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https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Strongyle-Infestations-in-Horses | How to Get Rid of Strongyle Infestations in Horses | If you have a horse with a Strongyle infection, keep it isolated and get rid of the infection by treating it with anti-parasitic drugs like pyrantel pamoate or ivermectin. A severe case where larvae are embedded in the lining of your horse's intestine requires high doses of fenbendazole or moxidectin, which would be prescribed by your veterinarian. Isolating your horse is extremely important because grass touching infected feces can be eaten by other horses. | Look for physical signs of an infection. A strongyle infection will have an impact on your horse's health. If your horse has an advanced strongyle infection it may lose weight, have diarrhea and abdominal pain, experience recurrent colic episodes, exhibit unusual weakness, have a poor hair coat, or even suddenly die. The symptoms of a small strongyle infection and a large strongyle infection are very similar. However, the main difference is that large strongyle affect more body systems because they travel throughout the body during their lifecycle. Look for behavioral symptoms. The discomfort caused by the parasites not only affects the physical well being of the horse but physical discomfort can impact the mental well being of the horse as well. Thus, horses with severe strongyle infestations may become depressed and withdrawn and show signs of general discomfort. Pay attention to signs that your horse is withdrawn. For example, its posture may change and its response to you appearing at its stall may change from excited to indifferent. Get a veterinary diagnosis. If you suspect that your horse has a strongyle infection, then it should be checked out by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to give you a definitive diagnosis and instructions for proper treatment. If you suspect your horse has a strongyle infection, you should keep a record of the horse's symptoms and when they occurred, so that you can give this information to your veterinarian. A diagnosis is usually done with a flotation test or inspection of the horse's feces to identify eggs and worms. Bring in a single fecal ball that's less than a week old for your veterinary clinic to test. The flotation test can show a general strongyle infection but a fecal culture is needed to figure out if the infection is small or large strongyle. Medicate your horse. Large and small strongyle are treated with a antiparasitic drugs, such as pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin, and oxibendazole. Follow your veterinarian's instructions for dosing and length of time to give to your horse. Dosage and the length of treatment will vary depending on the severity of the infection and the regional conditions that could affect the infection. For example, in regions that have high rates of infection, your horse may need to be on anti-parasitics for a longer period of time. There is a risk of developing parasites that are resistant to antiparasitic drugs if these drugs are given too often or in too high of doses. Because of this, only horses with active infections should be given the medication, even if you have other horses in the same area. Treat severe cases aggressively. With small strongyle, the larvae can embed themselves in the lining of the intestine, protecting themselves from the immune system of the horse, as well as many deworming medications. These larvae can emerge from the intestine wall all at one time, flooding the system and potentially even killing your horse. Because of this, treatment with fenbendazole or moxidectin should be given in high doses if a severe infection is diagnosed. Discuss the need for aggressive treatment with your veterinarian. If the infection is impacting your horse's health, aggressive treatment may be necessary. Weigh the pros and cons of the various possibilities for treatment with your veterinarian. Treatment should be given in the winter particularly, as movement of the larvae into the intestine wall usually occurs during this time of year. If the infestation is very severe, your horse may need additional treatment with corticosteroids to fight it off. Keep your horse isolated. Strongyle infections are very contagious, especially for horses that spend time in overcrowded pastures. This is because when the adult strongyles migrate out of the horse on feces, they move from the feces onto blades of grass. When other horses then eat the grass, the strongyles enter their digestive system, starting the cycle all over again. If you have an infected horse, and other horses have been spending time in the same pastures as the infected horse, then the other horses need to be checked for an infection. Even if the other horses are not infected, you will need to put them on an preventative medication to eliminate the risk of infection. Prevent future infections. As with most infections, it is better and easier to prevent the infection than to treat it once it has been established. Routine anthelmintic treatments, which are antiparasitic drugs, should be given to prevent small and large strongyle infections. Additionally, pyrantel tartrate can be given to your horse daily to prevent a small strongyle infestation. This medication is put onto your horse's feed and it prevents larvae from developing once they enter the body. Be sure to administer these preventative drugs under the watch of a veterinarian, who can direct you about what medications are needed and when they should be administered. | Look for physical signs of an infection. Look for behavioral symptoms. Get a veterinary diagnosis. Medicate your horse. Treat severe cases aggressively. Keep your horse isolated. Prevent future infections. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Grip-Tape | How to Clean Grip Tape | To clean the grip tape on a shortboard, use a soft wire brush with sturdy bristles to get rid of any dirt. Start at one end of your board and work your way down. Avoid pressing down too hard so you don't risk rubbing off the grip. If there's any leftover grime on your grip tape, rub grip gum across it. You can also remove the wheels from your board and lay it on a flat surface to make the process easier. To clean the grip tape on a longboard, use the same process, but dip your brush in soapy water to help break down the dirt, since longboards are more water-resistant than short boards. After cleaning it, let it dry for for at least 3 hours, since riding it while it's damp can be dangerous. | Buy a soft wire brush. The bristles should be sturdy, but not sharp enough to tear your grip tape. You can buy a good metal brush for a few bucks at your local hardware store, or get a specialty one from your local skate shop. Small brushes allow for precision. A firm toothbrush will also work. Brush the grip tape thoroughly. Start from one end of the board and work your way to the other, going section by section. This brings deeper dirt to the surface, and you'll be able to sweep most of it off with your hand. Don't push so hard that the grip tape starts tearing. Avoid stripping the grit. Keep going until there are no more dirty spots. If there are deep stains that won't come out, you might want to replace the grip altogether. Remove leftover grime with grip gum. Most skate shops sell grip gum meant specifically for skateboards, and they're great products for cleaning. Rub at the grip tape like you would with a pencil eraser, then brush away the residue. Doing a thorough pass with grip gum will leave your board looking brand new. A rubber cement eraser from an art store is a cheap alternative. Buy a soft wire brush. Pick up a cheap metal brush with stiff bristles at your local hardware store, or buy one from your a skate shop. Small brushes allow for precision. A firm toothbrush will also work. Fill a bowl with soapy water. Longboards are thicker and more resistant to water than shortboards, so it's okay to use liquids on them. Mix tap water with a little bit of soap to brew up the ideal skateboard cleaning concoction. You should only need a medium-sized bowl to wash every inch of your grip tape. Add lemon for a clean smell. Don't submerge your longboard. Window cleaner can also be used to clean grip tape on longboards. Dip your brush in the bowl and scrub your grip tape. Start at one end of the board and work your way to the other, taking time to really dig into the messier spots. Longboards have thick grip tape and it may take a while to loosen all of the dirt. Rinse your brush in the bowl whenever it gets dirty. Don't let water pool on your board. Liquids can seep into the wood and do damage to the structure. Pushing too hard will tear the grip and strip grit from the tape. Dry the grip and board with a microfiber cloth. Lay the cloth across the top of your board and pat to soak up moisture. Then fold the cloth and press against the grip tape until the tape is mostly dry. Make sure the bottom wood is also dry. Don't use paper towels, as that will break apart and make a huge mess. Grip tape might start to peel if it's not dried thoroughly. Allow your board to dry for at least three hours. Riding a wet or damp skateboard can have negative effects. If, by chance, water got into the wood of your longboard, riding it might bend or warp the whole thing. Then it might not roll straight. Just be safe and let your board dry completely before using it. Use grip gum if there is still residue. Rub it across the grip tape like you would with a regular pencil eraser, then brush away the residue left behind. Stop by your local skate shop to buy some grip gum. You can also use a cheap rubber cement eraser from an art store. | Buy a soft wire brush. Brush the grip tape thoroughly. Remove leftover grime with grip gum. Buy a soft wire brush. Fill a bowl with soapy water. Dip your brush in the bowl and scrub your grip tape. Dry the grip and board with a microfiber cloth. Allow your board to dry for at least three hours. Use grip gum if there is still residue. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Soil-Erosion | How to Prevent Soil Erosion | For a quick erosion fix, add mulch or rocks to weigh your soil down. If you have a steep slope, try mulch matt for a secure option. Prevent long-term soil erosion by covering the bare ground with turf, ornamental grass, or spreading shrubs. Avoid walking over your soil, which can lead to further erosion. | Plant grass and shrubs. Bare soil is easily swept away by wind and water, the two main causes of erosion. Plant roots hold the soil together, while their leaves block rain and stop it breaking the soil apart. Turf, ornamental grass, and low, spreading shrubs work best since they cover the soil completely. If you have any bare ground, try to establish plant cover as soon as possible to limit erosion. If the ground is mostly flat (slope of 3:1 or less), this might be enough to solve the problem. Steep slopes erode faster, so they need more protection. Add mulch or rocks. This will weigh down the soil and protect the seeds and young plants underneath from getting washed away. It also slows the absorption of water to reduce runoff. Grass clippings or bark chips work especially well. If you don't plant anything, keep the soil covered with mulch. You can also add mulch around plants to add another layer of protection or to keep the soil warm. Use mulch matting to hold vegetation on slopes. Simply lay the mat over your seeds or young plants. On steep slopes, dig a small trench at the top of the hill first. Lay the top of the mat in the trench, fill it up with soil, then fold the mat back over the top. This helps water run over the top of the mat, where the mat will slow it down, instead of traveling underneath it. Fiber mulch mats or erosion control mats are a layer of mulch held together in a fiber mesh. This structure holds the mulch together in areas where normal mulch would be washed or blown away. Put down fiber logs. Another option for erosion control on steep slopes is a series of rolled up logs or "wattles" made from fibrous material (like straw). Water running down the slope will slow down when it hits the logs, soaking into the soil instead of carrying mud downhill. Put the logs down across the slope, 10 to 25 feet (3–8m) apart. Hold them in place with wooden stakes or sturdy, living plants. You can plant seeds directly in the logs to protect them while they grow. If you do plant seeds directly into the logs, you should still use stakes to hold the logs in place, at least until the seeds develop sturdy roots that go into the soil. Build retaining walls. Badly eroded slopes will continue to collapse downhill until they are stabilized. A retaining wall at the base of the slope will block the soil and slow down the collapse. This gives grass or other plants time to grow and help the soil hold together. Give the wall a 2% slope on the side (perpendicular to the incline) so that water flows off to the side instead of pooling. You may build the wall from concrete blocks, rock, or wood. Only use wood treated with a preservative to prevent rot. Use retaining walls around flowerbeds and other raised soil areas as well. You may need local government approval to build these structures. Improve drainage. All buildings should have gutters or pipes that can drain water effectively out of your garden and into water collection systems. Without adequate drainage, heavy rain could wash away a whole layer of topsoil. Areas with heavy water runoff may require installing an underground perforated drainage pipe. Reduce watering if possible. Over-watering your garden can speed up erosion by washing away soil. Use less water if you can, or install a drip irrigation system. Since a drip system only delivers small amounts of water at a time, there is no water flooding across the surface to carry topsoil. Avoid soil compaction. When people, animals, or machines travel over soil, they press it down, compacting the soil into a dense layer. Since there is less space between dirt particles in compacted soil, water has a hard time draining through, and carries soil on the surface downhill instead. Walk on paving stones or cleared paths instead of trampling the soil, especially when it is wet. Adding compost or manure can also help by attracting earthworms, which break the soil into looser clumps. Compacted soil also makes it harder for plants to become established, since the roots have trouble breaking through. Compaction always lead to net erosion. The water may run off of compacted soil, but as it runs off it generates more force, which can increase the erosion in other areas. Plant trees to prevent landslides. Tree roots are powerful tools when soil is too eroded or steep to plant. Plant native trees on steep slopes and riverbanks to reduce soil loss. Bare ground around the tress still needs to be covered in mulch or grass for best results. Keep in mind that older trees will be more effective at preventing landslides than new saplings. It may take some time before your tree develops roots that are strong enough. Reduce tillage. Deep, frequent tillage creates a layer of compact soil vulnerable to water erosion, topped by loose soil easily removed by wind. Consider a zero-tillage approach using a coulter or other deep planting device. These conservation tillage techniques also reduce the amount of vehicle traffic, and therefore soil compaction. Protect weak crops with strip cropping. Crops with weak roots or that need to be sparsely planted are more vulnerable to erosion. Plant these in strips, alternating with strips of an erosion-resistant crop such as dense grass or legumes. Plant the crops so they contour the slope. Plant these crops perpendicular to the prevailing wind if possible. Practice wet season spelling. Grazing land cannot remain healthy and erosion-resistant if cattle are allowed to graze year-round. For best results, close off a paddock for the entire wet season to allow grasses to reestablish themselves. This may not be effective if the other paddocks cannot support the spelled cattle. If possible, keep cattle away from riverbanks and heavily eroded soil at all times. Keep soil covered year-round. Bare soil is far more vulnerable to erosion than soil with ground cover. Aim for at least 30% ground cover on all grazing land, ideally 40% or more. After you harvest your crops, leave the residue on the soil as mulch. Alternatively, plant hardy winter crops. Control downhill runoff with flumes. Runoff is concentrated into a narrower area as it travels across lands. The points where the concentrated runoff reaches a slope are particularly vulnerable to erosion. You can build a paved flume, or lined channel, to lead the water to a safe drainage system. Build these at gully heads as well. Another option is to build a swale to re-direct the runoff into a pond. Building several swales along a hillside can greatly reduce runoff volume and eliminate the need for a paved channel. Do not build flumes on slopes steeper than 1.5:1. Turn a hillside into terraces. The steepest slopes are almost impossible to farm on. Turn the hill into terraces instead by building retaining walls running across the slope. In between the walls, grade the soil level to create a flat area resistant to erosion. | Plant grass and shrubs. Add mulch or rocks. Use mulch matting to hold vegetation on slopes. Put down fiber logs. Build retaining walls. Improve drainage. Reduce watering if possible. Avoid soil compaction. Plant trees to prevent landslides. Reduce tillage. Protect weak crops with strip cropping. Practice wet season spelling. Keep soil covered year-round. Control downhill runoff with flumes. Turn a hillside into terraces. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Say-Thank-You-in-Vietnamese | How to Say Thank You in Vietnamese | To say thank you in Vietnamese, use the phrase "cảm ơn," which sounds like "gauhm uhhn." If you're thanking an older woman, add "bà," or if you're thanking an older man, add "ông." If you want to express strong gratitude, add "nhiều lắm" at the beginning. Finally, you can express thanks in other ways, such as by crossing your arms as a sign of respect. | Say “cảm ơn. ” The nearest equivalent to the English phrase “thanks,” in Vietnamese uses the words “cảm” and “ơn.” These two words together translate literally to the directive to “feel favor.” Use “cảm ơn” when thanking someone informally. In English, the phrase “thank you” has the person you are addressing built in – “you.” In Vietnamese, however, you'll also need to add a word to indicate the person you are addressing. Pronounce “cảm ơn” correctly. Since Vietnamese is a tonal language, pronunciation is extremely important to the meaning of both words and phrases. When you're hoping to say “thank you,” say “cảm” in a broken falling tone, and “ơn” in a flat tone. Since it is hard to imagine these sounds from simply reading about them, listen to recordings of the phrase online. When pronounced correctly, “cảm ơn” will sound like “gauhm uhhn”. The “auh” portion of the first word is sounded out in a rising, then falling voice. Include a personal pronoun. Increase the politeness of your expression by including a personal pronoun corresponding with the person you are addressing. In other words, say, “cám ơn,” in addition to an appropriate word for “you” in Vietnamese. Use “bà,” pronounced “baa,” when addressing an older woman, and “cô,” pronounced “coh,” to address a young girl. Use “ông”, pronounced “ohng,” to address a man who is older than you, and “anh,” pronounced “ang,” when thanking a young man. For instance; “cám ơn cô” means “thank you,” as you would say it to a young woman. Emphasize your gratitude. Add “nhiều lắm,” pronounced “nyee-oh luhm,” after saying “cảm ơn” to express especially strong gratitude. This addition indicates the English equivalent of "a lot" or "so much.” Accordingly, say, “cảm ơn nhiều lắm,” pronounced “gauhm uhhn nyee-oh luhm,” if you're hoping to more strongly convey your gratitude. Say thank you as formally as possible. The Vietnamese language includes another word to help express appreciation in contexts that requires extreme formality and politeness. In particular, the word “xin,” which translates to “to ask” or even “to beg” is placed before “cảm ơn.” Altogether, say “xin cảm ơn,” pronounced like “sin gauhm uhhn.” Smile when you receive a compliment. Vietnamese culture dictates that smiles are often used to convey appreciation instead of a verbal expression of thanks. Think of a smile as a silent “thank you.” Modesty is highly respected in Vietnamese culture, and deflecting a compliment with a smile is the best way to express appreciation for a compliment modestly. Similarly, if you pay someone a compliment, do not expect them to express their gratitude verbally. Accept a smile instead of many common phrases. In English, people are often quick to say “hello,” as well as “thank you” and “sorry” in many different contexts. In Vietnamese culture, a smile often take the place of these phrases. In fact, anyone who is older or in a position of authority will usually not thank younger or subordinate people verbally. Accordingly, do not be offended if you do not receive a verbal thank you for a favor. In particular, do not expect someone who is your parents age or a teacher to say thank you. Instead, you will likely receive a nod. Use other nonverbal expressions. Other expressions are also used to emphasize statements or replace verbal communication. Some common physical gestures, however, have different connotations in Vietnamese culture. For instance, avoid patting someone's back or pointing while talking, as these actions will be perceived as disrespectful. Similarly, avoid placing your hands in your pocket or on your hips, especially while expressing gratitude. Cross your arms when expressing gratitude. This is considered a sign of respect. Avoid holding eye contact. Eye contact with someone of a greater age or social status may be taken as a challenge. Meanwhile, eye contact with someone of the opposite gender indicates affection or desire. Accordingly, take care not to maintain eye contact with a anyone who may misread your expression. In fact, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect. Since people maintain eye contact when speaking in many other cultures, averting your eyes may be hard to get used to. Practice looking away from a conversation partner's eyes before you go to Vietnam. Say “you’re welcome. ” In Vietnamese, the equivalent of the English phrase “you're welcome” is synonymous with “there isn't any problem.” Accordingly, say, “không có gì” to say “it's nothing” or “không có chi” to say “you're welcome” when someone thanks you. "Không" is spoken in a flat tone, while "có" is spoken in a rising tone. "Không có chi" is pronounced "khong koh tsee." | Say “cảm ơn. Pronounce “cảm ơn” correctly. Include a personal pronoun. Emphasize your gratitude. Say thank you as formally as possible. Smile when you receive a compliment. Accept a smile instead of many common phrases. Use other nonverbal expressions. Avoid holding eye contact. Say “you’re welcome. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Dopamine | How to Increase Dopamine | If you're trying to increase your dopamine levels, make sure to eat foods that are rich in amino acids, like meat, dairy, and beans, to help your body produce more dopamine. Additionally, try having a cup of coffee and spending a few minutes in the sun every day to increase your body's use of dopamine. You may also want to try meditation or deep breathing exercises, which have been shown to increase dopamine levels. For example, practice breathing in deeply, holding the breath for a few seconds, then slowly exhaling while focusing solely on your breathing. | Eat foods rich in tyrosine. In order to make dopamine, your body needs tyrosine, which is an amino acid. When it enters your body, the amino acid travels to your brain. Once there, the neurons responsible for releasing dopamine transform it into dopamine with the help of other enzymes. The foods highest in tyrosine include cheese, fish, meat, seeds, grains, dairy, beans, and soy. As long as you're getting enough protein in your diet, you should be getting enough tyrosine. To determine how much protein you need, multiple your weight in pounds by 0.36 grams. For instance, if you weigh 150 pounds (68 kg), you need 54 grams of protein. As an example, 0.5 cups (120 mL) of cottage cheese has 14 grams of protein, while a serving of chicken the size of your palm has about 19 grams of protein. Consume protein-rich foods to get your daily dose of phenylalanine. Tyrosine can be produced in part from phenylalanine, so eating foods rich in this amino acid can ensure you're getting enough tyrosine. In turn, that may increase dopamine. Meats, cheeses, and wheat germ are rich in this food. Artificial sweeteners also contain this amino acid. You should consume at least 5 grams of phenylalanine a day, but you can eat up to 8 grams per day. As an example, 3 ounces (85 g) of many cheeses have about 1 gram of phenylalanine in them. Get your daily jolt of caffeine. Caffeine is one of the main ways to increase the body's use of dopamine. While it doesn't increase your production of dopamine, it likely works by making more receptors available to use the dopamine your body produces. Try taking or drinking up to 300 milligrams per day. An average cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams. Keep in mind that caffeine can cause depression and fatigue once it's out of your system, which usually occurs about 6 hours after you consume it. Try not to rely too much on a caffeine boost. Also remember that caffeine can prevent you from falling asleep, so avoid drinking it 6 hours before bed. Set goals and reward yourself for achieving them. When you are approaching a reward, such as the achievement of a goal, your body releases dopamine. Once you set a goal, plan out small, concrete steps you can take. Each time you achieve a part of your goal by taking a step, your brain may reward you with dopamine. For example, say your goal is you want to learn how to paint. You could set small goals like get supplies, set up a workstation, and practice painting 30 minutes every day. Spend more time in sunlight to increase your dopamine sensitivity. Sunlight likely plays a role in how many dopamine receptors are available to "catch" the dopamine. In other words, while it doesn't increase dopamine per se, it increases the amount your system is making use of, offering similar benefits. Spending as little as 5 to 10 minutes in the sun can help. Try taking a walk at your lunch break to get a little sunshine in. Practice meditation when you want to release dopamine. True meditation relaxes you completely, to the point that you have less of a desire to act. In turn, your body may release dopamine in response, as a way of encouraging action. Try practicing meditation 2-3 times a day. Even simple meditation like deep breathing can increase your dopamine levels. For deep breathing, try focusing on just your breathing. Breathe in to the count of 4, and then hold for 4 counts. Breathe out to the count 4. Repeat this action, focusing solely on your breathing. You can try a meditation app such as Insight Timer, Calm, or Headspace. You can follow either a guided or non-guided meditation. Practice gratitude and thankfulness. Gratitude is linked to the release of dopamine in your brain. The more thankful you are, the more likely your brain is to release dopamine. Just being thankful for a good meal or something a friend just did and expressing it is a way to release dopamine. You can also try keeping a gratitude journal, where you write down 5 things you're thankful for each day. Take levodopa to increase dopamine in the brain. Levodopa is a precursor of dopamine, meaning it can be transformed into dopamine in the brain. Taking levodopa increases the amount of dopamine your body produces. You may be prescribed this medication by your doctor if you have a disease like Parkinson's or restless leg syndrome. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, impairment of voluntary movement, and dizziness. It can also cause hallucinations and confusion in some people. Discuss a dopamine agonist to increase dopamine receptors. While levodopa increases the amount of dopamine your body makes, dopamine agonists actually up the number of receptors to "catch" the dopamine. You can take this medication in place of or in addition to levodopa. The 2 most commonly prescribed dopamine agonists are pramipexole and ropinirole. The main side effect of these medications is daytime sleepiness, which may even cause you to fall asleep against your will. This medication is also used for diseases like Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome. Try velvet bean as a supplement. The velvet bean naturally contains levodopa. Like stronger prescription medications, that means it may increase dopamine in your brain. Look for a supplement that contains extract of Mucuna pruriens with 15% L-dopa or levodopa. Take 300 milligrams 2 times a day of this extract. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any supplement, especially one so similar to a prescription medication. Consider golden root as a supplement. Golden root, also known as Rhodiola rosea , may increase dopamine activity in the brain. Try starting on 200 mg of a supplement with Rhodiola rosea extract. Look for one that has 2-3% rosavin and 0.8-1% salidroside. Take this supplement once a day. You can take as much as 600 milligrams in one day. Talk to your doctor before starting this supplement. Take it 30 minutes before you eat early in the day. It can cause insomnia if you take it too late in the day. | Eat foods rich in tyrosine. Consume protein-rich foods to get your daily dose of phenylalanine. Get your daily jolt of caffeine. Set goals and reward yourself for achieving them. Spend more time in sunlight to increase your dopamine sensitivity. Practice meditation when you want to release dopamine. Practice gratitude and thankfulness. Take levodopa to increase dopamine in the brain. Discuss a dopamine agonist to increase dopamine receptors. Try velvet bean as a supplement. Consider golden root as a supplement. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chocolate-Cups | How to Make Chocolate Cups | To make chocolate cups, heat chocolate chips or rough cut pieces in the microwave for 30 seconds, stirring halfway through. If the chocolate isn't fully melted, repeat this process. Next, use a pastry brush to coat the bottom and sides of the cupcake liners with the melted chocolate. Then, freeze the cups for 30 minutes before reheating the remaining chocolate, spreading another layer in the liner, and freezing for 60 minutes. | Chop your chocolate. If you are using a bar or a large piece of chocolate, chop it roughly into small pieces about one inch long. Breaking the chocolate into small pieces helps it to melt faster and more evenly. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high in the microwave for 30 seconds. Since chocolate can scald easily, make sure not to put it in for more than 30 seconds. You can remove the chocolate after about 15seconds, stir it and place it back.This way you will get an idea as to how much longer it needs to be melted. If you don't have a microwave, use a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water until it is about ½ inch from the top pan. Then put the chocolate in the top pan and place the double boiler on low heat. Stir continuously until the chocolate is melted. Stir the chocolate. Take the chocolate out of the microwave and stir it using a spoon. Doing this ensures that the chocolate will cook evenly and won't scald. You can also add just a spoon of milk to it. Microwave and stir the chocolate until smooth. Repeat the process of microwaving the chocolate for 30 seconds, then stirring. Particularly stir the unmelted chunks of chocolate into the rest of the mixture. Keep doing this until the chocolate is smooth. Do not microwave the chocolate after it becomes smooth or else it will burn. Spoon one tablespoon of chocolate into cupcake liners. Right after the chocolate has finished heating, drop a tablespoon into 10 cupcake liners. The chocolate has to be warm for it to spread, so don't wait between melting the chocolate and making the cups. Spread the chocolate using a brush. After pouring the chocolate, use a pastry brush or other small brush to coat the bottom and sides of the inside of the cupcake liner with chocolate. Try to evenly distribute the chocolate around the liner so that the cup has an even thickness. Freeze the cups for 30 minutes. After spreading the chocolate, put the cups immediately in the freezer and leave them there for 30 minutes. This will allow the chocolate to firm. Melt the chocolate again. Melt the leftover chocolate by microwaving and stirring every fifteen seconds. Since the chocolate has already been melted, it will take less time to get warm again. Stop when the chocolate is warm and easily stirred. Repeat the same process again to make another coat. Spoon another tablespoon of chocolate into the chocolate cups and spread it to form another layer. Making another layer ensures that the chocolate cups are the right thickness and won't be too brittle. Freeze for one hour. Put the cupcake liners in the freezer to let the second layer harden. Keep the chocolate cups in the freezer for at least one hour so they can get completely hard. Remove the cupcake liners. After the chocolate cups have frozen, peel off the cupcake liner from around them. This leaves you with a perfect chocolate cup! Do this slowly and gently so as to not break the thin chocolate. Fill the cups with your preferred filling. If you wish, create or buy a tasty filling to put inside your cups. You can also just enjoy the cup on its own as a thin and crunchy chocolate treat. If you cook something like a mousse to put in the chocolate cups, wait until it's cool before spooning it inside. If you pour something hot into the cup, the chocolate will melt. Serve immediately. After you have filled your cup with your filling, serve it or put the filled cup in the refrigerator. Even in cooler climates, chocolate can soften quickly, so don't delay in serving. Refrigerate unused cups. Immediately refrigerate any unused cups, as these will begin to melt or soften quickly and may not keep their shape even if frozen later. | Chop your chocolate. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Stir the chocolate. Microwave and stir the chocolate until smooth. Spoon one tablespoon of chocolate into cupcake liners. Spread the chocolate using a brush. Freeze the cups for 30 minutes. Melt the chocolate again. Repeat the same process again to make another coat. Freeze for one hour. Remove the cupcake liners. Fill the cups with your preferred filling. Serve immediately. Refrigerate unused cups. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Gain-Fat | How to Gain Fat | To gain fat, eat 250-500 more calories every day by adding things like cheese, eggs, and sauces to your meals. You can also consume more calories by drinking high-calorie protein shakes every day. While you definitely want to eat more, you should avoid eating processed and sugary foods, which can cause serious health problems. Instead, eat foods that are high in unsaturated fats as well as full-fat dairy products. On top of eating healthy, make it a goal to do strength training exercises a few days of the week so you're also putting on muscle. | Visit the doctor. Before making any kind of dietary or bodily changes, you should get a full evaluation from the doctor. If you have a preexisting condition like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, your doctor may advise against gaining weight. Always take your doctor's advice seriously before making this kind of change. Certain medical conditions will require you to keep your weight up. Thyroid problems, digestive health issues, diabetes, and cancers may all lead to severe weight loss that may endanger your health. Being underweight can lead to health risks like a weakened immune system, anemia, hair loss, and decreased bone density. Very high physical activity can also cause you to be underweight. If you're an athlete, gaining some fat may be good for you because it can increase your energy levels and allow you to workout for longer periods. Set your goal. You'll need a clear plan as you proceed with your weight-gain plan. How much do you want to gain? By when? By figuring this out and drawing up a schedule, you'll be able to gain weight more effectively. Start by figuring out how much weight you want to gain. This can either be a personal goal, or one you've worked out with your doctor or dietitian. Either way, you need a concrete number in mind to start your progress. Remember, the basic way the body gains weight is when you take in more calories than you burn. So when drawing up your plan, you should figure out how much you need to eat every day to offset the amount of calories you burn. There are various ways to calculate this. Try this link for a tool to estimate your daily calorie burn: http://www.caloriecount.com/tools/calories-burned Read Set Meaningful Goals for more advice on how to set and stick to a goal. Plan to start slowly. Flooding your body with hundreds of more calories than it's used to is dangerous for your heart, blood pressure, digestion, and other body systems. Work your way up gradually to acclimate your body to the increased caloric intake. Start off with 200 extra calories a day for a week or so, then increase to 300, and so on. This will help you avoid an initial shock when you start your weight-gain regimen. Break your weight-gain down into stages. Determine how much you would like to gain per week or month. That way, you can ease your body into the weight increase instead of starting off too quickly. Just like with losing weight, gaining weight should come gradually. Gaining about 1/2 to 1 pound per week is a healthy way to go (done by adding 250 to 500 more calories to your daily intake). Don't increase your daily caloric intake more than 500 calories. Draw up a meal plan. You'll have to eat much more in order to gain weight. Focus on nutrient and calorie dense foods instead of junk food. There are plenty of foods that will help you gain weight and also contain all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Plan on eating more than three meals a day. Increase your meals to five or more per day, which may include snacks throughout the day. Make sure all your meals have a good balance. Each meal should contain carbohydrates, protein, and unsaturated fats. These three nutrients will help most with your weight gain. Eating more often and including healthy foods in your diet will get expensive. It would also be helpful if you drew up a new budget to go along with your new diet. Plan on doing some strength training. In addition to gaining fat, gaining muscle may also lead to a weight increase. Starting a strength-training regimen will put all of those nutrients you've been eating to good use. Gaining muscle will help make sure you keep up your strength and overall health while you gain fat. Eat foods high in unsaturated fats. Of course you'll need fat to increase your body weight, but not all fats are the same. Saturated and trans fats will help you gain weight, but they'll also increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats, however, help reduce your risk of heart disease and boost your immune system. Make sure every meal you have includes some fat. When gaining weight, you'll want to focus on these "good fats" to help beef up your body fat while still getting necessary nutrients that your body needs. Nuts, peanut butter, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, and avocados are all high in unsaturated fats and calories and will still provide you with essential nutrients. Include these in your meals or snack on them throughout the day. Eat whole wheat or grain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates act as energy sources for the body. If you don't burn off the energy, it will be stored as fat and help you gain weight. After fat, carbs are important contributors to weight gain, so you'll need plenty of these in your diet. You should focus on whole wheat products for your carbs instead of white products. White products are bleached and processed, which removes most essential nutrients. Whole wheat products will give you the carbs, plus fiber, vitamins, and essential minerals. Replace white products with whole wheat bread, pasta, and brown rice. Include carbs in all your meals to help in your weight gain. Use full-fat dairy products. Dairy is important for your diet because it contains calcium and vitamins. Most dairy products come in reduced-fat varieties, but you'll want the full-fat versions to increase your calorie and fat intake. Drink whole milk and eat cheese and yogurts made from whole milk. Replace sugary sodas (which have no vitamins or nutritional value) with a glass of whole milk to increase your fat intake while nourishing your body. Keep in mind that these types are higher in saturated fats. There is, however, some evidence that full-fat dairy products actually decrease the risk of heart disease. Include meat carefully in your diet. The protein and fats you get from meats are important for gaining weight. Be cautious with red meat, however. Studies conclude that excessive intake of red meat can lead to cardiovascular disease and several kinds of cancer. Stick to about three to five servings a week to stay healthy. The rest of the time, eat poultry for proteins and unsaturated fats. Enhance foods with calorie-rich ingredients. You can continue eating many of the foods you normally do, but make them help your weight gain by adding a few ingredients. Some healthy and effective options include: Add hard boiled eggs to salads. Add cheese to sandwiches, eggs, and salads. Add sauces and gravies to meats. Avoid processed and refined sugar. Just because you're trying to gain fat doesn't mean you should binge on junk food all day. You need to focus on high-calorie, high-fat foods that provide vitamins and nutrients. Processed sugar contains no nutritional value and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, rotten teeth, hormone issues, and other health problems. Cut out as much sugary food as you can. Candy, cake, cookies, and any other dessert foods are packed with sugar. Cut down on or avoid soft drinks altogether. A can of soda contains more sugar than your average dessert. Eat before you sleep. When you sleep, your body requires less calories. Food you eat before sleeping is more likely to be stored as fat. Take advantage of this by eating a heavy snack before bed, if combined with strength training exercises or take an afternoon nap after lunch. Avoid drinking fluids for 30 minutes before eating. Fluids fill the stomach and can make you feel full prematurely. To avoid this outcome, avoid drinking anything for a half hour before your meals. This will ensure that your stomach is empty and you'll be able to eat the entire meal. Use proper exercises. Just because you're trying to gain weight doesn't mean you can't still exercise. In fact, it's very unhealthy to stop moving altogether and become sedentary. Lifting weights can hurt your fat gain if done improperly. Resistance training boosts your metabolism, which will burn more calories. Flood your body with calories after a workout to cancel out the burn and keep your weight gain up. Also stretch regularly. Lack of activity will make your muscles tense up and you risk losing mobility. Make sure to stretch your legs, arms, hips, and back daily to keep your body in good working order. Use protein shakes to bulk up. In addition to eating more, you can also increase your body mass with protein shakes and powder. A variety of products will provide a protein boost that will help increase your weight and muscle mass if combined with strength training exercises. Remember to use all products as directed. Whey protein powder is a popular supplement that you can add to several types of drinks. You can blend up a smoothie using fruit, yogurt, and a few scoops of protein powder. There are also a variety of protein drinks and bars you can purchase. Snack on these throughout the day to give yourself extra calories. Read all labels when buying these products. Many are packed with added sugar, which can be harmful. Opt for products low in added sugar. | Visit the doctor. Set your goal. Plan to start slowly. Draw up a meal plan. Plan on doing some strength training. Eat foods high in unsaturated fats. Eat whole wheat or grain carbohydrates. Use full-fat dairy products. Include meat carefully in your diet. Enhance foods with calorie-rich ingredients. Avoid processed and refined sugar. Eat before you sleep. Avoid drinking fluids for 30 minutes before eating. Use proper exercises. Use protein shakes to bulk up. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Begin-Running | How to Begin Running | To begin running, put on some comfortable clothes and running shoes or sneakers. Then, run slowly until your legs are burning and your chest is heaving, even if that only takes a few minutes. As you run, try to set the front of your foot down first to prevent injury. Set yourself a routine of running at least 3 days a week, and try to run 5 minutes longer every week. To keep yourself motivated, switch up your routes when you can, and try to keep them as convenient as possible. | Go outside and run. Now. The best way to start running is simply to put on a pair of running shoes and hit the pavement, dirt or grass. The motion of running will feel strange at first, as muscles that normally don't get much use spring into awkward action. This is normal. Run until your legs are burning and your chest is heaving; for true beginners, that usually occurs after about 5-10 minutes. When you're just starting out, you don't need fancy running shoes. An old pair of sneakers will do. Once you know you want to continue the sport, you can upgrade. Run in comfortable clothes. Put on gym shorts, a T-shirt, and a sports bra if necessary. Don't wear anything too constricting. Run anywhere. Your neighborhood, in a park, up and down your driveway, on the local track at a school. One of the best things about running as a sport is that you can do it almost anywhere, and you're not chained to a gym. Use good form. Try to loosen your body and move forward in a way that feels natural. Pump your arms, take comfortable strides, stand upright with a slight forward lean, and pick your feet up high off the ground so you don't catch a toe in a crack in the sidewalk. Speaking of toes, it's best to run more on the toe or front of your foot, running on the heel will increase your chance of shin splints. Every runner has a slightly different gait, since everyone's body is different, so figure out what works for you. Avoid bouncing and try to land softly in order to reduce stress on your knees and other joints. Find your stride. Recent evidence has come to light that your foot strike (toe, mid-foot, heel) is a natural occurrence that should not be altered. That being said, the faster you run the more forward on your foot your strike will be. Relax your upper body. Holding yourself stiff impairs mobility and makes you run slower. Keep your weight centered and your shoulders in a relaxed position, with your arms bent at 90 degrees. Breathe. Breathe naturally or focus on a breathing technique. Some argue that the best breathing technique is inhaling oxygen through the nose, fully expanding the lungs, and exhaling through a widely opened mouth. Your nose is a good filter for air, especially while running outdoors, which prevents you from accidentally swallowing bugs. Exhaling through your mouth allows your body to get rid of more carbon dioxide and heat with less effort. Stretch when you get home. Although the benefits and/or drawbacks to stretching before a run are controversial, there is little argument about the benefits of stretching at the end of each workout. Stretch out each muscle group, holding each stretch for at least 15-20 seconds. The most important muscles to stretch are your leg muscles. Stand a few feet from a wall and lean into the wall (moving one foot closer to the wall but leaving the other one a meter out) so that you feel your calf muscles being stretched. Do one side then the other. Bend your knee and lift your foot till your foot is back up near your butt. Hold that foot with your hand and bring it real close to your butt. You should feel a stretch along the front of your thigh. Swap sides. Alternatively, you can step forward and lunge into the front foot, keeping your knee behind your toe until you feel the stretch in your thigh. This will save your knees, instead of putting unnatural stress on the tendons and ligaments around your knee that could lead to future damage. Standing near a table or a fence rail (at about hip height) try to put your foot up on the table or fence rail. Now try to straighten out your leg. You should feel a stretch along the back of your leg. Swap sides. Run at least three days a week. This is how you build endurance; running once a week won't cut it. Space out the days to allow for recovery time between sessions. Anything more goes beyond fitness and into running for other purposes, something you may find yourself doing if bitten by the running bug. Run rain or shine, in cold weather and hot. Just be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Stay hydrated and eat light before running. Good rule of thumb is to eat 200-300 calories about 1.5 hours before the run. Try listening to music during your run. It won't work for everyone, but in some cases, it may help you maintain a steady pace. If you find that the tempo of the song disrupts your own natural tempo, however, quit listening. Add time and distance. As the weeks go on, push yourself to run further and for a longer period of time. If you ran 10 minutes at a time the first week, push yourself to do 15 the second week. Make it 20 the third week. You'll soon find that you're able to go much longer before you feel like you have to stop. To build endurance, try these strategies: Don't worry about speed at first. In fact, you should really run more slowly than you think you should. You're not running a race yet; you're increasing your fitness level. For now, focus on gradually decreasing the time or increasing the distance you run. The racing can come later, if you choose. Starting small is important to develop the habit of running. Alternate running and walking. Rather than stopping your exercise session when you feel like you have to stop, walk for a few minutes, then start running again. Repeat over a period of 30 or 40 minutes. Next time you run, increasing the ratio of running to walking during the same 30 or 40 minute period. Eventually, get to the point where you're running the entire time. Do sprints. Running as fast as you can for a short period of time builds up your muscles and helps you gain endurance. Mix up your long running sessions with sprinting days. Use a stopwatch to time yourself. Start by sprinting as fast as you can for a quarter mile; do this 4-6 times. On your next sprinting day, try to beat your first time. Add more quarters as you gain endurance and strength. Map out some favorite routes. Running the same boring track day in and day out is going to make you feel burned out pretty soon. Treat yourself to a run in the woods, or in a neighborhood you've never explored before. Try to rotate your workout sessions between 2 or 3 different places to keep things interesting. Make it convenient. Find places to run near your home, work and/or school. Schedule workouts when you are least likely to be interrupted like early in the morning or on the way home from work. Be prepared for changes in plans by carrying some gear with you (in your car) when at work or school. That way if the traffic is terrible, you can go for a run until the traffic thins out. Don't give up too soon. After a few runs, you might be inclined to think you aren't cut out for running. You'll think to yourself, shouldn't this be more fun by now? Why does it hurt so much? Just keep going. Tell yourself you'll give it at least two weeks before throwing in the towel. After a few weeks of pushing yourself by following a running routine you will begin to feel lighter, faster, and you'll start having more fun. Eventually you'll realize you don't want to miss a run. Obtain some good running shoes. If you're serious about this running thing, it's a good idea to have yourself fitted at a running store, as different shoes are designed for different types of feet. The right shoe for one person is the wrong shoe for another and will cause injury. A good running store can test you to make sure you get the right shoe. It is a good idea to bring along a used pair of shoes as the wear pattern can help determine the pronation of your feet. Identifying pronation will help you choose the right shoes to support your foot type. The person helping you can use an old pair of shoes to determine where you put the most pressure on your feet, and can help find the design that will most minimize injury. Your typical sporting goods store does not have the expertise to get you in the correct shoe. Train for a race.Competing in a race gives you a goal to work toward as you're learning to run. Once you've done one, you'll probably want to do more. To train for a 5K race, which is just over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers), follow a weekly schedule 3 days a week for a 2-month period: Week 1: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Week 2: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Week 3: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards / 180 meters (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards / 180 meters (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards / 365 meters (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards / 365 meters (or 3 minutes) Week 4: Brisk 5 minute warm-up walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile / 400 meters (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile / 200 meters (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile / 800 meters (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile / 400 meters (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile / 400 meters (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile / 200 meters (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile / 800 meters (or 5 minutes) Week 5: Workout 1: Brisk 5 minute warm-up walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Workout 2: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile / 1.2 kilometers (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Workout 3: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then jog two miles / 3200 meters (or 20 minutes) with no walking. Week 6: Workout 1: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Workout 2: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then: Jog 1 mile /1.6 kilometers(or 10 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1 mile /1.6 kilometers(or 10 minutes) Workout 3: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles / 3.6 kilometers (or 25 minutes) with no walking. Week 7: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then jog 2.5 miles / 4 kilometers (or 25 minutes). Week 8: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then jog 2.75 miles / 4.4 kilometers (or 28 minutes). Week 9: Brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then jog 3 miles / 4.8 kilometers (or 30 minutes). Join a running group. Running with other seasoned runners will give you the opportunity to get feedback on your form, and provide motivation to stick with it. You can run races together or just run for recreational purposes. You'll find information about local running groups at running stores. | Go outside and run. Use good form. Breathe. Stretch when you get home. Run at least three days a week. Add time and distance. Map out some favorite routes. Don't give up too soon. Obtain some good running shoes. Train for a race.Competing in a race gives you a goal to work toward as you're learning to run. Join a running group. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Season-Salmon | How to Season Salmon | If you want to season salmon with a dry rub, combine your herbs and spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle the dry rub onto both sides of your salmon filet. For more intense flavor, let the salmon rest for about an hour before you cook it. If you would rather season your salmon with a marinade, make a mixture of wet ingredients like soy sauce and mustard, place the salmon filet in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade into the bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator and leave it there for about 8 hours, then cook the salmon. | Create a very simple baked fish with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Pour a dollop of olive oil on top of the fillets, and use your fingers to rub it in. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top before popping the fish in the oven. Salmon has a wonderful flavor all on its own, so sometimes, simple seasonings are all you need. If you want, you can squeeze a bit of lemon on the salmon before serving. Try rosemary or thyme with roasted or broiled salmon. When salmon is cooked in one of these methods, the flavors of the fish get stronger, so you want strong herbs to go with it. Both rosemary and thyme can stand up to the stronger flavors of roasted salmon. Sprinkle on a bit of dried herbs with olive oil, or tuck a few pieces of fresh rosemary or thyme under the fish while it roasts. Use smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or cumin for a smoky flavor. Sprinkle one or all of these on your fish before roasting for a smoky finish. You can also use these flavors when grilling to enhance the smokiness you get from the charcoal. Sprinkle on your favorite seasoning blend. Salmon is robust, and it can stand up to a variety of spices. Try sprinkling on taco seasoning, for instance, or Italian seasoning. It also does well with jerk seasoning, curry powder, Cajun seasoning, a Moroccan blend, or Chinese 5 spice. Just sprinkle the seasoning on the fish, and cook it how you'd like, by pan frying it, roasting it, or grilling it. If the blend doesn't have salt, consider adding a sprinkle to heighten the flavors. To brighten the fish, squeeze on some citrus juice at the end. Create a basic rub with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and olive oil. In a small bowl, pour in 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) garlic powder, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) Kosher salt, and a couple of grinds of fresh black pepper. Pour in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil and the juice and zest of 1 lemon. Stir the mixture well. Rub the mixture on a salmon fillet that's about 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg). Let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Roast the fish in an oven that's 400 °F (204 °C) for 25 minutes. Try a sweet and spicy rub with brown sugar and spices. Add 2 spoonfuls of brown sugar to a small bowl. Pour in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of chili powder and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of cumin. Add in a couple of dashes of salt and pepper, and stir the mixture. Start with 6 salmon fillets. Brush on olive oil, then brush the rub on the fillets. Grill the salmon for 5-6 minutes on each side. Make an earthy rub with cumin, coriander, and fennel. Pour 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of cumin seeds, and 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of fennel seeds into a spice grinder. Add in 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) each of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt, as well as a few grinds of black pepper. Grind the mixture until it's a fine powder. Spread oil on the fish, and rub the mixture in. Let it sit for a few minutes before cooking. For extra flavor, cook the seeds in a pan for 3-5 minutes until lightly brown before you grind them. You don't need oil for this process, but keep an eye on them, as they brown quickly. If you don't have a spice grinder, you can use pre-ground spices. Mix citrus with fresh herbs and olive oil for a quick flavor burst. Chop any fresh herbs you have on hand, from dill to parsley. Zest a lemon into a small bowl and squeeze the juice in. Add a dollop of olive oil, along with the fresh herbs. You could also try fresh basil, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, or even mint. Spread the herb mixture on before baking or even pan frying. You can also use store-bought pesto instead. Create an Asian-style marinade for grilled salmon. When grilled, salmon's flavors intensify, so you need strong flavors to go with it. Try a marinade that incorporates flavors like fresh ginger and garlic to marinade your fish. Mix minced fresh garlic and ginger with a couple of dashes of soy sauce, a few drops of sesame oil, a dash or 2 of rice wine vinegar, and a spoonful of brown sugar to create your marinade. Let the fish marinate for at least 2 hours. You can sub honey for the brown sugar if you prefer. Cook the salmon in the marinade in a pan or drain it off if you want to grill it. Pour garlic, lemon juice, and butter into foil packets for an easy sauce. Add the juice of 1 lemon, 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of melted butter, 2 cloves of minced garlic, and ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of salt for 1.25 pounds (0.57 kg) of salmon. Close the packets, and cook the fish for about 15 minutes at 375 °F (191 °C). Open the packets to broil the fish for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end. You can also add a dash of black pepper, oregano, and/or crushed red pepper, depending on your preferences. When plating, spoon out a bit of the sauce on top of the fish. Sprinkle with a bit of fresh, chopped parsley at the end. Use flavored butter at the end for a simple, flavorful "sauce. " Let butter soften on the counter. Mix in your favorite fresh herbs or seasoning mix. For instance, add in a couple of dashes of Cajun seasoning or even Italian seasoning, along with some salt and pepper. After cooking the salmon, place a pat of the butter on top of the salmon to melt and flavor it. You could also use black pepper or citrus zest. Try mixing in a bit of bourbon or whisky, along with a dash of honey or brown sugar. Make a quick, cool yogurt sauce with spices. You can use crème fraîche, yogurt, or even sour cream mixed with a bit of milk. Stir in any spices you like, such as dill, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper or curry powder. You could also try scallions, sriracha, a little hot sauce, or fresh parsley and lemon zest. | Create a very simple baked fish with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Try rosemary or thyme with roasted or broiled salmon. Use smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or cumin for a smoky flavor. Sprinkle on your favorite seasoning blend. Create a basic rub with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and olive oil. Try a sweet and spicy rub with brown sugar and spices. Make an earthy rub with cumin, coriander, and fennel. Mix citrus with fresh herbs and olive oil for a quick flavor burst. Create an Asian-style marinade for grilled salmon. Pour garlic, lemon juice, and butter into foil packets for an easy sauce. Use flavored butter at the end for a simple, flavorful "sauce. Make a quick, cool yogurt sauce with spices. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Answer-the-Phone | How to Answer the Phone | To answer the phone at work, speak in a friendly tone and say something professional like, "Good morning, this is Carl. How may I help you today?" If you're answering your personal phone and caller ID displays a friend or family member's name, you can greet the person on the other end casually with something like, "Hey Daria! What's up?" If you aren't sure who's calling you, a standard "Hello?" works well. | Keep it professional. When you're answering the phone at your office, you don't always know who's on the other end of the conversation. Answering the phone professionally will start whatever conversation you are about to have get off on the right foot. When in doubt, answer with a simple "Hello, this is Carl." Even if you have caller ID, it could be your boss calling from a colleague's phone! Answering the phone with "Yeah, what?" may give people a negative or overly-casual impression of you. Focus on the conversation. Be absolutely present. Stop whatever you might be doing and take a brief moment to prepare. Wear the face that you want to project before picking up the phone. It makes a difference: whether you're smiling, frowning, or bored to tears, your caller will hear that in your tone. Refrain from clicking around on the Internet or distracting yourself during the call. If you aren't engaged, the caller will be able to tell. Always identify yourself. In business situations, it is appropriate to answer the phone with your name and company: "Good morning, thank you for calling XYZ. This is Carl. How may I help you?" If it's an internal call, and you know it, you can answer with your department and name: "Hello, this is WebDev, Carl speaking. How can I help you today?" This will let your caller know they've reached the right person, and that you are ready to assist them. Keeping a friendly, personable tone will make the call much more pleasant for everybody. In many office situations, there are guidelines for answering the phone that all employees must follow. Always project sincerity, no matter how silly the canned lines might seem—the customer will be able to tell the difference if you are enthusiastic, versus just reading the cue card: "Welcome to Good Burger, Home of the Good Burger!" will sound totally ridiculous if you don't say it with conviction. Answer with an appropriate level of decorum. Be patient, respectful, and upbeat. Do your best to be helpful. Try not to speak too informally until you know who the caller is. If the speaker does not introduce themselves, say, "May I ask who's calling?" It's important to know who's calling in case you need to contact them again or transfer them to another line. This gesture also lets the caller know that he or she is being treated personally, and by extension that he or she matters. It's important to build positive working relationships with people that contact you more than once. Try not to be rude, even if you're frustrated. Remember that in a work setting, your words and actions reflect directly upon your company. If you reflect poorly upon your company, you may drive away business--and your supervisors may not take kindly to the trend. Be prepared to take a message. If someone is calling to speak to your supervisor or co-worker, but you're the only person available to take the call, politely ask who's calling and ask them to state their purpose. Listen carefully and record as much relevant information as you can: If the person they are trying to reach is not available to speak, tell the caller, "I'm sorry, but Mr. O'Halloran is not available right now. May I take a message?" Be sure to record the person's name, phone number, and reason for calling. Gauge how urgent the call seems--does the caller seem like they need something taken care of within the next two hours, or just within the next week? If it is an important business call, you'll want to deal with the issue as quickly and efficiently as possible--so be sure to pass the message along as soon as you can. Be wary of information-gathering calls. If you don't recognize a caller, and he or she requests details about you or others, be careful not to give away too much about the inner function of your company. Even if the caller gives a name and identifies his or her company, you should be wary unless they are a trusted contact. If you aren't sure, put the caller on hold for a minute and ask a co-worker for advice: "Have we done business with someone named Dave Neal before? He's asking a lot of questions about our processes and capacity, and I want to make sure that I can trust him." In a business situation, state "I'm sorry, sir/madam. Company policy is that I am not permitted to give out that information. May I have more details on why it is required?" and make your assessment from there. Tailor your greeting to whoever is calling. If you know who's calling, based on caller ID and experience, feel free to greet that person as you would face-to-face. If you don't know who's calling, answer more formally and wait for the caller to state their purpose. For a standard, internationally-accepted greeting: say, "Hello?" Answer with a slight upward inflection at the end of your greeting, as though you were asking a question. "Hello?" This will prompt the caller to respond, and in most cases they will go on to explain why they're calling. If a friend is calling, greet them casually: "Hey, Tom! How's it going?" If a supervisor, an acquaintance, or a potential employer is calling, greet them more formally, but with an air of familiarity: "Good evening, Mr. Lynch. How are you?" If you do not know who's calling, revert to a simple "Hello?" After you say "Hello? " , wait for the caller to respond. When you say "Hello?", you prompt the caller to introduce him or herself. Review the following example, with your words in bold and the caller's words in italics : "Hello?" "Hey, Carl, it's Tom." "Oh, hey Tom! What's up?" "I'm just calling to see if you're around later. I was thinking about going to see the new Star Wars movie." "Heck yeah, I'm down to see the new Star Wars movie!" Personalize your greeting. As you become more experienced at answering the phone, you may begin to develop greeting patterns and specific phrases that you use over and over. Consider identifying yourself with your greeting: "Hello, this is Carl." or "Carl speaking." Consider experimenting with informal variations of "Hello?": "Hey!" or "Hiya!" or "Hey, what's up?" or "Hey, how's it going?" These informal greetings are best suited to friends and non-professional acquaintances. Set up a voice-mail message for the times that you can't answer the phone. Anyone from friends to parents to employers might wind up hearing your voice-mail message, so make sure that it's polite and direct. Avoid joke or prank voice-mail recordings unless you're absolutely sure that only your friends will be calling. Say, "You've reached Carl's voice-mailbox. I'm sorry that I can't make it to the phone right now. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." Consider setting up a family recording if you're using a home phone. Say, "Hi, this is the Rogers family. Sorry we can't come to the phone right now, but leave us a message and we'll call you back as soon as we can!" Feel free to have fun with family recordings--try having your whole family speak as a chorus, or have each family member say part of the message. Consider asking directly for caller details, instead of just asking callers to leave a message: "Please leave your name, number, and purpose for calling, and I will return your call as soon it's convenient." This more specific approach may be most appropriate for a number at which you expect to receive a lot of professional calls. Consider who might be calling you. If you are expecting a call from anyone--a new acquaintance, an organization, or a potential employer--answer the phone with this in mind. Gauge whether the situation calls for a slightly-more-formal or a slightly-less-formal greeting--but err on the side of formality, just in case. Answer politely and semi-formally, in this case. A simple "Hello?" will do. You do not need to identify yourself immediately--if the caller knows you personally, or has your name on a list, he or she will ask: "Hi, may I speak to Carl?" If the call is listed as "unknown," or "blocked," you need not feel obligated to answer the phone. Answer, if you like, or simply wait to see if the caller leaves a voicemail. You can always call someone back, if it's important. Be on the lookout for prank calls. If you answer the phone and the call quickly becomes ridiculous or offensive, you may have been prank-called. Some prank callers are vulgar and obvious, but other prank callers will try to trick you into thinking that it's a legitimately important call. Deal with prank callers as you would deal with bullies: if you stay on the line and play into their prank, it will only encourage them. It may useful to stay on the line and play along, however, if it gives you insight into who is calling. Some U.S. phone companies offer a call-tracking service: if you dial *69 once you've hung up the phone, an automated message service will give you any public information about the last number that called you. Be wary of telemarketers. If you answer a call from an unknown number, and the person on the other end of the line begins to ask you questions about yourself, they may be trying to get your money. Telemarketers call dozens of people each day, and many of these people are not interested in what they're selling. Don't feel bad about saying, "Thanks for calling, but I'm not interested. Have a great day!" and hanging up. Don't waste your time or theirs. If you don't want to receive any more calls from this particular company, ask the telemarketer to place your number onto their "Do Not Call" list. Many companies will comply with your request, and they won't bother you anymore. If you're interested in what a telemarketer is selling, feel free to stay on the line and listen to the pitch. Bear in mind that the longer you stay on the line, the more they'll try to sell you! If they ask for you or another member of your household, ask them for their name and organization before you tell them anything—the last thing you want to do is give telemarketers too much information! If they're cagey or won't say who they are, remember—you're under no obligation to continue speaking to them. | Keep it professional. Focus on the conversation. Always identify yourself. Answer with an appropriate level of decorum. Be prepared to take a message. Be wary of information-gathering calls. Tailor your greeting to whoever is calling. After you say "Hello? Personalize your greeting. Set up a voice-mail message for the times that you can't answer the phone. Consider who might be calling you. Be on the lookout for prank calls. Be wary of telemarketers. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Breed-French-Bulldogs | How to Breed French Bulldogs | To breed French Bulldogs, start by selecting a male and female dog with characteristics you want to pass on to the puppies. Then, take them to the vet to ensure they're healthy enough to breed. Next, watch for the female to bleed, which is a sign of ovulation, before bringing the dogs together. You should also hold on to the female's collar with one hand and support her ribcage with the other while the male mounts her. Additionally, have both dogs on leashes so you can separate them if one dog gets aggressive. | Choose dogs with good breeding histories. To breed French Bulldog puppies, you need to choose dogs that have a good health history, and who have characteristics you would like to pass onto puppies. Think about physical characteristics, like size and color, along with other qualities like temperament and personality. Make sure the male and female dog aren't closely related. Have both dogs genetically tested and tested for infectious diseases like Brucellosis so you know they're healthy before you breed them. Track your bitch’s ovulation cycle. Typically, a bitch will start ovulating about 5 days into her cycle, once she has started spotting. You'll notice a bit of blood and irritability to indicate the beginning of her fertile period. At this point, you can take your female to the vet for tests to confirm that she's ovulating before you place her with the male for mating. Put the dogs together when the bitch is ovulating. When you have confirmation that your bitch is ovulating, place her in the same room as your stud. It's best to put one hand on the female's collar and the other under her ribcage to help steady her while the male mounts her. Make sure to supervise the mating session closely to prevent any aggressive outbursts. If either dog shows signs of aggression, it's best to keep them both on leashes during the mating session. That way you can pull them apart and control their interaction better to prevent injury. During intercourse, the stud's penis will enlarge while it is inside the female. This leads to a situation in which the penis gets “stuck” inside the female and the male dog will typically turn around so that it appears the two dogs are stuck butt-to-butt. This is completely normal and typically lasts around 20 minutes. Get help from your vet for artificial insemination instead of physically breeding the dogs. You can request veterinarian assistance with artificially inseminating your bitch, rather than actually mating the two dogs. This method can be much easier on the female, so it is often the method of choice for veteran breeders. If you're comfortable doing it yourself, you can try collecting the semen from the stud's distended penis and dripping it into the bitch's vagina with a clean dropper. Keep the female on her back with her hips slightly elevated to help ensure conception. Don't try to perform this yourself unless you've been trained or you could hurt the dogs or cause an infection. Take your female dog to the vet for prenatal care before the birth. The vet will be able to do an ultrasound or radiograph to see how many puppies your dog is going to have. They'll also be able to check for any possible issues with the pregnancy and give you advice for birthing the puppies. Watch for signs of labor. When your female is ready to begin labor, it should be quite obvious by her behavior. Some common signs of labor include: restlessness, shivering, panting, loss of appetite, whining, and vomiting. Your dog may also retreat to a secluded area in preparation for delivery. Once you start seeing these symptoms, the puppies will generally start arriving in 12-24 hours after the symptoms of labor start. Interfere in the birthing process only when necessary. Each puppy should come within 10-30 minutes of one another and the dam will usually bite off the umbilical cord, tear open the placental sac around each puppy, and begin licking the puppy vigorously to stimulate breathing and circulation. If your female is performing all of these activities on her own, leave her to it so she can bond with her puppies. If the dam doesn't seem to know what to do, then you will need to take action. First, gently tear open the placental sac so the puppy can breathe. Then, cut the umbilical cord and tie it off using thread. Clear away any fluid or mucus away from the puppy's mouth and nose. Then rub the puppy vigorously to help stimulate breathing and circulation. Be prepared for a necessary cesarean. French Bulldogs have small pelvises and large heads, so they usually cannot give birth naturally. Be aware of this fact and monitor your Frenchie for symptoms of a necessary C-section when she starts the labor process. If the bitch is in labor for more than an hour, you should immediately take her to the vet for an emergency C-section. Set up a whelping box. This is a space where the mother can convalesce while she is recovering from delivery and take care of her puppies. The box needs to be big enough for the mother and all the puppies to lay down comfortably with tall enough walls to keep the puppies inside – about 32 in (81 cm) wide by 16 in (41 cm) deep by 12 in (30 cm) high. You should make sure there is a heat source nearby like a heating lamp to help keep the puppies warm during the first week or so. Make sure the puppies are eating enough. Newborn puppies need to eat about once every two hours. Observe the new puppies to make sure they are making their way to their mother's nipples for feeding times. If they can't find it, try to squeeze the nipple and lead the puppy to the drop of milk to encourage it to eat. If the puppies are not suckling, or seem to be constantly hungry (yelping and crying all the time), you may need to supplement with bottle feeding a high quality newborn puppy formula like Esbilac. Monitor the puppies to make sure they are urinating and defecating. French Bulldogs are not born knowing how to pee and poop. They learn these skills by being licked by their mothers. This motion encourages the puppies to use the bathroom. If the mother doesn't seem to be licking the puppies, you may have to do it. Dab a cotton ball in warm water and gently rub it across the puppy's genitals to stimulate their excrement. Obtain a breedable female. The most important thing you need to become a reputable breeder is a healthy, fertile female. You can always make arrangements with other breeders to use their males as studs, so you really just need a female to get started. Make sure your female is healthy and capable of carrying litters. Take your female to the vet to get a full physical examination before you start breeding her. Your female dog should be up-to-date on all its vaccinations, actively taking heartworm medicine, and free of any parasites. Join several French Bulldog breed clubs. Joining such organizations will increase your chance of being approved when you apply to be a certified breeder through the Kennel Club, or another organization. It will also help you network with other Frenchie breeders – this way you can find other studs and bitches to breed your own dogs with down the road. Consider joining the French Bulldog Club of America, the French Bulldog Club of England, the Southern Bulldog Club, or any others in your area. Apply to be an Assured Breeder, recognized by various dog organizations. You can apply for the Kennel Club's Assured Breeder Scheme online at https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/assured-breeder-scheme/assured-breeder-scheme-application/. When you complete the application process, you'll need to include information about your animals (including registration names and numbers), your personal history breeding French Bulldogs, any relevant club memberships, and pay a small fee (typically around $60 US) for membership fees. Getting approved for this type of program will give you club access to advertise your litters in their publications and be listed as an approved breeder. | Choose dogs with good breeding histories. Track your bitch’s ovulation cycle. Put the dogs together when the bitch is ovulating. Get help from your vet for artificial insemination instead of physically breeding the dogs. Take your female dog to the vet for prenatal care before the birth. Watch for signs of labor. Interfere in the birthing process only when necessary. Be prepared for a necessary cesarean. Set up a whelping box. Make sure the puppies are eating enough. Monitor the puppies to make sure they are urinating and defecating. Obtain a breedable female. Join several French Bulldog breed clubs. Apply to be an Assured Breeder, recognized by various dog organizations. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Medication-to-a-Turtle%27s-Eyes | How to Apply Medication to a Turtle's Eyes | Giving your turtle its eye medication can seem a little daunting, but it will be easier if you follow the proper steps. Gently take your turtle out of its tank and place it on the floor. If it retracts its head into its shell, use a little food to entice it out. Then, have your medication ready and gently hold its head between your thumb and finger so it doesn't retract its head again. Drop the medication into its eyes, following the dosage on the label. If your turtle has any pus or discharge in its eyes, clean this up with a Q-tip. Usually you'll need to give your turtle its eye medication a few times a day, but it should get easier the more you do it. | Gather supplies and pick a spot. The first step in applying medicine to your turtle's eye is to gather all of the supplies you need in an appropriate area. This way, you'll have everything you need and won't need to scramble once you've got your turtle out of its aquarium. Consider: Picking a spot on the floor, so that turtle-dropping danger is minimized. Lay out a clean towel to absorb any medicine or turtle droppings. Place your turtle eye medicine on the towel. Place some turtle treats or food on the towel to distract your reptilian friend. Remove the turtle from its tank. Before you apply medicine to your turtle's eye, you need to remove it from the aquarium. When removing your turtle, move slowly and do not frighten it. This is important and you'll want to do everything you can to avoid scaring your little friend. When you go to remove your turtle: Sit quietly next to the enclosure for a couple minutes before going to take it out. Pick the turtle up with both hands placing one on each side between the front and back legs. Hold your friend firmly but don't hurt it. Place the turtle down gently. Get your turtle to stick its head out. One of the biggest challenges of applying medicine to your turtle is getting it to cooperate. Since turtles can just retract their heads into their shell, this could be a problem. Try to tease your turtle out of its shell with food. Wait until your turtle's head is completely out of the shell and he or she is eating. If your turtle is not cooperating at all, put it down and try again in half an hour. Be very gentle and do not hurt your little friend. Remember, that he or she does not really know that you're trying to help. Be very considerate. Position your turtle. Next, you'll have to take some steps to position your turtle and make sure that he or she does not retract its head back into its shell. This way, you'll be able apply medicine to the turtle's eyes easily. Make sure to: Take your other hand and with your palm under the turtle's plastron, place your index finger and thumb on either side and behind the turtle's head. Do not grab its neck vertebrae, but do keep your fingers firmly planted as the turtle will be violently pulling its neck in. Hold the turtle like this until it stops struggling, and only tries to pull its neck in. Again, be very gentle with your turtle. If you are not comfortable doing this, find someone who is or contact a vet. Apply the ointment or drops. Since you'll be busy holding your friend in position and making sure he or she doesn't retract its head, you'll need to have someone else apply the ointment or drops to your little friend. If you don't have a helper, slowly place your turtle firmly on the ground and remove the hand that was touching the plastron. Use this hand to apply medicine. Remove pus or other discharge with a q-tip. Apply ointment onto eyes or fill your eye dropper with eye drops. If you're using eye drops, drop the appropriate amount of drops (as prescribed) into the turtle's infected eye or eyes. Repeat application of ointment or drops. Now that you've applied drops or ointment to your turtle, you've got to repeat application of the ointment or drops. This should get easier for both you and your turtle. You'll both get used to it, and your turtle will probably cooperate more-and-more. Make sure to: Follow your doctor's directions. Often times, antibiotic ointment or drops need to be applied 3 times a day and for 7-10 days or as directed. If your turtle does not begin to recover after a few days, contact your vet. Place your turtle back into its aquarium or enclosure. Now that you've applied medicated cream or drops to your turtle, you have to place it back into the enclosure. Make sure to: Gently place the turtle back in its enclosure Avoid creating any disturbances in the room. Check back on your turtle in an hour or two. Identify problems. Healthy turtle eyes should be clear, open, and shiny. If you have a turtle whose eyes are not healthy, you should contact your vet immediately. This is extremely important as eye infections can be indicative of larger health problems. In addition, since turtles depend on their sight to find food, if they can't see, they'll have problems eating. Watch for eyes that are: Swollen. Half shut. Reddened. Sunken. Produce pus or discharge. Clean your turtle’s aquarium. A very important part of treating your turtle is making sure its aquarium is clean. Making sure you have a clean aquarium will aid in the healing process and help avoid further infections. Ultimately, the cleaner the environment, the less chance there is for bacteria to accumulate. Remove your turtle and put it in a temporary home. Remove all water, rocks, plants, and everything else. Clean the aquarium (if glass) with very hot water. Scrub the sides with a brush or something slightly abrasive. Be careful not to scratch the glass. If you use a cleaner, make sure that your tank is rinsed thoroughly so that no chemicals are left. Properly clean all fake plants, rocks, and anything else that goes in the tank. Maintain proper nutrition. A major cause of eye infections in turtle is vitamin A deficiency. As a result, make sure that your turtle has proper nutrition and has proper levels of vitamin A. In addition, proper vitamins and nutrition will help keep your turtle healthy overall and minimize infections, including eye infections. Feed your turtle specially formulated food pellets. These will have all of the vitamins your turtle needs. Avoid feeding your turtle a diet made up mostly of either iceberg lettuce, all meat, or cheap commercial food. Make sure you don't give your turtle too much vitamin A. An overdose might kill your turtle. Contact your vet if you have questions about proper nutrition and health. | Gather supplies and pick a spot. Remove the turtle from its tank. Get your turtle to stick its head out. Position your turtle. Apply the ointment or drops. Repeat application of ointment or drops. Place your turtle back into its aquarium or enclosure. Identify problems. Clean your turtle’s aquarium. Maintain proper nutrition. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Memorize-Lyrics-of-a-Song | How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song | The best way to memorize the lyrics of a song is by listening to it as often as possible, and practice singing along to it. Once you feel comfortable, try reciting the song as if it were a poem without any music accompanying it. If you're having trouble remembering the order of the lyrics, look them up online and do some research into the meaning behind the words. Write the lyrics out without listening to the music to test how much you've memorized! | Evaluate your learning style. There are a number ways to break down the various ways in which people learn. When it comes to rote memorization, your senses are a particularly helpful lens through which to view your personal learning style. Auditory learners absorb new information most effectively by hearing and/or speaking it out loud. Tactile learners absorb new information most effectively through movement; they learn best by doing things for themselves. Visual learners absorb new information most effectively by reading it, or seeing a visual representation. Determine what your learning style is. Just by reading a little about these different learning styles, you may already have an idea which of them you favor. Keep in mind that no one learns through just one of these styles exclusively; we use our senses in combination when we learn. That said, most people tend to rely more heavily on one of their senses (or on a particular combination) when they learn, and understanding this will help you decide which approach to memorization is likely to be most effective for you. If you're not sure what kind of learner you are, an online learning style self-assessment questionnaire can help you nail it down. If you want to try a less systematic approach, just try the techniques that sound interesting to you, and see what works best. Incorporate your learning style into your approach. Now that you understand your brain a little better, it's time to consider the best way to go about memorizing those song lyrics. Remember, you don't have to confine yourself solely to the techniques recommended for your primary learning style; most people will learn fastest if they incorporate elements of all three. Auditory learners are at an advantage when it comes to learning song lyrics, as songs are by nature auditory. If you are an auditory learner, listening to a song on repeat is likely to be your best bet. Singing or speaking the lyrics aloud to yourself will also help. At first you will need to read the lyrics as you sing or speak them, but with repetition this will become unnecessary. Tactile learners will also benefit somewhat from singing along with the song they are trying to learn, although in this case it has more to do with their propensity to learn by doing than any particular benefit of auditory processing. If you are a tactile learner, you will also find writing the lyrics out by hand a few times very helpful. Visual learners will want to spend some time studying a written copy of the lyrics. If you are a visual learner, watching a music video of the song you are trying to memorize can be a good tool, as it will help you associate visual imagery with specific lyrics. You may find it helpful to highlight different verses of the lyrics with different colors, as well; when you are trying to recall a specific verse later, you can call to mind the color in which it was highlighted, which may help you visualize the words on that part of the page. Listen to the song as often as possible. It's important that you not just try to memorize written lyrics. Listening to the song is probably the most important step you can take. Songs are noted for being one of the easiest things to memorize; this is why setting information to music is a frequently recommended technique for all sorts of rote memorization, and why most people have at some point experienced memorizing a song without even trying, simply by listening to it over and over. Listen to the song you are trying to memorize as frequently as possible: in the car, on the bus, in the shower, while doing chores, while doing homework, while getting ready for bed, and generally whenever the opportunity presents itself. You may start to get sick of it, but you will be much closer to your goal of knowing it by heart. This will be especially effective if you sing along with the song. If your goal is to perform the song, it might be a good idea to practice singing. Having the lyrics memorized won't be much help if you can't sing in key. Try moving around while you're listening to the song, like going for a walk. Using both sides of your brain will help you memorize the lyrics better. Recite the song as if it were a poem. This can help you think of it as a sequence of ideas or events. Many people learn lyrics more effectively when they imagine them as a narrative, rather than just a collection of rhymes. When you think you know the lyrics, try reciting the song like a poem 3 times as fast as you can to make sure you've really got the lyrics down. Connect emotionally to the song. The more interested in or engaged by something you are, the easier it is to retain information about it. Try to find parts of the song that interest or resonate with you, and look up any lyrics that are confusing. This is especially important if the song you are trying to memorize is in a language in which you are not fluent; it is much easier to learn something when you understand its meaning than when it is just a succession of meaningless syllables. Make it fun. Introducing elements of play and/or competition can make the process of memorization more engaging. Time yourself reciting the lyrics to the song you are trying to memorize, and then use that time to set yourself a challenge; try to see how quickly you can recite the whole thing from memory. Draw a visual representation of a line you are struggling with, or a comic using the lyrics as dialogue. Challenge a friend to see which of you can deliver the most dramatic rendition of the song. Anything that helps you enjoy the process of memorization will be a big help. Use flashcards. Flashcards are particularly helpful because they incorporate every learning style: tactile learners benefit from making the cards, visual learners benefit from seeing them, and auditory learners benefit from reading them aloud, either to themselves or a study partner. Make a series of numbered flashcards (you want to learn them in order, after all), with one card for every line of the song. On the front of the card write the first 2 or 3 words of the line, and on the back complete the rest of it. Visualize and associate. This is a trick used by memory performers, or people who perform feats like memorizing multiple decks of playing cards in memory competitions. It involves associating whatever you are trying to memorize with a specific, striking mental image. While this is not the most practical approach to memorizing an entire song, it may be useful if you can't seem to get one or two tricky lines to stick in your head. Imagine, for example, that you are struggling to commit the lyrics, “You are so beautiful to me” to memory. The trick is to create a slightly strange mental image in association with these lyrics. Think of other words these lyrics sound like. In this example, you might turn “you” into “ewe,” and “are,” into the letter “R,” and combine them into a mental image of a group of acrobatic sheep forming the letter “R” with their bodies. Instead of, “so beautiful,” you might think, “sew beautiful,” which might lead you to imagine the sheep each embroidering the word, “beautiful” onto a piece of cloth while performing their acrobatic feat. Lastly, “to me” could simple become, “two me,” leading you to imagine two identical versions of yourself gazing in wonder as the ewe “R” sews, “beautiful.” This is very silly, but it is also much more likely to stick in your mind than a random sentence with which you have no particular visual association. Sleep on it. Your brain continues to process and learn about things while you sleep. Not only will being well-rested help your brain function at its best, but studying or practicing a new skill right before a good night's sleep has been shown to increase the speed with which you learn, and your ability to retain that information. Write the lyrics down. Writing down the lyrics on a piece of paper will help you engrave the words into your brain and you can also bring the paper wherever you go so whenever you have time you can look over it. Sing the song out loud or in your head while you read the lyrics on a piece of paper. | Evaluate your learning style. Determine what your learning style is. Incorporate your learning style into your approach. Listen to the song as often as possible. Recite the song as if it were a poem. Connect emotionally to the song. Make it fun. Use flashcards. Visualize and associate. Sleep on it. Write the lyrics down. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Count-to-99-on-Your-Fingers | How to Count to 99 on Your Fingers | To count to 99 on your fingers, make fists and put them on the table. Count by extending your fingers from your closed fists, starting with your right index finger for the count of 1. Lift your remaining right fingers to count up to 4, then touch your right thumb down to signify 5. Then, start over with your right index finger for 6 and count up to 9 with the other fingers. Use the same technique with your left hand, but this time count by tens up to 90 to put it all together! | Put your open hands in counting position over a desk or table. Extend both hands in front of you as if you are about to play the piano on your desk or tabletop. Your palms should be facing down, with all 10 fingers extended and your thumbs pointing toward each other. Hold your hands about 1 in (2.5 cm) above the table. You'll count by pressing combinations of 1 or more fingertips down on the desk or table—once again, almost as if you are playing the piano. Count by extending fingers from closed fists as a variation. Keeping all 10 fingers extended and tapping the table is the traditional chisenbop style. However, you can also keep your hands closed and extend combinations of 1 or more fingers as you count. PLEASE NOTE: The images in this article demonstrate the closed fist method because it is easier to visualize from overhead images. Use symbols to reinforce your finger positioning as you learn chisenbop. This way, you can make up flash cards to test yourself, for example. You might use ^ to represent a finger off the table, * to represent a finger on the table, < or > to represent a thumb on the table, and # to represent a thumb on the table. If you symbolically represent your 2 hands and 10 fingers extended in front of you, you'll end up with strings of symbols like the following: ^^^^> <^^^^ represents all 10 fingers off the table (equaling 0) ****# #**** represents all 10 fingers touching the table (equaling 99) ^^^^> <*^^^ represents 1 (with only the right index finger down) Touch your right index finger to the table. This signifies a count of 1 in every instance. Your right hand is the “ones” column, for counting from 1 to 9. Meanwhile, your left hand will be the “tens” column, counting 10, 20, 30, etc., up to 90. So, since no left hand fingers are touching the table, you have zero “tens.” And, since just your left index finger is touching, you have a single “one”—that is, the number 1. ^^^^> <*^^^ represents 1 (right index finger down) Press your left index and middle fingertips down to signify 2. The index finger signifies 1, and adding the middle finger signifies 2. Because none of the fingers on your left hand (the “tens” hand) are touching down, you have no “tens” to factor in. ^^^^> <**^^ represents 2 (right index and middle fingers down) Count to 3 and 4 by putting your right ring finger and pinkie down. To signify 3, touch your right index, middle, and ring fingers down. To signify 4, touch those 3 fingers plus your right pinkie down. ^^^^> <***^ represents 3 ^^^^> <**** represents 4 Lift your fingers and touch just your right thumb down to signify 5. This is the first time the chisenbop method may seem a bit tricky to a newcomer. Your thumb signifies 5 all by itself, so you don't need your other fingers to be touching the table. And, you'll need those other fingers to count from 6-9 on only your right hand anyway. ^^^^> #^^^^ represents 5 (right thumb down only) Touch your right thumb and index finger down to indicate 6. When touched down by itself, your index finger equals 1. When combined with your thumb, which equals 5, you get 5 (thumb) + 1 (index finger) = 6. ^^^^> #*^^^ represents 6 (right thumb and index finger down) Count to 7, 8, and 9 with your other fingers. Continue in the same fashion to count up to 9 using just your right hand. Your thumb, index finger, and middle finger signify 7; your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger signify 8; and your thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky signify 9. ^^^^> #**^^ represents 7 ^^^^> #***^ represents 8 ^^^^> #**** represents 9 This method will take a little getting used to if you typically count to numbers above 5 by using both hands. But with some practice you'll pick it up quickly! Signify 10 by putting just your left index finger on the table. The fingers on your left hand mirror those of your right hand, except they're in the “tens” category. So, since your right index finger by itself represents 1, your left index finger by itself represents 10. To reiterate—to indicate the number 10, only the index finger on your left hand, and none of the fingers on your right hand, should be touching the table (or extended outward if you're using the alternate method shown in the images here.) ^^^*> <^^^^ represents 10 Indicate 20, 30, and 40 with your left-hand fingers. Your left index and middle fingers down signals 20; your index, middle, and ring fingers down signals 30; and your index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers down signals 40. ^^**> <^^^^ represents 20 ^***> <^^^^ represents 30 ****> <^^^^ represents 40 Show the number 50 with just your left thumb touching down. Just like the right thumb signifies 5 all by itself, the right thumb signifies 50 without the use of the other fingers on your left hand. ^^^^# <^^^^ represents 50 Show 60, 70, 80, and 90 with your left thumb and fingers. With your right thumb remaining down (representing 50), touching your right index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers down in succession will add 10 each time. ^^^*# <^^^^ represents 60 ^^**# <^^^^ represents 70 ^***# <^^^^ represents 80 ****# <^^^^ represents 90 Count 9, 10, 11 to get used to using both hands. Remember that signaling 9 involves touching down all 5 fingers on your right hand, and signaling 10 involves touching down only the index finger on your left hand. To get to 11, remove all fingers from the table, then put down both your left index finger (signaling 10) and your right index finger (signaling 1). Since 10 + 1 = 11, you've just signaled 11 with both hands. ^^^^> #**** represents 9 ^^^*> <^^^^ represents 10 ^^^*> <*^^^ represents 11 Signify 12, 13, and 14 with both hands. To do this, you'll keep your left index finger down (signaling 10) and your right index finger down (adding 1 to 10 to equal 11). You'll add your right middle finger down to get 12; your right middle and ring fingers down to get 13; and your right middle, ring, and pinkie fingers down to get 14. ^^^*> <**^^ represents 12 ^^^*> <***^ represents 13 ^^^*> <**** represents 14 Show 15 by using your left index finger and right thumb. Keep your left index finger down to indicate 10, then lift all the fingers on your left hand and touch down your thumb to show 5 (10 + 5 = 15). ^^^*> #^^^^ represents 15 Keep counting from 16 through 19. Keep your left index finger down (10) and your right thumb down (5). Add your right index finger down to get 16; your right index and middle fingers down to get 17; your right index, middle, and ring fingers down to get 18; and your right index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers down to get 19. ^^^*> #*^^^ represents 16 ^^^*> #**^^ represents 17 ^^^*> #***^ represents 18 ^^^*> #**** represents 19 Show 20 with your left index and middle fingers, then keep counting to 49. Each time you touch down another one of your left fingers (index, middle, ring, and pinkie), you increase the total by 10. Use your right hand to add 1 through 9 more to the “tens” you're showing with your left hand. ^^**> <^^^^ represents 20 ^^**> <*^^^ represents 21 ^^**> #^^^ represents 25 ^***> <***^ represents 33 ^***> #**^^ represents 37 ****> #**** represents 49 Indicate 50 with just your left thumb, then go up to 99. Remember that your left thumb alone signals 50. Any left hand fingers you touch down will add 10 more apiece, touching your right thumb down will add 5 more, and touching right fingers down will add 1 more apiece. ^^^^# <^^^^ represents 50 ^^^*# <**^^ represents 62 ^^**# <**** represents 74 ^***# #*^^^ represents 86 ****# #***^ represents 98 ****# #**** represents 99 | Put your open hands in counting position over a desk or table. Count by extending fingers from closed fists as a variation. Use symbols to reinforce your finger positioning as you learn chisenbop. Touch your right index finger to the table. Press your left index and middle fingertips down to signify 2. Count to 3 and 4 by putting your right ring finger and pinkie down. Lift your fingers and touch just your right thumb down to signify 5. Touch your right thumb and index finger down to indicate 6. Count to 7, 8, and 9 with your other fingers. Signify 10 by putting just your left index finger on the table. Indicate 20, 30, and 40 with your left-hand fingers. Show the number 50 with just your left thumb touching down. Show 60, 70, 80, and 90 with your left thumb and fingers. Count 9, 10, 11 to get used to using both hands. Signify 12, 13, and 14 with both hands. Show 15 by using your left index finger and right thumb. Keep counting from 16 through 19. Show 20 with your left index and middle fingers, then keep counting to 49. Indicate 50 with just your left thumb, then go up to 99. |
https://www.wikihow.fitness/Get-Cut-Arms | How to Get Cut Arms | To get cut arms, start by incorporating arm exercises such as bicep and hammer curls to work your upper arms, making sure to fully contract your muscles with each repetition. Next, work your triceps with tricep extensions or kick backs, which will help define your lower arms. With any arm exercise, start with smaller weights and fewer reps before working your way up to using heavier weights to avoid injury. Try to do your arm workout 3 times a week, making sure to take rest days in between to allow your muscles to recover. | Begin with bicep curls. Your biceps are your strongest arm muscles and when they become more defined, they create a nice curve just above your elbows. Use free weights, also called dumbbells, that are comfortable for you to hold in each hand and provide just enough weight to be challenging but not impossible to lift. Bicep curls can be done in a standing position on even ground or seated on a workout bench. Stand with your legs shoulder distance apart and a dumbbell in each hand on either side of your body, with your palms facing each other. The dumbbells should be horizontal in each hand. Breathe out and raise the dumbbells until they reach the height of your shoulder. Pause and then breathe in as you lower them back down. Do not jerk your upper body as you lift the weights. You want smooth, fluid movements, with a full contraction as you move your arm up and a full stretch as you move your arm back down. Repeat these movements for three to four sets of 12 reps. Practice inner bicep curls. You are targeting your inner bicep muscles with this exercise. You can do these exercises standing or seated. If you do the seated version, sit on the end of a work out bench and keep your abdominal muscles tight as you raise and lower the dumbbells. Hold one dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing each other. Breathe out and raise both dumbbells so they are on either side of your body at shoulder height. The dumbbells should be horizontal in your hands as you raise them. Pause and then breathe in as you slowly lower them down. Repeat these movements for three to four sets of 12 reps. Try hammer curls. These exercises are great for building your bicep muscles and can be challenging if you increase the reps over time. Start in a standing position with your legs shoulder distance apart. Hold one dumbbell in each hand along the sides of your body with your palms facing your body. Raise both dumbbells by curling your forearms towards your body. The dumbbells should be vertical in your hands. Keep your upper arms straight and even. Pause and then lower them back down. Repeat these movements for three to four sets of 12 reps. Do seated isolated dumbbell curls. It's best to do these exercises in a seated position so you can focus on working your bicep muscles. Sit at one end of a work out bench with your legs shoulder width apart. Hold one dumbbell in your hand and place your elbow extended against the front area of your inner thigh. You should have enough room between your legs to raise and lower the dumbbell against your inner thigh without hitting your other leg. Breathe out and raise the dumbbell until it reaches shoulder height. Pause and breathe in as you extend your arm back to the starting position. Repeat this movement six times on each arm for three to four reps. Practice Preacher bicep curls. To do these exercises you will need access to an arm pad that you can raise and lower according to your height. Start with Preacher bicep curls using a supination grip, where your palms are facing up. Place your upper arms against the arm pad so your palms are facing up, with a dumbbell in each hand. Breathe out and raise one dumbbell until your forearm is parallel to the floor, pause, and then breathe in as you lower your arm back down. Repeat these movements with your other arm. Alternate on each arm, six times each arm, for three to four sets. Do tricep extensions. Strengthen your triceps by doing extensions with a dumbbell on your back, lying down. This will allow you to target your tricep muscles in a comfortable and stable position. You will need access to an exercise bench to do this exercise. Lie down on your back on a bench with your legs on either side of the bench. Hold one dumbbell with both hands so it is directly over your chest. Breathe in as you bend your elbows and lower the dumbbell towards your forehead. Pause and then breathe out as you straighten your arms back into the starting position. Repeat these movements 12 times for three to four reps. Try tricep dips. You can do tricep dips on an exercise bench or sitting in a chair. This exercise is ideal if you do not have access to free weights as it requires you to use your body weight. Sit on the edge of an exercise bench or on the edge of a chair, with your legs bent or extended in front of you. Place your hands on either side of your hips behind you on the bench or chair. Shift your hips forward so they are two to three feet from the bench and bend your elbows. Breathe in and lower your hips down towards the ground, bending at the elbows and creating a 90 degree angle with your arms. Pause and breathe out as you raise your hips back to the starting position. Repeat these movements 12 times for three to four reps. Practice tricep kick backs. This exercise will help to define your triceps, especially if you increase your reps over time. You will need an exercise bench to do this exercise. Start with your right leg bent on the exercise bench and your right arm flat on the bench. Keep your left leg straight on the side of the bench. Hold a dumbbell in your left hand. Keep your lower back straight as you bend forward at the hips so your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Your left arm should be bent so your arm forms a 90 degree angle and the dumbbell is parallel to the floor. Breathe out as you extend your left arm behind you, lifting the weight up and back. Pause and breathe in as you return your arm to the starting position. Be careful not to jerk your body as you lower the dumbbell back down. Repeat these movements six times on each arm for three to four reps. Plan to do your workout three times a week. When doing an exercise routine that involves weight lifting or resistance bands, you should allow your body 48 hours to recover. This means you should do your arm workout on alternating days (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for example) so your muscles have a sufficient amount of time to rest. Your arm muscles are a small muscle group and can be easily injured if they are overworked. Prevent injuries or pain by always giving your muscles time to recover between sets and between workouts. Try to stick to the same three days schedule every week so you can commit to your workout routine and integrate it into your work schedule. Vary your workout exercises. Muscle development plateaus when you complete the same routine each session. Avoid this by challenging your muscles with different exercises on different days or slight variations on existing exercises. You may want to create a schedule of exercises where you do different arm exercises each week and rotate the exercises so you are always varying your exercises from day to day or week to week. Use weights or resistance bands. Before you start doing arm exercises, you should buy free weights that are comfortable and challenging enough for your level of fitness. You can also use resistance bands in lieu of free weights if you are looking for a more portable and convenient training tool. If you have never used free weights before, you may want to ask an assistant at your gym for tips on how to lift weights properly. For these arm exercises, you will be doing at least three to five sets of each exercise, 10-20 times each time. You should look for an amount of weight that you are able to lift 10-20 times without experiencing muscle failure or extreme muscle fatigue. During your workout, muscle failure should occur right after you have done your last rep. The more you lift weights, the more familiar you will become with your muscle failure point. Depending on your current fitness level, you may begin with lighter weights, 5-10 pounds each, so you can build muscle strength over time. Do full contractions for every exercise. To maximize your workouts, you should try to complete a full contraction for every exercise. This means completing a full contraction at the top of the movement and a complete stretch at the bottom of the movement. You should move from the starting position of the exercise to the ending position of the exercise with full effort and a complete range of motion. It can help to begin by practicing these arm exercises in a full body mirror so you can watch your form and make sure you are always completing a full contraction for each movement. You should also try to squeeze or flex your arm muscles between sets to keep your muscles active and to always stretch between sets to maintain your range of motion and prevent your muscles from cramping up. Maintain a healthy diet as you work out. A big part of building muscle effectively is maintaining a healthy diet, before, after, and between workouts. It's important that you eat properly after your work out to maximize your muscle definition and help your body replenish itself after a workout. You should plan your meals around your daily calorie intake requirements and make post-workout meals that are high in protein and carbohydrates. Avoid foods high in trans fat and empty calories after a workout, as these will not help your body recover and can reduce your body's ability to stay healthy, fit, and toned. If you are trying to build muscle, you should eat a diet that will encourage your body to build muscle as you work out. Your diet should consist of 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men of protein (the amount of protein varies greatly on your weight, your goals and how active you are, most people only need to take in 0.37g per pound in bodyweight, athletes and the like would be having around 0.7g to 0.8g per pound of bodyweight), such as red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy. Focus on eating complete proteins, instead of incomplete proteins, particularly animal products and vegetarian sources of protein like beans, soy, quinoa, and chia seeds. Your diet should also include healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as brown rice, rolled oats, sweet potatoes, and whole rye bread. You should cook your foods in healthy fats like olive oil (olive oil should not be be cooked with but rather used as a salad dressing sparingly, as exposing it to high temperatures changes it's structure and turns it into a bad type of fat) and sunflower oil, and consume plenty of fiber through vegetables and fruits. | Begin with bicep curls. Practice inner bicep curls. Try hammer curls. Do seated isolated dumbbell curls. Practice Preacher bicep curls. Do tricep extensions. Try tricep dips. Practice tricep kick backs. Plan to do your workout three times a week. Vary your workout exercises. Use weights or resistance bands. Do full contractions for every exercise. Maintain a healthy diet as you work out. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Scallions | How to Chop Scallions | To chop scallions into circles, rinse 3 or 4 of the scallions under cool running water and lay them in a single layer on a sturdy cutting board. Use a chef's knife to cut off the green, hollow tips and about 1/4-inch above the roots. Hold the scallions firmly in place with your non-dominant hand, then hold your knife in the other hand and slice in a steady movement, working your way down the stalk. You can cut the scallions as large or as small as you like, but try to keep the pieces evenly-sized. | Select small, tender scallions. Rinse 3 or 4 scallions that have thin stalks and are still firm and then place them on your cutting board. In order to cut the scallions without crushing them, work in small batches if you want to prepare a lot. The greens on the end of the scallions should look healthy and rich in color. Lay the scallions in a single layer on a sturdy cutting board. To prevent your cutting board from sliding around while you're working, place it on a kitchen towel. Then place the scallions in a single layer on the board. Avoid stacking the scallions because you'll crush them instead of cut them. Cut off 2 in (5 cm) of the green tops and the root ends. Use a chef's knife to cut the green, hollow ends and 1/8 in (3 mm) to 1/4 in (6 mm) above the root ends off. Discard the tips and roots. You should still have green ends of the scallion, but you've just cut away the scraggly part. Hold the scallions in place and slide the blade back and forth. Secure the scallions in place with your non-dominant hand and hold the chef's knife with the other. Decide what angle to cut the scallions and slide the blade towards you in a steady movement. Slide the knife forward and bring it back again to cut the scallions. Make the scallions as thin as you like. For example, cut them between 1/4 in and 1/2 inch (6 and 12 mm). Don't push down as you're slicing the scallions or you'll crush them. Use the scallions immediately for the freshest taste. Scatter the scallions over your favorite meals to add a little color and crunch to the dish. In addition to garnishes, add the scallions to salsas, egg dishes, and salads. Use the thinnest sliced scallions for garnishes and save thicker ones for recipes where you'll be cooking them such as in baked goods or eggs. Store leftover scallions in the refrigerator. You can store chopped scallions for up to 1 day in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that the scallions will become limp the longer they're stored. To revive the scallions, soak them in ice water for about 30 minutes before using them. Lay 2 to 3 scallions in a single layer. Rinse the scallions and place them on your cutting board so they're next to each other in a single layer. Don't stack the scallions or you'll crush them when you cut. If you need to cut lots of scallions into long strips, work in batches instead of trying to cut them all at once. Cut off and discard the top 2 in (5 cm) of green tops. Since you want the delicate flavor and texture of the lower part of the scallion, cut off the top part of the scallions. You can discard the dark green tops or save them for another use. Hold the knife almost parallel to the scallions. Steady the scallions with your non-dominant hand and hold a chef's knife in the other. Instead of placing the knife across the scallions at a 90-degree angle, hold the knife so it's almost parallel to the scallions. Making such an extreme angle will make very long, thin strips of scallions. Slide the knife across the scallions to slice them. Pull the blade towards you in a smooth movement so the scallions are sliced into thin strips. Don't push the blade down or you'll crush the scallions instead of cutting them. Continue slicing almost parallel to the scallions until you've cut across all of them. Soak the thin scallions in ice water for at least 30 minutes. Fill a container with ice water and place the thin scallions directly into it. Put them in the refrigerator so they absorb some of the liquid. It's important to do this because the scallions will crisp up after 30 minutes. You can refrigerate the sliced scallions in ice water for up to overnight. Garnish with the thin strips of scallions. When you're ready to use the long scallions, remove the bowl of ice water from the refrigerator. Scoop out the scallions and place them in a bowl of ramen or noodle soup. They also make a great garnish for steaks or chops. Add the garnish just before you're ready to serve it because the heat may wilt the scallions a little. Cut away the roots and hollow ends of the scallions. Rinse the scallions and place them on your cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut 18 to 1/4 in (3 to 6 mm) above the roots and discard them. You'll also need to cut 2 in (5 cm) from the end with the hollow green tops and discard them. If the hollow green ends look fresh, you can save them to chop for a garnish. Use a chef's knife to cut 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces. To keep most of the scallions intact, make sharp cuts across the scallions at 1 in (2.5 cm) intervals. Avoid chopping into the dark green ends of the scallion since these should be cut much finer. For a unique look, point the knife at a 45-degree angle when you cut the pieces. This will give you large diagonally-sliced scallions. Cook large pieces of scallions. Since the long pieces of scallions have a rich onion flavor, add them to your favorite stir-fry. Try braising a dish of scallions along with vegetables or spear them on a skewer and toss them on the grill. For extra-crunchy scallions, coat them in batter and fry them like onion rings. Store the leftover pieces of scallions. If you have extra 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces of scallions, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 1 day. Keep in mind that the longer the scallions are stored, the softer they'll become. If the scallions become limp, put them in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes so they crisp up. | Select small, tender scallions. Lay the scallions in a single layer on a sturdy cutting board. Cut off 2 in (5 cm) of the green tops and the root ends. Hold the scallions in place and slide the blade back and forth. Use the scallions immediately for the freshest taste. Store leftover scallions in the refrigerator. Lay 2 to 3 scallions in a single layer. Cut off and discard the top 2 in (5 cm) of green tops. Hold the knife almost parallel to the scallions. Slide the knife across the scallions to slice them. Soak the thin scallions in ice water for at least 30 minutes. Garnish with the thin strips of scallions. Cut away the roots and hollow ends of the scallions. Use a chef's knife to cut 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces. Cook large pieces of scallions. Store the leftover pieces of scallions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Energy-Drinks-Safely | How to Drink Energy Drinks Safely | To drink energy drinks safely, limit yourself to 2 drinks a day, so you don't exceed your recommended caffeine intake. If you're a child, limit yourself to 1, since energy drinks can have a stronger effect on young people. You should also avoid drinking energy drinks before or during a heavy workout, since they can raise your heart rate and put extra strain on your heart. If you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor before drinking energy drinks. Although many people mix energy drinks with alcohol, you should avoid doing this, as it can be dangerous for your health. Caffeine can help you wake up when you're tired, but make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, since energy drinks can't replace a good night's rest. | Stick to no more than one to two energy drinks per day. The term “energy drink” refers broadly to beverages that contain a mix of ingredients (almost always including caffeine) that are intended to provide a burst of energy, alertness, and focus. Beyond that, there exists a wide range of products that fit into the category, from soda-like canned drinks to small liquid “shots” to powdered mixes. Setting a blanket limit on how many energy drinks you should have per day is therefore quite difficult. For the most popular, mass-marketed energy drinks out there, a limit of two servings per day seems reasonably safe for most healthy adults. For non-concentrated liquid energy drinks (like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, etc.), this equates to about 16 ounces (500 ml) per day. Consider this to be an upper limit, though, and use energy drinks as little as possible as your safest choice. Don’t use energy drinks before or during vigorous physical activity. In cases where episodes of cardiac arrest or other dangerous health events have occurred, energy drink consumption has often been paired with athletic practice or games or similar vigorous exercise. Some athletes like the “boost” of energy and focus the drinks seem to provide, but the caffeine and other ingredients compound many of the physical changes (increased heart rate, for instance) that already take place when you exert yourself. Especially for people with existing cardiac conditions, either diagnosed or undiagnosed (as is often the case with children or young adults), the pairing of energy drinks and vigorous physical activity may possibly cause irregular cardiac activity, such as atrial fibrillation or even sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). Such negative events are quite rare, but the risk is probably still much greater than the reward, especially since simply exercising will supply you with an ample dose of energy and focus. Don’t mix energy drinks with alcohol. It should perhaps come as no surprise that the increasing popularity of energy drinks has led to the development of mixed alcoholic drinks that use Red Bull, etc. Some people contend that the energy drinks help counteract the intoxicating effects of the alcohol, allowing them to drink (and party) longer. Unfortunately, this mix may also make you less aware of just how many energy drinks (or how much alcohol) you've consumed, and mask potentially dangerous health impacts. Perhaps most dangerously, some people down energy drinks after alcohol consumption so that they can drive home “safely;” however, driving drunk while being slightly more alert is every bit as dangerous as simply driving drunk, maybe even more so if it gives you unfounded confidence to drive when you shouldn't. Seek out brands that provide ingredient and nutritional information. In the U.S., some energy drinks are marketed as “dietary supplements,” which places them beyond the regulatory purview of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means, among other things, that the manufacturers do not have to disclose an ingredient list or nutrition facts on the beverage packaging. If you drink one of these beverages, then, you really have no idea what exactly you are putting into your body. Fortunately for consumers, about 95% of energy drinks (including the most popular brands) are now marketed as beverages and not dietary supplements, which places them under the purview of the FDA and requires ingredient and nutritional labeling. Of course, it is up to you to actually read the labeling, decipher what exactly is in your drink (and how much), and keep track of how much caffeine and other ingredients you are consuming per day. Consult (but don't blindly accept) the drink manufacturer's recommendations. According to the website of the world's best known energy drink, practically any time is a good time to use their beverage. You could / should use it while driving, studying, working, playing sports, playing video games, and partying day or night. Buried a bit deeper within the website, however, you will find some more practical recommendations, such as keeping your daily caffeine intake to no more than 400 mg (or five cans of this particular drink) per day as a healthy adult. It also advises against consumption by the caffeine-sensitive, and limited intake by pregnant or nursing women and children. It additionally provides a complete ingredient list. Find out as much information about the drink you wish to consume, and consult the manufacturer's recommendations, but use third-party, scientifically-grounded advice to determine if you should consume the drink (and if so, how much). Keep tabs on your daily caffeine intake. Despite popular perception, caffeine is not technically an addictive substance, although you may experience some minor withdrawal symptoms for a day or two if you go “cold turkey” on a heavy caffeine habit. In moderation, caffeine is safe for most people, but in high doses it can cause cardiac irregularities and other medical issues (and, in extreme cases, death). Recommendations vary because the effects of higher caffeine intake are not entirely clear, but 300-400 mg of caffeine per day is a good daily maximum to keep in mind. For reference, a typical cup of coffee (8 oz.) has about 100 mg of caffeine; a soda (12 oz), about 40 mg; and energy drinks (250 ml), typically somewhere between 50 mg and 160 mg. Under normal circumstances, pregnant or nursing women should limit themselves to 200 mg or fewer of caffeine per day; children, 50-100 mg per day maximum. Watch for sugar content and other ingredients. Choosing energy drinks with adequate labeling lets you keep track of more than your caffeine intake. Many of these drinks, for instance, have high doses of sugar per serving. The health dangers of excessive daily sugar consumption have been well demonstrated, and avoiding added sugars is a specific recommendation in the newest U.S. dietary guidelines. Energy drinks also commonly contain ingredients like taurine, an amino acid found naturally in animal products; guarana, a South American plant that naturally contains caffeine (and is in addition to the caffeine specifically added to the drink); and assorted B vitamins. Again, in moderation, these ingredients are generally safe to consume; excessive consumption may be another story. Talk to your doctor if you have underlying health conditions. One or two energy drinks per day is probably safe for the average healthy adult, but those with certain medical conditions should take additional precautions before using them. In particular, if you have heart disease, another cardiac condition, or high blood pressure, you should consult your doctor first. If you experience irritability, nervousness, insomnia, a rapid heartbeat, or elevated blood pressure after a single energy drink, you may have a heightened caffeine sensitivity or another condition worthy of your concern. Talk to your doctor before trying energy drinks again. If you are using energy drinks regularly because of persistent problems with low energy, you may have a sleep disorder or one of many potentially harmful medical conditions. Contact your physician for a check-up. Don't use energy drinks to replace adequate sleep or proper nutrition. Always remember that you will get more consistent, lasting, healthier energy by getting enough sleep and eating properly than by chugging down energy drinks. Energy drinks give you a short burst of energy that will not last, while proper rest and nutrition will keep you going through the day without "crashing out." This wikiHow article offers some useful information on the importance of sufficient sleep (seven to nine hours per night for the typical adult) and how to make sure you get it. According to the the most recent dietary guidelines , you should avoid added sugars and derive steady energy from a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Limit your energy drink intake if you are pregnant or nursing. Anyone who is or has recently been pregnant knows that there are a host of nutritional precautions that need to be taken in order to protect your health and that of the fetus. Excessive caffeine intake, for example, can cause cardiac irregularities in the fetus directly, or in the mother (at the risk of both her and the fetus). Some experts and mothers-to-be still believe in swearing off caffeine completely during pregnancy, but studies indicate that a reduced daily caffeine intake is generally of no concern for both mother and child. Stick to less than 200 mg of caffeine per day, or the amount recommended by your OBGYN. Limit or eliminate consumption by kids and teens. Teenagers make up a sizable percentage of the energy drink market, likely due to the “coolness” factor as much as the energy boost. Caffeine and the other ingredients common to energy drinks are not inherently dangerous to children, but should be ingested in lesser amounts than the maximums recommended for grown adults. Because energy drinks have no nutritional or therapeutic benefit, can contain unknown ingredients, and have not been subjected to long-term studies regarding their effect on children, the safest measure is to have children entirely avoid consuming them. Most children and teens should not lack for energy anyway, unless they are not getting enough sleep or are suffering from a medical condition that requires attention. Think twice about using caffeine powder. Some people choose to skip the pre-mixed energy drinks and try to make their own. Powdered caffeine can be purchased as a dietary supplement and is in theory just as safe in that form as it is when pre-mixed in beverages. However, there is no guarantee that only caffeine is in the powder, and a slight measuring error can move your caffeine intake into dangerous territory. The FDA has in fact issued warnings about using caffeine powder, because of the ease by which an inaccurate home measurement can lead to a dangerous overdose. Unless you are confident about the quality of the product and very precise in your dosing, it is probably best to avoid using caffeine powder. For their own safety, it is advisable to prevent teens from using caffeine powder. Use energy drinks wisely, but don’t overreact to unsubstantiated fears. As with most foods, drugs, and supplements, moderation is the operative word when dealing with energy drinks. If you can do without them, that is probably your safest, healthiest choice; however, if you do choose to consume them in moderation and don't have existing risk factors, you don't need to feel as though you are risking your health by drinking one. Ideally, you should rely on a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep to provide you with the energy you need to get through the day. Black coffee is probably your next best option, because it is low in calories and ingredients. More oversight to ensure that energy drinks contain what they claim to contain may be warranted, but calls for them to be banned or heavily regulated because they are a serious health hazard are excessive based on current evidence. If you make smart, informed choices, you can drink energy drinks safely. | Stick to no more than one to two energy drinks per day. Don’t use energy drinks before or during vigorous physical activity. Don’t mix energy drinks with alcohol. Seek out brands that provide ingredient and nutritional information. Consult (but don't blindly accept) the drink manufacturer's recommendations. Keep tabs on your daily caffeine intake. Watch for sugar content and other ingredients. Talk to your doctor if you have underlying health conditions. Don't use energy drinks to replace adequate sleep or proper nutrition. Limit your energy drink intake if you are pregnant or nursing. Limit or eliminate consumption by kids and teens. Think twice about using caffeine powder. Use energy drinks wisely, but don’t overreact to unsubstantiated fears. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Go-Green | How to Go Green | Going green is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and help the planet. A big part of going green is finding ways to conserve energy at home. You can turn off the lights when you leave, wash your clothes in cold water, and unplug electronics when you're not using them. In addition to saving energy at home, try to be more mindful when you go shopping. For example, buy fresh produce and more whole foods to avoid unnecessary packaging, which creates more waste. You can also bring your own reusable bag instead of getting plastic bags. You should also look for more efficient ways of getting around, since driving all the time isn't very environmentally friendly. Instead, consider walking or biking when your destination isn't far away, or try using public transportation or carpooling to get to work or school. | Carry a reusable water bottle so you will not need bottled water. While bottled water is convenient, it is also really bad for the environment. Not only does it create trash, but it also uses more resources because it's shipped to the store. To be more eco-friendly, make it a habit to carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere so that you can drink water on the go. Plastic bottles are usually the lightest and most convenient. Look for one that says it's BPA free. You can also find aluminum and glass water bottles that are a great option if you don't like using plastic. Use reusable bags while you’re shopping. Shopping bags make it easy to carry your items home, but they also pollute the planet. Skip the store's shopping bags and bring your own instead. Use a backpack or tote that you already own, or purchase a couple of reusable bags from the checkout area at your local grocery store. You can use your reusable bags at most stores, including clothing or bookstores. Keep your bags in your car so that it's less likely you'll forget them. Reuse items to save them from the landfill. Before you throw something away, look for ways you might reuse it. Try re-purposing items or making green crafts. This will help you keep trash out of the landfill. For example, instead of throwing away a jar, you might use it as a glass, vase, or storage container. Similarly, you could use a piece of cardboard to make a wreath. You can find ideas for green crafts by searching online. Reduce the amount of time you spend using electronics. While electronics are really fun and likely help you feel connected to your friends, they also use up a lot of energy. Schedule breaks from your electronics so you can use them less. During your breaks, do something fun like going for a walk, playing a game with your friends, or pursuing a hobby. Invite your friends to connect with you in real life. For instance, instead of playing online video games together, go to a local park. Skip products that have a lot of packaging. Products that come with a lot of packaging are bad for the environment because the packaging is waste. Even if you recycle the package, it's still an unnecessary waste of resources. Do your best to pick products that have as little packaging as possible. This can keep more trash out of landfills and save natural resources. For example, let's say you're buying a notebook for school. If you're choosing between a notebook that's wrapped in plastic and one that isn't, pick the unwrapped notebook. Buy second-hand products or borrow items instead of buying them new. Buying stuff generates more waste and pollution, so try not to purchase things you don't need. When you do need something, shop local thrift and second-hand shops or use online resale shops. If you can, borrow items that you don't use often, like tools, from a friend or family member. To get stuff that's new to you, organize a clothing, toy, or home items swap with your friends. For instance, you might host a neighborhood back-to-school clothing swap before you shop for school clothes. Buy sustainable and ethical clothing when you need something new. You don't have to sacrifice your sense of style to go green, but it's best to avoid cheap, trendy clothing. Instead, buy clothes that are made well and will last you a while. Similarly, research the brands you buy to make sure the clothes aren't made by underpaid, mistreated employees. Choose clothes that fit you well and look great on you. This way you'll always be in style even if you aren't following every trend. You might spend more money on new items when you buy better clothes. However, this typically saves you money in the long-run because the clothes will last longer. Conserve electricity by turning off lights and unplugging electronics. Electricity is typically generated by burning fossil fuels or using other natural resources. To help protect the planet, cut down on how much electricity you're using. Here are some tricks to keep your electricity use low: Turn off lights when you leave a room. Take advantage of natural lighting from windows during the daytime. Unplug electronics when you aren't using them. Wash your clothes on the cold setting so you don't use energy to heat the water. Change your light bulbs to energy-efficient light bulbs, such as compact fluorescent light (CFL) or light-emitting diodes (LED). Set your thermostat a few degrees higher during summer and a few degrees lower in winter. Then, wear less clothing if you're feeling hot or more clothing if you're cold. This can save electricity and cut down on your heating or cooling costs. Cut down on your water use. The Earth has a limited amount of freshwater, so it's important to conserve it. Change your household habits to reduce how much water you're using. Here are some great options: Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or doing the dishes. Take short showers instead of baths. Use a bucket to catch water in the shower so you can use it in your garden. Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Avoid using sprinklers in your yard. Plant drought-resistant and native plants in your garden so they require less water. Line dry your clothing instead of using a dryer. While dryers are super convenient, they also use a lot of electricity. Instead, hang dry your clothing on a line or a drying rack. This can save you energy and money. If the weather is nice, hang your clothes up outside. If the weather is poor, use an indoor drying rack to dry your clothes. Make your own cleaning supplies. Commercial cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals and come in bottles that you'll likely end up recycling or throwing away. On the other hand, using homemade cleaning products helps you keep your home safer and helps keep trash out of the landfills. Use white vinegar, baking soda, and lemons to clean your home. For instance, you can use white vinegar with a spritz of lemon as an all-purpose cleaner. If you like, add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell better. Similarly, you can scrub your bathroom and kitchen counters using a paste of baking soda and warm water. Eat less meat because it takes more resources to raise. Raising animals for food requires feed, water, land, and transportation. When you add up these resources, animal products put a lot more strain on the planet than plant foods. To reduce your footprint, eat more vegetarian meals. If you eat a lot of meat, try doing a meatless Monday. Then, slowly introduce more meatless meals into your life. Buy whole foods to avoid creating extra trash. Packaged foods will add to your recycling or trash, so do your best to avoid buying them. Instead, stick to fresh produce, which doesn't create extra trash. Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal cans. Recycling can help you keep items out of landfills. Additionally, it can help save natural resources. Participate in your local recycling programs. For example, you can typically recycle the following: Most paper can be recycled, including printer paper, magazines, newspapers, and junk mail. You can recycle most cardboard, such as pizza boxes, egg cartons, milk cartons, and juice cartons. Flatten out cardboard boxes before you recycle them. Plastic bottles and containers like those that contain dishwashing liquid, bleach, soap, milk, and condiments are typically recyclable, but rinse them out first. Metal cans like soda cans, tuna cans, and soup cans can be recycled if you rinse them first. Glass bottles and jars can usually be recycled but check the policies for your local facility. Additionally, rinse them out first. When your electronics die, take them to a local recycling center. Compost organic waste like uneaten food or produce skins. Composting lets you turn your old food scraps into food for plants. You can use your compost to fertilize your garden or spread it around vegetation near your home. To do composting, put your food scraps into a compost bin or a pile in your yard. You can buy a compost bin to you use in your home online. Often, it will contain dirt and worms to help you get your compost going. If you have a yard, consider creating a compost corner where you can throw out your scraps. This is an easy way to start composting. Install solar panels. Using solar energy instead of fossil fuels helps stop global warming from carbon emissions. Limit your use of paper. Communicate digitally whenever possible, and only print out items when you absolutely must. Talk to your coworkers and employer to change the way your office handles meetings and team projects so that you don't need to print out as much stuff. When you do use paper, recycle it or save it to reuse the other side of it. Choose office products that are made from recycled materials. When you need to buy items for your office, check that they're made from recycled materials. This includes items like paper, folders, pencils, pens, desk supplies, and furniture. Buying recycled items can help save the Earth's resources. Try to use second-hand products or to share whenever possible. For example, don't buy a new stapler if there's a used one in the supply closet. Start an office recycling program. Talk to your boss or human resources about getting recycling bins for the break room or copy room. Then, place your recyclable items in the bins so you create less trash. If your company doesn't want to pay for recycling, you might start a recycling team to help take items to the local recycling center. Ask your boss if you can work from home to use fewer resources. Working from home saves energy because you don't have to commute and you don't use your office space. Similarly, it can reduce the overhead of your company if you do it for the long-term. Talk to your boss about working from home to see if it's an option for you. Offer to use video calling to stay in touch with coworkers and to go into the office when you need to go to a meeting in person. Walk or bike places if you live close enough. Cars use up a lot of gas, so they're not a friend to the environment. Walking or biking instead of using a car is a great way to save natural resources while saving you money. When possible, walk or bike to work, school, or shops. If it's unsafe for you to travel on foot or bike, don't put your safety at risk. Use public transportation to travel long distances. Public transportation is a great way to travel because it moves multiple people at once. Take the bus when you can to conserve gas. To make it more fun, read, watch a movie on your phone, or make a small craft while you ride. It might take some time to learn your city's public transportation system. Try riding it on your off days first. If your city doesn't have public transportation, this may not be an option for you. Join a carpool to save gas during your commute. You can save gas while getting to school or work by being part of a carpool. Ask your coworkers or people at your school about a carpool you can join. If you can't find one, start your own by partnering with coworkers or classmates who live near you. You can take turns driving everyone to work or school, or you can all contribute money to buy gas for the person who drives. Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle if you need a car to get around. In some areas, the only way to get from place to place is to use a car. In that case, look for a car that gets good gas mileage. Choose an electric or hybrid car to help you do more to save resources and help the environment. Additionally, drive your car as little as possible. When you buy a car, ask how many miles it gets for each gallon of gas. Then, compare the mileage for the cars you're considering to pick the one with the best mileage. | Carry a reusable water bottle so you will not need bottled water. Use reusable bags while you’re shopping. Reuse items to save them from the landfill. Reduce the amount of time you spend using electronics. Skip products that have a lot of packaging. Buy second-hand products or borrow items instead of buying them new. Buy sustainable and ethical clothing when you need something new. Conserve electricity by turning off lights and unplugging electronics. Cut down on your water use. Line dry your clothing instead of using a dryer. Make your own cleaning supplies. Eat less meat because it takes more resources to raise. Buy whole foods to avoid creating extra trash. Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal cans. Compost organic waste like uneaten food or produce skins. Install solar panels. Limit your use of paper. Choose office products that are made from recycled materials. Start an office recycling program. Ask your boss if you can work from home to use fewer resources. Walk or bike places if you live close enough. Use public transportation to travel long distances. Join a carpool to save gas during your commute. Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle if you need a car to get around. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hair-Accessories | How to Make Hair Accessories | To make hair accessories, like a bow hair clip, start by choosing a favorite fabric and cut it into 2 pieces. For the pieces, 1 should be 3 times as wide as the other. Next, wrap the wider piece around to create a loop, and glue the ends together. Then, use the second thin strip to create a knot at the center by wrapping it around the middle loop. Glue the ends together at the back, and you should have a box that you can attach to a favorite hair clip! | Make a ribbon headband. Choose a ribbon or trim of your choice, and pick up a thin elastic band in a color/width to match. Wrap the ribbon around your head where you want the headband to sit, and then cut the ribbon to be six inches shorter that that length. Cut a piece of elastic to 4 inches (10.2 cm) long, and sew the ends together with the ends of the ribbon to form a loop. Voila! Your ribbon headband is complete. If your headband is too loose, cut off more ribbon and sew it to the end of the elastic. The elastic will typically be hidden under your hair, so it won't be a problem to have a bit more of the stretchy material. Avoid ribbon or trim with sequins sewn in, as they may get caught in your hair and cause a difficult tangle. Decorate a hard-shell headband. Hard-shell headbands are available for incredibly cheap, at several for a dollar at many stores. They're cheap for a reason though: they're plain. Grab a couple in a color you like, and decorate away! Wrap them in ribbon, spray-paint them, glue on beads or sequins, or add feathers. The sky's the limit when it comes to decorating these bad boys. Plus, because they're cheap you don't have to worry about ruining one and not being able to make a new one. Use found items or pieces off of old headbands or jewelry in order to be environmentally friendly and frugal. Make a turban headband. This is a great option for combining fashion with utility. Purchase two 2" thick jersey headbands from any beauty supply store. Cut one of the headbands in half along the seam. Place the cut headband through the complete headband, and then sew the ends back together (so you are left with two loops linked together). Pull the loops tight and then sew the opposite ends of the loops together to create a single loop, with a knot at the front where the two headbands meet. If you'd rather not buy and butcher two perfectly good headbands, any jersey fabric cut into strips will work. You can also choose to use old nylons for the same effect. You can hand-sew or use a sewing machine for this project. Make painted bobby pins. Typically the goal of bobby pins is to secretly pin back hair - but why not give them a bit of flair and wear them more noticeably? Put 5-10 bobby pins together over a thick piece of cardstock (fold it in half if need be), and slide them so that they're all touching. Use nail polish or acrylic paint to coat the bobby pins with a design or a solid color. Allow them to dry, and you're done! Wear multiple together for a unique look, or use one at a time for a pop of color. Make beaded bobby pins. This is a great way to look cheap bobby pins look very fancy. Gather 10-20 beads of your choice, with a hole large enough that small craft/florists wire can easily fit through. Cut a piece of wire to be twice the length of the bobby pin. Wrap the end around the bent part of the bobby pin, and then string on a bead. Keep the bead on top, and wrap the wire around the pin. Add another bead, wrap the wire, and continue the process until you reach the end. Use a pair of pliers to wrap the end of the wire around the end of the bobby pin. Make a bow hair clip. Choose your favorite fabric - you won't need more than a piece 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide - and cut it into two pieces: one piece three times as wide as the other. Wrap the wider piece around to create a loop, and glue the ends together.. Use the second thin strip to create a 'knot' at the center by wrapping it around the loop in the middle. Glue the ends together at the back. You should be left with a small bow which can be attached to your favorite hair clip. Make a studded hair clip. Find a small piece of leather (or faux-leather) and cut it in a rectangle slightly larger than your hair clip. Pick some studs that are slightly smaller than the leather strip, and arrange them as you like. Attach them to the leather either using the brad on the back (if they have them) or with a dab of hot glue. Glue this studded leather strip to your hair clip to finish up the project. Upcycle a hair clip. Find a collection of small items such as buttons, fabric flowers, beads, and broken pieces of jewelry. Attach these pieces to hair clips with hot glue or wire. Keep your hair clip simple by adding a single item to a single clip, or go for glam and stack up multiple items on a clip. You'll have a 100% unique and green hair clip! Turn your scarf into a headband. Fold a square scarf (silk preferably) diagonally to create a large triangle shape. Starting at the widest side of the triangle, roll/fold the fabric up into a long, thin, rectangular strip. Wrap this strip around your head with the two tails above your forehead, and tie them together in a knot. If the ends are long enough, you can tie them together in a bow or tuck the ends around the headwrap and pin in place to hide them. Braid a scarf into your hair. Find a small scarf in a lightweight fabric (square silk scarves typically work best) and pull your hair into a ponytail with one of the corners of the scarf tucked into the loop. Section your hair into three pieces, and add the scarf to one of the strands. Braid your hair as you usually would, weaving the scarf into your hair as you go. Knot off the end with an elastic band and wrap the scarf around it, and tuck the end in place. Tie a scarf in a bow in your hair. This style is best for adorning updos and when your hair is pulled back from your face. Style your hair as you would normally, and then wrap a small, thin scarf around the elastic band or hair clip that you've used to pin your hair up. Tie the scarf in a bow, and adjust the fabric as necessary to make it more attractive. Wear your scarf as a bandanna. Take a large square scarf and fold it in half diagonally to create a large triangle. Drape this over your head so that the widest side of the triangle is above your forehead, and the two tail ends are near the nape of your neck. Tie the tail ends in a knot or a bow underneath your hair at the base of your neck. This style is great for bad hair days, or when you need to keep your hair out of your face. | Make a ribbon headband. Decorate a hard-shell headband. Make a turban headband. Make painted bobby pins. Make beaded bobby pins. Make a bow hair clip. Make a studded hair clip. Upcycle a hair clip. Turn your scarf into a headband. Braid a scarf into your hair. Tie a scarf in a bow in your hair. Wear your scarf as a bandanna. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Running-Speed-and-Endurance | How to Improve Your Running Speed and Endurance | To improve your running speed and endurance, start by doing 10 walking lunges for each leg to stretch out your muscles and reduce the risk of cramps and injuries while you run. Additionally, add interval training by running for 1 minute at maximum speed to raise your heart rate and exhaust your muscles. Then, walk for 2 minutes to let your muscles cool down. Repeat this process 4 times in the middle of your run, but don't do it for more than 2 runs in a 10-day period to avoid hurting yourself. | Begin your workout. Warm up by walking or slowly jogging for five minutes. This should wake up your muscles and help stretch out your legs to prepare for the interval training. Interval training teaches your body to use oxygen more efficiently, improving both your running speed and your overall endurance. Run at a moderate pace for fifteen minutes. Run at a pace that isn't too difficult but keeps your heart rate up. Aim for 70-80% of your fastest running speed. Don't push yourself too hard. This part of the workout isn't supposed to wear you out. Instead, you're trying to get your heart rate up so your body starts absorbing oxygen more efficiently. Begin the interval training. This is the part of the exercise that improves your endurance and builds muscle. Run for one minute at your maximum speed, working hard to bring up your heart rate and exhaust your muscles. Then walk for two minutes, letting your muscles cool down. Push yourself as hard as you can during the one minute of running. Interval training doesn't work properly if you don't totally exhaust your muscles. This is called “going into the anaerobic zone,” or exercising the point where you're literally gasping for breath. Try to time yourself so that you run for exactly a minute and rest for exactly two minutes. It can be helpful to use a timer app on your phone or to purchase a stopwatch. Repeat this process four times. This should come out to about twelve minutes of exercise. It doesn't seem like a long time, but by the end of the twelve minutes, you should be utterly exhausted. If not, you weren't pushing yourself hard enough during the minutes of running. Repetition is important because it forces your system to absorb oxygen more efficiently. Over time, this raises the maximum amount of oxygen you can have in your blood. The more oxygen you have, the harder and faster you'll be able to run! Cool down. Walk for another five minutes, keeping your pace brisk enough to work out your muscles but slow enough to lower your heart rate. By this point, you should be surprisingly exhausted for such a short workout. If not, you need to raise your heart rate more during the interval training. Push yourself. Try to do interval training at least once a week. However, make sure you don't do this exercise more than twice in a ten-day period or you may hurt yourself. After a few weeks of interval training, make the exercise harder for yourself by shortening the cooldown time during the interval training to one minute instead of two. When doing your regular running workout, add five minutes to the normal time you run every week. This will slowly increase your workout and help you gradually improve. If five minutes is too much, start by adding one minute to your regular workout every week. Measure your improvement. Time yourself when you do your regular running workout and record your times in a journal so that you have physical proof of your success. Another good way to measure improvement is to run as fast as you can for as long as you can and record the distance and time. After a few weeks of interval training, you will be able to run faster for farther distances than you could previously. If you're training to run a race such as a 5k, take a break from your regular workout once every few weeks and run the full 5k. Keep a journal to record your run times. You will start seeing a big improvement after a few weeks of interval training. There are many useful apps for phones that help you track your distance and time. If you don't want to run with your phone, consider purchasing a stopwatch to time yourself and running on a track to accurately measure your distance. Stretch before you begin running. It's important to loosen up your muscles before you begin to exercise. This can prevent injuries and reduces the risk of cramps while you run. Do a set of walking lunges. Take a large step forward with your right leg so that your left leg is extended far behind you. Lower yourself until your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Make sure your left knee doesn't touch the ground and that your right knee is above your right ankle! Repeat for the left leg and do ten lunges per leg. Do some leg swings. Hold on to a sturdy object such as a chair. Stand on one leg and swing your other leg forward and backward. Make sure to go through your full range of motion; this means swinging your leg up as high as is comfortable and then extending it behind your back as high as you can. Repeat for both legs. Don't swing your leg haphazardly or you may hurt yourself. Try to swing your leg in a smooth, controlled motion. Stretch after you run. Even though you'll be exhausted from running, it's important to stretch so that your muscles don't cramp up. Do some standing quads. Stand with your legs together. Bring your left foot behind your back to your left hand, keeping your thighs firmly pressed together. Press your foot with your hand, taking care not to overextend your leg. Do two sets of standing calves. Face a wall and press your palms against the wall at chest-level. Press the ball of your left foot against the wall with your left heel on the ground. Slowly lean towards the wall, taking care not to overextend your foot. Repeat this stretch for your right foot. Visit the gym three times a week. If you don't spend time building your muscles at the gym, you can injure yourself running or hit a “performance plateau.” This means that you don't see any improvement for a long period of time despite training harder and harder. Do some squats using dumbbells. Choose some relatively light dumbbells. Spread your feet about shoulder-width apart and point your toes forward. Hold the dumbbells in your arms down against your side. Lower yourself down into a squatting position, keeping your knees under your toes and extending your rear backward. Do several repetitions of this exercise. Do some planks. Lie down on the floor or on a yoga mat. Put your hands directly underneath your shoulders a shoulder-width apart. Straighten your back and neck, creating a straight line with your body. Hold this position for a minute before resting. Make sure you keep your back straight – don't let your hips droop towards the mat or you could injure your back. Do a set of pushups. Lie on the floor or on a yoga mat. Place your hands on the floor right next to your armpits, palms down. Push yourself up from the floor using only your arms into a plank position. Once your arms are extended, lower yourself again until your chest is just above the mat. Return to the plank position by extending your arms. Make sure your back stays straight so that you don't injure yourself. If regular pushups are too difficult, consider changing your technique. Instead of resting your feet on the ground, rest your knees on the ground and tuck your feet behind you. | Begin your workout. Run at a moderate pace for fifteen minutes. Begin the interval training. Repeat this process four times. Cool down. Push yourself. Measure your improvement. Stretch before you begin running. Do some leg swings. Stretch after you run. Do two sets of standing calves. Visit the gym three times a week. Do some squats using dumbbells. Do some planks. Do a set of pushups. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Recover-after-Wisdom-Teeth-Surgery | How to Recover after Wisdom Teeth Surgery | Before you go for wisdom teeth surgery, organize someone to drive you to the clinic as you'll be groggy after the operation and will need to be driven home. After the operation, leave the gauze on the operated area for at least 30 minutes. If your gums are still bleeding after 12 hours, bite on moist teabags instead of gauze. To save you having to get up, make sure you have supplies of water, painkillers, and gauze close by. Finally, wash your mouth with salty water gently the day after the surgery and use an ice pack to ease pain. | Set your appointment with your dentist or oral surgeon. Make sure you make your appointment on a day that allows you to recuperate after the surgery. For instance, make your appointment on a Thursday or Friday so that you can recover over the weekend. If you are a woman, and you are on birth control, schedule the surgery after you menstruate to help prevent dry sockets from developing. Your menstrual cycle can affect your likelihood of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Women who take oral contraceptive pills are more likely to have postoperative nausea and vomiting on days 9-15 of their cycle. Go to the grocery store the night before. Buy soft, easy-to-eat foods like applesauce, chicken soup, yogurt, canned fruit, gelatin, pudding or cottage cheese. You'll need to skip foods that require chewing or foods that are served either extremely hot or extremely cold for a while after your surgery. Also remember that you should not drink alcohol, soda, coffee, or hot beverages the first few days after surgery. Stock up on movies, games and books. You may be in a lot of pain, so you want to make sure you have a lot of resources around to keep your mind off of your discomfort. You'll need to take it easy for a few days. Find someone to drive you to the clinic. You'll be groggy after the operation, and you'll need someone to drive you home and help you pick up your painkillers at the drugstore. Leave the gauze on the surgical site for at least 30 minutes. Do not attempt to change the gauze as it will disrupt the clotting process. Once the first gauze pad has been taken off, keep the area clean and leave it alone. Do not attempt to spit blood out frequently as the pressure change in your mouth will inhibit clotting. Instead, use fresh gauze to absorb the blood. Use tea bags. If your wounds are still bleeding at a steady pace after 12 hours or so, stop biting gauze and start biting moist tea bags. The tannins within tea leaves promote clotting, and for some people, the caffeine increases circulation. This process encourages the build-up of clotting platelets within the stitched area, which speeds up healing and recovery time. Rinse your mouth with salt water. Combine 1 teaspoon of sea salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Take the liquid into your mouth, gently let it soak for a moment then let drizzle out into your sink or toilet. Do not gurgle or spit as this may dislodge the blood clot in the wound. The salt water will promote healing and decrease irritation. Be sure to rinse extra-gently on the first day after surgery. Use only the salt water rinse to clean your mouth for the first 24 hours after surgery. Wait until your doctor recommends to start using a toothbrush again (usually safe by the second day). Use an ice pack to ease pain and swelling. Ice may be applied to your cheeks to help prevent swelling for the first 24 hours. After 24 to 72 hours, ice may continue to help ease the pain, but will be useless in prevention of swelling. If you don't have tools for an ice pack , use a bag of frozen vegetables. When enough time has passed, according to the guidelines given to you by your dental surgeon, apply a heating pad to your cheeks. Your body's natural response will cause additional swelling if the ice pack is reapplied. Elevate your head. Whether you're sleeping on your couch or on your bed, place 2 or more pillows beneath your head to elevate your mouth. Elevation will decrease swelling. Keep your supplies close by. You'll need your water, gauze, painkillers and antibiotics close to you so that you don't have to get up and go to the bathroom to get the things you need. Avoid using straws to drink liquids. The vacuum created within your mouth can dislodge your clots and slow down the healing process. Skip cigarette smoking and alcohol. Both of these activities can inhibit the healing process. You should wait at least 72 hours after surgery to use tobacco products (but longer is better). Control your pain. You can take prescribed painkillers, or you can take over-the-counter ibuprofen to prevent pain, inflammation and swelling. Skip the aspirin because it could make you bleed and slow your healing. Make sure to take painkillers as soon as you leave the dental clinic. Take them with a small meal to prevent nausea and vomiting. You may still be numb from the anesthetic, and you may think that you don't need painkillers. However, when the anesthetic wears off, you may find yourself experiencing a high degree of discomfort. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for at least 24 hours. The anesthetic along with your pain medication can make these activities hazardous. Talk to your doctor if you experience severe nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different pain medication that doesn't make you sick. Ask for help. Count on your spouse, your friends or your family to take care of you while you're recovering. Have them take your phone calls, help you with chores, bring you food and keep you comfortable while you heal. | Set your appointment with your dentist or oral surgeon. Go to the grocery store the night before. Stock up on movies, games and books. Find someone to drive you to the clinic. Leave the gauze on the surgical site for at least 30 minutes. Use tea bags. Rinse your mouth with salt water. Use an ice pack to ease pain and swelling. Elevate your head. Keep your supplies close by. Avoid using straws to drink liquids. Skip cigarette smoking and alcohol. Control your pain. Ask for help. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-Cod | How to Catch Cod | To catch cod, use a heavy duty rod that's rated for 50 pounds or heavier, as well as some braided line. Since cod can be big and strong, fish with large, live or fresh bait, like squid, mussels, crabs, or large worms. You can also fish with a jig if you prefer not to use bait. To find cod, fish in northern waters that are between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, fish in deep waters since cod typically inhabit depths of 200-1,300 feet. | Find a “heavy duty” rod and a braided line. The rod should be rated for fifty pounds or heavier. The preferred rod length is 6'6” to 7'6”. The reel should have a substantial diameter in order to handle the larger lures or bait that you will be using, as well as a heavier fishing line. Experienced cod fishers recommend using a rod that is classified as “fast” or “extra-fast.” This refers to the “action” of the rod, which in simple terms, refers to how much the rod will bend while you are reeling in your cod. Fast action rods bend much less, and only in the top third of the length. These are great for jig fishing, which will be explained in more depth later. Use a fifty pound braided line. Braided lines have less stretch than single lines, and they are extremely strong. It can support a larger amount of weight than regular fishing line, and a fish will not be able to break it easily. Buy the bait. Cod can be pretty substantial and they're also strong. When it comes to catching cod, tiny bait is not going to cut it. You should use squid, mussels, crab, or very large worms. Use live bait if possible. If not, use the freshest, highest quality bait available. Using a sinker, or a weight, in addition to the bait will help your bait reach the bottom. Use a jig, if you are not using bait. Jigging is a popular method to catch cod. A jig is a type of fishing lure that consists of a sinker and a covered hook. Like with bait, the jig requires a heavy sinker to reach the depths that cods inhabit. Fish in cooler waters. Cod is found must abundantly in the north Atlantic and Artic Oceans, in water from 32 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, cod moves inshore during winter months and offshore during winter months, however their migratory patterns are not uniform among all populations. Go deep. Cod are bottom-dwelling fish, so you won't catch them near the surface of the water. Typically they inhabit depths of 200 to 1,300 feet. Because of their depth, it is typically easier to catch cod off a boat. If you are a recreational fisherman and do not have access to a boat, try to locate a spot where you can be directly above deep water, such as on a dock or pier. Find their feeding spots. Cod feed mostly on animals that live on the sea floor, such as worms and crabs. Luckily, cod are also creatures of habit. If you catch cod feeding in one spot, you're likely to find others there regularly. Take note of the spots where you find cod. While they do not form extremely dense schools like some fish, cod do congregate. Put the bait on your hook. When it comes to baiting, more is not necessarily better. Experienced cod fishers recommend using well-trimmed bait with only a bit hanging off the hook. Do not cover the barb of the hook with bait. By leaving it exposed, you will have an easier time hooking the cod. You can increase your chances of attracting cod by adding brightly-colored grubs to your hook. Grubs are small, soft lures that can move easily in water, which will attract fish. Cast your line. To do this, hold your rod at waist level, and adjust your hands so that you are holding the handle and line comfortably. Move your hands so that you have a thumb over the release button. When pressed, the line in your rod will stay in place. When you are not pressing it, the line is free to fly. Obviously, releasing the line is the most important part of casting! As you press the release button down, pull the rod back so that it is over your dominant shoulder. Then, quickly sweep the rod forward. As you do this, focus on your intended target. Once the tip of the rod is at eye level, release the button. The weight of the bait or jig will pull the line. Once the line has been fully released and you are satisfied with the depth of your hook, press the button again. Ensure that you have plenty of space behind you before casting. This requires a big range of motion and you will have a sharp hook on the end of your rod, so use caution to prevent hurting anyone or damaging anything. Jerk the bait or jig slightly up and down to create movement. Do this once the bait or jig has dropped to the bottom and the line is tight. The movement can make the jig or bait look like a living creature, which will attract the cod. Hook your cod. Once you feel a tug on the line, pull up your rod as much as needed to make sure your line is tight. Do not allow your line to go slack. In order to keep the line tight, reel in your line if the fish seems to be swimming toward you, and discontinue reeling if it swims in the opposite direction of you. Reel your cod in. First, lift your entire rod so the fish is being pulled toward you. After you've pulled the first toward you, lower the rod again slightly and begin reeling rapidly. Continue reeling quickly until the fish is close enough to get out of the water. As the fish fights against your line, it will tire itself out. It may be helpful to let it continue to fight and tire it out. Then get the cod close to the surface and scoop it up with a net, or just drag the fish onto surface if possible. | Find a “heavy duty” rod and a braided line. Buy the bait. Use a jig, if you are not using bait. Fish in cooler waters. Go deep. Find their feeding spots. Put the bait on your hook. Cast your line. Jerk the bait or jig slightly up and down to create movement. Hook your cod. Reel your cod in. |
https://www.wikihow.com/File-a-UCC-Financing-Statement | How to File a UCC Financing Statement | If you've just set up a business and are borrowing money, your lender may require you to file a UCC financing statement. To do this, visit your state's Secretary of State website and download a UCC-1 form. If you want to provide personal contact information, complete the first part of the form with your phone number and email address. Then, fill in the debtor's details, which will likely be your business name and mailing address. Under the secured party section, include the name of the bank or institution providing your business with the loan. After you've completed the lender's details, give information about the collateral used to secure the financing. Once you've finished the form, file the form by locating the UCC office in the county where your business is located and paying the appropriate filing fee. | Download the UCC-1 form. A PDF version of the UCC-1 form typically is available on the website of the state's Secretary of State office. Download the form for your state. Although these forms are for the most part universal, some states have additional fields or requirements. The state form's instructions also tell you what the filing fees are, which vary among states. To find the correct website, do an internet search for "secretary of state" with the name of your state. Provide direct contact information if desired. The first part of the form allows you to provide a phone number, email address, and mailing address if you want to make it easier to be contacted. These fields are optional. Once filed, the form is a public record, so be careful about the identifying information you include. Fill in the debtor's name and mailing address. The debtor is the person who took out the loan. It may be an individual, or it may be in the name of a business or organization. If the loan is in the name of the business, include the business mailing address. There is space for additional debtors. Include them exactly as they appeared on the loan agreement. If there are additional named debtors that won't fit on the main form, you can file an addendum to include them. List the name and address of the secured party. The secured party is the lender who made the secured loan. Usually this will be the name of the bank or lending company. Check to find out what address they prefer to be listed on UCC financing forms – don't just list the name of your local branch, for example. Indicate the collateral covered by the financing statement. Following the name and address of the secured party, there is space to identify the collateral that secures the loan. Be as specific as possible. For example, if the loan is secured by real property, provide the legal description of the property that is listed on the property's deed. If you need additional space for collateral, you can fill out an addendum. Include applicable descriptions of the transaction. At the bottom of the UCC form, there are several boxes you can check if any of them apply to the particular transaction. If nothing suits the loan covered by the statement, you can leave this section blank. Fill out an addendum if necessary. If there was extra information that wouldn't fit on the original form, you can include it on an addendum. This form is also available from the website of the state's secretary of state, and may be included with the main UCC financing statement form. Some states require additional information for specific loans or transactions. If so, you'll enter this information on the addendum as well. Identify the proper location to file the statement. UCC financing statements are filed based on the residence of an individual debtor, or the location of the main offices of a business debtor. Usually the form is filed with the state's UCC office. If real property is used as collateral, you may also need to file a copy of the UCC financing statement with the register of deeds in the county where that property is located. Complete an Information Form if you want copies. While you may receive an acknowledgement copy when your statement is recorded, the information form allows you to order additional copies of the official recorded statement. For example, if there are multiple debtors, you may want to order a copy for each debtor's records. You can download an information form from the website of the state's secretary of state. Submit form and fees online if possible. It's usually easier to file your UCC financing statement online with the UCC office, and often the fees are lower than if you file print forms. Check on the website of the state's secretary of state office to see if this option is available. If the loan is secured with real property, you may still need to file a paper copy with the register of deeds for the county where the property is located. Mail your financing statement with filing fee. If you don't want to file online, or if that option isn't available, you can mail paper copies to the state's UCC office. You may want to check for acceptable methods of payment. Typically you can pay by check or money order. The filing fees are minimal, typically less than $20. Some states may charge a per-page fee if you file a paper statement. Receive your acknowledgement letter. When your financing statement is recorded by the state's UCC office, you'll receive a letter in the mail along with an acknowledged copy of the official statement. Keep these documents for your records. You may want to file them along with the documents related to the loan they cover. | Download the UCC-1 form. Provide direct contact information if desired. Fill in the debtor's name and mailing address. List the name and address of the secured party. Indicate the collateral covered by the financing statement. Include applicable descriptions of the transaction. Fill out an addendum if necessary. Identify the proper location to file the statement. Complete an Information Form if you want copies. Submit form and fees online if possible. Mail your financing statement with filing fee. Receive your acknowledgement letter. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Lever-in-Minecraft | How to Make a Lever in Minecraft | To make a lever in Minecraft, start by gathering cobblestone and a stick. You can make a stick by crafting 2 planks with wood and then putting the planks in the crafting window. Once you've got your materials, open your crafting grid and put the cobblestone in the bottom center square and the stick in the center square. Finally, drag the lever to your inventory and you're finished. | Gather your materials. You'll need cobblestone and a stick in order to make a switch. Sticks are made from wood, so you'll need that first. These are some of the most common materials in the game, so you are in luck! Sticks are made by crafting planks (place one wood at the center of the crafting grid) and then placing two planks in the crafting window. One will be at the center and the other in the center-bottom position. You can find stone really easily in mines and often near lava sources as well. Place the cobblestone in the crafting grid. Open your crafting table and place the cobblestone in the center-bottom position. Place the stick in the crafting grid. Next, place the stick in the center position. Drag the lever into your inventory. The lever should now be showing in the completed item box. Take the lever by left or right-clicking on it and then placing it into your inventory. Place the lever. Right click with the lever selected in your inventory in order to place the lever. You will need to place the lever next to redstone, since the lever is used to control the current of the redstone. Levers can be placed on the ground, wall, or a ceiling. They cannot be placed on snow, ice, or glowstone. The orientation of the lever effects which position is considered on and which is considers off, so you may need to adjust the orientation to suit your needs. Use the lever. There are lots of different uses for a lever and much like the rest of Minecraft, you're mainly limited by your imagination. As long as you can find a use for the function of a lever, activating or deactivating a redstone current, then you can find a good use for a lever. A lever provides a stable charge. It remains on or off until you actively press it again, unlike buttons, which switch themselves off. Levers are therefore useful when you need the switch to stay on, such as on a minecart track or for a lock you wished to keep locked. Levers are usually used for controlling lights in houses or other buildings. You can also use them to control doors from afar. Levers can be used in place of redstone, if you're running short (really only good for replacing one redstone). This is also helpful for letting you control the power current as well. It is important to remember that mobs cannot activate levers unless you have some kind of mod that allows this. | Gather your materials. Place the cobblestone in the crafting grid. Place the stick in the crafting grid. Drag the lever into your inventory. Place the lever. Use the lever. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Used-Auto-Parts-Business | How to Start a Used Auto Parts Business | To start a used auto parts business, develop a thorough business plan that outlines your budget, inventory, marketing strategies, and the areas you plan to specialize in. Choose a good location for your business and obtain any licenses, permits, and insurance required by law to sell to the public. Then, find a few good suppliers, stock your shelves with merchandise, and get the word out about your store to attract customers! | Know your market. Used auto parts businesses usually operate on a local level, with a few companies providing this service in the form of a regional or national chain. As such, do some research on your local market to ensure that you are not wading into an overly-competitive market with many well-established used auto parts businesses. Do an internet search, look in the local phone book, and pay close attention to advertisements on local television to identify similar businesses in your area. Account for the size and population of your city and compare that to the geographic location of existing used auto parts businesses. Used auto parts businesses are more likely to thrive in lower income areas, as wealthier segments of the society generally don't buy used auto parts as often. Develop a business and marketing plan. Your business plan should list information about exactly how you are going to run the business, any specialty areas, how you will open and maintain your business, where you will get your car parts, and how you will price them to earn a profit. Your marketing plan should contain information about your target audience and local competition as well as how you intend to draw in your target audience. Your specialty areas may be in imports, exports, motors, or bodywork. Do some research to determine what area can work for your business. A used auto parts business can be particularly lucrative if you provide rare or hard to find parts for more obscure vehicles. In your business plan, be sure to account for all costs and expenditures related to the business, project realistic sales goals, design a plan to reach new customers, identify potential demographic segments of the community who will utilize your services, and plan for the growth potential of your business. Be sure outline where and how you expect to generate the necessary capital to get your business off the ground and to ensure that you can expand when needed. Obtain the necessary paperwork. Make sure you acquire all the required licensing, permits, and insurance to run a used car parts business in your area. Pay attention to zoning regulations as well as state and federal guidelines. Most states require a license for businesses that buy, restore, recycle, and resell used car parts. Find a suitable location. Find a location for your used card parts business. As long as you have quality marketing and advertising strategies, you don't necessarily need a location that is easy for people to find. People may come looking for you because of the service you provide is so particular. You will need a location that is big enough to house and properly catalog a variety of used parts for all the makes and models of cars you cater to. Hire employees. If you are looking to open a used auto parts business, chances are that you have at least rudimentary knowledge about cars and how they work. However, you will likely need a licensed mechanic in your business to help refurbish old parts and identify parts that have potential resale value. Posting an add in local newspapers or on job search websites can help you find potential candidates for employment. Identify supply sources. The more you have on hand, the better. In the beginning, it may be hard to invest in the right parts. Start small, and seek parts you know people are looking for. You can also invest money in parts you know are necessary and are expensive when purchased brand-new. This way, people will more often seek out the used parts you have. Identifying the parts you need and where to find them depends largely on your business plan. Your business may choose to focus on providing parts for rare vehicles not in production anymore, as these will be in high demand among a small segment of the population. Alternatively, you may choose to specialize in providing parts for very common vehicles in an effort to expand your potential sales base. Try finding these parts in junkyards, from cars sold at salvage auctions, or contact insurance agencies to try to purchase "scrapped" cars from them at a discounted price. As a used auto parts business owner, you will need to educate yourself on the mechanics of how a car operates in order to find the right parts. Also, be prepared to test the parts you find to know if they are still operational or can be refurbished to become operational again. Connect with existing businesses. Local businesses, such as tow truck companies, junkyards and insurance companies, can help you find used car parts. Insurance companies may be willing to sell you parts of a vehicle to recoup some of their money, especially when selling the entire vehicle is not a practical option. Buy “scrap” vehicles. When a car gets totaled, there may be many valuable working parts left on the vehicle. Sometimes it may be worth it to buy an entire scrap vehicle so you can get a breakdown of motor and body parts for a specific make and model. Advertise your business to the public. Advertise online, on the radio, and in local newspapers. If you can afford it, consider placing a commercial on a local TV channel. Use flyers, business cards, and word-of-mouth advertising to inform people about your business. Run special promotions to celebrate your grand opening. Establish repeat business. One of the main goals of any business to establish a reliable customer base who will bring in repeat business. This can be particularly difficult with used auto parts businesses because the needs of customers are intermittent and specific. However, you could offer a repeat customer discount, a frequent-buyer card, or other special offers to entice customers to come back. Offer to take the old parts from your customers who purchase their used parts from you. You may be able to salvage car parts, refurbish them for a low cost, and place them back on your shelf. You could also consider offering a discount to customers who bring “trade-in” parts to your business. Consider selling online. When you deal with very specific parts for specific vehicles, you may find that no one in your immediate area will need the parts you are offering. As a result, it is wise to consider listing your inventory online to reach a much wider customer base. If you do choose to sell parts online, you need to account for the cost of packaging, shipping and handling in your prices and business model. Manage and monitor your inventory. The success of your used auto parts business relies on managing your inventory. If customers don't find what they need at your business, they will happily shop elsewhere. Staying profitable in the field of used auto parts requires you keep an extensive selection of parts for a wide variety of vehicles at all times. Control your cash flow. Monitor the flow of cash in and out of your business. Make sure you don't spend more acquiring the parts than you make selling them. Make sure you account for the other costs your business incurs from day-to-day operations when pricing your products. Such costs include : Paying employees and staff (if necessary) Paying rent or mortgage on your business' property Paying bills, like electric, water, and gas, that are necessary to your business' operations Paying property taxes and insurance Advertising costs | Know your market. Develop a business and marketing plan. Obtain the necessary paperwork. Find a suitable location. Identify supply sources. Connect with existing businesses. Buy “scrap” vehicles. Advertise your business to the public. Establish repeat business. Manage and monitor your inventory. Control your cash flow. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Boil-Eggs | How to Boil Eggs | "For delicious hard-boiled eggs, first put your eggs in a large saucepan and cover them with 1 inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Cover the saucepan and let it sit for 6-15 minutes. Then, remove your eggs with a slotted spoon and submerge them in an ice bath to cool them down before handling. To make a soft-boiled egg, bring water to a boil. Then, decrease the heat to a simmer and add the eggs. Let simmer for 5-7 minutes. Cool the eggs down and enjoy! " | Place up to 6 eggs in a large saucepan. Make sure to use a saucepan large and deep enough to hold all your eggs in a single layer (not stacking any on top of the others) with some room for them to move around. Cover the eggs with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. Place the pan in the sink and fill it with room temperature water until the eggs are covered by about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. The more eggs you boil, the more water you'll need. If you're using more than 6 eggs, cover them with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of water to ensure a good boil. Add vinegar or salt to prevent the eggs from cracking. Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of vinegar or ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) salt to keep the eggs from cracking in the pan. Adding salt also makes it easier to peel the eggs when you're ready to eat! Bring the pan to a rolling boil on the stove. Place the pan on the stove and heat it on high until the water gets to a rolling boil. You can leave the pan uncovered while you boil. If you see an egg crack while you're boiling, continue cooking it. Some of the white might slip out of the shell a bit, but it will be safe to eat as long as you cook it fully. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 6-16 minutes. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, shut off the heat, cover the pan, and let it sit on the burner for 6-16 minutes, depending on how hard you like your eggs. If you want your yolks a little translucent and runny in the middle, let them sit in the water for 6 minutes. If you want a classic hard-boiled egg with a firm yolk, let your eggs steep for 10-12 minutes. For hard, slightly crumbly yolks, keep your eggs in the water for 16 minutes. Strain the water and run the eggs under cold water. Pour the water out of the pan and run the eggs under cold water for a minute or so to stop them from cooking. Touch them gently to tell when they're cool enough to handle. To test if your eggs are done, remove one with a slotted spoon, run it under cold water, and cut it open with a knife. If the yolk isn't done to your taste, let the other eggs sit for 1-2 more minutes. If you're worried about your eggs rolling out when you strain, tilt the pan over the sink while holding the lid over the opening, so that the water runs out through a crack. You can also cool your eggs by letting them sit in a bowl of ice water for 1-2 minutes. Store hard-boiled eggs in their shells in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you want to store your eggs, remove them from the water as soon as they're cool. Set them back in their original carton to prevent them from absorbing other food odors and eat within 1 week. Only store hard-boiled eggs that are still in their shell. Once you peel the shell off, you should make sure to eat the egg that day. If a hard-boiled egg feels slimy after you peel it, throw the egg away. This is a sign that bacteria have started to grow and the egg isn't good. Tap the egg on the counter and peel the shell under cold water. When you're ready to eat, tap your egg gently on the counter to crack the shell, then roll it with the palm of your hand until the cracks have spread all over the egg. Then, hold the egg under running, room temperature water and peel the shell off. If you're still having trouble peeling your eggs, crack the shells and soak them in a pot of water for 10-15 minutes. Water will work under the shell, making it easier to peel off. Eat hard-boiled eggs plain, as an appetizer, or on a salad. Hard-boiled eggs with a dash of salt and pepper are great for a quick, healthy snack. You can also cut them in half to make deviled eggs , or slice them up for a tasty salad topper. Pour water into a large saucepan and heat to a boil, then simmer. Fill your pan with enough water to cover the eggs by about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Set it on the stove over high heat. Once the water gets to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer. Choose a saucepan that's big enough to hold your eggs in a single layer. For a good measurement, set your eggs in the saucepan and fill it with water, then remove them before you start boiling. Add up to 4 eggs and let sit for 5-7 minutes. Use tongs or a spoon to set your eggs in the simmering water. Set a timer for 5-7 minutes, depending on how runny you want your yolk. If you're boiling 3-4 eggs, add 15-30 seconds onto your time. For a runny yolk, let your eggs boil for 5 minutes. For slightly firmer yolk, boil your eggs for 6-7 minutes. Soft-boil in batches if you want more than 4 eggs. Remove the eggs and run them under cold water for 1 minute. Use a slotted spoon to pull out your eggs one by one. Run them under cold tap water for 30 seconds to a minute so they stop cooking and are cool enough to handle. Set the egg in a cup or small bowl and tap around the top to remove. Place your egg upright in an egg cup or a small bowl filled with an uncooked grain, like rice, to keep it standing up. Tap the egg around the pointy top with a butter knife to loosen it, then pull it off with your fingers. You won't be able to store soft-boiled eggs, so eat them right away, while they're still warm and gooey. Eat the egg right from the shell or with toast. To eat, simply spoon the egg right from the shell into your mouth. You can also slice toast into thin strips and dip them into the yolk. If your egg is more firmly cooked, you can carefully crack it, peel the shell, and enjoy it on toast for a warm, savory breakfast treat. | Place up to 6 eggs in a large saucepan. Cover the eggs with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. Add vinegar or salt to prevent the eggs from cracking. Bring the pan to a rolling boil on the stove. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 6-16 minutes. Strain the water and run the eggs under cold water. Store hard-boiled eggs in their shells in the refrigerator for up to a week. Tap the egg on the counter and peel the shell under cold water. Eat hard-boiled eggs plain, as an appetizer, or on a salad. Pour water into a large saucepan and heat to a boil, then simmer. Add up to 4 eggs and let sit for 5-7 minutes. Remove the eggs and run them under cold water for 1 minute. Set the egg in a cup or small bowl and tap around the top to remove. Eat the egg right from the shell or with toast. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Meringues | How to Make Meringues | To make meringues, begin by gathering and measuring out 3 large eggs whites, 3/4 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. After preheating the oven to 300 °F, whip the egg whites and salt in a clean, dry bowl. Add the sugar slowly, followed by the vanilla and beat until the egg whites become stiff. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet, then bake them for 45 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the meringues in the oven until they're completely cool. | Prepare the oven and baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 300ºF (150ºC). Take out a baking sheet or cookie tray, and line it with parchment paper. This prevents the meringues from sticking. Whip the egg whites and salt. Pour the egg whites into a dry metal mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to rapidly beat the egg whites and salt together until the egg whites become frothy. Make sure the bowl you use is clean and dry. Even a drop of water or another substance in the mixing bowl can prevent the egg whites from achieving the right texture. Don't beat the egg whites too long before adding the sugar. Beat with the salt just until they become frothy, then move on to the next step. Add the sugar gradually. A teaspoon at a time, add the sugar as you continue beating the egg whites. The whites should begin to stiffen and form soft peaks. Keep beating them continuously. Add the remaining ingredients. Incorporate the cream of tartar and vanilla. Continue whipping the mixture until the egg whites become glossy and stiff. When you can tip the bowl upside down without anything coming out, your meringue has reached the right consistency. At this stage you may gently fold in some chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, fruit bits, or another mix-in if you desire. Drop the mixture onto the baking sheet a teaspoonful at a time. Place each individual meringue an inch or so apart. Repeat until you've used the entire mixing bowl full of meringue. For pretty meringues, fill an icing bag fitted with a star-shaped tip with the meringue mixture. Pipe individual meringues onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle the meringues with sugar, cocoa powder, or another topping if you desire. Bake the meringues for 45 minutes. The tray should be placed in the center of the oven to ensure the meringues cook evenly. Turn off the oven and leave the meringues to cool. Letting them cool in the oven preserves their delicate texture. Wait 1 - 2 hours, or until they are completely cool, before removing them from the oven. Remove them from the oven when they are cool. Serve or store the meringues. They are ready to eat as soon as they have cooled. Serve them immediately or store them in an airtight food storage container for up to 4 days. Create sandwich cookies with a sweet filling. Spread your favorite filling on the flat side of a meringue, and press a second meringue on top to create a delicious sandwich cookie. The following fillings are popular choices to serve with meringues: Chocolate ganache. The rich, dark chocolate flavor is an excellent contrast to fluffy sweet meringues. Whipped cream. Keep the dessert light with a sweetened whipped cream filling. Fruit jam or fresh fruit. Fresh strawberries or raspberries, or strawberry or raspberry jam, make delicious meringue fillings. Make flavored meringues. The meringue mixture itself can be flavored with extract and brightened with food coloring for a unique dessert. Mixing in bits of fruit or chocolate is another way to add some character. Consider these combinations: Flavor the meringues with orange extract, add a few drops of orange food coloring, and mix in some candied orange bits. Mix some cocoa powder into the meringue batter and fold in mini chocolate chips. Flavor the meringues with pistachio extract and top with crushed roasted pistachios. Make candy cane meringues. This festive variation is flavored with peppermint extract. Create candy cane stripes by painting the meringues with strips of food coloring after you pipe them onto the baking sheet. Add up to a teaspoon of instant coffee to the egg whites to make mocha-flavored meringues. A small amount of vinegar absorbed into a paper towel rubbed around the inside of the mixing bowl will stop the meringue mixture from collapsing on itself. Before baking, you can make a small depression in each meringue with the back of a clean teaspoon (about the size of a large strawberry bottom). After baking and cooling, but right before serving, put a dollop (1.5 teaspoon to a tablespoon full) of sour cream in the depression and then top with a cleaned, fresh, ripe strawberry. These are delicious even without adding the berry because of the tang of the sour cream complements the sweetness of the meringue. | Prepare the oven and baking sheet. Whip the egg whites and salt. Add the sugar gradually. Add the remaining ingredients. Drop the mixture onto the baking sheet a teaspoonful at a time. Bake the meringues for 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the meringues to cool. Serve or store the meringues. Create sandwich cookies with a sweet filling. Make flavored meringues. Make candy cane meringues. Add up to a teaspoon of instant coffee to the egg whites to make mocha-flavored meringues. A small amount of vinegar absorbed into a paper towel rubbed around the inside of the mixing bowl will stop the meringue mixture from collapsing on itself. Before baking, you can make a small depression in each meringue with the back of a clean teaspoon (about the size of a large strawberry bottom). |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Urine-Sample-from-a-Male-Dog | How to Get a Urine Sample from a Male Dog | To get a urine sample from a male dog, plan to collect it first thing in the morning or when you get home from work when you know its bladder is full. Next, clean out a plastic, leak-proof container to catch the urine in. Then, take your dog on a walk and watch for it to lift its leg to urinate. When it does, position the container in the urine stream, catch the urine in the container, and seal the container tightly. | Decide when to get the sample. Your male dog may not be thrilled about you collecting its urine. To make the process a little easier for the both of you, get the urine sample when you know your dog's bladder is going to be full, such as first thing in the morning or when you get home from work. A urine sample collected first thing in the morning is usually the most accurate. You can also try collecting a sample after a meal, or on your normal walk when there are interesting smells to sniff and your dog wants to mark its territory. Select a leak-proof container. Your vet may give you a small plastic container to collect your male dog's urine. If not, choose a plastic, leak-proof container that you have at home. Container options include: Shallow bowl Disposable food storage container, like Tupperware® Empty margarine tub Empty cream cheese container Clean the container. To prevent dust or leftover food from contaminating your male dog's urine, wash the container with hot, soapy water. Allow the container to dry completely before using it to get the urine sample. Walk your dog on a leash. Once you're outside, your male dog may become suspicious and try to get away if it sees the container in your hand. To prevent your dog from getting away, put it on a leash when going outside. Preferably, use a non-retractable leash. If you have a backyard, walk your dog to where it usually urinates. Your dog's scent will already be there, so it will know that's where it should urinate. Watch your dog closely. Depending on how full your dog's bladder is, your dog may want to urinate almost as soon as it gets outside. Pay close attention to your dog so you can be ready to collect the urine when your dog lifts its leg. If it looks like your dog is going to lift its right back leg, stand on your dog's right. If you think your dog will lift its left back leg, stand on the left side. Stand slightly to the back of your dog. Catch your dog’s urine in the container. When your dog lifts its leg, gently and swiftly place the container in the urine stream. Do not make sudden movements, or you may alarm your dog. Move the container away once your dog finishes urinating. You may get a little urine on your hand that's holding the container. If you don't want to get urine on your hand, consider wearing a rubber glove. To keep your hand from getting urine on it, you could also make a handle by taping a ruler to the outside of the container. Seal the container. When you have collected the urine, you will need to cover the container so the urine doesn't spill out or get contaminated. The best seal will be the lid that goes with the container. If you do not have the matching lid, tightly cover the container with a few layers of plastic wrap. If you use plastic wrap to cover the container, keep the plastic wrap in place with a rubber band. If any urine got on the side of the container, wipe it off with a dry paper towel. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water before and after sealing the container. Take the sample to your vet’s office. A urinalysis will be most accurate when the urine sample is fresh (collected no more than a few hours beforehand). After the container with the urine sample is securely sealed, place it in a bag and put your dog's name on the bag. Then, take the container to your vet's office. Store the urine sample at home. If you can't drop off the urine sample soon after collecting it, you will need to keep it cool until you have time to drive to your vet's office. Options for cool storage of urine are a refrigerator or a cooler with ice. If you choose to store the urine sample in your fridge, place the container with the sample in a plastic bag to prevent any urine from contaminating the fridge. Storing your dog's urine in your fridge may make you uncomfortable. If so, store the sample in a cooler. Do not store the urine for more than 12 hours. After 12 hours, the urine sample will no longer be fresh enough to use for a urinalysis. Have someone help you. You might have an easier time getting the urine sample from your male dog if you have some help. Ask a friend or family member to either walk your dog or position the container in the urine stream. Contact your vet. If you're not able to get a urine sample, don't worry. Simply contact your vet and let them know. They can give you extra guidance or suggest having their staff collect the sample for you. Allow the vet’s staff to collect the sample. If you choose to have the urine sample collected at the vet's office, one of the staff members will take your male dog outside to get a sample when you arrive. If that's unsuccessful, the staff may use another method, called cystocentesis, to collect some urine. To perform a cystocentesis, several staff members will place your dog on its back while another staff member carefully inserts a clean needle directly into your dog's bladder and draws up the urine. | Decide when to get the sample. Select a leak-proof container. Clean the container. Walk your dog on a leash. Watch your dog closely. Catch your dog’s urine in the container. Seal the container. Take the sample to your vet’s office. Store the urine sample at home. Have someone help you. Contact your vet. Allow the vet’s staff to collect the sample. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Cherry-Trees | How to Identify Cherry Trees | To identify cherry trees, begin by studying the leaves and looking for an oval shape with a point at the tip and serrated edges. Also, the leaves should be shiny, medium-green, and up to 5 inches long. Next, look at the bark on the trunk, which will be gray or brown and have horizontal markings, called lenticels, on it. The bark of a cherry tree is soft, but not shaggy. In the spring, cherry trees will have white or pink blossoms with small clefts in each petal. In the summer, look for yellow, black or red fruits that are small and round. | Study the flowers. Cherry tree flowers are either white or pink in color, and they do not have a scent. They grow in clusters, with each flower stalk emerging from one central point. Cherry tree flowers also have long stamens that poke up from the flowers. This distinct clustering flower growth pattern is a key way to distinguish cherry trees from trees with similar traits. For example, peach trees grow single flowers, and almond tree flowers grow in pairs. Cherries are likely to flower early in the spring. They produce clusters of pale green berries later on in the spring. Examine the petals. On cherry trees, each single flower has 5 petals. Semi double flowers have 6 to 10 petals, and double blossoms have 10 petals or more. Cherry tree petals each have a small cleft, while plum petals are rounded. Count the styles. Cherry tree styles are the long tubes that connect to the flower's ovary, distinct from the stems. The ovary is the part of the tree that becomes the fruit. Each cherry tree blossom has only one style. Some trees, like crab trees that flower, look a lot like cherry trees. However, in flowering crab trees , each flower has four to five styles. Apple and pear trees have two to five. Mespil trees have five. If you look more closely at the tree and notice that the flowers are attached to only one style, that's a good sign it's a cherry tree. Examine the fruit. Ornamental cherry tree varieties do not produce fruit. Fruiting cherry trees have hanging fruit that grows in pairs or clusters. The fruit hangs where the flowers did before. The fruit will be small, pale and green in late spring. In late summer, the cherries get larger and redder. Some cherry trees produce fruit that is yellow or black instead of red. If you take a close look at the fruit, you should be able to distinguish cherry trees from other fruiting trees, such as cherry plum trees or apple trees. Cherry fruit is rounder in shape than either of these. A good rule of thumb is that if the fruit is smaller than ¾ of an inch, it is probably a cherry. Cherry plums and regular plums are usually bigger, about 1 inch or larger. Study the leaves. The cherry tree's leaves are toothed. They are oval shaped, and they have a point at the tip. There are serrated margins on the leaves. The leaves are 2 to 5 inches long. Most cherry trees have large, shiny green leaves arranged alternately on branches. The bottom leaves are usually medium green. Up higher, the leaves turn paler yellow. In the fall, cherry tree leaves turn yellow with a hint of red. Cherry trees are deciduous, so they lose their leaves in the fall. Study the bark. The cherry tree's bark is commonly brown, gray, or a shade in between. The bark of a cherry tree has what are called horizontal lenticels. These are marks in the bark that look like small cuts that are darker or lighter than the rest of the bark. In some cherry trees, the bark peels back in places. Underneath it, you can spot a darker mahogany color. Cherry tree bark is not shaggy, but very hard, making it useful as building material. The bark is softer toward the top of the tree. Notice the shape of the tree. Mature cherry trees take on an umbrella shape. The branches are "spreading," meaning the top of the tree looks wider than the bottom. In contrast, plum trees look round or oval, and pear trees look oval or teardrop-shaped. Look for grafts. Fruit trees are often grafted so they will produce fruit. On cherry trees, you'll find the graft placed on the trunk, near where the first branches emerge. Other fruit trees usually have grafts on the branches, making them look knotty. Identify Japanese cherry trees. Japan alone has over 100 varieties of cherry trees. They are also commonly seen at cherry blossom festivals around the United States, and they are designed to have very showy flowers. Japanese cherry blossoms are as large as carnations. Kwanzan cherry trees produce white or pink double blooms, and Yoshino cherry trees produce white single blooms. Japanese cherry trees do not produce fruit. They are grown for their beauty, not their bounty. Identify black cherry or choke cherry trees. These trees are native to North America. They can grow very large and they are usually quite straight. Their flowers are smaller and white. The flowers will appear in long narrow clusters after the leaves come out in the spring. If you see orange colored fuzz along the midrib of various leaves, it's probably a black cherry tree. Otherwise, it's likely a chokecherry. Identify agricultural cherry trees. These trees are used to produce the cherries sold commercially. Sometimes these trees are called sweet cherry or sour cherry trees. They have small, white flowers with 5 petals that bloom before the leaves grow completely in the early spring. Sweet cherry trees have more leaves than sour cherry trees. Sweet cherry trees have leaves with more than 8 pairs of veins for each leaf. Sour cherry tree leaves have fewer than 8 pairs of veins per leaf. Distinguish between plum and cherry trees. People often mistake plum trees for cherry trees, especially when they start blossoming. Here are the main distinctions: Cherry trees' smell is faint, if not non existent. Plum trees are fragrant. Cherry blossoms have clefts at the tips of the petals, while plum blossoms are oval. Cherry tree bark has horizontal lines. Plum blossom bark is darker than cherry tree bark and does not have horizontal lines. Cherry buds are oval. Plum buds are round. Cherry tree leaves are green or copper. Plum leaves are purple. | Study the flowers. Examine the petals. Count the styles. Examine the fruit. Study the leaves. Study the bark. Notice the shape of the tree. Look for grafts. Identify Japanese cherry trees. Identify black cherry or choke cherry trees. Identify agricultural cherry trees. Distinguish between plum and cherry trees. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Two-Strand-Twists | How to Do Two Strand Twists | To do two-strand twists, start by dividing damp hair into 6 horizontal sections, starting at your forehead and ending at the base of your scalp, and securing each one with a clip. Then, remove the clip from the bottom section and apply hair lotion to lock in the style. Next, separate two small sections of hair and twist them together left over right. When you reach the end of the hair, apply gel to hold the twist in place before creating another twist next to it, all across the bottom section of hair. Finally, repeat this with each large section of hair, moving up towards your forehead. | Decide what kind of twist style you would like. You can divide the hair into large sections for less twists or do small random twists all over the scalp. The styles and options are almost endless, so choose the one you feel most comfortable with. Shampoo and condition the hair. Give your hair a nice shampoo lather and rinse followed by a thorough conditioning. Once you have finished washing your hair begin drying by only removing excess water; It is very important to leave the hair a little damp. Try removing excess water by blotting or squeezing the hair gently with a cotton t-shirt. Do not rub your hair! Don't use a towel because it will dry your hair out. Also, it will make you hair frizzy and your curls can get tangled in the towel. If your hair has drops of water dripping off the ends it is still too wet and you should continue blotting. Detangle the hair. Comb through the hair with a wide-tooth comb. Start by combing the ends of the hair. Once those tangles are gone then slide up an inch or so and (still combing downwards) keep combing until all tangles (from the roots - down) are gone. Use detangling spray (i.e. Kinky Curly Knot Today ) for a smoother comb through. Part your hair into two sections. Use a rat-tail comb (a comb that has teeth on one end and a styling separator on the other) to part the hair horizontally from ear to ear. Hold the top and bottom sections separate from each other by using hair clips for each section. Divide the top and bottom parts into six even sections. These are the sections you will use to make your twists ( Please note : This is example is only using six twists, however the procedure is the same for many). To create three sections on the top part, part the hair running from the crown down to the horizontal part you previously made. Clip each section so they remain separated. To create three sections on the bottom part, part the hair running from the base of your scalp up to the horizontal part you previously made. Clip each section so they remain in place. Remove the clip from the first (and eventually all) of the six sections of hair. This will be the only section that has been unclipped/not twisted and loose. It may be easier to work from the bottom to the top so you do not take the chance of messing up the top twists. Comb the loose section. Use the wide-tooth comb again to remove any tangles that might have been created in the separating and clipping process. Apply hair lotion, curling cream, curling gel, or mousse. These styling products make the hair follicles sticky and will help to lock in the style. Rub the product onto your hands and smooth it into the loose section of hair to be twisted. Secure and separate the loose section. Use an elastic rubber band (optional) to hold the hair in place and separate the hair into two new sections. You do not need to use a rubber band if you prefer not to. Place the rubber band as close to the roots as possible while taking care to not pull the hair too tightly. Make sure the two separated sections are even. Twist the two new sections of hair together. Cross left over right until the end of the section is reached. Allow the ends to curl on each other and apply hair gel to hold the twist in place. Embellish with beads, barrettes, bows, or elastics with balls. The embellishments can be added to the ends or base of the twists. Barrettes, bows and elastics are normally snapped/tied into place. Beads can be added by sliding them over the ends of the twists far enough up so they stick in place. It's best to secure the twist with a rubber band to keep the beads in place. Alternatively, you can find beads that clip onto your hair, which are specifically made for styles like the two strand twist. Sleep with satin. Wear a satin scarf or sleep on a satin pillowcase to help your twist style stay intact. | Decide what kind of twist style you would like. Shampoo and condition the hair. Detangle the hair. Part your hair into two sections. Divide the top and bottom parts into six even sections. Remove the clip from the first (and eventually all) of the six sections of hair. Comb the loose section. Apply hair lotion, curling cream, curling gel, or mousse. Secure and separate the loose section. Twist the two new sections of hair together. Embellish with beads, barrettes, bows, or elastics with balls. Sleep with satin. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Contact-Sean-Hannity | How to Contact Sean Hannity | One of the easiest ways to contact Sean Hannity is through his website. You can get there by entering hannity.com into your search bar. From there, click on the “Contact Us” link in the top right corner to pull up an email form. In the form, type in your information including your name and email address. Then, write Sean Hannity a message beginning with the topic of your email. For instance, you could say, “I wanted to comment about something you mentioned on your show today.” Keep a calm and professional tone so he's more likely to read it. Before you submit the message, click or check any boxes that verify that you're not a robot, and then click on the send button to transmit your message. If Sean Hannity is interested in responding, he'll reach out to you using the contact information you provided. | Visit Sean Hannity’s website to email him. He has his email set up directly through his website, so you'll need to fill out the contact page there to send him an email. Luckily, this makes contacting him very easy. This link will take you to Sean Hannity's website: https://www.hannity.com/ Click on the “Contact Us” link in the top right corner. This will bring up an email form that you can use to contact either Sean Hannity or his show. It works the same as a regular email, but it's easier to format and send. Type in your information. You will need to provide your name and email address in the boxes provided. Each box is labeled to make it easy to set up your message. You will also need to select if you are contacting Sean Hannity himself or his TV show. Write your message. Sean Hannity likely gets a lot of emails, so you want yours to get his attention. Be direct in what you want to say. It's a good idea to start the message with the topic of your email. You could write, “I wanted to respond to what you said on your show today.” Make sure your tone is calm and professional. If your message sounds angry, has grammatical errors, or has misspelled words, then he may be less likely to open it. Avoid using all caps and exclamation points. Check the box to show you aren’t a robot. Sean Hannity's site has protection against automated bot messages, which means you'll have to prove you're a human. All you have to do is click the box next to “I am not a robot.” This will enable you to send your message. Hit the send button to transmit your message. Right below the “I am not a robot” box, you'll see a send button. When you're finished with your message, click this button to send it off to Sean Hannity. Congrats! You just contacted him! Use the format of a formal letter. Put your address in the top right corner, followed by the date. Then move your cursor to the left side of the page and write Sean Hannity's address. Skip a line, and then start with "Dear Sean Hannity" as your salutation. Set your margins at 1". Skip lines between paragraphs, if you have any. Introduce yourself and your purpose for writing. In your first short paragraph, tell Sean Hannity who you are and why you're writing the letter. This paragraph should be 2-4 sentences. Remember to skip a line after your salutation. Include the bulk of your message in the 2nd paragraph. In several sentences, explain what you want to say to Sean Hannity. Use a professional tone so that he is more likely to read it. Make sure you skip a line before you start this paragraph. Close your letter on a positive note. Skip another line, and then finish the letter with a few sentences thanking him for his time and providing your email or mailing address. When you're finished with your message, skip three lines and type your name. After you print it out, sign the letter in the space above your typed name. You may not get a response, but it doesn't hurt to give your contact information. Proofread the letter before you send it. Check for grammatical and spelling errors, as well as typos. It's also a good idea to make sure that the letter says what you wanted to say. In some cases, you might decide to revise the letter to further explain your thoughts. It's best to ask someone to proofread it for you to check for errors. Mail the letter to Sean Hannity at Fox News. You can use the address for Fox News because he works for them. Just make sure you include his name as the first line in the address. Don't forget to place a stamp in the top right corner of your letter! Address your letter as follows: Sean Hannity, ℅ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10036. Send a Tweet to Sean Hannity. Twitter is a great way to contact him because you can both comment on his Tweets and Tweet directly at him. This is a great option for times you have something to say that you think other Hannity fans will agree with. Your Tweet might get a lot of attention! It's a good idea to follow him so that you can see what he's posting about. Sean Hannity does not allow direct messages on his Twitter page. You can find Sean Hannity's Twitter page here: https://twitter.com/SeanHannity Comment on his Facebook posts. You can like and follow Sean Hannity on Facebook, which will make it easy to comment on his posts. While you can't message him directly, a member of his team may respond to your comments. His Facebook page is very active with fans, so you'll be in good company! You can find Sean Hannity's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SeanHannity Reach out through Instagram. Sean Hannity has an active Instagram account where he posts photos. You can comment on the photos to get your message to his team, especially if what you have to say has something to do with what he's doing in the photo. His Instagram page is very active with fans and critics commenting on his photos. Hannity's account does not let you direct message him. Sean Hannity's Instagram account is located here: https://www.instagram.com/seanhannity/?hl=en | Visit Sean Hannity’s website to email him. Click on the “Contact Us” link in the top right corner. Type in your information. Write your message. Check the box to show you aren’t a robot. Hit the send button to transmit your message. Use the format of a formal letter. Introduce yourself and your purpose for writing. Include the bulk of your message in the 2nd paragraph. Close your letter on a positive note. Proofread the letter before you send it. Mail the letter to Sean Hannity at Fox News. Send a Tweet to Sean Hannity. Comment on his Facebook posts. Reach out through Instagram. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-You-Are-Irritating | How to Know if You Are Irritating | Sometimes it can be hard to figure out if you're annoying the people around you, but by looking out for a few simple signs you can quickly determine if you might need to make some changes. One of the easiest ways to tell if you're irritating someone is to watch their facial cues. If they are rolling their eyes, frowning, or raising their eyebrows, chances are that they are irritated by you. Pay close attention to their body language. Look out for crossed arms, neck rubbing, or their feet pointed away from you. All of these can be signs that someone isn't enjoying talking to you Also, reflect on your relationship with the other person to determine if it has changed. If the other person has stopped talking to you or doesn't want to hang out as much, they could be irritated by you. | Notice if you pass your work to others. Start by looking at how you interact with others. Take a look at your habits and notice if you tend to try to enlist others to do your work. If so, it's pretty likely that people find this irritating. Think about if you regularly ask co-workers to help out with your projects. If your answer is a yes, they might be irritated. Maybe you realize that you often try to get out of doing your fair share of work during group projects at school. Your classmates are probably tired of this behavior. Maybe your job at home is to take out the trash. If you constantly beg your sister to do it for you, she might be annoyed. Pay attention to how much noise you make. You might have never considered whether or not you are loud. Now is the time to start paying attention. Throughout the day, take note of situations where you might be making too much noise for others. Spend a week keeping a log of situations where you are potentially being too loud. Some common examples of being irritatingly loud include: Being a noisy neighbor by playing your music too loudly. Talking during movies when you go to the theater or when you're watching Netflix with a friend. Talking over people in social situations. Talking while others are talking in meetings or in class. Talking on a cell phone in public places. Consider if you often have a strong smell. Smells can be very aggravating for people, both good and bad odors. This includes body odor, bad breath, and strong perfumes or colognes. Do you wear a lot of perfume, cologne, body spray, or body lotion? Do you eat a lot of strong-smelling foods? Do you shower or bathe often? Do you wear deodorant and/or other personal care products? Do you change your clothes daily? Do you wash your laundry before re-wearing it? Do your pets have an opportunity to soil your clothes before you wear them out? Notice if you are frequently negative. If you regularly say negative things, it can really start to wear on the people around you. You might not even notice that you're doing it, so make an effort to really paying attention to how you speak. Complaining can sometimes help you deal with your feelings, but only in moderation. If you spend a lot of time complaining, people may not enjoy the conversation very much. You might be irritating if you constantly say, "Yes, but..." For example, if a co-worker makes a suggestion and you say, "Yes, but the client would hate that," that can make them feel their ideas aren't appreciated. It's also negative if you can't take a compliment. For instance, if someone compliments you, don't say, "Thanks for complimenting my cooking, but the chicken was really too dry and the sauce was bland!" Pay attention to how you speak. How you speak and what you say can irritate the people around you. Talking too fast or about inappropriate topics can be off-putting to people. Additionally, frequently using slang, street talk, or profanity can bother people. Watch for the following irritating behaviors: Using the word "like" inappropriately too often. Using text speak. Ending statements so that they sound like a question. Using "you" instead of "we." Correcting others. Excessively using the phrase "you know." Constantly talking about yourself. Giving unsolicited advice. Speaking in run-on sentences. Observe your manners. If you regularly forget your manners, there's a good chance that people find this annoying. You don't have to go out of your way to be over the top polite, but you should definitely make an effort to use basic courtesy. Start by always remembering to say please and thank you. Use your inside voice, even when you're upset. Don't raise your voice during disagreements. Greet people. For example, if you sit down next to a classmate at lunch, say, "Hi, Sue. How's your day going?" Avoid interrupting people when they are in the middle of a conversation. If you do interrupt, say "I'm sorry. I realize I interrupted. What were you saying?" Take time to self-reflect each day. Self-reflection means taking a close look at yourself. Make it a habit to sit and think about your day. Consider your actions and the reactions of others. You'll start to have a better understanding of yourself. Set aside 20 minutes a day to reflect. You could write in a journal or think while you take a walk. Think about what kinds of interactions you had that day. If they were positive, note what worked. If they weren't so great, try to think of ways you could make things go more smoothly the next time. Ask someone you trust for feedback. One of the simplest ways to know if you are irritating is to simply ask. If you feel like your relationship with someone is strained, let them know that you've noticed. You might say to your best friend, “I've noticed we haven't spent much time together lately. Have I done something to annoy you?” To a co-worker, say, “Do you think it bothers people when I eat tuna in the break room?” If someone gives you helpful feedback, thank them and work to make any necessary changes. Watch facial expressions. You can observe the look on someone's face to help figure out if they are irritated. If they appear relaxed and smiling, they are probably not annoyed. Some signs of irritation include: Frowning Rolling their eyes Raising their eyebrows Holding their mouth closed/tight Look for signs of discomfort. In addition to watching facial expressions, you can pay attention to body language. Most people will subconsciously give signals that they are uncomfortable or irritated. Be on the lookout for: Lack of eye contact, or looking away Neck rubbing Face rubbing Looking at the door or a clock Feet pointed away Crossed arms Fidgeting If you don't understand, ask. It's okay to ask for clarification if you can't figure out what someone is thinking or feeling. If you're uncertain, state what you notice, then ask what it means. Here are some examples: "I've noticed you're checking the time a lot. Do you need to go?" "You seem fidgety. Is something bothering you?" "You look uncomfortable. Should we change the subject?" "Have I upset you?" Notice changes in your relationship. If you're wondering if you are irritating someone in particular, step back and take an objective look at your relationship. Has it changed recently? The other person might be upset with you. Has your co-worker stopped chatting with you over your morning coffee? Consider asking them if everything is okay. If your best friend no longer invites you over for movie night, ask what is going on. Do people abruptly leave or end conversations when you come by? When you start talking, do people try to end the conversation as quickly as possible? Give others the benefit of the doubt. It is possible the other person has something else happening in their life. Maybe your sister just hasn't had much time for you lately. It's natural to assume that it has something to do with you, but it might not! Remember that everyone has their ups and downs, and the person might just be stressed about work or school. Practice positive thinking. If you find that you regularly irritate others, you might want to work on changing parts of your behavior. Start by thinking more positively. If your thoughts are positive, you are more likely to behave in an optimistic and approachable way. Every evening, think of three good things that happened today. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help you feel better and share these good feelings with others. Surround yourself with positive people. If someone is irritated with you, it's not necessarily your fault. The two of you just might not click. That's okay. Work on being around people who are positive. If someone doesn't want to sit with you at lunch, try not to spend too much time worrying about it. Instead, join another group. If a friend regularly criticizes you, start spending time around your other friends. Try to be around people with positive attitudes. Enlist the help of someone who can help when you overstep. If you have trusted friends or coworkers who can signal you when the irritating behavior begins, you can more actively break bad habits. Ask your closest friends or relatives to help you spot this behavior. You might say something like, "I've noticed that people at parties don't hang around with me, so I'm trying to fix my speech habits. Will you help me spot my bad habits?" Take a class on etiquette, communicating effectively, or speech. An instructor can help you better identify the behaviors you need to work on and what you can do instead. You will be able to practice communicating well in a positive environment with other students who are trying to improve. Look online for classes, seminars, or workshops in your area. You may be able to take a class at your school. Check with local therapists to see if they offer group workshops. Be polite towards others. A common reason that people get irritated is when they are treated rudely. Try to always use good manners so that you don't upset someone. Don't interrupt, always say please and thank you, and greet people in a friendly way. You can also be polite by respecting other people's' personal space. Be attentive to others. Show that you are listening by maintaining eye contact (or looking at them) and asking questions when appropriate. Take time to listen to other people's ideas. Maybe you've been asked to talk less during meetings. It's probably not because your ideas aren't valid, it's just that you might be monopolizing the conversation. Don't worry, you can correct the problem. Make an effort to listen more than you talk. This means that in a 10 minute conversation, you shouldn't be doing more than 5 minutes of the talking. Make sure that you only talk when you have something of value to add to the conversation. For example, if your friends are talking about how much they love yoga, you don't need to interrupt to say, "But really, spinning is so much better!" Don't feel a constant need to talk. For example, if the person next to on the bus is reading a book, you don't have to pepper them with questions like, "What's that about? Is it good? Why is that picture on the cover?" While it's okay to be friendly, it's also good to notice whether people are receptive. Sometimes, they need quiet time and would prefer to be left alone. Validate people's feelings. Pay attention when they talk about how they feel, and take their emotions seriously. People deeply appreciate people who make them feel heard and understood. Making a habit of validating people's feelings can go a long way to helping them feel comfortable around you, and helping them enjoy spending time with you. Talk less about yourself. It can be really irritating if someone is constantly talking about themselves. If you've realized that you are guilty of this, figure out some ways to correct the problem. For example, ask other people questions about themselves. If you're talking about how much you loved Breaking Bad take time to ask the other person what their favorite show is. If you notice you've been talking about yourself a lot, pause and ask a question about the other person, such as "So how has your day been?" When someone is telling a story, try not to always jump in and say, "I had the same thing happen to me!" It's okay to empathize, but it's also okay to let other people steer the conversation. Notice whether the other person is asking questions. A person who is genuinely interested might prompt you to keep talking about yourself, in which case, keep doing so until the subject naturally changes. Try not to be hard on yourself. Maybe you irritated someone. That's okay, it happens to everyone. Don't beat yourself up for it. Occasionally being annoying doesn't make you a bad person. Instead, just make an effort to smooth things over by apologizing to the person you annoyed, if appropriate, and moving forward. | Notice if you pass your work to others. Pay attention to how much noise you make. Consider if you often have a strong smell. Notice if you are frequently negative. Pay attention to how you speak. Observe your manners. Take time to self-reflect each day. Ask someone you trust for feedback. Watch facial expressions. Look for signs of discomfort. If you don't understand, ask. Notice changes in your relationship. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Practice positive thinking. Surround yourself with positive people. Enlist the help of someone who can help when you overstep. Take a class on etiquette, communicating effectively, or speech. Be polite towards others. Take time to listen to other people's ideas. Validate people's feelings. Talk less about yourself. Try not to be hard on yourself. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Strip-Twister | How to Play Strip Twister | To play Strip Twister, make sure all players have the same amount of clothes on so the game is fair. Play the game like normal, but whenever someone falls, they have to remove an item of clothing and return to their position. When the spinner lands on red, everyone playing needs to remove an item of clothing. However, you can only lift 1 limb at a time while removing it. If you fall while removing clothes, you need to remove an extra item. The winner of the game is the last player who still has clothes on. | Divide into teams. In order to play Twister, you will need at least two people (an equal number of men and women tends to work best). Divide your players into teams of two people, preferably with a man and a woman on each team. If you're playing the game with couples, each couple can be their own team. If you don't have an equal number of players, ask one person to serve as the referee and official spinner. If you do have an even number of players, the referee position will rotate amongst the players. If you prefer not to play with teams, each player can play on their own individual team. Prepare to play. Spread your mat across the floor; if you're playing the game outside, make sure to anchor the mat at each corner so it doesn't blow away. Players should start at opposite ends of the mat, with each person standing near the word Twister. Each player should begin with one foot on the yellow circle and one foot on the blue circle closest to their side. If you're playing with three people, set up the players as you would for a two player game, then have the third player face the red-circle side of the mat, with one foot on each of the two middle red circles. If you're playing with teams, a member of each team will play in each round and eventually the winners of each round will face off in a final match. Play the game. Every time the referee spins the spinner, they will call out the body part and color the spinner points to. Each player must place that body part on the corresponding circle. A circle must be vacant for a player to be able to use it. If a player currently has a body part on a color and that color is called again, the player must move to a new circle of that same color. If two players reach for the same circle at the same time, it is up to the referee to decide who got there first. If all six circles of the same color are already covered, the referee must spin again until a new color can be called out. Win the game. Any player who falls or touches the mat with an elbow or knee will be immediately ejected from the game. Players may choose to eliminate themselves if they feel they cannot hold a position any longer. The player left standing at the end of the game, wins. If you are playing with teams, don't forget to have the winners of each heat face off at the end. Decide on your clothing rules. All players should begin a game of Strip Twister wearing the same number of clothing articles. Five or six articles of clothing tends to work best. Hats, socks, shoes and jewelry count as clothing articles. It is recommended that everyone apply deodorant and play in a well ventilated room for maximum enjoyment. Review the rules. In Strip Twister, any time the spinner lands on red, all players must remove an article of clothing. Only one hand or foot may be lifted from the mat at a time, even when the player is removing clothing. When removing clothing, the hand or foot must be placed back on the spot it originated from before another hand or foot can be lifted. If a player falls while removing an article of clothing, they must remove an additional item of clothing as a penalty. Apply penalties. Since this is Twister with a twist, there are certain penalties in this game that do not exist in the standard game of Twister. In regular Twister, if a player falls, they are automatically removed from the game. In Strip Twister, they just remove an article of clothing. Whoever has the most clothing on at the end, wins the game. Anyone who is caught wearing more than the allotted amount of clothing must immediately remove the extra clothing. Anyone caught cheating in any form will be punished by having to remove an additional article of clothing. Modify the game to suit your needs. If you choose to play Strip Twister with a larger group, you may decide to add additional restrictions to make the game more competitive and more family friendly. Players may choose to strip down only to their undergarments or bathing suits. If the spinner lands on yellow, that can also be an automatic strip. Start out naked. Naked Twister generally works best if you're playing solely with a significant other. Instead of gradually taking off your clothing throughout the game, start naked and up the ante by distracting each other with physical affection. Try licking, nuzzling, kissing or tickling your opponent to get them to relinquish their spot on the board. Make the game more romantic by turning down the lights and adding some candles. Just make sure not to knock the candles over in the heat of the moment. Make it a drinking game. In Drunk Twister, the game remains the same, but each player must take a shot each time they slip on the mat, but don't fall. The game continues until everyone has fallen, or everyone has drunk so much that they can't go on. Use small shot glasses for drinks, otherwise the game may take a dangerous turn. You can choose to increase the number of shots a player has to take for each slip. For example, after the first slip, they might take one shot, after the second, two and so on. Play Oily Twister. Take Naked Twister one step further by rubbing your opponent down with baby oil before beginning the game. Play Naked Twister as you normally would, but expect to spend most of the time slipping and sliding across the board. In keeping with the theme, the loser of Oily Twister must give the winner a full-body massage. Keep medical supplies handy – Oily Twister has a much higher injury rate than Naked Twister. | Divide into teams. Prepare to play. Play the game. Win the game. Decide on your clothing rules. Review the rules. Apply penalties. Modify the game to suit your needs. Start out naked. Make it a drinking game. Play Oily Twister. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Introduce-a-Dog-to-Pet-Chickens | How to Introduce a Dog to Pet Chickens | Before you introduce your dog to your pet chickens, exercise your dog by taking it for a long walk or a swim. That way, you'll tire it out and prevent it from using the chickens as toys to play with. You should also feed your dog so it doesn't try to eat your chickens. Once you're ready for the introduction, put your dog on a short leash so you have control of it if it gets too excited. Then, walk around the chicken coop for 5 to 10 minutes. If it doesn't react towards the chickens, give it a treat. Repeat this process over several days to get your dog accustomed to your chickens. Afterwards, consider letting the chickens out of the coop if your dog appears relaxed. | Give your dog plenty of exercise. Prior to introducing your dog to the flock, you will want to tire them out. Make sure they get plenty of exercise beforehand so that they will not use the chickens for play or exercise. Take your dog for a long walk. Run a couple of miles with your dog. Go for a swim with your dog. Play a game of fetch. Visit the dog park for 30-60 minutes. Feed your dog first. Make sure your dog is well fed and has had plenty of exercise. You don't want them to be hungry or too energetic for the first meeting. If you leave them hungry, they might want to eat your chickens. Make sure the chickens are in a secure and relaxed environment. Your chickens should be in a fully enclosed chicken coop. The chicken coop should be predator proof, without any holes or gaps in the wire mesh. Put your dog on a short leash. You will need to have strong command of your dog for the introduction. A short leash of 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) will give you greater control, allowing you to keep them on heel throughout the introduction and hold them if they get too excited. Walk your dog around the chicken coop. Start by slowly walking your dog around the perimeter of the chicken coop. On the walk, keep a close eye on your dog's body language. Depending on their behavior, you may want to take them closer to the coop or, if they get aggressive, take them inside. Keep these introductory sessions short. 5-10 minutes a day is enough long. If the dog doesn't react towards the chickens, give it a treat. If they exhibit aggressive behavior, you should take them inside immediately and try the perimeter walk at a different time or the following day. Do not reward the dog for the bad behavior. If they seem relaxed but also interested, you can take them a little closer and let them smell the area around the coop. Look for warning signs such as barking, growling or staring hungrily at the chickens. If they exhibit these behaviors, you should take your dog inside. Repeat introducing the dog to the chickens on a leash. Once this has been completed, let the chickens out of the cage so they can wander around. Keep the dog on the leash at all times. If the dog doesn't react to the chickens, give it a treat. Let your dog sniff around inside the coop. If your dog has exhibited good behavior in training outside the coop and is able to walk around the perimeter of the coop without exhibiting aggressive behavior, you could try going inside. Walk into the coop to check for eggs with your dog. Let your dog sniff the chickens and explore the coop a bit, while leashed. If your dog seems comfortable with the environment, they will hopefully get used to the chickens as part of the house. If your dog gets aggressive, you should restrain them and bring them inside. Introduce your dog to one of the chickens. This step will require two people. Pick a chicken that is completely comfortable being handled. While one person holds the chicken, the other person holds the lead of the dog. The first person needs to be cuddling and talking to the chicken in a soft, soothing voice; this will let the dog know that the chicken is a friend. If the dog behaves well, you can reward it with a treat. If the dog barks or growls, you should take it away. You will need to do additional training away from the chicken coop. You may need to hire a professional trainer. Keep a lookout for any discomfort in the dog or chickens. Watch the body language of the dogs and chickens closely. If you sense that something bad might happen, remove the dog from the situation. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you need help interpreting either dog or chicken body language, watch some videos online or talk to a veterinarian. Deal with a dog that cannot be trusted with chickens. Despite your best efforts, it may be the case that your dog will always want to hunt the chickens. If this is the case, don't blame your dog or the chickens. Rather, take practical measures to keep your dog away from the chicken coop. Make sure the chicken coop is secure. Keep your dog on a leash whenever you are working in the coop or whenever the dog is close to the chickens. Do reward training away from the chickens. You should start by training your dog away from the chickens. Teach them basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, off and take it. Once they have these commands down, you will be well prepared to begin training them near the chickens. Most importantly, you should use reward training to get them to understand 'off' and 'take it.' Hold a treat in your closed hand. Don't let your dog get at the treat until they have moved their mouth away from your hand. Once they move their muzzle away from your hand, give them the treat. Then, associate these behaviors with the words 'off' and 'take it.' If you want assistance, consider formal training classes. You can find them online or by checking with local pet stores and veterinarians. Take your dog with you while you do chicken coop chores. While you are doing the chicken coop chores, take your dog with you. It is best to start while your dog is a puppy. Your dog will gradually get used to being around you and the chickens. If you need both hands, you can tie up your dog away from the chicken coop. While you are doing your chores, keep an eye on your dog's body language. If your dog shows any signs of aggression such as barking, take them out of the coop and try again another time. Practice ‘sit,’ ‘off’ and other skills near the chicken coop. Once your dog knows basic commands, try doing some training exercises near the chicken coop. Choose an area that is close enough to the coop that your dog can smell and see it but not right beside it. Practice basic skills such as 'sit,' 'off' and 'take it.' If your dog can follow these commands near the coop, they should get better at following them in or near the coop while you are doing chores. Watch their body language. If your dog loses focus on the training and gets very excited by the chickens, you may need to move further away or try again another time. Start training them on leash. If they perform well, you can try training them off leash near the chicken coop. Make sure you can catch them if needed. Try training them at different times of the day so they get used to being near the coop in different situations. Learn about your dog’s breed. Some dogs are bred for hunting, some for herding and some for companionship. Depending on the history of the breed, your dog may be more or less suitable as a guardian of chickens or other livestock. You should research whether you have a breed that is suitable to keep with chickens, since not all breeds will be easily trained to guard or even coexist with chickens. Some dogs are particularly well suited to guarding birds and chickens, such as Anatolian Shepherds. They will herd and take care of birds if properly trained. Large guardian dogs such as Great Pyrenees are also known for their ability to herd and guard flocks. Other dogs known for their flock-guarding tendencies are Kuvaszs. Recognize whether you have a breed with a high prey drive. Some dogs, like Greyhounds, have a high prey drive. If you have one of these dogs, they will be very hard to train for the purposes of guarding or getting along with chickens. Their natural inclination will be to hunt the chickens, following the characteristics of their breed. Golden retrievers are also bred for hunting. Other dogs--like German Shorthaired Pointers, Labrador Retrievers, and many hounds—are hardwired to go after birds. Notice if your mixed breed dog is large and playful. Some mixed breeds may not have a high prey drive but could still kill one of the chickens by virtue of their size or an attempt to play around with them. If you have a mixed breed that is playful but large, it could inadvertently kill a chicken in an attempt to play. Identify the risks of a toy dog. If you have a toy dog such as a Chihuahua, it may want to make friends with the chickens but stress them out by chasing them around all the time. Although it may not kill the chickens, it could otherwise damage the flock by, for instance, separating chicks from their mother. | Give your dog plenty of exercise. Feed your dog first. Make sure the chickens are in a secure and relaxed environment. Put your dog on a short leash. Walk your dog around the chicken coop. Repeat introducing the dog to the chickens on a leash. Let your dog sniff around inside the coop. Introduce your dog to one of the chickens. Keep a lookout for any discomfort in the dog or chickens. Deal with a dog that cannot be trusted with chickens. Do reward training away from the chickens. Take your dog with you while you do chicken coop chores. Practice ‘sit,’ ‘off’ and other skills near the chicken coop. Learn about your dog’s breed. Recognize whether you have a breed with a high prey drive. Notice if your mixed breed dog is large and playful. Identify the risks of a toy dog. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cancel-a-Lease-Agreement | How to Cancel a Lease Agreement | Having to move out before your lease is up can be stressful, but there are several ways you can try to terminate it early. Read through your lease to find out if it has a buyout clause, which will contain details about what you have to do to end your lease early. It may include giving your landlord advance notice and paying a fee, such as 2 months rent. If you're unsure about the terms, ask your landlord for their interpretation of the agreement. Then, follow the terms to end your lease. If your lease doesn't have a termination clause, make an appointment with your landlord to negotiate a termination. You could offer your security deposit as compensation if your landlord is unwilling to agree to let you terminate. Remember that any termination agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties to be legally binding. | Read your lease agreement carefully. When you signed your lease, you may not have read every clause closely, but if you want to cancel the agreement you should go back and see if it contains information about terminating the lease early. Often these clauses require you to pay a flat amount as a fee and give notice (typically two months') to your landlord. The fee may be a specific amount, or it may be calculated according to your rent, such as by requiring one month's rent as a fee if you want to break your lease early. Clarify any confusing terms with your landlord. You want to make sure you understand what you have to do under your lease's buyout clause to prevent your landlord from suing you or claiming you owe more money than you calculated you would. If you ask your landlord about the buyout clause, or any other part of your lease, and she provides you with an interpretation, send a written letter restating that interpretation. If your landlord later tries to sue you and argues that you didn't follow the agreement, you can use that letter as proof that you asked about the term and acted in reliance on your landlord's interpretation. If the clause doesn't specifically address additional amounts such as your security deposit, make sure you talk to your landlord about that so you know whether the deposit remains refundable or must be forfeited if you move out early. Check the portion of your lease agreement relating to the security deposit as well, as it may include details about what happens to the money if you cancel the lease early. Provide notice as required. If your buyout clause contains a requirement that you notify the landlord in advance, make sure you do so as soon as possible. If you have a genuine emergency situation outside of your control, it may not be possible to give the notice required by the clause. In that case, make sure you provide notice as soon as you know and explain the situation. Typically your landlord will be understanding, especially if it's a true emergency such as a death in the family or an involuntary job transfer. Pay the fees to buyout the remainder of the lease. Typically a buyout clause will require the payment of a certain amount such as two months' rent if you want to leave early. Legally, the fee can't exceed your landlord's financial loss incurred as a result of your early termination. For example, your landlord loses money every day that an apartment sits vacant. However, if she rents your apartment two days after you move out, she may be required to refund you all or part of the fees you paid to cancel the lease agreement. Leave the property in good condition. Even if the buyout clause requires you to forfeit your security deposit, clean and repair as necessary to avoid getting hit with additional charges. In some cases, forfeiture of the security deposit may be treated as a fee rather than a deposit against damages, as it would have been if you left when the lease ended. If this is the case, the landlord may charge you for additional damages that went beyond ordinary wear and tear. You may need to use this landlord as a reference in the future, so treating the property with respect, especially if you have to break your lease, will help you stay on good terms. Check your state's law. Some states have laws that permit tenants to terminate their lease early in certain circumstances. In all states you can terminate your lease early if you are a member of the military called to duty. Some states also allow for early termination in other circumstances such as job relocation or health problems. You also have the right to terminate a lease early without owing any further payments if your lease includes an illegal clause. For example, a clause in your lease allowing the landlord to charge you rent every two weeks instead of every month because you made a late payment or violated some other rule in your lease would be illegal. Typically, however, your landlord must act – or at least attempt to act – on the illegal clause before you can break the lease yourself. If the landlord doesn't act on the illegal provision, then you are the one who breached the contract first (by moving out before the lease ended). Most states also allow you to cancel a lease agreement if you are a domestic violence survivor and need to find new housing after a dispute. Talk to your landlord. Even if there's no clause in your lease that specifically addresses early termination, you and your landlord can mutually agree to cancel your lease agreement at any time, and for any reason. Make a specific appointment to sit down and talk with your landlord, rather than just dropping by unannounced. When you arrive at the appointment, be courteous and respectful. Stick to the facts as much as possible when you're explaining the reasons you need to move out early. If you have any documents that prove the necessity of you leaving by a certain date, such as a transfer notice from work, make a copies for your landlord and bring them with you to your meeting. Try to plan your meeting as soon as possible, especially if circumstances prevent you giving very much notice to your landlord of your intent to vacate. Your landlord may be more accommodating if you demonstrate that you did everything in your power to let them know about the situation as soon as you could, rather than knowing you were going to move out for two months and not saying anything until a week before you wanted to leave. Offer to surrender your security deposit. Particularly if you paid a sizable deposit when you moved in, your landlord might be more amenable to canceling the lease if you're willing to forfeit any claim to the money. Although ideally you would want your security deposit returned if you left your apartment in good condition, the additional money may help win your landlord's agreement to cancel the lease. If you do make this offer, make sure you leave the unit clean and undamaged when you move out. Don't use the fact that you're not getting your security deposit back anyway as an excuse to trash the place – your landlord may sue you for additional damages. Make sure the security deposit money is treated separately in the written termination agreement, including whether you will be on the hook for any damages to the apartment. Assist in finding a new tenant. Since the landlord has to find someone to take your place if you leave early, it might help if you have a friend who's willing and able to move in to the apartment. Most states have laws requiring landlords to take reasonable steps to rent the property again if you vacate early, which means if you had a lot of time left on your lease you typically wouldn't have to pay the entire remainder in full. However, you may be liable for your landlord's costs of advertising the unit. If you know of someone looking for a new place to live, you might be able to put them in touch with your landlord. If they end up working out as a replacement, your landlord will appreciate the time and effort you've saved him. If your lease allows it, you may also be able to sub-lease your apartment to someone else for the remainder of your lease. Check your lease to see if you have permission, and follow any requirements. For example, landlords who allow tenants to sub-lease may require the new resident to sign an agreement with them or to meet the same standards they've set for original tenants. Keep in mind, however, that finding a replacement tenant may be preferable to sub-leasing, even if your lease allows it. If you sub-lease your apartment, you remain responsible for the unit – including any damages done by the new tenant. Get any agreement in writing. If you have a written lease, any agreement to cancel that lease also must be in writing and signed by both you and your landlord, or it won't be legally valid. If you and your landlord agree to terminate your lease early for whatever reason, your landlord may have a standard termination agreement that she uses. If your landlord is using a form, make sure all the clauses apply to your situation. If there's anything in her agreement that you haven't discussed, bring it up. Anything that's crossed out or changed should be initialed by both you and your landlord. Because your original lease is void on the date your termination agreement takes effect, review the termination agreement to see what rights or obligations, if any, were transferred from the original lease. This probably includes clauses such as your obligations to make any repairs of damages beyond normal wear and tear before you move out. Make sure everything you discussed and agreed upon in your negotiations is included in the written termination agreement – don't assume something is part of the deal if it wasn't reduced to writing, and don't rely on your landlord's word. Once you and your landlord have signed the agreement, make a copy and keep it in a safe place in case disputes arise later. Research your state's law. Although the basic elements of constructive eviction are the same, each state has different problems that qualify as constructive eviction if not remedied by the landlord, as well as different notice requirements. Examples of constructive eviction include shutting off water or electricity, or refusing to repair a leaky roof that causes damage inside the unit. The problem must be so great that it causes a substantial interference with your use of the property – it can't just be an inconvenience. For example, if your central heating system is broken in July, that probably wouldn't constitute constructive eviction. If the heating system was broken in January, however, and there's snow on the ground outside, that may be considered constructive eviction if the landlord doesn't fix the heat within a reasonable period of time. Generally, your unit must be uninhabitable, creating a situation in which you have been deprived of full use of the property. The legal theory behind constructive eviction is that since the landlord hasn't provided you with a habitable dwelling, you are no longer obligated to pay rent. Consider hiring an attorney. Because constructive eviction can be difficult to prove, and typically is raised as a defense after your landlord sues you, an attorney can help make sure your rights are protected and you don't have to pay more money than you should. If you move out without a pre-existing agreement to cancel the lease agreement, your landlord has the right to sue you for damages. When you are sued, you can claim constructive eviction as an affirmative defense. However, keep in mind that you must prove all aspects of an affirmative defense. States also differ on whether you have a duty to make any repairs yourself prior to moving out. Constructive eviction is considered an extreme remedy, and often the problem must be something that you had no ability to alleviate yourself. Notify your landlord of the problem. To claim constructive eviction, you must provide written notice to your landlord of the problem you're having and indicate that if the problem isn't resolved you plan to claim constructive eviction. Even if you've already told your landlord repeatedly about the problem, written notice is essential to claiming constructive eviction. This also entails being able to prove that your landlord received your letter. For this reason you should consider mailing it using certified mail so you have proof that it was received, rather than simply sending an email or leaving a letter in the office's mail slot. Give the landlord time to fix the problem. You must allow a reasonable period of time for the landlord to diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. Consider talking to an expert if you're unsure what a reasonable period of time would be. Some major problems such as a gas leak could take several days to remedy, while other issues should be repaired within a couple of days. How long is considered reasonable also depends on what the problem is and the circumstances surrounding the problem. For example, if you're renting an apartment in Michigan and the heat goes out in February, your landlord must take steps immediately. However, if the heat goes out in June, the need is not quite as urgent. Document evidence. Since it's up to you to prove constructive eviction in court, you must provide objective evidence of the problem you were having as well as your efforts to have the landlord fix it. You might also consider having a state or county inspector come and look at your unit and file a report. If the unit doesn't meet the health and safety standards established by your state, the inspector will start procedures for assessing those violations. Take photos of the damage as it progresses, and make sure a date is attached to those photos. For example, if your ceiling and walls are damaged by a leaky roof, take photos showing the water stains on the walls and ceiling. If the problem gets worse because your landlord hasn't taken steps to repair it, take additional photos showing the progression. Vacate the property. If your landlord hasn't fixed the problem within a reasonable period of time, you should leave immediately. To claim constructive eviction, you must actually leave the property because of the If your landlord later sues you for breaking your lease, you can raise the defense of constructive eviction. Generally, if a court agrees with you that you were constructively evicted, you have no further liability for payments under the lease. You may even be able to claim additional damages for any losses you incurred as a result of the constructive eviction. However, keep in mind that if you move out on a constructive eviction theory, and a court later determines there was no constructive eviction, you'll be on the hook for any rent due from the date you moved out. | Read your lease agreement carefully. Clarify any confusing terms with your landlord. Provide notice as required. Pay the fees to buyout the remainder of the lease. Leave the property in good condition. Check your state's law. Talk to your landlord. Offer to surrender your security deposit. Assist in finding a new tenant. Get any agreement in writing. Research your state's law. Consider hiring an attorney. Notify your landlord of the problem. Give the landlord time to fix the problem. Document evidence. Vacate the property. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Hepatitis-B | How to Treat Hepatitis B | If you've been exposed to hepatitis B, immediately see a doctor, who will either vaccinate you or inject you with hepatitis B immune globulin to boost your immune system. Most cases of hepatitis B are acute, meaning the infection goes away on its own, so treatment revolves around keeping your body healthy and taking painkillers when needed. However, if you've had the virus for a few months, it might be chronic hepatitis B, which has a few treatment options, including antiviral medications and a synthetic protein called Interferon-alpha. In cases where your liver has been extremely damaged, a transplant may be necessary. | Understand the causes of hepatitis B so that you can seek treatment immediately if you have been exposed. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood, saliva, semen, or other bodily fluids. Common causes of transmission include: Sexual contact with an infected partner. Transmission can occur via blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and saliva. Transmission through infected needles. This includes people who may be sharing needles for intravenous drug use and it includes health care workers who may be at risk of accidental needle sticks. Transmission during childbirth. If the mother is infected, she may transmit it to her infant during birth. However, if the mother knows that she is infected, the infant can be vaccinated upon birth and receive Hepatitis B immune globulin to prevent infection. Obtain preventative care if you believe you have been exposed. If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis B, see a doctor immediately. If you receive care within 12 hours, it may prevent the infection. You doctor will likely do the following: Give you an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin to boost your immune response Vaccinate you against hepatitis B Look for the symptoms of a hepatitis B infection. Symptoms usually start one to four months after the initial exposure. Symptoms may include: Abdominal pain Dark urine Fever Joint pain Not being hungry Vomiting and nausea Feeling weak and tired Jaundice (your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellowish) See a gastroenterologist or an infectious disease expert to be tested for hepatitis B. The doctor may do several tests. The doctor will confirm the presence of the virus with a blood test and whether it is acute or chronic. The doctor might also do a liver biopsy to see if you have liver damage. This involves removing a very small piece of liver tissue through a thin needle and analyzing the tissue in the lab. Treat acute hepatitis B. Most cases of hepatitis B are acute. Acute cases of hepatitis B, contrary to what the name might suggest, are infections that will go away on their own. 95% of cases will clear on their own and the illness illness typically goes away within a few weeks and liver function is normal within six months. Treatment is usually not indicated in the acute stage. Get plenty of bed rest, drink lots of fluids, and stick with healthy foods. This will help your body clear the virus efficiently. If you are in pain, discuss what painkillers your doctor recommends, even for over the counter medications (acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen) or herbal supplements. You don't want to take anything that will be hard on your liver. Schedule follow-up blood tests with your doctor to track the natural course of the infection. These blood tests will help your doctor determine whether the virus is being cleared. If your liver is becoming damaged, your doctor may recommend lamivudine (Epivir). Determine whether you need to begin treatment for chronic hepatitis B. If your body has not cleared the virus within a few months, you may have chronic hepatitis B. Your doctor is likely to prescribe medications if you show the following symptoms: High virus levels in your blood Decreasing liver function Signs of long-term liver damage and scarring (cirrhosis) Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. There are several possibilities depending upon your age and circumstances. Antiviral medications can reduce the viral load in your body. Possibilities include lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and entecavir (Baraclude). These medications will slow the progression of the disease and decrease your chances of sustaining liver damage. Interferon-alpha is a medication which contains a synthetic version of the protein your body makes to fight the virus. This option is often given to younger people who may want to become pregnant in the next few years and do not want to have a long treatment process. However, it has significant side effects including depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, breathing problems, a tight feeling in the chest, and hair loss. Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues are substances that prevent the virus from replicating. Some well known ones include adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), lamivudine (Epivir-HBV, Heptovir, Heptodin), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and tenofovir (Viread). However, these medications have a serious drawback in that the virus may mutate and develop resistance to these drugs after several years of use. Discuss a liver transplant if your liver is severely damaged and in danger of failing. If necessary a surgeon can remove your liver and replace it with a healthy one. Sometimes a piece of a healthy liver from a living donor may be used. Understand the limits of the treatments. Even though medications can reduce the number of viruses in the blood to nearly zero, low numbers of the virus still live in the liver and elsewhere. Monitor yourself for resurgences of the disease and if you feel the symptoms returning, go to the doctor immediately. Ask your doctor what he or she recommends for long-term follow up. Take steps to avoid transmitting the disease to others. It won't spread through casual contact, but it could through the exchange of bodily fluids. Be open with your partner and encourage him or her to get tested and vaccinated. Use a condom during sex to reduce the risk of transmission. Don't share needles, syringes, razors or toothbrushes, all of which could have small amounts of infected blood on them. Avoid ingesting substances that may further damage or burden your liver. This includes alcohol, recreational drugs, and over the counter drugs or supplements. Alcohol itself can damage the liver, so you should abstain from drinking alcohol to protect your liver while your body fights the infection. Avoid recreational drugs which may cause liver damage. Ask your doctor which over the counter medications you can take for mild conditions like a cold, flu, or headache. Even over the counter medications may burden your liver when it is in a damaged or vulnerable state. Maintain your social support network. You will not infect friends through casual contact and the social support is important for your psychological and physical health. Seek out support groups for people with liver disease. Remind yourself that with appropriate treatment and monitoring, the prognosis for people with hepatitis B is usually very good. | Understand the causes of hepatitis B so that you can seek treatment immediately if you have been exposed. Obtain preventative care if you believe you have been exposed. Look for the symptoms of a hepatitis B infection. See a gastroenterologist or an infectious disease expert to be tested for hepatitis B. Treat acute hepatitis B. Determine whether you need to begin treatment for chronic hepatitis B. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Discuss a liver transplant if your liver is severely damaged and in danger of failing. Understand the limits of the treatments. Take steps to avoid transmitting the disease to others. Avoid ingesting substances that may further damage or burden your liver. Maintain your social support network. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Car-Repair-Business | How to Start a Car Repair Business | If you want to start your own car repair business, contact your local motor vehicle department to learn all of the requirements for opening and operating a shop in your state. Purchase insurance, hire your administrative staff and mechanics, and start spreading the word to get customers. You can design eye-catching flyers to put in public places like gyms, office parks, and college campuses, and you can also advertise on TV, radio, and social media. | Define the scope of your business. Opening your business plan with its scope provides a general idea of how many customers you will serve and on what scale you will serve them. How many cars do you plan to service in a day and how many staff members will you take on? Will you only offer a specialized service, such as oil changes and tire repairs, or will you offer a more comprehensive range of repairs? Will you buy a currently operating car repair shop or start a brand new one from scratch? What are the costs and benefits of each of these options? Do you plan to remain an independent repair shop or will you join a franchise like Jiffy Lube or Midas? You will generally need $30,000-$200,000 to join a franchise, but the advantage is that they will handle marketing and they often have a nationally trusted brand name for potential customers. If you do not have any existing customers in your current career that you know would follow you to a new business, joining a franchise might be worth the investment. Describe potential locations. Your business plan will be shaped by the potential locations for your car repair shop. Leasing a current repair shop might be cheaper than buying one or building one from the ground up. Look for locations that are convenient to either highway or main road access. If your shop is very isolated, it is unlikely customers will come to you, especially when towing costs are often tallied by the mile. Your location should also be able to accommodate an office for you to take care of your administrative needs and a waiting room area for your customers. Determine your equipment needs. The price of equipment will most likely be your largest cost after the cost of the location. Will you rent your equipment or will you buy it outright? You will most likely need a specialized set of mechanic's tools ($15,000), at least one diagnostics machine ($5,000), and a lift with an installation ($3,700). Detail your sources of funding. With the cost of equipment, insurance, rent , and payment for your staff, you will probably need somewhere between $50,000-$100,000 to open your business, depending on your location. You should clearly detail any loans your plan to apply for in order to fund your business? Will you apply for a business loan from your bank, from the Small Business Administration, or from another source? To get approved, you must have a healthy financial history (with good credit, no history of bankruptcy) and be able to demonstrate that you have roughly 70% of the funding already raised. If you are denied a loan from the Small Business Administration or your local bank, then you could consider other lenders like OnDeck and Kabbage if you need cash quickly. These lenders are meant for short-term loans because their interest rates are very high. If you choose to take a loan from friends or family members, still put the repayment terms of this loan in writing. You do not want to risk losing relationships in the event that you cannot repay the loan in a timely manner. Define your Unique Selling Point. Most importantly, you should clearly state in your business plan what your shop will provide that no other shop in your area does. Will you provide the lowest prices, the fastest turnaround, or the best customer service? Why should a customer pick your business over your competitors? You can also consider if you will specialize in a niche field, like restoring old cars, or providing environmentally friendly or "green" services to your customers. Defining your USP will help lay the foundation for your broader marketing plan once you open your store. Obtain a license to operate your business. States have different licensing requirements for auto repair business. Check your local motor vehicle department for information about the type of license that you will need to operate an auto repair shop in your state. To obtain a license in your state, you will need to: Fill out an application. Your motor vehicle department can provide you with an application to apply for your license. Meet eligibility requirements. In most states, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements to be allowed to apply. These requirements may include things like your age, credit, and criminal record. Provide required documents and information. You may need to include some other documents and information such as proof that the building you plan to use has been zoned for your business, your tax ID number, and color photographs of your facility. Pay any fees required to process the application. The application fee may be as low as $20, but if approved, you may need to pay $300 or more to obtain the license. Purchase insurance for your business. Before approving your application, most states require you to have a minimum amount of insurance for liability purposes. This amount may be as low as $50,000 or as high as $300,000. Check with your state's motor vehicle department to determine how much insurance you will need to obtain for your business. Fulfill your administrative needs. You will need a clear financial system in place in order to operate as a business and to anticipate potential pitfalls. Consider hiring an accountant or a financial advisor to help you establish a budget for your expenses as a new business. An accountant can help you manage your taxes, your payroll system, and advise you on the best bookkeeping system to use in your business. You should also consider retaining a lawyer in case you face any suits or claims from your clients. Ask other mechanics in your area which lawyers they use and like. Implement a marketing strategy. Your success as a business will depend on how you relate to your customers and potential customers Define your core values as a brand. What are three words your customers should think of when they think of your business? You might think of words like "honest,""loyal," and "dependable." Print eye-catching flyers. You can place them in places where lots of customers might congregate, such as gyms, civic centers, office parks, and the parking lots at universities and college campuses. Establish a loyalty program. You might offer your customers a free oil change after they come to see you for another service (like an engine repair or heating/air conditioning repair). You can also send coupons in the mail to your neighbors or consider offering a digital discount through a service like Groupon. Consider advertising on TV or on the radio. TV commercials and radio ads may also help you to reach a wider audience and gain new customers. Make alliances with car dealerships. Some car dealers have their own mechanical shops attached to their businesses, but others don't. You should consider approaching dealers and asking them if they could refer customers to your business. In return, you could also advertise for their business when your customers want to buy a new car. Consider going mobile. For minor repairs -- like tire changes -- you might consider offering roadside assistance or going to customers' homes to help them. This will help your customers associate you with loyalty and convenience. Encourage your employees to get certified. Your business can only grow in prestige if your technicians gain certification. Most automotive technicians gain certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Technicians must have a two-year degree and a year of formal experience working as an automotive technician (or mechanic). You can become certified in a number of specializations, ranging from school bus repair, collision repair, trucking equipment, and more. Gaining certification can help your business gain more credibility in the eyes of your customers. Open additional branches of your business. If your shop becomes profitable, and you have a surplus of customers, consider opening an additional location in an area that you would be more convenient to other customers. You should only do this if you get to the point where your first branch runs smoothly on a daily basis. Make sure you have reliable and capable managers to help you. If you still have to run daily demands by yourself, then it might not be the best time to expand. | Define the scope of your business. Describe potential locations. Determine your equipment needs. Detail your sources of funding. Define your Unique Selling Point. Obtain a license to operate your business. Purchase insurance for your business. Fulfill your administrative needs. Implement a marketing strategy. Make alliances with car dealerships. Consider going mobile. Encourage your employees to get certified. Open additional branches of your business. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Muddy-Running-Shoes | How to Clean Muddy Running Shoes | To clean muddy running shoes, first leave them to dry for a few hours, since this will make it much easier to clean them. Once the mud has dried, beat your shoes together or against a hard surface. After you've knocked off the worst of the mud, wipe them with a dry paper towel to get rid of any smaller bits of dirt. Then, remove the laces and inserts and scrub your shoes with soapy water and a brush. If they're still dirty after that, put them in the washing machine on a gentle setting with cold water. When they're clean, leave them to air dry, since drying them with heat can damage your shoes. | Stick your muddy shoes in a plastic bag until you get home. Unless you also want to be cleaning mud off your car seats, toss your shoes into a shopping bag or trash bag to keep the mess contained. Wait for the mud to dry. You may be eager to clean your shoes off right away, but trying to wipe the mud off before it has dried can actually stain the fibers of your shoe. Put your shoes somewhere warm and dry--outdoors in direct sunlight, if possible. Don't put your shoes by a radiator or other direct source of heat to dry, as this can warp the plastic and alter the shape of the shoe. If it's humid, damp, or there's no sunlight, dry your shoes with a household fan. Either put the shoes on a towel or plastic tray with the top facing the fan (so the air gets inside the shoe), or use an over the door hook (or "S" shaped hook) to hang the shoes directly on the grill of the fan. Don't leave your shoes outdoors overnight. They'll just get damp again. Beat your shoes together or against a hard surface to remove the dried mud. The mud will chip and flake off, and you should be able to get most of the mud off your shoe. If you can get the shoes on your feet, stomping your feet will also cause the mud to fall off the exterior of your shoe. However, it may not be possible to even get them on if your shoes are filled with dried mud. Wipe the shoe down with a dry paper towel. A wet paper towel could grind the dirt into your shoes and stain the fibers. The dry paper towel should remove the fine, powdery dirt left from the larger chunks that fell off. Remove the shoelaces and inserts (if possible). Removing the laces will allow you to pull the tongue up and open the shoe a little wider, so you can really get into those hard to reach places. If there's mud trapped under the inserts, your shoe can become moldy and smelly. Sometimes you can't remove the insert without ruining the shoe. If this is the case, then leave them in and just try to get them as clean as possible. If your shoelaces are knotted and won't loosen or come out, you can always cut them and buy a new, clean set of laces wherever shoes are sold. Scrub your shoes with a soft toothbrush. Use water and a few drops of dish detergent and go to town on the exterior and the inside of your shoes. Get into every little crevice where mud might be lurking. Use a dry rag or paper towel to wipe off the dirty water as you clean. If you don't have a toothbrush other than the one you use on your teeth, try a nail brush or a shoe polishing brush. If you removed the inserts, don't forget to scrub them off as well. Put your shoes in the washing machine if they're still dirty. You don't want to do this very often--try brush the shoes clean whenever possible--but after a mud run you will probably need the power of the washing machine to thoroughly clean your shoe. You can wash them with towels or sheets to protect the machine and your shoes from damage, but the other items may need another wash afterwards. Wash the shoes in cold water only, and on a "gentle" or "delicate" setting. You can machine-wash the inserts as well, just make sure they are not still in the shoe. Let your shoes dry. Stuff your shoes with newspaper or paper towels to help absorb dampness. The same rules apply as before--try to let your shoes "bake" in direct sunlight and don't leave them outside overnight. Do not put them by a radiator or in the dryer, as this can ruin the shoe (and your dryer). Your shoes should be dry in about 12 hours. If you insist on trying to dry your shoes in the dryer, lace them back up and tie the laces to something heavy. Hang the laces over the dryer door, with the weight on the outside of the door, and close the door. This should keep your shoes from banging around. You can also put each shoe in a pillowcase and try to dry them that way. Sprinkle baking soda into your dry shoes to absorb any lingering smell. Your shoes may look clean, but there could still be some lingering funk. Add a little baking soda, then let them sit for a few hours, and the smell should be gone. Make sure you get the baking soda out before you put the shoes back on. Bang them upside-down or use a vacuum with a hose attachment. Spot clean your shoes. Even if they're not filthy, taking care of minor stains as they appear can keep your shoes looking cleaner longer. Try a cleaning pad like the Mr Clean Magic Eraser to remove scuffs and dirt stains. Clean your shoes as soon as the mud is dry. When bacteria is allowed to grow in the fibers of your shoes, you end up with some seriously smelly trainers. Plus, the longer you leave a stain, the more time it has to set, and the harder it will be to remove. Pull out the tongues between uses. Unlacing your shoes and pulling the tongues forward will allow your shoes to air out and dry before your next run. If you don't have time to unlace and re-lace your shoes after and before every run, at least loosen the laces and lift the tongue a little to increase the air flow. Store your shoes with a cedar block. Keeping cedar in your closet will do double duty of neutralizing stinky shoes and also keep moths away from your clothes. Win/win! If you keep your shoes in a gym bag or a locker, try using mini deodorizers (like Sneaker Balls) to keep nasty odors at bay. | Stick your muddy shoes in a plastic bag until you get home. Wait for the mud to dry. Beat your shoes together or against a hard surface to remove the dried mud. Wipe the shoe down with a dry paper towel. Remove the shoelaces and inserts (if possible). Scrub your shoes with a soft toothbrush. Put your shoes in the washing machine if they're still dirty. Let your shoes dry. Sprinkle baking soda into your dry shoes to absorb any lingering smell. Spot clean your shoes. Clean your shoes as soon as the mud is dry. Pull out the tongues between uses. Store your shoes with a cedar block. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-African-Violets-Indoors | How to Grow African Violets Indoors | To grow an African violet indoors, keep it in a spot that gets 8 hours of indirect sunlight every day, like near a sunny window. If you live somewhere with a cold climate, move your African violet into direct sunlight during the winter. Whenever the soil your African violet is in feels dry, water it thoroughly with room temperature water. Also, fertilize your African violet every 6-8 weeks with a 20-20-20 fertilizer to help it grow. You should also repot your plant in a bigger pot every 6-12 months so it's not cramped. | Buy pre-rooted African violets at a nursery, greenhouse or retail store. Because many houseplant enthusiasts grow African violets as part of their collection, they are usually easy to find. It's best to grow the violets from a pre-rooted plant, as growing African violets from seeds can be extremely difficult. African violets come in blooms of different colors, including blue, pink, purple and even multicolor. Decide which color you prefer, or try growing different varieties of African violets. Pick a pot that is 2 times the diameter of the plant. Violets do well in small pots, but do need some space to grow. Some violets do well in shallow containers, but it's best to give them space to spread their roots. The root ball of the plant should fit comfortably in the container with room for soil and draining rocks if necessary. Pick a pot that already has drainage holes in the bottom, or drill at least 3-4 holes into the container to prevent standing water at the bottom of the pot. Make a soilless mix for the potting medium. In the pot, mix 3 parts peat moss, 2 parts vermiculite, 1 part perlite, ¼ part ground charcoal, 2 tablespoons (21.8 g) of dolomite lime, 1 tablespoon (27.3 g) of bone meal, and 1 tablespoon (14.2 g) of superphosphate. This mixture is the perfect pH for growing African violets, and provides them with the proper water drainage. Leave approximately 0.25–0.5 in (0.64–1.27 cm) of space at the top of the container. If you don't want to make your own soilless mix, you can order some online, or check your local nursery to see if they have any in stock. This specialized mixture is less common than other potting mediums, so it may be more difficult to find. The soilless mix allows for free growth of the violet's roots, which will cause the plant to grow quickly in the pot. Plant the African violet in the potting medium carefully. African violets have very fragile roots and stems, which can easily be broken during planting. Try to avoid breaking the roots and holding the plant by the leaves. Gently lower it into the pot and cover the root ball with potting mix until only the crown is visible. Use your hands to firm the soil around the root ball, but don't press too hard. The soil should be flat, but not compacted. Don't shake the root ball when planting because you can damage the roots and remove the soil from the ball. Place the pot in an area that receives 8 hours of filtered or indirect light per day. Indirect sunlight is best for potted violets because it encourages growth without drying out the plant. Place them a few feet from a sunny window and rotate the plant occasionally to ensure that it has even exposure to the light. In the winter, move the violet closer to a window for more direct light, especially if you live in a colder climate. African violets can also thrive under artificial and fluorescent lighting in an office or bedroom, as long as the plant receives at least 8 hours of light per day. Water African violets only when the top of the soil is dry. The violets grow best in soil that is always moist, but they don't require watering every day. To water them from above, pour room temperature water over the soil until it begins to drain through the holes at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, you can water the violets from the bottom of the pot by setting the container in 1 in (2.5 cm) of water for 30-60 minutes, or until the top of the soil becomes moist to the touch. Fertilize the violets every 6-8 weeks with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. Select a general flower fertilizer in a slow-release, liquid, or water-soluble form. Remember to follow the directions on the package carefully to ensure that you aren't over-feeding the plant. Many experts recommend using ½ the recommended amount for new African violets to encourage growth without harming the soil. During the winter, African violets can go into a period of dormancy. During this period, use ⅓ of the suggested amount of fertilizer to prevent fertilizer burn. If you're using a dry fertilizer, water the plant before feeding it to ensure that the fertilizer breaks down and incorporates with the soil. Repot African violets every 6-12 months. When the violet grows to be about 3 times the diameter of the pot, select a larger pot to house the plant. A larger pot will help to prevent root rot and encourage lateral growth. Sometimes, the root ball of the violet will separate during transplanting. This means that the plant has actually grown into 2 separate plants, which will require 2 pots. Plant them in different pots with enough space for root growth. Garden with clean hands and tools to prevent diseases. African violets are susceptible to a number of different diseases, including mildew, blight, and stem rot. Always wash your hands, put on gloves, and clean your gardening tools before and after handling any organic matter to prevent the spread of diseases from other plants or household objects. If you have a diseased plant in your home that hasn't improved with chemical treatment, throw the plant away and inspect the rest of the plants for signs of infection. Remove dead blooms and leaves immediately to prevent stem rot. Since the crown of the plant is so close to the soil, dead leaves and flowers can cause too much moisture near the stem, causing it to rot. If you see a dead or dying leaf, trim it immediately and remove it from the pot to keep the plant healthy. If many of your leaves seem to be curling at the same time, try moving the plant to a warmer location. Sometimes, cold temperatures can cause the leaves to constrict and curl. Spray the leaves with water once per week to remove visible insects. Mealybugs and aphids like to crawl around on the fuzzy leaves of African violets. If you see the bugs on the leaves, physically remove them by forcefully spraying them with water to knock them off the leaves. If the problem persists, spray the leaves thoroughly and replant the violet into dry, sterilized soil. Many insects will hide on the underside of the leaves, so be sure to spray both the top and bottom of each leaf. You can also use an insecticidal soap for pest prevention. | Buy pre-rooted African violets at a nursery, greenhouse or retail store. Pick a pot that is 2 times the diameter of the plant. Make a soilless mix for the potting medium. Plant the African violet in the potting medium carefully. Place the pot in an area that receives 8 hours of filtered or indirect light per day. Water African violets only when the top of the soil is dry. Fertilize the violets every 6-8 weeks with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. Repot African violets every 6-12 months. Garden with clean hands and tools to prevent diseases. Remove dead blooms and leaves immediately to prevent stem rot. Spray the leaves with water once per week to remove visible insects. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Shave-Your-Legs | How to Shave Your Legs | To shave your legs, start by taking a warm shower or bath, which will get your hair and skin wet so shaving is easier. Then, apply shaving cream to one of your legs. Starting at your ankle, slowly shave upward with a razor using long strokes. After each stroke, rinse the razor so it doesn't get clogged. Work your way up and around your leg until you've shaved off all of the hair. Then, rinse off any leftover shaving cream and repeat with your other leg. | Check your razor. Make sure it's clean, sharp, rust-free and undamaged. If you have very light hair, you can use the same blade repeatedly. If you have coarse hair, you may only get a few shaves out of a blade. If you're not sure, once you feel the blade pulling or catching when you shave, it's time to change. Hop in the shower. Or bath—whatever makes you more comfortable. Do your normal washing routine before you shave. You want to let your hair and skin get wet for about two to four minutes, but not so long in hot water that your follicles start to swell up, inhibiting a close shave. Have a seat. If you're showering, have a seat on the edge of the tub. If you're in the bath, prop a foot up on the wall. You want your leg bent so that you can easily reach your ankles. Apply shaving cream or water-soluble skin cream. Try to find something that has moisturizers in it. The emollients help smooth the skin, and keeping it scent-free means you lower the risk of skin irritation. Using water-soluble skin cream may be kinder to your skin than traditional shaving cream; it also frees you from having to buy gender-based shaving supplies. Start at your ankle. Begin at the bottom of your leg, and with long strokes upwards, shave the hair against the grain. Don't rush; this is not a race to the finish line. It's more important to make smooth, even strokes than a speedy chop. Rinse the razor frequently—clean hot water is best—to clean and unclog the blades, and to ensure that the blades are always wet. Work your way up the leg and don't forget your inner and outer thighs. Don't forget to rinse the razor frequently. For some people, these areas don't require shaving, for some they do. Only shave hair you think is unsightly. Shave your feet if you want to. Carefully repeat the process on your feet—apply the cream, shave smoothly, and rinse. Shave the tops of your toes and the top of your foot. The skin on your foot is much thinner than the skin on your legs. Use caution accordingly. Rinse off. After you've finished with one leg, rinse it off, and repeat the entire process on the other leg. Checked for missed spots. Run the tips of your fingers over all the parts of your leg that require shaving. If you find any missed bits, shave those, then continue the inspection. When you're satisfied, all is well, rinse off, towel off, and enjoy your smooth legs. Moisturize. Use an after-shave balm, oil, moisturizer, or medicinal embrocation to calm the skin, and reduce or eliminate the red bumps that sometimes occur with shaving. Wash your legs. You want your hairs moisturized and stood upright, ready to be mowed down. Make sure your shaver is nice and clean. Dirty shavers will not cut as well, and could pull hairs, leaving red marks along with several "ouchies" and expletives. Always use a clean shaver. Press the shaver gently against your leg. Make sure all the heads touch your leg together. This will give you the closest shave with minimal wear. You don't need to apply much pressure while shaving—with just a gentle touch, let the shaver glide along your skin. If you use too much pressure, you'll flatten the hair, which results in an uneven, stubbly shave. It will also make the blades dull quicker. A gentle touch makes shaving easier and helps avoid possible skin irritation. Hold the razor flat against your leg. Holding it at an angle could result in skin irritation and stubble. Grow your hair. For waxing to work, there has to be enough hair on your legs for the wax to latch onto. Let your leg hair grow to at least 1/4 inch (1 cm) in length. Exfoliate. A couple of days before you wax your legs, use a mildly abrasive body scrub to exfoliate them. Do this ahead of time to avoid possible skin irritation problems. Powder your legs. Just before you wax, sprinkle talc or baby powder on your legs. The powder will absorb any oil on your skin, and the wax sticks more easily to the hair. Warm it up. Heat the wax as directed by the manufacturer. Be sure not to overheat the wax—the resulting wax burns can be very painful. Pull up a comfy chair. Have a seat on a surface that can be easily cleaned—waxing can be messy. Apply the wax carefully in a thin, uniform layer. Hold the applicator at a 90° angle, and apply the wax in the direction of hair growth. Don't forget the feet! Pull! Make the skin taut with one hand, and remove the strip with the other. Pull the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Pull quickly—the slower you pull, the longer the pain. Keep your hand as close to the skin as possible when you're pulling. It'll be less painful that way. Remove all the wax. Apply a damp cloth over your legs if needed, to soothe any irritation. Remove all the residues of wax from the surface of your skin. Soak a cotton pad with a bit of body oil, and apply it on your legs. Apply an antiseptic. After waxing, use a topical or spray-on antiseptic (containing salicylic acid) to disinfect the area, stop ingrown hairs from forming, and sooth irritation. Make sure your skin is clean and free of blemishes and injury. The chemicals used will dissolve the keratin at the base of the hair shaft. Having clean skin will make this easier as oils on the skin and hair will prevent the depilatory from working effectively. Having unbroken skin will keep irritation at bay. Soften the hair. Apply a warm washcloth to your legs to soften the hair. Moisten the hair for about three to five minutes. Dry your legs when done. Apply the cream generously, covering all the hair that you would like to remove. Don't rub into the skin: the depilatory is designed to work without that. Follow the instructions. Leave the depilatory cream on for as long as the instructions tell you. Don't leave depilatory cream for longer than the time specified—it could irritate, or even burn your skin. Keep a timer handy so that you don't go over the limit. If your legs feel like they're burning before it's time to remove the cream, rinse it off. Clean up. After you've finished, remove the product generally by scraping the residue with the plastic tool (if one is provided) and rinsing off whatever is left. Use a damp washcloth in a downwards motion. This will clear away any straggling hair, and finish cleaning up your legs. Avoid irritation. Try not to use harsh products or treatments after using a depilatory cream for a day or two. | Check your razor. Hop in the shower. Have a seat. Apply shaving cream or water-soluble skin cream. Start at your ankle. Shave your feet if you want to. Rinse off. Checked for missed spots. Moisturize. Wash your legs. Make sure your shaver is nice and clean. Press the shaver gently against your leg. Hold the razor flat against your leg. Grow your hair. Exfoliate. Powder your legs. Warm it up. Pull up a comfy chair. Pull! Remove all the residues of wax from the surface of your skin. Apply an antiseptic. Make sure your skin is clean and free of blemishes and injury. Soften the hair. Apply the cream generously, covering all the hair that you would like to remove. Follow the instructions. Clean up. Avoid irritation. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-You-Are-Having-a-Stroke | How to Know if You Are Having a Stroke | You might be having a stroke if you're experiencing numbness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, blackened vision, headache, or trouble walking. If you are, call for emergency medical services immediately. Additionally, women suffer unique symptoms that include weakness, shortness of breath, nausea, hiccups, and hallucinations. To test if you're having a stroke, try to smile or raise both arms. If one side of your face droops or one arm drifts downwards, you are having a stroke. | Watch for signs that indicate a stroke. There are several tell-tale signs that someone is suffering from a stroke. These signs may include a sudden onset of:: Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. One side of the face may drop when the person tries to smile. Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, slurring words. Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, blackened vision or seeing double. Severe headache, usually with no known cause and possibly with vomiting Trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination and dizziness Keep an eye out for female-specific symptoms. In addition to the typical symptoms of stroke, women may also experience unique symptoms. These can include: Weakness Shortness of breath Sudden behavior change or agitation Nausea and vomiting Hiccups Hallucinations Test for signs of a stroke using “FAST. ” FAST is an abbreviation that is an easy way to remember and test for signs of a stroke. F- FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A- ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S- SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? T- TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Get immediate medical help. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 immediately. Every minute counts in a stroke. For every minute untreated, one can lose 1.9 million neurons, which reduces chances for successful recovery and increases chances of complications or death. In addition, there is a small treatment window for ischemic strokes, so it is important to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Some hospitals have stroke care facilities that are especially well-equipped to treat strokes. If you are at risk of having a stroke, then it might be beneficial to find out where these centers are located. Assess your health conditions. Strokes can happen to anyone, however some people are more likely to get them. Talk to your doctor about your increased risk for stroke due to these health conditions: Diabetes Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation (a-fib) or stenosis Prior stroke or TIA Take stock of your lifestyle habits. If you have a lifestyle that does not prioritize exercise and healthy eating, you may have an increased risk of stroke. Some of the lifestyle habits that might increase your risk include: Being overweight or obesity Physical inactivity Heavy drinking or illicit drug use Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Look into your genetics. There are certain unavoidable risks that you may be facing. These include: Your age: after 55 years old, your risk doubles for every decade Your ethnicity or race: African Americans, Hispanics and Asians have a higher risk of stroke Women have a slightly higher risk Your family history of stroke Determine if you have other risk factors because you’re a woman. There are other factors that can impact a woman's risk of stroke. These include: Birth control pills: Oral contraceptives can increase stroke risk, especially when other risk factors are present such as smoking or having high blood pressure. Being pregnant: This increases blood pressure and stress on the heart. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Women often do hormone replacement therapy to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Migraines with aura: More women than men suffer from migraines, and migraines are associated with increased stroke risk. Learn how a stroke works. A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain, along with oxygen and nutrients, is blocked or reduced. This can cause your brain cells to start dying almost immediately. Prolonged deprivation of blood supply can cause extensive brain death and therefore long-term disability. Learn about two kinds of strokes. Most strokes fall into one of two categories: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic (iss-KEE-mick) stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks blood supply. Most (about 80%) of strokes are ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a rupture of a weakened blood vessel in the brain. This causes blood to leak out in the brain. Learn about transient ischemic attacks. These types of strokes, also known as TIAs, are mini-strokes. This stroke is caused by a “temporary” blockage of the blood supply to the brain. For example, a small moving clot can block a vessel temporarily. Although the symptoms are the same as for a more severe stroke, they last for a shorter period of time, usually less than five minutes. The symptoms appear and disappear within 24 hours. However, you cannot tell whether you experienced a TIA or stroke only by timing and symptoms. It is crucial to get emergency care regardless, since having a TIA is an indication of a future probability of a stroke. Be aware of the disabilities caused by strokes. Disabilities after a stroke can range from problems moving (paralysis), problems thinking, speaking, memory loss etc. They can be mild to severe depending on how serious the stroke (size of clot, extent of brain damage) was and how long it took for the patient to receive treatment. | Watch for signs that indicate a stroke. Keep an eye out for female-specific symptoms. Test for signs of a stroke using “FAST. Get immediate medical help. Assess your health conditions. Take stock of your lifestyle habits. Look into your genetics. Determine if you have other risk factors because you’re a woman. Learn how a stroke works. Learn about two kinds of strokes. Learn about transient ischemic attacks. Be aware of the disabilities caused by strokes. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Periodontal-Disease | How to Treat Periodontal Disease | If you suspect you have periodontal disease, visit your dentist for an exam and deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. Your dentist may need to use a laser to clean the roots of your teeth below the gum level. If you're worried about pain during the procedure, talk to your dentist about options like anesthesia or sedation to help keep you calm and comfortable. Finally, take any medications prescribed by your dentist and carefully follow any home care instructions, such as using a special mouthwash or applying an antibiotic gel to your gums daily. | Visit your dentist for an exam. Your dentists will examine your teeth and gums, take x-rays, and assess the extent of your gum disease by measuring the depth of periodontal pocket. She will then have you schedule a deep cleaning and give you instructions on oral hygiene and home care leading up to that appointment. It is very important that you follow these instructions carefully. Your dentist may also refer you to a periodontist, a dental specialist who has received three additional years of training in treating and managing the effects of gum disease. Get a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. During deep cleaning, tartar is removed through scaling and root planing. Scaling removes tartar above and below the gum line where aggressive bacteria forms by scraping and ultrasonics. Root planing removes bacteria on the tooth root and may be done by laser. This sterilizes the area covered, but it is hard to control a laser during these types of procedures. It is common to be nervous about the deep cleaning, but remember that it is an ''extremely'' important first step to treating a serious condition, and most people find it is quite tolerable. Many dentists offer anesthesia options for the deep cleaning, ranging from topical numbing gel, to numbing injections, nitrous oxide, and in some cases full sedation. If you are nervous, let your doctor know ahead of time, and speak up during the appointment if you experience pain or discomfort. Fill your prescriptions. Your dentist or periodontist may determine that antibiotics are necessary to treat your periodontal disease. After root planing, he may insert antibiotic chips in the gum pockets that will slowly dissolve and release medication to kill bacteria in a small area without influencing your entire body. He may also prescribe one or more of the following: oral antibiotics, a prescription antibiotic mouthwash, or a topical antibiotic gel to apply to your gums daily. Be sure to fill these prescriptions right away and use them as directed. Schedule a follow-up appointment. After your deep cleaning, you will need to see your dentist more frequently so that she can measure the periodontal disease pockets and ensure that they are healing. If the disease is not improving sufficiently, she will then make recommendations for further treatment. Your first follow-up will probably be scheduled for 1 month after your deep-cleaning, with additional check-ups every three months after that, until the disease has subsided. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Begin with an 18-inch piece of floss. Wrap it around your two middle fingers leaving a gap of 1 to 2 inches in between. Then slide the floss between two teeth, and wiggle it up and down and back and forth, several times. Keep in mind that plaque and food can get stuck under the gum line, so this is what you want to target with the floss. Be sure to wrap the floss around each tooth, and floss all the way to your gums, extending as far as you can without causing discomfort. Then repeat the process on the next tooth, moving to a new section of the floss, as it becomes soiled or frayed. Make sure that once you have placed the floss between two teeth you are flossing two surfaces. Once you have this down, the entire process should only take two or three minutes per day. If you are unsure about your flossing technique, be sure to ask your dentist or hygienist for tips when you are in for your exam. Brush your teeth two or three times a day with a soft tooth brush. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes per session, and pay special attention to cleaning the gum line. Any toothbrush will do, but electric toothbrushes are especially effective. Also be sure to use a toothpaste containing fluoride. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, some dentists also recommend a toothpaste that contains the antibacterial ingredient triclosan, such as Colgate Total). Irrigate your gums daily. If possible, acquire a dental irrigator such as a Water Pik, Hydro Floss, or similar tool, and use it twice per day. Although these devices might seem expensive, they are very good at fighting periodontal disease, and are a fraction of the cost of even a single dental cleaning. Dental irrigators last up to several years and they are great for gum massage, getting rid of plaque, or cleaning around dental implants Rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash two or three times a day. This helps to reduce bacteria in your mouth and prevent further infection. If your dentist recommended a prescription mouthwash, use that, otherwise an over-the-counter brand will work fine. Just be sure to read the label and choose using a germ-fighting formula like Listerine or Crest Advanced. You can also put mouthwash into a dental irrigator's reservoir and then clean all around your mouth with higher pressure. Be aware some prescription antibiotic rinses used for a prolonged period of time (more than two weeks) can cause tooth staining that can be removed during your next cleaning. Apply antibiotic gel, if prescribed. Your dentist or periodontist may prescribe you antibiotic gel to apply to your gums twice daily after brushing, flossing, and irrigation. This gel kills bacteria, and will help get your periodontal infection under control. Take all oral antibiotics that were prescribed by your dentist or periodontist. Taken by mouth, these antibiotics can help kill the periodontal infection and also prevent the forming of new bacterial colonies, especially after a surgical intervention. Make sure to take these antibiotics as prescribed. Undergo surgical treatment, if needed. In severe cases, periodontal disease must be addressed with surgery. The most basic surgical option is called flap surgery, in which your dentist or periodontist will make an incision in your gums, lifting them back to clean and remove the tartar, infected bone, and necrotic cementum underneath. The flap is then sutured back into place, up against your teeth. By creating a flap, oxygen can destroy a large number of aggressive anaerobic bacteria, which are almost impossible to eliminate even with deep scaling or cleaning. Get gum grafts and bone transplants. In severe cases, you may require gum transplants from palate, or synthetic membrane transplant called AlloDerm, to replace damaged gum tissue, and/or bone transplant or regeneration surgery to replace bone tissue that has been lost. These treatments are aimed at preventing as much tooth loss as possible, and to stop the advancement of periodontitis, which can have mutilating results. Ask about laser treatment options. Recent studies have shown that laser surgery may be as effective as surgery at resolving periodontal disease in certain cases. Ask your dentist or periodontist if this might be an option for you, but be aware that this is a new field that is developing rapidly, and that many insurances may not yet cover this kind of treatment. Look into dental implants. In some cases, one or more of your teeth may be lost to periodontal disease. In these cases, you can have the teeth replaced with high-quality dental implants. Speak with your dentist or periodontist to determine if dental implants are right for you regarding your medical history or any other health issues. | Visit your dentist for an exam. Get a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. Fill your prescriptions. Schedule a follow-up appointment. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Brush your teeth two or three times a day with a soft tooth brush. Irrigate your gums daily. Rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash two or three times a day. Apply antibiotic gel, if prescribed. Take all oral antibiotics that were prescribed by your dentist or periodontist. Undergo surgical treatment, if needed. Get gum grafts and bone transplants. Ask about laser treatment options. Look into dental implants. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Bracelets-from-a-Pringles-Can | How to Make Bracelets from a Pringles Can | To make bracelets from a Pringles can, start by cutting the top rim and bottom off an empty Pringles can using scissors or a utility knife. Then, draw a line around the can about 1 inch from the top. Once you've drawn the line, cut along it with the scissors or knife to cut out the first bracelet. Repeat the process down the whole can until you've cut out all of the bracelets. Wear the bracelets as they are, or decorate them with ribbon, fabric, or paint! | Find an empty Pringles can. If you cannot find an empty one, pour the chips inside into another container or into a plastic zippered bag. If you cannot find any Pringles cans, find another cardboard can that is wide enough for you to fit your hand into. Some pre-made, refrigerated pastry doughs come in cans that might be wide enough for this. Wash and dry the inside of the can. Rinse the inside of the can with soap and water, then dry it off with a towel. If the outside of the can got wet and soggy, set the can out in the sun for a few hours to dry. Cut the rim and bottom off of the can. It is better to do this first so that you don't accidentally include them in your measurements. Simply make a hole in the side of the can just below the rim, then cut around the can to remove the rim. Repeat this step for the bottom of the can. You can do this with a sharp pair of scissors or with a craft blade. Make a mark on the side of the can 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top. Your bracelet will be 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. If you want the bracelet to be wider, make the mark lower. If you want the bracelet to be narrower, make the mark higher. A black or blue permanent marker or ballpoint pen will work the best for this. Trace around the can based on the mark that you drew. Wrap a piece of string, measuring tape, or a rubber band around your can. Make sure that it is at the same height as the mark that you drew. Use your string, measuring tape, or rubber band as a ruler to draw a line around the can. Cut along the line that you drew. Use your scissors or craft blade to poke a hole into the cardboard, right on the line. Cut along the line to separate your bracelet from the tube. You can stop here, or you can continue cutting the tube apart to make more bracelets. Trim off any fuzzy edges with scissors. Look over the top and bottom edges of your bracelet. If you notice any unevenness or "fuzz," cut it off with a pair of scissors. Do not get too carried away, however, or your bracelet will end up too narrow! Choose a ribbon to wrap around the bracelet. Choose a satin or grosgrain ribbon in a color that you like. Something between ⁄ 2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) wide would be ideal. If the ribbon is too narrow, you won't be able to cover the bracelet completely, and if the ribbon is too wide, it will wrinkle when you wrap it. If you want something more vintage, cut a t-shirt into narrow strips, then pull on the strips to make the edges curl. Use thinner ribbon for narrower bracelets, and wider ribbon for wider bracelets. Cut the ribbon or take it off of the spool. If the ribbon is 3 yards (2.7 m) or less, take it off of the spool, and wrap it around your fingers to make a bundle. Slide the bundle off of your fingers and find the end. This will make it easier to pass the ribbon through the bracelet. Plan on using at least 1 yard (0.91 m) of ribbon for this craft. How much you actually end up using depends on the width of your bracelet, the width of your ribbon, and how much you overlap the ribbon. If the spool has more than 3 yards (2.7 m) on it, measure out about 1 to 3 yards (0.91 to 2.74 m) first, then proceed with the above step. Glue the end of the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet. Place a drop of hot glue or fabric glue inside the bracelet. Press the end of your ribbon into the glue making sure that the shiny side of the ribbon is facing out. If you are using t-shirt fabric, you can have the outside or the inside sticking out. Rather than keeping the ribbon perpendicular to the bracelet, glue it at slight angle. This will make it easier to wrap. Wrap the ribbon around the bracelet, overlapping it as you go. Pull the ribbon over the top edge of the bracelet, down the front, and under the bottom edge. Pull it through the inside of the bracelet and over the top edge again. Continue to wrap the ribbon around the bracelet in this fashion, making sure that you overlap the edges so that the can doesn't show. How much you overlap is up to you, but somewhere between ⁄ 8 to ⁄ 4 inch (0.32 to 0.64 cm) would be ideal. Wrap the ribbon tight enough so that it lays smoothly, but not so tight that it bends the bracelet. Add a drop of glue to the inside of the bracelet after every few wraps. You don't have to do this, but it will prevent the ribbon from unraveling. After 3 or 5 wraps, place a drop of hot glue or fabric glue inside the bracelet under the ribbon, then continue wrapping. Glue a new piece of ribbon to the end of the old one if you run out. If you see that you are running out of ribbon, glue down the end of the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet and cut the excess off. Place a drop of hot glue or fabric glue right over the end of the ribbon. Press the end of your new ribbon into the glue, and keep wrapping. Always attach new pieces of ribbon to the inside of the bracelet. If you attach it to the outside, the seam will show. Cut and glue the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet. Once you are back to where you started, cut the ribbon so that it overlaps the end that you already glued down. Glue the ribbon down to the inside of the bracelet, making sure that you glue down the entire cut edge. Embellish the bracelet as desired. You can leave the bracelet the way it is, or you can embellish it with beads, buttons, rhinestones, or brooches. Use hot glue or fabric glue to secure these items to your bracelet. Make sure that the colors and designs go together! Small fabric flowers or cameos make a great vintage design. Layer small buttons on top of larger ones to create a more colorful design. Start with a bare Pringles bracelet. Cut a Pringles can into a bracelet following the method in Part 1. Make sure that the can is clean on the inside and the outside. It might be a good idea to cut several bracelets in case you mess up or want to make more. Cover the outside of a bracelet with patterned fabric. Cut a strip of fabric that is the same width as your bracelet, and long enough to wrap around it. Cover the outside of your bracelet with glue, then wrap the fabric around it. Wait for the glue to dry, then embellish the bracelet as desired. Cotton fabric with a small print on it works the best. Check out the quilting section in your local fabric store. Embellish the bracelet with rhinestones, buttons, chains, or brooches for a fancier touch. For a nicer finish, make the fabric twice as wide as the bracelet, then fold the top and bottom edges into the bracelet for a nicer finish. Wrap self-adhesive paper around the bracelet for an easy craft. Cut a strip of patterned sticky paper that's long enough to wrap around the outside of your bracelet. Make sure that it is the same width, then peel the backing off. Wrap the paper around the outside of the bracelet, smoothing out any wrinkles. You can also use self-adhesive shelf liner, duct tape, or even washi tape. If you want to use scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper, coat the bracelet with tacky glue first, then wrap the paper around it. If the paper does not have a waxy finish, seal the bracelet with clear, acrylic sealer. This will make it smoother. Paint a bracelet with acrylic craft paint if you want something easy. Paint the bracelet a solid color using acrylic craft paint. Let the paint dry, then paint designs on it using a contrasting color. Stripes, polka dots, or geometric designs work great for this. Let the paint dry completely before wearing the bracelet. Seal the bracelet with clear, acrylic sealer for a nicer finish. Outline your designs using a permanent marker or paint pen. Black, white, silver, or gold are great choices. Glue a thick yarn braid to a bracelet if you want a chunky bangle. Cut about 24 to 30 strands of yarn, then split them into 3 equal sections. Braid the 3 sections together to create a rope that is long enough to wrap around the outside of the bracelet, then cut and tie the ends with yarn. Glue the braid around the bracelet so that the ends touch. The braid needs to be thick enough to cover the bracelet. Tug on the edges of the braid so that they touch the edges of the bracelet. Hot glue or fabric glue will work the best for this, but you can use tacky glue too. Glue a chunky rhinestone or a large button to the middle of the bracelet. You can also glue it over the ends of the braid instead to hide them. Coat a bracelet with glue and glitter if you want something sparkly. Paint the bracelet white, or glue a white tissue over it. Paint the bracelet with white school glue, then roll it in glitter. Let the glitter dry, then paint it with clear, acrylic sealer. Let the sealer dry before using the bracelet. If the bracelet is not sparkly enough, apply another coat of glue and glitter before you seal it. The sealer must have a glossy finish, or the bracelet won't be sparkly anymore. Mix chunky and fine glitter together for an interesting texture. Paint a bracelet with pearly nail polish if you want a fancy bracelet. Paint your bracelet with nail polish that has a pearly finish. Let the nail polish dry, then add another coat if it looks too thin. Let the polish dry for 1 hour, then glue matching rhinestones to it. You can use the same type of rhinestone on your bracelet, or different shapes and colors. Hot glue or super glue will work the best for this. Seal the nail polish with clear polish or glitter polish to make it sparkle even more. Do this before you add the rhinestones. Finished. | Find an empty Pringles can. Wash and dry the inside of the can. Cut the rim and bottom off of the can. Make a mark on the side of the can 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top. Trace around the can based on the mark that you drew. Cut along the line that you drew. Trim off any fuzzy edges with scissors. Choose a ribbon to wrap around the bracelet. Cut the ribbon or take it off of the spool. Glue the end of the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet. Wrap the ribbon around the bracelet, overlapping it as you go. Add a drop of glue to the inside of the bracelet after every few wraps. Glue a new piece of ribbon to the end of the old one if you run out. Cut and glue the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet. Embellish the bracelet as desired. Start with a bare Pringles bracelet. Cover the outside of a bracelet with patterned fabric. Wrap self-adhesive paper around the bracelet for an easy craft. Paint a bracelet with acrylic craft paint if you want something easy. Glue a thick yarn braid to a bracelet if you want a chunky bangle. Coat a bracelet with glue and glitter if you want something sparkly. Paint a bracelet with pearly nail polish if you want a fancy bracelet. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Look-After-Your-Hair | How to Look After Your Hair | To look after your hair better, use products that are sulfate- and silicone-free since those chemicals damage hair and clog pores, respectively. Then, to prevent breaking your hair, let it air dry after your shower, or dry it off with a pillowcase. Wrapping your hair in a towel or using a blow dryer can cause damage, so avoid those methods especially. You should also wait until your hair is nearly dry before combing or styling it. | Avoid washing your hair every day. Try to wash your hair every 2-3 days, rather than every day. When you wash your hair too often, the water and products you use can strip away the natural oils produced by your scalp, which help to keep your hair healthy. When these oils are stripped away, your hair can become brittle and your scalp may begin to overproduce oil, which could make your hair very greasy. When you decrease how often you wash your hair, your hair will feel cleaner for longer after you do wash it. Use sulfate- and silicone-free hair products. Many drugstore products contain chemicals such as sulfates which actually cause more damage to your hair. Ingredients like silicone can clog up the pores that produce natural oils and dry out your hair. Look for natural products that contain less harmful substances. Finding out what products work best for your hair is generally a trial and error experience. If you feel like a certain product is making your hair look flat or dull, try a different product. Choose products based on your hair type. If desired, you can ask your hairdresser for their recommendations for products formulated for your hair type. Shampoo your hair gently. Shampoo helps to get your hair clean and free of dirt and built up oils. To use shampoo properly, wet your hair first. Then, apply a small amount of the product to the top of your head and scalp. Lather the shampoo and work it into your hair with your fingers. Try to avoid rubbing your hair harshly, as this could cause damage. You can also try applying shampoo to your hair by putting some shampoo onto your fingertips. Use your fingers to comb the shampoo into your hair, rather than rubbing your head vigorously. Purchase anti-dandruff shampoo if you have dandruff. Rub conditioner on the ends of your hair. When applying conditioner, try to only apply it to the longest parts of your hair, rather than directly on to your scalp; if you put conditioner on your scalp, it can make your hair very greasy and weigh your hair down. Work the conditioner into your hair with your fingers, leave it on your hair for a few moments, and then rinse it out. You do not necessarily need to use conditioner every time you wash your hair, particularly if you are prone to oily hair, but it can help to protect your hair against split ends. Use cool water to wash and rinse your hair. Taking a hot shower can cause heat damage to your hair, much like using a blow dryer can. To avoid this, try turning the heat down to a lukewarm or cool temperature while you wash and rinse your hair. In particular, use cooler water when rinsing out shampoo and conditioner, as heat can counteract the nourishment the conditioner has just given your hair. Cool water can also help to make your hair look shinier. Try deep conditioning your hair once a week. While you do not need to use conditioner every time you wash your hair, you may find that your hair becomes more healthy if you deep condition your hair once a week. To deep condition your hair: Lather conditioner along the length of your hair. Let the conditioner soak into your hair for 10 to 15 minutes before you rinse it out. Once it has been rinsed out, use your shampoo and conditioner as you would during a regular shower. When washing the conditioner out for the second time, use your hands to smooth down your hair, rather than rubbing your hair to get the conditioner out. Blast your hair with very cold water once the conditioner has been washed out to close the cuticle and restore the shine. Wash your hairbrush regularly. Along with washing your hair regularly, you should also wash your brush regularly. When your hair is oily, that oil can get on to your hairbrush. When you brush your hair, that oil can then get spread through your hair. Wash your brush with warm water and shampoo. Let it air dry completely. Let your hair air dry. Try to avoid towel drying your hair, or using a blow dryer. When you rub your hair with a towel or wrap your hair up in a towel while it is still wet, the towel can actually rub against your hair and cause split ends and make it frizzy. Instead, use an old T-shirt or a pillowcase to dry your hair off. These fabrics are softer than towels and are less likely to do damage to your hair. A microfiber towel is gentle enough to use on your hair without causing frizz or damage. Determine what kind of hair you have. If you do not know what kind of hair you have, it is important to figure it out so that you can purchase products and use techniques that work well for your hair type. Consider the length, thickness, and texture of your hair to determine the type. You can keep your hair looking great, whether it's fine , thick , curly , or short. Use dry shampoo if your hair looks greasy. When your hair begins to look greasy, but you don't want to wash it yet, you can add some dry shampoo to help your hair look clean. Hold the can 10 inches (25 cm) from your hair and spray it on your roots in short bursts. Massage the product into your scalp, then comb through your hair when you're done. Try using natural oil to moisturize your hair. If store-bought products leave your hair feeling greasy, some natural products may help to give your hair an added glow without the grease. To use these natural oils, apply ⁄ 2 tablespoon (7.4 mL) of the oil to the mid-lengths to the ends of clean hair. The oil will help your hair to retain moisture and make it look smooth and silky. Use natural powders to nourish your hair. There are some natural powders that you can also use to give your hair a boost. These natural powders help to soften and nourish your hair. To apply them, simply rub a small amount of the powder into your scalp and hair. Common powders include mustard, ginger, Brahmi, and amla. Pick out the right brush for your type of hair. Consider your hair type when you are selecting your brush or comb. You should also consider the challenges you face with your hair. Boar hair brushes work well on thick, long hair and help to achieve a smooth, shiny blown-out look. Nylon hair brushes work well on medium hair and help to detangle even the wildest of manes. Plastic brushes are all-purpose brushes that work on every type of hair, but particularly work well for very thick hair. Small-toothed combs work well for short, thin hair. Wide-toothed combs work well for short, thick hair. Do not brush your hair while it's wet. Wait until your hair has nearly dried before using a wide-tooth comb to detangle knots. Hair is at its weakest when wet, and therefore is more susceptible to damage. Some people with curly hair maintain that they don't brush their hair at all. If you have curly hair that gets frizzy, consider brushing your hair less often. Cut back on how often you brush your hair. Brushing your hair multiple times a day can actually make your hair look greasier. Instead, try to brush your hair once in the morning and once at night. Try combing your hair with your fingers if it gets very tangled. Use hair ties that won’t damage your hair. Hair ties can break hair and cause split ends. If you put your hair up a lot, try to find hair ties that do not break hair or cause knots. You should also wear your hair in loose ponytails, rather than wrapping your hair up very tightly, as doing this can cause more damage. Purchase quality heat-styling tools. While you should try to avoid using heat-styling tools as much as possible, you should purchase quality tools for the days where you want to straighten, curl, or blow dry your hair. Cheaper models often cause more damage to your hair because they are made with less high-quality parts. Also, they often don't have multiple temperature settings, so have to use the highest temperature, even if you don't need it. Use heat-protectant spray before using heat-styling tools. Before you use a blow dryer, straightener, or curling iron, apply a heat-protectant protectant product to your hair to decrease the damage from the heated tools. Wait until your hair is roughly 50% dry, and then spray the heat protection on to your hair. You can then comb the protectant through your hair gently, either using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. Dry your hair on medium or low-heat for an added amount of protection. Avoid using the nozzles that come with hairdryers. These nozzles keep the heat trained on one part of your hair, which can increase the amount of damage that is done. Instead, simply point the hairdryer downwards to achieve the same effect as a nozzle. Avoid heated tools if your hair is damaged. If you have damaged hair, swear off heated tools entirely until your hair is healthy again. These tools can cause serious damage to already dry or broken hair. Try heat-free styling techniques. Instead of using a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron every day, try out some heat-free techniques for cute styles. For example, you can use ribbons, bobbles, or headbands in your hair. Other ideas include: Round boars hair brushes work well when trying to smooth and straighten out your hair without a straightener. These large round brushes can help to make your hair look sleek. When your hair is still a little damp, twist it up into a bun and secure it with bobby pins (if necessary). Leave your bun up for an hour or so and then take it down for soft, natural waves. Braid your hair when it is very slightly damp before you go to bed. In the morning, take the braid out and your hair should look naturally wavy. Don’t pick at your hair. Playing with your hair can make your hair become greasier because of the oils that you naturally have on your fingers. You should also try to avoid pulling or picking at split ends, as doing this will only make the situation worse. Get your hair trimmed often. If you are prone to split ends, get your hair trimmed often to keep it looking healthy. Try to get your hair cut every 3 months, and consider getting it trimmed every 6 weeks. Don't change your hair colour too often. Try to avoid dying your hair too often, as dye can really dry out and damage your hair. Hair dye contains main harsh chemicals that can leave your hair dry and broken. If you want to continue to dye your hair, wait until your roots grow out a bit before dying your hair again. Eat healthy foods. By choosing the correct foods, you can increase hair growth and repair and prevent hair loss. If you do not get enough nutrients each day, your hair will most likely become thin. Make sure you are eating enough protein. Hair is made of protein, so eating plenty of meat, eggs, and other protein-rich foods will give your body what it needs to grow and repair your hair. Look for foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids and other essential fatty acids. This includes oily fish, (eg. salmon, tuna and mackerel), and almonds. Vitamins B6 and B12 are also good for your hair. Drink lots of water. Healthy hair needs to be hydrated, so make sure you drink plenty of water to give it the hydration it needs. This will also help to hydrate your skin and nails, as well as making you feel healthier. Don't let your environment affect your hair. Pollution, smoke and smoking all dry out your hair. Do your best to limit the amount that you smoke or are around others who smoke, and avoid heavily polluted areas. Protect your hair from the sun. If you are often out in the hot sun, then protect your hair by wearing a hat or bandana; doing this can also help to protect your skin from getting burnt. If you don't like wearing hats, apply products that can protect your hair from the sun, such as protective leave-in conditioner, or watered down sunscreen. Try to avoid using products that contain alcohol if you are going to be out in the sun, as these can damage your hair even more. Keep your hair from being damaged by harsh chemicals. When you go swimming, protect your hair from harsh chemicals such as chlorine. Use a spray leave-in conditioner before going swimming to minimize the amount of chlorine that your hair can absorb. For maximum protection from the chlorine you can either avoid getting your hair wet, or wear a swimming cap. If your hair gets damaged by chlorine, try mixing a small amount of vinegar into your shampoo to help restore your hair's natural strength, or you can add about 1 teaspoon of olive oil into your leave-in conditioner (if you have one) since olive oil helps strengthen hair. | Avoid washing your hair every day. Use sulfate- and silicone-free hair products. Shampoo your hair gently. Rub conditioner on the ends of your hair. Use cool water to wash and rinse your hair. Try deep conditioning your hair once a week. Wash your hairbrush regularly. Let your hair air dry. Determine what kind of hair you have. Use dry shampoo if your hair looks greasy. Try using natural oil to moisturize your hair. Use natural powders to nourish your hair. Pick out the right brush for your type of hair. Do not brush your hair while it's wet. Cut back on how often you brush your hair. Use hair ties that won’t damage your hair. Purchase quality heat-styling tools. Use heat-protectant spray before using heat-styling tools. Avoid using the nozzles that come with hairdryers. Avoid heated tools if your hair is damaged. Try heat-free styling techniques. Don’t pick at your hair. Get your hair trimmed often. Don't change your hair colour too often. Eat healthy foods. Drink lots of water. Don't let your environment affect your hair. Protect your hair from the sun. Keep your hair from being damaged by harsh chemicals. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Horoscope | How to Write a Horoscope | The key to writing a good horoscope is interpreting astrology and personalizing your writing. Research the houses of each star sign and start your horoscope by writing about their 1st house. For example, Virgos have the first house of work and ritual, so you might open by talking about their work life. Then, move onto the sign's 2nd and 3rd houses. You should also look at astrological charts and research the alignment of the planet and moons to influence your horoscopes. For instance, the moon, which governs the Cancers, is generally associated with identity, emotion, and one's roots. So if the moon enters Libra, this could potentially lead to a "rediscovery of a long-lost friend or lover" for Libras. Always address the reader directly to make the horoscope seem personal to them. | Build your horoscopes through research and attention to the position of the sun, moon and stars. Astrology, or the study of space in relation to human affairs, has been around since before the ancient Greeks. Since then, different cultures have developed different methods of interpreting the night sky, and there are many different guidelines out there for burgeoning horoscope writers. The deeper your knowledge of these systems, the better your horoscopes will be. However, if you are just starting out, you should learn the most common system, known as the Solar House System. Serious astrologers need to know birth times and locations to write personalized horoscopes. However, for general horoscopes like those seen in the paper, the Solar House System is a careful approximation. Houses are typically known as your "sign," such as Libra, Taurus, Aries, etc. If you are unsure about each sign, or need a refresher, click here to view the overviews below. For the next several steps, you can watch an original Aries horoscope for April 18th, 2015, as it is written. Start each horoscope with the major tone of each house. For example, if you're writing about Virgos, you might start by writing about their work schedule or life at work, since they are the House of Work and Ritual. If you're talking about Tauruses, your might touch on finances. These are often your guiding principles, and they are a good way to start writing or to think about the general tenor of each house. For a Capricorn, you might begin with something like "Your career is about to..." then use the rest of the planets to determine trends. Aries, April 18: Optimism and boundless energy fill your interactions today. Look to each sign's second and third houses for a deeper understanding of horoscopes. One of the biggest misconceptions in astrology is that every person only has one sign. In reality, your birthday only points to your first house. For example, if you're born October 5th, your first house (and most important sign) is Libra. However, if you continue along the zodiac, the next two houses are your second and third houses, here Scorpio and Sagittarius. You'll notice, reading over the descriptions of each group, that there is some overlap in features between similar months. This can help point to important trends in each group's life. For example, while a Pisces is generally selfless and creative, they are also closely tied to the occasional impulsiveness and burst of inspiration found in Aries. Serious astrologists note that you have a little bit of every "sign" in you, based on the alignment of planets and stars at your birth. Some are just more prominent than others. Again, this is why many writers need your exact birthday and birthplace to properly determine your houses. Aries, April 18th: Optimism and boundless energy fill your interactions today. You're feeling flirty and conversational, but ultimately you're just having fun, not looking for anything serious. Watch the movement of planets and stars to anticipate big changes in life. The proclamations that "you'll experience a drastic change in ______" are not just pulled out of thin air. They come from the interceptions of certain planets through the night sky. Pay attention to major astrological events to help determine when changes might happen. To do so, look at astrological event calendars, found with a quick internet search. To determine what the change might be, check out which planet aligns with which house. For example: On January 5th, 2015, the Moon entered Libra. The moon, which governs the Cancers, is generally associated with identity, emotion, and one's roots, potentially leading to a "rediscovery of a long-lost friend or lover" for Libras. Certain events will make greater impacts depending on their relevance to the signs. For example, the moon entering or leaving Cancer's path will make a much bigger impact than entering Libra's. Mar's movement will affect Aries and Scorpio. Aries, April 18th: Optimism and boundless energy fill your interactions today. You're feeling flirty and conversational, but ultimately you're just having fun, not looking for anything serious. The advent of the new moon in Aries means you've got a chance to plant new seeds for the future. Purchase a set of astrological charts for detailed, day-to-day horoscope. These charts are meticulously constructed to show each planet in relation to each sign, illuminating how they move and when they come in and out of contact. They are often color-coded to help you determine the most pressing issues and changes. They are invaluable tools for anyone looking to write frequent horoscopes. For example, to cap off the Aries horoscope, you might notice that Mercury, the planet of communication, is currently in Aries on April 18th: Aries, April 18th: Optimism and boundless energy fill your interactions today. You're feeling flirty and conversational, but ultimately you're just having fun, not looking for anything serious. The advent of the new moon in Aries means you've got a chance to plant new seeds for the future. Keep your mind, heart, and ears open for possible opportunities." Allow yourself to write freely and poetically when composing horoscopes. Astrology is a millennia-deep branch of study that would take a lifetime to master. Many astrologists, such as sidereal astrologists, don't even believe in the same zodiac structure. To complicate matters more, horoscopes must reach a wide audience, and lose the subtly and precision required for personalized horoscopes. As such, horoscope writing has evolved into an art form of sorts, considered by many the literature or poetry of astrology. It is entertainment -- meaningful entertainment, for sure -- but entertainment nonetheless. Daily horoscopes are supposed to be conversational. The reader comes to the horoscope looking for direction or guidance, picking out of the horoscope the things that matter in their lives. They usually forget or leave the rest. In order to get a "true" reading, you need a personalized horoscope. Because this is impossible to write for a large audience, you must entertain and capture the imaginations of a broader group of people. Enjoy yourself while writing, and make sure your readers enjoy reading. There is no need for a dry, conversational tone. Look at the major astrological events of the week or month to start writing horoscopes. It is very difficult for beginners to read, understand, and write horoscopes daily for all twelve solar houses. Focus instead on larger trends. Learn the basics of astrology and apply it to your writing for more accurate, useful, and precise horoscopes. Check out astrology blogs for your day or week, concentrating specifically on the time of the year, the movement of planets (specifically Mars and Venus), and the position of the moon. Use phrases like: "The advent of a New Moon means opportunity is coming to..." "The retrograde (disappearance) of Jupiter in your sign signals a bout of bad luck..." "The slow entrance of Uranus could indicate a long-overdue change in your life." Think about people you know in each sign. This is getting easier and easier with social media sites like Facebook, which allow you to look up people's birthdays with ease. Ask yourself if your reading matches several of personalities of people born under the same sign. If they do, chances are you're doing something right. Avoid generalizations or very broad proclamations. This is hard when you're writing for a big audience. However, it gets easier the more your pay attention to the movement of planets and stars. While there needs to be some generalization when writing, try to look for specifics. For example, instead of saying, "you'll experience an increase in communications," try to find the root cause. The influx of Mercury into your sign will increase communications, for example, but the question is how. Is it in your career (Mercury moving into Capricorn) or your love life (Mercury moving into Libra)? "The entrance of Mercury into Libra may indicate some new spice in your love life and close relationships." "You'll receive some good news concerning your finances." "The movement of Jupiter may mean an end to your streak of bad luck this week." Avoid making grand proclamations every day. A big reason that people don't trust horoscopes is that they promise grand, enormous changes every other week. The careful astronomer realizes that these changes are as rare in our lives as they are among the stars. Focus instead on the subtle changes in life. Save the big, soul-changing moments for times when they seem imminent due to the planetary movement. Making grand proclamations every day makes them harder to stomach, and takes away their meaning. Since you're working in generalities, without exact birthdays or times, it is almost impossible to predict enormous and earth-shattering changes. Pepper your column with "maybes" "possibles" and "could" so that readers don't feel promised anything. Read horoscopes for inspiration. Like any other art form, you need to study horoscopes in order to write them well. From the beginner-level horoscopes in your local paper to the experimental and wildly popular writings of "Free-Will Astrology," there is a lot you can learn from others. Astrology is not a perfect science. Generations of writers have been interpreting the stars for their fellow man since ancient times. Keep your mind open to new forms, writers, and astrological signs and you'll be a horoscope writer in no time. How do they speak broadly (to a lot of people), but still stay relatively specific? What movements and planets come up in multiple signs each day? Which signs have commonalities. How do the horoscopes change from daily to monthly to yearly. Know the basics of each solar house. More likely than not, you are already familiar with the basics of the solar houses, or astrological signs. Depending on when you were born, you fall under a different sign. This is based on the where the sun rises on the day you were born, creating your ascendant house. You can look up more complex breakdowns of each house, but you need to have the basics down before you start writing horoscopes. The following descriptions are good starting points, but you'll need to consult 3-4 other sources of house information to get a deeper understanding of the houses. While these houses form the basis of horoscopes, they are not the only determining factor. The movement of planets like Venus and Mars, lunar cycles, and birthplace all have an effect. True astrologers must keep researching and studying celestial bodies other than the sun to be successful. Understand the adventurous Aries. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries tend to have a lot of energy. They are a bit wild, adventurous, and confident. While this energy makes them dynamic and exciting companions, it can also make them selfish, foolhardy, and quick-tempered. House of the Self, Appearance & Ego Drive. Ruled by Mars. Aries are born between March 21 and April 20. Understand the warm and persistent Taurus. Taurus are reliable, patient, and generous companions. Generally more sedentary and relaxed than Aries, Taurus's can also become inflexible and even greedy. While they make great lovers and companions, that love can boil over into jealousy and possessiveness as well. House of Personal Values and Finances. Ruled by Venus. Taurus are born between Apr 21 and May 21. Understand the intelligent Gemini. Quick on their feet and very adaptable, Geminis are witty and cunning conversationalists. Intelligent almost to a fault, Geminis are at risk for becoming deceitful and shallow. They can appear nervous or tense in the worst of times, but lively and youthful in the best. House of Communication & Local Culture. Ruled by Mercury. Geminis are born between May 22 and June 21. Understand the emotional Cancer. The loving, deeply emotional Cancers are full of imagination. They are protective of the ones they love and very feeling. This can be misinterpreted as clinging, moody, and overemotional, and Cancers may be touchy and easily hurt. House of Identity & Roots. Ruled by the Moon Cancers are born between June 22 and July 22. Understand the generous Leo. Leos are warm and generous, much like Tauruses (who fall under a similar solar interval), yet they are often more enthusiastic and broad-minded. That enthusiasm, however, often makes them bossy and even patronizing. House of Children, Creativity & Gambling. Ruled by the Sun. Leos are born between July 23 and August 21. Understand the shy, intelligent Virgo. Virgos tend to be shy and introverted. They are intelligent, reasonable, and analytical, and have a reputation for reliability and faithfulness. However, that same analytical spirit can also be harsh and overcritical. They are perfectionists, for better and for worse. House of Work & Ritual. Ruled by Mercury. Virgos are born between August 22 and September 23. Understand the sociable Libra. Idealistic, urban, and charming, Libras are generally "people persons." They are easygoing and diplomatic, and often very romantic. However, they are easily swayed, often flirtatious, and occasionally self-indulgent. House of Partnerships. Ruled by Mercury. Libras are born between September 24 and October 23. Understand the passionate Scorpios. Scorpios are fiery, passionate, and determined. Largely emotional, they are big, exciting personalities that often seem magnetic. They can be quick to cruelty, however, and secretive or controlling when blinded by ambition. House of Sex, Death & Other People's Money. Ruled by Mars & Pluto. Scorpios are born between October 24 and November 22. Understand the good-humored Sagittarius. Full of good humor, kindness, and love, the Sagittarius is an honest and even philosophical friend. Their open nature and boundless optimism can make them restless and overly trusting, even irresponsible in some scenarios. House of Adventure, Travel & Learning. Ruled by Jupiter. Sagittarius are born between November 23 and December 22. Understand the practical Capricorn. The pragmatic, detail-oriented Capricorn is a planner. They are ambitious and careful, but not without humor. While they can be pessimistic and calculating, this is usually in search of a personal goal or dream. However, failure to reach those goals can lead to fatalism and a depressing worldview. House of Career & Public Persona. Ruled by Saturn. Capricorns are born between December 23 and January 20. Understand the humanitarian Aquarius. Friendly, honest, and loyal, Aquarius are inventive and lively friends. Generally independent, they still love good conversation and their fellow man. That said, they often have entrenched viewpoints, and can seem detached or indifferent towards others. House of Gatherings & Crowds. Ruled by Saturn & Uranus. Aquarius are born between January 21 and February 19. Understand the imaginative Pisces. Pisces are often lost in their own minds. Sensitive and kind, they have wild imaginations and are often selfless, non-materialistic men and women. They are generally easily-led and tend to be overly idealistic, and can be vague or spacey at times. House of Mystery and Intuition. Ruled by Jupiter & Neptune. Pisces are born between February 20 and March 20. | Build your horoscopes through research and attention to the position of the sun, moon and stars. Start each horoscope with the major tone of each house. Look to each sign's second and third houses for a deeper understanding of horoscopes. Watch the movement of planets and stars to anticipate big changes in life. Purchase a set of astrological charts for detailed, day-to-day horoscope. Allow yourself to write freely and poetically when composing horoscopes. Look at the major astrological events of the week or month to start writing horoscopes. Think about people you know in each sign. Avoid generalizations or very broad proclamations. Avoid making grand proclamations every day. Read horoscopes for inspiration. Know the basics of each solar house. Understand the adventurous Aries. Understand the warm and persistent Taurus. Understand the intelligent Gemini. Understand the emotional Cancer. Understand the generous Leo. Understand the shy, intelligent Virgo. Understand the sociable Libra. Understand the passionate Scorpios. Understand the good-humored Sagittarius. Understand the practical Capricorn. Understand the humanitarian Aquarius. Understand the imaginative Pisces. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-an-Impossible-Cube | How to Draw an Impossible Cube | The simplest way to draw an impossible cube is to use a pencil to draw a square. Around this square, draw a slightly bigger square so that it borders the first one. Then, to the bottom left of your first square, repeat this process so that your new set of squares overlaps with the first. Erase the corners of your squares and connect the lines to form a cube. To create the impossible cube effect, erase the horizontal connection where Square 2 connects to Square 1 on the left corner, and make the connection vertical. | Draw a skinny, vertical parallelogram with the lower left corner open; from there, draw two lines going horizontally, shown in red. Add two connecting lines on the right side of the parallelogram. They should form an "L". Add another two lines which continue from the corner of the parallelogram but pass beneath its right edge. The two lines then separate vertically, one going up and another going down to meet with the end of the "L". Draw a wide "L" that follows where the two previously drawn lines part ways. Connect the bottom end of the wide "L" with the upper right-hand corner of the parallelogram by drawing a line that goes up and then left (forming a right angle) and passes underneath any lines it comes across. Draw a line that begins by following the top of the parallelogram and then follows the horizontal part of the line drawn in the previous step, also passing underneath any lines it comes across. Complete a parallelogram at the top of the cube, this one with its upper right-hand corner open and connected to double lines drawn earlier. Add a border around the whole thing. Draw a square. Create a slightly larger square around the first. Draw another square, lower left corner in the center of the first square. Create a square around the new square as well. Erase each corner of both squares. Connect each corner with the same corner on the other square. At the parts where the left of square 2 and the top of square 1 overlap each other, erase a bit to make the line horizontal, erase the vertical parts. At the parts where the right of square 1 and the bottom of square 3 overlap, erase the horizontal parts and keep the vertical parts. | Draw a skinny, vertical parallelogram with the lower left corner open; from there, draw two lines going horizontally, shown in red. Add two connecting lines on the right side of the parallelogram. Add another two lines which continue from the corner of the parallelogram but pass beneath its right edge. Draw a wide "L" that follows where the two previously drawn lines part ways. Connect the bottom end of the wide "L" with the upper right-hand corner of the parallelogram by drawing a line that goes up and then left (forming a right angle) and passes underneath any lines it comes across. Draw a line that begins by following the top of the parallelogram and then follows the horizontal part of the line drawn in the previous step, also passing underneath any lines it comes across. Complete a parallelogram at the top of the cube, this one with its upper right-hand corner open and connected to double lines drawn earlier. Add a border around the whole thing. Draw a square. Create a slightly larger square around the first. Draw another square, lower left corner in the center of the first square. Create a square around the new square as well. Erase each corner of both squares. At the parts where the left of square 2 and the top of square 1 overlap each other, erase a bit to make the line horizontal, erase the vertical parts. At the parts where the right of square 1 and the bottom of square 3 overlap, erase the horizontal parts and keep the vertical parts. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Pionus-Parrot-Entertained | How to Keep a Pionus Parrot Entertained | If your Pionus parrot is bored, offer it a variety of parrot-safe toys to keep it engaged and entertained. Some good options include foraging or puzzle toys, preening toys, and exercise toys. Additionally, your parrot can benefit from materials that it can shred, such as cardboard, and comfort toys made of soft materials. You can also entertain your parrot by spending time playing and interacting with it for at least 10-15 minutes, twice a day. You could incorporate activities into your daily routine like going for walks, playing peekaboo, or singing and dancing with your bird. | Buy foraging toys. Birds have a natural drive to hunt for their food in the wild, so provide toys that make them work for treats. Visit a pet supply store and look for medium-sized bird toys with compartments you stick treats into, and then let your parrot work through these puzzles once a day. Make your own foraging toy by sticking seeds into an envelope or coffee filter and twisting it closed. Hang it from a string inside the cage and let your bird try to open it to get to the treat inside. Provide preening toys. If your parrot is bored or stressed out, they will over-preen or pluck their own feathers. Buy preening toys to give them a healthy outlet for this urge. Look for toys with rope, feathers, or strings for them to pluck. If you have any spare rope at home, you can just cut the end to make it fray and then knot it around a bar of the cage. Do not leave your bird unsupervised with preening toys, as their feet can become entangled in the dangling parts. Select shredding toys. Redirect some of your parrot's boredom by giving them toys they can shred. Look for toys with corrugated cardboard or paper finger traps. Or buy a cross section of coconut, which will satisfy your parrot's need to shred and chew. If you have tissue paper at home you can weave it through the bars of the cage and let your parrot enjoy shredding it apart. Choose comfort toys. Parrots like physical contact with each other in the wild, so choose toys that provide this sense of comfort in your home. Look for soft, hanging perches or little tents they can crawl into or cuddle with. Buy exercise toys. Your parrot needs to move around and exercise in their cage, so buy ladders or swings for them to perch on and climb. Search for perches with strings and wooden beads, then hang them from the top of the cage to allow your bird to move around in a variety of ways. Find a play gym for your parrot. Play gyms are structures that have lots of branches and ladders for your parrot to move up and down, and they're great for playtime outside of the cage. Look for one that's under 5 feet (1.5 m) since a taller tree results in a potentially dangerous fall if they lose their balance. Don't forget to swap out your parrot's toys everyday so it doesn't get bored with them. Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes twice a day with your parrot. Different parrots will want different amounts of attention. But your bird will begin to feel bored or neglected if you ignore them for days at a time. Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes twice a day playing with your parrot, and add more time if they still seem interested in playing beyond that. Establish a routine. Parrots like routine, so let them be part of your daily schedule. Let them come into the bathroom in the morning while you brush your hair, or bring them into the kitchen while you make coffee. Try to do these things at the same time every day so that your parrot can expect them. Never allow your parrot to be in the kitchen while the stove is on. They could land on a hot burner and injure themselves. Go on walks. Purchase a harness and leash for your parrot and take them on walks around the block. If this is too stressful for your bird, just try the backyard or your porch. Never leave them unattended outside, though, since they could become prey to another animal. Play peekaboo with your parrot. Some parrots love playing peekaboo, so try it out with yours by holding a small blanket or sheet in front of your face. After a few seconds, pull it down quickly and smile, make a funny face, or gasp. An alternative to peekaboo is hide-and-seek. Leave the room, hide around the corner, and wait for your parrot to chase after you. Sing and dance with your parrot. Sing your favorite song to your parrot, or sing one that has special dance moves that go with it. Repeat this at least once a day so that they learn the repetition. You may even get your parrot to start repeating some of the moves. For example, while singing “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,” touch each of those parts of your body to teach your bird what they are. Teach your parrot to talk. If you have a Maximillian or Blue-Headed Pionus parrot you can teach them to talk. Start with words for the things they're most interested in, like nut, banana, or apple. Hold the piece of food and say the name of it several times a day. If they begin to intone something that sounds like its name, give them the piece of food as a reward. Other words to teach them are “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Come in,” “Goodnight,” or “Bed time.” Try using a clicker to mark every time your bird says something. After you click the clicker, give it a treat so it starts to associate the noise with a reward. Eventually, you'll be able to use the clicker to instantly mark your bird's good behavior. Place their cage near a window that doesn't get direct sunlight. Arrange your parrot's cage so that they can watch a busy street or sidewalk during the day. Or put them by a rear window and then put out bird feed in the back yard to attract wild birds for your parrot to watch. Know your parrot's personality. If other birds stress them out too much, keep their cage far enough from a window that they're unlikely to see any. Leave the radio or TV on. Turning on the radio for your parrot can provide comforting noise and voices while you're out. They may even be interested in the TV if they can see it. Just avoid nature channels since seeing large predators on TV could stress them out. Put two bird cages near each other. If you happen to have two parrots, put their cages near each other while you're out. Don't place them close enough that one could reach forward and bite the other, just put them close enough that they can stick their feet through and play footsie if they want to. Hire a sitter if you’ll be gone for more than a day. Birds feel neglected if left alone for too long, so have someone stop by if you'll be gone for a couple days. Have a friend visit your parrot a couple times a day to let them out of the cage and play. Or hire a sitter from a local pet sitting business to make a visit. | Buy foraging toys. Provide preening toys. Select shredding toys. Choose comfort toys. Buy exercise toys. Find a play gym for your parrot. Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes twice a day with your parrot. Establish a routine. Go on walks. Play peekaboo with your parrot. Sing and dance with your parrot. Teach your parrot to talk. Place their cage near a window that doesn't get direct sunlight. Leave the radio or TV on. Put two bird cages near each other. Hire a sitter if you’ll be gone for more than a day. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cope-With-Kidney-Stones | How to Cope With Kidney Stones | Kidney stones can be painful and scary, but if you drink plenty of fluids and manage the pain, they should pass without too much trouble. If you're not sure if you have kidney stones, visit your doctor so they can rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms. Make sure you drink plenty of water to help flush the stones out of your kidneys. To relieve your pain, try doing some light exercise, like taking a walk or doing some stretches. You can also take a hot shower or warm bath to relieve your symptoms. Alternatively, apply a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to the area for 20 minutes a few times a day. If your pain is so bad that you can't stay still, or you have nausea and vomiting, or there's blood in your urine, call emergency services or go to the emergency room, since you might have additional medical problems. | See your doctor if you’ve never had kidney stone symptoms before. If you're not sure whether your symptoms are from kidney stones , it's important to get a medical exam and a proper diagnosis. Your doctor can rule out any other possible conditions or complications that could be causing your symptoms. They can also help you figure out the best course of treatment for your kidney stones. Common symptoms of kidney stones include pain (in the side, back, abdomen, or groin), painful urination, pink or brown urine, nausea or vomiting, urgent or frequent urination, and fever or chills (if you have a secondary infection). You might feel sudden, constant pain in one side of your back, which is called renal colic. Even if you've had kidney stones before, talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. If your doctor suspects kidney stones, they may strain your urine to check for kidney stones or to try to determine their composition. Get emergency medical care if you have severe symptoms. Sometimes, kidney stones can cause additional complications that need medical attention right away (such as blockages or infections). Call emergency services or go to the emergency room if: Your pain is so bad that you can't stay still or get comfortable in any position. You have nausea and vomiting along with pain. You have pain with fever and chills. You see blood in your urine or have difficulty passing any urine. Use pain relievers as recommended by your doctor. If your kidney stones are relatively small, you may be able to manage the pain with over-the-counter pain medication. Common options include ibuprofen (Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and naproxen (Aleve). Before taking any of these medications, tell your doctor about any other medications you are currently taking or additional health concerns you may have. Some doctors recommend combining acetaminophen with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen for greater pain relief. Ask your doctor if you can safely use these medications together. If your pain is too severe to manage with over-the-counter medications, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. Walk around as much as possible. While moving around may be the last thing you want to do when you're suffering from kidney stone pain, staying active can actually bring some relief. Do a little light walking or other gentle exercise if you feel up to it. Gentle stretches or yoga are also good options. If your pain gets much worse when you try to move around, stop what you're doing. Only continue to exercise if you feel like it is helping. Take a hot bath or shower. Moist heat can provide relief for kidney stone pain. Step into a hot shower, or fill a tub with warm water and soak for 20 minutes or so. Make sure the water is not hot enough to scald you. You can also put a heating pad over the painful area. Make sure not to lie on top of the heating pad, and keep a layer of cloth (such as a blanket, towel, or heating pad cover) between your skin and the pad. You can use a heating pad 3 or 4 times a day for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated can help flush kidney stones out of your system and keep your urinary tract healthy. You will know that you are drinking enough water and other clear fluids if your urine is clear and mostly colorless. You can drink other liquids besides water, but use moderation when drinking coffee, tea, or acidic drinks, since these could irritate your urinary tract and cause you more discomfort. Apple juice and grapefruit juice can both attribute to kidney stones. If you enjoy juice, cranberry juice is a better alternative. Avoid drinking alcohol and soda, since this can dehydrate you and potentially make the stones worse. Take alpha blockers if your doctor recommends them. Your doctor may prescribe alpha blockers to relax the muscles in your urinary tract and help you pass the stones more easily. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking these medications carefully. Common alpha blockers used to treat kidney stones include tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and doxazosin (Cardura). Before taking alpha blockers, let your doctor know if you are taking any other medications. Medications that might interact with alpha blockers include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and medications that treat erectile dysfunction. Sleep on the side with the kidney stone. Keep the kidney with the stone in it facing down as much as possible during the night if you can do so without too much pain or discomfort. This may help the stone pass out of your body a little more easily. Researchers aren't sure why sleeping position affects the passing of kidney stones, but it may be that the side you sleep on experiences increased filtration and urine flow. Get more aggressive treatment if your doctor recommends it. If your kidney stones are too large to pass on their own or are causing other complications, such as bleeding or infections, you may need other types of treatment. Talk to your doctor about what treatment option may work best for you. A few common treatments include: ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). This treatment involves sending sound waves through your body that cause the stones to break up into smaller pieces. It's most often used for simple kidney stones. Surgical removal of the stones. This is usually done using small instruments that are inserted through a tiny incision in your back. Many doctors only recommend surgery if ESWL and other treatments do not work. It's also used for larger stones. Stone removal using a ureteroscope. This technique involves passing a tiny camera through your urethra and bladder into your ureter (the tube connecting your kidneys to your bladder). Once they find the stone, your doctor will insert a tool into your ureter to break up or pull out the stone. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and other clear fluids throughout the day. This can help you produce enough urine to flush out the crystals that can build up in your kidneys and form stones. For most people, drinking 3 litres (13 c) to 4 litres (17 c) every day is enough. If you're not sure whether you're drinking enough water, talk to your doctor. They can do tests to find out if you are producing a healthy amount of urine. Cut back on oxalate-rich foods. Foods with oxalate in them can contribute to the formation of certain kinds of kidney stones, such as calcium oxalate stones. Try to avoid common foods containing oxalate, such as: Rhubarb Beets Spinach Swiss chard Sweet potatoes Chocolate Tea Black pepper Soy Nuts Avoid salt and animal protein. If you have a history of kidney stones, sticking to a diet that is low in sodium and meat can help. Both salt and animal products can cause substances to accumulate in your urine that may trigger the formation of stones. Try to eat no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Depending on your history, your doctor may recommend reducing your sodium intake even more, to around 1,500 mg per day. Limit your meat intake each day to a piece no larger than a deck of playing cards. Eat foods rich in calcium. Although too much calcium in your urine can lead to kidney stones, it's still important to get calcium in your diet. To avoid getting too much calcium while still meeting your dietary requirements, opt for foods with calcium in them rather than using calcium supplements. Foods with a high calcium content include many green vegetables (such as collard greens, broccoli, and kale), dairy products (like milk, yogurt, and cheese), and certain kinds of seafood (such as canned fish with bones). Your body absorbs calcium more easily if you take it with vitamin D. Look for foods and drinks fortified with both calcium and vitamin D (such as some juices and dairy products). If you're not sure how much dietary calcium you should be getting, ask your doctor. They can recommend a good amount based on factors like your age, sex, and overall health. Take magnesium-potassium citrate supplements. These supplements can help reduce the buildup of substances in your urine that cause kidney stones. Ask your doctor if they recommend magnesium and potassium citrate supplements for you. Talk to your doctor about the best dosage of these supplements. Urologists usually recommend a total of 1,600 mg of potassium citrate and 500 mg of magnesium citrate per day. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements. Some supplements can contribute to kidney stones. For example, high doses of vitamin C and vitamin D can lead to kidney stones. Show your doctor any supplements you are or plan on taking to make sure they won't cause a recurrence of kidney stones. If your doctor approves a supplement, ask them for the correct amount you should be taking. A supplement may be healthy in small amounts but harmful in large doses. Incorporate antioxidants into your diet. The best way to do this is to eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants can reduce your risk of developing kidney stones by reducing the amount of calcium oxalate in your urine. Good sources of antioxidants include berries, apples, citrus fruits, artichokes, kale, bell peppers, and fruit juices (such as pomegranate juice). Take care to avoid antioxidant sources that are also oxalate-rich, such as sweet potatoes and nuts. You can find a list of more antioxidant-rich foods here: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants Change your usual sleeping position. Sleeping in the same position all the time may contribute to the formation of kidney stones, especially if you sleep on your side. Stones tend to form on the side where you usually sleep. If you have a tendency to get kidney stones on one side of your body, try sleeping on the other side for a while. If you currently have a kidney stone and you are waiting for it to pass, sleeping on the side with the stone in it may actually help. Once the stone is out, switch to sleeping on your other side. Practice healthy weight-management techniques. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent the formation of kidney stones. If you struggle with your weight, talk to your doctor or a dietitian about the best approach for losing weight and keeping it off. Kidney stones are linked to insulin resistance. If you are overweight, losing weight can help your body metabolize insulin more effectively. Talk to your doctor about medications to prevent kidney stones. Depending on the type of kidney stones you tend to get, your doctor may be able to prescribe something to prevent new stones from forming. Some of the common preventative medications include: Medications containing thiazide or phosphate to prevent the formation of calcium stones. Allopurinol to prevent uric acid stones. Antibiotics to prevent struvite stones. | See your doctor if you’ve never had kidney stone symptoms before. Get emergency medical care if you have severe symptoms. Use pain relievers as recommended by your doctor. Walk around as much as possible. Take a hot bath or shower. Drink plenty of fluids. Take alpha blockers if your doctor recommends them. Sleep on the side with the kidney stone. Get more aggressive treatment if your doctor recommends it. Stay hydrated. Cut back on oxalate-rich foods. Avoid salt and animal protein. Eat foods rich in calcium. Take magnesium-potassium citrate supplements. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements. Incorporate antioxidants into your diet. Change your usual sleeping position. Practice healthy weight-management techniques. Talk to your doctor about medications to prevent kidney stones. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-You-Are-Growing-Taller | How to Know if You Are Growing Taller | To know if you're growing taller, pay attention to your pants legs to see if they're getting further up your ankles. You should also keep an eye on your shoe size, since your feet usually grow when you get taller. If you want to keep track of your exact height, remove your shoes and stand straight against a wall or door jamb. Then, mark the top of your head with a pencil. If you notice that the line has moved higher in a few weeks or months, you'll know you've grown taller. Just make sure you ask your parents before you draw on the wall or door! | Look for signs of growth. Have you begun to clunk your head on that low doorway in your basement? Have you finally conquered the “you must be this tall to ride” sign at the amusement park roller coaster? Slowly but surely, you must be growing taller. Short pant legs are an easy way to tell that you must be growing. If the jeans you used to have to roll up now make you look like you're ready for a flood, it may be time to take a height measurement (as well as buy some new jeans). Foot growth is another likely sign of height growth. Not surprisingly, since they provide your base, just like expanding roots hold up a growing tree, there is a clear correlation between foot size and height in humans. Find a point of comparison. If you have a brother or sister, you've probably stood back-to-back more than once to see who's taller. Picking something that isn't also growing, however, is the best way to prove that you're gaining height. Practically any non-growing, stationary object — the bottom of a sign on the wall, the ceiling in your treehouse, your father standing back-to-back with you — can serve as a reference point. The closer you get to being eye-level with the sign, scraping your head on the ceiling, or reaching your dad's shoulder blades, the taller you are becoming. Traditionally, of course, the reference point for a kid is a wall, door jamb, or inside panel of a door where his or her height can be marked every so often. Stand against a wall. There is a method to getting an accurate measurement against a flat surface like a wall, but consistency is of first importance. If you measured your height in bare feet before, make sure you take off your shoes each time you step up to track your progress. Remove your shoes, and flatten your hair down if necessary. Stand up straight, back and heels flat against the wall. Keep your feet flat on the ground and together (no tippy toes!). Look straight ahead. Have someone use a pencil to mark the highest point of your head against the wall. Another less accurate method that works if you are alone is to hold a book on top of your head; press it against the wall, turn around while holding the book in place, and mark the spot with a pencil. Mark your progress. Parents love doing this so they can see how much their little darling has grown! Mark the lines on the wall in pen or marker if you want more permanence than pencil, and add the date (along with your child's name and age, if desired). If marking the wall isn't an option, take a tape measure and record the distance up the wall from the floor to the mark. Keep a log book with the relevant information. Visit your doctor. Height and weight measurements are standard procedure at a medical appointment, for kids and adults, because unusual variations in either can indicate possible health issues. For kids especially, healthy growth is a good sign of a healthy body. Your doctor will chart your growth velocity, which is your change in growth over time. The nurse or doctor will take an accurate measurement for their records; ask for the result and jot it down for yourself if you like. If you're over forty, don't be surprised if you start getting a little bit shorter each time. By this time, you are far past your growth stage, and the effects of gravity, especially on your spinal column, begin to drag you down. Unusually rapid height decrease, however, could be a sign of a condition like osteoporosis (bone weakness, essentially). Project where you’ll end up. Since genetics play the largest role in your eventual final height, looking at your parents' heights will give you a good idea of where you'll likely end up. How to Predict Height describes several methods for predicting height, including those mentioned here. Be warned, however, that the simplest methods have a margin error of +/- 4 inches, which means you may have a predicted height of 5'6”, but you could end up being 5'2” or 5'10”. The simplified Gray Method involves adding together your parents' heights (in inches or centimeters), dividing by two, and either adding (for a boy) or subtracting (for a girl) 4 in. (10 cm). For small children, doubling a girl's height at eighteen months or a boy's at two years will offer a fairly accurate estimate. More accurate calculation methods (made easier by online calculators), or hand x-rays that determine “bone age,” are also available, and of particular value for older children. Accept that you can only do so much. Your final height is determined overwhelmingly by genetics (roughly 70%), with health, nutrition, and environmental factors deciding the remainder (about 30%). So, if you end up shorter or taller than you'd like, blame your genes. And don't bother trying to hang on the monkey bars to grow taller! Skip the fantastic “grow taller” claims online. Any online search will result in thousands of hits for sites that offer “can't miss” methods for increasing your height. The vast majority of them are junk. Special pills aren't going to make you taller, but they might make you sick and they'll definitely take your money. Many of the sites describe exercises that will stretch out your body. While stretching is good, and may possibly make you a little bit taller for a short period, you aren't going to see long-term gains from doing so. Remember, gravity always wins. That said, exercises that improve your posture, so that you stand up straighter, can help you at least look taller. Get adequate sleep. The human body produces its growth hormones during sleep, so the more deep, restful sleep you get, the better odds you have of maximizing your genetic height potential. For physical, mental, and emotional health, growing teens should strive for eight to ten hours of sleep nightly, ideally on a consistent schedule to keep their body's clock in proper balance. Eat a healthy diet. No, there aren't any super-foods that are magically going to make you a starting center in the NBA, but proper nutrition can help in your body's growth process. You know the drill for healthy eating: more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, less saturated fats and refined sugars, more fresh food, less processed food. Some particular nutrients, such as calcium, which strengthens bones (and thus helps improve posture), are beneficial to looking and feeling taller. Other essential nutrients like niacin, vitamin D, and zinc — all of which you consume as part of a varied, healthy diet — may offer added benefits to the body's growth as well. Exercise regularly. Don't focus on the exercise plans that claim they will make you taller. Instead, focus on a healthy exercise regimen that involves aerobic workouts and strength training; good health gives your body more opportunity to grow. As noted above, stretching is good for the body, but stretching exercises that claim to make you permanently taller aren't going to work for long. Keep your focus on health and fitness, and let growth come naturally (as far as your genetics allow). Sixty minutes or more of activity per day can help keep teens feeling and looking good, which can help even if you don't grow any taller. You can locate recommended exercise regimens online. | Look for signs of growth. Find a point of comparison. Stand against a wall. Mark your progress. Visit your doctor. Project where you’ll end up. Accept that you can only do so much. Skip the fantastic “grow taller” claims online. Get adequate sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Lips | How to Read Lips | If you want to read lips, start by using a mirror to watch yourself say the alphabet or recite something, so you can see what your lips look like when you make different sounds and words. You can also watch news anchors on TV to try and attach sounds to lip motions, since you can see their mouths clearly as they look directly into the camera. When you're ready to start lipreading, work on picking up key words rather than every word, which is difficult. Then, you can use context and visual cues to fill in gaps, and facial expressions and body language to pick up tone and mood. | Know that you must focus equally on context and visual cues as the actual lips. Only 30-40% of sounds in the English language are noticeable by sight. Too many of our words and syllables are so similar that you can't actually just tell them by lip reading alone. Most lip-readers will tell you, at the end of the day, that lip-reading isn't actually reading. The words aren't so simple, and tics, mumbling, accents, and mouth covering all make straight "reading" impossible. Once you learn to make lipreading a part of your communication, not the only tool you have, you will be much more successful. At Better Hearing Australia's annual lip reading competition, most people score only 40-50%. The few who hit 90% and higher do so through context, context, and guess work. Lipread sentences, not single words. Trying to pick up every single word is going to be hard, and you'll struggle mightily. Most lip-readers know that long words and sentences are easier to read than short ones because longer phrases allow you to fill in the blanks through context. By focusing on the whole sentence, you can comfortably miss a few words here and there and still understand what was actually said. Check in to facial movements and expressions to understand tone and mood. The eyes and mouth are incredibly expressive -- often more so than your tone of voice. Don't just look at someone's lips, as the rest of their face offers important contextual clues to determine not only the sentence but how the sentence is said. Tugging at the lips (small grimaces or smiles) often indicate worry, fear, or anxiety. Raised eye brows also tend to indicate anxiety or stress. Furrowed brows and foreheads indicate displeasure or anger. Creases around the edges of the eyes indicate happiness and excitement. Cocking the head to the side usually indicates discomfort or even slight hostility. Looking down shows nervousness, shyness, or an unwillingness to communicate. Study body-language and posturing to learn from non-verbal cues. You're trying to translate one sense (sound) into another (sight), and this is an inherently impossible task to perfect. The best lip readers use everything to their advantage, including body language, to gauge mood, tone, and themes of conversation. While imperfect, this list covers many of the basics: Closed off arms tend to indicate anger or aggression. Open arms indicate friendship, closeness, and honestly. Open and closed legs have similar connotations. The way a person's shoulders and hips point often indicate their priorities or who they are most comfortable with. Leaning towards you implies intimacy and connection. Leaning away generally indicates discomfort or confusion. Big, expansive posture implies confidence, strength, and dominance. Slouching shows a lack of confidence. There is a lot of nuance, subtlety, and interpretation involved in body language, and every situation is different. But, used with lip reading, you can learn a lot very quickly in most situations. Know which syllables look similar to avoid common mistakes. There are 44 different sounds formed in English. Unfortunately, only a third of them are visually different.The following list of sounds can get tricky, as they have similar mouth shapes when formed, or are frequently confused. Even more confusing is that the brackets indicate the letters sound, not the letters themselves, : [b] & [p] [k] & [g], [t] & [d], [f], [v], & [th] [s] & [zzzz] [m] & [n] Use the words you do know to figure out the ones you don't. You're basically given an incomplete map and asked to fill in the blanks, and you're not always going to get it right. But this is far more effective then harping on every word and sound. Many lip readers know they need to take a second to "re-construct" the sentence before responding, allowing them to speak more fluidly and skip over issues. Ask people to speak a little bit slower if you're comfortable. Just be honest with your conversation partner and ask them to slow it down a bit. The point of a chat isn't to impress someone with your skills, but to actually talk to someone! Slower, better enunciated words will be much easier to read and pull context from. Watch TV and focus on how people's lips move when they talk. Start with the news, as you'll have clear speakers who are looking right at the camera every single time. If you have partial hearing, turn the volume up and listen along -- you'll be able to attach the "sounds" to the lip motions. If you are completely deaf, turn the closed captions on and use them to guide your lip reading. Stare at yourself in the mirror, say the alphabet, talk out song lyrics, recite something. The whole time focusing on what your lips look like when they make different sounds/words. Slow down and try out tricky syllables or related sounds (like p, b, and m) to get used to the combination of word and visual. By saying the words out loud as you read, you help internalize the syllable for future lip reading. Ask your friends to help you practice by talking clearly, slowly, and head on. Unfortunately, most conversations don't take place in a television studio. To improve your daily lipreading skills, start with your friends. Let them know you're working on lipreading, and that they can help by speaking clearly, slowly, and looking straight at you. As you get better, ask them to speed up to normal conversational pace. Consider taking a lipreading class. Offered in most cities and towns, these are casual, supportive communities to practice in. Frequently you'll work together on difficult syllables and tricks, then break into conversation groups to get some practice in. Look online for lipreading classes to grow and develop your skills. Be confident in your skills and push yourself to have conversations. The best way how to learn to lipread in public is to start lipreading in public. You may feel nervous, but just remember that very, very few people are going to get angry, upset, or otherwise negative when they find out you're lip reading. Communication is a two-way street -- and people will be willing and happy to help you learn and repeat sentences you've missed. | Know that you must focus equally on context and visual cues as the actual lips. Lipread sentences, not single words. Check in to facial movements and expressions to understand tone and mood. Study body-language and posturing to learn from non-verbal cues. Know which syllables look similar to avoid common mistakes. Use the words you do know to figure out the ones you don't. Ask people to speak a little bit slower if you're comfortable. Watch TV and focus on how people's lips move when they talk. Stare at yourself in the mirror, say the alphabet, talk out song lyrics, recite something. Ask your friends to help you practice by talking clearly, slowly, and head on. Consider taking a lipreading class. Be confident in your skills and push yourself to have conversations. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV | How to Mount a Flat Screen TV | To mount a flat screen TV, first remove the base that comes on your TV, and lay your TV face-down on a soft, padded, flat surface. Next, screw on correctly-sized brackets to the back of your TV with a screwdriver. Then, use an electronic stud-finder to find the studs in your wall and mark their location in pencil. Once they're marked, drill pilot holes into the studs. Finally, screw the mounting bracket into these holes, and hang the TV on the bracket. | Obtain a correctly-sized bracket either online or at an electronic retail store. Any major electronic retailer should be able to help you with this purchase if you have questions. Generally, brackets come in a size range. This means you can buy a bracket that fits a range of TVs. For example, you might purchase a bracket that fits 32 to 56 inch (81.3 to 142.2 cm) televisions. Any flatscreen TV within this size range should fit the bracket, unless otherwise stated. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid345372-v4-728px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":330,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"523","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Remove the base that comes with the TV if it is attached. If the base is not already attached when you open the box, do not put it on; you'll just have to take it off later. Lay the TV on its face (glass down) on a soft, padded, flat item. If you have any reservations about laying your plasma TV glass-down on the carpet or floor, check the owner's manual for guidance. Some plasma screen manufacturers recommend working with the flat screen facing upright while attaching the brackets. Look for the four holes on the back of the TV. Those are where you will place the bracket you purchased. There might be three pieces to your mount. The two small brackets will attach to your TV. Remove any screws plugging the holes if necessary. Many TVs manufacturers plug their mounting holes with screws during assembly. Put the mounting brackets on the back of the TV, aligning them as stated in your mounting directions. Make sure that the brackets are facing the correct way when screwed to the TV. Use a screwdriver to tighten any remaining bolts. The bracket should be firmly bolted to the TV, without any wiggle room. You may need to use some washers that come with the bracket to get a tight fit. Find the wall studs. Mark the centers of the wall studs you will screw into. Wooden wall studs in all modern homes are 1.5" (3.8 cm) thick. Homes built in the 1920's and earlier are thicker, either 2" (5.1 cm) or 1 3/4" (4.4 cm) thick. You must screw every lag screw into a stud because a TV is much too heavy to be supported by drywall or plaster alone. Also, if the stud is wooden (some are metal), you must screw into the center. If you put it in near an edge, the wood could split and the lag screw would have almost no strength. The best way to find the studs is with a stud finder, which you may be able to rent, but they are cheap to buy. Stud finders, especially cheap ones, and especially if the wall is plaster and not drywall, are not accurate enough to guarantee that you find the exact center of a wall stud.Therefore, you need to drill a few 1/8" (0.32 cm) test holes where the stud finder tells you the stud is. You will know when they hit wood, and this is your only guarantee. Without a stud finder, you can knock on the wall until you find a hard spot, then drill holes to find the exact location of the wall stud. Using the wall bracket as a guide, holding it level with a small level, mark the spots to drill the holes. You may not need a level because very large brackets have a built in level. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-8.jpg\/aid345372-v4-728px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-8.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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Drill pilot holes of the diameter given in the instructions. Place the mounting bracket on the wall and screw in the lag bolts using a socket wrench or plyers. To assure that it will be level, mount it with one lag bolt and check if it is level. Check if any pilot holes should be re-drilled. Cut two holes in your wall if you want to hide the cords. Be very care not to cut a cable when cutting into the wall. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet1.jpg\/aid345372-v4-728px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet1.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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} In the middle of the mounting bracket, cut a square hole. Your mounting bracket should have a square hole designed for this. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet2.jpg\/aid345372-v4-728px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet2.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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} One foot from the ground, cut another square hole into the drywall. This hole may be smaller than the first hole. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet3.jpg\/v4-460px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet3.jpg\/aid345372-v4-728px-Mount-a-Flat-Screen-TV-Step-11Bullet3.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:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"} Feed your cords into one hole and out the other. To guide the wires, drop a nut with a string tied to it from the top hole and pull it out at the bottom. Pick up your TV and hang it on the bracket. You may need a person to help you. Tighten the nuts or set screws that attach the bracket to the TV. Make sure that the bracket is sturdy and can hold the weight of the TV before you let go. Plug in your cables to their respective homes and turn on your power. Finished! Your TV has been successfully mounted. | Obtain a correctly-sized bracket either online or at an electronic retail store. Remove the base that comes with the TV if it is attached. Lay the TV on its face (glass down) on a soft, padded, flat item. Look for the four holes on the back of the TV. Put the mounting brackets on the back of the TV, aligning them as stated in your mounting directions. Use a screwdriver to tighten any remaining bolts. Find the wall studs. Drill pilot holes of the diameter given in the instructions. Place the mounting bracket on the wall and screw in the lag bolts using a socket wrench or plyers. Pick up your TV and hang it on the bracket. Make sure that the bracket is sturdy and can hold the weight of the TV before you let go. Finished! |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Swing | How to Make a Swing | To make a rope swing, first secure 2 long ropes about 3 feet apart around a sturdy branch of a hardwood tree. Then, cut 1 long piece of wood for a seat and 2 short pieces for supports, and use deck screws to attach the supports to the sides of the seat. Next, drill 2 holes in each end of the seat and thread a 10-foot rope through each set of holes. Tie knots in the rope under each hole, then pull the ropes up over the seat so you have a sling at each end. Finally, use carabiners to attach the slings and the seat to the ropes hanging down from the branch. | Find the perfect tree and branch. There are many aspects to consider when making a swing that is both safe and long-lasting. If your yard doesn't have a tree with a branch that meets these standards, consider a different project. Oak trees are ideal, but any type of sturdy hardwood tree may be used. Evergreens and fruit trees should be avoided. Pick a healthy branch that is at least eight inches in diameter. Carefully inspect for any signs of disease or splitting. A sickly branch is more likely to break off and fall, potentially causing serious injury to anyone below. The placement of your swing should be at least three to five feet out from the tree's trunk. Press down on the branch at the point where you intend to hang your swing. If the branch bounces, choose a sturdier one. Do not pick a branch that is too high off the ground. Twenty feet should be the maximum, but if you are making a swing for a young child, consider a lower branch. Remember that the higher the swing's attachment point, the greater the height your child may fall from. Gather your materials. You will need wood, rope, twine, three-inch deck screws, wood glue, fine grit sandpaper, two stainless steel quick link carabiners, and the right tools for the job. For tools, you will need a saw, a leveler, measuring tape, a sanding block, and a cordless drill. Buy enough 1.5-inch thick pressure treated wood for the job. You will need enough for three 7.25-inch wide pieces: one measuring 36 inches in length and two that are each 4 inches long. A two-by-eight board that is four feet long will be the easiest to work with. (If you are new to woodworking, keep in mind that the actual width and thickness of a two-by-eight are 7.25 inches and 1.5 inches respectively.) You will need a rope that is twice your planned swing's height (from the branch to the seat) plus an additional 12 feet. Use twisted polypropylene rope at least 3/8 inches in diameter. Keep in mind that nylon rope is typically too slippery for a good swing and a natural-fiber rope will eventually rot. Cut the rope into four pieces: two 10-foot lengths and two that are one foot longer than your swing's height. Secure the long ropes to your branch. Throw one end of each rope up over the branch. Position the two ropes so that they are slightly over three feet apart. Tie a running bowline slip knot to one end of each rope. Next, thread the free end of each rope through its corresponding knot. Tug each free end to tighten the knot onto the branch. This type of knot is very secure but will also expand with the growing tree. If needed, you can attach one end of each rope to a rock with some twine before attempting to throw it. This extra step will make getting the ends up over the branches much easier. Cut your wood. Remember that the base of your swing will be made up of three rectangles that will all be 7.25 inches wide. Mark two rectangles that are 4 inches for the supports and a third that is 36 inches for the main seat. Double-check your measurements before you begin sawing. Sand down sharp edges. To avoid the potential problem of the swing's seat cutting into the rider's thigh, sand down the front and rear top edges of your main seat piece. These will be two of the long edges on the same face of the board. You may also choose to sand down the other edges of the seat, but this is not necessary. Put the seat pieces together. Arrange the two supports each on opposite ends of the main board. If you only sanded down the top edges, make sure the support pieces are on side opposite from where you sanded. First, secure the pieces in place with wood glue. Next, reinforce the attachment using five deck screws for each support piece. Pattern the screws so that one is near each corner with the fifth directly in the center. Drill holes to attach your rope. Place two holes on each end through both the seat and its supports. Try to make each hole the same distance from the supports' edges and the center screw. The two holes on each side should create a line parallel to the seat's short side and perpendicular to its long side. Make sure the holes are wide enough to thread your rope through but not much wider. Thread each end of your 10-foot ropes through the holes. Use one rope for the two holes on one end and the second rope on the other. The two ropes should not cross. Position the ropes so that their ends are on the same side as the support pieces. Secure the ropes. Tie four stopper knots, one at each end of the ropes underneath the swing seat. Do not tie the knots too tight in case you need to adjust them later. There should now be two slings, one attached to each end of the seat. Attach the slings to the long main ropes using two quick links. Unscrew your carabiners and hook one onto each sling. Screw the locking sleeves back on tight. Next, tie the ends of each rope hanging down to the quick links using a secure knot, such as a buntline hitch. Level the seat and secure the stopper knots. Place a leveler on the seat to check for unevenness. If your seat isn't level, adjust the stopper knots accordingly. For example, if the seat is dipping forward and to the left, pull a little more rope through the bottom and move the knot up. Once the seat is level, tighten your knots. Your swing is now ready for use. Pick a tire swing style. There are two main types of tire swings: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal tire swings have three different attachment points to hold the tire level. In contrast, vertical tire swings hang from a single attachment. Both ways of making a tire swing are relatively similar, but there will be a few minor differences. In general, vertical tire swings are simpler and require less time to make. Choose the right tree and branch. A branch for a tire swing has most of the same requirements as one for a rope swing. You'll need to find a sturdy hardwood tree, such as an oak, with a suitably-sized healthy branch. The major difference is that more clearance away from the trunk is required for tire swings compared to rope swings, as tire swings are designed for more sideways movement. Allow at bare minimum 4 feet of space between the attachment point and the tree trunk. Even more space may be required if the branch you pick is higher than 10 feet. Gather your materials. The main component of all tire swings is a tire. You can find cheap or even free tires from anywhere that recycles them, such as at a tire dealership. A tire with worn-down treads isn't suitable for a car, but it will make a great swing. You will need a cordless drill for both types of swing. For a horizontal tire swing, you will need four equal lengths of steel chain, four stainless steel quick links, one locking swivel hook, and three steel U-bolts. The chains should be at least 3/8 of an inch in diameter and between 3 and 5 feet long. For a vertical tire swing, the only other necessary item is a strong rope. Wash the tire thoroughly. Because you're most likely using a recycled tire, it will probably be covered in grime. Even a new tire has the potential to stain clothing and skin. Use a high pressure hose on your tire before making it into a swing. If you don't own a high pressure hose, consider making a trip to a car wash and using one there. Drill a few holes in your tire. When it rains, you will want the water to drain out of your swing to keep from making a mess. Position these holes at what will be the part of your swing closest to the ground. For a horizontal swing, drill the holes into the center of one sidewall. For a vertical swing, drill one or two holes into one end of the wheel's tread. Attach the main rope or chain to the tree. Before setting up your tire any further, go ahead and make sure it has a secure place to hang. For a horizontal swing, simply hook one length of chain around the branch. Then, fasten it into a loop with a quick link. Finally, hang the swivel hook from the quick link with the hook portion facing down. For a vertical swing, Throw your rope over the tree limb. Tie a slip knot, such as a running bowline, onto one end of the rope and then thread the free end through the knot. Pull the free end so that the knot reaches the branch, attaching the rope to the tree. Attach the tire to the hanging rope or chain. Once you've completed this step, your swing should be ready to use. For a horizontal swing, begin by drilling three sets of two holes on the shoulder of the tire opposite of your drainage holes. Separate the three sets an equal distance apart so that the tire is split into even thirds. Space the pairs so that your three U-bolts can fit into them. Hook each U-bolt onto the last link of each of the three remaining chains. Place the bottom of the U-bolts through the holes you just made and fix them in place using the plates and nuts they came with. Finally, hook the last link of the chains' free ends onto the locking swivel hook. Your swing should be finished once the hook is locked into place. For a vertical swing, simply tie the free ends of your rope to the tire at the end opposite of its drainage holes. Use a square knot and double-check that the rope is secure. Finished. | Find the perfect tree and branch. Gather your materials. Secure the long ropes to your branch. Cut your wood. Sand down sharp edges. Put the seat pieces together. Drill holes to attach your rope. Thread each end of your 10-foot ropes through the holes. Secure the ropes. Attach the slings to the long main ropes using two quick links. Level the seat and secure the stopper knots. Pick a tire swing style. Choose the right tree and branch. Gather your materials. Wash the tire thoroughly. Drill a few holes in your tire. Attach the main rope or chain to the tree. Attach the tire to the hanging rope or chain. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Turtle-Tank | How to Set Up a Turtle Tank | To set up a turtle tank, choose a sturdy glass 10-15 gallon tank, and set it up with filter and a lamp that provides UVA and UVB light to mimic the natural environment. You should also obtain a thermometer and a hygrometer to make sure you maintain the proper temperature and humidity for your turtle's species. Create a dry area that covers 50% of the tank for semi-aquatic turtles or 25% of the tank for aquatic turtles, and make sure there is a ramp so the turtle can easily climb from the water to the dry area. | Choose a large, sturdy glass tank. Your turtle will need a glass fish tank that can provide roughly 10 to 15 gallons (38 to 57 L) of water for every 1 inch (2.5 cm) of turtle. If you do not have a mature turtle, base your measurements off the average size your turtle's species reaches upon maturity. Do not use a reptile tank designed for terrestrial (land-living) reptiles. The glass is too thin and can break due to the pressure of the water. The glass used for turtle tanks should be at least 0.4 inches (10 mm) thick. If you have more than one turtle, size the tank according to your first turtle and add half that size to your original measurement for each additional turtle. This should give you your final tank size. Keep in mind that the tank should be deeper than it is wide. Otherwise, your turtle may not have enough room to flip itself upright if it accidentally turns upside-down. For most turtles, the length of the tank should be three or four times the length of the turtle and the width should be twice the length of the turtle. The height of the tank should be one and a half to two times the length of the turtle, but you should also make sure that there is a full 1 foot (30.5 cm) above the highest point the turtle can reach when placed inside the tank to prevent the turtle from climbing out. Provide a lamp. You can use a lamp that hooks onto the turtle tank, or you could opt for one that stands separately but can be directed down onto the tank. The light itself needs to shine on the portion of the tank you intend to set aside as a basking area. Semi-aquatic turtles need full spectrum light, so you should use a lamp with both UVA and UVB bulbs. UVB light stimulates the production of vitamin D3 and maintains the natural environment, while UVA light encourage more activity and a heartier appetite. UVB bulbs should provide the main lighting. UVB light will help it develop its shell. You should also consider running the light on a timer to simulate natural light cycles. Most turtles need a natural light cycle of 12 to 14 hours, followed by 10 to 12 hours of darkness. On a related note, you'll also need to keep the tank in a good location. You can place the tank near indirect sunlight or in shade, but do not place it in direct sunlight. Bright, full sun could end up baking and killing the turtle. Consider using a water heater. Use a fully submersible water heater to help maintain a consistent temperature year-round. These heaters attach to the side of the aquarium with suction cups. You may need to hide the heater behind a wall to prevent the turtle from breaking it as it swims around. Before installing a water heater, make sure that your turtle needs one. The preferred temperature will depend on the turtle species. A species that prefers room temperature water usually doesn't need a water heater, but those that prefer warmer temperatures might. Invest in a good filter. Filters are vital to the health of your tank, but choosing the right kind can be difficult. Turtles produce more waste than fish, though, and without a filter, you would need to change the water daily. Large canister filters work best. They can be expensive, but the size ensures that filter will not get clogged up easily. As a result, the tank will stay more sanitary and the turtle will remain healthier. A canister filter also minimizes the amount of cleaning you have to do. Lastly, even though the initial cost of a canister filter is higher than it is with other filter types, the long-term costs associated with water and filter changes will actually be lower. If you use an internal filter instead of a canister filter, use the largest you can find and opt for two filters instead of one. Even with a good filter, you will need to change the water at least once every two weeks. Look at tank covers. Select a heat-proof metal screen cover for the top of your tank. While not strictly essential, covers will protect your turtle from potential threats like broken lamp bulbs. Since lamp bulbs used for turtle habitats tend to get very hot, they can easily explode if they get splashed with water, making this a very real threat. You may also want to clamp the cover onto the top of your tank to prevent larger turtles from climbing out. Do not use glass or plexiglass tank covers since these materials filter out the UVB rays a turtle needs for survival. Moreover, these materials are more likely to shatter or melt. Get the tools you'll need to monitor conditions. Conditions can change slightly over time when left alone, so you will need to monitor and maintain the right conditions regularly to keep your turtle healthy. Use thermometers to monitor the temperature of the water and the temperature of the basking/land area. Most turtles prefer water temperatures around 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). Land temperatures should be between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (27 and 29 degrees Celsius). You should also keep an eye on the humidity in your tank, so you'll need a hygrometer to do this. The right humidity level will depend on the turtle species, and you can change humidity inside the tank by adding or removing substrate from the land/basking area. Spread substrate on the bottom of the tank only if needed. Generally, you don't need to cover the bottom of the tank with any substrate. The only time this is a necessity is if you decide to place live plants in the tank. Substrate can actually make the tank more difficult to clean. If you're going to use substrate, the best choices are fine sand, gravel, and fluorite. Sand is difficult to clean, but some turtles do enjoy digging in it. Gravel can create a nice appearance, but you need to make sure that the gravel pieces are more than 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter; otherwise, the turtle may try eating the gravel. Fluorite is a porous clay gravel that provides plenty of nutrients for plants. Turtles generally don't eat it, but you should still opt for larger fluorite just to be safe. Create a land area. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles both need a land area inside the tank. Most semi-aquatic turtles need a land area that takes up at least 50 percent of the space in the tank. Most aquatic turtles should have a land mass that takes up no more than 25 percent of the space in the tank. Turtles use this land area to bask and dry themselves. The diameter of the land mass should also be at least one and a half times as long as the length of the turtle. There are plenty of different options to consider. You can buy a special turtle dock from a pet supply store, or you could use a rock or log. Floating docks are often preferable since they adjust to the water level and do not take up valuable room inside the tank. Avoid using rocks and logs from nature since they can pose a health threat to your turtle. If you do use something from nature, boil it in a separate pot of water to kill any algae, germs, or dangerous microorganisms. If you want to use something for a land mass that does not have a weight to anchor it, glue the land in place along the side of the tank with silicone aquarium sealant. Provide a water-to-land ramp, if necessary. Turtles need a way to climb onto the land area. Ideally, the land area itself should gently slope down into the water. If it doesn't, you will need to install a separate ramp. The ramp itself can be fairly simple. For instance, a curves or sloping log can be attached to the land area from one side, with the other side dipping down gently into the water. A piece of thick plastic can also be used in a similar way. Choose the right decorations. Turtles do not need many decorations to survive, but adding a few can make the tank nicer to look at and may also help your turtle feel a little more secure. Add logs, smooth rocks, and terrestrial (land) plants to provide hiding places on the basking area. You could also use a wooden enclosure. Just make sure that the turtle still has plenty of room to spread out on the empty portion of the basking area. Real plants work great, but note that turtles will nibble on them, so you should only choose aquatic and terrestrial plants that are non-toxic to turtles. Decorations with sharp edges pose a threat to your turtle and should be avoided. Store bought decorations do not need to be sterilized, but decorations picked up from nature need to be boiled separately to kill off harmful germs. Never use a decoration with a diameter less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) since the turtle may try to eat it. Avoid enclosure-style decorations since your turtle may get stuck while swimming under it. Place decorations and equipment carefully. All foreign objects in the tank should be placed along the edges so that the turtle can swim freely. You can also place equipment beneath the land area to hide it. If you want to place something in the center of the tank, opt for clumps of plants since these will not interfere with the turtle's ability to swim. Place tall or stiff decorations only in the edges. Make sure that you do not create any enclosures or tight spots that your turtle could get stuck in as you place equipment and decorations in the tank. Fill the tank with clean water. Fill the tank with enough water for the turtle to swim comfortably. Most turtles need at least 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15.25 cm) of water. You need to make sure that the water depth is at least three-quarters the length of the turtle. This depth allows the turtle to flip itself upright if it accidentally turns upside-down in the water. The vast majority of pet turtles are freshwater creatures, so you should provide clean water from your sink or from jugs of distilled water. | Choose a large, sturdy glass tank. Provide a lamp. Consider using a water heater. Invest in a good filter. Look at tank covers. Get the tools you'll need to monitor conditions. Spread substrate on the bottom of the tank only if needed. Create a land area. Provide a water-to-land ramp, if necessary. Choose the right decorations. Place decorations and equipment carefully. Fill the tank with clean water. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-Orchid-Indoors | How to Care for an Orchid Indoors | To care for an orchid indoors, place the plant in a window that faces south or west to ensure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you don't have a window that will provide the right light, or if you just want to supplement the natural light, keep the orchid under a fluorescent light. Water your orchid every 5 to 12 days, depending on the time of year and temperature, as well as the type of orchid you're growing. Also, add a fertilizer to the soil about once a month. | Choose the right kind of orchid. There are lots of different types of orchids, which makes choosing one dependent on the type of environment you can offer them. Things like the temperature of your house, how much light you get, how much attention you can give will decide which orchid is best for you. The easiest type of orchid to grow indoors is the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis orchids). These orchids last for months and grow best in medium-grain bark mix, warm temperatures, and low to medium light. They are good for first-timers, and are pretty forgiving of mistakes. If you tend to over-water your orchids then you'll want to go for the slipper orchids (such as Phaphiopedilum, or Phragmipedium). On the other hand, if you tend to ignore your orchids Cattleya, Oncidium, or Dendrobium are the best choices. If you don't get much light in your house then Jewel orchids (Paphiopedilum) are the best choice. For those with only a small windowsill mini-cattleyas (Pleurothallis) or miniature moth orchids are the best choice. Choose the right pot. The most basic and common pot is the terracotta pot (in clay or plastic). There are many different kinds to choose from. Some considerations: if you're a heavy waterer use a clay pot with a coarse potting mix; if you tend to let your orchids dry out use a plastic pot and a fine potting mix. Clear plastic pots let light reach the roots and allow you to keep an eye on the orchid's root growth. These can be good if you don't have a whole lot of time. Pots with a net basket insert or with bi-level drainage make for great drainage and air circulation, which is good if you over-water. Wooden baskets tend to be constructed of a rot-resistant wood, like teak. If you do use a basket then you'll need to first line it with sheet moss and then put in your potting mix. Use the appropriate potting mix. The roots of orchids need more airspace than dirt provides, so orchid mixes tend not to have potting soil. The mix tends to have things like fir bark, coconut husk, sphagnum moss, tree fern fibers and perlite, and is frequently a mixture of two or three of these materials. A fine mix is best for smaller types of orchids and ones that have small roots and need to stay on the damp side, like slipper orchids, most oncidiums, miltonias. Make a fine mix from 4 parts fine-grade fir bark or coco husk chips or redwood bark, one part fine charcoal, one part horticultural-grade perlite or small-grade Aliflor. The medium mix is good if you aren't sure which mix to use. It is particularly good for cattleyas, phalaenopsis, and most mature orchids. Make it out of four parts medium-grade fir bark or medium-grade coco husk chunks, one part medium charcoal, and one part horticultural-grade perlite or medium-grade Aliflor. If you don't want to make your own, you can find good orchid potting mixes at most home improvement and garden shops. There are plenty of mixes that serve a wide range of orchid types. Find the right light source. Orchids need lots of light and depending on the type of orchid, they need filtered light or full on light. Pick a window facing south or west. This plant should get at least six hours of sunlight a day. Check your orchid to see if it needs more light or less light. That will determine whether you use sheer curtains or whether you use no curtains. Use fluorescent lights to supplement the natural light. Gardeners have found that just plain, normal fluorescent lights can do the trick very nicely. The light that comes in through your window may not be consistent enough, especially on cloudy days or if you place your orchid near a window that only lets minimal sunlight through. Investing in a couple of 20 watt fluorescent tubes or other similar lighting can simulate more ideal conditions. Maintain the right temperature. Find out if your orchid is a "cool growing" orchid or a "warm growing" orchid. The two types prefer temperatures that fall into a slightly different range. Warm growing orchids include vanda, phalaenopsis, and oncidium breeds. Cool growing orchids include phragmipedium, miltonia, and cymbidium breeds. Drop the temperature approximately 15 °F (−9 °C) at night. Within nature, orchids grow in locations that experience a similar drop in nighttime temperature. As a result, manually dropping the temperature this dramatically in your home, at least in the room where your orchid grows, will encourage your the plant to flower and thrive. Keep warm growing orchids at a temperature between 75 to 85 °F (24 to 29 °C) during the day. At night, allow the temperature to drop somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees. Keep cool growing orchids at a temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, allow the temperature to drop somewhere within the range of 50 to 65 degrees. Maintain good air circulation. This is especially important during warm weather. Open the windows on hot, muggy days or place a small fan nearby. Stale, stagnant air will stunt the orchid's growth. Water your orchid properly. The type of orchid requires slightly different amounts of watering. In general it's best to water your orchid every 5 to 12 days, depending on time of year and temperature. If you're going through a heat spell you may need to water your orchid more frequently. The roots need to remain evenly moist throughout the entire year, but the plant will not need as much water during cooler months, when growth is naturally reduced, as it does during vibrant warm months. Orchids that need to be moist at all times are Paphiopedilum, Miltonia, Cymbidium, and Odontoglossum, to name a few. The orchids that need to be moist during active growth, but nearly dry between waterings are the ones like Cattleya, Oncidium, Brassia, Dendrobium. For some orchids you will need to allow them to dry out between waterings. These include Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Ascocenda. When in doubt, follow the instructions that came with your orchid, or look up the watering needs for your particular orchid online. Fertilize about once a month. This is only a general guideline, because it really depends on the orchid type. When the orchid is actively growing it can be best to actually fertilize it weekly or bi-weekly. However, you want to make sure that you're watering it without fertilizing at least once a month so that the water can flush excess fertilizer salts. For the best results, use a fertilizer made specifically for orchids. You can also use any balanced potting fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing too frequently. If you do this you're going to overwhelm the plant and have an adverse effect on its growth, especially during its dormant periods. Some orchids don't need fertilizer at all. In fact many orchids are perfectly happy to bloom year after year without any fertilizer at all. Trim the stem to allow for new growth. When all the flowers have fallen off, trim the orchid's stem to just above the very lowest node (little triangular etch that is a potential new bloom). Cut diagonally. This will encourage new growth. As long as you keep watering weekly you should be able to see new flowerings appear. Keep in mind that some orchids only bloom once a year. Repot your orchid. A good way to determine whether or not your orchid needs to be re-potted is simply by checking its growth. If an otherwise healthy orchid does not bloom even if the levels of light, temperature, and humidity are all sufficient, you may need to re-pot it. Avoid repotting when it is in bloom. Select a pot size based on the size of the root mass, so you won't necessarily be repotting into a bigger pot. Orchids like being a little tight in their pots and a too-large pot will make them not yield as much foliage or flowers. Choose a new pot, new potting mix and transfer the orchid over. Orchids that require annual repotting are: Dendrobium, Miltonia, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis and their hybrids. Orchids that require every other year repotting are: Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Odontoglossum and their hybrids. Orchids that require every third year repotting are: Vanda and its allies, and Cymbidium. Deal with an orchid that won’t bloom. There are a few different reasons why an orchid might not be blooming. The most common reason is that it doesn't have the right light level, so make sure that you check that first. You can look at the color of the leaves. Leaves should be medium-green. If they are a dark, lush green,the plant is likely not getting enough light. If that isn't it, there are a few more things to consider. The orchid might simply be too young. Plants have to be mature enough to bloom and then only during their natural cycle. Your orchid might be overpotted. For best results with orchids, you'll need to make sure that they are tight in their pots. Pots that are too big for the root mass put the orchid in danger of not growing or blooming. Another problem could be that you're using the wrong fertilizer. There could be too much nitrogen, which suppresses blooming. You want a nitrogen phosphorus potassium (or NPK) value of 10:10:10 in your fertilizer. Care for an orchid with limp leaves. If you're dealing with limp leaves you will want to unpot the orchid and check the root system. If the roots are mushy then a significant root loss has occurred and there are several likely culprits. Overwatering can do this. You can safely water an orchid about once a week, depending on the type and only as long as they are healthy and potted properly. Check the mix to see if it is drying out properly before you re-water. The pot is too large. This can also cause problems with your orchid's roots, because they are expending too much energy trying to maintain their root system rather than caring for leaves and new flowers. Potting mix has degraded. Potting mixes are only good for a certain amount of time before they need to be replaced. Make sure yours hasn't gone past its deadline. Deal with pests. While pests are less likely in an indoors orchid, you can still get them in potting mixes and just out of nowhere. Make sure you know how to deal with these nuisances so you can keep your orchid alive and healthy. Aphids target bloom spikes and buds so if you see holes in these areas you might have aphids. Fortunately most insecticides will control these little nuisances. Snails and slugs can get into the potting mixes, so make sure you check the mixes that you're putting your orchid in. They tend to chew on the roots, or on leaves and stems. Again, insecticides can usually take care of this problem, or getting a new potting mix. If your young leaves are getting discolored, and white masses are appearing on your orchid, then you probably have mealybugs. Use insecticides or remedies that contain an oil of some sort because this coats and suffocates the bug. It's also a good idea to repot the plant once you've eradicated the menace. For a home-made insecticide you should mix 9/10 quart of warm water, 1/10 quart of rubbing alcohol, 1 tsp of lightweight oil (Neem Oil is an excellent choice), a few drops of gentle dishwashing detergent. Mix these in a spray bottle and shake vigorously (make sure the cap is on). Spray the orchids. | Choose the right kind of orchid. Choose the right pot. Use the appropriate potting mix. Find the right light source. Maintain the right temperature. Maintain good air circulation. Water your orchid properly. Fertilize about once a month. Trim the stem to allow for new growth. Repot your orchid. Deal with an orchid that won’t bloom. Care for an orchid with limp leaves. Deal with pests. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Attract-Butterflies | How to Attract Butterflies | To attract butterflies, plant bright, colorful blossoms in your garden, like red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple flowers, which butterflies are attracted to. Just make sure the flowers are native to your area or else any eggs the butterflies lay on them might not survive. Also, consider planting a shrub or small tree since butterflies are more likely to visit if they have shelter. You can also spread flat stones throughout your garden so butterflies have a place to land. | Discover local butterflies. Though you might imagine that one butterfly is like the rest in all but color, species of butterfly differ drastically in terms of size, migration, and diet. Learn the native species of butterfly in your area and coordinate your efforts at attracting these. The species of butterfly in your area will be specific to your state/region, but among these species you might find the following: Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), California Sister (Adelpha bredowii), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Baltimore (Euphydryas phaeton), Common Mestra (Mestra amymone), Isabella's Heliconian (Eueides isabella), 'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa). Coordinate your colors. Adult butterflies have a palette for specific pigments. These winged wonders appreciate reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples. Blossoms these colors, especially those with flat tops or short flower tubes, are among the butterflies' favorites. Some examples include: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (blue porterweed) Buddleia davidii ("Miss Molly") Cosmos sulphureus (orange "cosmic" cosmos) Plant your flowers strategically. Butterflies are most likely to frequent nectar sources that receive plenty of sunlight from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Fully matured butterflies tend to avoid feeding in the shade. Choose flowers that enjoy lots of sunshine and plant these where the best light can be received. Stagger bloom cycles. Keeping your garden thickly blooming with the butterfly's favorite colored flowers will improve your chances of appealing to this lovely insect. Nectar is needed throughout an adult butterfly's life cycle. To plot your bloom cycles, note the date you plant your seeds, bulbs, or seedlings on a calendar. Then, using the information on the plant packaging (like on a seed packet), and find the time it takes your flower to bloom and how long it will bloom. Mark this on your calendar, too, and try to keep your bloom dates for various flowers overlapping. If your plant or its seed packet/packaging did not include blooming details, this information can be found easily by doing a general Internet search of the plant name online. Veto chemicals and insecticides. This includes insecticides that are marketed as environmentally friendly. Butterflies, and butterfly caterpillars, are sensitive to many of these. A list of common chemicals to avoid are: Bacillus thuringiensis Diazinon Malathion Sevin Construct a landing strip for a butterfly lounge. You may have seen butterflies in nature resting on branches and twigs, basking in the sunlight. This is because the sun provides orientation and warmth to the wings, helping these colorful friends fly. Flat stones spread throughout your garden in areas that receive good sunlight are excellent places for butterflies to land and rest. Provide ample places for puddling. Mud and wet sand are optimal places for butterflies to suck up water without the danger that accompanies a large body of water, like a stream, fountain, or water feature. Coarse sand in a pan kept moist can provide your colorful little friends a convenient watering hole. Offer protection butterflies can't refuse. Pollinators like butterflies often need a place to hide from predators, and a small tree or shrub can be just the thing to make your garden more accommodating. Some plants to consider: Privet ( Ligustrum vulgare ) Dutchman's pipe ( Aristolochia macrophylla ) New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) Prepare a butterfly buffet. Certain plants are more widely popular among the different kinds of butterfly. No plant will appeal to all butterflies - not even butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ). Some plants to consider to attract more of your brightly colored friends to your garden are: Butterfly Bush ( Buddleja officinalis ) Everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacea ) Hollyhock ( Alcea rosea ) Passionflower ( Passiflora ) Willow ( salix ) Don't forget to ask staff at your local nursery any questions you may have about planting and growing any of these flowers. Most of these plants are available at local nurseries at a reasonable cost. Grow native plants. When butterflies try to lay eggs on non-native plants, their offspring have trouble surviving. Maps with a distribution of plants native to your areas can be found at http://www.wildflower.org/collections. Install butterfly feeders. These tiny structures are similar to hummingbird feeders in that nectar is provided, but the shape is more like that of a bat house. The small slots on the side allow butterflies entrance while deterring predators and providing shelter from the elements. Take notice of butterflies in other people's yards. There are many local factors that might be influencing butterfly populations in your areas, so if you see that a neighbor has a larger than average butterfly population in her garden, you may want inquire what she has planted or how she has her garden set up. Determine a specific butterfly you want to attract. Out of the likely many beautiful species in your area, choosing one and catering to it may make sightings more frequent. Do an Internet search for "local butterfly species near me" to find potential candidates, or search by state. Some common species of North American butterfly include: Monarch ( Danaus plexippus ) Painted Lady ( Cynthia cardui ) Red Admiral ( Vanessa atalanta ) Pipevine Swallowtail ( Battus philenor ) Research your preferred butterfly's migratory patterns. Depending on species, your butterfly may migrate hundreds of miles north to south. Now that you know the butterfly you want to attract, you can plan your flower plantings according to migration cycle, thereby increasing the odds of attracting your favorite butterfly. Isolate your butterfly's favorite features. There are certain plants that each species of butterfly prefer, and planting several that your butterfly of choice appreciates will be an open invitation to come visit your garden. Look into specialized feeding formulas. There are many different recipes available for you to try on the internet, but to find which works for you, you'll likely have to experiment. Some formulas are reported to work well in one region, but not another. Don't let a few duds get you down! | Discover local butterflies. Coordinate your colors. Plant your flowers strategically. Stagger bloom cycles. Veto chemicals and insecticides. Construct a landing strip for a butterfly lounge. Provide ample places for puddling. Offer protection butterflies can't refuse. Prepare a butterfly buffet. Grow native plants. Install butterfly feeders. Take notice of butterflies in other people's yards. Determine a specific butterfly you want to attract. Research your preferred butterfly's migratory patterns. Isolate your butterfly's favorite features. Look into specialized feeding formulas. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Dance-Bhangra | How to Dance Bhangra | The Bhangra is a lively dance from the Punjab region of India, and you can practice it from the comfort of your own home. The bounce is one of the fundamental moves in the Bhangra. Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and your arms above your head. Then, bend your knees a few inches and bend your arms at the elbow to bring your hands in towards your head. Do this to the beat of some Bhangra music. You can also jump up and down, alternating between landing on both feet and your left or right foot. Watch videos of Bhangra dancing online and dance along to get some practice. It doesn't matter if you get it perfect. You'll soon get the hang of it. | Practice the bounce. Begin with your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Lift your arms above your head and position your palms outward, with your thumb sticking out. You should form an L-shape with your hand. Bend both legs a few inches. As you bend your legs, bend your arms at the elbow and bring your hands in towards your head. Repeat this four times, bending your legs and pulling your hands in. Make a smooth bouncing motion with your legs, pulling your hands inward as you bend your legs. Do not drop your elbows when you pull your hands inward. Keep your elbows up, sticking out on either side of you. You can also try moving your body from side to side as you do the bounce. Lean to one side as you bend your legs and pull in your hands. Then, lean to the other side. Try the one-legged bounce. Place your feet hip distance apart. Jump one to two inches off the ground. Land lightly on the balls of your feet. Then, jump again. As you jump, land on the ball of your left foot. Lift your right leg up to the side, bending it at the knee. Place your right leg back down and jump again. Land on the balls of your feet. Jump again and lift your right leg up to the side. Return to the center and repeat these motions on the other side. Jump once. Then, jump again and land on your right foot, lifting your left leg up to the side. Add the hand movements by lifting your arms up above your head. Hold your palms outward with your thumb out, forming an L-shape. Raise your arms up as you lift your foot upward in the bounce. Bring them down when your leg goes down in the bounce. Do shoulder shrugs. Start with your feet planted on the floor, hip-width apart. Raise your arms above your head with your palms turned outward. Lift your arms up. As you lift them, lean back on your right leg and lift your left heel off the ground, turning your left foot outward. Bend your legs and pump your arms up and down. Do this four times. Pump your arms up and down by bending your elbows and bringing your arms down. Then, raise them back up. Keep your palms turned outward, facing away from you. Make sure you bend your legs as you bring your arms downward. Do shoulder shrugs on the right side, with your left heel up, four times. Then, repeat the same movements on the left side, with your right heel up, four times. Follow the beat of the dhol. The dhol is the Indian drum that traditionally accompanies Bhangra dancing. It has a pattern of four beats repeating over and over again. Follow the beat of the dhol so your Bhangra dancing is fluid and on time. You can find recordings of the dhol online or at your local music store. Most Indian music soundtracks have the dhol as the central instrument, so you can also dance along to these recordings. Watch Bhangra dance videos. To get a better sense of this dance style, you can watch traditional Bhangra dance videos online. Look for Bhangra dance videos from Indian events, like weddings or dance performances. Check for Bhangra dancing in Indian films or television shows. The more you watch Bhangra dance videos, the better you will be picking up the dance movements. Watching different Bhangra dance videos can also expose you to a variety of movements and styles. Do the Dhamal. Stand with your legs hip-width apart. Raise your right leg up towards your chest with your knee bent. Then, place it down and raise your left leg up towards your chest, knee bent. You are making a skipping motion with your legs. Raise your opposite arm as you lift your leg and keep your other arm at your side. Snap your fingers as you raise your arm in the air. For example, if you were raising your right leg up to your chest, you would raise your left arm. Then, you would snap the fingers on your left and right hands. In traditional Bhangra, there are different styles for men and women, known as masculine and feminine. To do a feminine Dhamal, keep your legs bent inward as you skip. To do the masculine Dhamal, turn your legs outward as you skip. You can try either style, regardless of your gender. Try the Jhumar. Have your legs hip width apart. Lift your right leg up and place it down lightly, tapping the front part of your foot on the ground. Jump onto the extended foot and lift your other foot upward. Then, bring your extended foot back to the center. Repeat this on the left side, lifting your left leg and placing it down lightly for a tap. Jump on the extended left foot and lift your right foot upward. Return your left foot to the center. Add arm movements by raising the hand opposite of your extended foot above your head. So, if your right foot is extended for the tap, your left arm is raised. Touch your pointer finger and thumb together, keeping your palms facing outward. Raise your hand as you tap your foot. Then, bring it inward as you return your extended foot to the center. Do the Chaffe. Begin with your legs hip width apart and your arms extended below your waist. Keep your fingers folded over your palms. Jump on your right leg and kick your left leg to the side. As you kick, open your fingers to expose your palm. Push your arms outward in time with the kick. Bring your left leg back and then forward with your toes facing upward. Jump on your right leg again and kick your left leg to the side again. Open your hands as you do this. Repeat the same movements on the opposite side. Jump on your left leg and kick your right leg to the side. Then, raise your arms above your head and open your fingers so your palms are exposed. Take a class on Bhangra dancing. Look for a Bhangra dance class at your local Indian community center. Check for Bhangra dance classes at your local gym. Find a class taught by a seasoned Bhangra dancer and instructor. You may ask a friend to come with you to motivate you to go to the class. Bhangra dancing can be fun to learn with a friend. Join a Bhangra dance club. Another way you can elevate your dancing is to join a dance club that focuses on Bhangra. Look for a Bhangra dance club at your local community center or dance center. Check online for Bhangra dance clubs in your area. Go to a Bhangra dance event. Check for local Indian festivals or celebrations in your area that are open to the public. There is often Bhangra dancing at these types of events. Watch the Bhangra dancers and study their movements to improve your own dancing. Bhangra dancing is often done at Indian weddings. If you get invited to an Indian wedding, do try to attend so you can watch and learn from the Bhangra dancers at the event. | Practice the bounce. Try the one-legged bounce. Do shoulder shrugs. Follow the beat of the dhol. Watch Bhangra dance videos. Do the Dhamal. Try the Jhumar. Do the Chaffe. Take a class on Bhangra dancing. Join a Bhangra dance club. Go to a Bhangra dance event. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Check-if-a-100-Dollar-Bill-Is-Real | How to Check if a 100 Dollar Bill Is Real | To determine if a 100 dollar bill is real, rub it between your fingers to see if you can feel any raised ink. If you can't, the bill is probably fake. Make sure the portrait of Ben Franklin looks realistic, sharp, and highly-detailed. You can also hold the bill up to a light to see if it's real. With the portrait of Franklin facing you, look for a watermark that says "100 USA" to the left of the portrait and a ghost copy of the portrait on the right side of the bill. If they're not there, the bill likely isn't real. If you have a newer 100 dollar bill with a blue ribbon on it, move the paper back and forth at an angle. You should see small, blue 100s reflected inside of the blue strip. There should also be an orange ink container for a quill pen next to the blue strip with a liberty bell inside that shines when you move the bill. | Check the date. The newest $100 bills are “Series 2009” bills, and they have many different security features. Older bills are being phased out of circulation to prevent counterfeiters from fooling people. Nevertheless, older bills are still legal tender, so if you get one you shouldn't automatically assume it is fake. Check the date on the bill. The average $100 bill stay in circulation for seven years. Accordingly, most of the older bills should be out of circulation by now. Nevertheless, you might have one or more stored at home that you want to check. Feel the bill. U.S. currency has a distinctive feel. The bills are printed on cotton and linen, not paper. Also, bills should have slightly raised ink, which is a feature of the printing process. If you handle currency as part of your job, you should quickly develop familiarity with the feel of authentic money. Using touch is not foolproof, however. The most successful counterfeiters will bleach real money and then print over it. Nevertheless, counterfeiters struggle to reproduce the raised printing, so feeling the bill is a good first step. Look for the security thread. A $100 bill printed after 1990 should have a security thread on the left-hand side that is only visible when you hold the bill up to the light. The words “USA” and “100” should alternate on the thread. If you hold the bill up to UV light, then the thread glows pink. Check microprinting. Older bills used microprinting as a security feature. Use a magnifying glass to check for microprinting, which will appear in different spots depending on the year the bill was issued. For example, in $100 bills issued between 1990-1996, the words “The United States of America” should appear on the outer edge of the portrait oval. For bills issued between 1996-2013, “USA100” should appear in the numeral 100 on the lower left-hand corner. You should also see “The United States of America” in the left lapel of Franklin's coat. Look for color-shifting ink. $100 bills issued between 1996-2013 employ color-shifting ink. Tilt the note in the light and look in the lower right-hand corner. The numeral 100 should change from green to black. Find the watermark portrait. Bills printed after 1996 have a watermark portrait of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space at the right-hand side. The image should be very faint but visible from either side. Pay attention to blurry borders. Real bills should have clear, sharp lines, which are very hard for counterfeiters to reproduce. If you see blurry printing or text, then you are probably dealing with a counterfeit. Use a counterfeit money detection pen. This pen is sold at Amazon and costs $5. It checks for common chemicals used in counterfeits. However, fraudsters have gotten wise and no longer use the chemicals, so the pen isn't foolproof. Nevertheless, you can now buy a counterfeit detection pen that has a UV light built into the cap and costs under $10. Compare it with another bill. No special security features were used on $100 bills printed before 1990. Accordingly, the best way to check its authenticity is to compare it to another $100. You might have to go to a bank to check if the bill is authentic. You can also visit the U.S. Currency website and find images of older $100 bills. Look at the serial numbers. The serial number should correspond to the series. The serial number appears in the upper left and lower right corners. If the serial number doesn't correspond to the series, then you are dealing with a counterfeit. If the bill is series 2009, then the serial number should begin with J. If the bill is series 2009A, then the serial number should begin with L. Feel Franklin’s shoulder. The new $100 uses raised printing on Ben Franklin's shoulder. Run your fingers over the spot. You should be able to feel texture. Check for color-change ink. There is a large copper-colored inkwell to the left of the bill's serial number. Inside the inkwell is a bell, which should change color from copper to green as you look at the bill from different angles. The numeral 100 beside the inkwell should also change color, just as it does on some older $100 bills. Hold the bill up to the light. An embedded thread runs just to the left of Franklin's portrait. The letters “USA” and the number 100 alternate along the strip, which is visible from both sides of the note. If you hold the bill up to UV light, then the strip should glow pink. You can also purchase a counterfeit detector which shines UV light, which might be helpful if your business handles a lot of bills. A popular option is the AccuBanker D63 Compact. It costs about $50. Check the blue security ribbon. Just to the right of Franklin's portrait is a blue security ribbon. This ribbon is 3-D. Move the bill back and forth and check that you see the number 100 and tiny bells move from side-to-side as you move the bill. This ribbon is woven into the paper, not pasted on. Accordingly, if the blue ribbon is peeling off the bill, then you have a fake. Look for the watermark portrait. Hold the bill to the light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the white oval on the right-hand side. You can see the watermark portrait on either side of the bill. Use a magnifying glass to find the microprint. Check around Franklin's jacket collar. You should see the words “The United States of America” in small type. You should also see “USA 100” around the white space that contains the portrait. The words “100 USA” should also appear around the quill pen to the right of Franklin. Hold onto a counterfeit bill. If you believe the bill is fake, you should not return it to the person who passed it to you. Instead, try to delay the person. Call a manager to the front and tell the passer the manager needs to look at the bill. Write down details. As you wait, note important details about the passer. Write down their age, height, hair color, eye color, weight, and other unique features. If the person drove to your business, try to get their license plate number. Remember that the person giving you the bill might not be the counterfeiter, so don't think you have to perform a citizen's arrest or anything. They could be completely innocent. Initialize the bill. You should write your initials and the date in the white border surrounding the $100 bill. Handle the bill sparingly. You'll need to hand it over to the police, who might be able to pull fingerprints off the bill. For this reason, touch the fake $100 as little as possible. Store it in an envelope in your register. Remember not to put it in with the other bills. Instead, mark your envelope “counterfeit” so that you can find it quickly. Call the police. You can find the number in your telephone book. Tell them you have a counterfeit $100 bill and give them your location. They will tell you what to do next. Generally, the police will contact the Secret Service to investigate. You can also call the Secret Service directly, if you want. You can find your local office at this website: https://www.secretservice.gov/contact/field-offices/. Enter your zip code. Hand over the counterfeit bill. Only turn the bill over to an identified police officer or Secret Service agent. If you give the bill to the Secret Service, you may need to complete a Counterfeit Note Report for each bill. | Check the date. Feel the bill. Look for the security thread. Check microprinting. Look for color-shifting ink. Find the watermark portrait. Pay attention to blurry borders. Use a counterfeit money detection pen. Compare it with another bill. Look at the serial numbers. Feel Franklin’s shoulder. Check for color-change ink. Hold the bill up to the light. Check the blue security ribbon. Look for the watermark portrait. Use a magnifying glass to find the microprint. Hold onto a counterfeit bill. Write down details. Initialize the bill. Handle the bill sparingly. Call the police. Hand over the counterfeit bill. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Sober | How to Get Sober | The best way to sober up quickly is to stop drinking alcohol immediately and move to water so you can get hydrated. Along with drinking water, eat something sugary like a soda or some candy since the fructose can lower your blood-alcohol level. You may be craving fatty foods like pizza, but try to avoid those since those could just end up dehydrating you more. Since your body needs to process the alcohol through your bloodstream, you just need to give it time by sleeping it off. Alternatively, you can pick up a hangover pill at a health food store to try and clear your head. If you want to sober up to drive home, remember it's always safer to crash at a friend's place or call a cab so you don't get into trouble! | Drink water. If you're too inebriated and you need to sober up quickly, the best way to do it is to stop drinking or using immediately, and try to get hydrated. Whatever's got your head spun, water will help to get it straighter. Splash some cold water on your face, as well, especially if you're on something other than booze. If you're on a downer, this can help to wake you up and sharpen your senses. Try sports drinks high in electrolytes, which can help to get you a little sharper, replacing the electrolytes and potassium that drinking leeches from your body. Eat something high in fructose. It's important to eat something, anything, if you want to sober up quickly. And if you're drunk, eating some foods high in fructose can actually help lower your blood-alcohol levels significantly, compared with other foods. Eating some sugary cereal, drinking a Coke, or some other fruity candy can help to sober you up. It's a common misconception that eating bread or other carbs when you're drunk "absorbs" the alcohol in your stomach. Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly, and carbs only help to prevent drunkenness if you consume them before drinking. Avoid especially fatty foods if you're trying to sober up. Greasy pizza or burgers will end up dehydrating you more, in the end, and interrupt your sleep. Use coffee for some highs and avoid it for others. Depending on what's got you bent, coffee can be a positive or a negative influence. In short, avoid it if you're drunk, and have some if you're high, but only if it sounds good. It's a common misconception that drinking a cup of black coffee helps to sober you up if you've had a few too many beers. Not true. Caffeine further dehydrates you, can impair judgment, and make it difficult to sleep eventually. If you're too high on downers or psychedelics, having a cup of coffee can help sober you up and give you some sharpness, depending on your temperament. If you're experiencing serious anxiety and feeling panicky, a cup of coffee could make it worse. Never take caffeine to sober up if you're high on amphetamines, cocaine, or other up-drugs. It'll just make it worse. Take a shower. Cold showers are a good idea for sobering up, whatever you're messed up on. While it won't make your body process alcohol more quickly, it can help to mask the smells related to being inebriated, and help you sharpen your mind and wake up a little bit. If you're really high, taking a cold shower can also help to give you a rope back into the real world. Just going through the routine of washing will help you feel more normal. Get a "Sober Up" pill if you're drunk. Available at some health food stores, herbal lozenges with names like "Sober Up" or "Chaser" are often marketed as hangover pills, and can be used with some measure of success when you're still messed up and trying to get a clear head. The efficacy of these pills is often super various. Avoid the effervescent tablets that are little more than aspirin and caffeine, and focus on herbal supplements to see what works. Sleep. The most reliable and effective way of getting sober is to always give it time and to sleep it off. Your body processes alcohol and drugs through the blood stream at its own rate, and it's pretty difficult to affect that without giving it time. Whatever you're feeling, high or drunk, drink a big glass of water and go to sleep. Don't, under any circumstances, mix sleep aids with other drugs or alcohol. If you're feeling really high or drunk, stop adding new substances to the mix, or you risk combinations that can make you sick. Call a cab. If you're reading this article because you're trying to sober up quickly to drive home, find another plan. These tricks mostly involve ways to get yourself feeling more normal and in control of your faculties, helping you avoid bad hangover symptoms the next day, but that doesn't mean you're going to pass a breathalyzer test right now. Finding a couch and crashing on it is the best way to get sober. Drive home in the morning, if you have to, or pay for a cab now and avoid the risk. Come up with a plan. If you're tired of using and want to get sober, it's good to strategize. For some people, quitting cold turkey is the best method, while others will need to negotiate more with their drug of choice. It's not appropriate for everyone to "just stop" all of a sudden, which can be a drastic shock to your system, and can be quite dangerous, depending on the drug you may be using. If you're an alcoholic, get checked out by a doctor. Chronic users of alcohol run the risk of delirium tremens and serious health concerns, including cardiac arrest, if you suddenly stop using completely. Tapering down and using prescription medication is sometimes the best way to detox. If you're addicted to opiates , it's important to get checked out by a doctor and consider "warm turkey" methods, using prescription medication to come off more slowly. Pick a date to quit for good. It's helpful for a lot of addicts to pick a date at some point in the future, pencil it in, and quit when the day rolls around. Whether it's next week, a few weeks from now, or the end of the year, pick a significant date and plan on sticking to it. Setting a date helps addicts to taper down and start dealing with the psychological issues of getting sober more slowly. It makes it simpler than saying you'll quit "Sometime in the future" or "Maybe next year." Start tapering your usage. Whatever you're addicted to, it's important to start using less and less before you try to get completely sober. Start tapering as soon as you decide to start quitting, and continue tapering as much as possible up to the quit date. Withdrawal symptoms will be much less severe if you taper. If you consume a certain amount every night, try spreading it over two nights instead. See how you feel. Eventually, try making that amount last three days when you feel up to it. Learn the "ten minute delay." When you feel a craving coming on, just tell yourself that you have to wait ten minutes to take it. Do other things. Distract yourself. At the end of ten minutes, see if you're still as desperate for it as before. Give it another ten minutes, if you can. It's important to avoid using "tapering" as a psychological defense. If you postpone quitting because you're still "tapering," (but you're actually not) then you're not moving forward with your plan. It's important to be realistic, if you want to get sober. Talk to a doctor about managing withdrawal. Different drugs come with different side effects and health concerns, while your body detoxifies. Depending on what you're trying to quit, there may be prescription help out there for you, to come down more slowly and to ease off the drug at a gradual pace. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants are sometimes effective at helping you manage cravings and get through the difficult withdrawal period. If you're addicted to opiates, consider using suboxone/subutex to ease off. It's more widely available, and often cheaper and easier to get than methadone, which comes with a host of secondary addiction problems. Both are effective treatments, however. If you're addicted to alcohol, often naltrexone and other drugs will be prescribed, which create an uncomfortable nauseated feeling in your body when alcohol is consumed. This, combined with antidepressants, can be an effective treatment. Get rid of everything you have when the day comes. Dump out all your booze, your dope, your paraphernalia, whatever it is that you've got lying around, when the time comes. Make it impossible to use. Get a friend to help you, if you're struggling to throw everything out. They can help to take it elsewhere and make the whole process easier. Lean on your friends for help here. It's important to not just throw it in the garbage (addicts aren't above trash-digging), but to destroy everything. Dump the booze out. Flush the pills. Don't keep anything in the house, for nostalgia purposes, or for cooking, or for other reasons. If you live with someone who uses, leave. Separate yourself from your drug physically. try to keep eating to keep your strength up. Detoxing off of anything can be rough, whether you're using doctor-prescribed medications to help manage or not. Withdrawal symptoms often include headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, and general flu-like symptoms that can last anywhere from a few hours to a week. It's important to address your symptoms, rest up, and try to get clean. try to eat something, whenever you can. Keep bland food around, like peanut butter, crackers, and brothy soups, which you'll be able to choke down, if you're feeling nauseated. While it might sound like the last thing you want to do, getting outside and sweating for a while can help you address restlessness issues and take your mind off of things, giving you back some energy and actually easing your detox symptoms somewhat. Stay hydrated to flush your system. Detoxification is a process of stimulating the liver, kidneys, intestines, and lungs, to process impurities. What that means for you is that you want to keep putting healthy things in to push the toxic remnants of drugs of alcohol abuse out, and get your system back in sync. Easiest way? Aim to drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water each day. Sports drinks help your body stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes that drugs or alcohol might have leeched from your system. If the taste is too nauseating, cut it with some water to make it more palatable. Detox teas are commonly available at health stores, which are designed to promote liver health. Teas with licorice root, ginger, lemongrass, and dandelion are good choices for detoxing. Try consuming foods and drinks high in live cultures and probiotics, the properties of which will help to keep things moving in your digestive tract. Sauerkraut, kombucha drinks, and greek yoghurt are great detox diet choices. Rest as much as possible. try to get as much sleep as possible while you're managing your withdrawal period. Time and fluids are the best way to get through this difficult passage. It's often difficult to get much sleep, and you'll often be irritable and restless for a period of a few days, so it's a good opportunity to take off work, if you can, and crawl into bed for a couple days. If you can't sleep, just rest. Watch TV, read, listen to music, find some way to try to take your mind off things and distract yourself. Manage your cravings. At some point, when you're in the throes of withdrawal, it'll occur to you that it all could end quickly with a dose. If you want to get sober, you can't let this happen. How you manage your cravings will depend on you and your drug, but it's important to learn to manage those cravings and control them, instead of letting them control you. For some people, it's effective to practice a buddy system habit, any time you're feeling a craving. To learn more about how to find a support group and stay clean, read the next section. If you're alone, and don't feel like you can reach out, try journaling in a sober journal. Write down your reasons for getting sober every time you have the urge to use, instead of using. Keep this list in your pocket and find a reason not to use, every time. Try replacing the habit. If you want a drink of booze, have a cup of tea instead. Go through the same ritual you might go through with a drink, but replace it with the new drink. If you want to use, do what you'd normally do, but without drugs. Find a support group. Addicts with support are much more likely to succeed in getting sober. Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous are available in most cities and many small towns, offering daily meetings and a stylized series of steps that works for a lot of people. Find a meeting in your area and check it out. AA and NA aren't for everyone. If the thought of listening to a bunch of addicts talk about using sounds like it would drive you crazy, it's still a good idea to check it out for yourself and see what, if anything, you'll be able to take from it. A therapist can also provide support while you're working on getting sober. Avoid the situations that might encourage you to use. What drove you to use in the first place? Circumstances? Stress? There doesn't have to be a good reason, or one reason, but it's important to identify the situations that might make you use again Were you a fan of the after work drink? Find something else to do with that after-work time, to celebrate the end of the day. Schedule some exercise, or some time with a sober friend, doing a sober activity. It might be necessary to sever ties with some of your friends, and find a new support group to rely on, if they won't be able to accept and support your sobriety. Make sober friends, doing new activities. Don't try to quit everything at once. If you're a drinker and a smoker, or abuse multiple drugs at the same time, it's usually recommended that you address each of these addictions separately, at a separate time. It may not be necessary for you to quit everything to consider yourself sober, but either way it's good to take it one step at a time. Focus on what you've quit now, and don't overwhelm yourself with other things. Most detox facilities and AA meetings are cigarette friendly. If you want to quit, quit later, especially if you feel like it offers you a good crutch in the short term. It's a crutch that's deadly, of course, but it's a fight for another day. Eventually, it's good to decide how far you want to take this sobriety thing. What does "sober" mean to you? Are you sober if you quit heroin but keep smoking pot? Are you sober if you quit drinking, but still smoke cigarettes? Do you have to be totally straight edge to consider yourself sober? Sobriety will be different for every addict. Put a reward system in place. Getting sober is fighting a good fight, and you deserve to reward yourself for trying it and succeeding. Many addicts find it helpful to start a sober jar, into which you can put the money you'd usually spend on drugs or alcohol, every time you feel like buying it, then using that money to do something else. Buy a guitar. Go on vacation. Treat yourself for successes, little and big. Often, addicts use their drug or drink of choice as a reward, so this is a helpful replacement method, with a high success rate. Decide how you'll talk about your sobriety. Many former addicts fear having the sober talk. Telling your friends and family that you're not using any more may seem triumphant, but it can also be fraught with complication, awkwardness, and hurt feelings. AA and other sobriety groups can help to guide you through this process, but the decision is still up to you. All you need is one person. Find someone you'll be able to open up to and talk honestly about your addiction, and your struggles, but also abut regular things, too. Just getting through a regular Wednesday is one of the toughest parts of sobriety, and other addicts are experienced at it. They can help. Don't try to explain your quitting to everyone. Why you quit using is your business. If you want to discuss it with other people because you're proud and because it help you to stay sober, then do it. If it makes you uncomfortable, keep it to yourself. Take it a day at a time. One of the hardest things about quitting is imagining your whole life ahead of you without ever being able to use again. Never another beer? Never another smoke? That's not the way to think about it, and trying to "never use again" is guaranteed to drive a lot of people back to using. Instead, focus on getting through each day. Keep track of your sobriety. Count up the days. Don't focus on tomorrow, just focus on getting through today. Face tomorrow when it comes. | Drink water. Eat something high in fructose. Use coffee for some highs and avoid it for others. Take a shower. Get a "Sober Up" pill if you're drunk. Sleep. Call a cab. Come up with a plan. Pick a date to quit for good. Start tapering your usage. Talk to a doctor about managing withdrawal. Get rid of everything you have when the day comes. try to keep eating to keep your strength up. Stay hydrated to flush your system. Rest as much as possible. Manage your cravings. Find a support group. Avoid the situations that might encourage you to use. Don't try to quit everything at once. Put a reward system in place. Decide how you'll talk about your sobriety. Take it a day at a time. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-an-Axis-of-Symmetry | How to Find an Axis of Symmetry | To find an axis of symmetry, start by checking the degree or largest exponential value of the polynomial. If the degree of your polynomial is 2, you can find the axis of symmetry by plugging the numbers directly into the axis of symmetry formula. Solve the formula and the answer you get is the x-intercept of the axis of symmetry. If the degree of the polynomial is higher than 2, you will need to find the axis of symmetry by using a graph. | Check the degree of your polynomial. The degree (or “order”) of a polynomial is simply the largest exponent value in the expression. If the degree of your polynomial is 2 (there is no exponent larger than x ), you can find the axis of symmetry using this method. If the degree of the polynomial is higher than 2, use Method 2. To illustrate, take, as an example, the polynomial 2x + 3x – 1. This highest exponent present is the x , so it is a 2nd order polynomial, and you can use this first method to find the axis of symmetry. Plug your numbers into the axis of symmetry formula. To calculate the axis of symmetry for a 2nd order polynomial in the form ax + bx +c (a parabola), use the basic formula x = -b / 2a. In the example above, a = 2 b = 3, and c = -1. Insert these values into your formula, and you will get: x = -3 / 2(2) = -3/4. Write down the equation of the axis of symmetry. The value you calculated with your axis of symmetry formula is the x-intercept of the axis of symmetry. In the example above, the axis of symmetry is -3/4. Check the degree of your polynomial. The degree (or “order”) of a polynomial is simply the largest exponent value in the expression. If the degree of your polynomial is 2 (there is no exponent larger than x ), you can find the axis of symmetry using the formula method above. If the degree of the polynomial is higher than 2, use this graphical method. Draw the x- and y- axes. Make two lines in the shape of a plus sign. The horizontal line is your x-axis; the vertical line is your y-axis. Number your graph. Mark both axes with numbers at equal intervals. Spacing should be uniform on both axes. Calculate y = f(x) for every x. Take your polynomial or function and calculate values of f(x) by putting all values of x into it. Make a graph point for each pair. You now have pairs of y = f(x) for every x on the axis. For each (x, y) pair, make a point on the graph – vertically on the x-axis and horizontally on the y-axis. Draw the graph of the polynomial. Once you have marked all the graph points, you can connect your dots smoothly to reveal a continuous graph of your polynomial. Look for the axis of symmetry. Inspect your graph carefully. Look for a point on the axis such that when a line is passed through it, the graph splits into two equal, mirrored halves. Note the axis of symmetry. If you can find a point – call it “b” – on the x-axis that splits the graph into two mirrored halves, then that point, b, is your axis of symmetry. | Check the degree of your polynomial. Plug your numbers into the axis of symmetry formula. Write down the equation of the axis of symmetry. Check the degree of your polynomial. Draw the x- and y- axes. Number your graph. Calculate y = f(x) for every x. Make a graph point for each pair. Draw the graph of the polynomial. Look for the axis of symmetry. Note the axis of symmetry. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Bathe-a-Small-Dog-and-Keep-Him-Calm | How to Bathe a Small Dog and Keep Him Calm | To bathe a small dog and keep him calm, start preparing the bath by filling your sink with lukewarm water and lining the bottom with a rubber mat or towel, so your dog won't slip. Prep your dog for the bath by brushing it and putting a little bit of cotton in each of its ears, so it doesn't get water in them. When your dog is ready, introduce it to the water slowly by having the faucet running lightly, and speak soothingly to it as you begin washing it with water and dog shampoo. Once your dog is clean, turn off the faucet and dry your dog with a towel and blow dryer, if they aren't afraid of the noise. | Set up the bathing area. To accommodate their size, bathe your small dog in a sink. Line the bottom of the sink with a rubber mat or thick towel so the dog doesn't slip. Run the water and test it on your wrist; the water should be lukewarm, not hot. Gather bath supplies. Lay down extra towels on the ground and counter to absorb any water that might splash out of the sink while you bathe your dog. Make sure to have all your supplies by the sink; this way you won't have to interrupt your dog's bath or leave them unattended to go get something later. Your bath time supplies should include: Dog shampoo and conditioner Towel to dry your dog after the bath Treats Brush or comb Dog toy Hair dryer (optional; kept away from the bathing area) Protect your dog's ears. To prevent water from entering your dog's ears, place small cotton wads in each ear. Do this gently and be careful not to hurt the dog if they wriggle around during this process. To make things easier, brace the dog's head and offer them something to bite (like a toy or bone) while you insert the cotton. Don't push the cotton in too far. Brush or comb your dog. If your small dog has long hair, run a brush or comb through it before the bath. Be sure to get out any mats or tangles, which will get worse in the water. Be gentle and avoid pulling too hard; praise and pet your dog after you're done. Place your dog in the sink. Slowly and gently place your dog in the sink. Continue holding them and speaking to them soothingly; be calm but assertive. To keep your dog happy, bring one of their favorite, water-resistant toys into the sink while you bathe them. To reduce your dog's anxiety about bath time, place them in the sink a few times beforehand, with treats and without adding any water, to make them feel comfortable there. Don't forget to put something on the bottom to keep your dog from slipping. Introduce your dog to the water. Have the faucet running lightly and slowly introduce your dog to the warm water. Only let the water run onto your dog from the neck down. You can wipe their face with a washcloth to be sure that you keep water out of their eyes. Be gentle and reassuring. Lather up! Gently apply a small amount of dog shampoo to your dog's coat, lathering softly; do not use too much shampoo, or scrub your dog. Wash from neck to paws; avoid washing the head to be sure to keep soapy water out of their eyes. To be extra-gentle, try diluting the shampoo with water before using it on your small dog. To help relax your small dog, purchase a dog shampoo with lavender extract in it. Turn off the water and dry your dog. Shut off the faucet and wrap your small dog in a towel; don't let them get cold enough to start shivering. Pat the dog gently until their coat is semi-dry (i.e. not dripping). Using a blow dryer on a low setting is an option for drying your small dog's coat, but be mindful that the noise and intensity might scare them. If using a blow dryer, do not hold the nozzle too close to your dog's skin or you risk burning them. Also, do not use the blow dryer anywhere near water. Give your dog a treat before the bath. Once you've placed your dog in the sink, give them a treat right away. The treat will both distract your dog and reward them for behaving. The best way for your dog to have positive associations with its bath time is if you feed them during the process. Don't rush bath time. Take the time to make your dog's bath a more relaxed experience. Prioritize your enjoyment of the experience with your pet, and your dog's comfort, over getting your dog clean in a fast and efficient manner. A slow pace will also allow you to use a softer water pressure to wash and rinse your dog, which will be more soothing to them. Reward your dog for getting their bath. Use positive reinforcement to make your small dog more comfortable with their bath time. After they are clean and dry, reward your dog with a treat, praise and lots of petting. Play with your dog while they dry off and give them lots of love and attention. | Set up the bathing area. Gather bath supplies. Protect your dog's ears. Brush or comb your dog. Place your dog in the sink. Introduce your dog to the water. Lather up! Turn off the water and dry your dog. Give your dog a treat before the bath. Don't rush bath time. Reward your dog for getting their bath. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Henna-for-Skin | How to Use Henna for Skin | Henna can be used to create intricate dyed designs on your skin that last 1-2 weeks. To use henna, you'll need to whisk together henna powder with ¼ cup of lemon juice or water. Then, you'll want to cover it and let it sit for 24 hours to draw the dye out of the henna. After 24 hours, you can scoop the henna into a plastic henna cone, which will allow you to control your design more easily. Then, create whatever design you'd like! Hands and feet are a popular spot to use henna because the skin there stains better than other parts of the body. Once you've finished your design, let it dry, then spray your skin with 1 coat of spray gel to help it hold. Wrap your skin with a clean cloth and let it sit overnight. In the morning remove the henna paste with cooking oil, then rinse your skin with soap and water. | Figure out what part of your body you want to apply your henna. Since henna is temporary, it gives you a lot more options of where you might want to display your art. There are some factors you will need to consider when making your decision: Will the weather permit me to reveal more parts of my body so it can be shown? Do I have any formal events to attend in the next couple of days that may call for location discretion? Questions like these can help narrow down what part of your body you want the henna to be drawn. Popular locations are the hands, arms and feet. Choose a design. Choosing a henna design can be a little bit overwhelming. Henna designs are unlimited, even within the traditional realm. Picking a design is easy if you have a visual representation of what you want to do; you can also play around with you own design. Go on the Internet and look up “henna designs” in your search engine. There are many different foundations that you can choose from. Most people like floral designs; some people like paisley designs, or free hand patterns. Get that body area ready. Depending on where you want to apply the henna, wear clothing that will not get in the way. If your hair might get in the way, tie it aside in the opposite direction of the henna. Make sure to clean the area with soap and water; you want to apply the henna smoothly. Sift your henna using a sifter to rid it of chunks that will clog your fine tip from which the henna comes out. Alternatively, stretch a pair of a nylon cloth over a plastic container and place the henna and some coins on top of the nylon cloth. If you are using fresh henna leaves, use a crusher or mixer and powder it up. Cover the container and shake it to sift the henna through the nylon cloth. Pour the henna powder into a small bowl. If you are using henna powder, do as so. Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice or water with the henna powder using a whisk until you have a mixture that has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Mix it well. . Cover the henna with plastic wrap. Allow the henna to rest for 24 hours at room temperature to draw the dye out of the henna. You will see the dye separate into a layer above the rest of the henna mixture as it matures. Scoop out the separated dye with a spoon. Add additional lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) at a time, until the consistency of the henna is similar to the consistency of yogurt. Place the henna into a plastic henna cone. Twist the top of the henna cone 1 or 2 times and wrap it tightly with a rubber band. Roll the rubber band downward until the henna is touching both the tip of the cone and the base of the rubber band. This setup creates a tight seal that will ensure that your henna dispenses properly. Wash the skin with soap and water. Apply some rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball if the skin is particularly oily. Position the tip of your plastic henna cone over the skin. Apply gentle pressure with your thumb to the top of the cone, just beneath the rubber band, to dispense the henna through the tip of the cone. If the henna does not dispense easily, you can clip the tip of the cone with fingernail clippers to enlarge the opening. Just remember to make very small cuts so that you don't overdo it. Create your design. You can create your own original design or look at books or online templates for inspiration. The hands and feet will stain darker than other parts of the body because the skin on the extremities is thicker. The neck and face do not tend to stain well because the skin there is naturally thin and oily. Allow the design to dry. The henna should not look wet or oily, but it shouldn't be so dry that it starts to crack. Spray the completed design with 1 light coat of spray gel. This gel comes in pump spray bottles and is normally used to style hair. You can purchase spray gel at your local drugstore or supermarket in the health and beauty section. Allow the spray gel to dry. Use a hair dryer to accelerate the process. Spray a second light coat of spray gel onto the henna. When the gel has dried, you can wrap the design with gauze for extra protection. Keep the design wrapped overnight or for at least 12 hours. Unwrap the design. Apply a coat of wax lip balm, coconut oil or olive oil to the design. Remove the excess dried henna flakes with a mild soap and water solution. Gently blot the stained design with a soft cloth so that you don't shorten the life of the design. Apply some oil as well. This will make the henna last longer. | Figure out what part of your body you want to apply your henna. Choose a design. Get that body area ready. Sift your henna using a sifter to rid it of chunks that will clog your fine tip from which the henna comes out. Pour the henna powder into a small bowl. Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice or water with the henna powder using a whisk until you have a mixture that has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Mix it well. Cover the henna with plastic wrap. Scoop out the separated dye with a spoon. Place the henna into a plastic henna cone. Wash the skin with soap and water. Position the tip of your plastic henna cone over the skin. Create your design. Allow the design to dry. Spray the completed design with 1 light coat of spray gel. Allow the spray gel to dry. Spray a second light coat of spray gel onto the henna. Keep the design wrapped overnight or for at least 12 hours. Unwrap the design. Remove the excess dried henna flakes with a mild soap and water solution. Apply some oil as well. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Run-a-Faster-800m | How to Run a Faster 800m | To run a faster 800m, create a training schedule for yourself, alternating 400m distances to develop sprinting speed with 1600m distances to develop a high-speed endurance pace. Stretch properly before each training session, stay hydrated, and give yourself off-days so your muscles can rest and recover. On the day of the race, have a high-carbohydrate snack and 16 ounces of water about an hour before starting your warmup stretches! | Eat the right diet. By improving your eating habits, you will decrease your body fat and fatigue, while gaining muscle and endurance. Not eating right could be what is holding you back from breaking your 800m record. Eat a variety of wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. This will improve your body composition. Increase protein and the right amount of carbohydrates, as these will provide your body with the nutrients to build muscle and to give your body energy. If you're training for 30-45 minutes, shoot for about 3 grams (0.11 oz) of carbs on training days. If you're training for 46-60 minutes, shoot for about 5 grams (0.18 oz) of carbs on training days. Avoid processed high-sugar and high-sodium foods. These will hinder your body from running efficiently. Eat the right pre and post-workout carbohydrate-rich snacks. These should be consumed an hour before working out and within 30 minutes after a workout. Bananas, protein shakes and non-caffeinated energy bars are ideal. Keep properly hydrated. Your body needs about two liters on an average day to stay properly hydrated. On days when running, you need to drink extra water to compensate for your output and prevent yourself from slowing down. Don't just chug extra water though; listen to your body and drink when thirsty. Pre and post-workout hydration is vital. An hour before you start your run, try to drink about 16 ounces (450 g) of water. Drink the same amount of water after running. Look for signs of dehydration. Feeling thirsty or experiencing dry mouth, headaches, light-headedness, lack of urination and constipation are all the body's ways of letting you know that you are dehydrated. If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, it's best to increase your water intake. Stretch properly. By stretching properly, you can improve your stride and your stride length (increasing your speed). Stretching before and after your workout will also help to prevent injury. Muscles to stretch include your leg muscles (hamstrings, quadriceps and adductors) and your lower body (hip flexors and glutes). Try to add two or three longer stretch routines a week to your workout schedule. Do some yoga to help you with your flexibility. Set a training schedule. You won't be able to run a faster 800m in one day. Just like training for a marathon, the best way to achieve your goals is to set a schedule. By following a training plan you can perform at a peak performance, even when running a shorter distance. Set an end date and work backward. Even with an 800m run, pick a date that you want to accomplish this run with your best time ever. Do one or two quality and intense workouts a week. These include running hills or tempo runs. Pick rest days where you can do some other sort of moderate exercise like yoga to stay limber. Ensure that you get enough sleep before the race. Understand the mechanics of your run. The 800m run is a middle-distance race. These rely on the runner being able to maintain a fast pace throughout the race and then being able to sprint in the last stretch. Working out is going to require you to hone in on the following three abilities: Develop middle-distance running mechanics. This is also known as speed-stamina. You're going to need to establish a fast pace for the beginning of the race while maintaining control of your body. The goal is to be able to maintain a comfortable, but fast pace throughout the run, keeping in mind that you will exert a lot of energy in a full sprint at the end of the race. Learn to run in runner traffic. People who run an 800m race will have to deal with runner traffic on the inside of the track. Train yourself to minimize being caught in the pack by running in groups to learn how to be conscious of your running form without clipping the person in front of you. Run anaerobically. The last half (350-400 meters) of the race, your body will often feel fatigue from your almost sprint-like speed. Build this ability by sprinting 400m at a faster than normal pace; then walking for 2 minutes before repeating. This interval training will improve your anaerobic fitness. Run often. Run most days, alternating 400m and 1600m distances. Focus on what attributes best match the 800m. Use the 400m to develop speed in sprinting. Use the 1600m to develop a high-speed endurance pace. Refer to your training schedule. Remember to take rest days to stretch and continue eating a healthy diet to fuel for your next run. Also go on runs that will train your body in different ways, like hill running to improve leg muscles and cardiovascular strengthening. Rest and recover. Always follow hard days with easier days. After a hard workout, give your body time to recover by either resting or doing a lighter workout. While you typically want to be somewhat active on rest days, you also need to allow your body to truly rest. This means that you get enough sleep and keep a consistent sleep schedule. Don't run on an injury. If you experience an injury, stop training, and see a doctor so you don't injure yourself further. Hydrate and energize your body. An hour before the race, have a high-carbohydrate snack and 16 ounces (450 g) of water. You want to give your body the right nutrition to energize, but you don't want to overdo it by eating too much. Before running, eat a snack instead of a whole meal as that means fewer calories your body has to try and process during your race. Consider fruit or yogurt, or a cereal bar to give you energy without making you feel bloated and sluggish. Stretch your muscles. Make sure that your body is loose and ready to run. With a quick, proper stretch, you can loosen up your muscles and increase your stride while decreasing risk of injury and cramping during your run. Stretch your hip flexors, thighs, hamstrings, calves, and lower back. Run your 800m. A basic rule in middle distance races (800 and 1600 meters) is that a runner must maintain a fast pace and maintain enough energy to have two bursts of acceleration. Start of the race off right. Run fast at a speed that you can maintain well. Consistency is key here. Be smart in the middle of the race. Be conscious of the other runners and your changes in pace. You will need the energy to sprint at the beginning and end of the race. Use the first acceleration to merge into the inner lanes and get as close to the front of the pack as you can. Be conscious of when you are over exerting yourself so that you have enough energy for the second acceleration at the end of the race. You want to maintain a consistent pace until it's time to accelerate; don't let other runners affect your pace. In the last 200m or 300m, begin to sprint at full pace. This is where the anaerobic training comes in. Push your body, using your last acceleration to pass the pack leaders and win the race. Cool down. Properly cooling down after your run is just as important as your training. A proper cool will prevent injury and help ease your body back into a normal state. Walk for a couple of minutes, starting at a brisker pace then transitioning to a slower walk to allow your heart to ease back into its normal rhythm. Stretch again for 5-10 minutes to ensure that your muscles don't tighten up too much from working so hard. | Eat the right diet. Keep properly hydrated. Stretch properly. Set a training schedule. Understand the mechanics of your run. Run often. Rest and recover. Hydrate and energize your body. Stretch your muscles. Run your 800m. Cool down. |
https://www.wikihow.tech/Disable-Hangouts-on-iPhone-or-iPad | How to Disable Hangouts on iPhone or iPad | Offloading 1. Open Settings , tap General , and select iPhone Storage. 2. Find and tap Hangouts on the list. 3. Tap Offload App , and confirm. Blocking Notifications 1. Open Settings , and tap Notifications. 2. Find and tap Hangouts on the list. 3. Slide Allow Notifications to Off. | Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings app. Find and tap the {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/7\/7e\/Iphonesettingsappicon.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Iphonesettingsappicon.png\/30px-Iphonesettingsappicon.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iPhone icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} icon on your home screen to open your Settings. Scroll down and tap General in Settings. You can find it next to the {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/3\/36\/Iphonesettingsgeneralicon.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Iphonesettingsgeneralicon.png\/30px-Iphonesettingsgeneralicon.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iPhone icon\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} icon on the Settings menu. Tap iPhone Storage in General. This will open a summary of all your storage details on a new page. Scroll down and tap Hangouts. You'll see a list of all your apps here. Find and tap Hangouts here to see the app's storage details. Tap Offload App on the Hangouts page. This option will allow you to free up storage on your iPhone or iPad by removing the app's system files. Your documents and personal app data will not be deleted. If you install the app again, your data will be automatically restored. You will have to confirm your action in a pop-up. Tap Offload App in the confirmation pop-up. This will confirm your action, and offload the Hangouts app from your iPhone or iPad. Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings app. Find and tap the {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/7\/7e\/Iphonesettingsappicon.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Iphonesettingsappicon.png\/30px-Iphonesettingsappicon.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iPhone icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"} icon on your home screen to open your Settings. Scroll down and tap Notifications. This option is listed next to a red icon on the Settings menu. Scroll down and tap the Hangouts app. You'll find a list of all your apps on the Notifications page. Find and tap the Hangouts app here to view and change its notification settings. Slide the Allow Notifications switch to . When this option is disabled, the Hangouts app won't be able to send you any sound or push notifications on your iPhone or iPad. | Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings app. Scroll down and tap General in Settings. Tap iPhone Storage in General. Scroll down and tap Hangouts. Tap Offload App on the Hangouts page. Tap Offload App in the confirmation pop-up. Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings app. Scroll down and tap Notifications. Scroll down and tap the Hangouts app. Slide the Allow Notifications switch to . |
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Deep-Fried-Beer | How to Cook Deep Fried Beer | If you want to make deep-fried beer, mix up ravioli dough from proofed yeast, flour, butter, and salt. Knead the dough together and roll it out into a thin sheet, then brush the dough with beaten eggs and cut the dough into 12 small rectangles. Take 2 rectangles and pinch together the 2 short edges and one of the long edges to make a pocket, then repeat for all of the dough. Fill each ravioli pocket about 3/4 of the way with beer, then gently seal the pocket and deep-fry each one for about 20 seconds. | Combine the yeast, lukewarm water, and sugar in a large bowl. Place 1 tbsp (9.45 g) of yeast, 1 cup (240 ml) of lukewarm water, and 1 tbsp (12.5 g) of sugar into the bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together. Whisk the ingredients until the yeast and sugar have dissolved. Mix part of the flour into the bowl and let the mixture rest for 5-15 minutes. Place 1 cup (120 g) of flour into the bowl with the yeast, lukewarm water, and sugar. Use a whisk to combine the flour with the other ingredients. Leave the mixture resting until small bubbles appear. The amount of time that it takes for the yeast to start bubbling depends on the temperature of the environment. The cooler the environment is, the longer it will take. Knead the butter, salt, and remaining flour into the bowl. Transfer 1/3 cup (75 g) of butter, 1 tsp (5 g) of salt, and the remaining 2 1/2 cups (300 g) of flour into the bowl with the yeast mixture. Use your hands to knead the ingredients together. Stop kneading once the butter is evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Keep the ingredients in the bowl while you are kneading. Roll the dough out on your work surface. Take the dough from the bowl and place it onto a clean work surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it looks like a thin sheet and is approximately ⁄ 5 in (0.51 cm) thick. Sprinkle some flour over the work surface if the dough starts to stick. Avoid rolling the dough too thin, otherwise, it may begin to break. Brush the dough with 3 beaten eggs. Crack 3 eggs into a bowl. Use a whisk to beat the eggs until the whites and the yolks have combined. Coat the dough thoroughly using a pastry brush to spread the egg mixture out. If you don't have a pastry brush, you can use the back of a spoon to spread the egg mixture out instead. Coating the dough with egg is called an egg wash. This helps to give the dough color and makes it shiny when it is cooked. Use a ravioli cutter to slice the dough into 12 pieces. Run the blade of the ravioli cutter along the dough. Divide the dough using the ravioli cutter into small rectangles. A ravioli cutter is used to give the dough a distinct wavy edge. Press the rectangles of dough together to create 6 ravioli pockets. Pair up each of the ravioli pieces. Gently press along the 2 short edges and 1 long edge to create a pocket. Leave the last long edge open as this will be where you pour the beer in. Make sure that the sides of the dough with the egg wash are facing the outside. You may need to hold each ravioli pocket open using your thumb while you press the edges together, to prevent the dough from sticking. Fill each ravioli pocket up 3/4 of the way with beer. Prop each ravioli pocket up against a cup or a glass so that each one rests upright and the pocket stays open. Open the can of beer and pour a small amount into each pocket. Make sure that you don't fill the pockets all of the way, as otherwise, the ravioli will not be able to hold the liquid. The liquid beer center remains a liquid once it has been deep-fried. The original recipe calls for Guinness. However, you can experiment with different types of beer if you prefer. Press each ravioli pocket closed using your thumb. Gently seal the open edge of each ravioli pocket. Try not to press too firmly as otherwise, the dough could break and the beer would spill out. Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan until it reaches 325 °F (163 °C). Pour 2 cups (470 ml) of vegetable oil into a deep pan and adjust the stovetop temperature to a high setting. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the oil as it heats. Deep-fry the ravioli pockets in the oil for 20 seconds each. Once the oil has reached the desired temperature, use a slotted spoon to carefully place 1 pocket into the pan. Set the timer for 20 seconds and use a slotted spoon to remove the pocket once the time is up. You may be able to fit more than 1 ravioli pocket in the pan at a time. Just make sure that the pockets aren't touching, otherwise, they will stick together as they cook. The short deep-frying time of only 20 seconds is necessary so that the deep-fried beer remains alcoholic. The ravioli pockets need to be more soft than crispy when making deep-fried beer. Place the ravioli pockets on paper towels to soak up the excess oil. As each ravioli pocket is removed from the pan, transfer it directly onto a plate that is covered with paper towels. This will help to absorb the extra oil. Place the ravioli pockets next to each other rather than stacking them. Let the deep-fried beer pockets cool for 3-4 minutes before serving. When the deep-fried beer pockets have been removed from the pan, they will be hot and may burn you if you touch them. Leave them to cool on the paper towel for a few minutes before enjoying your first taste of deep-fried beer! Hold the deep-fried beer pockets upright as you eat them, otherwise, the beer will spill. You can serve the deep-fried beer pockets with cheese sauce for dipping. | Combine the yeast, lukewarm water, and sugar in a large bowl. Mix part of the flour into the bowl and let the mixture rest for 5-15 minutes. Knead the butter, salt, and remaining flour into the bowl. Roll the dough out on your work surface. Brush the dough with 3 beaten eggs. Use a ravioli cutter to slice the dough into 12 pieces. Press the rectangles of dough together to create 6 ravioli pockets. Fill each ravioli pocket up 3/4 of the way with beer. Press each ravioli pocket closed using your thumb. Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan until it reaches 325 °F (163 °C). Deep-fry the ravioli pockets in the oil for 20 seconds each. Place the ravioli pockets on paper towels to soak up the excess oil. Let the deep-fried beer pockets cool for 3-4 minutes before serving. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Adopt-an-Old-Cat | How to Adopt an Old Cat | Before you adopt a senior cat, make sure you are prepared to set aside time and money for at least two veterinary checkups a year and to care for potential health issues such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and arthritis. If so, get a litter box, comfortable cat bed, cat food, and some toys ahead of time. When you are ready to adopt your senior cat, search online for local shelters with senior cats up for adoption and look through the profiles of their available cats. Then, make an appointment to meet the cats you're interested in to see if your personalities are compatible. | Take note of who lives in your home. If you have other pets or small children, think about how they would interact with an older cat. Senior cats do best in quiet, low-stress environments, and they have trouble adjusting to major changes (like getting used to other animals or playful kids). If your other pets and/or kids are easygoing and gentle with animals, then bringing a senior cat into the home may be just fine. Plan for potential health issues. Depending on the age and overall health of the cat you plan to adopt, you may need to be prepared to set aside a certain amount of time and money for vet visits, special diet foods, and home medical care. Elderly cats can develop a host of health issues that need special attention, like diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and arthritis and joint pain. Most senior cats will need a general veterinary checkup at least twice a year. Cats with known health issues may need even more frequent visits. Get the supplies you need. Before you bring any cat into your home, you should have a few basics on hand, such as: Cat food formulated for senior cats (or whatever food is recommended for the particular cat you wish to adopt) Shallow food dishes A comfortable cat bed A few toys A shallow litter box that a senior cat can easily get into and out of You should also get a comfortable pet carrier that you can use to take the cat home from the shelter, and to carry your cat to and from medical appointments. Make sure there are comfortable resting places. Cats love to curl up in warm, cozy spots to nap or just hang out. Set up a soft cat bed near a window where lots of sunlight comes in. If you don't mind your new cat friend hanging out in your bed, set up a bench or ramp at the foot of the bed so that they can climb up and down easily. Find a shelter or rescue in your area with senior cats for adoption. Do an internet search for local shelters, ask around among friends who have recently adopted cats, or try using a service like Petfinder to help match you up with the shelter or adoption group that fits your needs. Some shelters specialize in senior animals. If you can find a shelter like this in your area, they may be especially well suited to helping you find the resources you need to care for your senior cat. Different shelters have different prices and procedures for adopting pets, and some may offer lower fees for hard-to-adopt animals, like elderly cats. Read about the adoption policies and procedures for each shelter you find and decide which one works best for you. Look at the selection of senior cats available for adoption. Many shelters will have online profiles for their adoptable pets, typically with a little information about each pet's history, personality, and any special needs they may have. Look over the pet profiles, and pick out one or two cats that you would like to meet. Make an appointment to meet the cats you are interested in. Some shelters or rescues will allow you to walk in any time, but some may prefer if you call in advance and set a time to meet the cats. Spend some time getting to know the cat(s) you are interested in adopting. This will help you get an idea of whether the cat has a personality that is compatible with yours. Ask the staff at the pet shelter or rescue any questions you may have about the cat's health and dietary needs. If you have other pets and/or children at home, ask if the cat you are interested in does well in an environment with other animals or kids. Follow your shelter or rescue's adoption process. Once you have picked a cat, you will need to pay any necessary adoption fees and fill out the appropriate paperwork. Depending on the shelter, you may need to bring in other family members to meet the cat, and there may be a waiting period before you can bring your new companion home. Make an appointment with a vet right away. Even if your new cat was under veterinary care and observation at the shelter or rescue, it's important to establish a relationship with a vet for your senior cat as soon as possible. Take your cat to the vet for a checkup and any necessary vaccines, and find out about any health concerns that the shelter or rescue staff may have been unaware of. It may be a good idea to talk to a vet before you bring home your new pet. They can provide helpful advice on what to expect before you adopt a senior cat. Allow your senior cat to adjust to your home gradually. Start out by keeping your cat in a single room (like your bedroom) for a few days, with access to food, water, litter, and other necessities, before letting them out to explore other rooms in the house. Groom your cat regularly. Elderly cats often need a little extra help with grooming, especially if they have arthritis or other health problems. Brush your cat every day to prevent mats and hairballs. Brush gently, since older cats often have sensitive skin. Check your cat's nails once a week, and trim them if necessary. Make sure your cat stays hydrated. Provide plenty of fresh water and, ideally, canned food. Dry food can contribute to dehydration, especially in older cats. Cats dislike having a water bowl beside their food, so avoid double-dipper bowls. Instead, place the water bowl within sight of the food, but not next to it. Talk to your vet about which type of food is healthiest for your cat. There are a variety of retail store and prescription only cat foods formulated for cats with a variety of health issues and special dietary needs. Your vet can help you select the type that is best for your cat. Make sure your cat gets enough exercise. Exercise can help senior cats stay happy and healthy. Get some wand toys and try to engage your cat in light play from time to time. If your cat seems to have trouble getting around, try installing ramps (up to your bed, the cat tree, or any other surface you want to encourage your cat to climb on) to help keep them moving and exploring. Get your cat to the vet at least twice a year. It is important for senior cats to get regular checkups, which can help catch health issues early. If you notice any signs of possible health problems, get your cat to the vet right away, even if it isn't time for a checkup. Look for problem signs like: Changes in appetite or thirst Significant changes in weight Unusual vomiting or diarrhea Changes in personality Lethargy or fainting Difficulty using the litter box, or urinating and defecating outside the litterbox Sneezing, coughing, or other respiratory symptoms Signs of pain or stiffness | Take note of who lives in your home. Plan for potential health issues. Get the supplies you need. Make sure there are comfortable resting places. Find a shelter or rescue in your area with senior cats for adoption. Look at the selection of senior cats available for adoption. Make an appointment to meet the cats you are interested in. Follow your shelter or rescue's adoption process. Make an appointment with a vet right away. Allow your senior cat to adjust to your home gradually. Groom your cat regularly. Make sure your cat stays hydrated. Talk to your vet about which type of food is healthiest for your cat. Make sure your cat gets enough exercise. Get your cat to the vet at least twice a year. |
https://www.wikihow.pet/Treat-Allergies-in-Horses | How to Treat Allergies in Horses | If your horse is allergic to dust, make sure you're changing its bedding out frequently so it doesn't get wet, since wet bedding can get moldy. Additionally, soak your horse's hay for 10 minutes before serving it to remove extra dust, or opt instead to feed it a dust-free diet of silage and whole grains. You can also install a ventilation system that draws lingering dust and other particles out of your horse's stall. However, if problems with your horse's health linger or you notice it having trouble breathing, you should take it to the vet immediately. | Don’t feed your horse moldy hay. Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), or “heaves,” is a respiratory condition in horses that can cause coughing and other issues. The condition is caused by irritating spores that can develop in moldy hay. If you see hay that has the slightest bit of mold, get rid of it immediately. Store your hay in a place that is protected from the elements, but not directly in or above your horse's stall, since this can expose the animal to allergens. If you can, try to store your hay in a separate building to prevent dust and allergens from circulating through the barn. This is especially important if the barn is poorly ventilated. Keep your horse’s bedding dry and mold-free. Mold can also develop in straw used to line a horse's stall, especially if it gets damp. Change out the straw or other bedding any time it gets wet or shows signs of mold. If your horse will be stabled frequently or for long periods of time, consider switching to a low-dust type of bedding, such as shredded cardboard or paper. Feed your horse a dust-free diet. Dust can also irritate your horse's airways, especially if it is already dealing with mold allergens. Ideally, your horse's main source of roughage will be fresh, sweet grass. You can supplement its diet with low-dust feed pellets. Alfalfa pellets and cubes are good choices. Other low-dust foods include silage and whole grains. Avoid rolled grains, however, since these tend to be dustier. Try to let your horse graze on pasture as much as possible. This is the best option for both their respiratory and digestive health. Soak your horse’s hay before serving it. If you choose to feed your horse hay, wetting it beforehand will reduce the amount of dust your horse inhales while eating. For this technique to be effective, you must thoroughly soak the hay, not just sprinkle it with water. Try soaking the hay in a bucket for at least ten minutes while you are doing other barn chores. Clean stalls carefully. Keeping your horse's stall clean and dry will reduce allergens. However, sweeping frequently will actually kick up dust into the air, potentially increasing irritation. Instead, focus on keeping the sources of dust and allergens out in the first place. Whenever possible, clean the stalls while your horses are turned out outside. This prevent additional irritation from dust that might be kicked up while cleaning. If you must sweep, dry dampening the stall first to keep the dust down. Thoroughly dry the stall before replacing your horse's bedding, however. Install a ventilation system. Exhaust fans can help draw any lingering dust and other irritating particles out of your horse's stall. If you don't already have a ventilation system installed, consider doing so to help stop allergies. Determine if there are other allergens to blame. Sometimes, a horse's allergies have less-obvious causes. If changing your horses feed and bedding and similar preventative measures do not get rid of its heaves, look for other culprits. For instance, dust causing RAO may not come from hay or a barn, but rather a dry road near your horse's stall. Respond accordingly. If you suspect a dusty road is causing your horse's heaves, you will either have to house it in a different location or install a ventilation system. See a vet if your horse’s allergies are long-lasting or severe. Preventative measures will cause many cases of heaves or other allergies to go away without much trouble. If the problem lingers, or if your horse seems to have significant trouble breathing (frequent or severe coughing attacks, for example), it's time to seek professional help. Have your vet prescribe medications. Anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids and bronchodilators are effective remedies for allergies in horses. However, your vet must examine your horse to determine the best medication for it. Corticosteroids are considered the most effective treatment. However, their usage must be tapered off after the allergy problem is reduced, to avoid side effects that stem from long-term use. Many horses actually benefit from inhalers, which can be picked up at a human or veterinary pharmacy with a vet's prescription. Give your horse the medications. The anti-inflammatory will need to be administered at home. Some forms will be given my mouth, others by injection. Aerosol versions are available for a few medications, but tend to be more expensive. Ask your vet to explain how to administer the medication properly. Combine medications with preventative measures. Giving your horse medication will only be effective in the short-term. While they'll treat cases of allergies, the problem will just come back if you don't eliminate the source. Continue to give your horse clean, dry feed and to maintain its stall as needed to eliminate allergens. Inspect your horse for signs of insect allergies. If your horse seems bothered by something that is not respiratory-based, look at its skin and fur. Saliva transmitted by insect bites can cause irritative hives along a horse's neck, back and underline. Eliminate insect breeding grounds. Standing water allows mosquitos to proliferate. Flies will multiply if there are standing piles of manure. Maintain your horse's stall and the surrounding area by removing these issues. This will keep insect populations down. Keep your horses stabled at dawn and dusk. Biting gnats and other pests are more active early in the day and at night. Keep your horse indoors during these times to reduce its exposure to irritating insects. Install fans in the stable. Most insects that have irritating saliva can't take moving air. Try installing one box fan for every horse in a stall. The gentle breeze of a fan is a surprisingly effective way to keep the pests away from your animal, and reduce the allergy problem. Try fly sprays. Approved products will deter insects, so that they don't bite your horse and cause allergic reactions. Permethrin is commonly recommended, but ask a vet about products that are safe to use on your horse. Set aside time for allergy tests. If you and your vet aren't sure exactly what is causing your horse's allergy problem, there are tests that can help narrow it down. The procedure is rather long, however. You should expect the initial tests to take 30 minutes. Your vet will prick your horse's skin with traces of common allergens (this is called an intradermal test). You will then need to wait several hours to see which allergens your horse reacts to, if any. Your horse will likely stay at the vet so that their reactions can be monitored during this time. Ask your vet about vaccine options. If your vet is able to determine a specific allergen that causes a reaction in your horse, there may be a preventative vaccine they can prescribe. If so, you will be given a take-home supply to administer on another day. Vaccines can be pricey, so be sure to talk to your vet about cost and payment options in advance. Return for monitoring and follow-up doses. Equine allergy vaccines are quite effective (60-80% success), but it can be several months before they work fully. A single dose typically lasts a year, so you will also need to return to the vet to get the next annual dose. With ongoing treatment, equine allergy vaccines can be a lifelong treatment. | Don’t feed your horse moldy hay. Keep your horse’s bedding dry and mold-free. Feed your horse a dust-free diet. Soak your horse’s hay before serving it. Clean stalls carefully. Install a ventilation system. Determine if there are other allergens to blame. See a vet if your horse’s allergies are long-lasting or severe. Have your vet prescribe medications. Give your horse the medications. Combine medications with preventative measures. Inspect your horse for signs of insect allergies. Eliminate insect breeding grounds. Keep your horses stabled at dawn and dusk. Install fans in the stable. Try fly sprays. Set aside time for allergy tests. Ask your vet about vaccine options. Return for monitoring and follow-up doses. |
https://www.wikihow.pet/Treat-Diarrhea-in-Cockatiels | How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels | To treat diarrhea in cockatiels, start by bringing your bird in to your veterinarian so they can assess its health and run the necessary tests. Depending on the results, the vet may prescribe medication or changes to your bird's diet. When you bring your bird home, set up a heat lamp near its cage to keep it warm, since illness can cause birds to lose body heat. Additionally, change your bird's water often to keep it as clean as possible, and avoid giving it any fresh fruits or vegetables until the diarrhea clears up. | Look for signs of diarrhea at the bottom of your bird's cage. If you have had a bird for a while, you should know what its feces usually looks like on the bottom of its cage. If the consistency changes and becomes more liquid, then your bird probably has diarrhea. A cockatiel's droppings are typically a combination of clear liquid, the bird's urine, white urates, which are byproducts of the kidneys, and light colored feces. The color of the feces will be different depending on what the bird eats. You need to differentiate between the urine and the feces in your bird's droppings. If the droppings have no solid feces in them, then your bird is may have diarrhea. You should be changing the paper at the bottom of your bird's cage at least once a week, so take that time to notice what its droppings usually look like. Understanding what healthy droppings look like can help you to figure out when your bird is sick. Identify behavioral signs of illness. Cockatiels can be very good at hiding the signs of illness. However, you may be able to spot the signs if you know what to look for. Look for changes in their behavior, such as: Not preening their feathers. Lethargy. Lack of usual vocalizations. A reluctance to eat. General uneasiness. Looking for related signs of illness. Diarrhea is typically a symptom of a specific disease, such as salmonella. If your cockatiel has diarrhea, then you should look for other signs of physical illness as well. This can help you assess whether your bird is sick. Some signs of illness to look out for include: Vomiting. Regurgitation. Discharge from the nostrils or eyes. Ruffled and unkempt feathers. Blood in the stool, which appears black. Look for possible causes for illness in your environment. In some cases, cockatiels can get into things that they shouldn't when they are allowed out of their cages. If you have let your cockatiel explore your home unsupervised, look for areas that are disturbed and assess whether any items in that area could be harmful to your bird. Some possible hazards and toxins include: Toxic foods, such as chocolate, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol. Human medications. Toxic metals, such as lead or zinc. Pest control products, such as rat poison. Toxic plants, such as lily, poinsettia, elephant ear, and others. Have signs of illness assessed by a veterinarian. If you have spotted physical or behavioral signs of illness in your bird, then you should have it looked at by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will be able to assess the bird's overall health and diagnose any specific problems through a variety of medical tests. Tests commonly used on cockatiels include blood analysis and X-rays. Common causes of diarrhea that your veterinarian will be looking for include: bacterial infections, viral infections, fungal infections, toxins, changes in diet, and blockages in the intestinal tract. Follow your veterinarian's suggestions for treatment. Depending on your bird's underlying illness, your veterinarian may suggest a variety of treatment options. These may include changes to its diet, giving it medication, or changes to its lifestyle or environment. For a serious bacterial or fungal infection, your veterinarian is likely to prescribe medication to give to your bird. This is typically an antibiotic or anti-fungal medication. If your bird has a viral infection, all you can do is provide supportive care to prevent dehydration and to help your bird's immune system fight it off. Your veterinarian may also suggest temporary or long-term changes to your cockatiel's diet. This can include changing the seed you feed the bird or eliminating fruits and vegetables temporarily in order to firm up your bird's droppings. In cases of a severe intestinal blockage, the veterinarian may suggest surgery to remove the obstruction. Provide heat support for your bird. While caring for your bird at home, you need to provide an additional heat source for your bird, since sick birds are prone to heat loss. Use a bird-safe heat lamp to warm your bird. Do not rely on a regular lamp, as it cannot be used at night without disrupting your bird's sleep. Additionally, some regular bulbs release the same toxic fumes as nonstick pans. Continue to assess your cockatiel's condition. As you are treating your bird at home, you should continue to assess its condition. Don't assume that your veterinarian's treatment suggestions will automatically clear up your bird's illness. Watch for continued diarrhea and other related symptoms and talk to the veterinarian if the symptoms continue or get worse. If your cockatiel's condition does not improve with treatment, don't hesitate to take your bird back to its veterinarian. It is important for its health to get any illness treated effectively. Provide clean water and a basic seed mix. Change the water often, making sure that it is as clean as possible. You can provide the normal seeds you usually provide to your bird, but withhold fresh produce, such as fruits and vegetables. Get regular veterinary care for your cockatiel. Even if your cockatiel is not showing any signs of illness, it should be looked at by a veterinarian regularly. Preventative care can catch illnesses that are hard to spot, such as diarrhea-causing illnesses, and can extend the life of your pet. One way veterinarians can help your bird is by identifying and eliminating parasitic infections, which is a common cause of diarrhea. Make diet changes gradually. Abrupt diet changes are a common cause of diarrhea in cockatiels, as they throw off the bird's digestion. If you need to change your bird's diet, make the change gradually. Add a little bit of the new food to whatever you have been feeding the bird previously. Over the course of several weeks, increase the amount of new food you are giving the bird until eventually it is eating only the new food. Keep your bird's cage clean. Diarrhea can be a symptom of a variety of diseases, so limiting your cockatiel's exposure to disease will help with its prevention. The most important way to keep your bird disease free is to keep its cage clean. You should do a quick daily cleaning of your bird's cage, which should include cleaning your bird's food and water dishes and replacing the contents. You should also replace the paper at the bottom of your bird's cage daily. On a regular basis you should do a thorough cleaning of your bird's cage. You will need to remove the bird and all items inside. Clean each item your bird uses and sanitize the entire cage. Quarantine new birds. In order to prevent the spread of disease, you should keep new birds separated from your existing birds when you first bring them home. Making sure that new birds don't have diseases that can spread to your existing birds is key to keeping your birds diarrhea free. New birds should be kept in a separate room from existing birds for 30 days. You should also be sure to keep care items, such as food dishes and cleaning tools, completely separate during this time. | Look for signs of diarrhea at the bottom of your bird's cage. Identify behavioral signs of illness. Looking for related signs of illness. Look for possible causes for illness in your environment. Have signs of illness assessed by a veterinarian. Follow your veterinarian's suggestions for treatment. Provide heat support for your bird. Continue to assess your cockatiel's condition. Provide clean water and a basic seed mix. Get regular veterinary care for your cockatiel. Make diet changes gradually. Keep your bird's cage clean. Quarantine new birds. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Good-Relationship-with-Your-Girlfriend | How to Have a Good Relationship with Your Girlfriend | Having a good relationship with your girlfriend is all about communicating well with her and treating her with respect. Talk to her regularly and be honest, since keeping secrets or lying will damage your relationship. When you're together, talk openly about your feelings, because trying to bottle them up won't make them go away. You should also ask her questions about her opinions and feelings, which will show her you care about her too. Try to do nice things, like cleaning the dishes, buying her flowers, or sending her a nice text message. When you disagree, stay respectful and don't attack her personally. This means telling her your opinion about the issue in a clear, calm way, and being prepared to compromise to reach a solution. | Have honest and open conversations. Talking to your girlfriend face-to-face is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of her. Sometimes you can't pick up on things like voice intonation or sarcasm through text message, and you can't look at her body language when you're talking to her over the phone. Set some time aside to speak with her openly and honestly about anything. It could be small-talk about how your day went, or it can be deeper and more meaningful conversations about what makes you both happy. You can start the conversation by saying something like, "Hey I wanted to talk to you about where we are going in the relationship. Do you have time right now?" Talking about things that you feel vulnerable about will encourage your girlfriend to do the same. This can bring you both closer together. For example, you could talk about your first childhood memories, a favorite family traditions, worst fears, or lifelong dreams. Practice active listening. Active listening engages both people deeper in a conversation and will make your girlfriend appreciate you more. To practice active listening, concentrate on what she is saying without interrupting. Do not judge her or criticize her if she tells you something embarrassing, because it could prevent her from telling you things in the future. Paraphrase things that she says and ask specific questions about what she is talking about. Try to give advice that helps her and is in her best interests if she seems like she wants it. To paraphrase, say something like "So what you're saying is that she was acting immature." Sometimes people just want someone to talk to and not to receive advice or judgment. Wait for her to ask you for your opinion before trying to help. Pay attention to the nonverbal communication you both share. Talking to someone is not the only form of communication that exists in a relationship. Nonverbal communication is also incredibly important. If you pay attention to your girlfriend's body language, you'll be able to determine how they feel at the moment. Crossed arms may mean they feel defensive or closed off and may mean that they aren't interested in what you have to say, or the subject matter is hard to talk about. Once you can evaluate your girlfriend's body language, you can notice when she's feeling uncomfortable or angry. If your girlfriend doesn't say anything, but she's exhibiting negative body language, ask her if something is wrong. Make sure that you aren't giving off any negative signals with the way your body is positioned. Don't get personal when you get angry. There's a tendency for some people to bring up negative times from the past or to intentionally hurt their girlfriend's feelings during an argument. Stay on track when you're communicating with your girlfriend and avoid being critical of things that have already happened. Do not intentionally hurt their feelings because it can create a negative atmosphere for the relationship and it can become emotionally abusive. Work on deescalating conflict within your relationship before it gets out of hand or jumps to a different, unrelated issue. Don't yell or scream when you have fights. Managing your anger during a disagreement or argument is an important part of maintaining a healthy relationship. Avoid escalating confrontations and avoid yelling at her. When people are aggressive, they tend to get defensive responses from their significant others. If your girlfriend is the one yelling or screaming, do not match her energy. Keep your voice civil and try to bring the conversation down. Escalating the anger during a disagreement could make a conversation spiral out of control and can damage the relationship over the long run. When someone shouts or screams at you, your limbic system is engaged and will affect your amygdala which houses emotional responses in your brain. When you notice yourself beginning to get angry, take a break from the conversation and walk away. You can say something like "I'm super angry right now, and I just need to get some fresh air. I'm going to take a walk and then we can talk about this when I get home." Follow other fair fighting rules. Sometimes a fight is unavoidable. When this happens, then best thing to do is to engage in the argument in a civil manner. Along with not yelling or screaming at each other, some things to avoid to ensure a fair fight include: Degrading language or name calling. Casting blame. Using physical force. Threatening divorce. Making assumptions or judgments about your spouse. Bringing up past issues or piling on lots of complaints at once. Interrupting your partner or talking over them. Do kind things for her. There's a difference between going outside of your means to provide gifts because you think that's what is expected, and doing kind things because you want to make your girlfriend happy. Doing nice things for your girlfriend doesn't always entail buying things either. It could be something as simple as taking out the trash for her, cleaning the dishes, or picking a flower on the side of the street to bring home for her. Keep her in mind as you go about your day and think of ways to make her have a happier and easier day. If you have limited money, don't make purchases for her and stress yourself out. Instead, think of free ways that you can show your appreciation. Some things you can do include, buying her flowers, cleaning her house, getting her tickets to a show she wanted to see, or sending her a nice text message. Compliment her. While you don't need to constantly shower her with compliments, giving her at least one a day can make her feel better throughout the day. Make sure that the compliment is genuine and that you really mean it. Take time to notice different things like the outfit she picked out, the way she does her makeup or an accessory that she's picked out. Compliments also don't have to be purely physical. You can also compliment her on progress at her job, getting good grades at school, or if you've noticed personal growth. You can say something like, "I really like the way you did your hair today." To compliment her growth you can say something like, "I noticed that physics doesn't seem hard for you anymore. It's really awesome you've been able to improve this much." Work as a team. It's okay to want to win. However, relationships are more about working with one another on a team rather than competing against one another. Think of your success as joint success and use it to motivate one another to reach your true potential. Instead of thinking of how you will personally benefit, think about how it will affect both of your lives as a whole. While self-preservation and advancement are important to many people, realize that you're uncaring and unkind when you do things that will hurt the other person and benefit yourself. Motivate your girlfriend to do great things. Do not try to stifle her or prevent her from achieving her goals. Working as a team takes two people. If your girlfriend is unable to care about your dreams and aspirations, it may be time to find a new girlfriend. Love and care for yourself. Before you can be in a strong and meaningful relationship with your girlfriend, you need to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat correctly, and take time for yourself. If you find yourself feeling resentful, overextended, or defensive, there's a good chance that you aren't taking care of yourself as much as you should. Take a step back and don't be afraid to say no to your girlfriend. If she truly cares about you, then she will understand that you are overwhelmed and need time to take care of yourself. If you routinely take care of other people's needs above your own, you may be exhibiting codependent behavior. You can say something like, "I really like you and think you're wonderful, but I need time to get my business straight. It's been a while since I've taken time out for myself so I just need to get some things done for myself right now." Gain her trust by being honest. Do not agree to things that you know won't happen or don't have a good likelihood of happening. Broken promises can severely hurt a relationship. More severe actions like being unfaithful can end a relationship, while other things like white lies could severely strain one. To avoid this, be honest and upfront, even if you think it will make you look bad. For instance, if you are going to be late, give her a call and let her know what is holding you up. If you did something you aren't proud of or feel a certain way, it's best to let your girlfriend know sooner rather than later. If she doesn't trust you for previous actions, make a concerted effort to show her that it was a mistake and that you've changed. Be willing to compromise. Being hard headed and stuck in your ways can jeopardize the happiness in a relationship. Instead of sticking to your guns, be willing to hear the other person out. Think of what they are asking you to do and whether it will have a negative or positive influence on your life. Many times our partners just want what's best for us, so getting mad at them for wanting something to change for the better is not the right way to feel. There are certain things that you shouldn't compromise on, like your physical or emotional needs. Do not compromise your moral values for your girlfriend or you may end up resenting her. Work on compromise as a team so that you both can be happy. Be the emotional support that she needs. When a situation is difficult, it's likely that your girlfriend is going to need more emotional support than she normally does. When she does need help or support, make sure that you are the person that's there for her. Instead of getting angry at her and making her feel even worse, make sure that you're supportive and understanding. Make sure that you offer to listen to her, and do not judge her. Try to make her feel better throughout the day by doing kind things. If your girlfriend has done something that you don't approve of, instead of berating or criticizing her, try to understand why she did it in the first place. Supporting her does not mean enabling her to do self-destructive behavior. Acknowledge and talk about the tough times. The first step in getting through the tough times is acknowledging that they exist. Do not ignore or minimize serious issues in your relationship if they are there. Sit down and have a hard conversation with your girlfriend about how things have been and your willingness to work on them. You may not like to talk about emotions, but it's important that you do for the good of the relationship. You can say something like, "I've noticed that ever since your Granny died that you've been pretty depressed. I'll always be here to talk, just let me know if you want to." If you've been open, honest, and nonjudgmental, there's a good likelihood that you'll be the first person that your girlfriend will turn to when things get tough. Even if you think something is insignificant, remember to try to understand your girlfriend's perspective. See a relationship counselor if your relationship needs help. If your relationship has reached the point where you both can't get along, it may be time to seek professional assistance. Relationship counselors will be able to look at your relationship objectively and give you the tools and techniques that are required to rebuild it. Search online for psychologists or therapists that specialize in relationships and give them a call to make an appointment. If you think the relationship is worth saving, you may need to go to counseling to break down emotional and social barriers. Before you see a counselor, try being a nicer, more loving and open partner. | Have honest and open conversations. Practice active listening. Pay attention to the nonverbal communication you both share. Don't get personal when you get angry. Don't yell or scream when you have fights. Follow other fair fighting rules. Do kind things for her. Compliment her. Work as a team. Love and care for yourself. Gain her trust by being honest. Be willing to compromise. Be the emotional support that she needs. Acknowledge and talk about the tough times. See a relationship counselor if your relationship needs help. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fry-Pot-Stickers | How to Fry Pot Stickers | To fry pot stickers, start by heating a wok or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Then, add 2 tablespoons of oil, like peanut or olive oil, to the pan. Next, place the pot stickers in the pan so that none of them are overlapping and fry them for 2-5 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Finally, after you fry the pot stickers, add 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, cover it, and steam the dumplings until the water is gone. | Make your pot stickers. Making Chinese dumplings can be a fun dinner party activity. For how to make your own handmade pot stickers, click here. However, more often than not, simply frying frozen store-bought dumplings can be just as tasty. Make the dipping sauce. Traditionally, pot stickers are served with a delicious dipping sauce. The sauce is usually made up of a mixture of 2/3 soy sauce, 1/3 Chinese rice vinegar, fresh grated or chopped bottled or pickled ginger, and sesame oil, often with a garnish of chopped chives. If you like it spicy, add Chinese chili paste to taste. Heat up a wok or non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. Make sure that the pan is very hot. To do this, flick a small amount of water onto the pan. If it evaporates immediately with a loud hiss, your pan is ready to go. Pour two tablespoons of oil into the pan or wok. The type of oil you use is up to you. For a more authentic Chinese recipe, use sesame or peanut oil. You can also use vegetable or olive oil if you prefer. For the healthiest option, use olive oil (it has the highest amount of heart-healthy fat--monounsaturated fat--of any oil.) Heat the oil for about a minute (bubbles might begin to form). Place the pot stickers in the pan. You must make sure that there is enough space between each pot sticker and that they are not overlapping at all. If they overlap while cooking, it will be nearly impossible to separate them without ripping them (and having all the delicious filling fall out). Fry the pot stickers in the oil. You should fry the dumplings for roughly two to five minutes, or until the bottoms of the pot stickers begin to turn a golden-brown color. Add roughly three tablespoons of water to the pan or wok. Immediately after pouring the water in, cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. The steam created by the water will cook the dumplings all the way through. Using a lid that doesn't let any air out is important--if steam escapes, the pot stickers will take longer to cook or may overcook and become gooey. Steam the dumplings until all of the water is gone. You'll start to hear crackling sounds, and the pot stickers will again begin to turn a golden-brown color. Traditionally it is advised not to rotate the dumplings, instead only allowing the bottom to brown. If you like them well browned, gently lift and turn them with a spatula to brown the sides. If you want them to be even crunchier, take the lid off and cook the dumplings on medium-high. Remove the dumplings from the heat. Transfer them to a serving platter and serve immediately (they are best served piping hot). Finished. | Make your pot stickers. Make the dipping sauce. Heat up a wok or non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. Pour two tablespoons of oil into the pan or wok. Place the pot stickers in the pan. Fry the pot stickers in the oil. Add roughly three tablespoons of water to the pan or wok. Steam the dumplings until all of the water is gone. Remove the dumplings from the heat. Finished. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Insert-Vaginal-Suppositories | How to Insert Vaginal Suppositories | If you need to insert a vaginal suppository, do it at night before bed since the suppository will leak as it dissolves. It may take up to an hour for the suppository to dissolve, so you might notice some leaking if you're walking around. Before you insert the suppository, clean the outer parts of your vagina using a mild soap to prevent the spread of bacteria. Once your vaginal area is clean, unwrap the suppository applicator and prep it by placing the cream or tablet at the end if it isn't already pre-filled. Then, stand with your legs and knees apart and raise one foot up on a stool or toilet. In this position, open the lips of your vulva and push the suppository into your vagina as far as you can. Push the plunger to release the suppository, then dispose of the applicator. | Clean your vagina. Use a mild soap to gently wash the outer parts of your vagina and the area around it. Don't wash out the inside of your vagina. Make sure to wash your hands well. Rinse your vaginal area and hands to completely remove the soap. Pat your skin dry using a clean cotton cloth. Cleaning your vagina and hands can prevent the spread of bacteria into your vagina as you insert the suppository. Prepare the suppository. Unwrap the suppository applicator from its packaging and determine if it's already pre-filled with the cream or tablet. If it isn't pre-filled, hold the applicator between your thumb and forefinger and use your other hand to place the cream or tablet at the other end of the applicator. To fill an applicator with a cream suppository, connect the tube of cream to the applicator so that it's tightly attached. Squeeze the tube of cream till the correct dose is in the applicator. Remove the tube and save it for your next dose. The applicator provided for delivering a cream suppository usually has marks on it that tell you how much is in the applicator, such as 1 gram, 2 grams, etc. Get your body into position. Stand with your legs and knees apart. Raise one foot up on a stool, the edge of the toilet, the bathtub or a chair. Or, you can lie on your back with your knees bent. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Both of these positions will give you easier access to your vaginal opening which will make it easier to insert the suppository. Open the lips of your vulva. Use your non-dominant hand to separate the lips (labia) of your vulva. This will expose your vagina. Keep it exposed while you use your dominant hand to place the suppository at the vaginal opening. Although it may seem difficult at first, try to relax. Remind yourself that it will take a little getting used to and you can continue to try until you successfully insert the suppository. Push the suppository into your vagina. Insert the suppository applicator or use your forefinger to insert the suppository into your vagina. Push it as far as is comfortable so that the suppository is in your vagina. If you're using an applicator, push the plunger so all of the suppository is delivered to your vagina. You'll know the suppository is in your vagina when about half the applicator is in the vagina or your forefinger is in the vagina up to the knuckle. Dispose of the applicator. Remove the applicator and completely wash it with some gentle soap and water if it's reusable or throw it away if it's not. Wash and dry your hands. It may take up to an hour for the suppository to completely dissolve. At that point, you may notice leaking if you're up walking around. Follow the manufacturer's or doctor's instructions for your specific suppository. You probably won't feel the suppository once you've inserted it and you won't need to remove it since it will dissolve in your vagina. Store the suppository at room temperature. Suppositories are usually made of either fats or water-soluble polymers. They'll begin to melt in your body once you've inserted them into your vagina. To prevent suppositories from melting before you've inserted them, store them at room temperature. Consider refrigerating them if you live somewhere hot, where they're more likely to melt at room temperature. The melting process will release the drugs, herbs, hormones, or lubricants into your vagina. Use suppositories even during your period. If you've been prescribed a suppository, your doctor believes you'll benefit the most from that delivery system. If you start to menstruate, continue to use the suppositories as your doctor prescribed. Just make sure to use a sanitary pad instead of a tampon. If you forget a dose, just remember to insert the suppository at the next scheduled time. Don't take two doses at once. Insert suppositories at night. Since the suppositories will leak discharge as they dissolve in your vagina, you may want to insert them at night before you go to bed. If you need to use them during the day, consider wearing a sanitary pad or liner to collect any leakage. Avoid using a tampon to soak up the leakage. Using a tampon will absorb the medication, making it less effective. Tampons will also irritate your vaginal walls. Watch for side effects. Since vaginal suppositories are used for a variety of medical conditions (like yeast or bacterial infections, vaginal dryness, and reproductive hormonal imbalances), side effects may differ. Most side effects don't require medical attention. In general, you may experience: Vaginal discomfort Vaginal dryness Burning or itching Discharge from the vagina as the suppository dissolves Know when to get medical attention. Let your physician know if you have any pain or discomfort. If you think you're having an allergic reaction, contact your doctor. Signs of an allergic reaction include swelling of the vagina and vulva area, itching, hives and tightness in the chest. Check the document that came with your suppository for specific allergy risks. Talk with your doctor about whether or not you should refrain from sexual intercourse while you're using suppositories. If you are having problems using the suppository applicator, then talk to your doctor about this. Your doctor or a nurse may be able to teach you how to use it during an office visit. | Clean your vagina. Prepare the suppository. Get your body into position. Open the lips of your vulva. Push the suppository into your vagina. Dispose of the applicator. Store the suppository at room temperature. Use suppositories even during your period. Insert suppositories at night. Watch for side effects. Know when to get medical attention. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Decorate-a-Fireplace | How to Decorate a Fireplace | To decorate the inside of a fireplace, make sure it's clean, and free of ashes and soot when it's not in use. Then, try tucking large vases filled with flowers or some candles inside the fireplace. Alternatively, to decorate the hearth, stack some logs or pine cones in a decorative metal basket or large wicker container. If you want to brighten up the mantle, try hanging a large mirror or picture right over it. Additionally, arrange some ornaments, statues, or family pictures on it. | Make sure that the fireplace is clean, and free of ashes and soot when it is not in use. This will help keep any decorations you place inside of it nice and clean. It will also make your fireplace look neater. This section will give some ideas for decorating the inside of your fireplace. You do not have to use all of them. Instead, chose just a few that appeal to you the most. Add color and fragrance with flowers. Place some colorful flowers into a large vase, and tuck the vase inside the fireplace. You can also use potted plants, just make sure that they don't require a lot of sunlight. Also, make sure that the flowers and vase/pot are large, and proportionate to the fireplace. For a rustic look, fill a few jars of varying heights with fake lemongrass and place them inside the fireplace. Place a ceramic piece inside. This can be an antique vase, or a statue. If the ceramic piece is very slender, consider flanking it with smaller ceramic pieces, candles, or potted plants. Whatever you put inside the fireplace should make an impact. Fill it up at least halfway, but avoid overcrowding it. Put a basket with magazines or craft items inside. It can work as additional storage as long as it doesn't look messy. Colorful balls of yarn will look pretty against the dark backdrop. Before you put paper items inside a fireplace, make sure it is completely clean and ready to be used for storage. Put candles inside the fireplace and light them in the evenings. You can use LED candles if you are concerned about safety. They are a great substitute for log-based fires and can look quite romantic or magical. Use freestanding candlesticks of various heights or a long candelabra for a dramatic effect. Keep a firescreen in front of the opening when you are not using it. Fire screens are usually made out of metal mesh or glass. Glass fire screens are often considered to be safer than mesh screens, because they don't allow sparks to pass through. You can get decorative ones, etched with frosted designs. This section will give you ideas for what you can place on the hearth and around your fireplace. You do not have to use all of them. Instead, choose a few that appeal the most to you, and stick with them. Display the fireplace tools. If you own a fireplace, you likely own a rack to store extra rags and a fireplace tool set, complete with brushes, shovels, and pokers. Position the log rack to one side of the hearth, and the tool set to the other side. If you own a log rack, be sure to keep several logs stacked on it. This is a good idea even for gas fireplaces that do not use logs; they can make the gas fireplace appear more convincing. Fireplace tools and holders are available in a wide range of styles, so find a set that complements the décor of your home. Add color and fragrance with some potted plants in front of the fireplace. One or two potted plants should be enough, so long as they cover the opening. You can even switch them out based on upcoming holidays or seasons. Evergreens and poinsettias are perfect for winter. Bulb plants, such as tulips and lilies, are perfect for the spring. Make sure the plants are safe for pets, if you have them. Stack some logs or pinecones in front of the opening. If you are using pinecones, consider getting the scented kind. You can find them on arts and crafts stores during the fall and winter seasons. Put the logs or pinecones in a decorative metal basket or large wicker container. Place a rug or a few arm chairs on the floor in front of the hearth. Arrange the seating options so they face the fireplace, but keep them far enough back that the heat from the fire isn't an issue. If you are using a bench or stool, consider draping a throw or blanket over it to make it cozier. Make sure that the mantle is wide enough. Whatever you choose to display must not extend past the edge of the mantle. If the mantle is too narrow and the object is too wide, you risk having the object fall off and break. This section will give you ideas for what you can place on top of your mantle. You do not have to use all of these ideas. Instead, pick out a few that appeal the most to you. Create a focal point. Hang something large and bold above the mantle, such as a large photograph, mirror, or painting. Make sure that the frame matches the style of the mantle and the rest of the room. For example, if the mantle is very ornate, use an ornate frame. If the room is very modern, go for a sleek, modern frame. For a stylish look, lean a piece of art like a painting against the mantle instead of hanging it above the mantle. Mirrors are great for smaller rooms because they can make them appear larger than they actually are. Arrange some ornaments, vases, or statues on the mantle. Try to choose objects that match the style of the room that the fireplace is in. For example, if the room has a Victorian feel to it, try to choose some vases or statues from the Victorian era. This will help prevent clashing. Also, try not to overcrowd the mantle. Less is more. Here are some ideas to get you started: Statues or busts, particularly those of famous composers and historical figures Pretty, porcelain bowls or vases, which you can later fill with cut flowers or potpourri. Glassware, such as glass vases, bowls, and statues, which you can also fill with cut flowers or potpourri. Add some color and fragrance with candles. Get some candles that you like, and arrange them on the mantle. To protect the mantle, place a coaster, charger, or tray beneath the candles. Whatever you decide to use should not extend past the edge of the mantle. Here are some more ideas to get you started: White or ivory candles will fit with most rooms. Match the candle to the room. For example, if the room has lots of blue in it, try to choose a blue candle. Match the candle to the other items on the mantle. If the other items are mostly blue with a bit of cream, try picking out cream or ivory colored candle. Mix and match the heights. Consider having some tall candles and some shorter ones. Consider getting candles that match the holiday or season. For example, you might use a fresh, fruity scent for summer, and a warm, spicy scent for winter. Place family-related stuff and personal in the center. This will help draw attention to some of the more sentimental items, such as a special family photograph, or a wedding portrait. Place photographs into frames that match both each other and the mantle. Keep the colors muted so as not to detract attention from the photos themselves. You don't have to just put up photographs. Here are some other ideas as well: Children's artwork, diplomas, and awards can also work. Be sure to frame them first so as to protect them from soot. Cards, such as birthday and Christmas cards, can make great seasonal decorations. Handmade items, crafted by family members, can also be very special. Such items include figurines, wood carvings, and even handcrafted dolls. A fireplace mantle is the perfect place to display them. Don't be ashamed to display personal awards, such trophies, ribbons, and paper awards. Pair personal touches with decorative items for a stylish balance. Bring the outdoors indoors. Natural things, such as rocks and pinecones, are great as breaking up the symmetry and monotony of a fireplace mantle. Their organic forms offer a spark of interest, and some can offer a flash of color. Here are some examples of what you can use: Rocks and stones are great for adding that organic shape to your mantle. Crystals are great for adding that bit of sparkle. Shells, pebbles, and sea glass look lovely displayed in a wide, shallow, glass bowl. You can also display larger shells on their own. Pinecones are great for the fall and winter seasons. You can pick some up outside, or buy scented ones from the store. Cut flowers in vases or potted flowers can add some color and fragrance. Use large crystals as bookends, with a few hardcovers in between them. Consider decorating for the holidays. This is a great option for those who do not have a lot of space in their homes. Seasonal decorations can take a lot of room. You can, however, limit your decorations to just the fireplace to save space. Your home will look festive without looking crowded or tacky. This section will give you some ideas. Use ornaments, pine, and other evergreen for winter holidays. These items will look great whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, or the winter season in general. Here are some ideas to get you started: Use hooks to hang up Christmas stockings (use hooks if you are hanging them - tape will hold the empty stockings but full ones will fall from the weight). Use rolled up tape or foam mounting tape to stick Christmas tree ornaments to the top of the mantle. Use large and small ornaments for balance. use ornaments, as used on trees, and use clear tape to stick it on the mantle. If you celebrate Hanukkah, try including a menorah, a dreidel or two, and lots of blue and white. If you don't celebrate any religious holidays, cut some evergreen branches, and spread them over the top of the mantle. You can also drape a pine garland or some string lights over the top of the mantle instead. Use lots of pumpkins for Halloween or Thanksgiving. There are some other items you can use as well, such as: Place a cornucopia filled with dried corn, miniature pumpkins, and miniature squash in top of the mantle. If you have a large cornucopia, you can place it on the hearth instead. Arrange some miniature pumpkins on the mantle for Halloween. As it gets closer to Thanksgiving, add some miniature squash and dried corn. Make a spooky fireplace for Halloween by arranging candelabras, skulls, old candles, and potion bottles on the mantle. Place a cat statue or a jack-o-lantern on the hearth. Or, use ribbons to hang skeletons and spiders from the mantle. Drape a garland made out of fake fall leaves over the top of your mantle for quick, fall decorating. To make it more suitable for Halloween, add some fake cobwebs and plastic spiders. Use bulb flowers and softer colors for spring, but bear in mind the holidays. Softer colors, and bulb plants (such as daffodils, lilies, and tulips) will be suitable for most of the spring season. There are some holidays, however, where you might want to switch things up a bit. For example: For Easter, place some colorful eggs into a basket, and place the basket on the mantle. You can also decorate the mantle with figurines of chicks, bunnies, and lambs. If the basket is large enough, you can also tuck it inside the fireplace. For St. Patrick's Day, you could place a horseshoe (with the curved side down, like a "U" for good luck), or some plastic gold coins on the mantle. You can also add items that have Celtic knots on them. For Valentine's Day, you could switch out some of the spring decor, and add some more red, pink, white, or ivory. You can also add lace doilies under candles for a more romantic look/ Most spring flowers, such as tulips and hyacinths, are poisonous to cats and dogs. You may want to consider getting fake ones instead. Use brighter colors during the summer. You can also use tropical plants, such as orchids and hibiscus. If you like candles, try to get ones with fruity scents, such as passion fruit, orange, or coconut. If bright, fruity, and tropical aren't your thing, consider using a sea-side theme instead, such as: For a nautical theme, consider getting one o those bottles that has a model ship inside. You can also drape some netting over the top of the mantle. For a seaside theme, try displaying some of the shells you found at the beach. If you like candles, try getting some that have an "ocean" or "seaside" scent to them. They will usually be light blue in color. | Make sure that the fireplace is clean, and free of ashes and soot when it is not in use. Add color and fragrance with flowers. Place a ceramic piece inside. Put a basket with magazines or craft items inside. Put candles inside the fireplace and light them in the evenings. Keep a firescreen in front of the opening when you are not using it. Display the fireplace tools. Add color and fragrance with some potted plants in front of the fireplace. Stack some logs or pinecones in front of the opening. Place a rug or a few arm chairs on the floor in front of the hearth. Make sure that the mantle is wide enough. Create a focal point. Arrange some ornaments, vases, or statues on the mantle. Add some color and fragrance with candles. Place family-related stuff and personal in the center. Bring the outdoors indoors. Consider decorating for the holidays. Use ornaments, pine, and other evergreen for winter holidays. Use lots of pumpkins for Halloween or Thanksgiving. Use bulb flowers and softer colors for spring, but bear in mind the holidays. Use brighter colors during the summer. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Try-Your-Best-at-Anything | How to Try Your Best at Anything | To try your best at anything, you should set goals that push you to grow, but are still achievable now so you can stay motivated. For example, if you're trying to eat better, you could start by eating 1 extra serving of fruit each day and then add more healthy foods as time goes on. No matter what, try to work on your goal every day so it is easier to stick to, and make yourself accountable to someone else so they can help you stay on track. | Think about what you want to achieve and why. Choose goals that are meaningful to you. Imagine how your life will be different after you attain them. Sometimes you may have to set a goal that doesn't appeal to you much, like getting a good grade in a class you don't want to take. In a case like this, focus on how the outcome will improve your life. In this case, reasons like "I will feel a sense of accomplishment" or "I will keep my GPA up" might help boost your motivation. Choose your projects carefully. To make the most of your energy and motivation, choose just a few projects that matter to you. Don't try to work on too many things at once. If you spread yourself too thin, you'll have a harder time giving anything 100 percent of your effort. Try to focus on no more than three goals at a time. Know what you’re capable of. Doing your best is about pushing your own limits, not trying to measure up to someone else's achievements. Be honest with yourself about where your abilities are right now. Set goals that make sense for your current skill level. For instance, if you're new to running, don't expect yourself to be able to run a six-minute mile right away. A better first goal would be to run a mile in under 10 minutes. Adopt a growth mindset. Believe in your ability to work hard and build your skills, even if that means making mistakes sometimes. Commit to challenging yourself as you work towards your goals. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. Someone with a fixed mindset views their skills and abilities as inborn traits they can't control or improve. Break down your goals. Turn each goal into a series of smaller goals. Then make a list of action steps you need to take to achieve each small goal. To keep yourself motivated, create daily or weekly milestones to work towards. For example, if your overall goal is to learn a new language, you might break the goal down into steps like mastering basic greetings, comprehending the spoken language, and speaking fluently. Each of these smaller goals will have steps within that you must complete. Create habits. It's easier to do your best work when you do something regularly – preferably every day. Make working towards your goals part of your everyday routine. Think of doing your best as a new lifestyle, not something you do separately from your “ordinary” life. For instance, if you're working towards a degree, make some time to study every day, not just when you have an exam coming up. Avoid multitasking. Multitasking prevents you from focusing deeply on anything. Work on one thing at a time, and give it your full attention. Do your best to block out distractions. Go somewhere quiet to work, or wear noise-canceling headphones to discourage people from talking to you. Avoid procrastinating. Use to-do lists and time-bound goals to stay on track. If you still struggle with getting things done on time, make yourself accountable to someone else for some added motivation. For example, you could make yourself accountable by signing up for a class or finding a workout partner. A time-bound goal has a built-in time limit. For instance, you might set a goal to learn to cook two new healthy recipes this week. It might seem like procrastination prevents you from failing, but in reality, it just prevents you from learning and improving. Celebrate small victories. As you make progress towards your goals, don't forget to congratulate yourself for the things you achieve along the way. Take time every week or month to look back at how far you've come, and give yourself a pat on the back for your work. You might even set up a reward system for various milestones in goal completion. When you pass the first marker, you might reward yourself with a night out with friends. The second marker: new clothing or a gadget. The third: a short getaway. Just use things that you actually want to earn, so they are motivating. Renew yourself. Take breaks and look after your health, no matter how busy you are. It's hard to put forth your best effort when you're run-down, stressed, or in poor physical shape. Good self-care habits can help prevent you from burning out. Take care of all the dimensions of your health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Neglecting any of these dimensions can cause problems. Have a tenacious attitude. Failures and mistakes are inevitable, so don't let them demoralize you. Know what is most important to you in life, and keep pursuing it no matter how many times you have to pick yourself up along the way. If doing badly at something makes you want to give up, change your thinking. Failure is just a temporary setback that all successful people experience. It's not a reflection of your character or innate ability. For example, instead of saying "I've failed again" you might reframe this and say "I'm one step closer to success." Maintain a positive outlook. Try to find the good side of a bad situation. Focus on what you've learned and how you'll do better next time. Avoid complaining or feeling sorry for yourself – that will only prevent you from moving on. Repeat affirmations, such as "This, too, shall pass" when you encounter hardships or setbacks to keep a positive, hopeful attitude. Avoid perfectionism. It's good to have high standards for yourself, but don't expect everything you do to be perfect. Perfectionism can make you afraid to take healthy risks, which often leads to procrastination and underachievement. Remind yourself that making mistakes isn't just okay – it's a necessary part of learning and growing. In fact, challenge yourself to do something "wrong" each week so you feel comfortable making mistakes. You can spill something on your clothes or purposefully arrive to a meeting late. When you realize the fallout won't be quite as big as you feared, you learn to relax the reigns and see the benefit of mistakes. Compete only with yourself. Track your progress and try to do a little better every day than you did the day before. Avoid comparing yourself to other people, since their circumstances may be completely different from yours. Constantly track your progress. Only compare yourself to the person you were a week ago or a month ago. If you can spot any improvements, that's what matters. If you can't, keep pushing. | Think about what you want to achieve and why. Choose your projects carefully. Know what you’re capable of. Adopt a growth mindset. Break down your goals. Create habits. Avoid multitasking. Avoid procrastinating. Celebrate small victories. Renew yourself. Have a tenacious attitude. Maintain a positive outlook. Avoid perfectionism. Compete only with yourself. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Align-Your-Shoulders | How to Align Your Shoulders | To align your shoulders without seeing a doctor, try stretching your chest and neck muscles 5-10 times a day. Stand near a doorway and raise your arm closest to the wall so that it's shoulder height. Bend your elbow and rest your arm against the wall for 30 seconds at a time. You can also try strengthening your back with swimming exercises and light rowing machines. For more severe pains, visit a chiropractor. | Strengthen your mid back. Part of being able to pull back your shoulders and keep them properly aligned is having strong muscles in your mid back region between your shoulder blades. The main muscles groups there are called the paraspinals, rhomboids, trapezius and infraspinatus. When these muscles are too weak, they allow the shoulders to slouch forward. When they're strong, it's easier to hold and maintain good posture. Rowing machines are excellent for building strength in the muscles between your shoulder blades. Start with light weights and lower reps and slowly progress to heavier weight and more reps over the course of four to six weeks. Doing the "reverse fly" with free weights is also great for strengthening the rhomboids and trapezius muscles. Sit on the edge of a bench with your waist bent forward and looking at the floor. Grab dumbbells in each hand and lift them laterally out and up off the floor, causing your shoulder blades to retract. When your arms are parallel with the floor, hold for a few seconds then slowly lower the dumbbells. Swimming is an excellent exercise because it works virtually all your muscles, especially those of your shoulders, spine and legs. Swimming also forces you to have good posture in order to stay above the water line and swim in a straight line. Make your thoracic spine more flexible. Although your thoracic spine (mid back) naturally curves forward somewhat, too much slouching can create a hump that's stiff and painful. The inflexible hump (medically called a kyphosis) then forces the shoulders and neck forward. As such, try to make your thoracic spine more flexible by extending it (reversing the curve) so that it's easier to realign your shoulders. Lay on a large exercise ball with your feet on the floor and looking up at the ceiling. Slowly roll (extend) your mid back over the top of the ball so your head gets closer to the ground. When you feel a nice stretch (not painful), hold it for 15 seconds and repeat 10 – 15 times per day. Do the "Superman" pose. Lay face down on some padded flooring with your arms outstretched above your head. Lift your chin, arms and as much of your legs off the ground as you can — simulating Superman flying. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat 10 – 15 times per day. Make sure you place a pillow under the stomach so as not to hyper extend your back as you raise your head, arms and legs. Swimming, rowing exercises and yoga classes will also help to make your thoracic spine (and many other areas of your body) more flexible. Use a back stretcher, which is a curved lumbar stretcher you place on the ground and lie on for several minutes a day (start out with one minute, gradually increasing to five minutes). Lie down face-up on a back stretcher beneath your middle back. Slowly extend your back on it. This helps offset the constant forward slouched position. Stretch your chest and neck muscles. In addition to weak muscles in the mid back, overly tight muscles in the chest also contribute to pulling the shoulders forward and out of alignment. Ironically, this posture is relatively common in men who go to the gym, but spend too much time on their chest (pectoral) and anterior shoulder muscles and not enough time on their rhomboids (between the shoulder blades) and posterior shoulder muscles. The solution is to avoid overworking the pectorals and make sure they are well stretched and pliable. A similar problem occurs when the muscles of the lower neck (trapezius and levator scapulae) become too tight / strong — they pull up on the shoulders and make it look like the person is always shrugging. To stretch out your chest muscles, stand in a doorway or against a corner and raise the arm closest to the wall to shoulder-height. Your arm should be bent at the elbow. This posture resembles half of a football goal post. Rest your arm against the wall or doorframe, and use it to gently stretch your shoulder for 30 seconds. Turn your head and look in the opposite direction of your shoulder to intensify the stretch. Then switch to the opposite shoulder and repeat. Stretching five to 10 times daily will help loosen your chest muscles and allow your shoulders to retract. Once your neck is warmed up, start stretching it by laterally flexing your neck and head (bending it sideways) — try to bring your ear closer to your shoulder. Hold for 30 seconds and do both sides five to 10 times daily. Loosening your neck muscles will allow your shoulders to gradually lower. See a chiropractor. A chiropractor is a spinal specialist trained at assessing posture. Not only can they tell you if your posture is poor, but they can usually pinpoint the cause and offer natural solutions. Chiropractors can diagnose spinal abnormalities that cause misaligned shoulders (scoliosis, osteoporosis, hyperkyphosis), typically with x-rays. They can also make your spine more flexible and functional with manual joint manipulations called spinal adjustments. A chiropractor may apply joint manipulation to the middle back to relieve shoulder pain. The middle back is often overlooked as an area of focus for shoulder pain; however, recent research indicates that thoracic spine manipulation is effective for shoulder pain. A misaligned shoulder may also be due to a slight dislocation called a subluxation, where the joint is not quite aligned properly. Ask your chiropractor to check both shoulder joints in addition to your spine. Sometimes misaligned shoulders are due to issues lower in your body, such as a short leg or an unlevel pelvis. Adjusting the pelvis to realign it and adding a lift to your shoe can help balance your lower body, which positively impacts your upper body. Keep in mind that spinal adjustments can't reverse deformities such as scoliosis and are not indicated for an osteoporosis-related hyperkyphosis. Avoid poor posture. Poor body posture is essentially caused by habitually slouching forward while sitting or standing. Contrary to popular belief, your spine is not meant to be straight like a pole. A healthy spine has three natural curves, which makes it look like the letter S from the side. A forward curve at the neck meets an outward curve in the mid back, which blends into another forward curve in the low back. As such, from a side view, your shoulders should be in line with your hip joints (in the middle of your pelvis) and ankles. When sitting, standing, and walking, remind yourself to push your shoulders back, tighten your abdominal muscles, lift your chin up and keep your gaze straight ahead. Don't continually lean forward, look down or sit at crooked angles. Poor posture is particularly debilitating for children because their growing bones can be somewhat deformed from habitual slouching and misalignment. These postural deformities are very difficult to reverse in adulthood. Poor posture puts extra strain on muscles and joints, which can lead to chronic aches and pains and increase the risk of arthritis and injuries. Deal with shoulder injuries properly. Shoulder injuries from playing sports or other traumas, such as car accidents or falls, can also misalign your shoulder girdle and upper body. For example, dislocated shoulders, separated shoulders, upper arm or collarbone fractures, and various degrees of sprains and muscles tears can cause the shoulder joint to sag lower or jut forward more than it should. As such, make sure your shoulder injury is properly treated and fully healed before returning to activities that stress it. Physiotherapy is sometimes needed after a significant shoulder injury to regain full strength within the shoulder girdle muscles and attain full range of motion within the glenohumeral ("ball and socket") joint. Not being able to fully move and use your shoulder — due to chronic pain, an unhealed joint injury, arthritis — can quickly atrophy and shorten surrounding muscles. Tight, weak muscles then act to slowly pull the shoulder out of normal alignment. Ask your doctor if you have scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition of unknown cause that leads to an unnatural curve (deformity) of the spine, usually in the thoracic (mid back) region. One of the telltale signs of scoliosis is unlevel shoulders. Not only does one shoulder sit lower than the other, but the related shoulder blade often appears more prominent (sticks out more) than the other. Misaligned shoulders and upper bodies is usually what tips off a school nurse or family doctor that a child has scoliosis. Scoliosis appears and progresses during childhood (early teens), then stabilizes once adulthood is reached and the skeleton stops growing. Scoliosis is thought to be a little more common and have the potential to become more severe in young girls. If scoliosis is the cause of misaligned shoulders, then virtually nothing can be done to correct it. Instead, the focus should be on making sure the shoulder is strong and fully functional. Practicing good posture is especially important so the misalignment doesn't get worse. Try to prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, also called brittle bone disease, involves a lack of normal bone mineralization. Without enough minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and boron, bones are much more susceptible to breaking, particularly in the hip and spine. Compression-type fractures in the mid back (thoracic region) are most common, which tends to cause a humpback (hyperkyphosis) and push the shoulders and neck too far forward. Once the humpback forms, only corrective surgery can help realign the spine and shoulders. Osteoporosis is most common among elderly Caucasian and Asian women, especially those who are slender and inactive. To help prevent osteoporosis, make sure you get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, and exercise on a regular basis. Good sources of calcium include: low-fat dairy products, green leafy vegetables, canned salmon, tofu and fortified cereals and juices. | Strengthen your mid back. Make your thoracic spine more flexible. Stretch your chest and neck muscles. See a chiropractor. Avoid poor posture. Deal with shoulder injuries properly. Ask your doctor if you have scoliosis. Try to prevent osteoporosis. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Film-Director | How to Be a Film Director | To be a film director, start by watching films and trying to pick out mistakes in the acting, editing, or storyline so you can learn about filmmaking. Additionally, write a screenplay or ask a friend to write one for you, then make a short film so you can begin learning about the technical aspects of directing. You should also give yourself a part in the film, since the best way to learn how to direct actors is by getting experience acting. It may also be worthwhile to consider film school, where you can get experience and exposure to people already in the industry. | Watch films critically. You have probably seen lots of films if you are interested in becoming a film director, but you can start to use your film viewing experiences as a way to learn about film making. Watch as many films as you can and pay attention to the details. Try to count at least 15 mistakes in each film you watch. Look for acting errors, editing errors, storyline continuity errors, etc. Develop your awareness of storytelling as you watch films. Try watching movies with the sound off and pay attention to how the story unfolds through images as well. Or, you can also listen to the dialogue, soundtrack, and other sounds in a film to see how the story unfolds through what characters say. Start making short films. To become a director, it is important to get started right away and use any means necessary to make your own films. Get a camera if you don't already have one. Although a quality camera will help you to produce better quality films, start with any camera you can find. Write your own screenplay or work with a friend who writes. Get a group of friends together on the weekend and shoot scenes for a short film. Over time, you can edit the scenes together using a program like Adobe Premier. Making short films will force you to start learning the technical aspects of directing. You'll need to know how to edit, write, and do everything else, too. Making your own short films will give you a chance to wear multiple hats and develop different skill sets. Learn how to act. The best way to learn to direct actors is by getting experience acting, whether this is by acting in your own films or being part of a drama group. Learning more about acting and doing some acting yourself will give you a greater appreciation for the actors that you are working with and it may make it easier to communicate with them. Try to learn the lingo of actors. For example, you can learn about different acting strategies or techniques, such as classical acting and method acting. Read other people’s scripts. While you will probably start out writing your own scripts, you may need to work with other people's scripts later on. Reading scripts that other people have written is a good way to practice bringing someone else's story to life. When you read other people's scripts, try to think about the details of how you would shoot each scene. For example, if two people are having an argument in a scene, how would you position them? What camera angles would you use? What kind of lighting would you use? What sounds would be in the background? Consider going to film school. Though it's totally not required, film school is great for three things: forced experience, access to crews, and networking. Plenty have made it who did not go to film school, but plenty more have made it who have. You'll have access to internships, workshops, and, most importantly, names, names, names. If you have a project, you can get a crew handed to you and you can network by helping others out, too. Although highly competitive, NYU, USC, University of California at Los Angeles, AFI (Los Angeles), and California Institute of the Arts are some of the top schools. Several well-known directors have attended these schools, such as Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, George Lucas, John Singleton, Amy Heckerling, David Lynch, Terrence Malick, Francis Ford Coppola, and John Lasseter. Work as part of a production crew. Becoming a film director doesn't happen overnight. Most directors started out working as runners, camera operators, or performing other roles as part of a production crew. No job is too small. Whether it's filing paperwork, making sure the actors have their bagels, or watching over the camera equipment at night, it's a step in the right direction. If you're in film school, look into internships. If you're not, check your local Craigslist, get in the know with the creative types in your area, and offer to be of service. If you're amicable and trustworthy, people will want to work with you again. And the gigs will get bigger and better each time. A production company is more likely to give a chance to someone with five years of production assistant experience over some kid fresh out of film school. Try to find a production assistant job or another entry level production crew job and do your best. Start networking. Long story short, you won't become a director without a reel. That is the most important thing to have. That being said, this is definitely an industry where it's a lot easier to show said reel if you have an in. To get an in, you need to start networking right away. The more people you know, the more opportunities you will have. Attend industry events, such as mixers, conventions, parties, premiers, etc. Introduce yourself to people and try to develop good relationships with the people you meet. Offer to help out on future projects or invite others to work with you. Find other gigs to get by. On your path to become a film director, you will need to develop your resume with other types of directing jobs, like directing music videos, TV shows, and commercials. The paychecks you receive for these jobs won't be in the millions, but these jobs will help to fill out your resume with directing experience. Some of these gigs will pay well and you may even enjoy the work, so don't turn down a directing job just because it is for a commercial and not a feature length film. Make more advanced short films. Making short films with friends you have made in the industry is the quickest way to bulk up your reel. Work with the friends you've made, and with others who are also trying to break into the industry. Sometimes the budget will come out of your own pocket, sometimes it won't, but it's a necessary step on the ladder to success. . Enter your shorts into film festivals If you have a film you're particularly proud of, then you can enter it into a film festival. The great part about it is that you can enter a film festival anywhere. There are probably some film festivals in your state or region that you can participate in. Sundance receives 12,000 submissions per year, so it is competitive. You may want to start smaller and work your way up. Just make sure you meet the deadline and formatting requirements! Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" was discovered at Sundance Film Festival and Steven Spielberg stumbled upon a then unheard of film called "Paranormal Activity" at a film festival. Assemble your reel. Your reel, or portfolio, is what you'll be submitting to any project that's looking for a director, so it is important to make sure that it is impressive. Models submit their modeling portfolios, actors submit their headshots and resumes, and directors submit their reels. Your reel should include information about your education, professional experience, and films. Here's what you'll need: Information on your educational experience An accompanying resume showing your experience to date Your contact information Clips that also show your skills in editing, writing, animation and cinematography A list of film festivals participated in and awards won Miscellaneous experience -- music videos, commercials, animated shorts, TV shows, etc. Stills and storyboards showing your process Work on your people skills. Even after you become a director, you're not necessarily on the top of the totem pole. You'll have to work with lots of different people and sometimes people will clash with each other or with you. As the director, keeping everyone happy will often be your responsibility. Start working on your people skills early on so that you will be well-equipped to handle different problems and personalities later on. Keep in mind that you may have to deal with some really frustrating situations. Imagine that your producer calls you and tells you he doesn't like the scene you filmed at 5 AM in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas to get the exact perfect shot at the golden hour. The actress changed a few of her lines to give her character more depth and the money's gone. You'll spend the entire night reworking the script to make room for something that can be filmed tomorrow at the studio. Get an agent. Once you have a decent reel, an agent may want to represent you. An agent can negotiate your contracts for you and help you to decide what is and what is not in your best interest. However, you should never pay money up front to acquire an agent. An agent should only charge you if you make money as a result of his or her efforts. A large part of an agent's job will be to negotiate your "gross points." This is a fancy term for however much money the movie makes, you get X percent of it. When a movie makes $100, it's not that big of a deal. But imagine if your next movie rakes in $1 billion! Those gross points matter and they matter big time. Try not to get discouraged by a lack of recognition. Get ready to take none of the credit and all of the blame. When a movie does well, it's rare that the director gets seen as the reason why. But when a movie does poorly, it's always that the director gets blamed. If it's a flop, you'll be hard-pressed to get another parallel gig anytime soon. Even if a movie that you direct is successful, you may not get as much recognition as the actors in your film. Maybe not for you, but for the average Joe on the street, directors aren't seen as the amazing film visionaries they are. It's the actors that make the movie. So when it comes to the public, you'll go unappreciated. And when it comes to your crew, it's no different. If your movie is bad, your producers will blame you. If the actor is upset about how their hair looks, they'll blame you. It's a cycle you'll, best case scenario, grow to tolerate. Become a part of the union. After you have had a few directing jobs, you can become a part of the Director's Guild of America (DAG) (provided you're US based, of course). By becoming a member of DAG, you're guaranteed a $160,000 salary for 10 weeks. In most cases, you must be hired by a signatory company to be eligible. Or you make it big out of nowhere. The initial fee is a few thousand dollars and you pay minimal dues beyond that. It's completely worth it, especially if the projects are not constant. Enjoy your awesome job. After you achieve your goal, make sure that you enjoy and appreciate your job. It will be stressful sometimes, but it should also be quite satisfying. You will always be doing something different depending on the stage of the film that you are working on. In pre-production, you're translating the script into a movie. Something visual. You're figuring out all the logistics, the casting, and the real nuts and bolts of it all. This is arguably the most important. In production, you'll be doing what everyone pictures directors do. You'll let the actors know what you see for them and how you want the scene to play out. However, you'll also be on a massive time crunch to paint a masterpiece. It will be chaotic, but also thrilling. In post-production, you'll sit down with editing team and piece it all together. Make sure that you develop good relationships with your editors to ensure that you are on the same page. In post-production, you'll also figure out the music and all the other finer points to draw it all together. | Watch films critically. Start making short films. Learn how to act. Read other people’s scripts. Consider going to film school. Work as part of a production crew. Start networking. Find other gigs to get by. Make more advanced short films. . Assemble your reel. Work on your people skills. Get an agent. Try not to get discouraged by a lack of recognition. Become a part of the union. Enjoy your awesome job. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-Mouths | How to Draw Mouths | To draw a mouth, start by drawing a horizontal line with the ends tilted upwards. Next, sketch an arch above and below the horizontal line, making sure the arches stretch the length of the horizontal line. Make the top arch slightly smaller than the bottom arch and dip it at the top. Then, add short, vertical arched lines coming out of the horizontal line to add detail. Finally, color in the mouth with a red or pink color and add a little bit of shading to make it look natural. | Draw the line where both lips meet. This is the line where the bottom of the upper lip meets the top of the lower lip. The shape of this line is a little different on everyone, and it depends on what facial expression is being made. Generally, for a resting facial expression, this line has a slight upward curve on each side and a dip in the middle. Make the dip about the same length as the upward curving lines on the ends. Make the length of this line as wide as you want the lips to be. Outline the top of the upper lip. Start at the left end of the first line you drew, then draw a line at an upward angle, about 10-20°, to the right. Stop when you're above a little less than the halfway point on the first line you drew. Repeat on the right end of the first line you drew, this time drawing the angled line to the left. Finally, draw a shallow “U” shape between the ends of the angled lines. This will be the dip in the top of the upper lip. Sketch the bottom of the lower lip. Start at one end of the line where both lips meet. Then, draw a shallow “U” shaped line that stops at the other end of the line you started at. Generally, the lower lip is bigger than the upper lip (about 1 ½ times bigger). You can make the lower lip even bigger, or have it be the same size as the upper lip. To make the bottom lip bigger, make the “U” shaped line deeper. To make it smaller, make the “U” shaped line shallower. Add in the vertical creases on the lips. If you look at someone's lips, you'll notice they're not perfectly smooth. Lips have fine, vertical creases in them, which get more pronounced as people age. These lines will be more noticeable in the lower lip, so start there. Draw a series of around 10 lines that span across the lower lip. Repeat on the top lip, but draw fewer lines and make them shorter since they're usually less noticeable there. Vary the length of each line, and curve them slightly so the lines on the left half of the lips curve out to the left and the lines on the right half curve out to the right. Make the lines near the center of the lips relatively straight. Shade in the lips to add dimension. The right way to shade the lips will depend on the lighting. If the lighting is above the face, the shadows would fall at the bottom of each lip, so shade those areas the darkest. If the light is coming from the side of the face, one half of the lips would be darker (the half that's opposite the lighting) than the other half. For straight-on lighting, there wouldn't be very many shadows. In that case, the darkest part of the lips would be where the upper and lower lips meet. Generally, the brightest areas will be the portions of the lips that stick out the most, like the middle of the lower lip and the top of the upper lip. Leave these areas white. Shading will add highlights and shadows to the lips, making them look more realistic. Draw an outline of the mouth. Start by drawing a horizontal line with a shallow upward curve. Make this line as long as you want the width of the mouth to be. This will be the bottom of the upper lip. Next, starting at one end of that line, draw a “U” shaped line that ends at the opposite end you started at. Make the “U” shaped line deep enough that you'll be able to draw the teeth inside the mouth. Make the distance between the lowest point on the “U” shaped line and the center of the curved horizontal line about ⅓ the length of the curved horizontal line. At this point, the mouth will have a banana-like shape. Sketch the top of the upper lip. Start at one end of the curved horizontal line, and draw a shallow downward-curving line that ends slightly above the halfway point on the curved horizontal line. Then, repeat on the other side so the 2 downward-curving lines meet in the middle. Make the distance between that point and the halfway point on the curved horizontal line about ⅓ the height of the mouth. Outline the bottom of the lower lip. Start at one end of the curved horizontal line, and draw a “U” shaped line that ends on the opposite end. Leave a gap between this line and the first “U” shaped line you drew for the mouth. Make the gap progressively bigger the further away you get from the starting point. When you're halfway to the other side, make the gap progressively smaller until you reach the other end. Make the distance between the lowest point on this line and the lowest point on the first “U” shaped line you drew about ½ the height of the mouth. Draw partial rectangles across the length of the mouth for the teeth. Start by drawing a partial rectangle in one corner of the mouth. Don't draw the top of the rectangle since that's where the gums will go. Round out the bottom two corners of the rectangle, and angle the bottom edge so it's parallel with the top of the lower lip. Draw another partial rectangle directly next to it, but make this one slightly taller. Repeat this process until you're done drawing the first front tooth. Now, do the same thing on the other half of the mouth. Draw the same number of teeth on each half, about 5-6. Draw an arc above each tooth for the gums. Start with the tooth at one end of the mouth, and draw a shallow arc over it. Have the peak of the arc line up with the bottom of the upper lip. Repeat for the rest of the teeth. Shade in the gums and mouth. Shading will give your drawing dimension and make it look more real. Use a pencil to shade in the inner portion of the mouth, or the blank space under the teeth and above the lower lip, as dark as you can. Then, fill in the gums a few shades lighter than that. Add creases to the lips. To add creases the lips, which will make them look more realistic, draw a series of curved vertical lines across the length of each lip. Vary the lengths of the lines, and have some start at the top of each lip and some start at the bottom. Make the lines on the left half of the lips curve out to the left, and make the lines on the right half of the lips curve out to the right. Make about 10 creases on each lip. Shade in the lips to finish your drawing. Light casts shadows and highlights on the lips, and you can capture these different shadows and highlights using shading. Shade in the ends of the lips at the corners of the mouth, the bottom of the top lip, and the top and bottom of the lower lip. Make this shade darker than the gums but lighter than the inner mouth. Leave the top of the upper lip and the middle of the lower lip white or just slightly shaded since those areas will have the most highlights. | Draw the line where both lips meet. Outline the top of the upper lip. Sketch the bottom of the lower lip. Add in the vertical creases on the lips. Shade in the lips to add dimension. Draw an outline of the mouth. Sketch the top of the upper lip. Outline the bottom of the lower lip. Draw partial rectangles across the length of the mouth for the teeth. Draw an arc above each tooth for the gums. Shade in the gums and mouth. Add creases to the lips. Shade in the lips to finish your drawing. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Letter-Requesting-a-Favor | How to Write a Letter Requesting a Favor | To write a letter requesting a favor, start by introducing yourself if the recipient doesn't know who you are. Then, politely and clearly state the favor you need by saying something like "I would be grateful if you would let me borrow your tools so I can fix my truck." Make sure you provide all of the details that they would need to fulfill your request, including any relevant deadlines. Also, say something like "I understand if you're not able to do this" so the recipient doesn't feel pressured. | Identify the proper person for the request. Many times, part of making a request is finding out who the right person to contact is. Generally, you should ask the person most qualified to fulfill your request, and it may take some work to find out who that is. If you are writing to ask a favor of a company, then you might need to call the company secretary to identify the appropriate person. Get this person's full name, address, phone number and title. You might need to write a different request letter to ask someone who you should write to. In this case, still follow these steps for writing a request letter. Learn the format for a business letter. Your request letter should use the proper business letter format, as it is likely a formal request. This applies whether you're sending an email or a hard copy letter. Become familiar with the following format and be sure to use it when writing your letter. Place your name, title, and address on the top left of the paper. Place the date below this. Put the person's name, title, and address below this. Address the person appropriately. Start with "Dear Mr." or "Dear Mrs." Have 1-inch margins around the paper and use single spacing. Don't indent, just use a double space in between paragraphs. Use an easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman or Arial, in 12-point font. End with "Sincerely," then leave 4 lines so you can manually sign your name. Below this, type your name and title. Leave enough time for the request. Keep in mind that whoever you're writing to probably has other tasks to complete, so your request may take some time to get to. If your request is time-sensitive, be sure to give the recipient a enough advance notice to process it. Generally, allowing a week for requests is a good guideline, though bigger tasks could very well take longer. For example, you wouldn't ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher 2 days before it's due. That is an unreasonable request. If you'd planned ahead, you'd know that such requests usually require 2 weeks to fulfill. Use a proper greeting. The recipient of the letter should be greeted and addressed properly. "Dear" is the accepted opening for this style of letter. Openings like "Hi" or "Hello" are inappropriate and unprofessional for a business letter. Use Mr., Mrs., and Ms. as appropriate. Never use only someone's first name. If you're unsure of a person's gender, use the full name in the greeting instead of Mr. or Mrs. For example, "Dear Casey Smith." Introduce yourself. If this is an unsolicited request, the recipient will need to know who's making the request. Make a brief introduction of yourself, such as your job/position or affiliated organization. This will help your reader understand who is making the request. Your introduction can only be a sentence or two. You don't need to provide a biography, you just need to give the recipient an idea of who you are. Introducing yourself has two advantages. First, it's polite. Remember, whoever you're writing to probably doesn't have to grant your request, so good manners will show that you've put thought and effort into contacting him or her. Second, identifying yourself will help the recipient understand who you are and better process your request. If you've met the person before, it might help to remind him or her. For example, you might write: “We met last week at the sports banquet. I was pleased to make your acquaintance.” State the favor you're asking. After introducing yourself, start a second paragraph. Politely, but clearly, state the favor you need. Also fill in any necessary details the recipient will need to meet your request, like dates and times. Don't: demand help with "I need your help" or "I heard you could do this for me" Do: request help with "Would it be possible..." or "I would be grateful if you would..." Keep it simple. Don't go crazy with detail. You should be able to make your request in a few sentences. What's most important is that what you need is clearly stated. Don't: include unnecessary flattery or apology. Do: cover all necessary info, such as the time frame. Tell your recipient why the favor is important. In certain cases, you might need to convince the recipient that he or she should grant your request. This should also go in the second paragraph. Have all your supporting evidence ready and briefly state why this request is important, and why granting it would help the recipient. For example, you might be requesting that a company sponsor an event you're putting on. You could stress that the company will receive good exposure by doing this. You could say: "If you were to provide the necessary funding, we will announce your company at the event as an official sponsor. This will give you exposure to the community and identify your company with a good cause." Don't: pressure someone with "This is extremely important." or "It would really mean the world to me." Do: provide specific info such as a deadline or a concrete incentive. Offer to provide assistance to the recipient. Always demonstrate your willingness to work with the recipient. A simple statement like "Please let me know if you need any more information" can show the recipient that you're willing to work together and be as much help as you can be. Don't: pressure the reader with references to past favors you've done. Do: acknowledge "I understand if you're not able to do this." Close the letter politely. When you've stated your request and provided all the necessary information the recipient may need, then close on a polite note. Thank the recipient for considering your request, and say that you look forward to hearing back. Then end with a proper salutation like "Sincerely." For example: "Thank you very much for your time in considering this request. I look forward to hearing back from you on this matter. Sincerely, John Smith." Proofread your letter before sending it. Never send a letter without proofreading, especially a formal business letter. Any spelling or grammar errors will make your letter look unprofessional, and could decrease your chances of having your request granted. Read your letter at least two more times before sending. That way, you can catch any mistakes you might've made. Just because you're typing your letter doesn't mean that your spelling and grammar check will catch everything. Never rely exclusively on these programs. You still need to proofread the old fashioned way. | Identify the proper person for the request. Learn the format for a business letter. Leave enough time for the request. Use a proper greeting. Introduce yourself. State the favor you're asking. Keep it simple. Tell your recipient why the favor is important. Offer to provide assistance to the recipient. Close the letter politely. Proofread your letter before sending it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Subpoena-Bank-Records | How to Subpoena Bank Records | To subpoena bank records, first contact the court presiding over your case and request the forms for your state. Follow the form's instructions and provide the requested information, which includes your case's legal name and number, the names and addresses of the bank you want to serve and the court where the documents should be sent, the date and time the records should be sent by, the specific records you want produced, and your name as the requesting party. Finally, visit the court where your case is pending and get your subpoena signed. | Obtain the proper subpoena form. A subpoena for records is called a subpoena duces tecum or a subpoena to produce documents. While the words "duces tecum" are often used in state court to tell someone the subpoena is for records, it is not always used. In federal court, it is simply called a subpoena to produce documents. Call or visit the court where your case is pending and ask for a subpoena form. You can also visit you're the court's website to see if the form is there. If your case is in Federal Court, you can find the subpoena form at the Federal Court website. If your case is in state court be aware that, in some states, there are different subpoena forms for subpoenaing records or subpoenaing a person to appear. Make sure the form you get is the form for subpoenaing documents (not people). Also be aware that in some states you will use a subpoena for business records form. For example, in California, if you want to subpoena bank records, you will have to fill out a form for the production of business records. There may be different forms for different types of cases in your state. For example, your case could be a civil, criminal or family court matter. Take care to get the proper subpoena for the type of case you have. There are different types of courts. For example, there are circuit courts (federal and state), family courts, civil courts and chancery courts in some states, that may have different forms. , Make sure you go to the court where your case is pending to obtain the form. Fill in the subpoena form. The form includes blanks and clear instructions for completing it. Take care to follow the instructions and complete the form. The information you need to input on the form includes: Legal name of your court case and the case number Name and address of the bank or corporation you want to serve with the subpoena It could be the opposing party or a third-party bank. You should serve the person at the bank who oversees the department that has the documents you need. If you do not already have the person's name, you will need to do some research to identify who that person is. Alternatively, you can serve the registered agent of service for the bank, if you cannot find a person to subpoena. Name and address of the court where the documents should be sent Since the court is issuing the subpoena, the records will be returned to the court. Date and time the records should be sent by – keep in mind the date typically cannot be sooner than 14 business days after the service date Specify the records you want produced Typically, these types of documents are requested from banks: bank statements, deposit tickets, signature cards, cancelled checks, loan documents, mortgage documents, investment documents and correspondence. It is extremely important that you describe the documents with enough specificity for the bank to produce them. If the bank does not know what to look for they will not give you any documents. For example, if you are looking for a bank statement, describe the statement using the person's name, bank account number, and routing number. Your name as the requesting party. Visit the court where your case is pending and get your subpoena signed. The clerk of courts or deputy clerk of court generally signs subpoenas. Present your completed form to the clerk and request his or her signature. In some states, the clerk of courts doe not need to sign off on the subpoena at all. Serve the subpoena on parties to the case, first. Under Federal law and in many states, before you can serve the subpoena on the bank, you must serve the subpoena on the other parties to your case. Find the right person to serve the subpoena on the bank. The person serving the subpoena must be over 18 years old and can not be a party to your lawsuit. For a fee of about $50, you can hire a professional process server to serve your subpoena. Identify the person at the bank who should receive the subpoena. The subpoena should be served on the person at the bank who oversees the department that has the documents. You may need to do some online or phone research to determine who that person is. If you cannot identify a person to serve, then you should serve it on the bank's registered agent for service. You can typically find this information on the secretary of state's website or by doing an online search of the bank. If you are doing a generic online search, try searching for the bank's name followed by "agent for service" or "office where subpoenas for records should be sent." If you cannot find anyone by doing these things, call the bank. Serve the subpoena through your process server. Your process server will need to deliver the subpoena by hand to the bank representative. If you were unable to find a person to subpoena, the process server will need to personally serve the bank's registered agent for service. Complete and file the proof of service. The person who served the subpoena should complete the proof of service page of the subpoena. He or she will have to fill in the name of the person served, the date served, his or her fee for serving and an attestation, under oath, that the information is true. , After completion, the server should file the proof of service page with the court. Know the costs associated with getting the records. Generally, the party requesting the documents will have to pay for their production. These costs will include the cost of finding the documents and the cost of copying the documents. Because of this, it is incredibly important to narrow the scope of your request as much as possible. If your request is too broad, you may have to pay a lot of money to have documents found and copied. In some cases, if your request is too time-consuming or expensive to fulfill, the bank will call you and ask about reducing the request. Wait for approximately two weeks. Most subpoenas give subpoenaed parties two weeks to produce the records. Make a note to contact the court after two weeks, to see if the bank has produced the records. , Check to see if your subpoenaed records arrived. Your records may arrive in a number of different locations depending on the type of case you are a part of and how you asked for the records to be produced. In California, you can ask for paper or digital copies, which can be sent to you at your office. In some cases, for example criminal cases, documents are often sent to the court and can be examined there. In other circumstances, the bank may call you and tell you the documents are ready to be examined at the bank. The manner in which subpoenaed documents will get to you varies drastically from state to state. You should ask the bank how they plan on delivering the documents so you know what to expect. Be aware that the bank may object to the subpoena and file a Motion to Quash it. If this happens, you should receive a copy of the motion from the bank. The court will schedule a hearing to resolve the dispute. Be prepared to present to the court all of the reasons you need the bank records to prove your case. The court will make a decision whether, by law, you are entitled to obtain the documents. When a party submits a motion to quash, they are objecting to the idea that they should have to produce the documents in question. While there are many reasons to object to a subpoena, some common reasons for doing so include the argument that the information is privileged and the argument that the records are not relevant to the case. When an opposing party or the bank files a motion to quash, you will have to respond with a motion of your own. When you respond, you will have to explain why the records are relevant and why the law allows you to subpoena them. If you have hired an attorney, they will do this for you. In addition, the attorney will go to any required hearings on the issue. | Obtain the proper subpoena form. Fill in the subpoena form. Visit the court where your case is pending and get your subpoena signed. Serve the subpoena on parties to the case, first. Find the right person to serve the subpoena on the bank. Identify the person at the bank who should receive the subpoena. Serve the subpoena through your process server. Complete and file the proof of service. Know the costs associated with getting the records. Wait for approximately two weeks. Check to see if your subpoenaed records arrived. Be aware that the bank may object to the subpoena and file a Motion to Quash it. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Pink-Lemonade | How to Make Pink Lemonade | To make pink lemonade, mix 1 cup of sugar and 4 1/2 cups of water and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Next, pour the sugar and water mixture into a pitcher, stir in 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice and 2 cups of cranberry juice, and mix all the liquid ingredients together until they are well-combined. Then, add some thin slices or chunks of fruit, like strawberries or raspberries. Alternatively, garnish with thin lemon slices or mint leaves, then chill the lemonade in the fridge before serving. | Mix the sugar and water. Stir 1 cup (240 mL) white sugar into 4½ cups (1125 mL) water until it dissolves. If you are using granulated sugar instead of superfine sugar, you might need to warm the mixture up slightly on the stove to help it dissolve. If you like your lemonade sour, use ⅔ cup (160 mL) sugar instead. Mix together the liquid ingredients. In a jug that can hold at least 2½ quarts (2½ liters), mix the water and sugar mixture into 1½ cups (375 mL) lemon juice and 2 cups (500 mL) cranberry juice or other red fruit juice. If you like your lemonade sweet, use 1 cup (240 mL) lemon juice instead. If you do not have red fruit juice, you can replace it with water. The fruit alone will only add a little color, so add a couple drops of red food coloring as well. Add the fruit. Strawberries can be cut into thin slices or chunks and added directly to the pitcher. If using raspberries, mash them in a separate bowl first to release the juice, then strain it over the lemonade through cheesecloth, muslin, or a fine mesh strainer. You can skip this if you added red fruit juice, but the fruit will add additional flavor and a fresh appearance. Let frozen fruit thaw for a few minutes first. Raspberries add much more color than strawberries. Frozen raspberries add more than fresh raspberries, since the ice crystals rupture the fruit. Chill, garnish, and serve. Keep the pitcher in the fridge until ready to serve. Optionally, garnish the pitcher with thin slices of lemon and a few mint leaves. Combine fruit, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Combine ¾ cup (180 mL) raspberries or strawberries, 1 cup (240 mL) water, and 1 cup (240 mL) white sugar in a medium saucepan. If using frozen fruit, let them thaw for ten minutes before you begin. Bring to a boil, stirring in the sugar. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat on the stovetop and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is steaming or gently boiling, stir it until the sugar is completely dissolved. This simple syrup should keep the sugar completely dissolved, so there's no risk of ending up with a pile of sugar in your lemonade glass. Simmer the mixture. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the mixture until the fruit starts to fall apart. This usually takes 10 to 12 minutes for raspberries and about 20 minutes for strawberries. If the syrup isn't pink yet, stir the fruit and press it against the sides. Strain the mixture into a pitcher. Pour the syrup mixture through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Press the fruit against the mesh with the back of the spoon to release more juice and color. Let the mixture cool. Let the syrup cool for about 15 minutes. Place it uncovered in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes after that. Squeeze the lemons while you wait, if you're squeezing the lemon juice yourself. Mix the syrup with the rest of the water and lemon juice. Add 1½ cups (355 mL) lemon juice and 3½ cups (830 mL) water to the pitcher containing the syrup and stir thoroughly. You may want to add the water and lemon juice ½ cup (120 mL) at a time, tasting in between to see whether you want more lemon juice or more water. Chill before serving. If you're not planning to drink the lemonade for a few hours, leave a fresh-picked basil leaf or two to soak and add more flavor to the pink lemonade. Remove the soggy leaf and replace it with a fresh garnish before serving. | Mix the sugar and water. Mix together the liquid ingredients. Add the fruit. Chill, garnish, and serve. Combine fruit, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring in the sugar. Simmer the mixture. Strain the mixture into a pitcher. Let the mixture cool. Mix the syrup with the rest of the water and lemon juice. Chill before serving. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Flaxseed | How to Drink Flaxseed | Flaxseed is a superfood that's high in fiber and antioxidants. To make a flaxseed drink, all you need are ground flaxseed, water, and lemon juice. First, grind up 1 teaspoon of flaxseeds with a mortar and pestle. Then, soak the ground flaxseeds in 1 cup of water for 2 hours. You'll know it's ready to drink when the water turns to a gel-like consistency. After this happens, strain the flaxseeds out and add a little lemon juice for flavor. You can also blend flaxseeds in a smoothie for a nutrient boost or brew flaxseeds in tea. Just make sure you don't drink more than 1 flaxseed drink a day since more than that can cause digestive issues. | Drink only 1 cup (250 mL) of flaxseed water per day. Drinking too much flaxseed water won't kill you, but it can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea (in extreme cases). It's generally recommended that you only drink 1 cup (250 ml) of flaxseed water a day. This contains the most amount of nutrients that your body can digest each day, so if you go over it you are just wasting flaxseed water. Grind up 1 tsp (5 g) of flaxseed in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. If you bought whole flax seeds, you must grind them up before you eat them so your body can more easily digest the nutrients contained within. Grind your flax seeds , and set them to the side. If you have pre-ground flaxseeds, then don't worry about grinding them up again. This only applies to whole flaxseeds. Prepare 1 cup (250 ml) of warm or cold water, depending on your preference. It doesn't matter what temperature you make the water, but remember that when the flaxseeds are done soaking you will drink the liquid that remains, so make it at whatever temperature you prefer to drink. You can also add flaxseed water to drinks rather than drinking it straight. If you plan to do this, opt for warm water as it may extract more nutrients from the flaxseeds. Soak the ground flaxseed in the water for 2 hours, or until gel-like. Add 1 tsp (5 g) of ground flaxseed into 1 cup (250ml) of water and stir it gently for just a few moments to prevent it from bunching up. Then, let it sit until it takes on a gel-like consistency before continuing. If you notice that the water has started to turn to a gel-like consistency before the time is up, it's probably ready for you to drink. You can also soak the flaxseeds overnight, but this is better for mixing the water into other recipes than for drinking straight as it tends to be much more gel-like and have a much stronger flavor. Strain the flaxseeds out then drink the water left over. If you don't mind having a little crunch in your drink, feel free to leave the flaxseeds in the water. Otherwise pour the liquid out into another container through a colander. If your ground flaxseed is especially fine, you may not be able to strain too much out. This is not the worst thing, though, as the grounds will give you a boost of nutrients! If you plan to use the water in blended drinks, leave the flaxseeds in, as these will be ground up and disintegrate in the blender. If you are adding it to a non-blended drink, remove the grounds, if you so desire. You can store flaxseed water for a few days, but it won't last long. It's best to drink it as soon as it's ready. Add lemon juice to flaxseed water for a zesty option. Flaxseed water has a bit of an odd taste to some, so to make it more palatable without changing the recipe too much mix 1 cup (250 ml) of flaxseed water with about 1–3 tsp (4.9–14.8 ml) of lemon juice, depending on how much you like lemon juice. Lemon juice is great for weight loss and indigestion, which compounds with the digestive benefits of flaxseeds. Brew flaxseed tea to create a hot, comforting drink. Mix 1 tsp (5 g) of ground flaxseed with 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water, then wait for about 10 minutes or until it reaches a comfortable temperature to drink. If you'd prefer to not have grounds in your tea, strain them out before you start to drink it. Drop a tea bag in the hot water as well to mask some of the flaxseed flavor. Herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile work best, and have a well known relaxing effect. Lemon tea or ginger tea are known to be good for your health as well. Mix flaxseed water or oil with your choice of juice for a nutritional boost. Flaxseed water and flaxseed oil are perfect to add to juice as the unusual flavors are easily masked by fruit and veggie flavors. Choose your favorite type of juice and mix it with about 1/2 cup (125 ml) of flaxseed water or 1 tbsp (15 ml) of flaxseed oil. Sweet juices, like mango juice, apple juice, or pineapple juice are great as the sweet flavors mask the sometimes off-putting flavor of the flaxseed water. Blend flaxseed into a smoothie for a tasty and sweet choice. Sweet smoothies in particular are perfect to mix with flaxseeds as their strong, sugary flavors sharply counteract the flavors of the seeds. Use whole flaxseeds to preserve the fiber content, or flaxseed water or flaxseed oil if you don't want any chunks in your smoothie. Pineapple, mango, and berry smoothies are particularly popular options. If you prefer green spinach smoothies or veggie-based smoothies, you can mix flaxseeds into that as well, although their flavor may not be covered up as well. Opt for a commercial brand of flaxseed drink for a quick option. If you don't have the time to make your own drinks at home, or perhaps don't trust your culinary skill to make it taste good, you can always add flaxseed to your diet with drinks available at your local grocery store. Look in the health food section and the beverage section to find a pre-made juice, smoothie, or other drink that sounds appetizing to you. One benefit of commercially available flaxseed drinks is that they are usually balanced in nutrients, and often contain additional nutrients to supplement your diet. It may cost more than making it yourself, but store-bought drinks nearly always taste great and will give you the same benefits as homemade concoctions. | Drink only 1 cup (250 mL) of flaxseed water per day. Grind up 1 tsp (5 g) of flaxseed in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Prepare 1 cup (250 ml) of warm or cold water, depending on your preference. Soak the ground flaxseed in the water for 2 hours, or until gel-like. Strain the flaxseeds out then drink the water left over. Add lemon juice to flaxseed water for a zesty option. Brew flaxseed tea to create a hot, comforting drink. Mix flaxseed water or oil with your choice of juice for a nutritional boost. Blend flaxseed into a smoothie for a tasty and sweet choice. Opt for a commercial brand of flaxseed drink for a quick option. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Thinking-About-Sex | How to Stop Thinking About Sex | If you want to stop thinking about sex, keep in mind that this is a natural part of life and you don't need to feel bad about it. However, if you want to distract yourself from sexual thoughts, try taking up a new hobby or interest to fill your time. For example, write a story, paint a picture, or learn to play an instrument to give your mind something else to focus on. You can also go for a jog or exercise at the gym, since this releases chemicals called endorphins, which can help reduce your sexual energy. If you still find yourself thinking about sex, try preparing a list of unsexy things, like puppies, sports, or cars, that you can think about instead. | Understand and anticipate categories of triggers. While it might be easy to identify specific triggers or situational triggers, such as those above, try to see if you can isolate patterns to your triggers. This understanding can help you become more proactive about the types of things to avoid when trying to decrease sexual thoughts. Do your triggers tend to be more visual or more verbal? Men, for example, tend to be more turned on by visual stimuli, while women might be more affected by verbal ones. Know your own particular triggers. If a particular person, time of day, or emotion always leads you to distracting thoughts about sex, learn to identify those triggers that drag your mind into the gutter. Create a list of your triggers. Maybe you always think about sex: First thing in the morning. During a particular class, like gym, yoga, etc. On the bus. When you're supposed to be studying or working. When you're around the opposite/same sex. In bed. Make it difficult to look at pornography. While it might seem like a way to satisfy sexual urges temporarily, developing an unhealthy reliance on or relationship with pornography could spiral into more and more sexual thoughts, making it very hard to get free of their grip. Get rid of pornographic videos, magazines, calendars, and other materials in your house and, to the best of your ability, avoid watching it. If you have a firewall guard in your computer, try to enable parental controls, and put the profile to teen so you won't accidentally stumble across any pornography. Parental controls don't have to be just for kids, of course, and you can set them up on all your browsers and other devices. Keep a list of unsexy topics. This is basically what you consider the opposite of sexy. You could try turning yourself off by training yourself to think of unsexy things when your mind drifts into sexual territory. Anything that you would consider an unsexy mental diversion could work here. Try thinking about neutral pleasant topics like scenic outdoor views, underwater scenes, puppies, sports bloopers, or chess strategy. You could think of cold-related topics like big and bulky clothing, snow, or winter. Replace your triggers with other thoughts and topics. Get in your own way and don't allow yourself to think about sex by focusing on these other things. It will become second nature before too long. Find something to do immediately as a diversion. If you're always dwelling on sex during idle bus rides, for example, make a special effort to do something else during your ride, like finishing some homework, reading a new book, or talking to a friend. Or, if you start thinking about sex at boring points in a class, a meeting, or at work, for example, you might start taking notes. By keeping your pen moving, you'll have to stay focused on the conversation at hand and not what's going on in your mind. Keep discussion topics top of mind. If you can't run into a particular person without thinking about sex and getting embarrassed, come up with three specific things you want to ask them next time you see them. You could also come up with more thought-provoking topics that apply to most people, such as those surrounding current events, global affairs, the environment, or even politics. Make a commitment to yourself. Make a minimum goal to curb your sexual thoughts so that they don't distract you from your other daily activities, such as work or school, and commit to it. If you need help remembering your commitment, wear a piece of jewelry or a simple string around your wrist that will remind you to power through the temptation to get lost in sexual thought. Tell someone about your goal. Telling a trusted friend or family member about your efforts is a good way to help you stay accountable. Have them check in with you regularly to see that you're doing okay and to provide help or suggestions, if needed. Reward yourself for keeping your commitment. This should be pretty straightforward. You could reward yourself with a favorite dessert, a shopping trip, or something else you like. Don't beat yourself up. Thinking about sex is a big part of adolescence and adulthood, and you don't need to feel guilty about it. The only way sexual thoughts become a problem is if you can't focus on what you want to think about. Remember that it's not always going to be difficult, and the present urge will pass. Make specific plans. Fill idle time in your schedule by planning things in advance. Everyone needs time to relax, but finding yourself with hours of time on your hands might lead to backsliding and thinking about sex too much. Schedule your day full with events and activities to better yourself. Leave a bit of time at the end of the day for reflection and relaxation, but not so much that you'll get bored or that your mind will wander toward sex. Be creative. Translate your sex drive into creative energy. Take the time you'd usually spend thinking about sex and instead devote it to a creative hobby. If it's something you really enjoy, it can provide you with an alternate avenue for catharsis and satisfaction, keeping your mind busy and occupied. Writing, including journaling. Singing, playing a musical instrument, or spinning. Painting, drawing, or sculpting. Knitting or sewing. Pick up a book or movie. Getting lost in an engrossing book or movie is fun in and of itself, but it can also be an easy, low-energy way to avoid sexual thoughts, particularly in the short term. Be sure to find a movie that won't remind you of sex, and stay clear of steamy romance novels or sexy illustrations. Most animated, action, adventure, thriller, or mystery films and books could work here. Go to a show or exhibit. This will keep your mind occupied with other things and could be a lot of fun. Going with friends is even better as they can further distract you. Plus, you can talk with them about the event afterward and what you thought of it. Consider attending a live performance, such as a concert, musical, play, lecture, or reading. You might also go to a museum, a new exhibit, an aquarium, or a zoo. Remember to eat. Sexual thoughts or dissatisfaction might come from another sort of dissatisfaction: hunger. So, don't to skip meals. Try to eat three, healthy balanced meals per day, and remember to hydrate as well, particularly during hot weather. To keep your mind sharp enough to ward off sexual thoughts, try eating brain foods like celery, spinach, walnuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, beets, and even dark chocolate! Exercise. Obviously, exercising is healthy itself, but it also does a few specific things that help damper sexual preoccupations. Exercise can be engrossing and distracting, and when you work out hard enough, other distractions have a tendency of receding into the background. Exercise provides a natural endorphin rush. Endorphins provide a generally good feeling, and help relieve depression. During sex, endorphins are also released, along with other chemicals like the hormone oxytocin. Ergo, exercise can be a good substitute for sexual activity. Take up a team sport. While playing an individual sport, you may have difficulty getting away from your own thoughts. With team sports, you're much less likely to have this problem because they are social activities. Choose the right type of sport and team. Of course, you may still be attracted to someone else on your team or in your league, but you should be able to determine whether the benefits of playing outweigh the risk of worsening your thoughts about sex. You might also try joining a single-sex team or a different league, for example. Sleep restfully. When you're tired, you might have trouble focusing. Lack of sleep reduces your alertness and concentration, and it can affect your mood. So, you'll have difficulty preventing your mind from wandering to sex, and it will be harder to implement the sex-free thought practices above. Make sure your bed is comfortable and that you're getting eight hours of sleep and deep sleep or REM sleep. Communicate with your partner. If you're in a relationship, communication is a key part of cultivating a healthy sex life. Getting thoughts out in the open is also a good way to keep them from growing or festering in your head, and it can improve your sex life instead. If you're sexually active, communicate with your partner to maintain a healthy and open sexual relationship that keeps you both fulfilled. Communication doesn't have to be just verbal, either. You can write your partner notes. As a couple, you could also read a book together or watch a film that shows or articulates your thoughts. And if you're reluctant to communicate with your partner about sex, remember that communication itself is a turn on. If you're not sexually active, it's equally important to communicate. If you're thinking about sex more than you'd like to even though you're not sexually active, is it because there's something lacking or frustrating about your sex life? Talk to your partner openly and truthfully. You also want to make sure your expectations are aligned with your partners. You should know if and when, for example, your partner wants to begin having sex, and he should know when you want to have sex as well. Think of sex in romantic terms. If you are in a relationship, use your sexual drive to act in a loving and caring manner toward your partner. Be romantic instead of strictly sexual, per se. That way, you can build the emotional intimacy you share with each other. Develop healthy attitudes and practices about masturbation. With masturbation, there's nothing to feel guilty about, especially if it helps keep your sexual thoughts and urges in check. Abstaining might even worsen your urges. If you're constantly thinking about finding a sexual partner, you can date regularly yet keep yourself partially sexually satisfied through masturbation. This can help free your mind to focus on more important things. Just make sure masturbation doesn't turn into a new addiction , however. Remember that it’s not all about sex. Any topic that you think about too much or obsess over can seem all-consuming, and while sex is important and seems omnipresent, life is not entirely reduced to sex and sexual desires. You're a complicated, multi-faceted person. So, honor your various thoughts, interests, and abilities. Talk to a trusted family member. Even though parents may seem like dinosaurs when you get to your teenage years, your parents have been there before. If you're a teen, talking to a parent you feel comfortable with can, if not solve your problem, at least help you to feel more comfortable and normal. Thinking about sex is a common struggle for teenagers and talking about it can help. Talk to other family members. If you do not wish to speak with your parents, consider talking to an older sibling or a cousin. They might be able to relate to you better since they're closer in age. Tell a trusted friend about your problem. As terrifying as this may sound, it is one of the most powerful and effective approaches. If you are lucky enough to know someone who is not judgmental and will understand and appreciate your goal, talk to them about how you are doing. Having a frank conversation when you feel compelled to think or act in ways you would rather not can be a reassuring source on ongoing support. Talk to a religious advisor or counselor. If you're struggling with sexual urges as a part of your commitment to a particular faith, get help from your pastor or another religious leader. This is a common issue and you shouldn't feel embarrassed to bring it up. They have heard this and much more before, and can help you keep your challenges in perspective. Consult a therapist or guidance counselor. This could include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or and other types of therapists. Some specialists charge a fee, of course, but look to see if your insurance covers all or part of your visits. If you're a student or have comprehensive workplace benefits, you may be able to consult a specialist at little or no cost. Whether you pay or not, your visit and specific concerns will be kept confidential, and your therapist can explain confidentiality further with you. Knowing how to address any obsessive thought, sexual or otherwise, is something they can help you learn to deal with. There is also much less of a stigma today to speaking with therapists, and you might be surprise about the people who regularly see a specialist. So, you shouldn't hesitate for social reasons about visiting one. If you suspect your overwhelming thoughts may be a kind of sexual addiction , seek help from a licensed sex therapist and treat those symptoms as well. Don't let an obsession turn into destructive or dangerous behavior. | Understand and anticipate categories of triggers. Know your own particular triggers. Make it difficult to look at pornography. Keep a list of unsexy topics. Replace your triggers with other thoughts and topics. Make a commitment to yourself. Don't beat yourself up. Make specific plans. Be creative. Pick up a book or movie. Go to a show or exhibit. Remember to eat. Exercise. Take up a team sport. Sleep restfully. Communicate with your partner. Think of sex in romantic terms. Develop healthy attitudes and practices about masturbation. Remember that it’s not all about sex. Talk to a trusted family member. Tell a trusted friend about your problem. Talk to a religious advisor or counselor. Consult a therapist or guidance counselor. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Sell-Furniture-Online | How to Sell Furniture Online | To sell furniture online, choose a popular classifieds website such as Letgo, Viyet, or Craigslist. Then, create your post by writing an accurate description of the piece, including how big it is, what material it's made of, and what condition it's in. Additionally, take a picture of your furniture in an uncluttered, well-lit space to accompany the ad. In order to price your piece, use an online calculator or list it at 20%-50% of the original price. | Choose a popular site to post your listing on. There are many different classifieds websites and apps out there that you can sell your furniture on. The more popular the site is, the more exposure your listing will get. Opt for sites that you've heard about to give your furniture the best chance to sell. Letgo and Etsy are examples of popular sites that people use to buy and sell items. Go with a site that doesn’t charge you for listings. Many sites will charge you a fee for each of your listings, while others take a percentage of each of your sales. In order to pocket as much money as you can, avoid these sites and instead opt for ones that allow you to list for free. Craigslist and Facebook are a couple of the most popular sites that allow you to list for free. However, there are also many less popular options, including: FreeAdsTime Oodle OLX.com Pick a site that’s specifically used for selling furniture. Because it has become more popular to buy and sell items online, there are now not only sites where all kinds of items are for sale, but also sites where only specific items are for sale. Consider going with a site made specifically for furniture sales to get the best luck, as potential buyers visiting these sites are usually looking to buy furniture. Some of these sites include Move Loot and Viyet. Set up a profile if the site requires you to. Often, buyers will trust you more if you include a picture and a provide some information about yourself. Plus, many sites have review systems, where you can leave reviews for buyers and buyers can leave reviews for you. Create a new post. The way to create new listings varies based on which site you're using. However, most sites have an easily accessible button that you can click on in order to be redirected to a page where you can enter in a new product description and photos. Click on any button you see that says something like “New Post” or “Create a Listing.” On Letgo, this button reads, “Sell My Stuff.” Write an accurate description of the furniture. include all the basic information about the furniture in the description, such as how big it is and what material it's made out of. The buyer wants to know as much information about the piece as you can provide. For example, if you're selling a kitchen table, your description might say something like, “Used sturdy 44 in (110 cm) by 44 in (110 cm) by 36 in (91 cm) kitchen table for sale. The table is made of oak and comes with 4 chairs and blue detachable seat cushions. Both the table and chairs are in excellent condition, and have no scratches.” Be upfront about the condition of your furniture. You don't want angry buyers who will leave you with a bad review or refuse to pay. Even if your furniture isn't in perfect condition, there's likely still a buyer out there who may want it. Try to be as honest and straightforward as you can to keep potential buyers happy and to encourage them to follow through with the sale. Anticipate questions and add the answers to your product description. Try to answer as many questions as you can ahead of time. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. What would you want to know about the piece of furniture? For instance, is it easy to clean? Is your home pet-, bug-, and smoke-free? How long have you had the piece? Buyers will be curious about the answers to these questions. Create a story to increase your furniture’s value. The ad is your opportunity to really sell this piece of furniture. Highlight its best features, such as how comfortable it is, the color, or its great wood details, in the listing description. If it has a story (such as it was handmade), play up that detail. Think about what attracted you to the piece in the first place, and be sure to include that in your description as well. For example, if you're selling a large L-shaped couch, you might write. “This couch's soft fabric and supportive structure make it perfect for comfy movie nights with the whole family.” Proofread your description to ensure that there aren’t any errors. After you've finished writing your description, complete with details and stories, read over it slowly and carefully. Errors can drive away potential buyers because they may make you look careless, or make your description unclear. Carefully proofread your listing to make it as professional as possible. Remove clutter from around the furniture to prepare for photos. People want to see your furniture, not the mess that surrounds it. Clean up the area around the furniture before you take photos of it. It's also a good idea to also take any extras, such as throw pillows, table runners, or vases, off of the furniture so that potential buyers can see every part of it. Clean up your furniture before you take photos. No one wants to see the stains on your old table or microfiber couch. Scrub it down before you take a photo so that your furniture looks as good as it possibly can. For fabric furniture, you may want to vacuum it and spot-treat it, for instance. Take and upload at least 1 photo of your furniture piece. Buyers are more likely to click on an ad with quality photos, so make sure that you take a few in good lighting that are clear. Also, taking photos at multiple angles can help potential buys get a better idea of what the product truly looks like. Then, upload them to your listing. Keep in mind that some sites may limit how many photos you can upload, so you may have to pick your best shots. The best lighting is natural light, so try to take pictures during the day in a room with a lot of sunlight. Skip the stock photos. You may be able to find stock photos of your furniture online. However, people want to see the actual furniture you have in your home, not a brand-new model. Do some research to find out what your piece will likely sell for. People are typically more drawn to reasonable prices; too high might make potential buyers feel like they're being ripped off and too low can make them doubt the validity of the description and photos. Go online and look up pieces that are similar to your piece before deciding on a price for yours. You can also put information like the age, brand, and condition of your piece into an online furniture calculator to find out what it's most likely worth. Decide on a price based on condition and age, and post your listing. After seeing what others are selling similar pieces for online, take a good look at your furniture piece and determine what condition it's in, whether it's like new, has a few small scratches here and there, or is very worn. While condition tends to be most important, age is also a big factor. Generally, the older your furniture is, the less it will go for. Choose a price that you think is the most fair, clearly state the price in your listing, and then post the listing. It's best to price the piece at 20-50% of the original price. Pick a price that's a little lower than market price if it's in excellent condition and you bought it less than a year ago. Pick a price that's significantly lower than market price if its worn and a few years old. Answer buyers' questions. After you've uploaded your ad and submitted to the site, questions are likely to come in from potential buyers. Answer each one as promptly and as honestly as you can. If, for example, a potential buyer messages you and asks “Has the fabric of the couch faded at all?” you might respond by saying, “Hello! There's very minimal fading towards the center of each seat cushion, but nowhere else on the rest of the couch. Let me know if you have any other questions, and I'll be happy to answer them for you.” Haggle as needed. Many buyers will expect to haggle with you. You can lower the price or stand firm on it as you see fit. Keep in mind, you may sell faster if you are willing to come down a bit on the price. Sell your item by agreeing on a price. Once you've completed all of your steps, you've hopefully found a buyer. You can complete the transaction if you both agree on the price. For safety's sake, make sure to always have a friend around when a buyer arrives. Be clear about pickup and/or delivery options. Potential buyers are more likely to be interested in your furniture piece and follow through with the sale if you offer a delivery option. Even if you aren't able to offer delivery, it's a good idea to let interested buyers know right away that the piece is pickup only, so that they don't realize this later on and back out of the sale. Don't forget to charge a little extra for a delivery service. This is understandable and typically expected, as you'll be taking your time and using your gas in order to deliver the piece. Additionally, double check the agreed upon time and place if you're meeting the buyer somewhere to give them the piece. | Choose a popular site to post your listing on. Go with a site that doesn’t charge you for listings. Pick a site that’s specifically used for selling furniture. Set up a profile if the site requires you to. Create a new post. Write an accurate description of the furniture. Be upfront about the condition of your furniture. Anticipate questions and add the answers to your product description. Create a story to increase your furniture’s value. Proofread your description to ensure that there aren’t any errors. Remove clutter from around the furniture to prepare for photos. Clean up your furniture before you take photos. Take and upload at least 1 photo of your furniture piece. Do some research to find out what your piece will likely sell for. Decide on a price based on condition and age, and post your listing. Answer buyers' questions. Haggle as needed. Sell your item by agreeing on a price. Be clear about pickup and/or delivery options. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Rust-Holes-on-a-Car | How to Fix Rust Holes on a Car | To fix rust holes on your car, you'll need to get rid of all the rust first. Remove all of the paint around the hole with a wire brush attachment on your drill. You'll also need to cut away the affected metal with a grinder or tin snips. Once you've cut away the metal, cover the hole with a piece of wax paper and apply a mixture of fiberglass filler and hardener. Let the mixture dry for about an hour, then pull away the wax paper. You can also sand down the patch with 220 grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections. | Put on work gloves and eye protection. Rust is highly likely to flake as you grind it off of the metal. Those flakes can get into your eyes and wreak havoc. You also run the risk of being scratched or cut by jagged metal while you work. Avoid both concerns by wearing work gloves and eye protection. Goggles offer the most protection, but regular safety glasses will suffice. Leather work gloves will give you the most protection from scratches and cuts. Remove the paint 2 inches (5 cm) around the rust with a drill fitted with a wire brush. The filler won't adhere to paint, so you have to remove it from all around the hole. A wire brush attachment for a power drill will make short work of the paint on the metal and can even be used to remove some of the rust, if not all of it. A flapper disc for an angle grinder will also work well for removing the paint. You can purchase a wire brush attachment for your drill at your local auto parts or hardware store. You can also purchase flapper discs for angle grinders at your local hardware store. Cut the affected metal away from the hole with tin snips or a grinder. All of the rust needs to be removed from the hole and the metal surrounding it. If you don't have a grinder or angle-grinder, you can use heavy duty tin snips to cut the rust and rusting metal out of the hole. If you do have a grinder, use it to quickly grind away all of the rust and any rusting you see on the metal surrounding the hole by pressing the grinding wheel directly into the rusty metal until it's gone. A grinder is the faster and preferred method of removing all of the rusted metal, but snips will work in most situations. You can purchase an angle grinder or tin snips from your local hardware store. Treat the exposed metal with a rust inhibitor. With all the rust removed, the exposed metal that's left is still susceptible to rusting. Spray the entire area liberally with the rust inhibitor to stop the spread of any new rust before moving on. Rust inhibitor tends to dry quickly. Wait a minute or two for it to dry before moving on. Follow the instructions on the spray can of rust inhibitor you choose to make sure you apply it correctly. You can get rust inhibitor at any hardware or auto parts store. Use a ball-peen hammer to tap the edges of the hole inward. There may be jagged edges left over from grinding or snipping away at the metal. Use the back end (rounded end) of a small ball-peen hammer to bang any edges into the hole so they don't interfere with applying the fibreglass mixture later. Tapping the edged inward will allow you to make a flat, even finish in the fibreglass. Be careful not to dent any of the good metal on the body of the car while you bang in the edges of the hole. Don't hit any part of the car with the hammer except those edges. Tape a sheet of wax paper over the hole using masking tape. The wax paper is going to serve as the start of your fibreglass patch. Place it over the hole so the hole itself is near the centre of the paper. Use one or two pieces of masking tape to secure the wax paper over the hole. It's best to do this in direct sunlight or in a well-lit area because you'll need to be able to see the hole through the wax paper. Use masking tape rather than duct or some other kind of tape because it won't leave an adhesive residue. Trace the hole with a marker on the wax paper. Use a permanent marker to trace the outline of the hole by looking at it through the paper itself. The outline does not have to be perfect but should approximate the size and shape of the hole. Press the paper against the body of the car with your non-dominant hand as you trace to help you to see the hole better. Mix the fibreglass filler mixture with the hardener with a dowel. Squeeze out or pour some fibreglass filler onto a paper plate or piece of cardboard, then add hardener and mix the two together with a wooden dowel or tongue depressor. Different brands of fibreglass patch material utilize different chemical concentrations, so make sure to read the instructions carefully to know how much have the hardener to add to the filler. Mix the filler and hardener quickly and thoroughly. You only have about 5 minutes to apply the mixture once you make it. The filler and hardener are usually different colours, so it's easy to tell if they still need to be mixed. Keep mixing the ingredients until the mixture becomes one solid colour. Lay the wax paper on the table so you can see the traced hole. Place the paper down in front of you with the traced hole facing up. You'll need to be able to see the size and shape of the hole as you add the mixture to the paper. It doesn't matter which side of the wax paper you used to trace the hole (shiny or flat side) just as long as you can clearly see its dimensions. Dab the mixture onto the drawn hole on the wax paper. Keep stirring the mixture as you scoop it up with your wooden dowel and apply it to the wax paper liberally in the centre of the hole you traced. Spread it around so it fills the entire circle you drew. Keep stirring the mixture and adding it to the wax paper so it creates an even patch out of the fibreglass. Keep adding the mixture until it extends .5 inches (1.3 cm) beyond the hole. That extra area will allow the patch to bond to the metal you exposed with the wire brush that surrounded the hole. It doesn't have to be exact, just make sure the patch extends beyond the outer perimeter of the hole all the way around. Keep adding the mixture until the patch itself is about.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick and mostly even. Remember to move quickly because the mixture is already starting to dry. Use the dowel to apply the mixture directly to the edges of the hole. This will give your patch a better chance at adhering to the car's body. Apply the fibreglass mixture lightly around the edges of the hole by scooping it up with the dowel and then running the dowel along the edge. It doesn't need to be much. Just add a thin layer of the fibreglass mixture to help your patch stick. Pick up the wax paper with the mixture facing outward. Pinch the edges of the wax paper with the thumbs and index fingers on both hands and hold it up in the air so the mixture is facing the car and away from you. It may help to reposition your hands so one is pinching a top corner and one is pinching a bottom one. Be careful not to let the paper fold so the mixture comes into contact with itself or you'll have to start over. Press the mixture directly into the hole so it’s flat against the vehicle. Pull the corners tight so the patch is flat as you first apply it to the vehicle. Then press the palm of your hand firmly over the patch to adhere it to the vehicle. Press the patch into the hole firmly. Then use your fingers to make sure it's attached to the metal all the way around the hole. Use your fingers to flatten and smooth the patch against the area of the car so it follows the contour lines of the vehicle. Wait an hour for the mixture to dry. These fibreglass mixtures dry very quickly. On small holes, it may only take a few minutes for the mixture to dry enough to work with. However, it's better to be safe than sorry. Give the patch plenty of time to dry before attempting to do any more work on it. The patch will dry faster with good airflow. Open the garage door if you're working indoors and the weather permits. Peel the wax paper away from the vehicle. Pinch one corner of the wax paper with your thumb and index finger, then peel it away from the patch slowly. If the patch appears to be disrupted by you pulling on the wax paper, it's not dry yet. Give it another hour, then attempt to peel it off again. Otherwise, remove the wax paper completely. The fibreglass patch will stay in place with the wax paper gone. The patch is now secured onto the vehicle. Sand any imperfections out with 220-grit sandpaper and water. If there are any imperfections in the patch, you can remove them by pouring water over it as you sand it with 220-grit sandpaper. Keep pouring water over the patch as you sand it until the fibreglass is as smooth as you want it. Be careful not to press too hard into the middle of the patch as you sand or you may break through it. If you accidentally sand too much away, you can mix more fibreglass and add it to the patch, let it dry, and start sanding again. Add a spray-on primer to prevent further rust. Once the fibreglass patch has a nice, even finish, apply an even coat of automotive primer from a spray can. Shake the can well, then hold it about 12 inches (30 cm) away and swipe the can from left to right as you spray it. Be sure to cover the patch and any exposed metal. Let the primer dry overnight before doing any more work to it. At this point, the hole is repaired and won't start rusting again. Paint the repair if you desire a professional finish. You can purchase automotive paint matched exactly to your vehicle by contacting the dealership and giving them your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). While painting a car is a difficult and complex process, applying a layer of matched touch up paint to small repairs can make them pretty inconspicuous. Simply spray it on the same way you did the primer. Hold the can about 12 inches (30 cm) away from the area you're painting and swipe it from left to right as you spray. For larger repairs, you should treat and paint the entire panel of the car if you want it to blend with the rest of the vehicle perfectly. That may be a job for a certified body shop if you don't have the tools and expertise required. | Put on work gloves and eye protection. Remove the paint 2 inches (5 cm) around the rust with a drill fitted with a wire brush. Cut the affected metal away from the hole with tin snips or a grinder. Treat the exposed metal with a rust inhibitor. Use a ball-peen hammer to tap the edges of the hole inward. Tape a sheet of wax paper over the hole using masking tape. Trace the hole with a marker on the wax paper. Mix the fibreglass filler mixture with the hardener with a dowel. Lay the wax paper on the table so you can see the traced hole. Dab the mixture onto the drawn hole on the wax paper. Keep adding the mixture until it extends .5 inches (1.3 cm) beyond the hole. Use the dowel to apply the mixture directly to the edges of the hole. Pick up the wax paper with the mixture facing outward. Press the mixture directly into the hole so it’s flat against the vehicle. Wait an hour for the mixture to dry. Peel the wax paper away from the vehicle. Sand any imperfections out with 220-grit sandpaper and water. Add a spray-on primer to prevent further rust. Paint the repair if you desire a professional finish. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Discipline-a-Teenager | How to Discipline a Teenager | It can be hard to discipline a teenager, but with patience and communication you may be able to correct them while maintaining a positive relationship. Talk to your teen regularly about your expectations, such as keeping up their grades, behaving in a certain way, or doing chores. When they don't meet those expectations, let your teen know that they will lose a specific privilege as a result of their action, such as having their phone taken away for a week or not being allowed to go to a friend's house over the weekend. | Make your expectations clear. One of the keys to having a positive relationship with your teen is good communication. You need to be able to talk to one other and make your feelings and desires clear. If you are able to communicate effectively, you might find that you need to discipline your teen less frequently. An important component of good communication is a clear explanation of your expectations. Let your teen know exactly what you expect from him or her. For example, maybe you are focusing on helping them succeed in school. Let your teen know which grades you consider acceptable. Maybe you are aiming for them to get all A's and B's. Tell your teen your expectations and explain that you will help him or her meet them. If you are focused on better grades, explain that you need your son or daughter to study at least X amount of hours per week. Or make a requirement that all homework is done before they hang out with their friends. You can also set expectations for non-tangible outcomes. Maybe you feel your teen has developed an attitude problem. Set clear expectations that they are to speak respectfully to all members of the family. Try putting your expectations in writing. This will help reinforce the words you are saying. Ask questions. As a teen, your child is starting to spend more and more time away from home--and you. School days are longer, there are more activities to join, and more friends to hang out with. To develop a strong relationship with your teen, it is important that you know what is going on in their life. In order to do that, you need to ask questions. Ask questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. You'll get more descriptive answers. Instead of "Did you do your homework?", try, "What have you been working on in English class?" Set aside time each day to talk to your son or daughter about how things are going. It can be casual, but make sure to ask questions to see how they are doing. You could say, "How are you feeling about your big soccer game coming up on Saturday?" Actively listen. Communicating effectively is a great way to strengthen your relationship with your teen. It's not enough to just ask questions, though. You need to actively listen to what they are saying. There are many things you can do to become a better listener. When your teen talks, try restating what they say. For example, you could say, "I'm hearing you say that you are frustrated that your friends all have later curfews than you." This will not only show that you are engaged in the conversation, but it helps to clarify any issues. Offer feedback. When you are talking to your teen, it's a good idea to offer your initial feelings on a topic. For instance, you could say, "I'm not against giving you a bigger allowance. But we'll need to talk about an increase in responsibilities, too." Give validation. Let your teen know that you acknowledge their feelings. Be specific, saying things like, "I know that you are really sad that your dad moved out. That is totally understandable." Choose the right time. Good communication with your teen can be challenging, partially because they might not always be in the mood to talk. Try to choose a good time if you need to have an important discussion with them. Don't wait until right before bed or as he or she is headed out the door to school. Consider talking while you are doing an activity together. While you're cooking dinner together would be a good time to check in with them. If your teen seems resistant to talking, consider choosing a different time for your conversation. You want it to be constructive for both of you. Try to be patient. Teens will often only open up with they feel like it. When the moment comes, be ready to listen and don't don't brush them off. Promote accountability. Sometimes communication breaks down and you will find it necessary to discipline your teen. There are several methods to discipline your child, and you should think carefully about what will work best for your family. One effective form of discipline is to hold your child accountable for all of their actions. If you have clearly laid out your expectations, your teen knows which behaviors you expect from them. If he or she is explicitly disrespectful, let them know that now they must be held responsible. You can try saying, "I explained to you that it is not OK to swear at your younger brother. You know that behavior like that results in the loss of a privilege." By focusing on your child's actions and knowledge, you are making it clear that she is accountable for her actions. Avoid punishment. There is a difference between punishing your teen and disciplining them. The term "punishment" is inherently negative, whereas discipline can be constructive. For example, discipline is a way of helping someone stick to the rules, whereas "punishment" is more of an act of retribution. Explain that by disciplining your teen, you are teaching her that there are benefits to adhering to guidelines and consequences to ignoring rules. You can add that this is the way the world works, so you are providing good training. You will at times have to place restrictions on your teen, but you can do so without giving the negative connotations that typically go along with punishments. For example, avoid ultimatums. Many teens see ultimatums as a direct challenge and a path to punishment, so avoid saying things like, "Get better grades or else!" Don't make threats about vague punishments. Instead, tell your teen that you are going to impose the restrictions that you both agreed upon. Be flexible. Maybe you have told your son or daughter that they cannot see their friends for two weeks because of their low grades. If they come home with several "A" papers or quizzes, you might consider showing that you appreciate their actions by lifting the restrictions a few days early. Show that discipline is reasonable. Be stern but respectful. Your teen is a young adult, so don't speak to them like a young child. Avoid mocking or being sarcastic. Set boundaries. Let your teen know the actions that are and are not acceptable in your home. It is important to clearly define boundaries so that they know exactly what they are and aren't allowed to do. If you feel strongly that they need to avoid all alcohol, make that clear. You can set boundaries regarding your teen's social life. Explain that they are only allowed to stay out until a certain hour. If you need them check in with you throughout the evening, for example, make that clear. Let them know that you will be monitoring their online activities. Teens should enjoy some degree of privacy, but it's ok to let your son or daughter know that you will be checking in on them periodically to make sure that they are safe. If you allow your teen to date, make sure that you set boundaries for the relationship. For example, explain that your son or daughter and their boyfriend or girlfriend can't be in their bedroom with the door closed. Do not just straight up disagree with your teen's choice of a boyfriend or girlfriend because 'they look like a criminal' or are a bit quirky, for example. First impressions aren't everything, but if your teen's boyfriend or girlfriend is a bit over controlling or making inappropriate talk or gestures, then it might be a good idea to talk to your teen about your concerns. Explain to your teen that boundaries are for their safety, and to help teach them responsibility. Give your child agency. Sometimes it can seem like your teen is struggling against you. Remember that teens are at a point where they are trying to establish more independence and autonomy. Allow your teenager to be an active participant in setting boundaries and choosing appropriate discipline. Giving them agency will make them more invested in the process. Have your teen help you make a list of appropriate guidelines to live by. You could set things like curfew, car privileges, or expected grades. Don't be afraid to negotiate. Respect their opinions on the issues, and they will be more likely to listen to yours. Have your teen suggest a consequence. If they come home late one Saturday night, have them tell you what they feel is an appropriate disciplinary action. Typically, when you give a teen more responsibility they begin to behave in a more mature way. Consider the situation. At times your teen may be difficult to handle, but it's important to remember that they are dealing with a lot. Their hormones and body are changing, which can cause mood swings. They are also trying to more fully develop their identity, and may be dealing with pressures from school or their friends. When disciplining your teen, it's key to consider the context. Have they been rude and moody lately? Try to figure out if something outside the house is bothering them. Have you noticed their best friend doesn't stop by as often? Consider that your teen might be going through a stressful time and try to cut them a little slack. Are their grades slipping? Take a few days to watch their habits. Teens need a lot of sleep, so maybe you need to help them get more rest so they can better concentrate. Before deciding on discipline, consider all of the components of the situation. Use empathy. Being empathetic means that you are thinking about, or sensitive to, what someone else is feeling or thinking. When disciplining your teen, try to place yourself in their shoes. When choosing the right course of action, take their emotions into consideration. If your son or daughter reacts badly to not being allowed to go on a road trip with friends, try to think about what they are feeling. They are likely worried about being teased, or are maybe suffering from fear of missing out. You don't need to back down on the rules you've set, but you can offer compassion. Try saying, "I imagine you're feeling pretty frustrated that you won't be going with your friends. Is there something else fun that you and I could do this weekend instead?" Ask for advice. Dealing with a teen can be difficult. You might feel stressed, tired, and overwhelmed. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Maybe you have a trusted family member who can offer some advice on how to relate to your teen. Try talking to other parents. It's useful to know what your son or daughter's friends are allowed to do. You can try asking their parents about curfew, allowance, etc. to get an idea of the types of policies you want to set. Your teen's doctor can be a great resource, too. They can ensure that your son or daughter stays physically and emotionally healthy. At regular check ups, they can also rule out any medical problems and offer up outside resources. | Make your expectations clear. Ask questions. Actively listen. Choose the right time. Promote accountability. Avoid punishment. Set boundaries. Give your child agency. Consider the situation. Use empathy. Ask for advice. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Using-Plastic | How to Stop Using Plastic | Although you may not be able to stop using plastic completely, you can reduce your usage by bringing a reusable water bottle with you so you don't have to buy bottled water. Additionally, bring your own cloth bags when you go shopping so you don't have to use plastic bags from the store. You can also bring your own reusable container to restaurants to use as doggie bags, since many restaurants use plastic containers. When packing a lunch, opt for glass or stainless steel containers and pack foods without packaging, like apples and bananas. | Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Get a tumbler, mason jar, or a bottle and use those to put your smoothies and other drinks in instead of new plastic containers every time. Some places even offer a discount if you do this. Plastic water bottles are one of the best examples of how simple changes can create a big impact in your life. Not only is the water being sold not regulated as strictly as municipal drinking water sources, but the plastic mostly ends up in landfills. The product itself has also been proven to exceed 2,000 times the cost of tap water. Put a reminder on the fridge where you you keep your shopping list, on on the bathroom mirror, or any other place where you will see the note everyday. It doesn't need to be long or elegant or poetic. It just needs to say something like, "No plastic bottles of water today—remember your water bottle," or "Bring your water bottle." The biggest part of the plastic bottled water problem is convenience. Stop using plastic bags. Use reusable bags whenever possible. Take cloth bags with you when you go shopping. Use biodegradable bin bags for your rubbish. Store your food leftovers in ceramic or glass containers. Many grocery stores sell sustainable cloth bags for grocery shopping. However, these can be costly. Any bag will do: purses, backpacks, duffel bags. Before accepting the standard plastic bags, ask the clerk for paper, or even better, a cardboard box. Most grocery stores have left over banana boxes, which are large but also have handles for easy transport. Try not to buy food that is packaged in plastic. Buy only the fruit and vegetables not packaged in plastic. Purchase food in glass containers and avoid food packaged in plastics. Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk. Bring your own container for take-out or for your restaurant doggy-bag, since many restaurants use styrofoam. Purchase food like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins, and fill a reusable bag or container. You can save money and unnecessary packaging. Even metal cans and cardboard boxes often have plastic coating, so if you have an option, buy food packaged in a glass jar instead. For instance, tomato sauce usually comes in both a can and a jar, so buy the jar. Consider making food that you cannot find without plastic packaging. Make fresh-squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It may be healthier for you and better for the environment. Make your own yogurt in Kilner jars. It's easier than you think! Buy milk in paper cartons. Only buy bread from bakeries that wrap in paper. Consider making your own bread. Pack your lunch in reusable containers. When you are packing lunches, don't use Ziploc bags. Use Tupperware containers or a stainless steel lunchbox instead. Opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups. Figure out which items you can substitute with non-plastic alternatives. Buy beverages that come in glass containers, glasses that don't have plastic frames, non-plastic pens, and non-processed/packaged food. Keep in mind that it may be hard to stop using all plastic. You will need to spend a lot of money or dramatically alter your way of life to stop using plastics completely. Keep an eye out for new innovations. There are lots of innovators around the world that are working on plastic alternatives and plastics made using more sustainable methods. Keep an eye out, and you might at least be able to buy better plastic, even if you can't get rid of it immediately. Avoid cleaning products that are packaged with plastic. Buy bars of soap, not the liquid stuff, unless it's in a glass jar. Buy boxes instead of bottles. Products like laundry detergent are often available in cardboard boxes, which are more easily recycled than plastic. Consider making your own cleaning products , which may be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of cleaner. Don't use air fresheners. Use essential oils, candles or incense instead. Use reusable beverage containers. Use a reusable bottle or mug to hold your beverages, even when ordering from a to-go shop. Buy stainless steel sippy cups to children. Avoid buying frozen foods because their packaging is mostly plastic. Even those that appear to be cardboard are coated in a thin layer of plastic. Plus you'll be eating fewer processed foods! Avoid plasticware. Don't use plasticware at home, and be sure to request restaurants do not pack them in your take-out box. Exchange plastic cups, plates, and utensils for ones made of higher quality material: for example, glass, metal, or ceramic. Use cloth or bamboo-fiber diapers. The EPA estimates that 7.6 billion pounds of disposable diapers are discarded in the US each year. Use biodegradable or reusable diapers to reduce your baby's carbon footprint and save money over time. Think about the little things. Consider all of the products that pass through your life, and avoid the products that contain plastic. Over time, you can develop the habit of avoiding plastic on principle. Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. When ordering a drink, don't accept the straw. If you need a straw to drink something, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw. Give up chewing gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, aka plastic. Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters, or invest in a refillable metal lighter. Use rechargeable batteries. Use a wooden cutting board, not a plastic board. Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor. Take personal responsibility for all of the items you purchase and seek to understand the life cycle of each product. Avoid single-use items. Take advantage of refillable water bottles. Research the things you incorporate into your life and consider the consequences. Be informed. Remember the 3 R's. Reduce, reuse, and recycle , in that order! First, reduce and consume less plastic. If you must use any plastic at all, reuse products whenever you can. Until you cut plastic completely out of your life, recycle. If your community offers a curb pick-up recycling service, be sure to recycle everything that you can. Bring your recyclables to a recycling center or bin drop-off. If there is no recycling center nearby, try storing your plastic items instead of throwing them away, then taking them to a recycling center in the nearest city the next time that you go. Reuse your plastic bags. Look around you and check if there are any recyclable bags that can be used for your needs. If you already have plastic bags stored up, you can keep on reusing them over and over again until they break. Once they break, you can take the ripped-up bags to your local grocery store, which may be able to reuse them. Line small household bins with paper bags. Consider washing out Ziploc bags and reusing them. Reuse water or soda bottles. You can refill them with liquid, use them as storage, or fill them with water and put them up in your windows for passive solar heating. Reuse plastic containers. Ask your local grocer to take your plastic containers (for berries, tomatoes, etc.) back. If you shop at a farmers market they can refill it for you. Use your plastic to grow plants or to store other things. Reuse your junk mail. Use your junk mail to line fragile gifts to post, rather than plastic bubble wrap. | Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Stop using plastic bags. Try not to buy food that is packaged in plastic. Consider making food that you cannot find without plastic packaging. Pack your lunch in reusable containers. Figure out which items you can substitute with non-plastic alternatives. Avoid cleaning products that are packaged with plastic. Use reusable beverage containers. Avoid buying frozen foods because their packaging is mostly plastic. Avoid plasticware. Use cloth or bamboo-fiber diapers. Think about the little things. Take personal responsibility for all of the items you purchase and seek to understand the life cycle of each product. Remember the 3 R's. Reuse your plastic bags. Reuse water or soda bottles. Reuse plastic containers. Reuse your junk mail. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Liar%27s-Dice | How to Play Liar's Dice | The aim of Liar's Dice is to be the last player with a die. To start the game, have each player roll 5 dice inside a plastic cup. Then, lift up the side of your cup so only you can see your dice. Next, have the first player guess how many dice there are of one number. For example, you might bet that there are 7 dice on the table with a 4 face up. Go around clockwise with each player either making a bet with a new number, or raising the number of dice another person has bet. For example, someone might bet that there are 9 dice with a 4 face up instead of 7. Keep going until someone thinks a bet is unrealistic and calls "liar”. Then, have everyone lift their cups, so you can count the dice with the given number. If the person who called “liar” was wrong, they lose a die from their cup. However, if they were right, the player who made the bet loses a die. Start the next round with the loser and keep going until there is only one die left. | Roll 2 dice to determine which player will go first. If you can't decide who will start the game, have each player roll 2 dice. Whoever has the highest combined total between the 2 dice will start. Traditionally, you'll go clockwise around the table, meaning that the person on the starting player's immediate left will go second. Hand each player 5 dice along with a dice cup. They'll use the dice cup to shake the 5 dice and roll them at the beginning of each round. If you don't have a dice cup, you can use an opaque drinking cup. Another alternative is to simply roll the dice with your hand. Have everyone roll their 5 dice at the same time, keeping them hidden. While you can (and should) look at your own dice, you should make sure no one else can see yours. You can do this by flipping the dice cup on top of your dice and lifting it so that only you can see the dice. If anyone sees someone else's dice, have everyone roll again. Let the first player guess how many total of one dice face were rolled. This is the total between all the dice on the table. They'll make a bet out loud that includes a dice face along with the quantity they believe were rolled by the other players. For example, they might say “7 3's” which means they think there are 7 dice on the table with a “3” face up. Allow the other players to challenge the bet or make a new one. Starting with the player to the left of the first player, each player can make a new bet. It has to be either a higher quantity of the same face (like 9 “3's” instead of 7 “3's”) or the same quantity with a higher face (like 7 “4's” instead of 7 “3's”). There are many variations of betting rules. You can also allow betting a higher quantity of any face or any quantity of a higher face. Some variations consider “1's” to be wild, meaning it can be any value. However, if “1's” get called in the first round, it is no longer wild and must only be a “1” for the rest of the game. Continue around the table making new bets until there's a challenge. You can go around the table as many times as it takes for someone to challenge a bet. The only bet that matters is the last one spoken. If you have a lot of players, you don't have to worry about writing down previous bets. You just need to keep track of the most recent bet. Reveal all the players’ dice when a player challenges a bet. By challenging the player before them, they're calling their bluff (essentially saying they don't think the player's bet was correct). Have all the players uncover their dice. If the player who challenged the bet was right, the player who made the bet has lost the round. They must remove one die from their cup and set it aside. If the player who made the challenge was wrong and the player before them got their bet right, the challenger removes one die from their cup. Begin the next round with the loser of the previous round. The loser will now make the initial bet and you'll play clockwise around the table. Each time someone loses, they start the new round. This means that the loser gets to make the first bet in the next round. Repeat rounds until there’s only one player with dice left. This is the winner of the game. If, however, you get to the point where there are 2 players left, each with only 1 die, you bet on the sum of the 2 die instead of the quantity of faces. Figure out who will start the game by each rolling 5 dice. The player with the largest sum of dice will begin the first round. Note that this variation of liar's dice only takes 2 players. For example, if one person rolls a 22 and other rolls an 18, the person who rolled the 22 will start. Roll the 5 poker dice all at once, keeping them hidden. Only you should look at the results of your roll. Some sort of box or divider can come in handy here to make sure your opponent can't see your dice. You can also use a dice cup to shield your dice. Announce the poker hand you rolled or are pretending to have rolled. This can be the truth or it can be a lie - it's up to how you want to play it. There are 8 different poker dice hands you can choose from. Here they are, in order from highest-ranking to lowest-ranking: 5 of a kind (ex. 55555) 4 of a kind (ex. 33331) Full house (3 of a kind plus a pair, like 44422) High straight (23456) Low straight (12345) 3 of a kind (ex. 22241) 2 pair (ex. 22114) 1 pair (ex. 33541) Highest single die (ex. 13456) Allow the other player a chance to challenge your hand. If they challenge your hand, reveal your dice. If your opponent was correct (and your hand is lower than what you announced), you put a poker chip in the center of the table. If your opponent was wrong (and you were not bluffing), they put in a poker chip. Pass the dice to your opponent if no challenge is made. If the other player accepts your hand, pass the dice to them. They can roll however many they'd like. For example, they can keep 3 of the dice the way you rolled them and just reroll 2 if they want. Regardless of the number of dice they choose to roll, they should keep them hidden from you. The player cannot lie about how many dice are being rolled, however. If they roll 2 dice, they cannot say they are rolling 3. Have the other player roll the dice and announce a higher poker hand. They can roll however many they'd like. For example, they can keep 3 of the dice the way you rolled them and just reroll 2 if they want. Regardless of the number of dice they choose to roll, they should keep them hidden from you. The player cannot lie about how many dice are being rolled, however. If they roll 2 dice, they cannot say they are rolling 3. The new hand cannot be lower than what you announced. So if you had called a low straight, they could not call 3 of a kind since it's lower. Challenge or accept your opponent’s announcement. If you challenge it, they'll reveal the dice, examine the results, and the loser of the challenge will toss in a poker chip again. If you accept it, the rounds continue until someone challenges the other's hand. Play until there are no poker chips left. The winner of the game will be whoever has the last poker chip. You can play with as little or as many poker chips as you'd like. The more poker chips you play with, the longer the game will likely last. | Roll 2 dice to determine which player will go first. Hand each player 5 dice along with a dice cup. Have everyone roll their 5 dice at the same time, keeping them hidden. Let the first player guess how many total of one dice face were rolled. Allow the other players to challenge the bet or make a new one. Continue around the table making new bets until there's a challenge. Reveal all the players’ dice when a player challenges a bet. Begin the next round with the loser of the previous round. Repeat rounds until there’s only one player with dice left. Figure out who will start the game by each rolling 5 dice. Roll the 5 poker dice all at once, keeping them hidden. Announce the poker hand you rolled or are pretending to have rolled. Allow the other player a chance to challenge your hand. Pass the dice to your opponent if no challenge is made. Have the other player roll the dice and announce a higher poker hand. Challenge or accept your opponent’s announcement. Play until there are no poker chips left. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-Heartless | How to Become Heartless | While it's not possible to become totally heartless, there are ways to manage your emotions if you're struggling with emotional pain. Try not to ignore unpleasant emotions from your past that still affect you, since they will pass naturally once you accept them. For example, if you're still angry at your ex for cheating on you, recognize that this is a natural feeling instead of wishing it would go away. Focus your attention on your work and hobbies, which will keep you busy while you heal. You should also try to avoid setting expectations for the future, since this can easily lead to negative emotions. For example, don't expect friends, family, and romantic partners to make you happy, since you never know what will happen. | Let go of your past emotions. The term “emotional debt” is often used to describe emotions that we have never fully healed from and allow to play out repeatedly in our day to day lives. You should be honest with yourself about any past emotions that are still lingering, consciously breaking the patterns that you have developed as a response to those emotions, and step outside your comfort zone. This will allow you to be aware of how past emotions influence you and to move past them. You might think that your comfort zone protects you from bad feelings, but by staying there, you are letting those unpleasant emotions hold you back. When you step outside of it, you can take control over them. Avoid setting specific expectations. When some experience or person falls short of the expectations you place on them, it hurts. Remove as many expectations as you can from your life, and when you do make an expectation, keep it as broad and undefined as possible. This stops you from subjecting yourself to emotional pain for everything that doesn't go exactly how you'd like it to. You can also change your expectations to be more realistic. For example, you expecting that today will be warm is much less likely to disappoint than expecting that today will be exactly 73 degrees Fahrenheit, breezy, and sunny. Keep yourself busy. Keeping busy is shown to improve contentment. Deliberately choose activities that drive you toward your goals or somehow benefit you. Offering yourself incentives will help justify staying busy. It also allows you to pour your energy into work, working out, cleaning your house, etc., rather than seeking out emotional ties. Keep relationships on your terms. Avoid letting people get too close or control you with promises, pleas, or apologies. Define the types of relationships you want to be in, and have only those relationships. Be in control of how invested you are in any given relationship. Seek professional therapy. If you are overwhelmed by past traumas and cannot seem to let the emotion go, you may need the help of a professional psychologist. Issues like chronic depression or anxiety should not be ignored. Your therapist can help you decide what clinical approaches and/or medications might be appropriate to help you move past your emotional debt. Know what you want. It is likely that you already know what you don't want in your life. What you need to do next is identify your preferences, and then pinpoint exactly what you do want in life. The more clear you desires without reservation, the more effectively you can work toward them. If you know what you want, it is harder for others to convince you to do their bidding. This is crucial both to generating your own success and to stop having your time and energy used by someone else. Sometimes guilt and stress can cause you to work against what you desire. Knowing what you want will make you stronger when facing these difficult situations. Communicate your desires. Once you know exactly what you want, it is likely that you'll have to delegate some things to other people. Communicate exactly what you want and expect to those around you. Do not compromise on your desires. You might have to trade some of your time and talent to get another person to do what you need, but set boundaries and do not let the other person use your desires against you. Say “No” to anything that doesn’t benefit you. When you agree to do things that will not benefit your goals, you are wasting time. Do not give your time away. Engage only in activities that further your personal goals, and politely decline any other requests or invitations. Be direct. Say “No, I cannot (or will not) do that.” If you prefer to add an explanation, such as “I don't have the time to commit,” that is okay, but not necessary. This can be difficult when are being guilted. Things like charities that you do not support, friends that want your help, and even family that demands too much of your time can be serious hurdles to your success. Say “No.” Consider cooperating with others. Whether you are speaking for yourself or your company, organization, community, etc., it is often hard to accept the fact that you can benefit by working with other human beings, but it's true. Cooperating with others can be a healthier and more effective way to reach your goals. Make sure that the relationship remains mutually beneficial and that neither party is being used. Relationships go two ways. When you are working with other people, make sure you give as much as you take. This will help you build stronger professional and social relationships. Contemplate the motives of other people. You will often be asked for help in some way. You should understand why you are being asked and what the other person hopes to gain from asking. Understand why someone wants something from you, and then you can decide if it benefits you in such a way that you'd be willing to do it. Avoid small talk. Technology has made avoiding small talk easier than ever. Pretend to take a call, or make it a point to always have headphones in to prevent strangers and acquaintances from engaging. You can also cut the conversation short at anytime with some variation of “I'm too busy to talk.” For example, if your co-worker meets you at the snack machine, just cut them off with a quick line like “Can't talk. I have a deadline.” Decline invitations to social gatherings. There is no need to be offensive when you decline. You should, however, make your decision firm and final. If you make up a flimsy excuse as to why you can't attend, the host/hostess is likely to accommodate you and insist you come. A great way to avoid nearly any event is to say something to the effect of “I'm sorry. I already have other plans.” You do not have to explain yourself if you decline an invitation. You can simply say, "I'm sorry, but I can't make it." Refuse to do favors. Favors sometimes feel like chores that you must do. Instead, make saying “No” an option and say it confidently. Again, you do not need to be rude to get your point across. If your friend asks you to house-sit, simply say “I'm sorry. That doesn't work for me.” You can offer an explanation if you'd like, but there is no need for excuses. Consider building a new support system. If you feel like your friends and family are a problem, it might be healthier to build a new support system than to cut yourself off from people. Try meeting new people with similar interests to your own. Look for people who hang out in the same places, work in the same field, or generally like the same things as you do. | Let go of your past emotions. Avoid setting specific expectations. Keep yourself busy. Keep relationships on your terms. Seek professional therapy. Know what you want. Communicate your desires. Say “No” to anything that doesn’t benefit you. Consider cooperating with others. Contemplate the motives of other people. Avoid small talk. Decline invitations to social gatherings. Refuse to do favors. Consider building a new support system. |
https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Be-a-Harry-Potter-Fan | How to Be a Harry Potter Fan | To be a Harry Potter fan, start by reading the 7 Harry Potter books and watching all of the movies. You should also take an online quiz to find out which Hogwarts house you're in, as well as get some Harry Potter-themed accessories like a robe and a wand. You can even try out for a local Quidditch team so you can ride a broomstick while playing Hogwarts' signature sport. If you have a sweet tooth, make some butterbeer, a popular drink in Harry Potter, or visit Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter and order one there. | Read all the books. There are seven Harry Potter books in total. In order to be a true Harry Potter fan, you'll need to read them all. Start with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone before moving onto the next book in the series. You can read the Harry Potter series at a library or you can purchase the books online or at a bookstore. Take note of all the names and characters so you can talk about Harry Potter with other fans. The Harry Potter books include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is also called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States. You can also purchase a collector's edition book set online. The books are stored inside of a Harry Potter-themed treasure chest. Read other books about the Harry Potter universe. J.K. Rowling has written a variety of other things outside of the main Harry Potter book series. Read books like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages , and The Tales of Beedle the Bard to read more about the extended Harry Potter universe. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard are included in a set called The Hogwarts Library. You can also read the screenplays for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. J.K. Rowling also occasionally publishes her work in e-book format or on the website https://www.pottermore.com/. Watch all the movies. There are corresponding movies that go with each book, and the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is broken up into two separate movies. If you haven't seen all of the movies, make sure to rent them or purchase the ones that you haven't seen. If you've already seen the movies invite some friends over and host a movie marathon. The movies are available to stream on Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube for a fee. Learn Harry Potter lingo. Learn the most common phrases and terms like "Muggle", "Half-Blood", "Snitch" and what they mean in the Harry Potter universe. This will make it easier to talk to other Harry Potter fans. Read the books or watch the movies to discover what each of these terms mean. A Harry Potter fan may say "Merlin's beard!" or "Galloping gargoyles!" if they get shocked. "Send me an owl" is a request for communications. Host a Harry Potter party. Instead of having a typical Halloween party, consider having a Harry Potter-themed party. Send out invitations and tell everyone to dress up as their favorite Harry Potter character. When you get together, you can share Butterbeer and talk about Harry Potter. You can create Harry Potter-themed snacks like chocolate frogs, sherbet lemons, and Mrs. Weasley's toffee. You can download and use a Harry Potter-themed font to create your party invitations. Decorate your party with cobwebs, pumpkins, and rubber snakes. Play Quidditch. Quidditch is a sport that was invented in the Harry Potter series. In Quidditch, there are seven players on each team and the goal is to get a ball through one of three hoops on each end of the field. All players must ride on broomsticks while they play the game. Search online for local Quidditch teams and events and see if you can get involved or form your own team. There are teams that play for different colleges across the United States. Make Butterbeer. Butterbeer is a popular beverage in the Harry Potter universe. It's also a drink that you can make in real life. Create your own Butterbeer at home and drink it with your friends to act like the characters in Harry Potter. Wear Harry Potter-themed clothing and accessories. There are a variety of different shirts, pants, hoodies, and sweaters that are Harry Potter-themed. Search online for Harry Potter-themed clothing and wear it. You can also get Harry Potter-themed accessories such as Harry Potter scarves, cell phone cases, and jewelry. Some Harry Potter fans even get Harry Potter-themed tattoos. Decorate your house with Harry Potter-themed items. Use Harry Potter-themed sheets, curtains, and posters to decorate your house or apartment. Look online for other Harry Potter-themed decor items that you can purchase and use in your space. Meet up with other Harry Potter fans online. There are a variety of meetup groups in cities across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Visit https://www.meetup.com/topics/harrypotter/ to find the group that's closest to you. From there you can attend monthly meetups and learn about Harry Potter related events. LARP with other Harry Potter fans. LARP stands for live action roleplay and is when people come together to act like characters from the series. Some LARPing experiences like the College of Wizardry are more entailed, while other LARPing experiences are more casual. Search for LARPing groups near you. Sign up to join fan forums online. There are a variety of online communities that you can join and talk about Harry Potter. Search for the forums online and start posting. Chat with other Harry Potter fans and talk about your favorite aspects of the movies and books. The most popular forum is Pottermore, which is considered the "official" forum for Harry Potter. Visit Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida is a theme park that's dedicated to everything Harry Potter. When you visit, you can go to Hogwarts Castle, take a ride on the Hogwarts Express, see Diagon Alley, or travel to the town of Hogsmeade. If you've ever wanted to experience Harry Potter in real life, a visit to the amusement park is the closest thing to it. Visit Edinburgh to see where Harry Potter was written. J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh, England. Places like The Elephant House and Spoon are the locations where she wrote the Harry Potter books. She drew inspiration from several places in Edinburgh such as George Heriot's School, Victoria Street, and The Balmoral Hotel. Visit Platform 9 ¾. Any Harry Potter fan will know about Platform 9 3/4, the train that takes students to Hogwarts. This location actually exists in King's Cross station in London. If you are in London, make sure to give it a visit. Take the Harry Potter tours in England. There are multiple Harry Potter tours that take place in the United Kingdom. These tours will take you to the same locations that the movie was shot in. Search online for different kinds of Harry Potter tours and visit one that matches your interest and budget. Some locations include the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron from “Prisoner of Azkaban,” Professor Slughorn's house, James and Lily Potter's house in Godric's Hollow, and the entrance to the Ministry of Magic. | Read all the books. Read other books about the Harry Potter universe. Watch all the movies. Learn Harry Potter lingo. Host a Harry Potter party. Play Quidditch. Make Butterbeer. Wear Harry Potter-themed clothing and accessories. Decorate your house with Harry Potter-themed items. Meet up with other Harry Potter fans online. LARP with other Harry Potter fans. Sign up to join fan forums online. Visit Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Visit Edinburgh to see where Harry Potter was written. Visit Platform 9 ¾. Take the Harry Potter tours in England. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Tomato-Juice | How to Use Tomato Juice | To use tomato juice, try using it to braise tough cuts of meat instead of water or broth, or use it in a marinade for fish or poultry. You can also use it as a base for soup, as well as a substitute for water when boiling pasta or rice. If you want to make a sauce with tomato juice, thicken it with some cornstarch and add Italian spices to give the sauce more flavor. Or, try mixing tomato juice with olive oil, lemon juice, and some herbs to make a delicious salad dressing. | Drink it. Tomatoes contain several beneficial minerals and vitamins, including potassium, lycopene, and vitamins C, A, and B6. As any antioxidant, lycopene is especially beneficial and consistent ingestion can help ward off various cancers and heart disease. If the taste of tomato juice does not appeal to you on its own, you can mix it with other fruit and vegetable juices, like cucumber, carrot, celery or apple juice. You can also create a spiced tomato drink by mixing it with brown sugar and spices like cinnamon and allspice. Curb your appetite and lose weight. Hunger is often intensified by thirst. Tomatoes have a high water content, so a glass of tomato juice can help curb your appetite. Drinking tomato juice ten minutes before you eat can greatly reduce your hunger. Additionally, tomatoes contain fewer calories than the body uses to digest them, so drinking a glass of tomato juice can actually help you burn calories and lose weight. Use it to cook meat, poultry, or fish. Instead of using water or broth to stew or braise a tough cut of meat, substitute the liquid for tomato juice. Tomato juice has more acid in it than water and broth, so it helps to break down the toughness of the meat or poultry while adding flavor. Due to its acidity, tomato juice also makes a good marinade for fish and poultry. The juice has less acidity than lemon juice, though, which makes it a good alternative for someone looking for a marinade with less acid in it. Mix it into a broth or soup. Many kinds of soup, from plain tomato soup to gazpacho, use tomato juice as a base. Even if a hearty soup recipe does not call for tomato juice, however, you can still substitute part of the broth or water with tomato juice to give your soup another dimension of flavor. Boil rice or pasta in tomato juice. Rice and pasta are typically boiled in water, but you can add a hint of tomato taste by boiling these starches in tomato juice. You can either replace the water with tomato juice completely or blend a little tomato juice into the water you usually use for a milder taste. Both pasta and rice absorb flavor as they cook, so boiling them in even a small amount of tomato juice infuses them with the taste of tomatoes. Make a thin sauce. Tomato juice is a little too thin to make a standard spaghetti sauce, but you can still use it to create a slightly thinner, low-calorie sauce for pasta, vegetables, and poultry. Flavor the juice with Italian spices, like oregano, garlic, and basil, and thicken it up a little by adding around 1 teaspoon (4.8 grams) of cornstarch for every 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of juice. Create your own salad dressing. By mixing the tomato juice with a little olive oil and vinegar, you can create a flavorful dressing to pour over leafy salads. Mixing in other ingredients like basil, garlic, paprika, and lemon juice will create a thin dressing with a taste that is reminiscent of French or Catalina dressings. Tone down or enhance a salsa or chili sauce. If a salsa or tomato-based sauce is a little too spicy for your liking, you can cool it down a bit by mixing in some plain tomato juice. The spicy "kick" will be toned down, but in return, the tomato flavor will be enhanced. Freeze it for another day. If you have more tomato juice than you can use, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it. You can use the tomato juice ice to add extra flavor to vegetable juices, or you can save it for about three to four months in the freezer. Once you have another need for tomato juice, thaw as much as you need and use it however you want. Use tomato juice to reduce foul, stubborn food odors. Tomato juice can be used to clean plastic containers with a potent odor. Pour a little tomato juice onto a dish sponge and wipe the inside of the container before washing it with warm water and dish soap. The acid in the tomato juice helps to strip away odor-causing bacteria. After drying the container, keep it inside of the freezer for a few days. You can use the same method to cut down on odors in your refrigerator or freezer. Pour tomato juice onto a dish sponge or washcloth and scrub out the refrigerator or freezer. Rinse the appliance with warm water and soap before wiping it dry with a dish towel. . Shrink your pores The regular application of tomato juice to your face can shrink your pores, leading to a clearer complexion. For maximum effectiveness, mix about 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of fresh tomato juice with 2 to 4 drops of fresh lime or lemon juice. Apply this solution to your face using a sterile cotton ball, gently massaging it in small circles. Leave the solution on your face for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing it off with cool to lukewarm water. Use it as an astringent. Tomato juice can be used to dry out oil on your skin. Before applying the juice, mix it with equal parts cucumber juice. Cucumbers hydrate your skin, which will prevent it from becoming dry and flaky once you strip the oils using the tomato juice. Use a cotton ball to apply the mix onto the oiliest parts of your face each day. Cool sunburns. Tomato juice can neutralize and cool the skin, and the lycopene in tomatoes can help shield the skin against UV light rays. Mix about 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of tomato juice with 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) plain yogurt. Apply the mask to any part of your skin that caught a little too much sun and leave it on for about 20 minutes before washing it off with cool to lukewarm water. The yogurt works with the tomato to return lost protein to your skin, making it softer. Applying a mixture made with 2 tablespoons tomato juice and 4 tablespoons buttermilk can accomplish the same goal. Leave this concoction on your sunburnt skin for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cool to lukewarm water. Make your skin glow. The vitamin A and vitamin C in tomato juice can help brighten a dull complexion. Mix enough honey into the tomato juice to form a thick paste, and then apply this paste onto your face. Allow it to dry for about 15 minutes before washing it off with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Condition your hair. The vitamins in tomato juice can also add the natural shine back to dull, lifeless hair. Apply a small amount of tomato juice to your scalp and hair after you wash it with shampoo. Leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing it out, as you might do with a conditioner. The tomato juice should increase the acidic pH of your hair, allowing it to regain some of its vibrancy. | Drink it. Curb your appetite and lose weight. Use it to cook meat, poultry, or fish. Mix it into a broth or soup. Boil rice or pasta in tomato juice. Make a thin sauce. Create your own salad dressing. Tone down or enhance a salsa or chili sauce. Freeze it for another day. Use tomato juice to reduce foul, stubborn food odors. . Use it as an astringent. Cool sunburns. Make your skin glow. Condition your hair. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Mushrooms-Are-Bad | How to Tell if Mushrooms Are Bad | To tell if your mushrooms have gone bad, look for any wrinkles or dry, shriveled patches, which are the first sign that mushrooms are going bad. If you notice any bruises or brown and black spots on the mushrooms, throw them in the trash, since they could make you sick. Or, if you see a slimy coating on the mushrooms, don't eat them. You can also tell bad mushrooms from a sour or fishy smell. In general, you shouldn't eat fresh mushrooms after 10 days of buying them, although some mushrooms can start to go bad after a few days. | Check for wrinkles and dry, shriveled patches. Wrinkles and dry patches are the first sign that your mushrooms are about to go bad. If they're just starting to dry out and aren't discolored, slimy, or smelly, use them immediately. Shriveled mushrooms are on the cusp of going bad. Once they've started to shrivel, it won't be long before they're unusable. Look for bruises and brown spots. Be wary of eating mushrooms that are blemished. When it comes to food safety, discoloration is never a good sign. Bruises and brown or black spots are among the first signs that your mushrooms are going bad. For bruised mushrooms and other produce with no other signs of spoilage, consider cutting off the blemish and using the rest of the item. If your mushrooms are covered with dark spots, just throw them in the garbage. Toss mushrooms that are slimy. A slimy coating is a definite sign that your mushrooms are unusable. Even worse, visible mold growth means they absolutely belong in the trash. Throw them away instead of risking a foodborne illness. At this point, the mushrooms have lost their flavor and nutritional value, so there's really no benefit to eating them. Get rid of mushrooms that smell sour or fishy. Odor is another surefire sign that your mushrooms are past their prime. Fresh mushrooms should smell slightly sweet and earthy, but not foul. If you give them a whiff and they smell fishy or pungent, it's time to toss them. Discard spoiled food promptly to prevent bacteria and mold growth from spreading to other items in your fridge. Store whole fresh mushrooms for 7 to 10 days. As a rule of thumb, common varieties, such as white, cremini, and portabella mushrooms, can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. However, safe storage times depend on how long the mushrooms sat on the grocery store shelf. Mushrooms that spent several days at the store may start to go bad within just 1 or 2 days. For best quality, purchase the freshest mushrooms possible, and use them within 3 to 4 days. At the grocery store, look for mushrooms that appear plump, firm, and free of any signs of spoilage. Keep sliced mushrooms for 5 to 7 days. While they're convenient, sliced fresh mushrooms spoil up to twice as quickly as whole mushrooms. If you want longer-lasting mushrooms, go for whole ones instead of pre-sliced packages. Throw away leftover cooked mushrooms after 3 to 4 days. Most cooked foods, including mushrooms, meat, seafood, and veggies, can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. After that, discard or freeze them; store frozen mushrooms for 8 to 12 months. Be sure to refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours to prevent mold and bacterial growth. Cooked leftovers should be reheated to a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) to prevent foodborne illness. Keep in mind 3 to 4 days concerns food safety, not quality. Cooked broccoli and asparagus, for instance, can become soggy and wilted within 1 to 2 days. The mushrooms in your stir-fry should be fine in 3 or 4 days, but the veggies might be pretty mushy by then. Cook most gourmet mushrooms the day you purchased them. Many gourmet mushrooms, such as chanterelles and oysters, can only be stored for 12 to 24 hours. Since they're much pricier than buttons or baby bellas, use gourmet varieties promptly to get the biggest bang for your buck. Some gourmet varieties, such as morel and shitake mushrooms, can be stored for 1 to 2 weeks. However, for best quality, you should still use them as soon as possible. Make sure your refrigerator’s temperature is under 40 °F (4 °C). Mushrooms and other perishable items should be stored at temperatures under 40 °F (4 °C). Store mushrooms on one of your fridge's shelves; there's no need to keep them in a crisper drawer. Always keep mushrooms in the fridge, and never store them at room temperature. If items in your fridge don't seem to last as long as they should, invest in a refrigerator thermometer. Check the temperature, and adjust your fridge's settings accordingly. Keep pre-packaged mushrooms in their original container. If you're only using a couple of mushrooms, make a small hole in the packaging at one end of the container. Pick out what you need, then cover the opening with a sheet of plastic wrap. The original packaging and plastic wrap allow the mushrooms to breathe and help reduce moisture retention. Store loose mushrooms in a slightly opened plastic bag. If you opt for loose mushrooms, store them in a partially opened sealable bag to maximize air circulation. Moisture builds up in a sealed container, which causes mushrooms to sweat and spoil faster. Separate mushrooms from raw meat, eggs, and seafood. From the grocery cart to your fridge, always keep produce away from raw items. During prep, use one cutting board and knife for raw meat and another set for produce and other ready-to-eat items. Keeping mushrooms away from raw meat and seafood is especially important if you plan on eating the mushrooms without cooking them. Additionally, mushrooms absorb odors, so try to store them away from foods with strong aromas. | Check for wrinkles and dry, shriveled patches. Look for bruises and brown spots. Toss mushrooms that are slimy. Get rid of mushrooms that smell sour or fishy. Store whole fresh mushrooms for 7 to 10 days. Keep sliced mushrooms for 5 to 7 days. Throw away leftover cooked mushrooms after 3 to 4 days. Cook most gourmet mushrooms the day you purchased them. Make sure your refrigerator’s temperature is under 40 °F (4 °C). Keep pre-packaged mushrooms in their original container. Store loose mushrooms in a slightly opened plastic bag. Separate mushrooms from raw meat, eggs, and seafood. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Design-Clothing-in-Roblox | How to Design Clothing in Roblox | While you need to be a ROBLOX member to design most clothing, non-members can still design t-shirts. You'll need to be logged into your account to do this. To make a t-shirt, choose or design an image to go on the front of the shirt. Then, click on the “Develop” tab on the top of the screen to upload your image. Make sure to choose an accurate title for your t-shirt so viewers who see it in the catalog know what it is. | Find an image or make one to use for the T-shirt. This will only be shown in front of the torso, so there is no restriction. Avoid using age-inappropriate or pornographic images. You will most likely be banned or/and reported. Make the design look good. To sell your t-shirt, you must be a Builder's Club Member. Upload your image. Log into the ROBLOX website, and in the top left, click on Develop. In the sidebar next to your created games, click T-Shirts. Shirts are different, so make sure you don't mix up the terms. Click on "choose file". Select the template you have saved and edited. Name your design. Avoid using misleading names as your design may be in the catalog. Click upload. Enjoy your new design! You may choose to place it in the catalog, put up with a price. Download a shirt template from the Roblox website. This is the only way to design a usable outfit. Remember, this template can also be used to make pants. Do not change the template itself, unless it is the design of the clothing. The file will not be able to process into the outfit. Open up the file in a paint tool, such as Microsoft Paint or Paint Tool SAI. This is where you start changing the design. If there is an option to add layers, use that opportunity to create a color guide. This will help you to put the right texture or design into the right box. Later on you must remove that extra layer. Begin coloring in the boxes. Avoid coloring outside the lines - use a selection tool or bucket for that. Remember, Roblox folds up the net of patterns so it is essential that you arrange the designs in the correct position. Make your design unique. You can copy, paste and resize images into the boxes. Be accurate and careful. Do not spend little time on the design, as the result may either look ridiculous or not work. Save your design before exiting! Remember to remove that color guide layer completely. Upload your design. Enter the ROBLOX website. Ensure that you have logged in. In the top left, click on Develop. In the sidebar next to your created games, click on shirts or pants. T-Shirts are different and do not need a template, just an image. See the t-shirt method for that. Click on "choose file". Select the template you have saved and edited. Name your design. Avoid using misleading names as your design may not be in the catalog. Click upload. Enjoy your new design! You may choose to place it in the catalog, put up with a price. | Find an image or make one to use for the T-shirt. Upload your image. Download a shirt template from the Roblox website. Open up the file in a paint tool, such as Microsoft Paint or Paint Tool SAI. Begin coloring in the boxes. Upload your design. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Money | How to Raise Money | To raise money, ask your neighbors to donate used items like furniture and clothes and then host a neighborhood rummage sale. You can also ask local grocery stores and restaurants to donate food so you can set up a food truck and sell things like hot dogs and desserts for a good cause. If you want to reach a larger group of people, make a page on an online crowdfunding website and share it on social media so people can donate. | Hold a rummage sale with donated items. This is a great way to raise a lot of money. Get people to donate extra items (the kind of stuff that lies around collecting dust in the garage) and hold a giant sale. Be sure to advertise the rummage sale so that lots of people will come. With donated items, you'll be able to raise lots of money very quickly and remaining items can be returned or passed on to charities or thrift stores. Feed people. Forget the bake-sale. Baking items are expensive. Instead, set up a hot dog station. Ask for donations of large quantities of hot dogs, buns, and condiments from local grocery stores or restaurants, or you can buy these yourself from wholesalers like Costco. Advertise your event well or set up in a space that gets a lot of foot traffic and begin selling dogs. Don't forget to let people know what you're raising the money for and what stores might have helped you put it together! Be handymen. Get you and your volunteers together and sell vouchers for handymen services. You can mow lawns, change light bulbs, unclog drains or toilets, or paint a small room. You can sell these vouchers door-to-door or through your place of business. The elderly and single parents will especially appreciate these services. Make a community cookbook. Collect together recipes from various members of your community. Edit the recipes and put them together as a cookbook. Sell printed copies (which you can get donated or for cheap from a local print shop) in physical form or get someone to put together an ebook, which can even be sold online. Offer family photos. Get a local photographer to donate their time and equipment and have your business o\ r church host a family photo day. Everyone can come and pay a low fee to have their picture taken and then provide prints (which can be donated by a local Walgreens or other print shop) or provide the digital files for families to get their own prints. Create a Fundraising Shoppe. A percentage of any purchases you or your friends make on Amazon, Target, Best Buy, or other online retailers will be donated to your cause. Check with each online retailer to find out what the requirements are, as well as get advice on how to really succeed. Hold a Parent’s Night Out or sleepover. With these events, parents can get a few hours rest and quiet by getting the kids out of the house for a while. Have teachers and parent volunteers chaperone as parents pay a fee to drop off their kids for a few hours or the whole night at the school's gym, cafeteria or other large room. Feed the kids dinner, play games or screen a movie, and be sure that parents bring sleeping supplies if it's a sleepover. Charge $10 per child and you'll make a lot of money very quickly! Turn your staff into entertainment. You can hold a talent show for teachers and the principal, but said employees must first get funding by asking their students for donations, like a walk-a-thon. Any student that pays gets free admission to the talent show for them and their family. Alternatively, you can have the principals or teachers agree to do entertaining acts in response to how much money is raised by the student body. For example, at $500 the teachers all have to wear silly hats for a week, at $1,000 the teachers have to wear their underwear on the outside for a week, at $1,500 the Principals will have a bad-singing duel, etc. Your students will fall over themselves at the chance to make their superiors look silly. Have a Rubber Duck Game. Get a donation from a sponsor or create one to use as a grand prize. Then sell small rubber ducks to families or students over the course of a week, a month, or just in one evening. These families will be given a number which will be put on the duck (they can even customize their duck, if you want). Now hold a race, where the ducks are placed on any body of flowing water. Whichever duck gets to the finish line first wins a prize for the family who purchased it. Everyone else can take their ducks home, so no one goes home empty-handed. You can do an alternative duck game where all of the ducks are floated on top of a large water surface, such as a kiddie pool. One duck will have a star drawn on the bottom. People pay to pick a duck and whoever picks the star wins the prize. This can be played multiple times, so long as you have prizes to hand out. Grow your green. Get donations of empty soup cans and remove all labels and sand down rough or sharp edges. These will serve as a flower pot. Then, have kids paint or decorate the outside of the cans. Once you have your flower pots ready, fill them with dirt and help the kids plant and grow herbs, flowers, etc. Once they're decently sized, hold a sale for everyone in the community to come and buy the plants. Hold a chair auction or sale. Auction off or sell the chance to paint or decorate the student seats. Families will pay to create a totally custom chair that their child can sit in and will act as a symbol of their donation for years to come. Way better and less boring than brick engraving! You can even get local hardware stores to donate spray paint and other appropriate paints, as well as stencils and other tools that can be used to customize the chairs. Do housework. If you just want to make some quick money, offer to do extra chores around the house in exchange for a few extra bucks. You can work around your own home or you can help other people clean their homes too. Just make sure that you only help out safe people whom you can trust. Babysit. Babysit for people that you know or strangers. You can make an ad and put it up at your school or church. In your ad, write down what hours you are available and how much money you charge. Just make sure you know how to babysit before you start! Become a paper boy. If you live in an area where the paper is still delivered, you can become a paper boy (though you don't need to be a boy to do it!). Check with your local papers to find out if they have any openings. Do some yard work. You can mow lawns, trim hedges, pull weeds, plant flowers, and do other yard work for people in your own neighborhood, for your parents, or for other people you know. Make a flyer and pass it out to people you know and ask them to pass it along if they don't need help. Just make sure you don't ask for too much money! Walk dogs. Walking neighborhood dogs is another way you can make some fast money, especially if you end up walking dogs that get along well with other dogs because then you can walk more than one dog at a time! Put up fliers in your neighborhood or hand them out to your neighbors that you know own dogs. Tutoring. You can also tutor to earn money. Decide what you're good at and know a lot about and then make a flier with your hours and how much you want to charge. Put it up at your school or a lower school in the area. You can also get your teacher's help by having them share it with teachers they know in the area. Pick a website to use. There are now a number of websites devoted to online fundraising. You will want to choose one which is reputable and associated with the kind of project you'd like to do. For example, Kickstarter and Indiegogo are the two most popular platforms for arts projects and creating physical products for sale, where GoFundMe, Fundly, and Crowdrise are for charities and individuals raising money. You can even start a fundraiser on Facebook if you are social media savvy. Have a solid plan and share that with your backers. You will need to have a solid plan for the money you get, carefully laying out exactly how you'll use it and when you'll meet deadlines. Share these plans with your backers so that they know you've planned ahead. Have great rewards. In order to encourage people to donate, it is important to have great rewards or incentives, if the platform you are using allows this. Make sure these rewards are something you can provide and that they will not set you back financially. Get as many donated rewards as you can. Update often. You will want to frequently let people know what's going on as your donation period progresses. This will keep people interested and engaged, as well as encourage them to share the project with their friends. Interact with people. Interact with donors as well as potential donors. This will draw more people into your project, as well as keeping current donors engaged and interested in what you are doing. Message back everyone who sends you questions or feedback, post videos talking about your plans, and go out on to forums which relate to your project to find more interested parties. Advertise. See if local papers or new programs are interested in reporting on your project. Find online blogs that may be interested in what you are doing. Post on forums and take advantage of social media to make sure as many people as possible know about what you are doing and why they'd love to help you out. Be thankful. Be extremely gracious with everyone who donates. Let people know how much you appreciate their money. This will make them want to support you more in the future, or maybe even donate more money than they did at first. Search for grants. Grants are, essentially, free money. You don't have to pay them back like you do a loan. However, they are often competitive and difficult to get, so be ready to put some work into it. Search for grants which apply to you, where the money is intended to fund people like you or the sorts of things you want to do. You can find grants through a number of websites, through your local library, or using university or college resources. Just be sure that whatever you're applying for is from a reputable organization. You should never have to pay money in order to get a grant. Apply for grants. Filling out the applications can be time consuming and complex, so prepare for that. There is often a large associated writing element, generally in the form of an essay or letter describing what you are doing and why (and how!). It may be helpful to hire or find a grant writer or at least someone who writes well, as this will increase your chances of getting the grant. Follow through. Grants will often have a long list of requirements that they want met. Rise to meet those requirements and be sure to use the money for what you said you would. You can find yourself in a lot of trouble if you don't. Investigate loans. If you are raising money to start a business or other activity which will have returns, consider getting a loan. There are many different types of loans, all with different benefits and downsides. Investigate these to see which type is best for you. Apply for a loan. Apply for the loan. You will probably need to go in to whichever bank is offering you the loan (be sure to choose a reputable bank, preferably that you have a history or account with) and talk to them about your options and what is expected of you. The paperwork will probably be long and complex, so pay attention to what you are signing up for. Pay it back. If you get a loan, it will be very important to pay it back. Don't get lazy and take the money for granted or you will find yourself with a bad credit score or even in trouble with the law. Plan ahead so you know exactly how much money needs to be set aside and when it needs to be paid by. | Hold a rummage sale with donated items. Feed people. Be handymen. Make a community cookbook. Offer family photos. Create a Fundraising Shoppe. Hold a Parent’s Night Out or sleepover. Turn your staff into entertainment. Have a Rubber Duck Game. Grow your green. Hold a chair auction or sale. Do housework. Babysit. Become a paper boy. Do some yard work. Walk dogs. Tutoring. Pick a website to use. Have a solid plan and share that with your backers. Have great rewards. Update often. Interact with people. Advertise. Be thankful. Search for grants. Apply for grants. Follow through. Investigate loans. Apply for a loan. Pay it back. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-School-Easier | How to Make School Easier | School can be really hard, but it will be easier if you're well-rested and organized at the start of each day. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, and wake up with plenty of time to eat a healthy breakfast, get showered, and get dressed before school each day. To stay organized, use a binder to keep all of your school notes in one place, and write down all of your assignments in a planner so you don't forget anything important. | Get a good night's sleep. If you're always tired during school, it will be extremely difficult for you to stay focused and learn. Most teenagers need at least 8 1/2 hours of sleep each night to function at their best, so make sure you go to bed early enough. Nourish your body. Proper nutrition is also essential if you want to do your best in school. Make sure to eat a filling and nutritious breakfast before school. Healthy snacks like fruits and nuts can help keep you energized throughout the day. Make sure your breakfast has plenty of protein. Good sources include eggs, whole grain bread, yogurt, and peanut butter. Steer clear of foods that contain lots of sugar or refined grains. It's equally important to keep yourself hydrated, so bring a water bottle to school with you and keep refilling it throughout the day. Get moving. Students who are physically fit tend to have an easier time excelling in school. Whether you're struggling with feeling drowsy in school or you have so much energy that you can't keep still in class, incorporating some physical activity into your daily routine can make a big difference. Try playing a sport at school to keep you active. If you don't like competitive sports, consider jogging, riding your bike, or playing some non-competitive sports with your friends. Avoid distractions. It may be tempting to ignore your teacher and do something else if you find a lesson boring, but this will only make things much harder when you need to complete homework assignments and take tests. Keep your phone and anything else that is not related to your class in your backpack. If you are allowed to use a tablet or computer in school, make sure you only use it for school-related purposes. If you are not working on an assignment or actively taking notes, put it away. Take notes. One of the best ways to stay engaged during a lesson is to take notes. Whether you're listening to your teacher or reading something independently, jot down the main points. You don't down every single thing. Instead, try to focus on answering the core questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. For more in-depth material, you can challenge yourself to come up with more specific questions, like, "To what extent did...?" or "What was the effect of...?" Using your own words is more effective than just copying down what you've read or heard. Ask questions. If you don't understand something, it's important to get clarification right away. Getting all of your questions answered will make it much easier for you to move on to the next lesson with confidence. If you don't want to raise your hand and ask your question in the middle of the lesson, write it down and ask your teacher later. Writing it down will help you remember exactly what you need clarification on and at what point you became confused. You can ask questions even if you understand the material perfectly. You might want to know more about a specific topic or how it relates to other things you have learned about. This shows curiosity and interest, so your teacher will be happy to answer your questions. Answering other people's questions is also a great way to keep yourself engaged in the lesson. Use study halls wisely. Many students choose to use study hall hours to socialize, but try to avoid this if you have work that you could be doing. Motivate yourself to stay focused in study hall by reminding yourself that whatever work you don't complete now, you'll have to do at home. Choose the right classes. When you have the opportunity to choose classes, make sure to choose wisely. You should choose classes that interest you to keep you fully engaged. Classes that are not challenging at all will probably be boring for you, but classes that are too challenging might cause you to become overly stressed. Think carefully about the demands of each class you plan on taking when you are deciding on your schedule. Make sure to think about your future education goals when choosing your classes. If you want to go to college, it's probably not a good idea to skip high school classes that will be necessary prerequisites for your future degree. If you're not sure what classes you need to take, talk to your guidance counselor or adviser. Stay organized. Make sure to keep all of your notes and past assignments in one place. Different systems work best for different people, but all that really matters is that you know exactly where to find something when you need it. This will make it much easier to review what you have already learned when it's time to prepare for tests or big assignments. It's also important to keep your completed homework assignments in the same place every day so you don't lose them. There's nothing worse than losing points for an assignment that you actually did on time! Have a plan and a schedule. In order to get the most out of your studying and avoid the stress of cramming at the last minute, it is important to plan out a schedule in advance. Studying a little bit every night and dividing large assignments up into smaller parts will help you stay on track. Write down everything you need to get done in a calendar or planner. That way, you'll have all your assignments in one place. It's best to get yourself in the habit of doing homework and studying at the same time every day. You can extend your study period when you have more work to do, and end early on days when you have less work. Set achievable goals for each study or homework session. For example, if you have an essay due in two weeks, your goal for tonight might be to create a rough outline. Write down all of your assignments in a planner. A wall calendar or mobile app can also help you keep track of your work, depending on your own personal preferences. If your schedule also includes extracurricular activities, work, or other commitments, make sure to keep track of them in the same place. This will help you visualize when you have time to do your work. Make sure to give yourself enough time to complete each assignment. If you're not sure how long something will take, try asking the teacher for an estimate. This is especially important for big projects, like research papers. Your teacher can help you understand all of the various steps that are involved, so you can budget time for each one. Understand priorities. While you should consider all of your schoolwork a priority, some assignments are more important than others. If you are struggling to manage your time, make sure not to waste too much on assignments that are not worth much. Instead, focus the majority of your attention on the assignments that will have the most impact on your final grade. This doesn't mean that you should completely neglect smaller assignments. If you do this consistently, the bad grades will start to add up and bring your whole average down. It might be tempting to do all of your easy homework first and save the most difficult assignments for last, but this is actually counterproductive. You will be more focused and energetic when you first start your homework than you will be after you have been working for a while, so take care of the work that requires the most attention first. You also need to consider the due date for each assignment when determining its priority level. Try to finish assignments that are due the following day before tackling ones that you have more time to complete. Find a study space. You will have a much easier time doing homework and studying if you set aside a specific place for it. Your study space should have a comfortable chair and enough space for you to spread out your books and other materials. It should also be quiet and free from distractions. Some people find music and light noise actually help them study, so experiment until you find a space that works best for you. If you don't have anyplace at home where you can study in peace, try to find another location. You may be able to stay after school and do your work in a classroom if you ask for permission. Your local library is also a great option. Take a 15-minute break every hour if you find yourself getting distracted. Take a short walk or do a task that will not keep you distracted for more than 15 minutes. Personalize your study methods. Everyone learns differently, so the study methods that are most effective for your friends might not work for you. Try to make studying more enjoyable for you by using the method that you genuinely find the most helpful, even if it's not conventional. One way to make studying more enjoyable is to imagine that you are someone else, like a character from the book you are reading, a famous scientist, or a historical figure. Try to think about how this person might explain the material you are learning about. You can even act it out if you want. Flashcards are great study tools for some people. If drawing pictures on your flashcards helps you learn better than writing words on both sides, go for it! Rewriting material in your own words can also help you retain it better. If you want to get a little creative with this method, try coming up with rhyming lines or catchy phrases. Reward yourself. Once you've finished all of your studying and homework for the day, make sure to give yourself a reward for a job well done. This may be going outside, watching your favorite television show, listening to some music, or anything else you enjoy. Remember that you will only be motivated by your reward if you don't give it to yourself on days when you don't finish all of your work. If you lack the discipline to reward yourself, try getting a parent or older sibling to hold on to the reward until your work is done. Get help when you need it. Nothing makes school more miserable than struggling through your classes alone and not knowing where to turn for help. School will be easier and more enjoyable if you ask for help as soon as you feel you do not understand the curriculum, instead of waiting until you are failing the class and completely overwhelmed. Ask your teacher for help, or maybe even another teacher at your school. You might understand the material just fine if it is explained in a slightly different way. Remember that your teachers are there to help you learn, so don't be afraid to ask them questions. Your classmates may also be able to help you. If you are friendly with other students in the class who are doing well, ask them if they would be willing to help you with an assignment or form a study group. If you need more individualized assistance than your teacher can offer you, think about getting a private tutor. There are many private tutoring companies that can help you, although you will have to pay for these services. Some schools also offer free peer tutoring, so be sure to take advantage of those resources. Make friends. School will be much more enjoyable for you if you get to see people who you like. Friends can also help support you when you are feeling stressed out by school or struggling with an assignment. Having friends is great, but don't let them distract you in class. Keep your conversations limited to free time, like during lunch or between classes. Get involved. Being involved with school sports and clubs can help you make friends and it can help you become more passionate about school. Be cautious about over scheduling. If you start falling behind with your studying because of your extracurricular activities, you're probably doing too much. Instead of trying to be involved in everything, just choose one or two activities that you really enjoy. Explore your interests. Elective classes are a great opportunity to learn more about something that interests you. The more passionate you are about your courses, the easier and less stressful school will be for you. Try to take at least one class that genuinely interests you. If your school doesn't offer any electives that interest you, talk to your guidance counselor about what other options are available. Some schools offer students the option to take certain classes at community colleges while they are still in high school. You can also use electives as a way to explore new subjects that you know little or nothing about. You may discover that you have a passion you didn't even know about! Focus on your goals. You may not enjoy every one of your classes, and that's perfectly fine. It's important, however, to keep thinking about the future. If you really hate one of your required classes or even a specific assignment, try refocusing your attention on your future career goals. Thinking about the class or assignment as a very small step towards achieving a goal that will bring you a lot of happiness in the future might make it easier to deal with. | Get a good night's sleep. Nourish your body. Get moving. Avoid distractions. Take notes. Ask questions. Use study halls wisely. Choose the right classes. Stay organized. Have a plan and a schedule. Understand priorities. Find a study space. Personalize your study methods. Reward yourself. Get help when you need it. Make friends. Get involved. Explore your interests. Focus on your goals. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Call-Private | How to Call Private | To call private, enter a blocking code prior to dialing the number you want to call. If you're in the United States, you'll most likely need to enter *67 or #31#, depending on your carrier. In order to find your code if neither of these work, enter “blocking code,” your country, phone model, and provider into a search engine to look it up. After you've entered the rest of the phone number, make your call as normal. | Open your Phone app. If you wish to hide your phone number from one person while calling them, you can enter a couple of numbers before the rest of the phone number to mask your Caller ID. If you're using a landline, simply pick the phone up and prepare to dial. Type *67. This code will work with virtually any North American provider. Some other common blocking codes include the following: *67 - United States (except AT&T), Canada (landline), New Zealand (Vodafone phones) #31# - United States (AT&T phones), Australia (mobile) , Albania, Argentina (mobile), Bulgaria (mobile), Denmark, Canada (mobile), France, Germany (some mobile providers), Greece (mobile), India (only after network unlock), Israel (mobile), Italy (mobile), Netherlands (KPN phones), South Africa (mobile), Spain (mobile), Sweden, Switzerland (mobile) *31# - Argentina (landline), Germany, Switzerland (landline) 1831 - Australia (landline) 3651 - France (landline) *31* - Greece (landline), Iceland, Netherlands (most carriers), Romania, South Africa (Telkom phones) 133 - Hong Kong *43 - Israel (landline) *67# - Italy (landline) 184 - Japan 0197 - New Zealand (Telecom or Spark phones) 1167 - Rotary phones in North America *9# - Nepal (NTC prepaid/postpaid phones only) *32# - Pakistan (PTCL phones) *23 or *23# - South Korea 067 - Spain (landline) 141 - United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland If your phone is on a GSM network (e.g., most Androids), you can always dial #31# to block your caller ID. Type the rest of the number you wish to dial. Typically, this will be 10 digits. Make your call. Unless you're calling 911 or an 800 number, your call recipient will not be able to see your phone number. Open a search engine of your choice. If you can't get one of the standard blocking codes (e.g., #31#) to work, your country and carrier may have a specific code that isn't universally used. Search for "block code" followed by your phone model, country, and carrier information. For example: to find out the block code used on a Verizon iPhone in the United States, you'd type "united states verizon wireless iphone caller id block code" into a search engine. If you're using a landline, type "landline" instead of "iPhone" (or similar). If you don't see any relevant results, vary your language by typing "block caller id" instead of "caller id block code" or something similar. Visit your carrier's website. They may have posted information here that will answer your question. Common carriers include the following: Verizon Wireless Sprint T-Mobile AT&T Vodafone Call your carrier. If you still can't find any information about your blocking code, call a carrier branch near you. You may have to wait for several hours before you can speak to a representative. You may also be able to ask your carrier to turn on permanent caller ID blocking, though there will likely be a fee for doing so. Open your iPhone's Settings. This is the grey gear on the Home Screen. If you have a Verizon iPhone, you won't be able to use your phone's settings to disable caller ID. Scroll down and tap Phone. It's in the same section of apps as Messages and FaceTime. Tap Show My Caller ID. If your carrier doesn't support this feature (as in the case of Verizon phones), you won't see this option here. Slide the Show My Caller ID switch left. It will turn white. From now on, the people you call won't be able to see your phone number. Open your Android's Phone app. This is the blue phone-shaped icon on the Home Screen or in the App Drawer. Some carriers don't support caller ID blocking. If you can't find the appropriate option inside the Phone app's settings, consider calling your carrier for more information. Tap ⋮. This is in the top right corner of your screen. Tap Settings. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appears. Tap Calls. Tap Additional Settings. Tap Caller ID. This will load the Caller ID settings. Select Hide Number. After a moment of loading, you should be back at the "Caller ID" menu. Your Android's phone number will no longer display for the people you call. | Open your Phone app. Type *67. Type the rest of the number you wish to dial. Make your call. Open a search engine of your choice. Search for "block code" followed by your phone model, country, and carrier information. Visit your carrier's website. Call your carrier. Open your iPhone's Settings. Scroll down and tap Phone. Tap Show My Caller ID. Slide the Show My Caller ID switch left. Open your Android's Phone app. Tap ⋮. Tap Settings. Tap Calls. Tap Additional Settings. Tap Caller ID. Select Hide Number. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Witch | How to Be a Witch | If you're interested in being a witch, know that there's not just one type of witchcraft that you have to follow. Instead, you can try exploring different branches of witchcraft and reading a variety of books on the subject to figure out what you like best. Start by getting a journal that you can fill with any interesting spells or incantations you come across. Then, set up an altar to practice your witchcraft at, and decorate it with some of your most prized possessions and interesting objects that inspire you. You can also start collecting herbs, essential oils, and other objects that you'll need for your spells. | Learn about different magic traditions. There's no central school of witchcraft, witchery, or spell-casting, which means that novices and non-practicioners often have a hard time figuring out what's real and what's fake. Becoming a witch is a personal journey that involves research, patience, study, and more research (seriously, for many witches, it's 20% spell casting, 80% taking notes). Depending on your interests, different schools of thought and traditions may be more appropriate or interesting. Some common styles of witchcraft include: Wicca and “green” witchcrafts are popular in the United States, often revolving around Gaia-study and nature-based spells and meditation. The earliest Wiccans were followers of Gerald Gardner, a British magic scholar in the 20th century, whose ideas and works were popularized in the 1950s and 1960s. If you've got an interest in crystals, the use of herbs, rituals, and essential oils, this might be right for you. Neo-paganism and Druidism, or other ancestral witches are interested in history and tradition, specifically practicing in accordance with the seasons and with rituals. If you want to get back to the source of "traditional" witchcraft, these styles might be right for you. Regional and esoteric witchcrafts, like Santeria, Stregheria, Fari, Pharmakos, and other cultural witchcrafts are also common, depending on where you live and your culture's traditions. If you've got a strong connection to place, research the local practices where you live. Keep in mind that some religions/practices are closed. " A culture or religion is considered “closed” if you are required to be born or formally initiated into it into order to be considered a part of that community or faith and to have the right to participate in their spiritual practices. Easy examples of this include some orthodox sects of major religions, i.e. some Hindu sects, and some various Native American religions and cultures. Wicca, in its traditional form, is considered closed, due to the fact that is it a mystery religion and formal initiation into a coven is required. (Neo-Wicca, on the other hand, is an offshoot that is much more open and accommodates solitary and uninitiated practitioners who follow Wiccan principles and practices.) The best way to know if a culture is closed is to ask someone who is part of the culture. Generally, as with so many other things in life, it is best to ask permission before picking up something that seems exotic or mystical. Secular Witchcraft, which is unaffiliated with any religion, philosophy, belief system, etc. Any person from any religion (or lack thereof) can practice secular witchcraft. Witchcraft is for everyone. No one is prohibited from practicing witchcraft. Some people want to act as gatekeepers, but the truth is that other people don't get a say in your personal beliefs and practices, no matter what they say. There are Atheist witches, Christian witches, Jewish witches, Luciferian witches, Wiccan witches, agnostic witches, etc. The only person who can decide what works for you is you. Learn from a wide variety of sources about different histories and traditions. One thing the novice witch will quickly learn is that every adept practices differently. There's no “bible” of witchcraft, no central guiding list of principles or rules for witches. Anything that claims to be is false. Your practice will be your own practice, no one else's, so it's important to take “expert” advice with a grain of salt. You can read some classics, but it should all go toward your own personal understanding of the arts and your own practice. Some classic authors and readings include: Aleister Crowley Colin Wilson's The Occult: A History Malleus Mallificarum , an ancient text on witchcraft Montague Summers' Witchcraft and Demonology Check out Wiccan writings by Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Scott Cunningham. Nigel Jackson, Nigel Pennick, Carlo Ginzburg, Robin Artisson, Gemma Gary, Andrew Chumbley, have written widely of traditional witchcraft. (Be aware that many books and/or authors are coming from a Wiccan/neo-pagan viewpoint. There is nothing wrong with this, but if you are looking for information on, for example, secular witchcraft- that is to say, witchcraft that is not associated with any religion, philosophy, belief system, etc., then books on Wiccan witchcraft won't be as helpful). Some authors are known to be, at best, problematic and mistaken, and at worst, willfully ignorant and deliberately misinformative. These authors often include historical inaccuracies (ranging from misunderstandings/misconceptions to outright lies), biased views on various subjects, and rampant cultural appropriation. Some authors to be wary of are: Silver RavenWolf, Raymond Buckland, Laurie Cabot, Margaret Murray, Edain McCoy, and D.J. Conway. If you do decide to read their works, be sure to fact-check anything and everything. These books can be useful, absolutely, but do your own independent research, and don't take anyone's word as gospel, no matter how popular they are. Also keep in mind that some authors, while their works are incredibly useful, have been dead for a while, and so their information is likely to be a little outdated. Scott Cunningham is a good example of this. His books can be very helpful and informative, but remember to round out your reading with other sources. Develop personal goals for your practice. It can't be overstated: being a witch is a personal journey. There's no one way to go about doing it. This makes it important to learn what you can, take what you must, and write your own goals and your own path for yourself. It might be helpful to do some journaling, keeping a record of what it is you hope to explore, and what you hope to discover. A few guiding questions can be helping in getting started, but it's up to you to find the answers. What do you want from witchcraft? What types of spells and incantations do you hope to perform? What do you hope to learn about being a witch? How to do you hope that witchcraft can improve or change your life? Watch out for fluff. Be wary of for-pay tutorials and online schemes. Developing a practice of witchcraft isn't something that can be communicated in 25 easy steps for only $39.95 from Hot Topic. Witchcraft isn't about following a pre-written list of rules and going from A to B to C in the proper order. It's a personal journey of discovery that is different for everyone. What it means to "be a witch" and to "practice witchcraft" will change drastically when you talk to different practitioners of magic. Try to take things with a grain of salt. If other witches don't want to help you learn, or disagree with a particular practice or reading that you find power in, talk to other witches. Find a group of like-minded practitioners and ignore the dissenters. Collect the tools of the trade. To get started casting spells and practicing witchcraft, it's a good idea to get the basic tools. No, broomsticks and pointy hats are not necessary. Each witch will require different tools for performing particular spells, but the basics are more or less universal, though it should be stated that none of these items are required in order for you to be a witch. Select a wand. Wands are often selected for their personal connection to the witch. It's a simple matter of finding and charging a stick, but it's also much more than that. Spend a lot of time wandering the woods to find a short stick that works for you, that you feel some connection with. You'll know it when you find it. Don't feel like you aren't a "real" witch, though, if you don't use a wand or any other tool that another witch uses. Your practice is yours alone and no one else can tell you what works for you. Mortar and pestles are important objects for spell casting. Used to mix herbs and other ingredients into a heady potion, a mortar and pestle are available at any housewares store, and in most kitchens. Herbs. Witch hazel, mugwort, sage, lavender, and many other herbs are commonly used in witchcraft. Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is an essential guide for the novice witch. You can learn about the powers and the uses of many different common herbs and how to use them. Mineral spirit and salt. Used in cleansing and keeping your spell castings safe, mineral spirits and salts are common barriers against the world of the spirits. You can help to protect yourself by charging your tools with all-natural mineral spirits and circling yourself in salt. Charge your magic tools. Wands, crystals, and other implements involved in heavy psychic incantations need to be cleansed thoroughly before and after spell castings. A good witch is in tune with her tools and keeps them charged and free of negative psychic energy. Use the traditions and techniques of your practice to charge and cleanse your tools. Different traditions will offer different techniques for accomplishing this, but in general, many witches use lunar energy to charge or cleanse wands, letting the stone absorb the energy of the moon by sitting out in the moonlight overnight. Wiping your wand down with mineral spirits is also a common practice to cleanse and clear out any bad psychic energy. Cleanse the area. Spells and circles don't need to be cast in the middle of a dark wood at midnight, and magic rituals can be performed just as effectively in the comfort of your bedroom. Choose a safe space where you'll be comfortable and undisturbed. Select a place where you can remain uninterrupted for as long as it will take to complete the ritual. Meditate for several minutes, according to your practice. Offer a prayer of protection, requesting that evil spirits and negative energy stay away, and invite positivity and light into your circle. Meditate on the task to come. Light candles and prepare other objects that will be necessary for the ritual that you're going to perform. If other people are around to perform the ritual with you, gather together, hold hands, and complete the cleansing prayers together. Join as one. Cast the circle. Different traditions use different objects and methods for casting a circle, but it's not important whether you want to use candles, stones, chalk lines or sticks to create your spell-casting circle, what matters is intent. The circle is a physical or psychic barrier in your safe space, that will allow you to channel the deities, powers, and energies necessary to do your work. In many traditions, a circle must contain candles at each of the four cardinal directions–North, South, East, and West. It's also a good idea to keep a representative of each element in the circle with you. A handful of earth, a glass of water, the fire of a candle, and other elements should all be present. Casting the spell. Welcome the elements and the deities you're invoking and state the Purpose of the ritual aloud. Specific invocations or prayers should be recited, and spells should be cast at this time. A comprehensive online database of spells can be found here. Raise and release the energy you're invoking. The purpose of a spell is to make your circle a conduit, through which you contact the unseen world of energies and spirits. When you connect with those energies, you've got to contact them safely and detach yourself from them safely as well. Close the ritual safely. Thank the Deities (if present) for gracing you with their presence. Thank the elements for aiding you and supporting you in your spell. Close or open the circle, depending on your tradition. Wiccans practice what is called the Law of Three: "Evermind the Rule of Three, What Ye Sends Out Comes Back to Thee." The law of three states that anything you do comes back to you threefold. So please, be wise, and think about your actions and how they affect others. Keep in mind, though, that not all witches are Wiccan, and non-Wiccan witches are not required to believe in or follow Wiccan guidelines. Do not bash or bully anyone else for their practice just because it isn't the same as yours. Find a guide. Since it can be so overwhelming for the novice, it's important for witches who are just starting to explore the world of witchcraft to get help. Find other more experienced witches who will help tutor you in the dark arts, recommend readings, and show you a thing or two about spells. Never lie about your experience or your expertise in witchcraft. If you don't know a wand from a cauldron, don't Try to cast yourself as an experienced witch. Others will respect you less and will see through it. It's better to be honest about your knowledge and be willing to learn. Keep your own Book of Shadows. When you first get started in practicing witchcraft, it's a good idea to start your own book of shadows. Again, it doesn't need to be bound in ancient leather and stained with goat blood–just get a composition book. Adorn it as you would a journal, with images you find powerful, moving, or full of witchy wisdom. Use the book to record spells, observations, and incantations as you pick them up from your readings and research. Create an altar. An altar doesn't need to be elaborate, or feature the bleached skull of a 12th century mystic (although that would be awesome). An altar is simply a place where you will practice. It should prominently feature personal totems and inspirational objects, things that are essential to your practice. That may mean crystals, stones, herbs, pictures, and any number of other objects that are important to you. Adorn your alter with important objects. If you're a green witch, or a Wiccan, it might be a good idea to put laurels, dead flowers, dried herbs, and other natural things on your altar. Find stones that speak to you, strange seashells, or other objects of power and beauty. If you're a druid, or another type of traditional witch, keep lots of pictures of your family, your ancestors, on your altar. If you don't have any, include very old objects–photos of Civil War soldiers, or old pocket watches, things that remind you of the past and help you connect to it. Practice rhythmically, with the seasons. Many (but not all) witches find it beneficial to be in tune with the changing of the seasons, and with the transitions from one phase to the next. Attune yourself to the moon's phases and practice your spell casting in accordance with the lunar changes, the equinox, and other essential signifiers of changing time. Get an astrological calendar and learn about the shifting planets. Pay attention to the changing of the seasons and your emotional, physical, and psychic responses. Keep collecting magic objects. As your Book of Shadows grows and swells with spells, it's a good idea to keep your cabinets and your altar growing. Collect herbs and essential oils for use in your spell casting and keep growing your collection of powerful herb and oils. Practice using them and learning about their distinctive uses. Collect precious stones and crystals and meditate with them to find out which you connect with and which you can use in your practice. Herbs and stones are available for purchase, but it's a good idea to learn more about foraging and collecting fresh herbs to dry for yourself. Connecting your practice as much as you can with the earth is an excellent idea. Get a local field guide for greenery in your climate and go out frequently to find useful magick herbs. Go foraging around creek beds to find precious stones. | Learn about different magic traditions. Learn from a wide variety of sources about different histories and traditions. Develop personal goals for your practice. Watch out for fluff. Collect the tools of the trade. Charge your magic tools. Cleanse the area. Cast the circle. Casting the spell. Close the ritual safely. Find a guide. Keep your own Book of Shadows. Create an altar. Practice rhythmically, with the seasons. Keep collecting magic objects. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Earn-More-Tips-as-a-Waiter-or-Waitress | How to Earn More Tips as a Waiter or Waitress | To earn more tips as a waiter or waitress, assist guests before they even get to your tables by opening the door for them or greeting them as they're being seated. Additionally, anticipate your guest's needs by doing such things as filling water glasses before they're empty or bringing an array of condiments if the table orders french fries. You can also make a connection with your customers by introducing yourself, writing “Thank You” on the back of the check, and learning the names of your guests. | Assist guests before they even get to your tables. Opening the door and greeting a guest also gives you a chance to check them in with the hostess. Knowing and using a guest's name is an important first step in creating a valuable repeat customer who may request your station when they return, and they usually tip much higher. This might not be possible on busy shifts. That said, you can still help your guests by having waters ready and at the table, for example, right before they sit down. Checking in quickly to say "hello" or "welcome, as they sit down is a quick, small way to make a connection before the meal begins. Anticipate your guest's needs. If your table orders fries, you might be wise to bring ketchup (these are often called pre-sets or pre-drops). If your table orders messy food, bring extra napkins. Be a great waiter and anticipate their needs, don't make them ask. Keep an eye on the table whenever you pass by, and make a mental note of any pressing needs -- empty water glasses, dropped forks, etc. -- and step in when needed. Do not pester your guests. Checking on them verbally every time you visit your section may backfire and become irritating. Your guest will let you know if they need anything when you are walking through. Providing refills, napkins, etc. will ensure that the only thing they should ask you for is the check. There is a fine line between anticipating needs and annoying your guests. To help, imagine that your guests are always in the middle of a very important conversation. They don't want this conversation to be broken up or interrupted unless completely necessary. Refilling waters quietly, placing silverware, etc. are fine, but stopping them to ask "if they need anything?" every 5 minutes will quickly grow old. Make yourself seem approachable when taking orders. People will have questions, want to make substitutions, and may even want recommendations. When taking orders, stand close to the table, and even consider crouching slightly so that you're nearer to eye-level. In some studies the closer a waiter gets to the table, the higher their tips became. Ask kids and women for their orders first. This is basic, but most waiters and waitresses miss it. When you follow this basic cultural rule you will be amazed how the tips just seem to roll in. Repeat the order exactly. Several studies have discovered that you earn more tips if you repeat the order of each guest exactly - not paraphrased. Your guests will then (unconsciously) think that you are similar to them and it will help to make a connection. This also shows lets them feel like they are being paid attention to, and assures them that they will be taken care. Never let their drinks run out. This is so basic, but when not done well it can really hurt you financially. If you know they suck those things down, you might consider bringing them two at once. Don't feel the need to ask them for refills: if it gets low, bring another. When the whole table orders water, bringing extra doesn't hurt either. Have the check ready to deliver once you've sent for dessert, coffee, etc. Print their checks after you send the order, desserts, coffees, etc. and place in a check presenter. No guest wants to wait for their server to return with their check so it helps to always have it on the ready. One minute to a server may feel like five to a guest. Once the check is presented, don't disappear. When people get the check they're ready to leave, so you need to get it processed and finished to move them out the door. Offer to box up their meal. Instead of bringing your guest a box, offer to do it for them. Some will say no, in which case you may bring a box for them, but this will really be going the extra mile and will help your case when it comes time to tip. Note: this is illegal in some states. - Make sure you know your employer's policies beforehand. Be courteous and helpful to the bussers and cooks. You cannot earn your tips alone, and a chef with a grudge could always wait a little longer to cook your food if you've been rude to them. As a result, your table will be left to wait, and they'll likely pay you less in tips as a result. This is not just for restaurants where the entire staff splits tips. You should always be kind, courteous, and helpful with your staff -- as neither of you would have jobs without the other. Fall in love with your job. When you truly love being a server, it shows. You will become infectious with your good attitude and earn larger tips. People are proven to tip higher when they feel a social connection with their server, as if they could be friends. The best way to cultivate this attitude is to enjoy your work and interactions with others. A big, open-lipped smile can increase tips up to 140%. Look good and smell nice. Take some time to get presentable before arriving to work. A dirty waiter or waitress is unpleasant to look at and reflects poorly on you and the restaurant. Wash your apron and uniform, and make an effort to wear nice clothes when at work. While attractiveness hasn't been proven to increase tips for male waiters, effort and cleanliness definitely does. Women should wear a little basic make-up to earn more tips, as a French study showed that 50% more men left tips to waitresses wearing make-up than those wearing none. Unfortunately, more attractive women have been proven to get higher tips than less, but you should exploit this fact for your own benefit as well. The same study found that adding a bit of personality to your outfit, like a flower or button, increased tips by roughly 15%. For women, this is particularly noticeable when wearing something in your hair. Introduce yourself. In order to build connections with customers, and thus increase your tips, be sure to let the table know your name. When you arrive, say hello and let them know your name before launching into the specials. Waitstaff who introduced themselves earned roughly $2 more per bill. If the table offers you their names, be sure to remember them and use them. The best way to do this is when you get the check. When returning a credit or debit card, be sure to thank the name on the card when handing over the check -- it's been shown to increase tips. Give the customers a little something extra, like a mint or simple drawing. When people feel treated or gifted upon, they generally try to "pay back" the person being generous to them. Even writing a simple "Thank You" on the back of a check was shown to increase tips, and simple smiley faces and pictures help as well. Being kind and generous during the meal can create the same effect. If someone spills something, or an order doesn't come out perfectly, you should offer to rectify the situation for them as best you can. Learn to turn tables over. This is especially crucial when it is busy or the restaurant is filling up. While you should always be kind and courteous, you want people to eat, pay, and move on so that you can get a new table, and thus a new tip. To do this, come collect the dishes once everyone has finished eating, and ask about further courses (like dessert) instead of waiting for them to ask you. Become a product expert by knowing your menu back to front. Notice that when you meet a waiter or waitress that has tried everything on the menu, you tend to listen to their recommendations a lot more. If you want to earn more tips, make a decision to eat everything on the menu and then tell your tables what you enjoyed. They will appreciate it and tip you more. You should, at a minimum, be able to recommend 3-5 dishes that you've sampled and enjoy. You should also know any common allergens in each dish, as well as basic dietary restrictions (vegetarian or not, gluten-free, etc.) Talk to the chefs about their recipes and food. They can offer you great little bits of information, such as drink pairings and where ingredients come from, that will make you seem all the more knowledgeable. Sell more food. When you have higher check totals you get bigger tips. Offer appetizers, drinks and deserts by name. Use enticing and descriptive words like rich, creamy, smooth, spicy, etc. Offer your guest an after dinner espresso or cappuccino. This will warm them up and give them time to think about how great you are and what a giant tip they are going to leave you. You should always, at the very least, offer your guests dessert and/or coffee. Be politely assertive about the food, saying "let me bring you the dessert menu?" instead of "would you guys like to consider dessert? Use "suggestive selling" to help your guests make decisions. To up-sell, suggest an add on item, like a side of shrimp to accompany a steak or chicken in a salad. Helping a group pair food and wine is a great way to suggest that they get an expensive bottle with their meal. Be assertive with your suggestions. For example, it might cost extra to get cheese on a hamburger -- but you don't need to explain that. When someone orders a burger, simply ask, "and you'd like cheese on that?" This may be less productive for you during busy shifts. Adding $5 to a bill results in a small bump in tips, but getting a whole new group to sit down and spend $55 on dinner will result in higher tips overall. Manicure the table as people eat. When the beverage napkins get soggy, replace them. When they are finished with dishes, take them away. If they make a mess, politely help them clean it. People feel better in a clean, tidy environment, and are more likely to get more food if they don't see the scraps from their last course. If a dish is empty, politely ask if you can take it for them. Do not, however, take plates from anyone if someone is still eating. This makes the people still eating feel rushed. Get rid of small things quietly and efficiently. Try and sweep by and avoid distracting the group from their discussion as much as possible. | Assist guests before they even get to your tables. Anticipate your guest's needs. Do not pester your guests. Make yourself seem approachable when taking orders. Repeat the order exactly. Never let their drinks run out. Have the check ready to deliver once you've sent for dessert, coffee, etc. Offer to box up their meal. Be courteous and helpful to the bussers and cooks. Fall in love with your job. Look good and smell nice. Introduce yourself. Give the customers a little something extra, like a mint or simple drawing. Learn to turn tables over. Become a product expert by knowing your menu back to front. Sell more food. Use "suggestive selling" to help your guests make decisions. Manicure the table as people eat. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Hunt-Pheasants | How to Hunt Pheasants | To hunt pheasants, start by checking your local guidelines for the hunting season dates, which are typically in the late fall through the early winter. Additionally, review a list of public hunting grounds so you know where you're allowed to hunt. Then, focus on hunting in the early morning and twilight hours, when the birds are out looking for food. Use a gun that weighs less than 8 pounds and takes a heavy steel shot, like a 12-gauge shotgun or a double-action shotgun. | Learn to recognize pheasants. Males' plumage is copper and gold and they have red faces and long tails. Females are brown and harder to spot. They are the size of large chickens. It is often illegal to hunt females. Pheasants have very good hearing and eyesight. Review your location's hunting regulations. Depending on where you live, you will be subject to various regulations and licensing requirements. You may need to tag and record your hunts. You may be required to wear orange. Some locations require hunting education. Be aware of your locality's rules regarding age, as well as load and firearms. Find a good bird dog. While hunting pheasant without a dog is possible, it will be much easier with a dog to track and locate birds for you. Labradors are good at tracking and flushing pheasant out of heavy cover. They are popular options. Pointers are good for finding birds in light cover and notifying owners. Decide on a gun. There are a variety of options, and you will want to keep in mind not only your target, but long hours of walking and carrying the gun. Stick with a gun that weighs less than 8 pounds. A 12-gauge shotgun is always popular for hunting pheasants, although 16- or 20-gauge are possibilities. Double-action shotguns are most common, although some hunters prefer semi-automatics. Lead shot is often banned on public lands, so you'll need steel. Pheasant hunting requires a heavy shot, like size 4. Be sure to have good all-weather boots, and dress in layers. It's likely to be wet and cold, and you'll be doing a lot of walking on uneven terrain. Check your local guidelines for the pheasant hunting season start and end dates. It's usually in the late fall through the early winter, but the specific dates can change based on where you live. The best pheasant hunting in the U.S. is in the Midwest and Plains states like Iowa or South Dakota, although pheasants can be found in other parts of the country. Review a list of public hunting grounds and availability. You can't just hunt anywhere. Public grounds often provide good hunting during cold weather or later in the season, but you will be competing with many other hunters, as well as their car doors and noisy friends possibly scaring off the birds. Public grounds can be more challenging, and more dangerous since there will be less control over who is there and what they are doing. Arrive early, and try to find less popular spots. Hunt right after the first cold spell of the season, or after rain. Dogs can smell better in cold, wet environments. It's also easier to track pheasants in mud and snow. Focus on hunting in the early morning and twilight hours. The birds are out looking for food in lighter cover at those times and are more easily located. Hunt near water sources, both natural and man-made, particularly if you are hunting early in the season. If the weather has been dry, the birds will gather near water. Consider private hunting clubs. They offer several benefits, including guides. They often begin earlier than hunting season on public lands, so you can practice with your dog. This is particularly useful for young dogs who need more training. You will have the opportunity to get comfortable with your gun, and you can practice shooting clay pigeons, which requires shooting ahead of your target. Clubs offer a variety of cover to experience. Clubs release the birds throughout the day and you can request varying degrees of difficulty. Hunt solo if you plan to cover small patches like field edges. Your dog will be especially helpful you are alone, so be sure to hunt into the wind. Drive around a strip of cover and position downwind. Move toward an open area or an obstruction to slow the birds. Rises and ravines are also good positions because you have cover, and birds are obstructed. You'll need to hunt in a group for large areas like cornfields or cattail marshes. Groups can cover much more ground. The social aspect of group hunting is an attraction for many hunters. Find pheasant by walking in a zigzag or “S” pattern to ensure that you cover a lot of ground. Be meticulous. If you are in a group, coordinate your patterns. Pause frequently to confuse the birds and make them nervous. Be very quiet at all times. Use hand signals to other hunters rather than shouting to each other. From the time you arrive on the grounds, to the moment you leave, be very quiet. Be patient. Keep your dog nearby. When your dog stops and points or quivers, get close to him quickly and quietly. If you a using a flushing dog, such as a Lab, the dog will flush out the rooster. A pointing dog, such as German Short-haired Pointers, will point to the bird, allowing you to do the flushing. Look for pheasant tracks, or listen for crowing. Pheasants have three toes pointing forward, with the middle often being longer. Tracks are more easily visible in mud or snow. Pheasants like corn, so look for corn patches. They are attracted to the green and shade. Pheasants also like thick cattails and marshy areas. Aim ahead of the bird, in the direction of flight. Make your shot only after the bird is above human height. You will have about a two second opportunity, so you need to be very quick. If you hit the bird and killed it, good job! Most dogs will retrieve the bird for you, or you can get it yourself. Dress and cool the meat as soon as possible to avoid spoilage. If you did not hit the bird, just try again next time! Make sure your gun is clean. A dirty gun could misfire or malfunction. Keep your gun's safety on until you are ready to shoot. Always be aware of where your muzzle is pointing. Disengage the safety as you approach the point. Do not put your finger on the trigger until after you have pulled the gun up and are aiming ahead of your bird. Your reaction time will improve with practice. Don't risk unintentionally firing. Know what you are pointing at, but also what is behind it. Wear bright colors, like orange, to make yourself visible to other hunters. You may not be required by your state, but wearing bright colors could save your life. When more than one person is hunting, be sure to walk abreast to prevent shooting each other. If everyone walks shoulder-to-shoulder, there is much less of a chance of accidentally firing on each other. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface, such as a bird on the ground. Birdshot can spray out, and could hit a dog or person. Do not aim at water. Do not consume alcohol while hunting or handling guns. Drugs or alcohol will impair your judgment and reaction time. Minors should always be accompanied by responsible adults. Hunting is a cherished hobby for many families. But aware of your state's age restrictions before setting out. Consider weather conditions when taking a child hunting. Always emphasize safety when teaching a child to hunt. Hunt only with a legal firearm, during season, on land that you may legally hunt on. Choose your location carefully. Get permission beforehand if necessary. | Learn to recognize pheasants. Review your location's hunting regulations. Find a good bird dog. Decide on a gun. Be sure to have good all-weather boots, and dress in layers. Check your local guidelines for the pheasant hunting season start and end dates. Review a list of public hunting grounds and availability. Hunt right after the first cold spell of the season, or after rain. Focus on hunting in the early morning and twilight hours. Hunt near water sources, both natural and man-made, particularly if you are hunting early in the season. Consider private hunting clubs. Hunt solo if you plan to cover small patches like field edges. You'll need to hunt in a group for large areas like cornfields or cattail marshes. Find pheasant by walking in a zigzag or “S” pattern to ensure that you cover a lot of ground. Keep your dog nearby. Look for pheasant tracks, or listen for crowing. Aim ahead of the bird, in the direction of flight. Make sure your gun is clean. Keep your gun's safety on until you are ready to shoot. Do not put your finger on the trigger until after you have pulled the gun up and are aiming ahead of your bird. Wear bright colors, like orange, to make yourself visible to other hunters. When more than one person is hunting, be sure to walk abreast to prevent shooting each other. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface, such as a bird on the ground. Do not consume alcohol while hunting or handling guns. Minors should always be accompanied by responsible adults. Hunt only with a legal firearm, during season, on land that you may legally hunt on. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-Productivity | How to Increase Productivity | If you want to increase your productivity, make sure to schedule your time with a physical or electronic calendar, since concrete, visible reminders can motivate you to push onward and keep you organized. To prioritize your tasks with efficiency in mind, start your workday with tasks you dislike, since you may feel too tired to do less pleasant work later in the day. You should also make sure to take frequent, short breaks where you walk around, drink water, or chat with someone. However, try to avoid screen time during your breaks, since it could lead to a long procrastination session. When you finish your work, reward yourself with something like an ice cream cone or hour of pampering, so you stay motivated. | Set priorities with efficiency in mind. The key to increasing productivity is working efficiently. If you have several tasks on your plate, prioritize them in a way that will keep you active and working hard. Different people work in different ways, but this advice should give you a significant productivity boost: Really take the time to think about what works for you. For instance, when you're creating a schedule, you might think about what time of day you work best. Instead of tackling your whole to-do list at once, prioritize the 3-4 most important things on your list, and spend the day handling those. The next day, do the same thing. It's usually best to start with tasks you dislike. If you get through the fun work early in the day, you'll be tired when you get to the less pleasant work, and more likely to put it off. Avoid jumping from task to task. Whenever possible, put all of your energy toward completing one task. When you have to divide your attention, spend at least an hour at a time on each task. Squeezing in five or ten minutes between other projects is an inefficient way to work. Take frequent, short breaks. If you continue without any breaks, you'll burn out more quickly. Your brain needs to rest to stay alert and focused. Take a few minutes off whenever you feel tired, or whenever you've reached a good stopping point. Walk around, drink some water, or have a conversation. Avoid break activities that could distract you from your work. "Screen time" on the computer or television is especially likely to lead to a long procrastination session. If burning out is a problem for you, set an alarm to go off every hour or two as a break reminder. Schedule your time. Set up a realistic schedule for your work, using a physical or electronic calendar. Turning your plans into concrete, visible reminders can motivate you to push onward. Include break times and longer meal breaks in the schedule. Just schedule one day at a time, especially when starting out. At the end of every workday, take a few minutes to draft the next day's list. Pay attention to where you're losing time and energy. For instance, if you tend to spend a lot of time chatting after a meeting, and it throws the rest of your day off, you might need to have more integrity with regards to leaving a meeting on time. Motivate yourself with rewards. Set short and long term goals for a project, and give yourself rewards after each accomplished goal. For small goals, such as cleaning the kitchen or finishing a day's project, reward yourself with an ice cream cone or half an hour of pampering. For large goals, such as earning a degree or a promotion, give yourself a vacation or a weekend adventure. Avoid creating project bloat. Give your work your best effort, but avoid unnecessary extensions. Quick, professional results are more efficient and often more appreciated than an extra week of optional additions. Save your "above and beyond" moments for the truly important projects. Organize your workspace. If your desk is a cyclone of papers, spend 15 or 30 minutes a day tidying up. This is a productive activity that adds variety to your workday, and can greatly increase efficiency once you've finished. Here are a few basic tips to guide you: Anything you use often should be in an obvious place, reachable without standing up. If you often forget where something is, label drawers and filing cabinets. Return everything to its proper place right after you use it. Find a private space. If you work in a public area with frequent interruptions, find a more private space to work. If this is not possible, try to work around productive, positive people who enjoy getting things done. Avoid people who are not actively working, or who seek distraction. Even if most of your work is on a desktop computer, think of tasks you can print out and finish by hand in a more quiet location. Minimize electronic distractions. This can be tough if most of your work happens on a computer or phone. Turn off any non-essential electronics, and take additional steps to avoid distraction: Block distracting websites. Close all non-essential websites. If you need your phone on to receive calls, turn off the Wi Fi to slow internet speeds. If you tend to distract yourself with video games or other software, make a separate work account on your computer. Switch from paper to electronic documents. If you waste a lot of time searching for the right piece of paper, go electronic. Most banks and other services allow you to sign up for online bills. If you're handling work documents, bring up the idea of electronic copies. As a last resort, scan the documents yourself as PDFs. Create a reliable filing system. Whether you're handling electronic files or a physical filing cabinet, create a system that allows intuitive access. Use the same naming convention for all files. Organize electronic files inside clearly labeled folders. Beginning each file name with the date in YYYYMMDD format is an easy, universal system. Alternatively, start with the client's name, or the name of the project. Stick to a regular sleep schedule. This is vital for staying alert and productive throughout the week. Even on days when you're not working, stick as close to your regular wake up time and bedtime as you can. Eat a healthy diet. Your diet should contain plenty of protein, vitamins, healthy fats, healthy carbohydrates, and fiber. Eating high-carb foods — including fast food, processed foods, and desserts — will cause a crash in blood sugar that makes it difficult to get through the day. Keep healthy snacks near your work area, especially if you tend to procrastinate by making yourself snacks. Be careful with caffeine. Coffee or energy drinks can give you a temporary boost to energy, but they will cause a crash in the end. Take these in moderate amounts, or save them for special circumstances. Consuming caffeine daily can make you reliant on it, forcing you to continue drinking it just to reach a basic level of comfort and alertness. If this happens to you, consider quitting for a more pleasant and efficient workday. Exercise. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to maintain energy and health. Even just standing while you work or while you're on break can keep you more alert. Let yourself relax. Once you've finished your day's work, give yourself time to wind down. Do whatever it takes to help yourself "recharge," whether that's a night out with friends or a calm evening at home. Take a personal day once in a while to avoid burning out. Hire someone to watch the kids, or take a day off from work. Pay attention to your emotions. Avoiding relationship issues or problems at home won't make them go away. You bring your emotions to your work, and during tough times you won't be 100% focused. Work to address these issues if possible. In the meantime, free your mind before work with meditation , exercise, or talking to a trusted friend. | Set priorities with efficiency in mind. Take frequent, short breaks. Schedule your time. Motivate yourself with rewards. Avoid creating project bloat. Organize your workspace. Find a private space. Minimize electronic distractions. Switch from paper to electronic documents. Create a reliable filing system. Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Eat a healthy diet. Be careful with caffeine. Exercise. Let yourself relax. Pay attention to your emotions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Serve-a-Full-Course-Meal | How to Serve a Full Course Meal | To serve a full course meal, start with an amuse-bouche, which is a bite-size course served on a small plate, like deviled eggs or crostinis with cheese. Next, serve your guests a small helping of soup. When they're finished, move on to the appetizer, which can include things like crab cakes, stuffed mushrooms, and small cuts of meat. After the appetizer, serve a salad and then present the main course. Finally, offer your guests dessert, like a slice of cake paired with a sweet wine. | Plan your menu in advance. Multiple course dinners take a lot of time to cook. If you plan ahead, you will leave yourself plenty of time to cook every course. When creating your menu, choose one or two items that will be prepared fresh and cook the others in advance. Soups, pasta sauces, gravies, and bread can be cooked and stored the day before before the meal. Choose recipes that use different cooking equipment. For example, if all of your recipes are made in the oven, you may run out of time to cook everything. Set the table before you start cooking. This will give you lots of time to prepare the food without feeling rushed when your guests arrive. The way you set your table will depend on how many courses you planned. For example: Set down a placemat and a charger plate at every chair. The charger plate will stay in place until the dessert course is served. Place the dessert utensils horizontally above the charger plate. Set the utensils in the order they will be used. Silverware that will be used first goes on the outside, and those that will be used last are next to the plate. Goblets and wine glasses are set near the top-right corner of the placemat. Desserts plates and coffee cups are usually brought in after the other courses are finished. Keep prepared food at the right temperature. Cold dishes such as salads or gazpachos can be covered in plastic wrap and stored in your refrigerator. Warm dishes can be covered with foil and placed in the oven to stay warm. Make sure your oven is set to the lowest temperature. Most ovens have a “warm” setting. This setting will keep your food warm without burning it. Consider hiring help. Catering a full meal can be expensive. However, if you hire someone else to cook, clean, and serve the meal, you will be able to enjoy your evening with your guests instead of slaving in the kitchen. If you can't afford to hire full service catering, ask local catering companies if they have service-only packages. You will cook the food but waiters will come to your house and serve the meal. Decide how many courses you want to serve. A full course meal can have anywhere from three to twenty courses. However, most modern hosts and hostesses limit themselves to six courses. If you do too many, you might not have time to prepare everything properly or spend time with your guests. Remember that each course will require its own plate or bowl and silverware. Make sure you have enough of each to serve your courses. A three-course meal usually has an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. A four course meal might include a soup, an appetizer, a main course, and dessert. A five course meal can include a soup, an appetizer, a salad, a main course, and a dessert. A six course meal usually includes an amuse-bouche, a soup, an appetizer, a salad, a main course, and a dessert. A seven course meal includes an amuse-bouche, a soup, an appetizer, a salad, a main course, a dessert, and a mignardise with coffee or tea. Serve an amuse-bouche. This course is usually presented before the soup or appetizer and is served on small appetizer plates. These dishes consist of one or two savory bites of food that can give a hint of flavors to come. Popular amuse-bouche dishes include: Creamy deviled eggs Herb-infused cream cheese spread onto a slice of toasted crostini Slices of roasted peaches on small wedges of creamy brie Present the soup course. This course is usually served before the appetizer or in place of an appetizer. This dish is served in a small soup bowl and eaten with a rounded soup spoon. Your soup choice may vary by season. For example: In the summer, consider serving a cold gazpacho soup. In the winter, serve a warm, creamy lobster bisque. Distribute the appetizer. This course is referred to as the entrée in many parts of Europe as it introduces the main courses in a meal. These dishes are usually served on small appetizer plates and feature small cuts of meat, seasonal vegetables, starches, and sauces. For example: Serve a few pieces of fried ravioli with a side of marinara sauce. Bake button mushrooms stuffed with breadcrumbs and seasoning. Give your guests a few miniature crab cakes with tartar sauce. Serve the salad course. In some parts of Europe, the salad course is served after the main course. However, it is becoming more and more common to serve the salad first. Salad courses usually feature seasonal vegetables with a flavorful dressing. Common choices include: Fresh, simple garden salads with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a tart vinaigrette Tangy Greek salads with olives, lettuce, red onions, and feta cheese A sweet and sour Southeast Asian papaya salad Present the main course. The main course is served on a dinner plate. This course is usually a combination of baked, fried, or roasted protein with a seasonal vegetable side dish and bread. If you serve bread, make sure to provide a bread dish and butter knife in the top-left corner of the placemat. Main courses include: Hearty pasta dishes topped with chicken, fish, or veal cutlets A thick slice of tender roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions Grilled pork tenderloin medallions with a side of creamed spinach Serve the dessert. The dessert course is served on a small appetizer plate with a dedicated dessert spoon or fork. This course usually consists of a slice of cake, pie, or other sweet dish and a glass of dessert wine. However, some people prefer to serve cheese and crackers instead of dessert. For example: Make a cheese board with a variety of soft and hard cheeses, such as brie, gouda, and blue cheese. Serve the cheese board with warm, toasted crackers. Serve a small slice of velvety chocolate cake and a glass of sweet port wine. Give your guests a tart, sweet lemon bar and a glass of dry white wine. Serve some mignardises. A mignardise is a tiny, bite-sized dessert that is served with tea or coffee. This course signifies the end of the meal. Common mignardises include: Small decorated squares of cake, called Petit Fours Miniature buttery madeleine biscuits Bite-sized French macarons Clear each plate away before serving another. Once all of the guests are finished eating, gather up the dirty dishes, leaving the charger and any unused silverware. Serve the next course immediately by placing the prepared dish directly onto the charger. Plan for a little bit of prep time in the kitchen between courses to arrange the food on the plates. The charger stays on the table until dessert is served. Consider how drinks will be served. When serving a full course meal, most hosts or hostesses provide goblets of water and a glass of wine. If you have room, consider serving drinks family-style by placing pitchers of water and bottles of wine on the table, allowing the guests to serve themselves. This will save you time and let you relax during each course. If you don't want pitchers or wine bottles on the table, you will need to refill guests' glasses yourself. If you have hired wait staff, they will refill the guests' drinks for you. Clear all of the dishes before dessert. Once the dessert course is ready, clear away any bread plates, main course plates, silverware, and the charger. Leave the dessert silverware at the top of the placemat on the table. This will give your guests room to stretch out while they enjoy dessert and digest their meal. Some people also like to offer dessert wine, port, brandy, or scotch during this course. | Plan your menu in advance. Set the table before you start cooking. Keep prepared food at the right temperature. Consider hiring help. Decide how many courses you want to serve. Serve an amuse-bouche. Present the soup course. Distribute the appetizer. Serve the salad course. Present the main course. Serve the dessert. Serve some mignardises. Clear each plate away before serving another. Consider how drinks will be served. Clear all of the dishes before dessert. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Overreacting | How to Avoid Overreacting | If you often overreact to situations, there are ways to help you step back and get some perspective. Practice labelling your emotions as they arise, which will train you to identify them before they grow out of proportion. For example, if you get furious over a driver who cuts you off, just tell yourself, “Okay, that's anger.” This will also help you identify your common triggers. Then, you can be more cautious when you're in situations that might make you overreact. When you feel a strong emotion coming on, take some deep breaths to ground yourself. Identify the emotion and tell yourself that it will pass. Once you've calmed down, you can react to the situation with a level head. If overreacting is causing major problems in your life, consider seeing a therapist to work through your emotions. | Learn to be aware of cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are automatic thinking patterns that cause the person to distort reality. For people who have overreactions, it is typically because of negative or highly self-critical judgement that make a person feel negatively about his or herself. Unless a person learns to recognize a cognitive distortion, he or she will continue to react in a way that does not reflect reality. Everything gets blown out of proportion, often leading to over-reaction. These are typically formed in childhood. Having an authority figure (such as a parent or teacher) with a high level of perfectionism, or is overly critical, or with unrealistic expectations can easily lead to this. "Don't believe everything you think!" Becoming more aware of patterns of cognitive distortion allows you to make other choices in how to react. Just because you think something, does not automatically mean you have to accept it as fact. Challenging unhelpful or unscrutinized thoughts can lead to freedom. Only seeing the potential for negative outcomes, and habitually disqualifying the positive, is a common cognitive distortion. Understand Common Types of Cognitive Distortions. Everyone has had experience or at least seen others over-react to situations. For some people, these reactions can become a habit or way of seeing the world. These include: Over-generalization. For example, a child who had a bad experience with a large dog may forever be nervous around dogs. Jumping to conclusions. Example: A girl is nervous about an upcoming date. The boy texts that he has to reschedule. The girl decides he must not be interested in her or that would not happen, so cancels the date. In reality, the boy was interested. "Catastrophising". A woman is having a rough time at work, and worries that she will be fired and then will be homeless. Instead of focusing on her time management skills, she suffers from constant anxiety. "Black and White" Thinking--being inflexible. On a family vacation, the father is frustrated by the poor quality hotel room. Instead of focusing on the lovely beach, and the kids who scarcely spend any time at the room, he constantly grumbles and ruins the fun for everyone else. "Should, Must, and Ought-to" These words are often loaded with judgement. If you find yourself using these words about yourself in a negative, judgmental way, consider re-phrasing it. For example: Negative: "I'm out of shape; I should go to the gym." More positive: "I want to be healthier, and I will check out if there is a class I might like at the gym." Negative: "I must get my kid to pay attention to me when I talk." Positive: "How can I talk so that he will listen to me more?" Negative: "I ought to get better than a B on my exam!" Positive: "I know I can get better than a B. But if I don't, a B is still a respectable grade." Sometimes things must, should, or ought to be done...there are some things that are properly worded in such a way. But catching yourself using these words negatively and in a rigid way indicates a way of thinking that may be unnecessarily negative and rigid. Write down automatic thoughts in a journal or diary. Just listing what you think can help you recognize its existence, when it happens, what it is, and help you observe them.Ask yourself if there is any other way to consider the source of your cognitive distortion. Is this automatic thought part of a pattern? If so, where did it start? How is it serving you now? Becoming more conscious of your own subconscious thought patters will help keep you from overreacting. Identify "all or nothing" ways of thinking. This kind of automatic thought pattern, also known as "black and white" thinking, is a primary cause of overreaction. Automatic thoughts are not based in rational thought, but in fearful, overly emotional reactions to stressful situations. The "all or nothing" thinking is a common cognitive distortion. Sometimes things are all-or-nothing, but normally there are ways to get some or most of what you want, or find an alternative. Learn to listen critically to your inner self-talk, and notice what it's telling you. If your inner self-talk is filled with cognitive distortions, that can help you recognize that the "voice" that is talking to you is not necessarily accurate. Consider practicing affirmations to follow the automatic thought. Affirmations allow you to reframe the negative, "all or nothing" thinking with a positive statement that reflects your new beliefs. For example, remind yourself, "A mistake isn't failure. It's a learning process. Everyone makes mistakes. Others will understand." Take a deep breath before responding. Pausing to take a breath allows you time to consider possible alternatives. It may disengage you from automatic thought patterns. Breathe in through the nose for a count of four; hold the breath for a count of three, then slowly breathe out through the mouth for a count of five. Repeat if necessary. When your breathing is rapid, your body believes it is engaged in a "fight or flight" struggle, and raises your anxiety level. You will be more likely to respond with heightened emotions and fear. If your breath is slower, your body will believe you're calm, and you'll be more likely to be able to access rational thought. Identify patterns in your overreactions. Most people have "triggers," which may generate emotional overreactions. Common triggers include envy, rejection, criticism, and control. By learning more about your own triggers, you'll be more likely to control your emotional reactions to them. Envy is when someone else gets something you want, or that you feel you deserve. Rejection occurs when someone isn't excluded or turned away. Exclusion from a group activates the same brain receptors as physical pain. Criticism allows someone to engage in the cognitive distortion of overgeneralizing. The person confuses a critical response with not being liked or appreciated as a person, not just the single act that's being criticized. Control issues cause overreaction when you're overly worried about not getting what you want or losing what you have. This is also an example of catastrophising. Get some perspective. Ask yourself, "How important is this? Will I remember it tomorrow? Or a year from now? How about 20 years from now?" If the answer is no, then whatever you're reacting to in the moment isn't a big deal. Allow yourself to take a step back from the situation, and acknowledge that it might not be that important. Is there any part of the situation that you can do anything about? Are there ways that you can work together with another person to make the changes that will help you? If there are, then try these. Try to become willing to accept the parts of the situation that you can't change. This doesn't mean allowing another person to hurt you or that you shouldn't have boundaries. Sometimes it means accepting that you can't change the situation, and deciding to leave. Retrain your brain. When someone habitually has a difficult time regulating their temper, the brain has a weak connection between its highly responsive emotional center, and the part of the brain responsible for rational thought. Building a stronger connection between these two brain centers helps to avoid overreacting. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is one treatment that has been shown to be effective with people who have emotional regulation challenges. It works through increasing self-knowledge and offering cognitive restructuring. Neurofeedback and biofeedback are both therapies shown to be effective in treating people with emotional regulation issues. The patient learns to monitor his psychological response, and therefore gain control over his overreactions. See a professional. Overreacting might be the result of long-standing issues that a therapist can help you sort out. Understanding the underlying causes of your overreactions can help you gain control over them. If your overreactions are affecting your relationship or marriage, consider seeing the therapist together with your partner or spouse. A good therapist will have practical suggestions for the present challenges, but will also look for issues from your past which may be surfacing through your emotional responses. Be patient. If your emotional overreactions are the result of long-buried issues, the treatment is likely to take some time. Don't expect results overnight. In some cases, you may be a candidate for medication. Although "talk therapy" is extremely helpful for many, sometimes certain medications can help. For instance, a person with anxiety that causes a lot of overreactions, anti-anxiety medication can be helpful. Get enough rest. Sleep deprivation is a common source of stress, and can result in short tempers and overly-emotional responses to everyday situations. Taking care of yourself involves getting plenty of rest. If you're not getting enough sleep, it will be harder to change patterns of overreaction. Avoid caffeine if it interferes with your sleep. Caffeine is found in sodas, coffee, teas, and other beverages. If you're drinking a beverage, make sure it doesn't contain caffeine. Feeling tired increases your stress level, and may cause you to think irrationally. If you can't alter your sleep schedule, try to include rest and relaxation times as a part of your daily schedule. Short naps may help. Make sure to eat regularly. If you're hungry, you're more likely to overreact. Include healthy, regular meals throughout your day. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast with lots of protein and avoid hidden sugars in breakfast foods. Avoid junk foods, sugary foods or other foods that may result in rapid elevation of blood sugar. Sugary snacks contribute to stress. Exercise regularly. Exercise helps emotional regulation, and brings about a more positive mood. 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 times per week has been shown to have benefits for mood regulation. Aerobic exercises, such as swimming, walking, running or cycling, use the lungs and heart. Include aerobic exercises as part of your workout routine no matter what other exercises you choose to include. If you can't spare 30 minutes per day, start with a shorter time period. Even 10-15 minutes will bring improvement. Strength training, such as weight lifting or resistance training, helps strengthen bones as well as muscles. Flexibility exercises, such as stretching and yoga, help prevent injury. Yoga helps address anxiety and stress, and is highly recommended for those trying to avoid overreacting. Be aware of your emotions. When someone isn't aware of their feelings until they're already overreacting, it can be difficult to change. The trick is to become aware of your emotions before they're too big. Learn to identify within yourself the precursors to being overly reactive. Signs may be physical, such as a stiff neck or rapid heartbeat. Naming the feeling means that you're able to employ both sides of your brain in developing coping strategies. The more aware you become of your own internal reactions, the less likely you will be to become overwhelmed by them. | Learn to be aware of cognitive distortions. Understand Common Types of Cognitive Distortions. Identify "all or nothing" ways of thinking. Take a deep breath before responding. Identify patterns in your overreactions. Get some perspective. Retrain your brain. See a professional. Get enough rest. Make sure to eat regularly. Exercise regularly. Be aware of your emotions. |
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Stitches | How to Remove Stitches | Before you remove your own stitches, make sure that the recommended healing time has gone by, since removing stitches too soon can cause injury. If you're healed enough, sterilize a pair of sharp scissors and a pair of tweezers by dropping them into a pot of boiling water for 20 minutes, which will reduce the risk of infection. When you're ready to start, sit in a well-lit spot so you can see the stitches. Then, place the tweezers under the first knot, lift it up, and cut the suture with your scissors. Once you've made the cut, pull the thread through your skin with the tweezers, taking care not to pull the knot through. Repeat this process until you've removed all of the stitches. Finish by placing a sterile bandage over the wound so it can continue to heal. | Make sure it's safe to remove your stitches. In some cases you absolutely shouldn't remove your own stitches. If your stitches were inserted after a surgical procedure, or if the recommended healing time (usually 10-14 days) hasn't elapsed, removing them yourself can put you at greater risk for infection and may prevent your body from healing properly. Your skin needs to have grown back together before your stitches are removed. Keep in mind that when you go to the doctor, adhesive strips are often placed on the skin after stitch removal to continue to facilitate the healing process. If you do it at home, you may not be getting the care you require. If you want to double check whether it's OK to remove your stitches, give your doctor a call. He or she will let you know whether it's safe enough to do it yourself. However, they will likely recommend you come into the office to get your stitches removed. If your wound looks as if it's getting red or more sore, do not remove your stitches: go to your doctor. You may have an infection. Keep in mind that in many cases, you can get your stitches removed without going through the regular doctor's appointment process. You might be able to walk right in for a quick stitch removal. It's likely that a nurse can check your wound and remove the stitches if the wound has healed. Call your doctor and ask. Choose a tool to cut your stitches. Use a sharp pair of surgical scissors if possible. Sharp nail scissors may also work. Avoid using any type of blunt edge, and don't use a knife - it's too easy for knives to slip. Sterilize your cutting tool and a pair of tweezers. Drop them in a pot of boiling water for at least 20 minutes, let them thoroughly dry on a clean paper towel, then swab them thoroughly with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. This will ensure the cutting tool and tweezers don't transfer bacteria to your body. Gather your other supplies. There are a few other things you should have on hand. Gather sterile bandages and antibiotic ointment in case you need to treat an area that starts to bleed. You shouldn't need to use these supplies, since if your skin has properly healed, no bandage is necessary, but it's important to have them on hand just in case. Wash and sterilize the stitch site. Wet the site with warm water, then apply soap. Rinse the soap away with warm water, and pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Use a rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton ball to dab around the stitches. Be sure the area is completely clean before proceeding. Sit in a well-lighted spot. You'll need to be able to see every stitch clearly to do the job properly. Don't attempt to remove your stitches in a place that's too dark, or you could accidentally cut yourself. Lift the first knot. Use the pair of tweezers to gently lift the knot of the first stitch slightly above the skin. Cut the suture. Holding the knot above your skin, use your other hand to insert your scissors under the knot and snip the suture next to the knot. Pull the thread through. Use the tweezers to continue grasping the knot and gently pull the stitch through your skin and out. You might feel a bit of pressure, but it should not be painful. Do not pull the knot through your skin. It will catch on your skin and cause bleeding to occur. It's a good idea to snip off the knot to avoid accidentally pulling it through. If the skin starts to bleed when you remove the stitch, your stitches are not ready to come out. Stop what you're doing and see a doctor to remove the remaining stitches. Continue removing the stitches. Use the tweezers to lift the knots, then snip with the scissors. Pull the thread through and discard. Continue until all the stitches have been removed. Cleanse the wound. Make sure there's no residue left around the area of the wound. If you'd like, you can place a sterile bandage to cover the area and allow it to continue to heal. See a doctor if any problems arise. If your wound is not fully healed or your skin splits again, you're going to need more stitches. It's very important to see a doctor immediately if this happens. Bandaging the wound and trying to let it heal without new stitches won't be adequate. Protect the wound from re-injury. Skin regains its strength slowly. After your stitches are removed, the skin may remain weak as it continues to heal. Don't overuse the body part where you had stitches. Protect the wound from UV rays. Ultraviolet light is damaging even to healthy tissue. Use sunscreen if your wound will be exposed to the sun or when using tanning beds. Apply Vitamin E. It can help the healing process, but should only be used when the wound is completely closed. | Make sure it's safe to remove your stitches. Choose a tool to cut your stitches. Sterilize your cutting tool and a pair of tweezers. Gather your other supplies. Wash and sterilize the stitch site. Sit in a well-lighted spot. Lift the first knot. Cut the suture. Pull the thread through. Continue removing the stitches. Cleanse the wound. See a doctor if any problems arise. Protect the wound from re-injury. Protect the wound from UV rays. Apply Vitamin E. |
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