however, that it may not be possible to bleach very dark hair to a pale blond; you may have to settle for a darker shade of pink. If your hair is healthy, you can bleach it again the same day. If it's damaged, wait a week or 2 before bleaching it again. Get your hair bleached by a professional if it is dark. Bleaching is the most damaging part of the dyeing process. There's a lot that can go wrong, from patchy, uneven jobs to damaged, fried hair. While you can certainly bleach blonde and light brown hair at home with a kit, dark brown and black hair requires much more precision and care. If you have dark hair, it's best to get it done professionally. Listen to what the stylist tells you. If the stylist says that they can't bleach your hair any further, then don't attempt to do so. Determine whether or not your hair needs to be toned. Most hair will turn yellow or orange when it is bleached. If you are dyeing your hair a warm shade of pink, such as salmon, you do not need to tone it--just be aware that the pink will turn out warmer than what's on the bottle. If you want a cool or pastel shade of pink, however, you will need to tone your hair to get it as white/silver as possible. A cool pink is anything that includes blue or purple tones. How white or silver your hair turns after toning depends on how light you managed to bleach it. Orange hair will turn more silver, while yellow hair will turn more white. Get a bottle of toning shampoo. A toning shampoo is a special type of shampoo that cancels out the yellow or orange tones in your hair it more silver/neutral. You can also create your own toning shampoo by mixing some blue or purple hair dye into white-colored conditioner; you want a pale purple/pastel blue color. If your hair turned yellowish, get a purple-tinted toning shampoo. If your hair turned orangish, get a blue-tinted toning shampoo instead. Store-bought toning shampoo comes in different strengths, so you have to experiment. Making it yourself will allow you to adjust the proportions and get the right strength. Apply the product to wet or damp hair in the shower. You can apply the shampoo to your hair as you normally would. Squeeze a small amount into your hands and gently work it through your hair from root to tips. Be sure that you completely saturate your hair. Leave the shampoo in your hair for the time recommended on the bottle. This can be anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. If you made your own toner using hair dye and conditioner, leave it on for 2 to 5 minutes instead. Do not leave it on for too long, however, or your hair will turn out blue or purple. Wash the shampoo out with cool water. If there is any color residue left in your hair after this, follow up with a color-safe shampoo. Let your hair air dry completely, or speed the process up with a hair dryer. Toner can make your hair pinkish. If you like the color it turned, then you are done! Start with clean, dry hair. Wash your hair with shampoo. Rinse it off, then dry it completely with a hairdryer or by air. Do not use any conditioner this time, as it will make it harder for the dye to adhere to your hair. It is best to wait a few days between bleaching and dyeing your hair. Both processes are harsh, so it would be a good idea to give your hair a few days' rest. Protect your skin, clothing, and counter against stains. Put on an old shirt and drape a dyeing cape or an old towel around your shoulders. Cover your counter with newspaper or plastic bags. Apply some petroleum jelly around your ears and hairline, then pull on a pair of plastic dyeing gloves. Mix pink dye with white-colored conditioner if the instructions say to do so. Pour enough white-colored conditioner to saturate your hair into a non-metal bowl. Add some pink hair dye, then stir it with a plastic spoon until the color is consistent. Keep adding dye/conditioner until you get your desired shade. The type of conditioner that you use does not matter, but it needs to be white. If you did not tone your hair, be careful of what shade of pink you start with. It will end up more yellow/orange. If you want extra dimension, prepare 2 to 3 different shades of pink in separate bowls. For example, you could prepare atomic pink, cupcake pink, and virgin rose dye. Apply the dye to your hair in sections. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Use a tinting brush to apply the dye, or dye and conditioner mix, to ⁄ 2 –1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) thin strands of hair. If you prepared multiple shades of pink, apply them randomly throughout your hair. You can also use the balayage technique instead to make your hair look more dimensional and realistic, and less wig-like. Follow your hair's natural light-and-dark patterns. Use darker pinks in the darker areas and lighter pinks in the lighter areas, especially around your face. Consider doing a strand test first. This will allow you to correct the color before committing to it. Leave the dye on for the time recommended on the package. In most cases, you will need to wait 15 to 20 minutes. Some types of gel-based dyes, such as Manic Panic, can be left on for up to 1 hour; this will result in a brighter color. Do not leave lightening dye or bleach-containing dye longer than the recommended time. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap. This will help the dye develop better and keep your surroundings clean. Rinse your hair with cool water, then follow up with conditioner. Rinse the dye from your hair using cool water. Once the water runs clear, apply conditioner to your hair. Wait 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse it out with cool water to seal the cuticle. Do not use any shampoo for at least 3 days. Follow up with a vinegar rinse to lock the color in and make your hair shine. Leave the vinegar in your hair for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing it out. If your hair smells like vinegar, use a leave-in conditioner or other product to mask the scent. Use a gloss if you want to give your hair extra shine. Choose a gloss with a pink tone, and apply it right after you rinse the dye from your hair. Let the gloss sit in your hair for 10 minutes, or the time recommended on the package, then rinse it out as well. Use color-safe, sulfate-free products. Do not use products that contain sulfates. Sulfates are great at cleaning your hair, but they can also strip it of dye. If you want to make your color last longer, stick with color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. Most products will say on the label if they are color-safe or sulfate-free. If you are not sure, read the ingredient list on the back of the bottle. Avoid anything with the word "sulfate" in it. Add some of your dye to your bottle of conditioner. This will deposit a little bit of color into your hair each time that you wash it and help the color last longer. Deep-condition your hair once per week with a hair mask. Purchase a deep-conditioning mask meant for colored or chemically-treated hair. Apply the mask to damp hair, then tuck your hair under a plastic shower cap. Wait for the time on the package, then rinse the mask out. Most hair masks need to be left in your hair for 5 to 10 minutes, but some need to be left in for 15 to 20 minutes. Read the label, but don't panic if you leave the mask in too long. Wash your hair no more than once or twice a week. The more often you wash your hair, the faster it will fade--even with a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner. If your hair tends to get oily or greasy, consider using a dry shampoo between your washing sessions. Use cool water when washing your hair. Much like heat styling, hot water can cause the dye to fade faster from your hair. It can also cause your hair to appear damaged. After you have finished shampooing and conditioning your hair, rinse your hair with cold water for 1 minute for extra smoothness and shine. If you can't handle cold water, use lukewarm water instead. Limit the heat styling when possible. Unless it is freezing outside and you are running late for work or school, let your hair air dry. If you want to curl your hair, seek out a method that does not require any heat, such as foam hair rollers. Avoid straightening your hair, when possible. If you must use a flat iron or a curling iron, make sure that your hair is completely dry first. Apply a good heat protectant and use a lower heat setting. The sun can cause the color to fade as well. Wear hats, scarves, or hoods when going outside. Touch up your hair every 3 to 4 weeks, or as needed. Much like red hair dye, pink hair dye fades fast. This means that you may have to re-bleach your roots when they start to show as well. If you don't want to re-bleach your roots, leave them natural and re-dye the ends for an ombre effect instead.. The brighter your pink is, the more noticeable the fading will be. Pastel pinks won't fade as quickly. Some people like the pastel shade that their pink dye fades to. If you like the shade that it fades to, then don't touch it up as often. | Decide how light or dark you want your hair to be. Choose a shade that flatters your skin's undertones. Be willing to compromise and choose a darker shade if you have dark hair. Select a shade that complies with your school or work dress code. Start with healthy hair. Decide between bleaching your hair all the way or partially. Protect your skin, clothing, and work surface. Prepare your bleach using the right developer. Perform a strand test. Bleach your hair while it is dry, starting from the ends. Allow your hair to bleach, then wash it with shampoo. Bleach your hair a second time, if necessary. Get your hair bleached by a professional if it is dark. Determine whether or not your hair needs to be toned. Get a bottle of toning shampoo. Apply the product to wet or damp hair in the shower. Leave the shampoo in your hair for the time recommended on the bottle. Wash the shampoo out with cool water. Start with clean, dry hair. Protect your skin, clothing, and counter against stains. Mix pink dye with white-colored conditioner if the instructions say to do so. Apply the dye to your hair in sections. Leave the dye on for the time recommended on the package. Rinse your hair with cool water, then follow up with conditioner. Use a gloss if you want to give your hair extra shine. Use color-safe, sulfate-free products. Deep-condition your hair once per week with a hair mask. Wash your hair no more than once or twice a week. Use cool water when washing your hair. Limit the heat styling when possible. Touch up your hair every 3 to 4 weeks, or as needed. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-World-Environment-Day | How to Celebrate World Environment Day | To celebrate World Environment Day, consider hosting your own WED event, such as collecting recyclable items or an arts and crafts exhibition using eco-friendly materials. You can also try hosting a film festival featuring films, like “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Erin Brokovich”, to highlight eco-issues, or plan a concert with local musicians to raise money for an eco charity. Alternatively, visit the World Environment Day website to sign up as a volunteer for events that are already planned in your area. | Visit the World Environment Day website. Go to worldenviromentday.global/en and spend some time browsing the information provided there to see what's of most interest to you. You can read stories and news about the environment and learn how to participate in events. You can also use the site to register an activity that you, your school, business, workplace, or your community group are doing for WED. The great thing about registering your activity is that you can inspire others who learn about what you're doing. Find out what the WED environmental theme is for the year. For example, in 2017, the theme was “Connecting People to Nature.” This theme encourages people to spend time in nature and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the natural world. It also focuses on protecting the environment from harm. Also check out which country is the host country for WED for the year. For example, in 2017, Canada was the host country for WED. If you live in the host country, expect extra exciting activities to be planned! Check out the activities that are already planned in your area. You might like to join in what has been planned, or even help out if you're early enough to sign up as a volunteer for the event. Check the WED website and do an internet search for WED events near you. Add a photo or video to the nature album to share your favorite spot. The WED website is working to create the largest nature album in the world. Take a photograph or video of your favorite site in nature and post it to the album. For example, take a photo of your favorite lake or mountain range, create a video showcasing a lightning storm, or make a time-lapse video of cool clouds. Promote World Environment Day on social media. Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites to promote WED. Share events in your area, quote environmental facts, add photos taken in nature, or give tips on living sustainably. Either way, spread the word to your friends, family, and followers that it is World Environment Day! Collect recyclable items to reduce waste. Post signs around the community letting people know they can drop off materials to be recycled at your home or chosen location. Then, take the items to a place where they can be recycled. This will be especially helpful if you collect items that cannot be recycled at the local recycling center, such as electronics, batteries, and paint cans. to highlight eco-issues. Host a film festival You could organize a film festival in your community focused on ecological issues. Watch An Inconvenient Truth , The Day After Tomorrow , Soylent Green , or Erin Brockovich. If children are attending, consider adding WALL-E or FernGully: The Last Rainforest. If you plan this in advance, you could add your city to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival Tour. Organize an arts and crafts exhibition that focuses on sustainability. This shows participants that it is important to consider where your products come from and how they are made in order to leave a smaller footprint on the environment. Invite local artists and crafters who make their products sustainably. For example, choose artists who use recycled materials in their projects, or knitters who use eco-friendly yarns to create clothing and other items. Set up a poetry reading to hear others’ opinions on the environment. You could organize a poetry reading at a local coffee shop or bookstore to create a platform for people to share their opinions, worries, and hopes about the environment. An event like this also helps connect people through a love of nature. Choose poets or poems that focus on environmental issues, such as eco-poetry. You may also want to include dramatic readings or performances as well. You can choose to read poems like “Flood” by Pablo Neruda or excerpts from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. Plan a concert to raise money for an eco charity. This is a fun way to get people together for a good cause. Invite local musicians to play music in an outdoor venue. You could even find musicians who use recycled materials for their instruments, or musicians whose music focuses on nature or environmental issues. You could charge an entry fee and donate the money to an environmental cause, such as saving endangered species. Alternatively, you could leave a donation box out so that people can donate money. If you don't want to charge an entry fee, you might require that people bring bottles to recycle or participate in a neighborhood clean-up if they want to see the concert. You could play recordings or have bands cover songs like “Mother Nature's Son” by the Beatles, or John Mayer's “Waiting on the World to Change.” Plant trees to increase oxygen in the air. Trees are great for the environment, as they turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. Gather a group of people together and arrange to plant trees in your community. Get permission before planting in public places such as parks, or choose to plant trees in your own or your neighbors' or friends' yards. Organize a neighborhood cleanup to beautify your community. Invite your neighbors to help clean up the area in which you all live. This is a great activity to do with children. Pick up trash, pull weeds, or even do minor repairs to fences or houses in the area. Plan a nature scavenger hunt to connect with the world around you. Invite adults and children from your neighborhood to participate in a nature scavenger hunt. Create a list of items to find, such as: a yellow flower, a green leaf, a ladybug, a feather, a smooth rock, a blade of grass, a puffy cloud, something blue, etc. Consider handing out prizes to the winners, like eco-friendly tote bags. Raise awareness in your community. Set up a booth outside the local library or grocery store, after obtaining permission. Speak to people about environmental issues or hand out brochures or information kits. This can be a great way to educate others about important environmental subjects. Adopt an eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. Do an inventory of your energy usage, your consuming habits, and your reliance on unsustainable products and make a list of ways you intend to curb your unsustainable activities and habits and replace them with sustainable ones. Set yourself a timeline to meet, with harder changes coming at the end of the timeline. For instance, consider eating meat-free meals twice a week. You could also make a point of turning off lights and electronics when not in use. Another idea is to commit yourself to walking to work or the market as often as possible. Choose to purchase sustainable, organic, or Fair Trade goods. Read the labels of origin and manufacture of your goods, and decide if you can make better choices. Find out if your products are certified as sustainable, organic, locally made, or Fair Trade. There are lots of things a label can tell you if you choose to read it. Sustainable products include those that are sustainably obtained, for example, all forest products with the FSC logo are logged using sustainable forestry practices. Organic products, such as cotton clothing, cause much less environmental damage than non-organic methods, such as conventional cotton-growing practices. Locally made products decrease the impact on the environment because they travel less miles, which means less emissions, to make it to the consumer. Fair Trade products are ethically produced, and take into account the native people as well as the environmental resources, in the areas they are produced. If you can't find a label, email or post a message on Facebook to the company, retailer, or manufacturer responsible for the product. Facebook is a great method because lots of other people will check out your question and be waiting for the answer! Take public transportation to reduce your environmental impact. Make a choice to use public transportation more often than you do already to cut back on the amount of noxious fumes introduced into the environment. Carpooling is also a great way to reduce emissions. You can also ride your bicycle or walk to close destinations. Get involved in a conservation, restoration, or eco-community project. Today is a great day to sign up and get involved with people who are doing rather than talking or reading. Sign up to help restore an old building in town, or join a local water conservation group. Plan your garden space to include edible items. If you have a yard or garden that sits empty, make a plan to plant fruits, veggies, and herbs for personal use, or even bee-friendly flowers. Growing your own food helps reduce strain on the environment. Things you can do that will make the most of your garden include: Compost your scraps. Use this compost to boost the garden's production. Create a part of it that is edible, and plant seasonal crops. For those of you with merely a balcony or a tiny plot, you can still grow food such as a potato in a bag and small sprout gardens in your windowsill. You could also join a community gardening project. Grow herbs and spices that add flavor to your food, look beautiful in the garden, and that also have medicinal, beauty, healing, spiritual, or other uses. Borrow a book from the library to learn more about herb and spice use. These plants don't need much space, and they can be grown on a windowsill or balcony. Encourage beneficial and friendly wildlife to your garden through careful planting and shelter creation. Learn to make your own garden sprays using items that are toxic to bugs and mildew but not to people and pets! Refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle. Refuse to buy unsustainable products, reduce your consumption, reuse items and materials around your home, and recycle everything you can. All that clutter has to go somewhere, so make a choice not to bring in into the house to begin with and if it has to leave, make good choices about where it's going to end up! Think about borrowing, sharing, donating, time-sharing, etc., instead of buying for keeps. Or pass it on after you've read/used/watched/worn/enjoyed it. | Visit the World Environment Day website. Find out what the WED environmental theme is for the year. Check out the activities that are already planned in your area. Add a photo or video to the nature album to share your favorite spot. Promote World Environment Day on social media. Collect recyclable items to reduce waste. to highlight eco-issues. Organize an arts and crafts exhibition that focuses on sustainability. Set up a poetry reading to hear others’ opinions on the environment. Plan a concert to raise money for an eco charity. Plant trees to increase oxygen in the air. Organize a neighborhood cleanup to beautify your community. Plan a nature scavenger hunt to connect with the world around you. Raise awareness in your community. Adopt an eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. Choose to purchase sustainable, organic, or Fair Trade goods. Take public transportation to reduce your environmental impact. Get involved in a conservation, restoration, or eco-community project. Plan your garden space to include edible items. Refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Longer-Curly-Hair | How to Grow Longer Curly Hair | To grow longer curly hair, only wash it every other day or a couple of times a week, which will prevent dryness and breakage. Also, always use a deep conditioner after every wash so your hair stays healthy as it's growing out. You can also heat a moisturizing oil, like castor oil, and massage it into your scalp for 5 minutes every week, which will encourage growth. When you style your hair, use a wide-toothed comb and avoid heat-styling tools so you don't cause any breakage. | Limit your washes. Don't wash your hair every day. Daily washing strips hair of its natural oils, and because curly hair is typically prone to dryness, daily washing can lead to drier hair that's more likely to break. Instead, wash every other day or a few times a week. The tighter your curls, the less frequently your hair may need to be washed. If you do need to wash your hair more frequently, you can use a dry shampoo in between those washes. Don't “wash, rinse, and repeat”--that style advice may work for people with straighter hair, but it's no good for those with curly hair. When you wash your hair, only wash it once, but make sure that it's a thorough wash so that all dirt and oil is removed from your hair. If needed, you can wash your hair with conditioner (called “co-washing”) in-between washes. That way you won't be harming your hair with sulfates, which are found in most shampoos. Keep in mind that co-washing is great for retaining moisture but only mildly cleanses the hair. Wash and condition your hair in sections. Curly hair can be dense and unruly, sometimes making it difficult to reach all the parts of your hair. If you have particularly thick or curly hair, separate it into 4-8 sections and wash and condition your hair one section at a time. How large each section should be will depend on the density of your hair--the denser it is, the smaller you should make each section. Consider using a shampoo specifically targeted for curly hair; it may be more moisturizing and strip away less of your hair's natural oil. Use a rich, deep conditioner during every wash. You may even find it helpful to condition your ends between washes if they're particularly dry. You might also consider using additional moisturizing/protective products after or between shampooing. A number of oils and serums are available that will help “seal” your hair cuticle and help protect it from damage. Apply the conditioner starting from the bottom of your hair. Generally, you won't need to apply conditioner higher than halfway up the length of your hair unless hair is noticeably dry near your scalp. Use a wide-toothed comb. Don't try to drag a fine-toothed comb or brush through your hair--it's only likely to cause pain, damage, and undue breakage. Instead, use a very wide-toothed comb (like a pick) to detangle your hair before styling. You can also start by running your fingers through your hair and then finish detangling with a wide-toothed comb. You should generally avoid brushing your hair, but particularly avoid brushing it when it's wet and thus more susceptible to damage. Press, don't rub, moisture out. When using a towel to dry your hair, don't rub the towel against your head--squeeze your hair gently with the towel instead. The friction of rubbing a towel against your hair will cause damage and lead to easy breakage. You can also try replacing a towel with a cotton t-shirt or microfiber cloth to dry your hair. Both are generally softer and less abrasive than towels, so they can be gentler to use on hair. Avoid heat-styling. This includes blow drying, curling, and straightening. Excessive heat changes the protein structure of hair, leading it to become more limp and less resilient (and thus more prone to breakage) over time. If you desire to use heat, use a heat protectant product beforehand to minimize the chances of getting heat damage. Although avoiding the blow dryer is optimal, sometimes it isn't practical. If you do need to blow dry your hair, do so with the dryer on a low setting and use a diffuser. You might also consider using a curl-styling cream before drying. Avoid wearing your hair in a bun or ponytail everyday. An occasional bun or ponytail won't cause irrevocable harm, but wearing a tight pulled-back style too frequently can cause wear and tear (ie, breakage). If you like wearing your hair in a bun or ponytail a lot, just make sure it's a loose ponytail or bun. If you do wear your hair back, be sure to use non-tangle hair ties. Avoid ties with metal pieces and definitely stay away from raw rubber bands. Use protein or oil treatments. Protein and oil treatments are more intensively moisturizing and repairing, which means they help prevent breakage and keep hair healthy. Most people will benefit from using them anywhere from weekly to several times a month. Everyone's hair will respond a bit differently to various kinds of treatments, so you may need to try out a few different types before finding the one that's best for you. If you choose to use a commercial protein treatment, it's often advisable that you balance it with a conditioning treatment afterward or hair may become stiff or vulnerable to breakage. Natural protein treatments, like using egg or mayonnaise, may work for those whose hair doesn't respond well to commercial protein treatments. Hair oils come in two major types: sealing and moisturizing. Sealing oils, like jojoba or almond oil, are meant to be used with damp hair to protect it and seal in moisture, while moisturizing oils, like castor and avocado oil, are heavier and are meant for periodic deep conditioning. Heating a moisturizing oil and gently massaging it into your scalp for between 5 and 20 minutes can also help moisturize hair and encourage hair growth. Cover your hair at night. Protect your hair and prevent frizz by covering it with a silk or satin bonnet, a bandana, or a scarf before going to bed. The added protection will help prevent unnecessary damage and breakage. Alternatively, you can spritz your hair lightly with water and then cover your hair with a shower cap just before bed to create a naturally warm, moist environment that can help keep your hair moisturized and protected. If putting on a hair cap doesn't appeal to you, you can also try sleeping on a silk or satin pillow, which will reduce friction against your hair. Get regular trims. Though it may seem counter-intuitive to trim your hair when you're trying to grow it out, untrimmed ends tend to accumulate damage that leads to breakage--ultimately making it harder to grow your hair. Regularly trimming off dry, damaged, and split ends will improve your hair's overall health, helping it grow in healthier and more resilient. On average, most people's hair will grow about 1/2 an inch per month. If you're noticing that your strands are breaking more than 1/2 an inch from the end, it will indeed seem like your hair can't grow past its current length. When going to a hair stylist, ask them to trim or cut your hair while it's dry--if they don't know to do so already. (Or, even better, before you even get this far, make sure the stylist you're seeing is experienced working with curly hair.) Because curly hair texture and length can differ significantly from wet to dry, dry cuts are best. Relax. Stress can have a significant impact on the health of your hair; when you're stressed, your hair becomes more vulnerable to breakage and can begin to fall out in larger-than-normal amounts. So if you want long, healthy hair, you're going to need to relax a little. Also you need to do yoga if you have stress. Try taking up meditation , yoga , or tai chi. All are great ways to reduce the kind of stress that can lead to hair loss and damage. Take care of your whole body. Hair responds not only to the kinds of nutrients you put on it, but to the kinds of nutrients that go into it. To keep your hair healthy, you also need to take care of your body by giving it good nutrition and enough exercise. Eat a generally healthy, well-balanced diet. Be sure you're getting enough protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are important to hair strength. Drink lots of water every day. Get regular exercise. You don't need to become a gym rat, but getting 15-20 minutes of moderate exercise several times a week will improve your body's overall function, including hair growth. | Limit your washes. Wash and condition your hair in sections. Use a rich, deep conditioner during every wash. Use a wide-toothed comb. Press, don't rub, moisture out. Avoid heat-styling. Avoid wearing your hair in a bun or ponytail everyday. Use protein or oil treatments. Cover your hair at night. Get regular trims. Relax. Take care of your whole body. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hold-Chopsticks | How to Hold Chopsticks | To hold chopsticks, start by holding one of the chopsticks like you would a pencil, with your fingers about one-third of the way up from the narrow end. Then, take the second chopstick and rest it on your ring finger so it's lined up with the first one. When you want to open the chopsticks to pick something up, press your middle finger between them. When you're ready to close the chopsticks, use your index finger to push them together. | Pick up the chopsticks with your dominant hand. Use whichever hand you're more coordinated with to pluck the chopsticks up from the table, with the back of your hand facing you. Place your non-dominant hand beneath the tip end of the chopsticks and squeeze them together gently. This will line them up so that they're perfectly parallel with one another. On a standard table setting, your chopsticks will be lying side-by-side in front of you at a horizontal angle. It's usually easiest to pick up your chopsticks using your first 2 or 3 fingers and thumb. Be careful not to let the chopsticks clack together loudly as you pick them up. Doing so might be considered rude in quiet eateries and more formal settings. Place your hand right around the top third of the chopsticks. Use your non-dominant hand to steady the chopsticks as you adjust the placement of your dominant hand. Hold both chopsticks together in the crook between the base of your thumb and index finger until you're ready to dig in. If you're not sure exactly where to place your hand, align the top of the chopsticks with the tip of your thumb, then turn your hand over and grip the point nearest to the base of your thumb. Having your hand too high or too low on the chopsticks will make it harder to manipulate them properly. Rest the lower chopstick across the base of your thumb and ring finger. Arrange your first chopstick so that the upper part is nestled in the crevice between your thumb and forefinger and the tip end is lying against the inner edge of your ring finger. Once you've got this chopstick where you want it, avoid moving or adjusting it. Some native chopstick users prefer to place their bottom chopstick a little higher up on the hand, right around the base of the forefinger. When used correctly, the bottom chopstick should remain stationary, allowing the top chopstick to do all the work. Grip the upper chopstick between your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Now, take the second chopstick and shift it between the top first knuckles of your index and middle fingers. Brace the inner edge of the chopstick with the pad of your thumb. Make sure both chopsticks are pointing in the same direction, with the tips and top ends evenly aligned. This hand position should feel similar to the one that most people use to hold a pencil. Keep your thumb from moving as much as possible. Use the top of your thumb as a fulcrum for the upper chopstick, providing just enough counter-pressure for it to rotate against. The base is there to cradle the lower chopstick and nothing more. Attempting to incorporate your thumb into the movement will just make you more likely to trip yourself up. It's also important to keep your thumb straight, rather than allowing it to bend at the knuckle. Making sure your thumb stays put may seem complicated, but in reality, it gives you one less thing to worry about and lets you focus your attention on working the chopsticks open and closed. Open and close the chopsticks with your first two fingers. To open the chopsticks, lift your index and middle fingers in unison. To close them, simply press down again. The chopstick should feel like an extension of both fingers. If you're having trouble picking up food this way, try adjusting your grip slightly so that the pad of your middle finger is bracing the bottom chopstick on the opposite side of your thumb. Only the tips of the chopsticks should move. The tops should stay where they are, or come slightly closer to each other without actually touching. Keep a firm grip on both chopsticks to keep them from shifting. If necessary, pause for a moment and use your non-dominant hand to reset both chopsticks, remembering to lay the bottom one across your ring finger and the base of your thumb and keep the top one poised like a pencil. The further up or down your chopsticks slide, the more difficult it will become to use them. Hold your chopsticks securely, but don't squeeze them. This will just tire out your hand and cause your technique to deteriorate. Wooden and bamboo chopsticks tend to be better for beginners, since they offer a little more traction against your hand and one another. Maintain gentle pressure on the top chopstick to hold onto your food. Open your chopsticks and clamp them down on a bite-sized piece of whatever you're eating. As you raise the bite to your mouth, concentrate on pressing down lightly on the upper chopstick. This will keep the food pinned between the top and bottom chopsticks, ensuring that it doesn't go anywhere. Like anything else, becoming proficient with chopsticks just takes practice. Try moving foods of various shapes, sizes, and textures from one bowl to another slowly. This fun exercise will help you get the fundamentals down. Remember, the bottom chopstick is just there to provide support from beneath. The top chopstick is the one that should be doing all of the work. Reverse the opening-closing motion to tear food into smaller pieces. Bring the tips of your chopsticks together and stick them into broadest part of the food. Then, pull them apart with enough force to separate the food into two pieces. Keep in mind that this alternative "cutting" method will only work on softer varieties of food. Traditional Asian dishes typically contain meats, vegetables, and grains that have already been reduced to a size suitable for chopsticks. Certain foods like tempura and whole fish, however, may need to be broken up in order to be made more manageable. In casual dining settings, it's also usually acceptable to take bites off of large pieces of food rather than tearing or cutting them. Never stick your chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice. This may seem like a harmless way of getting them to stay put, but it's a cardinal sin when it comes to chopstick use in Japan and many other Asian countries. The reason for this is because at Japanese funeral ceremonies, it's customary for the family of the deceased to place a pair of chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice and leave it as an offering to the spirit of their departed loved one. If you are to let go of your chopsticks, place them horizontally above your bowl so it stays still. Since behaviors that remind your hosts or the people around you of death are thought to bring bad luck, they're sure to put a damper on the mood of the meal. Always use both chopsticks at the same time. Resist the urge to push your food around or spear stubborn bites with the point of one of your chopsticks, no matter how much difficulty you're having getting used to them. Chopsticks come in pairs for a reason. They're meant to be used for picking up food and nothing more. In some countries, even holding your chopsticks separately in different hands is considered a faux pas. Avoid laying your chopsticks across your plate or bowl unless you’re done, especially at formal meals or restaurants. You might want to put down your chopsticks for many reasons, such as getting a glass of water. Many restaurants provide chopstick rests so that their diners can set their chopsticks down when they're not using them. you When you're at formal meals, putting down your chopsticks might be a symbol that you're no longer hungry and roll off a dish. Unless your at a formal restaurant or meeting, it's mostly alright to put down your chopsticks. This doesn't mean you should put down your chopsticks. It's alright to do it occasionally, but try to hold it up for the most part. Try not to gesture with your chopsticks or point them at other people. If you have a tendency to talk with your hands or feel the need to act out something you're saying, be sure to put down your chopsticks before doing so. Imagine how you would feel if someone were to jab a fork at you while making a point! This should go without saying, but it's also a pretty big no-no to drum on the table, conduct an invisible symphony, imitate a walrus, or act out a mock sword fight with your chopsticks. Remember, they're tools, not toys. Move dishes with your hands, not your chopsticks. When you need to rearrange plates, bowls, or other dining ware, use your free hand rather than scooting or dragging the items across the table with your chopsticks. Otherwise, you risk insulting your hosts by using their utensils for something other than their intended purpose. If you need to pass or relocate an especially large, heavy, or cumbersome dish, play it safe and set your chopsticks down so you can use both hands. In China and some other Asian countries, banging bowls with chopsticks is a behavior associated with beggars, which means you'll also inadvertently be dealing a blow to your own dignity. Don’t eat or take food from the serving dish with your personal chopsticks if you are being offered serving chopsticks. Move the food to your plate with the serving chopsticks or other serving utensils provided. Then, use your own chopsticks to eat from your own dish. That way, you won't have touched everyone else's food with utensils that have been in your mouth. Another blunder to watch out for while serving yourself is digging around in the serving dish for the best looking pieces or your favorite ingredients. That's just selfish. Sticking your chopsticks in a communal dish is unsanitary, as it increases the risk of cross-contamination, but it may also come across as disrespectful if your fellow diners don't know that you aren't aware of the rule. In many places, serving chopsticks will not be provided. You are allowed to use your own chopsticks in this case. | Pick up the chopsticks with your dominant hand. Place your hand right around the top third of the chopsticks. Rest the lower chopstick across the base of your thumb and ring finger. Grip the upper chopstick between your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Keep your thumb from moving as much as possible. Open and close the chopsticks with your first two fingers. Keep a firm grip on both chopsticks to keep them from shifting. Maintain gentle pressure on the top chopstick to hold onto your food. Reverse the opening-closing motion to tear food into smaller pieces. Never stick your chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice. Always use both chopsticks at the same time. Avoid laying your chopsticks across your plate or bowl unless you’re done, especially at formal meals or restaurants. Try not to gesture with your chopsticks or point them at other people. Move dishes with your hands, not your chopsticks. Don’t eat or take food from the serving dish with your personal chopsticks if you are being offered serving chopsticks. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Insure-Your-Engagement-Ring | How to Insure Your Engagement Ring | Before you insure your engagement ring, make sure to get an appraisal from a local jeweler since most insurance companies won't insure your ring without one. Then, contact the company that currently provides your renter's or homeowner's insurance to find out if they can add the ring to your policy. Alternatively, go online to find a company that insures jewelry and buy a separate policy for your ring. Make sure you ask questions about what the policy covers, such as accidental loss or theft, and how your lost or stolen ring would be replaced. | Find a local jeweler to do an appraisal. Nearly all independent jewelers will offer appraisal services. Ask friends and family for recommendations, search for listings of accredited and certified jewelry appraisers in your area, or simply look for online reviews to find a jeweler that is well respected and professional. Nearly any appraisal services will be done for a small fee. Usually, the fee will be under $50, but it can vary depending on the ring and the area where you live. You will be giving your ring to the appraiser for inspection, so make sure that this person has professional credentials and that he or she has been educated in appraising jewelry. Usually, you cannot insure an engagement ring without an appraisal because insurance companies do not want to rely on you to set the value of the item to be insured. Appraisers, on the other hand, have to stick to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, which requires that professional appraisers give you a fair appraised value for your jewelry, so they are trusted by insurance companies. Get an appraisal of your ring. The jeweler will appraise your ring by inspecting the stones, as well as the setting. A good appraisal will take a variety of factors into considerations, including carat weight, the color of the stones, the cut of the stones, the metal type, and any markings, in addition to other factors. When the appraisal is finished the shop will get back to you with a concrete value for your piece of jewelry. You should receive a formal document from the appraiser that you can use to insure your engagement ring. Additionally, if you have a larger or higher value ring, you may have received a GIA certificate, or some other official certification, with your ring. This type of certification is not an appraisal, but is accepted as one by many insurance companies. Ask the company you choose whether they will accept certification instead of an actual appraisal. Take photos of the ring to keep with your documentation. Lots of experts recommend taking a set of photos because they can further document what you own. Remember to keep one set of photos with your own documentation and send another set to the insurance company when you get your insurance policy. Find out if an existing homeowners or rental insurance policy will cover your engagement ring. Usually, the easiest place to insure your ring is through the company that provides your homeowners or renters insurance. Call your insurer, and ask them about adding your engagement ring to the policy. Usually, high price items such as engagement rings are insured through a “rider” added on to your homeowners or renters policy. With a “rider,” insurance coverage is specifically assigned to the high priced item. If you insure your ring with a rider that is added to a current policy, make sure that the coverage is as complete as you want it to be. Buy a separate insurance policy. If your ring isn't, or can't, be covered under an existing homeowners or rental insurance policy, you will need to find an alternative policy. Contact a jewelry insurance representative to get information on rates to insure based on the ring's value. You can find listings for representatives online or in your local telephone directory. The information you receive should show you where to send your appraisal and include all of the specific limitations or conditions for coverage. Additionally, some people prefer to get a referral to an insurance company from the store that they buy the ring from, to ensure they insure the ring through a recommended company. Ask questions to make sure that you are getting the coverage you want. Because insurance policies vary dramatically, you should make sure that you ask questions and completely understand the parameters of your policy. For example, you should always ask what types of loss does the policy covers. Does it include accidental loss or damage, or only theft? You will also want to ask about how a lost or stolen ring will be replaced and if there are circumstances when the ring will not be insured. Will you be paid for the value of the ring in cash or will you need to order a replacement through a jeweler that is specified by the insurance company. You should even know how you will document that your ring is lost, stolen, or damaged. The insurance company will have very specific steps that you will need to go through to make a claim. Choose a deductible. The deductible is the amount that you will pay to replace the ring before the insurer picks up the tab for the rest. Most jewelry insurers offer a range of deductibles when you insure your engagement ring. A higher deductible will lead to a lower annual insurance premium. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when estimating your costs is that you can expect to pay around 1-2 dollars for every $100 your ring would cost to replace. This can vary based on the type of policy you choose. Send the appraisal, with the photos and any other paperwork, to the insurance company. They will send you your policy once the paperwork is processed. Keep your policy on hand to be sure that in any unfortunate event, where the ring is lost or damaged, you will not lose the value of your investment. Additionally, some companies could have other instructions or requirements for making claims included with the policy paperwork, so make sure to become familiar with your insurance company's policies. | Find a local jeweler to do an appraisal. Get an appraisal of your ring. Take photos of the ring to keep with your documentation. Find out if an existing homeowners or rental insurance policy will cover your engagement ring. Buy a separate insurance policy. Ask questions to make sure that you are getting the coverage you want. Choose a deductible. Send the appraisal, with the photos and any other paperwork, to the insurance company. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Pick-a-Lock | How to Pick a Lock | To pick a lock, you'll need a tension wrench, which will turn the lock, and a pick, which will pop the pins inside of the lock so that it can be turned. If you don't have professional lock-picking tools, you can pull the end of a paper clip out to form a 90 degree angle with the rest of the clip, or use the bumpy end of a bobby pin for your pick. For the tension wrench, you can use a flathead screwdriver or bend a paper clip into a single length and fold it in half to make it thicker. First, insert the tip of your tension wrench into the bottom of your lock. Push it in far enough that it catches in the grooves of your lock, so you can turn it once the lock is released. Then, insert your pick into the top of the lock while holding your tension wrench in place. To pick the lock, slide the pick underneath the first pin, which will be the first obstacle in the top of the lock, and push it all the way up. Then, work your pick forward a little until you reach the second pin. Giggle your pick up and down until you get underneath the second pin, then lift it up. Repeat this process for every pin in the lock until the tension wrench turns and opens the lock. | Check the condition of the lock. You won't be able to pick a lock if it's broken. Rusted locks may be frozen shut no matter how skillful your lock picking technique is. Investigate the overall condition of a lock before attempting to pick it. Rusty locks may be restored to pickable condition with the application of a suitable lubricant, like WD40. Gather your lock picking supplies. A professional lock picking kit will contain tools like tension wrenches, picks, and raking tools. You'll also need a suitable lock lubricant, like lubricating graphite, which should be available at your local hardware store. You can use household items as substitutes for picking tools, like a bobby pin or a paperclip. You may need to go to a specialty store, like a spy store or a locksmith, or an online seller to buy a lock picking set. Although owning a lock picking set is legal in most regions, if caught by police with these tools on you, there may be laws that require you to prove you weren't intending on committing a crime. Identify the uses of the three main tools in lock picking. Knowing the uses and names of basic lock picking tools will make it easier to talk about them. This is especially important because pop culture has misrepresented some tools. The three main tools include: A tension wrench. Also called a torque wrench, this tool is a thin piece of metal with flared ends. It is L-shaped or Z-shaped, where the diagonal line of the Z is straight. It is inserted into the plug (the part of the lock that turns) to apply tension to it. A lock pick. These generally have a handle that narrows to a thin, pointed piece of metal that curves slightly at its end. The pick manipulates the inner parts (pins) of the lock mechanism. A rake. These are picks with many ridges. Some rakes may have a triangular point on the end or be rounded. These are scraped across the inside of the lock mechanism (pins) to disengage it. Envision the lock mechanism. When a key is inserted into the keyway of the plug (the turning part of the lock), the wards (ridges/teeth) of the key push up spring-loaded pins. Each individual lock pin is actually made up of a set: a key pin and driver pin. When the break between each set of key and driver pins aligns with the lock turning mechanism, also called the shearline, the lock turns and opens. You won't be able to see inside the lock when picking it, so having a firm mental image of the mechanism is vital. The number of pins varies from lock to lock. Padlocks often have 3 or 4, while door locks generally have 5 to 8. Some locks, especially those in Europe, are situated with the pins at the bottom of the keyway instead of the top. Lubricate the lock. Pins in the lock may be frozen from lack of use. Dirtiness can make the lock mechanism difficult to manipulate. Resolve these problems and give yourself the best chance of picking the lock by applying lock lubricant to it. Many kinds of lock lubricant have simple spray applicators that allow you to direct lubricant into the keyway. Note the main goals of the lock picking process. While applying light pressure with your tension wrench to the keyway, you're going to push up pins inside the keyway with your pick, one by one. When a pin is lifted enough, the tension from the wrench will prevent it from falling and the next pin can be set. When all pins are set, the lock will open. Determine the direction the key turns. Insert your tension wrench into the top or bottom of the keyway. Gently turn the wrench to apply torque (tension) to the plug. The plug will turn one way a little more than the other. This is the direction the key turns. It's easy to apply too much force to tension wrenches. While getting the feel for picking locks, you may want to only use a single finger to apply tension to the wrench. Investigate the pins with your pick. Insert your pick into the keyway. Gently feel the outline of the pins using your pick. Single out one that is accessible. Apply light but slowly increasing pressure to the pick until you feel the springs of the pin give way. Remove the pick. Try to hold the image of the pins in your mind. Doing so can help you keep track of solved pin positions should you have to reset the lock and begin picking afresh. By applying increasing pressure to a single pin, you can test the resistance of the pin springs. Some may be stiffer than others and require more pressure. Generally, the inner workings of locks are relatively delicate. Always err on the side of too little force to prevent accidental lock or pick breaking. Apply gentle pressure to the keyway with a tension wrench. Insert your tension wrench into the bottom or top of the keyway. Turn the wrench with gentle pressure. Feel how the plug shifts. Release pressure on the wrench. Repeat this process a few times. Your goal, at this point, is to get a sense of the tightness of the plug and to feel for the position where the pins bind in the lock mechanism, freezing it and stopping the plug from turning. Identify the binding pin. Apply gentle pressure to the plug again with your tension wrench. Insert a pick into the keyway. Lightly touch the pins with your pick as you apply tension. Release tension on your wrench. Continue this process until you identify one pin that binds (resists) more than others when light tension is applied. This is the first binding pin. When you identify the binding pin, maintain steady pressure on your tension wrench. Too much pressure will cause the lock to freeze, too little and the pins will reset. Set pins one at a time with your pick. While maintaining consistent pressure with your tension wrench, lift the first binding pin with your pick little by little. Eventually, your tension wrench should turn the plug very slightly. The first pin should now be set in place. Use your pick to find the next pin that binds more than the remaining ones and similarly lift and set it. Repeat this until all pins are set. In many common locks, pins will set either front-to-back or back-to-front. However, keep in mind that this is not always the case. Lifting a pin slowly will allow it to set more easily. With practice this motion can become significantly more rapid, especially when paired with the later described raking technique. Applying too much torque to your tension wrench at any point could cause the lock to freeze. In this case, you'll likely have to relieve pressure on the wrench to reset the pins and start again. Open the lock. When the last pin sets, the lock should fully disengage and open. You may have to apply more pressure with your tension wrench to turn the lock open. A little extra force can be applied with the pick if it's still inserted in the keyway, though you should take care not to jostle any pins or damage the pick. Feel out the lock with your tension wrench and pick. Much as you would normally, get a feel for the plug with your tension wrench. Insert your pick into the keyway and lightly feel the position of pins. Press a single pin to test pin spring stiffness. Though the raking technique is generally faster for knowledgeable lock pickers, it operates on the principles of picking a single pin at a time, and will be easiest for those with some experience picking pins one by one. Rake the pins with a rake-tool. A normal pick or a rake can be used to perform this maneuver. Apply light, steady pressure to the plug with your tension wrench. Insert your rake-tool into the keyway slowly and smoothly. Draw the tool upwards and out of the keyway in a snap. When drawing your rake-tool out of the keyway, the pressure applied by the tool should be on its tip only. Your pick should be long enough so that it comes in contact with every pin in the lock while raking. Listen for pins falling. Raking usually takes multiple attempts before it is successful. After raking, listen carefully to the lock when relieving pressure on your tension wrench. The sound of pins falling indicates you're using the correct pressure with your tension wrench. Draw your rake-tool back and forth along unset pins. Rake the pins as described previously. While keeping pressure consistent with your tension wrench, use the tip of the tool to "scrub" unset pins. If the pins refuse to set, release pressure with your wrench and start again. Continue until the lock disengages and opens. When most of the pins are set, you may need to increase the pressure on your tension wrench and lightly intensify scrubbing. | Check the condition of the lock. Gather your lock picking supplies. Identify the uses of the three main tools in lock picking. Envision the lock mechanism. Lubricate the lock. Note the main goals of the lock picking process. Determine the direction the key turns. Investigate the pins with your pick. Apply gentle pressure to the keyway with a tension wrench. Identify the binding pin. Set pins one at a time with your pick. Open the lock. Feel out the lock with your tension wrench and pick. Rake the pins with a rake-tool. Listen for pins falling. Draw your rake-tool back and forth along unset pins. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-with-Somebody-Who-Is-Having-a-Psychotic-Episode | How to Deal with Somebody Who Is Having a Psychotic Episode | It can be scary when you're dealing with somebody who is having a psychotic episode, but if you stay calm and get them help, you can make the situation better. Although it's rare for people with psychotic disorders to become violent, if you think they might hurt someone or themselves, leave the area and call the police. If they're not dangerous, sit next to them and talk in a normal voice to comfort them and help them calm down. Try saying their name, which might help them focus on reality. To encourage them to communicate, you might say, “I'm not sure what you're experiencing, can you try to describe it to me?" If you're in public, try to usher them to a more private location, which may make them feel less stressed. If the episode doesn't stop, take them to the doctor so they can get help. | Recognize the beginning of a psychotic episode. Psychosis is a symptom of various serious mental illnesses, and is defined as a psychological break with reality. If the person seems to drift mentally, if their speech becomes slurred and incoherent, or if they respond to auditory or visual hallucinations, they might be experiencing a psychotic episode. If you know a person around you has a history of psychotic episodes, seek hints. Common behaviors in the days before a psychotic episode include: depression or irritability, alternating between inactivity and hyperactivity, and preoccupation with certain ideas, or social withdrawal. Call the person’s name. Talk to the individual, and try to get them to respond and communicate as much as possible. Make sure to keep calm as you do so and avoid making them feel judged. Just be there for them and try to keep yourself and the environment as calm as possible. If the psychosis is not too severe, gently ask the individual what they're seeing or experiencing. Keep them calm and make the conversation as normal as possible. If you respond to the psychotic episode with fear and anxiety, it could further trigger the psychotic individual and worsen their experience. Ask if there's something wrong, and if they respond, try to get them to describe what they're experiencing. Say something like, “I'm not sure what you're experiencing, can you try to describe it to me?” Ask the person if they have any medications for emergencies. If the individual answers coherently and affirmatively, get them to take the medication. Also contact the individual's mental healthcare provider as soon as possible. Ask the individual going through this psychotic episode if they've had episodes like this before. Find out what helped previously, and repeat that treatment as much as possible. You may also want to ask if the person has taken any non-prescription drugs. For example, if the person has taken a hallucinogen such as LSD, then this would help to explain their behavior. Get rid of spectators. Nobody likes to be stared at when they're struggling. Usher away anyone who doesn't need to be here, such as children or curious strangers. Try sitting somewhere quiet, but make sure you are not isolated and both have plenty of space and clear paths to exits. A rule of thumb is to give someone experiencing active psychosis five times the amount of space as a normal conversation to help them de-stimulate. Children may be scared, curious, or needy, and could upset the person who is having the episode.You can give them a job to do, like "call Dad and tell him to come help Mom" or "take your sister to the park, and wait for me to call or come get you." If the person is severely distressed and could become aggressive, take special care to get vulnerable people (such as children, elderly people, and disabled people) away. If possible, try offering to take the person somewhere nearby where they feel calm. For example, if your aunt loves the outdoors, you could take her to the yard, or if your little brother feels safe in his room, you could ask if he'd like to go there with you. However if you are not positive that the person is able to maintain safety for others and themselves, it is not safe for either of you to be alone together and it is time to call for help. Err on the side of caution. Psychotic episodes are serious occurrences, and you need to treat them as such. If you're around someone who may be having a psychotic episode (especially if it's someone you don't know), or if you're not sure if they may become violent, it is important to call for help. An actively psychotic person may not realize that they need help in the moment, but if the tables were turned, they would not hesitate to get help for you. If you don't know the person having the episode or don't know them well, then call for help right away. They may have a friend or family member nearby who is better equipped to assist them. Assess the situation for danger. It is rare for an individual undergoing a psychotic episode to become violent, although it can happen. Psychotic individuals are at a greater risk of harming themselves. Any threats of violence, self-harm, or suicide should be taken seriously. A history of drug and alcohol abuse increases the likelihood of the person becoming violent. Stay away if the situation becomes threatening or violent. If at any point you suspect the person might be dangerous, either to themselves or to others, call for help immediately. Consider calling an ambulance or other medical experts specifically—if there's no time to look up phone numbers, just call emergency services. If you're in a room with an aggressive person, leave the room immediately. If police arrive on the scene, try to explain the situation before they interact directly with the person experiencing the psychotic episode. Without interfering and endangering yourself or others, encourage officers to remain calm and resolve the situation without the use of force. Protect the psychotic individual from themselves. If the person is dangerous to themselves, remove any sharp objects and dangerous materials from the person and from the room, and lock any un-barred windows and balconies. Try to keep the person calm. Call the police or an ambulance if there's a chance the person will attempt suicide or cause themselves serious physical damage. If they ask why you are holding something dangerous (e.g. a knife), say "I'm putting it away." If someone is prone to psychotic episodes, it may be appropriate to keep sharps/potentially dangerous items locked. Speak to the individual calmly, and try to de-escalate the situation. If the psychotic individual is asking for things or making demands, comply with those that are safe and reasonable. Avoid trying to restrain them, or put yourself in harm's way. If the psychotic individual is acting violent or threatening violence, don't take it on yourself to solve the problem. You could risk personal harm, especially if you try to engage in a physical struggle with the psychotic individual. Your main priority should be keeping yourself and others safe. If you can do things to protect the psychotic individual (e.g. removing a knife from a nearby table top), make sure to keep yourself safe while doing so. Hold a calm conversation. If the psychotic individual is not violent, talk to them in a normal voice. It is best to give 5 times the amount of space, maintain an open posture, and avoid facing the person squarely, which could appear threatening. Try to comfort them, if they experience or hallucinate something unpleasant. The conversation should be simple; individuals going through a psychotic episode may find communication or speech difficult. Ask them questions, and if their mind seem to be drifting, try to grab their attention. Make sure to reassure them and let them know that you are there for them. Make sure you do not play into the person’s hallucinations. Although you want to avoid blaming or criticizing the psychotic individual, you should also avoid playing into their psychoses. This will only worsen the situation and make the individual's break with reality more difficult to come back from. However, try not to argue with them or engage in too much discussion with them. An individual going through a psychotic episode may not realize that what they're experiencing is unreal or the way they're acting is abnormal. There's also a small chance that one or more of the things they've noticed are actually real (e.g. they noticed a dog behind a bush that you didn't see), so you don't want to assume right away that something is hallucinated if it's unclear. Instead of saying “Nothing that you're describing is real; you're acting crazy and making this up!”, try “I don't see/hear/smell/feel that.” Instead of, “I hear the same voices too,” try saying “I don't hear those voices, but I can tell they are bothering you.” Show understanding. Empathize and validate their feelings. Psychosis can be a frightening and confusing thing to experience. The person may not understand how to handle it. Keep in mind that they can't “snap out of it,” nor is it their fault that this is happening to them. Let the person know that you take them seriously and support them. Here are some examples of helpful things to say: “I can't imagine what you are going through, but I'm happy to listen.” “Tell me what you're experiencing, and I think you should also talk about it with your doctor.” “I can't hear what you hear, but I can tell it's real to you.” “It must be scary to think that aliens are trying to poison you.” “This experience will pass with time. Let's talk until you feel better.” “I don't fully understand what you're going through, but I understand it must be really difficult.” Get them to a doctor. A psychiatrist or psychologist can help figure out what caused the episode, and help prevent future psychotic episodes. If the individual is not already undergoing therapy and medical treatment, strongly encourage them to do so after the psychotic episode has passed. Seeing a doctor is important. Psychosis may be a sign of temporary stress (such as grief or sleep deprivation), but it could also be a sign of a mental health disorder, or a physical health problem that causes psychosis. Mental-health professionals will be able to help the person take steps to decrease the frequency and severity of their episodes. Make sure that the person has somewhere to go to get help after the episode. If they do not, then help them to find help. Things like self-care, stress management, and counseling can make a large difference to the person's mental health. Seek help yourself if you need it. Dealing with someone else's psychotic episode can be very stressful, especially if the person is a loved one or you don't know what's wrong. It may help you to talk to a therapist or counselor. If the person is a loved one, follow up with them as well. Make sure they're safe and healthy. As long as you don't downplay the importance of their own experience, you can tell them about your experience of their psychotic episode and why it was difficult for you as well. Make sure not to criticize them or pass judgment about their experience. It is important to avoid making them feel bad about their behavior or to make them worry that they might have scared you away. They need to know that you don't blame them for their illness, and that you still care. | Recognize the beginning of a psychotic episode. Call the person’s name. Ask the person if they have any medications for emergencies. Get rid of spectators. Err on the side of caution. Assess the situation for danger. Stay away if the situation becomes threatening or violent. Protect the psychotic individual from themselves. Avoid trying to restrain them, or put yourself in harm's way. Hold a calm conversation. Make sure you do not play into the person’s hallucinations. Show understanding. Get them to a doctor. Seek help yourself if you need it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Bake-Organic-Dog-Treats | How to Bake Organic Dog Treats | You can easily make some organic peanut butter cookie dog treats by mixing up 2 cups flour, 1 cup of oats, 1/3 cup of peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon honey in a large bowl. Once the ingredients are all together, add 1 and a half cups of water and mix again until it becomes thick and doughy. Once it's together, roll the dough out until its 1/4 inch thick and then cut out cookie-shaped pieces and put them on a baking sheet. All that's left to do is bake them for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. If you want to sneak in something healthy for your pup, add half a tablespoon of fish oil to the mix to improve your dog's coat, joints, and circulatory system. | Gather the ingredients. Dogs love the taste of peanut butter. Get smooth (not crunchy) organic peanut butter, rolled oats, flour, and honey from your local grocery. You can use white or whole wheat flour. Mix the ingredients. Get a large mixing bowl. Add in 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of oats, 1/3 cup of peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix them thoroughly with a spoon or whisk. Then add 1 and ½ cups of water to the mixture and mix it in until it becomes thick and doughy. Bake the cookies. Lightly sprinkle flour over the cooking surface and roll the dough flat on the cooking surface so that it becomes a ¼ inch thick sheet. Use a cookie cutter or knife to remove cookie-shaped pieces and place them on a baking sheet. Bake them for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Sneak in healthy additives. Consider adding half a tablespoon of fish oil in when mixing the recipe. Dogs sometimes dislike the strong taste on its own but the flavor will be overpowered by the peanut butter. Fish oil will improve the dog's coat, joints, and circulatory system. Gather the ingredients. Jerky treats are a great alternative to raw hide or bones that will give your dog something to chew on and provide protein for their muscles. Purchase several pieces of boneless organic chicken from your local grocery. You can also make a similar treat with sweet potatoes which are also high in protein. Bake the jerky. Lay the chicken breast on its side and slice it into 1/8 inch strips. Lay the strips on a baking sheet, preheat your oven to 200 degrees, and bake for 2 hours. The jerky should be tough and dry. Bake for another 20 minutes if it is still juicy and soft. Store the jerky. Store the jerky in an airtight container in the fridge for at least several days before feeding it to your dog. This will make it more chewy. Gather the ingredients. Get raw organic beef, organic vegetable baby food for humans, flour, and dried milk. Mix 6 ounce balls of meat with an equal amount of baby food in a large mixing bowl. Add two cups of dry milk and mix it in thoroughly. Then add 1 cup of water to create a doughy consistency. You can also use diced leafy vegetables like cabbage or spinach instead of baby food. Bake the balls. Roll the mixture into balls and place them on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then bake the balls for 12 to 15 minutes. Let them cool. Be sure to allow the balls to cool before feeding them to your dog as they will be hot. You can store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. Gather the ingredients. Get 2 cups of organic carrots, a quarter cup of dry oats, 1 apple, 3/4 cups of organic wheat flour, and 1 cup of organic flax seed. Core and shred the apple while making sure that you remove all seeds. Mix the ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a quarter cup of water until you have a thick batter. Bake the balls. Spray non-stick spray onto a cupcake or muffin tin and then pour the mixture into the divots. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and then bake the muffins for 15 minutes. Remove them and check if they've browned. If they haven't place then back in the oven for another 5 minutes and repeat until thoroughly baked. Let them cool. It should only take 10-15 minutes for the muffins to cool. This recipe should make about a dozen muffins so store the leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can reheat them in a microwave for 20 seconds. Finished. | Gather the ingredients. Mix the ingredients. Bake the cookies. Sneak in healthy additives. Gather the ingredients. Bake the jerky. Store the jerky. Gather the ingredients. Bake the balls. Let them cool. Gather the ingredients. Bake the balls. Let them cool. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Have-Super-Soft-Hands-(Overnight-Method) | How to Have Super Soft Hands (Overnight Method) | To get super soft hands overnight, first rub an exfoliant over your hands, to remove any rough, dry skin. After 5 minutes of exfoliating, rinse your hands with clean water. Next, rub a quarter size-dollop of thick hand cream onto each hand, making sure to get between your fingers and around your cuticles. Once the lotion covers your hands, put on a pair of knit gloves to keep the moisture in. Leave the gloves on overnight, then repeat the treatment once a week. | Select a moisturizer. Super soft hands don't come without the right products; any old moisturizer won't do, if you want the silkiest skin. Find a moisturizing cream that is specifically advertised for use on hands. Hand creams are typically much thicker than a regular lotion, and have more nutrients needed for softening rough hands (which tend to be the driest part of your body). If your moisturizer is runny or thin, it probably won't do the job you need to get super soft hands. Choose a good exfoliant. Exfoliants are used to scrub off the dead skin on your hands, both before and after moisturizing. The reason your hands feel rough to begin with, is because of the dead skin that is present. You can scrub this off, and then the fresh skin underneath is exposed. Exfoliants can be store-bought, or you can create your own. Try one of the following homemade recipes: Sugar and olive oil, mixed into a paste Ground oatmeal and milk, mixed into a paste Coffee grounds and coconut oil, mixed into a paste Baking soda and water, mixed into a paste Find a pair of gloves. Using the overnight method for soft hands involves a set of gloves or mittens. There are some specialty spa gloves available for getting soft hands overnight; these have a permanent gel that lines the gloves, that helps to lock moisture into your hands. Otherwise, any pair of knit or cotton gloves or mittens will work. If you don't have any gloves, you can always use a clean pair of socks. If you have exfoliator gloves, made from a rough loofah-like material, you can wear those as well. Exfoliate your hands. Go to the sink and run warm water; wet your hands completely, washing them if necessary.Take your exfoliant, and scoop about 1 tablespoon of it out into your hands. Rub this thoroughly over each of your hands for 3-5 minutes. When you're finished scrubbing, turn the water back on and rinse your hands off. Dry your hands completely. Add your moisturizer. Put a dab of cream about the size of a quarter onto each hand; it may seem like a lot, but it will soak into your skin overnight. Massage the cream into each of your hands, spending time on the palms, between your fingers, and around your cuticles. Feel free to carry the moisturizer up your arms slightly, to soften the skin around your wrists as well. Don't worry if your hands feel greasy or you think you have too much. Put on your gloves. The concept behind the gloves (or mittens, or socks) is that they will trap the moisture inside, forcing the cream to soak into your skin. This will prevent it from rubbing off in your sleep, onto your bedding or clothes. Go to bed. Leave your gloves on overnight while you sleep, being careful not to pull them off while you slumber. If you'd rather, you can wear them during the day for the same results as long as they remain on your hands for at least 6 hours. Finish softening your hands. In the morning, remove your gloves; you should be left with super soft hands! You have the option of adding a bit more moisturizer at this point, and dabbing on some cuticle oil around your nail beds. This will soften everything up, and leave your hands silky and soft. Repeat this entire process 1-2 times a week for hands that are always their very softest. | Select a moisturizer. Choose a good exfoliant. Find a pair of gloves. Exfoliate your hands. Add your moisturizer. Put on your gloves. Go to bed. Finish softening your hands. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-Pancreatic-Cancer | How to Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer | To diagnose pancreatic cancer, check for signs of jaundice or the yellowing of the skin, which is one of the early symptoms. Additionally, pay attention to sustained soreness in your belly, and feelings of fatigue and tiredness, including a lack of motivation. You should also take note of high blood sugar and light-colored stool. If you have one or more of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor so they can run blood tests and confirm the diagnosis. | Be sensitive to check into nonspecific health issues. Being difficult to diagnose, it's so important to not ignore a bunch of recurring symptoms that are chronic/nagging (irritating): Abdominal pains and/or back pains Nausea/digestive difficulties Loss of appetite Unexplained weight loss Jaundice (There is a summary discussion of symptoms before the "Tips" section below.) Consider diagnosis with new-onset or long standing type 2 diabetes as a good reason to prospectively combine three tests for biomarkers that are used for indicating pancreatic cancer -- CA 19-9, and newer tests microRNA-196, and microRNA-200. Why? When these tests were studied in connection with diabetes, a large majority of the participants found to have pancreatic cancer were also diabetic. It was reported that using all three tests in harmony significantly improved the sensitivity for results specific to detecting pancreatic cancer. Cancer marker testing can be worthwhile if you and your doctors have some reasons to suspect there are symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Tests are not conclusive, because some markers can be caused by several other problems. Be aware that there is not one simple test or set of defined symptoms that can readily screen for/or detect pancreatic cancer. Watch for jaundice. One of the first signs of pancreatic cancer can be jaundice, also known as icterus, which is the yellowing of the skin, eyes and mucus membranes due to too much bilirubin in the bloodstream. Pancreatic cancer blocks the ducts that release this bile into your intestine, causing it to build up in the blood and turn skin and eyes yellowish. If you have jaundice, your stool will also be light, your urine becomes dark, and your skin will feel itchy. Look at your skin and eyes in a well-lit mirror to check for yellow discoloration. Jaundice also causes itchy skin. The parts of the eyes that turn yellow are called the sclera, or the white part of your eye. To confirm jaundice (if the yellowing is not so obvious), your doctor may test your urine for bile or order a blood test. Take notice of a sore abdomen. One of the first signs of pancreatic cancer can sometimes be a diffuse abdominal aching and soreness, although many people don't feel any pain until the cancer is advanced. The pancreas gland is located behind the stomach and in front of the spine — pretty much in the middle of your belly. It secretes insulin (for blood sugar control), hormones and digestive enzymes. If your belly soreness doesn't go away after a week, contact your doctor. Palpating (deeply touching) your pancreas for mild-to-moderate swelling is difficult and virtually useless for doctors because the gland is positioned behind and close to other organs. Because pancreatic cancer often causes the liver and/or gallbladder to swell, which are easier to palpate and detect, the condition may be misdiagnosed as liver cirrhosis or cholecystitis. Due to abdominal tenderness, fatigue and diarrhea, the early stages of pancreatic cancer can mimic other disorders or infections, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Be alert to fatigue and weakness. Another early sign of pancreatic cancer -- as well as in most other types -- is a general feeling of tiredness, fatigue and weakness, also called malaise. During the early stages of pancreatic cancer, you'll likely experience unexplained tiredness and lose motivation to exercise or even leave your home. Be suspicious of high blood sugar (glucose). One of the main functions of the pancreas gland is to produce the hormone insulin, which regulates glucose from the blood and into cells, from blood vessels, to be used for energy. Therefore, when the pancreas is cancerous and dysfunctional (not making enough insulin), blood sugar stays in the blood and levels tend to be high. When your blood glucose levels get too high, you may have symptoms like lethargy (feeling tired and fatigued), polydipsia (extreme thirst), weakness, diarrhea, weight loss, and polyuria (excessive urine). To measure your blood sugar level, see your doctor for a blood test. Another simple way to tell if you have high blood sugar is a urine test. This will show if your body isn't controlling your blood sugar, and if it's building up in your urine. Look for chronic diarrhea or very light colored stool. Another potential early sign of pancreatic cancer is chronic diarrhea. This is caused by excessive amounts of glucagon, or sugar, going unregulated in your body. If your stool is light-grey or nearly white, consistently lighter in color than normal shades, this indicates a build-up of bile in your body. Another clue that your pancreas is dysfunctional by not producing or releasing enough fat-digesting enzyme (bile) is that your stool will have spots of oil floating on the water or look greasy, smell worse than usual and fecal matter will tend to float in the toilet bowl. See your doctor if you begin experiencing these symptoms. Even experiencing just one symptom on its own might be an early sign of pancreatic cancer. If you have one or more of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor right away. Note down all of the symptoms you've been experiencing and describe them as best you can to your doctor. Get all the appropriate blood tests. Your doctor or an oncologist (cancer specialist) will likely order a series of blood tests once you present with any or all of the above-mentioned symptoms. Several types of blood tests are useful to help diagnose pancreatic cancer and rule out other causes of abdominal symptoms, such as: complete blood count, liver function tests, serum bilirubin, kidney function test and looking for various tumor markers. Tumor markers are substances that can sometimes be found in the bloodstream of a cancer patient. Two that are related to pancreatic cancer are called CA 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). These tumor markers are not elevated in all people with pancreatic cancer and some who don't have any cancer might have higher levels for some other reason, so they are not really accurate indicators but are relatively cheap and non-invasive so are helpful in determining whether or not to test further. Looking at hormone levels is useful as some (such as chromogranin A, C-peptide and serotonin) are often elevated in people with pancreatic cancer. Make sure to have all the essential imaging tests done. Once in the hands of an oncologist who strongly suspects pancreatic cancer (based on telltale symptoms and blood tests), a number of imaging tests will be performed. Common diagnostic tests include: a CT scan and/or an MRI of the abdomen, endoscopic ultrasound of the pancreas and endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). Once a test strongly suggests cancer, more detailed tests are done to see if the cancer has spread — this methodology is called staging. An endoscopic ultrasound uses a device to take images of your pancreas gland from inside your abdomen. The endoscope is sent down through your esophagus and into your stomach to take the images. An ERCP uses an endoscope to inject dye into your pancreas, then an abdominal x-ray is taken to highlight the bile ducts and other parts of the gland.. Consider a biopsy for confirmation. Once a number of tests have seemingly confirmed a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, a final procedure to be completely sure and to determine which cells are most involved is called a pancreatic biopsy or tissue sample. Biopsies require anesthesia and can be done in three different ways: percutaneous, endoscopic and surgical. A percutaneous biopsy (also called fine needle aspiration) involves inserting a long, thin, hollow needle through the abdominal skin and into the pancreas gland in order to remove a small piece of tissue / tumor. An endoscopic biopsy involves inserting an endoscope down the esophagus, through the stomach and into the small intestine to get close enough to the pancreas to cut off a tissue sample. A surgical biopsy is most invasive because it involves making incisions into the abdomen and inserting a laparoscope to get a sample and look around to see if the cancer has spread. Watch for subtle and nonspecific signs and symptoms: These may indicate pancreatic cancer, or some other ailment. Since early signs and symptoms may be ambiguous, they are often not associated with the pancreas until the disease is quite advanced. Early issues include: Moderate abdominal and/or back pain Nausea (not vomiting) Loss of appetite (food is less desirable) Unexplained significant weight loss Yellow jaundice (which also causes itchy skin) Beware that in later stages there may be: Chronic pain Severe nausea Frequent vomiting Malabsorption of food Blood glucose control problems/Diabetes (since the pancreas makes and releases insulin but becomes dysfunctional). Realize that the prognosis and staging of pancreatic cancer is not easily tested. It is not easily scanned nor viewable behind the stomach and near the small intestines. The stages are: Stage 0: Not spread. A single layer/small group of cells in the pancreas -- not yet visible on imaging tests or to the unaided eye. Stage I: Local growth. Pancreatic cancer is growing in the pancreas, Stage 1A is less than 2 centimeters (0.79 in) (approx 3/4 in) across, but Stage IB is greater than 2 centimeters. Stage II: Local spread. Pancreatic cancer is larger, protruding outside the pancreas, or has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Stage III: Spread nearby. The tumor has expanded such as encasing nearby major blood vessels or nerves (unlikely to be operable, unless very limited spread) -- as well as into nearby lymph nodes -- but is not known to have metastasized to any distant organ. Stage IV: Confirmed distant spread. Pancreatic cancer has been found in distant organs such as lungs, liver, colon, etc. -- probably inoperable. | Be sensitive to check into nonspecific health issues. Consider diagnosis with new-onset or long standing type 2 diabetes as a good reason to prospectively combine three tests for biomarkers that are used for indicating pancreatic cancer -- CA 19-9, and newer tests microRNA-196, and microRNA-200. Watch for jaundice. Take notice of a sore abdomen. Be alert to fatigue and weakness. Be suspicious of high blood sugar (glucose). Look for chronic diarrhea or very light colored stool. See your doctor if you begin experiencing these symptoms. Get all the appropriate blood tests. Make sure to have all the essential imaging tests done. Consider a biopsy for confirmation. Watch for subtle and nonspecific signs and symptoms: Beware that in later stages there may be: Realize that the prognosis and staging of pancreatic cancer is not easily tested. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Proud-of-Your-Appearance | How to Be Proud of Your Appearance | To be proud of your appearance, try learning to love the body you have by wearing clothing that is flattering and makes you feel good. If you're still struggling to feel good, try smiling as much as you can. Smiling can sometimes trick your body into thinking it's happy, which will in turn make you feel happier and better about your appearance. Alternatively, if you're struggling to take pride in your appearance because you're comparing yourself to others, try focusing on yourself and the things that make you unique, whether that be the color of your hair or a scar on your chin. | Notice all the ways you and your body are amazing. Instead of focusing on what you don't like, focus on what you do. If you often get compliments on your smile or gorgeous teeth, relish in these positive traits. Move beyond just the physical and focus on positive things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with appearance. Make a list to post on your mirror. Fill the sheet of paper with all the wonderful characteristics that you like about yourself right now. You might include things like “I am strong” or “I care for animals.” Put as many items on the list as you can, and revisit this list regularly as a mood-booster. When you love yourself and everything about your body, it's difficult for people not to feel that same positivity towards you as well. Smile more. Smiling makes everyone more beautiful. When you smile, you reap a multitude of health benefits, such as assisting your body with stress-coping. You make yourself feel brighter and happier. What's more, you can even make others feel more attractive and help spread positivity to them. Challenge yourself to smile as much as possible, even when you don't want to. Give it 24 hours. Practice smiling at yourself in the mirror as you get dressed and prepare for your day. Smile at the strangers you pass on your way to school or work. Notice the reactions you get from smiling. Pay attention to how this makes you feel about yourself. Nurture yourself. Every body is unique. You can't really make a huge change to how you look, but you can start today making an impact on how you feel. Turn your focus towards leading a healthy lifestyle. When you are treating your body well, you will naturally have a greater sense of self-esteem and increased well-being. Fuel your body with plenty of water and real, whole foods, such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Exercise regularly to fend off illness, maintain (or lose) weight, and fight anxiety and depression. Reduce stress by engaging in activities that you love. Make time for rest and relaxation. Get adequate sleep to improve your focus and concentration and increase your likelihood of making healthy lifestyle choices. Say “no” to drugs and alcohol, which may make you feel better temporarily, but can cause lasting damage to your mind and body over time. Repeat affirmations of self-love. Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it. Convince yourself that you feel great about your appearance by repeating positive phrases to yourself. You can make these statements anytime, anywhere—aloud or quietly in your head. Over time, you may find that you truly start feeling exactly as the words suggest. I am always doing the best I can. I am a work in progress. I am beautiful because there is only one me. My body is healthy. My mind is brilliant. My heart is at peace. My soul is tranquil. I will not harbor negative thoughts or feelings. I have great appreciation for my life. Recognize that you are "enough. " Perhaps you are unable to feel proud of your appearance because you think you have to earn your self-worth through a number of standards. You want to drop 20 pounds. You need to catch the eye of a special someone. Or, your mom finally needs to approve of your clothing choices. What you need to realize is that despite how you look, who notices you, or how you dress, you are already enough. Believing that you are good enough can be much easier said than done. However, if you make the decision to believe this and take action almost daily, you can start to internalize this belief. Whenever you feel less than good enough, repeat this to yourself like a mantra: “I am good enough.” Say it again and again until you start to feel that it's true. Learn to love the body you have. This can be much easier said than done. Still, when you reach a point of self-love for who you are at this very moment, it's priceless. Say you have a scar that you don't like on your chin. Want to love it? Think about the fact that your scar symbolizes that you were stronger than whatever tried to harm you. Here are some other ways to learn to love your body: Stand in the mirror and look at the body part you don't like. Search for something positive about it. If you don't like the shape of your nose, maybe you can relish in the fact that it is free of blackheads. Do this daily until you start to criticize this body part less and less. Soothe your body regularly. Take long, relaxing baths. Get a manicure or pedicure. Try a new hairstyle or haircut. Visit the spa for a massage. Wear comfortable, flattering clothing. Don't feel the need to hide behind your clothes. Choose fabrics, styles, and colors that play on your best assets. If you dress in clothing that is fashionable and that fits you correctly, you will automatically feel more pulled together. Drop comparisons. You check out your best friend and notice how tall he's grown, and think to yourself “I'm too short.” You see your sister's new outfit and then comment that your own outfit looks “ugly.” You may not be sure why you do this, but one thing is for certain: comparisons sabotage your happiness and self-esteem. Consider these reasons why you should stop this destructive habit: You gain nothing from comparisons, but jeopardize your passion, pride, and dignity. Taking this route will always ensure that you are the loser, as there will always be someone who is better than you in some way (e.g. taller, prettier, smarter, etc.). Doing this removes the power of individuality and assumes everyone's interests, style, and journey should be alike. You have no real way of knowing what the other person's life is really like. You are comparing your own worst to your perception of someone else's best. Remember, everyone you're in a relationship with is also a mirror for your relationship with yourself. How you view and interact with other people can show you how you're viewing and interacting with yourself. Distance yourself from critical people. Your thoughts about yourself may not always be founded in your own beliefs. You also develop your self-concept from the nonstop judgments and criticisms you get from others. A close friend or family member who constantly puts you down or talks about your appearance can make it difficult for you to take pride in how you look. One of the biggest factors influencing your happiness and emotional well-being is how others treat you. Here's how to deal with an overly critical person: Create boundaries if the relationship causes you to feel bad about yourself. Turn down invitations and spend less time with the person. Carefully select with whom you share your intimate thoughts and feelings. If a person doesn't value what you have to say, refrain from sharing. Keep this individual on a need-to-know basis. Challenge media depictions of beauty. If you spend a great deal of time watching television shows, scrolling down social media timelines, or thumbing through beauty and fashion magazines, these media sources could be affecting the way you view your own sense of beauty. The way women and men are portrayed through media may cause you to judge and compare yourself, despite the fact that these images have been retouched or Photo-shopped. Our self-esteem and confidence take a major hit from this nonstop judgment and comparison. Choose to limit the exposure you have to unrealistic representations of human bodies and beauty. Instead, make an effort to uplift real images of humanity, in all shapes and sizes. Let go of perfectionism. If you have a tendency to strive for perfection, this mentality could be preventing you from feeling a sense of pride about your appearance. Each time you look in the mirror, you find a shortcoming. Each time someone compliments you, you mention what needs work rather than expressing gratitude or self-satisfaction. Setting high standards for yourself is a self-defeating habit that will continually undermine your happiness. Overcome perfectionism by doing the following: When you catch yourself having exceptionally high standards, be realistic. Remind yourself that no one is perfect and that being human means making mistakes. Say to yourself “Just do your best!” Expose yourself to your fears. For example, if you worry about going out without makeup, make a commitment to try to do just that. First, go out without lipstick or gloss. Then, forego foundation. Finally, go out without anything but a clean, fresh face. Periodically, repeat to yourself, “You are beautiful just the way you are”. Did any of your fears come to fruition? Did people laugh or taunt you? Spot beauty in others beyond their looks. As you strive to see beauty in yourself, you should also look for it in others around you. Sometimes, you may be able to see in others what you cannot see in yourself. When you notice that beauty is everywhere, in everyone, you are more likely to also believe you have it within you. Beauty can come in all shapes and forms. Pay attention to the beauty you see in others that does not take a physical shape. Think about those around you. Their laughs. Their compassion. Their zeal for life. Their intelligence. Their friendliness. Are these not beautiful traits? Is it possible that others may spot some of the same beautiful traits in you? Find beauty in nature. Another way to help yourself look beyond modern ideals of beauty is to turn to nature. Nature offers the most widespread presentation of beautiful plants, creatures, and landscapes. There are thousands, even millions, of manifestations of beauty and wonder right at your fingertips in nature. There are numerous scenes that quite literally take your breath away. When you consider all these manifestations of beauty, you might also come to understand that beauty can just as well be something you feel with your emotions, not just something you see with your eyes. Engage in activities that make you feel beautiful. As you continue to redefine your understanding of beauty, you might also choose to notice how it is at play in everyday life. Because beauty can be something you experience with the senses, there are many ways to have it in your life. Your physical appearance is only a part of your experience as a human being. Think of all the things you can do that help you feel beautiful. Take note---these activities have nothing to do with outward expressions of beauty, although engaging in them may make you look more beautiful to yourself and others. These are things you do with your body and your heart that promote inner beauty. For example, volunteering can help you feel like you are making a positive contribution to your community. Listening to your favorite music and dancing can promote a sense of beauty. Laughter can be beautiful. Running and playing with little kids can also help you to feel beautiful. Do more of these things, and you will, in turn, feel better about yourself--on the inside and on the outside. Seek professional help if your appearance is an ongoing cause of distress. If you continue to struggle with liking the way you look or if your concerns are affecting your quality of life, then it may be a sign of a deeper mental health issue. Seek the help of a mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychologist. For example, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a common problem for people who struggle with their appearance, and this condition requires treatment from a mental health professional. | Notice all the ways you and your body are amazing. Smile more. Nurture yourself. Repeat affirmations of self-love. Recognize that you are "enough. Learn to love the body you have. Drop comparisons. Distance yourself from critical people. Challenge media depictions of beauty. Let go of perfectionism. Spot beauty in others beyond their looks. Find beauty in nature. Engage in activities that make you feel beautiful. Seek professional help if your appearance is an ongoing cause of distress. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Go-to-Bed-Early | How to Go to Bed Early | If you want to go to bed early, dim your lights before you go to bed so your body slows down. Additionally, try to avoid stimulants like coffee and nicotine, since they can make sleeping harder. During the evening, eat a small meal and don't exercise within 2 hours before your bedtime to give your body time to relax afterwards. Finally, to make going to sleep early a habit, perform the same routine each night before getting into bed to relax, such as reading a book. | Decide what going to bed early means to you. “Early” and “late” are relative terms when describing sleep times. Much depends on when you need to or are able to wake up each day, and how much sleep you are getting. There is some variation from person to person, but generally adults need 7.5 to 8.5 hours of sleep per day. Children (5 years old and up) and teenagers will need more sleep than this, ranging from 8.5 to 11 hours. Infants and toddlers will need even more. Pick a good bedtime. Choose a bedtime that is early enough for you to get the right amount of sleep, according to your age and schedule. If you want to figure out exactly how much sleep you need or are getting, consider using a sleep journal. Simply record when you go to bed each night and when you wake up each day, and calculate the hours of sleep you had in between. If you record your sleep for a few days or weeks, then you can also calculate your average amount of sleep. Recognize that inadequate sleep can be unhealthy. Staying up late can be unhealthy when it becomes a long-term habit. Going to bed late and sleeping in can contribute to weight gain and diabetes, correlate to poor nutrition, and other issues. Just acknowledging the importance of your sleep needs can help you start to improve your situation. Recognize that good sleep is necessary for optimum brain function. Not getting enough sleep can have a negative impact on memory, alertness, focus, and other cognitive functions. If you want to succeed in school, work, or other activities, let this be a motivation for you to go to bed early. If you have to pull an "all-nighter" for school or work, clear your schedule the next day so that you will be able to concentrate solely on these tips for going to bed early. You'll need to recover from the lack of sleep. Avoid stimulants and depressants. If you trying to go to sleep early, avoid coffee and other caffeinated products, nicotine, and other stimulants. Their effects can last for hours, making it hard to go to sleep when you want to. And while depressants like alcohol can initially make you feel sleepy, they can actually disturb your sleep. Sleeping pills are often used as a means of inducing sleep. However, these can often be habit-forming, can impair memory and motor skills, and actually disrupt sleeping patterns. There are many different types of sleeping pills and their effects vary, so you should carefully follow the instructions of all over-the-counter and prescribed pills, and talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns. Don’t eat too much at night. Your last meal should be no less than 2 or 3 hours before your bedtime. If you eat a big meal close to bedtime, it can make it hard to get to sleep and stay asleep. Avoid exercising too close to bedtime. Regular exercise will help regulate your sleep patterns, but you should not exercise too close to your bedtime. Exercise has a stimulating effect that might make it hard to go to bed early. Limit naps. Naps can help if you are tired, but you should avoid long naps (longer than a half-hour), and naps near your bedtime. Otherwise, you may have trouble going to bed early. Monitor your lighting conditions, particularly late in the day. How much and what kind of light you are surrounded by has a direct effect on your sleep patterns. Get plenty of natural light in the morning and during the day, then keep the lights dim at night. This will help you to get to bed early. Wearing sunglasses later in the day dims light, which can help you become sleepy on time. Avoid television, computers, tablets, smartphones and similar devices when you are trying to go to bed early, as the blue light from electronic screens disrupts the body's inclination to sleep. If you work nights and need to sleep during the day, wear yellow- or orange-tinted glasses. This will block out blue light, which signals your body to stay awake. Establish a sleep routine. Get your body and mind used to going to sleep early by doing the same things each night before you go to sleep. Do whatever relaxes you: read a book, take a bath or shower, listen to relaxing music, etc. Many people find that warm drinks or tea can help them become comfortable and sleepy (just stay away from caffeinated beverages). Chamomile tea is a good choice because it has a calming effect. Meditation and/or breathing exercises are also recognized as calming techniques. A simple breathing exercise is to inhale for a count of 3 or 4, then exhale for a count of six or eight. A few repetitions of this can be very helpful when trying to calm down and go to bed early. Make sure that your bedroom is relaxing. This means having a comfortable mattress, bedding, etc. Some people find it helpful to use aids to lessen outside distractions, like earplugs or the white noise of a small fan or other device. Go to bed when you feel tired. If you feel tired, it means you should go to bed. Don't force yourself to stay awake. On the other hand, if you're not tired, don't try to force yourself to sleep. If you are tired, but can't seem to fall asleep within 20 minutes, then get up and do something calming or boring (avoid electronic devices, exercise, working, eating, etc.) until you feel tired again. Eventually, you should be able to reach your early bedtime more consistently. Make your bedtime consistent. Going to bed the same time every night will improve your sleep, and make it easier to go to sleep early. Don’t expect huge changes right away. If you are trying to shift your sleep schedule to an earlier time, don't expect to easily make a drastic change in one night. Try making changes in incremental steps. For instance, if you have been going to sleep at 11:00, and decide that you want an earlier bedtime of 10:00, don't expect to jump back the whole hour on the first night. Instead, try going to bed for a few nights at 10:45, then a few at 10:30, then a few at 10:15, before hitting your goal of 10:00. Know when to contact a professional for help. If you are having serious problems sleeping, staying asleep, moving to an earlier bedtime, or keeping a consistent sleep pattern, it could be a symptom of another issue, or may require the assistance of medical professionals. If you have concerns, seek expert medical advice. | Decide what going to bed early means to you. Pick a good bedtime. Recognize that inadequate sleep can be unhealthy. Recognize that good sleep is necessary for optimum brain function. Avoid stimulants and depressants. Don’t eat too much at night. Avoid exercising too close to bedtime. Limit naps. Monitor your lighting conditions, particularly late in the day. Establish a sleep routine. Make sure that your bedroom is relaxing. Go to bed when you feel tired. Make your bedtime consistent. Don’t expect huge changes right away. Know when to contact a professional for help. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Cellular-Shades | How to Clean Cellular Shades | Cellular shades, which are a window covering that blocks light while providing better insulation, should be cleaned on a regular basis. To clean dust and dead insects off your shades, spray compressed air through each cell. You can also wipe your shades side to side with a microfiber cloth, lint roller, or feather duster. Another way to remove dust and debris from your shades is to vacuum them with a brush attachment, but make sure to keep your setting on low or medium to avoid deforming your shades. To spot clean your shades, mix lukewarm water with a mild detergent and gently dab dirty areas with a rag or sponge dampened with the mixture. | Clear dead insects and dust from inside cells with compressed air. Bugs may have crawled into the cells of your shade and died, accumulating there along with dust. Position the spray applicator of a can of compressed air at the mouth of a cell. Press the applicator and spray air through each cell to clear out bugs and dust. In some cases, this may cause dust and bugs to fly out the opposite end of the shade. You may want to lay down a drop cloth or newspaper to catch ejected matter and contain a potential mess. You can also spray the outer fabric of your shades with compressed air as a dusting measure. Spray each row/pleat of the fabric from top to bottom, end to end with the compressed air. If you don't have compressed air, you can use a blow dryer set to “Low” on “Cool.” Avoid using hot air, which can cause the glue used to make the shade to weaken. Wipe shades side to side with a microfiber cloth. Alternately, you can substitute a lint roller or feather duster in place of the microfiber cloth. Apply cleaning tools to the shades in a side to side motion. Follow the direction of the pleating to prevent the fabric from becoming deformed or misshapen. Use gentle, short strokes when wiping your shades with a cloth, duster, or lint roller. Take your time when wiping, dusting, or rolling the fabric. Too much force could deform its appearance. The microfiber cloth dry-wipe, feather dusting, and lint rolling are ideal cleaning measures for regular, light cleanup and dust reduction. Vacuum your shades with a brush attachment. Apply your brush attachment to the shades in the same fashion you wipe with a cloth or roll with a lint roller: side to side. Clean the shade from top to bottom to prevent yourself from accidentally knocking dust onto lower parts of the shade. Ideally, you should only vacuum your cellular shades on the medium or low setting of your vacuum. Vacuums that are too powerful should not be used, as the suction of these can deform your shade. This cleaning technique works best for gently but thoroughly lifting dust and dirtiness out of the fabric of the shades. If this technique fails, you'll likely have to wash the dirty area of your shades. Clean the mountings and side tracks of the shades. If your cellular shade is equipped with a track on its sides, this will have to be cleaned regularly as well. Dust, dead insects, and other grime builds up in the track over time. Use a clean rag dampened with warm water and a mild detergent, like dish soap, to wipe the tracks clean. Tracks that are narrow may be difficult to clean inside. Use a narrow tool, like a screwdriver, to push your rag into the track to clean it. Cotton swabs are usually small enough to fit easily into side tracks. Dab the cotton end of the swab into warm water mixed with liquid dish soap, then clean the track. Replace dirty swabs as necessary with fresh ones. Spot clean your shades with warm water and a mild detergent. Avoid using water that is too hot. Excess heat may weaken glue used to make your cellular shades. Mix lukewarm water and a mild detergent in a bucket. Gently dab dirty areas with a rag or sponge dampened in the detergent/water mix until blemishes lift. Always test your rag and cleaner on an out of sight portion of your shades. Some rags and cleaners may discolor your shades and should not be used. Using too much pressure when dabbing the fabric of your shades may cause damage, like pilling. Submerge shades in a bathtub for a deep cleaning. Cleaning your shades in this fashion may cause the shape of the shades to change permanently, though many cellular shades now use fabric that allows for bathtub submersion cleaning. Fill enough lukewarm water in a clean bathtub to submerge your shades fully. Add a few drops of mild detergent, like dish soap, to the water. Insert the shades in the water and swish them gently to remove entrenched dirt. After you have swished your shades through the soapy lukewarm water, drain the water and refill it with lukewarm water only. Swish the shades once again to cleanse them of the remaining detergent. Cellular shades should be air dried after being cleaned in this fashion. Hang your shades as you would normally and leave them fully open until dry. If your shades are very dirty, you may need to drain the tub and refill it a few times. When the water swishes clear, your shades are clean. Hire a professional to ultrasonically clean your shades. A professional service will have specialized cleaning techniques, like ultrasonic cleaning, that can safely and thoroughly clean your cellular shades. Avoid dry cleaning, as this may void some cellular shade warranties. When you call a cleaning service, be sure you specifically ask if they are a certified blind cleaner for your particular brand of cellular shades. There is likely a customer service number on the instructions or in the information that came with your cellular shades. A customer service line for your shades will be able to recommend an appropriate cleaner in your area. Install improved shades for more energy saving. Cellular shades with multiple cells may provide even better insulation than the common single cell styles. Some companies include a metal core inside of cells to help the shades retain heat. Specialized shades may only be available through special producers or online. Search for “Energy efficient cellular shades” online to research other energy saving features. Prioritize shades with side tracks for reduced drafts. Some kinds of cellular shades are installed with tracks that run up and down the sides of your window. These form a flexible seal that cuts down on drafts. Cellular shades with tracks may cut the heat loss of your shades by half. The long sides of tall windows, especially, are excellent candidates for cellular shades with tracks. Avoid getting the fabric of your shades wet too frequently. Many kinds of cellular shades use glue to hold its fabric in the shape of a cell. Too much exposure to water can cause the glue to weaken or dissolve. Even when spot cleaning your shades with a dampened rag, try to avoid wetting the part of the shade where the front and back fabric are held together by glue. | Clear dead insects and dust from inside cells with compressed air. Wipe shades side to side with a microfiber cloth. Vacuum your shades with a brush attachment. Clean the mountings and side tracks of the shades. Spot clean your shades with warm water and a mild detergent. Submerge shades in a bathtub for a deep cleaning. Hire a professional to ultrasonically clean your shades. Install improved shades for more energy saving. Prioritize shades with side tracks for reduced drafts. Avoid getting the fabric of your shades wet too frequently. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Unlock-a-Boost-Mobile-Phone-on-Android | How to Unlock a Boost Mobile Phone on Android | Call 1-888-BOOST-4U to see if your phone and account qualify for unlocking. | Make sure you meet the requirements. There are a number of requirements your phone must meet before it can be unlocked. Some of the requirements are as follows. The phone must be a DSU enabled device. DSU stands for Domestic SIM Unlocking. Not all devices are DSU enabled. Phones that are not DSU capable will only work with Boost Mobile. Generally, most phones manufactured after February 2015 are DSU enabled. The phone cannot be reported lost or stolen. If the phone is reported lost or stolen, it will be flagged as ineligible to be unlocked. The phone must be active on Boost Mobile for 12 months. You must be a customer with the phone active on your Boost Mobile account for at least 12 months before you are eligible to have your phone unlocked. Call 1-888-BOOST-4U. That is 1-888-266-7848. If you meet the requirements above, Boost Mobile customer service should be able to provide you with a code to unlock your phone. Their unlocking policy is subject to change and they may refuse an unlock code at any time. Not all network carriers will allow you to use a Boost Mobile phone on their network. Contact the carrier before unlocking your phone to make sure they will allow you to use your phone on their network. | Make sure you meet the requirements. Call 1-888-BOOST-4U. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Geraniums | How to Grow Geraniums | To grow geraniums, start by finding a spot where the plant will have 5-6 hours of sunlight a day. If you're using a pot for your geraniums, make sure it has holes in the bottom so the soil doesn't get too soggy. Then, time your planting for after the last hard frost if you want to plant your flowers outside. Start by tilling your soil so it's loose, and mix in 2-4 inches of compost to give it as much nutrients as possible. As you plant, space your flowers 6 inches to 2 feet apart, depending on the variety of geranium you've picked. | Pick out the right spot to plant your geraniums. Whether you are planting your geraniums in the ground or in a pot, geraniums are generally one of the easier plants to take care of. They can be planted in spots that get full sun, partial sun, or light shade. Make sure that they will get morning sun and afternoon shade if possible. Generally, geraniums are happiest with five or six hours of sunlight a day, though this number can be a bit more or a bit less. It is best to plant geraniums in soil that drains well. Geraniums don't really like getting their feet too wet and soggy soil could lead to a sick plant. If you live in an area that is really hot a lot of the year, try to find a spot that gets afternoon shade and has relatively moist soil. Get a pot that has holes in the bottom. Geraniums do not like sitting in soggy soil, so it is important to get a pot with good drainage. Buy a pot that is large enough for your plant, depending on the variety of geranium you bought. If you have a smaller plant, you may be fine with a 6 or 8 inch (15.2 or 20.3 cm) pot, while larger varieties will need a 10 inch (25.4 cm) pot. Avoid placing a saucer under your plant's pot unless the saucer has pebbles in it. Pick the right time of year to plant your flowers. The National Gardening Association recommends planting geraniums in spring, after the last hard frost. Depending on the type of geranium, the plant may bloom in midsummer, late summer, or fall, though sometimes the flowers have a mind of their own and they'll burst into bloom in spring. Regardless, be prepared for their beauty to pop up anytime but winter. Prepare the garden bed. Geraniums flourish in soil that has been tilled and is loose. Use a tiller or rake to ensure that the soil is loose a good 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38.1 cm) down. After loosening the soil, mix in 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of compost to give the soil as much nutrients as possible. Give each plant enough space to grow. Depending on the type of geranium, you will want to separate each plant by 6 inches (15.2 cm) to 2 feet (0.6 m) in distance. If you have picked up a larger variety of geranium, you will want to give each plant a good 2 feet (0.6 m) of space to grow. Dig holes for each plant. Each hole should be roughly double the diameter of the plastic pot that the geranium is contained in. For example, if you bought a geranium that came in a 6-inch plastic pot, you should make a hole that is 1 foot (0.3 m) in diameter. If you choose to grow your geraniums from seeds, sow them directly into the ground. If you do choose to use seeds, know that your plants will take longer to grow and blossom. If you are sowing seeds in a pot, start your pot off indoors while the seeds take root. Once the seeds begin to sprout, you can move the pot outside. If you need to move the plants outside during harsher weather, then start by leaving them outside during the day when it is warmer and bringing them in at night. This is called “hardening off.” Place the plant in the hole. Gently take the geranium out of its container, making sure to not break any of its roots. Place the plant in the hole so that the plant's root ball (the bundle of roots that have been squished together in the plastic container) is level with the surface of the soil. However, if your soil has a lot of clay in it, then you may want to plant it up higher since clay will make a basin for water and this will cause your geraniums to rot. Fill the rest of the hole up with soil and pat the soil down around the plant so that the geranium can stand up on its own. Water your plant immediately, but be careful not to rinse the soil away from the root ball. Water gently at the base of the plant. Try to avoid putting soil on the stem of the plant, as a buried stem could lead to a rotting plant. Water your plants as needed. Geraniums are considered relatively drought resistant, but that doesn't mean you should never water them. To tell if your plants need to be watered, check the soil. Use your fingernail to scratch just below the surface of the soil--if it is dry or barely moist, you should water your flowers. It is important to let the soil dry out between waterings. For geraniums in pots, make sure that you give them enough water. Water the plants until the water runs out the bottom (hence why you need holes in the bottom of your pot.) Keep the compost flowing. Each spring, you should add a new layer of compost around your geraniums. Place 2 inches (5.1 cm) of mulch on top of this layer of composted soil. The mulch will help to keep the soil moist, and will also reduce the number of weeds brave enough to grow around your geraniums. Keep your plant healthy by removing dead flowers. After the flower has bloomed, remove the dead flowers and parts of the plant so that it can regrow healthy and strong. Remove leaves and stalks that have died (they will be brown in color) so that your plant does not grow any fungus (which appears on dead parts of plants.) Separate your plants every three to four years. Once your plants have grown large (and most likely extended their boundaries a good deal,) you should separate the plants. Divide the plants in late spring. To do this, lift the plants (and their roots) out of the ground, separate the plants by the clumps they have grown around their stems, and replant them. Fertilize with liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20. Follow the directions on the fertilizer to know how much to use. Try to keep from getting fertilizer on the plant leaves. Repeat the application once every two weeks during active growing seasons. | Pick out the right spot to plant your geraniums. Get a pot that has holes in the bottom. Pick the right time of year to plant your flowers. Prepare the garden bed. Give each plant enough space to grow. Dig holes for each plant. Place the plant in the hole. Water your plants as needed. Keep the compost flowing. Keep your plant healthy by removing dead flowers. Separate your plants every three to four years. Fertilize with liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Peppermint-Bark | How to Make Peppermint Bark | To make peppermint bark, first break up chocolate bars into smaller pieces and microwave them in 30 second intervals until they're melted. Once the chocolate is smooth, mix in 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil and transfer the chocolate into a pan. Next, prepare the white chocolate in the microwave and layer it on top of the milk chocolate in the pan. While the white chocolate is still soft, sprinkle cracked peppermint candies on top and chill for 2 hours. | Place the milk chocolate in a bowl. Take high-quality bars of milk or dark chocolate and break them apart to make smaller pieces. Put the chocolate pieces into a microwave safe bowl and place the bowl in the microwave. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Cook the chocolate in the microwave on 50% power for thirty seconds. Chocolate tends to burn in the microwave if it is cooked too long, so make sure not to cook it for more than 30 seconds. You can also use a double boiler to melt the chocolate if you prefer. Pour water in the bottom section of the boiler until about an inch from the top, then place it under low heat. Break apart the chocolate into pieces and place them into the top pan of the double boiler. Stir the chocolate continuously until it is melted. Stir the chocolate. Open up the microwave and stir the chocolate with a spoon, mixing it around the bowl. This will encourage equal melting and ensure that the chocolate doesn't burn. Microwave and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Put the chocolate back in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Take it out and stir it again. Repeat this process until the chocolate is completely smooth. Stir peppermint oil into the chocolate. Measure out 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil and pour it into the bowl of milk or dark chocolate. Stir the chocolate thoroughly to distribute the peppermint oil evenly throughout. This will infuse the chocolate with a subtle peppermint flavor. Pour the chocolate into a pan. After the chocolate is completely smooth, line a 9 x 12 pan with parchment paper. Then pour the melted milk or dark chocolate into the pan. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure you get all of the chocolate out. Distribute the chocolate evenly. Make sure that all the chocolate is spread evenly in the pan. Lift up the pan and tap the bottom gently against the counter to encourage spreading and to remove air bubbles. You can also use a spatula to spread the chocolate around. Makes sure the chocolate is about a third of an inch thick. Let the chocolate set for 10 minutes. Put aside the milk or dark chocolate and let it set for at least 10 minutes at room temperature. While you are letting this first layer set, you can start to prepare the white chocolate! Melt the white chocolate. Use the same microwave technique as you did for the milk or dark chocolate to melt the white chocolate. Remember to be patient when you microwave and stir every 30 seconds so as to not scald the chocolate. Stir peppermint oil into the chocolate. Stir in the remaining ¼ teaspoon of peppermint oil into the white chocolate. Make sure that you stir the chocolate thoroughly so that the flavor is distributed throughout. Pour the white chocolate into the pan. Take the melted white chocolate and pour it into the pan. Because you allowed the milk chocolate to set, the layers won't mix. Make sure that the white chocolate layer is around the same thickness as the milk chocolate, using a spatula distribute the white chocolate evenly. Break the peppermint candies into small pieces. Immediately after pouring the white chocolate into the pan, unwrap the peppermint candies and put them into a plastic sandwich bag. Take a small hammer or a meat tenderizer and break the candy into small pieces. How big or small you want the pieces is up to you! Sprinkle the peppermint over the white chocolate. After you finish breaking the candy pieces, sprinkle them over the white chocolate. Spread them evenly over the white chocolate so that they are distributed over the whole surface of the chocolate. Make sure that you sprinkle the candy immediately, because the candy will only stick if the white chocolate is still soft. Refrigerate for two hours. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and put the bark in the refrigerator for two hours. This will allow the chocolate to harden, and will ensure that the peppermint candy stays stuck to the chocolate. Cut the chocolate. After you have let the bark harden in the fridge, take out the pan. Use a knife to poke the chocolate. If it's fully hard, either it break apart into chunks or cut the bark with a knife. Then your delicious creation will be ready to eat! To break the chocolate into rough pieces, peel up the parchment paper and take the sheet of bark out of the pan. Use your hands to bend and break the chocolate. If you prefer more precisely cut pieces, cut the chocolate with a sharp knife while it is still in the pan. | Place the milk chocolate in a bowl. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Stir the chocolate. Microwave and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Stir peppermint oil into the chocolate. Pour the chocolate into a pan. Distribute the chocolate evenly. Let the chocolate set for 10 minutes. Melt the white chocolate. Stir peppermint oil into the chocolate. Pour the white chocolate into the pan. Break the peppermint candies into small pieces. Sprinkle the peppermint over the white chocolate. Refrigerate for two hours. Cut the chocolate. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Skip-Bo | How to Play Skip Bo | Skip-Bo is a fun card game that can be played with 2 to 6 people. The goal of the game is to get rid of your cards before all of the other players. To play, you'll need a deck of cards designed specifically for Skip-Bo. First, shuffle the cards and deal each player their hand. For a 2 to 4 player game, deal each player 30 cards. For a 5 to 6 player game, deal each player 20 cards. Keep your cards face-down in a pile, except for the top card, which you should flip up. Place the leftover cards face-down in the center of the table. The player to the left of the dealer goes first. To start your turn, draw from the face-down pile in the center of the table until you have 5 cards. Then, see if you can play any of your cards, including the face-up card on your pile or one of the 4 piles in the center of the playing area. In order to play one of your cards on a center pile, it must be the next card in ascending order. Skip-Bo cards are wild and can be used as any card. To start a new center pile on the table, you must play a 1. If you put a 12 on a pile, the pile is discarded, and the space opens up for a new pile to start. There can only be 4 piles on the table at one time. If you play a card from the top of your personal pile, flip up the next card in the pile. Continue your turn until you're unable to play any more cards. Then, discard a card from your hand. Every player has 4 discard piles. You can stack discarded cards and play them on the center piles as long as they're at the top of the discarded stack. If you manage to play all 5 of the cards in your hand in one turn, draw another 5 cards from the deck and continue playing. Once a player discards, it's the player to their left's turn. Play continues until one player plays all of the cards in their personal pile. Whoever runs out of cards in their personal pile first wins! | Learn the objective. A Skip-Bo deck has a total of 144 cards numbered 1 to 12 and 16 "skip-bo" cards, which are wild. Each player is dealt a pile 10 to 30 cards, depending on the number of players. Each player's pile of cards is called a stockpile. The point of Skip-Bo is to play every card in your stockpile in numerical order. The first person to play every card in their pile is the winner. Even though the cards are multi-colored in Skip-Bo, these colors are irrelevant. All you need to worry about is the number on the cards. Know how to use the different piles. Aside from each player's stockpile, there are three other types of piles used for three different purposes. However, it is important to understand how each one works before you start playing the game. After all of the cards have been dealt, place the remaining cards in the middle of the players. This is called the draw pile. Each player will draw from this pile at the beginning of their turn, and use the cards to create building piles. When play begins, players start getting rid of their cards by making building piles in the middle of the table. There are four building piles, and each one must start with either a 1 or a Skip-Bo card. At the end of each turn, players discard a card into a discard pile. Each player can have up to four discard piles, and the cards in these piles should be facing up. The cards in the discard piles can be used in succeeding turns to add to the build piles. Know how to win the game. Throughout the game, the goal is to get rid of all of your cards as quickly as possible by putting them into building piles. The first person to play every card in his or her stockpile wins the game. You can strategize against other players by preventing them from getting rid of their cards more quickly than you get rid of yours. Since you can see what cards other players have in their discard piles, you can play cards that will block them from being able to play these cards. You'll get rid of your cards faster if you play the cards from your stockpile before playing those in your discard pile. Keep score if desired. Keeping score while playing Skip-Bo is optional, but it can be a great way to extend the game to multiple rounds. To keep score, have each player count their remaining cards at the end of the game and multiply this number by 5. The winning player gets these points plus 25 for winning the game. The first player to reach 500 points wins. 500 points is just a starting point recommended for score keeping, but you can go for a higher number if you want to play more rounds. Play on teams for a change. After you have mastered the basic rules of Skip-Bo, you might consider playing on teams. This adds some extra strategy and cooperation. To play in teams, follow the same rules as normal Skip-Bo, but you can use your teammate's discard piles to help you with your turn. Divide your total players evenly to play in teams. For example, if four people are playing, then you could play in teams of two. Play at a large table. Since Skip-Bo involves so many different piles of cards, it's best to play at a large, round table. That way everyone has room for their stockpile and four discard piles, and there's room in the middle of the table for the draw pile and four building piles. Things can get pretty crowded if you try to play at a small table. Shuffle and deal the cards. Since the deck is so big, you may need to divide it into more than one stack to shuffle it properly. When it comes to dealing, deal cards based on how many players you have. If you have two to four players, each player gets 30 cards. If you have five or six players, each player gets 20 cards. Have each player make a stockpile. Each player should place their pile of cards directly in front of them on the table, face down. These are the players' stockpiles. Create a draw pile. Put the extra cards face down in the middle of the table. This is the draw pile. Make sure that there is extra space next to the draw pile for the building piles. You won't have anything to put into them yet, but you will build them as you play. Decide who goes first. Whoever is sitting to the left of the dealer is usually who goes first in Skip-Bo. However, if you prefer to have the youngest player go first, or choose another method of picking who will go first, then you can do that. Flip over your top stockpile card. Begin your first turn by flipping over the top card in your stockpile. Everyone will start their first turn in the same manner. Draw five cards. Next, draw five cards from the draw pile. You will always need to have a hand of five cards at the beginning of your turn, so you may need to draw between one and five cards every turn. Check your hand. After you have revealed your stockpile card and you have five cards in your hand, then you can examine your cards to see if you can add to a build pile. Each build pile is the beginning of a sequence, and the pile is "built" when more cards are added in sequential order - a 2, a 3, a 4, and so on. You can fill in any gaps with Skip-Bo wild cards. Remember that the colors do not matter in Skip-Bo, and only pay attention to the numbers. On your first turn: If you have a 1 or a Skip-Bo wild card in your hand or at the top of your stockpile, then you can start a build pile. If you don't have a 1 or a Skip-Bo card, then discard one card to form your first discard pile. You can form up to four discard piles in subsequent turns. If someone else went before you, then you can also add to their build pile. Keep going until you have no cards left to keep building the sequence. Play all five cards in your hand if you can. If you have any cards left, then discard one card to form a discard pile before ending your turn. Continue taking turns. In subsequent turns, players draw enough cards to add up to a hand of five cards. For example, if you play all five cards in one turn, then draw five the next turn; if you have three cards left after a turn, then draw two for your next turn. After the first turn, players may use cards in their discard piles to add to the building piles. When a building pile reaches the number 12, scoop it up and set it aside to be added to the draw pile when it runs down. A new building pile may be started in its place with a 1 or a Skip-Bo card. Keep playing until someone's stockpile runs out. Go around and around the table until a player runs out of cards in his or her stockpile. This player wins the game. | Learn the objective. Know how to use the different piles. Know how to win the game. Keep score if desired. Play on teams for a change. Play at a large table. Shuffle and deal the cards. Have each player make a stockpile. Create a draw pile. Decide who goes first. Flip over your top stockpile card. Draw five cards. Check your hand. Keep going until you have no cards left to keep building the sequence. Continue taking turns. Keep playing until someone's stockpile runs out. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Work-With-a-Person-Who-Has-Body-Odor | How to Work With a Person Who Has Body Odor | Working with a person who has bad body odor can be uncomfortable, but there are ways to approach the situation without offending them. Try mentioning your own body odor to bring the topic up. For example, spray some deodorant and say something like, “Sorry if I smell a bit. Sometimes I sweat a lot when it's warm.” Alternatively, say, “Do you think the office is hot today? It feels quite sweaty.” You can also place an air freshener on your desk to mask their smell and subtly hint that there's a bad odor. If nothing changes and the person's odor is distracting you, speak to your human resources department, who can deal with the situation. | Pretend that you have body odor. A common non-confrontational way to bring this issue up with the person is to act as if you have this problem yourself. This is a great way to bring up the subject of body odor with someone, especially if the person is not someone you are very close with. Bringing it up in this way will make them think about their own smells, which may make them realize that they are a little stinky. Try saying something like: “I'm so sorry if I smell a little; I went for a run during lunch and didn't have time to reapply deodorant.” “Do you think the office is hot today? It's making me sweat, and I feel like I'm a bit smelly.” “I'm sorry if you can smell my feet; it's was raining outside when I was running errands and my shoes and socks are soaked.” Deflect the situation onto yourself. Another non-confrontational way to bring up offensive odor with a person is to couch your opinion in statements that put the blame on you, not them. Since it can be uncomfortable to tell a person that they smell bad or are wearing too much perfume, it can sometimes be easier to say you have allergies or are very sensitive to smells. This way you can plant the seed in their head that maybe they do have an offensive odor without actually saying it directly. To deflect the issue onto yourself, try saying something like: “What type of perfume are you wearing? I'm allergic to most perfumes, which makes me too sensitive to wear even a little bit of it.” “I have such a sensitive nose that I can only use a little cologne. It's like an allergy; even one spray makes me sneeze!” Decorate your work space with pleasant smelling items. If your workplace allows you to bring in scented candles or air fresheners, try keeping them at your desk to see if this helps with the smell. Even if you can't light the candle due to safety reasons, an unlit candle will still give off a fair amount of scent. If these aren't allowed, try putting a flowerpot or potpourri at your desk for some decoration that subtly refreshes the air around you. Your new scented decorations will mask bad odors and could even hint to the person that the air is in need of refreshing. If they ask, you can say, “I feel like it just sort of smells in the office lately, so I thought I'd perk my area up.” Some plants with pleasant aromatherapy smells include: Lavender Jasmine Lilies Chamomile plant Geraniums Exercise good hygiene when you’re with them. Another way to hint at a person's body odor is to subtly remind them of good hygiene habits. Maybe they are a bit stinky because of a medical issue, a cultural difference, or a simple lack of awareness. Whatever the reason, your practicing good hygiene in front of them will be a subtle cue that your hygiene habits are different. By noticing that you and other people have hygiene habits unlike their own, this awareness could cause them to change their own habits. Try showing them good habits by: Talking about how you always have mouthwash and deodorant in your desk because you get so anxious about your odor before meetings. Offering them some of your cologne or perfume by saying, “You've got to try this, it smells so good!” and handing them the product. Offering them scented hand sanitizer or lotion after a meal saying, “I just hate when my hands smell like onions all day!” Limit the amount of time you spend with them. If none of your hints are helping with the person's odor, and you don't want to confront them about it, just try to avoid them as much as possible. This is really only an option if the person does not work in your immediate location or you don't have to see them often throughout the day; otherwise, avoiding them will come across as rude and even damage your reputation in the office. If you can avoid them without issue, this is a good way to sidestep their body odor without having to take any additional action. Avoid gossiping about the coworker's body odor. When you have to deal with something that involves constant invasion of your senses, like body odor, you may feel an urge to vent your frustration with other coworkers. However, try your best to not bring the problem up with others, especially if you are planning to speak with them directly. Gossiping about the problem could make you seem mean and cruel to your coworkers. Also, since office gossip tends to travel fast, the offending coworker could hear that you were speaking unkindly about them, and any attempt to speak with them about the issue later will seem disingenuous. Consider how close you are to the person. In general, the closer you are to the person, the more direct you should be. If the offending person is a close work friend, being direct is a great strategy; however, if the person is a superior or a client, being direct about a personal matter like body odor is inappropriate. In this instance, the most appropriate course of action would be to either drop hints first or go straight to Human Resources to help you. If they are not a superior or client and you do have a friendly relationship with them, it would be appropriate for you to tell them directly. Talk to the person about their odor in private. No matter how nice you say it, bringing up bad body odor to a person will be uncomfortable. The person will most likely be embarrassed, so waiting to talk to them in a private setting is very important. It is a kind gesture that makes you seem respectful, and it creates a space where the person may feel comfortable explaining their odor. Perhaps they have an allergy to deodorant or a medical issue that requires a colostomy bag. Some tips to initiate the private conversation: Invite your colleague out for coffee or lunch to get them alone and away from the office. Ask the person to take a walk with you to relieve some stress after a long meeting. If you can't talk to the person in complete privacy, be sure to at least pull him/her aside where others can't hear. Make sure to pull them aside subtly, and don't draw attention to yourselves. Let them know gently. It is important to understand the distinction between being direct and being insensitive. In order to be direct without being unkind, you want to be sure to avoid teasing them or using any judgmental language. Don't prolong the conversation with a long explanation, and instead get to the point quickly. It's also best to avoid telling them that other people in the office are talking about their odor unless this is not the first time you two have spoken about body odor. Some compassionate conversation starters include: “I want to discuss something that's awkward, and I hope I don't offend you. You've had a noticeable body odor lately, and since this is the kind of thing people often don't realize about themselves, I wanted to bring it to your attention.” “It's been so hot lately that sometimes, despite proper cleanliness, the heat causes occasional body odor. I've noticed, only once or twice, that you've suffered from this recently, and I wanted to tell you in order to avoid any future embarrassment.” “I wanted to meet with you one-on-one because I need to share something with you privately, discreetly, and with as much sensitivity as possible. You may not realize it, but it appears you have a bit of a body odor problem.” End the discussion on a positive note. After discussing the issue, it's pretty likely you will both feel a little awkward and embarrassed. Because this person is someone you work with, you want to avoid letting this unpleasant interaction linger on any longer than it needs to. End the conversation positively by letting them know you are glad you talked, and invite them to do the same for you if you ever need it. You can even offer some suggestions to help them fix the problem, like buying a desk fan to combat the office heat or suggesting a brand of deodorant you love. Leave an anonymous note. If you are afraid to tell the person, the least confrontational way of letting them know would be to leave an anonymous note on their desk. One drawback with this method is that it might cause the person to try to figure out who sent the note in the first place, distracting them from the real issue. Just make sure to word the note as kindly as possible, avoiding any language or handwriting that could give you away. Also be sure to place the note somewhere where no one else could accidentally come across it, as this will embarrass the person unnecessarily. Secretly give them a fresh kit. Leaving a kit with some refreshing products is a great way to anonymously let the person know that there is a problem with their body odor. Include things like mouthwash, deodorant, scented lotion, or wet wipes in a caddy or gift box, and make it look nice so it seems more like a gift than a mandate. Leave the fresh kit in their gym locker, on their desk, or somewhere where they can find it in private. Send an anonymous email. Bad body odor is such a common problem in office settings that there are many sites that send someone an anonymous email for you. By filling out a few fields, the sites send an email explaining to the person that they have body odor, and some sites even include tips for managing body odor. This is a great way to not only let the person know, but also to provide them with some information so that they can treat the problem proactively. Try one of these sites or look one up yourself: http://www.smell-well.net/us/odor-issue http://www.nooffenseoranything.com/bodyodor.html Speak to the Human Resources department. If the offending person is your superior or you have tried other methods of telling them without success, you should go to the HR department at your work. Whether the body odor is unavoidable due to a medical condition or the coworker is unwilling to do anything about it, the HR department will handle it in a way that appeases both of you. Perhaps another discussion from a third party will let the person know it's not just you that things they have an odor issue, or maybe HR will move you to a desk further away from them. Either way, HR will help to resolve the issue delicately so that no one has to feel uncomfortable while at work. | Pretend that you have body odor. Deflect the situation onto yourself. Decorate your work space with pleasant smelling items. Exercise good hygiene when you’re with them. Limit the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid gossiping about the coworker's body odor. Consider how close you are to the person. Talk to the person about their odor in private. Let them know gently. End the discussion on a positive note. Leave an anonymous note. Secretly give them a fresh kit. Send an anonymous email. Speak to the Human Resources department. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Tayammum | How to Perform Tayammum | To perform tayammum, start by reciting "In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Compassionate." Then, announce your intention by saying "I am doing tayammum in place of wudu, for the pleasure of Allah and to seek closeness to him." Next, place your hands on the ground, then rub your face by sliding your palms from your forehead to the bridge of your nose. Afterwards, take turns covering each hand with the palm of the other hand, and place them back on the ground. Then, repeat the rubbing and hand covering process to conclude the ritual. | Practice cleanliness. For Muslims, it is required to purify the body through washing before praying and performing salah, or handling and reading the Qur'an. Purification of the body and clothes before prayer is called taharah. Look for water. Usually water is required to cleanse one's body before performing salah. This kind of washing ritual is called wudu, which requires that you clean your hands, forearms, face, head, and feet. There is a more intense cleansing called ghusl that is required after instances of “uncleanliness” (such as sexual intercourse, menstruation, and child birth). Ghusl involves bathing the entire body. Wudu is nullified after any natural discharge (urine, gas, stool, ejaculation), after falling asleep, or after any type of unconsciousness. If one of these things has happened to you, you must perform wudu again before you engage in salah. Know when tayammum is allowed. Tayammum is permitted in the following instances : When acceptable water is not available within a one mile radius. When there is a legitimate fear that an enemy or a dangerous animal is near the water. When using your water for wudu would risk not having enough water to drink later. When there is no means of getting water out of the well (no rope or bucket to draw the water). When using water would be dangerous to your health. When you don't have enough money to purchase water that is being sold. When water is being sold at an unreasonable price. When there is no trace of water and no person to ask about where to find water. Determine if you have enough acceptable water. If you cannot find enough water to perform wudu, or if using the water you have would endanger your health or that of your dependents, it is appropriate to perform tayammum instead of wudu. Permitted types of water include fresh water from a pond or well, melted snow, well water, or river/sea/spring water. Prohibited kinds of water include unclean water, water whose color has changed, water into which something impure has fallen, water extracted from fruit and trees, water left over after animals have been drinking it, or water previously used in wudu or ghusl. Choose tayammum if you have no water. When you find yourself in a position where you need to cleanse your body before performing salah, but there is no acceptable water to use, you can perform tayammum with clean earth/dirt instead. Items on which tayammum is accepted include : Taahir (pure) earth Sand Stone Limestone Baked earthen pots Walls made of mud, stone, or brick Clay Any item with a thick covering of dust The first preference is fresh earth, but if none is available you can choose clay, a lump of sand, or even a stone if necessary. Items that are not acceptable to perform tayammum on include : Wood Metal Glass Food items Anything that burns to ash or melts Find a clean place. This location can be anything natural like a rock, sand, or grass. The location must be clean to maintain the purity of the ritual. If the location of tayammum is impure, you must purify it with water. If there is no water to purify the location, you can use any of the items that are permitted to use for tayammum (listed above). Remove unnecessary items. To perform tayammum, you must clean your body and clothing thoroughly (this is called tahir). This means that you should remove any unnecessary coverings like rings or nail polish. Determine if you need to perform ablution for your feet. If you put on your socks or shoes while you have a valid wudu, it is unnecessary to take them off and wash your feet every time you must renew your wudu. You may leave your shoes/socks on and simply wipe the top of each covered foot one time with your wet hands instead of washing your entire foot. If you have no water to wet your hands, you can use any of the items that are permitted for tayammum (listed above) to wipe the top of each of your covered feet. You can do this for up to 24 hours. However, if you are traveling, this method will work for three days. Memorize the order. All parts of tayammum must be performed in the correct order, so it is important that you know the order of the steps so that you can follow them accurately. If you make a mistake in the order, you must begin your tayammum from the beginning again. Recite the following: Bismillaah hirahmaan nirrahiim "In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Compassionate" This phrase begins the first verse of the first chapter of the Qur'an. This fact emphasizes the importance of beginning your tayammum in the name of Allah. Make your niyyah. This is the way that you announce your intention to perform tayammum. You do this by saying "I am doing tayammum in place of wudu, for the pleasure of Allah and to seek closeness to him". It is important to announce your intention for tayammum so that the entirety of the sacred ritual is maintained and respected. You do not need to verbally say the niyyah; this was never done by the Prophet. You just need to have the intention in your heart. Place your hands on the ground. This is the part where the clean earth is necessary. Strike your palms simultaneously on the earth (or clay, sand, or stone, according to preference and availability). It is not necessary to cover your hands completely with the earth – just touch it with your palms. Rub your face with your hands. The face encompasses the right ear to the left ear. Place your palms on your forehead at the hairline and pull your hands down until they reach the bridge of your nose. Only use your palms during this process. Cover each hand. Move the palm of your left hand so that it covers the entire back of your right hand from the wrist bone to the fingertips. Then repeat this action with the right palm covering your left hand. Repeat the process of placing your hands on the ground. Once more, strike your hands simultaneously on the ground so that they come into contact with the clean earth. Repeat the process of rubbing your face with your hands. Cover each hand again (beginning with the left and moving on to the right) to conclude the tayammum ritual. | Practice cleanliness. Look for water. Know when tayammum is allowed. Determine if you have enough acceptable water. Choose tayammum if you have no water. Find a clean place. Remove unnecessary items. Determine if you need to perform ablution for your feet. Memorize the order. Recite the following: Make your niyyah. Place your hands on the ground. Rub your face with your hands. Cover each hand. Repeat the process of placing your hands on the ground. Repeat the process of rubbing your face with your hands. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Insulate-a-Garage-Door | How to Insulate a Garage Door | To insulate a garage door, you can use foam board or a garage insulation kit from your local hardware store. If you use foam board, get some with the highest R-value you can find, which is a measurement for how well a material insulates. Then, cut it to size and press it into place on your garage door using the panel railings on the door. If your garage door doesn't have panels, use a strong, rubber-based adhesive to apply the foam to the door. | Go with foam board or reflective paneling for lighter insulation. Foam board and reflective paneling are usually the cheaper and lighter options for insulation. If you live in an area without extreme temperatures, install foam board or reflective panelling on your garage door to insulate it. Foam board is thicker than reflective paneling, so it will be more effective and may also be more expensive. Both foam board and reflective paneling should be available from your local hardware store. Get a garage door insulation kit for more effective insulation. While insulation kits are normally more expensive and less customisable than foam board, they are also much more effective. Pick a garage door insulation kit if you need a lot of insulation in your garage, or if you live in an area with that gets very hot or very cold often. Garage door insulation kits will usually come with fiber batting, which will have a much higher R-value than other options. The higher R-value an insulation option has, the more effective it will be at insulating. Face the foiled side in the direction you want to reflect the most heat. Some insulation will only have foil on 1 side, meaning you'll need to choose which way you want it to face. Install it with the foil facing into the door to keep the garage cooler, or install it with the foil facing into the garage to keep more heat inside. If you install the insulation with the foil facing into the garage, it will reflect the heat inside the garage back and keep the room warmer. Use this method if you live in a colder area. If you install the insulation with the foil facing outward, it will reflect the heat from the sun away from the door, keeping your garage cooler. Use this in an area that gets hotter more often. If you live in an area without extreme temperatures, or you want to be able to regulate the inside of your garage more easily, try and find insulation with foil on each side. Clean your garage door with a household cleaner and paper towels. Removing the layers of dirt, grime, and grease that are built up on your garage door will help your insulation adhere to the door itself. Use a household spray cleaner and some paper towels to spray down the entire inside of the door and wipe it clean, swapping out the paper towels anytime they become dirty. It may also help to spray your garage door down with a garden hose, the same way you would clean a car. Spray it down and then wipe it dry with a rag or spare towel to clean your door further. You could also clean your garage door with a pressure washer if you have one available. Test it on a small space first to make sure it doesn't damage the door, before cleaning the whole door. Use a rag or spare towel to dry the garage door once finished. Make sure your garage door is completely dry before you begin installing any insulation. Measure the dimensions of your interior door panels. Most standard garage doors will be made up of several smaller panels which should be easily visible from the inside. Use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions of each panel, noting each measurement down as you work. Gather the height, width, and depth of the panels to determine how much insulation you will need. Always measure the panels individually, as they may be different dimensions in different places across the garage door. Measure each panel and take a separate measurement. If your garage door doesn't have panels built into it or is just a singular flat surface, you can still use foam board insulation. Measure the internal size of your entire garage door for a guideline on how much insulation board you will need. If you have a garage door that rolls up into the ceiling, foam board and most other easy types of insulation will be too bulky for the mechanisms holding your door. Talk to a garage door specialist to investigate your options, or to look into replacing your door with a pre-insulated one. Purchase your insulation. Foam board and reflective paneling are some of the more effective types of insulation for the very low price that they can be found at. Look online or ask at your local hardware store to find foil-backed expanded polystyrene foam boards around the same thickness as the depth of your garage door panels, or a long roll of reflective bubble insulation paneling. Purchase enough to adequately cover your garage door. Some hardware stores will offer to cut the boards to size for you. Bring the measurements you've taken of the door with you in case your local hardware store offers this service. The capacity for a material to insulate is measured by its “R-value”. The higher the R-value, the better insulated your garage door will be. Purchase insulation with the highest R-value you can find for the best results. Foam board and reflective paneling won't often have exceptionally high R-values, but they are the cheapest and easiest options for the level of insulation you get with it. If you live in a place without a lot of extreme temperatures, either should be enough. The foil backing will work to help reflect the heat, helping to keep your garage insulated further. Cut the foam board or reflective paneling to the right size. Working one panel at a time, use a craft knife or a small hand saw to trim a piece of insulation to the measurements you collected. Use a straight edge such as a metal rule to ensure that your cuts are straight and the corners are square. If the sides of your foam board are slightly crooked or uneven, grind them along a hard surface like the concrete floor of your garage to sand them down and even them out. If you have a circular saw or something similar, you can use this to easily cut the foam boards to size. You don't need to cut all the way through the foam board to trim it to size. Cut at least halfway through on a straight line, and bend the board to snap it evenly along that line. Cut the reflective paneling on a piece of cardboard or something similar to avoid dulling the blade as you cut through it. Press the insulation into place if you have panel railings. Many garage doors will have metal railings 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5.1 cm) deep that can be used to hold the insulation in place. With the foiled side facing towards you, slide one edge of the insulation into one side of the railings to hold it firm. Bend the foam board slightly to push it behind the railings on the other sides of the panel until it pops securely into place. Depending on the size and shape of the metal railings, you may need to make some relief cuts into the edges of the foam board so that it can slide into place easily. Use a craft knife or something similar to cut down the edges of your foam boards so they fit into place. If you cannot get the foam boards into the metal railings, you can cut the board in half lengthways and try to fit the two halves in independently. This will give you a straight edge to work with, and shouldn't reduce the effectiveness of the insulation as long as the board remains snug. If you are using reflective paneling, add some double-sided tape to the door first to help it hold securely for longer. Use a strong adhesive for a door without panels. If your door is entirely flat, use a strong adhesive such as Liquid Nails to hold the foam board in place. Place several drops of your chosen adhesive around on the non-foiled side of your insulation, roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the edges and 3 inches (7.6 cm) apart. Making sure not to touch the adhesive, press the board or paneling into place on the door. Make sure you leave around 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between the foam board and any hinges that the door will bend on. The door should be able to close without different panels of foam board touching each other. For extra security, you can also put adhesive over the center of your foam board or paneling. Repeat until your garage door is covered. Once you've placed and secured one piece of foam board or reflective paneling, you need to repeat the same process of cutting, trimming, and either pressing or adhering the insulation into place. Work one panel at a time to make sure the fit is accurate. Clean and dry the garage door. Use a household cleaner and some paper towels to clean off any dirt, grime, and grease on the inside of your garage door. Wipe it down, swapping out paper towels whenever they become dirty. Use a garden hose to spray away any remaining dirt or residue, wipe away the excess water, and leave the door to dry for 3 to 4 hours. Make sure your door is completely clean and dry before you begin installing insulation. Any dirt or grime on the inside of the door will prevent the insulation from sticking, and any will be trapped behind the insulation once it's installed. You could also use a pressure washer to clean the garage door. Test it on a small area first to make sure it doesn't damage the door, before spraying down the entire surface. Use an old towel or a rag to wipe away excess water before leaving it to dry completely for 3-4 hours. Measure the height and width of your door. The dimensions of your door will be a key factor in determining which insulation kit to buy, or even how many kits you need to buy to get the job done. Use a tape measure to measure the height and width of your garage door, noting down all of the dimensions as you go. If your door is broken up into panels that are separated by a metal railing, measure each of the panels individually rather than measuring the whole door. Purchase a garage door insulation kit. These should be available from your local hardware store or online and will come with the fiber batting and retaining pins needed to insulate the door. Purchase a kit that comes with enough batting to cover your garage door. Depending on the size of your door, you may need to purchase two insulation kits. If you have a double garage, for example, it's likely you'll need multiple kits to insulate the whole door. Purchase the insulation kit with the highest R-value for the best insulation. If you're unsure about which kit to buy for your door, feel free ask someone at your local hardware store for assistance. You may be able to buy the individual parts of the kit independently, but this will often be more difficult than purchasing the right kit. Ask at your local hardware store to look into your options. Install the retaining pins across your door panels. For each of the panels on your door, mark two points in the middle of the panel and roughly 12 inches (30 cm) from each side. Peel the adhesive backing off of the retaining pins in your kit and stick them onto these points, pressing in firmly to make sure they adhere fully. The retaining pins will be long plastic or metal spikes on a wide and flat base that can be stuck to your door. They will help hold your insulation in place. The pins don't need to be lined up perfectly, as long as they are roughly evenly spaced and divided across each panel. If you don't have panels on your garage door, use the sheets of batting insulation as a guide to break your door up into different sections. Install your retaining pins in the same method, but spread out over these sections rather than across prebuilt panels. Cut the batting to the size of your door panels. Unroll the insulation batting from your garage door kit and lay it on a flat surface. Use a pencil or pen to mark out the dimensions of each of your garage door panels, before cutting the batting down to size with a craft knife. Work one panel at a time until you have enough trimmed batting for the entire door. If your door is without panels and you installed the retaining pins based on the size of the batting, you shouldn't need to trim it down at all. For extra safety, wear cut-resistant gloves while working with the batting. Press the batting onto the retaining pins. Lift one piece of batting up and press it onto the retaining pins in one section or panel of the garage door, making sure it is straight and centered. Tuck the edges of the batting into the metal railings surrounding the panel to help keep them held in place. Repeat this process until all of the insulation is in place. If your batting is only covered in foil or plastic on one side, make sure it is that side that is facing towards you when installing the batting. This will both make the finished door look better, as well as improving the insulation. If you don't have metal railings surrounding the panels or sections of your door, you can simply press the batting onto the retaining pins to hold it steady as you continue working. Make a cross-shaped incision over the pins. Use your hand to feel underneath the batting and locate the retaining pin sticking out. Press down on the batting around the pin and use a craft knife to cut through the batting. Make 2 small cuts across the tip of the pin, roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length to create a small cross that the pin can stick through. If there is foil or plastic on both sides of the batting, make a deeper incision so that the pin can push through both layers of protection and emerge on the other side. Secure the batting in place with a fastener. The fasteners should come with the insulation kit and will be metal or plastic sleeves that slip over the retaining pins to keep the insulation in place. Press a fastener onto each of the pins, pushing down until it clicks into place. The fasteners will stop the batting from falling out, as well as softening the tips of the retaining pins. Different kits will have different retaining pins and fasteners. Check the manufacturer's instructions for your specific garage door insulation kit for advice on how to attach your fasteners. Use aluminum foil tape to hold any loose edges. If there are any edges on the batting that are popping out of the metal railings on the door, or that can't be tucked under any railings, you can use aluminum foil tape to keep them from coming loose. Run strips of tape over the loose edges to secure them together, or to hold them to an exposed fitting on the door itself. Aluminum foil tape will hold the batting place and help insulate the gaps between each piece of batting. It should be available at your local hardware store or online. | Go with foam board or reflective paneling for lighter insulation. Get a garage door insulation kit for more effective insulation. Face the foiled side in the direction you want to reflect the most heat. Clean your garage door with a household cleaner and paper towels. Measure the dimensions of your interior door panels. Purchase your insulation. The capacity for a material to insulate is measured by its “R-value”. Cut the foam board or reflective paneling to the right size. Press the insulation into place if you have panel railings. Use a strong adhesive for a door without panels. Repeat until your garage door is covered. Clean and dry the garage door. Measure the height and width of your door. Purchase a garage door insulation kit. Install the retaining pins across your door panels. Cut the batting to the size of your door panels. Press the batting onto the retaining pins. Make a cross-shaped incision over the pins. Secure the batting in place with a fastener. Use aluminum foil tape to hold any loose edges. |
https://www.wikihow.health/Go-on-a-Raw-Food-Diet | How to Go on a Raw Food Diet | If you want to go on a raw food diet, start by stocking up on a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, which will form the bulk of your diet. You can also eat raw fish, but look for sushi-grade products to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella. However, avoid cooked, processed, and refined foods, such as chocolate, candy, and baked goods. If you're serious about committing to a raw food diet, consider investing in kitchen equipment like a dehydrator, food processor, and spiralizer, which will give you more options for preparing raw food. Decide how strict your diet will be, since eating only raw foods can be very limiting. For example, you might eat a raw breakfast and lunch and a cooked dinner to get all of the nutrients you need. | Keep a variety of fresh fruits and veggies on hand. Fresh produce should comprise the majority of a raw food diet. Since different kinds of produce contain different nutrients, go for an assortment of colors and types. Veggie varieties include leafy greens (kale and spinach), cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower), red and orange veggies (tomatoes and carrots), and starchy veggies (potatoes and corn). Choose a range fruits, such as apples, bananas, citrus fruits (oranges and grapefruit), grapes, berries, and melons. Choose preserved items that are sun-dried instead of cooked. Preserved foods, such as dried fruits, are allowed as long as they haven't been processed over high heat. Check labels to make sure items are sun-dried or dehydrated at temperatures lower than 115 °F (46 °C). While specialty health food stores carry raw foodist items, acceptable dehydrated and cold-pressed products are also widely available at chain grocery stores. You can also use a food dehydrator to make your own raisins, kale or apple chips, potato crisps, and other preserved items. Purchase raw nuts, seeds, nut milk, and nut butters. Nuts and seeds are essential to a raw food diet and are valuable sources of calories and protein. Stock up on items such as almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds. Be sure to purchase raw nuts and seeds; roasted, blanched, and salted nuts aren't allowed in a raw food diet. Nut butters and milks should also be raw, or not processed at temperatures higher than 115 °F (46 °C). If you have trouble finding raw store-bought nut products, you can make your own. For instance, soak 1.5 cups (220 g) of almonds overnight, then blend them with 4 cups (950 mL) of purified water. You can also grind nuts in a food processor and use them to make dough for raw desserts, such as cookies. Learn about the risks and benefits of sprouted and soaked grains. Provided they're unrefined and unprocessed, grains and bean seeds are part of a raw food diet and provide valuable nutrients. Common choices include raw and unrefined wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, chickpeas, and lentils. Grains are seeds, and raw foodists usually sprout them before eating them. To sprout grains and bean seeds, soak them overnight in jar filled with filtered water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth, and secure the cloth with a rubber band. After soaking grains or bean seeds for 12 to 24 hours, drain and rinse them, then store them in the dark at a temperature between 50 and 70 °F (10 and 21 °C) for 7 days. The moist conditions that allow grains and bean seeds to sprout also promote bacterial growth. While raw sprouts are a staple of a raw food diet, they pose a risk of foodborne illness, and some health professionals advise against eating them. Don’t consume unpasteurized dairy products. Some raw foodists eat and drink raw milk, yogurt, and cheese. However, unpasteurized dairy products can cause life-threatening illnesses and should be avoided. Avoiding dairy altogether can cause calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. To prevent nutrient deficiencies, take a vitamin supplement. You could also include pasteurized dairy products or fortified non-dairy milks in your diet. Select sushi-grade products if you eat fish. Omnivorous raw foodists eat fish, but raw seafood can contain harmful parasites and bacteria. To minimize the risk of foodborne illness, only purchase seafood labelled for sushi or sashimi. Buying frozen sushi-grade products can also lower the risk of foodborne illness. Keep in mind freezing doesn't kill all harmful parasites and bacteria. Avoid raw seafood if you're pregnant, have an autoimmune condition, or take medication that affects your immune system. Avoid cooked, processed, and refined items. The main principle of a raw food diet is to avoid or limit your consumption of foods prepared at temperatures higher than 115 °F (46 °C). In general, prohibited items include any cooked foods, baked goods, most packaged or canned store-bought products, table salt, refined grains (such as flours and pastas), and added sugars (as opposed to naturally-occuring sugars, such as in fruit). Coffee, chocolate, and candy are all processed or exposed to high temperatures. For strict raw foodists, most store-bought beverages, including fruit juices, are considered processed and off-limits. Unpasteurized wine is raw, but distilled alcoholic beverages, such as spirits and beer, are exposed to high temperatures and aren't considered raw. properly so it lasts as long as possible. Store food Proper storage can help keep food fresh for as long as possible, but you still might need to visit the grocery store several times a week. Keep leafy produce in your refrigerator's crisper drawers, refrigerate tomatoes and fruits once they ripen, refrigerate all fresh-cut items, and freeze any items you have in bulk quantities. Fresh produce should be stored at a temperature of 40 °F (4 °C) or below. Choose fruits and vegetables that are free of bruises or blemishes. When you purchase fresh-cut produce, such as half of a watermelon or a cored pineapple, choose only items that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice. Storage times for fresh produce and other raw ingredients vary widely. Leafy greens, for instance, can last 3 to 5 days in the fridge, while onions can last 1 to 2 months. For an exhaustive list, see https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/foodkeeperapp/index.html. Regularly cleaning your refrigerator can also cut down on spoilage. Invest in a dehydrator, food processor, and other kitchen equipment. The more tools you have at your disposal, the more you'll be able to do with raw ingredients. A good set of kitchen knives, cutting boards, and a vegetable peeler are all basic essentials. To prolong shelf life and satisfy snack urges, a food dehydrator should be at the top of your shopping list. A food processor will come in handy for chopping, slicing, and pulverizing ingredients. Since many store-bought beverages aren't raw, you'll need a juicer or blender to make your own fruit juices, nut milks, and smoothies. A spiralizer can make noodles out of zucchini, carrots, apples, and other veggies and fruits, which can add variety to your meals. If you don't already have a fully-equipped kitchen, try to purchase one item at a time. You don't need to break the bank buying lots of kitchen tools and appliances all at once. Have a fruit salad topped with nuts for breakfast. Start your day with a bowl of sliced strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and cantaloupe. Top your fruit salad with slivered almonds, and enjoy a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice with your breakfast. Switch up your breakfasts by tossing together salads with any combination of fresh fruits. You could also have a bowl of raw granola with sun-dried or home-dehydrated raisins, or just sip on a smoothie. Blend a smoothie for a quick snack. You can find plenty of smoothie recipes online, and it's fun to get creative and come up with your own. A good general formula is 1 part liquid (preferably unsweetened, such as nut milk), 1 to 1 1/2 parts soft fruit or veggies, and 1/2 to 1 part frozen fruit or frozen veggies. Use frozen produce instead of ice to chill your smoothie without watering it down. If you're vegan, avocado adds creaminess and is a great substitute for yogurt. Raw nut butters and sprouted grains can also add body and provide a nutritional boost. Try blending ⁄ 4 cup (180 mL) of orange juice or nut milk with 1 banana and 1 cup (240 mL) of frozen strawberries. Make a salad smoothie by blending 1 cup (240 mL) of water with 1/2 an orange (peeled), 1/2 a lime (peeled), 1 celery stalk, 1 cup (240 mL) of raw spinach, ⁄ 4 cup (59 mL) of blueberries, ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of frozen broccoli florets, and ⁄ 3 cup (79 mL) each of baby carrots and beets. For a little sweetness, add raw honey to taste. Toss together a salad for lunch. Start with a base of fresh greens, such as arugula, lettuce, kale, or spinach. Mix in tomato wedges, cucumber slices, sliced onion, or any other veggies you have handy. Add extra calories and nutrients by topping your salad with chopped nuts and fresh berries or grapes. While store-bought salad dressings aren't raw, you can dress your salad with cold-pressed olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice. Many raw foodists also consume apple cider vinegar, and some allow other varieties, such as balsamic or red wine vinegars. Make cold, no-cook gazpachos. Cold soups are easy, nutritious raw meal options. Typically, all you need to do is blend a combination of fruits or vegetables until it's smooth, then chill it for at least a half hour. Try blending 2 cups (470 mL) of diced honeydew melon, 1 peeled and diced English cucumber, 1 small diced onion, 1 chopped avocado (pitted and peeled), 1 chopped garlic clove, ⁄ 4 cup (59 mL) of white balsamic vinegar (or substitute with apple cider vinegar), 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 1 chopped and seeded jalapeno (optional). Blend the ingredients until the mixture is smooth, or up to 3 to 5 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, then garnish with sliced green onion or cucumber slices. Peel or spiralize veggies to get your noodle fix. Try peeling a zucchini or carrot lengthwise to create thin noodle shapes. While hand-peeling veggies into noodle shapes is inexpensive and easy, you could also invest in a veggie spiralizer. With a spiralizer, you can turn veggies into a variety of shapes, such as thin spaghetti noodles. Armed with a spiralizer, you could make raw versions of your favorite noodle recipes, from pasta to pad Thai. Try peeling or spiralizing 2 zucchini and 2 carrots. Set the zucchini aside, and combine the carrots with 1 small head of red cabbage (thinly sliced), 1 sliced red pepper, and ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of bean sprouts. Whisk together ⁄ 4 cup (180 mL) of raw nut butter, the juice of 2 oranges, 2 tablespoons of raw honey, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon of fresh minced ginger, 1 tablespoon of raw soy sauce, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Mix 1/2 of the sauce with the carrot mixture, top the zucchini with the carrot mixture, then pour the remaining sauce over each portion you serve. Consult your doctor first, especially if you have a medical issue. It's best to ask your doctor's advice before starting any diet. When following a strict raw food diet, it's difficult to consume the recommended amounts of calories and nutrients. This poses general health risks, and could be especially dangerous if you have a medical condition. For instance, while a plant-based diet is recommended for people with cardiovascular disease, omitting animal products altogether can lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can worsen cardiovascular disease. A strict raw food diet is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant (or if you have any medical problem). Decide how strict your diet should be. Most raw foodists limit their consumption of cooked foods, but don't omit cooked foods entirely. For instance, 50 to 75% of the foods you eat could be raw. You might have a raw breakfast and lunch, then have a cooked dinner. It's also wise to make exceptions to ensure you're getting enough nutrients. For example, eat fortified whole grain cereals and consume pasteurized dairy products. If you're vegan, drink non-dairy milks fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Keep track of your calorie consumption. When following a raw food diet, it takes a lot of planning to ensure you consume the amount of calories recommended for your age, sex, and activity level. Use a food tracking app or search online for the calorie and nutrient contents of each item you consume. Track your meals' calorie and nutrient values using an app or log them in a journal. Make sure you're eating your minimum recommended calories each day to prevent malnutrition. Learn more about your specific daily recommended values at https://www.choosemyplate.gov. Take a multivitamin supplement to prevent nutrient deficiencies. A strict raw food diet can lead to deficiencies of calcium, vitamin D, B-group vitamins, zinc, iron, and other vital nutrients. To prevent potentially dangerous nutritional deficiencies, ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a daily multivitamin. You can also fill in nutritional gaps in your diet by eating fortified cereals, pasteurized dairy products, fortified non-dairy products, and cooked eggs, poultry, and seafood. Avoid consuming large amounts of potentially toxic raw foods. Most fruits and veggies are safe to eat raw, but some plant-based foods contain toxins, which function to protect the plant from pests. While cooking typically breaks down these substances, it can be dangerous to eat large amounts of raw, potentially toxic produce. Avoid raw rhubarb, taro, and cassava. Limit your consumption of raw kidney beans, alfalfa sprouts, parsnips, pea seeds, and apricot kernels. If you're fair-skinned, eating large amounts of buckwheat can cause sensitivity to light and other skin problems. Avoid eating raw potatoes that have turned green or developed sprouts. | Keep a variety of fresh fruits and veggies on hand. Choose preserved items that are sun-dried instead of cooked. Purchase raw nuts, seeds, nut milk, and nut butters. Learn about the risks and benefits of sprouted and soaked grains. Don’t consume unpasteurized dairy products. Select sushi-grade products if you eat fish. Avoid cooked, processed, and refined items. properly so it lasts as long as possible. Invest in a dehydrator, food processor, and other kitchen equipment. Have a fruit salad topped with nuts for breakfast. Blend a smoothie for a quick snack. Toss together a salad for lunch. Make cold, no-cook gazpachos. Peel or spiralize veggies to get your noodle fix. Consult your doctor first, especially if you have a medical issue. Decide how strict your diet should be. Keep track of your calorie consumption. Take a multivitamin supplement to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Avoid consuming large amounts of potentially toxic raw foods. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-on-a-Water-Heater | How to Turn on a Water Heater | Before you turn on your gas water heater, make sure that the water tank is full. After checking this, turn the knob on your water heater to the "pilot" setting and, if you have one, press the spark igniter button. If you don't have one, use a long-handled lighter to light your pilot. Once your pilot is lit, turn the knob to the "on" position and adjust the temperature to your desired setting. Most people set their water heaters at 120 °F. | Shut off the water supply and gas valve or circuit breaker. Turn the gas valve to "Off," or make sure the breaker switch for the water heater is off at the circuit breaker. To turn the water supply off, twist the valve for the cold water supply line that enters the tank (usually from above). The breaker switch for your water heater should be labeled, but if it isn't, go ahead and turn off the main power. Drain and flush the tank to clean it out. To drain your water tank, attach a hose to the bottom of the tank where the spigot is. Choose a hose that's long enough to stretch to a nearby floor drain or utility sink, or all the way outside to the yard. Then open the drain valve on the water tank to start the draining process. By opening a hot water tap close to the tank, you'll help it drain faster while also being able to check on its progress. Open the cold water supply valve again to flush out any extra residue or minerals from the tank. Let the cold water flush through the drain valve for 5-10 minutes. You can skip the flush if it's a newly-installed tank. Don't attach the hose or open the drain valve, and use the nearby hot water tap to know when the tank is full -- a steady stream of water without sputtering is the sign. Shut the drain valve while keeping the water supply open. Once your tank has been flushed out and clean water is coming out of the hose, close the drain valve and take off the hose. Your water tank should now begin to fill back up. Keep the tap open on the nearby faucet so that air can escape while the tank fills up. Keep checking the nearby open hot water tap. Your hot water tap is how you'll know when your tank has filled up. Once you see and hear a nice, steady stream of water come through the faucet, your water heater is full. If you hear sputtering, this means air is still being forced out of the tank. You can close the tap once it has a steady stream. Turn on the gas supply or circuit breaker. Now that the tank is full, you're ready to turn on the water heater. If you're dealing with gas, switch the gas valve to the "On" position when you're ready to ignite the pilot light. For electric water heaters, turn the circuit breaker back on. Set the temperature and On/Off controls to the right setting. Before starting the water heater, turn the temperature control to the lowest setting. The On/Off control will need to be switched to the "Pilot" setting. If you smell gas or a rotten egg odor, don't go any further until calling your gas company — you could have a gas leak. Press the pilot igniter button down while starting a spark. While you're holding down the pilot igniter button, press the spark generator. This should create a spark that you can see through the little glass window, showing you that the pilot light is lit. Keep pressing the pilot igniter button for 20-30 seconds. After you see the spark, don't let go of the pilot igniter button yet. Keep pressing it for 20-30 seconds so that it's able to get hot enough before being released. You may have to press the spark generator down every 10 seconds until it properly lights if it isn't lit after 30 seconds. Turn the control to On and the temperature to the desired setting. Switch the On/Off control to "On." Then turn the temperature setting to your desired temperature. Most people set theirs to 120 °F (49 °C). At this point, you should be able to see flames through the small glass window. Turn the temperature down and the On/Off control to the "Pilot" setting. Before turning the gas on, turn the temperature to the lowest setting. Switch the regulator valve to “Off” and wait 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes have passed, you can switch the valve to “Pilot." Call your gas company if you smell a rotten eggs odor. This could be a sign that you have a gas leak. Remove access panels, if necessary. Your water heater may have inner and outer access panels that need to be removed. If this is the case, take out the access panels in order to get to the pilot light. The access panels usually just slide right out. Press and hold down the water heater pilot button. Keep the pilot button pressed down so that you'll be able to start up the water heater. If your model doesn't have a specific pilot button, press and hold the On/Off control. Light the pilot using a long neck lighter. Find the small silver tube that is connected to the gas control valve — this is the pilot supply tube. Follow the silver tube to the end and use a long neck lighter to light the pilot. Keep the pilot button pressed for 20-30 seconds before releasing it. Once you've lit the pilot, continue to press down on the button for 20-30 seconds. After the time has elapsed, you can slowly release it and the pilot should continue to stay lit. If your pilot light goes out, light the pilot again and hold the pilot button down longer than the previous time. Put the access panels back on, if necessary. If your water heater has access panels, it's time to put them back in place. Forgetting to do this could cause serious injury if the flames suddenly flow out of the opening due to gas build-up. Turn the On/Off and temperature control to the right settings. Switch the On/Off control to the "On" position, and put the temperature control to the setting you wish — 120 °F (49 °C) is recommended. After you've set the controls, you should hear your water heater firing up. Turn on the breaker for the hot water tank after it's full of water. For an electric water heater, you'll need to locate the circuit breaker that controls the heater and turn it on. If the breaker isn't labeled, look for a double-pole breaker that has the same amp rating as the heater. Simply switch on the breaker to turn on the electric water heater. The amp rating should be labeled on the water tank. Wait several hours for the water tank to heat up. It will take your water heater several hours to completely heat up, so check it periodically by turning on a faucet to make sure it's getting warm. The recommended temperature is 120 °F (49 °C). Turn off the gas before switching on your tankless water heater. It's important to make sure the gas is turned off before starting up your tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters will need to be turned on by flipping the corresponding breaker, or by flipping on a switch. Confirm the temperature and turn on the gas for the tankless water heater. Once you've turned on the power, you can adjust the temperature using the temperature controller, which is often digital. Turn the gas supply on, and that's it! Tankless water heaters operate on-demand, so it will only start heating water once you need to use it. Since these water heaters are tankless, you don't need to fill them up with water. | Shut off the water supply and gas valve or circuit breaker. Drain and flush the tank to clean it out. Shut the drain valve while keeping the water supply open. Keep checking the nearby open hot water tap. Turn on the gas supply or circuit breaker. Set the temperature and On/Off controls to the right setting. Press the pilot igniter button down while starting a spark. Keep pressing the pilot igniter button for 20-30 seconds. Turn the control to On and the temperature to the desired setting. Turn the temperature down and the On/Off control to the "Pilot" setting. Remove access panels, if necessary. Press and hold down the water heater pilot button. Light the pilot using a long neck lighter. Keep the pilot button pressed for 20-30 seconds before releasing it. Put the access panels back on, if necessary. Turn the On/Off and temperature control to the right settings. Turn on the breaker for the hot water tank after it's full of water. Wait several hours for the water tank to heat up. Turn off the gas before switching on your tankless water heater. Confirm the temperature and turn on the gas for the tankless water heater. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Appear-More-Authoritative | How to Appear More Authoritative | If you want to appear more authoritative, whether it be as a parent, a manager, or just in general, start by making eye contact and facing people when you're talking to them. Additionally, focus on speaking steadily and thoughtfully by embracing the occasional silence to think. This will make you sound more authoritative and give you an opportunity to avoid filler words like "um," which can make you seem uncertain. Finally, embrace your self-confidence even when you don't feel confident by taking care of your body and mind, and working on establishing a more positive attitude over time. | Know and accept your actual authority. While there can be benefits to appearing authoritative in excess of your actual authority, the focus in this article is on enhancing the appearance to match the reality of your authority. To do so, especially in a business setting, it is important that you are clear on exactly what authority you do possess. If your powers and responsibilities have not been clearly defined, discuss the particulars of your authority with your boss. Having things specifically laid out for you may make it easier for you to accept and represent this authority. Another benefit of conferring regularly with your boss is making sure that you are on the same page. Making a decision, only to be quickly contradicted or overruled by your supervisor, tends to diminish your appearance of authority. Focus on the goal, not popularity. While Machiavelli's advice that it is better to be feared than loved may be a bit extreme for a workplace setting, it is true that strong leaders tend not to worry too much about the popularity of their decisions. Having authority is not easy or fun; it is often hard work, but work that needs to be done — by you. Nobody wants to be hated, of course, but you'll probably find that being direct, making the tough decisions, and doing what must be done will earn the respect of others. If you focus too much on trying to please everyone, you're likely to sacrifice respect for the sake of some superficial likeability. Deep down, most people would probably rather follow someone they respect than someone they like. Stop undermining yourself. Some of the things you do to demonstrate your authority may actually be making you appear weaker. If you seem to be trying too hard to “show who's boss,” you're more likely to be mocked than respected. Unless you're a drill sergeant, getting angry and shouting are not usually the best ways to demonstrate your authority. Likewise, appearing defensive when questioned or challenged tends to indicate weakness, not strength. Some people think being authoritative means making snap decisions and sticking with them no matter what. In reality, taking the time (whenever possible) to think through a problem and making a calm, reasoned decision — and then sticking to it — demonstrates secure authority. To convince others of your authority, you have to convince yourself first. Once you embrace the authority you know you have, you won't feel the need to try so hard to prove it to other people. Your confidence will speak for you. Dress with authority. You may assume that donning a “power suit” or otherwise over-dressing for an occasion is the best way to appear authoritative. Quite often, however, this will be taken by others as another case of trying too hard. To appear authoritative, you want to act like you “have it all together,” and by the same token you should look “put together.” Choose a style of dress that generally approximates what those around you will be wearing, but with extra emphasis on a crisp, clean look. If “dress casual” is the norm, emphasize the “dress” part without abandoning the “casual.” Your wardrobe need not be bland, but a more subdued color palette and styling may give you a bit more gravitas. Get on your feet. To appear authoritative, you have to be noticed, and standing almost always makes you more noticeable. Standing makes it easier for you to command the spotlight, the stage, and the attention of those under your leadership. If you are looking for a way to gain more authority by appearing more authoritative at work, you may want to try standing at a meeting while others are sitting. This makes you more noticeable and commanding in appearance. See if you can arrive at the perfect time so that you aren't late but there are no seats left. Stand even while you're talking on the phone. When you sit, you tend to talk in a more reserved, less enthusiastic (and commanding) voice. Standing tends to make you speak with more energy and urgency. Face people and make eye contact. Your mother may have told you it was good manners to look other people in the eyes while speaking to them, but it also helps attach an additional air of confidence to your words. Like an animal asserting authority in the wild, stand tall and directly face those whom you intend to lead. If you are giving a presentation, for example, assume the “power position” at the start — stand in front of the podium, directly facing the audience and making eye contact throughout the room. If you are going through slides, don't get caught facing the screen or standing perpendicular to both screen and audience the whole time. Face the people and look at them whenever possible. You don't need to intensely stare at someone while speaking to him/her. But return your gaze regularly to the person, and try not to look down at all while talking. Talk in a deep, steady voice and finish each sentence. Being confident and sounding confident are not always one and the same. Some people may be bursting with confidence in their authority, and yet the way they speak gives away this entire advantage. Once you feel authoritative, make sure you sound that way as well. Don't go to ridiculous lengths to deepen your voice, but adding just a bit more depth can help make what you say sound more authoritative. Practice not allowing your voice to trail off at the end of a sentence. Some people tend to raise their voice inflection at the end of every sentence, making even declarative statements sound like questions. Don't let it seem like you doubt what you're saying. Make use of silence. Some people feel like silence is a sign of weakness, and want to fill any gaps by talking. Prattling on, however, is more likely to be taken as a lack of seriousness or certainty. Taking time to think through what you want to say, and using pauses and silence for effect while speaking, helps to bestow authority to your speech. Always think through what you want to say before speaking. Even when you're “on the spot,” take a couple seconds to gather your thoughts before you begin. That small period of silence will demonstrate that you are serious about addressing the topic at hand and saying exactly what you mean. Practice getting rid of “fillers” like “um,” “uh,” “I think,” etc. Even if you aren't using them because you're uncertain of what you want to say, they tend to sound that way. A silent pause is preferable. Use “chunking” while speaking — pause for effect between bursts of speech that each emphasize a key point. Give people a chance to soak in what you are saying. Claim the stage. Making eye contact and facing the audience have already been mentioned in this article, but there are additional steps you can take to demonstrate command of the room when you are addressing a group of people. You want all eyes on you as much as possible. Walk around the stage or the part of the room you are occupying, as if you are marking it as your territory. You don't need to stalk it like an animal, but walk and stand with confidence — as mentioned, it will be reflected in your voice. Don't be afraid of hand gestures either. Keeping your hands glued to the podium or clasped together may appear like fear or submission. No one needs to see you pound your shoe on the desk or anything of that sort, but some confident, deliberate gesturing will add weight to your words and your appearance. Practice your authoritative voice. In addition to adding some depth to your voice, finishing off sentences properly, and eliminating “fillers,” you can also work to perfect the tone and pace of your speaking. Speaking too quickly, too softly, or without enthusiasm can all be remedied with practice, and give your words more authority in the process. You might feel silly reciting famous speeches from Shakespeare's works in your bathroom mirror, but doing so can in fact be helpful. Think of yourself as a great actor on the stage, tackling Hamlet or Macbeth. Speaking with authority will come naturally. More practically, you can practice the speech you're going to give in a similar manner. Take note of your tone, pacing, volume, gesturing, and so on. Consider recording yourself so you can examine your practice run. Embrace the power of self-confidence. All your efforts to appear more authoritative will likely fall short if you lack essential self-confidence. You have to believe you can wield authority, and deserve to have it, in order to express and use it effectively. While it is true that some people are naturally more confident than others, self-confidence is also a perspective that can be nurtured and developed. How to Build Self Confidence offers an extensive list of ideas for becoming a more confident person. Its major subjects include: Establishing a positive attitude. Dealing with your emotions effectively. Taking care of yourself — mind, body, and spirit. Setting your goals. Getting help when you need it. Focus on your positives. People with low self-confidence tend to compare themselves to unrealistic idealizations of others, and thereby find themselves always coming up short. Instead of holding yourself to impossible standards and focusing on your failures, work on training yourself to emphasize your successes. Focus on why you deserve to have authority. Keep an updated list of personal accomplishments and positive attributes if that helps. Take note of compliments and positive feedback from others (and take them seriously). Surround yourself with positive reinforcement. Look the part. Looking authoritative and looking confident have many similarities, but you can't really master the former without first nailing the latter. It may seem naive to think that looking confident can make you feel more confident, and yet it is true for many people. Practice good posture. Take your personal grooming and dressing routines seriously. Look in the mirror and see a confident person staring back at you. Face your fears. People who lack confidence avoid or run away from their fears; they try not to depart their comfort zones. Self-confident people learn to swim by jumping in the water, or deal with a fear of heights by skydiving. Get out of your comfort zone, and when you achieve success doing so, use it as evidence in your confidence-building process. Identify your goals, and establish a way to address them head-on. If you are afraid to speak up at meetings, draw up a list of potential questions or comments beforehand, and make yourself use at least one of them. | Know and accept your actual authority. Focus on the goal, not popularity. Stop undermining yourself. Dress with authority. Get on your feet. Face people and make eye contact. Talk in a deep, steady voice and finish each sentence. Make use of silence. Claim the stage. Practice your authoritative voice. Embrace the power of self-confidence. Focus on your positives. Look the part. Face your fears. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-Foundation | How to Make Homemade Foundation | Making your own foundation can be a great way to save money and achieve your perfect skin tone. To make powdered foundation, you'll need arrowroot powder or cornstarch, cocoa powder, and ground turmeric or blush. Start by placing 2 teaspoons of arrowroot powder or cornstarch in a bowl. Then, stir in the cocoa powder until you reach the shade of your skin tone. If you have any yellowish undertones in your skin, add a pinch of ground turmeric to balance the color. If you have slightly pink skin, add a little red-toned blush into the mix instead. Test the foundation on your skin with a clean powder brush and adjust the mix if you need to. Store your foundation in a small, sterile jar in a cool, dry place. | Place 1 to 3 teaspoons (3 to 9 g) of arrowroot powder into a bowl. The more you use, the lighter your foundation will be. If you don't have arrowroot powder, you can use cornstarch instead, but be aware that some people have reported that it does not work well on acne-prone skin. There's no set formula, since there are so many different skin tones. You will likely need to adjust the proportions later. In general, if you have dark skin, use 1 teaspoon (3 g); if you have fair skin, use up to 3 teaspoons (9 g). Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon, or nutmeg until you get your skin tone. Unsweetened cocoa powder will be the least irritating on your skin, but you can use cinnamon or nutmeg if you don't have access to it. Keep in mind that cinnamon and nutmeg are potent, so you'll only need a pinch. The darker your skin tone is, the more cocoa powder, cinnamon, or nutmeg you'll have to use. You may have to use up to 2 or 3 teaspoons (6 to 9 g). Don't worry if it doesn't match your skin color exactly. This is just the shade; you'll worry about the undertone next. Adjust the undertone with turmeric or blush. If you compare skin color, you'll notice that some people have yellowish skin while others have pinkish. This is known as "undertone." Since cocoa powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg don't have any yellow or pink in them, you'll need to add that in. If you have yellowish undertones, add a pinch of ground turmeric. You can also scrape some yellow-toned eyeshadow into the powder instead. If you have pinkish skin, scrape some pink or red-toned blush into the powder instead. You can also try pink or red-toned eyeshadow. Stir the powder until the color is consistent. It does not matter what tool you use for this, as long as it is clean. A small spoon or fork would do just fine, but you can also use a toothpick or craft stick. Be sure to break up any clumps. You want the powder to be as fine as possible. If the powder is too clumpy, sift it through a fine, mesh sieve into a new container. Test it against your jawline. Use a clean powder brush or eyeshadow brush to apply the foundation to your jawline. Don't worry about being too precise here; you are just testing out the color here. Adjust the color with additional ingredients, if needed. Since there are so many different skin tones out there, there is no set formula for homemade foundation. As such, you will likely need to adjust the foundation until it matches your skin a little more closely. For example: If the powder is too dark, add more arrowroot powder or cornstarch. If the powder is too light, add more cocoa powder, cinnamon, or nutmeg. If the powder is too yellow, add some blush; if it's too pink, add some turmeric. Store the powder in a sterilized container. Once you have the exact shade you want, the foundation is ready to go! Clean a small jar with hot, soapy water, then dry it thoroughly with a paper towel. Pour the powder into the jar, then close it tightly. An empty powder container would work well for this. Add 5 drops of facial oil and press it into a compact for pressed powder. Start with 5 drops of your desired facial oil, then add more if needed; you are looking for a thick, paste-like consistency. Transfer the paste into a clean powder compact, and smooth it down. Let it dry before you use it. Almond oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil are all great options. Discard any excess foundation or make a second compact. This step is optional. You don't have to make pressed powder if you don't want to. Apply the foundation with a powder brush. Use a dabbing motion for more coverage, and a circular motion for sheer coverage. If you made pressed powder, you may be able to apply it with a makeup sponge instead. There will be a slight fragrance, but it will fade as the day goes on. Be sure to tap off any excess powder first, especially if you kept it loose. If the powder does not stick well to your skin, apply some moisturizer first. Store the powder in a cool, dry place. This powder can be stored indefinitely, but it may discolor overtime. If it starts to look or smell different, discard it immediately. Like with regular powdered foundation, be careful not to get it wet. Place a small amount of facial oil or moisturizer into a small dish. There is no set amount for this, so you can use however much or little you want. Remember, you can always adjust the consistency later. If your moisturizer came with a pump, about 3 squirts would be plenty. For an all-natural foundation, stick with the facial oil. Almond, jojoba, and tamanu are all great options. If you are using moisturizer, consider using something with added SPF. This is not completely necessary, but it's a great way to protect your skin! Add about 1 teaspoon (3 g) of powdered foundation. This will be enough to give you medium coverage, but again, you can always adjust the consistency later. In general, plan on using twice as much powder as oil or moisturizer. Loose powder will be the easiest to work with. If your foundation is pressed, scrape out a small amount, then grind it through a fine, mesh sieve. Make sure that the foundation matches your skin tone. Add 1 to 2 drops of essential oil, if desired. This is not completely necessary, but it will add some nice fragrance to your foundation, especially if you used oil. Great options include: chamomile, lavender, frankincense, and geranium. Make sure that you use essential oil and not fragrance oil meant for candle making or diffusers; they are not the same thing. Avoid using more essential oil than this. It is concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way. Do not use any citrus essential oil, as it will make your skin sensitive to sunlight and result in severe sunburn. If you used moisturizer instead of oil, you may want to skip the essential oil. This is because many moisturizers already contain fragrances. Stir the foundation until the texture is consistent. A small spoon or spatula will work the best here, as it'll come in handy for mashing the clumps out. You may have to press down on the clumps in order to get them out. Test the foundation on your skin. Use your fingertip to apply a small amount of foundation along your jawline. The foundation should match your skin tone, so pay attention to the coverage instead. Don't worry about blending in the foundation. This is simply a test. Adjust the coverage of the foundation, if desired. This recipe is for medium-coverage foundation. This may be more than what you are looking for, or it might not be enough. Fortunately, this is easy to fix: If you want more coverage, stir in more powdered foundation. If you want something more sheer, add more facial oil or moisturizer. Transfer the foundation into a small, clean jar. How big this container is depends on how much foundation you made; it should be small enough to fit most of your foundation, however. An old foundation bottle or a lip balm jar would be ideal. Make sure that the container is clean. Wash it with soap and water, then dry it with a paper towel. You can sterilize it further with rubbing alcohol, if you want. A foundation bottle with a pump would be an even better idea. This way, you won't contaminate it by exposing it to air. Apply the foundation, let it dry, then apply powder. Use makeup sponge, a foundation brush, or your fingers to apply the foundation and blend it in. Let it sit and dry for a few minutes, then apply your desired setting powder or blush. If you put the foundation into a jar, it would be best to apply it with a brush or sponge, otherwise you risk contaminating it with your fingers. Store the foundation in a cool, dry place. This foundation should last a long time, but it may discolor or develop mold, especially if it gets wet. If any of this happens, discard it. | Place 1 to 3 teaspoons (3 to 9 g) of arrowroot powder into a bowl. Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon, or nutmeg until you get your skin tone. Adjust the undertone with turmeric or blush. Stir the powder until the color is consistent. Test it against your jawline. Adjust the color with additional ingredients, if needed. Store the powder in a sterilized container. Add 5 drops of facial oil and press it into a compact for pressed powder. Apply the foundation with a powder brush. Store the powder in a cool, dry place. Place a small amount of facial oil or moisturizer into a small dish. Add about 1 teaspoon (3 g) of powdered foundation. Add 1 to 2 drops of essential oil, if desired. Stir the foundation until the texture is consistent. Test the foundation on your skin. Adjust the coverage of the foundation, if desired. Transfer the foundation into a small, clean jar. Apply the foundation, let it dry, then apply powder. Store the foundation in a cool, dry place. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-the-Boy-You-Like-to-Like-You-Back | How to Get the Boy You Like to Like You Back | You can't make someone like you, but you might be able to get your crush's attention by spending time with him and showing off your awesome personality! When you're around the boy you like, act confident and let your sense of humor shine so he can see your fun side. Chat with him and ask him open-ended questions to show an interest in him. For instance, you might ask things like, “What do you like to do for fun?” or “How do you like our biology teacher so far?” Once you've gotten to know him a bit, try giving him sincere compliments on things like his personality, sense of humor, or looks. You can also try light physical touches, like putting your hand on his arm or shoulder, to see how he reacts. If it seems like he's into it and enjoys spending time with you, try asking him if he'd like to hang out! | Be confident and self-assured whenever you’re around him. When you have a crush, it can definitely be hard to not geek out when he comes around, but try your best to stay calm and to remember that he is just a normal guy. Don't be afraid to make eye contact and smile at him. Embrace your interests and hobbies to show that you have a great personality. It's totally okay to have your own opinions and to like whatever things you are passionate about, even if you feel like those things aren't “cool.” Don't pretend to like things you don't just to try to impress someone. Guys can tell when you're being fake. It's okay to have different opinions or to disagree with the guy you like, too. If something comes up in class, don't be afraid to speak out for what you believe in. This makes you seem like you have your own thoughts and would be an interesting person to talk to. Become friendly with his group of friends. It's much more likely that the guy you like will like you back if his friends think you're fun. Don't be afraid to talk to them in class, in the hallway, at lunch, or at after-school activities. Ask them about their hobbies, talk to them about homework assignments, and mention when you notice things you have in common, like enjoying the same books or movies. Think about how you become friends with anyone—generally, you find a common interest and start talking about it. Be friendly, smile, and ask them questions about themselves. Have a sense of humor and show off your fun side. Be willing to take chances and do new things, even if you feel scared or anxious. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself or to make jokes in front of the guy you like. Having a good sense of humor and being fun-loving are really attractive qualities! For example, if your class needs volunteers for an activity, don't be afraid to get up in front of everyone and help. If you do something embarrassing, try to laugh it off and turn it into a joke. This will show that you don't take yourself too seriously. Ask him open-ended questions to get to know him better. It's really easy to talk about yourself, but when you're trying to get to know someone better, try asking them questions about themselves instead. Open-ended questions are ones that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer; they're great at getting people to share! Try out some of these questions: What did you think of the book we had to read for English class? What was it like having so many practices for soccer over the summer? What do you like to do on the weekends? What are your favorite TV shows right now? Compliment him about his personality, intelligence, and looks. Complimenting him shows that you're paying attention. Try to keep your compliments short and direct and then let it go. He may respond by saying “thanks,” or he may just smile at you. For example, you could say something like, “I thought you did a great job giving your presentation in class today.” To compliment his looks, say something like, “Your new haircut looks really good,” or “That sweater really brings out the color of your eyes.” To be a little more flirty, you could say something like, “You always make me laugh!” Break the touch barrier to see how he responds. Making appropriate physical contact, like touching his arm or shoulder, is a great way to gauge how he feels about you. If he smiles and doesn't draw away from you, that shows he is okay with your affection. If he does pull back, that means he isn't interested in being that close to you. Small moments of physical contact can help build up more of a bond between the two of you, even if it's just a friendly one. Get his number and text him to talk more outside of school. For your first text to him, say something like, “Hey Josh, this is Ryan. What are you up to?” To start other conversations, you could ask what he thought of school that day, if he started his homework yet, or what he is doing that evening. If he sends back really short texts or doesn't respond at all, don't send him multiple texts in a row. Just let it go until he reaches out to you or until you have another legitimate reason to text him. Encourage him and remember important details. Pay attention to what is going on in his life, like a big test, a sports game or competition, or even something fun, like a vacation. Mention these things when you see him in person. If you have his phone number, you could even send him an encouraging text. For example, you could send him a text that says, “Good luck at the game tomorrow!” Follow up on important events by asking about them. For example, try saying something like, “I hope you had fun at the away game over the weekend. How did things go?” Before a big test, you could write him a note that says, “Good luck on the test! I know you'll do well.” Plan a study date to spend one-on-one time together. You could study together at school during a free period or after school at one of your homes, a coffee shop, or the library. Send him a text or catch him after class to ask him to get together. Try to be casual and breezy about it, even if you feel really nervous. Try saying something like, “Hey Bryan, want to get together this Wednesday to get ready for the History test?” If he says yes, that's great! Just set a time and place to meet. If he says no, try not to take it personally. Maybe he already has a busy schedule or doesn't plan to study at all. This can work well for things other than class, too. Any shared activity, like band, drama, sports, or student council can be used as an excuse to get together to practice or plan. Arrange group dates with friends for a low-key hangout option. Group dates are a great way to get to spend time with the guy you like and for him to see you in a casual setting. Get a group of friends together to go to the movies, a party, a sports game, or for something fun, like a bonfire or game night. Invite him along, and tell him to bring some friends, too. Try saying something like, “Hey Malik, me and my friends are having a game night this Friday. You and your friends should come. I'll text you the details.” Send him a text after you hang out to gauge how he is feeling. This is a great way to test the waters after you've seen the guy you like, whether you were studying together or simply at the same event. Don't text him right after you saw him—instead, wait about 24 hours so that you don't seem too intense. Send a text that says something like, “It was cool to see you out the other night. I hope you had a good time.” You could also say something more forward, like, “I had a great time hanging out with you last weekend. Hope we can do it again soon!” Tell him that you like spending time with him. This is a little less risky than coming right out and saying, “I like you.” It's a nice way to compliment him while letting him know you feel fondly toward him. No one ever minds hearing that someone enjoys their company! At the end of a hangout, simply say, “This was fun. I enjoy spending time with you,” and smile at him. If he asks you to do something, say, “Yeah, that sounds like fun. I like hanging out with you.” You could even send him a simple text that says something like, “I enjoyed studying with you the other day.” Keep asking him to hang out so you can get closer to him. As long as he keeps agreeing to spend time with you and seems to enjoy your company, keep hanging out with him and talking on a regular basis. Before you know it, he may even be coming to you and asking you to hang out. Be careful if this guy seems like a bit of a flirt. It's possible that he could have several other people that he hangs out with regularly that are also interested in him. You want to keep your heart safe and not put yourself into a position where you're just chasing after him without an end in sight. If you sense that he may be playing the field, take a step back and wait to see if he pursues you. If he doesn't, you may want to take it as a sign to move on. Be patient and don’t stress if things seem to be moving slowly. Remember, getting to know the guy you like and figuring out if he is developing feelings for you might take several weeks or longer. People don't always develop romantic feelings quickly. Do your best to focus on being his friend and on keeping a positive attitude. If you get really impatient and need to tell him that you like him to see if he feels the same way, you can totally do that. Just be prepared to accept his response, whether it's positive or negative. Remember your self-worth, no matter what happens. Hopefully, after a few weeks or months of spending time together, the guy you like will be seeking you out and you can move into a more serious relationship. But even if that doesn't happen, remember that there is nothing wrong with you, your personality, or your looks. Sometimes, the fit just isn't right, for whatever reason. If you get your heart broken , take a few weeks to really focus on yourself, your hobbies, and your friends. Remember that it's okay to feel sad, and eventually, you'll feel like yourself again. | Be confident and self-assured whenever you’re around him. Embrace your interests and hobbies to show that you have a great personality. Become friendly with his group of friends. Have a sense of humor and show off your fun side. Ask him open-ended questions to get to know him better. Compliment him about his personality, intelligence, and looks. Break the touch barrier to see how he responds. Get his number and text him to talk more outside of school. Encourage him and remember important details. Plan a study date to spend one-on-one time together. Arrange group dates with friends for a low-key hangout option. Send him a text after you hang out to gauge how he is feeling. Tell him that you like spending time with him. Keep asking him to hang out so you can get closer to him. Be patient and don’t stress if things seem to be moving slowly. Remember your self-worth, no matter what happens. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Encourage-Older-Children-and-Teenagers-to-Wear-Diapers-for-Bedwetting | How to Encourage Older Children and Teenagers to Wear Diapers for Bedwetting | To encourage older children and teenagers to wear diapers for bedwetting, it's important to listen to your child's concerns, as they may feel ashamed or embarrassed. You can try to reassure them that it's a common problem and that the only people that know are their family. Also, make sure they know that you're not putting them in diapers to humiliate them and that you're trying to help. Additionally, it might help to let them diaper themselves, if they're old enough, as their independence may alleviate some of their embarrassment. | Explain your decision. As the parent, you know that you are in charge. But as your child gets older, they will be much more interested in knowing why certain choices are made on their behalf. Take some time to talk to your child about why you are making the choice to put them in diapers. Use terms that your child can understand. If you need to explain your decision in terms of a medical condition, find ways to make it relatable to your child. For example, you could say, "You know how you have trouble going to the bathroom before bed? These diapers are one of the things we're going to try to address this issue." Point out to the youngster that it's important to get a full night's rest at their age, and that wearing protection to bed will allow them to do that because they won't have to get up in the middle of the night to change sheets. Emphasize that you are making this choice for your child's benefit, not as a punishment. Consider saying something like, "I know that you don't want to wear diapers, but I'm concerned that the bedwetting is really interfering with your sleep. That's why I've decided to try the diaper solution for a while. Let's see how it goes." Let them know that people of all ages (including many adults) wet the bed and that some of these people have to wear diapers their entire life. While it'd be best for you all if you can deal with the bedwetting behavior itself, rather than just addressing the symptoms, there are some cases in which ongoing use of diapers is appropriate. Reassure them that, even if that's the case, it'll be okay. Diapers are the most effective garments to manage heavy incontinence such as bed wetting and will provide comfort and hygiene. Listen to their concerns. If your child is old enough to be resistant to wearing diapers, than they likely have some good reasons. Maybe they are feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Or maybe the diapers are physically uncomfortable. Whatever the issue, make sure that you treat it as a valid concern. One great way to demonstrate that you are hearing their concerns is to use paraphrasing. For instance, you might say, "I hear you saying that you are concerned your older brother will make fun of you for wearing diapers." Follow up with questions. Try saying, "What could we do to make you feel better about the situation?" Acknowledge your child's feelings. When you are discussing wearing diapers with your child, they are likely to be experiencing several different emotions. It's very common to feel frustration, anger, and embarrassment in this situation. Listen carefully to your child, and make sure they know that you are empathetic. If they feel embarrassment, try reassuring them that this is a very common problem. Reassure them that their emotions are valid and understandable. Say something such as, "I understand how you feel. I've felt embarrassed at times in my life, too." It's important to let the youngster know that you're not putting them in diapers to punish or humiliate them. Stress to the child or teenager that they only have to wear the diapers at night, and that the only people who know that they're wearing diapers are their family. Be supportive. There are several ways that you can demonstrate support through your words. Try making the conversation problem-oriented instead of person-oriented. This will help you address the issue without putting your child on the defensive. An example of a person-oriented statement is "You have been wetting the bed too much." This can make your child feel like he is somehow at fault. Instead, try a problem-oriented statement such as, "Bedwetting can be very uncomfortable and disruptive for people who deal with it." This supports your child be making it clear the problem is not on their shoulders alone. Offer supportive statements such as "It's great that you're willing to discuss this issue with me. I really appreciate that you're such a mature, honest kid." Find the cause. Bedwetting is a problem if your child has previously been able to stay dry and has now regressed. Many experts agree that it is also considered a problem if your child is over the age of five and if the issue occurs more than twice a week. Your first step to finding a solution is to find the cause. Make an appointment with your child's doctor to discuss the problem. There are many common physical issues that can cause bedwetting. One of the most common is called delayed bladder maturation, in which your child's bladder as not developed as quickly as the rest of their body. Your child might also suffer from having a low amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This hormone prevents the body from producing urine. Studies show that children who have low levels of this hormone often wet the bed. Other causes include small bladder capacity, birth defects, deep sleeping, and genetics. Ask your doctor to run some tests to determine the cause of the problem. Make sure that they clearly understand your concerns. Explore alternatives. If the lab results do not indicate a physical cause for the bedwetting, you may want to consider an emotional cause. Doctors say that if your child has previously gone six months or more without wetting the bed, the problem might be stress or anxiety. Start exploring underlying causes if you think your child is suffering from stress or anxiety. Consider whether your child has been through any major life changes recently. For example, as there been a move? A death in the family? A divorce? Any of these things could very likely cause stress or anxiety. Try having some in-depth conversations with your child. You can ask some questions to let you try to determine if there are any issues that you are unaware of. Try saying something like, "How's school going? I haven't heard you talk much about how you're liking your teachers lately." Then you can use the information to try to figure out if your child is having some sort of emotional problem. Consider treatment options. Once you have figured out what is causing the bedwetting, you can begin to explore different treatment options. If the diagnosis is that there is a physical cause, there are different treatments that your doctor can suggest. Ask them to thoroughly explain options to you. Medication might be an option for your child. There are several drugs available to treat the underlying causes of bedwetting. Two of the most common are desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) and imipramine. Ask your doctor if these are right for your child. If the causes are psychological, you might consider taking your child to a counselor. A mental health specialist can help your child deal with anxiety and depression. Consider implementing a reward system designed to encourage the youngster to wear diapers at night. If your doctor agrees that diapers are the best solution, considering using a short-term rewards system to encourage the child to follow through. At the outset, let the child or teenager know that this is a temporary solution, just for use as they become accustomed to the diapers. Consider saying something like this: “We know you feel a little embarrassed about this and we get how you feel, but we thought of an idea to make this fun. We're going to implement a reward system. By fulfilling your part of the deal, you'll not only earn a reward, but at the same time you'll be helping yourself." Have the child or teenager pick three things they really like. For instance, they might like video games, books, and toys, in that order. If they wear the diapers to bed 20 – 24 nights in a row, they would get a toy; if they wear them for 25 – 29 nights in a row they would get a book; and if they wore them to bed the whole month they would get a video game. The purpose of setting up the reward system along these lines is to gradually ease them into or get them comfortable with wearing the diapers. Verbal encouragement is also an important part of the system. Offer praise, encouragement, and reassurance in the face of any setbacks. If the child is old enough, focus on the real end goal, rather than the temporary rewards: their long-term health, comfort, and hygiene. Say something like, "We're really proud of you for being understanding enough to wear them. We know it's no fun but just keep in mind that people of all ages wear diapers for bedwetting, and it's much more comfortable wearing them rather than waking up in yucky wet PJs and bedding, right?" Teach the child how to diaper themselves. If they're able to, it's important they take care of their own hygiene, safely and independently at an age-appropriate level. A child should be taught how to do this at a young age so they don't feel embarrassed or ashamed about wearing the diapers. Unless the youngster has some cognitive and/or physical disability that prevents or makes it difficult for them to diaper themselves, they should be responsible for putting on and changing their own diapers. Talk to someone. Your child's bedwetting is likely a very frustrating situation for both you and your child. You might find that you need some help in finding good ways to deal with the situation. If you're having trouble encouraging your child to wear a diaper, maybe there is someone who can help you have that difficult conversation. Is there a family member that your child has a great relationship with? If they are close to an aunt or uncle or cousin, try recruiting that person to help you have the conversation. Talk to your friends and family members who have children. If they have experience with this type of situation, they can probably offer you some very helpful personal advice. Consider online or in-person incontinence support groups. They can be a good source to talk to people about various topics related to incontinence, from how to adjust to wearing bedwetting diapers to how to choose between different brands. Suggest to the youngster that they talk to people in a support group and ask them how they cope with wearing protection. If they're younger it would be a good idea to supervise them while online. Consult your doctor. Your doctor can be a great resource for you in this type of situation. Not only can they help you figure out the physical causes, but they can offer advice on how to talk about the problem with your child. Remember, your doctor has likely seen this situation before and can offer some great insight. Prepare for your visit to the doctor. Make a list of questions that you would like to have answered and check them off during your conversation. This will help you to remember all of the things you want to ask. Find a support system. Remember to be kind to yourself. You're going through a difficult situation, too. Try to surround yourself with people who have a positive effect on your life and can offer you support. Try talking to a close friend who you trust. Explain that you are going through a difficult issue with your child and that you need someone to talk to. Having a listening ear can really help ease the stress of the situation. | Explain your decision. Emphasize that you are making this choice for your child's benefit, not as a punishment. Listen to their concerns. Acknowledge your child's feelings. Be supportive. Find the cause. Explore alternatives. Consider treatment options. Consider implementing a reward system designed to encourage the youngster to wear diapers at night. Teach the child how to diaper themselves. Talk to someone. Consider online or in-person incontinence support groups. Consult your doctor. Find a support system. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Volunteer-at-UNICEF | How to Volunteer at UNICEF | Before you volunteer at UNICEF, make sure you meet the requirements of being at least 13 years old and a U.S. resident. Then, go online to the UNICEF website and read their terms and conditions, which you must agree to if you want to volunteer. If you're okay with the rules, complete the online registration form, then look for a confirmation email from the organization. Once you have the email, you can take part in an online new-volunteer orientation, as well as other online training events, which will help you figure out how to get more involved. | Make sure you meet the requirements. To register as a volunteer for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, you must be at least 13 years old and a resident of the United States. Volunteering is open to individuals of any gender and ethnicity within the country. If you are not a U.S. resident, visit https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry to get contact information for your country's head office, as well as program details. Read the terms and conditions. Before signing up, read the volunteering terms and conditions on the U.S. Fund for UNICEF website. Note that, by registering, you are declaring that you understand and agree to these terms and conditions. The agreement includes statements that: you will act professionally and uphold the UNICEF's reputation you will send all fundraising contributions that you collect to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF no later than thirty days following the conclusion of the fundraising activity you declare that all the information included about yourself is true and complete Register online. To register as a volunteer, visit the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's website at https://www.unicefusa.org/user/register. Fill out the required information, including your name, date of birth, postal code, and email address, and choose a password for your account. Look for confirmation details in your email inbox. You can also enter your mobile phone number to receive alerts from UNICEF. Take part in volunteer training. UNICEF offers online webinars for new volunteers looking to get acclimated with the organization and their role in it. New volunteer orientations happen via webinar every month, educating participants on how to get started with volunteer initiatives within their own community. Volunteer training webinars happen every two months and provide a more in-depth look at how to get involved (i.e. planning fundraisers, advocating to legislators). Join a UNICEF school club. Students at high school and college levels can register their club with UNICEF, upon which they will receive resource kits and materials to reach out to their school and community at large. To start, register individually as a volunteer with UNICEF U.S. Fund; then, ask to join your school's UNICEF club or approach your school's administrators about starting one. If you are starting a new group, fill out an application form on UNICEF U.S. Fund's website for either college clubs or high school clubs. Note that UNICEF clubs must have a leadership structure containing at least four officers: president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Learn more about UNICEF. In order to educate others about UNICEF's charitable initiatives, you should deepen your own knowledge about the humanitarian organization. Visit https://www.unicefusa.org/mission to read the organization's mission statement, as well as descriptions of its current initiatives in over 190 countries across the world. UNICEF's efforts include: providing immunizations for 45% of the world's children giving access to clean, safe water in over 100 countries prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus educational initiatives that can include building schools, training teachers, bringing education to child refugees, and reforming school systems emergency relief to victims of war and natural disasters Share information with family, friends, and co-workers. Start educating people about UNICEF on a small scale, starting with your own inner-circle (i.e. friends and family) and co-workers. Garner interest by sharing facts about UNICEF's work, noting specific, individual examples. When it comes to charity, "identifiable victims" elicit a greater level of emotion and sympathy than statistics about a great number of people do. For example, you could show friends, family, or colleagues a picture of Rukaia, a one-year old baby whose family fled the city of Aleppo, receiving new winter clothing from UNICEF to stay warm as temperatures drop; this picture, and others like it, are available via the UNICEF U.S. Fund Instagram account. Use social media. Follow UNICEF on any social media platforms that you use (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube). The internet is arguably the fastest way to share knowledge and news, so put your online time to good use by sharing information about UNICEF and its global initiatives. For instance, share posts from UNICEF USA's Facebook page on your own wall to be viewed by your Facebook friends. Make use of the visual storytelling, hashtags, and calls to action that UNICEF employs in their social media activity, which are effective tools in spreading awareness about the organization and its work. Join a congressional action team. UNICEF has 14 congressional action teams in the United States; teams consist of UNICEF volunteers who are trained and supported by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF staff, and who interact with Congress members on behalf of the organization. Team members meet monthly for a national conference call where they discuss issues and prepare to take action (e.g. visiting or writing to elected officials). To join, send an email to [email protected] to express your interest. No experience or special credentials are required to join a UNICEF congressional action team. Sign and distribute petitions. Influence legislative action and policy-making by distributing petitions related to UNICEF's mission. On the UNICEF U.S. Fund website, for example, volunteers are urged to sign a petition to make child survival issues a priority in Congress. To start, write a brief (and easily readable) summary of your point of view, proposal, and a few convincing arguments for it; leave space for people to write their name and address, with each line numbered to keep track of signatures. To make a petition that can be widely circulated, use a web platform like Change.org - petitions made on the site can be disseminated on Facebook and Twitter, quickly and easily. Write to elected officials. Take a direct approach to advocating for UNICEF by writing to members of Congress and other elected officials, urging them to take action to make the survival of children a priority. Visit the U.S. Fund for UNICEF website to read about specific issues you can write to government officials about right now. For instance, UNICEF is, as of December 2016, asking volunteers to write to the President, imploring him and other world leaders to make good on their commitment to child refugees and migrants after the September 2016 United Nations summits. Plan an event. Brainstorm ideas for fundraising events that you trust will raise money for UNICEF. Contact friends, family, and colleagues for leads on any venues you might be able to borrow or rent for a small fee to host your event, or look for local sponsors for your fundraiser. For inspiration and ideas, visit the U.S Funds for UNICEF website for volunteer highlights and stories; some popular fundraising choices have included: dinner parties art auctions film screenings sporting activities Submit an application. As a UNICEF volunteer, you can organize a fundraising event as you see fit, but you must submit a proposal for your event to the organization first. An application form is available on the website, and requires you to have many details of the events planned out ahead of time. The application asks for: the name of the event host or hosts, and their contact information what the event will be named what type of event it will be the location, date, and time of the event the number of people expected to attend the amounts of funds you anticipate raising Advertise your event. Use social media to advertise your fundraising event, in addition to more traditional printed invitations, banners, and flyers. Once your event application is approved, you will be allowed to use UNICEF's logo for your event and advertising. You will first have to submit copies of these documents to the organization for approval before distributing them. | Make sure you meet the requirements. Read the terms and conditions. Register online. Take part in volunteer training. Join a UNICEF school club. Learn more about UNICEF. Share information with family, friends, and co-workers. Use social media. Join a congressional action team. Sign and distribute petitions. Write to elected officials. Plan an event. Submit an application. Advertise your event. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Whiteboard | How to Clean a Whiteboard | To clean a whiteboard, first write over any stains, like stains from a pen or permanent marker, with a fresh dry erase marker. The fresh dry erase marker will help lift stubborn stains so you can wipe them off. Let the fresh marker dry for a few seconds, then wipe it off using a cloth or whiteboard eraser to remove the stains. You can also try wiping down your whiteboard with rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or hand sanitizer. Just dampen a cloth with the cleaner, then firmly wipe off the whiteboard with it. Try to clean your whiteboard every 1-2 days if you use it regularly since stains become harder to remove the longer they sit. | Write over the stains with fresh dry erase marker. Pen and permanent marker will leave permanent marks on a whiteboard that can be very difficult to remove. Even dry erase marker that's left on for too long will stain the board. To remove such stains, start by completely writing over the stains with fresh dry erase marker. Allow the marker to dry. This should only take a few seconds. Then, rub the marks with a cloth or the whiteboard eraser. The idea is that the fresh dry erase ink will help loosen and lift the stains off the board, so that when you wipe away the dry erase ink, the permanent marks will come off as well. Repeat if necessary. For stubborn stains and permanent marks, repeat the process. Cover the marks again with dry erase ink, allow it to dry, and then rub the board with a cloth or eraser. Clean and wipe the board. Once you have removed the permanent stains or marks, clean the board to remove any remaining marks. Dampen a cloth with a cleaner and wipe the board vigorously with the damp cloth. Remove any excess cleaner and allow the board to dry. Some of the most popular cleaners for a whiteboard are: Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol Hand sanitizer Acetone or nail polish remover that contains acetone Water mixed with several drops of dish soap. Orange cleaners (such as Goo Gone and Fantastik) Glass cleaner Baby wipes Pam or other spray cooking oils Aftershave Whiteboard cleaning solution like Expo, Solutions MB, or Quartet Clean the board every one to two days. Start with a whiteboard eraser, which will remove the majority of fresh marks, as long as they haven't been there for more than a couple days. Clean the board thoroughly with a wet solution. Dampen a clean cloth or sponge with your favorite cleaning solution. Be sure you're in a ventilated area if you are going to use harsh chemicals. Use the cloth to apply cleaning solution to the whiteboard and rub vigorously. Wipe and dry the board. Once you have successfully removed the marker, rinse out your cloth or sponge with clean water to remove the cleaning solution. Wring out the cloth and wipe the board down with the damp cloth. This will remove excess cleaning solution. Then, dry the board with a clean, dry cloth. | Write over the stains with fresh dry erase marker. Allow the marker to dry. Repeat if necessary. Clean and wipe the board. Clean the board every one to two days. Clean the board thoroughly with a wet solution. Wipe and dry the board. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sit-During-Meditation | How to Sit During Meditation | If you're looking for a comfortable way to sit during meditation, try sitting in a chair with a straight back with the balls of your feet resting firmly on the floor. Alternatively, sit with your back against the wall with your legs crossed or extended out in front of you. If you find sitting on the ground uncomfortable, use a pillow or folded blanket for extra support. You can also try meditating while lying flat on your back, either on the ground or on a blanket. | Meditate while sitting in a chair. This is perhaps the simplest meditation pose, as it doesn't involve any bodily stretching or contortion. Find a chair with a straight back, and sit forward in the seat, with the balls of your feet resting firmly on the floor. Sitting in a chair is a good method to strengthen your back muscles, which will prepare you for more difficult unsupported positions. If you find that it's strenuous on your back to sit up straight without assistance, place a few pillows between your back and the back of the chair. Sit with your back against a wall. The wall will support your back and help you maintain a steady posture. You can sit with your legs crossed beneath you or extended out in front of you. Use whichever pose is more comfortable. If you don't have a conveniently located wall, try sitting with your back against a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large bookcase. If it's uncomfortable to sit directly on the ground, use a pillow or folded blanket. Sit with support under your knees. If sitting in a chair feels too stiff, try kneeling directly on the floor, but with support propped under your knees. In this position, you're still technically sitting (weight on your buttocks), but the knee support will make the pose easier to hold. To achieve the position, kneel directly on the floor. Then tuck a folded blanket or pillow behind your knees, and then lower your body into a seated position on the folded support. Consider buying a meditation bench, This is a small wooden bench that allows you to kneel on the floor, then sit back and rest your buttocks on the padded seat of the bench. Begin with the Burmese position. The Burmese position is considered to be the easiest of all unsupported, seated positions, and is great for beginners. To achieve this position, sit flat on the floor, and bend your knees so that your feet are both in front of you. Sit so that the heel of your left foot is touching the top of your right foot (or ankle), but don't actually cross your legs. The Burmese position places little strain on your legs, knees, and feet. Try the Quarter Lotus position. This is a relatively simple cross-legged pose. To get into the Quarter Lotus, cross your legs in front of you, by keeping your left foot on the floor below your right thigh, and cross your right foot over to rest on your left calf. If you struggle to achieve this pose initially, try sitting on a small pillow. This will elevate your body and make it easier to fold your legs. Move into the Half Lotus Position. As the name suggests, the Half Lotus is similar to the Quarter Lotus pose. Move your body into a Quarter Lotus pose, but cross your right foot so that it rests on top of your left thigh (instead of your left calf). If this pose becomes difficult to hold, move back into the Quarter Lotus. Meditate in the Full Lotus position once you’re comfortable. To achieve the Full Lotus, begin by sitting in the Half Lotus position so that your right foot is resting on top of your left thigh. Then bring your left foot up over your right leg, and rest your left foot on top of your right thigh. The Full Lotus is the most symmetrical and stable meditation pose. For beginners, this pose can be uncomfortable, as you have to put both feet on top of the other leg's thigh. Never force your body into this pose, as you can hurt your knees. Lay down to meditate. Although this is an uncommon position, it's fine to recline flat on your back in order to mediate. As long as you can breathe properly, you feel comfortable, and your spine is straight, feel free to practice meditation on your back. If you find it uncomfortable to lay directly on the floor, put down a blanket. Avoid becoming too comfortable while you're meditating in a reclining pose. You don't want to fall asleep. Wear comfortable clothing. When you're meditating, you'll want to wear something that lets you move and stretch. Comfortable clothing should be loose, made of a soft material, and allow you to move your body around freely without being restrained. Avoid wearing jeans. Yoga pants are a good option, especially when combined with a spandex or acrylic top. Gym shorts or athletic shorts and a cotton t-shirt are a fine option. Find a time to meditate. Set a specific time aside for your meditation (at least 30 minutes), or take advantage of an opening during your schedule. This should be a time when you do not have any meetings or any work left. You may choose to meditate: During an early morning or late evening, when people around you are still asleep or going to bed. On a lunch break during your workday. Meditate in a peaceful place. The space you meditate in should be well lit (preferably with natural light) and ventilated. Choose a place where you will not be distracted by things including: Children (yours or other people's). Pets or other animals. Noises from traffic or machinery. Your cell phone or computer. | Meditate while sitting in a chair. Sit with your back against a wall. Sit with support under your knees. Begin with the Burmese position. Try the Quarter Lotus position. Move into the Half Lotus Position. Meditate in the Full Lotus position once you’re comfortable. Lay down to meditate. Wear comfortable clothing. Find a time to meditate. Meditate in a peaceful place. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Lose-25-Pounds-in-Two-Months | How to Lose 25 Pounds in Two Months | To lose 25 pounds in two months, cut 750 calories from your diet daily. Skip the carbs and fill up on lean protein and non-starchy veggies. Drink 64 oz (1.9 L) of water daily, and do at least 5 hours of cardio each week. | Talk to your doctor. Losing 25 pounds in two months is a lofty goal. Due to the type of diet and exercise plan this type of weight loss requires, it's going to be a smart idea to talk to your doctor prior to starting your weight loss. A low-calorie diet paired with a lot of exercise is generally safe for most people; however, talk to your doctor about exactly what type of diet and exercise you plan on doing. They will be able to tell you whether or not this is safe for your current health conditions. Speak to a registered dietitian. These nutrition professionals will be able to guide you on an appropriate eating pattern to meet your goal. They may be able to give you an specific meal plan, types of foods to include and what to avoid. Discuss with your doctor whether this is truly an attainable goal. Someone who is 50 pounds overweight might be able to lose 25 pounds in two months, but someone who is 20 pounds overweight cannot. It is unrealistic for most people who are overweight (as in BMI over 25 but under 29) to lose 25 pounds in two months. In addition if you are obese (BMI over 30), it may be difficult for you to incorporate the exercise necessary for such a diet. Running, jogging, aerobics, and exercise that requires major exertion may cause too much discomfort for someone who is obese. In addition, you need to discuss the risk of yo-yo dieting. Rapidly losing weight only to put it back on causes some major health risks, and is actually considered quite dangerous. You can put yourself at risk for heart disease, cancer and diabetes; damage to arteries; less energy; muscle wasting; and higher levels of body fat. Start a journal. Starting a journal will be a good tool for your diet and exercise program. Use a pen and paper journal or a smartphone app to track a variety of factors that will help you monitor your progress. Log everything you eat in your journal. This will help you stay accountable but also provide you with good information if you're not seeing your desired results, as you can look back and see where you can possibly reduce more calories. Consider tracking your exercise as well. Again, this can help keep you on track and help you calculate how many calories you are burning. Lastly, keep track of your progress. This may mean your weight loss or measurements. If you're not seeing your results, you may need to go back and analyze your food and exercise journal. Build a support group. Losing 25 pounds in two months will be difficult. You'll need to make a variety of changes to your diet and lifestyle. These changes may be difficult to maintain every day for two months. A support group can help you stay strong the entire two months. Find friends, family members or co-workers that will be positive support. Look for people that will help you stay on track. Some people may not encourage you through your tough moments and should not be included in your support group. Also ask if anyone wants to join you on your new plan. Losing weight and getting in shape is a common goal and finding a friend to go along with you makes the journey more fun. You can also check out online support groups or forums of others trying to lose weight. This may allow you to connect with other people any time of day. Write your diet and exercise plan. To keep yourself organized and on track, take the time to write up your desired diet and exercise plan. These blueprints will answer all your questions of how you're going to lose 25 pounds in two months. Start with your diet plan. To lose that 25 pounds, you'll need to make the most changes to your diet. You'll also need to be the most strict with your diet. Diet has the greatest effect on your weight loss. Write out your calorie level for each day. Then construct a meal plan that fits into that calorie plan. Include each meal, snack and beverage you plan on consuming throughout the day. Write down what type of exercise you're going to be doing, how much to aim for each week and how you're going to divide that up between seven days. Cut calories. To lose weight, you'll need to modify your diet by cutting down on the total amount of calories you eat each day. To lose 25 pounds in two months, you'll need to cut out a significant amount of calories each day. In general, safe weight loss is considered to be about 1 – 2 pounds of weight loss each week. To lose 25 pounds in two months you'll need to lose about three pounds per week. Although this is technically outside of the "safe weight loss" limit, it may be a realistic goal for those who stick to a strict diet plan the entire two months. You'll need to cut out at least 750 calories daily. One pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so you'll need to lose 87,500 (3,500 x 25) over 60 days. To achieve this goal, you will need to lose 1,458.3 calories per day. Although you'll need to cut out a significant amount of calories each day, it's not typically recommended by health professionals to eat less than 1,200 calories daily. A calorie level lower than this may not allow you to consume enough vital nutrients that your body needs to function normally each day. In addition, consistently following a calorie limit that is too low may result in the loss of lean muscle mass, not fat mass. It may slow down your metabolism and cause your body to actually cling to the fat instead of shedding it, because your body will enter "starvation mode." Pass on the carbs. Many studies show that one of the dieting plans that results in the fastest weight loss is a low-carb diet. These diets not only help you lose weight faster, but typically result in the loss of more fat mass compared to lean muscle mass. Carbs are found in a variety of foods including: starchy vegetables (like potatoes or peas), legumes (beans and lentils), fruits, dairy products and grains. Because carbohydrates are so widespread through a variety of food groups, it's not ideal or realistic to cut out each of those food groups. Focus on minimizing the most carbohydrate-rich food groups like grains, starchy vegetables and some fruits. Many nutrients found in foods like grains or starchy vegetables are easily consumed from other food groups. Limiting these for a short time period like two months isn't considered unhealthy. Although fruit is a carbohydrate-rich food, you should not avoid all fruit. Choose to have minimal, small amounts of fruit each week. Also choose lower-sugar fruits like: cranberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Also keep fruit to the appropriate serving size of 1/2 cup chopped or small fruit or one small piece. Fill up on lean protein and non-starchy vegetables. If you're following a low-carb diet, there are two food groups that are left that are considered low-carb. Protein and non-starchy vegetables are low-carb, low-calories and nutrient-dense, making them an excellent pair for rapid weight loss. Aim for one to two servings of lean protein at each meal or snack. One serving is about 3 – 4 oz or about the size of a deck of cards. Fill up on as many non-starchy vegetables as you'd like. It's typically recommended to make 1/2 of your plate a vegetable. In general, you may notice that half of your plate is a source of lean protein and half is a non-starchy vegetable and the occasional piece of fruit. Limit snacks and keep them low-calorie. When you're cutting a significant amount of calories from your diet each day and participating in a higher amount of physical activity, there is a chance that you'll feel more hungry or need an extra boost throughout the day. Planning healthy, weight-loss-friendly snacks is a must. If you're trying to follow a more rapid weight loss plan, you'll need to make sure that your snacks fit into your daily calorie goal. Typically a snack of 100 – 150 calories will work well in your plan. Try to stick to one snack daily. Including two or more might put you over your daily calorie goal. To fit in with your high-protein, low-carb diet, choose snacks that also feature higher protein amounts. Examples of low-calorie, low-carb snacks include: 1/4 cup of almonds, 1/2 cup plain low-fat greek yogurt, 3 oz of beef jerky or one hard boiled egg. Also, only snack if you're feeling truly hungry or need a boost for a workout. If you snack unnecessarily that may lead to slower weight loss or a plateau. Drink adequate fluid. Drinking enough hydrating fluids each day is essential for overall health. It'll also become even more important with rapid weight loss and higher amounts of physical activity. When you're losing weight, especially when paired with higher intensity or higher amounts of cardio, you'll need to make sure that you're drinking enough to rehydrate after workouts and stay hydrated throughout the day. Aim for a minimum of eight glasses daily or about 64 oz (1.9 L); however, if you're including more physical activity you may need to drink up to 13 glasses daily. This will depend on your exercise, gender and age as well. Stick to low- or no-calorie fluids to help you meet your daily calorie goal. Beverages like water, flavored water, decaf coffee and tea are the best choices. Do enough cardio exercise. Although exercise is not responsible for a large part of weight loss, when you have a lofty weight loss goal, you'll need to really increase the amount of cardio exercise you do each day. Cardio or aerobic activity is the type of exercise that's responsible for larger calorie burns compared to strength training. Most health professionals recommend including at least 150 minutes of cardio exercises each week; however, because losing 25 pounds in two months is considered a rapid weight loss, you'll need to add in additional activity to help you reach your goal. Consider doing at least 300 minutes of cardio each week. This is a lot of exercise, but will really burn additional calories to help you lose weight more quickly. Include exercises like: jogging/running, swimming, using the elliptical, aerobics classes, cycling or doing spin class. Include regular strength training. Strength training or resistance training does not burn many calories per session; however, it is important component of overall exercise. Strength training helps build and support lean muscle mass during weight loss. In addition, the more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories you'll burn at rest, meaning you'll be burning more calories overall. Most health experts recommend including at least two to three days of strength training each week. Work each major muscle group in your body each day you do strength work. If you're having difficulty meeting the 150 – 300 minutes of cardio each week, cut down on the amount of time you spend doing strength training. In the short-term of two months, you'll benefit more from doing higher amounts of cardio. Increase your baseline activity. Lifestyle or baseline activity are the types of exercise that you include in your everyday life. These types of activities do not burn many calories by themselves, but added up at the end of the day, they can have a significant effect on the total amount of calories you've burned. Lifestyle activities include things like: doing household chores, gardening, walking to and from your car, walking throughout the day and taking the stairs. Spend some time when you're coming up with your exercise plan to add in ways you can be more active throughout the day or just move more. For example, can you park farther away when you're at the store or at work? Are there ways you can take the stairs instead of the elevator? Can you stand or move more while you're watching TV? Consider HIIT. A more trendy form of exercise is called HIIT or high-intensity interval training. This type of exercise burns a lot of calories in a short amount of time and can help you reach your weight goal. HIIT is a form of exercise that combines bouts of very high-intensity cardio activities with short bouts of more moderate-intensity activities. HIIT sessions are usually shorter compared to more steady cardio (like going for a 45 minute jog). Although HIIT sessions are shorter, they burn higher amount of calories compared to steady cardio. In addition, studies have shown that they keep your metabolism (your body's calorie burner) raised long after the workout has been completed. In addition to your regular cardio and strength training, consider adding one to two sessions of HIIT throughout the week. This extra calorie burn can help you reach that 25 pound goal in two months. | Talk to your doctor. Start a journal. Build a support group. Write your diet and exercise plan. Cut calories. Pass on the carbs. Fill up on lean protein and non-starchy vegetables. Limit snacks and keep them low-calorie. Drink adequate fluid. Do enough cardio exercise. Include regular strength training. Increase your baseline activity. Consider HIIT. |
https://www.wikihow.life/Get-the-Shine-Back-on-a-Laminate-Floor | How to Get the Shine Back on a Laminate Floor | To get the shine back on a laminate floor, use a specially formulated cleaning product to prevent haziness, or you can try a homemade cleaner made of equal parts of white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water. Spray the cleaner onto a small section of the floor, then use a flat-head microfiber mop to wipe the entire section in the direction of the grain. Continue spraying and mopping in small sections until the entire floor is clean. Leave it to air dry for 30 minutes, then buff it with a microfiber cloth to restore the shine. | Sweep or vacuum. Use a microfiber mop to remove dust and dirt from the floor. Alternatively, you can also vacuum the floor, but be sure to use the hard floor attachment to avoid scratching the laminate. Don't use a vacuum that has a beater bar, as this can also scratch the floor. Pick a cleaner. The haze that forms on many laminate floors is often caused by the wrong cleaners, including soap- and oil-based ones. To remove this, your best bet will be a floor cleaner that's specially formulated for laminate floors. However, you can also try a homemade cleaner for laminate. To do this, combine in a spray bottle: ½ cup (118 ml) of water ½ cup (118 ml) of white vinegar ½ cup (118 ml) of rubbing alcohol Spray the cleaner directly onto the floor. Apply a thin and even layer of cleaner. Start with a section that's small enough that you can reach the entire area with your mop without walking on the wet floor. Laminate is not meant to get wet, so you should never apply large amounts of liquid to the floor. Never clean laminate with a mop and bucket, as this will get the floor too wet. Wipe the area with a microfiber mop. Use a clean, flat-head microfiber mop and wipe the entire section of floor in the direction of the grain. The surface of the floor should look slightly damp, but not overly wet. Don't use a sponge or string mop on laminate, as it can leave streaks, and leave too much moisture on the floor. Work in small sections until the floor is clean. Take a few steps back and spray the next section of floor with your cleaner. Wipe the section with the microfiber mop. Continue spraying and mopping in small sections until the entire floor is clean. Once the entire floor has been cleaned, leave it to air dry for up to half an hour. Don't let anybody walk on the floor while it's still wet, or this could diminish the shine. Buff the floor with a dry microfiber cloth. When the floor is dry, look at it in the light and check for spots that may still be dull. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to rub and buff these areas to restore the shine. Sweep or vacuum regularly. Dust and dirt can make your floor look dirty, and they can also cause scratches. Sweep or vacuum the floor at least once a week, and more often if you have kids, pets, or a particularly active house. When you vacuum, always use the hard floor attachment. Mop regularly with the right cleaner. Mop the floor at least once a week after you vacuum. Work in small sections by spraying cleaner directly onto the floor and wiping with a microfiber mop. To maintain the shine, use a commercial or homemade cleaner that's specifically formulated for laminate. To prevent dullness, don't use cleaners that contain soaps, oils, or harsh chemicals. Use floor mats at entrances. Floor mats aren't just good for welcoming guests to your house, and they're also designed to catch dirt, mud, dust, moisture, and other particles that might get dragged in from outside. Using mats at entrances will help keep your floor cleaner, and reduce how often you have to sweep and mop. Clean spills immediately. Laminate floor is very durable, but it's not meant to get wet. As soon as food spills on the floor, pick up solid waste with a spoon or a towel. Wipe up any liquids, puddles, or spills that end up on the floor with a cloth or towel. Laminate that stays wet for too long can warp or be otherwise damaged. Never wax or polish the floor. Laminate floor is designed to be shiny, so you never have to wax or polish it. In fact, these substances can damage and dull the floor rather than making it shine. To keep the floor shiny, mop it regularly with a laminate-formulated cleaner. Avoid abrasive cleaning pads. Laminate floor can scratch easily, so don't use scrubbing pads or abrasive cleaners to maintain the floor. The best cleaning material for the floor is a soft, lint-free cloth or microfiber. Abrasive scrubbers include steel wool, scrubbing pads, and scrubbing sponges. Don’t use wet cleaning methods. Steam and other liquids will damage and warp the laminate. Avoid any type of water-based cleaning system on your laminate floor, including steamers, mop-and-bucket, or even spray mops. Use protective pads on furniture. To prevent scratches caused by chair legs, table legs, and other furniture, install felt pads on the bottom of all furniture that touches the laminate. For chair and table legs, you can use small round pads. For larger and heavier furniture, use wider pads to protect the floor. | Sweep or vacuum. Pick a cleaner. Spray the cleaner directly onto the floor. Wipe the area with a microfiber mop. Work in small sections until the floor is clean. Buff the floor with a dry microfiber cloth. Sweep or vacuum regularly. Mop regularly with the right cleaner. Use floor mats at entrances. Clean spills immediately. Never wax or polish the floor. Avoid abrasive cleaning pads. Don’t use wet cleaning methods. Use protective pads on furniture. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Septum-Piercing | How to Clean a Septum Piercing | To clean a septum piercing, you should soak it in sea salt water 3 times a day for the first month. To do this, fill a glass with 8 ounces of warm water and add a quarter teaspoon of sea salt. Then, dunk your noise into the solution and wait for 10 minutes. If submerging your piercing is too uncomfortable, try saturating a cotton ball with the solution and pressing that to your piercing for 10 minutes. After that, dip a q-tip in the solution and rub away any crust from around the piercing. When you're not cleaning your septum, you should avoid touching it so you don't spread bacteria. | Keep up a cleaning routine for at least a month. While septum piercings take six to eight months to fully heal, you only need to follow a strict cleaning regimen for about a month. During this time, do a sea salt soak three times per day. During this time, you should also minimize contact with the piercing and keep creams and makeup away from your face. Mix your sea salt solution. Fill a glass with about eight ounces of clean tap water. Add about a quarter teaspoon of sea salt. Make sure to use sea salt and not table salt. Mix the solution with a spoon until the salt dissolves. Use warm water, as this will help dissolve the salt. Avoid very hot water, as this may be uncomfortable. Soak your piercing in the solution. Soaking a septum piercing can be a little uncomfortable, but it's an important part of the healing process. Dunk your piercing in the solution for five to 10 minutes. If submerging your piercing in water becomes uncomfortable, you can also press a cotton ball saturated with the solution to your piercing for about 10 minutes. Clean away crust with a q-tip. After soaking your piercing, take a clean q-tip. Dip the end of the q-tip into the piercing solution. Use the q-tip to gently rub away any any crust forming around your piercing. Soak your piercing three times a day. To keep your piercing clean, soak it around three times a day. Do one soak in the morning, another in the afternoon, and another in the evening. Do not soak your piercing more than three times a day, however, as this can dry it out and increase the risk of complication. You can do some of your daily cleaning in the shower by cupping your hands to make a pool of water and then blowing bubbles with your nose in that. You should still make sure to clean with a saline solution at least once a day, though! Avoid touching the piercing. Do not touch the piercing unless it's during the cleaning process. If you do touch the piercing, wash your hands thoroughly first. The less contact your hands make with the piercing, the lower your risk of an infection. Use gentler products on your face. If you use other products on your face, like moisturizers or face washes, keep them away from the septum piercing as much as possible. You should also use gentler cleansers and moisturizers made with natural ingredients. Avoid using anything with alcohol or peroxide. You should also refrain from using anything scented on your face. Avoid these products for about four to six weeks, as this is the length it takes a septum piecing to heal. Do not swim until your piercing has healed. Stay away from lakes and swimming pools while your piercing is healing. Even chlorine pools have a lot of bacteria that can get int your piercing and cause complications. You can begin activities like swimming again after four to six weeks, which is when the piercing will be healed. Once healed, there will be less pain and crustiness around the piercing. Recognize an infection. Most septum piercings will heal up without a problem if you keep them clean. Unfortunately, however, infections do sometimes happen. The following are signs your piercing has become infected: Yellow or green discharge. A lump near the piercing. Intense pain, redness, or swelling. Do not remove your jewelry. Your first impulse may be to remove your jewelry if you notice signs of an infection. However, this can actually make the infection worse. If the hole in your piercing closes, this can form an abscess that can have serious medical complications. See a doctor right away. In the event your piercing becomes infected, make an appointment with a doctor immediately. Infections should not be treated without medical assistance and self-medicating can worsen an infection. Take any medications your doctor prescribes. Infections are usually treated via topical or oral antibiotics. Take the full round of any antibiotics your doctor prescribes, even after symptoms of an infection have passed. With prompt, proper treatment, a pierced septum infection can be quickly treated. | Keep up a cleaning routine for at least a month. Mix your sea salt solution. Soak your piercing in the solution. Clean away crust with a q-tip. Soak your piercing three times a day. Avoid touching the piercing. Use gentler products on your face. Do not swim until your piercing has healed. Recognize an infection. Do not remove your jewelry. See a doctor right away. Take any medications your doctor prescribes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Breaded-Pork-Chops | How to Cook Breaded Pork Chops | To make breaded pork chops, start by combining flour, cracker crumbs, and spices in a bowl. In a separate container, mix eggs and milk to make an egg wash. Dip the pork chops into the egg wash, and then coat them in the breading. To bake your pork chops, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a baking sheet with oil. Bake your pork chops for 20 minutes, pulling them out and flipping them midway through for an even finish to the breading. | Combine flour, cracker crumbs and spices. Start by mixing together the ingredients for the breading. In a medium-sized container, combine the flour, bread or cracker crumbs, salt, pepper and other spices. Stir the dry mixture until the bread or cracker crumbs and spices are distributed evenly throughout. Add your own special touch to the breading seasoning by incorporating other spices like paprika, onion powder, garlic or cayenne pepper. For extra crispy breading, use Japanese Panko-style bread crumbs. Mix eggs and milk together in a large bowl. Crack two large eggs into a mixing bowl. Add 1/8 cup of milk and beat in the egg. Together, the two will create a thick liquid known as a "wash" used to prepare the pork chops to be breaded. Use 2% milk fat or higher so that the egg wash is thick enough to cling to the chops. Dip the pork chops into the egg wash. Submerge each pork chop into the egg wash, making sure to wet both sides. If time allows, leave the chops to sit in the liquid for several minutes on each side to ensure that they are thoroughly covered. The thickness and moisture of the wash will allow the breading to stick to the pork chops better. The egg will also enhance the texture of the pork chops and help cook the outside. Coat the chops evenly in breading. Once the chops have been soaked in the egg wash, place them in the container with the breading mixture. Use both hands to press the breading into the chops to make sure they get completely coated, and remember to do both sides. The pork chops are now breaded and ready to be cooked. As an alternative, soak the chops in the egg wash and then place them in a gallon Ziploc bag containing the breading mixture. Shake the bag to get a nice, mess-free coating on the chops. Heat the canola oil on a skillet over medium heat. Pour about 1/4 cup of canola oil into a large skillet and turn the cook top on to a medium heat. If you're serving company, the skillet should ideally be large enough to cook 3-4 chops at a time. Let the skillet and oil heat up before adding the pork chops. For added flavor and crispier breading, melt about a tablespoon of butter into the oil. Place the breaded pork chops in the skillet. Carefully place the pork chops onto the heated skillet using tongs. Separate the chops in the skillet to prevent them from sticking to one another. At a medium heat, they should take 3-4 minutes to cook through on the first side. Thicker chops may need to fry for longer than 3-4 minutes, while thin chops may get done before then. Use your best judgment. The hot oil will splatter as the pork chops cook. Keep a safe distance away from the skillet, or make sure to minimize the amount of exposed skin on the arms. Fry until both sides are golden brown. Use the tongs or meat fork to check the underside of the chops to make sure they're cooking evenly. Once the first side of the chops begin to take on a light golden-brown color, turn them over. Let them cook for 2-3 more minutes on the opposite side until done. Eating undercooked pork can be a health hazard. A little pink is okay, but use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is at least 145 degrees. Remove and serve the pork chops. Remove the pork chops from the skillet and place them on a separate plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb excess oil so that the chops will a nice, crispy finish instead of being overly greasy. After frying, the outside of the chops will be extremely hot, so allow them to sit for about 5 minutes before you dig in. Remove the paper towels and transfer the pork chops to a separate serving dish before serving. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Set the oven to bake and preheat it to 425 degrees. If you've chosen baking as your preferred cooking method, you can begin preheating the oven while you bread the pork chops. If you're worried about burning the breading on the chops before they are completely cooked, set the oven to a lower temperature around 350 degrees and cook for an extra 20-30 minutes. Spray a large baking sheet with oil. Select a baking sheet large enough to accommodate the pork chops you've breaded. Spray it down with a light coating of cooking oil. Starches have a tendency to stick to metal surfaces when they get hot, so spraying your baking sheet first will spare you a mess later on. Use aerosolized canola oil or another similar cooking spray. Space the pork chops out on the baking sheet. Arrange the pork chops around the baking sheet so that they're not touching. The chops will cook more evenly if they are well spaced-out. If you want, you can spray the tops of the pork chops with another light layer of oil to make sure that they get nice and crispy on both sides. Place particularly thick chops near the center of the baking sheet to expose them to more constant heat while cooking. Bake the pork chops for 20 minutes. Set a timer for 20 minutes and put the pork chops in the oven. Keep an eye on them as they cook. Take the chops out at the 10 minute mark and turn them over to ensure that they get done throughout. When 20 minutes is up, remove the pork chops and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy! Turning the pork chops is optional, but can provide a more consistent finish to the breading. Use a meat thermometer to take a reading of the internal temperature of the pork chops before eating. They should be around 145-160 degrees once they're done. | Combine flour, cracker crumbs and spices. Mix eggs and milk together in a large bowl. Dip the pork chops into the egg wash. Coat the chops evenly in breading. Heat the canola oil on a skillet over medium heat. Place the breaded pork chops in the skillet. Fry until both sides are golden brown. Remove and serve the pork chops. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with oil. Space the pork chops out on the baking sheet. Bake the pork chops for 20 minutes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Attractive-to-Girls | How to Be Attractive to Girls | The easiest way to be attractive to girls is to develop ambition and pursue your passions. Take up hobbies you've always been interested in and work on changing your bad habits. Girls will notice how driven you are! If you have low self-esteem, try to think more positively about yourself and consider upgrading your wardrobe to give yourself a confidence boost. | Become physically fit. Many people think that you have to lift weights to get fit. This is not the case. You can do a full work out without a gym membership. Push-ups work your chest and triceps massively while crunches work your abs. You also want to try step out of the house for your cardio by biking, running, or swimming. Do sit ups by putting your calf/feet on the seat of a chair, with your back on the ground. Then put your hands on the back of your head and move your head towards the ceiling. Exercising not only tones your body to promote your attractiveness, it also gives you more energy and confidence. Dress to attract. Dressing your age tells a lot about your personality. It is proven that a guy who dresses like he is 16 isn't as attractive as a guy wearing a mature look. You don't have to wear a sport coat but a simple upgrade to your style will help. Invest in chinos and nicer jeans instead of continuing to wear old worn out denim. Go for slim cuts in both your top and bottom. Try out several colors and pick the ones that accent your attributes (hair, skin, and eye color) the most. Look after your shoes. Discard your sneakers after they start to rip or loss their thread. Care for your leather shoes by treating them twice a year. Also, a good thing to take into account is the feel of your clothes. When you break the touch barrier, girls like things that feel nice and it's also important that you feel physically comfortable in them. One technique to attract someone is by wearing an eye-catching outfit. Scientifically, women are more inclined to be attracted to a man wearing red. It's the same reason a cop is more inclined to pull over a red sedan over a blue sedan. Red catches the eye. Maintain your personal hygiene. Take care of your body and smell nice. Take a shower everyday and use shampoo and soap products that compliment your body. Find a deodorant that smells good with a pinch of musk. Consider a touch of cologne for those special dates, but never use more than two squirts. Brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day, and use other dental hygiene-related items like floss and mouthwash. Consider using lotion for the colder months so your skin stays moist and healthy to the touch. Uphold good posture. This is something simple that'll increase your daily presentation. It is easy to miss this when most jobs require you to slouch over a computer at a desk. Straightening your posture will make you look taller, stronger, and more confident. Imagine your upper torso is molded on a coat hanger. Eat well. Eating well not only helps with your body image, but it helps yourself in several ways. Improving your diet can increase your energy, confidence, and your general well-being. These factors will help embellish other features of yourself that a woman may find attractive. Start small and be sure to drink enough water everyday (about eight glasses). Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you consume. Avoid carb heavy meals like bread, potatoes, pastas, and rice. You can eat these as long as they are paired with other foods that hold higher nutritional benefits. Pursue a passion. Women are attracted to men with a passion in their lives. It is attractive to live outside the cookie cutter routine of eat, work, sleep, and repeat. Pick up a hobby and plan to change your hobby into your passion. Try your hand at a musical instrument, a craft like pottery, cooking, writing, running, rock-climbing, and more. When you express a sincere passion she will respond positively. Life is too short not be passionate about something. Don't be bashful and try your luck at something. There is nothing to lose unless you get into extreme sports. Talk to women more often. Just relax when you're talking to a girl. Women like it when a guy is direct; they are not mind readers. Speaking to someone you don't know can produce a lot of anxiety for some. You can approach someone without opening yourself up to being evaluated. Eventually, you'll be confident enough to talk to them in a normal conversation. Try some of these cues: Ask a small favor like “can you watch my stuff while I get coffee?” This creates attraction from the person doing the favor. Ask a question. Use whatever situation/location you are in to your advantage. Ask a relevant question like “have you seen this band before?” or “you think Texas could be a country?” Be whimsical if you are feeling it. Practice respect and kindness. A great way to prove yourself to a woman is showing her that you not only respect her, but all women. It is too common for guys to view picking up girls as a macho competition instead of wanting to get to know a woman. You can show respect by listening to what she has to say, respecting her personal space, making sure not to interrupt her, and refraining from making statements like “you wouldn't want to do that, it's a guy thing.” Never make fun of a girl when you're trying to tease them. A little bit of joking is okay, but avoid anything that could be taken as offensive by someone. Generosity also goes a long way. No one likes a guy who is too stingy to have a good time. The same can be said about someone who refuses to give a dollar from time to time. Take risks to have fun. Be a fun person by acting on spontaneity. It is attractive and more interesting to be around someone willing to go on an adventure. This can also show her how interesting you can be. Being silly and having fun also shows you're confident and not afraid of taking risks. Be intellectually curious. Careful not to be a know-it-all or overly pretentious. Most girls will like a guy who reads from time to time and is interested in the world around him. Put down the video game and pick up a book. Try getting into the habit of reading the news every morning. You'll have more to add to a conversation when you are on top of current events. Not every girl cares about this. Use your sense of humor. Making someone laugh is a great thing and it is attractive. It is one of the most desirable traits women look for in a man. Don't modify your humor to appeal to someone in particular. Your natural humor will attract the type of person who you'll be able to relax around. Laughter affects people on a chemical level. It increases the level of serotonin in our brains which causes our brain's function to work more efficiently. Be a confident person. This doesn't always have to do with your looks, but how you think of yourself. Have confidence that you'll achieve your goals. Change your mentality: if you think you're attractive you will be attractive. Thinking positively is the first step, but then to ''act'' positively will increase your self-esteem even more. This can be simple like talking to people in a positive manner and focus your energy into acting this way. Have ambitions for your life. When you have a serious drive for your life, women will take notice. Change one of your bad habits. Start small like waking up without hitting snooze two or three times or drinking 64 ounces of water a day. Start small and progressively work to improve yourself in larger ways. Do something you've been procrastinating. There is no time like the present. It can even be a small thing like cleaning your room. Look for signals of flirting. There are some universal signals that are used frequently. This is a classic flirt used by women: a girl smiles at you and then lifts her eyebrows quickly while locking into eye contact. Don't rely on someone to initiate flirting. This will not always happen candidly. Be on the lookout for eye contact and a smile. Don't be afraid to make the initial flirt with someone. Seek out someone in your league. Guys and girls are typically attracted to those who are in their league. When people date out of their league, relationships typically suffer because of jealousy or lack of interest. Take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself how attractive am I? This could be hard for some and most people need help if they don't understand what “league” they fall into. Your physical appearance doesn't take into account everything. Your attractiveness also depends upon your personality (including your humor), your dance moves, your hobbies, your friends, your family life, and more. There are successful relationships where members of the couple are out of each other's league. Take this with a grain of salt and know that keeping this in mind will simply make things a little easier for you. In general, if you feel a connection with someone, you probably have a shot. You are also probably in the same “league” if you feel some type of chemistry. Just go for it! Never shy from an opportunity. Never limit yourself to where you should try to attract someone. You never know when the magic spark will light up. There is still a chance even if you're working late and on the subway at night. Never shy away from an opportunity to attract a woman. Flirting in an unusual place like a subway or waiting room shows confidence. You never know until you try it. Don't come off as too strong. It is important to seize the moment, but do it in a way where the girl doesn't feel uncomfortable. Employ active listening when talking to someone. This will give you more of an opportunity and show her you care. Listen to obtain information, to understand her, for enjoyment, and to learn. | Become physically fit. Dress to attract. Maintain your personal hygiene. Uphold good posture. Eat well. Pursue a passion. Talk to women more often. Practice respect and kindness. Take risks to have fun. Be intellectually curious. Use your sense of humor. Be a confident person. Look for signals of flirting. Seek out someone in your league. Never shy from an opportunity. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Game-Disc | How to Clean a Game Disc | If you're trying to clean a game disc that's been scratched, start by putting a little regular toothpaste on a soft cotton or microfiber cloth. Then, hold your disc by the rim and wipe it from the center outward with the cloth. You should wipe it a second time with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture before you play your disc again. Alternatively, put rubbing alcohol on the cloth to clean fingerprints or grease from your disc. Want to give your disc a general cleaning? Just dampen the cloth with tap water and wipe your disc in the same way. | Clean only when necessary. Clean the disc if you notice dirt or dust on the non-labeled side, or if your console or computer can't run the disc. Frequent cleaning is unnecessary and increases the risk of scratching the disc. Find a soft, clean cloth. Always use a smooth-textured, lint-free material, such as cotton or microfiber cloth. Avoid rough materials such as facial tissues or paper towels. Dampen a small area of the cloth. Use regular tap water to wet a small area of the cloth, then squeeze it out to remove excess water. Never use household cleaning products, which can ruin the disc. Disc repair products may be sold as "scratch repair" or "CD/DVD repair" products. Hold the game disc by its rim. Do not place your fingers on the surface of the disc. Turn the game disc so the non-labeled, reflective side faces you. If the labeled side is clearly dirty, you can use this same method — but be extremely careful, as wiping the labeled side too vigorously can destroy the data on some game discs. Wipe the disc surface from the center outward with the wet cloth. Gently wipe the disc with the wet cloth, starting from the center hole and moving in a straight, short line to the rim. Repeat until the entire disc has been wiped. Never move the cloth in circles around the disc, as this can damage it. Repeat with the dry area. Wipe the same side of the disc a second time. This time, use the dry portion of the cloth to remove moisture. Take care to use the same straight strokes, from the center of the disc outward. Dry wiping is more likely to scratch the disc than wet, so be extra gentle during this step. Wait two minutes before testing. Put the disc down with the reflective side face-up. Wait at least two minutes to allow the remaining moisture to evaporate. Once the disc is completely dry, put the disc into the disc drive of your game console or computer and check whether the problem is fixed. If there are still problems, try the other methods below. If your other games also won't run, clean your disc drive. Understand the risk. Most game disc manufacturers do not recommend using anything but water, but that's not always going to get the job done. These alternatives below are listed with the safest methods at the top, increasing in risk as you move down the list. Always use gently motions when cleaning to reduce the chance of scratches. Mail your disc to a repair service. If you aren't prepared to risk damage, search online for a mail-in disc repair service in your country. These services may have buffing machines or cleaning products that are not commercially available. Remove fingerprints and grease with rubbing alcohol. This method will not repair scratches, but should remove grease stains. Apply a dab of isopropyl alcohol to a clean cloth, and rub the disc from the center to the rim. Carefully wipe off moisture with a dry cloth with the same motions, then let sit for two minutes so it is completely dry. Since dry cloths can cause scratches, some disc owners prefer to let the disc air-dry for half an hour or more instead. Purchase a disc cleaner spray. If the game still won't boot up, purchase a "disc repair" product in spray bottle form and follow the instructions on the packaging to clean the disc. This may be sold as a "CD/DVD repair" or "scratch repair" product. Using a disc repair buffing wheel or other machine that comes with the disc repair product is highly discouraged, as these can cause damage. Always check the warnings to make sure the product is safe for your type of disc. Use a non-whitening, non-tartar-control toothpaste. Toothpaste is slightly abrasive, and can polish off scratches with low risk of causing more damage. For maximum safety, avoid whitening and tartar control toothpastes, which tend to be more abrasive. Apply the toothpaste as you would water or rubbing alcohol, as described above. The toothpaste must be in paste form. Don't use a gel, liquid or powder. Select a safe polish. If toothpaste doesn't work, you can move on to plastic polish, furniture polish, or metal polish. These are also slightly abrasive, but because they are not intended for game discs, there is a higher risk of damage. Always check the ingredients list for "solvents," "petroleum," or petroleum based products before using, as these can dissolve through the CD and destroy it. If it smells like kerosene or gasoline, don't use it. Some people report that Brasso metal polish is effective, but this does contain a mild solvent. Use at your own risk. Use a clear wax. Deep scratches can be filled in by gently applying a clear wax, then buffing it in with a clean, dry cloth moving in straight lines from the center outward. 100% carnauba wax or another non-petroleum-based, clear product is recommended. Blow out dust. Use a handheld air bulb to gently blow out dust from the drive. A can of compressed air will also work, but could cause damage to delicate drives. Always hold the can upright during use, or the propellant material may leak out. Purchase a laser lens cleaner. If your game console or computer won't play a brand new, scratch-free disc, you may need to clean or repair its disc drive. A laser lens cleaner will only remove dust, not grease or caked-on dirt, but it's easy to use and worth a try. Typically, this comes in two parts: a disc to be inserted into the drive, and a bottle of liquid to drip onto the disc beforehand. Make sure the cleaner is designed for your type of player, such as a DVD drive or PS3. Even using a CD drive cleaner on a DVD drive could damage it. Clean the lens. If the steps above don't work, and you don't want to take the drive to a professional repair shop, you'll need to disassemble the drive and clean the lens. If your device is still under warranty, be aware that this will likely void any chance of getting a replacement or free repair from the manufacture. If you're prepared to take the risk, follow these steps: Shut off the device and unplug it. Disassemble the drive using a screwdriver. Some game console faceplates can be removed using pressure from your fingers, but do not apply force unless a guide to your specific model recommends this. Continue disassembly until the entire, round drive and surrounding areas are visible. Look at the lens. This is a small, glass object. Minor scratches shouldn't cause problems, but deep scratches could require professional treatment. More commonly, dust or grime is causing issues, in which case you can clean it: Dampen a cotton or foam swab in 91%+ isopropyl alcohol. Gently wipe the lens. Allow to air dry before reassembling the drive. | Clean only when necessary. Find a soft, clean cloth. Dampen a small area of the cloth. Hold the game disc by its rim. Wipe the disc surface from the center outward with the wet cloth. Repeat with the dry area. Wait two minutes before testing. Understand the risk. Mail your disc to a repair service. Remove fingerprints and grease with rubbing alcohol. Purchase a disc cleaner spray. Use a non-whitening, non-tartar-control toothpaste. Select a safe polish. Use a clear wax. Blow out dust. Purchase a laser lens cleaner. Clean the lens. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cope-when-Your-Favorite-Sports-Team-Loses | How to Cope when Your Favorite Sports Team Loses | It can be tough when your favorite team loses, but with a little self-care and perspective, you'll get through it. If you're watching the game, turn off the TV and do something else to get your mind off it. Read a book, listen to music, or go for a walk to work off your frustration. Alternatively, you could call a friend who's also a fan to let off some steam about the game. It's likely that they're feeling the same as you! Keep in mind that losses hurt, but your team has had plenty of good times too, so try focusing on those. A true fan will try their best to stay optimistic. After all, there's always next season. | Acknowledge your feelings. Sometimes people allow things like the performance of their favorite team to affect their emotions. That's okay. If you are angry or upset about your team losing, don't pretend otherwise. Give yourself a chance to vent a little bit, or at least be disappointed. Keep control. Because it's only a game, there is no reason for your anger or sadness to lead to personally destructive behavior. If you are at the game, go ahead and yell a bit, but avoid shouting at other fans (especially fans of the other team). Avoid stirring up fights or throwing things as well. Talk to other fans. Sports are a great communal experience, and even if you are watching alone at home, there are other people out there enjoying the game too. Call your friends who are also fans to let off steam and cope with the disappointment of a losing team. Consider joining a fan club or online forums to talk more about your disappointment and even brainstorm ways to fix what went wrong. If you are going to suffer, it's better to do so with other fans. Eat something. Food can be a great comfort when faced with disappointment, including watching your team lose. Just make sure to eat healthy if you can. People tend to reach for sweets and other unhealthy foods when dealing with a loss. Instead, make sure you are surrounded by healthier foods so that you aren't tempted to pack on the pounds after defeat. Comfort food, a term for rich foods that tend to make people feel good after eating it, are popular choices after a loss. They are filling, and may remind people of pleasant memories like childhood, and other things to take the mind off of losing. Look for hearty foods like macaroni and cheese, stews, pot pies, meatloaf, and sweets, which are all popular “comfort” choices. To make these options a bit healthier, consider using lower fat creams and cheeses, swapping out beef for turkey in meatloaf or chili, or adding vegetables. If you are looking for something sweeter, eat darker chocolate. Avoid overeating. While it is okay to enjoy a little snack to feel better after a loss, remember to control your portion size. Use smaller plates when eating to prevent you from overdoing it, and put away the snack after putting some on your plate. Turn off the TV. If you are watching the game, and your team loses, you don't have to wallow in your disappointment. Turn off the television and do something else. Find another activity to take your mind off of the result. You'll want to find something that has nothing to do with the team or game you just watched. Read a book, cook something, or watch a movie that takes place in an exotic location. Make sure you are doing something completely different. Get a little exercise. Some physical activity can be a good way to work off the frustration of watching your team go down in defeat. Even just a few pushups or jumping jacks, or a quick jog, can help work off your stress and disappointment. It can also give you an energy boost and stave off further anxiety over your team's performance. Remember it’s just a game. Your life is full of more important things than who wins and loses a game that you aren't even playing in. While people can lose sight of this in the excitement of a game, it is always a good reminder after a loss. This doesn't make your disappointment at losing any less real, but can help you move past it quickly. Accept your impotence. There is nothing you can do to affect the outcome of a game, including wearing those lucky socks. Your team didn't lose because you didn't cheer loudly enough or sat in the wrong seat. Their failure is not your failure. One way to give yourself a little more control is to play as your team in a video game. Set up the game they just lost, and get the result you wanted to see. If you're feeling a little down, go ahead and set the difficulty on easy to really give your opponents the pounding you feel they deserve. Playing fantasy sports is a way to be more active with the sport. Drafting your own lineup and trading players around can give you a small sense of control over events. Additionally, fantasy sports users are more likely to feel the positive emotions after winning matchups than the negative feelings that come with their favorite teams losing. Stay loyal to your team. One loss shouldn't be enough to drive you from supporting your team. Staying loyal after a loss, or even when moving to a different city, can give you a big psychological boost. Plus, sticking it out through the bad times will make it feel even better when your team does win the big one. Remember the good times. While losses hurt, no team loses all the time. To get over a big defeat, think about your team's good times. Remember great comebacks, championships, or even just good times with friends and family watching your team. If you've watched your team before this game, there will be some moments you can look back on fondly. Be prepared to deal with taunting from other fans. Taunting, insults, and banter are parts of the sports fan experience, and you'll almost certainly be a target after losing. Rather than being surprised when it happens, be prepared to handle it appropriately. Ignore it. Like other forms of teasing or bullying, taunts from opposing fans can be ignored. Laugh it off, or just walk away. Don't give them the satisfaction of knowing they got to you. Those fans didn't play in the game, so who cares what they think? Give it right back. Don't be afraid to respond with a few taunts of your own. You can probably think of a few good insults for the opposing team and their fans. It won't change the result of the game, but can be another good way to vent your frustrations. Be optimistic. The great thing about sports is that there will always be another game. Another game means another chance to win. Instead of dwelling on the game your team lost today, think about the game they could win next time out. Depending on where you are in the season, a loss can even be helpful to your team's future performance. Finishing lower in the standings might mean a better draft pick, or a chance to see underperforming players replaced. Talk to a therapist. While being sad after watching your team lose is not unusual, it should not have long-term effects on your emotional health. If you find that a loss is affecting your ability to live in the real world, look for professional help. Just because your depression seems to be coming from the outcome of a sporting event doesn't mean it isn't a real concern. | Acknowledge your feelings. Talk to other fans. Eat something. Turn off the TV. Get a little exercise. Remember it’s just a game. Accept your impotence. Stay loyal to your team. Remember the good times. Be prepared to deal with taunting from other fans. Be optimistic. Talk to a therapist. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Bacterial-Cystitis-in-Cats | How to Treat Bacterial Cystitis in Cats | Before you treat bacterial cystitis in your cat, visit the vet if it has common symptoms like straining to use the bathroom, crying out while urinating, or blood in its litter box. Once your cat has been diagnosed, you may have to give it a round of antibiotics, which will usually last 2 weeks. Remember, even if your cat starts to improve, you should finish giving it the round of antibiotics to prevent its body from building up an immunity to the medicine. Besides treating the infection, you may ask your vet about prescribing a pain medication to ease your cat's discomfort as it heals. | Take note if your cat is visiting its litter box more than usual. A cat with bacterial cystitis will likely try to urinate more often during the day because it produces only a small amount of urine each time. Pay attention to how often your cat visits its litter box and how long each visit lasts. A cat that is straining to urinate will usually spend more time in its litter box than a healthy cat would. As a general rule, a cat should not spend more than 2-3 minutes in its litter box per visit. Watch your cat in the litter box. If the cat appears to be straining to urinate or if the cat doesn't urinate after several minutes, there may be a severe issue, such as a blocked bladder. In this case, take your cat to the vet immediately. Listen for sounds of distress when your cat is trying to urinate. One of the symptoms of bacterial Cystitis in cats is discomfort when passing urine. Listen for signs of discomfort when your cat is using its litter box, such as crying or growling. Hissing or yelping may also mean that your cat is in pain. Check for blood stains in your cat's litter. Bacterial cystitis may result in blood in your cat's urine. When you clean your cat's litter box, watch out for any red stains that may be visible. If your cat urinates outside of its litter box, check the puddle for a red tint. Note that blood in your cat's urine may not always be visible, especially in its litter box. Watch out for urinary accidents. A well-trained cat leaving puddles in inappropriate places is a possible sign of bacterial cystitis. The condition can cause incontinence and accidents, which will be more evident for indoor cats than outdoor cats. Check around your home for puddles, wet spots, or the smell of urine in areas away from your cat's litter box. Learn the risk factors for bacterial cystitis. Certain medical conditions may leave your cat at a higher risk for developing bacterial cystitis. Monitor your cat closely if it has, or has had, bladder stones, polyps, or tumors, which can harbour bacteria and irritate the bladder. You cat may also be at a higher risk if it has a medical condition like: Diabetes Feline leukemia Chronic kidney disease Bring your cat to the vet if you suspect any kind of bladder infection. If a cat shows any signs of urinary discomfort, it is important to get it checked out by a veterinarian. Your vet can then decide what further action is necessary in order to determine the nature of the problem. Investigations to confirm a diagnosis of bacterial cystitis may include: A physical examination. A blood screen to rule out other diseases that may cause similar symptoms. A urinalysis, which checks for abnormalities in the urine like crystals, which could irritate the bladder lining and cause inflammation. Abdominal x-rays of the urinary tract to rule out bladder stones as well as any abnormalities of the bladder shape, size, or position. An ultrasound, which is sensitive enough to detect even subtle abnormalities in the bladder. Ask your vet to perform an antibiotic sensitivity screening. There are many different types of bacteria and each is sensitive to different antibiotics. To ensure that your cat gets the right treatment for its bacterial cystitis, ask your vet if they can run an antibiotic sensitivity screening. This will ensure that you do not waste time and money administering an ineffective antibiotic to your cat. Targeted use of antibiotics in this way helps decrease the likelihood of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. Note that not all veterinary clinics offer this screening. If your vet does not offer this screening, they will likely prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics to target the infection. Administer the antibiotics to your cat for 2 weeks. After its initial diagnosis, simple bacterial cystitis is generally treated with antibiotics over the course of 14 days. Give your cat the drug exactly as instructed by your vet, at the same time each day. If you are unsure about how to administer the drug, ask your vet if they can demonstrate how to give the medication to your cat. Amoxicillin, cefadroxil, and cefovecin are some of the antibiotics used to treat bacterial cystitis in cats. Antibiotics are typically prescribed in pill form. Ask your veterinarian about pain medication for your cat. Your veterinarian may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication to ease your cat's pain while treating the infection. Follow the vet's directions exactly when administering this medication. Do not exceed the recommended dose under any circumstances. Never give your cat over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen, which can be fatal to felines. Follow up with your vet to make sure the infection is gone. Your vet may order additional urine screenings 3-7 days after the start of antiobiotic treatment to monitor your cat's condition. These tests will show if the bacteria has developed a resistance to the antibiotics. If your cat's condition has not improved, your vet will likely switch to another type of antiobiotic treatment. If your cat's condition has not improved, it may be prescribed a 4-6 week antibiotic course. Increase your cat's water intake. Encouraging your cat to drink more water helps to dilute urine, which may prevent future incidences of cystitis. Increased water consumption will also help to reduce soreness and inflammation. Entice your cat to drink water by putting out extra water bowls for it to drink from or flavoring its water with a small amount of salt-free broth. Simple things like changing the cat's diet from dry to wet food can help to increase water intake. Some cats prefer to drink running water, which can be easily provided with a pet drinking fountain. Switch your cat from dry food to wet food. As a general rule, wet foods and food with a high water content can benefit a cat's urinary health and help prevent infections. Wet foods are about 70% moisture, which can help dilute your cat's urine and lower the risk of infection-causing crystals. Ask your vet to recommend a wet food brand that is healthy and low in preservatives. Dry cat foods are often high in minerals, which can lead to urinary infections and bladder issues. Introduce new foods to your cat gradually to avoid digestive issues. Talk to your vet about putting your cat on a special urinary health diet. There are several prescription diets available which optimize urinary health. These foods contain synthetic substances that artificially control the pH of your cat's urine.Ask your veterinarian if a urinary health diet is right for your cat. | Take note if your cat is visiting its litter box more than usual. Listen for sounds of distress when your cat is trying to urinate. Check for blood stains in your cat's litter. Watch out for urinary accidents. Learn the risk factors for bacterial cystitis. Bring your cat to the vet if you suspect any kind of bladder infection. Ask your vet to perform an antibiotic sensitivity screening. Administer the antibiotics to your cat for 2 weeks. Ask your veterinarian about pain medication for your cat. Follow up with your vet to make sure the infection is gone. Increase your cat's water intake. Switch your cat from dry food to wet food. Talk to your vet about putting your cat on a special urinary health diet. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Water-Wheel | How to Make a Water Wheel | To make a water wheel with plastic spoons, start by cutting 10 plastic spoons in half at an angle. Next, lay one of the cut spoons on a piece of styrofoam, draw a circle around it, and cut the circle out of the styrofoam. After that, push the edges of each cut spoon into the sides of styrofoam with 1 inch of the handle and the bowl of each spoon exposed. Then, make a hole in the center of 2 paper plates with a wooden skewer and glue the plates to the sides of the styrofoam. Push the skewer through the center of the wheel, place the wheel on a bucket, and slowly pour water onto the spoons to turn the wheel. | Use scissors to cut 10 plastic spoons in half at an angle. The spoons will serve as the paddles that actually turn the wheel when water passes over them. Cut 10 spoons in half of the handle length and try to get them to be as even as possible. Make your cut at a slight angle so the spoons can be inserted into the styrofoam easier. Plastic spoons can be hard to cut, so ask for help if you need it. Be careful cutting the plastic spoons as the pieces can fly off when you cut them. Cut a circle with a diameter equal to the length of a spoon. Lay one of the spoons you cut down on the styrofoam and draw a circle around it so the diameter of the circle is about as wide as your spoons. Use a utility knife to cut the circle out of the styrofoam taking care not to let the knife slip and cut yourself. Check the diameter around the circle to make sure it's even. The sheet of styrofoam should be at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. Place the styrofoam on a surface that you don't mind cutting, like cardboard or a cutting block, in case the utility knife cuts through the styrofoam. Insert the spoons into the outside edge of the styrofoam. Push the cut edge of the spoons you cut into the styrofoam until about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the handle and the bowl of the spoon are exposed. The bowl of the spoon should face the side of the styrofoam, not the front or back. Make sure the spoons are all facing the same direction and are evenly spaced out so they can catch the water that will turn the wheel. Use a pencil to mark the center of 2 paper plates and your foam circle. It's important that your skewer goes through the center of your wheel to ensure that it turns properly. Take a ruler and draw a vertical line through the center of the plate, then draw a horizontal line through the center of your plates and the foam circle. Mark the center of the plate and foam disc with a dot. Use standard 9 in (23 cm) paper plates. Make a hole in the center with a wooden skewer. Once you've found your center points, use a skewer to make a hole by pushing it through the center of the plates and the foam. Push the skewer through them one at a time so it penetrates them easier. This will make the perfect size hole. It may take some effort to push the skewer through the styrofoam and plates. But be careful not to place your hand over the center of the plates and styrofoam to avoid poking yourself with the skewer. Glue the plates to the sides of the foam disk. The 2 paper plates will serve to stabilize the foam disk and the spoons. Apply glue to the sides of the foam disk, around the area of the hole in the center, and attach the plates to the disk one at a time, lining up the holes in the center so the skewer will be able to slide through the entire piece. Allow the glue to dry for at least 1 hour before you move on so the glue is completely set. Push the skewer through the center of the wheel. After the glue has dried, you can insert the wooden skewer. The skewer will serve as your dowel rod and will allow the wheel to turn when water passes over the spoons. Make sure the skewer is secure in the wheel because if it's too loose, the wheel won't turn. You can place a dab of glue at the hole where the skewer goes through to anchor it into the plate and styrofoam. Set your wheel on a bucket and fill a glass with water. With your wheel complete, place it on a bucket by resting the skewer on the mouth of the bucket. Place the wheel so it rests securely and won't fall off or into the bucket when you pour water over it by having about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the skewer hanging over the mouth of the bucket on each side. Fill a glass of water to use to test your wheel. Slowly pour the water onto the spoons to turn the wheel. Take your glass and bring it to the side of the wheel where the bowl of the spoons are facing up and slowly start to pour the water so that the spoons catch it. This will cause the wheel to turn and it should continue to spin as long as you keep pour water over it. Play around with making the wheel spin faster or slower by pouring more or less water over the spoons to alter the speed. Use a ruler to make a straight line 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the edge of the foam board. You'll need a straight and narrow strip of foam board to form the paddles of your water wheel. Use a ruler to measure and to make a straight line down the length of the board to form a 2 in (5.1 cm) wide strip. The foam board should be a minimum of 24 inches (61 cm) long and ⁄ 16 inch (0.48 cm) thick. Cut the strip off of the board using a utility knife. After you've traced the straight line down the board, take a utility knife and use your ruler as a guide to cut the foam board where you measured your line. It may take more than one pass to cut all the way through the board. Run the blade of the knife through the line you cut until it penetrates the other side of the board. You may want to place cardboard beneath the foam board or cut on a surface that you don't mind cutting in case the knife cuts through the board. Divide the strip into 10 sections measuring 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) to make your paddles. Take the strip you cut off and measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) sections with your ruler, marking the sections clearly with a pencil. You may not use the entire strip, but you will need 10 even and uniform sections. Cut the sections out of the strip with a utility knife. Use a compass to measure 2 circles that are 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. Place a protractor on your foam board and measure a circle that is 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter, then measure another circle of the same size in the foam board. Keep the point of the protractor in place as you swivel it around to form an even circle. Use your utility knife to cut out the circles. Take your time and make light cuts into the circle pattern. The light cuts will guide the blade of your knife to help you punch through the foam board. Follow the edge of the circular pieces carefully to keep the rounded shape of the circles and so that circles are of the same size and shape. Glue the paddles to one of the wheels at an angle. Take the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) by 2 in (5.1 cm) paddles that you cut out and glue them to the wheel with the shorter side down. Apply fast-drying super glue to the edge of the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) side of the paddles and press the glue side down to the wheel. Arrange the paddles slightly at an angle toward the center of the wheel. Make sure all of the paddles are facing the same direction! Attach the other wheel to the paddles and allow the glue to dry. Once you've glued all of the paddles to one of the wheels, apply glue to the edge of the paddles that is face up, making sure you cover the edge evenly with glue. Then take the other foam board wheel and gently press it to the glue to attach it. Allow the glue to dry for at least 1 hour. Check that the glue is dry by pressing against the sides to make sure they don't wobble. Push a skewer through the center of the wheel. Once the wheel has completely dried, carefully press the sharp end of a skewer through the center of the wheel on one side and push it until it penetrates through the other side of the wheel. Be careful not to crush the wheel as you push the skewer. It can help to rotate the skewer as you press to push it through the board. Secure 3 fl oz (89 mL) drinking cups to the paddles with glue. Once the glue around the paddles has completely dried, take your small drinking cups and apply glue to the bottom of them. Then attach them to the acute angle of the paddles so they can catch the water when it's poured over the wheel. Allow the glue to dry for 1 hour before moving on. Trace and cut out 2 “A” shaped frames 12 inches (30 cm) tall. To create the stand for your wheel, cut a 12 in (30 cm) tall frame in the shape of an A out of your foam board. Trace the shape first using a ruler and pencil for even and straight lines, then use your utility knife to cut out the shape. Take the first “A” frame and use it to trace your second frame so they are the same size. Carve out a “V” shaped knock out of the top of the “A” frames. At the top of the “A,” trace a ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) “V” shape, then use your utility knife to cut out the shape. This will serve as a nock for you to rest the skewer on and allow your wheel to turn when water is poured over the cups. Cut out 4 rectangular 4 in (10 cm) by 6 in (15 cm) pieces. To support the frame so the wheel can stand upright, you need to cut out rectangular pieces to serve as a stand for the frame. Measure 4 in (10 cm) by 6 in (15 cm) rectangles using your ruler and pencil to make sure the lines are straight and even. Attach the legs to the “A” frames with glue to form a stand. Apply glue to the bottom legs of the frames and press each of them into the center of one of the rectangles. Hold them there for a moment to let the super glue adhere the 2 pieces before you do the next one. Let the glue dry for another hour before you do anything else so the stand is sturdy and secure. Place your water wheel in a sink and turn on the faucet. Once all of the glue has dried, place the wheel on the stand by resting the skewer into the nocks you cut out of the top of the frame. Then place your water wheel into a sink, beneath the faucet. Slowly turn on the faucet and let the water land in the cups to turn the wheel. Adjust the flow of the faucet to speed up or slow down the spinning wheel. | Use scissors to cut 10 plastic spoons in half at an angle. Cut a circle with a diameter equal to the length of a spoon. Insert the spoons into the outside edge of the styrofoam. Use a pencil to mark the center of 2 paper plates and your foam circle. Make a hole in the center with a wooden skewer. Glue the plates to the sides of the foam disk. Push the skewer through the center of the wheel. Set your wheel on a bucket and fill a glass with water. Slowly pour the water onto the spoons to turn the wheel. Use a ruler to make a straight line 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the edge of the foam board. Cut the strip off of the board using a utility knife. Divide the strip into 10 sections measuring 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) to make your paddles. Use a compass to measure 2 circles that are 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. Use your utility knife to cut out the circles. Glue the paddles to one of the wheels at an angle. Attach the other wheel to the paddles and allow the glue to dry. Push a skewer through the center of the wheel. Secure 3 fl oz (89 mL) drinking cups to the paddles with glue. Trace and cut out 2 “A” shaped frames 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Carve out a “V” shaped knock out of the top of the “A” frames. Cut out 4 rectangular 4 in (10 cm) by 6 in (15 cm) pieces. Attach the legs to the “A” frames with glue to form a stand. Place your water wheel in a sink and turn on the faucet. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Nausea-at-Night | How to Overcome Nausea at Night | To overcome nausea at night, try drinking some ginger or peppermint tea before bed, which can help alleviate nausea. You can also try sipping on ginger ale or a citrus-flavored soda since carbonated beverages can help with an upset stomach. Also, avoid eating right before bed since laying down with a full stomach can make you nauseous. You should also try to avoid greasy, fatty, or spicy foods, which make nausea worse. | Try acupressure. Targeting the pressure point that eases motion sickness can keep nausea away. This point is the Pericardium 6 (PC6), located on your wrist. Find it by placing three fingers at the crease of your wrist with your palm up. This area on the inside of your arm/wrist can be targeted through pressure from your fingers. Use motion sickness bands. These bands, designed to use acupressure to keep you from experiencing motion sickness, are often available at drugstores or travel stores. They are typically a small sweatband that goes around your wrist at the PC6 with a half of a small ball attached to keep constant pressure. Use aromatherapy oils. Lavender and peppermint are those most associated with calming the stomach and helping nausea. You can use them as essential oils and put them on your wrists, or on a soothing face mask. You could also try them as candle scents. Avoid strong smells. Sometimes there are particular smells that can trigger nausea. These might be from food, strong perfume, or rotting or decaying smells. Keep your area well-ventilated (particularly the kitchen and eating area) to combat this. Attempt to eat the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are the foods that have been proven to help prevent diarrhea, but can also help symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The BRAT diet is not meant to be used long-term, as it does not provide necessary nutrients to your body. Once your nausea has subsided, you should start adding in fresh fruits and vegetables and then return to your normal diet. Try bland foods. If the BRAT diet is too restrictive, you can add bland foods into the mix. Nausea can often be made worse by spicy foods. Even if food doesn't sound good, attempt to eat some saltine crackers or bread to try and help settle your stomach. Eat long before bedtime. Eating right before you lay down to sleep can increase nausea. Give yourself enough time to fully digest your meal before sleep. Eating close to bedtime can also increase the possibility of heartburn. Choose multiple small meals a day. Even if your nausea typically occurs at night, eating more frequent, small meals can help prevent nausea. Keeping your stomach mostly full might also help prevent nausea from becoming more severe. Stay away from foods that are greasy, fatty, or spicy. These tend to exacerbate nausea. Your body can also have more difficulty processing these foods. It's best to aim for light and healthy foods (fresh fruits and vegetables) that can keep your body working smoothly. Drink lots of water. Staying well-hydrated is one of the most important steps to take when combating nausea. Try drinking an extra 16 oz of water beyond what you normally drink at night. Try tea. Many doctors recommend ginger or peppermint tea as a remedy for nausea. The teas and their scents can help calm your stomach. You can also try either flavor in different forms — ginger in foods is common, and peppermint candies can also help. See if carbonated beverages help. Many people find that the bubbles of carbonation can help an upset stomach. Choose ginger ale or citrus-flavored carbonated beverages. Use sparingly, since soda is not very healthy. A small glass can sometimes help, often coupled with some crackers or other bland food. Try doctor-prescribed medicine. Some nausea is only going to respond to medication. Follow the treatment regimen described by your doctor. Watch for side effects — many anti-nausea medications cause drowsiness. Prochlorperazine is the most commonly used anti-nausea medication. It is moderately effective for nausea and other GI disorders, but not as effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea. Metoclopramide and ondansetron are two other anti-nausea medications your doctor may prescribe. Always follow your doctor's instructions on dosage and duration of medication. Consider marijuana if it's legal. If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, chances are that many doctors prescribe it for the nausea that can accompany chemotherapy. Many studies have shown that it can be an effective treatment for nausea. Keep in mind that marijuana comes in many forms — a candy or other edible form might be a good choice. Talk to your medical professional about a possible prescription. Unfavorable side effects of include vertigo, dry mouth, low blood pressure, and depression. Go to the doctor for severe recurring nausea. If you have experienced nausea for over a month and if your vomiting has lasted more than two days, you should see your doctor. Also go if you have unexplained weight loss. Your doctor will be able to help you, and might include a different diet or even medication. Monitor your symptoms. Extreme nausea coupled with other symptoms might mean you need to take a trip as soon as possible to your doctor or a clinic. Take prompt action if nausea is accompanied by: Chest pains High fever Cramping Fecal odor in your vomit Fainting Confusion Blurred vision Seek immediate medical attention for some symptoms coupled with nausea. This would mean a trip to the emergency room or an immediate appointment at your doctor's office. Watch for these symptoms, together with nausea, because they can be serious. Pain or a headache (like you've never had before) You can't keep food or drink down for 12 hours Your vomit is green, bloody, or looks like coffee grounds You have symptoms of dehydration (extreme thirst, dark urine, dizziness, etc.) | Try acupressure. Use motion sickness bands. Use aromatherapy oils. Avoid strong smells. Attempt to eat the BRAT diet. Try bland foods. Eat long before bedtime. Choose multiple small meals a day. Stay away from foods that are greasy, fatty, or spicy. Drink lots of water. Try tea. See if carbonated beverages help. Try doctor-prescribed medicine. Consider marijuana if it's legal. Go to the doctor for severe recurring nausea. Monitor your symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention for some symptoms coupled with nausea. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Your-Pet-Not-to-be-Scared-of-the-Vacuum-Cleaner | How to Teach Your Pet Not to be Scared of the Vacuum Cleaner | You can teach your pet not to be scared of the vacuum cleaner by leaving it in open areas of your house when you're not using it so it becomes used to its presence. Once your pet is used to seeing the vacuum, try turning it on so it can get used to the sound. Leave the vacuum stationary for a few minutes to give your pet the chance to investigate it and see that it's harmless. After you're done vacuuming, make sure to give your pet a reward, like a treat or a walk so it makes a positive association with the vacuum. | Store the vacuum in an open area. When the vacuum cleaner is not in use, place it where your pet can easily see it. Being around the vacuum while it is not making noise should help your pet view the cleaner as something other than a threat. Keep the vacuum low to the ground. Make sure the vacuum is as close to the ground as possible. Adjust the upright section of the vacuum so that it is lying on the ground or is as close to the ground as possible. Reducing the overall height of the vacuum may make it seem less imposing to a pet. Allow your pet to investigate the vacuum. Move the cleaner to where the pet is sitting while it is turned off and allow the animal to look at and smell it. Pets go by scent as well as sight. Once they get used to seeing and smelling the vacuum, they should naturally be less afraid. Never place the vacuum cleaner where your animal likes to sleep or eat. This might only work to make them afraid of those areas, causing further problems. If you have a cat that you are trying to acclimate to a vacuum, never place the vacuum by its litter box. Make the vacuum more familiar. Try placing a towel or sheet the animal uses on the vacuum cleaner while it is turned off. Your pet may want to get closer to the vacuum because it smells familiar or because it has something the animal wants on top of it. Place a treat on the vacuum. When the vacuum is lying on the ground in the off position, try placing a treat on top of it and see whether or not your pet tries to retrieve the treat. Animals will become much more steadfast in their resolve when a treat is involved. Utilize an animal’s toys. Animals can be quite territorial when it comes to their favorite toys. Take a toy you know your pet loves and place on the vacuum cleaner while it is off. Over time, the animal may come to associate the vacuum cleaner with one of its play things. Turn the vacuum on. Now that your pet has had the chance to investigate the vacuum while off, try turning the vacuum on. Your pet will probably run away because of the noise, but it might keep looking at the vacuum from a distance, showing more curiosity than fear. Keep the vacuum stationary. While the vacuum is on and making noise, leave it in one place. If it is not moving, but still making noise, your pet may choose to be brave and approach the vacuum. At the very least, it may get a little bit closer, signaling a minor victory. Be sure to reward your pet for any attempts to get close to the vacuum with treats or toys. Keep your distance. Try to vacuum at a distance from the animal. Do not go too close while they watch you. After a while, they might be braver and actually follow you around as you vacuum. Reward the animal after vacuuming. When you finish vacuuming the desired area, turn the vacuum off and offer your pet a treat, toy or reward. If your dog loves going for walks, take him out for a walk immediately after vacuuming. If your cat likes wet food, give it a can when you have finished vacuuming. If you do this consistently, the animal will come to associate the vacuum with activities it enjoys. Try talking to your pet. Talking to your pet in a calm voice while vacuuming may help it realize that the vacuum is not something to be feared. Animals take verbal and non-verbal cues from their humans. Try calling the pet over to you with a friendly and calm demeanor while the vacuum is running. Its eagerness to follow your commands may be enough to help your pet overcome its fear. Look into sound therapy. Have a look at the Sound Therapy 4 Pets website. They have a number of CDs that prepare and treat dogs that have sound phobias. While not always effective, getting your animal used to the sound without the sight of the vacuum could help the animal overcome its fear. Purchase a quiet vacuum. All vacuums make some noise, but many vacuums are designed to limit and almost eliminate the amount of noise they make. If your pet is really scared of your vacuum, try buying one that isn't as noisy. Be patient. While some pets will fear the vacuum cleaner their entire lives, some pets just need to get used to its presence. If you have young pets, simply go through your vacuuming routine as usual. Over time, they may get used to it and lose their fear. Use clicker training. If your pet has been trained with a clicker, try using the clicker to get the animal used to the vacuum. Start with the vacuum off and click while dropping a treat when the animal comes around the vacuum. Once the animal is close, run the vacuum very briefly and turn it off again. While you are doing this, click and drop a treat for the animal before it has the chance to react to the noise. Once the animal has gotten used to the sound of the vacuum, try using the clicker method while moving the vacuum around your pet. | Store the vacuum in an open area. Keep the vacuum low to the ground. Allow your pet to investigate the vacuum. Make the vacuum more familiar. Place a treat on the vacuum. Utilize an animal’s toys. Turn the vacuum on. Keep the vacuum stationary. Keep your distance. Reward the animal after vacuuming. Try talking to your pet. Look into sound therapy. Purchase a quiet vacuum. Be patient. Use clicker training. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Less-Needy-with-Your-Spouse | How to Be Less Needy with Your Spouse | It's natural to feel a bit needy sometimes, but if your spouse needs a little more space, you can adapt to it with a few simple changes. If you get bored or restless on your own, take up a new hobby to keep you occupied. You should also encourage your partner to spend a little time doing their own thing. This might be hard at first, but spending time apart can actually strengthen your relationship and bring you closer together. Pay attention to how much affection your partner gives you and try to match that. For example, if they like a cuddle in the evening but don't seem too keen on being affectionate during the day, let them have a little space in the daytime, and you'll enjoy your evening even more. | Build self-worth. Perhaps the most important step in becoming less needy with your spouse is becoming more confident in yourself. In practicing these exercises, you may realize that although you love your spouse, you don't have to spend every waking moment with them, and that it's natural to want to do things on your own. Work on self-love to boost your self-confidence. Identify the qualities you like about yourself and that you are proud of. For example, perhaps you are an awesome cook. You can emphasize these qualities by going out and providing support for others in your community. In this example, you can take or teach cooking classes. Tell yourself every day that you are worth it, you are smart, you are attractive, and you are capable. If you have trouble doing this yourself, seek the help of a therapist. Other ways to build self-worth include challenging yourself more often and learning new things. When you overcome a difficult obstacle or develop a new skill you build self-efficacy, which in turn boosts your self-worth. Pursue your own interests or hobbies. Developing your own life outside of your spouse's is another way to gain your independence. A hallmark of a healthy relationship is both partners being able to have both separate and mutual interests. Due to your clinginess, you probably already join in on many of your spouse's activities. So, now you need to consider what you like doing and cultivate some hobbies of your own. Do not be afraid to reinvent yourself by identifying interests that you've been considering but have held back from because of fear or self-doubt. You may also want to go back to school, join a club or group, or find additional ways to meet friends so that you have others to spend time with besides just your spouse. Allow your spouse to spend time alone. The truth is, everyone needs a little alone time. This doesn't mean that they don't necessarily want to spend time with you; rather, they just want to spend some time with themselves. Give your spouse the space and trust they need to be happy and your relationship will likely benefit as a result. It may be difficult to give your spouse some room to breathe, but remind yourself that doing so may save your relationship. This clingy behavior isn't good for you, or for your spouse. Resisting the urge to keep tabs on your spouse at all times and allowing them to have time alone or with friends and family will show your partner that you trust them, which may improve the marriage overall. Match your partner’s level of affection. When you think about it, most people give out the amount of affection they are comfortable with receiving. If your partner isn't very affectionate, but you are constantly giving hugs and kisses and demanding it in return, you may start to make them uncomfortable. Instead, mirror their level of affection and attention. For example, if you text your partner throughout the day, but only receive one or two from them, start sending out that same amount. Rather than smothering them with affection when they walk through the door, allow them to make the first move. Holding back a little bit may present a challenge initially, but it will likely be worth it in the end. Seek professional therapy. Clinginess in relationships is often a hallmark of codependency, an unhealthy and one-sided relational dynamic. If you are unable to overcome your neediness, it may help to see a mental health therapist. A therapist can work with you to examine your relational patterns, find the origin to clingy behavior, and learn healthier relationship skills. You can find a therapist by asking your family doctor for a referral or by searching for counselors experienced in relationship issues online Get honest with yourself. Those who are clingy often feel insecure, jealous, and lonely. When it comes down to it, these emotions can make the needy person feel simply awful and ultimately, unhappy with the relationship. When they are unhappy, they tend to project this onto their partner. This may cause the more secure partner to leave because they are tired of the way their spouse is treating them. Ask your spouse if they think you tend to exhibit these behaviors towards them. For instance, you could say, “Do you think I act jealous or insecure about our relationship? If so, how does that make you feel and why do you think I behave the way I do?” Opening up the lines of communication with your spouse helps them to understand that you believe you may have a problem and value their opinion regarding it. You can also work together to brainstorm solutions. Find ways to stop “suffocating” your partner. In new relationships, it is common for those involved to want to be around each other all of the time. After a while, though, it is natural for that initial spark to begin to fade and those in the relationship start to become more independent. If one spouse begins that normal tendency while the other continues to want to spend lots of time together, the other may begin to feel “suffocated.” You can overcome this dynamic by spending more time apart. You might say to your partner, "I think I have been suffocating you, and I'm sorry. I didn't realize. I think it will be healthy if we start spending more time with friends or family to give each other some space." If being apart from your partner frightens you, fill your social calendar. Schedule gatherings with friends. Pursue your education or complete goals that have been left unfinished. Take up a new hobby or skill. Show your spouse that you trust them. When needy spouses are constantly checking in with their spouses, forbidding them to go anywhere without them, or berate them with questions when they come home, the more secure spouse may think the clingy spouse doesn't trust them. Overcome the trust issues associated with neediness by using language that demonstrates faith in your partner and the relationship. When your partner goes out with friends, say "Be careful, sweetie. Have a good time." rather than berating them about calling you every hour on the hour. Trusting your partner to be away from you and still uphold the values of your relationship is important. Avoid texting or calling them nonstop when you are apart. Don't check their call logs or emails. Look at your childhood. When people grow up feeling unloved, they often look for the affection and acceptance they didn't get during their childhood, from their spouses. If the affection isn't met, they often believe that the other person doesn't care about them. Even if it's something as small as not answering the phone right away, the needy person often becomes paranoid about the relationship and becomes even more clingy. If you have siblings or other loved ones who experienced the same type of childhood you did, look at how they behave in relationships. If they are also clingy with their spouses or significant others, you likely are the way you are because your emotional and physical needs were not met as a child. Determine your self-worth. Needy people tend to have low self-esteem, just as secure people are typically very self-confident. Often, those who are clingy with their spouses are because they are trying to validate themselves. When they don't receive the love and affection they seek, they often feel even worse about themselves and become even more clingy. It's normal to feel good when your spouse shows affection or tells you they love you. However, if you become crushed or think bad about yourself when they give you less than what you want, it could be because you don't have enough self-worth. Look at your past relationships. A common trait among those who are clingy in marriages is that they have had failed relationships in the past. Perhaps they were cheated on or were treated poorly. As a result, they become desperate for the love and affection they didn't receive in the other relationships. If a person doesn't have high self-esteem or didn't have a loving childhood and are needy with significant others, their clinginess could be the reason why their relationships failed. Then in the next relationship, they display the same type of behavior, and may fail in that relationship, as well. Until the problem is resolved, the person may continue to experience the same types of situations. | Build self-worth. Pursue your own interests or hobbies. Allow your spouse to spend time alone. Match your partner’s level of affection. Seek professional therapy. Get honest with yourself. Find ways to stop “suffocating” your partner. Show your spouse that you trust them. Look at your childhood. Determine your self-worth. Look at your past relationships. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Confusing-a-Dog-During-Training | How to Avoid Confusing a Dog During Training | To avoid confusing your dog during training, keep your sessions brief so your dog doesn't get overwhelmed with too much information at one time. For example, if you're working on the “stay” command, stop the session after your dog successfully stays for five seconds 2 or 3 times in a row. To further avoid confusion, train it on a regular daily schedule, rather than only training sporadically whenever you get the chance. When you train, try practicing the same command in various locations, like different rooms in your house or at a public park. That way, your dog won't start to associate the command with one particular place and then get confused when you try it elsewhere. | Start small. You'll only confuse yourself and your dog if you begin training with unrealistic expectations about what and how much you can do in a single training session. Set a goal for successfully practicing one command per session, and remember that this new command will require consistent repetition in different places and situations in order to truly master the behavior. Make sure you're not trying to teach your dog tricks or behaviors for which they don't have the proper foundation, and also that you're not trying to pack too many lessons and commands into one training session. Obedience classes are perhaps the most efficient method of training your dog, but even these should be approached with moderate expectations. Just because you're paying for expertise, you shouldn't expect your dog to come out of an eight-week course looking and acting like a K-9 unit pro. Set a schedule. Keeping an irregular or insufficiently frequent training schedule is sure to cause confusion for your learning pup. You'll make much better progress if you practice every day or every other day, rather than sporadically doing so whenever you get a chance. It can help to use a training calendar or checklist to keep track of your dog's curriculum. Compare notes with your personal or professional planner to make sure you can allot a portion of most days to concerted training and practice. Once you've gotten the hang of the basics, you should work these commands into daily life and routine. Have your dog sit and stay before each meal time, or have it heel when walking out to get the paper in the morning. Keep training sessions brief but productive. Your dog will become confused and frustrated if you continue a session for too long, but you'll have similar problems if you end your session before making any progress. Avoid these common timing problems by setting time-independent goals: conclude a session not after a certain amount of time, but after a certain level of success is reached. For example, if you're working on the 'Stay' command, stop the session after your dog successfully stays for five seconds two or three times in a row. This will get your dog used to being rewarded for success and keep it interested in training. Change up your training location. If you always practice commands and training in one place, your dog can easily begin to associate this location exclusively with the new behaviors you're teaching it. It will become confused when you expect the same performance in an entirely new setting, so make sure you mix up your training locations and show your dog that you expect obedience everywhere. For example, train one day in the living room, but move out to the backyard the next day. Eventually, you should practice in other, public areas like the dog park. Incorporate distractions into your training. If you've only ever asked your dog to obey commands in the quiet privacy of your living room, you can't expect it to perform the same way under different conditions. Other dogs, cars, honking horns, and loud strangers' voices are just some of the many factors which will confuse and throw off your dog's behavior if you keep them isolated. Starting off, you should only train in highly controlled areas where you can keep distractions to a minimum. As your dog progresses, start adding distractions gradually so that it gets used to performing in less controlled environments. Remember never to train your dog before mealtime. Being hungry is a serious distraction which will shorten your dog's attention span and make it frustrated. Reinforce positive behavior through treats and praise. Rather than telling your dog 'no' when it does something bad, reward it when it does the right things. Just reproaching your dog for bad behavior can be confusing because, while you've indicated what you don't like, you haven't shown the dog what you do want it to do. Reversing this habit and giving positive feedback gives your dog concrete, specific guidance about how you want it to behave, so try making this the fundamental principle of your training. For example, have your dog sit before you open the door or before feeding, and then give it a treat. This reward helps encourage the positive behaviors of not darting out the door when it's opened and having good mealtime manners. Make sure your treats are small, easily consumed, and healthy. It can be a good idea to use individual kernels of your dog's normal dry food so that you don't develop any bad snacking behaviors. Reward your dog at the right time. If you wait more than a few seconds to reward a trick or obeyed command, your dog won't know which behavior it's getting a treat for. You need to make sure, then, that you give the treat right away, while the dog is still doing the right behavior. For example if you are training a dog to lay down and stay, but you only reward it when it gets up, you are confusing the dog about what behavior—laying down or getting up—you actually want it to do. Use clear verbal commands. Be consistent about how you say a command—for example, don't say "Lay" sometimes and other times "Lay down"—and also how often you deliver the command. Repeating a command too many times will confuse a dog as to when it expected to act or follow the command you're repeating. Some experts recommend using what's called a verbal marker—a verbal cue or other sounds like a click or short word—along with treats as a method of positive reinforcement. This is because you can give this marker more quickly than you can deliver a treat, so the reward is more instantaneous and more closely linked to the right, praiseworthy behavior. If you find verbal clicking or speaking too taxing, you can buy a small clicker device which makes a clicking noise when you press on it. Your dog will learn to associate this distinct sound with positive reinforcement and praise, and you don't have to worry about confusing it with different words and tones of voice. Keep your dog motivated. Rewarding positive behavior can be an incremental process: for some more complicated commands, you'll need to break the behavior up into smaller steps and give treats at each interval. For example, to teach a dog rollover, you should first have it lie down, then lie on its side, and only then to roll over. Maintain consistent boundaries. Your dog will become confused about its place in the family if you treat it like a person, and these blurred lines will make training difficult and frustrating for both of you. Keeping healthy boundaries that show your dog that it's lower on the pecking order than you are will help avoid confusion and conflict. For example, avoid picking your dog up too frequently or constantly letting it up on the couch or bed beside you. If your dog sees the difference between canine and human status, it will be more likely to follow your instructions when training. Don’t punish your dog physically or verbally. Forcefully reprimanding your dog may produce results in the short term, but ultimately you're just confusing it. Your harsh words and forceful actions scare your dog and corrode trust between the two of you, so make sure you never resort to this kind of punishment when training your pup. Even when you have to say 'no' or be firm about something, try to keep your tone of voice low and calm. Overly emotional or harsh tones will probably make your dog stop what it's doing, but it's actually responding to the tone of your voice and not understanding what bad behavior it shouldn't be doing. Stop when your dog gets confused. Even if you're following all the rules and being a good, consistent trainer, your dog will occasionally get confused. When this happens, your dog will start barking or lunging excitedly while ignoring you and your commands. Responding to these signals poorly and continuing training as before will just make the problem worse, so stop in your tracks when your dog displays these signs. Drop a few treats on the ground, take a deep breath, and relax until the air is cleared and you can begin afresh. If this keeps happening, you're probably attempting a command which is too sophisticated or advanced for your dog. Try breaking it into smaller steps or moving to a simpler command so that you don't keep repeating the same mistakes. | Start small. Set a schedule. Keep training sessions brief but productive. Change up your training location. Incorporate distractions into your training. Reinforce positive behavior through treats and praise. Reward your dog at the right time. Use clear verbal commands. Keep your dog motivated. Maintain consistent boundaries. Don’t punish your dog physically or verbally. Stop when your dog gets confused. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Bleach-Brown-Hair | How to Bleach Brown Hair | To bleach brown hair, start by getting a 10 or 20 volume developer and some bleach powder. Then, mix 1 part bleach powder with 2 parts developer in a plastic container. Once you've prepared your bleach mixture, brush it onto your hair in sections, doing your roots last. Try to work quickly so the bleach isn't sitting on some parts of your hair for a lot longer than others. Check your hair every 5 minutes and when you're happy with how light it is, rinse out the bleach thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner. | Use deep conditioner on coarse or curly hair for 1 week before bleaching. Hair that's especially curly or coarse may be more prone to breakage during and after the bleaching process. Choose a deep conditioner that's free from sulfates and uses oils such as Argan oil or coconut oil. Use the conditioner every night for 1 week prior to bleaching. Apply the conditioner generously to your hair while it's dry, gently comb it through with a wide tooth comb, and allow it to remain on your hair for 30 minutes before rinsing it with lukewarm water. Choose the right bleach powder for your hair. A bleach kit will typically have a packet of bleach powder and a bottle of liquid developer. The strength of the bleach is determined by the developer, but you'll have a choice between blue, purple, or white bleach powders as well. The main difference between them is that white powder can leave more of a gold tint in your hair, while blue and purple powders are more neutral. Many white powders are considered “extra strength” and would be appropriate to use if your hair is very dark brown or has been colored frequently in the past. Buy the strength of developer appropriate for your hair. The developer in your bleach kit will come in strength 10, 20, 30, or 40 volume, with 10 being the weakest. Your hair will lighten faster at higher volumes, and more slowly at lower volumes. If your hair is light brown, use a 20 volume developer. If your hair is medium to dark brown, you may need to use a 30 volume developer. If you don't have a lot of experience bleaching your hair, stick to 10 or 20 volume developers for home use. If you feel that you need a 30 or 40 volume developer to get the job done, it would be best to have your hair bleached by a professional colorist. Buy 2 bleach kits for very thick hair or hair that’s past shoulder-length. If your hair is very thick or long, you will need more bleach to cover all of it. Buy 2 kits of the same powder and developer once you've chosen the type you want. Some beauty supply stores offer bleach powder and developer sold separately. You can cut costs by purchasing a larger bottle of developer and 2 packets of powder instead of 2 separate kits. Leave your hair unwashed before bleaching it. Bleach actually works best on hair that's slightly dirty or greasy. Try not to wash your hair for at least 1-2 days before bleaching your hair. Don't apply new products like hairspray or gel to your hair right before bleaching it, but if you have leftover product in it from the last couple of days that's okay. Do a strand test. Bleach will unavoidably cause some damage to your hair, and hair that's already been chemically changed with relaxers or permanents may become extremely damaged by bleach. A strand test will tell you both how long it takes bleach to process in your hair, and if your hair is healthy enough to bleach at all. Isolate a small section of your hair about 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide where you can test the bleach. Mix a very small amount of powder and developer with a 1:2 ratio (1 part powder to 2 parts developer) in your plastic bowl. Apply the bleach to your section of hair with a dye applicator brush, and wait 5 minutes. Wipe the bleach off with an old towel to see how light the hair is. Reapply more bleach if the hair is not as light as you want it. Continue wiping it and checking every 5 minutes to determine how much time your hair needs to process bleach. Dispose of this test bleach when you're finished with the strand test. If the hair strands start to break or become gummy, this means they are being burnt by the bleach. You should not bleach the rest of your hair if this happens. Divide your hair into 4 sections and clip them. Brush out all of your hair, and part it from the middle of your forehead to the nape of your neck. Clip the right side with a large plastic clip, and make 2 more parts from your ear to the center part on the left side. Secure these 2 sections with large clips, remove the single large clip from the right side, and divide this section in half the same way. Never use metal clips when you are bleaching your hair, since the metal can react with the bleach and cause serious damage to your hair. Mix your bleach and developer with a 1:2 ratio. Most bleach kits will already have the portions measured out for you, but if you bought your powder and developer separately, you'll want to mix it with 1 part powder to 2 parts developer. An easy way to do this is by using a clear plastic container, dumping the powder in, and then pouring the developer in until its level is twice as high as your powder level. You can also check the amount of bleach powder on the packet, and measure twice the amount of developer with a liquid measuring cup. Most lighteners call for a 1:2 ratio, but check the instructions on your developer bottle just to be sure. Cover your shoulders and put on your gloves. Bleach can stain your clothes, especially anything darker in color. To avoid getting bleach on your clothes, cover your shoulders in an old towel, or a hairdresser's cape if you have one. Clip it at your neck to keep it attached. You want to avoid getting bleach on your hands as well, as it can irritate the skin. Use plastic or rubber gloves to protect your hands. Brush the bleach on small sections in the back 1 cm (0.39 in) from your scalp. When your bleach is mixed, put on your gloves and remove 1 of your back clips, taking a small section from it. Using your tint brush, brush the section with bleach starting 1 cm (0.39 in) from your scalp all the way to the ends with a downward stroke. Flip the strand over to get the underside of the section. Wind the piece loosely in a circle and secure it with a small sectioning clip. Cover and clip each section quickly. Continue brushing your bleach onto each strand in the first back quarter of your hair, clipping them with small clips as you go. Work quickly because the bleach will work quickly. Next do the same thing to the other back section of your hair, then move up to the front when the back is complete. By the time you're finished with the last front quarter of hair, the back quarter that you started with should be significantly lighter. Brush bleach onto the root areas last if you like. When you're finished applying bleach to most of your hair, you have the option of applying it to the 1 cm (0.39 in) section of root that you left bare. Getting bleach on your scalp will cause it to tingle and itch at the least, or burn at the worst. Some people experience a very unpleasant feeling when bleach touches their scalp. Try it first on a small clipped section in the back where you first started. If you don't like it, you always have the option of leaving your roots unbleached. Check your hair for any missed sections and apply bleach to them. Starting in the quarter you started with, unclip each section and check to see that it's lightening evenly. If you notice any brown spots, apply more bleach just to that spot and re-clip it. Use a large mirror and hand-held mirror to get the best view of the back as you're checking for missed spots. Check the front of your hair every 5 minutes to see if it’s light enough. Brown hair will first turn orange, then yellow, then pale blond when it's bleached. If your hair is very dark brown to begin with, it may take longer to turn pale blonde than medium to lighter browns. After 20-40 minutes, you may notice that your hair is not lightening anymore. Bleach does stop working after a certain length of time, and your strand test should have determined how light your hair is able to get. If this happens, it's possible that your hair will not get any lighter this time. You'll need to rinse your bleach and decide how to proceed with adjusting the color if it is not what you wanted. Check the instructions in your bleach kit to see the maximum amount of time you can leave bleach in your hair. Most products will recommend no longer than 45 minutes. Rinse the bleach immediately at the first sign of hair breakage. If you unclip a section of hair to check it and notice that pieces of the ends come off in your hand, it's time to rinse your bleach immediately. Remove your clips and put your head under lukewarm running water to rinse the bleach out. Hopefully if you did a strand test, this will not happen. If it does, you may need professional assistance to adjust the color if it's uneven, and to trim any broken ends of hair. Rinse your hair thoroughly, shampoo, and condition. When your hair is as light as you want it, or before if it stops lightening or starts breaking, rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. Shampoo your hair with a hydrating shampoo, and use a hydrating conditioner to coat your hair before rinsing it in lukewarm water. Beauty supply stores often sell conditioners specially designed for after you bleach or color. Buy a packet of this strong conditioner and use it immediately after bleaching for the best results. Apply toner to remove brassiness from bleached hair anytime. Brassiness is the unwanted red, orange, or yellow color that often occurs from bleaching. The darker your hair was before bleaching, the more likely it is that you will have some brassiness in it afterward. Choose green, blue, or violet-based toner depending on which unwanted color you want to neutralize the most. Most people apply toner immediately after bleaching their hair, as this is the best time for your hair to absorb the toner. You can do it anytime, however. Follow the instructions on your brand of toner exactly, to avoid having your hair become too neutralized, or tinged with grey or lavender. Green-based toner neutralizes red brassiness. Blue-based toner neutralizes orange, while violet-based toner neutralizes yellow. If you're unsure which toner to use, consult an employee at the beauty supply store where you're buying it. When you buy toner, use a 10 or 20 volume developer for it, according to the instructions on the package. Shampoo your hair with blonde-specific shampoo. Some shampoos that are specially made for blonde-treated hair actually contain toner in them to help you achieve a cool, neutral blonde look. You can find these shampoos at beauty supply stores as well as many pharmacies. Look for shampoos containing blue or purple tints. These shampoos are designed to neutralize orange or brassy tones in blonde, silver, or white hair. Check the bottle to find out how often to use these shampoos and how long to leave them on before rinsing. Be sure to avoid shampoos containing sulfites, as these are chemicals that are known to further dry and damage hair. Use a strengthening conditioner daily. Because bleached hair is damaged to some degree, you want to take extra care to provide it with enough moisture. Use a conditioner especially for color-treated or blonde hair that's labeled “hydrating” or “moisturizing.” You may also want to do a weekly deep-conditioning to maintain your hair's health and keep it moisturized. Try a protein treatment or natural oils to repair brittle ends. Your ends may begin looking especially dry, split, or brittle after bleaching. You can use either a protein treatment or an oil like Argan or coconut oil to help repair them. Smooth the product onto your ends and wrap your hair up into a hot towel for 30 minutes. Try doing this once or twice a week until you notice your ends looking healthier. You may also benefit from a trim to help especially damaged ends. Touch up your roots in 4-6 weeks if you’re keeping the color. The best way to maintain your blonde hair is by re-bleaching most of your roots in 4-6 weeks. Avoid re-bleaching all of your hair, as each time you bleach there is further damage done to it. You can still leave bleach off the 1 cm (0.39 in) closest to your scalp to avoid getting bleach on your scalp. To touch up your roots, prepare half the amount of bleach you would use to dye your whole head. Brush it onto your roots, being careful not to overlap with the already bleached parts of your hair. | Use deep conditioner on coarse or curly hair for 1 week before bleaching. Choose the right bleach powder for your hair. Buy the strength of developer appropriate for your hair. Buy 2 bleach kits for very thick hair or hair that’s past shoulder-length. Leave your hair unwashed before bleaching it. Do a strand test. Divide your hair into 4 sections and clip them. Mix your bleach and developer with a 1:2 ratio. Cover your shoulders and put on your gloves. Brush the bleach on small sections in the back 1 cm (0.39 in) from your scalp. Cover and clip each section quickly. Brush bleach onto the root areas last if you like. Check your hair for any missed sections and apply bleach to them. Check the front of your hair every 5 minutes to see if it’s light enough. Rinse the bleach immediately at the first sign of hair breakage. Rinse your hair thoroughly, shampoo, and condition. Apply toner to remove brassiness from bleached hair anytime. Shampoo your hair with blonde-specific shampoo. Use a strengthening conditioner daily. Try a protein treatment or natural oils to repair brittle ends. Touch up your roots in 4-6 weeks if you’re keeping the color. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cite-Page-Numbers-in-APA | How to Cite Page Numbers in APA | To cite page numbers in APA using in-text citations, start by identifying the page number or numbers of your source. Then, write the page number or numbers in parentheses at the end of the corresponding sentence in your paper. Put "p." before the page number if you're citing information from a single page, and use "pp." for multiple consecutive pages. Be sure to separate a range of page numbers with a hyphen! If you didn't name the author within the text of the sentence, you'll also need to include the author's last name and the publication year before the page numbers in the parentheses. For example, “One study showed that poor hygiene was correlated with low self-esteem (Smith, 2010, p. 40).” A single page number citation might look like (Smith, 2010, p. 40) or (p. 40). A citation for multiple sequential pages might look like (Smith, 2010, pp. 40-45) or (pp. 40-45). | Find the page number of your source. Use the exact page that the fact or quote appeared on. If it appeared on more than 1 page, record the entire page range. You can usually find page numbers on the top or bottom corner of a page. For example, if you found a quote on page 10 of a book, cite page 10. If the information was spread over several pages, include all of them. So you might cite pages 10-16. Sometimes, page numbers might have letters like "B1" or use Roman numerals like "iv" or "xi." In these cases, always use the type of numbering used by the source. Write out your sentence. You do not need to include the page numbers in the text of the sentence itself. This sentence should include the information on the pages that you found. If you name the author in the sentence, write the year that the source was published in parentheses next to the author's name. For example, you might write, “Smith (2010) showed that poor hygiene was correlated with low self-esteem.” Write the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Put the parentheses before the period. How you format the citation depends on whether or not you named the author in the sentence. If you named the author in the sentence, just put the page number at the end of the sentence. For example, “Smith (2010) showed that poor hygiene was correlated with low self-esteem (p. 40).” If you did not name the author within the text of the sentence, include the author's last name and the year of publication before the page number in the parentheses. For example, “One study showed that poor hygiene was correlated with low self-esteem (Smith, 2010, p. 40).” Write p or pp before the page number. If you are only citing information from a single page, you just need to put the "p." before the page number. If there are multiple consecutive pages, write "pp." before the number instead of "p." Separate the page numbers with a hyphen. A single page number citation might look like (Smith, 2010, p. 40) or (p. 40). A citation for multiple, sequential pages might look like (Smith, 2010, pp. 40-45) or (pp. 40-45). Put commas between non-sequential page numbers. If the information you need is on 2 or more non-consecutive pages, you should still cite all of the relevant pages. Use "pp." before the page numbers. For example, if the information started on page 40 but then continued on page 45, you would write (Smith, 2010, pp. 40, 45). Find the full page range of the book chapter or article. Don't just cite the few pages that you used. Look for the first and last page number of the article. This is the page range. So if a chapter begins on page 27 and ends on page 45, your page range is 27 - 45. Newspaper articles may have page numbers that include letters (such as 1A or B3) while prefaces may use roman numerals (like i, ii, iii, etc.). Always use the numbering system used by the source. If the article skips pages, write down where the pages begin and end in both sections. Put a comma between these page numbers. For example, 15-20, 25-30. Make sure to include reference lists, appendixes, and other supplementary material in your page range. So if the text of the article ends on page 173 but the appendix ends on page 180, then the page range ends on page 180. Write out the full reference of the text. The format of the citation depends on the type of source you use. Since page numbers are generally only used for book chapters and articles, you can use the following guidelines to help you cite. Book chapter: Last name, First Initial. Second Initial (if applicable). (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pages of chapter). Location: Publisher. Article: Author, A. & Author, B. (Year). Title of article. Title of periodical, volume number (issue number), pages of article. Insert the page range between the title and location for a book chapter. Put the page numbers in parentheses, and separate them with a hyphen. Write “pp.” before the number. For example, if you were citing a chapter between pages 41 and 63, your citation might look like this: Williams, B. and Johnson, A. (1990). Traffic Patterns and Urban Spread. in C. Carr (Ed.), Traffic Engineering Trends (pp. 41-63). New York: ZMN Publishing. Include the page range at the end for a journal article. Do not use “p.” or “pp.” before the page number. Just separate the first and last page with a hyphen. So if you cited a journal article that appeared on pages 5-23, it might look like this: Roberts, R. (2013). Managing Traffic in the Southwest. Traffic Engineering, 23 (2), 5-23. List out each page for a newspaper article. Page numbers from a newspaper are cited slightly differently than other types of articles, such as journal or magazine articles. Before the page numbers, write “p.” for a single page and “pp.” for multiple pages. List out the pages individually if they are non-consecutive. For example, you might cite an article that starts on page B1 and continues through pages B3 and B4 as: Diaz, C. (2016, June 26). “Traffic in the City,” The Times Morning Gazette , pp. B1, B3-B4. Cite the page number when using statistics or data from a source. If you have included data, statistics, or other numbers from a scientific study, you should indicate which page of the study this information appeared in. For example, you might write, “According to Jones (2006), 5% of people were on social media 5 or more hours a day (p. 207).” Put page numbers after every quote. Write the page numbers after the quotation marks but before the period. You should do this with quotes from all books, articles, and chapters. For example, you might write: Jones (2006) stated that “the top 5% of users were on social media for 5 or more hours every day” (p. 207). Consider including a page number if paraphrasing. Paraphrasing means that you are restating the author's general ideas, arguments, or results in your own words. You do not need page numbers in this case, but they will be helpful if you are paraphrasing a specific section from a very long or complicated work. For example, you might say: “Jones (2006) indicated that addictive behaviors could be seen in a small population of excessive users (p. 207).” Write the paragraph number if there are no page numbers. If you are quoting or citing a website or a source without page numbers, you should use paragraph numbers instead. You generally only need to do this when citing specific data and quotes. You do not need to put the paragraph number in the reference list. You can cite a paragraph the same way as a page number, except you write “para.” instead of “p.” So if you were quoting paragraph 3, it would look like (para. 3) or even (James, 2007, para. 3). To find the paragraph number, count from the top paragraph down to the paragraph you are citing. So a quote from the third paragraph would be cited as paragraph 3. | Find the page number of your source. Write out your sentence. Write the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Write p or pp before the page number. Put commas between non-sequential page numbers. Find the full page range of the book chapter or article. Write out the full reference of the text. Insert the page range between the title and location for a book chapter. Include the page range at the end for a journal article. List out each page for a newspaper article. Cite the page number when using statistics or data from a source. Put page numbers after every quote. Consider including a page number if paraphrasing. Write the paragraph number if there are no page numbers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hide-Your-Diary | How to Hide Your Diary | A diary is a private space for you to write down secrets, so it's natural that you'd want a good hiding place for it! For a quick hiding spot, stash your diary under a pile of stuffed animals or in an empty container, like a tissue box. You could also put your diary underneath a loose floorboard or tape it to the back of a picture frame. Choose a discreet diary, like a plain notebook or composition book so people won't suspect what it is. You could also fill the first few pages with fake school notes, so anyone who opens it will just think it's a regular notebook. If you keep your diary on your computer, put it in a folder with a misleading name like “Homework,” then set a password on your computer. | Hollow out a book if you'd like to hide your diary on a bookshelf. By disguising your diary inside of a book, it will blend into the rest of the books on your shelf. Choose an old book that you no longer want, then brush Mod Podge along the edges of at least half the pages to glue them together. Using a box cutter, cut a rectangle out of the pages inside that's big enough to hold your diary. You can also buy a used book from a bookstore if you don't want to ruin any of the ones you already own. There are a lot of videos and tutorials online on how to make a hollowed-out book that you can follow along with. To make sure your diary isn't discovered, pick a book that you know your parents or siblings won't want to borrow or read. Put your diary in an empty container if you want a creative hiding spot. Your room is likely full of possible things to hide your diary in that no one would ever suspect. For example, place it inside an empty tissue box with a few tissues on top or put it in an empty shoebox in your closet on the top shelf. The trick is choosing a spot that no one else would look in. For instance, the bottom of your art supply box is great if you're the only one who uses it, but not good if your sister borrows it sometimes. Pick a container that completely camouflages your diary so you can't see any part of it. Make sure that your diary doesn't affect how the container looks, either. If the tissue box is bulging out from the size of the book, for example, your siblings may suspect something is hiding inside. Hide your diary underneath or behind things to keep it out of sight. Think of places where your family is unlikely to look. For example, unless you have siblings who borrow your clothes or parents who put your laundry away for you, a dresser drawer can be a very secretive spot. Set your diary at the very bottom of the drawer, then pile your clothes on top so it's completely hidden. Put your diary in one of the top drawers of your dresser or desk if you have younger siblings who are more likely to get into bottom drawers. Tape it under a chair or table if you don’t have young siblings. Little kids, especially if they're at the age where they're still crawling, can easily find something stuck to the bottom of a chair, desk, or table. If you don't have siblings or if your brothers or sisters are older and bigger, those spots are safer. Use enough tape so the diary is secure and won't fall down. Use strong tape, like duct tape or packing tape, if your diary is heavier. Avoid taping your diary underneath your bed. That's an obvious place to hide it and it will likely get found. Stash your diary under a loose floorboard if you live in an old house. Older homes often have hardwood floors where some of the boards are loose, so you're able to lift them up slightly. If you have a board in your room that you can raise enough to slip a book into, this is the perfect hiding spot. However, make sure you can get the book back out first. For extra protection, place a rug over top of the floorboard. Be careful not to pull too hard on the floorboard when you're placing your diary inside. You don't want to damage the floor. Keep your diary in a notebook to blend in with your school supplies. Everyone will think you're just writing down what the teacher is saying when really you're writing in your diary. Choose a very plain notebook or composition book so it's not noticeable among your other books. If you have a set of matching notebooks, use a similar one for your diary. For example, if all your notebooks are cat-themed, don't make your diary a neon striped notebook. Go with another cat-themed one. You can even fill the first couple pages with fake notes so if someone opens it, they'll think it's just your science notebook, for instance. Disguise your diary with a boring book cover so no one wants to read it. Pick the dullest, most uninteresting book you have that also has a removable cover. Remove the cover and wrap it around your diary. Make sure your diary is the same size of the original book so that the cover fits perfectly and doesn't look misplaced. Good options for boring covers are old textbooks or classic novels that most of your classmates wouldn't want to read. Pick a book that's realistic for you to be carrying around if you're taking it to school. For instance, your dad's book on how to fix plumbing problems might be super dull, but your friends will probably ask why you have it, drawing unwanted attention to your diary. Make a fake diary if you want your friends to stop trying to find yours. Trick nosy friends by creating a pretend diary. Keep it somewhere that they can see it, like on your desk, so they think they've found the real deal and won't look for your actual diary. Design your fake diary to look as realistic as possible. You can even write “My Diary” on the front. Write a few pretend entries in your fake diary so it's convincing if they open it up. Of course, don't include any real secrets though! Keep your diary on your personal laptop so no one else can get to it. Never keep your diary on a public computer or online where someone could find it. The best spot is on the desktop of your laptop. If your parents or siblings use your laptop sometimes, set up a different login for them. You can create a guest login so they don't have access to your personal files. Save your file under a fake name in a rarely used folder. Give your diary a name that disguises what it actually is. Then save it in a folder that no one would ever look in, like the system folder under the “My Computer” tab. For example, instead of naming your file "My Diary," name it something like “Biology Homework” instead. On some computers, you can hide entire folders, too. Right-click on the folder, then select "Properties." There will be a box labeled "Hidden" or something similar that you can check. Now, nobody can see the folder. Protect your diary with a strong password. Set the privacy controls on your laptop so a password is required for you to log into the computer. If you type your diary in a Microsoft Word document, you can password-protect that specific file, too. To password-protect a document, click “Preferences” on the main menu, then “Personal Settings” followed by “Security.” Select “Password to Open” to require someone to know the password to even open the file. Avoid writing in your diary when there are other people around. Try not to let anyone see you writing in your diary. If they do, they'll know you have one and will probably want to read it or attempt to find it when you're not looking. Only take out your diary when you're completely alone, just to be safe. If your diary is disguised, like in a notebook, you can write in it around other people as long as no one is close enough to see what you're writing. When you're at home, wait until your parents leave or until everyone else goes to bed before you break out your diary. Act natural if someone sees you with it so they don't get suspicious. If you get caught with your diary or writing in it, don't panic. Pretend like it's just any old book, like a notebook for school. Calmly close it, tuck it away, and change the conversation. If someone asks what you're doing, say something casual like, “Oh, nothing, just finishing up algebra homework for tomorrow. Cute shirt! Where did you get it?” Avoid acting nervous, tripping over your words, or fidgeting. These are all signs you're lying and the other person will likely suspect you're hiding something. Write in a secret code so no one can read it except you. This will make writing in your diary more complicated but adds another level of protection in case anyone finds it. Invent your own code or language to write in by mixing up letters or even including numbers. Keep a key, which explains how to read the code, somewhere safe, like in a locked drawer. One example of a code is the reverse alphabet. “A” is now “Z,” “B” is now “Y,” “C” is now “X,” and so on. So for instance, you'd write “boy” as “ylb” or “love” as “olev.” If you're fluent in a language other than your native one, you can write in that. For example, if all of your friends speak English but you're also fluent in Spanish, keep your diary in Spanish. But remember, some friends may use translation services like Google Translate to find out what's written in your diary. A good place to keep your key is on your phone in the notes app. Don't write the key in your diary because, if someone finds your diary, they'll then be able to translate everything. | Hollow out a book if you'd like to hide your diary on a bookshelf. Put your diary in an empty container if you want a creative hiding spot. Hide your diary underneath or behind things to keep it out of sight. Tape it under a chair or table if you don’t have young siblings. Stash your diary under a loose floorboard if you live in an old house. Keep your diary in a notebook to blend in with your school supplies. Disguise your diary with a boring book cover so no one wants to read it. Make a fake diary if you want your friends to stop trying to find yours. Keep your diary on your personal laptop so no one else can get to it. Save your file under a fake name in a rarely used folder. Protect your diary with a strong password. Avoid writing in your diary when there are other people around. Act natural if someone sees you with it so they don't get suspicious. Write in a secret code so no one can read it except you. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-Your-Rat%27s-Teeth-Are-Too-Long | How to Know if Your Rat's Teeth Are Too Long | To know if your rat's teeth are too long, lift its top lip so you can see if the bottom and top incisors overlap, which is a sign they're too long. Alternatively, pay attention to any discharge coming from your rat's mouth, which can be a sign of overgrown teeth. Additionally, note whether your rat has lost its appetite or appears to be losing weight, since overgrown teeth can make it impossible for your rat to eat. If your rat's teeth are too long, avoid trying to trim them yourself, since you can easily split the teeth. Instead, take it to the vet so they can clip its teeth to the right length. | Restrain your rat. Your rat will not want to hold still while you look at his teeth, so it's important to make sure he is properly restrained. Ideally, you should have a second person hold the rat while you examine his teeth. When the rat is restrained, you should be able to gently lift his upper lip with your finger to observe his incisors. The simplest way to restrain a rat is by holding him firmly around the torso with two hands. You can also try wrapping the rat in a towel. If your rat is particularly squirmy, you can use an old sock to create a straight jacket for him. Simply cut off the toe of the sock and place the tube around your rat's body. Then use some masking tape to tape the sock loosely around your rat's neck. Be sure to secure the bottom of the sock as well. If your rat is especially cooperative, you can try letting him stand on his hind legs on a table, holding him upright with one hand right under his front legs. Use your free hand hand to open his mouth. Observe the length of the teeth. Once you have your rat properly restrained and you can see her teeth, pay attention to the length of the incisors. The top incisors should be approximately 4 mm long, and the bottom incisors should be approximately 7 mm long. The teeth should be long enough that they rub against each other, but they should not overlap. Don't forget to check the cheek teeth, too, which can overgrow. Check for alignment problems. While you are observing the length of your rat's incisors, pay attention to their alignment as well. If the top and bottom teeth do not line up with each other, they will not be able to grind against each other properly. Even if your rat's teeth are not too long now, misalignment is a sign that they might grow out of control without intervention, so be sure to check them frequently Watch for discharge. If your rat has any discharge coming from his mouth or if he seems to be drooling excessively, he may be suffering from a dental problem associated with overgrown teeth. This may also cause your rat's breath to smell very bad. Pay attention to how your rat eats. If your rat has lost weight or does not seem to be eating normally, this may be a sign that her teeth are too long. Overgrown teeth can make it difficult or even impossible for your rat to eat, so make sure to act quickly! If your rat appears to be chewing constantly, even when she is not eating, this may also be a sign that her teeth need attention. If you notice messy eating or drooling saliva, your rat's cheek teeth may be overgrown. Look for lumps. If you notice any lumps on your rat's face, these may be abscesses caused by overgrown teeth. This is probably causing your rat a lot of pain, so don't delay treatment. If your rat has abscesses, you will probably notice that he seems reluctant to eat hard foods due to pain. Bring your rat to the vet. If your rat's teeth are too long, the easiest and safest way to take care of the problem is to bring her to the vet to have her teeth professionally trimmed. Look for a vet that burrs the teeth instead of clipping them. Keep in mind that if your rat's teeth need to be trimmed, it will probably have to be done every few weeks. Be sure to take your rat to the vet right away if you think she has abscesses from her overgrown teeth. Provide hard treats. If you want to help your rat maintain her own teeth, the best thing you can do is give her hard treats to chew on. Dog biscuits and branches from fruit-bearing trees are excellent treats that rats enjoy and that will help file their teeth down. This strategy may or may not solve the problem that is causing your rat's teeth to grow too long, so be sure to continue checking them weekly and clipping them whenever necessary. Avoid clipping your rat's teeth. Using a pair of nail clippers to clip the incisors to the correct length can split the tooth and cause more problems. Take your rat to the vet and ask them to burr the teeth instead. | Restrain your rat. Observe the length of the teeth. Check for alignment problems. Watch for discharge. Pay attention to how your rat eats. Look for lumps. Bring your rat to the vet. Provide hard treats. Avoid clipping your rat's teeth. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Cool-and-Popular-in-Sixth-Grade | How to Be Cool and Popular in Sixth Grade | If you want to be cool and popular in sixth grade, work on getting to know as many people as possible. Join a club or sports team you're passionate about, start conversations with new people during lunch, and don't be afraid to talk to new people. Respect other people, and try not to brag. Do what you love, even if it's “weird” -- people will notice your confidence and be impressed! If you're confident enough, they'll even want to be like you! | Get a wardrobe that looks great on you. Remember, clothes don't have to be brand-name to be cool and make you look good. Some great stores to try are Aeropostale, Roxy, Old Navy, Forever 21, Hollister, A'GACI, Rue 21, American Eagle, River Island, Justice, Target, Burlington, Walmart, Brandy Melville, Tilly's and more. Remember to get clothes appropriate for your age. Don't copy anybody's fashion style because then people will think you're a wannabe or a poser. Here are some things to keep in mind as you find the perfect clothes for you. If your school has uniforms don't worry, just remember to accessorize. It's okay if you mix clothes together and make things trendy in a unique, 'you'-kind-of-way to show off your own style while using just the tiniest bit of copying from someone else, like layering jewelry. Also, if you have a uniform make sure you don't get massive baggy clothes that don't fit you properly. Slim fit is all the rage. Skinny jeans are in style. But remember, super skinny jeans look great on some people, but not everyone. Boys should avoid skinny jeans unless they want to go for that particular look. You can see if combat boots match with these jeans. Distressed jeans are in and you can make your own! Get help from an older sibling or cousin who can help you not rip the holes straight across, but blend them. Before cutting up your jeans, you can practice on fabric, experimenting with fraying and cutting. Learn how to "ladder" jeans. Sweaters! Cardigans are in style, as are lightweight v-neck sweaters with a tank top for girls. Polo shirts aren't nerdy if you wear them right, so it all depends on how you look and how you wear them! Try a simple polo with skinny jeans and shoes like Converse or similar. A plain polo in a basic color is nice. If you want to get a polo, though, get some from Ralph Lauren or Lacoste. Ralph Lauren is known for their polo shirts. If you can't afford polo shirts from these stores, Abercrombie, Hollister, Ardene and Aeropostale always have good ones. Polo shirts may not look good on girls that have breasts, and are often form fitting, showing where the top of your jeans may have a muffin top. Hoodies are essential according to some. They go with almost everything! Make sure the hoodie is a good fit, but baggy and loose can also look cute with skinnies. Girls can wear a sweater and skirt combo. Accessorize. Accessorizing is important, but don't overdo it. Long necklaces are cool. Earrings, studs, are good too. A big trend is mock Ray-ban 1 color sunglasses, which can be bought at Claire's or Icing. Wide brim hats and fedoras are always a good choice. If you go to a school that has uniforms, don't push the limit because you might get in trouble. Get some new shoes. Some good choices are Heelys, Nike free-runs, Converse, Sperry's, Reeboks, and combat boots. Boys can wear a watch that goes with their personality. It could either be a sports watch, a formal one, one with leather strap etc. Keep your look natural. Girls, just use some lip balm or gloss, and some mascara, eye shadow (light ones work). Using thick eyeliner or foundation will make you look fake. A light amount on your skin can conceal zits or dark under eye circles. Some concealer has built in acne medicine. You can go natural sometimes, too. Make sure you ask your parents before starting to use makeup, if you want to try it. Take good care of your skin. Wash your face once in the morning and right when you are about to go to bed at night with a cleanser that's ideal for you. If you end up with a pimple, do not squeeze it, because this can lead to a little dent in your skin called a pockmark that lasts years after the pimple is gone. There is a special tool for removing pimples and blackheads with a loop on the end. Before doing this, or even washing your face you can fill the sink with warm water, put a towel over your head, and lean over the sink. The steam will open your pores, helping acne wash penetrate. Try putting liquid cover-up on, and after it dries put some powder cover-up on. Washing your face more than twice a day will dry out your skin, making it scaly and flaky, and will cause more acne and then you'll have a bigger problem. Consider getting a manicure. Giving yourself a manicure works as well. You can go to Target and get $2 nail polishes and inexpensive nail sticker sets. Beauty schools can have trained students do manicures for $5 instead of $20. Also, you can go on to YouTube and learn how to do any design on your own. Again, if manicures aren't your thing, you do not have to go out and get them. Be clean. Brush your teeth twice a day, use mouthwash, and wash your hair as many times a week as it needs. Don't go crazy on the styling products. Look for a hair styling cream that comes in a tub, not a big squirt bottle if you are a boy. If you are a girl all you need is bobby pins, combs for your hair type, rubber bands, headbands, and a light hair spray. If you want a different hair type you can buy straightening or curling irons. Greasy hair isn't exactly attractive, so be sure to wash it regularly! Make sure that if you have braces you get clear bands! But with clear bands make sure you don't eat something that can stain them. Get a stylish look. Try a hair cut that suits your face shape and personality. You can add a fun color streak in your hair. Side bangs are good too. Layered hair is a classic style for longer hair just like straight hair. You curl your hair at home. Straightening can damage the scalp and hair, whether done permanently or with an iron. So, try to minimise the chemical and stick to more healthy options. Have a stylish school bag. Messenger bags come in all styles and colour, and it can be unisex too. Or you can go with a stronger structure, most backpacks offer. They are carried on the back so it doesn't hurt as much as a shoulder bag. They come with water bottle holders and outer pockets, a thing most messenger bags do not have. Kipling backpacks are in. Tote bags are stylish for girls. But if you have a long way to walk, a backpack with a lot if books that goes on your back is the best choice. If you ride or walk to school you will need a backpack with two well-padded shoulders. Make other people feel important. This is key if you want to be cool and popular. If people think you think they're important, they will want to spend time hanging out with you. If you seem like you're only obsessed with yourself, then no one will want to be around you. Here are some things to do if you want to make other people feel special: Listen to what people are saying, and respond to let them know you were paying attention. Ask people lots of questions to show them that you care. Make the conversation about other people, not just yourself. Don't just brag about yourself. Make sure to ask about them too. Treat other people with respect. Being popular doesn't mean acting like you're in Mean Girls -- sure, that can get you some attention, but that kind of act can get old, fast. Instead, you should try to be nice to people without being fake, so that they feel welcome around you. Here are some things to keep in mind: Avoid gossiping whenever you can, or you'll have a reputation as a gossip and no one will trust you. Don't compete with other girls at school. It'll make you look desperate. If another kid wants to compete with you in popularity, dating, or style, say "No. I don't need a contest to prove I am good." Never be phony, or pretend to be friends with someone you don't like. Be sympathetic and show empathy when someone narrates a painful experience. Compliment someone on their hair, clothes, shoes, backpack, etc. when they look good or when you feel they need it to cheer up. Be respectful to everyone, including teachers, your friends, and other kids. Be cheerful, natural, and outgoing. Create a balance between work and entertainment. Be nice to members of the opposite gender. If you're a girl, don't show affection to a guy you like by being mean to other guys, or he'll become afraid and not want to ask you out. Also, do not play hard to get. It turns a boy off even though T.V. shows make it look like it turns him on. You don't have to be nice to every person of the opposite gender but don't be mean to people you like because you think it's flirting, either. If you're not ready to like people romantically or to try to date people, don't worry about it. You'll know when it's time, and there's no need to rush. Don't be afraid to talk to new people. When you feel alone and like you have no friends or maybe you do have friends but they're just not with you at the time, just say hello to someone. After a while of doing this and starting conversations with people, you'll have a lot of friends. Try to talk to some popular people and maybe invite them to a party or just to hang out. Try not to look desperate to become popular while doing this. Do not leave your old friends behind just to be popular. Treat everyone equally and treat others the way you would want to be treated. Try to make a lot of good, trustworthy friends. Don't reveal too much about yourself. Keep people wondering. Let people see you having a great time. If you want to be cool and popular, then you can't look desperate, or like you're always trying to hang out with the cool kids or waiting for people to come up to you. If you act like the life of the party, people will think you are. Even if you're at the party and are talking to someone who you don't really like so much, if you try to make the most of the conversation, laugh, and look like you're having a great time, then people will think, there's a person who is always having an awesome time, and they'll want to come up to you, too. This doesn't mean you should be completely fake. It just means you should be absorbed in what you're doing instead of always wanting to be doing something "cooler" or "better." Build your confidence. Being cool and popular isn't just about looking that way, but it's about feeling cool and popular too. To do this, you have to be confident in who you are and know that you have something to offer to the world. Work on loving the person who you are and embracing the life that you have instead of wanting to be someone different. This can take years, but you have to make an effort to truly love yourself instead of just having others love you. Being confident doesn't mean thinking you're perfect. In fact, being aware of some of your flaws and the things that you can improve will make you an even more confident person. Being confident also means having confident body language. You should keep your head high, look straight ahead, and have good posture so that you look comfortable with who you are. . Stop caring about what other people think Truly popular people are so happy with who they are that they don't try to please other people. If someone makes fun of your clothes or something you do, don't change your outfit or stop doing it. Instead, embrace who you are and learn to shrug off the jealous haters. It's okay to ask for advice when you're lost, but you should avoid doing what other people say just because you think it'll make you cooler. If you're popular, then you'll be able to set the trends, not try to follow them. Of course, it's impossible to stop caring about what people think overnight. But you have to make an effort to be your own person to get started. Accept others. Just like you, other students may have doubts and issues too. All they need is to be accepted. Treat people the way you want to be treated. If you truly want to be cool and popular, don't be mean to others. Being popular is about others liking and looking up to you. If someone wants to be your friend, don't push them away or avoid them. Instead, try to be friendly, and see if they're a good friend to you. And if they're not, then get busy with your work or tell them, so they know they hurt you. Don't ditch your BFF just because some "popular" kids think your friend isn't cool. In the right time, try to show them how caring they really are. Be active in the classroom. You don't have to be the teacher's pet or the most involved student to get noticed a bit. Be friendly, participate , and don't be a complete class clown. If you're silent in class or only talk to the one person you know, then you won't get noticed. You want people to see you and think, at least, "Oh yeah, that girl is in my English class..." You have to make some kind of an impression if you want to be popular. If you have a lab partner or do group work, be friendly and nice to the people, even if you don't think you have much in common. You don't have to raise your hand every two seconds to make other students notice you. Just participate when you have something new or helpful to say. Give others a chance too. If you have a test coming up, see if you want to form a study group with a few people. That can be an excuse for you to socialize a bit more. Try out for a team. Joining a team sport is a great way to meet new people and to put yourself out there. If your school has team sports, great. If not, joining a rec team can help you get to know even more people. Being part of a team can also help you know how to work with others and will get you more comfortable with a variety of people. You don't have to be the most athletic person in the world to join a sports team, either. You just have to have some drive and the desire to learn something new. Join a club. Clubs are another great way to meet more people and to try something new, especially if joining a sports team isn't for you. If your school has clubs, like the newspaper or yearbook, joining one would be a great way to meet a variety of people interested in different things. The more people you know, the more popular you will be. It's all about getting to know as many different people as possible, not just sticking to the same six "cool" people in your school. Joining a club can also help you find something new that interests you, which will boost your confidence and make you feel like a more dynamic person. Get involved in your neighborhood. Hang out with the kids in your neighborhood, help out your neighbors, and spend time hanging out outside instead of spending hours trying to improve your image on Facebook. So what if the kids in your neighborhood are a little older or younger than you or they go to a different school? Hanging out with as many different people as possible will make you a more open person and will make you look and feel more popular. If there are older kids in your neighborhood, then they can help you build your reputation, too -- being popular in the sixth grade doesn't mean only talking to sixth graders. Try to share what you learn, when it could help them. As you learn, you will find others having a hard time dealing with something you could help. Be open to help and don't expect immediate popularity. Sometimes, you have to just do whatever you could for others and treasure the memories. Be more social. To be popular, you have to get involved in more social activities. Accept invitations to parties even if you won't know many people there and get to know them. Throw parties of your own and have a pretty wide variety of people in your guest list. Go to the mall and movies with your friends on weekends instead of hanging out at home. And if events like school dances or other after-school events come up, make a point of being there. The more people get used to seeing you out, the more you'll become a part of the scene. You don't have to be the most popular person at the dance or at the mall to get to know more people and to have a great time. | Get a wardrobe that looks great on you. Accessorize. Keep your look natural. Take good care of your skin. Consider getting a manicure. Be clean. Get a stylish look. Have a stylish school bag. Make other people feel important. Treat other people with respect. Be nice to members of the opposite gender. Don't be afraid to talk to new people. Let people see you having a great time. Build your confidence. . Accept others. Be active in the classroom. Try out for a team. Join a club. Get involved in your neighborhood. Be more social. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Lawn-Mower | How to Buy a Lawn Mower | If you want to buy a lawn mower, start by determining the size and general layout of your yard. If you have a large yard that's relatively flat, look for riding lawn mowers to save time and energy. For smaller yards, or yards that have hills and steep slopes, opt for a push mower. Decide whether you'd prefer an electric or gas model, and set a budget for your purchase. Visit a home improvement store to see various models, and purchase from the store or online. | Determine the size of your yard. Before you buy a lawnmower, you need to know the size of the yard you'll be mowing. The size of the yard makes a difference in the type of lawnmower you'll need to easily get the job done.Calculate the acreage of your yard by measuring the length and width of your yard. 1 acre is equal to 43560 square feet. Multiply the length times the width in feet and divide by 43560 to determine how many acres you have. Small to medium lawns are lawns under ½ an acre. Large lawns are lawns larger than ½ an acre. Observe the slope of your yard. If you have a yard on a hill, a self propelled mower would be a good idea to help you get up the hill. Ride on mowers can sometimes be dangerous on hills, so plan a way to navigate the hill without putting your safety at risk. Flat yards are ideal for walk-behind, push mowers. Consider the type of grass in your yard. If you have a well maintained lawn with few weeds it is easier for a mower to cut. An overgrown lawn with many weeds and brush may require a larger size mower to get under control. Pick the type of mower you need. There are many different types of lawn mowers available, and the type you need depends on several different variables. Consider the size and landscape of the yard, the amount of maintenance you want to do, and how much muscle power you want to put into mowing when you decide the type of mower to get. If you don't want grass clippings left around your yard, pick a mower that mulches the clippings. Mulching mowers grind the grass into tiny particles that can then be absorbed by microorganisms in the soil. Research different brands. Most brands offer many different types of lawnmowers, and there isn't much difference between the brands, but you want to consider where you'll be servicing your mower. Some lawnmower service places only work with certain brands, so check out the local service stations in your area to make sure you'll have a place to go when you need to have your mower worked on. If you buy the lawnmower from a local retailer, they will sometimes have their own service stations for mowers. Choose a manual reel mowers for a small, flat lawn. These mowers are completely manually powered and leave clippings unevenly distributed around the lawn. They also are the most environmentally friendly choice. Buy an electric push mower for a small lawn with thicker grass. They run off electricity or a battery, and they come in a cord and cordless options. They are easily maintained, however they weigh and cost considerably more than gas powered mowers. Make sure you have extension cords that can reach across your entire yard if purchasing an electric mower with a cord. Purchase a gas powered mower for a yard around ½ acre. You can select push or self propelled options. Self propelled gas powered mowers are good for lawns that have hills because they push themselves forward letting you use less muscle power. These mowers have to be regularly maintained with tune-ups and oil changes, and they are a bit more noisy than electric mowers. Try a robotic mower for a smaller yard. These mowers move themselves around the yard within a perimeter wire around your yard. Robotic mowers are quite costly and sometimes give a less quality cut than conventional mowers. Choose a ride on mower for large lawns over ½ an acre. There are different types of ride on mowers including lawn tractors and zero turn radius riders. Ride on mowers are much pricier than walk behind mowers, and require regular maintenance, including blade sharpening. Check the size of the mower deck to see how wide of a cutting path your mower has. A larger cutting deck will mean fewer passes to finish the job and cut your mowing time down. Create a budget for your purchase. Buying a lawnmower is a big purchase and can be very costly, so you need to have a budget in mind when you're shopping. When you give yourself a budget for an item, you're more likely to be conscious of the prices when you shop. A weekly lawn service can cost from $20-$100. When considering your budget you will want to save money over hiring a service. Depending on the size of your yard a monthly payment under $100 on a lawn mower can provide significant savings when compared to hiring a lawn service company. Push mowers are typically $200-$600 new. A ride on or lawn tractor can easily cost several thousand dollars. Determine where you’ll buy the lawn mower. There are many different avenues to buy a lawn mower from. You can buy a new lawn mower from a dealer, department store, garden store, or home store. You can also buy a used lawn mower from a garage sale, an auction sale, or from an online garage sale. You will save a lot of money by buying a used lawn mower, but you might not get any warranties with it. If you want to buy a used mower, consider buying one from a reputable dealer where they sometimes have used or refurbished mowers. These usually have been tested and sometimes come with limited warranties. Ask about accessories. Before you purchase your new mower, make sure to inquire what accessories such as bagging and mulching attachments are included. Find out about warranties. Many new lawn mowers and some used ones come with a warranty to cover things that may break or go wrong within a certain time period. Make sure you read the warranty completely before buying so you understand what is covered and how long your mower is covered for. | Determine the size of your yard. Observe the slope of your yard. Consider the type of grass in your yard. Pick the type of mower you need. Research different brands. Choose a manual reel mowers for a small, flat lawn. Buy an electric push mower for a small lawn with thicker grass. Purchase a gas powered mower for a yard around ½ acre. Try a robotic mower for a smaller yard. Choose a ride on mower for large lawns over ½ an acre. Create a budget for your purchase. Determine where you’ll buy the lawn mower. Ask about accessories. Find out about warranties. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Your-Dog-to-Duck | How to Teach Your Dog to Duck | The best way to teach your dog to duck is to use a treat to help it learn how to get into a ducking position. To do this, show your dog the treat, then kneel on the ground, putting the treat down low. Next, when your dog lowers its upper body down to the ground in a ducking position, give it the treat and say, “Good boy!” Additionally, teach your dog the command “duck” by saying it as you present the treat. After your dog ducks, give it the treat and say, “Good duck!” | Show your dog a treat. Have your dog stand in front of you. Hold a small, pea-sized treat in front of it and allow it to smell the treat. Use treats your dog really likes when teaching it a new trick. Break treats up into pea-sized pieces so you can offer plenty of rewards without adding too many extra calories to its diet. Some good treats to use during training include small cubes of cheese, pieces of hot dogs, or a small spoonful of peanut butter. Lower the treat to the ground between its front paws. Bring the treat to the floor in front of your dog between its front paws. Dogs naturally go into a ducking position during play, so it should follow the treat and lower the front half of its body when you touch the treat to the floor. Give it the treat as soon as it lowers its head and elbows. When your dog has lowered its head and front limbs, immediately give it the treat and offer verbal praise. Say “Yes!” or “Good job!” enthusiastically to let it know it's doing the right thing. Timing is key, so do your best to reward it at the exact moment it lowers the front half of its body. As soon as you've rewarded it, try to get it to follow your hand or say its name to get it back to a standing position before it lowers the back half of its body. Guide it into a ducking position if necessary. If it doesn't lower its head and front limbs, gently but firmly guide it into the right position. When you're just starting out, your dog will probably lower its hind legs, too. Try keeping your hand under its belly so it only lowers the front half of its body. Say “Duck” as you place the treat in front of your dog. Introduce a command word when your dog starts to consistently respond to the food lure. Say “Duck!” when you present and lower the treat. Eventually, the command will allow you to get your dog to duck without having to use a treat. Say “Good duck” when you let it have the treat. Incorporate the command into the verbal praise you offer when it ducks properly. Say, “Yes! Good duck!” with all the giddiness you can muster. Repeating the command when you praise your dog will help reinforce the connection it makes between the sound of the word, the action, and the reward. Practice for 20 minutes at least once a day. Keep practicing using treats and the command word for about 20 minutes. You might need to make your training sessions a little shorter if you're working with a puppy or easily distracted dog. Try to schedule your training sessions when your dog is least likely to be distracted. Sights and sounds like people entering and leaving the house make it harder for your dog to focus on training. Use your hand to signal as you say the command. Start phasing the food lure out once your dog consistently responds to the treat and command word. Instead of holding a treat in your hand, just use your fingers to signal your dog to duck when you give the command. Hold your hand in front of your dog and lower it to the floor just as you did with the food lure. This will teach your dog to respond to the hand signal instead of the treat. Offer a treat after your dog ducks properly. During the process of phasing out treats, you can still offer them as a reward. Instead of using them to lure your dog into a ducking position, don't show it a treat until after it's ducked. Use your hand signal, say the command word, then give your dog the treat after it successfully ducks. Be patient if your dog doesn't duck without the food lure. Go back to practicing with treats a few times, then try offering a treat only after a successful duck. Withhold the reward a little longer each time you practice. When you started training, you gave your dog a reward as soon as it got into the duck position. As it begins to master the command, count to one before giving it a treat. Then add a second to the count each time you practice. Withholding the treat will extend the amount of time it stays in the proper position and help wean it off of a food reward. It will also teach your dog to work more for each treat. Replace the treat reward with plenty of verbal praise. Eventually, substitute the treat reward with enthusiastic verbal praise. Try to sound even more excited and over the top with your praise than before, especially when you start omitting the treat. Phase out the hand signal. With some practice, your dog should be able to do the trick just by hearing the command word. Make your hand signal (when you touch the floor with your hand) less pronounced until you can get your dog to respond just by saying “Duck!” Have patience and let your dog learn at its own pace. Go back to an earlier step if you have trouble phasing out food lures or hand signals. | Show your dog a treat. Lower the treat to the ground between its front paws. Give it the treat as soon as it lowers its head and elbows. Guide it into a ducking position if necessary. Say “Duck” as you place the treat in front of your dog. Say “Good duck” when you let it have the treat. Practice for 20 minutes at least once a day. Use your hand to signal as you say the command. Offer a treat after your dog ducks properly. Withhold the reward a little longer each time you practice. Replace the treat reward with plenty of verbal praise. Phase out the hand signal. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-a-Fever | How to Get Rid of a Fever | To get rid of a fever, stay home from school or work, get plenty of rest, and keep yourself well-hydrated. If your elevated body temperature is making you feel uncomfortable, try dampening a towel with cool water and placing it on your forehead. You can also take over-the-counter fever reducers, such as acetaminophen, to lower your body temperature and ease the aches associated with fever. Be sure to seek medical treatment for any fever that persists longer than 48 to 72 hours, or longer than 24 to 48 hours for children under the age of 2. | Undress a bit. Although you might feel cold when you have a fever, your body temperature is actually too high, and you will need to lower it in order to feel warmer. Allow your body to release excess heat by wearing only a thin layer of clothing and covering up with a thin blanket or sheet if necessary. Piling on sweatshirts and blankets can actually be dangerous if you have a fever because it can raise your body temperature even more. Set the temperature to a comfortable level. Keeping the room temperature excessively high may prevent your body from releasing its excess heat, but your room should also not be too cold. Shivering is your body's way of naturally increasing its internal temperature, so if your room is so cold that you are shivering, you will only be making your fever worse. If your room is hot and stuffy, open a window or turn on a fan. Cool yourself down with water. Dampening your skin is a great way to lower your body temperature, but you should make sure that you are careful not to make yourself too cold. Apply a damp towel to your forehead and extremities or sponge yourself down with some warm water. The water should always be lukewarm to prevent your body from shivering in response. Sponge baths are ideal for children who have a fever. You may have read that applying rubbing alcohol to the skin can help reduce a fever, but the alcohol can be absorbed into the skin, leading to alcohol poisoning, so stick with water! Take over-the-counter medications. If your fever is making you uncomfortable, you can take over-the-counter fever reducers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Make sure to follow dosing instructions carefully. Acetaminophen can help reduce fever as well as the aches and other side effects in the body. If you have any liver problems, do not take acetaminophen without talking to your doctor first. Aspirin can also be used to reduce fevers in adults, but it should never be given to children, as it has been linked to a serious disease called Reye's syndrome. Keep in mind that these medications might make you feel better, but they will not treat the underlying cause of your fever. If you suspect that you have some kind of bacterial infection, it is extremely important that you see your doctor and take all of your prescribed medications. Get plenty of rest. Help your body in its battle by getting extra sleep and spending as much time lounging around as you can. This does not mean that you have to stay in bed all day, but try to avoid exerting yourself. Staying home from school or work is probably a good idea, both because you need your rest, and because you want to avoid passing on a contagious virus or bacterial infection to your classmates or coworkers. Stay hydrated. A fever can easily cause you to become dehydrated, which can lead to various other symptoms. You will feel better and increase your body's ability to fight off your illness if you drink plenty of fluids. The amount of water your body needs will depend upon many different factors, including your weight and activity level. Most people should drink between nine and 13 cups of water each day. Water is best, but you can also drink juices, diluted sports drinks (1 part water to 1 part sports dink), or an oral electrolyte solution like Pedialyte. Eat right. Eating foods that are rich in nutrients and easy for your body to digest will help you stay strong and fight off illnesses. Try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid junk food.</ref> Lean proteins and healthy fats from sources such as olive oil are very important. Eating foods that naturally contain probiotics, such as yogurt, may help your body fight off illness. You can also try supplementing your diet with multivitamins for general health, or with Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids for immune strength and decreased inflammation. Be sure to discuss all supplements with your doctor, especially if you are taking any medications. Try a liquid diet. You don't have to stick to an entirely liquid diet, but try incorporating more liquid foods into your diet in order to promote hydration and easy digestion. Popsicles and soups are two great options. Drink infused tea. While there's no scientific evidence proving it, there are many herbs that are believed to help your body fight off infection and reduce inflammation. Try buying a tea with beneficial ingredients, or creating your own infused tea by steeping whole herbs in water or mixing in powdered herbs. The following ingredients are all thought to be beneficial when you have a fever: Green tea Cat's claw Reishi mushroom Milk thistle Andrographis Take homeopathic medicines. For fevers that don't require antibiotics or other medical attention, you may want to try treating your symptoms with homeopathic remedies. Even though these medicines are natural, there's no scientific evidence proving their effectiveness or safety. Check with your doctor to make sure they are safe for you, especially if you are taking other medications. The following ingredients are sold as natural fever remedies: Aconitum Apis mellifica Belladonna Bryonia Ferrum Phosphoricum Gelsemium Assess your symptoms. In order to determine the best way to get rid of your fever, it is important to know what is causing it. Make note of all the symptoms you are experiencing. If you have any symptoms that cannot be explained by a common virus, such as a sore throat or earache, see a doctor for a diagnosis. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as confusion, difficulty moving or breathing, blue lips or nails, seizures, stiff neck, or severe headaches. A high fever in a child can trigger a febrile seizure , which is usually harmless and generally does not indicate a more serious health problem; however, you should take your child to the doctor as soon as possible following her first febrile seizure. Call an ambulance if the seizure lasts longer than a few minutes. Otherwise, drive your child to the emergency room as soon as the seizure is over. Take antibiotics. If you are diagnosed with a bacterial infection, such as strep throat or a urinary tract infection, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic medication to help treat it. Take your medication as directed and your fever, along with your other symptoms, should disappear within a few days. Don't take antibiotics if you have a virus, such as the flu or a common cold. The medication will not be effective in treating the virus. Take your antibiotics as prescribed until they are gone —even if you start feeling better. This ensures you truly eradicate the bacteria and prevents antibiotic resistance in the future. Know when a fever is too high. Fevers are usually nothing to worry about, but they can be dangerous if they run too high or if they persist for too long. Seek medical attention right away if you are worried that you or your child might have a fever that is too high. For children three months and younger, seek medical treatment for a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. For children between three and 12 months of age, seek medical treatment for a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher. For older children and adults, seek medical treatment for a fever of 105°F (40.6°C) or higher that does not readily subside with treatment. A prolonged fever over 107.6°F (42°C) can cause the body to start shutting down and may lead to brain damage if not treated. You should also seek medical treatment for any fever that persists for longer than 48 to 72 hours, or longer than 24 to 48 hours for children under the age of two. Get treatment for chronic conditions. Fevers can also be caused by chronic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as lupus, vasculitis, and ulcerative colitis. The best way to treat these kinds of fevers is to work with your doctor to create a plan for treating your underlying condition. If you have any chronic medical conditions, you should contact your doctor whenever you get a fever. A fever may also be the first sign of a serious disease, such as cancer, so be sure to see a doctor if you have a persistent fever. Get immediate treatment for fevers caused by environmental factors. If you experience a fever after exposure to extreme heat, you may be suffering from hyperthermia or heat stroke. In this case, your body needs to be cooled down as quickly as possible. Other symptoms of hyperthermia include weakness, nausea, confusion, dizziness, and an altered mental state. People with hyperthermia usually need to be treated at a hospital, so get emergency medical help right away. While waiting for medical treatment, you can attempt to lower your body temperature by removing excess clothing, applying cold water to your skin, moving to a cool, well-ventilated location, and drinking lots of cool fluids. | Undress a bit. Set the temperature to a comfortable level. Cool yourself down with water. Take over-the-counter medications. Get plenty of rest. Stay hydrated. Eat right. Try a liquid diet. Drink infused tea. Take homeopathic medicines. Assess your symptoms. Take antibiotics. Know when a fever is too high. Get treatment for chronic conditions. Get immediate treatment for fevers caused by environmental factors. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-American-Express-Gift-Card | How to Use an American Express Gift Card | If you've received an American Express gift card, you can use it anywhere American Express is accepted, in-person or online. Before shopping, check how much money is on your card by going to americanepxress.com and navigating to the “Check Your Balance” page. Once you're at the store, you can simply swipe your gift card like a normal credit or debit card. After swiping your card, select “Credit” and sign your name to finish the purchase. If your purchase is more than you have on the card, make sure you can pay the difference with another card or cash. Vendors may not be able to refund money to a gift card, so if there's a chance you'll want to make a return, use another form of payment. For an online purchase, enter the card information on the Payment Method page at check out. | Navigate to the main American Express website. Type www.americanexpress.com into the navigation bar to bring up the company's homepage. It's important to start at the company's main site rather than typing "American Express gift card balance" into your search engine because there are many authentic-looking scam sites on the web phishing for account numbers. Many of these scam sites look like they're affiliated with American Express, but if you check the navigation bar, the website address will start with a prefix like "www279" or some other variation. This should be an immediate red flag. You can also go directly to www.balance.amexgiftcard.com, which is the correct page run by American Express. Keep in mind that if you make any mistakes when typing in the address, you could be taken to a scam site. Click the "Cards" tab at the top left of the homepage. At the top of the page, you'll see tabs like "My Account," "Travel," "Rewards," and so on. Click "Cards" and wait for the dropdown menu to appear. Click "Gift Cards" under the "Prepaid Cards" dropdown menu. A large dropdown menu will appear after you click "Cards." On the far right, you'll see a menu with the header "Prepaid Cards." "Gift Cards" is the second option on the list. Click the "Check Balance" tab at the top right of the page. After you click "Gift Cards," you'll be taken to the main gift card page. There will be a few tabs at the upper right hand corner of the page. Click "Check Balance." The "Check Balance" tab is between the "Gift Ideas" tab and the "Login" tab. Enter the card information and click "Sign In" to pull up the balance. The site asks you to type in the 15-digit card number, the expiration date, and the 4-digit security code, which is on the back of the card. Then, click "Sign In" to see your balance. You can also add your email address before you click "Sign In" if you want to create an Amex account. This is optional, so you can leave the field blank if you want to. Check your card balance before you go shopping. Even if your card is brand new, it's best to check your balance online first to avoid any surprises at the cash register. You can navigate to www.americanexpress.com to get to the "Check Your Balance" page, or you can go straight to www.balance.amexgiftcard.com. Swipe your gift card at the register like a normal credit or debit card. You do not need to activate your card to start using it! When you're ready to pay for your items at the register, you will use gift card exactly the same way you'd use a regular credit card. Swipe it through the card reader as you normally would. You may need to ask the cashier to enter the card information manually if there seems to be a problem with the card reader. Select "Credit" and sign your name to complete the purchase. Finish the transaction the same way you would for a credit card purchase. After you swipe, the reader will ask you to select "Debit" or "Credit." Select "Credit" and sign your name to complete the transaction. Bring another payment method if your purchase exceeds the balance. If your purchase goes over the gift card balance, your card could be declined if the merchant doesn't do split transactions. However, most merchants will do a split transaction for you. Once the gift card amount is deducted from the purchase total, use your other method of payment to pay the remainder and complete the transaction. You can usually use cash, a debit card, or a credit card to pay the remaining balance at the register. Use your gift card to purchase products and services only. Don't try to get cash from an ATM with your gift card. While the American Express gift card is as good as cash in many respects, you can only use it to purchase products or services using credit card functions. You cannot get actual cash with it. Avoid using the gift card if you expect you may have to return an item. Vendors may not be able to refund money to your American Express gift card, so it's important that you only use your card for purchases you're sure you won't have to return. Many vendors have policies that purchases can only be returned to the card originally used for the purchase, so this could cause problems for you if you have to make a return. If you have to return an item, you'll need to contact the merchant directly to see if there is an alternative solution. Don’t use your gift card to make reservations or deposits. Your American Express gift card should not be used to make reservations or deposits – most businesses will not allow you to do so. But even if the card somehow works for this type of transaction, you won't be able to get a deposit refunded back to the card, so you run the risk of losing your money. Only use regular debit or credit cards for deposits and reservations. This includes hotel reservations, car rentals, or another kind of transaction in which you must provide a lump sum of money up front to be refunded later. Check your gift card balance before you start the payment process. It's important to check your balance before buying something online, since most online merchants will decline the purchase if the total exceeds the balance on your card. You can check your balance at www.americanexpress.com or www.balance.amexgiftcard.com. Online merchants typically aren't set up to do split payment transactions, which is why the card will be declined. You may be able to call the merchant directly and do a split payment over the phone to complete your purchase, but it depends on the merchant. Purchase from a retailer based in the United States or Puerto Rico. If you try to use your American Express gift card online to pay for something overseas, you will run into problems and probably be declined. Typically, only merchants and retailers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands accept American Express Cards. Enter the card information on the Payment Method page to check out. Online purchases with an American Express gift card are just like any other kind of credit or debit card purchase. Enter your name, the 15-digit card number, expiration date, and the 4-digit security code when the site prompts you to enter the payment information. Provide the correct shipping address to receive your items without issue. To avoid any issues with your shipment, be sure to enter your shipping information correctly. This is your regular home address that you use for any other online purchase, which includes your name, street address, city, state, and zip code. If you're shipping the items directly to someone else, enter their shipping address instead of yours. This shouldn't cause any issue, because the gift card is not registered to your home address. | Navigate to the main American Express website. Click the "Cards" tab at the top left of the homepage. Click "Gift Cards" under the "Prepaid Cards" dropdown menu. Click the "Check Balance" tab at the top right of the page. Enter the card information and click "Sign In" to pull up the balance. Check your card balance before you go shopping. Swipe your gift card at the register like a normal credit or debit card. Select "Credit" and sign your name to complete the purchase. Bring another payment method if your purchase exceeds the balance. Use your gift card to purchase products and services only. Avoid using the gift card if you expect you may have to return an item. Don’t use your gift card to make reservations or deposits. Check your gift card balance before you start the payment process. Purchase from a retailer based in the United States or Puerto Rico. Enter the card information on the Payment Method page to check out. Provide the correct shipping address to receive your items without issue. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Shrink-Preshrunk-Shirts | How to Shrink Preshrunk Shirts | If you have a shirt that's pre-shrunk but you still want to shrink it more, turn the shirt inside-out and put it by itself in your washing machine. Turn the machine to the hottest water setting, then take out the shirt as soon as the wash cycle ends and put it into the dryer. Use the hottest dryer setting as well, which on many dryers is the permanent press setting. Let it go through the entire dryer cycle, even if you have a sensor that tells you that the shirt is already dry. If you need to, repeat the process until the shirt is the size you want it to be. | Set the washer and dryer to their hottest settings. Heat is what actually makes the fibers in your shirt contract, so be sure to set your washer and dryer on their hottest settings to get the best effect. For a dryer, the hottest setting is usually permanent press. Wash the shirt alone. Pull your shirt inside out and wash it by itself. This will help preserve the color and design, and washing alone will make sure that nothing else gets accidentally shrunk! Put it in the dryer immediately. As soon as the wash cycle ends, take your shirt out and put it right into the dryer. Let it dry for an entire cycle, even if the sensor tells you the shirt is already dry. Repeat if necessary. Try your shirt on to see how much it shrunk. If it's still not small enough, you may need to repeat the cycle a few more times until you reach the size you want. Boil a large pot of water. You'll need a pot large enough for your shirt to float around in, so use the biggest pot you have. Fill it about 2/3 of the way--if you overfill it, water might seep out when you put the shirt in. Let the water get to a rolling boil. You can put white vinegar into the water if your shirt also needs to be cleaned. Roll your shirt into a ball. Pull your shirt inside out to prevent fading, and roll it into a loose ball. Be sure not to tie it into a knot--it will shrink unevenly! Use tongs to lower it into the water. To prevent scalding, lower your shirt gently into the water using a pair of tongs. Don't just toss it in the water. Fabric coming in contact with the burner can start a fire. Leave your shirt in the water for at least five minutes. Let your shirt sit in the boiling water for at least five minutes. The longer you keep it in there, the more likely it is to shrink, but don't keep it in the water for more than half an hour. You'll risk damaging the fibers. Be sure that the entire shirt is immersed. Remove the shirt carefully. Turn the heat off and use a pair of tongs to pull your shirt out. Do this carefully to avoid burning yourself. Hold the shirt over the pot until it stops dripping, then move it away. Let it cool for about five minutes or until it's cool enough to handle. Lie it flat on a rack to dry. Set up a drying rack and spread your shirt out on it to dry. The rack can be inside or outside, but an outside rack will usually dry faster. If you dry it outside, be sure to turn the shirt inside out to prevent the sun from fading it. Don't hang your shirt--it will stretch where the clothespins are attached. Use a dryer to shrink it further (optional). If you want, you can run your shirt through the dryer on the permanent press setting to shrink it even more. Be sure to check your shirt first--it may have already shrunk enough! Repeat if necessary. Try your shirt on and see how it fits. If it's still not small enough, repeat the entire cycle again. You may need to do this 2-3 times depending on how much you want your shirt to shrink. Heat about 2 cups (0.47 l) of water. You can use a microwave or a stove to heat the water up, or you can use hot water from the tap. The water should be very warm but not hot--don't let it get close to boiling! You should be able to comfortably put a finger in the water. Transfer the water to a spray bottle. Use a funnel to carefully pour the warm water into a spray bottle. Be sure to use a bottle made of sturdy plastic, metal, or even glass. Lightweight plastic can distort in warm water. Spray the parts of the shirt you want to shrink. Be sure not to spray the entire shirt--just the parts you want to shrink. This is usually the sleeves or neckline for most people. Spray the shirt enough to get it wet to the touch in the areas you want to shrink. You can also run the areas under a hot tap, but be careful not to wet the whole shirt. Transfer to a hot dryer immediately. Put the shirt in a dryer on permanent press and let it run through the entire cycle. Some people like to take it out of the dryer and repeat the spraying every ten minutes or so, but this is optional. Repeat if necessary. If the shirt doesn't fit right when you try it on, repeat the whole cycle. Since spot-shrinking uses cooler water than other methods, you'll probably need to do this at least twice. Bring your shirt to a full-service laundromat. If you live near a laundromat that provides custom washing and has staff on hand, bring your shirt in and ask if they can help you shrink it. They may have special high-heat washers or techniques you can't do at home. Talk to a dry cleaner about shrinking your shirt. If your preshrunk shirt is dry-clean only, bring it to your dry cleaner and ask if they'll be able to shrink it. Dry cleaners often have special methods for shrinking clothes. Ask a tailor to alter your shirt. If you aren't able to shrink your shirt at home, consider bringing it to a tailor to be physically altered. They'll probably be able to size the shirt to your exact specifications, even if you need the entire shirt resized. Some materials may be impossible to alter--listen to what the tailor says! This may not be cost-effective for regular t-shirts. | Set the washer and dryer to their hottest settings. Wash the shirt alone. Put it in the dryer immediately. Repeat if necessary. Boil a large pot of water. Roll your shirt into a ball. Use tongs to lower it into the water. Leave your shirt in the water for at least five minutes. Remove the shirt carefully. Lie it flat on a rack to dry. Use a dryer to shrink it further (optional). Repeat if necessary. Heat about 2 cups (0.47 l) of water. Transfer the water to a spray bottle. Spray the parts of the shirt you want to shrink. Transfer to a hot dryer immediately. Repeat if necessary. Bring your shirt to a full-service laundromat. Talk to a dry cleaner about shrinking your shirt. Ask a tailor to alter your shirt. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Magistrate | How to Become a Magistrate | Before you become a magistrate, you'll need to have an advanced legal degree and several years of experience working in the legal profession. If you meet the requirements, check your state's guidelines for the type of magistrate that you want to become. Additionally, get to know the court system by getting a lower level job, such as a court clerk, or by visiting courts regularly to maximize your chances of becoming a magistrate. | Perform well in high school. Although many students in their teenage years have not yet made career choices, if you know early that you wish to become a magistrate, then you need to begin studying hard as early as possible. Earning good grades in high school will provide more opportunities for your future. At the very least, you need a high school diploma to attend college, and you will need the college training to become a magistrate. It is never too early to perform at your best. Get a bachelor’s degree. The first step toward a job as a magistrate is earning your bachelor's degree. You need to attend a respected, accredited college or university. If you know already that your focus is to land a job as a magistrate someday, then a degree in a field such as political science, history or English could be useful. You will want to build up your training in reading, writing and analysis. Some experts caution against earning a specifically “pre-law” degree if you wish to attend law school. Admission rates to law school are higher for philosophy, economics and journalism majors than for pre-law or criminal studies majors, according to one recent study. Whatever major you select, the best advice is to work hard and earn the highest grades you can. Earn an advanced degree in a legal field. In some locations, you must have a law degree to become a magistrate. In others, you could become a magistrate with only a bachelor's degree and strong, relevant work experience. In most cases, however, some higher degree beyond a bachelor's degree will be useful in getting hired. As one example, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, you can become a magistrate with a bachelor's degree or even a two-year associate's degree if you have four years of additional relevant work experience. Becoming a child support magistrate in the state of Minnesota requires a law degree. In the U.K., a magistrate does not require any particular legal training. This is a volunteer position that serves 26 half-day sessions per year, and training will be provided. Attend law school to maximize your potential. To enhance your chances of getting a job as a magistrate and to increase your earning potential, you may want to attend law school. In some places, the job of “magistrate” is nearly the same as being a judge. To qualify for this type of position, you must have a law degree. To earn admission to an accredited law school, in the United States at least, you must earn high scores on the LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test). This is a standardized test that most law schools use as a predictor of success. For help preparing for the LSAT, see Score Higher on the LSAT. Get a job in a “related field. ” A magistrate is not generally an entry level position that you can get right after earning your degree. You usually must work for a number of years before you can consider applying for a job as a magistrate at any level. The work you do should be tailored to the level and type of magistrate that you wish to become. For one particular magistrate job in the U.S., related fields are defined to include teaching, social services, law enforcement, arbitration or mediation, the court system, or counseling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most people who become magistrates have worked previously as attorneys. However, they also report that related fields can include arbitrators, mediators, paralegals and private investigators. If you wish to be a magistrate in the U.K., you are encouraged to understand documents, follow evidence, analyze problems logically, and communicate effectively. You will want to find related fields that allow you to demonstrate these skills. Work as a lawyer. In many cases, becoming a magistrate will require that you work for several years as a lawyer first. Some magistrate positions are specialized and will require legal experience in a particular field. Other magistrate positions are more general or administrative. For these positions, more general legal experience will suffice. For example, the position of Child Support Magistrate in Minnesota requires that you have seven years of legal experience, particularly in the field of family law and child support law. Understand the court system. You will maximize your chances of being selected for the position if you are familiar with the court system in which you wish to work. You could do this by getting a lower level job in the court, say as a clerk, and working there for a few years first. Or you might visit the court regularly and observe the magistrates who work there. Court sessions are generally open to the public. To be a magistrate in the U.K., you are required to observe court in session at least once (more is recommended) within the twelve months prior to your application. Use the resources at your law school. If you are a graduate of a law school, there is undoubtedly a careers office that can assist you. These offices routinely employ counselors whose duty is to assist students and alumni in finding employment. If you know that you wish to find a job as a magistrate, speak with a counselor in this office. For example, the Career Support Office at George Washington University Law School, in Washington, D.C., offers assistance to current students, alumni, and even prospective students. The Harvard University Law School Office of Career Services includes an online resource that allows students and alumni to search for open job opportunities. This is a feature common to many other law schools as well. Search official governmental job listings. Most court systems have an administrative office that handles job openings, hiring, and personnel matters. Contact the court where you are interested in working and find out how to learn about job openings. Quite often, there will be a centralized website where you can search by job title and location. In the U.K., you are encouraged to review the official site Gov.UK. That site contains information about the position, current or anticipate vacancies, and application information. Within the state of Massachusetts, as another example, the official state government site Mass.gov contains a link to Massachusetts Court System jobs. From there, you can search by individual court level or by location to find magistrate jobs throughout the state. Use Internet job search tools. On the Internet, conduct a general search for “magistrate jobs.” You will instantly find many links to employment sites that contain relevant job listings. Some of the more commonly visited sites are Jobs.com or SimplyHired.com. Many of these sites will allow you to focus your search by desired salary, location, and job title. You can also register for notifications as new listings appear for your desired job. | Perform well in high school. Get a bachelor’s degree. Earn an advanced degree in a legal field. Attend law school to maximize your potential. Get a job in a “related field. Work as a lawyer. Understand the court system. Use the resources at your law school. Search official governmental job listings. Use Internet job search tools. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-Hardwood-Floor | How to Replace Hardwood Floor | To replace hardwood floor, start by cutting and prying up the old hardwood planks using a circular saw, pry bar, and mallet. Then, remove any nails and staples in the subflooring, and sand off any paint or adhesive. Next, buy replacement flooring, and let it acclimate in the room for 3 days so it doesn't shrink or expand after you install it. Finally, lay down the new flooring using nails or glue, depending on the type of flooring you purchased. | Put on gloves, knee pads, and protective eye glasses. You'll be working diligently on your hands and knees for hours to complete this project, especially if you're doing a large space. Invest in a good pair of knee pads to protect your knees. Sturdy work gloves will protect your hands from splinters, and goggles will prevent sawdust and other debris from getting into your eyes. Measure the thickness of the current hardwood. Pry up a loose board in the floor so you can measure the thickness of the wooden plank. You need to know the wood thickness before you can start sawing into the floor to prevent your circular saw from damaging the subflooring underneath. Hardwood thickness will usually be between.5 inches (1.3 cm) and 1 inch (2.5 cm), but it's important to measure it rather than guess. Once your know the floor thickness, set your circular saw blade to that depth. Make cuts perpendicular to the direction the wood is laying. Using a circular saw, make single cuts straight across the flooring that are about 1 foot (30 cm) to 2 feet (61 cm) apart. Be sure your cuts are perpendicular to the direction of the wood. Start on 1 side of the room and work your way systematically to the other side, spacing each cut about 1 foot (30 cm) to 2 feet (61 cm) apart. Always keep your hands away from the blade of a circular saw. Wear goggles over your eyes when operating the saw to protect them from debris. Pry up the the first hardwood plank using a pry bar and mallet. Wedge the pry bar into 1 of the cuts. Tap the end of it with a rubber mallet to drive the bar more deeply into the cut. Use the bar to pry the first piece of hardwood out of the floor. Be forceful if necessary. It doesn't matter where you start in the room. Start a discard pile for the removed planks. Remove the remaining planks. Now that you've broken through the flooring, the rest of the job is much easier. Wedge the pry bar under the next board, then gently strike the head of the pry bar with a mallet to wedge it even deeper. Pry up the plank and add it to the pile of discarded wood. If some of the pieces come out easily, you can even pull it out with your hands, as long as you're wearing gloves. Remove all nails and staples in the subflooring. Use a nail claw and curved vice grips to pull up the many nails and staples you'll find lodged into the subflooring once the hardwood planks are removed. It's important to remove all of the nails and staples from the subfloor so you can start with a clean slate. Pulling up the nails and staples will leave you with a lot of metal debris littered all over the floor. The easiest way to pick it up is with a large magnet! Just glide it over the floor. Sand off any paint or adhesive on the subfloor (if necessary). How pristine your subfloor needs to be depends on what kind of replacement flooring you're installing. If you plan to glue your new hardwood flooring down, sand away any paint or adhesive stuck to the subfloor with an electric sander. If you're installing nail-down, floating, or locking hardwood, you don't need to sand the subfloor. Check the flatness of the subfloor. Use a straight piece of lumber that is between 8 and 10 feet in length to find any areas of the subfloor that aren't level. Simply lay down the plank and look for dips beneath it or raised humps. Mark any problem spots you find. Move the plank across the floor 1 way, then turn it diagonally and go across the surface again. It's important that your subfloor is as flat as possible before installing new flooring over it. Eliminate any problem spots to make the subfloor level. Sand minor humps down with a hand-held or orbital sander to make the subfloor level. To fill any dips or low spots, use a leveling compound (also known as floor patch). Mix up the compound according to package directions, fill in the dips, then pull your straight piece of lumber back and forth over the spot to flatten and level it with the rest of the subfloor. Vacuum the subfloor and surrounding area thoroughly. Use a shop vac to suck up all of the sawdust and small wooden chunks left behind after hardwood removal. Be sure you clean up the metal debris before you pull out the shop vac, since these vacuums will not handle metal debris well and be damaged by it. Choose your replacement hardwood flooring. You don't have to replace your old floor with the exact same wood or flooring type that you just removed! You can glue your new hardwood flooring into place if you like. You can also install nail-down, floating (or locking) hardwood flooring as a replacement. The choice is up to you and what your budget allows. Each type of flooring calls for a different installation process. Let the new flooring of your choice acclimate for 3 days. Stack your new planks in the room where they're going to be installed and leave them for about 3 days. Wood shrinks and expands depending on the humidity level in your home. It's crucial that you let your new wood acclimate to it's new environment before you install it. If shrinking and swelling occur after installation, you'll be left with gaps in the finished flooring, among other serious issues. Nail down solid or engineered replacement flooring. Solid and engineered wood flooring are both great replacement options. They provide a beautiful finish that will last for many years. Nailing down the flooring is usually the longest lasting and sturdiest option. It's also fairly time consuming. Glue down engineered hardwood, alternatively. If you don't want to nail down the boards, you do have the option of using adhesive to put engineered hardwood in place. It's a good choice, but won't last as long or be as sturdy as nailed down hardwood. The procedure is very similar to the nail-down process. Follow the adhesive manufacturer's instructions for installation and drying times. Install a floating hardwood floor. Floating hardwood flooring doesn't have to be glued or nailed down. Instead, the planks interlock together firmly using a tongue and groove mechanism. The flooring is generally pre-finished, so once it's in place, you won't need to do any sanding or staining. Clean and vacuum the area thoroughly. Wipe up any excess glue with a rag. Vacuum up any sawdust that's been left behind. Store or discard any pieces of wood that you didn't use. Put away nails and tools. Weigh down the new boards for 24 hours if you used glue. Glue can expand after it dries, which can lift the replacement boards and make them uneven with the original ones. To prevent the new boards from rising, cover them with heavy objects like books, potted plants, or tools. After 24 hours, remove the objects and enjoy your level floor. Fill in any holes with wood filler if you used nails. Purchase a can or tube of wood filler from a hardware store and follow the instructions on the package. Usually you will simply need to apply the filler to any holes you've left behind and then stain it so that the filler blends in. Reinstall moldings and install transition pieces, as needed. Always nail your moldings into the wall when reinstalling them. Do not nail them into the floor. Follow up by installing any transition pieces (if required) like reducers, T-moldings, and stair nosing. Keep spare boards on hand for future repairs. Store several pieces of spare flooring somewhere safe and climate controlled. That way, if you need to repair or replace a board in the future, you'll have the hardwood ready and waiting. | Put on gloves, knee pads, and protective eye glasses. Measure the thickness of the current hardwood. Make cuts perpendicular to the direction the wood is laying. Pry up the the first hardwood plank using a pry bar and mallet. Remove the remaining planks. Remove all nails and staples in the subflooring. Sand off any paint or adhesive on the subfloor (if necessary). Check the flatness of the subfloor. Eliminate any problem spots to make the subfloor level. Vacuum the subfloor and surrounding area thoroughly. Choose your replacement hardwood flooring. Let the new flooring of your choice acclimate for 3 days. Nail down solid or engineered replacement flooring. Glue down engineered hardwood, alternatively. Install a floating hardwood floor. Clean and vacuum the area thoroughly. Weigh down the new boards for 24 hours if you used glue. Fill in any holes with wood filler if you used nails. Reinstall moldings and install transition pieces, as needed. Keep spare boards on hand for future repairs. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Nails-Recover-After-Acrylics | How to Help Your Nails Recover After Acrylics | To help your nails recover after acrylics, you'll need to take steps to keep them from breaking, while eating a healthy diet to strengthen them. After you remove your acrylics, trim back your nails by cutting them straight across with nail scissors, which will make them less likely to break. Then, file your nails in one direction with a fine-grained file to round off the corners. Apply a hand cream or lotion at least twice a day to keep your hands moist, which will help prevent your nails from getting brittle. You should also rub on a cuticle oil once a day to keep them moisturized. Make sure you eat lots of biotin-rich foods as well, such as meat, eggs, and greens, which will help you grow healthy nails. Getting enough iron is also important for strong nails, so include leafy greens, red meat, or beans in your diet. | Trim back weak nails to prevent breakage. If your nails feel weak after you take off the acrylics, it's likely they will break, which can be painful and result in jagged edges. Cut your nails straight across with a pair of clean nail clippers. Round off the corners so they're not sharp. File your nails in one direction only. Choose a fine-grit nail file, as it will be kinder to your nails. Start from one outside edge on your nail and move across the nail in that direction. Don't go back and forth, as that can ruin the edges of your nails. To keep from overdoing it, place the edge of the file under the tip of your nail so you can see what you're doing. Buff your nails once a week. Remove oils from your nails first by rubbing acetone, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar over them. Use small, circular motions to buff the tops of your nails just until they're smooth. Don't go overboard, as you don't want to remove too much of the nail. You can also try buffing in an "X" shape. However, you don't want to do this too often, as it can remove some of your nails' thickness over time. Keep your hands moisturized with hand creams. To create healthy nails, your hands need to be hydrated. Apply hand cream or lotion at least twice a day, including once before bedtime. Pick a heavy cream for night time for extra moisturizing power. Try putting on lotion after every time you wash your hands. Put on cotton gloves at night after applying lotion to help seal in the moisture. Rub a cuticle oil with jojoba oil in it around your nails. Keeping your cuticles moisturized will support your nails and help them stay moisturized and healthy, too. Apply cuticle oil around your nails at least once a day. At night is best so that you can leave it on while you sleep. Put it on after you apply your lotion or hand cream. Try a nail hardener to protect your nails. If your nails are weak and brittle, a nail hardener may provide enough support to allow them to grow back properly. Simply paint on a coating of nail hardener like you would nail polish, moving from the nail bed up to the tip of the nail. Allow the hardener to dry and re-apply as needed. You can find nail hardeners at most drugstores and big box stores. They may also be labeled as "nail strengtheners." Some people find nail hardeners work a little too well, making nails more likely to break. If that's the case for you, try just wearing a clear base coat of nail polish instead. Wait for your nails to grow back in. While you can't completely heal the damage down by acrylics, your nails will eventually regrow. They will typically come back in strong and healthy as long as you are paying attention to nail care and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Get biotin in your diet from things like eggs, meat, and avocados. Biotin is important for healthy nails, skin, and hair, and it may improve the health of your nails after they've been damaged by acrylics. Most meats are a good source of biotin, including fish. You can also eat nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli to get enough biotin. If you're over 18, aim for 30 micrograms of biotin a day. A single egg contains 10 micrograms of biotin, while a pork chop or hamburger patty has 3.8 micrograms and 3 oz (85 g) of salmon has 5 micrograms. With nuts and seeds, 1 ounce (28 g) of sunflower seeds has 2.6 micrograms while the same amount of almonds has 1.5 micrograms. If you feel like you're not getting enough biotin in your diet, ask your doctor if a supplement is a good idea for you. Typically, a 2.5-milligram supplement is helpful. While this is much higher than the daily recommended amount, you can consume as much as 50 milligrams a day without problems. Take a daily 10-milligram silicon supplement. Silicon can help repair your nails if they've become brittle after wearing acrylics. Look for one with choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA) and take it daily for at least 4 months. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement. If you don't want to take a supplement, beer is one of the best natural sources of silicon. A single beer has 10 milligrams of silicon, so you can also get this nutrient that way. Always consume drinks in moderation, though. Ensure you're getting enough protein in your diet. To determine how much protein you need in a day, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36 grams or your weight in kilograms by 0.8 grams. You can also use an online protein calculator. For instance, if you weigh 150 pounds, multiply that by 0.36 grams to get 54 grams of protein. If you weigh 90 kilograms, multiply that by 0.8 grams to get 72 grams of protein. As a guide, a serving of tuna, salmon, or haddock the size of a deck of cards has 21 grams of protein while the same serving of turkey or chicken has 19 grams. A single egg has 6 grams of protein, while 0.5 cups (81 grams) of cottage cheese has 14 grams and the same serving of cooked beans has 8 grams. Eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, leafy greens, and beans. An iron deficiency can lead to problems with your nails and hair, so make sure you are getting enough in your diet. Women who are 19-50 need 18 milligrams of iron a day, while all other adults need 8 milligrams. Fortified breakfast cereals are one of the best sources of iron, as they contain 18 milligrams per serving. A serving of oysters 3 ounces (85 g) or 1 cup (179 grams) of white beans both contain 8 milligrams of iron. Other good sources include dark chocolate, spinach, lentils, meat, and beans. Talk to your doctor if you think you may have an iron deficiency, typically classified by fatigue, cold extremities, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, weakness, and brittle nails. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, seeds, and nuts. Many vitamins and minerals support good nail health, so aim for a variety of foods in your diet. Eat a wide spectrum of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains like whole wheat, quinoa, brown rice, bulgur, and buckwheat. Aim for a variety of beans, seeds, and nuts as well! Ask a professional to remove your acrylics. Because acrylics require filing off, it's best done by a professional. They will cut off the tips, then mostly file the acrylic off of your nails. After that, they will soak your nails in acetone to completely remove the polish. Usually, they'll use a cuticle pusher to completely remove the acrylic at the end. Take breaks between acrylics. If you use acrylics continuously, your nails will likely suffer. Go at least a week before applying your next set of acrylics to give your nails time to strengthen again. Alternatively, use fake nails on special occasions only. Opt for gels over acrylics to be kinder to your nails. If your nails have suffered from acrylics, switch to gels for a while. Some gels can be completely soaked off instead of filed down, making them less harsh on your nails. Also, gels bend more easily then acrylics, meaning they're less likely to crack your nails. Replace acrylics completely every 6 to 12 months. If you do leave your acrylics on, you should completely replace them at least once a year. That's because air pockets under acrylics can cause them to lift off, creating more damage to your nails. Plus, removing them completely gives you a chance to provide extra care for your nails. | Trim back weak nails to prevent breakage. File your nails in one direction only. Buff your nails once a week. Keep your hands moisturized with hand creams. Rub a cuticle oil with jojoba oil in it around your nails. Try a nail hardener to protect your nails. Wait for your nails to grow back in. Get biotin in your diet from things like eggs, meat, and avocados. Take a daily 10-milligram silicon supplement. Ensure you're getting enough protein in your diet. Eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, leafy greens, and beans. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, seeds, and nuts. Ask a professional to remove your acrylics. Take breaks between acrylics. Opt for gels over acrylics to be kinder to your nails. Replace acrylics completely every 6 to 12 months. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Unstick-Two-Cooking-Bowls | How to Unstick Two Cooking Bowls | To separate 2 cooking bowls that are stuck together, all you'll need is some water and ice. First, fill your sink with hot water, making sure none gets in the top bowl. Place some ice cubes in the top bowl and wait for 10 minutes. The difference in temperature will cause the top bowl to contract, which will allow you to pull it off. You can also try separating the bowls with cooking oil. Just put a few drops of cooking oil in the crack between the bowls. Wait about 30 seconds so the oil can drip through the crack, then gently twist the bowls in opposite directions to pull them apart. | Fill your sink with hot water. Place the stopper in the bottom of the sink. Sit your stuck pots in the sink. Turn the hot water faucet on. Wait for the sink to fill and do not let any water get in the upper pot. Place a handful of ice cubes in the upper pot. Wait five to 10 minutes. The difference in temperature will cause the top pot to contract in size and the bottom pot to enlarge slightly in size, thereby making it easier for you to unstick them. Twist the pots in opposite directions. For instance, you could choose to twist the bottom pot counterclockwise while twisting the top pot clockwise, or vice versa. Don a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves in order to improve your grip. Pour a bit of oil into the seal between the bowls. Dampen a paper towel with a bit of cooking oil. Wipe the point of contact between the top and bottom bowls. Carefully pull or twist the stuck cooking bowls apart. You could use olive oil, vegetable oil, or any other cooking oil to unstick the cooking bowls. Spray the point of contact between the two bowls. If you don't have any liquid cooking oil on hand, or if you've found that the oil is ineffective, you could use an oil-based spray. Just spray the point of contact between the two bowls with a light coating of cooking spray. Carefully pull or twist the cooking bowls apart. Wait for the oil to trickle between the bowls. Whether you've used an oil spray or liquid cooking oil, sometimes the oil won't be effective immediately. If, after pulling or twisting the bowls apart, they are still stuck, wait about 20-30 seconds. This will give the oil time to work its way between the two cooking bowls that are stuck together. If necessary, apply or spray another coat of cooking oil to loosen them. | Fill your sink with hot water. Place a handful of ice cubes in the upper pot. Twist the pots in opposite directions. Pour a bit of oil into the seal between the bowls. Spray the point of contact between the two bowls. Wait for the oil to trickle between the bowls. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Sugar-Snap-Peas | How to Prepare Sugar Snap Peas | To prepare sugar snap peas for eating, start by washing and drying them thoroughly. Next, make a small slice into the end of each pea with a knife. Then, pull the end along the entire length of the pea to remove the string. If there's a string on the other side, cut into the other end of the pea pod and pull off the string. Use your peas right away, or keep them in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5 days. | Wash the sugar snap peas before beginning to prepare them. Whether you're preparing the peas to be eaten raw or will be cooking them first, rinse them with clean water thoroughly beforehand. You want to make sure you're working with fresh, clean pods. Make sure to dry them entirely after being washed. Trim the ends of the sugar snap peas. If you believe your peas contain a string, you'll need to cut into the ends to remove it. Either use a knife to make a small slice into the end, or use your fingers to snap the end partially off instead. Don't cut or snap the end off entirely — you'll need it connected to the rest of the pod to remove the string. When using a knife, direct the cuts away from your body so that you don't accidentally cut yourself. Remove the tough string that runs along the side of the peas. Once you've snapped off the end of the pod, pull the end along the entire length of the pod to peel off the string. The string should essentially “unzip” from the pod in one easy pull. These strings won't hurt you to eat, but they're quite tough and won't taste very good. Check to make sure your peas don’t have strings on both sides. Unless the peas you purchased or grew were labeled as stringless sugar snap peas, it's best to go ahead and check that there aren't strings on both sides of the pod. Simply snap or cut off the other end of the pods and pull down to remove any other strings. Store the peas in the refrigerator if you won't be using them right away. If you're saving the peas for dinner later or just want to store them for a different day, place the peas in the refrigerator. Make sure they're sealed in a container or bag with as little air as possible in it. The peas should last 4-5 days in the fridge. It's best not to wash the pods if you intend on leaving them in the refrigerator. This will make them last longer and stay fresh. Put oil and water in a pan and place it over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons (9.9 ml) of oil and 2 teaspoons (9.9 ml) of water to a pan large enough to cook your peas. Set the heat to medium and wait for the pan to warm up. Add the peas to the pan to sauté them. After the pan heats up, add the peas to the pan and cover it with a top for less than 1 minute to trap steam. Remove the top and let the water evaporate from the pan as your peas cook for another minute or w. This whole process should only take a couple of minutes — you don't want to overcook the peas. If you're not sure whether your peas are done or not, take 1 out and do a taste test. If it tastes cooked while still having a crunch, they're done. Remove the peas from the pan and season them. Once your peas are a nice mix of tender and crisp, remove them from the pan. Transfer them to a serving dish and season them with your preferred seasonings. Season your sautéed peas with salt and black pepper. Sautéing the peas with butter or garlic is also a popular choice. Place the peas on a steamer rack above boiling water. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and then arrange your peas on a steamer rack. Place the rack on top of the pot of boiling water to start the steaming process. Steam the peas for 3-5 minutes. Cover the steamer rack to create a better steaming environment for the peas. Let the peas steam for about 3 minutes. Once steamed, the peas should be slightly tender yet crisp. You want to preserve their crunch and flavor, so don't steam them for too long. Transfer the peas to a bowl and season them. Once the peas are done steaming, transfer them to a serving bowl. Season them with your choice of herbs and seasoning, or simply sprinkle them with salt. Season your peas with mint, butter, salt, and pepper after steaming. You can also just add lemon juice to the peas for a bit of flavor. Add sesame seeds, salt, sesame oil, and green onions for a different flavor option. Blanch the sugar snap peas to reduce spoilage. One way to prepare peas for the freezer is to blanch them first. Boil the pods in a pot of water for 2 minutes or less. After the 2 minutes, drain the water from the pot and place the pods in a bowl of ice water to cool them down for a few minutes. Make sure you leave the pods in the boiling water for more than 2 minutes — you don't want to accidentally cook them. Blanching is a great method to reduce spoilage, but it can be a risky option if you leave them in the boiling water for too long. Cut the peas into sections if you don't want to boil them. If you don't want to blanch your pods, you can cut them up and put them in the freezer. Take the strings out first, and then slice each pod into pieces that are 1 inch (2.5 cm) or 2 inches (5.1 cm). If you don't want to cut them up, you can leave the pods whole. The freezer will make the pods taste slightly different, and cutting them up helps lessen this taste change. Dry the pods entirely before freezing them. If your sugar snap peas are wet when you place them in the freezer, ice will affect them much faster. If you've washed the pods, make sure to dry them thoroughly before freezing them. Store the pods in a sealed container or plastic bag. As with most other food you place in the freezer, you want your peas to be protected from ice, air, and other variables that will affect how long they last. Put your peas in a sealed container or plastic bag to store them. Make sure that you remove as much air as possible from the container or bag before putting it into the freezer. Frozen peas should last for roughly 8 months. | Wash the sugar snap peas before beginning to prepare them. Trim the ends of the sugar snap peas. Remove the tough string that runs along the side of the peas. Check to make sure your peas don’t have strings on both sides. Store the peas in the refrigerator if you won't be using them right away. Put oil and water in a pan and place it over medium heat. Add the peas to the pan to sauté them. Remove the peas from the pan and season them. Place the peas on a steamer rack above boiling water. Steam the peas for 3-5 minutes. Transfer the peas to a bowl and season them. Blanch the sugar snap peas to reduce spoilage. Cut the peas into sections if you don't want to boil them. Dry the pods entirely before freezing them. Store the pods in a sealed container or plastic bag. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Copyright-Notice | How to Make a Copyright Notice | To make a copyright notice, start by including the appropriate copyright symbol, which is a "C" inside of a circle or a "P" inside of a circle if you're copyrighting a sound recording. Then, identify the year that your work was published, followed by your name. You can also include a rights statement, like "All Rights Reserved," to show that you reserve all rights to your work. Finally, place your copyright notice somewhere on your work that's clearly visible. | Determine if your work is protected by copyright. According to the United States Copyright Office, copyright protects original works of authorship. Common examples include dramatic, literary, musical, and artistic works , such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, photographs, paintings, and architecture. If you create an original work that fits within the categories listed, your work is protected by copyright. Copyright protection does not protect mere ideas. Instead, the idea must be put into something tangible. If you created a song, for example, you must either record the song, write out the notes or lyrics to the song, or otherwise make the song exist somewhere other than in your mind for it to be eligible. Create the appropriate symbol. Use the copyright symbol ©, known as “The C in a circle.” You can also use the word “Copyright” or the abbreviation “Copr.” to show that your work is protected by copyright law. If you are identifying your copyright in a sound recording only, then use the letter P in the circle. The use of this notice was required to have copyright protection in the past. However, as of March 1, 1989, you are not required to provide notice on any type of work. Nevertheless, it is still a good idea from a legal standpoint to post a copyright notice. For example, it can deter others from plagiarizing your work. Identify the year of publication. In terms of copyright law, the word “publish” refers to the year in which you distributed copies or phonorecords (CDs, cassettes, etc.) of your work by sale or other transfer, such as rental, lease, or lending. If your work contains other copyrighted material, then the year the compilation was first published is sufficient. If the work is unpublished, then you can use a notice that reads: “Unpublished work Copyright 2016 Jane Doe.” State your name or the name of the copyright owner. After creating your copyright symbol (or equivalents), you need to provide the name of the copyright holder. You can also use an abbreviation or an alternative designation that is generally known. Use your real name or any other name that you have the legal right to use. If you want your business to hold the copyright, then make sure you have properly formed the business. You may also need to complete a “Doing Business As” if you want to hold the copyright in your fictitious business name. With a phonorecord, the producer's name will be considered part of the notice if the producer is named on the label or container and the notice contains no other name. Place the copyright notice on your work. You should place the copyright notice in such a way that it provides reasonable notice of the copyright claim. It should not be concealed or hidden from view. If you can't affix the copyright notice to the work itself, then you can attach it to a tag that travels along with the article in commerce. If you are selling a motion picture or audiovisual work, then you can affix the notice on a permanent container. Copyright notice is most often found in the footer of a website, at the bottom of a piece of written music, or in the first few pages of a book. In a video, you may include a copyright notice in the credits or with the title. Include a rights statement. You can also include a rights statement, if you want. This statement tells the public what rights you are reserving for yourself. Consider using the following: For example, you could write “All Rights Reserved” if you don't want to allow anyone to copy anything. For a Creative Commons License, you might want to include “Some Rights Reserved.” To give all rights away, you could include “No Rights Reserved.” Register online. You do not have to register your copyright. However, registration provides you with important benefits, such as the ability to bring a lawsuit if someone uses your copyrighted material without permission. You can register online at the electronic Copyright Office (eCO): http://www.copyright.gov/eco/. Registering electronically is faster than registering using a paper application. You also will pay a lower filing fee. As of 2016, you will pay only $35 to register a single application online. You can pay with a credit card. You must submit “deposit copies” of your work with your application. You might be able to upload these copies as electronic files. Alternately, you might need to mail the deposit copies to the Copyright Office. Nevertheless, you still pay the lower online registration fee. Obtain a paper application. You can also register your copyright using a paper application, if you think that is easier. You can obtain forms by calling 202-707-9100 or by printing off forms from the Copyright Office. You will need to obtain the following form, depending on the type of work you are registering: Form TX for literary works Form VA for visual arts works Form PA for performing arts works, including motion pictures Form SR for sound recordings Form SE for single serials Complete the paper application. Type your information into the form or print neatly using black ink. Each form will ask for slightly different information. However, you will generally be asked for the title of the work, the name of the author, the name of the person claiming the copyright, and information about the first publication. If you have any questions, then call the Copyright Office toll free at 1-877-476-0778 or at 202-707-3000. Submit your materials. You should submit your completed form as well as your hard copy deposits in a secured envelope. Generally, you must submit at least one copy or phonorecord of unpublished work but two copies of published work. Include your fee, which is $85 for paper registrations. Make your check or money order payable to “Register of Copyrights.” Mail the entire packet to Library of Congress, U.S. Copyright Office, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559. | Determine if your work is protected by copyright. Create the appropriate symbol. Identify the year of publication. State your name or the name of the copyright owner. Place the copyright notice on your work. Include a rights statement. Register online. Obtain a paper application. Complete the paper application. Submit your materials. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Being-a-Condescending-Person | How to Stop Being a Condescending Person | To avoid being a condescending person, try to be humble, and avoid belittling people by acting like you're better than they are. For example, when you're speaking to others, keep your head and chin level, since tilting your head back and looking down makes you appear superior. You should also speak at a normal pace rather than slowing your speech, which is what adults do when they speak to children. You'll also want to avoid condescending body language, like eye rolling and loud sighs. Additionally, practice active listening by asking clarifying questions. | Listen more. Instead of dominating a conversation by talking all the time, try to listen more to others' opinions instead. Don't just listen, but actively listen to what the person is saying. Focus on understanding the point that they are making, and take a few minutes to digest the information. While they're talking, listen, rather than formulating your answer. Then, provide an adequate response. For example, "So what you are saying is that by being a vegetarian you are also being environmentally conscious. That is a very interesting point. I never thought of it from that angle." Practice active listening by maintaining eye contact with the speaker, nodding occasionally, and asking clarifying questions once the speaker is done. Give others credit. It is normal to want to feel good and give yourself credit for an accomplishment. However, chances are that you did not accomplish it all by yourself. There is always someone, like a friend, family member, mentor, or coworker, that helped you accomplish your goal by supporting your efforts. Take time to give your supporters the credit they deserve. For example, “I worked really hard to get into law school, but I could not have done it without the support of my friends and family. They were always there to cheer me up when my motivation was low.” Consider other viewpoints. Always acknowledge other viewpoints in a positive manner. Defer judgment by allowing the speaker to finish what they are saying, and by not interrupting with counter-arguments. You gain or add nothing by attacking the speaker or by putting them down. When it is your time to respond, be honest, open, and candid in your response. For example, "That's an interesting point. However, others argue that dogs, especially pit bulls and German shepherds, are not inherently aggressive. Instead, it depends on their socialization and training. What do you think about that?" Lend a helping hand. Instead of feeling better because you know how to do something better than someone else, feel better because you helped someone be better. By helping others, you will be able to make lasting friendships. For example, if a coworker struggles with their writing, offer to read and edit their writing, and provide insightful feedback. Know your self-worth. Condescension usually comes from a place of insecurity and fear of rejection. However, by knowing your self-worth, you can feel more secure about yourself. When you feel more secure, you are less likely to put others down. Sit down and make a list of your strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments, and failures. By knowing these, you can assess your self-worth and find your inner confidence, as well as humility. For example, one of your strengths could be that you are highly motivated, while a weakness could be that you are quick to disregard opinions that are different from yours. If you need help, ask a friend or family member what traits they admire about you the most, as well as which traits they think you need to work on. Avoid comparing yourself to other people. Condescension often develops out of envy, and the feeling that you can only feel better about yourself by feeling superior to others. Remember that your life experiences, strengths, and weaknesses are unique to you. Therefore, comparing yourself to other people is unproductive, since their experiences and circumstances are not the same as yours. Put yourself in perspective. If you are good at something or have qualities that you take pride in (e.g. good looks, intelligence, or skill in a particular area), it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you are better than other people. This is called illusory superiority. Recognizing your sense of illusory superiority does not mean that you have to feel bad about yourself or minimize your own good qualities – just realize that many other people possess these qualities as well, and that they do not make you inherently superior to others. Have an open mind. Try to realize that you do not know everything and that your opinion is just that, an opinion. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and you shouldn't look down on someone just because their opinion is different. Instead, have an open mind. Look for similarities between you and others instead of differences. For example, if you have negative views about a religion or a culture, interview someone from that culture. Your intention should be to listen and learn instead of arguing or confirming your suspicions. Monitor your words. Belittling others ruins your ability to work with and relate to others. It also creates a tense atmosphere where others feel inferior while you feel superior. By monitoring your words and actions, as well as others' reactions, you can be more aware of condescending language, and its effects. Try to avoid condescending phrases, like, “Oh, you just figured that out,” “Let me see if I can put this in simple terms for you,” “We already thought of that,” or “What she is trying to say is that…” Instead, say things like, “Maybe I wasn't clear enough,” “Are you saying that vegetarians are also environmentally conscious?” and “Yes, that is an interesting and valuable point. We are incorporating it.” Speak at a normal pace. Slowing your speech so others can “understand” you better makes the listener feel inferior since it is the way an adult speaks to a child. When you are explaining something to someone, don't assume that they are the problem. It is more likely that you are not explaining it clearly or correctly. For example, don't say, “I. will. be. studying. the. way. humans. interact. in. groups.” Instead, speak normally by saying, “I will be studying the way humans interact in groups. Let me explain what I mean by interact.” Try to not refer to yourself in the third person. Referring to yourself in third person gives you an air of superiority. It is something that you should avoid doing if you do not want seem condescending. For example, don't say, “She won a prestigious award for her paper” if you are referring to yourself. Also, try not to emphasize the my's and I's in your speech, for example, “MY opinion, is that MY book is the better book.” Level your head and chin. While conversing with others, always keep your head and chin level. If you point your chin up with your forehead back while looking down your nose, you will seem superior. This head position signals that you think you know more than the other person, and that your opinion is more important and valid. Also, try to avoid impatient body language, such as loud sighs, eye-rolling, constantly looking at your watch or your phone, drumming your fingers, and yawning. | Listen more. Give others credit. Consider other viewpoints. Lend a helping hand. Know your self-worth. Avoid comparing yourself to other people. Put yourself in perspective. Have an open mind. Monitor your words. Speak at a normal pace. Try to not refer to yourself in the third person. Level your head and chin. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Howling-in-Older-Dogs | How to Reduce Howling in Older Dogs | To reduce your older dog's howling, spend more time exercising and playing with it in case it's experiencing separation anxiety. However, if you've made behavioral changes and your dog's howling has still not improved, you may want to talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medication for your dog. You should also take your dog to the vet for assessment if you think that pain or a medical issue, like dementia, is causing its howling. If your dog has dementia, your vet will most likely recommend you give it a drug like Anipryl, which improves brain function in dogs and could reduce the howling. | Take your dog to your vet. Even if your dog's howling has you at your wit's end, do not try to reduce the howling before seeing your vet. Your vet can determine whether the howling's cause is behavioral or medical. They will perform a physical exam and run various diagnostic tests (blood work, urinalysis, x-rays) to rule out medical causes, such as arthritis or kidney disease. During the appointment, give your vet a history of the howling, including when it started, when it usually occurs (during the night, when you leave the house), and if it's gotten more frequent. If your dog does not have medical problems, then a behavioral issue is the likely cause of the howling. Exercise with your dog. Separation anxiety is common in older dogs. If your vet diagnosed your dog with separation anxiety, you can relieve this anxiety at home in several ways, such as exercising. The physical demands of daily exercise will help your dog feel less anxious and reduce anxiety-induced howling. Examples of exercises include: Twice-daily walks Runs, if your dog is physically able to run Have playtime with your dog. The fear of being alone can make a dog feel anxious and start howling. If your older dog has anxiety-induced howling, it could be calling out for you, even when you're not home. Regular, daily playtime will give your dog the attention it needs from you to feel more relaxed and howl less. Try these playtime ideas: Fetch , if your dog can easily run and jump Hide and seek Teaching new commands Leave your home without fanfare. Separation anxiety is often associated with a dog owner leaving the house. If your older dog howls when you leave, reduce its howling by teaching it that your departure is no big deal: Go through your normal departure routine (grabbing your keys, putting on your coat) without actually leaving the house. Practice this a few times a day. Leave the house for short periods of time, maybe as short as 10 seconds, then come back in when your dog stops howling. Reward your dog with a treat after the howling stops. Gradually increase the amount of time that you leave the house. Be patient. It may take weeks or months before your dog stops howling when you leave the house. Give your dog anti-anxiety medication. For some older dogs, the separation anxiety is so severe that behavioral changes aren't enough. If your dog's anxiety-induced howling hasn't lessened, take your dog to your vet. Your vet will prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. Realize that medication alone will not relieve your dog's anxiety or reduce the howling. Continue with the behavioral strategies after you start your dog on the anti-anxiety medication. Administer pain medication. If your vet identified a medical problem as the cause of your dog's howling, treating that problem will help reduce the howling. Older dogs can develop arthritis, which can be so painful that a dog will howl with distress. If your dog has arthritis, your vet will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the pain. After experiencing pain relief, your dog may not howl so much. Administer the pain medication as prescribed so your dog gets the maximum benefit from the treatment. Treat your dog’s dementia. Howling, especially at night, is a common symptom of dementia in older dogs. Although dementia has no cure, medication can help reduce the symptoms. If your dog has dementia, your vet will prescribe a drug called Anipryl, which improves brain function in dogs. Anipryl probably won't make your dog's howling stop completely. However, it can help reduce the howling. Follow-up with your vet. Let your vet know if the medications are helping to reduce the howling. If your dog's howling is still the same, your vet may need to adjust the drug dosage or prescribe a different type of medication. Keep a predictable routine. Older dogs, especially those with dementia, do not always adjust well to change. A new routine can be disorienting and stressful, which could lead to howling. Keep your dog's daily routine the same by performing activities (feeding, walking, playing) at the same time each day. Having a consistent routine will help your dog feel relaxed and confident with what will happen each day. Make your dog’s living area comfortable. A comfortable physical environment will also help your older dog feel at ease and less likely to howl. Give your dog its 'creature comforts,' such as favorite toys and comfortable bedding. If your dog has trouble getting around, place its food and water bowls near its bed so it doesn't have to walk so far to eat and drink. Enrich your dog’s environment with toys. Dogs love to play. You can help your dog feel more comfortable by giving it lots of toys. If your dog is comfortable and stays mentally busy, it may not howl so much. Give your dog a variety of toys to play with and rotate them regularly to prevent boredom: Give your dog a food puzzle toy, which will be a mental challenge for your dog and keep it busy for a long time. Chew toys will also keep your dog busy and entertained. | Take your dog to your vet. Exercise with your dog. Have playtime with your dog. Leave your home without fanfare. Give your dog anti-anxiety medication. Administer pain medication. Treat your dog’s dementia. Follow-up with your vet. Keep a predictable routine. Make your dog’s living area comfortable. Enrich your dog’s environment with toys. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dispute-a-Hospital-Bill | How to Dispute a Hospital Bill | If you've received a heavy hospital bill you think is a mistake, you can dispute it directly with the hospital. Look for individual items on your bill that aren't relevant to you or seem grossly overpriced. For example, if you were charged for a full day's rate but you were discharged in the morning, you shouldn't have to pay this. Check websites like Healthcare Blue Book and Fair Health to find out how much other hospitals charge for the same procedures. If you were charged significantly more than other hospitals, call your hospital and explain your situation. Then, follow up by writing them a letter and include any evidence you have that they overcharged you. If they won't lower your bill, consider hiring an advocate who can help you negotiate the bill in exchange for a percentage of the difference. | Hold onto all of your bills. Effectively disputing a hospital bill requires that you know exactly what you are being charged for. Preserve every bill that you receive from the hospital. Also hang onto bills from medical centers, labs, and the doctor's office. When a hospital bills for medical care, the bills are often incredibly vague and wordy. Also, you may receive multiple bills for one procedure or visit. Oftentimes you will get separate bills from surgeons, hospitals, medical groups, specialists, and other physicians. Finally, it is not uncommon to receive a bill six to eight months after treatment. Be aware of all of these things when collecting your medical bills. To make things easier, have a giant folder that you can throw bills into once you have looked over them. You can also scan bills so that you have a PDF of the bill on your computer. All bills should be itemized, i.e., broken down by individual charge. These are called “line-item” or “detailed” bills. Call the hospital and request a detailed bill if you are not sent one. Review your bills. You want to make sure that the hospital hasn't double-billed you or made other errors. For example, an exam charge could show up on a hospital bill but also on your doctor's bill. You want to make sure that you catch all errors. Make sure that the hospital doesn't charge you for medications you brought from home. Also, check that the hospital does not charge the full-day rate for the room if you were discharged in the morning. Also look to see if you were charged for supplies like sheets, gowns, or gloves. These supplies should already be included in the cost of the hospital room. Find out how much your insurer will cover. Before disputing the hospital bill, you should see how much of the bill is covered by your insurance. Try to get your insurer to cover all legitimate charges. Your insurer might claim that your policy does not cover certain drugs or procedures. Take out your policy and check. You can appeal any rejection by a health insurer. For more information, see Resolve a Claim Dispute With Your Health Insurance Provider. Research the fair price of each procedure. To challenge a bill, you will need proof that the hospital's prices are out of line compared to those charged by other hospitals. You can find the prices that other hospitals charge by looking online. Visit the websites for Healthcare Blue Book and FAIR Health to find prices. Medical costs will vary greatly among hospitals even though they are in the same town or region. In addition, the cost of procedures are not typically transparent or rational. You may have to do some digging to uncover competitor pricing. You also might want to use the Medicaid rates as a guide. They can be found at https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Medicare-Provider-Charge-Data/index.html. If you find that your hospital is charging more than other hospitals in your area, offer your hospital what other hospitals in your area are charging. This is a great way to cut your costs and having other hospitals' pricing is great evidence of what your cost should be. Think about paying with cash. If you do not have insurance or if insurance is not covering all of your costs, you can usually get a sizable discount if you offer to pay in cash. Healthcare providers will often cut their prices by 66% or more if you are willing to pay everything up front in cash. In some cases, hospitals and doctors have taken 1/10 of the original bill. Wen you negotiate an all cash deal, start with a lower offer, maybe around 1/4 the original bill. You and the other party will negotiate from there. If you cannot pay everything up front and you have to create a payment plan, be prepared to pay a little bit more. However, never be afraid to negotiate. Call the hospital. You can begin the dispute by calling the hospital. Share with them that you are unhappy with the charges and explain why. Keep careful notes of who you talk to. Note the person's name, the day and time, as well as the substance of the conversation. You need to keep careful notes because you are likely to talk to a new person each time you call the hospital. Write a dispute letter. After calling, you should follow up with a letter. Summarize the conversation and repeat the reasons why you are challenging the bill. Be sure your letter includes the following: Your account information. State your name and whatever patient identification number the hospital gave you. The charges you are disputing. Make reference to specific charges on the bill. For example, “In particular, I don't think I should have to pay the charges of $24.55 for rubber gloves on both March 21 and 22.” The reason why you are disputing the charge. You might write, “As I explained over the phone, items like rubber gloves should be included in the room rate, as they are standard items used.” Supporting documents. Here, you can print off any information that shows what other hospitals charge. You can reference them in your letter. “As you can see, the average cost for the other two hospitals in the city is less than half what you have charged me. I have included a print-out of costs for your competitors.” Think about hiring an advocate. If the hospital won't lower the bill to an amount that makes you happy, then you need to think about hiring a patient or medical-billing advocate. These advocates often work on contingency; that is, they will take a portion of your savings (e.g. 20-30%) as their fee. If the advocate saves you $20,000, then he or she might get $5,000. Some advocates may also be willing to work for an hourly fee. Typically, they can charge from $50 to $175 an hour. You can find a patient advocate online or in your phone book. They can be listed under different names, including “claims assistance professionals,” “medical-claims professionals” or “health-care claims advocates.” You might also want to hire an attorney instead of a patient advocate. Like advocates, many attorneys will work on contingency, and they will charge around 30% of whatever savings they get for you. Negotiate with the hospital. If you have an advocate or lawyer, they can negotiate with the hospital to lower the amount of the bill. Should you attempt to handle negotiations on your own, then keep the following in mind: Refuse to pay for anything you didn't use. If a charge appears on the bill erroneously, refuse to pay. Ask the hospital to look at your medical reports to confirm that the doctors and nurses actually used the item you have been charged for. If the hospital made a mistake, then insist that they pay for it. For example, if you got an infection while in the hospital, try to get the hospital to cover the extra time spent in the hospital. Be frank about your financial situation. If the bill is so high you don't think you can ever pay it, say so. Offer to pay a lump sum in exchange for a discount. Some hospitals might agree to cut the bill significantly if you can pay it all at once. Negotiate directly with the doctor. If your bill comes from the doctor or another healthcare professional directly, negotiate with them directly. Use the same tactics as if you were negotiating with the hospital. If you have an advocate to help you, discuss a strategy with them. Ask about financial assistance. By law, non-profit hospitals must offer financial assistance programs. You should check with the hospital to find out the eligibility requirements. Typically, eligibility is based on your savings and income. Ask the hospital about any financial assistance, as hospitals tend not to advertise these programs. Even if you used a for-profit hospital, you should still ask about potential financial assistance programs. These programs can reduce the overall amount that you owe or offer flexible repayment plans. Use the threat of bankruptcy. As a last ditch effort to come to a deal, consider discussing your willingness to file for bankruptcy with the doctor or hospital. If you file for bankruptcy and have medical debt, a doctor's or hospital's ability to collect is greatly diminished. You can use this to come to a deal as a doctor will not want their debt to go through bankruptcy. Don't ever be afraid to put your cards on the table and tell the other party what you are looking into. You will be surprised at the deals you can make if you try. | Hold onto all of your bills. Review your bills. Find out how much your insurer will cover. Research the fair price of each procedure. Think about paying with cash. Call the hospital. Write a dispute letter. Think about hiring an advocate. Negotiate with the hospital. Negotiate directly with the doctor. Ask about financial assistance. Use the threat of bankruptcy. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Your-Natural-Hair-(Black-Girls) | How to Grow Your Natural Hair (Black Girls) | To grow out your natural hair, get a haircut to cut off all chemically relaxed hair and stop using any chemical treatments. If you want to preserve your length, get a weave to help with this transition. If you want to conceal the transition, wear your hair in a protective style, like cornrows, braids, or bantu knots. Wash and deep condition your hair once a week and make sure to use a leave-in conditioner and oil-based spray daily to keep your hair healthy. | Stop all chemical treatments. The first step to transitioning to natural hair is to stop chemically relaxing or treating your hair. This will allow your hair to begin growing with its natural texture, though the hair that you have already chemically relaxed will be permanently straightened. Do a big chop. The easiest way to transition to natural hair is to cut off all chemically relaxed hair. This will help you avoid that abrupt change in textures between the relaxed hair and your natural hair growing in. However, doing a big chop will mean sacrificing length and getting a short cut to remove the relaxed hair. Getting your hair cut at the point where your natural hair connects with the relaxed hair is the healthiest way to transition, as your hair will be especially prone to breakage if you don't cut off your relaxed hair. There is no way to un-straighten chemically relaxed hair. New hair growth from the roots will be your natural texture, but the other hair will be permanently straightened. Wear a weave as you transition. If you want to grow out your natural hair but don't want to sacrifice your length, you can get a weave or hair extensions as you wait for your hair to grow. The weave will conceal the radical change in your hair texture and give you the long hair that you want. When your natural hair has grown to your desired length, you can remove the weave, chop off the relaxed hair, and continue growing out your natural hair. Get the weave sewed into your hair rather than glued, as glued weaves tend to rip out hair when they are removed. Wear your hair in protective styles as you transition. To conceal the transition between your straightened hair and natural hair, you can also wear your hair in braids, cornrows , or other protective styles until your hair has grown long enough that you feel comfortable cutting off the relaxed hair. These hairstyles have the advantage of being low maintenance while still maintaining the length of your hair. When you go to bed, protect your hair by wearing it in braids, a wrap, or a ponytail with a scarf or bonnet around it. You can also wear natural curly styles, like Bantu knots and perm rod sets. These styles help to conceal the fact that your hair is in its transitioning stage. Shampoo your hair once a week or every other week . Because African hair is drier and more brittle than Asian or Caucasian hair, washing more than once a week can zap the hair of the oils it needs and cause breakage. You don't need to worry about your hair looking oily or greasy, as this won't be a problem as long as you do a once weekly wash or wash every other week. Try to pick a day when you have a lot of free time for wash days, since your hair routine may take a long time. If you are trying to get long hair, try to buy a shampoo that contains biotin, as biotin can speed up hair growth. Condition hair after shampooing. Always use conditioner each time you shampoo your hair. Conditioner will restore moisture to your hair and helps protect it from breaking. Make sure to heavily condition the ends of your hair, which are the oldest and most fragile sections of your hair. If you used separate shampoo and conditioner, make sure you detangle during conditioning. If after washing it your hair is still tangled, you can carefully use a detangler while brushing from tips to roots. Co-wash your hair between washes. If you work out or sweat regularly, you may feel the need to wash your hair more than once a week to remove sweat or other buildup. Instead of using a shampoo, substitute a conditioner when you wash your hair. Use the conditioner as you would a shampoo, rubbing it into your scalp and through the lengths of your hair. Co-washing is a gentle way of washing your hair but not drying it out. Deep-condition your hair once a week. Deep conditioning is critical to healthy natural hair, especially if you are transitioning from relaxed hair. Apply a water-based deep conditioner while your hair is still wet after getting out of the shower on days that you shampoo. Divide your hair into sections to make it more manageable and spread the deep conditioner from the roots of your hair to the ends. After coating your hair with the deep conditioner, use a shower cap to cover your head for about thirty minutes. Then take off the shower cap and rinse the deep conditioner out of your hair, paying special attention to washing it out of your scalp. For an additional boost, sit under a hooded hair dryer at a salon while the conditioner is still on your hair. Use a deep conditioner with an oil or butter base, such as coconut oil, castor oil or shea butter. Use a leave-in moisturizer daily. Because African hair is quite dry and prone to breakage, it's essential to moisturize daily on top of your weekly deep conditioning treatments. Purchase a leave-in moisturizer, trying to find product that is lightweight and won't weigh your hair down, but is still heavily moisturizing. Begin your morning styling routine by wetting your hair using a spray bottle of water, then applying the leave-in conditioner according to its packaging. You may have to experiment with several products until you find the one that works best on your hair. Seal your hair with oil or butter. After you apply the leave-in moisturizer, spray your hair with an oil-based spray to seal in the leave-in moisturizer. You can also simply rub coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, or your prefered oil or butter into your hair, focusing at the tips. Limit heat styling. Heat tools like straightening irons or blowdryers damage your natural hair, so it's best to limit your use or stop all together, especially if you are transitioning to natural hair. Your hair will be especially fragile if you have not cut off the relaxed ends, and you want to give your newly growing natural hair a healthy start. If you need to use heat, try to reduce it to only two to three times a month. Spray your hair with heat protective spray beforehand, and use the lowest heat settings possible that is still effective. Try to use a ceramic or tourmaline-ceramic flat iron, which does less damage to your hair. Untangle knots when they form. If you notice knots in your hair, don't wait until after a shower to untangle them. Instead, dampen the section of hair in the sink or using a spray bottle of water, apply conditioner and oil directly to the knot, and ease it apart with your fingers. Then use a wide-toothed comb to fully undo the knot. You don't want to wash heavily-knotted hair because the process of washing will wind even more hair around the knot and make it harder to get out. Comb hair only when damp. Combing dry natural hair causes excessive breakage, so comb your hair directly after showering while the hair is drying. Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner or moisturizer and use a wide-toothed comb to gently comb your hair, starting at the tips and working your way up to the roots. Wear protective styles. Protective styles get their name because they keep your hair in place, minimize friction that can damage your hair, and require minimum handling so that the chances of breakage are less. Examples of protective styles include braids, cornrows, Bantu knots and twists. You can keep these styles in for a few weeks up to two months before they need to be taken down. Be gentle when styling your hair. When you are putting your hair up in a bun or ponytail, or getting it styled in protective styles, make sure not to pull too hard on the “edges” of your hair, or the hair around your temples and at the nape of your neck. The hair in these areas is finer and more delicate and can easily get broken or ripped out. You should also avoid creating tight tension on your scalp, which can lead to hair loss. Change up your hairstyles. While it may be tempting to wear your hair in a bun or ponytail every day, or keep in protective styles longer than two months, doing so is bad for your hair. Be sure to take out your protective styles or weaved-in hair after a month or two, and vary up your hairstyles so that you are not doing a style that tugs at the same part of your hair. Doing so will minimize breakage and give your hair a rest. Get your hair trimmed every three to five months. Even if you are trying to grow your hair long, you need to get it trimmed every three to five months or so to get rid of split ends and keep your hair healthy. Drink plenty of liquids. To keep hair hydrated, your body has to be hydrated as well. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, as well as other hydrating beverages like juice and sports drinks. Eat foods with hair-healthy nutrients. Your diet is another important component of your hair health. Try eating foods rich in biotin, fatty acids, B vitamins, folic acid, niacin and protein. These foods include salmon and other fatty fish, eggs, nuts, avocados and lentils. Use silk or satin pillowcases. A lot of damage can happen at nighttime when your hair rubs against your pillow, absorbing moisture from the hair and causing breakage. A solution to this problem is to use either silk or satin pillowcases, which create much less friction and do not absorb the moisture from your hair. You can also wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf at night for the same effect. | Stop all chemical treatments. Do a big chop. Wear a weave as you transition. Wear your hair in protective styles as you transition. Shampoo your hair once a week or every other week . Condition hair after shampooing. Co-wash your hair between washes. Deep-condition your hair once a week. Use a leave-in moisturizer daily. Seal your hair with oil or butter. Limit heat styling. Untangle knots when they form. Comb hair only when damp. Wear protective styles. Be gentle when styling your hair. Change up your hairstyles. Get your hair trimmed every three to five months. Drink plenty of liquids. Eat foods with hair-healthy nutrients. Use silk or satin pillowcases. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Vodka-Martini | How to Make a Vodka Martini | To make a vodka martini, start by adding 1 1/2 shots of vodka and 3/4 shot of dry vermouth to a cocktail shaker. Then, fill the cocktail shaker with ice, put the cap on, and shake everything together. Finally, strain the drink into a martini glass and serve it with an olive. | Combine the vodka and dry vermouth in a cocktail shaker. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and replace the lid. Shake until the alcohol is well chilled. Strain into a martini glass and serve with an olive. Finished. | Combine the vodka and dry vermouth in a cocktail shaker. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and replace the lid. Shake until the alcohol is well chilled. Strain into a martini glass and serve with an olive. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Simple-Everyday-Makeup | How to Apply Simple Everyday Makeup | To apply simple, everyday makeup, start by putting on an even layer of foundation in a color that matches your skin tone. Then, brush powder over your face to help set the foundation so it stays in place all day. Next, apply a pink-toned blush to the apples of your cheeks using a circular motion. After that, apply an eyeshadow in a neutral color like brown, gold, or grey, followed by navy eyeliner and black mascara. Finally, use a pink or neutral-colored lipstick to complete your look. | Wash your face. Before applying makeup in the morning, wash your face so you'll be able to start with a fresh canvas. Use a cleanser or simply splash lukewarm water on your face a few times to wash away any debris on your skin. Pat it dry gently with a soft towel. Avoid washing your face with hot water. This will dry it out and leave it prone to irritation. Lukewarm water is best when you're washing your face. Don't scrub your face dry. This causes fragile facial skin to loosen over time. Consider exfoliating. It's not necessary to exfoliate every day, but doing so every few days is essential to keeping your skin looking fresh. Putting makeup on over dry, flaky skin defeats the purpose! Exfoliate your skin using either a small facial brush, an exfoliating scrub, or another exfoliating tool designed for use on the face. Focus on areas that tend to get dry and flaky. Using a face mask from time to time is another good way to keep your facial skin in good shape. Choose a clay mask, which will cleanse your pores and help pull off dry skin when you wash it away. Apply a moisturizer. The last step before applying makeup is putting on some moisturizing lotion. This will help your makeup go on more easily and create a better final look. Choose a good face moisturizer that works with your skin type. Massage it gently all over your face. Don't forget your eyelids, lips, and nose. Let the moisturizer absorb into your skin for a few minutes before you move on to applying makeup. Putting makeup on while your face is still wet or sticky will result in a mess! Apply foundation that matches the tone of your skin. Choose a foundation that works with your skin type and matches your coloring. Liquid foundation is a fine choice for many types of skin. You can also use tinted moisturizer or BB cream. If your skin is on the oily side, you might want to consider a compact or powder foundation. In the store, test your foundation to make sure it matches your face by dabbing a little on your jaw bone. Never apply it on the back of your hand as the skin colour is different from your face. Apply the foundation evenly over your face using a foundation brush, pad or your finger. Make sure it doesn't cake or clump anywhere. Avoid putting extra layers of foundation over blemishes. It'll only make them stand out more. Blend the foundation around the edges of your face and where it meets the bottom of your chin. Apply concealer. Choose a concealer that matches your skin tone - or, if you have dark under-eye circles, go one shade lighter. Apply a light amount of concealer using either a concealer brush or your finger by dabbing it under your eyes and gently blending it in. This will make your eyes look bright instead of sleepy. If you're trying to pare down your makeup routine, you can skip the concealer. It all depends on which features you want to play down and which you want to highlight. Use a little extra concealer on blemishes if necessary (making sure to use a color that matches your skin tone). Apply powder. Choose a powder that matches your skin tone. Use a powder brush (a large, fluffy brush that will apply the powder evenly) to apply the powder to your face in a circular motion. This will give your face a natural-looking finish and help set your foundation so that it stays in place all day. On days when you have more time to spend applying makeup, you can also apply bronzer and highlighter to contour your face. Bronzer helps create flattering shadows, while highlighter brightens areas you want to have pop. Apply blush. Choose a pink-toned blush that brings out the best in your facial coloring. Swirl a blush brush in the container, smile, and apply it to the apples of your cheeks in a circular motion. Apply eyeshadow. Choose a neutral shadow pallet for a simple, everyday look. Brown, gold, grey, and blue tones are all good choices, depending on your eye color. Avoid bright colors, "smokey eye" pallets, and other bold jewel tones, as they'll look out of place during the day. Here's how to apply eyeshadow to make it look natural and pretty: Start by applying a base shadow in a color close to your skin tone. Use your finger or an eyeshadow brush to apply it on your lid and all the way up to your eyebrow. Apply a medium-dark color to your lid, working your way from your eyelashes up to the crease. Use a fluffy brush to blend the colors at the crease. Apply eyeliner. Choose a charcoal, navy, or brown eyeliner to use during the day - save your black eyeliner for nighttime wear. Apply it just above your eyelashes, taking care to make sure it goes on smooth and straight. Use your eye shadow brush to blend it lightly so that the line looks less harsh. You can use a pencil liner or a liquid liner. Either one is great for daytime use. You can also use a dark eyeshadow for a more natural look. If the line gets smudged, use a cotton swab to gently remove it, then reapply. For an everyday look, don't use liner on your lower lids. Apply mascara. Apply one coat of mascara on both your upper and lower lashes. Insert the brush at the base of your lashes and sweep outward. After you're finished with one eye, dip the brush in the bottle again before applying mascara to the other eye. Either black or brown mascara is fine for everyday wear. If you don't want to apply mascara, you can use an eyelash curler to curl your lashes for a natural, pretty look. Apply lip color. Use a pink or neutral-colored lipstick or lip gloss to finish your everyday look. Avoid using heavy lipliner and bright, bold colors during the day. Dab a tissue on your lips to remove excess lipstick or gloss. If you want to use a bright color, you can mute it for daytime wear by applying it to your bottom lip, rubbing your lips together to coat both of them in color, then applying a clear gloss. Finished. | Wash your face. Consider exfoliating. Apply a moisturizer. Apply foundation that matches the tone of your skin. Apply concealer. Apply powder. Apply blush. Apply eyeshadow. Apply eyeliner. Apply mascara. Apply lip color. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Butternut-Squash | How to Make Butternut Squash | To make roasted butternut squash, start by cutting a butternut squash in half lengthwise and scooping out all of the seeds. Then, brush the cut side of each half with butter, and season them with salt and pepper or brown sugar and cinnamon. Next, place the halves on a baking sheet with the cut sides facing up. Finally, roast the butternut squash for 30 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. | Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Divide the squash lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp as you would a pumpkin and discard, then place the squash on a baking sheet, flesh-side up. Butter up the butternut. Brush each squash half with melted butter, mopping the cavity of each squash liberally. You can also use olive oil instead of butter, or a mixture of both. Season to taste. The beauty of butternut squash is how adaptable it is to various spices and seasonings. Here are a few suggestions: Brown sugar and cinnamon: add from one teaspoon to one tablespoon (to taste) brown sugar to each squash section, then sprinkle ground cinnamon over all. Salt and pepper: Add fresh-ground pepper and salt to each squash, to taste. This is very simple, and very delicious, enhancing the natural sweetness of the squash. Ras el hanout. Visit your local spice market, and pick up some of this versatile Moroccan blend of up to 30 herbs and spices. Sprinkle it liberally over the buttered squash, and add salt and pepper as desired—though it's not necessary. Roast the squash. Pop your prepared butternut into the oven, and let roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until a fork inserted into the thickest part meets no resistance. Quarter and serve. Divide the squash lengthwise again, and serve with grilled stuffed pork chops, roasted chicken, or all by itself. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare the squash. Split the squash in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Peel, then cut squash into 1-inch chunks Blend squash with vegetables and spices. Toss the squash cubes together with the prepared onion, garlic, a tablespoon of olive oil, minced sage, plus salt and pepper to taste. Roast the squash blend. Spread the squash mixture evenly on a baking sheet, and roast for 40 minutes, until the squash is soft. Cook the pasta. While the squash roasts, fill a large saucepan about 3/4 full of water, and bring to a boil. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, and a pinch of salt, then add in one pound of bow tie (farfalle) pasta. Cook until al dente (about 8 to 10 minutes). Drain the pasta and set to the side. Fry the sage. When the squash mixture is ready, add two tablespoons of olive oil to a large sauté pan, and heat until it's shimmering. Carefully stir in the balance of the sage, avoiding the pops and sputters of hot oil. Stir fry for about a minute, then remove with a slotted spoon or spatula to a paper towel, and dust lightly with salt (ground sea salt is ideal). Sauté the mix. Place the squash mix and pasta into the pan, and crumble the fried sage into the mix. Sauté over medium-high heat, tossing steadily, until the the pasta is getting crispy on the edges. Add in the pine nuts, and cook for another minute. Toss in the parmesan, stir to combine, then serve with crusty bread and a Chenin Blanc or Pinot Gris. Note: if your pan is small, do the final sauté in batches. Too much in your pan will create steam and prevent the pasta from crisping. Make this a day in advance, if you like, to allow the flavors to combine. Sauté onions and garlic. In a large stock pot over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add the garlic and onions, and cook until tender and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients. To the sauté, add broth, squash, and herbs, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, bringing the soup to a simmer, and cook until squash very soft and tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Puree the mix. Using an immersion blender, or a food processor, puree the squash mixture thoroughly. If using a food processor, blend the soup in batches, about 2 cups at a time. Return the puree to the pot. Finish the soup mix. Add cream and sugar to the puree, and heat until at a very low simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve it up. Ladle the soup into deep bowls, top with croutons and shredded gruyere, and serve with torn chunks of crusty fresh bread, a winter greens salad (spinach, escarole, and radicchio topped with sugared walnuts or marcona almonds), and a crisp, rich viognier. Forget about winter. It's soup time! Preheat the oven to 350° (175°C). Adjust the rack to the center of the oven before heating it. Split the squash. Divide the squash in two, lengthwise, and remove the seeds and pulp. Place on a baking sheet, brush with melted butter, and roast for about 35 minutes, until a fork inserted in the thickest part of the stem meets no resistance. When done, remove from oven and let cool completely. Blend the pie filling. When the squash is cool, scoop out 2 cups of pulp. Add pulp and all spices to your food processor (or blender), then add milk, eggs, sugar and spices, and mix until smooth and creamy. Fill the pie. With a rubber spatula, scrape out every bit of delicious squash goodness into the shell, and smooth evenly. Bake. Place the pie on the oven rack, and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until a knife slipped into the center of the pie comes out clean. Remove, and let cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream, a mug of hot spiced apple cider, a cup of coffee, or a cold glass of fresh milk. | Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Divide the squash lengthwise. Butter up the butternut. Season to taste. Roast the squash. Quarter and serve. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare the squash. Blend squash with vegetables and spices. Roast the squash blend. Cook the pasta. Fry the sage. Sauté the mix. Sauté onions and garlic. Add the rest of the ingredients. Puree the mix. Finish the soup mix. Serve it up. Forget about winter. Preheat the oven to 350° (175°C). Split the squash. Blend the pie filling. Fill the pie. Bake. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Sunbeds | How to Use Sunbeds | Before you use a sunbed, you should work out what skin type you have, which will help you decide how long to tan. If you have light skin that burns easily, limit yourself to 2 minutes for your first 2 tanning sessions. If you have brown or olive skin that doesn't burn so easily, start with 3 minutes a session. If your skin feels cool after your tanning sessions, try adding another minute for your third session. Whatever your skin type is, remember to protect your eyes with goggles. You can borrow these from the salon or invest in your own pair. Make sure you also apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to help protect your skin from the UV rays. | Determine your skin type. Reduce the risk of sunburn by knowing how much tanning your skin can safely handle in a single session. Go online and take the Fitzpatrick Skin Typing Test. Based on the results, gain a clearer picture of the schedule that you will need to follow for your skin to achieve a base tan. Exact results may vary from person to person, but skin types generally fall into the following categories: Type 1 : Extremely pale and/or white skin that burns quickly but resists tanning. The skin is usually freckled all over. Other features denoting people with Type 1 include red hair and blue or green eyes. Type 2 : Skin that is more beige in color than Type 1, but still burns easily without tanning. People with Type 2 tend to be brunette or blond, moderately freckled, and blue- or green-eyed. Type 3 : Skin is naturally light brown and may burn after too much sun exposure, but typically tans first. Type 3 people often have brown hair and eyes. Type 4 : Skin is naturally light brown or olive in color. Type 4 skin tans with little difficulty, but may still burn over prolonged periods in the sun. People with Type 4 are usually brunettes with darker brown eyes than Type 3. Type 5 : Skin is naturally browned and tans with little or no difficulty while seldom burning, if ever. People with Type 5 typically have extremely dark brown hair as well as eyes. Ask staff to help come up with a schedule. If needed, have an attendant help you determine your skin type. Then develop a regime to follow in order to acquire a base tan over multiple sessions. The exact regime may vary from one salon to another due to the power and UV output of their equipment, but expect a schedule similar to the following guidelines: Type 1 : It is strongly recommended that people with Type 1 skin should never use sunbeds, due to their sensitivity to ultraviolet rays. However, if you persist, start off with sessions no longer than 1 minute. After three or more sessions, add another minute, but only if your skin still feels cool and comfortable after the first minute. Type 2 : Limit yourself to 2 minutes for the first two sessions. Then add another minute for the next three, unless your skin begins to feel warm and/or uncomfortable after the first two minutes. If you still feel fine after three minutes of exposure, add another minute to your last session, for a total of six sessions. Type 3 : Start with a 2-minute session. As long as your skin feels cool afterward, add another minute for your next two sessions. Bump it up to 4 minutes for your fourth and fifth session, unless your skin feels warmer than normal after the first 3 minutes. Finally, increase the time to 5 minutes for your last session, for a total of six sessions. Type 4: Begin with a 3-minute session. Follow that with a 4-minute session. Then increase your exposure to 5 minutes for your next two sessions. Add another minute for your last two sessions, for a total of six sessions. If your skin begins to feel uncomfortable at any point along the way, reduce the time to a safer amount of exposure. Type 5 : Start with a 3-minute session. Then add another minute to your following session. Try 5 minutes for your third. If your skin still feels relatively cool after each session, add another minute to each following session until you reach 8 minutes for your final session. Decide on which type of bed to use. Find out if the salon offers more than one style of sunbed. Ask the staff to help you decide which one is best for you, based on your skin type and desired effect. Also, ask them to clarify the length of time that you should limit each session to for each type of bed. Low pressure beds aim to replicate the UV output of actual sunlight. High pressure beds alter the UV output to create a less temporary tan in a shorter amount of time. Clean the bed. Use the provided cleaning solution to spray and wipe down the bed before climbing in. The previous customer and/or staff may have already done so, but do it anyway to rest assured that the bed has been disinfected. If you do not find a cleaning solution on hand, ask the staff for some. Protect your eyes. Shield them from UV rays with goggles that are specifically designed for sunbed-use. Rent or borrow one from the salon, depending on their policy. Invest in a pair of your own if you plan on making regular visits. Do not trust your eyelids, sunglasses, other forms of eye-wear to protect your eyes. If you use a pair that belongs to the salon, make sure they have been cleaned since the last customer used them. A salon that does not use a cleaning solution to disinfect their eyewear may also prove to be unhygienic in other areas. A lack of eye protection increases the risk of cataracts, conjunctivitis, and irritation. Remove clothing as desired. Wear underwear or swimming gear to only tan those areas that will be visible to the public. Be mindful of where tan lines will appear. Wear briefs, speedos, or bikinis to show tanned flesh even when your shorts, skirt, or dress pulls up, thus exposing more leg. Or eliminate tan lines altogether and tan naked if permitted by the salon. Before tanning naked, be advised that your nipples, genitals, and other delicate areas may burn before the rest of your body does. Apply sunscreen and tan accelerator. Minimize the harm of UV light by protecting yourself with sunscreen. Apply it wherever your skin is exposed. Wait a quarter of an hour before using the sunbed so your skin has time to absorb it. Minimize your risk further by also using tan accelerator to acquire your desired tan in a shorter amount of time. Sunscreen will help minimize the skin damage caused by UV light, but it won't eliminate it entirely. Use SPF-30 sunscreen or higher, even if you typically use a weaker formula outdoors. Remember that the sun is billions of miles from Earth, but the sunbed's lights are only a few inches from your skin. Although tanning accelerators contain ingredients that help defend your skin from the effects of ultraviolet light, they are not the same as SPF sunscreen. Do not use the two products interchangeably. Check your accelerator's ingredients to make sure it includes L-tyrosine. Be aware that simple moisturizers are able to advertise themselves as tan accelerators, even without this active ingredient. This is only because moist skin technically does tan quicker than dry skin. However, a moisturizer will have minimal effect in a sunbed. Moisturize. Expect each sunbed session to continue to effect your skin well after the session ends. Apply moisturizer as needed over the next 12 hours or more to keep your skin from drying out, since moist skin tans more effectively than dry skin. Be doubly certain to do this if you shower, swim, sweat profusely, or are otherwise exposed to liquids after tanning, since these activities may wash off previous applications. Give your skin a rest before your next session. Wait 24 hours at the bare minimum before tanning yourself again, whether indoors or outdoors. If you have Type 2 skin, wait at least 48 hours before your next session. To err on the side of caution, wait 72 hours, regardless of your skin type. Again, people with Type 1 skin should refrain from tanning in general. If you decide to do so anyway, always give your overly sensitive skin the maximum amount of rest in between sessions. Stick to a reasonable number of sessions per year. Limit yourself to a maximum of two or three per week if you only tan seasonally. If you plan on tanning all year long, stick to roughly once per week. Limit yourself to 60 sessions in total for the entire year to avoid overexposure. Be aware that UV rays are linked to skin cancer. Expect prolonged exposure to either natural or artificial light to increase the risk of melanoma. Be especially mindful of those areas of your body that do not normally receive much direct light. Refrain from tanning naked in sunbeds if your private parts rarely see the light of the day. If you or any relative has suffered skin cancer in the past, consider this a warning sign that you are at much greater risk. Do not use sunbeds if your family has a history of melanoma. Consider your age. The younger you are, the greater the danger posed by UV rays. Sunbed use is often forbidden to anyone under the age of 18 accordingly. However, continue to regard yourself as a likely candidate for melanoma well after that. Use sunbeds sparingly or abstain from them entirely until you are 25 or older. Take any medications into account. If you are currently taking any medication or topical creams, whether they are prescribed or over-the-counter, read the directions before tanning. Double-check for any warnings about extra sensitivity to sunlight. If the directions advise limiting your exposure to natural sunlight, take that to mean that you shouldn't use a sunbed, either. Consult your doctor about possible ramifications from medications that they prescribe for you, as well as any other health factors that may elevate your risk of skin cancer. Expect damage to take a long time to manifest. Be aware that the negative impacts of sunburn and overexposure may take as many as 20 years to show themselves. Refrain from tanning yourself and risking further damage if you have repeatedly suffered sunburns in the past. Be twice as reluctant to use sunbeds if you suffered those sunburns in your childhood, when you were most at risk of developing long-term damage. Continue using sunscreen. Although some debate persists as to whether a base tan protects you against sunburn, err on the side of caution. Consider tanning as a natural reaction to previous overexposure in an attempt to prevent further damage. Use sunscreen and other forms of protection to avoid sunburn, rather than rely on your base tan to do the job for you. Skin Types 1 and 2 should use a SPF-30 sunscreen or an even stronger SPF. So should anyone with a personal or family history of skin cancer or any other condition that makes them more sensitive to sunlight. Skin Types 3, 4 and 5 should be safe to use a SPF-15 formula. However, using a stronger sunscreen is still advisable. Give your skin a quarter of an hour to absorb the sunscreen before braving the sunshine. Check the directions for its lasting power. Never wait longer than two hours to apply more. Reapply more frequently when swimming or sweating profusely. | Determine your skin type. Ask staff to help come up with a schedule. Decide on which type of bed to use. Clean the bed. Protect your eyes. Remove clothing as desired. Apply sunscreen and tan accelerator. Moisturize. Give your skin a rest before your next session. Stick to a reasonable number of sessions per year. Be aware that UV rays are linked to skin cancer. Consider your age. Take any medications into account. Expect damage to take a long time to manifest. Continue using sunscreen. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Public-Comment-at-a-City-Council-Meeting | How to Make a Public Comment at a City Council Meeting | Making a public comment at your city council meeting can make a big impact on issues in your community. If you haven't attended a city council meeting before, take a look at the city website to see the meeting agendas. Typically, each meeting will cover different topics, so you'll need to wait for 1 about your issue before you make a comment. Get to the meeting at least 15 minutes early so you have time to sign up to speak. If your city council doesn't have a sign-up, then you can just stand up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. Once the main issues of the meeting have been addressed, they will call up community members to speak. When you're called, go up to the microphone and tell everyone your name and the part of the city you live in. Then let them know your concerns. Some city councils have comment time limits of 2-3 minutes, so try to keep yours brief. | Check when the next city council meeting is being held. Check your city government's website to see when city council meetings are scheduled in your area. Many city council meetings are held twice a month on a set day of the week. Write the meeting times in a planner or calendar so you don't forget to attend them. If you cannot find meeting times online, you may need to call your city's government center to find out when meetings take place. Look at the issues on the agenda for the meeting to see what’s being discussed. Your city council will release the topics they're covering 5-7 days in advance online or at City Hall. Look over the information being covered during the meeting to see if there are any issues you have concerns about. Research any topics you're unfamiliar with so you know what to expect from the discussion. Some cities only let you speak about the topics and issues covered during that meeting while others let you speak about any city-related issue. Pick a topic you have concerns about for your public comment. Many public comment portions of city council meetings are open to talk about any issue you're having in the city. Think about issues you or members of your community have experienced that you can address at the meeting. You can comment on things happening currently or future legislation that's being discussed. For example, you may bring up issues about speeding vehicles on your street or improvements that could be made to a public space. Public comments have a time limit so the council can hear multiple people during the meeting. Only choose 1 topic to cover per meeting so you have time to talk about it. Sign up to speak before the meeting begins if you need to. Most city councils require you to sign up at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. First, check the website for your city's government to see what the rules are for signing up to speak. If you can't sign up early, arrive at the meeting about 30 minutes early so you can sign up. City councils may not accept sign-ups after the cut-off time. You must sign yourself up. You cannot have another person sign up for you. Usually, you must be a city resident or a state taxpayer to participate in a city council meeting. Step up to one of the microphones at the meeting when it’s time to speak. If you didn't have to sign up ahead of time, stand up during the public comment portion of the meeting and form a line by the microphone. If you did sign up, wait until your name or number is called before approaching the microphone. Make sure it's turned on and adjust the height of the stand if you need to. If there wasn't a sign-up and the line is long, the council may cut off the public comment section even if you didn't get a chance to speak. Wear a business casual outfit so you can look professional so people take you seriously. State your name and where you live if it’s required. Once you reach the microphone, say your full name out loud so the council knows how to address you if they need to. Some city council meetings require you to state where you live so the council can reference your concerns to a zone of the city. Give your address if they need it; otherwise, mention the area of the city you want to address if any. Check your city government's regulations to see what information you need to provide while you're presenting. Voice your opinion clearly to the council and community. Talk to the council as a whole rather than addressing an individual council member. Try to summarize the main point of your comment in 1 sentence so the council members know what to expect while you're speaking. Do your best to avoid using filler words, such as “ah” or “um,” and talk about the concerns you have. Use the rest of your time to give evidence to the concern you're making so the council members understand why you're bringing it up. For example, you may say something like, “I believe the city should put a 4-way stop at the intersection of 1st and Park Street because there are many families with small children living the neighborhood.” Don't be disorderly or verbally attack any of the council members since they can cut you off and prevent you from speaking. Don't use your time to promote any products, services, or other candidates for public positions. End your comment when you’ve reached about 3 minutes. City council public comments usually have a time limit between 2-3 minutes so the members can hear from multiple people. Watch the time so you can address all of the concerns you need to in the time frame. When your time is up, thank the council and return to your seat. Many city councils will give you a 30-second warning so you have time to wrap up your comment. Council members might not answer or talk back to you while you're presenting. | Check when the next city council meeting is being held. Look at the issues on the agenda for the meeting to see what’s being discussed. Pick a topic you have concerns about for your public comment. Sign up to speak before the meeting begins if you need to. Step up to one of the microphones at the meeting when it’s time to speak. State your name and where you live if it’s required. Voice your opinion clearly to the council and community. End your comment when you’ve reached about 3 minutes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Testimonial | How to Write a Testimonial | To write a testimonial, open by describing the problem you faced, as well as a little relevant information about yourself. For instance, if you're writing a testimonial about dog shampoo, you might mention that your dog had really matted fur and you couldn't find any product that worked to detangle it. You could include some of the specific products or techniques you tried, as well. Then, explain how the product or service solved your problem. Be specific about the results you got, and finish with a short summary. | Introduce yourself. Start your testimonial with a little bit of information about who you are. Include details that would give your testimonial more weight or make your opinion more valuable. How much, and what type, of detail about yourself you include will depend on the product or service for which you're writing your testimonial. Your testimonial should be relatively short, so don't include anything that wouldn't add weight or value to your testimony. For example, if you're writing a testimonial about a new herbal dog shampoo, the fact that you're a licensed dog groomer would be important. However, if you were writing a testimonial for a personal trainer, the fact that you are a dog groomer would probably be irrelevant. Discuss your situation. Open your testimonial by describing the problem that you were facing before you tried the product or service that is the subject of the testimonial. Be brief, but include as many specific facts as possible. Facts allow people reading your testimonial to compare your situation before and after you used the product or service. Showing this evidence yourself makes the testimonial more helpful to people. Since you still want your testimonial to be brief, only include facts that were directly affected by the product or service. For example, if your business had a problem managing its social media accounts, you might say "My business's Facebook page only had 10 followers and averaged less than one view a day." List alternatives you tried. If relevant, you might also include a line or two about other products or services you used in an attempt to solve your problem. Describe specific ways those products or services failed to help you. Listing alternatives can be especially beneficial if you tried a direct competitor and they were unable to solve your problem. To continue with the social media example, you might say "We hired Social Media X to manage our accounts, but after 30 days they failed to bring in any additional page views or followers." Include a personal note regarding how it made you feel to try different alternatives and have them all fail. Readers will empathize with you and be drawn into your story. Note any obstacles. Every product or service has its drawbacks. If there was some reason you initially rejected the product or service you writing about, talk about how you got past that issue. Then you can transition smoothly into the solution of your problem. Cost typically is one potential obstacle. For example, you might say, "We were reluctant to use Social Media Z because they charged twice as much as Social Media X. But after X failed to deliver, we decided to give Z a shot – and that was the best decision we could have made." Describe how the product or service solved your problem. Start a new paragraph, and turn your attention to the product or service you're writing your testimonial about. List two or three important facts about the product or service. Take a moment to introduce the product or service and talk a little about what it is or what it does. Then state specifically what it did for you and how it helped you. For example, you might say "Social Media Z focuses on increasing social media reach through entertaining and informative social media posts. Since hiring Social Media Z, we've gained 237 new followers and our sales have increased by nearly a third." Highlight a unique or creative approach. If there's something about the business or product that sets it apart from competitors, talk about that thing specifically. Mention if custom solutions were offered that were tailored specifically to your problem. It can help to describe your expectations, if they help put the creativity of the business you're talking about into perspective. For example, you might write "I didn't expect Social Media Z to get us more than 20 or 30 followers, but they found a way to bring in ten times as many people." Include a personal note. If your contact person was a pleasure to work with, or if the company went above and beyond the call of duty, make an enthusiastic note about this. If you worked closely with a particular employee, mention them by name. Personal notes also mean something to the people you name, and can help employers identify and reward their best employees. If someone specific impressed you, talk about them in your testimonial. For example, you might write "While the whole team went above and beyond, Sally spent a lot of time getting to know our company and our needs. We would not have achieved the success we did without Sally's hard work and attentiveness." Use specific figures to show impact. Go back to your description of the project you faced. The figures you use to show the results should match the figures you used when describing your problem, so readers can easily compare. For example, if you're hiring a social media management company for your business, and you focused on the low numbers of people following your social media accounts, state specifically how many followers you had after the company you hired went to work. Explain how you overcame any obstacles. If you mentioned any obstacles in the first part of your testimonial, tell your readers how you feel about them now. Typically either it wasn't as big of an issue as you thought, or the success was worth it. For example, if you were skeptical about using the product or service because of its cost, you might say "I was concerned Social Media Z's fees were too high, but after such overwhelming success, I'm now convinced they are worth every penny!" Summarize your experience. Use the third paragraph of your testimonial to briefly recap how the product or service you're writing about solved your problem. You might also add something about why you are writing a testimonial. For example, if the company providing the product or service asked you for a testimonial, you might say "When Sally from Social Media Z asked if I would be willing to write a testimonial about their work for my company, I didn't hesitate. They increased our social media following by 300 percent and really put our company on the map here in our community." State whether you would recommend the product or service to others. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the best testimonial should include specific words indicating that you want to encourage others to use the product or service as well. Depending on the product or service you're writing about, you may want to directly target specific people. For example, you might write "I highly recommend Social Media Z, particularly to small businesses looking to establish a foothold in their community." Include a call to action. You could close your testimonial with your recommendation. However, if you're confident enough, you might provide further encouragement for readers to reach out to the company offering the product or service. For example, you might say "If you are a small business owner struggling with your social media presence, call Social Media Z today! They offer a free initial consultation, so you have nothing to lose." | Introduce yourself. Discuss your situation. List alternatives you tried. Note any obstacles. Describe how the product or service solved your problem. Include a personal note. Use specific figures to show impact. Explain how you overcame any obstacles. Summarize your experience. State whether you would recommend the product or service to others. Include a call to action. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Event-Report | How to Write an Event Report | To write an event report, start by writing a 1-2 page executive summary, which is an introduction that provides a concise version of your more detailed report. Then, explain the who, what, where, when, and why of the event in the body of your report. You'll also want to include a statement about the event's objectives, as well as information about any relevant advertising, media exposure, or financial information. You can also use charts and graphs to convey information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand way. | Determine the presentation style and format for each audience. Event reports can be bound, stapled, emailed PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, and so on. Make sure the event report is organized into clear sections. You want to determine how the results of the event compared to the objectives for it. Summarize the main outcomes of the event. Tailor the event report for the needs and interests of each sponsor and audience. Consider the objectives of the sponsors. To some degree, sponsors are the key audience for an event report. They want to know whether it was worth sponsoring the event. So consider what they will want to know and what their hot buttons are. Tailor the event report to also meet the specific needs of the uniqueness of the event and sponsors. Don't write a color-by-numbers report. Other audiences for the event report include senior executives and financial managers. Create a process to track information you will need throughout the event. You don't want to have to rely on your memory. Tracking key information before, during, and after the event will allow for a more specific, and ultimately more effective, report. It will also allow you to compile it all in a timelier fashion. Consider data collection to be continuous, using multiple people if necessary (including possible interns) to collect data. The bottom line is that you should not wait to create the report until the end of the event. Boil it down to the key points. One problem with some event reports is that they do little more than regurgitate the agenda or focus on feel-good, booster-ish statements. Don't do that. Instead, highlight the key points with a clear, analytical eye. Pick out some of the event highlights to discuss in detail. Consider which three things worked best, and which three points were most surprising. Avoid packing the article with mundane details, such as the luncheon menu or a detailed summary of the entire presentation of the keynote speaker. You want to pull out the things that mattered. Write an executive summary. The event report should include an executive summary that is a concise version of the more detailed full report. Think of the executive summary as being like an introduction. You could create two reports – an executive summary designed for people who have some interest in the event's outcome, and a more detailed fuller report for people actually involved in setting up or sponsoring the event. In the executive summary, you want to boil down and focus on the key objects and results. The executive summary should be brief – just one or two pages. It should summarize the key elements delivered by the event, and it should include a brief interpretation of the data. Include visuals in your event report. It's often more effective to offer a chart illustrating statistical trends, instead of just presenting readers with a bunch of numbers. If the event included a new product, you could present a photo of it. Photos of the actual event could help illustrate the event report. Try to get photos of sponsors' exposure on the site to document it for the report. Again, this is a task that can't wait until after the event. Samples, reproductions, and other on-site examples are good to include. Report the number of people who received sponsor coupons, etc. Document both on-site and off-site exposure generated by the event, in the media, to the audience, for sponsors. Document all advertising and media exposure. You want to assess the media that was generated compared to the objectives outlined. Focus on print ads and articles in which sponsors' names and ads appeared, in addition to gathering circulation figures and advertising rates. Document television advertising, public service announcements, ratings and rate card values, and news coverage. Don't forget to document radio, rate card ads, values for ads and promotions, audited reports, and so on. Include a statement of the event’s objectives. It's really important to link the event's objectives with its results, so make sure that you include a reminder of what the event's original mission was and which goals were set. You might include a listing of your event program. You should also discuss who the key participants were in the event at some point. Keep these sections brief, though. Make sure to spend the most time listing and discussing the specific key outcomes of the event and matching them to the outcomes that were listed. Be realistic, and don't try to sugarcoat things that didn't work. Include financial information in the event report. It's important to provide a detailed discussion of the event's budget and what was actually spent (or potentially brought in). Make sure to include a comparison of budgeted expenditures versus actual ones, as well as highlighting things that worked well and areas needing improvement. You should detail all costs, including marketing and promotional activities, staff expenses, and sponsorship costs. It's a good idea to include a detailed budget. Financial managers and senior executives will want to see evidence that backs up conclusions. Include an accounting of revenue , such as fees, sponsorships, and exhibits. But make sure that you compare revenues to revenue projections. Compared to what? That's a good question to ask. Include statistics that will be relevant to the readers. You don't want a report that's packed with only feel-good information. The number of people who attended is one statistic you should include. It's a good idea to provide data that has a measurable aspect to it. Other pertinent statistics and data can include the number of sales leads generated and the number of visitors to a specific booth. Providing data gives more credibility to the event report. Provide participant/attendee information. Include demographics, attendance figures, and audience research results (such as purchasing habits). Report on the number of people who respond to sponsors' campaigns, as well as donations to charitable organizations. Document the economic impact and employee participation. Have a qualitative element that contextualizes the data. Your report should include some statistics, but you also need human quotes to provide contextual feedback. Gather quotes and feedback from participants and event team members so that the assessment of the event's successes and failures doesn't come only from the event report's author. It will be seen as more credible. Consider including third-party research as well. Placing a value on media exposure is one example of something a third party could research. Assess the space and set ups. You should spend some time assessing the effectiveness of the location and the set ups from the vantage point of others. Discuss how space was used by the conference, event, etc. Be timely with the report. Try to write and publish the report pretty quickly after the event. Make sure you schedule it on your calendar to make sure that happens. Some people suggest issuing an event report within 30 days, but others say you should do it within a few days. Whatever the deadline is, make sure that you meet it. Perhaps you are writing the event report for an agency that has been commissioned by a specific client. Pay attention to all requests. The bottom line is that your audience will expect both a thorough and a timely report. So take the time to be thorough and get it right, but don't wait so long it seems dated. Proofread your event report. Make sure that your event report contains proper grammar and avoid spelling, punctuation, and other proofing errors. Make sure that your answers contain depth. A good rule of thumb is the writing technique “show, don't tell.” That means it's a good idea to provide some specific examples to back up more general points that are made in the report. Don't forget your audience, and make sure that your writing sounds formal and professional. An event report is not a casual document; it's an essential document to determine whether the event was worth it, so it needs to be authoritative. | Determine the presentation style and format for each audience. Create a process to track information you will need throughout the event. Boil it down to the key points. Write an executive summary. Include visuals in your event report. Document all advertising and media exposure. Include a statement of the event’s objectives. Include financial information in the event report. Include statistics that will be relevant to the readers. Have a qualitative element that contextualizes the data. Be timely with the report. Proofread your event report. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Gold | How to Buy Gold | To buy gold, start by deciding why you're buying gold. Consider how much money you have and the risks that you want to take. If you want to make a quick profit off of buying gold, purchase scrap gold from other people, and resell the items to pawn shops to make some money. If you're looking for a long-term investment, purchase gold bullion from a dealer, bank, or broker, and monitor the price over time to see when you should sell some of the gold. | Manage your risk. Collecting and storing scrap gold has become a popular investment strategy. With gold prices steadily rising, buying scrap gold is a low-risk way to invest in this valuable resource. Term (duration) of Investment : Varies Nature of Investment : Low risk. Gold is the safest investment option available. The potential reward far outweighs the minor risk. Profile of Investor : Ideal for the first-time gold investor or for someone just looking to set something aside for a rainy day. Keep it in the family. Ask family and friends if they have gold they are looking to get rid of. Practically everyone has broken necklaces, damaged rings, mismatched earrings and other forms of scrap gold that they would love to turn into cash. Work out a price they are happy with while leaving plenty of room for your profit. Place an ad in the newspaper. Have an ad run in both the classified section and the help wanted section of your local paper. Most people who are looking at the help wanted ads are in financial distress of some sort, so placing an ad offering to help them make money by selling gold to you can work wonders. Place an ad on Craigslist. This is similar to a newspaper ad yet is entirely free and has the potential to reach more people. Monitor Internet auctions. Gold items will often sell for less than their scrap value, making them a great investment tool. Be sure to factor in any taxes or shipping costs before bidding. Develop relationships with local pawnshops. Leave your contact information with them and have them contact you if anyone comes in to sell gold items that the pawnshop doesn't want. Some smaller shops may not have access to a refiner or even want to deal with scrap gold. Buy gold bullion. Countries around the world (including the United States) continue to spend money they don't have, creating unstable economies. Gold bullion is the only true hedge against this kind of instability. Term of Investment : For the long term, even if the economy picks up, inflation will follow close behind. Which asset resists inflation? Gold. Nature of Investment : It's low-risk. Experts agree that the investment-allocation pyramid is built on a low-risk base that includes gold bullion. Profile of Investor : Gold is a perfect component for a new investor's portfolio. Decide what type of investment-grade gold bullion you want to buy. You have a choice of gold coins, gold bars, and gold jewelry. Gold coins : Historic (pre-1933) gold coins tend to retain the most value, as these have numismatic value in addition to their gold content. Examples of historic gold coins that do not sell at an excessive premium over the gold price because they contain only 90 percent gold are the British sovereign, British guinea, Spanish escudo, French 20 and 40 francs, Swiss 20 francs, and American Gold Eagles ($10 face value), Half-Eagles ($5 face value) and Double Eagles ($20 face value). The British sovereign and the American Eagle gold coin are notable exceptions with 91.66 percent gold content (or 22 karat). Other gold bullion coins include the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Australian Kangaroo, and the South African Krugerrand (which sparked the entire gold-coin-investment industry), and the 24 karat Austrian Philharmonic. Gold bars : Gold is also sold in bars that are usually 99.5 to 99.99 percent fine (that is, pure gold). Popular gold refineries include PAMP, Credit Suisse, Johnson Matthey, and Metalor. You'll see the names of these refineries stamped on the bars they process. Gold jewelry : The problem with buying gold jewelry as an investment is that you pay a premium for the craftsmanship and the desirability of the design. Any piece of jewelry marked 14 karat or less will be below investment quality, and any resale for the sake of investing will be impacted by the need to refine the gold. On the other hand, it is possible to pick up antique or vintage gold for very little at estate sales and similar auctions where a seller may not recognize the true value of the metal content or if people simply aren't in the mood to bid much for it. Older pieces can carry more value due to their unique craftsmanship, so this can be a lucrative and enjoyable way to collect gold. Choose the weight. Clearly, the greater the weight, the greater the price. Something else to keep in mind is your ability to store the metal safely. The American Eagle gold coin and the other coins listed above are made in four weights: 1 oz., 0.5 oz., 0.25 oz. and 0.10 oz. Gold bullion bars are generally sold by the ounce and include 1 oz., 10 oz. and 100 oz. bars. Find a source that sells gold bullion. Often dealers, brokerage houses and banks will sell both coins and bars. When assessing a dealer, see how long they've been in business, whether they're certified with an industry or government body and in what investment activities they specialize. In the United States the national mint provides a list of authorized sellers that you can check. See Buy Gold Online for details on how to invest in gold through online marketplaces. Jewelers sell gold jewelry, but if you decide to go this route, be sure to choose a reputable store that has been in business for a long time. Auctions can be another source of gold jewelry, but be aware that auctioned items are sold “as is." It's up to you to ascertain their value. Determine the current market price for gold. There are many sites online that will give you the current spot price for gold and other precious metals. Kitco is one such site. Aim to buy gold coins or bars at or below the prevailing market price, plus a premium of approximately one percent. Most dealers have purchase minimums, charge for shipping and handling, and offer quantity discounts. Get receipts for all purchases and get a confirmation of delivery date before you pay for the bullion. If purchasing jewelry, retain all receipts in a safe place. If purchasing at an auction, remember to add on a buyer's premium and any sales tax. Store your bullion securely, preferably in a safe-deposit box. This is a very important aspect of investing in gold, because your investment strategy is only as safe as your storage strategy. Invest in high-quality security mechanisms, or pay a company to store the metal for you. Think ahead. Those willing to absorb a bit more risk may decide to invest in gold futures. However, it is important to note that such a strategy isn't so much “investing” as it is speculating, which equates to gambling in some respects. Term of Investment varies. In general, investing in gold futures is like making a short-term prediction of what the price of gold will soon be. However, many savvy investors invest and re-invest in gold futures over a period of years. Nature of investment : High risk. There is high volatility associated with gold futures, and many inexperienced investors have lost money on them. Profile of Investor : Futures are primarily for seasoned investors. Very few novices make money this way. Open a futures account at a commodity trading firm. Futures allow you to control a larger amount of gold than you have in cash. Invest capital that you can afford to lose. If the price of gold drops, you could end up owing more than you invested once commissions are added. Buy a gold futures contract. Gold futures are legally binding agreements for delivery of gold in the future at an agreed upon price. For example, you can buy 100 oz. of gold for a two-year contract worth $46,600 for as little as three percent of the value, or $1,350. The commodity trading firm charges a commission for every trade. Each trading unit on the COMEX (Commodity Exchange) is equivalent to 100 troy ounces. Electronic trading on the Chicago Board of Trade (e-CBOT) is another way to trade gold. Wait for the contract to end. Then you can collect your earnings or pay your losses. An investor can exchange a futures position for physical gold, referred to as EFP ("exchange for physical"). However, most investors offset their positions before their contracts mature instead of accepting or delivering physical gold. When you buy a futures contract for a fraction of the actual cost of the assets involved, you are basically betting on a small change in the price of the assets. You can make a lot of money buying gold futures if the value of gold goes up relative to your currency, but if it goes down, you can lose everything you invested and possibly more (if your futures contracts do not simply get sold to someone else when you do not have enough money down). This is a way to hedge a risk or speculate but not in itself a way to build savings. Use ETFs. Some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) aim to track silver and gold prices and are generally bought through a stockbroker. They are much like derivative contracts that track prices, but they differ in that you will not own the underlying metal assets. Two examples of ETFs are Market Vectors Gold Miners and Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF attempts to replicate (before expenses and fees) the yield performance and price of the New York Stock Exchange Arca Gold Miners Index. The portfolio contains gold mining companies of all sizes from around the world. The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF debuted in 2009. This ETF has become quite popular among investors seeking to have indirect access to gold assets. Although similar to the Gold Miners, the Junior Gold Miners focuses on smaller companies involved in an ongoing search for new sources of gold. Because these companies are less established, there is more risk involved. Term of Investment : Short term. There is a fee assessed each year that deducts from the amount of gold backing your investment, making this an expensive way to invest. Nature of Investment : Medium risk. Because a typical ETF investment can be short- term if you prefer, risk can be minimized. Use a broker. Use the same broker you would use to buy stock, a mutual fund, or shares in a gold ETF, such as GLD and IAU on the New York Stock Exchange. A gold exchange-traded fund is designed to track the price of gold while maintaining the liquidity of a stock. Note that gold exchange-traded funds do not give you the ability to physically control the gold. Therefore, some gold advocates believe this is an inferior way to own the commodity. Another disadvantage is that ETFs trade like stocks, and you may have to pay a commission to buy and sell on the exchange. Moreover, any capital gains you realize must be reported for tax purposes. Decide why you're interested in investing in gold. If you have funds to invest, it's important to understand why you want to invest in gold in the first place. Make sure it's the right thing for you. Understand that gold mainly serves as a repository of value and as an investment hedge. Common reasons for investing in gold include: Gold is always in high demand. It is a tangible product that can always be passed on without concerns for its desirability. Contrast this with antiques and collectibles, which are subject to fluctuations in fashion and style trends. Owning gold can protect you from inflation or currency fluctuations. Countries often invest in gold when economic growth starts to decline. The more debt-laden an economy, the more it may have to pay for gold. Gold can be another "string to your bow" when you seek to diversify your investment portfolio. Diversification is another reason to own gold. This is a cornerstone of sound financial management. Gold is an excellent vehicle for protecting wealth over a long period of time (provided you store it securely). During a period of civil instability, gold is a way to protect assets. It is portable, easy to hide, and can give you something to hang on to when everything else is crumbling. | Manage your risk. Keep it in the family. Place an ad in the newspaper. Place an ad on Craigslist. Monitor Internet auctions. Develop relationships with local pawnshops. Buy gold bullion. Decide what type of investment-grade gold bullion you want to buy. Choose the weight. Find a source that sells gold bullion. Determine the current market price for gold. Aim to buy gold coins or bars at or below the prevailing market price, plus a premium of approximately one percent. Store your bullion securely, preferably in a safe-deposit box. Think ahead. Open a futures account at a commodity trading firm. Invest capital that you can afford to lose. Buy a gold futures contract. Wait for the contract to end. Use ETFs. Use a broker. Decide why you're interested in investing in gold. |
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